Bolt Action games for 2019

With the new books I got at Christmas, I have several different campaigns I can now carry out. The main one will be some British vs Germans in Normandy, British vs Germans in North Africa, Commonwealth vs Germans in North Africa, Australians vs Japanese in New Guniea, British and Commonwealth vs Japanese in Burma
Soviets vs Germans on the Eastern Front.

I've done lots of games with the Canadians so I want to give them a rest and see what we can get up to. Of course, the Canadians will definetly put in a showing somewhere this year, but I really want to see how well the other divisions can hold up.

Toronto Scottish Regiment, Canadian War Museum

2nd and 3rd Canadian divisions attempt to hold off an SS counter attack after Falaise

The Canadians begin to send their units in to stem a night attack by the SS

The Germans, using the darkness to eliminate the air cover the Allies can provide. 

The Germans were eventually able to drive off the Canadians.

1944 Campaigns Operation Totalise and Walchern Island

Both of these campaigns had significant Canadian involvement. Thus I can do some more research on upcoming actions

Soviet hoarded attack SS, Prussia, 1945

This scenario based on Maximum Attrition, pits a Soviet Guard Division hitting a Waffen SS LSSAH to hold off an assault on a crossroads. On a point by point basis, the game was a draw. The SS systematic took out all but one of the Soviet armor.

The Red onslaught

Waffen SS try to stem the Soviet hordes

Gorilla glue stands by in case of figure mishaps

The Soviet objective, get the crossroad

While the Soviets did take the cross roads, the SS used their firepower to knock out all of the Soviet mortars, and were able to whipe out the Soviet Cossacks.

The Soviets did have an advantage in Infantry which they used to swarm the Nazi Armor.

Point Defence: 3rd Canadian Division holds off 1st SSLSAH

This battle is a scenario being fought on the Dutch-German border in early 1945.
The 3rd Canadian division with support from the 4th and 5th Canadian divisions are holding a crossroads. The Germans, are throwing every heavy tank and veteran troops they have at the position.
Pictures to follow.

German Panzers move in

Elements of 9th Canadian Brigade hold out with elements of 5th Canadian Division

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 Canadian Artillery Sexton

One of the kits I bought from Flames of War.
A bit smaller than my other kits but it'll do

This unit I shall portray the 12th Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery.

This piece of artillery was the only piece of equipment I did not have in my collection. 

For the Motherland! Russian forces for Bolt Action

These are my Soviets for Bolt Action. I am slowly painting and fixing several sets as well as basing a rather large amount of figures.

My armor force consists of T-34/76

T-34/85

SU-100

IS 2

A towed battery of artillery one an Anti-Tank gun, the other, a 76.2mm M1942 Field gun.

pictures to follow.

8th Panzer Regiment attacks British position at Gazala

British Position

8th Panzer Regiment begins attack

Panzers first attack takes out half of the 6pdr guns but they are sucked in

and encircled 

and picked off one by one from 4RTR, and aggressive infantry. 

This battle lasted all of 90 minutes. Ian and I had fun, but I was preoccupied with other matters.

Axis and Allies Minatures game

One of my reenacting friends passed over a game system he had bought. He felt I could get more use out of it. So I shall try it out soon.

Storm day means Axis and Allies

I'm playing a version which was published in 1992. I was so busy playing that I didnt have time to take shots. In any case, Ian was able to take me out within 3 turns. Ouch

51st Highland Division take on German

The Scottish push into another German frontier town. The German right has been fought over.

But the Scots have found street fighting to be tough going

The Germans begin to retake their town with house clearing and tank support. So far, the German heavy weapons have taken out the RA 25pdr and some of the recce elements which means the Scottish are now fighting blind. 

Juno Beach June 6, 1944

The German defences on Juno beach

The North Shore (New Brunswick) hit the beach. The Queens Own Rifles are also in the attack.

As I was so busy the past couple of weeks, Ian began to set up and do games on his own. His first Normandy game he was inspired by the film Saving Private Ryan. I then showed him some of the history of the Canadians on D-Day so he then set up another game. Did a good job.

German counter attack envelopment January, 1945

After the Royal Engineers finished their bridge, the Third Canadian Division took up positions in the town. The Germans began to advance to retake their town.

The Canadians begin to take casualties.

Canadian 9th Brigade HQ attempts to give orders to hold their line, amist the local Germans trying to get about their lives.

The North Nova Scotia Highlanders attack with their carrier platoon with the Highland Light Infantry in support.

The Germans push through.

Despite the Canadian tough fighting, the Germans were able to bring heavy fire down on them. The HQ elements were able to pull back after suffering very heavy casualties. 

My Commonwealth armor

I took out my Commonwealth kits and for the most part, many of them are in good shape. They may need a bit of refurbishment, but nothing too drastic.
I have enough to do North Africa, Italian, North West Europe and Asia.
Things should be good. More to follow

My German armor is still in pretty good shape

I had forgotten how many kits I had built, or were nearly completed.
I have at least 6 Hanamogs, 4 of which will need some restoration, but many are ready to hit the table.
My two Panther tanks are fit, all except their exhast pipes having broken off. I found a few 10mm ones as well.

I have a large amount of Elephant tank destroyers. There are several Tigers, but all of them need some major refurbishment.
The happy find was about 6 Stug Tank destroyers, so I can go to town on many small Bolt Action games. I should invest in a copy of Tank War from the publishers of Bolt Action. More to follow.

 My King Tiger and JagTiger 

 The majority of my German collection, 95% is ready for the table

Found my tank and artillery books

I've found two of my source books on tanks and artillery. When I was previously in Canada in 2003, I had been able to list how many of each type of weapon I had in 1/72. Now that my collection has increased, I will have to update it. But housing comes first.

Hold until relieved: Clearing the Reichswald February 1945

I had been itching to do another Bolt Action game with Ian again. Also, I wanted to see how an Armor only game would go. 

 Aerial recce shows the German advance on the Canadian positions. 4th Canadian Armored Division with elements of Canadian 3rd Division and 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade. The objective for the Germans is to advance any units where the German marker are. The Canadians are to try and deny this objective. The Canadian units were made up of 8th Canadian Brigade mounted in Universal carriers with 3rd Anti-Tank, Royal Canadian Artillery in support. The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa also had their machine-gun jeep.

The Germans are made up of a Panzer IV regiment, a Tiger regiment, a Panzer III company, a captured T-34/85 regiment of the 2nd SS. In support was a Nebelwefer, and a 75mm Infantry gun. Also, a battalion of Panzergrenadiers mounted in Hanamogs.

 Daddy vs Ian, My new RA beret  with RA cap badge. I need to find Ian a German army field cap.

 German tank commander's view of the battlefield.

 Canadian Recce Regiment holds the left of the line. 

One Sherman is toast! Eat Nebelwefer rockets!

See Daddy, they blew up!

And more rockets pound the Canadian positions.

German armor advances towards the town.

My Firefly just took out the Nebelwefer!

And my Shermans run forward. The 6pdr gun just took out a Panzer IV, and the Sherman hit a Tiger in the arse, but caused only a small fire, which the crew put out.

 Not only Canadian but German Panzer III get burnt up, as well as a few Hanamogs. All the German tanks turned to take out the Canadian Shermans. My Churchill had engaged the T-34/85 causing some minor damage. Before it could engage, the Churchill then withdrew to the rear of the village.

 The last Canadian armor goes up. The German HQ Hanamog knocks out the Dailmer Armored Car. The sharp eyed commander sees Canadian infantry fall back. Also, having gotten fired upon by the Firefly hiding in an alley, 

What the heck?! How did he do it again!? All my armor are now in that fireball! Unknown to me, Ian had sacrificed his Kubelwagen crew to recrew his Nebelwefer, which rained rockets into the rear of the village, taking out my armor!

 The last offensive act the Canadians did was to advance and throw grenades at the 75mm gun taking out all the crew.

It was a close game, Ian really enjoyed it, and he also liked out now fire and smoke, made from cotton balls dipped in Burnt Orange paint. 

Additional German armored support for Christmas

Ian is going to be doing well from Santa. After he saw my 6pdr Anti-Tank, he then wanted an artillery piece.
Henceforth, he will be getting a German Infantry 75mm gun plus a Kubelwagen and a Kettlegrad! He still might get some Panthers and Hanamogs.
Pictures to follow.
And what should my hunting instincts tell me but I found a World Tank Museum game set for about five dollars Cdn which has two Tigers, now a part of the 1st SS Panzer Division,two Panzer IV, now part of 12th SS Panzer Regiment two T-34/76 now part of 1st SS Panzer Korps. And two Sherman M4s for the British and Canadians! They need a lick of paint but ready to rumble!
I found this set in the used shop my oldest stepson works in. (picture)

 Pegasus 75mm Infantry gun. The kit has one gun with two crews. One as Waffen SS, the other as Wermacht. I plan on doing up this kit for Ian's 272 Panzergrenadier Division.

 The Kettlegrad will be given to the Waffen SS Panzer Division to support the Panzergrenadier Nebelwefer battery. The Kubelwagen will go become a recce company with the 272 Panzergrenadiers.