Panther Ausf G - Painted

I've had these for quite some time but finally finished the camouflage and I have to say that they are pretty nice.  How the oak material holds up in play I have no idea.  Look great though.

Battlegroup Overlord Battle Report - Flank Attack 500 points

 

This week we played the Flank Attack mission from the BGO book.  This was a series of encounters between the British Armoured Regiment Commanded by Si and Neil and the elements from the 21^st Panzer Division commanded by Frazer and Next Door Matt.  We played 500 points which we have found to be our realistic maximum for a club night game.

British Order of Battle
FHQ in Sherman
Comms Unit
Sherman Tank Squadron inc Firefly
Infantry Platoon inc 6 Pounder HMG, 3" Mortar
Sniper
25 Pounder Battery - on table
25 Pounder Battery - off table
4+ Additional artillery support

 

German Order of Battle
FHQ in Halftrack 251
Armoured Panzergrenadier Infantry Platoon in 251's
Stug Battery - 3 plus Ace
Sniper
Recon Command
120mm off table Mortar Battery
Famo Recovery
Supply Trucks x2
Pre-registered Target Point
4+ Additional artillery support

Battlegroup Overlord - Battle Report

Elliot and I decided to play 500 point meeting engagement with Battlegroup Overlord. 

 

I chose Panzergrenadiers and Elliot took British Airborne.  The army lists are below.  In order to give the game a more Normandy feel we pushed the table size down to 4ft by 4ft.  Combining this with as many hedgerows as we had – must make some bocage- we hoped that it would give us a game which wasn’t dominated by armour in the early turns of the game.

 

We placed four objectives.  One is the church the other is a black truck on the German side of the table and the British have a Jeep and a fuel dump.  The game begins with the Germans advancing their recce elements into the town and bumping into a British Recce jeep.

 

 

Panzer Division (Overlord)

(Officers: 4) Army Size: Platoon

507 / 35br

 

Forward Headquarters

28/3BR

3 men & SdKfz 251/3

Infantry Units

Panzer Grenadier Squad

26/3BR

Bipod MG34

Armoured Pzr Gren Squad

42/3BR

SdKfz 251/1, Bipod MG34

Panzer Grenadier Platoon

100/11BR

Regular

Anti-tank Gun

30/2BR

50mm PaK38, Medium truck

Tank Units

StuG III Battery

120/9BR

3 Stug III Gs

Artillery Units

Off-Table Mortar Fire

72/0BR

2 120mm mortars

Reconnaissance Support Units

Recon Platoon Command

36/2BR

SdKfz 250/10

Armoured Car

20/1BR

SdKfz 222

Logistics Support Units

Supply Column

8/1BR

1 medium truck

Additional Fire Support

Off-Table Artillery Request

10/0BR

2nd (4+)

Pre-Registered Target Point

15/0BR

 

6th Airborne Division

(Officers: 4) Army Size: Platoon

499 / 31br

Forward Headquarters Units

Forward Headquarters

24/3BR

Jeep

Comms Relay Team

14/0BR

Infantry Units

Airborne Infantry Platoon

147/15BR

Veteran

Light Mortar Team

0/0BR

PIAT Team

0/0BR

Anti-tank Gun

39/2BR

6 pdr, Jeep

Tank Units

Sherman Troop

130/9BR

3 M4A4

Artillery Units

Off-Table Mortar Fire

81/0BR

3 3" mortars

Reconnaissance Support Units

Recon Platoon Command

29/2BR

4 men and a Jeep

Additional Fire Support

Pre-Registered Target Point

15/0BR

Timed Typhoon Air Strike

 

Having more recce units the Germans follow up their recce elements with a Stug supported by a squad of infantry.  The 222 move straight down through the cross roads and opens fire at the Para Recce Jeep – missing. (just visible by the two house with red roofs).  The Recce Command in the 250 turns right but is hit by a mine which destroys it.  (chit draw for capture of objective at turn end) 

A half squad moves along the hedgerow towards the objective.

The British player only manages to bring on a Sherman which opens fire at the 222 missing it despite the short range and clear target.

The British player has selected the church as a preregistered target point and the 3” mortars land with a direct hit on the Stug which destroys it
Meanwhile the Germans start to advance using the fields as cover.  The Forward HQ in half track forces it way through the hedgerow whilst the platoon command element follow up on 1^st squad.  Another Stug takes a shot at the Sherman as the infantry advance.  The Panzergrenadiers in the 251 make it into cover of the building and the squad dismounts and moves into the building overlooking the British positions

British Sections arrives and opens fire on the Germans in the right hand house.  This firefight would continue throughout the battle but whilst taking casualties the MG34 team hold out pinning and delaying the British infantry

The Paras direct the Sherman to fire on the house that is holding up their advance.

The Typhoon strike arrives and destroys the Forward HQ completely and also pins all of the infantry.  This is may give the British the opportunity they need to take the village

Finally the Stug gunner hits the Sherman, combined with a mortar barrage that pins the replacement British para section – the previous section had been pinned and routed by the Panzergrenadier squad in the house.  The British BR is reached

 

It was a very good game, finished in two hours.  Elliot was unlucky to lose, he had caused me much more trouble than I had him but when his hand went into the pot for a chit it was harsh.  The first three chits were all 5s.  He was also unlucky with his morale rolls which saw a section route with only a single casualty having been pinned and then take a casualty with aimed fire.  In contrast the German squads (MG and Rifle) were whittled down to just 2 men an passed their morale each time.

 

Great game.  Now off to build some proper bocage J

Wednesday War - Chain of Command Op Spa

This game sees the first of 'game four' in our Chain of Command campaign as the Germans attempt to capture Spa in Belgium

 

In the first three games the SS commanded by Matt made short work of the American platoon commanded by Elliot.  In the Centre the Soviets ably commanded by Neil repulsed the initial attack by Chris's German Heer platoon and continued to push them back towards the start line.  In the south a bitter series of actions took place on the outskirts of Meiz  with the British finally pushing back Frazer's Panzergrenadiers

 

Prior to this weeks (game four), campaign game was played.  There were two requests for redeployment, the first by the Americans was held up at HQ and the second was accepted by the German commander and pulled the battered Heer platoon to a quieter sector.  The unstoppable advance of the SS was to meet a delaying action by the Soviets under the command of Neil.

 

 



 

The soviets were holding a tree line in the west and the SS were advancing down the road from the farm in the east.

 

The battlefield

 The Germans start deploying along the road

The soviets try to push the Germans back hard and fast with armour but a long range shot from the panzershrek team knock out the KV-1

 A few points of shock start to build on the lead German squad.

The HE fire from the T34 forces the lead squad to fall back - unfortunately they run through the 'shrek team and dump 5 points of shock  causing them to fall back as well

As SS reserves arrive the German commander calls up his Flammpanzer to shift the Soviets that are arriving to support the T34

The Germans lob smoke grenades to cover their position as a second squad arrives to move up the left flank

A hasty barrage lands amid the soviet position, fortunately for the Russians most of the their units are unaffected but the reduced LOS prevents the T34 from causing much trouble

 The soviets are wisely holding the line waiting for the SS to cover the open killing ground

The SS move into the wheat field  trying to get a base of fire going

Fanatical the SS are, suicidal they are not and they hold position  waiting for the Forward Observer to shift the barrage onto the soviet infantry

Morale in the Soviet postion is still remarkably high

 The Flammpanzer gets into range and prepares to fire

 Unconcerned the reds swig vodka and shout rude words at the SS

 Whoosh!  The first time a flame tank has been in action a timely use of a CoC dice for the SS

 The results are horrific and the morale takes a big knock dropping to 5

 With the KV-1 burning it is up to the T34 commander to take action

 Having slowly edge to the flank the commander is now in a position to take a shot

Lucky for the Soviets it's a good shot and the Flammpanzer is knocked out. 

The German moral was on 10 with the soviets on 5 and it looked like trouble for the Russians.  Neil was fortunate to get 3 turns in a row and remove most of the shock from the burning squad before they fled the table and the moral affected the command dice.  With reluctance the SS withdraw.  Whilst their morale is still high the casualties are mounting and another battle is just over the horizon

The seemingly unstoppable advance by the SS towards Spa has been stopped for the time being.

Will the soviets dig in or counter attack?  The British have the same choice to make before they fight battle 4 and the Americans are on the attack for the first time since the campaign started.  Casualties are starting to have an impact on the other German and American platoons. 

Chain of Command Campaign Pictures

Its our second week in our new gaming location, and this week we had two tables of Chain of Command as our campaign continued.

Below are some shots from the game between Binx's Germans and Lordybloke's Soviets...

The Germans, near their jump off point, cover the flank from the safety of the ruins

A full table shot as the Soviets close in on the Germans position

The Soviets cover the advance of their compatriots further up the battlefield

The Germans hunker down in the graveyard, one foolish soldier attempts to get a better view

The Soviets right flank, a mixture of painted and err... brown warriors

Fallschirmjager for Chain of Command

 

I bought these on a whim, I don't need another CoC platoon.  I have British Airborne and I have German Panzergrenadiers.  I have a box each of the Perry 8th Army and DAK waiting to be started but I think I was in denial.  I wanted to do the 'Green Devils' but I already had plenty of 28mm Germans in the pile.

Anyway this scratch got itched and here they are a full platoon plus HMG, Forward Observer, Medic, Sniper team and Pioneer flamethrower team.  Now all I have to do is get them on the table for a battle.

Chain of Command Campaign - Turn 2

Turn two of the Chain of Command campaign - Objective Spa.  The German movements are in red and the Allies are in blue.  At the top of the map the 12th SS push forward against the unprepared American forces.  In the centre the Panzergrenadiers have been pushed back beyond their start positions and in the south the Axis initial failure has been met with success as another assault finally succeeds

Chain of Command Spa Campaign - Turn 1

 

 

We have started a Chain of Command campaign using a map covering the Belgium town of Spa.  This is a fictitious setup to include all players and their respective platoons.  This is the outcome of turn one.  The basic setup is the failed Ardennes offensive.

Allied victories 2

Axis victories 1

	Unit	Position	CO's Opinion	Men’s Opinion
Neil	Soviet Rifle Platoon	1	+2	+1
Elliot	Armoured Rifle Platoon	2	-1	-1
Simon	British Infantry Platoon	1	+2	+2
Frazer	Heer Grenadiers	1	-2	-1
Matt	SS Panzergrenadiers	2	+1	+2
Chris	Heer Panzergrenadiers	1	-1	-1

  

Battlegroup Kursk - After Action Report

The second half of the game was played the following week but I have been too busy or distracted to post the remainder of the report - scant that it is - I have it here now.

The Panzer Ace advances to get a better shot at the T34 he has been duelling with.  The supply truck unpins ready to resupply as required.  At this point the German commander is nearly Winchester rounds

Tiger II and Jagdpanther - Complete

Continuing in all things for Battlegroup I borrowed these from Cyrus to play in a Fall of the Reich game.  Lordyboris wanted to get some of his more interesting toys on the battlefield.  So I did the same and ended up using the Jagdpanther with a Panzer Ace.  I think he killed a tank eventually.  Anyway to thank Cyrus I thought I would paint them.  Still need some decals

Sd Kfz 251/1 D and C - Finished

After several games of Battlegroup Kursk I came to realise that trucks are dangerous to be in and whilst a halftrack isn't going to be amazing protection it is about twice as good

I have both C and D variants because that is what I had built

Battlegroup Kursk - Middle of the Action Report

Here we are midway through a 500 (ish) point game between Lordybloke's Soviets, veterans of over a dozen battles and Ellioto's Panzergrenadiers in there second only battle. 
Bottom left sees the Soviet entry onto the battlefield, the Soviet commander skulking in his Gaz Jeep hoping that the artillery will leave him be.  A diminished soviet tank rider squad is pinned by their objective.  The German Panzer Ace 'Double Top' in the Stug III arrives in the corner top right and blasts away with no effect.

Half Track Double

Hi, me again!

Next up are the two German Half Tracks I got for Christmas, which 'completes' my 28mm WW2 Germans

German Infantry, done and dusted

Me again!

Another batch of German infantry completed. Most of them are armed with Assault Rifles, but there is also an LMG, a rifle and a couple of Panzerschrecks that I found around the place whilst tidying up.

These are the last planned infantry models for my 28mm Germans, and with the two Half Tracks I have just started painting, will give me about 2000pts for Bolt Action and plenty of options and extras for Chain of Command.

15mm Stug III

For the second Battlegroup Kursk campaign game I needed 6 Stugs.  I have finally finished them, they were primed and had the base colour on them for months but somehow I couldn't get to them.

Christmas finally gave me the extra time that I needed.  I went for a single colour for a change to the usual two tone camo I have for the other armour I am using.

Happy enough

Stuka zu Fuss - Painted

Following on from the Flammpanzerwagen here is the penultimate vehicle for Cyrus's SS force.  The Stuka zu fuss.  Came out ok