We managed to get together for a second game set in the 1899 Great Steam War in the Balkans, using a VSF variation of The Men Who Would Be Kings. On this occaision neither side had any infantry support, except for a field gun and a couple of machingun units. Otherwise both the Greek and Ottoman forces were entirely foreign supplied (and manned?) high tech equipment.
I had just bought two new steam tank models from Black Pyramid (and they are big! compared with the Ironclad tanks) which i had only had time to paint with a basecoat before the game. I shall weather them up before the next one.
A Turkish steam tank advances supported by a unit of German-made steam robots. An electric cannon gives fire support whilst Turkish machineguns set up in the scrub.
Another view of the Krupps steam robots and the electric gun.
Three light one-man walkers move forward. On the left is an Ottomen design armed with a deadly electric gun. the two other walkers are a Austrian design, mounting a machinegun and flamethrower each!
A heavy steam tank, armed with an electric gun and two machineguns advances, whilst a Turkish field gun unlimbers on the hill.
On the Greek side a heavy tank, medium tank and light walker (all British-made) use the ridge in the centre of the battlefield to screen their advance.
A French-designed armoured car boldly drives down the road to scout beyond the ridgeline. This would prove costly as it became the only visible target for the field gun and three electric guns, Opps! It was swiftly reduced to a battered metal box with no gun and the speed of a child's pedal car!!!
On the far flank a Greek field gun and machinegun set up "supported" by a second armoured car. This armoured car would remain in support for much of the battle as it's was constantly bogged down in the rough terrain (wheeled vehicles are fast, but risk getting stuck when moving off-road).
Three Enfield one-man steam walkers shelter behind a hill prior to their advance. Once again these small walkers would suffer heavy damage attempting to close with the \Turkish forces and all would be knocked out. (Perhaps the Greek commanders will realise that even armoured "cavalry" suffer charging across open ground in the face of modern weapons).
After much maneuvering, the Austrian walkers got into range with their flamethrowers. The Greek tank caught fire and was swiftly abandoned by it's crew.
Almost the end. The Turkish tanks advanced to get a clearfield of fire at the last Greek tank.
Endgame with only one tank and an armoured car left operation on the Greek side their commanders quit the field whilst they still had something to withdrawl! An outstanding Turkish victory this time.
We had a lot of laughs, and fine tuned some of the rule ammendments, particularly on fire weapons.
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