"The Wild Geese at Claymore 2013" Topic

Hi,
Like quite a few others who've already posted, yesterday's Claymore Wargames show in Edinburgh was excellent and there really was a buzz of excitement and a very friendly vibe so a big thanks to SESWC for giving us all a great day out. Other posters have already put up photos of some of my favourite games so what I'd like to do is give a short report on my favorite game of the day and my highlight of the show.
The Border Reivers presented "The Wild Geese" a partipation game based on the climax of the famous 1978 action movie. It's one of my all time favorite films so I had to play in it. I was accompanied by three of my colleagues from the Glasgow G3 games club. One played the Simbas, another Colonel Alan Faulkner, another his second in command mission planner, Major Rafer Jaunders, and I played RSM Sandy Young.

Our mission was to get seriously wounded former president Julius Limbani onto an old Dakota transport and escape the country.

Captain Shawn Flynn starts the engines of the ancient Dakota as the first of Faulkner's group move onto the airstrip. Meanwhile, the pair of hands in the shot signify the arrival of the Simbas:
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RSM Young's group take up covering positions on the southern side of the airstrip:
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More of Faulkner's men take up covering positions of their own:https://picasaweb.google.com/112162681996520833552/Claymore2013#5908390436716897586
Soon both groups are heavily engaged by Simba forces but succeed in eliminating them.
Meanwhile, Rafer Jaunders's group advances to cover the western side of the airstrip and soon finds itself under heavy fire.
Faulkner manages to get a heavy machine gun to the centre of the airstrip where it exacts a heavy toll on the attacking mobs of Simbas.
Jaunders also succeeds in eliminating the Simbas close to his position only for several more groups to appear and he begins to take heavy casualties.
Faulkener's group start to move Limbani towards the edge of the airstrip covered by RSM Young's section:
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More Simba mobs appear at the northern end of the airsrip. Their fire is telling and the HMG team is wiped out.
Rafer Jaunders's section is reengaged by multiple hostiles and despite a brave defense his command dies to the last man.
Meanwhile Shawn Flynn moves the plane ever closer to Faulkner and Limbani.
Faulkner's and Young's sections are now both attacked by newly arriving Simba mobs on the southern edge of the airstrip. Young and his section are wiped out leaving only Faulkner, two stretcher bearers with Limbani and a Bren team but the plane is tantalisingly close. Can they make it…
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As they dash for the plane a hail of bullets cuts them down. The mission has failed, Julius Limbani, the last best hope for stability in central Africa has perished and the Wild Geese will fly no more…
But wait a minute, Flynn turns the plane, guns the engines and surges down the runway. Despite the heavy fire he makes it safely into the sky. Although his comrades lie lost in the red African dust he still lives – and he will make Matherson pay!

Hope you enjoy my report of the most fun game I've had in ages and special thanks to the guys of the Border Reivers club for giving us such excellent entertainment.
All the best,
George.

Glad you enjoyed it George. It was a hoot watching you lads taking it so seriously while at the same time having a good laugh. Thanks for joining in and making it another successful outing for the Geese!

Looks like a lot of fun! Great pics!

May I ask where the merc figures are from?

Hi,
Mick will correct me if I'm wrong but I think the Mercs were the Britannia 28mm Congo Mercenaries, the Simbas were from The Assault Group's Dirtiest Africa range and the plane was a 1/48 scale diecast from the Franklyn Mint.
All the best,
George.

Cheers George!

Most of the Mercenaries were from Reiver Castings with most of the Simbas from Tag as George states.

Thanks Mick – the Reiver range is one I'd not seen before.

Very cool!

Hi Mick,
I didn't realise that the mercs were Reiver figures, thanks for letting me know that. The figures were very nice and for those interested there is a listing at: reivercasting.wordpress.com

They also have a pack of Mau Mau listed too, something I think no-one else does in 28mm.

The mercs (actually listed as British infantry for the Kenya and Malaya conflicts) look like they might mix well with the Britannia Congo mercs.

More temptation for me!

All the best,
George