Looking into 2022

Temple Press London, 1989

 My plans are to get a set of Flames of War cards or books for the period. I have enough kit to fight the battles but I'd like to have some hands on game aids.

Never know, but might add to the Germans and Italians.

Deutsche Fallschirmjager

 

Me thinks I need to add more to this

Medium Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery

 Since about 1976, my father and I have collected 1/72 and 1/76 vehicles and figures.

Between 1989-2021, I have further increased the collection.

As of November, 2021, I now have 1 5.5 in gun troop of 4 guns with Matador tractors. 

As such a heavy unit, I am going to be us8ng this in FOW games once I can get stat cards for the battery.

I shall be putting up some pictures of the battery shortly.

SS Paratrooper Battalion 500

 I was able to buy the Revell Germany set of German Paratroopers, which I never had.

Since I already had several sets of German Paratroopers, I decided to build these as part of my SS troops.

They rarely did jumps and were used as shock infantry in the Balkans, the Baltics and Hungary.

Dutch film The Forgotten Battle

 An interesting film, about the campaign to take Walchern island which I have played some scenarios for.

Interesting to see how the Canadian forces are portrayed as the Second Division, and for some reason have a mixture of no 4 and no 3 Lee Enfield rifles.

Also was interesting to see the 15th Scottish shown, though the Canadian Battalion that charged across the causeway was the Calgary Highlanders 

Some comments have asked why there was no tank support, there was no space for tanks to operate.

More comments to follow

5th Canadian Armoured Division

 This is the last Division that I have been building. The majority of the Divisions time was spent in Italy but they were moved to North-west Europe in late 1944.

I am building the kit up for its push into Holland and Germany in late 1944 and into 1945.

Prospero Books, 1999

I will post pictures once I have painted them up.

So, for organization, I am following the Flames of War set up.

Armoured Platoon:

2 Sherman III, 1 Firefly

Recce Platoon:

2 Humber IV armoured cars

Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery

2 Sexton SP

Motor Battalion

HQ: 1 jeep, Battalion CO, Battalion 2IC

Platoon: Sgt with smg, rifle, PIAT team, Light Mortar

2 Corporals with a section of 4 Rifle squads. each squad 5 soldiers, total 20 figures

As this is an Armoured Division, I have cut the infantry down to 2 squads of 2 sections rather than a regular division of 3 squads of 6 sections. 

 

2nd Anti-tank Royal Canadian Artillery

 I've modeled this unit with 17/25 pdr guns pulled by Stuart's without turrets just because it's what I have. 

Also it's an homage to my elderly cousin Evey Miller who served in this battery 

Canadian Military Pattern Truck: CMP

 Prior to America entering the War, Canada was one of the main suppliers of equipment to the Commonwealth.

This truck was one of the items Canada produced. 

And from the shot of the one in the museum ill repaint  my cover 

Mini campaign: Sir Adrian in Norway, 1940

 British and French Commandos take on the Germans in Norway, idea from Wargames illustrated December 2018.

Figures for the Allies consist of Early Second War figures, with the Germans being a mix of regular infantry and Mountain troops

Mini campaign Sir Adrian in Poland 1919

 Poland attempts to assert itself against Ukranian and Russian pressures, 

Idea from Wargames illustrated December 2018

Polish troops in French style uniforms against Cossacks with British Colonial figures 

Mini campaign: Sir Adrian on the Western Front 1916

Canadian uniform, but close enough for the British

the trenches

the gloom

gas alarm

 La Boiselle a small action within the Battle of the Somme

British objective is to take the village from the Germans of course. 

Mini campaign: Sir Adrian Carton De Wiart

 Somaliland 1914 Shimber Berris

De Wiart decides to take on a series of block houses manned by Islamic militants 

Commonwealth forces represented by several late 19th century figures fighting against the Muslim warriors I have in my collection with perhaps a machinegun thrown in 

I've found a figure I'll use for De Wiart. The Revell Scottish Infantry officer, the one walking with a cane and holding a Webley. Should do for several situations.

Now to paint him up proper and get a picture 

Battlefield Europe: Scenario 8 Close the Falise Gap

 For this game I'm using a Bolt action scenario but Glames of War rules.

51st Highland Division on the left

2nd Canadian Division on the right

3rd Canadian Division with 22nd Canadian Armoured Brigade in the centre. 

4th Canadian Armoured Division in reserve 

Facing:

1SS Panzer Korp

1st SS

2nd SS

9th SS

10th SS

12th SS

The objective for the SS is to keep the road open In  order to withdrawl. 

The Canadians are to try and seal off the crossroads and take the German HQ

Round 1. Canadian forces pushed forward to test the SS. Ian reactions as predicted and is really enjoying the faster dynamics of FOW.

So I'm going to have to get the stat cards at Christmas 

Round 2, the SS pull back under Artillery fire, delaying the Canadian advance in the centre. 2nd Canadian Division advances and takes the position to their front. Third Division conducts a mounted attack, their infantry charging across a river to flank a section of German Engineers. 51st Highland Division captures a position held by an SS recce company after its destroyed by a wasp carrier. SS Panzer company begins to move up.

Round 3. SS launch a strong counter attack, destroyed nearly all Canadian armor. 2nd Canadian Division takes heavy casualties as does the Third Canadian Division.

51st Highland Division holds its position and brings its Anti-tank Squadron into action which attempts to destroy the Panzerjagers to their front only to fall to mortar battery fire.

The Highland Light infantry of Canada attempt to take out an anti-tank gun but are repulsed 

Finally the Canadians were forced to call in support from the British who committed the 7th Armoured Division tanks and the ta is of the 4th and 8th Armored division. With these, the Germans pulled back intact. 

So while the Germans fell back they still won as they were able to not be destroyed. 

German 232 Armoured Car Squadron

 

A 75mm Pak, a 75mm short, a 50mm Puma and a 20mm

The newest of the bunch is this 20mm. All part of a Panzer division Recce element 

More German Recce

the Schwimwagen in the Canadian War Museum

Kettlegrad in the Canadian War Museum 

 A Schwimwagen and a Kettlegrad

A light Recce group  the Kettlegrad can also pull some light artillery.

Ostwind

 This was a Hasegawa kit I looked at buying back in 2002 but didnt, I saw it for sale at the local hobby shop at the airplane museum 

I painted it so well you cant see the gun!

I've built it so that the turret can be switched out as a regular 75mm armed Panzer IV

Sdkfz 251 Germanys half track

 I have built several 251 systems and kits over the years. My most recent acquisition is the 75mm armed version 

Some older kits my Dad made and my newest one

The Stummel. Part of an SS recce unit or fires support for their Panzergrenadiers

And 3 more troop carriers, built just need pictures 

Carpiquet airfield assault June 1944

 This is an action I am planning on putting together. I haven't played a Canadian action for a few months. Also gets a chance to showcase some of my new German kit.

The Canadian 8th Brigade initially faced stiff resistance to their advances,  some over eager German panzerjagers charged forward too soon and were taken out. The german mortars and nebelwefers attempted to keep them back, but the infantry in Universal carriers nad half tracks charged through ignoring the Panzergrenadiers who attempted to retake their bunkers. The Canadians and British can now use the airport.

More German transport

 I bought another German cargo truck, this one will have the newer style cab that was produced.

My aim is to get transports to all my German units, 

Source books: Weapons and Warfare

 This was a set put out in the 1980s. The airport museum had them in their gift shop and needed to get rid of them. So I took a whole set FREE!

I also got a book back i donated as books are not selling. 

Pictures to follow 

Panzer Vor! Fathers Day 2021

 The local airport museum has an excellent model shop and I was able to get some Hasegawa kits of German vehicles 

Kettlegrad and Schwimwagen, built on Father's Day.

Cargo truck completely done June 28

Hanamog 251 with 75mm gun

232 with 20mm gun

Estwind anti-aircraft tank 37mm gun

The plan is to equip the SS Divisions I have with enough gear to take on the British,  Canadian and Soviets 

Flames of War Battle in the Sands

 This is a replay of the same action as last week, but uses the Flames of War rules

Recce elements taking cover next to the Panzer jager battery 

The Panzer III section falls to the Grants

And the recent Squadron rushes ahead to the objective however they will be checked by the Italian recce squad 

So the after action report was that the universal carrier section was knocked down to just one carrier, but held on until infantry came in. While the Italians could have tried to contest the objective, the Germans had already lost control of the village. This one goes to the British.

Bolt action Duel in Sand Scenario

 As a birthday gift, my son gave me some time so we could play a game.

Combined 51st Highland Division on left with 38th Irish Brigade on the right with 7th Armoured Division in the centre.

The Afrika Korp position holding a fuel supply dump and village 

My son noticing that he can put units inside the desert buildings I got back in January. These were the Bolt Action debut for the game.

So my plan was to draw his units away from the objective by rushing infantry towards the village, which worked until they got bogged down in trying to get the building 

The British armour began to advance on the objective which Ian noticed and using the superior German guns and armour picked off my tanks. 

The infantry was able to close in but even though they assaulted the tanks, it was no good. The DAK holds onto the village, and the 8th Army needs to find a new commander 

Need to crack on with some projects with bits

 I've been trying to decide what stuff I need to work on to fix up units that need support.

I know that my Indian and New Zealand Divisions lack some gun support so I'm going to look in the bits boxes and see what I can come up with

Many of them are going to have to be mock ups ie barrels with gun shields but lack carriages

I'm also kicking around the idea of building sangars to give some more defensive structures. 

Keep thinking, and dreaming and eventually they will come onto the table 

The added issue is, where did I put all the bits I'm trying to build ahhhhhhhhh

My collection for Flames of War games

 So I've been doing some research on weapon systems via the Osprey weapons series and how my collection seems to fit more on big games as per the FOW rules however the Warlord Games Bolt Action still works with my collection as well.

Over the next bit, I shall be doing up some postings on how I'm going to field units for FOW games.

Airfix German Reconnaissance set

this is a part of the new Airfix reissue of classic kits from the 1960s and 1970s. I got the kit about a month ago and slowly built it up

The Kubelwagen and Sk222 armed with a 28mm gun

A small group of figures are also in the set.

I got the decals on today. So they will now be able to forge ahead on either the Eastern front, Italy or Normandy.

The infantry stand is mounted in the Kubuelwagen as a scout section.
 

Stug III, self propelled Artillery

 As I am want to do, I like to pick up kits which I have never owned here and there. Last week, this was one I got.

My HQ

Now, as I am now doing research on how to use this in my games, it appears that Assault guns were a way to make Anti-tank guns mobile, thus the weapons were used as almost a go for destroying weapons, vehicles, buildings or bunkers.

a knocked out Stug III in the Canadian War Museum

I believe this was taken out by a 6pdr Anti-tank gun

Neat. So now this will be added as support to one of my boxes of infantry. And, when playing as the Germans I shall have to adjust my tactics.

Update i have gotten 3 additional Stug III so I shall be fielding squadrons shortly  once built and painted 

As a FOW force, I have 1 as a HQ

And 3 as a platoon.

I have yet to run a game of Stug supported infantry. Should be interesting