The Italian Rams: Areite

 I've also gotten the Italian set.

The sands of North Africa will be fought over again. The Ariete division  will have 1 tank squadron, 1 Self propelled gun platoon and an artillery battery.

They have been built (as of September 2024) need some paint and a bit more of a battle on a small table space.

Also some pictures might be good too.

Afrika Korps 15th Panzer Division

 

So during my leave in Fredericton, the hotel I stayed at messed up my 2 nights that I booked, so I canceled one night,  which gave me enough funds to stop by a local game store and low and behold what I found!

My North Africa collection is complete unless I want to add infantry for the Germans

So far I have 

1x Panzer IV Long

1x Panzer III (Uparmoured) Long 5cm

 

So units I can build

8th Panzer Regiment 

HQ Panzer III x 1 short 5cm 

Panzer III 1x Short 5cm, 2x Long 5cm

Panzer III 3x Uparmoured Long 5cm

Panzer IV HQ x 1 Long 7.5cm

Panzer IV 2x short 7.5cm, 2x Long 7.5cm

33rd Anti-tank Battalion 

5cm Tank-hunter platoon 

3x 5cm guns

8.8cm Heavy AA platoon

2x 8.8cm AA gun

33rd Motorized Artillery Regiment 

10.5cm Artillery Battery

4x10.5cm howitzer 

Total so far 118 points to begin my 15th Panzer Division 

Gosh darn I did good!

Additionally I have other Anti-tank guns ready back in Nova Scotia which I'll work into this force. 

These tanks will also find themselves in some  Middle Eastern conflicts between Syria and Jordan

I've also gotten the Afrika Korps Book. I'll use my 1/72 figures for infantry.

I've been able to get all of the German kits built. 

New Brunswick Rangers

 

One of my Universal Carriers I have done up with the Vickers MMG mounted on top.

Waffen-SS Divisions 1939-1945

 

Have you ever have one of those days when you wake up and have this feeling that you want to go to a book store and find some new things to read?

As part of my employment as a full time reservist this summer, I'm eligible for days off. So I used one of them today to go up to Fredericton and get some books.

This gem I found on the discount shelf. And wow, it contains all the information I need to fill out my Waffen-SS divisions in minatire.

So far I have built elements of the 1st, 2nd, 9th, 10th and 12th. These constitute my main German force in my Normandy, Holland and North-west Germany regions of my force which the Canadians had to battle through.

Band of Brothers The Pacific

 

This double collection of both series I was able to pick up in Fredericton, New Brunswick on one of my days off from work with the cadets this summer.

I don't have a DVD player with me but I do have back home. So I'll watch when I get back.

I showed my Dad most of the Band of Brothers series. I'm hoping to show him more during November 11th 

With the Old Breed

 E.B. Sledge was part of the 1st Marine Division. 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment.

His story also was used as part of the production of Spielberg and Hanks The Pacific. 

Sledge suffered greatly from PTSD after the war and eventually was able to find his sanity and humanity again. And as I said before, I'm not usually interested in American military history but my connection to having lived in Japan for 16 years drew me to the book after seeing the series.

Helmet for my Pillow

 Robert Leckie's work on his time as a Marine in the Pacific campaign.

Not I'm not usually a fan of the American experience however, his book was used to produce the HBO mini series produced by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks The Pacific.

Leckie suffered a bout of PTSD from the harsh realities of the war against the Japanese. I also picked up a DVD copy of the series today as well.

I finished this book. A good read. Well written for its time, it still gives a glimpse at the horrors of war.