This year at Historicon the SJCW ran three games using ATAK Miniatures desert train and miniatures. The scenario was a fight over an oasis. The Germans had two squads and two 37mm ATGs dug in at the oasis. Their reinforcements included a dozen tanks (Pz IIIs and Pz IVs), a recon platoon (222s), two HMGs, and an 88-flak gun. The British entered the board with a recon platoon (jeeps, trucks, etc.), a dozen tanks (grants, honeys, and crusaders), two rifle squads, two HMGs, a 25 pdr, and 2 6 pdrs. A third force was present - a band of camel riding Bedouins whose main purpose was comic relief. The scenario resulted in three very entertaining battles. We received some excellent reviews from the participants. Here's a quick summary of the battles.

The first battle was also the closest. The British rolled onto the board and tried to overwhelm the Germans defending the oasis before they could be reinforced. They had a good attack organized when the sandstorm hit. This negated the advantages of their ATGs, which were deployed so far back that they couldn't spot any targets. However the Germans had no trouble spotting and destroying the hulking Grants. By the time the sandstorm lifted the Germans had swung the momentum and achieved a narrow victory.

Bedouins aution off a field piece.

Game two was a different story. Once again the German defenders were assaulted by a combined force of tanks and infantry that left both sides bloody. The Germans at the oasis managed to destroy two crusaders, the entire British recon platoon and two infantry squads.

The game, however, turned on some lucky dice rolls. The German tank gunnery was abysmal while the British couldn't seem to miss. Soon there was a massive German tank graveyard in the valley. The only hope for the Germans went up in flames when the 88-flak gun fell prey to a miraculous shot from one of the Grants. Firing from clear across the board the Grant dropped a 75mm HE round directly onto the gun, destroying it and routing the crew. The British won a decisive victory.

Game three developed slowly. The German players decided to advance cautiously using the terrain to drive from one hull down position to the next. Unfortunately this left the defenders at the oasis to face the British alone. The British took full advantage and seized control of the oasis. An interesting tank battle developed around the oasis but time constraints prevented us from fighting to a clear resolution. The Bedouins were active in this game. The seized control of the British 25 pdr after the crew was killed and proceeded to "sell" it to both the German and British players. A German officer sent to oversee delivery of the gun mysteriously disappeared.