Advance to Contact: Maximum Attrition August 1944

 This action is to represent what the Canadians and Germans were up to after the closing of the Falaise Gap.

 The North Nova Scotia Highlanders with a Cameron Highlanders mortar wait in a wood to potentially ambush an SS column. 

 Highlanders wait in ambush.

 A recce force of 12th SS with a Patton tank standing in for a Panther.

This was the first game with some significant armor on both sides. The local Toys R Us had some die cast toy cars done up as military models which my son and I got. Each blister pack had 5 viechles so we bought 2 and split them up as to what we wanted. I got a truck, a half-track, a Churchill and an M4 Sherman.

Ian decided that he wanted the bulldozer to use for his engineering feats, plus a captured T-34/85, the above mentioned Patton, as well as a captured American A/A half-track.

Ian's SS troops moved forward, unable to see the Canadian armor in the trees. When the Canadian's opened fire, the Germans reacted with a vengence. The Patton attempted to take out the armored car and Sherman, and was marginally successful with its machine-guns. The Sherman fired and took out the Panther, Radley Walters must have been the gunner!

The SS were pinned down by the Canadian infantry fire, but by turn 3 unleashed an assualt on the Canadians in the woods. The Highlanders on the Canadian right fell and were driven back. The Canadians on the left held their ground. The Germans were unable to clear the Canadians completely from the woods. The game ended when BATH TIME was called, so both sides pulled back.

Canadian Armored support: 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade

 These are in the process in getting a new lick of paint, to become elements of the 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade. I may see about converting the Churchill to a Flame tank once I buy an M3 Half-track with trailer. 

Once I get a chance, I will post my conversions and paint jobs on these.

I'm still getting these worked on, as well as going to be supplementing them with other kits.

(www.armorfast.com)

I'm hoping to get either one from Armorfast or Plasticsoldiercompany

Back in Canada I have 3 of the Fireflys as Matchbox kits.

(armorfast) I do have some M4s back home, Matchbox and Airfix as well as an ESCI kit.

for Matchbox visual see www.matchboxkits.org 

Flames of War Boot Camp - The Battle Report

 A flames of war demonstration. I do not have these rules, but it's interesting to see how this period can be wargammed. Thanks to the authors of this video.

1 SS LSSAH

I don't like to glorify the Waffen SS. On the gaming table I have this group as they were the main opponents to the Canadians and British in Normandy.

 This was one of the few                       units of the German troops in Normandy which were completely equipped. (www.armorfast.com)


Panther tanks, this is an Armorfast art work, but the ones I have in storage in Canada are Airfix and Matchbox versions.
The artillery is made up of a Wespe battery




, while the Recce (wikipedia)

272 HEER Infantry Division, 980, 981 and 982 Grenadier Regiment, Normandy, 1944.

 982

981

980

All three regiments consist of a stand of riflemen with an NCO armed with either an MP 40 or Assault rifle. Panzercrectch, and Panzerfaust Anti-tank company, MG 42 in LMG and MG42 in MMG roles. There is also an officer with radio with which to call in artillery or air strikes.

Battle of Hong Kong - A Savage Christmas 1941

 One of the horrible incidents in Canadian military history.

Hold until relieved: Second and Third Canadian division vs First SS Panzer Corp

2nd Division Toronto Scottish set up their mortars in forward lines.

Ian sets up his Panzers, Panzercrechets and Panzerfausts, as well as the MG 42 gunners to clear the Canadian trenches.

 First Canadian Army headquarters.

First Canadian Army Command bunker, held by a bren gunner of the Lorne Scots

Canadian 9th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division waits for its advance order

 The 7th and 8th Brigades with Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa with mortar support.

27th Armor Brigade support also waiting to advance.

German troops consist of 1 SS Panzer Division with LSSAH, and 12th SS divisions.

Elements of the 21st Panzer division and 16th Luftwaffen Division also in the attack.

 The forward mortar position of the Toronto Scottish, and South Sasketchewan Regiment.

machine-guns, rifles, grenades clear trenches and are then retaken by the Canadians.

Despite over running the forward defences, the Germans wer not able to drive off the Canadians. Their counter attack, in response to the attacks on Verrier Ridge did not result in the Canadians retreating. 

Third Canadian Infantry Division in 1/72

 all units are modeled with 4 stands, Bren gunners, PIAT teams, and riflemen. information below from wikipedia

Formation sign used to identify vehicles of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division

• 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade
  • The Royal Winnipeg Rifles
  • The Regina Rifle Regiment
  • 1st Battalion The Canadian Scottish Regiment
  • 7 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)

• 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade
  • The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada(with a Universal Carrier) 
  • Le Régiment de la Chaudière
  • The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
  • 8 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)

• 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade
  • The Highland Light Infantry of Canada
  • The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders
  • The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
  • 9 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)

• Divisional Troops
  • 7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars)
  • The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun)
  • 3rd Canadian Divisional Signals, R.C. Sigs
  • No. 3 Defence and Employment Platoon (Lorne Scots)
  • No. 4 Canadian Provost Company, Canadian Provost Corps
  • No.14, No.22, No.23 Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps: modeled with an ambulance team back in Nova Scotia

• Divisional Royal Canadian Artillery
  • 12th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  • 13th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
  • 14th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA modeled with 25pdr guns back in Nova Scotia
  • 3rd Anti-tank Regiment, RCA modeled with a Loyd carrier and a 6pdr Anti-Tank gun
  • 4th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, RCA modeled with a Bofors gun back in Nova Scotia

• Divisional Royal Canadian Engineers
  • 6th Field Company, RCE
  • 16th Field Company, RCE modeled with trucks, and a Bailey bridge set in storage back home in Nova Scotia.
  • 18th Field Company, RCE
  • 3rd Canadian Field Park Company, RCE
  • 3rd Canadian Divisional Bridge Platoon, RCE^[5]

Juno Beach, D Day[edit]

Main article: Operation Overlord

Juno beach was five miles wide and stretched on either side of Courseulles-sur-Mer.

The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division with the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade under command landed in two brigade groups, the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Each Brigade had three Infantry Battalions and an armoured regiment in support, 2 artillery field regiments, combat engineer companies and extra units from the 79th Armoured Division. The Fort Garry Horse tanks (10th Armoured Regiment) supported the 7th brigade landing on the left and the 1st Hussars tanks (6th Armoured Regiment) supported the landing on the right.

I was able to pick up another box of Revell British WW2 Infantry which can be painted as Canadians, as the uniforms were the same. 

Ians first 1/72 Armor support: Panzerspahwagen 'Stummel'

There's a little story about this kit. About two weeks ago, we had a farmer driving around the neighborhood selling peaches. I forgot to hit the ATM so had no cash. Ian gave me 500 yen to get six peaches. I asked him if he wanted me to pay him back in cash, or armor support for his SS division. He asked for a tank. I got him this armor car instead.

This viehicle we have painted up as a 1st SS Panzer LSSAH as their recce battalion. The Sd.Kfz.234/3 had a 75mm gun. By July, 1944 these would have been in Normandy to take on the British and Canadians. The painted of the viechel was a combined effort. I did the base coat, while Ian painted the camoflauge as how he wanted. I then added the decals. Not bad for a 9 year old and a 41 year old who hasn't done decals in 11 years. Ian and I also built this together.