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 

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.

1st Canadian Division hit the Gothic Line Bolt Action Scenario 17 (again)

The Canadian First Division boldly attempts to assault the Gothic Line. Trusting their initial artillery bombardment to drive out the Germans, the Canadians plan to rush forward to capture the defences

the German position. A series of trenches, bunkers and minefields.

The preliminary bombardment damages some of the German units but they survive enough to hold on. The Canadians rush the first line but are consistently thwarted from their objective by accurate German fire. Having lost all their armour support, the Canadians fall away. The Germans hold on for another day.

South Staffordshire Regiment assault Italian Bridge

As the British begin the campaign in Scilicilian, the Staffordshire Regiment grabs a bridge but can they hold it?

2nd New Zealand Division, Middle East 1941-45

For my North African and Italian campaign, I have painted up my ESCI Commonwealth Infantry as 2nd New Zealand Division.
So far I have painted up the 18th Battalion. I will also include the Maori Battalion

My soldiers and armor order arrived. Happy to say I really liked the Stuart tank kit. Not only could I build a Stuart tank for the Kiwis but also I could build a Kangaroo Stuart!
I need to get cracking on painting them, as well as a Sherman

Italian Campaign: Fighting in the hills above the Sangro River, Italy,

1st Canadian Division with additional New Zealand and Indian troops begin to form up.

A German Paratroop battalion with an Italian Alpini battalion hold a line of trenches above the Sangro River.

Canadian Recce elements push forward taking heavy fire and casualties, but are able to radio in important information.

One Churchill brews up, but the onslaught begins.

German 16th Division in Italy 1943

I am modelling this division as it fits in with my gamming for either the Eastern Front or the Italian campaign.

Another version of this division was also reconstituted as the 179th Panzer Reserve division where it was badly broken at Falise.

As the 116th it was comprised of: and had a Greyhound as its insignia. 

• 16th Panzer Regiment: Modeled with Panzer III
• 60th Panzergrenadier Regiment
• 156th Panzergrenadier Regiment
• 146th Panzer Artillery Regiment 
• 116th Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion
• 281st Army Flak Battalion modeled with 88mm gun in 15mm
• 228th Panzerjager Battalion modeled with StuG III in 15mm
• 675th Panzer Engineer Battalion
• 228th Panzer Signals Battalion
• 146th Field-Replacement Battalion

My Italian forces

My Italian troops consist of Alpini supported by a self propelled gun.
With the additions of German guns, I may field some units to supplement what I have.
I have recently found them after my family moved my hobby stuff around. I shall have to get some paint on them and add them to this site.

The biggest challenge for me has been to find a paint that fits the Alpini unit.

My force is built for an ESCI/Italeri models 1/72 set.

I've use Tamiya Olive Green. The next step to finishing the unit will be to add some flesh and highlight any equipment.

3/27/2019
I made a trade with a fellow collector and received a Autoblinda AB 40 Ferroviaria so my Italians now have 2 of them to be part of an armoured force.

Ortona Italy November-December 1943 Point Defence scenario

3rd Canadian Brigade of the 1st Canadian Division hold off a German Paratrooper attack supported by Panzers.

Canadian units involved include West Nova Scotia Regiment, Carleton and York Regiment and 

Royal 22e Regiment (Van Doos) 

A panzer division  in support of the paras

The action begins with the Germans going all out with an assault. 

They smash into the Canadians. The Canadian armor counter attacks and takes out several Panzers. 

This game was played over several days. since IVe been snowed under with work yet again, I have yet to update this.
Once again, Ian smashed into my units. I waited too long to engage his mortars and artillery. I really need to concentrate on taking them out next time.

Revell Panzergrenadier

While clearing out my stuff in storage, I was able to pick up some additional equipment my father had been able to acquire for me, over the last ten years. One of the items was a box of Revell Panzergrenadiers.

Pictures to follow of the box, and figures.

More Recce elements or Heavy weapon jeeps

On my travels in my home city of Halifax, I found a set Dragon Armored jeeps. The set contains two jeeps with weapon choices of twin bazookas, a .50 cal or .30 cal jeep. Pictures to follow.

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 Interesting short film during the Italian Campaign

Italy Vs Britain - Bolt Action Battle Report

 a video by Wargaming for Fun, showing what seems to be an Italian campaign battle.

Canadian Divisions in Italian campaign 1943-45 and North-West Europe 1944-45

3 Canadian Divisions took part in the invasions of Scilly and the Italian mainland. Most of their equipment was used from 8th army stores from North Africa.
First Canadian Division
Recce: 4th Recce 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
1st Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery: 25 pdr, 5.5in gun
1st Anti-tank Royal Canadian Artillery: 17pdr
Weapons battalion: Saskatoon Light Infantry: Vickers machine-guns, mortars

1st Brigade:
Royal Canadian Regiment
Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
48th Highlanders of Canada

2nd Brigade:
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
Loyal Edmonton Regiment

3rd Brigade:
Royale 22eme Regiment
Carleton and York Regiment
Wesr Nova Scotia Regiment

1st Canadian Armored Brigade:
11th Armored Regiment, The Ontario Regiment
12th Armored Regiment, Regiment de Trois Rivere
14th Armored Regiment, The Calgary Regiment

4th Canadian Armored Division (in NNormandy)
22nd Armored Regiment, Canadian Grenadier Guards
28th Armored Regiment, The British Columbia Regiment
South Alberta Light Horse, Armored Recce
Motor Regiment, Lake Superior Regiment

10th Brigade:
Lincoln and Welland Regiment
Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
The Algonquin Regiment

5th Canadian Armored Division
Recce: Governor Generals Horse Guards
17th Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
4th Anti-tank, Royal Canadian Artillery
2nd Armored Regiment, Lord Strathconnas Horse
5th Armored Regiment, 8thNew Brunswick Hussars
9th Armored Regiment, The British Columbia Dragoons
Motor Regiment, The Westminster Regiment

Weapons: Princess Louise Fusiliers
11th Brigade:
The Perth Regiment
The Cape Breton Highlanders
The Irish Regiment of Canada

Osprey Publishing - Bolt Action: Armies of Great Britain

Osprey Publishing - Bolt Action: Armies of Great Britain



Finally, I have my hands on what the British, Canadians, Australian, New Zealand, South African and Indian troops as well as other Commonwealth forces used in WW2.



I shall now be able to accurately field units for this conflict.

Canadian units in Italian campaign

PPCLI somewhere in Italy, 1943

King's Own Calgary Regiment, Italy, 1943

PPCLI street fighting, Italy, 1943

For King And Country E3 P1/7

Canadian Army in the Italian campaign. Last week, while I was in Calgary, Alberta, I was able to visit the PPCLI museum and see what they did in that campaign.