Flakpanzer Sdfkz 38(t)

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

German Fallshirmjager Division

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

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)

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

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.)

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?)

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.