Sherman ARV - part 2

Here is the completed Sherman ARV.  Painted, marked, varnished and now confidently waiting for a (3D printed) Firefly to break down.

Sherman ARV - part 1

A few months ago I discovered that I 'needed' a British Sherman ARV.  A review of my fleet of 1/50 scale M4s revealed this plastic and diecast example which didn't really fit with either it's Solido or Corgi equivalents..  Off went the turret to the spares box. An mdf circular base covered the turret ring and various bits of stowage added.  Now for some paint...

Foy-Notre-Dame - part 2

 As we rejoin the action, Mark is still trying to get his radio to function.

The Americans have had a bloody nose trying to get into the village. 

The company of M5 Stuarts has found the minefield. The hard way. 

On the German left, while the AT gunners and Panzerfausts have had a good run, the infantry’s luck is in danger of running out. 

At last - here comes some US air support. So that’s who Mark has been calling up. 

Amazingly, one of the Panther platoons is hit!

Simon’s British Motor Co pushes into the village, assisted by fire from the accompanying tank sqn and carrier Plt. 

The German infantry headed for their getaway halftrack. 

One of the burning Shermans was John’s OP tank. Luckily a replacement OP has trudged through the woods to join the HQ troop. 

The Puma Plt gets off a cheeky shot before hiding in the woods. This allows John’s tanks to move forward. 

Here comes another flight of P-38s

A British tank sqn working its way round the flank of the Panthers. Much to Mark’s relief!

Boom! The surviving Panther Plt brews another troop of Shermans….

…but is finally seen off by the efforts of more Shermans. Note the burning Firefly troop.  

By now the Germans could read the writing on the wall and withdrew their surviving troops, allowing the Allies to consolidate in the village. An honourable draw and a very entertaining game to run. Well done everyone!

Foy-Notre-Dame - part 1

Last week's game saw us back in the Ardennes.  No fewer then seven players joined me over Zoom and gave their instructions and orders while I shoved the toys around.  The scenario was adapted for a Rapid Fire book and dealt with 2 Panzer Div's KG Bohm as it got dangerously (from the Allies' point of view) close to the Meuse.  

The KG was built around 2PD's recce battalion  - two companies of infantry in halftracks, an armoured car company, two AT platoons (Panzershreck and PAK40), Flak plt and had an attached company of Panthers!  Martin was in charge and looked after the left flank, while Jim commanded the infantry and Panthers in and around Foy itself.  If there's any demand I'll write a post on the toys used in the game.

The German left  (the southern end of the table) - infantry dun in on a hill, flak on another hill.  The halftrack in the foreground belongs to the AT gun plt - the guns are concealed in the house just across the road.

The recce infantry co.  Veterans all!

From the NW came a US cavalry troop (not a horse in sight, sadly) commanded by Ian and some Brits from 3 RTR led by Simon.

In the NE there was another cavalry troop and friends.  They soon found the Panthers.  The hard way.

Martin's HQ and the armoured car co skulking in woods.

The German AT gunners were soon very busy when a squadron of Shermans and John's HQ sqn appeared from the SW.  From the hill, the infantry joined in with Panzerfaust fire.

By now Ian's cavalry was probing cautiously into Foy.  Mark's M8s has fallen victim to infantry AT fire - it turned out there was a platoon each of Panzershrecks and MGs in the house on the left and a whole co of panzergrenadiers in the church.  No doubt with Hauptman Jim leading them in prayer.  Meanwhile Simon's Sherman sqn has begun shooting up the village and his motor infantry co is fast approaching.

We conclude part one with Mark's cavalry having a very hard time.  The halftrack with the gun is a T19HMC standing in for an M3GMC standing in for an M8HMC.  Clear?  

On the other hand, the Bazooka plt has sneaked to within range of the Panthers...  Meanwhile Mark (that's him behind the building on the right next to the HQ halftrack) is making an urgent radio call...

The Twin Villages - Ardennes 1944

 

This game was played a couple of weeks ago using my draft WW2 rules, 1/32 figures and 1/50 AFVs.  It was based on the December 1944 German attack on the 'twin villages' of Krinkelt and Rocherath in Belgium.  The table was about 5x8 feet.  The US players were Russell and Simon, the Germans were John, Martin and Pete.  The photos are in no particular order but I hope they will give an impression of the game.  Photos by me, Pete, Martin and Russell.  My thanks to all players for making this such an enjoyable day.

Above - the biggest problem the Germans faced was traffic congestion!  Luckily the weather was grim so no allied air cover!  Additionally, thick mist covered the area for the first few turns, halving visibility.

In this game and infantry company is represented by six figures and each AFV represents around 10 vehicles, though a few are 'platoon-sized' stands representing half as many.

The Germans make progress but come under fire.

To prepare for the game I laid out the units on large sheets of paper.  At the last minute I chucked them in the car to assist me - and the players - on the day.  And yes, there are five Panthers!

US AT guns fire on the distant enemy.

Panthers clatter westwards.

In the villages the US Rgt HQ took up residence and chanelled reinforcements forward.

US infantry and armour (or 'armor?') shulking in fields.

Another view of the German setup.  This was the debut outing for my (Solido) Bergepanzer IV.

A company of Pz IV having a tough time.

A Panzergrenadier btl with panzer support.

One American gunner clearly wasn't feeling the cold!

Shermans take on Pz IVs

The US HQ included a Military Police detachment.

The German forces

Another toy making it's combat debut was this 'Grille' - a self propelled 15cm infantry gun battery.  It's (pre-painted) camo was very effective!

Having struggles to get off the starting line, the Germans made insufficiently swift progress to put the Yanks under real pressure.  A bit like the real battle then!

Munitionschlepper Wespe

I am fortunate enough to already own two 1/48 scale Wespe SP guns, so when I found I have a (part built) kit of a third I decided to build it as an ammunition carrier.

Build proceeded very much like the real one - miss out the gun and plate over the aperture.

Plenty of spare ammo!

Here is the finished model with a better armed friend.