Grumble Jones August Scenarios GJ123 & GJ 124

Over the past several weeks, I worked on a pair of scenarios. I would complete an ETO and PTO scenario with one of them also being a DASL scenario. I had not done a DASL scenario yet this year, so it was time to get one onboard. I don't normally release two scenarios at once, but I had so much fun with these, that I thought what the heck. So August will provide a pair of new Grumble Jones to love or hate as the case may be!! And I had to have a regular scenario paired up with the DASL one so Eric Garrard wouldn't be too upset with me...as he's no fan of the DASL's!!!

Scenario creation for me is usually inspired by a recent reading and this month's pair come from two new pieces off reading material. 

GJ123 An Orchard of Runes would come from two sources. I came across a description of fighting for the village of Pfaffenheck by units of the US 90th Infantry Division. Defending in the area would be 6th SS Mountain Division grenadiers organized into Kampgruppe Raithel. 

The Osprey Nierstein and Oppenheim 1945 book is where I first came across this action. But the details were just a bit skimpy, so I did some Google searching and came across In Final Defense of the Reich, which had a bit more detail, which helped to flesh out the scenario.

In this scenario, Kampfgruppe Raithel was entrenched in a orchard just before Pfaffenheck. The fighting was apparently intense as the Americans and Germans grappled in some close up fighting. 

Helmuth Raithel

GJ124, our second scenario for the month of August would come from the pages of World at War, which is arguably the best WW2 periodical out there. GJ124 Big Sword Soldiers is the DASL scenario for the month and is going to be a little off the beaten path for some of its SSR's and the inclusion of sword wielding Chinese Berserkers...I know I had you at sword wielding...didn't I??? It's ok to admit it!!

I absolutely love our game and also love to take it to some new and interesting places. Our game lends itself readily to an endless variety of situations.

The main article in this month's World at War deals with the fighting for the Chinese city of Taierzhuang. This was one of the rare occasions where the Chinese succeeded in inflicting heavy losses on the Japanese and actually routing them from the city. And sure enough, some sword swinging, perhaps drugged up Chinese Provincials were on hand to strike fear (literally) into the Japanese in the tight city streets. Seems like big swords and opium could be a lethal combination!!

At any rate, GJ124 is certainly a design intended to create a fun city brawl with enough squads on both sides for some great cardboard carnage.

As always, these monthly "Basement Quality" Scenarios are offered for fun only and as a thank you to the readers of this blog.

Remember to open pictures in a new window in order to maximize the size. 

All Grumble Jones scenarios are available from the ASL Archive website. 

(Just search on Grumble Jones)