Tromsø or Bust! Annual big game at The Unit.

Generally around this time, Richard Phillips hosts a big Cold War Commander game at his place, The Unit, in Stone, Staffs. This year, was a Northern Front game, with a soviet invasion force cutting across Finland in an effort to secure the northern reaches of Norway. This has irked the Finns, who have decided that once bitten is twice shy and have ignored warnings from the Kremlin and have mobilised their forces. Along with a NATO task force of US, Dutch and Royal Marines, they have established a defensive line, seeking to defeat a force of Czechoslovakian and other WarPac forces including a naval brigade who have landed on the outskirts of Tromsø..

So, with that scene set, forces deployed on Saturday morning, teas and coffees primed, battle was joined. 

Tromso before the battle..

tanks and APC's are deployed from landing craft of various types. 

The Finnish forces dug in on the Lyngen Line, field defences based on the Lyngen Alps. Marked and unmarked minefields, ditches and dug in Finnish forces. These were the anvil upon which the WarPac forces would break.. 

The Naval Brigade (commanded by me) landed and began to move inland, a battalion of infantry on the right moved towards Tromsø, along with 2 others looking to secure the main road down which the Soviet forces would advance with the tank battalion looking to attack the Lyngen Line in the rear. 

Increasingly weary calls of "page 24.." we're to be heard from the main end of the table, where the main WarPac forces were endeavouring to advance. Page 24 is where the Command Blunder table is to be found in the rulebook. Stewart seemed to be rolling endless double sixes, which seriously hampered the advance of the Czech forces. 

In the meantime, air power was causing initial hits and casualties on the naval brigade. A Command Bonus roll saw a B1B Lancer bomber come in on a bombing run. The ZSU23-4 Shilkas proved their worth though and did much to defend the advancing forces, hitting and driving off NATO aircraft turn after turn. 

a West German Tornado making a bomb run. 

British Harriers strafe the beach.

Norwegian F5 fighters including a hastily-repurposed Tiger Stripes display fighter. 

Starfighters join the cab rank. 

not yo be outdone, a pair of Yak 38 Forgers come in. On this occasion, 1 was shot down by a brace of Stinger and Hawk SAMs. 

in the shadow of the Lyngen Line, the pumpkin field was fought over and occupied by the forces of Marxism-Leninism. 

finally underway, WarPac forces advanced in good order. 

the  noticeably large and extensive stone walls are a feature of Norway, providing blocks to line of sight and hard cover. 

BMP1s dropping off infantry to advance over the hills. 

Day 2, the naval brigade was reinforced with an additional battalion of armour. They moved swiftly in the last few moves of the weekend to reach the main road, thus securing the road and cutting off access to Tromsø and therefore winning the battle, to my mind. But no-one else though as much, apparently! 

Time was called at about 3pm on Sunday. Soviet artillery and even air strikes had started to be called in with some effect, the armour sat on the road and the battered infantry still had a toehold in Tromsø itself. Elsewhere, the WarPac forces were slowly starting to grind through the Finnish and West German defenders. A stalemate, but with an asterisk for both sides. The NATO defences were firm but suffering. The Soviets were exploiting the naval bridgehead but reduced in number. 

A great weekend, thanks to all who made it and played the game with good grace, despite a good few rules queries and clarifications!