Get to the Gunboat!

Knowing that they were being stalked by something, Schaefer set up defences and waited for it to come at them. The trip wires and mines did nothing though and now he decides to get his people the hell out of there and get to the gunboat.

Ahead of them, Hamid drags his hostage through the jungle, angling for the jetty where he trusts his dhow awaits him.

Harper and Carpenter go ashore from the gunboat to make contact with the Marines, while Cook and Kennedy 'hold the fort'. 

Overlooking the Marines' defences, the Hunter is still cloaked

Shore Party makes contact with the Pirates, they race up the hill to get a superior position, but Harper is killed by concerted musketry

Carpenter hunkers down around the corner and tries to come up with a plan to save his life and the hostage

The exultant pirates go to the top of the cliff and display their hostage

The Marines make it to the river bank - from there they open fire on the pirates in the distance, killing a few of Hamid's companions and clipping the hostage's leg

Eyeing up the river crossing, Schaefer has his men take cover behind a rock formation

The Hunter de-cloaks

and leaps down to move towards bridge

Carpenter rushes back up the hill and takes on Hamid's sword with his bayonet

Having no time to finish the slaver, Carpenter scampers back to the foot of the hill and hides in the undergrowth as more pirates arrive on the scene

Hunter tries to cut off the Marines at the bridge, but they're still taking their time crossing the river

Kennedy urges the wounded hostage back to his feet and over to the gunboat - raking the nearby pirates with his tommy gun as he does

Rushing into wreak havoc, the Hunter survives the snapshot from Schaefer as he runs past

Blaine and Billy go down as the Hunter unsheathes wicked wrist blades

Gunfire from Schaefer and Hawkins sees Hunter unscathed, but return fire from the Hunter's shoulder cannon vaporises Schaefer's weapon

Schaefer somehow avoids the Hunter's wrist blades but drive him backwards - he shouts out for Hawkins to run for it!

Hamid has scrambled down the cliff face, ignoring the pain from his leg and making towards the shore - Kennedy watches the carnage ashore and tells Cook to fire up the engines

Schaefer withdraws firing his trusty M1911 but it has no effect and as the Hunter turns towards him Schaefer drops it and raises his fists. The Hunter accepts the challenge and the wrist blades withdraw. Within moments Schaefer goes down crippled, and it's only then that the Hunter notices the rest of his prey is in danger of escaping!

Cook stands guard at the rear, bearing the old reliable Springfield 1903, while Kennedy is at the prow. The hostage has been given a quick tutorial and is at the wheel

Pirate scrambles past crocodile to swim aboard, but instead of making common cause with the sailors, he attacks Cook with his sword (but is dispatched back into the river!)

The Hunter arrives with preternatural speed at the jetty and leaps across to the gunboat!

It guts Cook without too much trouble and looks to enter the engine room

But only gets a faceful of lead from Kennedy for his trouble (destroying its useful mask)

Further fire from Hawkins damages the shoulder cannon and it withdraws back to shore to think again

With no way of chasing the gunboat, the Hunter disappears back into the jungle. Back on the bank of the stream Schaefer struggles to bind his wounds and salvage what he can for his last stand...

Coming Aboard?

Lt. Vanderbolt leads a small gunboat towards the rendezvous point with Gunny Schaefer’s squad, but as they cruise towards the landing point, a dhow slides up behind them, ignoring their hails.

A band of Zanzibari Pirates have been patrolling the area and are aware that their glorious leader has raised the ire of the Americans. They will attempt to prevent any interference by taking control of the boat.

Grant goes aft to challenge the approaching dhow

But the pirates have taken positions ashore as well

In fact, they've set up a small gun overlooking the jetty - it opens fire on the gunboat and Warner, manning the Lewis Gun near the bridge takes a direct hit

Other Zanzibaris converge on the jetty

As Seaman Black and Lieutenant Vanderbolt seek to take control of the prow gun, they are hit by a fusilade of musket fire from the shore

Harper and Carpenter jump to the jetty (avoiding the crocodile lurking below) and open fire on the group nearest - driving them off

Meanwhile, the dhow starts its approach and the pirate aboard open fire, killing Grant - though taking serious return fire from Kennedy's tommy gun

Harper and Carpenter have wiped out the gun crew and turn it on the dhow

Kennedy has been hit by the pirates (dropping his sub-machine gun overboard) and one of the pirates makes it across in an attempt to finish him off

The other group of pirates rush down the jetty and jump aboard

Harper, now hobbling with a gammy leg, rushes towards the shore - he spots that the gunboat is in serious trouble of being taken!

Thankfully he spots that Kennedy has gotten back to his feet, and he points his shotgun back at the remaining crew of the dhow

Kennedy has more than that to contend with - with just a pistol left, he leaps up to the top deck and runs for the bridge

Somehow, Cook and Kennedy defend the bridge against both groups of pirates with just their pistols!

The leader of the Zanzibari pirates run back to his ship

So, it looks like the navy will be able to make the rendezvous with Schaefer after all...

The Hunt - Teaser

A previously unknown warlord has captured two American agents in the port of Zanzibar. A squad of hand-picked Marines is sent ashore and deep into the jungle to rescue them and hunt down the gang of pirates. But in the high African summer, a more dangerous adversary stalks the Devil Dogs…

Play out their daring raid on the pirate fort and a breakneck escape to the waiting boats as the hunters become the hunted.

I'll be running this three-part campaign at Gaelcon at the end of October.

Derring-Do!

Behind Harvey's escapades are the Outfit basing themselves out of Malobo Port (and with deep connections to the Mafia back in the United States). Lt. Commander Newbolt’s mission is to capture or destroy the Outfit’s gunboat moored in the port.  A large demolition charge is available in the launch to be placed aboard the gunboat if it’s capture is not tenable.

Blain’s crew are drinking in the Hook Tavern. Dutch and his men are at a serious poker game in Marcel’s, though Hawkins is aboard the gunboat standing guard. 

Malobo Port is quiet in the small hours of the morning

The docks are cluttered with supplies for the steam-powered vessel, though Hawkins is nowhere to be seen at the moment

The launch, with Newbolt at the prow chugs up river

The short party reaches its destination, a short pier near the vessel - they can see Hawkins walk the docks, though he hasn't heard the launch yet

The launch has glided a little further than planned and collides (gently) with the steamboat - they sailors leap aboard with Bo'sun Williams lugging the explosive charge across

Hawkins spots the sailors, and with a challenge on his lips and his shotgun aimed in their direction, Warner with his Lewis Gun takes no chances and guns him down. The rest of the Outfit certainly heard that, they spring into action

Dillon's gang race up the steps - they're too far away to make much out at night and hold their fire while taking cover 

The first patrol arrives on the scene - though they're across the river they head towards some spoil alongside the merchant dhow to see if they can fire on the raiders

The Marines have been quietly flat-footed by the sailors quick advance and they're still on the pier. Dillon's gang take advantage and rush up to spitting distance. Their fire is effective and they shoot down Newbolt and Warner

The Marines have crept around the firefight and have opened fire on Dutch's gang further back. Kennedy opens up with his trench-clearing tommy gun and he takes out Dillon and Blain (who's own sub-machine gun kills Petty Officer Grant)

Kennedy is knocked for six (though it turns out he's just concussed) and then the Marines unleash hell. Their fusilade seriously wounds Harrigan, and kills everyone backing up Dutchie's advance

Having finally set the charge, Williams jumps back aboard the launch. Kennedy has shaken himself back to his feet and follows him

A second patrol comes on, this time close to where the river widens to the sea - they might be able to cut off the launch's retreat

The first patrol takes up position and opens fire, but have no luck

Brave/Crazy Harrigan, limping from his wound jumps on board the steamboat and tries to disarm the explosives.  His technical expertise isn't up to it and rather than struggle with the device, he just legs it!

The second patrol lies in wait for the escaping shore party on the other side of the river

After having wiped out all resistance, the Marines jump back aboard the launch 

With engines at full reverse (with all need for stealth gone) the launch heads for the open sea - their exchange of fire with the local patrol is brutish and short - those Marines may not be quick starter, but the know their business

Finally, the charge goes off, sending the gunboat to the bottom

Gunnery Sergeant Bowie looks on with quiet satisfaction - he lights up his pipe. Newbolt may not have survived the mission, but he'd be happy with the outcome

 This scenario was based on ‘Night raid on Gravelines’ by Henry Hyde from issue #13 of Battlegames. A fantastic weekend of gaming all-round. The newly tweaked version of the rules went down well, quicker and more decisive I thought. Hope you enjoyed the proceedings. I'll be posting some pictures of Talavera soon.