Mad Dog Jim Versus SImba General Mathew Ombonga - a Congo Bloodbath.

One thing I realise about myself is that I often get a passion for something, go all out and then start to lose interest and already start planning the next thing. I have been working on the Congo project off and on for a couple of months now. Half the figures I used in this game were especially converted for the game. It was just as well I thought of stand ins for after converting around sixty Simbas and twenty odd mercenaries I didn't want to make too many more. I was already thinking of the wargame after that before I had even staged this one.

My grand project of fifteen or so jeeps and four wheel drives got whittled down to four plus trucks. The jeeps and crews were finished the morning of today's wargame after I spent two days on them. The jeeps consisted of an assembled kit jeep I picked up somewhere, Tamiya I think, a 1960s/70s Hong Kong Jeep with swoppet driver, a larger scale (1/32?) old red plastic toy from the 1960s or maybe 50s, and a super cheap very basic recent production cheapo Chinese made jeep.

The toy jeeps I cut part of the floor out under the dash so figures could sit with leg room (like the Flinstones but not especially visible). I did away with a steering wheel too as it was just a lump projecting from the dashboard. I also had some Tamiya spare modern weapons, including machine guns and assault weapons.

The big jeep had a metal rusty axle projecting way to far out so this was cut. I made metal bullet shields from square bread ties and cut a hole to place a Tamiya machinegun. The rear machine gun on support was made from the innards of a biro, a piece of sprue drilled out to receive some wire and putty rear section and ammo box, crude but did the job.

The crews were made from tractor drivers (probably copies of Britains), Tamiya seated kit figures and cowboys. I had to get small enough figures for the smaller jeeps as they are more like 1/35. Copies of Airfix cowboys served with very rudimentary conversion thanks to the deadline of the next day. This involved cutting off holsters and hats on backs and replacing with berets and new holsters and canteens. As it turned out I made more than I used but the ones still with slouch hats could also serve in the Spanish American War, Mexican Revolution, various Latin American Wars and the Boer War as they are stripped of weapons to man guns. Most are painted in khaki drill which also helps the multiplicity of uses.

The mercenaries came from a wide range of figures and I was pleased to draft in Crescent paratroopers that served both as mercs and Belgian paratroopers.

The game objective was for the Government forces, mercenaries and Belgian allies to release the hostages from the Simba rebels.

For the Simbas I ended up employing 19th century Zulus and my Paraguayans as well as my conversions. Although they outnumbered their enemy up to three to one they were vastly outgunned. However Mat chose to play this side as he has a preference for such armies.

Simbas were largely deployed in hidden ambush positions in the jungle. (These were secretly written down on bits of paper and placed under scenery).

Mercenaries came on from one end of the table and the paratroopers were airdropped at the other end.

I diced for arrival of the mercenary column and the paratroopers who all began arriving around move three.

The game started with a disaster for me as the paratrooper drop scattered into the jungle around Stanleyville, right where there was a hidden unit of Simbas! This didn't look good and the advantage was with the Simbas to start with as they receive a bonus for catching the paratroopers with their chutes down but then discipline kicked in and the paratroopers vanquished the rebels.

  meanwhile the mercenaries met their first ambush but decided to push through. Bullets, spears and arrows bounced off the vehicles, harmlessly at first. The mercenaries replied with concentrated machinegun and assault rifle fire at close range.

                                                                Government troops

                                              This jeep got stuck when it went off road.

                                       Stanleyville graveyard will be getting more customers.

                                               The mercenaries draw close to the town.

                              The terrified captives. Two of them have been set upon and killed as their captives ate their livers. The Simba commander reasserts his power as he does not want to lose his bargaining chip. But now it is too late as his enemy closes in.

                A strong point is defended by some of the more disciplined and better equipped rebels.

                    The paras sneak up under use of cover. The mercenaries pause, refusing to expose themselves to gunfire but after seeing the paratroopers success they also charge in and the hostages survive.

                            Finally a small number of them charge in to free the hostages.

                                            This lot of ambushers was never given a target.

Simba casualties were devastatingly high, including their two witchdoctors. (So much for their 'medicine' making them 'bullet proof'). The paratroopers also suffered over two thirds casualties. The mercenaries were harmed less but the deaths built up towards the end of the battle.

Paratroopers and mercenaries had radios but did not call in air strikes due to the proximity to the enemy of their troops and the hostages.
                                                                 

The game went for about three hours.