The 2019 Conference of Wargamers at Knuston Hall, Northamptonshire.
My life has become so busy that it is a long time since I was able to head off to CoW for the entire weekend and just lose myself in the opportunities it presents. This year was no different.
CoW, of course is a multi-period, multi-genre event, but I will post my photo report here as I have done previously. I had three major involvements this year plus I sat in on a number of illuminating sessions.
(Airstrike available in AK minus 47 … my 20th century contribution to CoW 2019)
I enjoyed sitting in on Trebian’s Va t’en Ecosse, a wargame of the ’45 played with (mostly old Airfix) 20mm soldiers.
Elsewhere
My main contribution on the Saturday was to present and run our model of the battle of Edgcote (not in this blog’s period so I’ll just give a flavour …) …
AK minus 47
Sunday morning: this was a light-hearted attempt to get out some nice toys (including my new carriers) and continue the theme of Operation Coldfeet/Ice Station CF … this time taking up the story with the failed sky-hooking of the agent (and the consequential ‘boots on the ground’ rescue/evaluation mission). Of course, this never happened and is totally deniable.
The search mission column enters the table and some unseen defenders deployed (making the best use of the minimal landscape to avoid line-of-sight).
In the inevitable fire-fight (and as always seems to happen) the lead vehicle got taken out quite quickly while the foot groups debussed from the carriers.
(AK minus 47: Nato-ish column … VBL converted by me, carriers by BPM, troops in parkas by Khurasan)
The going got tough so the rescue mission had to call in further support. The tactical leader chose to rope his unit out of helicopters right onto the abandoned ice station. Although they did some good, they got shot to pieces.
At this point I should apologise for the mismatching bases. Some of my men in parkas got left at home but I had a unit of Peter Pig Russian Scouts in a different box, so they had to make an impromptu appearance. Needs must.
The session reminded everyone how much potential there still is in Peter Pig’s classic edition of AK 47 and with the little tweaks, it didn’t seem misplaced in Arctic conditions (indeed its randomness sort of worked) and we thought up a few more special effects as we went.
With the botched rescue attempt, however, the mission was going wrong. I allowed the sub to turn up (shades of Ice Station Zebra, of course – but the players were demanding it) and the so far unobtained airstrike (as photo opportunities) …
(AK minus 47: flogger acquiring target)
I think there is some potential in this.
That was my CoW 2019. Thanks to everyone who made it a wonderful distraction and an inspiring weekend. Next year is number 40. Expect a celebration.
P.B.Eye-Candy 