Late War German Grenadiers FOW

Now then,

I thought Id post an update on the FOW madness that seems to have gripped me. I have sorted out the start of a Late war Grenadier list, there is obviously some way to go with this little project and it will no doubt be delayed because of the Soviet hordes I have waiting in the wings....

Anyway, here's what I have so far -

First up is the Company headquarters, The Company commander and his second in command both have panzer fausts, and with an attached Panzerschrek team they should be able to look after themselves.

 Next is my first Grenadier platoon, standard 3 squads and commander, with Panzerfaust.

Ive tried to give these guys a battle worn look, with mismatched uniforms etc.

Here is my small MG 42 Platoon, only 1 squad, but I may add more later. The command team has a panzerfaust as well, I expect to face plenty of Allied armour, so a good investment I think.

Thanks for looking!
Steve

Waffen SS Eastern front 1943 (A return to Flames of War)

Now then,

Last year I got hold of the new (not new anymore...im behind the times it seems) Flames of war V3 rules. I started reading them yesterday.

Much seems to be the same, although it would seem that bits and pieces have been clarified and streamlined somewhat. I wont give any kind of review as im not familiar enough with the rules yet. Suffice to say im liking what im reading so far.

I have decided, after speaking to my brother that it would be the way forward to sort out my (fairly extensive and generally unorganised) 15mm WW2 collection.

WAFFEN SS GEPANZERTE PANZERGRENADIER COMPANY 1943

 The Company Headquarters.

For the armoured Pz Grenadier units all the fighting troops are mounted in Sdkfz 251/c halftracks

I have the Company commander and the company 2nd in command along with the optional anti tank rifle team.

The list allows you to swap out the anti tank rifle team for a sPzB41 anti tank rifle, which is mounted on a small gun carriage.

I like to have all the options if I can, but im short a halftrack to mount them in at the moment so they are either hitching a ride with boss or they are jumping in a spare truck! Ill get them their own (proper) transport soon enough.

Combat Platoons

Platoon Commander

Here is the first Pz Grenadier platoon. It has 3 squads and a platoon commander, all mounted in halftracks.

The Platoon commanders vehicle is a Sdkfz 251/10, which mounts a 3.7mm AT gun in place of the normal MG34.

Squad 1 ( I must swap that bent antenna!)

Squad 2

Squad 3

Platoon Commander

 Here is Pz Grenadier platoon 2. Identical to 1 platoon.

I have tried to break up the monotony of the halftracks by adding air recognition flags (made out of green stuff) and ive added stowage here and there as well.

 Squad 1

 Squad 2

 Squad 3

Platoon Commander

 Gepanzarte Heavy platoon

This is the single largest platoon in the company, it contains all the organic support elements.

 Mortar section 2 x Sdkfz 251/2c 8cm mortar carriers and an observer team in a kubelwagon

 Gun Section 2 x Sdkfz 251/9c 7.5cm halftracks

 2 x Machine gun sections. Armed with tripod mounted MG34's

Support Options

Weapons Platoons

 PAK 38 AT platoon

Here is a bit of support for the troops, 2 x 50mm Pak 38's with their prime movers and a command team.

 Light Anti Aircraft platoon

These are Sdkfz 10/5 2cm AA guns.

Customised a bit with bits of stowage and air recognition flags etc.

Divisional Support

 Assault Gun Platoon

2 x Stug IIIG, armed with 7.5cm stuK40 gun.

Tank Hunter Platoon

3 x Marder IIIM

Armed with a 7.5cm Pak 40 AT gun.

I have again tried to customise each model with stowage and ammo etc.

Thats them all for now, although I do have more painted, ill save them for a future post. I painted this army in 2006, and im surprised it hasnt been damaged with all the house moves ive had!

On the painting table now I have a lorried Panzergrenadier platoon, I think the company could do with some more infantry to move up after the halftracks and hold onto any ground they capture.

Here a link to my Eastern front page - LINK

Anyway, thanks for looking,
Steve

Crusades in 15mm for Hail Caesar.

Hi all,

Now that my WOTR in 6mm project has come to a natural pause (a project is never finished!) Im thinking about what im going to do next.

Im considering expanding my 15mm Crusades project. the army I have is all based up and organised for Impetus, however by combining bases, I can very easily make it work for Hail Caesar.

So im thinking that 3 bases for a standard unit will look suitably impressive.



So a standard sized Crusader foot sergeants unit will look like this.



In the army list books, the crusader sergeants can have a sub unit of crossbows, so the full unit will look like this.



The Crusader Knights will look most impressive I think. 18 figures for a unit.



Small units will be 2 bases strong, for example like the Turcopoles above.

So, no rebasing needed, but lots of painting to be done. Thats not the chore it may sound like, as I love painting the Crusades stuff. The Legio Heroica miniatures are awesome so it a win all round I think.

Anyway... heres a link to the Legio Heroica website.  Legio Heroica

Cheers for looking,
Steve

The Wars of the Roses in 6mm. Hail Caesar

Now then,

Life has been busy recently, hobby time has been pretty good though, although I havent been blogging much....

I decided a while ago now that I wasn't particularly happy with how my 6mm WOTR was organised. The base size was (is) ok, but having separate retinue bills and MAA stands charging about the place like highly trained Roman cohorts just seemed wrong.

The vast majority of troops in the WOTR would have had very limited training, and certainly wouldn't have been capable of anything more complex than forming a battle line and moving forward with their fellows. Strong leadership was essential when leading the troops of the period, I believe that is why the great lords and nobles, even the kings themselves dismounted on fought on foot, often in the front rank. There were no real great commanders, but a great many outstanding leaders, who led from the front.


So, I have changed the composition of my Fighting bases. No longer do I have stands of bills and separate stands of knights and men at arms in full plate armour. Now they are mixed together on the same stand, the more heavily armoured chaps to the front, and around the standard. The retinue bills making up the numbers and filling the rear ranks.

An example retinue, 1 base of fighting troops, and 1 base of longbowmen.


So, to play Hail Caesar, I have decided on a 6 base standard sized unit. Made up of 3 retinues, the senior noble in the centre, and hence the leader model ( for rules purposes). Fighting bases to the front and the rear bases are longbowmen.

Small units are 2 bases wide. Id normally reserve this for small cavalry units, but occasionally smaller retinue units and possibly levies.

the small cavalry units will only be 1 base deep though!

Tiny units will be just a single base, maybe foragers and the like....

large units will be 5 bases wide, 2 deep (10 bases)

So now that im happy with how im going to go forward with this army, I thought a few games would be in order!

Game 1

Blore Heath (sort of...ish...)

The armies face off. (there should be a river, and the yorkists should be protected by a line of stakes and a ditch!. I didnt want to over complicate our first game so left them off).

 I did however fortify the Yorkist flanks.

The Yorkist camp, complete with wagon laager and fortifications, guarded by some cannon.

 The Lancastrian forces, with the cavalry to the front ready to charge in and cause havoc!

Behind the cavalry come the masses of levies!

Here is a view along the Lancastrian lines.

Hopefully you can see the 6 stand blocks, and the 2 stand (small) cavalry units.

The Yorkists await the onslaught! Longbows at the ready.

A good learning game.

the cavalry (knights) proved to be far to rock hard and easily smashed through the Yorkist lines. 1 small unit managed to rout 2 retinue foot units in a single turn!

The Yorkists were doomed, due to a lack of good command rolls and poor shooting.


Good game though and fun was had.





Game 2

Battle of Catterick heath...

No report as such, but here are a few pics of the carnage!

 Lancastrian forces advance into a hail of arrows and cannon balls!

The Yorkist "battle" under the earl of Salisbury hold their ground and fill the sky with arrows.

 Both sides start to take casualties.

 The Yorkists maintain a solid battleline, all the while pouring on the bow and cannon fire.

Some Lancastrians are driven back by the constant hail of arrows.

The Yorkists dont have it all their own way though, Lancastrian cannon line up their victims!

Massed levy spearmen about to get the good news!

When the lines finally meet, there is much slaughter, after a prolonged combat, both armies are fought to a standstill, but with the Lancastrian army breaking, the Yorkists are in no fit state to pursue.


A bloody day indeed.

A great game, We had 4 players, each commanding their own "battle", the cavalry formed a separate command and could only be activated after an enemy command had been routed! (An attempt to show the nobles bringing up their horses and pursuing!)

Meanwhile, whilst battle raged in the dining room....... the fembots have their own hobby.......

 Thanks for looking,
Steve