ANDREIVIA - War Memorial

As you may have read in the recent AAR's from Crisis Point 2018 the Cossack Commander (Mark J) massacred a brave unit of Andreivian Police (Tom D) who were defending the English Church a prominent landmark in Tcherbevan. It was commented at the time that I should make a memorial to fallen for our 1992 Tcherbevan games so on my return from Crisis Point I set about making the new terrain piece.

CRISIS POINT 2018 - Part Four

After another hearty breakfast at the wonderful Padley Farm B&B we again headed over the road to the hall to see what Sunday had in store.

After a brief redeployment due to some overnight operations and the unfortunate lack of the Woosterforce commander (Rob) due to car trouble we were ready to commence. The theme of Sunday was centred around Tcherbevan, the capital of Andreivia, as forces advanced from all directions. Overnight Woosterforce had managed to reach the outskirts of Tcherbevan and occupied the Mill and also managed to man the armoured train which was to provide some much needed artillery support. Leo took command in Rob's absence and a detachment was transferred to the command of the Andreivian Minister of War Solomon Rubenstein (Tom). I again took the role of Major General Roderick Spode commander of the British forces in Tcherbevan.

To the north east the White Russians (Mark J) advance towards Tcherbevan

To the north west the Transcaucasian Soviets (Russ P) bring on some artillery and an armoured car and immediately head for the capital

The Turks advance quickly from the south east capturing some of Woosterforce's equipment on the way

Some more of the Transcaucasian Soviets advance through the elephant grass 

Some more TS forces deploy in a field not far from the outskirts of Tcherbevan

TS Cavalry cross the Krupnehr River on their way to the capital

Meanwhile in Tcherbevan the White Russians have begun their attack on the English Church and the graveyard. The Andreivian Police put up a stout defence causing heavy casualties on the cavalry.

Woosterforce cavalry in reserve in the centre of Tcherbevan

Again the Police hold against another cavalry assault

Lookouts in Tcherbevan report a force of German infantry accompanied by mortars have outflanked the Dvimin Line and are advancing towards Tcherbevan through the Southern Hills

Turks assault the armoured train but suffer heavy casualties at the hands of the British manning the train

Cossack cavalry have managed to get into the city (Mark J played his Joker Card) and immediately charge into the rear of the Andreivian Police holding the Church. The Police put up a valiant defence but eventually broke and surrendered. The Cossack commander immediately ordered his men to massacre the Police where they stood. An action that has gone down in Andreivian history and is remembered annually at a service held in the English Church and a memorial to the fallen was erected on Culture Ministry Boulevard (more on this in a later post)

The Cossacks massacre the brave Andreivian Police!!!!

A Turkish aircraft enters the table but is driven off by machine gun fire from within Tcherbevan. That'll teach him to fly at tree top level!

TS infantry advance close to the outskirts of the capital but begin to take hits from the British Vickers covering the wheatfield

Valiant British defenders in the Grand Hotel

The Hero of Andreivia, Solomon Rubenstein, partakes of a little wing walking to inspire the defenders of Tcherbevan.

At this point we had to stop to allow time to pack up and head home. As the Oracle of Andreivia himself says in his blog https://thelandofcounterpane.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/crisis-point-2018.html 

"So who won in the end? You know what? I really don't care; it was a great weekend and we got some enjoyable gaming and good socialising under our belts."

Finally I took some photos of some of the amazing figures, vehicles and scratch builds that some of the players brought along. 

Turkish Battleship scratchbuilt by Kevin T

Some of Andy C's wonderful collection. Check out his blog for more info on the game and these forces http://sedimentswargameblog.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/crisis-point-2018-day-1.html#comment-form

More of Andy C's huge collection

And more....

And more....

Superb scratchbuilt artillery piece by Kevin T with definite elements of 'The Guns of Naverone'

The Oracle of Andreivia himself, Richard C, made this gun emplacement from the old airfix model plus a diecast gun

Scratchbuilt Arab Dhow part of Richard C's collection

Rowing boat (or airfix pontoon)

Scratchbuilt German Gunboat from the collection of Richard C

As always thanks for looking. Take care :-)

CRISIS POINT 2018 - Part Three

In Part Two I just posted all the photos from the weekend. In Part Three and Part Four I plan to detail the exploits of Major General Roderick Spode - Commander British Forces Tcherbevan.

My small British forces were initially deployed in Tcherbevan alongside the Andreivian National Police commanded by Tom Davis.

British forces deployed on the outskirts of Tcherbevan

The rest of the British were deployed in the Ministry of Culture and also in the Grand Hotel

The Andreivian National Police deployed in the English Church and the neighbouring graveyard

Andreivian National Police occupy the Churchyard

Not everyone was happy with the British being in Tcherbevan and pockets of resistance began to appear throughout Saturday which kept the British Forces and the ANP on their toes.

A group of German backed Revolutionaries occupy the Mill and open fire on the ANP and British Forces in Tcherbevan

Another group appear in the Italian Embassy

Andreivian Minister of War, Solomon Rubenstein (Tom Davis) takes to the skies himself!

Using the Machine Gun to strafe the Mill causing a lot a damage to the Revolutionaries

One of Solomon Rubensteins propaganda posters on the roof of the Mill tries to show the Revolutionaries the error of their ways!

After strafing the Mill Solomon Rubenstein banked his aircraft and headed for the coast where an Expeditionary Force from the Transcaucasian Soviets had begun to advance towards the Capital. He dropped a bomb on the advancing cavalry but the bomb missed, or so he thought! Landing on the roof of a nearby building the blast caused a Propaganda sign to fall from the roof landing on the Cavalry Commander causing a wound. 

Not one to miss an opportunity Solomon Rubenstein immediately deployed a banner behind the aircraft advertising his families restaurant in Central Tcherbevan

The Family Business, Milk & Lamb Soup on the menu.

As well as dropping bombs Rubenstein also dropped propaganda leaflets!

In the spirit of the game Russ P in command of the Transcaucasian Soviets decided to roll a TAC roll and if he rolled a 1 his cavalry would leave the table after seeing the error of their ways. Unfortunately for Russ he rolled a 1!!!

At the end of Day One the British and Andreivian forces had cleared the capital of German backed Turkish Freedom Fighters. The British were intact having only had one man wounded. The Andreivian Police had also had a good day only losing one man and three wounded. 

Major General Spode took to his room at the Grand Hotel that evening and wrote a report for Whitehall. A good day all in all but tomorrow would see some heavy fighting as reports had come in of Cossack Cavalry to the north east and Turks to the south east. German and Turk forces had managed to flank the Dvimin Line and were now moving north towards the capital through the Southern Hills. Along with these reports came another report that Trans Caucasian Soviets were heading towards Tcherbevan from the west. Tcherbevan would be the scene of some heavy fighting and his small British force would be hard pressed to hold against overwhelming opposition. Some hope came in a report that stated Woosterforce was heading towards the capital from the Tuzhkur Valley but would they reach Tcherbevan in time.....

TO BE CONTINUED 

CRISIS POINT 2018 - Part Two

Saturday morning dawned and after a full english breakfast at Padley Farm we took the short walk across the road to the hall. By 10am all the players had assembled and the final touches to the tables were made, forces allocated and deployed and Richard C did a brief rules tutorial for those players who hadn't played Arc of Fire before.

Its difficult to write a full AAR as there was so much going on and I am sure other players will write up their accounts on their own blogs so for now I will just post the photos of the weekend and write up the events according to my character Major General Roderick Spode - Commander British Forces Tcherbevan.