Panzers and Muskets

Bottoms up, Trousers down

2012-01-29T14:55:00.001Z

This was the title that Mark had given our recent game. The brief I was given follows:

1945
You are a battle hardened officer, who has served on all fronts and the proud recipient of the Knights Cross with swords, presented by the Fuhrer himself. You are currently involved in the fighting retreat back to Germany. After being forced back again you have found yourself in woodland looking out towards an occupied town. You have been able to carry out forward observations unseen whilst at the same time swiftly over coming any British forward dugouts without alerting the enemies main force. Convoys were seen passing through the town approximately every 3-4 hours. As far as you can tell there is armour in the town, though no sign of any Sherman's or artillery. There appears to be at least one battalion within the town, maybe two. Other than the convoys there has been hardly any activity, but you don't know why.
You find yourself with two choices;
1) Dig in as strong defensive position as you can as you are bound to be discovered when the forward dugouts are relieved.
2) A swift strike against the town hoping to achieve one last defiant act for the fatherland and your honour.

A 12 move game, time of day being daybreak, woods passable to all at reduced speed. Distance between woods and town approximately 18 inches (3 full moves for infantry).
Size of force - 700 points (old Rapid Fire rules points value).
Major victory if town liberated.
Victory if 2/3rds of force leave the table in good order after 8 moves.
Defeat if broken.

I decided to follow the theme and field, as my main force, an infantry regiment, minus a company in each battalion and reduced heavy weapon companies. Then a secondary force a much reduced infantry battalion of stragglers, that had joined my small Kampfgruppe with a reduced heavy weapons company. The only support companies that had survived the retreat were a 120mm mortar company, a 150mm infantry gun and anti-tank company of a few Panzerscheck teams. I added to this my recently paint Hetzer that would support the stragglers and two PzIVs supporting the main infantry regiment.

Marks scenario for the British was a motorised battalion had passed though the town with a supporting supply convoy. Only the last company and the support company where left in the town and were about to leave as a lorried battalion had arrived late the previous night to secure the town. There was 2/3rd of a squadron of tanks being refuelled (1 Cromwell & 1 Comet). Points value 570 (old Rapid Fire rules).

The table was very simply laid out with a town on one edge made up of nine buildings, many ruined, and woods on the opposite edge.

I knew nothing of the British deployment nor size of force but decided that attack is the best form of defence. The game progressed well. I was able to lay smoke down and quickly get two companies of infantry to the edge of the town riding on the two PzIVs. Under covering fire from the heavy weapons companies, 120mm mortar and infantry gun, the the rest of the main forces infantry scampered across to the town with minimum casualties. At this point in the game Mark was having more than his fair share of ones on the dice throws. On about move 5, once it seemed that most of the British in the town were engaged, I unleashed the secondary force on the other flank. The game was over by move 10 with the German infantry occupying most of the town and what remained of the British force were in tatters. I'd lost my Hezter to an attack by the Wasp from the British machine gun company but the German stragglers were able to overcome this company. The two PzIVs were miraculously unscathed whilst the British Cromwell was knocked out and the Comet heavily damaged.

The dice were very favourable to the Germans. It's not often an attacking force come away with minimal loses when faced with defenders all in hard cover. A good game enjoyed by both of us and we have promised to meet up more regular basis. Sorry there are no pictures but I'd forgotten my camera.

A Hetzer

2012-01-18T22:53:00.011Z

Well we're actually going to have another game.... wonders will never cease......

After a full year of no painting and very little gaming both Mark and myself have agreed that we must do better this year. Which does sound very much like my old school reports. Let's just hope that, unlike my efforts at school, we can do better.

To re-introduce myself to painting again I thought a little Hezter would make a good start. I normally would only paint one, at best two colours per sitting/evening. So to get this simple model painted and based over the weekend is, for me, a little bit of a breakthrough......

Not a brilliant job but it will serve its purpose on the table.

The scenario Mark has written for our first game of the year is based in 1945. Hence my thought about having a Hetzer as support for my infantry. It was not until after I'd finished the model that I realised, in the Rapid Fire rules, this little Jagdpanzer packs the same punch as a Tiger I with the same armour rating. Cum on you little beauty...

German 105mm Artillery (Part 2)

2010-12-13T22:14:00.006Z

Job done ...... Finally that's the last element for my generic German infantry kampfgruppe finished ..... Two 105mm artillery batteries, with observation teams and HQ.

Well I said finished but I do have a couple of horse tows to paint ..... but when would I use them???

The Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow has been updated....

German 105mm Artillery (part 1)

2010-12-05T17:50:00.007Z

At last, steady progress is being made on the final unit for my generic German Infantry Kampfgruppe. This consists of two 105mm artillery battalions and HQ using a mixture of Flames of War and Peter Pig castings.

Hope to have this finished by the end of the week..... now that's given me something to aim for.... doubt that it will include the horse tows though. At the pace I work I can't be too optimistic can I?

Hovels - La Haye Sainte (12E5 & 15E5)

2010-11-20T11:27:00.008Z

Above are two more buildings that have been languishing in my 'to do' box waiting to be painted..... This time it's Hovels La Haye Sainte farm house and corner barn (12E5 & 15E5). I'd purchased just these two from the set, along with the gateway/dovecote, to create a small farm complex. Need to dig out and paint the gateway and some walls to complete.

These buildings have tested my photographic skills as I've found it difficult to capture the different tones I've applied to the white walls. I'll keep practising and post some more if I can improve on the above. Even so it looks like I still need to do some finishing off, ...... photographs do focus my eye to bits I've missed !

Hovels - Row of three houses (4B5)

2010-11-16T20:10:00.005Z

After the recent game, I was fired up to do something with my vast amounts of unpainted wargaming stock. One item that caught my attention was a building that had be languishing in my WWII buildings box. It had been under coated many moons ago but I'd not had the inclination to take in any further. After a few evenings dabbling around with brush and paint it's finally finished. It's not brilliant but it will do......

Hovels Battlefront Buildings

This little task has, at last, renewed my enthusiasm for painting.................where it will lead we will have to see..........

Waldrundstadt (Aug 1944) - Game report

2010-11-14T22:00:00.001Z

After much indecision and juggling with units to achieve the 800 points, I eventually put on the table three reduced infantry battalions. One battalion with M3 half tracks as transport and a reduced tank company as support. The other two battalions had reduced heavy weapon support, no transport and no towed Anti Tank guns. I was, however, able to allocate a solitary Hellcat as Anti Tank support to these two battalions. Artillery support was provided by two 105mm howitzers from the 82nd regiment support units and a divisional (off table) battery of three 105mm howitzers. I tried to factor in some air cover then decided that to clear and take the woods I would need as many ground troops as I could muster.

Americans advance towards the woods behind the barrage and a paltry smoke screen.

I was unsure of the size and position of the force facing me. Being convinced that Mark would have the German infantry dug in in the woods, I'd planned a advancing barrage. This was to be laid down through the woods by both artillery batteries starting on turn one and ending on turn 5. Two battalions of infantry were planned to advance behind this barrage starting on turn two. All turns, up to turn 7, had timed moves marked on my command map/plan. One rule I always struggle to understand in Rapid Fire is the laying of a smoke screen ......why only a 5/6 on a D6 to lay smoke ..... it always disappoints.

There was a lot of close assault and short range firing within the woods.

All seemed to be going well until turn 10. My two infantry battalions were holding their own in the woods, gradually gaining ground. My advance on the left flank was under way. Then I made the mistake of not using the 'chance observation' tests, if I had, I may have spotted the infantry lurking in the woods on the left and the Panzer IV skulking behind the barn. Turn 10 and 11 brought havoc on my left flank, (loosing two half tracks complete with two companies of infantry and the 76mm Sherman destroyed). Somehow the infantry and tank companies survived the following turn's morale test.

Turn 10 just after the two half track have been hit and destroyed.

Unfortunately it was getting very late in the evening. With my left flank faltering and the German attack also faltering in the woods, neither of us had achieved our objectives. May be if we had a couple more turns........ but no..... as it was close to 1:00am with work the next day it was decided to call it a night.

It was a good game with some elements of the rules being understood a little better, also new sections of the rules being brought into play. We do need to organise a follow up game sooner than 6 months though.........

....................

German brief

All along the front it appears that the whole German army is in disarray and falling back, seemingly to Berlin itself. Your sector is no different. It does however give you some hope that just 40KM to your rear "substantial" forces are being assembled to push the invaders back to the sea.

It is at this point that you receive a broken message from no less than Field Marshal Keitel's office - Your order is simple. ...."Stop falling back....... Assemble closest units to you....... Retake the town that you have just vacated..... Nothing could be simpler....."

You realise the task is next to futile. Especially as the town holds no strategic importance, so much so that you can't even remember its name.

The one thing that you can be sure of, is that should you fail to take the town you will bear the brunt of the 'Teppichfresser' himself. Should you fall back even further than you currently are, his displeasure would be even more severe.

Victory conditions

Take the town - Major victory

Clear and retake the woods - minor victory

All else - fail.

Rapid Fire German force points value 550pts

.............

I do apologise for the quality of the photographs but I forgot my camera and had to rely on my phone for taking the them.

Game on - Waldrandstadt (Aug 1944)

2010-11-07T08:37:00.005Z

Well ...... we have a game planned for next week. Not the Napoleonic that I was planning but a fictitious WWII game. I've been handed the following brief:

.......................

August 1944
All along the front the American Army is racing towards Germany and it surely cannot be long before you reach Berlin. Just imagine the glory and honour of being the first units to enter what remains of Hitler's capital. As the vanguard of your sector you have just taken a town and started to reform your units in what remains it - what was its name?

The time it took to clear the town and the size of the forces that were at your disposal meant that no real headway though the woods themselves could be achieved. At least you can rest a while until elements of your main division start to arrive. That is until a broken message arrives from "Ol Blood and Guts". The message is blunt, "Move your big fat ass .... take those woods and the buildings beyond ....... stop being pussies...." It is not for nothing that he gained such a name for himself.

Victory conditions:
Take buildings and woods - Major victory
Clear woods only - Minor victory
All else - fail

Rapid Fire points value for the American force 800pts

A rough sketch of the proposed table

.......................

It's been a while since I brought my Americans to the table. I'll have to dust them off and see what force I can make for 800pts. I know my opponent has been painting up a small German army and has been eager to get them into action. I think he has some Fallshirmjager and at least one battalion of Wehrmacht with full support so this will not be an easy task. I would imagine the opposition will be around 550 pts unless the scenario is for German counter attack when my opponent might be fielding a 1200pt force. The way he keeps saying it will be interesting I just wonder......

I need to decide what losses my vanguard force has suffered from previous days' fighting and how to represent this within the 800pts. My battalions will not be at full strength and will have some equipment losses. Also what support can I call upon from my main division? How much artillery support and/or air cover can I include in the points allowed? Need to get the rules out again and have a skim though them to refresh some of the finer points.

Should be interesting.............after the game I'll hopefully post the German brief, a game report and pictures.

Basing figures

2010-10-28T21:30:00.004+01:00

Its been a barren year for my wargaming activities. I've had the odd game..., well about two since February,...... but that's it. Figure painting has been non existent as I've committed most of my spare time to my other hobby. BUT I am trying to arrange a game that is based on the 1809 battle at Teugn-Hausen. This is just a small Napoleonic, Austrian v French, engagement but it means I'm doing a little more 'finishing off' on my Austrains.

First up has been naming each figure base. As I've taken the effort to make storage trays for each unit, as an aid to protect and organise each unit during storage, it has become a task at the end of a game to match figure bases to trays. Also due to some figure poses some bases only fit back into the trays in a particular way which can be a little trying in the early hours during a week night with work the next day. So I'm printing some small labels with unit name and a number which determines which tray the bases fit and the order (position) they are in the tray. These are then glued to each figure base and then varnished for protection. Examples below.........

Austrian - 7th Jager Battalion

Austrian - 2nd Battalion 2nd (Hillier) Infantry Regiment

Austrian - 4th (Erbgrossherzog von Toscanna) Dragoon Regiment

I've a few more infantry battalions and cavalry regiments to finish basing. Plus there are a few more artillery batteries to paint before I feel that this Austrian army is complete. When this will be who knows...............

Another Lead mountain update

2010-03-03T07:30:00.003Z

After the last game I've been going through my WWII "stuff to paint boxes" and discovered more items purchased, during the later half of last year, that idea forgotten about. They are 7 vehicles for my proposed 21st Panzer Kampfgruppe. Not sure how to add these to the vow as there will be crew figures to paint. Should I count the figures separately to the vehicles? I think I might. So total to be added to the Vow as purchased will be 28. Good news is that I've started to paint four of these vehicles....pictures will follow when completed.

Also, I'm a sucker for nicely painted AB figures and put in a speculative bid on some that were on ebay recently..... to my surprise I won the auction. They are some nice AB Napoleonic Austrians that should complement my current Austrian army well. (66 castings in total). Once I've touched up some of the painting a little, and rebased them to match my current basing I'll post some photos.

BUT:
I've also sold more lead:
3 DBA armies, (an Early Imperial Roman + BUA, an Ancient British and a Moorish, totalling 128 castings) plus some surplus packs of unpainted lead totalling 63 castings. Total sold = 191 castings.

Vow has been updated.

Sturmgesshutz-Abteilung 200 (Major Becker)

2010-02-28T16:50:00.001Z

One of the proposed units for my 21st Panzer Kampfgruppe is Major Becker's unit, the Sturmgesshutz-Abteilung 200. After reading Colonel Hans Von Luck's memoirs, I discovered that three batteries of this Abteilung were attached to Luck's Kampfgruppe for the attack on Escoville, Ranville and the Orne bridges. Also the whole of (or what remained of) the Abteilung was part of Luck's Kampfgruppe during Operation Goodwood. I think I will build this whole unit, not just one or two companies. But what was the actual composition of this unit?

The information on this unit within the Rapid Fire rules set is a little confusing. In their 1944-45 Unit organization lists they state that the Assault Gun Group consists of 2 x Hotchkiss 105mm and 2 x Hotchkiss 75mm AT. This would equate, at Rapid Fire's vehicle ratio of 1:5, to 20 vehicles per company. I've always had a problem with this and not fully sure what this term 'Group' actually represented?

This is my Rapid Fire Assualt Gun Group of 2 x Hotchkiss 75mm AT and 2 x Hotchkiss 105mm, which were painted a while ago.

I've also searched on the web and found Spearhead's composition for the 21st Panzer Division (found here at http://www.spearhead1944.com/gerpg/ger1.htm). To back this up, the German records (found here at http://www.spearhead1944.com/gerpg/21ger_rec.htm) show that there were 10 or 12 vehicles in each company. Using this information means that each company in Rapid Fire should consist of 1 x 105mm and 1 x 75mm Hotchkiss vehicles? ...... Interestingly this is the same ratio that the Spearhead rules seem to use.

These entries on a WWII forum are also interesting, they give a little background to Major Becker and the creation of this and other units. The posting can be found here at : http://ww2f.com/weapons-wwii/22843-major-alfred-becker-paris-baukommando.html. I've copied the relevent entries below, just incase the entry on this forum vanishes.

........Major Alfred Becker, a First World War veteran and mechanical engineer, was heavily involved in the conversion of captured vehicles from 1940.
In 1942 he converted captured French carriers into the 15cm (Sf) Lorraine Schlepper self-propped gun, which meet with great approval from the OKH. These were shipped to Afrika to supplement Rommel’s forces in the desert.
Towards the end of 1942 he was transferred to France to devise ways of utilising various captured French vehicles. Becker’s engineering staff set about their work and were soon pumping out a variety of innovative designs. From 1943 he started to convert the Hotchkiss H35 and 39 light tanks to mount a 7.5cm PaK40 or 10.5cm leFH16 as an assault gun. In the summer of 1943 he was given command of the 200. Sturmgeschützabteilung, part of the rebuilding 21. Panzerdivision, which he equipped with the new assault guns. By the time of the Allied invasion in June 1944 he had built the StuG abteilung up to five batteries of 10 vehicles (4x 7.5cm PaK40 and 6x 10.5cm leFH16 each). Becker was however more than just a simple engineer. In 1914 he had won the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class, and during the fighting Poland had added the 1939 Bar to each of his crosses (commanding the 15. Batterie, 227. Artillerie-Regiment, 227. Infanterie-Regiment). For his inventive use of captured vehicles he was awarded the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords and by 1945 had earned himself a Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords.........

Another posting from the same thread:

........ One single person (Hpt. Alfred Becker, 227. ID (Artillery) was in charge ot the salvage the whole French captured AFV's. He collected the scrap in one place and did a triage with the vehicles:
1. Minor repairs and refits
2. Major repair and refits
3. Spare parts source

The the vehicles where repaired by importance all of one type in one step. All remaining spare parts where stored away. What was left was shipped back to the steelworks.
The Wehrmacht had only on Alfred Becker, so most captured vehicles in Russia where doomed!

Alfred Becker was an interesting guy. He started the war in the west with his Batterie (12.) horsepowered. After reaching the first dutch artillery depot on the way of 227. ID he equiped his Batterie and the recon element of 227. ID with motorized vehicles.
OK, motorized is fine, but mechanized is better. So Becker started to refit his Batterie with SPA's (!!!) (BY HIMSELF, WITH AN ARCWELDER !!!! ). After 6 month the FIRST armored artillery Battery of the German Wehrmacht was combat ready (without one vehicle build by a professional manufacturer!!!). The armoured artillery vehicle was composed from Vickers Mk.6 under-carriages with 10,5cm Feldhaubitze 16.
After that Becker was instantly transfered to Alkett to help this armourworks build a SPA on a French Lorain ammo-carrier.
In 1942/3 Becker salavaged all usable tank wreckage he found in France as described above. Now his unit was called "Baustab Becker". His production output (more than 1800 tanks and other Vehicle) was used to form "verstarkte schnelle Brigade West". Becker was also simultaniously commanding officer of Sturmgeschütz-Abt. 200 (later Sturmpanzer-Abt. 200)............

In hindsight, I think that Rapid Fire's Assault Gun Group's makup for the Sturmgesshutz-Abteilung 200 is more to do with the points value given to the Hotchkiss vehicles within their rule set and the need to create balanced forces. I've also been wrongly understanding the term Group to mean Company.

My makeup for the unit is going to be:
HQ
1 x Leicht Schutzenpanzerwagen U304(f) - Unic Kegresse P107 (fitted with Radio equipment?)
2 x 4.7cm Pak (t) auf PzKampfwagen 35R(f) ohne turm (QRF models GFF03)
1 x PAK 40 + truck tow (probably a French truck)
4 companies of
1 x 75mm PAK40(Sf) auf Geshutzwagen 39H(f)
1 x 105mm leFH18(Sf) auf Geshutzwagen 39H(f)

I've now just got to puchase a few extra vehicles get the rest of the unit painted...............

Lead mountain update

2010-02-23T09:57:00.006Z

Thought I'd better try and get to grips with the 'Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow' again so I've been looking though my stock of lead.

I can't remember buying much since my last update in May 09 apart from 62 Napoleonic Austrian infantry figures, a pack of Old Glory Austrian artillery (6 guns + 25 figures) then from Peter Pig, 24 German infantry figures, 1 SdKfz 251 and 3 WWII buildings. This amounts to a negative Hoarder Total of 122 castings.

Since Christmas I have sold 154 castings and painted/finished 64. OK not enough painting but the Lead Mountain is still going in the right direction. I think a more concerted effort is needed.

The Vow has been updated

First game of the year!!!

2010-02-19T23:14:00.011Z

We both needed a game fix so a quick one was organised. Not very involved just a WWII pickup style game. Mark had recently finished a British Parachute battalion and was in need to unleash them. So a far fetched British and US combined parachute drop operation, on the morning of D-Day, to capture a bridge was quickly thought of. This would also enable me to evaluate whether I sell or keep my fledgling American 82nd force which I'd purchased on a bit of a whim last year.

Back to basics for the gaming table, just a green cloth with a few building and walls. A couple of small woods were added which didn't play a part in the game. The parachute drop went fairly well for the Allies with just a few casualties but they lost some heavy equipment (mortars and medium machine guns). The first three turns were played using the night time rules so observation and movement were reduced. A die was thrown for each German company to see which ones were woken by the aircraft and therefore could observe and fire on the first turn.

British Paratroopers cross a wall to get behind the emplacement, as the American are just about to occupy the building opposite. This was a bad loss for the Germans loosing half a Company (4 figures) to only one American casualty.

The remaining German half company, ousted by the Americans, make it over the bridge on the next turn, just as the company of half tracks are roused and decide to get in the action.

The German force was eventually pushed out of the other building but it took nearly half of the British battalion and the Americans had to finish it off. At the end of the game the two American companies were making a dash across the bridge. Another turn could have seen them take it along with occupying either the church or the building.

A good game with minimal forces was just what we need to get back into the rules. It has me thinking about what happened next for a follow up game, either later on the same day or the next day. Maybe some Glider troop reinforcements then a German counter attack......

Fallshirmjager 2nd Battalion

2010-02-13T22:22:00.013Z

These figures were painted about 5 years ago while on an enjoyable holiday in the Lake District. The routine was to paint for a few hours in the morning, while my partner was writing, then go out late morning early afternoon for walks and enjoying the scenery. Perfect holiday I seem to remember.....

All the castings below are from the Peter Pig range of 15mm WWII figures .

2nd Battalion HQ

5th - 6th - 7th Companies

8th (Heavy) Company

15th Company (Pioneer/Engineer)

I've marked this as the 2nd battalion as my intention was not to motorise this unit but after recently picking up the Rapid Fire D-Day scenario book I may have to add a little bit of transport for the HQ. According to the scenario book, in Normandy, the Fallshirmager 6th Regiment's 1st battalion was motorised with French trucks; only the 2nd and 3rd battalions HQ had transport (a Kubelwagen and Kettenkraftrad). They have also included a 150mm infantry gun to each heavy company, which I don't think I will add just yet.......not at the pace I paint anyway........I still have another battalions worth of figures to paint....................think I need another holiday in the Lakes like the one 5 years ago!!!!

StuG III Company

2010-02-02T21:47:00.006Z

Reading through this blog I've realised I haven't posted any pictures of the latest additions to my German Infantry Kampfgruppe. I've still got a little way to go to complete it as there are two artillery battalions and a tow for the 120mm Infantry gun to paint. I'm hoping the posting of pictures of the latest additions will motivate me to finish the outstanding elements and I can finally finish this Kampfgruppe.

As mentioned elsewhere I use Rapid Fire rules with 15mm figures. For this Kampgruppe I'm following the Divisional makeup as suggested in version 2 of the rule book. The only variation is the inclusion of an Assault Gun Company as an optional extra. A document showing the Kampfgruppe's composition can be found here

Below is the German Assault Gun Company with two 75mm and one 105mm StuG IIIs. When required, the two 75mm StuGs can be used as the 14th (Anti Tank) Company replacing the Pak 40 and 8 Panzerchrecke figures. Otherwise, along with the 105mm StuG, they can be used as an additional unit attached to the Kampfgruppe in an infantry support roll.

I do like to create storage trays for my models. These are marked up with small descriptive labels that help anyone identify what the units are. These trays also help to keep the figures and vehicles tidily together when stored in my drawers and make it easier to pick out specific units for games.

It's about time I put some German crosses on the sides of these StuGs.........some extra storage items might be nice as well......just when I thought these were finished.......

Early Imperial Roman DBA army

2010-01-30T13:39:00.018Z

As stated previously, I am in the process of renewing my efforts in sorting through my mountain of lead and trying to lighten the load of painted as well as unpainted figures. I think all my DBA armies will have to go as I've not gamed with these for at least two years. First on the list is my Early Imperial Roman army.

All nicely boxed as well

I cannot claim to have painted these figures but this will still be a reluctant sale as I do like this group of figures. An interest in the Roman period of history probably stems from school history lessons I can still remember the projects we did on Roman forts and villas. The 1964 film 'The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire' might also have been an influence on me during my childhood. I've a couple of other small collections of Roman figures and these will also be sold........ Sad times......

Samurai (15mm)

2010-01-28T21:52:00.015Z

Below are some figures I picked up from a 'Bring and Buy' at one of the Derby shows. I took a real fancy to them as I've always had a fleeting interest in this period. I think it's something to do with all those flags, the decorative costumes and armour. Trouble is I don't know much about Samurai period, the armies or the feudal system. The project to build a small army for DBA or larger never got off the ground. Building armies of the World War Two period seemed to take precedence and my research into the Samurai period took a back seat. I can't see me getting any further with this project in the next few years so, very very reluctantly, I'll have to let these figures go.

I think they are Two Dragon Productions figures and beautifully painted.....wish I could claim it was my brush work........

Austrian Landwehr

2010-01-19T23:25:00.004Z

A couple of photos of some 15mm Napoleonic Austrian Landwehr battalions that were finished last year.

Prague Landwehr

I do like this battalion it's something different to most of the other Landwehr units and also goes to show that not all Austrian infantry was in white.

1st - 2nd - 3rd Vienna Woods Landwehr

Another campaign year

2010-01-19T21:20:00.008Z

Wow.....was it really May 2009 whenI last posted something on this blog? Another year already and what has happened since my last posting? A lot to keep me busy but not much on the wargaming front.

There was another WWII game with four players some time last June but due to trying to take part in the game and be an impartial umpire it didn't get recorded. One of the new guys that joined us that evening has a vast collection of figures and he has put on a few games but due to work and social commitments I have only been able to make it to a couple of games.

On the painting front I finished the WWII German Infantry Division Anti Tank Company and started painting two Artillery batteries for the Infantry Division. On the Napoleonic front the Austrian army is coming on well with a few battalions ready to base and then only a couple of cavalry regiments, a couple of horse, a couple of brigade batteries along with a few command figures to paint, then it's finished. Pictures will follow under suitable headings.

But overall it's been a very poor year on the wargaming front........ As such I am proposing again to multiply my efforts to cut back considerably on the amount of lead I own and I'm also going to focus my efforts on painted lead. Easier said than done but what is the point in having numerous armies if they haven't seen light of days for years........Up until now each time I opened the drawers I couldn't bring myself to part with any...... I seem to have a different mind set this year so let's see how I get on...................'Small is beautiful' has to be my motto for this year.

Austrian Divisional Command

2009-05-09T07:35:00.001+01:00

While I am concentrating on selling off my surplus lead I thought I'd put up some photos of my Austrians. These photos are of three proposed Divisional Commands. Each one consists of the Divisional Commander and two Brigade commanders. Shako rules only require the Divisional Commanders but I also like to use the computer rules :Hard Pounding" and these need the Brigade commanders.

I am not following any particular OOB in composing my Austrian army just trying to put together a typical force. I am also trying to pick out commanders that would have commanded similar divisions/brigades but, with promotions and deaths during the conflicts, this is all with, what might be termed, "gamers license". Tracking down some of the names has been interesting to say the least. The combinations are not fixed in stone and will be used as and how is necessary when games are being created.

Division : FML Radetz

Graf Radestsky von Radetz

(Advance Guard)

Division : FML Wimpffen

Maximilian Freiherr von Wimpffen

(Infantry Division)

Division : FML Bianchi
Vincenz Ferrerius Frederico Bianchi
(Infantry Division)

There is only one figure in the above collection that is not my own work. I have some more to paint and some other command figures that I have bought painted to base. This force will eventually be 5 divisions strong consisting of two Corps of two divisions plus an Advance Guard division.

Another batch of lead gone

2009-05-07T18:45:00.007+01:00

68 unpainted Minifigs figures plus 20 painted and 12 painted Battle Honors equals Lead Mountain decreased by 89. Also sold on some walls that have been collecting dust. Not included these in the Vow as technically they are not lead.

This is starting to get addictive as the feeling of lightening the load is refreshing. Looking at the "Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow" I do need to paint more figures. I'm halfway though painting two German Artillery batteries must get back to these. But I've also been handed some horses to paint so these must come first just a shame they will not count towards the Vow.

Last breath of Napoleon Bonaparte

2009-05-05T18:07:00.002+01:00

6:00 pm 5th May 1821.

Lead to Resin

2009-04-25T07:08:00.008+01:00

The nice thing about selling off some of my unwanted lead is that I can put the proceeds to items that I need for some of my projects. First on the wants list are the vehicles and equipment for my 21st Panzer Grenadier Kampfgruppe. So I've put the last few quid earned from selling some unwanted Austrians to purchasing some Flames of War 21st Panzer half-tracks. Only been able to purchase 5 of the 32 required so a lot more lead will have to be sold.

Steady as she goes, but I will get there!

Crossing the Mouille river

2009-04-24T21:28:00.004+01:00

Allied HQ

Our last few games have all ended with the defenders being victors. These have all been fictitious games using the standard Rapid Fire 10:6 (attacker:defender) ratio. For this game I thought I'd try and weight the points to the attackers and use a 10:4 ratio. The German force being 600 points and Allied (British) being 1500 points.

Scenario outline (all fictitious)

The Allies are advancing across France towards Belgium and meeting minor rear guard actions put up by the Germans in attempt to slow the advance. The Allies are approaching the Mouille river with orders to take Secherville (the town) beyond. To the west of the town there is also a ford across the river.

Allied Objectives:
To capture both crossings with bridge intact so that they can be used to maintain the speed of advance. The Allies do not know what resistance they will find here. All they do know is that the Germans have put up a fight at every opportunity.

German Objective:
To slow the advance by blowing the bridge. Once the bridge is blown hold the ford until turn 8, then withdraw. But there has been a delay in getting enough explosives so the engineers are struggling with time.

Victory conditions
Allies win if town taken and bridge is intact.

Germans win if bridge is blown and they stop the Allies gaining control of the ford until turn 9.
A draw if any other result.

All hedges give soft cover to infantry and partial soft cover to vehicles. All walls give hard cover to infantry and partial cover to vehicles. All wood are impassable to AFV's. The river is only crossable by vehicles at the bridge and ford. Infantry can cross anywhere along its length by boat or inflatable or wade across at ford.

Turn 1 and Allies start to move into position

Germans lie in wait in town

The Allies attempt a parachute drop to capture the ford and adjacent farm. This turns into a blood bath and they quickly surrender.

Allied engineers are at the bridge to dismantle barbed wire defences with Churchills giving covering fire.

Allied motor company advance towards ford crossing.

A Typhoon is called in to attack the Stug. Now that is what I call a low level attack!!

How could he miss? But he did ...Phew.

With a Stug and mortar fire knocking out the M10 and Archer the road is blocked to the ford. In the same turn the bridge is blown. The Allied advance is brought to a standstill. With no Recovery vehicle or bulldozer tank to clear the road, nor any bridging/pontoon section available the Allies are beaten.

So another game where defenders were victors.

The Allies suffered from very poor dice during this game. Inflicting hardly any casualties on the dug-in Germans. Where as the German dice seemed weighted. Next time it might turned out different. Before we replay this one again I'll have to think about whether the scenario needs some alterations. Perhaps delaying the German engineers still further or not allowing the Germans to blow the bridge. Also we are still learning some of the finer points of the Rapid Fire rule set so we may have missed applying some vital rule/s that would have changed the result.

Anyway it was an enjoyable evening which has created a number of discussion points.

A little catchup

2009-04-20T20:54:00.010+01:00

Thought I'd share this moment as I'm feeling a little pleased.

The "Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow" is starting to look good as I've sold some more figures, 70 to be exact. All old 15mm Austrian figures that I've been hanging onto for too long. I've also sorted out some more surplus figures that will be on eBay soon. On the down side I've not been able to resist buying a few figures and my figure painting has taken a bit of a back seat recently. Even so I feel I'm making progress at lightening the pile of lead.

On the scenic side the next batch of walls are nearly finished. But I've also been working on a some new tiles for our next game. The picture below is how it looked yesterday. The river section are the new tiles, most of the the rest are just a few tiles from the Waterloo battlefield. All the hedges and walls are those my regular gaming partner and I have made. Need to finish off the river section tiles ready for Thursday night and add a few more trees.

I try and post a report of this game with pictures over the weekend. As long as I survive........

Onwards and upwards.

Update after Easter

2009-04-15T22:32:00.009+01:00

On the plus side sold a number of, surplus to requirements, packs of Minifigs figures last week. Total number of castings 96 sold.

On the negative side purchased some more painted Austrian figures, eighteen line infantry and ten dragoons. These will all need basing so have been put away in storage with the Austrian Militia that I purchased recently. They look nice and will compliment the rest of my Austrians. I should really get some photos of these posted soon but first priority are the walls and now hedges.

We (my opponent and I) have both been mucking about creating hedges for a while. I then had the idea of creating some "country style" hedges. Though I say it myself they don't look bad. Some else thinks so to, enough to want some. Well pleased.

Also need to plan a game for next weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to get some decent shots of this one.

Walls

2009-04-11T18:12:00.001+01:00

My gaming opponent and myself have been dissatisfied with the walls we were using. So my opponent decided to have a go at make some of his own. He purchased some wax and started carving some test walls. Once be was satisfied with the masters and a few trials at mould making later and he was turning them out by the dozen. We have both painted a few sections and these can be seen here.

For our next game we may need a few more wall sections so, as a break from figure painting, thought I'd paint a few this week.

Nude walls

Broken Walls - painted

Just need to finish the rest....

A horse a horse my paintbrush and a horse

2009-03-29T20:44:00.003+01:00

Someone thinks I enjoy painting horses. Hmmm well I have had these horse for several weeks if not months waiting to be finished. Painted on the undercoats but then ...... each time I pick them up I got painters block, could not not see how they should look. Am I alone in getting these blocks? I've kept try to tell myself that they are only horses but to no avail. I think part of this block is that someone has asked me to paint them, as in his opinion I can paint good horses. That immediately puts pressure on, and I want them to look good.

Anyway forced myself to slap a little more paint on them the other night. The starting point was as below with basic undercoats applied.

One problem I find with Minifig horses is that there is minimal releaf in the castings. The owner seems to like the big round rumps of these horses, (not sure if that is sexual or not :-) ), but to me they seem plain and stiff. I've no enthusiasm to paint them.

After a while and a few more slaps of paint and I think they're ready for stabling.

Not too sure about the grey but I hope they're acceptable.

Kriegsspiel

2009-03-27T18:55:00.004Z

I've been trying to keep an eye out for a supplier of Kriegsspeil rules for some time. Have good memories of a game played in the early days of the "gang of four". When we became just two, the Kriegsspeil rules were lost to us.

If Kriegsspeil is new to you, these are rules devised by the Prussian military in 1824 as a training device for officers. They are regarded as the birth of wargaming rules so all wargaming rules owe there existence to Kreigsspeil. They concentrate on tactics at battalion level and below. Coloured blocks are used to represent units on maps at a scale of 1:7500. These maps may well cover 100 A3 sheets for the campaign tactics, down to 9 - 12 A3 sheets for the engagements.

Three sites of interest:

Too Fat Lardies to purchase rules and maps.

Irregular Miniatures to purchase Kreigsspeil blocks.

Kreigsspeil News a support site for the rules.

I don't know why I hadn't found these guys sooner but I feel another purchase coming on. At least it's not lead so will not add to the mountain.

Hellcats

2009-03-26T21:42:00.002Z

Just to bring a little variety to this blog thought I'd introduce my Americans.

While I am concentrating on my German WWII force, I am also building a small American WWII force. This was started when my son was living at home with thoughts that we might get a game or two. I think I might have scared him off, as we had one game just before he left for uni and since then he has not been home long enough to organise a game. I will continue to build this force but only very much in the background so as not to deter the completion of the major parts of the required German forces.

Below are a couple of shots of the Tank Destroyer Company, two M18 Hellcats. Both are Flames of War castings.

More photos of elements already completed will follow in due course.

120mm Mortar

2009-03-25T21:03:00.010Z

Here is the 120mm Mortar support company for my Infantry Division. A bit of a mixed bag being made up from a Flames of War Steyr 1500 Kfz 70, Battle Honors 120m mortar and Peter Pig crew.

All packed away in their storage tray

Mortar being towed

Mortar deployed in its mortar pit

Damn Damn and thrice Damn

2009-03-24T22:47:00.010Z

I succumbed to those demons again. Could not resist some figures on ebay ....... and they arrived today. Austrian Militia, painted as Bohemian, brown coats with blue facings, white trousers. They will need basing and according to my information the facings are wrong, (I'll have to investigate further) but otherwise an excellent buy. I will post pics when finished and based, which might be a while.

Now then, 22 bought painted but I need to finish them, so will I be able to count them as painted when finished? ..... me thinks this is a loop hole in "The Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow".

German Infantry Regiment completed

2009-03-23T22:03:00.013Z

Well here it is, the completed German Infantry Regiment of two battalions, following the OOB in Rapid Fire v.2 rules.

2nd Battalion HQ

6th Company

8th (Heavy) Company

Recce and Engineer platoons

Could have spent more time on them but there'll do. Have to keep reminding myself that they are only tokens for the gaming table.

The Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow

2009-03-23T20:20:00.032Z

I thought I was alone and was the only mortal soul possessed by the Lead Mountain Demons. But it seems these demons are plentiful and have possessed many a fellow gamer. While digging in his garden, Thorbjorn Nielsen discovered an ancient tablet with the "The Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow" inscribed. He kindly posted the vow here on the Lead Adventure Forum.

I have it here in its original format as an easy reminder to myself.

"The Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow"

"I hereby vow to not buy a single miniature before I've painted at least two.

I shall display in public my will to resist the temptation of the lead, by entering into my profile the holy data of The Honorable Lead Hoarder Vow:

The letter P: stands for Painted

The letter B: stands for Bought

The letter V: stands for Vow-status-currently-as-by-the-rule-of-1-painted-gives-1-point-,-1-bought-takes-away-2-points

Be strong in spirit and resist the lead! Let not lead take over your life!"

What an excellent idea . I might have to adapt this idea into my blog but with a 1 for 1 point allocation. Do I start from zero as the high priests of the thread suggests or do I start from lead allocated to current live projects? As my blog is aiming to reduce my lead mountain I think I need to start from current position. The big question is, have I the time to climb the mountain and count each stone? Perhaps I should tread carefully and start slowing so not to scare the demons into drastic action.

My interpretation of the ancient vow with my legend explained.

Painted = any completed item (based and ready to use) 1 point for each figure, vehicle, or building (horse and rider count as 2, limber teams horses, limber and figures count separately).

Sold = Any item purchased and/or painted prior to 01-01-09 and sold.

Bought = any figure, vehicle, or building bought since 01-01-09.

Vow status = Painted plus Sold minus Bought ( + value shows reduction of lead mountain).

The start of it all (a little background info)

2009-03-18T23:00:00.003Z

After a little reminiscing I thought I'd put some background info on the blog to how I started wargaming.

It all started some 10-12 years ago. Life had taken a drastic turn and I seemed to have time on my hands in the evenings. A couple of lads at work were into wargaming and met with one other to be the gang of three. They kept asking me to join them for an evening. After a few put offs (too busy washing my hair etc.) I eventually turned up to a gaming night, armed with a few cans, to be impressed by a large section of Waterloo terrain. One of the guys own the complete Waterloo battlefield in Hex terrain. (More of this later in another blog). They were creating forces to campaign "what ifs" during the years after 1815. Nations fighting over the scraps of German states after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo. With French, Dutch Belgium and Bavarian being the main armies and ideas to collect others. Their idea being to build armies for all the German states and surrounding nations. I was impressed the the game enough to ask what I could collect and paint. The first suggestion was an Austrian force "...dead easy their uniforms are all white...." was something like the comment made. I think that that was what put me off, the thought of painting a major nation in all white. (With hindsight I now know better). The 1815 Brunswick force was another suggestion for variation I could add British and other minor nations later. The black uniform also seemed to me to be an easy uniform as an introduction. So I stared to build a force based on the Brunswick 1815 contingent.

At this point can I say that railway modelling has always been a hobby that has a great pull for me. Why I didn't rekindle my interest at this point I don't fully know. The only reason I can think of is that I had found three guys with a passion. With railway modelling I would have been a lonesome modeller. So it was probably as much social aspect to get me out of the house as much as the historical and modelling aspect that interested me with wargaming.

After a few years of, once every 2 - 4 weeks, gaming and campaigning with many different rules, re-basing figures, painting new units etc. The gang of four became three then quickly two. At this point the two of us decided that we had had enough of using different rule sets each week, and never really understanding any rule set fully. We decided on Shako as our preferred Napoleonic set of rules. Not sure why apart from they were a set that my opponent had a preference for or at least owned a full copy. Another round of re-basing but this time down from 24+ figure battalions to 12. I also decided that I would continue to occasionally use the computer rules "Hard Pounding" so based figures to suit both rule sets.

We found that by sticking to one set of rules allowed us to get to grips with them. Once learnt Shako rules can give us a game we can complete within a short weekday evening. Even though some gripping games finish in the early hours. (Or is it due too much merry banter across the table). As yet we have not purchased the new rules Shako v.2 but this no doubt will happen soon.

After a time we both discovered that our interests in WWII was mutual. We thought that it would be a small distraction to Napoleonics. Before I joined them the gang of three had briefly used the Rapid Fire rules with a small collection of 15mm figures. At that time they had decided that a 6 x 4 table was too small for WWII and dropped the rules and era. This briefly put us both off for a while but thought that this could not be correct as there seemed to be many WWII games played on a 6 x 4 table. With thoughts that this could have been another case of the rules being quickly read and some critical elements being misinterpreted. We promptly dug out these rules and figures and had a couple of very satisfying games. One thing lead to another and we now have a good selection of British, German and American forces between us, which are still expanding.

What I enjoy about this hobby is the research, the history, the collecting and painting of units as much if not more than the gaming. Without the gaming there would be no incentive to do either the research or collecting and painting. Some times I do spend too much time researching when time would be better spent painting but any hobby should be enjoyed in what ever fashion and pace any individual wishes.

My gaming partner has the skill and patience to paint units up to an excellent standard in a short space of time. Where as I paint in short stints and take long to finish units. After a while I personally found that painting two periods and interleaving games in both was having a negative effect on my painting and moral. Units were not being finished before having to change era's and try to finish another unit for the next game. So a decision was made that we would focus on one period for 12 months. A dice was thrown and WWII became the chosen period.

WWII projects on the go at the moment include:

1) A German Infantry Division.

2) A small German Fallshirmjager Regiment/Kampfgruppe.

3) Building a Panzer Kampfgruppe based on the 21st Panzer Division in Normandy.

Not sure that all the above will be completed within the year but I'm making good progress.

My current Napoleonic projects that are on hold:
1) Completing an Austrian Army of 5 divisions.
2) Finishing KGL Division.

So that's how it started and were I am at the moment. The German Infantry Regiment is very near to completion along with some of its supporting units. Photos will follow.

Bookshops are dangerous

2009-03-15T18:04:00.010Z

Well dangerous in as much as my partner and I find bookshops fascinating and normally if entered cannot escape without some purchase under our arms. This Sunday being no exception. After we both decided to walk into Lincoln to have a bimble around, it was inevitable that we would end up inside a bookshop. The book below is one that did not escape my grasp.

Once picked up I knew it had to find its way back onto my bookshelf. It focuses on the common Infantry Division soldier between 1939-45. It does not cover Panzer or SS troops nor has it any officer uniforms or equipment. However, it is a fantastic book, covering all items of clothing and equipment carried by the common German soldier during WWII. All illustrations are photographs of actual items in full colour with informative text. It starts with an introduction that sets the scene for the common soldier then continues with chapters on helmets, through uniforms and equipment, ending with chapters on music, tobacco, and leave and leisure. Contents of chapters contain such items as cameras, ration books, field telephones, shoe mines.....I don't think there is much missing.

It can be difficult to identify what each item is on some castings before painting. With this book in hand all items should be identifiable. I only wish I'd found this book before painting my German Infantry.....

German Infantry Regimental Colours used

2009-03-07T16:26:00.007Z

These are the colours used on the last batch of German Infantry

Undercoated - Chaos Black

Face -

Base coat Burnt Sienna finished off with Colour Party Continental Flesh.

Tunic - Valjaro 920 German Uniform

Trousers - Valjaro 920 German Uniform or Valjaro 830 German Field Grey or Valjaro 821 German Beige Camoflage with ???

Helmets - Valjaro 830 German Field Grey or Tamiya XF-63 German Grey

Rifle - Burnt Umber

Bread Bag - Tamiya XF-57 Buff

Gas Mask - Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey or Valjaro 830 German Field Grey

Water Bottle - Tamiya XF-64 Red Brown

Gaitors - Tamiya XF-49 Khaki or Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey

Tent Quarter - Valjaro 821 Germain Beige Camoflage with ???

Leather bags - Burnt Umber or Tamiya XF-65 Red Brown

Holsters and some straps - Burnt Sienna

Boots and straps - Black

German Infantry Regiment photo update (1)

2009-03-05T22:39:00.002Z

Just a few photos showing the state of play of my German Infantry Regiment. These are of the first battalion. Still need to finish off the storage/movement trays but otherwise this is complete.

3rd Company

Battalion HQ

1st Company

On the bench (1)

2009-02-27T23:06:00.000Z

I'm currently trying to finish off my WW2 German Infantry force. So underway are the final few (14) figures for the 2nd battalion and engineer platoons. Thought I would also add to this batch the (20) figures and four guns for two artillery batteries. Need to find some artillery command figures from somewhere and just realised that I'm one panzerfaust figure short for the engineer platoon. How did I miss that.

You may also make out 10 minifig horses. These are being painted for someone who is under the mistaken illusion that I can paint horses. I seem to be having a mental block on these as they have been there for a couple of months. Really do need to clear them of the bench in the next week. If you read this Mark.....I will get them finished....honest.

More photos will follow.

95th Rifles

2009-02-27T00:14:00.001Z

I know its a little predictable to include a battalion of the 95th in a British Napoleonic force but they are an iconic regiment.

I have been gradually building up my British force over a number of years and it is being a very slow progress. In fact not added any to this army for the last 5 years. The above 95th were painted some 6 years ago and are all from the AB stable.

More of my British Napoleonic army will follow.

Battle for "Flotsam sur Mer"

2009-02-21T23:05:00.000Z

This game was played on 21st Feb 2009 and I was well impressed by the fictitious scenario that my regular gaming opponent put together. What follows is the brief as it was handed to me prior to the evenings game.

German Brief
So much for a comfy French bed and a good nights sleep. All night has been spent listening to the sound of aircraft, presumably on bombing missions on some poor unsuspecting cities in the fatherland. thank God it wasn't you on the receiving end.

However what peace you did get was shattered this morning by a colossal navel bombardment all along the coast. You have tried to get information from HQ but after several minutes of trying the only information you have been given is that, reports are coming in of an allied landing all along the coast. Situation is confused, the Fuhrer cannot be disturbed so the Panzer units cannot be released. Immediate order are, hold your position until further orders. Further attempts to contact HQ are unsuccessful.

Time to take stock of your position.
You command a garrison of troops in the small town of "Flotsam sur Mer" a couple of miles inland on a slight rise. There are woods behind the town though which the southern road passes. Although the coast to the north cannot be seen clearly you can see one of the main routes inland. Since your observer team, for the Nebelwerfer battery under your command, has sighted enemy units attempting to breakout they have been bringing the area under constant fire. Thus making any main advance of the Allies impossible. Due to low cloud cover allied air activity has been limited and the Nebelwerfer position unallocated. However you realise that sooner or later the Allies will be making an effort to neutralise the battery, or at least silence the spotter. The town is on a crossroads so a possible flank attack could be possible.

Maximum garrison force total 306 points which includes the Nebelwerfer battery. All infantry under your command are regular. Nebelwerfer battery is on the table in a position that could cover all roads into the town. However if fire is halted on main access road from the coast the Allies will advance in force. You need to hold your position until further orders received and/or some form of support arrives. this requires a successful "Radio" transmission to HQ on move 5. (If unsuccessful try on each following turn.) If successful throw a d6. 1-4 infantry support arrives, 5-6 means the Fuhrer has come round and released the armour! Throw a second d6 to see which turn it arrives.

Maximum number of points for reinforcements 140

Game to be over 12 moves.

The Game:
My opponent fielded a force 510 point force, with the objective to knock out the battery and take the town. The game progressed well for the Germans as the British probably did not attack quickly enough. As I was able to move AT weapons and knock out several advancing vehicles with AT fire and mortar fire before they entered the town. On move 6 they failed the moral test and retreated back to the coastal bridgehead. This was just as my infantry support was arriving.

The after game discussion my opponent admitted that he took too long to reach reach the town. On reflection though we realised that the last five games have resulted in the attacker being repulsed and this is using the 10:6 Attacker/Defender ratio suggested by the rules. The above game might be improved if the German garrison troops were classed as poor.

I enjoyed the game and not just because it was a victory for the Germans, the detail of the brief added atmosphere to the game. We will probably use this scenario again but with some minor adjustments either in forces or ratio.

I do apolgise that there are no pictures or maps. I will try harder for the next game report.

Lorraine Schlepper OP vehicle

2009-02-21T21:35:00.001Z

While browsing the Flames of War web site I can across the improved layout/search for their E-Store. I had previously searched their site for reference to the Lorraine Schlepper OP vehicle but only found it as part of a set. It now looks like it is available as a special order item.

GE150 Lorraine Schepper OP , SP Artillery Battery

Also under the special order section there are some nice items that might be of interest at some point.
GSO188 German Ammunition
GSO185 Panzer IV Schurzen
GSO186 Plastic Schurzen
GSO180 German Half-Track Stowage

Bergepanther SdKfz 179

2009-02-15T16:42:00.000Z

Give us a wave mate.....smile for the camera.

A couple of shots of my first attempt at Ambush Camouflage. I'm reasonably happy with the outcome. In time I may do a little more with dirt and dust for that used worn finish, and I'm not fully sure about which unit markings to apply. Just for now it's finished and ready for the table.

The Bergepanther is an old Flames of War resin model with added bits and Peter Pig tank crew/mechanics.

A little pat on the back

2009-02-08T21:00:00.003Z

Thought I might publish a couple of photos to celebrate, for me, an excellent weekends work. (A little pat on the back). Apart from normal household chores, watching all three six nations games, and falling asleep during "633 Squadron", I feel I have done well with the above group of miniatures. They will form a major part of the German Infantry Regiments 2nd Battalion plus part of the HQ Recce/Engineer platoons.

The group being painted contains 3 command figures for the Battalion HQ, 5 figure for each of the three rifle companies, three figures for each of the two HMG stands and four figures starting the Recce/Engineer platoons. I'm waiting for the LMG figures and the engineer figures which should be with me in the next few days.

Just incase anyone does fall on this blog by mistake, I've also added a close up of one figure against a GB Pound coin to highlight the miniatures size.

These are 15mm figurines that are approximately 15mm high from the top of the base to the eye level of the miniature. The majority of the miniatures in this group are from Peter Pig range mostly late war with a few early war thrown in, along with a few Skytex (Command Decision) and I think there is at least one QRF figure. These have been boxed away waiting to be painted for so long I cannot remember for certain.

They still need a few more blobs of paint but I should be a be to put a little more on before close of play this evening. So it should not be too long before the whole regiment is finished.

To top it all this weekend Wednesday beat The Blades 2:1 at Bramall Lane, completing an historic derby double over them for for the first time in one season since 1914. Oh happy days.

Wellington Command stand

2009-02-05T21:45:00.000Z

To get the ball rolling with my collection of 15mm Napoleonic figures thought I'd publish a shot of one of my British command stands that is depicting Wellington receiving a note. The stand is made up of figures from different manufactures including AB, Essex and Battle Honors.

When I get a moment I'll publish a few more pictures of my collection Napoleonic figures.

Flakpanzer Sdfkz 38(t)

2009-01-09T16:16:00.001Z

This Flakpanzer Sdkfz 38(t) is the AA support vehicle for the Panzer Regiment 22 HQ.

German Fallshirmjager Division

2009-01-02T10:32:00.002Z

Still trying to get a grip on my collection of figures so continuing sorting though painted and unpainted lead.

As is typically me (I hope only up to up to this point) I started to build a Fallshirmjager Division a couple of years ago but only completed one infantry battalion plus support company, an engineer company and an AA platoon. Still need to paint the second infantry battalion. This Division will still have to be completed at a later date as the generic Wehrmacht Infantry Division will have to be my first priority. But it may take priority over the 21st Panzer Division as again I have most of the lead in stock ready to paint.

Just to put my thoughts at this down in writing as to how I see this Division being completed at this moment in time. This follows the new Rapid Fire infantry regiment composition....but I am open to persuasion if this is not historically correct for 1944 -45

Regimental HQ
- From figures in stock and use the kubelwagen from my existing Wehrmacht battalion its command vehicle - Require a Radio truck see below

Engineer Company
Completed (many have enough figures to add a second engineer company).

1st Battalion
The existing battalion is finished - apart from I will move the Panzershrecke team from the battalion HQ to the anti-tank company and replace it with two infantry figures. Also possibly replace the existing 50mm mortar team in one company with one panzerfaust figure and one infantry figure but this is not a necessity.

2nd Battalion
Using existing lead to be painted to a similar configuration as the first battalion.

The support companies.
Gun company
105mm recoilless rifle - Completed
20mm AA - Completed
Anti-Tank Company
8 figures, (4 x panzerschecke teams) - Required 2 more teams
50mm PaK 38 - Completed

To complete the above I need 3 packs of figures from the Peter Pig range 8.
1 pack 183 (German Para MG34 Tripod) to complete the heavy company
1 pack 50 (German Para MG42) to add the LW extra fire power to each infantry company
1 pack 185 (German Para Tank Hunters [need to ask for the pack to be made up of 5 panzerfaust figures + 1 figure carrying a panzershrecke + 1 complete panzershrecke team])
The above tank hunter pack will, when combined with figures in stock, give me a panzerfaust figure for each company, (replacing the 50mm mortar team in one existing company), plus an 8 figure anti-tank company by removing the panzershrecke team from the existing battalion HQ and allow me to add a panzerfaust figure to the existing engineer company.
ALSO
A Radio vehicle for the regimental HQ either - FOW GE-490 Opel Kfz 68 Radio Truck or Skytex CD16A Opel Blitz Radio / Office (Peter Pig do a Granit Ambulance command vehicle (pack number 83) that might fit the bill but no photo on web site so not sure what it looks like).
Plus
I have enough Fallshirmjager gun crew in stock to crew a PAK 40 so that I could have an option to uprate the existing PAK 38. BUT at the moment I will pass on this.....adds a little extra to the gane by using the PAK 38.

German Infantry Regimental HQ

2009-01-01T15:12:00.003Z

Well that was easy....!!

I was using these as command for the Panzer Regiment, with a view to repainting them in a camouflage scheme. Using them as Regimental HQ for a generic Infantry Battalion means I could get away with leaving them as they are.

Job done.

German Infantry Division (overview of what's required)

2009-01-01T13:07:00.006Z

Like the 21st list I'm going to use this blog as a note pad for this Division. I've added notes in green to help me keep track of whats required. This is a "work in progress" blog and will be updated as I complete units.

After looking though my existing collection of German WWII and working out what I need to complete the 21st Panzer Kampfgruppe I realise that I am closer to completing a generic German Infantry Division, as outlined in the Rapid Fire version two rule set. Also it looks like I have most items in stock so to focus on this force would deplete the mountain of unpainted lead a little and be achievable in a relatively short space of time. This may well be my first objective for 2009...to complete this Kampfgruppe while I sell lead to create cash flow to purchase missing pieces for the 21st.

German Infantry Division Kampfgruppe - Normandy 1944

Regimental HQ
6 figures, staff car, radio truck
Completed

Recce and Engineer platoon
10 figures (5 being engineers), panzerfaust
- Completed

1st Infantry Battalion
HQ
CO + 5 figures, (1 being a medic)
- Completed
1st Company
8 figures, Panzerfaust
- Completed
2nd Company
8 figures, Panzerfaust
- Completed
3rd Company
8 figures, Panzerfaust
Completed
4th (Heavy) Company
9 figures, 2 x HMG, 81mm Mortar
- Completed

2nd Infantry Battalion
HQ
CO + 5 figures, (1 being a medic)
- Completed
5th Company
8 figures, Panzerfaust
- Completed
6th Company
8 figures, Panzerfaust
- Completed
7th Company
8 figures, Panzerfaust
- Completed
8th (Heavy) Company
9 figures, 2 x HMG, 81mm Mortar
- Completed

Support Companies
13th (Gun) Company
3 figures, 150mm infantry gun, Medium truck prime mover
- Completed
3 figures, 75mm infantry gun, Light truck prime mover
- In stock to paint (Battle Honors 4023 Opel Blitz truck) - Completed gun
14th (Anti-Tank) Company
8 figures, 4 x Panzershrecke
- Completed
3 figures, 75mm (PaK 40) anti-tank gun, Medium truck prime mover
- Completed

Divisional Troops
Two Battalions from the Divisional Artillery Regiment
HQ
3 figures, radio truck
- Completed

1st Battalion
10 gunners, 2 x 105 howitzer, 2 x horse drawn limber,
2 figure OP team, light c
- Completed
2nd Battalion
10 gunners, 2 x 105 howitzer, 2 x horse drawn limber,
2 figure OP team, light car
- Completed

Anti-Tank Company
2 x StuG III (75mm)
- Completed

One battalion may have an additional 120mm mortar
3 figures, 120mm mortar, light truck prime mover
- Completed

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T12:48:00.000Z

Happy New Year to anyone that might be interested in this little blog. I hope 2009 will bring success with your wargaming interests as I am hoping it will with mine.

Resolution:
I have always been doing "a bit of this and a bit of that" and never actually finishing anything. Over the last 10 years this has caused my wargaming collection to developed "arms and legs". I am going to make 2009 the year I lighten the load of unpainted lead and take time to focus on projects one at a time and see each project though to completion. This will take some discipline but should lighten that depressing feeling of all the unpainted lead and unfinished projects give me.

"Don't let the little buggers grind you down"

21st Panzer (overview of required figures etc.)

2008-12-31T23:34:00.002Z

I'm going to use this blog as a note pad for this Kampfgruppe so I've added notes in green to help me keep track of whats required. This is a "work in progress" blog and will be updated as I purchase items or complete units.

I am trying to base this force on Von Luck's Kampfgruppe but with alterations/additions to give a more options when bringing to the table for pickup games. I've have collected information on the 21st from numerous sources and there are differences between each source. Some major some minor so I feel at this point I can pick and choose units but also add in some that might have been combined into the Kampfgruppe at different points in the campaign.

I have roughly followed the historical make up of each unit were I can but also kept an eye on Rapid Fire's basic unit make up so as not to create a force too out of touch with my gaming opponent. Having gamed with Rapid Fire rules v.1 and used its supplements to create units. I am also trying to resolve issues from following the new suggested unit make up with in v.2 and it subsequent supplements. Also considering that I have been wanting to build this force for some time I am shocked at how far I am away from getting it completed. Really do need to get my finger out on this one.

(H) = Historical (P) = Personnel preference.

Kampfgruppe HQ (P) Make up roughly follows standard Rapid Fire v.1 rules
CO + 5
Citroen Staff Car (or Von Luck's Panzer IV)
- In stock (Peter Pig 154)
Radio Truck
- Require (Sytrex CD-316A)
u304(f) 20mm Flak 38
- Require (FOW GE-246) (Purchased 20/04/09)
Panhard Armoured Car 50mm AT
- Completed (Peter Pig 247)
Ambulance
- Require (Skytrex CD-316B)
2 x supply trucks
- Require (?)

Panzer Grenadier Regiment 125
Armoured Battalion (P) Historically all but the 3rd Company was attached to Kampgruppe Oppeln in exchange for 1 Company Panzer Regiment 22 (Panzer IV's)
HQ -
CO + 4 figures inc. Panzershrecke + Medic + 1 x leSPW u304(f)
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-245)(Purchased 20/04/09)

+ 1 x 4.7mm PAK (t) 35R(f) ohne turm (+ crew)
- Require (1 x QRF GFF-03)
1st Company -
8 figures inc panzerfaust + 1 x leSPW u304(f)
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-245)(Purchased 09/05/09)
2nd Company -
8 figures inc panzerfaust + 1 x leSPWu 304(f)
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-245)
3rd Company -
8 figures inc panzerfaust leSPW u304(f)
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-245)
4th (Heavy) Company -
6 figures inc 2 x MMG + leSPW u304(f)
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-245)
3 figures + AMR35(f) (SP Mortar)
- Require (1 x QRF GFF-12)
1 x mSPW S307(f) 75mm PAK 40
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-214)(Purchased 20/04/09)

Motorised Battalion (H)
HQ -
CO + 4 figures inc. Panzershrecke + Medic + 1 French soft skin vehicle
- Require (1 x QRF FSV-02)
5th Company -
8 figures inc panzerfaust + French soft skin vehicle
- In stock (1 x Peter Pig 30)
6th Company -
8 figures inc panzerfaust + French soft skin vehicle
- In stock (1 x Peter Pig 30)
7th Company -
8 figures inc panzerfaust + French soft skin vehicle
- In stock (1 x Peter Pig 30)
8th (Heavy) Company -
6 figures inc 2 x MMG + French soft skin vehicle
- Require (1 x QRF FSV-02)
3 figures + AMR35(f) (SP Mortar)
- Require (1 x QRF GFF-12)
1 x mSPW S307(f) 75mm PAK 40
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-214)(Purchased 09/05/09)

9th Company (H)
1 x 150mm sFH 13 auf Lorraine
- In stock (1 x FOW GE-149)

10th Company (H)
1 x mSPW s307(f) 8cm Reihenwerfer
- In stock (1 x FOW GE-212)

Other Attahments
1 Company (SPW) Panzer-Pioneer-Battalion 220 (H) transferred to Luck on 7th June
8 figures inc panzerfaust, flamethrower & demolition charges + 1 x s307(f) (Pioneer)
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-211)(Purchased 20/04/09)

1 Company Pioneer-Battalion 716 (H) This was taken under command by Luck 7th June after being separated from its parent Division.
8 figures inc panzerfaust, flamethrower & demolition charges + 1 x Opel 1.5 ton truck
- Require (Skytrex CD-349)

Divisional Attachments
Sturmgeschutz -Battalion 200 (H) The whole Battalion was assigned to Lucks Kampfgruppe in June 1944
HQ
1 x 7.5cm PAK 40 auf 39H(f)
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-127) (Purchased 09/05/09)

1 x leSPW U304(f) (2cm FLAK 38)
- Instock (1 x FOW GE-246) (Purchased 09/05/09)

4 Companies of
1 x 7.5cm PAK 40 auf 39H(f) + 1 x 10.5cm PzFH auf 39H(f)
- Completed (4 x FOW GE-217) - (4 Purchased and ready for painting)

1st Battalion Panzer -Artillery-Regiment 22 (H)
2 figure Observer team
- Required ??
2 x 122mm Russian Howitzers + horse drawn
- Require (2 x Skytex CD-421)
1 x 105mm Howitzer + tractor
- Require (1 x Skytrex CD-354 + 1 x CD-354A)

Elements of Panzer-Regiment 22
HQ (P)
1 x Panzer IV G/H
- In stock (FOW GE-887)
1 x Flakpanzer 38(t)
- Completed (FOW GE-163)
1st Company (H) As attached in June 1944
3 x Panzer IV's G/H
- In stock (FOW GE-046)
2nd Company (P) Just to added further options for pick up games
3 x Panzer IV's G/H
- Need finishing (3 x Skytrex CD-302)

1st Company -Battalion 200 (P)
2 x 88mm PAK 43/41 + 2 French Somua MCC 11 -
- Require (2 x Skytrex CD-332) + (2 x QRF FSV-05)

1st Battery Heeres -Flak-Battalion (H) As mention in Lucks memoirs during Operation Goodwood
1 x 88mm FLAK 41 + Citroen Kegresse Artillery Tractor
- In stock (FOW GE-550) Using existing SdKfz 7 (8t) Halftrack as tow
1 x SdKfz 10/4
- Require (1 x Skytrex Sdkfz 10/4 CD351)

The figures will be a mixed bag mainly from the Peter Pig and Skytrex ranges with a few FOW and QRF thrown in for good measure.

21st Panzer (Why?)

2008-12-22T20:42:00.001Z

My existing WW2 forces are heavily weighted towards Western Europe after Normandy. I have been collecting mainly German units plus a smattering of American. The German units are made up a little randomly and I've never really settled on an historical formation. Rapid Fire do publish very nice generic unit organisations which I have loosely followed. These have been used in pickup games and have given good service but.....its about time I started to create a force based on historical units.

I have been trying to remember why I've settled on the 21st Panzer as a basis for my primary Kampfgruppe. My first encounter with this force must have been within the pages Rapid Fire's 1st supplement "Unit Organisations for the 1944-45 Campaign in North West Europe" by Colin Rumford. Here Mr Rumford has outlined a 1380 point force with a good mix of units. But the event that made me decided on the 21st Panzer was after reading "Panzer Commander" which are the memoirs of Colonel Hans Von Luck . This is extremely good read and I would recommed it to any one interested in WWII. It charts his experiences from Poland in 1939 though France then North Africa and Normandy ending in Russia in 1945.

Next I will confirm the units that will be included in my Kampfgruppe based on the 21st Panzer Division.

To start

2008-12-22T09:49:00.000Z

This blog will hopefully chart my wargaming progress from this point onwards. The posting will cover projects and their progress along with games and any gaming related ideas. But first a little about myself.

I've been wargaming for approximately 10 years and possibly like many gamers been meandering though scales, eras and rules sets. Started off meeting with three other guys locally. This has now diminished to just two which has helped in narrowing down interests and which rule sets to use. When it was the four of us there would not seem to be a month go by when "...I've found this excellent new rule set for ....era.... it will mean re-basing but lets give it a go....." would not ring out. I cannot get my head around any rule set in one play. Any rule set is some ones interpretation of gaming mechanics and it takes many plays to fully understand how the author has arrived these rules.

Now it is just the two of us, even though we do not game as often as we would like, we we have settled on two main rule sets and the rules come back to use reasonably easily. Finally settled on 15mm scale for all figures in two eras, Naploeonic and WWII. The two rule sets we mainly use are Shako for Napoleonic and Rapid Fire for WWII. You may say that Rapid Fire are for 20mm figures but they do work just as well for 15mm figures.

Additionally I do like the computer rules Hard Pounding for Napoleonics. These do give an element of random uncontrol to your units which does add an extra dimension when issuing commands. We only get to game with these once or twice a year at a weekend as these games tend to last longer than and evening. But as they are computer driven all the mechanics/casualties/movement are calculated for you leaving you, the gamer, to command.

Also we have recently come across the DBN rule set. Though we have not gamed with these rule extensively they are and excellent set of rules to enable us to fit in one or even two quick Napoleonic games in a short evening.

I think that briefly covers it for now, hope to put a few more posts up soon covering at least one of my current projects.