Pre-game Briefing   Black September: The Jordanian Civil War, September 1970     By 1970, 66% of the population of Jordan was Palestinian.  Driven out by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank during the 1967 War, the Palestinians settled into refugee camps throughout Jordan.  Also, the Jordanian economy was in a shambles since the country lost a significant amount of agricultural gross national product due to the loss of the West Bank.  This resulted in Jordan’s inability to adequately care for their “guests”.  As a result of this, the Palestinians became increasingly restless.  They started to ignore the laws and talk of Prince Hussein’s assassination.  Into this scene burst Yasser Arafat who promised his people a land of their own.  The only thing was that he did specify where this land was.   The situation worsened as Arafat’s PLO became increasingly belligerent.  Terrorist attacks started to direct the world’s attention to the plight of the Palestinians.  A splinter group of the PLO, led by George Habash, had hijacked 5 airline planes and forced 4 of them to land at Dawson’s Field in Jordan where they were blown up.  The fifth was blown up in Cairo airport.  Their demands were the freedom of PLO prisoners in Switzerland, England and Germany.  During this time, there were two assassination attempts of Prince Hussein.  Things finally came to a head on September 15, 1970 when Arafat declared the northern Jordanian city of Irbid “liberated” and no longer under Jordanian control.  Hussein had had enough and ordered the military to take back the city.  The attack was scheduled for September 16th, but Hussein’s sister-in-law’s fortune teller in London proclaimed that Sept.16th was inauspicious.  Hussein therefore planned the attack on Sept.17th.  The resistance crumbled immediately and Irbid was “cleaned” of Palestinians.    In retaliation, on September 23rd, the Syrian army sent 300 tanks from the mechanized brigade of the 5th Infantry Division across the border many of which displayed the PLO emblem.  In response, the Jordanian 60th Armored Brigade was sent to intercept them.  What followed was a brief but bitter battle of Syrian T-55’s versus Jordanian M-48A2C1’s.  The Syrians then broke off contact and withdrew back over the border. Hussein then ordered the expulsion of all Palestinians from Jordan.     It is to note that prior to the battle, Prince Hussein secretly met with Israeli prime minister Golda Meir to try to arrange a peace treaty but failed.  However, Henry Kissinger was adamant that the Israeli’s should help the Jordanians if pro-Palestinian foreign intervention occurred.  But Richard Nixon discouraged this.  This scenario explores the possibility of Kissinger getting his way with Israeli intervention.

Pre-game Briefing Black September: The Jordanian Civil War, September 1970 By 1970, 66% of the population of Jordan was Palestinian. Driven out by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank during the 1967 War, the Palestinians settled into refugee camps throughout Jordan. Also, the Jordanian economy was in a shambles since the country lost a significant amount of agricultural gross national product due to the loss of the West Bank. This resulted in Jordan’s inability to adequately care for their “guests”. As a result of this, the Palestinians became increasingly restless. They started to ignore the laws and talk of Prince Hussein’s assassination. Into this scene burst Yasser Arafat who promised his people a land of their own. The only thing was that he did specify where this land was. The situation worsened as Arafat’s PLO became increasingly belligerent. Terrorist attacks started to direct the world’s attention to the plight of the Palestinians. A splinter group of the PLO, led by George Habash, had hijacked 5 airline planes and forced 4 of them to land at Dawson’s Field in Jordan where they were blown up. The fifth was blown up in Cairo airport. Their demands were the freedom of PLO prisoners in Switzerland, England and Germany. During this time, there were two assassination attempts of Prince Hussein. Things finally came to a head on September 15, 1970 when Arafat declared the northern Jordanian city of Irbid “liberated” and no longer under Jordanian control. Hussein had had enough and ordered the military to take back the city. The attack was scheduled for September 16th, but Hussein’s sister-in-law’s fortune teller in London proclaimed that Sept.16th was inauspicious. Hussein therefore planned the attack on Sept.17th. The resistance crumbled immediately and Irbid was “cleaned” of Palestinians. In retaliation, on September 23rd, the Syrian army sent 300 tanks from the mechanized brigade of the 5th Infantry Division across the border many of which displayed the PLO emblem. In response, the Jordanian 60th Armored Brigade was sent to intercept them. What followed was a brief but bitter battle of Syrian T-55’s versus Jordanian M-48A2C1’s. The Syrians then broke off contact and withdrew back over the border. Hussein then ordered the expulsion of all Palestinians from Jordan. It is to note that prior to the battle, Prince Hussein secretly met with Israeli prime minister Golda Meir to try to arrange a peace treaty but failed. However, Henry Kissinger was adamant that the Israeli’s should help the Jordanians if pro-Palestinian foreign intervention occurred. But Richard Nixon discouraged this. This scenario explores the possibility of Kissinger getting his way with Israeli intervention.

On our GameDay of January 14, 2023. I hosted a Bolt Action 2 Palau Island Assault scenario covering the landing on Ngesebos Island. Background Negesebos is a small island northwest of Pelelieu and connected by a 600-foot wooden walkway built upon an underlying sand bar. Negesebos had a fully functional airstrip built by the Japanese. It is to note that the Japanese were given the Palau Islands as a Protectorate Mandate after the First World War. They therefore occupied Pelelieu and Ngesebos Islands for over 20 years prior to the Marine invasion. They had plenty of time to fortify these islands. The Marines found they were walking into the middle of a hornet’s nest after the invasion started. The Players and OOB USMC – Dick O’Hagan (for real!), Brandon Kordek and Bob Denny. The USMC had: 5x Veteran Reinforced USMC squads 1 NCO with SMG 11 Riflemen 1 Infantryman with BAR 1 Bazooka Team 1st Lt. with pistol 1xChaplain 1xJeep 3 x M4A1 Shermans 3x LVT(A)-4 with 37mm Turret 1x Ronson version LVT(A)-4 1x T10 with 75mm gun IJA – Tim Coakley, Sam Wilson and Sam Barker. The Japanese had: 4x Veteran Infantry squads 1 NCO 7 Infantry with rifle 3x Veteran Infantry squads 1 NCO 6 Infantry with rifle 1 Infantry with LMG 2x Medium Mortar Teams 2x Suicide Anti-tank teams 1x Sniper Team 2x MMG in log bunkers 2x Ha-Go light tanks 1x Shinhoto Medium tank 1x Night Infiltrator squad 1x 75mm Mountain gun 1x 47mm AT gun 7x log bunkers Set-Up Marines started from their long board edge in the water. All LVT’s were able to carry one squad. The USMC players had an option of unloading the squad once ashore then pick up another squad. Or they untransported troops could appear in the shallow water along the board edge. The IJA were all hidden and considered on Ambush orders. The IJA players could place any unit on the board from any USMC squad/vehicle and open fire during the USMC’s movement. The first time they are exposed the IJA must role of the Bombardment Table to see their level of suppression/damage. Once placed, they remained on the board for the whole game. The Game Turn One – The LVT(A)’s slowly churned their way through the surf. No IJA fire was occurred. Turn Two -as the LVT(A)’s hit the beach they began to unload their troops. Sam Barker opened up on his right flank and suppressed the infantry with a MMG in a log bunker. The 47mm shot at the LVT(A) but missed.. SamW fired at Bob’s Ronson but missed. Turn Three – SamB opened up with a MMG in a log bunk and killed more marines and further suppressed them. He fired at the LVT(A) but missed. Dick’s LVT(A)’s continued their procession forward. On the USMC’s right flank, Brandon fired with his Ronson and a gout of flames enclosed SamW’s 47mm AT gun in the long bunker. All of the crew were destroyed. Turn Four – SamW repopulated his 47mm AT gun and fired a revenging shot at the Ronson only to see it sail overhead of the Ronson and explode harmlessly in the shallow water. Brandon then advanced one of his 37mm LVT(A)’s and fired upon SamW, killing the entire crew of SamW’s 47mm AT gun. In the middle of the American’s line, SamB deployed his Sniper and took out one of Dick’s flamethrowers. Not to be deterred, Dick charged his Marines into Tim’s newly deployed group of Japanese infantry at the jungle’s edge and behind a rock wall. A fierce melee broke out that pitted 7 Marines vs 6 Japanese. To make up for SamW’s unlucky dierolls, Tim was able to beat back the marines by his outnumbered Japanese. Turn Five – SamB fired with his 47mm AT gun again but this time Lady Luck was with him and he scored a direct hit onto Dick’s LVT(A) 37mm. It exploded with an orange plume and burned into the night. SamW exposed his Type 95 Ha-Go light tank but did no damage. The USMC continued their slow plod up onto the beach and reached the edge of the jungle. On their right flank, Bob’s Shermans began to penetrate into the jungle. Turn Six – SamW was feeling very vengengeful so he popped up his Shinhoto special medium tank and shot at the Ronson. His luck had apparently changed since he scored a direct hit onto the Ronson and blew it apart! Unfortunately we ran out of time so we had to call the game. I proclaimed a draw since the USMC still had 9 turns to burn, but the IJA reeked much damage upon the American. There were non-rules mechanics of which I took notes on and we discussed scenario dependent rules which would improve playtime. We will revisit Ngesobos sometime again this year!

The featured game at our club meeting on Saturday, December 10, was a Battlefleet Gothic battle. It was Scenario Two in the Battlefleet Gothic Remastered rulebook named “The Bait”. It portrayed an element of 2 Imperial Cruisers fleeing from a large pursuing force of Chaos ships. But unbeknownst to Chaos, there was a hidden Imperial counterforce coming to their aid. Backround: Imperial spies had reported the presence of a powerful Chaos talisman on the planet Miix. Rumors had it that this talisman was capable of foretelling the future. Its name was the Pleasure Toe Ring of Drak’hmar. A plan was formulated to insert an Inquisition Assassin Kill Team onto the planet to steal the ring. This they did. And the team rendezvoused with the two Imperial ships hiding on the dark side of an adjacent planet. However, a rogue psysker on Miix felt a bestial scream within warp space. A Chaos wizard was summoned and found that the toe ring was gone. Just before the rogue psyker was executed, he cast his conscience into the warp and revealed the location of the two Imperial ships retreating to home space. An attack fleet was immediately dispatched. This fleet consisted of the battleship “Emperor’s Testicle”, the battlecruiser “Bringer of Despair” and the cruisers “Chaos Eternus”, “Soulless”, “Hellspace” and “Injustice”. Along the Imperial escape route was a verdant planet Romney Place IV. On the dark side of it was hidden an Imperial Strike Fleet to unleash an ambush on the unsuspecting Chaos Fleet. This fleet included the battleship “Cardinal Boras” with its escort “Gold I”, the cruisers “Hammer of Justice” and “Zealous” and the light cruisers “Abdiel” and “Uziel”. Imperial spies had reported that the Chaos Sorcerer Hamilbran was aboard the “Emperor’s Testicle”. Not only would the Imperials have a chance to destroy the “Emperor’s Testicle” once and for all, but the Chaos Sorcerer could finally be dispatched forever. The SetUp: The Imperials started with the heavy cruiser “Hammer of Light” and the cruiser “Justicar” placed 12 spaces from the Chaos short board edge. On turn one, the Chaos forces would enter from their board edge. There were 6 ships of the Chaos Fleet entered the board on their edge after the Imperials moved. The Game: Turn One – Commodore Denny on his flagship “Hammer of Light” ordered ‘Full Ahead’ when his chief science officer announced she just picked up the signatures of the pursing Chaos fleet. Unfortunately, the helm did not respond. It appeared that an ethereal mynock had entered into the exhaust stack of one of the engines as they traversed warpspace. This allowed the Chaos fleet to quickly close the distance. Hamilbran barked out orders to fire all Lances at once in between biting off the heads of some tasty pokina birds. As the lasers cut through the ether, multiple hits were scored on the “Hammer of Light”. Its shields blocked some but could not stop 3 hits. Kapitan Ignacio Vilasoni aboard the “Abdiel” and cried out ‘Full Ahead’. However, his servisor droid reminded him that the order to attack was not yet issued by Imperial Commander Willows before his head exploded from a blaster round from Ignacio. You see, Ignacio’s cloned quarter brother was killed during the Lokhar Incident on Regulus Prime by Hamilbran. Turn Two – Commodore Denny ordered ‘Full Ahead’ after the pesky mynock carcass was removed. But the concussive field produced by the shields’ energy absorption form the enemy Lances slowed the ship down. The “Emperor’s Testicle” shot out its Lances again and scored 3 more hits on the “Hammer of Light”. Hamilbran smiled as he belched after swallowing his third bird. Not to be out done, Barkma Khan of the “Injustice” fired a mighty salvo from his guns and scored 4 hits of the “Justicar” and turned it into a drifting hulk. In the meantime, the ambushing Imperial ships endeavored to get into position. Turn Three – the “Hammer of Light” still tried to increase the range between them and the Chaos fleet. The “Injustice” fired a salvo and scored 3 hits on the “Abdiel”. Seeing an easy kill, Hamilbran ordered his “Emperor’s Testicle” to unleash its Lances. This proved too much for the “Abdiel” as it vaporized into millions of pieces. Turn Four – to avenge the “Abdiel” the “Zealous” launched a full barrage of torpedoes only to have them miss. The “Hammer of Light” still sought safety at their board edge. Turn Five – with rapidity, the “Bringer of Despair” unleashed a broadside onto the hapless “Gold 1” and it, too, was no more. Then the “Emperor’s Testicle” fired its Lances yet again and destroyed the “Uziel” Turn Six – the massacre continued as the “Soulless” shot at and destroyed the “Hammer of Justice”. But all was not lost since the “Hammer of Light” was able to exit the board. Aftermath: The Chaos Fleet turned for home after destroying 5 Imperial ships. It was a strategic victory for them. As for the Imperials, the “Hammer of Light” and “Cardinal Boras” returned to Rostov II and the Pleasure Toe Ring was handed over to the Inquisition. One could only guess as to what they had planned for it.

This is a pix of Turn 3 of Erewhon Gothic Horror that we left standing since the end of July. The Nosferatu split up. Edgett, the older of the 2, charged into the Monks of St. Donald's while Pierre charged into the Polizei. What ensued were 2 ferocious melees. I have been painting BFG furiously. Here is a long view of all of the ships that I have painted to date. The Imperial Fleet is fleshing out nicely. A Retribution class BB. Lunar class CA. A Murder class Chaos cruiser is caught in a Nova Cannon burst. A shield is falring when hit on the chaos flagship "The Emperor's Testicle" Imperial Transports. I am now working on fighter, bombers and assault ships.

Many of you have heard me talking about the 20th Anniversary Edition of GW's Battlefleet Gothic (BFG). Well I searched the internet to see what was out there. To my happy surprise I found a plethora of BFG ships in the old OOP metal and the new 3d printed plastic. After two weeks of almost constant painting, I finished my first fleet: a 1920 point Chaos Invasion Fleet. Here is a picture of it on a Hotz mat that I purchased over 20 years ago. The ships move in multiples of 5cm. Each square is 5cm. I had 4 huge fleets which I painted in 2002 but never played the game. I sold them off at various conventions over time. But the BFG bug got me again after I downloaded and started to read the BFG Rules and Fleets Remastered. Together, these tomes add up tp 700 pages! After I started painting them, I remembered how much fun I had painting in the detail on these superb models. The next pix is a 3d printed Repulsive Grand Cruiser. Next is a 3d printed Despoiler battleship. The price of an OOP original GW Despoiler is $99.00. The 3d printed one is only $17.00 and is just as detailed as the original. I treated myself to an original, boxed Desolator Battleship to be my Flag Ship. I dickered with the seller and got it down to $64.00. The model is metal and is so heavy I had to mount it using a 1/4" sheet metal screw driven through a fender washer. I went crazy on the detail, but am quite happy with it. Here is another view of it. The skulls were finnicky but well worth the effort! This is an "unofficial" ship which is a Chaos Idolator Raider with a launch deck. 3d printed of course. Next are some classic metal Raiders. I am now starting on my Imperial Fleet. Attached to it will be a Gray Knights Battle Barge of the Inquisition. Can't wait to see how that comes out. Anyone interested in getting into BFG Remastered, please lmk. The space mat is set up and I am anxious to blast off!

My brother has been showing off his new 3D resin printer. So he printed me 4 LVT(A)'s and a T-12 for my Palau Island Assault Campaign. These are the models. I printed up some custom decals so each LVT(A) has a nickname. Three of them are armed with 37mm AT gun. He also printed up 2 extra howitzer turret variants. Here is the same LVT(A) as the above with the howitzer turret. Here is the Ronson equipped flamethrower variant. I have also been expanding my 28mm Eastern Renaissance battle set with a 16 man unit of Wallachian Voynuk halberdiers. Since we are still in the throes of an ongoig pirate campaign, I pained up another captain. This figure is from Old Glory's 'Figure of the Month' club which I got years ago and recently found. Lastly, my brother set me an IJA light gun with crew. This will see combat in the Island Campaign. That's all for now. Did anyone say "A Billion Suns"?

The Pirate Bug still has in its grasp, so I have been expanding my armies by painting up the Firelock Games Native American army box. Here are some pix. I put some hefty sails on the Piragua to make it more seaworthy. I have also painted up more Spanish pirates. On the other side of the island, a Spanish Sloop has landed and disgorged its soldiers to the rear of the pirates. The next game will involve extricating the pirates from the jaws of the Natives/Spanish army. Many of you know that Gothic Horror is a pet project of mine. I am presently converting the Vampire Wars stats to the Erewhon system. In order to properly playtest, I needed to set up the proper terrain. Hence, I resurrected my City of Bodenburg to set the stage. Here are some pix. When I first saw these at a past H-Con I fell in love with them. I purchased the whole city from MBA. Unfortunately, the boxes took up all the room in my car's rear seat, so one of my travel buddies, Jim Gursha, had to find an alternate ride home! Here, the alarm was sounded that 2 Nosferatu were sighted in St. Biden's Cemetery. The pastor of St. Donald's Church immediately dispensed 2 clerical anti-vamp hit squats to deal with the supernatural threat. Not to be out done, the local Burgermeister, sent out the Polizei to help out. Here are the nefarious Nosferatu! St. Biden's Cemetery The stage is set. Word gets out to the townspeople. Here they wait in the town square to hear from BurgerMeister Meisterburger. The Burgermeister gives his spiel. The town councilor stands by his side to make sure the Burgermeister doesn't put his foot in his mouth........again!! With the gathering of the townsfolk, some enterprising gustatorial purveyors offer some comfort food for sale. A good vigilante posse should have a full stomach of pidgeon pie and ale before taking on a supernatural villain! Anyone interested in playtesting this scenario, please contact me. All are welcome. Please don't forget to bring the garlic!