German Forward Aid Post

 A while a go Piers Brand made a delightful (perhaps that's not the right word given the subject) British forward aid post in the lee of a wrecked Stug, Piers has kindly sent me a picture of it, see below.

Suitably inspired I decided to make a German one, I had all the suitable AB German figures, again bought at one of the York shows a few years ago and a knocked out T34 I have been using has table dressing or as an objective marker. One of the things I like about Battlegroup is that these type of things can have a role in the game rather than just be window dressing.

Below is the one by Piers that inspired my build.

By kind permission of Piers Brand

Hoping to get another Battlegroup game via Zoom arranged with George in the near future where it will no doubt make an appearance.

We are booked in for our second jab on Sunday, hurrah!

TTFN and KBO

An Unpleasantness At Soggas Bottom

 Sunday saw Matt join me for a Dark Ages game using Lion Rampant rules via Zoom.

Winter is coming and local Saxon Warlord Crumpus Fudd has got wind that the village at Soggas Bottom has some fine pigs ready for the taking so he has gathered his best warriors for a raid to steal said pork supply.

Soggas Bottom

The villagers have been made aware of the approaching Saxon horde and have armed the village militia with bows to hold back the raiders until the local levy arrive, not far behind them is local British Warlord Baldinus with his mounted and foot companions.

The uncharacteristic tardy advance of the Saxons (failed activations) gave the village militia the time to get in some telling archery on them meanwhile the first of the levy were arriving, the Lady Guinevere leading the first towards the villages open left flank.

Here they were swiftly engaged by the least tardy advance by Saxon warriors on that flank.

After some fierce fighting driving off one Saxon warband they were finally overcome giving both Saxon warbands a bloody nose. Over in the centre with the Saxon warbands dangerously close the village militia having taken its toll on them they beat an hasty retreat. They have bought time for the militia to come up behind.

The gap over on the left is filled with militia troops while Baldinus's mounted troops give support.

As the village militia prepare to fall back the levy form shield wall by the pig pens.

Seeing a gap left by the retiring archers the Saxons surge forward and engage the shield wall.

Bringing up the rear are Baldinus's hearth guard and his other warriors led by Arian priest Biccas.

Fierce fighting along the the line sees Crumpus and his hearth guard flee despite the intervention of himself and Senna the Saxon holy woman who like Biccas can give units within 12" a failed courage test re-roll.

A most enjoyable couple of hours gaming and chat, Lion Rampant is ideal for these sort of games.

The Saxons advantage of being able to traverse the boggy ground of Sogga's Bottom was negated by the early failed activation roles. This allowed the British to bring up their troops and form up in cover or form shield wall in the open.

Being fierce foot the Saxons are obliged to test for wild charges giving them little option in avoiding charging into the British in a lot of instances which limits their tactical options if the British can deploy advantageously. 

There lay the challenge for both sides, the British saved the pigs but alas there will be plenty of pork to go around this winter as casualties were grievous for them as well as the Saxons.

Till next time KBO.

M3A1

 I have recently completed this for the Italian campaign project,  Warlord kit with a Rubicon commander.

The project has come to a halt for now as I try and steal myself to assemble more of the god awful Perry plastic Americans. To quote "some pairs of arms work better on some bodies" very telling apart from the prone figures it doesn't say which ones. If they made more metal options I would bin the rest and buy them, I don't know why they fit so badly as the Wars of the Roses and Afrika Korps sets are a lot better, perhaps they are designed more for the look than practically? One good thing I will not be tempted by the plastic Franco- Prussians to re-visit the period🙂

Until next time KBO

Grenadiers, Heroes And Toxoti

 Some recent additions to the collections.

Having recently added some AB volksgrenadiers with Stg44s to my 1945 Germans I thought it only fair the humble rifle and LMG teams should also get some cold weather wear. While I was on I dug out these AB officer types, I bought them at one of the York shows, Tony actually served me that's how long a go it was.

Now I have plenty of Russian infantry and don't really need more but the AB Russians are so tempting I thought that adding more scouts from the range would cure me. For a while it did, then Tony goes and adds more packs, in particular one entitled Soviet Heroes. One is waving a Soviet flag, now I don't have a figure like that, what other excuse did I need?

Lastly I have added these rather nice Aventine archers to the sixth century Roman collection, no prizes for spotting the Smurf by the way, colour scheme inspired by Jonathan's Sea Peoples

Until next time have a care and KBO.

Monument Hill - The Reckoning

 The British have recently captured Monument Hill, with its commanding view of the surrounding area the Germans are determined to take it back, it is currently thinly occupied by a British platoon HQ, a PIAT team, sniper and dug in using the old German OP a Vickers MMG team, they will get support later from the platoon rifle sections, 50mm mortar team and a Cromwell IV.

Tasked with ousting the British is Sturm Group Hansdersen, a Volksgrenadier platoon supported by a Panzer IV ausf J.

The Germans began their initial advance with the platoon rifle teams, supported by a tripod mounted MG42 with support from the Pz IV.

The British platoon HQ tried in vain to contact the off table 4.2" mortar battery, the rest of the platoon would not be up until turn four, damn that 38 radio set.

The British sniper is quickly ousted from his position by the German sturmgewehr squad.

British support begins to arrive, the German advance as been slow the Vickers and eventual mortar stonk pinning several units.

It was not all one way traffic with the British having to rally under fire units too.

the advantage seemed to be going to and thro, but then the Luftwaffe turned up to show it still had some bite, despite AA fire using rifles and Brens the Stuka put paid to both the PIAT and 50mm mortar teams, the British battle rating started to take a pounding.

Against their better the judgement with the PIAT team taken out and the PzIV surviving the draw of a confusion counter, the Cromwell was sent forward to engage it.

The Cromwell crested the the hill and took a shot, a miss! would it pay for this act of bravado?

Of course, return fire from the PzIV and KABOOM!

It was all too much with their battle rating exceeded the British relinquished their hold on Monument Hill.

All in all a fabulous couple of hours, I think George enjoyed it with the added bonus of a win.

Until next time take care and KBO ( we seem to be getting there )

Monument Hill

 A 28mm World War II game via Zoom using Battlegroup rules.

To be continued...........................

Achtung Panzer!

 A recent addition to my 28mm World War Two collection is this Rubicon Models Panzer IV Ausf J.

As with all Rubicon kits a joy to assemble, the schurzen even has a jig supplied to enable trouble free assembly.

Airbrushed with AK and Mig Ammo paints and weathered with Abteilung oils and AK pencils.

All being I will be off to sunny Al Andalus courtesy of Matt on the Sunday, looking at the forecast virtual sunshine is all that can be hoped for.

Until next time have a care and KBO.