Panther Ausf A Zimmert

 For my Panzer force I've added an additional squad of Panthers. 

I have built them, now need paint.

So my SS Panzer force now has a Panther company of 4 Panthers. 1 HQ, 3 in a squad.

Popski's Private Army, or how I can annoy my son with machine-gun armed jeeps

When my son and I began playing Bolt Action, he was about 7. He really didn't like my machine-gun armed jeeps as I could rush in and pepper his infantry to bits with all the guns blazing. He usually won though by using his mortars. At first I usually let him win so that i could still have an opponent to play with.
8 years later, he still doesn't like my machine-gun jeeps, and I really am trying not to let him win. I still need to learn to take out his mortars!

Going through my Wargames Illustrated issues, I have found another article which I can turn into tabletop madness.

This force can be used with the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy, great to go with my Bolt Action theatre themed book. I also have sufficient trucks, jeeps and the like to give him a headache, no worry son, Tylenol is down in the medicine cabinet.

So this force I'm going to model with the figures I've painted up as Poles in para kit, and lots of the jeeps, and some carriers. those pesky ones he really hates, like the ones with flamethrower, mortar, MMGs, you know the stuff to make Germans grit their teeth.

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

North Africa 8th Army attacks Afrika Korps 1942

An as yet named battle   the Commonwealth troops take on the Germans over an Oasis.

One of the desert battles I got to do on the table this summer. 

The Germans are attempting to defend an Oasis, lots of barbed wire and mines

Nothing like making any cover stick out like a dogs bollocks, but in the desert, what can you do?

one of the few stone area

Panzer IIIs knocked out

and most of the British armour is not faring much better!

Panzer IV tank

 initially I believed I had 2 of these in 1/72 however I several of them as 10mm.

Overtime I'll update this post.

One of the new sets I got in trade is one of the short gun versions. I shall build this over time during the summer of 2019. Correction I built it during the Covid 19 epidemic of 2020, in April needs some paint and decals

I've since painted the short barreled version, just need some decals.

A second one I've done up interchangeable with my Ostwind

53rd Welsh Division hits Siegfried Line Point Defense, February, 1945

The Welsh hit the Germans hard. The RA earn their cups of tea with a well laid bombardment pinning down most of the Germans while the Welsh creep up to hit with grenades, the bayonets and Men of Harlic

RA pounds the German position

Welsh battalion hold in reserve

Welsh infantry hit the front.

7th Armored Division advance to flank the German left

Welsh troops with armor support hit the German trenches hard

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

Second Battle of Long Stop Hill, April 21-23,1943

This attack is being conducted by the Indian, ANZAC, 51st Highland Divs, 38th Irish Brigade supported by the 7th Armoured Bde,

38th Irish Brigade are the first to hit the hill, the New Zealanders are on the other side of the hill while the Australians are on the left. The Gurkhas took a bunker on the German right. The Irish took two bunkers on the centre.

Ian begins his counter attack. 

The Australian's wait for their next set of orders

The German tanks are pushing back the Allies attack

The 51st Highland Division are in reserve with an attached armoured brigade

Supporting artillery from the 1st Armoured Division and troops from The Rifle Brigade. 

It was a hard fought engagement. Eventually, the only offensive unit left to charge were the 28th Maori Battalion! The remaining Commonwealth units had pounded the hill and drove off a German reinforcement attempt. 

It was one of the first outright victories I have had over Ian. 

The next position calls.

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.

Point Defense: Germans vs Soviets in Estonia 1944

The Germans continue to counteract the Soviet offensive

 Alex had such a good time with the 18th century game he wanted to try a Bolt Action one.

So he choose to be the Russians defending a village against a German attack.

Ian proceeded to use his Tiger I to inflict as much damage as he could. Alex counter attacked with his infantry swarming the German tanks. Several of them were taken out. However, Ian then used his infantry to distract Alex, and used his Tiger I to pick off the T-34/85 tanks. One by one, they fell. One tank survived four strikes, but was eventually taken out. Ian then used an artillery strike and it flattened the village. With only his SU-152 and a battalion of infantry left, the Russians bugged out. The Germans achieved their objective again. 

Soviet Union vs Germans in Auce, Latvia Point Defense scenario 1944

 The Germans begin their counter attack upon the Soviet forces

The SS throw an entire Panzer division at the Soviets

Boris and Ivan pull some surprises on Johann and Dietrich. First off, T-34/76 ambush Tigers and Panthers, Oh MY!

The German recce units continue to fall victim to T-34/85 but then

This is a Nebelwefer

this is what it does to Soviet Armor.

A desperate firefight begins between Soviet and German tanks.

And the battle continues.

The Soviets began to counter act the Nebelwefer with their own rocket battery.

The rest of the game was spent having Panzergrenadiers retake the farm complex

and clearing out the hamlet. The Soviets continue to resist, and at nightfall, both sides hold their positions The Germans appear to be holding the upper hand.

Bolt Action Eastern Front Tukums, Latvia June 1944

Ian and I began 2017 gaming with an Eastern Front themed game.

The scenario was that the Germans were attempting to withdrawl from a small farm and recover some supplies, plus a herd of horses which had been left behind.

The jumbled battlefield. As the Soviet Army advances the Wehermacht pulls back, but leaves behind a herd of horses and some supplies.

While the Germans were able to field an Elephant tank destroyer, and a Tiger I, Mindy has decided to join in.

The Germans rush in to try and save the horses, 

The Soviets lay down a smoke screen to cover their grab for the horses.

The Germans push through and drive to drive out the Russians

A German assault takes out the Russian mortars.

Panzergrenadiers engage Soviet Riflemen

A Panzer tank destroyer, takes out a SU-100

Eventually, the Germans withdrawl, having destroyed every Russian tank

Erzherzog Albrecht Marsch

The march used by the Kriegsmarine, during World War Two

Afrika Korps March 1941-May 1943

This is the Afrika Korps force I have been able to build. I will also use the kit in my Italian campaigns.
My research so far has found that the organization of the DAK was from the 15th Panzer Division and the 21st Panzer Division.

My figures come from Airfix, ESCI. These I will be painting up over time.
The tanks, anti-tank guns will be painted for the most part as they would have been in any other theatre, thus saving myself having to buy units just for the Desert campaign.

I have a fair amount of early war tanks, guns and transports which will make up the majority of kit. Pictures to follow

The initial units of this Korps
15th Panzer Division:
33rd Recce Battalion
115th MMR: 2 battalions.
Additional kit to be added will be Antitank guns, and transport.

OperationMarket Garden: 6th Airborne division digs in

The division digs in on some of the rare high ground in Holland.

This was a game which eventually took on massive proportions. Ian and I kept playing and adding to the field. The inital idea I had was for 6th Airborne Division to drop in and hold the green area as their drop zone while establishing themselves in the hills above the town. 

Eventually after about a week of playing, the area to the front of my position was a junk yard of Ian's German units. He used his armor and infantry well to push off the Para's and establish himself firmly on the high ground. I was able to get my parcels in from Japan, which meant that the Airborne artillery was here, but I couldn't find it in time before Ian over ran the drop zones.