Over the Rhine, April 1945

Ian has been itching to get a Bolt Action game going.
I've got some super heavy tanks both for the British/Canadian forces and the Germans have some pretty heavy hitters.
So as the weather is planning on being warmon Easter Sunday I shall do battle in my garage

Canadian 1st Division moved from Italy to Northwest Europe, Spring 1945

Canadian and British troops begin to assault the Siegfried Line

The first Armoured assault goes in

and the Waffen SS begin to hammer the allied lines with well placed artillery fire

and the Waffen SS have amassed their heaviest armour to take on the British-Canadian attack

Canadians at Carpiquet Aerodrome 1944

A mix of British and Canadian armour let's see how well this force will do against the SS. I don't think I need to get anymore British or Canadian armor!

This was a mega smash up! The Canadians decided to try and take a hill to dominate the airport but the SS had figured out how to keep the Canadians from reaching their objectives. 

Ian was focused on taking out a lot of my carriers. He left .y Artillery alone but I was still unable to take and hold the hill 

Two Osprey Books for the price of one!

Recently I visited the bookstore, Chapters in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. I was able to find two steals in their discount history section.
Both books by Chris McNab are Hitler's Elite: The SS and The German Army 1935-45. Both books if bought from Osprey would have cost me close to 100.00 Cdn with shipping. But they were 15.00 each!
So I now have some more reference books on the German forces for Bolt Action games.

good reads

A German recce attack on a British 5.5 artillery position

Ian has asked if we can play a Bolt Action game on his school holiday which just so happens to be on one of my days off. I've been toying with and idea I saw in the main rule book of heavy artillery not normally on the table top. So I thought it would be interesting for a Commonwealth heavy artillery battery being attacked by a German unit.
Since such an attack would have to be done by a highly mobile unit, I have decided to use only German armoured units which would be fast, namely their armoured cars. Thus all the units being used will be armoured cars, with  half track mounted panzergrenadiers.

The Royal Artillery battery will consist of three 5.5 inch guns with Matador tractors. Their defence force will consist of an infantry brigade with half tracks but no tanks. There will be a mortar and an MMG

The German objective will be to destroy the guns and their trucks with additional points scored for taking out the ammunition supply.

Obvisouly the British objective will be to stop the attack.

The SS recce and assault force, no tanks were used, only half tracks and armoured cars

Ian wore my Luftwaffen Feldjager cap while I sported my RA beret.

The RA position. I could only find 2 of the 5.5 inch guns but had 3 Matador trucks. I had two brigades of infantry who were in the woods, but had not dug in as they had arrived in position during dusk. The position was dangerously exposed, as the artillery were moved forward to begin a new offensive. 

The SS had sent a recce battalion forward and had found the Royal Artillery. They then began to take out the guns and their trucks. Eventually, all the British vehicles were destroyed. The supporting infantry to the battery also suffered casualties but they withdrew. The SS then also withdrew having accomplished their objective of destroying the guns of the RA battery.

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.

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

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.

Operation Plunder: March 23, 1945: 1st Commando Bde at Wesel

46 RM Commandos, 45 Commando(RM) 6 Commando and 3 Commando with support from elements of the French army.
Historical information courtesy of Osprey Campaign 178 The Rhine Crossings 1945 (Ken Ford, 2007) Additions of French troops as cannon fodder, and Canadian 9th Brigade with armored and artillery support

Elements of German Panzer Division inside Wesel. A Panzer Regiment made up of Panthers, an assault gun and a Whirlwind. Elements of other German vehicles also have a 251 Armed with a French 75mm gun. A nebelwefer also is hiding.

A Panzer Regiment made up of 2 Panzer III and a Panzerjager

Another Panzer Regiment made of of same.

A German heavy weapons company with an MG42 and mortar seem to be rather open, perhaps some sandbags might be in order.

 The local Nazi HQ having been blasted by the RAF now holds a battery of 88mm Anti-tank guns.

 An SS battalion holding the remains of some houses.

An SS heavy weapons company made up of MG42 and Anti-tank platoons.

 Enter the French

 a mortar team prepares to give covering fire

Two more French battalions prepare to move in. 

The French initally did well but lacking armor support, were only really able to act as a recce force.

They were however able to knock out the battery of 88mm guns, so the Germans then counter attacked with their panzers.

This in turn led to a counter engagement by the entire British force. 

The Allied left being held by the Canadian 9th Brigade, with the left over French.

A Churchill takes out a Panzer III 

Canadian armor on the right rolls past the SS unbeknonst that the Anti-tank teams are well hidden.

British armor races ahead only to be stopped in their tracks by another Panzer regiment and Panzergrenadiers.

The centre of the table becomes a tank graveyard.

A Hertzer takes out a Firefly while a Whirlwind adds to the French casualties

A Panther falls victim to a lucky shot from a Sherman. The 6pdr Gun having been hit by the Panther.

The Canadian 9th Brigade with their Scottish Canadians rush up and conduct house clearing operations. This area saw some hard fought actions with the houses changing sides twice. 

Eventually, the Germans had to give up their village.

Waffen SS Divisions in miniature

As mentioned before, I have modeled kit for the 12th SS Hitlerjugen and LLSH
Over the next bit, I will be posting shots of my table top units.

Advance to Antwerp July 1944 Bolt Action Maximum Attrition German vs Canadians

The inital Canadian position

Looking down the table with the Canadian positions towards the Germans

The German forces, made up of a division hitting a Canadian brigade. Since the battle is after Falise, the Germans are without any Panther or Tiger tanks. Their armor is made up of whatever else they can scrape by. Their heaviest armor are several Hanamogs, and a 223 armed with a 75mm gun. Several anti-tank pieces, several anti-tank teams, two nebelwefers and mortars make short work of the Canadian defenders. However, the Canadians chewed up a large part of the force. By the end of the game, the Germans had lost all their vehicles, likewise, so had the Canadians.