AAR: Near Chemont

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Originally posted 22nd January 2013

Craig Ambler reports on his third game from the Blenneville or Bust! scenario booklet: the Americans attempt to break through the German lines Near Chemont. Loads of pictures!

Marder IIIs from Forged in Battle

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Originally posted 20th January 2013

The last of the Forged in Battle units bought at Warfare in Reading: this time it's a platoon of Marder IIIs. Paint up very nicely, although I just can't see how you can get three crew members into the fighting compartment. I only managed two, and they are jolly crowded.

AAR: Avaux

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Originally posted 14th January 2013

Craig Ambler gives another great account of a solo game, this time featuring the second scenario from theBlenneville or Bust! scenario booklet: the British advance on Avaux.

AAR: West of Pierrecourt

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Originally posted 8th January 2013

Craig Ambler gives an excellent account of a solo game featuring the first scenario from the Blenneville or Bust! scenario booklet.

AAR: Two IABSM AARs

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Originally posted 28th December 2012

A couple of after action reports from the Christmas period.

First off, Katzenstein uses his British infantry for the first time and, apparently, and unlike whenever I put any newly painted troops on the table, they seem to have won!

Secondly, Sergeant Steiner tries IABSM for the first time. 

AAR from Sergeant Steiner

AAR from Katzenstein

SdKfz 234/2 Puma

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Originally posted 27th December 2012

And still more of the Forged in Battle late war Germans: this time it's the SdKfz 234/2 Pumas from the Panzerspahkompanie's heavy platoon.

I've always thought that these were a must for any later German force, but apparently only 101 were ever produced. However rare, however, these are very nice models: the crew figures painting up very nicely as well.

Panzergrenadier Schwerer Zug from FiB

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Originally posted 25th December 2012

More of the Forged in Battle late war Germans: this time it's some of the half-tracks from the Panzergrenadier Schwerer Zug (Heavy Platoon).

In a genius bit of packaging, the FiB set comes with two SdKfz 251/2 (81mm mortars) and two SdKfz 251/9 (75mm gun): all you need for a standard schwerer zug. Each vehicle comes with crew and, as is normal for FiB, has an integral base.

Only one small problem: they are considerably shorter than my Plastic Soldier Company SdKfz 251/1 models, which is a bit of a pain no matter which manufacturer  has their models scaled correctly. No matter, however, I am sure the difference won' t be too noticeable on the tabletop.

SdKfz 251/8

SdKfz 251/9

AAR: The Centre of Yelna (Day 2)

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Originally posted 20th December 2012

Those of you who follow this site regularly will remember that battle four in Benito's Vyazma or Bust! campaign had ended in a draw. Votes were called for, and the overwhelming response was for Benito to play the game again as if the Germans had renewed their assault on Yelna the next day.

Here's the report of what happened. Another close game!

German Support Units from Forged in Battle

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Originally posted 9th December 2012

I've been wanting to get Forged in Battle's StuG support set for some time:  I love collecting the 'tail' elements of an army as well as its 'teeth'!

The Warfare show in Reading (well, Caversham if you want to be precise) gave me the opportunity. Even better, the stand they were on (West Wind Productions I think) had a five for four offer, so I bought the StuG support vehicles, some Hetzers, some half-tracks, some Pumas and some Marder IIIs.

I've only had the opportunity to paint the first lot of StuG support vehicles and the Hetzers and I must say I'm very impressed. I like the integral basing (all my vehicles are based: mainly for protection when handling and in transit), and the models take paint very well indeed.

StuG Support

Hetzers

AAR: The Bridge at Urk

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Originally posted 6th December 2012

Everyone is going Vyazma or Bust crazy! Not only do we have Benito submitting battle reports faster than I can get them  loaded up, but here's a great report by Brian Weathersby from a game featuring scenario 2A: the Bridge at Urk.

Fallschirmjaeger 2cm FlakGuns

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Originally posted 4th December 2012

Next, here are a couple of Fallschirmjaeger-manned 2cm FlaK 38 guns for the Germans. I haven't got many anti-aircraft assets for my WW2 armies, as IABSM doesn't really emphasise that aspect of things, but these two are a start. They are Battlefront models: easy to put together and paint...although I hate the way they don't sit flush to their bases. I might glue them down in a moment!

Oh, and the observant amongst you will note that I have the mounting stand round one way on one base and the other way on the other. Not intentional, I assure you, and a lesson to be learnt in paying attention!

Soviet Flamethrower Tanks from Zvezda

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Originally posted 4th December 2012

I haven't had the time to do any actual gaming recently, what with getting Q13 ready and real-life work, but I have been painting a little.

First up, the excellent 15mm KhT-26 flamethrower tanks new from Zvezda. These cost only a couple of quid each, snap together in seconds, and paint up really easily. I'm a big fan of the Zvezda kits, and these babies will give the evil Germans a very nasty surprise!

AAR: The Centre of Yelna

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Originally posted 4th December 2012

Back to Benito's Vyazma or Bust campaign. This time the action moves into Yelna, and street fighting occurs.

AAR: The Battle for Neuville

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Originally posted 30th November 2012

Benito returns to I Ain't Been Shot, Mum! with an AAR taken from the Where The Hell Have You Been, Boys? scenario pack: the Battle for Neuville. 

AAR: Two from Vyazma via Madrid!

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Originally posted 9th November 2012

Well, Benito and his friends in Spain are playing through the Vyazma or Bust campaign almost too fast for me to keep up with their battle reports!

Here are the AAR from the second and third games in the campaign.

First up is Belyj, second is On The Road to Pochinok.

Belyj

On The Road To Pochinok

AAR: Izdeshkovo

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Originally posted 3rd November 2012

Benito turns his hand to the Second World War, and the first scenario from the Vyazma or Bust! campaign: Izdeshkovo. 

Not a good result for the Germans!

Jagdpanthers!

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Originally posted 3rd November 2012

A set of three Jagdpanthers for the later Germans. Here I think I used the wrong yellow as my dunkelgelbcolour, so the tank hunters have come out in a rather funky pattern!