Mark Quick message, thanks for the copies of the Gauntlet, at the risk of sending some arse kissing bullshit, I would say that I was very impressed, it wassomething of a broadside of raw ideas that kept me occupied all weekend. Isaw the Red Cavalry Marsch on the web and thought they were bollocks, but having had a chance to read them there are some top ideas, I have produced a variation on them that I shall be running out for a SCW game this Tuesday, and I have just sent off for a load of RCW stuff from Peter Pig. Very interested in back copies, let me know how much and availability and I shall order them along with some of the rules, Cross of Iron, Panzerknacker etc. Finally, EDNA, I have got the basic idea, ever decreasing number allocation I seem to remeber from an article five million years ago about blowing up some fort gates, but where can I get the ultimate definition of how it works, as you guys clearly have the systems tatooed on your important parts, whereas a thick Johnny-come-lately like me is left a bit in the dark? By the way my wife is blaming you for a) a lost weekend spent reading the Gauntlet, and b) a hole in the bank account for the RCW stuff. I shall giveher your address. You poor poor sod. Cheers, Richard Clarke Hello Mark Re: Gauntlet 12. Flaschmann is, as ever, excellent. My favourite in each issue. Rolf Hedges Bandera Miniatures (SCW) & Liberation Miniatures (moderns) are rapidly producing some lovely figures. New ranges are appearing weekly. The Iraqis are very nice, as are the PLO and the Egyptians. Serbs, both regular JNA types and irregular militias, have been produced. I understand Croats are to follow, as well as (eventually) my favourite - Iranians. I need more Pasdaran for my human wave assault tactics. Chosin Few - I have some Outpost Miniatures 20mm Chinese and US (very nice figures), but do you know if the Caliver Books figures are of suitable size to fit in with these? I look forward to Pusan to Punmanjom. I agree with Graham Minshaw's comments on Peter Pigs SCW figures. They DO need more bayonets, but they're still nice figures. IT Figures - rapidly improving. Their early (WW2) figures were ok, but the last WW1 figures I saw (German stormtroops) were spot on! Like Chris Scruton I'm also in to the more obscure campaigns/wars. Spartacus Rebellion, the Freikorps... these are suitable figures. LKM make some generic Chinese figures suitable for 1930-60, some are better than others. Check 'em out though. Full Plastic Bodybag I saw in its earlier Colonial marines form. Interesting... Saving Private Ryan - not had chance to read it fully yet, but looks ok on a quick scan. Better go now. All the best, Geoff Barker Dear Mark Sorry it`s taken so long to send my subscription, been a busy Xmas. Not bothered about the erratic publication dates as each issue gets better and better. Superb magazine, have bought Plains Indian Wars figures to fight 'Little Battle At Big Hole' from a few issues ago. Even spent a bloody fortune on Mexican / Foreign Legion figures from Wargames Foundry to fight 'Camerone' scenario (issue 10). So don`t come to Bournemouth 'cause my missus wants a word . . . . .! Thanks for all your effort and keep up the good work. Yours . . . Lee Staines Uh-oh, two married women after me. I wasn`t even that successful when I was single! Dear Mark Thanks for the "The Odd Angry Shot" (from G10) it was particularly interesting as "I spent a bit of time" in Rhodesia during the bush war, and have always thought about transfering my experiences onto the table top. Having said that, the aspect of "good taste" comes into play when you have been directly involved, and this has always held me back. Possibly that is my excuse for the fact that I have never really developed a system that allows me to recreate the conflict on the tabletop. I have, however, run a number of large scale committee games based around operations in the eastern highlands which have given the players a real insight into the frustrations of running a counter-insurgency campaign. A few points that I thought might be of interest and some questions are as follows. From a Rhodesian perspective, I never went south so I can't comment for the SADF, tracking of the nature you outline was generally carried out by specialist units, such as PATU (Police Anti Terrorist Unit) or specific BSAP or Army trackers. The SAS or Selousies may get involved if a particularly large group had been identified or a high profile atrocity had been carried out, but Troopies from regular units such as RLI or RAR would have been held back for airbourne react duties (Fireforce) once the 'terrs had been located. What a set of rules needs to do is combine the tracking aspect that you have set out with a Fireforce system that allows the security forces to insert stop groups and sweep lines. Generally the tracker unit would take something of a back seat role once Fireforce insertion had occured (trackers were harder to train than troopies I guess!). Secondly, and this is difficult, the system needs to allow the 'terrs to react in a realistic fashion and also in a gameable way. This is difficult. Yes 'terrs did stand and fight, but only when they had their backs to the wall, the rest of the time it was live to fight another day. My problem with the period is that is you play a multi-player solo game, with an umpire controlled group of 'terrs then some of the players will be left in a stop line doing nothing all game. Tedious as hell! I would be interested to hear your thought on this. A couple of quick points. I beleive that "Brick" is a British Army term and was not used in Rhodesia. When you refer to 'terrs "bombing" I would suggest that "bombshell" is the correct term, although the SA's may have abreviated that, they couldn't get much right. All the Best Robert Clarkson Thanks for the detailed feedback Robert. I gave 'Odd Angry Shot' a nominal setting in Southern Africa to pin it down, in order to develop certain aspects, such as the tracking; hoping that readers would use all or parts of the system for other conflicts such as Vietnam, Malaya, Central America or even Ireland in the 1920`s. The ambush system alone bears up well in any C20th situation. Currently I`m trying to develop a set of 'realistic' FireForce rules, i.e. which are operationally correct and not just rules for Alouette helicopters, AK47`s and FN Rifles which happen to be set in Africa. Unfortunately, I am stuck by exactly the difficulties you mention. 'Brick' is indeed a British Army term, sorry burned into my skull - 'Stick' is correct for Rhodesian/SADF troops. Back to The Gauntlet No. 16 Table of Contents Back to The Gauntlet List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Craig Martelle Publications This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com