Before COVID disrupted gaming schedules, I had the chance to play in one of the most epic large-scale Bolt Action games I’ve ever seen—a 25-foot-long SAS jeep raid at Eagle & Empire. This was a convention-style game that was also occasionally run at HMGS events, featuring SAS jeeps tearing through a sprawling Axis airfield, setting fire to planes, and causing as much destruction as possible before making their escape.
It wasn’t just the scale that made this game special. The attention to detail, custom terrain, and little Easter eggs hidden across the board made it a truly cinematic experience.
Historical Inspiration: The Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield
This game was loosely based on the Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield, a daring operation carried out by the Special Air Service (SAS) during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II.
On the night of 26–27 July 1942, a unit led by Major David Stirling attacked a German-held airfield in Egypt. The raiders, driving 18 jeeps armed with multiple machine guns, stormed the airfield in a ‘V’ formation, using tracer ammunition to destroy or damage around 40 Luftwaffe aircraft, including Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers, Ju 52 cargo planes, and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. The raid was a significant success, with the SAS suffering minimal casualties while severely disrupting Axis air operations in the region.
Of course, the game we played took a few creative liberties—throwing in some pulp adventure elements, like Raiders of the Lost Ark-themed figures, a German experimental flying wing, and even a WWI tank that showed up on the German side as part of the reinforcements.
The Battlefield: A 25-Foot Axis Airfield
The game was played on an immense 25-foot-long table, designed to represent a Luftwaffe airfield deep in the North African desert. The setup was a mix of:
- 1/72 and 1/48 scale aircraft, representing everything from Stukas and Ju-52 transports to an experimental flying wing prototype straight out of a pulp adventure story.
- A mix of scratch-built, MDF, and resin terrain, much of it collected over the years by the Eagle & Empire team from manufacturers long since forgotten.
- Hangars, barracks, AA positions, fuel dumps, and supply depots, giving plenty of objectives for players to attack.
This wasn’t just a straight-laced historical battle either—hidden among the Germans were Raiders of the Lost Ark-themed figures, including Indiana Jones himself, as well as a WWI tank on the German side.
The Players and Their Mission
Each player controlled one or two SAS jeeps, fully armed with Vickers K guns, demolition charges, and a death-or-glory attitude. In total, there were about 18 jeeps tearing across the airfield.
The objective was simple:
- Destroy as many planes as possible.
- Blow up fuel dumps and supply depots.
- Escape before reinforcements arrived.
This led to absolute chaos on the tabletop. Jeeps weaving between enemy patrols, machine guns lighting up parked aircraft, and players desperately trying to lay charges while under fire.
Memorable Moments
The sheer cinematic madness of this game was what made it so much fun. Some highlights:
- Another went full movie mode, skidding through the airfield with both Vickers K guns blazing, tearing through aircraft before being taken out by an AA emplacement.
- The flying wing experimental plane became a magnet for destruction, as players figured it must be important and made it their top priority.
- A WWI tank rumbled onto the field as a last-ditch German counterattack, surprising everyone with its slow but relentless firepower.
Why This Game Stuck With Me
This was the kind of game that made Eagle & Empire special before it closed down. The team there had a knack for putting on these large-scale, immersive participation games that really captured the imagination. When the shop shut its doors, and later when YHP took over, a lot of the older crowd moved on, and we didn’t really see these kinds of games in the same way again.
It’s games like this that inspire me when thinking about our Malta campaign—creating big, memorable events that bring the community together, whether it’s a commando raid, a grand narrative battle, or a historical what-if scenario.
I also really miss seeing these kinds of participation games at Historicon. It’s great to know that similar events still happen at Salute in the UK, but for now, I need to travel to see them—which isn’t always easy. Hopefully, we can get something similar going here in Malta.
Will We See Games Like This Again?
With the release of SAS: Rogue Heroes (now in its second season), I can see this kind of game gaining popularity again. The show has reignited interest in the SAS’s early desert raids, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a return of this scenario—or something similar—at a future HMGS event or convention.
If you’ve played in or run a massive raid-style game like this, I’d love to hear about it—drop a comment below or check out Manor Gaming!