Massive British and Canadian reinforcement

I bought 3 boxes of Valiant Miniatures British Tommies 1944.
I plan on fleshing out all of my Divisions.

More in progress photos to follow

So far, I've been able to flesh out the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth Canadian Divisions as well as the 52nd Lowland Division.

They have been a treat to paint up.

Duel in the Sun: Bolt Action in North Africa and Italy

I saw a copy for sale and since I'm building up my ANZAC force, why not?
I'll post more once it arrives.
First Action: Scenario 6 Siege of Tobruk

German's overrun the Australian positions

Australian troops hold a defensive line in Tobruk. The forward area is a minefield. The ANZAC trenches are also mined.

Australian's await the German attack

Germans move forward. The pictures loaded backwards. 

2nd New Zealand Division, Middle East 1941-45

For my North African and Italian campaign, I have painted up my ESCI Commonwealth Infantry as 2nd New Zealand Division.
So far I have painted up the 18th Battalion. I will also include the Maori Battalion

My soldiers and armor order arrived. Happy to say I really liked the Stuart tank kit. Not only could I build a Stuart tank for the Kiwis but also I could build a Kangaroo Stuart!
I need to get cracking on painting them, as well as a Sherman

Hold Until Relieved: 2nd Canadian Division, 4th Armoured Division, 11th Armoured Division, 53rd Welsh Division attack Schelt November 1944

 attempt at a panoramic shot

Royal Artillery take up position to sweep the British and Canadian front

the recce units probe forward followed by the 7th Armoured Division

the 4 Armoured Brigade takes the center covered by the 11th Armoured Division in the rear

the Germans hold a fortified town. The objective was for the British and Canadian units to take out the supply objective.

After the first round, the Anglo-Canadian force was unable to break through the line completely. Three times the Canadians had taken the German trenches, but each time they counter attacked. The Royal Artillery gave a good account of themselves, as did the Royal Air Force by taking out the German Nebelwefer, but the Canadian Second Division just couldn't hit the Germans hard enough. By the time of turn six, only the fifth and sixth brigades remained. 

Once again 1st SS LSSAH held the line.

1st Airborne Division UK 1944

This is my Airborne Division painted up. I first started collecting the figures in 1983.

 1st Air Landing Regiment Royal Artillery. 2 75mm guns with jeeps to tow

1st Airborne Brigade: 1,2,3 Para

2 Airborne Brigade 3, 4, 5 Para

3rd Airborne Brigade 7,8,9 Para

 4th Airborne Brigade, 10,11,156 Para

Elements of 6th Airborne

Airborne Recce Squadron with MG Jeeps

Additional support now includes Vickers MG and 81mm MTRS pictures to follow. 

British 49th West Riding Division: Polar bears

The following units I have painted up for this Division
Essex Regiment: modeled by troops in green berets
Royal Scots Fusiliers: 2 companies 6 figures
Leicestershire Regiment: I company 5 figures with an M3 Half-track

Duke of Wellington Regiment:

I've found some time and I'm updating this page.

The 8th Armoured Brigade is attached and I'm going to list what I have.

A 25pdr gun with CMP tractor

A 40mm Bofors AA gun

A Sherman Firefly

A Stuart Honey

A Universal Carrier patrols of 2 carriers

An M3 Half-track 

An M3 Half-track with Mortar fir the Kensington Regiment with an additional pair of mortars and Vickers MMG 

9th Durham Light Infantry: 3 stands

1st Leicestershire Regiment: 2 stands

11th Royal Scots Fusiliers: 1 stand

British 50th Division TT

The following units I have painted up as 50th Division

1 Dorset Regiment: 12 Figures
6 Durham Light Infantry: 5 figures with an M3 Half-track

9 Durham Light Infantry: 7 figures
5 East Yorkshire Regiment: 12 Figures
Support: 2 Cheshire Regiment: 1 Vickers MG, 1 81mm motar

British 11th Armoured Division 1944-45

Having finally begun to organise and paint up my Bolt Action collection, I will begin to label and organise my units.

The 11th Armoured Division was made up of these units:
23rd Hussars: Sherman,
3rd Royal Tank Regiment: Sherman
2nd Fife Forfar Yeomanry: 2 Comet tanks

2nd Northampton Yeomanry: Stuart Honey as Recce

Motor Battalion: 8th Battalion Rifle Brigade mounted in M3 Half-track
151st Ayreshire Yeomanry, Royal Artillery: 25pdr gun.
75th Anti-Tank Royal Artillery: towed 17pdr gun.
This is one of my stronger divisions on the table due to the amount of kit for an armoured division.
Pictures to follow.

The Universal Carrier

One of my favorite vehicles for Bolt Action for is the Universal Carrier.

From Osprey Publishing New Vanguard (Fletcher, 2005)
The Universal Carrier was a fast, lightly armed vehicle developed by the British Army to carry infantry across ground defended by small-arms fire, specifically the Bren light machine, gun, hence the name 'Bren Gun Carrier'.
Roles included carrying ammunition, towing anti-tank guns, scouting, mortars, vickers machine-gun and I have seen .50  cal guns.
In my collection, I have two carriers which are tows for 2x6pdr guns
1 is painted as a Queen's Own Rifles  carrier with an added bren for AA.
Three carriers are painted as infantry carriers.
I've also picked up 7 Universal carrier variants which will consist of mortar carriers, Vickers MG, flamethrower variants as well.
Pictures to follow

Early war British tanks

These tanks, which were used mostly in North Africa, I am using for my Sciliy and Italian campaigns for the sole reason that I don't have any others,

Churchill tanks in Commonwealth use.

From Osprey Publishing New Vanguard Churchill Infantry Tank 1941-51 (Perrett, 1993)
The Churchill was undoubtedly one of the most successful British tanks of the Second World War. Although it suffered from being underarmed, a defect common to most British armoured vehicles of the period, it was nevertheless loved by its crews: its cross-country ability was unrivalled and it was less inclined to 'brew-up' from a direct hit than the Sherman. It was also adaptable. Modified Churchills played a crucial part in the initial D-Day landings and in the subsequent advance through France.

I have modeled one as C Sqn Calgary Regt armed with a 6pdr gun

A Mk VI C Sqn North Irish Horse

A Mk I B Sqn 9 RTR armed with a 2 pdr gun and a 3in gun. This tank is to be used in both Italy and Normandy

Pictures to follow.

Wermacht Panzers: Anti-tank, and support Artillery.

The German artillery in my collection seem to be mostly anti-tank. However, there are a few anti-personnel guns as well.

Wermacht Panzers: Trucks and cars

The Germans were able to provide their troops with these vehicles.

Wermacht Panzers: Tank destroyers

The Germans needed a way to combat the vast amount of allied armor that they faced. Tank destroyers (Panzerjagers) were their answer.

Wermacht Panzers: Self-propelled guns

I have several different versions of self-propelled German artillery.

Wermacht Panzers: Panzer IV

In my collection, I have only one of these.

Werchmacht Panzers: Tiger I & II

I have several 15mm AFV from my time in Japan. Several of them are Tiger II, and I have a Tiger II in 1/72 which needs to be repaired.

I have only 1 Tiger I in 1/72 which I had to repair as well.

Royal Artillery and Royal Canadian Artillery in 1/72

I have several different guns used by both branches of the artillery.

From Osprey Publishing New Vanguard 48 (Henry, 2002)

Of all the British guns in use during the Second World War, the 25-pounder was the one that best represented Britain's armed forces. It was adaptable, packed a powerful punch and, above all, it was reliable.

in my collection I have 4 towed guns, and 2 self-propelled. A Bishop and a Sexton

pictures to follow

As well, anti-tank guns I have are 4 6pdr guns with tows, 2 37mm guns used by my Para force, a 57mm gun with the Paras. I also have a 17lbs towed, and 3 Sherman fireflys.
From Ospery Duel 2 Sherman Firefly vs Tiger (Hart, 2007)
Designed by the British to combat the Tiger, the Sherman Firefly was based on the American M4A4 Sherman, but was fitted with a powerful 17-pounder gun which made it a deadly opponent.
As well, a have an M10

from Osper Publishing New Vanguard 98 British Anti-tank Artillery 1939-45 (Henry, 2004)
The rapid development of the tank as an offensive weapon following its introduction in World War I gave artillery theorists cause for concern during the 1920s and 1930s. The first anti-tank guns had been developed by the beginning of World War II, initally at around 37mm and 2lbs. By the end of the war, heavy anti-tank weapons, able to penetrate an armour thickness of up to 200mm at a range of 1,000 yards were being developed.

Pictures to follow.

Sherman tanks, my collection

I will be posting my painted Shermans, pictures to follow

Market Garden, Netherlands Fall, 1944

A German force probes towards the British Airborne positions

a scratch force of Panzergrenadiers and an augmented Panzer regiment

The Germans advance

The Paras hold a small foot bridge

Paras take position in town

a battalion hold a bridge

Royal Ulster Rifles hold the farm

1st Airlanding Regt RA lines up its guns

Jeeps holding this bridge

the local office building becomes the Para HQ

Paras hiding in the woods

A new Armored Jeep Recce unit debuts on the tables, it only took me 18 months to get them finished

1st Air-landing Battery, Royal Artillery.

Dieppe August 19, 1942-2017

My grandfather L/Cpl E.C.Rose remembered the day the Canadians sailed out for the raid. He spent the next month sorting out the aftermath. As he was with the Ordinance Corps, he was responsible for turning in stores to the Quartermaster.
He once told me that his squad had a railbox car full of socks. The boys and him had just sorted the situation then went for lunch. Unfortunately they forgot to pick up and when they came back there was a solitary sock left.
My parents were married the same say thirty years later in 1972.

It's on days like today I miss my grandfather

The First Battle of The Marne 1914

This will be one of my first forays into The Great War.
My forces are limited but will be a small French unit, elements of the B.E.F and Imperial German Forces.

So far I have painted up the French troops.

My British force is based on the 29th Infantry Division.

My Imperial German force is made up of

Osprey publishing The British Army 1939-1945 (1) North-West Europe

The British Army 1939-45 (1) North-West Europe by Brayley and Chappell (2001)

While I have several books on Canadian units, I didnt have anything on the British. Well not except my book on the Scottish Units.

Bolt Action Demolition: 7th Canadian Brigade attack on Norrey-en-Bessin

This scenario is based on the reports contained in the book Maple Leaf Route: Caen
(Copp and Vogel, 1983)
Canadian units included:
Royal Winnipeg Rifles : 2 stands mounted in a Universal Carrier
Regina Rifles: 2 stands mounted in a Universal Carrier
Canadian Scottish: 2 stands mounted in a Universal Carrier

First Hussars: Humber Armored car armed with a 2pdr gun, and a Bren armed armored car with an M3 AA Half track

Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa 3 Mortars with a Bren gun group

3rd Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery: 6pdr Anti-Tank gun with tractor

12th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 1 Sexton

Queens Own Rifles also in support with tanks of 4th Canadian Armored Division 3 Sherman's with a Firefly

German forces

26th Panzer Grenadiers Regiment with 12th Panzer Regiment, elements of 12th Panzerjager, and mortar and Nebelwefer support
1 Panther and a Panzer III made up the Panzer force with attached Hanamog support

12 Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 

Royal Regina Rifles

1st Hussars advance

7th Brigade begins the advance

26th Panzergrenadiers holding a hedgegrove

Elements of the 12th Panzerjager

12th Panzer Regiment also lends support

German fire takes out a Sherman

A Panzer III makes short work of some Canadian units 

Universal Carriers make a mounted dash while the infantry dismount and assault the Germans

PIAT rounds take out the Panzerjagers

Grenades make short work of the remaining Hanamogs

The SS make a withdrawl. Canadians have achieved their objective.