Away from the main areas of action lengths of the front along the Disputed Zone were only thinly held, and as winter began to close in the enemy put a new tactic into action. Under cover of bad weather small parties of troops would approach a lightly defended part of the front and attempt to infiltrate past the defenders. There was no grand plan or strategic purpose behind the attempted infiltrations. Once behind the lines the goblins would at worst remain in a group and attack unescorted convoys or unsuspecting rear area service personnel and blow up infrastructure. At best they would fragment into groups of two or three who would, as usual when out of the sight of a leader, seek cover and lie low until, hungry or bored, they would emerge to attack civilians or isolated soldiers and steal and spoil supplies. In either case they would have to be hunted down, requiring a large diversion of troops from other duties. One solution was for the dwarves to call up reservists to use as second line troops manning outposts at strategic locations or close behind the front line forming an additional obstacle to infiltrators who were able to pass through the front line.
After initial successes one goblin officer came up with a refinement of the system. In goblin society compliance and lack of initiative was the norm, allowing the ruling class to easily dominate the mass of population. Enterprise and initiative was viewed with suspicion and individualism was almost synonymous with criminality. However in wartime although goblins provided a numerous and easily-biddable infantry there was a need for those able to act on their own initiative, to operate alone or in small groups, and to take command. This need was especially pronounced in the Dunhold War. A shortage of officers, drivers for transport, and skilled technical personnel greatly hampered the goblin war effort. That ingenious officer, whose name is not recorded, suggested recruiting amongst the criminal class to provide a special corps of infiltrators. As criminals they would necessarily have initiative, the ability to operate alone or in small groups, and be crafty and stealthy. As infiltrators they would inevitably become casualties, and that would be a benefit rather than a loss to the goblin ruling class; if they could serve a useful military function in the meantime, so much the better. Inflitrator forces, released from prison, given weapons (but no ammunition, which was handed out only at the last moment) and transported to the front were driven with threats and blows towards enemy lines; ammunition crates were then unloaded and their handlers made their escape. The released infiltrators, aware that strong forces of regular troops were behind them, were compelled to advance and were also drawn forward by the prospect of violence, mischief and plunder ahead.
GOBLINS
10 x infiltrators Q4+ C1 Assault rifle,Individualistic @ 21pts
= 210
DWARVES
1 x Second line infantry NCO Q3+ C2 Leader, Assault rifle, Short Move, Steadfast @72
4 x Second line infantry Q4+ C2 Assault rifle, Short Move, Steadfast @32
= 196
Dunhold pages:
Introduction:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold.html
A detachment of the dwarf 33rd Infantry Regiment clashes with a goblin patrol:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-i---the-raid.html
Dwarves & goblins vie to recover an important piece of technology:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-ii---the-guffinsson-device.html
Halfling snipers of the 3rd Bywater Sharpshooters encounter a goblin patrol:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-iii---a-walk-in-the-country.html
The 3rd Bywater Sharpshooters escort a picked sniper to assassinate an enemy staff officer:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-iv---assassins-greed.html
A desperate defence of an outpost:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-v---assault-on-precinct-xiii.html
The 3rd Bywater Sharpshooters search for a downed dwarf aeronaut:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-vi---hostage--rescue.html
A dwarf engineer has to examine an abandoned enemy wonder-weapon:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-vii---the-gun.html
The goblins deploy armoured vehicles, much to their enemies' dismay:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-viii---tank-shock.html
A dwarf squad attacks an enemy aerodrome:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-ix---raid-on-beteneb.html
The enemy make a determined attack on the defences around Dunhold:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-x---firebase-ragnhild.html
An elite sniper makes his kill and must escape his target's guards.
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xi---hit-and-run.html
A daring raid by the dwarves on enemy supply lines.
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xii---just-in-time-logistics.html
The enemy employ a new strategy, attempting to infiltrate raiders through porous areas of the front:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xiii---infiltration.html
Halfling deserters are hunted down by their comrades:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xiv---applewhite--nettles.html
The enemy deploy new and fearsome infantry recruited from the ethnic minorities of Dunholm:
http://www.spodilicious.com/dunhold-xv---theyve-got-a-cave-troll.html
