On Saturday September 9th the Midwest Chapter of the Lard America group ran a fantastic day of demo games at Noble Knight Games in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. These particular Lardies hail from the Windy City, or Chicago for you non-midwesterners. This should help explain the name of the event: Deep Dish Lard Day 2, named in honor the ever-loved Chicago Deep-dish Pizza. Anthony and I made the two-hour trek down to Noble Knight in a jovial mood and we were graced with blue skies and a nice calm morning. I had the pleasure of gaming with these chaps before at Adepticon so I knew I was in for a fun and out of the ordinary day of gaming. If you like what you see, you can see more of their amazing work on their blog : Chitown Wargamers.

Before we jump into what Anthony and I did I want to mention the other games being demo’d by the Chitown Wargamers. If I could have, I would have played them all but time (and my wallet that can’t support three new games{I don’t buy this-Evan}) didn’t allow it. The Chitown guys brought a smattering of games that represented the Too Fat Lardie catalog well.

• What A Cowboy
• Midgard: 100 Years War
• Sharpe Practice : The Battle of Culloden
• Chain of Command: Aubigny France, May 24 1940 in 15mm
• O Group: Attack on Saint Manveiu
• Chain of Command: DMZ
• Chain of Command: Spanish Civil War

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For the morning game session Anthony and I were drawn to the Chain of Command: DMZ table run by Liam Harding. He brought two attractive 20mm forces and a slick firebase set up for us to use. Liam had done his research and he crafted a scenario that included elements that took place at the actual Battle for Hamburger Hill and the fight for the firebase.

“Attack on Firebase Airborne, early morning of May 13th, 1969. The 6th NVA Regiment supported by units of the K-12 Sapper Battalion launched one of the Vietnam war’s bloodiest assaults on an American firebase. Paratroopers of Alpha Co, 2/501st alongside the gunners of Battery C, 2/319th Artillery must fight tooth and nail to prevent their positions from being overrun and destroyed.”

Anthony and Nick took control of the paratroopers and artillery men inside the fence of the firebase. Riley and I took over supervising the assault by the NVA 6th Regiment and the K-12 Sappers. Liam is planning on running the scenario at Adepticon 2024. Our game was one of a series of refining play test games. He informed us that none of the artillery pits had been blown up by the sappers in his previous run throughs. Riley and I knew that had to change.

The NVA were tasked with infiltrating their elite sapper teams inside the wire to destroy as many American structures as possible. Their demolition charges needed a task roll of 4 followed by a roll of 1-4 to detonate. Fighting was at night and line of sight was limited to 12″. Units that had shot their weapons in the previous phase could be seen by their muzzle flashes. Everyone was in at least light cover due to the darkness. All units on both sides were rated as regular except for the three elite, but leaderless, sapper teams. Both sides expected a knife fight amongst the barbed wire and sandbags.

The game began with three breaches in the wire being placed as NVA jump off points. The Americans were allowed to deploy as if they were elite troop using the fire control center and two other command bunkers as JOPs. The firebase was under an artillery barrage from the NVA guns in the adjacent, and higher elevation hills. On turn three a Spectre Gunship would arrive to provide a massive aerial bombardment of the perimeter that would cause the NVA to take a morale check. We had to act fast.

The NVA sappers started strong by blowing up a perimeter bunker using our first command dice. Soon the Americans were able to bring a few troops forward into their firing position. Through the early phases the NVA took a lot of fire but were able to blow up an artillery pit as well. The American dice were favorable and the NVA barrage ended after just 2 phases. This allowed the squads from other areas of the firebase to respond to the breach. The early ceasing of the artillery coupled with a timely US double phase with lots of usable dice slowed the assault to a crawl. The NVA left flank was decimated by the defender’s MMG stationed there. The two remaining sappers near the gun pits were assaulted and one held his ground repulsing the better part of an American squad. He was captured shortly after presumably after being exhausted from his heroics.

In the end the NVA were able to demolish one additional perimeter bunker and used a special rule to surge three squads into the American foxhole line. By this time the Americans had their 105mm howitzers lowered to fire directly on the NVA and were planing to counter charge the intruders. It was a pretty clear victory for the Airborne but everyone enjoyed the run through the jungle.

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In the afternoon session I was able to get in on some Spanish Civil War Chain of Command. Anthony acted as my advisor as he was not feeling the best. It must have been the malaria setting in from the jungles of Vietnam (just kidding, after some aspirin and caffeine he was feeling better). I have eyed the rules and read a good number of battle reports for SCW. Surprisingly I had never felt the pull to jump into this era of the Inter-war period. Liam was apparently fixing to change my mind as he brought two gorgeous forces and a table that was a treat to play on. The game focused on a last stand that took place in the Guadalajara region of Spain in 1937.

“Last stand at Palacio De Ibarra: March 18th, 1937 elements of 1st Dio Lo Voule lead by Commander Alberto Montanari are holed up inside a hunting lodge known as the Palacio de Ibarra. Republican counter attacking forces including the Garibaldi Battalion supported by Paulov’s Tank Company need to clear them out to get into position to retake Brihuega.”

I was fortunate to make a few new friends during this game. Matt and I took control of the reluctant Italian Volunteer garrison. Reid and Nick took command of the Republican Forces looking to oust us. As it turns out Liam and Reid are current Spanish Civil War reenactors. I figured I was in for fun when I noticed Reid sporting a cap from the SCW. While he was setting up the game Liam mentioned in the SCW the piddly Republican T-26 was akin to a Tiger in late war Europe. This concerned Matt and I as the best equipment we had to counter it was an Italian 65/17 light field cannon.

In short, we had an amazing game of Chain of Command. The Republic forces started out highly motivated with a force morale of 11. Our 1st Dio Lo Voule (Italian for “God Wills It”) force was not enthused to be in their predicament and had a force morale of 9. The Republic forces assaulted from the Northern forest and the Western road into the hunting lodge compound. The attack started opened with the T-26 rumbling down the road. A shot from the Italian cannon hit the driver’s vision slit instantly killing him and immobizing the beast. Over several phases shots were traded back and forth resulting in an Italian crewman being killed and the beast being brought down by an extremely well-placed shot (targeting roll of 12).

The Republic forces suffered early on as their leaders bravely lead from the front costing a few junior leaders their life. The Italian defenders continued to take fire as they manned the walls of the small bastion. Eventually Republican forces made a daring charge (rolling 18 on 3d6) and moved to flank the defenders to the East. The battered Italians faced a medium machinegun and riflemen on their exposed flank. In a do or die decision the Italians charged killing several republican soliders after they lobbed dud grenades over the wall. In turn they were wiped out, only the Primo Sergente and his banner man limping away to the courtyard.

The tide turned as the Rupublic forces moved to the lodge walls and began flanking around to the west. The Italian’s morale began to falter and some command dice were lost. In the end the Rupublican forces surged through the front gate, slaying the cannon crew in close combat. The last remaining full strength Dio Lo Voule squad rushed to push the assault back. The resulting final combat dropped the Italain morale to 0… and the Republican forces to 1. Had the Republican leader been killed the game would have been a draw. WOW! It was a game that came down to the wire and what a game it was. There were many laughs, high-fives, and smiles had by Nick, Reid, Matt, Liam, Anthony and me.

Liam’s superb armies are now making me want to start a pair of forces for the Spanish Civil War! Maybe in 2026 when I clear some of my back log. Liam’s miniatures had come from Empress Miniatures if they pique your interest.

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I cannot speak highly enough of Liam Harding, Ed Harding, Paul Scrivens-Smith, Jim Heniff, and the rest of the Midwest Lardies. Every group of players seemed to be enjoying themselves and the games that were offered. The miniatures, terrain, and game mastering were top notch. A big thanks and hats off to them. Also, a big thank you to Noble Knight for hosting the event!

The day wouldn’t have been complete without me absolutely destroying my backlog yet again. But much like a pet, when you have one army you need to have the complimenting one to keep it company. Winter Americans inbound!