AAR : 2016.3 Battle on the Mississippi

July 9th the crew once again gathered for the Battle on the Mississippi. This time a 1700 point mid-war tournament. We’re certainly in the middle of summer and attendance was a bit off. We thank those that made it out, and we sure understand the many, “I’ve got plans but otherwise I’d sure be …” responses.

With a bit of a smaller tournament it always seems nice that things can be a bit more relaxed. It didn’t mean that we skimped out on our preparations tho!

Thanks to Deaf Ears Records in LaCrosse WI as our hosts. Thanks to Chuck Hiner, Tom Gall, Bill Wojahn, Matt Vach and of course Battlefront for prize support.

We were able to do Red on Blue all day thankfully as we had an even number of Axis and Allied players.

The crew put together some great looking fun tables to play on :

It may be hot outside…

Certainly you’ll cross that bridge when you get to it…

Bloody Hill (and it was)

Sandstorm!

All that rubble….

This is one of my favorite tables just for the fact of the custom built fields that Chuck Hiner has made. Makes for a very pretty country side.

Round 1 Mission Breakthrough:

Chuck Hiner 6-1, Brain McLaughlin 1-6
Jim Bodine 6-1, Collin Chouinard 1-6
Jason Hobbs 6-1, Bill Wojohn 1-6
Mike Mathews 5-2, Tom Gall 2-5
Pat Barkuloo 5-2, Matt Vach 2-5

Round 2 Fighting Withdrawal:

Pat Barkuloo 5-2, Chuck Hiner 2-5
Mike Mathews 6-1, Jason Hobbs 1-6
Brain McLaughlin 4-3, Tom Gall 3-4
Jim Bodine 5-2, Bill Wojohn 2-5
Collin Chouinard 1-2, Matt Vach 2-1

Bloody Hill earns it’s name.

Round 3 Free for All:

Pat Barkuloo 6-1, Jason Hobbs 1-6
Jim Bodine 1-2, Mike Mathews 2-1
Collin Chouinard , 4-3 Chuck Hiner 3-4
Tom Gall 5-2, Bill Wojohn 2-5
Brain McLaughlin 4-3, Matt Vach 3-4

Russians vs Italians in the streets.

Brian and Matt fighting it out. As I recall it came down to a Company morale roll

Overall Scores:

1 st Place Pat Barkuloo 15, Finns Infantry Best Overall
2nd Best Axis Mike Mathews 13 Italian Infantry Best Axis
3d Jim Bodine 12, Russian Infantry Best Allies
4. Chuck Hiner 12 Russian Armor
5. Collin Chouinard 10 German Mechanized
6. Brain McLaughlin 10 German Infantry “Best Painted Army”
7. Tom Gall 10 Russian Armor “T-Rex Bad Dice Roll”
8. Matt Vach 9 Russian Armor
9. Jason Hobbs 8 Untied States Amour “Best Sportsman”
10. Bill Wojohn 5 German Infantry

The overall winner and Champion, Patrick Barkuloo

Michael Mathews, best Axis General running Italians

Jim Bodine, the best Allied General running Russian Infantry

Brain McLaughlin was awarded the Best Painted army, this is an award where the participants choose the winner.

Jason Hobbs was awarded the Best Sportsmanship as again selected by the players.

And last, me, with the low die roll and the story of 4 bog rolls in a row for SU85s that were all entirely stuck in the woods. Can’t wait to pass this one on to someone else.

Till next time!  We anticipate it’ll be in September or more likely October and a late war tournament at that. Stay tuned!