Romania and Hungary's Twilight Struggle

Wednesday 29th May.

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The tanks were needed to keep the mat down.

Whilst waiting to book in my beautiful T25 campervan in for its pre-holiday service I phoned Colin Jack to enquire about our eating plans before this evening's game and after being informed that pizza was on the menu was also informed that at that moment Bill Gilchrist and himself were partaking in a game of Twilight Struggle and I was more than welcome up for a chance to play so into my other VW |I jumped and headed up for the not so sunny climes of Garvald.I had already played the game the previous Monday evening against one of my daughter's flatmates(I crashed and burned) so at least had an inkling of the game.After Bill had steamrollered over the world with glorious Soviets I took on the role of the gallant Americans but alas I was thwarted by the illegal use of a card and had to concede to the Soviets.C'est La Vie(in Russian).

Hunting in pairs.

Our not very successful mortar.

After the appetiser was finished we retired to the games room and tonight's main feature a duel between those gallant WW2 allies Romania and Hungary -well part of it at least.

The action took place in late 1944 after the Romanians had switched side and turned on Hungary which was still in the Nazi camp and took the form of a mass Romanian attack on Hungarian defensive positions.

About to hear Dave's first "Bugger"utterance.

Bill's men all in a row.

We played one turn before we headed for pizzas and foaming ale in the local hostelry and in this turn the gallant defenders inflicted the near total destruction of one of Dave O'Brien's infantry squads causing him to make one of his favourite "Bugger" utterances and it wasn't to be the only one of the evening.

Bill thought this was a full squad.

More cannon fodder.

Bill's men at sixes and sevens!

We spent a wee bit longer in the pub due to it being busy so when we returned to the games's room is was straight back into the action .We had been joined by the latest addition to the Gothenburg Gamers clan Andrew Easson and he joined me in defending the Hungarian honour.

 Dave went straight on the offensive and had his mortar take a shot at my lads in a wood who were hidden from view and boom,a hit straight away.Obviously taking revenge for his earlier losses.

Bill was charging up the left flank with his hordes of infantry but his solitary armour was conspicuous by its absence deciding that hiding behind a tree was more sensible than driving across my assault gun's line of sight.GYAVA!(coward in Hungarian).My own mortar tried to halt the onslaught by they were slaughtered piece meal by the cowardly Romanians-But their time would come.

Now you see them.

"Booyah!"Now you don't

Dave moved forward with another of his squads right into the line of sight of Andrew's hotshot Zrinyi assault gun and lo and behold another "bugger "utterance from Dave as seven of his men bit the dust.He wasn't helped by the commisar who was following the squads up dispatching one of the survivors for not passing a morale test.

The commissar about to do some shooting in the back.

"Maybe if we run up behind it and kick it?"

The left flank of the Romanians was grinding to a halt with the only success for Dave coming when his last squad attacked the Hungarians in the wood who were trying desperately  to avoid Dave's mortar fire.Dave eventually missed with his mortar as he rolled a one to which he blamed Bill for his misfortune.It's nice to see allies getting on.Heh Heh!

Bill's tank with a Donald Trump haircut?

Ready to party.

On the other side Bill,s infantry were getting nowhere fast with his only successes coming from long range pot shots from his solitary artillery piece and his machine gun.His tank still refused to move.Obviously there was no commisar on his side.

A sniper crossing open ground.

The other Hungarian Zriny was moved into a better firing position in order to deal with Bill's approaching infantry which it did with deadly effect.First doing away with the first Romanian infantry squad (revenge for the mortar crew)and then engaging Bill's second sailor squad eventually doing away with them as well.

Dave.'s HQ heading for glory.

Meanwhile Andrew had moved his assault gun nearer the enemy and this drew the attention of Dave's remaining stragglers who try as they may couldn't destroy it with their only success coming with a fluky mortar shot but this just scratched the paintwork.

Bill checking to make sure he could hit the target.

With the game coming to a close Bill decided to venture out with his armour and did actually succeed in taking some more paint but his movement attracted the attention of my Stug which was lying in ambush and with the second shot decapitated it.His infantry went for a last ditch attempt at rushing the buildings but no luck with his last remaining squad .Discretion being the better part of valour his men thought that finding cover was the best thing to do.

Of the three victory conditions Dave and Bill had to fulfil,one was the best that they could come up with,the other two remaining safely in Hungarian hands.

A great game played in the usual friendly way frequented by Dave's  shouts of"Bugger". All the figs,scenery and scenario were provided by Colin Jack and of course the pizzas and ale provided by the Garvald Inn.

See You All When I See You!!!!!!!