tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52707329890187799652024-02-07T03:34:32.019-08:00Tales from the CaravanshedRecording an obsession with wargaming that was located from the shed at the bottom of the garden. A shed that was compared to a caravan, of all things!Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-37469983306363504372017-11-08T10:48:00.002-08:002017-11-08T10:48:52.170-08:00Hi, I'm alive and not a 'Bot.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, Facebook is sucking the life out of my spare time, and I'm sure someone said that it would, so in an effort to stop Fac-e-book taking over my life and the world around me, I have a new project. Ok, its kind of 2 projects, Star Wars X wing which filled the void of not wargaming my WW2 US and Germans, and potentially playing my Moderns, and the other is a Night Stalkers Kings of War army.<br />
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Why Kings of War? Well why not, and the Night Stalkers are just so SICK when it comes to modelling the figures, there's not that much out there at present, but there is so much inspiration. I like the ability to theme the army the way you want, so long as dread Cthulu gets a lookin, but I think I'm going to try and steer the theme towards C S Lewis, and the White Witch , Jadis and her minions.<br />
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C S Lewis may be a blind alley of sorts but Cthulu is definately a strong possibility.<br />
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Lots of modelling to ensue, and hopefully a dose of WW2 completion and closure for some of the units I have had sitting around.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-12437359759717816252016-09-06T13:13:00.000-07:002016-09-06T13:13:06.475-07:00sorry for the lack of posts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi<br />
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Yep, I'm still here, and have done some big Gyros Teller games this year - at Salute and at Bovingdon, in 6mm.<br />
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They will be put on the blog, lots of pics, more of some of my modern 20mm and some of the other stuff that has been done - WW2 US 20mm and some german stuff.<br />
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Personally speaking, I've been doing a lot of Sci Fi gaming - Firestorm Armada, and Planetfall from Spartan Games. If only because it's the only game in town with my shift patterns.<br />
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Also, a little bit more has been found on Colour Sergeant Major William Smith<br />
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Thanks for your patience<br />
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Richard</div>
Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-25508190538873372832016-03-12T09:39:00.000-08:002016-03-12T13:48:29.624-08:00Colour Sergeant Major William Smith - a portrait of a Soldier<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
News of my enquiries into CSM William Smith started to percolate to his descendants - Peter and Elaine , and a couple of very important photographs made their way over to me via the internet. Also, the set of medals were made available to see, so confirmation with examination of the medals confirmed what I had found from records. I am very grateful for their generosity and trust with such precious items.<br />
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I also had a look at the Welsh National Archive, specifically the Newspaper microfilm's, and this added further information to what was now known.<br />
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The Medals are shown below, with the number of 1156, William's regimental number. Medals can be cast by the thousand, but each is individualised with the soldiers regimental number stamped on the rim of the medal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYST56_a1YZUsCLKbSOxZl8wYTrdHlwrAvhRM6LAT53xi3-X9KKs5rwU83gRqtiE_6zVI6cvN6rfvLBrzHSIdPKQmAZojrwj-sWkKfwLw3JguUnWY9ex-vNICK7uXuecug0RbXivXAU4/s1600/Wm+Sm.+S.+A.+%2526+long+service+mdls+-+01+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYST56_a1YZUsCLKbSOxZl8wYTrdHlwrAvhRM6LAT53xi3-X9KKs5rwU83gRqtiE_6zVI6cvN6rfvLBrzHSIdPKQmAZojrwj-sWkKfwLw3JguUnWY9ex-vNICK7uXuecug0RbXivXAU4/s320/Wm+Sm.+S.+A.+%2526+long+service+mdls+-+01+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Front view</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iSJUSfLspIJjcy5wiYyyyz3_EB1dunh4jefKTlMOvzpWuiEAyIdcjppxZpMFUUSq3h3DQT4HocHOe0hPeDKsilzptE3tg07urvft8CnWMgtfJN455OId5ZrYcPv3PHQh6irRrETSsOc/s1600/Wm+Sm.+S.+A.+%2526+long+service+mdls+-+02+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iSJUSfLspIJjcy5wiYyyyz3_EB1dunh4jefKTlMOvzpWuiEAyIdcjppxZpMFUUSq3h3DQT4HocHOe0hPeDKsilzptE3tg07urvft8CnWMgtfJN455OId5ZrYcPv3PHQh6irRrETSsOc/s320/Wm+Sm.+S.+A.+%2526+long+service+mdls+-+02+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rear view</div>
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I was able to find the medal roll of the 3rd Battalion, Welch Regiment which had the same regimental number - as stamped on the rim, for the South African Campaign.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNoHa_Peaba1BVnlGXjE6wRuHWzuOCrS_m5bXAoS1gHxqeHE09E697_dOjFfEJZIjw5ZyMtoRtlE2gBV6x0JXpZIwdtybMzyomZMDmtSqo5TSBaX3Bny24V4qkc0a0TCDFFVgRn9efs4/s1600/3rd+Bat+Welsh+Reg+Colour+Sergeant+William+Smith+1156+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNoHa_Peaba1BVnlGXjE6wRuHWzuOCrS_m5bXAoS1gHxqeHE09E697_dOjFfEJZIjw5ZyMtoRtlE2gBV6x0JXpZIwdtybMzyomZMDmtSqo5TSBaX3Bny24V4qkc0a0TCDFFVgRn9efs4/s320/3rd+Bat+Welsh+Reg+Colour+Sergeant+William+Smith+1156+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And after looking at the archive newspaper records found a photo of the Welch Regiment, parading after their return to Wales. This is almost certainly the 1st Battalion, and not the 3rd Battalion.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJixNEC1VTcR_2PcUV2ZjuFhF-q3m54miMvTIB8aaIwcdi3QriURz3zK65WfdjDN87wOPc2B7RpIgLVJRUsvWG_-J2yZIXJvLUsp9N7MNAhrsY773V-WNTcGm79fAjOHniAl2QAZmfBk/s1600/GTJ73112_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJixNEC1VTcR_2PcUV2ZjuFhF-q3m54miMvTIB8aaIwcdi3QriURz3zK65WfdjDN87wOPc2B7RpIgLVJRUsvWG_-J2yZIXJvLUsp9N7MNAhrsY773V-WNTcGm79fAjOHniAl2QAZmfBk/s320/GTJ73112_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Whilst digging into the archives I also came across the following article. This is the Victorian equivalent of a Twitter feed, literally everything would be put through the newspaper, or sought from it, being a vital part of society. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyqTMe5OmfTWWukAVpx8ai95SsbNukckedIscnPRV7TRmFW-oZfPD7TnvR2uY_Blt1rSSOHm51il_VfD29T94hKnVbve-LSz82wSP-UeUXq-NNLY05G5BgMc7Qa_vkDEhtsDUkk6u3Ng/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyqTMe5OmfTWWukAVpx8ai95SsbNukckedIscnPRV7TRmFW-oZfPD7TnvR2uY_Blt1rSSOHm51il_VfD29T94hKnVbve-LSz82wSP-UeUXq-NNLY05G5BgMc7Qa_vkDEhtsDUkk6u3Ng/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Evening Express, 5th August 1903</div>
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I knew that CSM William Smith had been given the GCM, after all he had it in his medal clasp, and wore it as part of his uniform. This was a significant and valued award to a soldier in Victorian/Edwardian Britain, a capable and trusted soldier who could be depended upon to maintain the ethos of the Army, but specifically and more importantly, that of the Regiment.</div>
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Finally, we have the most enigmatic of all the things so far discovered about CSM William Smith. These are 2 photo's of him with a large black crow. Also, the inscription on the back of a postcard, which I believe is a photocard of one of the photo's but can't confirm. Anyway, it identifies the photographer and the subject of the photo's. However, it also makes a clear distinction with reference to William. He had recently died. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjA747fmYpBReFlLepFMHeqeNMrB0DtdjYfnEx23rgXNztPbDUVsrGUX0XB-r8gGrpNEePHdh2c4vjPXtOEEsfuER3sLT8EpCztYvReTzbg1ILoY1COFxnMLHWyctSl-Q22fbaMdegZuQ/s1600/Sergt.+Major+Smith+-+2+back+of+P.+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjA747fmYpBReFlLepFMHeqeNMrB0DtdjYfnEx23rgXNztPbDUVsrGUX0XB-r8gGrpNEePHdh2c4vjPXtOEEsfuER3sLT8EpCztYvReTzbg1ILoY1COFxnMLHWyctSl-Q22fbaMdegZuQ/s320/Sergt.+Major+Smith+-+2+back+of+P.+Card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSpnECPGM6SyDdPWWkGzNVA3VL37KD4gst3p7wUU2ebMIvIyGcm7FPWv1b14OVuRxUDsxIkZt96fs5sY2wDg9TU-ZWPkwIZT2jhe-7vFfN0lJLxH_TS6rKqFyR75_2lL28jRIBx1WJ9Q/s1600/Sergt+Major+Smith+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSpnECPGM6SyDdPWWkGzNVA3VL37KD4gst3p7wUU2ebMIvIyGcm7FPWv1b14OVuRxUDsxIkZt96fs5sY2wDg9TU-ZWPkwIZT2jhe-7vFfN0lJLxH_TS6rKqFyR75_2lL28jRIBx1WJ9Q/s320/Sergt+Major+Smith+-+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZd-dKzC6KoOwKq7Pyy9_3mTCt0H7o2SIIPzJe2xljVX-sJZpytRf9xArcAJjdYIcw4TH96WVePAkhSfPQEiYFd94PuHw2PpBnztuJSQnXGQ3Vnlna43q6k6ZaZoU_IN5C7OrCOPXpOg/s1600/Sergt+Major+Smitth+-+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZd-dKzC6KoOwKq7Pyy9_3mTCt0H7o2SIIPzJe2xljVX-sJZpytRf9xArcAJjdYIcw4TH96WVePAkhSfPQEiYFd94PuHw2PpBnztuJSQnXGQ3Vnlna43q6k6ZaZoU_IN5C7OrCOPXpOg/s320/Sergt+Major+Smitth+-+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At the moment I have yet to look into identifying the buildings behind William, the photographer, or the other people in the photo with him, the date of the photo, the possible newspaper article reporting his death, or the significance of the crow. Now that is a real mystery, better than any book you could buy or read.<br />
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Regimental records are held at Kew - the National Archives, but not all, and a lot of stuff was blown up by the Germans during WW2, in an effort to frustrate genealogical research, er, not really, but that is the effect. The records need to be tied to WO record series, and not all are in existance. </div>
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When I found out about my fathers lookings, and frustrations with Kew, I had an idea that the Victorians being great colonial administrators, would be excellent record keepers. In fact, they would be positively anal regarding medals and entitlements. The key to finding out about him would be through the medal rolls, once his regimental number was confirmed, and not through the service records, which were missing. So it proved.</div>
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Thanks again to Peter and Elaine Harries, and to Mike Smith - you know who you are!</div>
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-60487471650818982302016-01-23T15:23:00.000-08:002016-01-27T06:00:08.945-08:00Mythical Earth - Miniature Figurines and Middle Earth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Mythical Earth was an unofficial range of Lord of the Rings figures that helped kickstart fantasy wargaming and fantasy role playing. JRR Tolkien and his estate were always very jealous of minding the interests of Middle Earth. Rights to produce figures as well as the rights to produce media such as films were firmly under lock and key, away from grubby commercialism and the misrepresentation of Tolkien's intellectual property. Well, eventually they gave in, and the rest is history.<br />
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Pauline Baynes' cover art for the combined volume of Lord of the Rings</div>
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<img alt="The Lord of the Rings" src="http://www.eq5.net/img/tolkimg/t-b-div/sc-artwork-comb-th.jpg" /></div>
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eq5.net/tolkien/tbkcovers</div>
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Miniature Figurines, a go getting company of industry bad boys, in 1972 just went off and did their own thing. Everyone knew what the range was all about, surprisingly the lawyers never appeared knocking on the door. For a range of figures, it's fairly comprehensive, covering nearly everything except Gollum and Galadriel for instance.<br />
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<img src="http://www.dndlead.com/minifigs/MythicalEarth/ME47.jpg" height="142" width="200" /> </div>
<span style="text-align: center;"> Elf on a horse, dndlead.com/minifigs </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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The figures are classic Minifigs, detail is implied rather than gouged out, and the poses are a little stiff, bearing in mind the moulding process. The design process for the figures draws heavily on the artwork of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, specifically the illustrator Pauline Baynes. The horses are indicative of this period of Minifigs, graceful and delicate, just like Baynes pictures.<br />
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<img height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EHepF1NuRGM/StQ2f5LWN1I/AAAAAAAAEfE/bhT4HqLgVRc/s320/IMAGE0029.JPG" width="262" /></div>
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Illustration taken from Once Upon a Time Blogspot</div>
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Pauline Baynes also illustrated the Chronicles of Narnia. Both writers were at Oxford, Baynes worked with Tolkien and then with Lewis, becoming friendly with both authors. Her work with Tolkien was felt by some to have captured the essence of what Middle Earth was all about, the words descriptors for her artwork. Tolkien did not consider her for an illustrated Lord of the Rings edition though, writing that she would have been unable to rise up to his noble and awe inspiring work. What an self improtant arse.</div>
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<img src="http://www.paulinebaynes.com/_gallery_images/8886522503.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></div>
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The Narnian Army, Giant Bombrdom and Centaurs, Illustration from paulinebaynes.com</div>
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<img src="http://www.dndlead.com/minifigs/MythicalEarth/ME39.jpg" height="200" width="142" /> <img src="http://www.bluemule.co.uk/bluemule2_i0000a0.jpg" height="160" style="text-align: left;" width="200" /></div>
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dndlead.com/minifigs Painted models from bluemule.co.uk<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">The Minifigs giant bears a remarkable resemblance to the Baynes representation of a giant, as do many of the figures, such as the Centaur and Pan. I have to think it is more than reasonable to look at the artwork and see parallels in the figures, but I believe there is more connection than that. The Mythical Earth range goes up to 60, then next goes to 100 and 101, for the Centaur and Pan. I think this was an unfinished project, and that the last 2 figures were seen to be outside the Middle Earth canon, and which were I feel, the start of a range of Narnian figures. The Giant can also be considered to be crossing between both genres. Giants feature heavily in Narnia. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The only instance of Giants featuring in Lord of the Rings, is when the Fellowship are forced off the mountain to take the route through Moria. I hope I have not put a target on my back for this remark!</span></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5270732989018779965" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5270732989018779965" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><img src="http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/narnia/images/5/5d/270.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20110503072941" height="204" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">from The Silver Chair, narnia.wikia.com</span></div>
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Where are the figures now? Two of the figures have turned up on the Minifigs site care of Caliver Books, along with the beautiful and exotic range of figures in Valley of the Four Winds. The ranges were sold for licence by Minifigs to the USA for strictly sale in the US. The original moulds did not go, but masters for production did. However, the moulds were made using silicone, instead of vulcanised rubber, and consequently, the figures produced are between slightly and noticeably smaller than the original UK figures!! Some of the metal used is different as well, as it has a high pewter/tin content for a slightly lighter figure. With the advance of e-commerce, restrictions on sale to specific geographic regions were effectively unenforceable. There are relatively a lot of US produced figures around as generally, Minifigs tanked and US traders baled out of them, disposing of stock.<br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQzeWWIsFw5q0z_o7KWdA0OR4C4BfuFB2uqG8JhcLmaLs8WomJj-kPEwNHwxWpfNobrdaAbRBtrnMw2nih_mELtDkGc-twhzfKamvZzFUbfY24JYQW874Y9ajajmbE-equGJHrgo6lZr0/s320/October+1974+Minifigs+SF+and+ME+Mil+Mod+Ad+to+edit.jpg" width="224" /></div>
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Original advert October 1974, from deartonyblair.blogspot</div>
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNXtahacHLVJfLJ545-fYeUPwgMhqXU9TGu5tNLtjiVnab_Ch42dvm8Y7W3tEBbOkl3IeXiC0ATax3n03Dgyhzi1CKrE0Wi6p709g2PTCM8sofmUO1VHooYkQBAJit5ibxOy8-GCOVqSN/s320/April+74+Ad.JPG" width="238" /></div>
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Minifigs advert, not dated, from deartonyblair.blogspot</div>
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The original master moulds are somewhere in the Minifigs stash, held by Caliver, and indications are that Valley of the Four Winds UK produced figures are being collected to produce fresh masters for new production, leading some people to dispose of collections before they are made worthless. No such moves have been noted for the Mythical Earth range, but the figures are generally available over time, as collections surface and are traded out. </div>
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Useful and interesting sites<br />
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http://www.dndlead.com/minifigs/Minifigs-Mythical-Earth.htm<br />
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http://www.miniatures-workshop.com/lostminiswiki/?title=Mystical_Earth<br />
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http://www.bluemule.co.uk/bluemule2_000007.htm<br />
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interesting analogue history of miniature figures in the uk<br />
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http://deartonyblair.blogspot.co.uk/<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-16959316786540215252015-10-15T08:12:00.004-07:002015-10-15T08:28:42.268-07:00WW2 German bits and pieces<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A general push in the painting department has seen these bits come along with others and help with motivation on generally doing all sorts of stuff. To be honest, I sometimes look at some peoples painting and think why I bother, but these little bits finish up quite nicely, and help gee things along, as well as helping to encourage as they are quickly finished.<br />
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Sgts Mess Goulash Kanone, with pneumatic tyres, though it can have wooden spoked wheels. I did a little scratch build pot for the mobile kitchen. A nice piece for just general 'feel' on a table.<br />
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An SHQ pak 41/43 88mm A/T Gun. I got this when I went to order/get the M8 turrets, though I had originally intended to get a late war 'Barn Door' 88mm on the cruciform carriage, and Pete didn't have any cast up. Its huge, and I did a bit of fiddling to it, adding a pick and its straps to the gun shield. The 4 figures in the lower picture are SHQ gunners I have included for scale purposes.<br />
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From left to right. A Sgts Mess Flak 37 37mm, Grubby Tanks IG18 75mm and an Amercom diecast towed Pak 40 75mm. The Flak 37 was actually labelled as a Maxon quad 50 cal, which I got from them at Bovington - part of the voucher myself and Nick received from Wargames South for the display game we put on. Bit of a shock when I opened the pack, then a challenge to research and make it, as I had no plans. The IG 18 75mm is a must have for my WW2 Germans, a really nice and useful piece of equipment. The Amercom diecast really looks like a Pak38 50mm, not its larger cousin the Pak40 75mm, but that's what it said on the side of the box. It really is a bit too small to be convincing.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-6307551003247878832015-10-15T07:47:00.001-07:002015-10-16T07:04:01.599-07:00The Cavalry are coming <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
PSC have some really nice, simple and easy to make models in 20mm 1/72 scale, that for the price knock the spots off a lot of other manufacturers, especially of the M5A1 Stuart Light Tank. I had 3 I got earlier, and picked up another 3, with the aim to convert 2 into M8 HMC's. I would use the turret of a M8 Scott HMC from SHQ models, and kitbash it in, something to while away the weekends, as well as being so much lighter than the SHQ model (the only reason for doing this, as there is nothing wrong with their model, except it is metal!!)<br />
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The end result is a Light Tank troop, and a pair of Assault Guns for my US Cavalry Group. The newly completed additions.<br />
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The whole group, including the previous 3 M5 Stuarts<br />
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The only thing that really needs attention now is that I have a lack of M8 Greyhounds and M20 utility cars for the core of the Cavalry group. Also some jeeps, trailers and dismounted personnel are needed to flesh out the Group.</div>
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-13643285855794257882015-10-14T09:11:00.000-07:002016-03-12T09:42:24.498-08:00Colour Sergeant Major William Smith - The Welch Regiment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Colour Sergeant William Smith was my great grandfather. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have used the old spelling of Welch, as opposed to Welsh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Born 4th May 1866, died 23 April 1927.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">He joined the 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot when he turned 18. He is recorded as having served in India, Egypt and the South African Wars 1899 to 1902. He is recorded as being a Sergeant in 1894, a Colour Sergeant in 1899, and a Sergeant Instructor in 1903.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BjCYLWu0mFSRzGAtiM5iSywbeppagnyvJ81DVuCfnaEB_SGKJWvotOkT32RHd8HwB6PoHFnSkV5wYHl8lHZKnXSOOv3GXDogCj9aS7kNayLC0AcjTBtFhMxuD4lQj8rRm2Yh3MMNQGI/s1600/Col.+Sgt+Wm+Smith+-+06+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BjCYLWu0mFSRzGAtiM5iSywbeppagnyvJ81DVuCfnaEB_SGKJWvotOkT32RHd8HwB6PoHFnSkV5wYHl8lHZKnXSOOv3GXDogCj9aS7kNayLC0AcjTBtFhMxuD4lQj8rRm2Yh3MMNQGI/s320/Col.+Sgt+Wm+Smith+-+06+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__HxQslSg9wMDJ7VpWtcDLHR38c553BzpFyAa3ROvIzRkiYHtkp3ateFctUDGjJrc3bIqTm6PSMzDOeOD3V-G-5lMFQAi5KTYWCnGKgYf8FCb0rNt6tBWc5mKbmNnV29GcgWvkIqYi8k/s1600/Col.+Sgt+Wm+Smith+-+02+DSCN4721+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__HxQslSg9wMDJ7VpWtcDLHR38c553BzpFyAa3ROvIzRkiYHtkp3ateFctUDGjJrc3bIqTm6PSMzDOeOD3V-G-5lMFQAi5KTYWCnGKgYf8FCb0rNt6tBWc5mKbmNnV29GcgWvkIqYi8k/s320/Col.+Sgt+Wm+Smith+-+02+DSCN4721+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A photo of NCO's of The Welch Regiment. Unfortunately I can't date the photo, or the location where it was taken. It is after 1903, when a notice in the Evening News mentions a Colour Sergeant Smith of the Welch Regiment receiving a GCM medal in August 1903. At his funeral on 27th April 1927, a firing party of the 6th Battalion, The Welch Regiment were in attendance. These were formed from the 3rd Glamorgan Rifle Volunteers in the Territorial Army reforms of 1908. It was noted that he had served in the Army for 32 years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In July 1881, the Regiment was reorganised under the Childers Reforms, an extension of the earlier Cardwell reforms. These reforms set up the Regimental system of 2 Regular Battalion Regiments (from the 41st and the 69th, becoming the 1st and 2nd Battalions respectively) with 2 Volunteer Battalions (South Wales Rifle Volunteer Corps - known as the Glamorgan Rifle Volunteers) tied in to their newly built headquarters depot - Maindy Barracks - Cardiff, in their Regimental district. However, the Welsh Regiment received an extra regular cadre battalion (Special Reserve) formed from reservists and volunteers from the Royal Glamorgan Light Infantry Militia with a regular Officer and NCO cadre, and a further 2 Volunteer Battalions to make 4. There were other depots and training sites - for instance the ubiquitous 'Drill Halls', throughout South Wales situated around the home locations of the Volunteer Battalions and Companies of the Welsh Regiment. I have not detailed the 69th Regiment, the 'South Lincolnshire Regiment', which was to become the 41st's brother battalion in the new Welsh Regiment, though they did on occasion meet in passing, as the general policy that brought about the formation of the 2 Battalion Regiments was that one remained at home for defence of the United Kingdom, as the other served overseas as required.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/UnionCastle/KildonanCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/UnionCastle/KildonanCastle.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kildonan Castle - Union Castle Mail SS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In November 1899 the 2nd Boer War broke out with the 1st Battalion stationed at Aldershot. The 1st Battalion and 3rd Battalion Special Reserve and were sent to the Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, on the Kildonan Castle to take part in the Boer War. They fought in the relief of Kimberley, the battle of Paardeberg (Bloody Sunday) February 1900, Driefontein in March 1900 and Diamond Hill June 1900. The Regiment were given Battle Honours for the relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, and the South Africa theatre. They were to stay as garrison troops till 1904.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the Medal roll for the Welch Regiment, for the 2nd Boer War, Colour Sergeant William Smith is recorded as having served in theatre with the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion. This was a composite battalion made from the Reserves and from the Volunteer Companies attached to the 41st Welch Regiment. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><i>Along with the 1st Yorkshire and 1st Essex the Welsh Regiment was put into the 18th Brigade under Major General T E Stephenson, the 2nd Warwick joining later. The 18th Brigade took the place of the 12th in the VIth Division, and bore a most distinguished part in the events which turned the tide of fortune. The work of the VIth Division is sketched under the East Kent Regiment, and that of the brigade under the Yorkshire Regiment.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>From the despatch of Lieutenant General Kelly-Kenny of 20th February, relating to the attack on Cronje at Paardeberg:</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i> "I will take an opportunity of bringing to notice the special acts of devotion to duty on the part of individuals; I confine myself at present to representing the fine spirit and gallantry of all the troops engaged; I feel bound, however, to bring to your lordship's notice now the very gallant conduct of the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment, who were on our right flank: a portion of the battalion charged right up to the Boer laager with the bayonet in the finest possible manner, losing heavily in their gallant attempt to capture it". </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At Paardeberg the Welsh had 1 officer killed and 5 wounded, 15 men killed and 57 wounded.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On 6th March at Poplars Grove, or Osfontein, the Welsh were again engaged; and on the 10th at Driefontein, or Abraham's Kraal, they had a post of honour. In his telegraphic despatch of 11th March Lord Roberts says, "The brunt of the fight fell on Kelly-Kenny's division, two battalions of which—the Welsh and the Essex—turned the Boers out of two strong positions at the point of the bayonet". Various correspondents referred in terms of highest praise to the work of the Welsh. The Press Association correspondent, in an admirable account wired from the field, after referring several times to the way in which the battalion advanced in face of a heavy fire,—both gun and rifle,— said, "Just before dusk the Welsh Regiment gallantly rushed the position at the point of the bayonet, taking a kopje and clearing a considerable portion of the ridge. The scene was witnessed by Lord Roberts through a telescope". The battalion lost Captain Lomax, Lieutenant Wimberley, and 29 men killed, 5 officers and over 100 men wounded.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Six officers and 4 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned in Lord Roberts' despatch of 31st March 1900.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The battalion was engaged at Leeuwkop, south-east of Bloemfontein, on 22nd April, when they lost Captain Prothero and 1 man killed, and 1 officer and 7 men wounded.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the advance from Bloemfontein to Pretoria, and thence to the Koomati Valley, the battalion was in the engagements outside Johannesburg and Pretoria, and in the battles at Diamond Hill and Belfast, but had no serious losses. They were stationed at Godwaan from 4th September till 12th October, and were then sent to Barberton, where they remained till 22nd November, when they were sent to occupy various stations in the Koomati Valley—Krokodile Poort, Nelspruit, Alkmaar, Elandshoek, and Godwaan. While stationed in this most unhealthy district the battalion was decimated by fever. In May 1901 the battalion was taken to Johannesburg, remaining there as part of the garrison till March 1902, when they were sent to hold a line of blockhouses from Horn's Nek to Hekpoort west of Pretoria, and they were on this duty when peace was declared.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The battalion furnished a maxim gun detachment with the 1st Mounted Infantry under Colonel Alderson, and a company of Mounted Infantry in Colonel De Lisle's battalion.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Lord Roberts' final despatch 12 officers and 20 non-commissioned officers and men were mentioned.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a train incident at Alkmaar on 20th May 1901 a lieutenant, a non-commissioned officer, and a private gained mention for great gallantry; and in Lord Kitchener's final despatch 4 officers and 4 non-commissioned officers were mentioned.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Officers of the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment, South Africa</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">They left in July 1904 to return to barracks in Gravesend. Kent. It was later, in 1909, that the 1st Battalion was sent to Egypt and Sudan. In February 1914 they were sent to India until the outbreak of WW1, where they were ordered back to the UK, heading off to France in January 1915.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Queens South Africa Medal - 1 bar - Cape Colony</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Good Conduct - Long Service Medal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kings South Africa Medal - 2 bars - South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Good Conduct - Long Service Medal - Volunteer Forces, small medal and clasp</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Peter and Elaine Harries</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Simplonpc.co.uk - Kildonan Castle picture</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">angloboerwar.com Boer War extract and photo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Welsh Regiment Museum</span></div>
Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-71586990544058106122015-07-18T11:28:00.001-07:002015-07-18T11:28:26.312-07:00Gyros Teller - Intelligence briefing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The following are the display material that were used in the latest game - Gyros Teller Part IV. They form background and briefing information sourced from Corridor flights, Brixmis, Intelligence intercepts and assessments. Whilst the game is a fictional what if scenario to wargame the Cold War in Central Europe 1986, the photo's and material are from actual Inteligence reports of the period. The map is an extension of the 'what if' given the deployment of the forces involved.<br />
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Game introduction showing pre battle photo analysis.</div>
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The Game background</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The political and military security background. Brixmis were units of the BAOR that were deployed to shadow and report on Warsaw pact troop movements and concentrations during the Cold war. They were over the IGB, as were their Soviet equivalents, situated in the west. Part of the overall monitoring to reduce international tension.</span></div>
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Soxmis - the Warsaw Pact equivalent of Brixmis, would be active prior to any military action to locate and identify potential threats. Even in 'peacetime' their activities would need to be monitored and recorded to identify areas of specific interest to them.</div>
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What to expect. The Big 7, a general identification of potential threats from Warsaw Pact forces.</div>
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Simple guidelines for reporting missions and battlefield observation. There is a specific section for NBC attacks or strikes.<br />
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An overview of general areas of locations and dispositions of Soviet forces, with Nato Corps boundaries. The map gives the location of our fictional town - Gyros Teller.</div>
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This is the Independent Tank Battalion, from 10th Guards Armoured Division. These were new formations, designed to operate independently with a full complement of supporting arms, artillery, infantry and engineers.</div>
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Evidence is building up for prospective military operations, as yet unknown given previous reports</div>
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Soviet units from 10th Guards Armoured are observed leaving laager areas</div>
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Military intelligence is beginning to be severely concerned regarding the activity of Soviet forces</div>
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Soviet forces are being located in areas deemed to be concentration areas for an attack west.</div>
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An overflight of the IGB has confirmed that Soviet forces have physically crossed the IGB. </div>
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Our map of the area of Gyros Teller, tp show the general dispositions of the units involved in the attack into West Germany.</div>
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Gyros Teller is set during the period 1st, 2nd and 3rd February 1986. The games are snapshots taken during those 3 days, in and around the area of Gyros Teller, involving British units, with assistance to and from Belgian and German units. We do not attempt to explain why the 'what if' happened, but I am a confirmed believer in the cockup explanation of history, reading up about Stanislav Petrov and the Able Baker exercise would give you an understanding of the feverish nature that the Cold War got to at times.</div>
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Cheers and thanks for reading.</div>
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-41225666540596084372015-07-18T05:27:00.002-07:002015-07-18T10:33:43.915-07:00Gyros Teller Part IV<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Gyros Teller visited the Tank Museum at Bovington courtesy of an invite from Battlegroup South, who organise a weekend show at the Tank Museum. We were placed in the foyer, just up from reception and the shop, near to the entrance to the main exhibition hall. We had a lot of space for the game and were able to set up a display board next to the table (2 metres by 6 metres) with military intelligence photo's from the period, providing part of the 'legend' for the game. This would be the fourth game in 2 years.<br />
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Set in Febuary 1986, the game would simulate an advance on Gyros Teller by 2 separate Soviet Warsaw Pact forces. They would push on via 2 roads to the town, separated by a Corps boundary, to secure bridges over the canal for further independant exploitation by their commands. The attack would be made into the 1st Belgian Corps area, to the south of 1st British Corps area.<br />
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Historically, this was considered to be a very likely option for the Soviets should an attack be made over the IGB (Inner German Border), to exploit the relative weakness of the Belgians. Wargames and manoeuvres were tested to reinforce the Belgians with 4th Armoured Division, part of !st British Corps, and these were used to see how the redeployment of 1 Br Corps could be optimised, whilst 1 Be Corps delayed the anticipated attack. Exercise Crossed Swords 1986 being one of these.<br />
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The 2 Soviet forces comprised the following; surviving elements of the Recce Regiment from the 3rd Shock Army, a unit used in previous Gyros Teller games, and an Independent Tank Battalion from the 10th Guards Armoured. The Recce Regiment was equipped with T64BV's with reactive armour and the Independent Tank Battalion was equipped with T80's. BMP's and the usual supporting troops would be used, including a Scud!<br />
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The Belgian forces comprised 7 Leopard I's with 2 Jagdkanone, 2 Scorpions and a Gepard. A local German Reservist unit were supporting the Belgians with 3 M48's and M113's. British forces were 7 Challenger 1's with FV432's and 4 Scorpions and 2 Scimitars. A Blues and Royals battlegroup from 33 Armoured Brigade, supported by the Queens Dragoon Guards -QDG- (using the Scorpions), and Queens Lancashire Regiment -QLR- (providing the infantry component and the Scimitars).<br />
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The Soviets had local air superiority, and there would be helicopters and ground attack aircraft available to them. Nato forces would have helicopters deployed, but would not have anything active in the air. Not until local air superiority was taken away from the Soviets. It would remain with the Soviets for the rest of the game.<br />
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The 2 lines of approach for the Soviet forces, along the roads described above were separated by a hill feature that effectively isolated the 2 advancing columns, meaning they would not be mutually supporting. A corps boundary ran along this feature. The roads would have truck blockades on them to slow any Soviet advance, but they were not insurmountable. Dozer equipped tanks or ARV's would be able to shift them off the road.<br />
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The Belgian forces deployed at the edge of the town, the 2 Jagdkanone's in the centre, with 2 troops of Leopards and the commander deployed to their left and right. The 2 Scorpions were deployed further to the right on the hill to scout forward and report back details. A Gepard provided Anti Air further back in the town. The Belgians did not have any artillery support.<br />
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The Germans secured the wooded hill feature alongside the town, which also had the main road going through it, on towards and across the canal. Their tanks were deployed forward, with the infantry setup in the middle of the wood, dug in. They had a light mortar, but no artillery support. They also had a Milan team dug in on the wood edge to interfere with any armour attempting to outflank the wood.<br />
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The British were deployed on the table, but in fact if scale was played, were about 20 feet away from the canal. They were replening and refueling, awaiting contact reports and and more detailed information from recce and liaison. The Blues and Royals (Household Cavalry) would deploy via a canal bridge to counterattack the most threatening Soviet advance, or to remove any Soviet presence the other side of the canal.<br />
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With the game set up, the Belgians and Germans effectively waited till the Soviets were about a kilometre away before opening fire. As usual, the Belgian Leopard's performed dismally, outshone by their Jagdkanone's. The German M48's did little better. However it was enough to halt the head of the columns and force a tactical deployment, and, as the Soviets expected, draw out the defensive lines around the town.<br />
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As the Soviets built up their attack for Gyros Teller, the Belgians and Germans attempted to target the Soviets as they deployed out to attack. Whilst they inflicted casualties, they also received casualties back on the Belgians, directly forcing a withdrawal of one troop from the edge of the town back into it.<br />
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As the recce regiment from 3rd Shock Army deployed out, going round a roadblock, extending over the hill in the centre, and flanking the Belgians on the Soviet left, their Forward Air Controller (TACP) called up 2 Mi24 Hinds to engage the Belgians, the Hinds flying in to attack the remaining Belgian Leopards.<br />
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This was too much for the Belgians, who were in danger of losing all their kit, and the remaining Leopards began to withdraw, covered by the Gepard, which did damage to one of the Hinds. With the envelopment of the town forcing back the Belgians, and the poor trade off in terms of armour, the Soviets had basically opened up a route to the canal.<br />
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As things were hotting up in the town, CO Blues and Royals sent out two patrols to secure the canal bridges and basically find out what was happening in the process. A troop of Scorpions from the QDG was sent up along the road to make contact with the Belgians. They did not expect to find lead elements of the 3rd Shock Army, or their supporting helicopters swarming around the town.<br />
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On the other route over the canal, the 10th Guards Armoured's Independent Tank Battalion was forced to deploy out some of its leading infantry to go into the wood on foot, to engage the Germans. Tank support in that area was difficult, and they had 2 options available to them. Primarily, a barrage from a BM21 rocket battery, and a ground attack Su25, to help neutralise opposition from that area.<br />
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The Su25 flew up the road, over the wood, and successfully spotted the German positions in the wood - dug in infantry, M113's and M48's.<br />
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As luck would have it, CO of the Blues and Royals had earlier decided to send a platoon of the QLR up the road over the canal to the German positions to find out what was going on, and to place a force on the bridge to secure any British counterattack. The QLR had 2 Scimitars from the QDG escorting them. They would be able to call up mortar support.<br />
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As the leading Scimitars drove up to the German positions, the Su25 then observed the QLR FV432's, as it began to circle and come in for its attack run. Further Soviet forces were deployed onto the table, as their ARV's cleared the road of wrecks and roadblocks. Things were about to get extremely personal for the German Reservists.<br />
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And that was that. An extremely enjoyable game, with a few dice roles. A big thankyou to Richard and his colleagues from Battlegroup South. Firstly for the invite. and secondly for a prize for the game and the 3 of us directing it - Nick T, Spike and myself.<br />
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We met an awful lot of people that we were able to talk to about the game. We had questions about the models and the rules we were using. I will be doing a post about the models. The rules were modified Battlegroup Kursk, and I will put up a full posting of our 'unofficial' modifications. A post of the background information to the game will also be made.<br />
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I hope we entertained and didn't bore people. Some of them had even read this blog. Cheers and thankyou.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-3533737819693927892015-07-12T10:25:00.000-07:002015-07-17T12:25:20.797-07:00Tankfest Fury 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This year I was lucky enough to have a free weekend to plan a trip down to Bovington to see Tankfest. Tickets had sold out for the Saturday, and a friend managed to secure 2 for Sunday. The Tiger was due to role out, and the theme this year was centred around 'Fury' the film.<br />
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A quick purchase of the film on Friday, meant that we watched it on Saturday before setting off on the Sunday morning. The film doesn't pull any punches, given some natural restrictions that a film has. A lot of the actors were older than they would have been, if they were serving soldiers at the time. Not a problem to be honest, if you have to stump up the millions for a film, and would like to get some money back to pay for it , you need names to get people in to see it. War and tank warfare is messy, very messy. You don't need to see it all, and thank goodness you can't smell it.<br />
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Fury used the Bovington Tiger tank, and 4 restored Shermans for actual footage in the film. Restrictions were made on the use of the tanks and the amount of hours they could be operated. There were of course other restored vehicles used as well to add depth and colour to the film, and mercifully minimal CGI that seem to plague/infest other films of whatever genre.<br />
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The VCC, showing vehicles awaiting time, love and money</div>
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Tankfest was packed, and after getting in, it was hard to get around through the mass of people, so we really only managed half of the VCC (Vehicle Conservation Centre) hanger, and half of the display field with the re-enactors and traders. This was due to our inability to get up to the edge of the display arena and see what was going on.<br />
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A British MkIV, powered by a JCB, part of the Museums exhibits</div>
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After looking at replica WW1 tanks - a German A7V and British MkIV, we headed to the VCC for a quick look, and then the arena.<br />
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The first display was of current vehicles of the modern British Army, with a simulated blue on red recce and attack, supported with a drop by RM Commando's and Seaking, and extraction. Comic relief was the removal of one of the trees in the arena by a Challenger tank. It just barreled over it, sat there looking a bit embarrassed, and then reversed off the arena.<br />
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Grabbing a burger and tea, strolling through the field, I had a quick look at some of the reenactors. There were WW1, and WW2 guys there, Soviets, US and German Fallschirmjagers. The US and Fallschirmjagers would take part in the Fury display at the end of the afternoon. We then found a good place to see the arena displays, and since they had opened up the tank park for the vehicle displays had a good look around. Prior to the afv through the ages display. We would stay there the rest of the afternoon having secured our spot.<br />
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In the tank park, but did not feature in a display</div>
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The tank park had 3 of the 4 Shermans from the film Fury in the park, and I managed to take a lot of view shots of the markings, stowage and general detritus that tanks would pick up in operations. The main reason was to help with my modelling of my own US Shermans, and allow me to add appropriate detail to them. There were also a few afv's that really take my fancy there, especially the Infantry Tank Mk1 and a Czech in German service P38t<br />
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Lucy Sue</div>
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Fury</div>
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Early afternoon then saw the afv display of different types of vehicles and from various periods, including the venerable P38t which coughed and spluttered round. The P38t was just about operational and got round on love and luck, proudly making its own way off without being towed. A credit to the staff who keep the vehicles going and repaired.<br />
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Tiger 131</div>
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A tea break and then a shortish wait for the main display. Set in May 1945, using US reenactors and German Fallschirmjager reenactors, and of course, the Bovington Tiger 131 and 3 of the Fury films Shermans. The display started with a US patrol supported by Shermans coming up against a last ditch defence organised by the Fallschirmjagers and Volksturm. A simulated air attack by a Spitfire was done to soften up the defences and then it was game on. What was noticeable was the popping sound of rifles which grew to a crescendo. The Shermans were set up to fire black powder charges, I don't know about the Tiger, but they were all impressive with their clanging, clanking and squealing of tracks.<br />
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Tiger 131 supporting the German defences</div>
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The Shermans on the attack</div>
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A low blow, again short in the rear, and brewing up. A Pzr III to the left that did not survive either</div>
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As a day out at Bovington, there was just so much to see, all high quality and equally demanding , from the VCC to the field displays, and the tank park and arena. Not forgeting the Museum displays of course. Fortunately, with the Tankfest ticket you can come back at a later date to have a more relaxed look at things - its a year ticket, but does exclude special events.<br />
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A good day out and well worth it.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-86462872216238904632015-07-08T10:28:00.000-07:002015-07-08T10:28:35.738-07:00Battlegroup Blitzkrieg at The Tank Musuem, Bovington<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A generous invite from Battlegroup South to South Somerset Wargames Club meant that I attended both days as part of the display game we put on. More in another post. It also allowed me to have a look at the other displays people were showing, and as always, the effort that people put in showed through. Some lovely painting and models.<br />
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Piers, top centre, in black tee-shirt, explaining rules and game mechanics.<br />
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One that caught my attention - especially as a confirmed 20mm WW2 enthusiast, was the Early WW2 display from Piers Brand and Warwick Kinrade, as part of the push on Battlegroup Blitzkrieg. I loved the display, especially the industrial complex next to the river, but had also seen some of the figures and models being painted on the <a href="http://guildwargamers.com/" target="_blank">guildwargamers.com</a> work in progress page. A bit of a painting tease, but not the same as seeing it in real life.<br />
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Piers as well as having a young family, full time job, active on the Guild - answering rules queries for instance - as does Warwick too, is also one of the best painters I have seen. He is not the best, but his standard of work and the sheer volume, speed and consistency, make him so. All the work was done by Piers, made available for set piece photography for the new rule book. I hope my photo's do Piers work justice.<br />
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One of the problems with the Battlegroup rules is the lack of mainstream penetration regarding publicity. Its such a simple set of rules - more guidelines really, that allows for tabletop gaming with 20mm figures. They are not solely for 20mm, as many wargamers use 15mm figures, some 28mm and a few 6mm ( 1/300 th ). They adapt well to any scale, or what you have in the box.<br />
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The days when there was just WRG have long gone. Thank goodness, but a plethora of other sets, some specific to certain scales have meant that the process of getting Battlegroup noticed has been a choice between sharp elbows, or a painstaking commitment to show the game. Piers and Warwick are the type of people who have chosen the latter, building on a love of gaming, a desire to share, and an approachability bordering on sainthood. This hard work is starting to pay off, with some of the rulesets nearing the end of their print run.<br />
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More are on the way. The next book will be the Desert campaign, This is a project of particular interest to Warwick. I am waiting for all those dodgy British armoured cars to appear to make up a recce patrol, as well as Men in Shorts! However, there is some major pestering going on for a Cold War book. I don't think its got to issuing injunctions yet!, but some preliminary work has been done, and it is firmly on the distant horizon. Hopefully drawing nearer, time and commitments permiting.<br />
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There were of course other games on display at the weekend, different scales and periods, all interspersed between Traders and the Museum exhibits. And thats the thing for Battlegroup, getting noticed.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-40669503474928684932015-04-26T08:42:00.002-07:002015-04-26T08:42:38.851-07:00Sdkfz halftrack recovery vehicle - Diecast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had been looking out for a German recovery vehicle for a long while. I did not want to get a tank chassis or the like, but a Hetzer based chassis would have been acceptable, I came across this at a stall in Blandford market, along with a little Steyr Ostrack. I don't think they knew its value, as £6 scooped the both.<br />
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A bit of light detail and weathering, removing the track to paint and sort out the drive sprocket, produced this.<br />
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And, ready for its closeup, though needing crew, stowage and chains etc. Unfortunately which will have to wait for a while. Not sure whether to base the model yet either.<br />
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A really nice little model, and a good addition to my German Late War forces</div>
Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-67014875452498547272015-04-23T07:13:00.000-07:002015-11-07T11:57:06.688-08:00The Hobbit, Minifigs and Mythical Earth. Going Very Old School.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The first book I ever read was my fathers 1966 Unwin paperback copy of the Hobbit. Time moves on and when pocket money allowed, the first metal figures I ever bought were the Minifigs Mythical Earth range, to play D&D with. I remember looking at the printed advert, listing the figures. I sent a postal order!<br />
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From Tolkien books Net</div>
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A full listing of the Minifigs range at <a href="http://www.dndlead.com/Minifigs/Minifigs-Mythical-Earth.htm" target="_blank">http://www.dndlead.com/Minifigs/Minifigs-Mythical-Earth.htm</a><br />
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<a href="http://lunar.thegamez.net/greenpoisonnew/the-hobbit-jrr-tolkien/tolkien-illustration-for-the-hobbit-by-flam-in-the-hobbit-on-1193x1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lunar.thegamez.net/greenpoisonnew/the-hobbit-jrr-tolkien/tolkien-illustration-for-the-hobbit-by-flam-in-the-hobbit-on-1193x1600.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></div>
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We are talking 40 odd years ago, and whilst not in my cups whilst writing this, I am not so sure of false memory. Maybe I'm looking back to my youth with rose tinted glasses, but well, thats how it goes. A little brown paper and cardboard box from Rye Stamp and Hobby Shop brought the figures.<br />
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I was to meet Bill Brewer, the owner, in the late 70's and 80's at his shop and at the South London Warlords.<br />
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I always took an interest in the Hobbit, its a much warmer and rounded book than the Lord of the Rings, but my fascination with Tolkiens Middle Earth was with the darker mythos that Lord of the Rings described, as well as the Silmarillion, and the subsequent books and stories that eventually made their way into print. However my focus shifted away to other things, mainly 15mm Renaissance.<br />
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With this in mind, 11 years ago, taking a friend around Dorset for a day of country life diversion, I bumbled across a book sale. Wandering around I came across a 3rd Edition, 7th print, of the Hobbit, without its dustcover, but with all of Tolkien's art plates intact. Four colour and nine black ink prints, a lucky book to have avoided the razor and clip frame.<br />
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The artwork was so dated, stilted and charming, naive yet detailed. I loved it. I thought of those Minifig Mythical Earth figures straight away. It reminded me of the artwork and designs of the Art and Craft movement. The figures seem to have stepped out of these drawings and prints.<br />
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This sparked a quest to search out those figures over the years, and so I have slowly built up a collection of the figures, cleaned and to be ready for painting and to put in a display cabinet. Parallel to this was a project to build up a Minifigs retro 25mm wargames army to play with.<br />
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I seem to have come round in a circle regarding Wargaming. My choice of figures is more selective, but includes plastic, something I would never have considered years ago, even though I started with old Airfix figures and the period was WW2.<br />
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<a href="http://cdn.thedailybeast.com/content/dailybeast/galleries/2012/09/20/tolkien-can-draw-who-knew-7-beautiful-hobbit-illustrations-photos/jcr:content/introSlide/image.img.1280.1024.jpg/1348130771426.cached.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.thedailybeast.com/content/dailybeast/galleries/2012/09/20/tolkien-can-draw-who-knew-7-beautiful-hobbit-illustrations-photos/jcr:content/introSlide/image.img.1280.1024.jpg/1348130771426.cached.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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One thing I will keep up is the spark that lit my interest all those years ago. The pages of the Hobbit fans that flame.<br />
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I have used copies from the internet, apologies and attribution to those concerned. I did not wish to break the spine of the book I have got, to scan the images and upload.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-39763353297292832452014-12-09T08:18:00.000-08:002014-12-13T06:40:57.534-08:00The Tower - Remembrance day <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After what seemed like a crescendo of World War 1 remembrance leading up to November 11th, and my work commitments, the two came together on the 13th November. I was given a days holiday, and following a conversation with the wife, the car was duly headed up to London to see the Poppy display at the Tower. The display was going to go round the country in reduced size, but was being kept at the Tower till the end of the month. If we wanted to see it, now was the time.<br />
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There was a plaque next to the main entrance which said that there were 888,246 poppies on display, in the moat, and coming out of the wall embrasures. These were for each of the number of Commonwealth soldiers who died during the war.<br />
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The sight of the poppies was just too overwhelming to be honest. How could each poppy be a person, and should there be more, how did they get that many into the display, what about the wounded, the Germans, Italians, Turks, French, Russians. <br />
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The display raises more questions than it answers, each poppy individually crafted, and actually quite big in size. I wanted to write a post to signify my 100th post, going over 10,000 hits and try to step back a bit to get perspective. I wanted to try and think about the poppies significance.<br />
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What struck me was their closeness all together, individual yet joined together in some kind of open weaved mattress, lifting, rolling and pouring out of the walls in a fountain of flat cherry blood red.<br />
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Each poppy a name, each an individual, washing around and through the Bloody Tower.</div>
Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-25815019448376232222014-10-08T07:31:00.002-07:002014-10-08T07:31:45.445-07:00Flames of War - Mid war desert, a game of 2 games<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A Mid war game, set in the desert of North Africa, with 2 tank heavy forces, Brits and Germans. This wasn't going to be a complicated game, and it wasn't anticipated to being a long game. But just how long was going to be quite a surprise.<br />
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The Germans had a CiC and 2iC in PzrIV F - long 75's, a troop of PzrIII's - long 50mm and a commander in a PzrIV F, a troop of 5 PzrIV's F, with a commander in a PzrIV F. following up behind was a platoon of infantry. A priority Stuka was available. In addition to this was a special character - Rittemeier, a 'warrior' who has 2 abilities, rerolling to hit dice, and rerolling the stormtrooper move to the platoon he is attached to.<br />
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The British had a CiC in a Sherman, with 3 Shermans as the HQ troop. The 2iC was in a troop of 3Grants. There was another troop of 3 Grants, along with 2 troops of 3 Crusaders, and a troop of 4 Deacon 6pdr portees, with a platoon of infantry bringing up the rear. A spasmodic Hurricane II was available.<br />
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Die were rolled and the game scenario was an attack on a central position, defended by one side with a unit in on table deployed ambush. The attackers would have to deploy a unit on either short table side, with the rest of their force deployed where they wished on the short table edge. They would be able to deploy up to 8 inches in.<br />
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Germans were the attackers, Brits defending. 11 German gun tubes vs 26 British gun tubes, however, the German 50mm's had a range of 24 inches, the 75mm's had a range of 32 inches. 3 50mm's and 8 75mm's. The British had 10 75mm's with a range of 32 inches, the 37mm and 6 pdr having a range of 24 inches. 10 75mm and 16 37mm and 6 pdr's. But, whoever was deployed in the centre would move after the attacking player had moved, and if deployed in the centre section would be in short range automatically - 16 inches, and within range after a move anywhere on the table.</div>
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The British deployed, after the German objectives were placed in the centre section, and then the Germans deployed, with the British on table ambush revealed. Dave and myself were the Germans with Gavin and Ian as the British, John adopting his role as FoW rules Guru. We deployed to try and get some cover for the advance into the centre and the objectives, and ended up deploying on one side of the table either end.<br />
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Game on, with a die roll for the Stuka, only a single plane coming on. The Pzr III's and infantry advancing behind the hill for cover, <br />
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the Pzr IV's and Rittemeier advancing behind the village to sweep up to the centre. <br />
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However, the British CiC and his Shermans were in the centre, backing up 2 troops of Crusaders behind the village. The Pzr IV's remained stationary and opened up on the Shermans, along with the CiC and 2iC from the command and the troop leader from the Pzr III's. <br />
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Due to the positioning of the Shermans and the fact of the 2 sides of the attack, the Germans got rear armour and worked back, even though the Shermans counted as obscured.<br />
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The Shermans were annihilated, prompting the Pzr IV's to shift onto the Crusaders, who lost a troop and a tank from the second troop. The Pzr III's moved onto the hill and engaged the Grants in the centre. Exit the Grant troop.<br />
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After firing, the Stuka arrived and had a go at the Crusaders, contributing to the shambles developing around the village.<br />
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The German infantry moved up to the hill to dig in on, within 16 inches of the objective. We decided that instead of trying to go for the 2 objectives, we would go for the best defensible one, nearest the hill that the infantry were going for. As we had to be near either or both objectives, and having such a small force, going for one was best use of resources.<br />
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The Germans finished the turn with die rolls for stormtrooping, Rittermeier rerolling his accompanying platoons roll. <br />
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Everyone stormtrooped up another 4 inches closer<br />
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This was the end of turn one - German. Brits - 3 troops of tanks down, a 4th with 2 operational, no German casualties. Also, with the CiC brewing up in his Sherman, he bailed, but did not have a working tank to deploy to, I believe he could run to the nearest tank within 6 inches. He was therefore removed, along with his ability to reroll the motivation die rolls, Critical for bails and the forthcoming casualties. Also, any attempt to engage either of the 2 German tank groups, would open the Brits to rear and side shots from the other German tank group.<br />
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British turn 1. Fortified by a large mug of Dunkirk spirit, Gavin and Ian set out to hold the Germans off. This meant the Crusaders skitted round the village and went for some shots at the Pzr IV's, hoping to get concealment from the expected return fire. The remaining troop of Grants advanced on the Pzr III's cresting the hill, and a swarm of Hurricanes turned up to attack the German infantry in the open behind the hill. The Deacon portees ran out to engage the flanks of the Pzr III's, with their tip and run tactics.<br />
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All the shots going in were ineffectual, either glancing off, or bailing at worst. The front armour of the Pzr III's were too tough for the Grants and 6 pdrs from the Deacons. The Pzr IV's didn't receive enough shots in to get anywhere.<br />
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German move 2. The Pzr IV's shifted 12 inches to their left, all the platoon being able to fire at the Crusaders. The Pzr III's moved up onto the hill to engage the Deacons and remaining Grants. <br />
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The priority Stuka arrived with 2 other planes, meaning that when it hit, it would be rerolling misses. They swooped in on the Deacons. <br />
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The Pzr IV's opened upon the Crusaders, and with 2 kills, it was game over for the Brits. They had no way of stopping the fire except for the Germans to miss. The 4th unit of 7 British units had been destroyed. <br />
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For arguments sake, the Grants were engaged and destroyed, as well as the Deacons. The only intact unit left was the infantry.</div>
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As the whole game had taken less than an hour to play, the game was run again, with Dave and myself taking the British, Gavin and Ian the Germans. </div>
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We deployed in 2 lines either side of the deployment box, working out that the Germans would deploy their tanks in one large grouping. It would have been our deployment after playing the first game, applying maximum pressure on the Brits.<br />
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The DAK phalanx appears, as if by magic 8 inches from the table edge.after we had deployed.<br />
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The German infantry deploy on table, dug in, with no intention of moving.<br />
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The British deployment, showing the Phalanx about to engage the Brits. Pure line them up and let them loose. They were let loose.<br />
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German firing, the annihilation of the British line, all the Crusaders and the Deacons are destroyed. However, the Germans can not win by turn 2,as they can not engage the British second line.<br />
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British move 1, and the Grants move up to the infantry position<br />
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The Shermans and the other Grants move up to the centre, taking cover from the hill. </div>
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German turn 2, the Phalanx splits up, the Pzr III's forming a spear head, spreading out to avoid targeting by the Hurricane, the Pzr IV's moving left to engage the Shermans.<br />
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Shots coming in, hit only 1 Sherman, with that its the end of the German turn 2, as the Stuka strike on the infantry and Grants only kill an infantry stand, pinning the remainder as they get 3 hits on the platoon. An airstrike, whilst not artillery, counts as artillery for pinning effects. The Grants are undamaged but have 2 bailouts.<br />
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The end of the game, a final look.<br />
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On the whole, it was agreed that this was probably one of the worst scenarios possible for a tank force, and for Mid war Brits facing Germans, a source of a good kicking. Tank on tank games tend to be pretty quick affairs, but to run 2 games in 2 hours with the same result, game over in turn 2 and turn 3 respectively, was a bit of a shock. Whilst set in a desert, you wouldn't expect to find a great deal of terrain, and to be honest there was quite a bit on the table, but the result also can be attributed to the torrent of devastating fire of the Germans 75mm and 50mm guns in turn 1.</div>
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Great games nonetheless, and a big thankyou to our host John, Dave, Gavin and Ian. </div>
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-30622493640285122952014-09-22T06:51:00.004-07:002014-09-22T06:53:20.959-07:00Maginot Line/Siegfried Line Turrets 20mm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I got 3 turrets from Last Man, Last Bullet, a small just starting up wargames terrain company at the PAW 2014 show. The models are resin, crisp and detailed. In short really nice, and they come in 3 scale sizes - 15mm, 20mm and 28mm.<br />
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I got 2 MG cupolas and a 2 Gun turret. They sat on the worktop for 7 months, until the shed came down and there was a complete shakeup with regards to what would be moved to the new location.<br />
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Here they are<br />
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All 3 together</div>
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The aim is to use these for when my US forces move up to cross the Rhine and tackle the Siegfried line/Westwall/Maginot line/Metz fortifications.</div>
Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-19310818951502078002014-09-21T03:39:00.000-07:002014-09-21T03:39:08.022-07:00Gyros Teller Part III - The Belgian counterttack <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
South West Model Engineers Exhibition at the Bath and West was the location for Part III in the Gyros Teller franchise.<br />
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The table - 30ft x just under 6ft. Hazy and dark due to shootng into morning sun. Sorry.<br />
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Nato end of the table, positioning of figures and models</div>
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Nato Tac HQ - actually 1RS with liason groups from Germans and Belgians</div>
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Forward positions of Brits, along Autobahn </div>
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Centre of Brit line</div>
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Belgians moving up to the attack, scaring the hell out of a Beetle, left abandoned on the road </div>
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German Reserve Panzers and infantry, behind wood ready to support Belgian cautious advance on the Soviet forces.</div>
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Moving up along the road from the treelined Autobahn, Leopards and Jagdkanone</div>
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Belgian light tanks ready to recce the advance</div>
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The recce is advancing in front to determine opposition and locations</div>
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Soviet forces have prepared a defensive position on the outskirts of Gyros Teller - artillery and a 100mm A/T gun, with infantry stationed in the town.</div>
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100mm A/T gun and tow</div>
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Rocket artillery support deployed in the town for cover and to support</div>
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The armour is moving into position over the canal, past local air defence assets</div>
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Soviet Tac HQ for the operation. A Liason helicopter and other assets located at the pumping station. They have been ordered to advance and secure the Autobahn, to push on as far as possible. Meanwhile, off table similar probes by other Soviet Motor Rifle Regiments are being set up and planned. </div>
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The build up of forces, from the the rear of the table showing the canal bridge and pumping station. </div>
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Not all traffic is crossing by the bridge, a bridge layer has laid a second bridge over to assist with movement forward of the attacking troops.</div>
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wide angle shot of the temporary bridge.</div>
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Deployment in the town</div>
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The Soviet screen protecting the rear echelon manoevres</div>
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Recce observing movement - dust, smoke and noise coming from the town. Facing the rear, with turrets turned, to allow a quick getaway.</div>
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Brit positions showing the tail end of the Belgians moving forward, with 1RS dug in to the treeline.</div>
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The Germans have decided to move through the wood to deploy and support the Belgians rather than move around and go by the road. Fear of Soviet artillery and rotary wing aviation have made their decision.</div>
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Advancing through a track/logging path through the wood in column.</div>
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After a final snack of lager, chips and mayo, the last Belgian Leopards are getting to position</div>
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Belgian advance, with 2 CVRT's from 1RS battlegroup in rear fo the picture, providing a screen to 1RS.</div>
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The Germans moving up to the treeline of the woods, about to deploy out along it.</div>
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The Belgians </div>
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Soviet tanks moving up</div>
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The road from the Autobahn is starting to get busy</div>
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The German Reservists have deployed out into ambush along the treeline, waiting for the Belgian advance.</div>
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Rear view of the German position, covering the approach up the road from Gyros Teller. </div>
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Soviet recce screen is advancing from the town, whilst the Belgians are preparing to advance. </div>
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Having picked upthe presence of the advancing Soviet screen/probe, the Belgians deploy along the ridge of the hill, between the 2 woods. A natural chokepoint, if the woods are secured.</div>
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Nato recce out along the road, exposed and now caught out by the advancing Soviet recce</div>
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They attempt to engage the recce probe, and slow it down whilst the Belgians get themselves organised into position. They should have left, and allowed the Soviets to move up, but fears over the wood on the right, not yet secured have made the Belgian commander commit them forward. </div>
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The Soviets recce are slowly picking them off</div>
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Fear of what might be in the wood, has meant that the Soviets have called a rocket strike on the wood. Bad die rolling - or Bad Vodka, has meant that the strike is slightly off target, and ineffectual. Close shave for the Germans.</div>
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The main force attacking/advancing through is shown building up</div>
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The infantry in BMP's with their T64's</div>
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More forces are coming through from the temporary bridge into the town and advancing.</div>
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Artillery from the Soviet defensive line comes down on the Germans, again a lucky escape for them.</div>
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The Germans advance out to take on the Soviet recce probe, as do the Belgians - the cautious advance. The shooting is very poor from the Belgians and Germans.</div>
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However, things are not going the Soviets way, as artillery counterbattery fire by Nato, directing 2 Abbot 105mm, picks up the Soviet battery and completely neutralises it. No more gun fire.</div>
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The 100mm A/T gun is quickly hooked up and towed into cover</div>
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The recce probe is slowing down, to make effective shots on target, but the main attack force is catching them up. They are doing their job of locating the enemy positions and forces.</div>
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Soviet gunnery is on top form, with the German M48's getting a pasting, with few Soviet casualties. Is this a forewarning of what will come?</div>
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The Germans push forward to the farm complex in front, to secure it and threaten the advance, hoping to do this before its too late, helping to contain the Soviets in the town. This is wishful thinking, they are too slow and too late.</div>
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There but not quite, they are now exposed.</div>
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The Soviet forces moving up </div>
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A view from the Soviet side, also showing some BRDM's with A/T missiles moving up to the supermarket on the road.</div>
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The BRDM's</div>
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The Mil Mi24 Hinds come on, directly in front of the Germans</div>
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A close up of a Hind</div>
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They engage the Germans with rockets and cannon</div>
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Luckily for the Germans only 1 M48 is lost. </div>
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The Belgians are making heavy work of the shooting, and call up their 2nd troop of Leopards to assist.</div>
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Decision time for the Germans. They can't slow down the shooting to allow the infantry into the buildings, and if they do, they will not be able to protect them. There are to many Soviet forces advancing towards them. A bad move has just got worse. </div>
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The A/T and tank forces are at the supermarket alongside the road.</div>
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The recce screen is slowly being reduced, but more forces are moving up, and the Nato forces are being drawn out into combat.</div>
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A move up by the BMP's to the right hand wood, the key defensive feature of the treeline/hill position. Both woods are needed to advance on to the Autobahn. The start of the process to do this.</div>
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The Germans did do something with their advance. They managed to frighten the Soviets into deploying out of their APC's into the defensive position on the edge of the town. They did not intend to do this by their reckless advance.</div>
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Brit OP and spotter has moved up to the ridgeline, observing the engagement.</div>
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A view down the road of the engagement and the critical nature of the right flank wood</div>
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The Soviets moving up to the wood edge, and the attack on the Belgian Jagdkanone defending it.</div>
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More infantry moving up in BMP's</div>
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The commander of 1RS sends up a platoon of infantry to secure the rear of the wood and set up an ambush for the expected Soviet breakthrough.</div>
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The 1RS CVRT moves into a new position to support the infantry. The Chieftains will not be committed, even though this could result in the loss of the recce tanks.</div>
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The supermarket has now been overrun, providing cover for a further advance up the road. </div>
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More troops moving up, especially the A/T missiles on the BRDM's</div>
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The follow on forces pushing through</div>
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A view from the Soviet side </div>
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Down the table showing the undulating terrain, and the infantry attack top left</div>
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Pushing on towards the exposed Germans</div>
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With the 1RS sending up a platoon, a troop is moved to cover their positions. 1RS commander does not expect them to hold very long.</div>
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The Germans have withdrawn, leaving the M48's burning.</div>
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1RS recce watching the show going down, as the 432's push on.</div>
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1RS commander has sent a platoon of infantry to the rear of the left hand side wood to back up the Germans. With the Chieftains in the treeline of the Autobahn, the infantry will not be needed. If they are, its all over anyway. </div>
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The 432's of the right flank in cover. the infantry have moved up to the trees and begun to set up the ambush.</div>
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Yellow handbags ready for afterwards.</div>
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The defence of the Autobahn will depend on Swingfire and 120mm rifles </div>
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Positioning of the Chieftains as things are hotting up, in anticipation of the Soviet breakthrough. </div>
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Its starting to get busy on the Autobahn</div>
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The Autobahn with the left flank deployment moving up to support the Germans and to get hulldown positions in front of the Autobahn.</div>
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There is no frontal defence of the left flank wood except by a Milan team from the edge of the right flank wood. The Soviets cannot drive in as the destroyed Belgian Jagdkannones have blocked their path.</div>
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Left flank group advancing, Brigade Tac in distance.</div>
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Tracked Rapier are deployed out for the expected swoop by the Hinds or other Soviet attack aircraft.</div>
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1RS mortars are set up along with other vehicles that will not be part of the gun line. It also means that they will be able to get a quick getaway should things get tricky. The Chieftains are now in position.</div>
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A Lynx with A/T missiles heads up to try and stop the Soviet advance </div>
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The 2 Lynx's on the attack.</div>
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The front of the gun line, infantry on the right, Chieftains located in the centre, with the Swingfire to their right.</div>
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Soviets moving on up.</div>
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The advance continues into and around the wood.</div>
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A second line forming up, to advance in support.</div>
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Along the Brit positions of the Autobahn. They don't want a rocket strike here, but the Soviets do not ask for one, and don't know of the Brits being there anyway. No Soviet recce has spotted them, and no aircraft have made a pass over the table. The Gepard has forced off a Su24 before it made it onto the table.</div>
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A Brit Gazelle over the ridgeline directing in the Lynx's and marking the advance for the 1RS commander and his artillery. </div>
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A close up.</div>
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The Soviet advance through the woods is moving quite quickly.</div>
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The BMP's who carried the infantry, advancing through the wood. A key assault, on a key feature.</div>
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The assault on the right flank woods is forming up.</div>
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The second wave moving up.</div>
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All quiet at the Soviet HQ. Things are going to plan. </div>
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Ambush!!</div>
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Devastating fire from the ambush wipes out the entire section, with the entire second section going down in the Brit players move. The ground is raked by fire - 2 bullet hit markers show what is left.</div>
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The attack on the left flank wood.</div>
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The Brits move position quickly to avoid any retribution.</div>
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The attack on foot,on the left flank wood. Shot in by their BMP's gunfire.</div>
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The expectant Brits.</div>
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Side view of the attack. </div>
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The Soviets advance in, laying down artillery. The Germans have occupied the reverse slope, and so do not defend the tree line. If so, they would have been eliminated. They pour in ambush fire onto the advancing Soviets.</div>
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Again, another infantry attack has been devastated, and slowed down. </div>
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Meanwhile, more infantry are moving up to take the places of the fallen.</div>
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And that was the end of Gyros Teller for me. I got a call at 1pm to say that the wife had flooded the bathroom and hall by doing some plumbing. !!!. She would have been more believed to say that she had been doing some wargaming. Off home it was. The game went on for 2 more hours.</div>
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The British forward defence on the right consisted of a 432 Plt with an intimate support Chieftain. They successfully ambushed the Sovs coming through the dense woods then fell back to a second defence line. They then lost their Milan team after an unsuccessful attempt on a T-64. Then the airstrike, the chaps survived but 2 x CVR(T) from the Recce Plt got it.</div>
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Nick was able to do a write up of what happened next, this was added to a Guild post that I wrote up.</div>
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<br />On the left the remnants of the Germans fell back through a Plt (-). The Sovs advanced to a position with a number of support wpns and a T-64 Plt in overwatch, hoping to trigger the British with a section then using overwhelming firepower to snot them. The British did not wait around but popped smoke and headed back to the next defence line in their speedy 432s, covered by 2 x Striker and 2 Tp (Chieftain). The final act was the 2 Chieftains on the centre right taking out the 1st Sov T-64 as it came over the central ridge. </div>
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Over 2 days of play, with thanks to Ian, Paul, Mike and Nick T. Figures and terrain were all Nick's.<br /> </div>
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-39153528604926720812014-09-19T22:46:00.003-07:002014-09-19T22:49:53.531-07:00An evening with friends - FoW Mid War in the Desert ( deepest Somerset! )<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well, i'm still alive, even though the shed is no more. After spending almost all the summer month's doing the garden, relocating the 'caravanshed' to the garage, I managed to find the time to reply to an invite to John's FoW game, set in the Desert, Mid war period. German Panzers/Panzer Grenadiers/Italian iron coffins, versus an Indian Division force, with tank support.<br />
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The table was symmetric, along the diagonal axis. The game setup was a counterattack scenario, with the Indian division as the defenders. The Germans were to counterattack an attempted breakout by the Indians. As they were infantry, this was to be an intriguing problem for an all infantry - non motorised force.<br />
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Effectively, the Indians would win by denying the Germans sole command of either of the objectives, just by being able to remain within a certain distance of them. Apologies here for the lack of detail regarding the 'rules', I'm not fully familiar with them, and try to play the game as opposed to the rules. This can and does often result in horrendous howlers. This evening it didn't.<br />
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John provided his services as host and FoW rule mechanics guru, Ian and Gavin the command of the Indian Division, with Steve and myself the Germans with supporting Italians. Once the initial game dice had been rolled, a plan was needed to try and win the game, or at least counter the Indians possible plan of action. The Indians, when dug in, would be pretty hard to winkle out of prepared positions, and whilst with 25pdr support, and a troop of Deacon 6pdr a/t, the main problem would revolve around the 3 Churchills that were available.<br />
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The Germans had 2 armoured Pzr Gren platoons, a battery of 150mm guns, some Pak40's, a troop of 5 PzrIII's long 50mm, and a troop of 5 Italian M13's. Short on quantity, the German force was extremely mobile, its greatest asset, and one which we intended to exploit as much as we could. If we could contain the on table Indians, secure and hold the centre with the M13's, we could then race across the table to the other objective and dig in, holding our armour - the PzrIII's supported by the Pak's to try and contain the expected counterattack on us by the Churchills.<br />
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The Indians deployed all on table except the reserve forces of the Churchill's and a platoon of infantry. They could have chosen the Deacons, but chose not. The Deacons were placed in ambush on table, possibly to try and confuse us, but we felt that this was a major mistake. The Churchill's should have been on the table from turn 1. That's the nature of the game though, and you play you're hand as you're dealt. <br />
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The Indians dug in in their quarter, some in the buildings, running out in positions towards the centre of the table, where their MMG's and mortars were placed. Their aim was to dominate the centre, taking the ruins on the hill by advance, and shooting into the interior of the German positions. The M13's were placed behind the hill to cover this possible move, but I had thought that this would have been done by infantry and not by the support weapons. At the rear of the Indians were their 25pdr battery, dug in as well. One of the really weird things I find with FoW is the on table deployment of supporting artillery, I just can't get my head round it!! It's not right surely...but it works.<br />
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A 6 move game, as Germans attacking, we moved first. Off we fuck to the far objective, cautiously avoiding observation from the Indian FO's for the 25pdr's and mortars. The PzrIII's supporting the Pzr Grens, the Italians moving up to the centre. I took command of the Italians and the guns, Steve the rest, being far more competent with FoW than I am. <br />
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We basically played knock for knock in the centre, putting in gunfire on the Indian support weapons, MG fire from the Italians as well, and trying to engage the dug in infantry. It didn't really work, except that the centre proved to be a quagmire for the Indians, tying them up in pins and slow attrition. Unable to move into the centre, they consequently were unable to slow us down or influence our depositions. Any movement out of their prepared positions drew down fire, and their revealing of their ambush forced them to withdraw it across to towards the open objective we were heading for. A sound move considering the special feature of the Deacons, which was a shoot and scoot rule similar to US tank destroyer tactics, utilising the terrain covering the objective.<br />
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Meanwhile, anticipation of the Indian reserves was growing. Appalling die rolling by Ian meant that we were given an almost free hand in the race across the table, but on turn 4 the Churchill's arrived, catching the PzrIII's to their rear, fronting the Deacons on an escarpment over the objective. At the same time as this, a move to attack the flank of the Pzr Grens as they came forward got caught in the open, again after appalling die rolling. The Italians were doing quite well machine gunning here, there and everywhere, going around the centre and breaking through the line of dug in infantry to come back in attacking the Indian flanking force that was attacking the Pzr Grens. <br />
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The tank attack - PzrIII's and Churchill's with the Deacons pitching in as well, started to take on a Benny Hill theme. The best description can be that it was a dust fuelled melee with desperate firing into and within, as the tanks tried for hits, bail outs and penetrative kills. To be honest, the advantage was with the Indians but converting the advantage to actuality was beyond the die rolling capacity of Ian.<br />
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As the melee grew in intensity, an attack by the Pzr Grens out of the objective wiped out an attack by Indian troops coming on as reserves, and the attack the M13's were developing behind the flank attack on the Pzr Grens, became superfluous, as the Pzr Grens counterattacked and wiped them out.<br />
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All of a sudden, realisation grew on the Indian side that regardless of the victory condition, the Indian Division had collapsed due to casualties. A decisive German victory, as there had been no real losses except some 1/2 tracks and PzrIII's amongst others light losses. A very difficult game for an all infantry force take on a mechanised force, especially given the scenario.<br />
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A very enjoyable game, in very pleasant company, and an entertaining diversion from Battle Group. A big thank you to John, Ian, Gavin and Steve.</div>
Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-70664288226768830352014-05-18T04:40:00.000-07:002014-05-18T05:44:21.111-07:00Battle Group Overlord 500pt encounter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The game was going to be played with an equal force for both sides, 500 pts. There would be no objectives but the idea would be to win over the other player by BR ratings, or percentage at end. A change from the objective lead games played earlier.<br />
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German forces - Myself<br />
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BG HQ in kubel with Pzrfst<br />
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Platoon of Stug G<br />
Platoon of Inf with PzrFst and MG42 LMG's x 2<br />
IG75mm with loader crew<br />
HMG - MG42<br />
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US forces - Steve and Mike<br />
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BG HQ in jeep<br />
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Recce Jeep with 50cal<br />
57mm A/T and Dodge tow<br />
81mm mortar<br />
Platoon of Inf - with BAR squad option<br />
2 M10's<br />
3 Shermans <br />
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The terrain was laid out as shown below<br />
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Key feature was the orchard that dominated the centre and both base lines of the table. Access to the orchard was across open terrain for the Germans except on their left flank, where there was cover for an attack. This also had the advantage that it would provide a route into the flank positions of the US, if they went for the centre.<br />
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The advantage that I believe the Germans had was the 2 platoons of infantry. I could deploy 2 platoons to the flanks, the IG and HMG in the centre, and Stugs where needed. I should be able to overwhelm any US infantry I met.<br />
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As it turned out, this was easier said than done, but the left flank performed better than the right. The 2 platoons of infantry certainly surprised the US, who expected tanks rather infantry, and I think composed their list accordingly. <br />
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As the left flank platoon deployed first, this gave them confirmation of their impression of how the Germans forces would deploy. There was a lot of open terrain to cross on both flanks but I thought/hoped that I could get across and get cover quickly enough not to have to worry too much.<br />
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The US 57mm drove on following the recce jeep, to engage the Stug in the lane. The recce jeep ducked into the orchard when the Stug arrived, which was brought on to stop the recce jeep from flanking fire into the advancing Germans on the US right flank. A bit complicated, more like chess moves. The 57mm and Stug traded ineffectual shots at each other, failing to spot more often than missing on the to hit table. Even a speculative HE area fire by the Stug missed. To move forward, from as it turned out 41 inches !!! would have spoilt the fun of constantly rolling misses.<br />
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To make progress in the centre, a section of infantry was brought up to take the orchard, just what the Germans wanted. Less infantry to stop their advance on their left, and inviting a pin with flanking attack. <br />
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When all the Stug's had been brought on, the US brought on their M10's to put a crimp on the German right advance. It did.<br />
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The left flank advance is making progress, mainly by concentrated fire of the MG42's and rifles. The US defence is being worn down, without reciprocal casualties caused on the Germans. The recce jeep was not able to pin the advance, and not enough firepower could be brought to bear on the german squads to keep pinning them.<br />
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Part of the right flank advance showing the IG 75mm, which didn't really get into play, thought he HMG did, scaring off the recce jeep.<br />
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The German right flank attack, infantry supporting the Stug's, but moving out in the open.<br />
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US mortar strike on the Stug, overshoots and lands on the infantry, killing a MG team member, and pinning both squads<br />
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US centre and right. They are just about to be hit by the German flanking platoon, either squad of US troops is unable to support each other, as they are both engaged by rifle's with the LMG's doing direct fire <br />
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The mortar is not able to stop the advance of the German infantry, where when pinned can use another squad to continue the advance.<br />
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More German casualties, but the advance continues. The Stug is hit by a 'minefield' counter, which when I put on a M10 and rolled for effect, became a friendly mine strike. Over to the US players who promptly put it on the Stug in the picture. Drat those pesky Yanks! Foiled again!<br />
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Things are going a bit easier for the Germans on their left, the US have to turn their defence 90' to face the Germans on the flank moving up to the orchard on the flank, but with Germans moving up the orchard to their front<br />
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Some of the German pinning casualties, which when I rolled to lift the pin off the troops, took a BR counter and rolled a 1, twice!!, that is on 2 occasions. Effectively for no result, and 8 BR's taken. I'd only taken 3 for an LMG team in the game so far. <br />
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The game was called and BR counters tallied. A US success, even though things were rapidly going west in the centre for the US, and although the Germans had lost a Stug and had one immobilised, were still able to hold off the US Shermans - an immobilisation and destruction.<br />
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Even though the 'Cap' couldn't be there, he sends his regards to the victorious US forces. Thanks to Steve and Mike.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-27239253993366415382014-05-03T14:31:00.002-07:002014-05-03T14:31:58.413-07:00Plastic Soldier Company 20mm M5 Stuarts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A Guild Speed Build for a kit bought at Salute, or a local model shop, got me calling into Hereford Model Shop when I was visiting the city. They have a huge selection of kits, but the main reason I have called in there before, when I have been going thru Hereford, has been the even larger selections of modelling materials and paints. Not quite my local shop, but I get to Poole or Frome even less.<br />
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I bought a Plastic Soldier Company 20mm M5 Stuart box of 3. I'd got a box of their PIV's, and liked the ease with which they went together. A bit short on details, and no decals included, but enough to make several individualised models from what you get. Good value for money.<br />
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The Stuarts would be the beginning of my attempt to reconfigure and reorganise my US forces, and my attempt to do a decent paint job would really determine whether this would be feasible.<br />
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I added a Cullin hedge cutter to one (from the box options), and added sandbags to all. I also brushed/rubbed in pigment on to the models to make them look worn. With the pigment, less is definitely more, as I think you only need to hint about it, and not chuck it all over the place. </div>
Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-11501517922187641742014-04-05T09:00:00.000-07:002014-04-07T08:53:30.705-07:00Battlegroup Overlord- US Recce action<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After pontificating ( a bit ) about how to play US in BGO on the Guild, I had the opportunity to put my words into action. A no points game of an US recce troop with a platoon of Armoured infantry supported by a troop of Shermans, later an additional troop of Shermans. I didn't include any artillery/mortars to keep it quite simple, as the US commander was a friend who was filling in- for me. He hadn't been an active wargamer for a number of years, so wasn't familiar with Battlegroup. <br />
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The Germans were played by Mike, who was familiar with Battlegroup. He had a platoon of infantry with panzerfausts, supported by a PIV, 2 Marders, a deployed 88mm, a 222 armoured car, a single deployed 20mm and 2 halftrack AAA - a 37mm and a quad 20mm. Both forces had a Battlegroup command.<br />
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The Germans would deploy 12inches in, with the US coming on from the table edge, Recce troop first. This was a M20 utility as recce command, a M5 Stuart and 2 M8 armoured cars. The aim was for the recce to motor down the road and find the Germans, with the follow on forces able to deploy anywhere off the baseline.<br />
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The recce shot down the road, drawing the Germans out of ambush, losing the M5 which got caught at the edge of the orchard by the 88mm. An M8 was picked off by the Marder at the top of the road. Reinforcements came on with the troop of Shermans, but the lead Sherman then got picked off by a Marder. Moving off the road, the US tried to flank the orchard on the left of the road, using the recce troop to scout out ahead of the tanks. This was also to allow the armoured infantry in halftracks to come on. <br />
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The recce troop then ran into an ambush by the Germans, a section of infantry in the edge of the orchard. They fired off a panzerfaust and retired across the lane back to the edge of the orchard. As the US built up their attack on the left of the road, bringing up their halftracks, the German PIV came out of ambush and reamed a Sherman. The remaining Sherman took a morale test, failed and bugged out.<br />
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An additional troop of Shermans became available to the US, and moved onto the table. The US moved the armoured infantry up to the orchard, debussed and poured in heavy concentrated fire into the German infantry, at first suppressing and then eliminating the section. As the US pushed through 2 squads through the orchard, the 2nd Sherman troop was engaged by the PIV, losing a Sherman, and returning quite ineffective fire in return. <br />
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Whilst pulling back the PIV, and getting shot up by the 2 remaining Shermans, the main action was going on in the orchard, with the 2 AAA halftracks moving up to engage the US infantry. After a bit of a false start by the 37mm, the quad 20mm opened up. Truly awesome casualties resulting in the destruction of a US section - all 12 men, and pinning the other section. The Bazooka team from the HQ section got up to the wood, but was unable to shoot. It was unscathed by the fire.<br />
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The Marders began withdrawing back away from the orchard, away from the infantry and the bazooka. The 2 Shermans were moving up to mid table, with 2 sections of infantry available to support them. Time was called at this point. A solid German victory, even though they were in the process of moving back. The Germans would win the game by not losing, in this they were able to delay and blunt the US recce probe. Whilst the 20mm and 88mm didn't have a tractor/tow on table, they would have got away. The US would have stopped, pounded the positions and moved on, replacing the shattered infantry platoon and Shermans.<br />
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Thankyou's to Mike and Chris.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-5104910712496892632014-03-03T10:27:00.002-08:002014-03-03T10:27:57.608-08:00Battlegroup Overlord - Continuing action around Haye farm<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A very quickly organised game, no points, but a platoon a side with supporting tanks. The British - represented by Ian and Steve, were back in force against the Germans - played by myself, who were determined to regain Haye farm. <br />
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British<br />
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Battlegroup HQ<br />
Plt of infantry<br />
2 troops of Shermans with Fireflies<br />
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German<br />
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Battlegroup HQ<br />
Plt of infantry armed with Panzerfausts<br />
1 Panzershreck team - yes they're back for more!<br />
3 Stug's, 1 JagdPzrIV and a PzrIV<br />
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The terrain was close but not to close, with a fair bit of cover. The sides were fairly balanced with regard to forces. We deployed 6 inches in, Germans moving first. I moved a section up to the farm, one into the wood with the battlegroup hq, another up the lane between the two. The Stugs were deployed around the farm, and the PzrIV and JagdPzrIV on my left securing the edge of the wood along with the heroic Panzershreck team from earlier games.<br />
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The above photo's showing the deployment I made of the Germans. I was thinking on the way home, that I made a proper 'horlicks' of the deployment, but on reflexion I'm not too sure. I think I did a proper job of the game as a whole, with added bad luck on the dice thrown in. <br />
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Anyway, the Brits with 2 troops of Shermans, they were divided equally, with a section of infantry each, and a bit in the middle. I thought I had a handful to contain either. but concentrated on the farm.<br />
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Moving up to the farm, the lead Stug was sniped by a Firefly, totally ineffectual return fire by the 2 remaining Stug's, resulting in a further Stug going up in smoke. <br />
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The infantry in the farm now, prepared to take on the Shermans, after forcing the supporting infantry away from them. A HMG in the rooftop of the farm managed to keep the British infantry away from the farm, and avoid return fire. The Shermans poured in a pretty concentrated HE fire into the farm to kill as opposed to suppress the German section. Pinning hits kept them down and unable to shoot their Panzerfausts at the Shermans who were within 10 inches. Oh botheration!!<br />
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A long range duel developing between the Shermans on the left, and the PzrIV on the edge of the wood.<br />
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The attack developing on the right, and the closeness of the Shermans to the dug in Germans with Panzerfaust. If only they were not pinned- unpinned - then pinned again, unpinned - you get the idea.<br />
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The JagdPzrIV managed to get a shot on the advancing Shermans<br />
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And then took a shot in return from the Firefly.<br />
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What was really annoying was the hail of ineffectual shot dribbling across the table to knock timidly at the front hatch of a Sherman. The most effective unit was the HMG holed up in the farm covering the centre of the table, pinning the advancing British infantry. <br />
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A very enjoyable game all told, thanks to Steve and Ian and well done the Brits.<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-5659968424045789442014-02-28T10:12:00.000-08:002014-03-03T06:04:27.711-08:00Gyros Teller - Battlegroup Modern - Background<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had a request a few days ago about the orbat's of the forces involved in our display game, and its also an opportunity to give some information on how the Battle Group rules were tweaked to fit in with the scenario we had arranged. <br />
However, when I write that we did work on the adaptation, the vast majority of the research and work was undertaken by Nick T. I had a minor role and input with the rules, but the core of the display game came from Nick's experience in Germany in the mid 80's. Nato exercise - Crossed Swords 1985.<br />
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Firstly, I need to explain what and where Gyros Teller is. It is in fact, not a small town in the North German Plain, in the BAOR deployment operating area, but a well known and liked Greek Kebab and chips dish, fondly remembered by all who served in BAOR. As a keen fan of the Kebab, my eyes are starting to mist over just thinking about it.<br />
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The Belgian forces were 4 Leopard IA6's and 2 Scorpions. Regular forces which I believe would have been 3rd Lancers. The German forces were 3 M48G's and a platoon of infantry in 4 M113's, supported by a Gepard. German reservists. <br />
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Whilst on exercise Crossed Swords in 1985, with the Belgians and British, a Battalion force of German Reservist M48's were driven through the British deployment area. They were not part of the exercise, but are included in the Nato setup accordingly.<br />
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The British forces are formed around the 1 Royal Scots battlegroup, as part of 33 [UK] Armoured Brigade. The 1 Royal Scots battlegroup comprised the following<br />
1 and 2 troops of Scots DG, of 3 Chieftains, a reserve troop of 2 Chieftains, with a Squadron Commander in a Chieftain. Supporting the Chieftains was a Chieftain ARV. A Recce troop of 2 Scorpions and 2 Scimitars was attached to the 1 Royal Scots battlegroup.<br />
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The infantry company were 1 Royal Scots operating in FV432's, with a company HQ and 3 platoons and a weapons platoon. A Milan compact turret and a Wombat, 2 FV432's with mortars, 2 Troops of 2 Strikers equiped with Milan, a Samaritan and 2 Scorpions were in support. The infantry had 2 Blowpipe launchers.<br />
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The battlegroup had a tactical HQ, POL lorries, an observer in a Ferret and a Centurion AVRE. A troop of 2 mobile Rapier launchers gave air defence cover. Artillery support was a battery of 2 Abbot SPG's. Air support consisted of a Army Gazelle observer, and 2 Army Lynx's with anti tank missiles. Liason with the Belgians and Germans was represented by helicopters, allowing contact and control with them. No liason officers at the HQ would mean no control of the Belgians and Germans. <br />
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Rear area security was a Territorial Army platoon defending the bridge area. They were from 6th Airmobile Brigade, equipped with 4 LWB Landrovers and a troop of 2 Fox's from Royal Yeomanry.<br />
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If ground attack was rolled for, 2 RAF Harriers were available, with 2 German F104 Starfighters providing air superiority.<br />
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Pulling everything together as follows<br />
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Belgian:</div>
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8432">
One Plt 4 x Leopard</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8439">
Recce One Plt (-) 2 x CVR(T)</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8440">
A/Tk 2 x 90mm Kannone (Under construction for GT 3)</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8441">
1 x Allouete Liaison</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8442">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8443">
German:</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8444">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8445">
One Plt - M-48G</div>
<div>
One Plt - M113</div>
<div>
Flight 2 x BO105 Liaison & A/TK</div>
<div>
2 x Starfighter</div>
<div>
1 x Gepard</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
UK:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
HQ 33 (UK) Armd Bde</div>
<div>
Bde HQ and TAC</div>
<div>
2 x Harrier</div>
<div>
One Lynx Flt (1 x Gazelle, 2 x Lynx)</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8448">
Arty - One x Abbot Tp</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8447">
Recce Tp - 4 x CVR(T) Scorpion</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8446">
2 x Striker</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 Royal Scots:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 x Chieftain Sqn - 10 x Chieftain & ARV</div>
<div>
1 Coy - Mech Inf Coy - 3 x Plt - 10 x 432</div>
<div>
Bn HQ Sultan, Samaritan</div>
<div>
2 x Mortar 432</div>
<div>
2 x SF GPMG</div>
<div>
2 x Atk - Milan MCT, 2 x 432 Milan carrier</div>
<div>
2 x CVR(T) Scimtar</div>
<div>
1 x AVRE, 1 x CET</div>
<div>
2 x Tracked </div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8101">
2 x Spartan - Blowpipe SAM</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8104">
2 x Ferret </div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8105">
1 x 432 Arty OP<br />
</div>
<div>
6 (Airmobile) Bde</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
1/2 Tp Royal Yeomanry - 2 x Fox</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8454">
1 Plt Inf - 4 x Landrover, 1 x SF GPMG, 1 x Milan</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8101">
</div>
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<br />
The Soviets were a Motorised Rifle Regiment battalion, supported by its parents Tank Regiment battalion. Modelwise this presented a problem in so far as this was a substantial amount of vehicles, 90+ , so some recycling of models would be required.<br />
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<br />
The Soviet advance to Gyros Teller would follow standard operating procedure for such an operation. There would be several thrusts/probes by the MRR towards the canal, parellal to the advance on Gyros Teller town. They would be tasked with securing a crossing of the canal, and would expect to be able to deal with any threat they came up against, either overwhelming the opposing forces or bypassing and isolating them and continuing on by other more sucessful advances.<br />
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<br />
Nato forces would be aware that rotary wing aircraft were operating in the general area, and these would be available to secure strategic points for the Soviets, in conjunction with their advance. This was part of the Soviet plan for Gyros Teller, though the presence of the 1 Royal Scots battlegroup was not known due to a failure in recconaisance. They had been unable to penetrate the Belgian forces in front of them, or the screen provided by the German reservists, either by recce troops of the MRR or airborne recce.<br />
<br />
The Soviet attack would consist of 3 waves, lead by the recce troop. They would be supported by an Anti tank platoon, 2 fully kitted Mi24 Hinds, a mine clearing roller and a bridge layer. Coming on with the first wave would be the MRR battalion commander with support vehicles - counterbattery radar, and 1 SA13 launcher vehicles. Additional AAA came in the form of 2 Shilka's.<br />
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The MRR battalion comprised 2 companies of 18 BMP's and the HQ with its support. The BMP's were a mix of BMP1 and BMP2. The battalion HQ and support staff can be seen in the picture above, along with the Airborne liason helicopter.The Regiments recce troop of 2 BRDM's, 2 BMP2 and 2 BMP1, which would lead the attack. The recce troop would be approxiamately 15 km's in front of the main body, searching out the route of advance, identifying resistance hot spots and potential opportunities and problems. This they did, by drawing out the Germans behind the Belgians, who were withdrawing through them.<br />
<br />
The supporting Tank battalion had 2 companies of T64 tanks and a battalion HQ with a total of 16 tanks. 6 T72's were used as replacements.<br />
<br />
The Airborne assault was by a half company of Paratroopers supported by a platoon of 2 ASU85's, 4 BMD's and 2 120mm mortars.<br />
<br />
Putting it all together as follows<br />
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<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6359">
1 x RHQ MRR</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6360">
2 x Coys T-64 - 16 x T-64 (+ 6 x T-72 for casualty replacement!)</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6361">
2 Coys Inf - 18 x BMP</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6365">
Atk - 3 x 9P148, 1 x BRDM-2, 1 x MT-12 & MTLB</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6366">
4 x 2S1, 1 x PRP-3, 1 x Big Fred, 1 x ACRV</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6344">
4 x 120mm Mortar & Gaz-66</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6367">
AD - 2 x ZSU23/4, 1 x SA-13, 2 x BMP-2</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6343">
Recce - 2 x BRM-1, 2 x BMP-1, 2 x BMP-2</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6342">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8111">
</div>
<div>
Independent Tank Bn (Elements of!)</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8112">
6 x T-80</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_8114">
1 x MT-55</div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6368">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6383">
1 x Fulcrum</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6400">
2 x Hind-E</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6399">
2 x Hip</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6401">
1 x Hook</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6402">
4 x BMD-1</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6403">
2 x ASU-85</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1393666492909_6404">
1 x MI-4</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
How does Battlegroup Kursk fit in with wargaming modern warfare, given that we were attempting a scenario from 1985? It was quite easy really, coming from a background of wargaming WW2. They were - for us - the best fit. The most important factor was the command and control element of BGK, that allows flexibility and the 'fog of war' to influence what you can do on the table. <br />
In such a large game, the Nato forces had to follow a plan of action, which we had played out beforehand, integration of the 3 armies on the table, only possible by the presence of the liason officers at the Nato HQ set up near the bridge. The same was true for the Soviet forces as well, with a clear direction and approach for the 3 successive waves of forces. <br />
What also helped was a comprehensive understanding of the operational procedures of the forces involved and how they would respond to changes to expected situations. Essentially, the Soviets would be 'doctrinaire' and follow procedure, not blindly, but would have set ways of dealing with the situations, whereas the Nato - especially 1 Royal Scots battlegroup, would be far more flexible. The difference due to training and tactical doctrine placing leadership and iniative down to a lower level than the Soviets. These elements are in BGK. There would be less command dice for the Soviets, but they would have the ability to move and fire by company and platoon.They would still be able to move and fire individually, but this would then affect their ability to control their large formations, which would effectively grind to a halt, whilst micromanagement of the battlefield tookover for the senior officers. Again this was a feature of BGK, but one which we tweaked to suit the scenario we were recreating.<br />
<br />
With the emphasis on training and junior officer leadership, having restricted the Soviets, there was no need to modify any factors for the British, or indeed the Belgians and Germans. There were therefore more officers for the Nato forces than the Soviets, thus affecting the action point baseline score before adjustment by the dice. Also, the Nato force would have the ability to reroll a dice per turn, so long as the Brigade HQ was operational. This was available to the Soviets, but only once per game. <br />
Communications were different, with better communications for Nato than Soviet, but we did not go into jamming. Counterbattery fire was live, with counterbattery radar operating through the game, the chances of being picked up and tracked to source significant if a second turn of fire was done. It was basically shoot and scoot.<br />
<br />
The gun penetration tables, armour values, missiles and ranges were going to be different, but actually were transposed onto the BGK table, with the King Tiger being the baseline set to the Chieftain/T72. The ranges were extended due to improved optics and electronics. A important factor was the Improved Fire Control system that was used by the Brits in the Chieftains. This allowed the Brits to take advantage of the range increase of the guns, and closer to allow better control of targeting. Missiles were used, much more on the Soviet side, but a significant amount by the Brits. They had minimum ranges for engaging, which in game terms were 10 inches minimum. Technology for missiles meant that they would be guided onto target visualy, and there would therefore be an opportunity to suppress the firer in ambush fire, otherwise the missile could be flown onto target.<br />
<br />
We used artillery in the game, but limited its effect. The principal reason for this was the fact that we did not have a 200li sack of cotton wool to dump on the table to simulate the effect of the Soviet artillery support that would be available. Part of the rationale behind this, was that what was availble was allocated to the attacking forces before hand and used on an ad hoc basis, not preplanned. Counterbattery as well as air assets would limit the amount of artillery support available due to effects detailed earlier. It could still be called down, but there were risks associated with it, as well as competing demands on it. The recce troop of the Soviets, as well as their Senior officers could generate calls for targeting, and Nato officers as well as recce elements could do the same. However game wise, it was a visual non starter.<br />
<br />
How did the game play out with BGK,and the number of models etc involved. Firstly, Nick and myself had/have played a lot of large games using BGK and Kampfgruppe. We were familiar with the rule systems, and scale. Secondly, the tempo of the game was such that we slowed things down to allow conversation and interaction with the people who came to ask about the display and what we were doing. This meant that things/actions/reactions could be a little bit more considered, than trying to scrabble around the table and get everything done. Thirdly, although it was expected that 1 Royal Scots would die heroically retreating back to the canal only to find it held by the Soviet paratroopers, this wasn't the case. They managed to keep standing whilst being able to hold the Soviet assault waves off, forcing them to split their attack, and to commit piecemeal. <br />
<br />
Overall, the game worked within the parameters we set it. BGK worked with the tweaks that we used to play it. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the display. <br />
<br />
Thanks for your interest.<br />
<br />
There are 2 excellent blogs out there that are worth mentioning, and to be honest , are really on the button with information, pictures and modelling.<br />
<a href="http://coldwargamer.blogspot.co.uk/">http://coldwargamer.blogspot.co.uk/</a><br />
and<br />
<a href="http://coldwarhot.blogspot.co.uk/">http://coldwarhot.blogspot.co.uk/</a><br />
An excellent source for orders of battle and how Soviet forces operate. <br />
<a href="http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm100-2-3.pdf">http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm100-2-3.pdf</a> <br />
<br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-12576090961113349532014-02-12T09:53:00.000-08:002014-03-23T09:26:20.084-07:00Willie and Joe - The real US Army. A tribute to Bill Mauldin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a project/post that I have been wanting to write up for a long while. I first came across them when I was looking for an avatar for a bit of self indulgent whimsy. I wanted a little cartoon character to stick on the blog signature, and I ended up with this little cartoon colour drawing. He reminded me of Mauldin's Willie and Joe.<br />
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However, I had caught the humour that Bill Mauldin had drawn into his 2 protagonists. I couldn't use any of his drawings as an avatar, but I wanted to get them out into the blog. It was a feeling that I had got from reading the Wipers Times. I got a copy of the full edition when it first came out, not the originals !, but a copy, and the sense of humour was very similar. The TV serial of the Wipers Times gave that humour a twist of colour. Bill Mauldin's characters managed to get into film after WW2, and were very popular, but the film is no longer available, on DVD or any other format. <br />
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The cartoons appeared in 'The Stars and Stripes', and attracted attention throughout the US forces in Europe, to the extent that General Patton wanted Mauldin sent back to the US and the cartoons withdrawn. He made fun of Pattons obsession with uniform and dress code, and his fining of soldiers who were found to be in breach.<br />
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<br />
The popularity of them, and their piquant reportage ensured that they and their creator remained. Mauldin served as a reporter in Italy for Stars and Stripes, and the cartoons draw on his observations and experience.<br />
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Anyway, I could 'blog' on, putting in more and more cartoons. This is just a sample of some of the drawings. The complete collection, in a box set of 2 volumes is available from Fantagraphics Books, via Amazon . A definate must get.<br />
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A photo of Mauldin, taken when he was serving in Italy. </div>
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5270732989018779965.post-85404939906257314562014-02-07T10:44:00.001-08:002014-02-07T11:12:34.366-08:00PAW 2014 - Wargames show at Plymouth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Having turned up with my camera, it was only fair to take some photo's of the other games out on at the show. The standard of the games was very good, and a lot of people worked very hard to get their games on the table. As fate would have it,I took photo's of the 2 games that won best in show - display and participation, we were pipped at the post with Gyros Teller. Whether getting a 'shout' or not, our aim was not for a prize, but to have a really good time, and to entertain the visitors to the show with a good representation of a Cold War wargame. I think we did a fair job.<br />
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A Japanese skirmish with mythical beasts and lots of swinging katana's<br />
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Another Japanese game, again nicely set up and painted.<br />
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WW2 skirmish game, with air landed troops<br />
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Winner of the best participation game - a steam punk skirmish using the new Osprey rules. Very nice game.<br />
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December, 1941, a day that will go down in infamy, yes, its a refight of Pearl Harbour. This though had a difference. The ships were all handmade, exact copies of the originals, in the docks and berths they were historically. Beautiful models and layout.<br />
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Lace Wars style game, unfortunately the pretty metal men distracted me from finding out more, but again, nicely done.<br />
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Winner of best display game at the show, preparing to hold back the hordes.<br />
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I didn't get any info on this, but was drawn to the painted games cloth used for the base.<br />
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I couldn't resist it, one of Gyros teller.<br />
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One of the people we met - myself and Nick, was John, from the Devon Wargames group. He has some more pics and notes on his blog - <a href="http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/">http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/</a><br />
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Corporal Schmitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07172431618048056119noreply@blogger.com0