Panthers!

The first Panther kit I had was the Matchbox version - built c1977.  I think that this kit still rates as a very good representation - here are a couple (built in 1995) borrowed for the photo from the Panzer Regiments of 5 Panzer Division and Panzer Lehr.  Both are built straight from the box with only a few bits of stowage and (for 5PD) a commander figure added.

Having started with the Matchbox kit, you may well imagine my disappointment with the Airfix Panther!  While I have never built one from the box (or - to reveal my great age - bag) I acquired several wrecks as part of the haul from JR's attic (see previous post) a few years ago.  From bits of half a dozen Panthers I eventually ended up with two 'normal' tanks, a BergePanther recovery tank and (bottom right) a Panzerbeobachtungswagen (artillery OP) version.  They are marked up as the vehicles of 10 Panzer Brigade at Kursk.  Between them, the four models have only three tracks!  By cutting them up and adding side skirts to every tank, I was nearly able to make the three lengths (2 Airfix and 1 Matchbox) go round.

This is where I ran out of tracks - the lack of same on the front right of this Panther is disguised by a bush!

A front view of the Panzerbeobachtungswagen - JR had already converted the turret.

Moving more up to date, here is the Fujimi (I think) kit - currently serving as part of 1 SS Panzer Division 'Leibstandarte'.  This is a very chunky kit with many additional detail parts (side skirts, MG ring on the cupola etc) which the earlier kits lacked.

Finally we have a captured Panther - not the much photographed 'Cuckoo' of Guards Armoured but 213 Tank Brigade of the Red Army.  I think this is an Esci kit as the tracks were made up of hard plastic sections (you're right - I didn't build it!).  It helps to brighten up an otherwise rather bland box of T-34s.

14 Panzer Division

As mentioned a few weeks ago, following the death of my dear friend John G Robertson ('JR' hereafter) I remembered about some splendid converted 20mm vehicles he gave me some years ago.  After a programme of refurbishment I used many of these to form 14 Panzer Division (mine is also known by the honorific 'JR').  A quick word of explanation is required here for those of you unacquainted with my Megablitz game.  Being the dangerous megalomaniac I am, I use a single toy on a stand to represent the area taken up by a battalion sized unit.  At this level a (1941+) Panzer Division fits in a foolscap box file.  The box file was possibly the greatest leap forward for me as a wargamer (thanks Chris Kemp) and from small beginnings (3 boxes in 1993) I now have, well let's just say lots. 

Anyway, back to 14PD.  All but one of the vehicles in the division came from JR and many were converted by him from Airfix kits in the 1960s.  The dodgy paintwork is all mine.  The photo above shows both battalions (Abteillung) of the Panzer Regiment - represented by a Panzer III and Panzer IV.  The III is built on the hull of the StuG II kit, but can you identify the origins of the IV?  Comments welcome...

The next two pics show the Recce (Aufklarungs) Abt.  This has 4 company sized stands.  Firstly we have the Airfix Sdkfz 231/234 built as standard from the kit with (in the background) a Sdkfz233 with a short 75mm - a straightforward conversion from the same kit.  This and all other photos were shamelessly posed on my wargames table.

The slightly less serious half of the Aufkl Abt - the bAirfix M3 Halftrack with a small turret added - as seen in many a '60s Hollywood war film!  In the foreground is yet another combination of the Sdkfz 234 parts.  Both of these vehicles are liveried in accordance with what Ian Drury calls 'Gow's Third Law' - the less plausible the model then the bigger the black crosses!

The Artillery Regiment is armed with a SiG33 - a Panzer III hull with a 15cm infantry gun in a boxy superstructure.  I know it should have a roof but it wasn't until the 1990s that I saw a photo of the original vehicle from this angle.  Oddly enough, I built one (also open-topped) in the 1970s using a Matchbox Panzer III hull.

The two Panzer Grenadier Regiments ( 2 Btls each) are equipped with an assortment of Airfix and ROCO lorries and halftracks - here we see a lorry converted from the Austin K6 fire tender and an Sdkfz 250 with a short 75mm gun.  The latter uses much of the running gear from the Sdkfz 7 kit.  The infantry I used in 14PD just had to be the Airfix originals - they have a certain period charm!

Finally we have the division's CO with his Dodge (or dodgy) command car (a battered ROCO model).  He is of course the officer from the same Airfix set as his infantry.

JR was slightly appalled when I told him that I was using his creations in wargames - he regarded them as rubbish and was about to bin the lot!  Long may they serve.

The further adventures of 6 Panzer Division in Russia

This game was played at Sheffield Wargames Society on Wednesday 8 September.  It was another outing (the third?)  for 6 Panzer in the 1941 Russian campaign.  The game was put together by Martin Rapier using the WW2 version of my NBC rules.  All toys and terrain (except my Luftwaffe bombers) are from Martin's collection.  Other people have collections - I just have an accumulation of stuff.  I ran 6PD while Martin looked after the (largely static) Soviets.

The scenario involved 6PD making an assault on the Stalin Line and the whole division was available, together with a pre-planned bombing raid by the Luftwaffe.  Above we see a flight of He-111 bombing the Soviet front-line fortifications and below a Do-17 flight bombs the strategically important crossroads.  Both old (early 1980s) Heroics & Ros models which last flew a mission about 20 years ago!

Assault Pioneers to the front!  As artillery rakes the Russian defences, engineers rush forward to begin gapping the anti-tank obstacles.

With the first line of bunkers dealt with, the engineers cross the river.  Apart from the one which failed a morale check...   Panzers get ready to follow up.

The AT obstacles are gapped in two places (the green counters) and all three Panzer Abts are across the river.

The panzers storm the defences on the hill but come under fire from other defenders of the Fortified Region.

The panzers roll up the Soviet defences - the trenches were swarming with infantry.  AT the top of the photo some tanks (actually dug in and static T-18s) are overrun.

Before storming the gun line (just off camera to the left) the panzers overrun more Russians around the crossroads - including the commander of the Fortified Region!

A nice atmospheric shot of the command team of 6PD - on to Leningrad!

Graham Evans Games Day 2010

Saturday saw me travel to Graham Evans' house near Northampton for his annual games day.  This has been going now for about 6 years and I think I have attended every one.  Graham and I were joined by Tony Hawkins, Ian Drury and John Bassett.

The first game of the day was a further instalment of the series set in the fictional African state of Zambola.  The game was governed by simple rules and driven by 'matrix' arguments.  The toys used were mostly Peter Pig 15mm.

Zambola was until last year subject to the just and benign rule of President for Life Joga-Joga.  The President went missing following reports of heavy fighting in Zambola's desert area and the resulting power vacuum saw a struggle developing between former presidential henchman Colonel Condimenti and the late President's foreign-educated son Luke Joga-Joga.  The ever troublesome insurgent faction under the notorious 'Fat Boy' was also in on the act. 

The start of this game was delayed slightly until the last player arrived in a car kindly provided by his previous appointment:

Clearly I cannot possible disclose this individual's name.  It is not for us to mock his personal grooming choices.

The game involved the various factions trekking into one of Zambola's remoter regions in search of the late(?) President's loot.  Here, in a scene reminiscent of the 'Wacky Races' the column led by the mysterious 'Mr J' overtakes Col. Condimenti near Africa's only Bhuddist temple.  All toys and terrain from Graham's collection.

As everyone arrives near the Presidential palace, the mysterious 'Mr J' (seen here atop the Unimog next to the two Toyota 'technicals') proclaims himself to be none other than President for Life Joga'Joga himself.  Inspired no doubt by the mysterious 'Mr B' in the first photo, his evidence consists of the President's tattoo on his (waxed) manly chest.

Sadly the loyal Presidential Guards don't believe a word and open fire!

Eventually the guards were convinced and the palace occupied.  The safe was cracked and the codes found for the Swiss bank accounts.  Sadly though, Luke's men threw them on the fire...  I blame his mother.

The game ended in a clear victory (hey, this is my blog after all) for the true President for Life - Joga-Joga himself.  Despite having been shot at by everyone in every game for the last six years.  That's enough evidence of divine powers for me!

After a fine lunch in a local hostelry we gathered around Graham's other (so rich!) wargames table for a refight of the Battle of Magnesia.  The original took place in 190BC in what is now Turkey between a Roman force under Lucius Cornelius Scipio (the brother of the famous one) and the Seleucid Army under Antiochus III The Great (your humble correspondent).  The Seleucid Army consisted of a wide variety of troop types including a large Pike Phalanx (all 20mm plastic figures)

...and gimmicks such as scythed chariots.  Like their historical counterparts these were completely useless!

An attentive Tony ( - playing Seleucus - making this two games in a row where he played my son!) hangs on Graham's every word.  Crawler.

The Romans were in fact led on the field by loyal Greek ally Eumenes (left) and Domitius (right).

The Seleucid right advances under my inspired (as against competent) leadership.  As always (in my experience) the elephants didn't last long!

The Roman left crumbles under a combined arms assault and several matrix arguments.

My brave lads envelop the Roman left wing while the Phalanx does...well, not very much really.  I forget what happened after this photo was taken.  I expect we won.  I mean, the right wouldn't have fled after the phalanx was wiped out by legionaries - would it.

On the plus side, what happened was a pretty historical result and so, as I, Antiochus III 'The Great'  write this in the dustbin of history I console myself with that thought.