Flames of War Version 4 Late War German Unit cards

 Right. So my Germans.

Same arguement i put forth for my British, CanadianForces

The Germans have some more flavor.

So I can choose to field a Panzergrenadier company, or a Grenadier company 

What's the difference 

SdKfz 251, which is the transport 

Germans get MMGs the MG 42, mortars, 7.5cm infantry guns, 7.5 Pak40 Anti-tank 

Flames of War British Unit cards Late War

 So these cards are for FOW 1944-45. Battlefront Minatures put these cards out for their Version 4 of the rules.

So, how then can my 1/72 collection fit in.

Well actually...

For example, a Motor Company HQ an officer with 2 Rifle teams.

The Motor company itself

2-3 Motor platoons

1-3 Universal carrier patrols 3 carriers per patrol. These can either be as reccee, or can transport 2 teams each.

1 Vickers MMG (optional) 2-4 guns

1 3-inch Motar section (optional) 2 tubes

2 6pdr Motor AT platoon (optional) 2-6 guns for 1 platoon

Hmmm, meaning that say I have a box of 50 figures, 

4 MG teams Bren gunner with a Sten gunner and 2 rifleman. Total 16 figures 

1 PIAT team 2 figures

1 2-inch Motor 2 figures.

So if my calculations are correct, I could field  2 platoons.

Support options 

Vickers MMG: up to 4 teams but could be just 2

Mortars x 2. 

Now let's say put of that box I build a Motor platoon and the rest as a Rifle company

Rifle Company HQ 2 Rifle teams total 6 figures

5 Rifle/MG teams 20 figures

1 PIAT, 1 2-inch Motor

Support the same as a Motor platoon.

So. Usually a figures box gives 50 figures. Meaning that depending on the manufacturer, I'll have to see about distribution of PIATs and Brens

Valiant Minatures definitely had enough of what I would need.

Revell Sets, a bit of a stretch

The old Esci/Italeri, probobly

For transportation, I could thrown in M3 Half-tracks, Universal carriers or Kangaroos. 

I've run a game using these and it went well. I just have to take a look at how to organize what I have based with the cards. Fun fun.

For Mother Russia, Soviet troops for The Great Patriotic War

 Back in the 1980s, I was collecting nearly every plastic soldier kit to build my wargame collection.

My collection at one point consisted of Esci, Revell.

Overtime, I have downsized, and traded bits of this force, but after many years, I'm finally getting back to painting these troops up.

D-Day Scenario 3: Villiers-Bocage

 

 ignoring the large figures The Germa s take position in the town

the Panthers painted up, .Ore to follow

FOW cards sure do makes playing easier

 I had the Canadian 4th Armoured Division take on the Recce Battalion of the 12th SS 

And while the SS chewed through the Canadians, it made it much quicker to run a game.

I have another game set up but haven't played yet.

Soviets in Winter Uniform

 Part of my Soviet, Chinese or North Korean forces for the early Cold War period.

As of December 2024, I've gotten them based and mostly painted. 

With the winter upon us, I might do some skirmish games

Australian 21st Brigade New Guinea 1942

 The 21st Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force was part of the 7th Division.

I've modeled 2 of the battalions in 1/72

2/14th

2/16th Cameron Highlanders of Western Australia 

Now the 16th I've chosen because I have a connection to. 

While i was teaching in Japan, my supervisor has served in the Battalion as an M60 GPMG gunner. He'd risen to the rank of Sgt by the time he got out. Hence why he was such a good supervisor.

It's also one of the few Australian Scottish units. The command section  has a piper.

I will post pictures of these units once I return to Nova Scotia in the summer of 2023.

And this group is joining my painting que.

Tempe Gorge, Greece 1941 Bolt Action

German Paras

German heavy weapons

 German 12th army advances towards an ANZAC force.

Though the ANZAC force has no heavy machine gun position or any vehicles they are defending a blown bridge and a hilly area.

The Germans have air and Artillery support 

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.

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 

Winter 1944-45 Allied offensive: 11th Armoured Division and 1st Airborne vs 2nd SS

 

the church tower has been a favorite spot for MG 42 and Panzercrecht teams

 the Comets and Firefly all go up and shortly after the Stuart also brews up

 the Airborne 75mm gun battery is  doing its best to give fire support 

the Cromwells are punching above their weight by taking out several Jagpanthers

a Panther Squadron takes cover to snipe at the British tanks

 the Brummbar is providing critical fire support 

while the King Tigers are smashing the British armor

a line of German mg 42 teams are holding back the Airborne 

and the Airborne are engaged in a firefight with the Mg 42 teams

Eventually after about 2 months, the British were able to push forward to take the church and the Ridge. As such, the Germans withdrew to their next line of defense. An allied victory 

53rd Welsh Division takes on 9th SS past Caen July 1944

covering both sides, I'm wearing my Luftwaffen Field cap and my British Army Desert DPM

the battlefield, some town in Normandy

one of the objectives is the church. Right off the bat, the British open fire on the church tower taking out the sniper

Cromwells, Churchills, and Comets begin to advance

a solo Dailmer advances up the road

British HQ

German forces consist of a 9th Waffen SS group 

while the unit is small, its powerful with very heavy tanks.

Thoughts on factions for A Very British Civil War

I recently bought the film, The King's Speech and got to thinking that the factions I am going to field are going to be interesting.
First The Royalists: these are troops with the title Royal in their name. However, the Artillery may fracture.
British Union of Facists: Mosley's troops, who as the new British prime minister will have his Blackshirt support with an Expeditionary force from German and Italy.
The Albertists: Monarchy support for Prince Albert, I am going to have a large Canadian 8Australian support there.
The Anglican League: Chirch of England supporters who will support a monarch who truly represents the best I interests of the church.
The Scottish Army: Scottish Regiments who have deserted the British army and have sworn to support a government which will give Scotland her independence or a special form in a revised union.
Tje Socialists: Social and Communist inspired units,
I'm going to be fielding a game shortly on the subject

The Anglican League and the Albertists faction are holding on to a town.

Albertists from Alberta!

Albertists assault the Italian provided armoured cars, destroying them with grenades

German Expeditanry Force attempt to take the church

BUF with German and Italian supplied weapons

Royalist and British Union of Facists

The Royalists and BUF kept up an aggressive attack on the town but were badly beaten by the Anglicans and Albertists. Despite lacking heavy weapons, they used what they had and grenades to take out the Facists tanks. Seeing as to the damage inflicted, the Facists fell back.

The uprising continues!

Cromwells in Normandy 1944

 I will get my painted one up shortly 

So I've been slowly building up my kits that my Navy veteran buddy passed over.

 painted, decals and hedge cutter

Before I left Japan, I had bought and built a Cromwell MkIV which had decals for the 7th Armoured Division and the Cromwell kit from Airfix had decals for the 5th Royal Horse Artillery.
Now I got to thinking. Why would an Artillery battery have a tank. I believe that they were used as observation vehicles.
However, for my own force, I'm going to use both as infantry support as medium anti tank self propelled guns.
The extra decals for the 11th Armoured Division I will put on other tanks I have.

and since I now have this set, I shall take a second look at my collection to see how I can do them up

Between 1/72 and 15mm I'm all set

To which I've decided that I will decal both Cromwells as 7th Armoured Division marked as C Squadron of the lead Regiment..