HMGS-PSW WWII January Convention

Just back from the HMGS-PSW January 2015 WWII themed convention held in Anaheim California with a brief summary report.

WR’s two Flames of War scenarios were joined by a host of other 20th Century gaming: Bolt Action (two tables), Check Your Six, Warhammer Great War WWI, Blitzkrieg Commander, BattleTech (on another planet), even some DBA medieval gaming to round out the field.

The Flames of War (20mm) scenarios featured the “String of Pearls” and “Roncey Pocket” Normandy July 1944. Both scenarios taken from the Cobra FoW supplement. Additional information on these scenarios can be read from my recent WR blog post (link): HMGS-PSW FoW scenario. WR is currently in the process of writing up the picture heavy AAR for both these scenarios .

Update 01/23/15: String of Pearls AAR posted: String of Pearls AAR

Update 01/30/15: Roncey Pocket AAR posted: Roncey Pocket AAR

General view of the WR’s ‘String of Pearls” FoW Normandy Cobra supplement scenario using 20mm miniatures. Read the soon posted AAR for complete scenario game details.

Follow up “Roncey Pocket” Normandy 1944 scenario opening turn. Shows the Northern German road column and American armored defenders at left. Off photo at top is the German Southern column and the surprised American artillery company. Scenario is fought at night.

A convention favorite seems to be David K’s Warhammer Great War with hundreds of lovely painted 28mm miniatures. French poulu infantry in red trousers, French cuirassiers, English khaki infantry, German pickelhaube infantry and the tabletop hosts of light artillery and machine guns. Allied “over the top” advance during the Battle of the Marne 1914 scenario. 

Warhammer Great War Battles scenario run by David K. for the Battle of the Marne 1914.

As French lines close the German defenses. The English are marching along the road at left.

View of the English advance into the nearby woods.

French élan and some cuirassiers spotted.

While the French infantry take heavy losses from German Mausers, those French cuirassiers are forming ranks to charge.

WR understands a glorious charge down “Main street” finished off the Germans. French Press declare Victory! The English marched in and wondered why all the celebration?

Other photos taken as WR ran about the convention floor during short breaks of his 20mm Flames of War action…

Check Your Six scenario….B17’s of the 100th Bomb Group facing waves of Me-109 and Fw-190’s chased by handful of escorting P-47s. GM’d by Steve R.

Steve R’s. CY6 flying in formation with pesky fighters disturbing their lumbering formation.

Harmon’s BattleTech robots on another world with their own WWII.

WWII on another planet with BattleTech and Harmon.

General view of the convention floor mid morning. For some reason WR only took half the room. Warhammer WWI in foreground, then WR’s FoW String of Pearls table, Bolt Action airport then CY6 in distance. The opposite side of the room had Blitzkrieg Commander, another Bolt Action game, and DBA gaming,

General view of the convention in action, WR’s FoW scenarios on second table at left.

Bolt Action at the airport. TSA hired some Russian tankers to help with screening security vs. German interlopers. Scenario called ” Oddball’s Rumble” featuring Ilan MS and Don T’s miniatures and scenario design.

Bolt Action scenario featuring Germans and Russian contesting over the open runways. From the Russian view of the world….where’s Oddball?

View from the German end of the sharp action.

DBA gaming with late Medieval period armies and Danny W.

DBA gaming. Not sure of the armies in use but late mediaeval period.

While screening the airport on one Bolt Action table, the other Bolt Action scenario was found in the Russian countryside. Russian infantry platoon with T-34 support vs. some entrenched farmstead Germans. Scenario had 5th Kompany less a platoon 119th Panzergrenadiers Abt. near Molschalniki November 1942 facing the opening Russian horde counterattack near Stalingrad. Scenario by Steve P. with his acting troop of Dan M. and Andy.

Another Bolt Action scenario set in the Russian countryside. Fellow gamers pulling chits of play.

Russian squad exits the friendly woods greeted by German Mauser fire.

T-34 rumbles down the “road” while another Russian squad assaults the peasant farm. Seems the woods are alive with Russians this morning.

Last game seen at the convention was a lively Blitzkrieg Commander scenario engaging Russian and German armor. Run by Tim G., the scenario was July 1943 eastern front themed (the Russian church was the give-a-way). Got Armor?

Blitzkrieg Command scenario with German and Russian armor battle.

Convention PEL if interested: HMGS-PSW World War 2 Day PEL

Cheers from Anaheim California at the HMGS-PSW mini-convention (WWII). Writing up WR’s two FoW scenarios next for the readership.

WR