More For The Med

I have recently finished off figures for the British platoon for Italy, Tunisia and maybe the Dodecanese theatres. All the figures are from AB Miniatures available through Eureka.

On to their German adversaries platoon next before I get onto their support weapons.

No game this week as Dave is across the border for some R&R. Until next time take care and KBO.

Fixed?

Posts from Norm (Battlefields and Warriors) and Mark (Tactical Painter) have appeared on my Blog feed in a few hours, has Blogger fixed it I wonder.

Here is a photo of two Germans from Empress Miniatures Kampfgruppe Arnhem range I completed before our sojourn down the SE, will it appear on feeds as quickly, we shall see.

Until next time KBO

Goths And Dodgers

Firstly the last of the Goths, a cavalry unit to complete the collection. Footsore Miniatures figures, Warbases 120x80x3mm base.

Next some anti-tank capability and platoon command for Italy/Tunisia. AB Figures on bases from Warbases of course.

Until next time have a care and KBO.

Tempus Fugit

This week here in OHQ saw Midgard rules return to the table I was amazed to see that this was the first time since last June! 

Facing each other across the table would be the Ostrogoth forces of Totila (Dave) and the Romans commanded by Belisarius (me)

As one would expect we missed or got wrong a few things after such a long break from using the rules but this not detract from an enjoyable game.

Goth archers and Frank allies mass against the Roman left flank.

Under heavy fire from the Goth archers the Roman archers break and flee.

While the opposing infantry engage each other with missiles the main action takes place on the other flank and centre.

Having evaded the initial Goth charge the Roman light cavalry must stand and fight to protect the flank. After putting up a brave fight against the heavier Goth cavalry they finally break.

Meanwhile on the light cavalry's flank the Roman heavy cavalry are having a hard time against growing Goth numbers.

Meanwhile Belisarius bravely leads his Boukellaroi against Totila's elite heavy cavalry supported by a unit of Kavallaroi.

To the left of Belisarius the Kavallaroi are broken unable to withstand the mass of Gothic cavalry arrayed against them and are broken.

Belisarius is left to battle it out but the numbers (and the dice) are against him.

In the fighting Belisarius is slain! With this and the loss of his Boukellaroi is goblet is empty. A win for Totila and Goths, Italy will remain under Goth control a while longer.

Off for a break down in Kent so tabletop action will return to OHQ later in the month. I am now keeping my fingers crossed that I shall return to the favour of the dice gods next week for some ACW action over at GHQ 

Until next time take care and KBO.

Months End

First up some light cavalry for the 6th century Romans, apart from the officer and draconarius who have LBMS shield transfers the others are painted as an homage to my MiniFigs late Romans. Having painted concentric circles on twenty four Legionary shields, no LBMS in the late seventies, I opted for something simpler. Red with a yellow centre for the Equities Scutarii Seniores.

Figures from Aventine Miniatures.

Next up a second warband of Frank allies for the Ostrogoths, again Gripping Beast figures.

Lastly more D Day Dodgers, much overlooked heroes of the Italian campaign. A bren and 2" mortar teams, AB figures.

That's all folks, until next KBO.

Let's Be Frank

Painting progress is a mighty slow this month however one unit is finally completed. A unit of Frank allies for the Ostrogoths using Gripping Beast figures with LBMS shield transfers on a MDF base from Warbases. No game last Tuesday due to family commitments back over to GHQ this coming Tuesday for some D Day action with Dave and Will all being well.

Until next time take care and KBO 

A New Generation

With it being the school holidays here Dave was accompanied by grandson Will for a game of Bolt Action. Will brought along his recently painted British paratrooper section for a run out on the table.

Will's paratroopers are the second row in.

For the scenario Dave would be holding the German defence line in the middle of the table ready to repel a British advance. However a paratroop platoon commanded by Will had been dropped in their rear. The arrival of the British main force commanded by myself would be determined by a dice draw and the resulting dice determining how many units would arrive and whether it would be a tank or infantry section.

The Germans await the British attack.

News of the parachutists force the Germans to counter the threat.

The Germans also send a section to occupy another of the the empty buildings. The British too, see the advantage of this building to anchor their attack.

Who will get there first?

Its a close run thing but.......

The British pass the post first, yup the British order dice comes out first! The Germans are obliged to take shelter in an adjacent but tactically less useful building.

The British are also heading this way through a field with the shelter of a stone wall.

Over on the other flank the British deploy a section towards the cover of a small copse their howitzer deploys to engage the Germans.

Their fire is a tad off target though.

Turn four and the British attack is on, the dice decide on two infantry sections, a Churchill and Cromwell in support.

The Germans in the isolated house are now targeted by the sections in the field and adjacent house.

Although offering a tough resistance the firepower from the two sections clears the building. The flank is now clear and the way is open to attack the rear of the Germans who are engaged by the British tank and infantry attack. 

Meanwhile on the other flank the Germans have sent a section to halt the paratroopers advance through the copse but they too are dispersed.

The Germans finally got a reinforcement but only a solitary Stug III arrived, too little too late to effect the outcome. Turn 8 and the few remaining Germans held up their hands.

A spirited defence by the Germans that may have succeeded with more and earlier reinforcement?

Will's attack was well executed, his attack on both flanks anchored on the early possession of the centre building paying off.

Until next time KBO

Plodding On

This month I have continued adding to the 19th century collections from last month.

Firstly I have added an Isabelino gun and limber to the First Carlist War collection.

I have used the Perry Miniatures Napoleonic foot artillery limber team and converted one of the limber horse riders adding skirts to the jacket to make a frock coat, epaulettes and hair (the figure is designed so you can have either a Tarleton or forage cap on the figure, I added hair) with Milliput.

Next I have completed another battalion of Paraguayan infantry for the Triple Alliance collection.

Now it is further back in time to the 6th century working on Franks and Roman light cavalry.

Take care and KBO

Evening The Score

Digging a unit of Roman light cavalry out of the pile of potential I happened to check on the blog the last time I added a unit and the last time they saw the table. I was amazed to see that it was September 2024!

Wow that was long ago this had to be remedied so yesterday here at OHQ they saw some tabletop action. Last time the Romans were soundly beaten by their Ostrogothic opponents, let us see if the Romans could even the score. The rules would be Hail Caesar, the scenario came from Neil Thomas's Ancient and Medieval rules book, a representation of the Battle of Issus.

The one side of the table is impassable terrain and the river runs across the centre of the table, classed has a stream it will be an obstacle in Hail Caesar rules needing a complete move to cross to the other side.

The Goths seize the initiative but poor command rolls lose them the early advantage.

Equally poor command rolls by their opponents ease it back again. 

The Goth heavy cavalry charge their Roman counterparts, after some heavy fighting the Goths are pushed back across the river.

Both sides archers exchange arrows for most of the battle.

The Goth heavy cavalry are routed!

Over on the flank the Huns in Roman employ are assailed by both cavalry and infantry, they remarkably hold their own!

On the other flank the Goth light cavalry boldly engaged the Roman cataphracts, hoping that the supporting units would even up the cataphracts advantage. Unfortunately for the Goths one of the units failed to reach and the Goth cavalry in contact together with their supports were eventually broken.

In the centre the the Goths allied infantry were similarly broken. The Huns on the flank were eventually supported by a Roman cavalry unit which turned the tide against the Goths. Both flank divisions were now broken signaling a victory for Rome.

For the first game we used Neil Thomas's rules, I plan to play this game out again sometime next month and will give it a try with Midgard rules.

Until next time may your dice roll high and KBO.