A horde of Strormtroopers

Bertrand and I have a plan underway for a Verdun game, so I recently completed this batch of 1916 Germans.  These are Armies in Plastic 1/32 figures, mostly as they came out of the box, though note the two prone chaps with captured Lewis guns.  The photos were a bit rushed and taken when the varnish (Ronseal satin light oak) was still tacky.
The chaps in the front company (sorry, Kompanie) are wearing the 1916-issue 'S' (for Stosstruppe) armbands.  Sad but true.

Men in hats or Not Quite El Alamein

A couple of weeks ago I attended a Not Quite Mechanised game hosted by Trebian and run by Chris Kemp.  The photo above reveals the sad spectacle of eight men old enough to know better wearing silly hats.  Back row, L-R, Phil, Gary, Chris, your humble correspondent, Richard, Steve. Front row L-R Trebian, Tim M.  I claim the prize for best hat.

The day was punctuated by copious quantities of tea and cake, while a splendid lasagne lunch had been prepared by Suzanne Kemp. She was clearly rooting for the Italians...

Trebian has posted a report on his blog, while Chris is posting a more detailed (and objective?) report in instalments on his blog.

Chris had 'cast' players into specific roles which was presumably why I - though not having played NQM for over a decade but still an old hand with 'form' going back to 1991 - was unwisely given command of a corps.

The 15mm toys were mostly provided by Chris, with Trebian providing a couple of Italian divisions (fresh from the Spanish Civil War, with transport from 1970s Africa) and Phil bringing his Free French brigade.  I had been asked to bring suitable 1/144 scale aircraft models but Chris had rather underestimated the size of my Regia Aeronautica.  You may remember this earlier post , and indeed this one and this one.  This mattered as Chris had decided to limit the Axis air effort by only allowing us to use each model once.....

My photos generally feature my aircraft models and are mostly taken from my vantage point on the Axis left.  Our units from L to R were Ramcke Bde, Brescia Div, Folgore Div, Pavia Div.  Behind the lines we had 21st Panzer Div and the Italian Ariete armoured div, both of the latter were subordinated to a higher HQ and we didn't have clearance - or indeed fuel - to use them.

 MC200 and CR42 over Folgore (left) and Pavia

 Looking north towards the British steamroller - note the artillery barrage in progress.

 After a good dice roll a major air raid on the rear echelons of 50th(?) Div.  From L to R - Bf109E, CANT Z1007, Bf109F, Ju-87, Breda 65.

 The Ramcke Bde prepares to defend it's positions 

 21 PD deploys to the flank.

  Everyone knows a proper bomber has three engines!

 Ramcke under pressure from 7th Armd Div.

 The Brits rather unsportingly used overwhelming force against Ramcke....

 ...so most of our remaining air assets were committed.

 

 At this point I received an order for 21PD to 'counterattack in the north' - meaning the sector to our north.  So applying a Rommel-esque interpretation of the orders I counterattacked 7 Armd in our north....

 But then British armour appeared from the north.  Bugger.

Meanwhile on our right Ariete had been released - much to Trebian's delight. You may imagine his reaction when Commando Supremo snatched it away to the north the following turn!
In the end everyone claimed victory and we all had a nice day out.

Olpae 426BC

 We continued our progress through the Peloponnesian War with another showdown between the Athenians and Spartans, each with allies.  Martin as Eurylochus led the Spartans (right) while John as Demosthenes led the Athenians, assisted by Tim C.

 As usual many of the toys were genuinely ancient - these (Spartan) hoplites being veterans of at least 40 campaign seasons!

 The Athenians looked more like clean living lads.

 The Spartans opened hostilities on the left...

 ...but the offensive soon stalled.

 A general Spartan advance followed...

 ...and the main bodies of both armies were soon in contact...

 ...and dead hoplites were soon piling up.

 On of the casualties was none other than Eurylochus himself - his demise being followed by that of his subordinate!

 The finger of Demosthenes points - at er, Demosthenes.

 As usual this game went to the wire - with victory possible for either side as the casualties mounted.

 By now these peltasts were the Spartan's strongest unit!

The coupe de grace was administered by Demosthenes and his chums - killing off an already damaged light infantry unit to secure victory.