The 2024 US Election - the game

 John had already run a game on the selection of President Biden successors, so it seemed logical to do one on the election. By great skill and planning we managed to run it on election night itself and the following day. Part 1 covered the campaign and election, while Part 2 covered the aftermath of the election results. 

It was run as a matrix/committee game for half a dozen  players or more. Sadly on the day we were short on numbers, so Micheal played Donald Trump, Mark was JD Vance and Elon Musk, while I was Kampala Harris, Waltz and Joe Biden. It is quite hard work running multiple characters at once! 

The game was structured in the same way as our other political matrix games. I'm afraid these aren't very photogenic however. The key to the whole thing this time was rather daunting spreadsheet below.

This listed all the states, their projected shares of the vote and calculations showing the impact on the electoral college, Congress and Senate elections. 

Player actions could impact the vote shares in individual states as well as the overall national vote share, as well as the other impacts of their actions. While this sounds rather dull, in fact it was very exciting and we all spent much of the game peering at tiny percentage splits in the critical swing states. I felt like Toby in "The West Wing".  It also helped develop a much better understanding of how the US electoral system works, and safe to say, it has just as many oddities and idiosyncracies as ours. Many of these are to do with the various compromises agreed between the States and the Federal Government about who has power to do what. 

I won't bore you with a blow by blow account in the absence of photos, but just a quick summary. In the campaign phase (the first 10 turns or so) both sides deployed most of their resources to campaigning in the swing states with Musk and Biden focussing on national issues. Various mishaps happened along the way, including the inevitable (failed) assassination attempt on Trump, which was a catastrophe for the Democrats as it boosted his standing considerably. However come election day, Harris squeaked in with a majority of the popular vote and wafer thin majorities in the two of the key swing states, 274 plays 262. The thing which swung it was the overall national vote thanks to a good Biden campaign, whereas Musk was lacklustre at best. It was just enough to tip the swing states over the margin.

Some of the majorities were fractions of a percent, to both sides, and in the post election phase (turns 11 to 18 or so) we had various re-counts. The critical state turned out to be Nevada, 6 electoral college votes, Democrat by 0.10% The state house was blockaded by Proud Boys, the National Guard escorted the electors inside but one of them cast their vote for the Republicans and not the Democrats, a 'faithless elector'. In the end the result was allowed to stand rather than inflame the situation further, which still left the Democrats on 273 when it was time to count the votes in the Capitol. 

JD Vance pulled a blinder however, and moved that the entire Nevada vote should be discounted due to the faithless elector. This would take the Dems down to 269, and require the house to vote on who get to be President. A brilliant move on Vance's part, as although the Dems had the majority of Congress seats, the Presidential vote is by State. The Republicans had a big majority of states.

The motion fell however, and Kamala Harris was duly elected President.

What a great game, very clever indeed and utterly absorbing.  It also demonstrated how tiny swings in the vote could make a huge difference to the electoral college votes, and the uselessness of wargames as predictive tools. Obviously irl it turned out the polls were miles off and Trump swept the board. "Its the economy stupid" as Reagan famously quipped, and this time "the border" as well. Something Kier Starmer might want to keep in mind for 2029. 

Desert Shermans and some extra desert crews

 The last bit of desert armour on my painting list were some Shermans for El Alamein and onwards. Some years ago I picked up a very, very cheap PSC 'US Tank Company' boxed set at Triples, which really has been the gift which goes on giving. It is still stuffed with unbuilt Shermans, Stuarts and halftracks, the Shermans helpfully being all varieties except Fireflies.

I just wanted three desert Shermans. PSC supply separate sand shields for their cast hull Shermans, and a range of turrets and mantlets. As ever with PSC they are lovely crisp mouldings with hardly any flash and went together perfectly.

There seem to have been a mix of small and large mantlet Shermans supplied to 8th Army, so I did two wide wide mantlets like this one and one narrow. The sand shields have to be glued on as separate pieces, but mercifully they fit well and there are some tiny locating lugs to help position them.

Lots of stowage is provided so I mixed it up on the different vehicles so they all look similar, but not identical with variations on spare wheels, tracks, tarps, jerry cans etc. I omitted the AAMG on the commanders tank and also did it with a narrow mantlet.

I painted them all in desert pink with three variations on the 'official' disruptive black camo scheme taken from various photographs of vehicles. As with the stowage, they all look similar, but not identical. I finished them off with an ink wash and a light drybrush of pale sand to pick out the highlights.

As I was doing some desert stuff, I did another QRF Grant I had in stock. This one also got the jazzy sand/brown/white camo scheme as I think it looks rather smart. So now I have two plain Grants, and two camouflaged. 

While I was doing some modelling, I also added a few bits and pieces of crew. One of my Vickers Lights got a commander, in this case a PP tank commander in sidecap. I just filed off the top of the cupola and cut the figure down until it was flush. I painted the top of the hatch cover black and just stuck the figure on. I didn't bother to model the open hatches as they would be tiny and vulnerable to being knocked off.

Although the PP figures are on the beefier side, it makes you realise just how tiny the Vickers is. It really is just a Bren Carrier with a turret. Many years ago I converted an Airfix carrier into a Vickers, the chassis is almost identical. 

I also did some drivers for my QRF 15cwt CMP trucks. These are all PP figures, somewhat misleadingly labelled as 'Seated British' when in fact they all have moulded on steering wheels, I'd hoped for some seated figures with rifles. Anyway, the trucks didn't have cast on steering wheels, and after cutting off most of the figures legs and lower bodies I managed to get them into the cabs OK with the wheels positioned behind the dashboard. They look much better with drivers.

I do slightly regret getting these as they are horrible models, but I couldn't quite face building a bunch of PSC 15cwt trucks at the time. They look OK now I guess. 

That is pretty much it for the 15mm Desert stuff now, the 'desert armour' box is completely full. I need to add some drivers to a few more German vehicles, but I'll do that as and when needed and couple more Italian bits. I'm basically back to just doing bits and pieces now, which I much prefer to the big batch paints. I've realised I 'need' a Nashorn and a couple of Hetzers for a scenario and I also need more US transport, some more recovery vehicles and ambulances and maybe some M3 GMC Tank Destroyers, so plenty of other stuff to do yet.

Uniforms of the World

 There are a few semi-mythical wargamers reference books, the Funcken uniform guides, Jentzs 'Panzertruppen' Volumes 1 & 2, Chamberlain and Doyle etc. , but one I never thought I'd acquire was "Uniforms of the World" by Knotel, Knotel and Sieg.

Anyway, thanks to a pointer from John A, this thudded onto my doormat recently, all 483 pages of it. A comprehensive uniform guide for 50 countries and as many again of German and Italian states covering over 200 years. Apparently eBay is awash with these at very affordable prices, I really can't think why as it is such a great book.

It does show its age a bit, it was first published in 1896 and this is the 1956 edition, revised in 1967, which goes up to uniforms of 1937 so early/pre WW2. It reminds me very much of some other 1970s/80s uniform guides in that it has line illustrations and endless lists of regimental uniform distinctions. I suppose it isn't exactly packed with eye candy, but it is packed with very useful information, all in one place.

So, if you really want to know about Serbian Army uniforms of the 1890s (who doesn't!) , or the cuff lace colour for Anhalt Jagers in 1848, then this is the book for you.

I imagine it has some errors and omissions, but it is good enough for the sorts of things I am likely to need it for and it is pretty comprehensive (the German States alone cover 120 pages.). Coupled with the various colour plate guides I already have, it is plenty to cover the specific regimental variations.

The Borisovka Pocket

 This is the last battle in the current series covering the battles west of Belgorod between 5th Guards Army, 1st Tank Army and German LII Corps in early August 1943 using my One Hour WW2 rules. 

By 6th August 1943 the Germans had been forced out of Tamarovka and retreated down the Vorshla valley to Borisvoka. The German right flank had completely collapsed by now and contact was lost with Armee Abeitlung Kempf, so the Russians were able to outflank the Germans to the east. Threatened with encirclement and annihilation, 19th Panzer, 255th and 322nd Infantry Divisions tried to break out.

An obvious scenario to base this game on is Neil Thomas's 'raid' (iirc) where a small force has to march from one side of the map to the other while various enemy forces close in on all sides. 

Battlefield from the south. A fairly featureless plain east of the Vorshla with the main road/rail link running north-south. The major features are Hill 106 dimly visible in the northeast, a couple of streams bisecting the landscape, the woods in the southeast and a couple of small villages.

The initial situation, not much on the table at all!

There are columns of German transport fleeing down the road.

But north of the stream, 294 Guards Rifle Regiment from 32nd Guards Rifle Corps has occupied Hill 106 and is interdicting the road. The road is littered with burning and hiding transport but German LOC troops are holding off any further Russian advance west. Historically 294GRR couldn't get to the road but brought it under fire.

Simon commands the 294th.

Meanwhile to the northeast are what is left of 255th Infantry Division and 19th Panzer Division, each Regiment organised into battalion sized kampfgruppen.  19th Panzer has an armoured 'regiment' with the remaining tanks and halftracks, while the other 'regiment' is motorised infantry and engineers.

The 255th also has two 'regiments', each the equivalent of a battalion of leg infantry, although the lead regiment is supported by what is left of 52nd Panzer Abteilung. On 6th August it had an operational strength of 6 Panthers.

Bringing up the rear is a battalion of Wespes and a battalion of towed 105mm guns. The rest of the heavy equipment, including over 70 damaged Panthers, has been abandoned. As supplies are short, the artillery only has three fire missions and there is only one supply column. The Luftwaffe is able to mount a few Fw-190 fighter bomber sorties.

The Germans need to motor across the table and get at least two units off the southern road edge. Easy peasy. Mark commands 19th Panzer and Tim 255th Infantry.

However.... 13th Guards Rifle Division has formed a Forward Detachment under Captain Moschenko, which will arrive on the southern edge fairly soon to complete the encirclement. This is centered around 242nd Guards Tank Brigade and 39th Guards Rifle Regiment mounted in lorries. They are supported by a 120mm mortar regiment.

Pete commands the Forward Detachment.

And charging down the road from the north is the entire 31st Tank Corps! Supported by flights of IL-4 bombers.

This Corps is split between Terry and John. Terry has all the tank brigades while John has the motorised ATR battalion and is overall force commander so manages the logistics etc.

31st Tank Corps was the weakest unit in 1st Tank Army, with three tank brigades (100, 237 and 242) but only a motorised anti-tank rifle battalion instead of a motor rifle brigade. It was reinforced with units from a  Tank Destroyer Brigade assigned to 1st Army. The Corps had been largely destroyed at Kursk and rebuilt with Soviet vehicles. Bringing up the rear are two supply columns, but the Corps doesn't have any significant indirect fire assets.

They will arrive in a few turns so the Germans need to get a move on.

On come the Germans.  The 255th heads due south, while 19th Panzer heads for Hill 106! That is quite a bold move. 

Faced with the motorised onslaught, Simon (294 GRR) calls up the entire Russian airforce who duly pound the Panzers. The disruptive camo on the left hand IL4 works really well, you can hardly see it against the tabletop! 

The Germans respond in kind, while the Panzergrenadiers sidestep the hill and head for the river crossing. 

The 255th (Tim) swings southwest and contacts the stream. 

The pounding continues on Hill 106 and the Germans take enough losses to become disorganised. I'm not sure what Mark is hoping to achieve here. 

The Germans reorganise the Panzer, while the Panzergrenadiers capture the bridge intact. The infantry plod on behind parallel to the stream. 

And the Russians keep pounding the panzers. They might have been better off retiring before trying to reorganise. I'm sure bombing those ambulances constitutes some sort of war crime!

Petes Forward Detachment now arrives from the south. It boldly marches northwards to meet the Germans. Everyone is being very aggressive today, personally I'd have dug in around the exit hex, but pushing forwards allows for a delaying action.

Faced with this new threat, the panzergrenadiers at the bridge turn around and Tims guys have now closed up to the stream. They can all advance to engage Pete in lockstep next turn.

The panzer regiment is still stuck on Hill 106 however, once again being resupplied. Those ambulance crews need a medal. The Russians have now suffered enough losses to become disorganised.

Petes troops shake out into line rather than advancing into range of the Germans. Make the Germans come to them. The tank brigade has a ZOC over the road. The 120mm mortar observer is with the tank brigade and the FAC has relocated to the motorised rifle brigade while the Russian airforce bombs up again. These guys are all Guards, so can take six hits each.

And here come the Germans. The panzergrenadiers nip into the woods at the top of the screen.

They are followed by the battered panzers and the 19th Panzer Div HQ. I was rummaging around in the desert armour box anyway and pulled out my Mammut to use as the HQ.

The Russians concentrate their fire on the infantry regiment with the Panthers, which causes enough damage to disorganise them.

The Germans reorganise the Panthers and shoot up the Russian infantry with air and artillery support. Meanwhile the panzergrenadiers grab the exit hex and the panzer regiment rolls across the stream. It looks like it is the Russians who are surrounded now! 

The Russians pile everything back onto the Panthers, including all their bombers.

And 31st Tank Corps comes barrelling down the road, scattering the fleeing German logistic units. There is nothing to stop them as the Germans have left the bridge undefended and didn't attempt to demolish it. 

Faced with this new threat the Germans accelerate their breakout attempt. They are still trying to save the Panthers but two units close in on the Russian motorised infantry. Fire from the panzergrenadiers and artillery is enough to disorganise them.

The Panthers finally succumb to the Russian fire as 31st Tank Corps continues its headlong advance southwards. The leading brigade is now aware of the panzergrenadiers ahead. Most of the the Russians still don't even know what a 'Panther' is in 1943, they were persistently misidentified as Tigers. So "The Tigers are burning!".

Shot in by the 255th, the panzer regiment overruns the Guards motorised infantry, although they take heavy losses in the process. 

The leading brigade of 31st TC opens fire and the other brigades fan out into the open country behind it.

Most critically, Petes 242nd Guards Tank Brigade manages to assault and destroy the already weakened 19th panzer regiment and it occupies the hex.

The situation at the end of turn 8. Things are looking a bit grim for the Germans as I think they will struggle to get two units off now, but stranger things have happened so we shall see.

Reduced to two manouvre units, the Germans don't have many options. The Germans dump all their artillery and fire from the Panzergrenadiers onto Pete's tank brigade, and the 255th slips into the cornfields. The Russian ZOC precludes any further movement. 

For their part, the Russians stand and shoot with everything in range, while the unengaged units manouvre closer. Mark and Tims units are both reduced to half strength and disorganised. 

The Russians missed the chance to move and simply block Tim's infantry in, so the Germans still have an escape route. 

Mark reorganises while the artillery lands on Terry's tank brigade now. No option really as the Germans have to keep the exit hex open. Tims infantry move along the narrow corridor to freedom. 

This is actually a pretty good move as one Russian tank brigade has been suppressed by artillery fire, and now a lot of the Russians are masked by cornfields. 

The Russians fire at what they can see, and having finally sorted out their airforce again, whistle up the bombers. Even with air support, the fire is relatively ineffective. The Panzergrenadiers are hammered, but Tim gets away with just one extra hit. The Russian mortars are out of ammo and need resupply this turn. 

The Germans have a glimmer of hope. 

Once again the ambulance crews reorganise the battered Panzergrenadiers and the German artillery fires, this time to little effect. However the 255th manages to push one more hex and links up with 19th panzer. 

Perhaps final victory is in sight? 

Well, perhaps not. Eagle eyed readers will note another tank brigade has pushed into cornfields  Even though the Red Airforce is absent, the revived Russian mortars and extra tank fire are enough to break the 255th, and the survivors flee across the fields. 

View from 19th Panzer. Now they only have one unit left, the Germans have lost and the remainder withdraw. A well earned victory to the Russians, who responded very effectively to the various German manouvres and focussed on what they needed to do to win. The Germans changed plans halfway through, which with only four units, isn't a luxury they can afford. Mark reflected that he should blocked the road north, as it allowed the Russians to get their tank Corps into action in two turns. 

That is an interesting scenario and I've actually run it a couple of times before in the guise of a German attack in 1941. For the smaller force they have to decide very early on if they are going to try and destroy the unit on the hill or just go for broke and dash for the exit. If they go for the hill they need to mass everything against it, but in any case they need to leave something to block the enemy reinforcements piling on down the road. Whatever happens they are going to have to fight for the exit when the flanking force arrives, and they need enough strength and time to do that.

That was a good game, great fun to umpire and I hope the players enjoyed it. A fitting end to this linked scenario mini campaign, and although I'll come back to the Eastern Front in 1943 at some point, next we are off to new pastures.