Saturday, 7 December 2024

Tiger in 15mm

 Another Plastic Soldier Company kit i got this today. I plan on doing up 2 as early and the rest as late war to take on my Russians.

For my Afrika Korps, I can field a platoon of 2. For my infant Eastern front force, I'll build up 2 in late war fashion.

If I build up a late war force, I can use also some kits for my Middle East forces from both Soviet and German, with a smattering of British and American 



A friend of mine is selling his 15mm kits in order to buy 1/72
So for my Tigers im getting 4 more!
And infantry!
Just needs some paint


Plastic Soldier Company Cromwell in 15mm


 One of my Christmas presents to myself was to get some new kits. This is one to compliment my Battlefront Minatures set.

So I've built 1 as a close support tank, the rest i built with the 6pdr. Once I have my days off, I'll paunt and check my 15mm British force.
With my Battlefront Minatures set, I now have 
1 HQ of 2 Cromwells and 2 Close support (95mm)
1 squadron of 3 Cromwells 1 Firefly
1 squadron of 3 Cromwells 1 Firefly
1 M10 squadron
2 batteries of 25pdr (8 guns)



Sunday, 1 December 2024

The Polish-Soviet War 1919-1920.

 It's strange how history seems to repeat itself in certain parts of the world. Currently as of 2024, Ukraine and Russia are fighting over the survival. 

100 years before, the Ukranians were fighting with the Poles against the Russians.

Wargames Illustrated February 2019 has this conflict listed.

I have suitable figures just need to get them on the table again

Polish Army


Polish troops were wearing Imperial German Army gear, having served in that Army. 

The 6th Ukranian Division was kitted out by the British. 

Even French uniforms were worn.

The Soviets are in Russian First war uniforms. So I'll drop in what I got.


Across The Great Divide Bridging in WW2

 Alrighty.  This post could date all the way back to 2001!

Wargames Minatures issue November 2001 had this article showing game ideas for using engineers to build a bridge at a contested crossing.

Now when I was in Japan around 2002, I fought this game in a Cold War/Balkans conflict using NATO troops to put across a crossing taken out by a Serbian force.

The game which i can fight in 1/72 with my Airfix bridge 

Minature Wargames November 2001

British or Canadian 

Royal Engineers/Royal Canadian Engineers 

14 Sappers, 2 NCOs, 1 Officer, 

1 Light truck

1 medium truck

1 Pontoon carrier

1 crane

Infantry support

Paras, Royal Marines or regular infantry

1. 4 bren sections (via Battlefront stats)

1x 2" mortar

2. 4 bren sections with 2" mortar

3. HQ section 

Mortar section: 2x 3" mortars

Mmg section: 2 Vickers guns

3 Sherman tanks

4.  4 Bren sections with little mortar

5.  4 Bren sections with little mortar

Anti-tank platoon: 2x 6pdr guns

Light artillery 2x 75mm pack howitzer

WOW 

Ok so the Germans

1. 3 xMG42 sections 1 Panzerfaust

2. 3xMG42 sections, 1 Panzerfaust, 80mm section

3. Hq section with 80mm mortar section 

4. 1 Puma, 2 Wespe, 1x Puma, 3x Panzer IV, 1 PaK 75, 

5. 2x 251 with 6 MG 42 teams

So sometime, I'll get this game on the table.





Saturday, 30 November 2024

Battle fatigue in minatures?!


 An interesting article in the Wargames Illustrated issue of February 2020, concerned gamming with war weary warriors. In reality, the psychological effects of combat are finally being understood with PTSD. 

Putting this into a game context shows how morale can affect a units performance. Sure most rules have some sort of mechanism to note this, but a formation being, inexperienced or veteran can both face the same issue. 

For example, if a formation has been say fighting a campaign, and has suffered severe casualties, or prolonged exposure to sustained artillery will be none too keen to continue to stay in the line or obey orders. 

Just another kink in the cogs of gamming to consider.



Monday, 25 November 2024

The Greek Civil War 1943-49


 Another way to use my WW 2 collection in an interesting way. From Wargames Illustrated  June 2019, came some ideas.

One of those terrible conflicts which came out of Ww2 and into the early Cold War.

The Royal Hellenic Army is modeled in British uniforms .

The "rebels" can be a mix of Afrika Korps and either Korean War communist troops.

Pictures to follow 

The Poles at Monte Cassino

 This scenario is from Wargames Illustrated November 2018

Polish units are modeled with British equipped and dressed figures

The German defenders are Paratroopers.

Ill use my FOW cards