Friday, 6 January 2017

New Year, New Look!

Well this is something I've been wanting to do for a while. Behold the new shinier version of my blog! I've set up a battlefield and taken a few photos, so I could use the best as a background image, you may see the other pictures another day!

To celebrate I've done a battle report for the blog, vs my friend Andy's Tankovy list in the No Retreat mission.

Soviet Tankovy (Regular Support), Tank Company, from Red Bear, page 20

Compulsory Tankovy Batalon HQ (p.21) - CinC T-34 obr 1942 (45 pts)

Compulsory Tankovy Company (p.22) - Command T-34 obr 1942, 9x T-34 obr 1942 (350 pts)
- 3x Upgrade T-34 obr 1942 to T-34/85 obr 1943 (90 pts)

Compulsory Tankovy Company (p.22) - Command T-34 obr 1942, 8x T-34 obr 1942 (325 pts)
- 3x Upgrade T-34 obr 1942 to T-34/85 obr 1943 (90 pts)

Anti-aircraft Platoon (p.23) - Command DShK AA truck, 2x DShK AA truck (55 pts)

Tank Killer Company (p.134) - Command SU-100, 2x SU-100 (230 pts)

Tank Killer Company (p.134) - Command SU-100, 2x SU-100 (230 pts)

Spetsnaz Platoon (p.75) - Command SMG, 2x SMG, 2x Captured Sd Kfz 251 half-track (100 pts)

1515 Points, 6 Platoons 


To counter this I had high hopes for my Reichsgrenadier company with 11 Pak 40s

German Reichsgrenadierkompanie, Infantry Company, from Fortress Italy, page 84 

Compulsory ReichsGrenadier Company HQ (p.85) - CinC SMG, 2iC SMG (35 pts)
- Upgrade CinC SMG to CinC Panzerknacker SMG (5 pts)
- Upgrade 2iC SMG to 2iC Panzerknacker SMG (5 pts)
- Panzerschrek (20 pts)

Compulsory ReichsGrenadier Platoon (p.85) - Command Rifle/MG, 6x Rifle/MG (120 pts)
- Replace Command Rifle/MG, 6x Rifle/MG with Command Panzerknacker SMG, 6x Panzerknacker Rifle/MG (35 pts)

Compulsory ReichsGrenadier Platoon (p.85) - Command Rifle/MG, 6x Rifle/MG (120 pts)
- Replace Command Rifle/MG with Command Panzerknacker SMG (5 pts)

ReichsGrenadier Machine-gun Platoon (p.86) - Command SMG, 2x MG42 HMG (55 pts)

ReichsGrenadier Mortar Platoon (p.86) - Command SMG, 2x Observer Rifle, 4x 8cm GW34 mortar (100 pts)

ReichsGrenadier Anti-tank Gun Platoon (p.87) - Command SMG, 3x 7.5cm PaK40 gun (120 pts)

ReichsGrenadier Pioneer Platoon (p.87) - Command Pioneer Rifle, 9x Pioneer Rifle (180 pts)
- Replace Command Pioneer Rifle with Command Pioneer Panzerknacker Rifle (5 pts)

ReichsGrenadier Scout Platoon (p.88) - Command Rifle, 4x Rifle (85 pts)

Tank-Hunter Platoon (p.142) - Command Marder III M, 3x Marder III M (255 pts)

ReichsGrenadier Tank-Hunter Platoon (p.89) - Command Marder III H, 3x Marder III H (200 pts)

Rocket Launcher Battery (p.145) - Command SMG, Observer Rifle, Kubelwagen, 3x 15cm NW41 rocket launcher (105 pts)

ReichsGrenadier Anti-Aircraft Gun Platoon (p.91) - Command Sd Kfz 10/5 (2cm), 2x Sd Kfz 10/5 (2cm) (65 pts)

1515 Points, 11 Platoons 


After setup, the table looks like this.

 Pioneers deploy on one objective.

 Panzerknacker wielding Grenadiers deploy on the other objective.

AA trucks cower behind a wood for the game.

SU-100 occupy the centre of the battlefield

After the Soviet infiltration the Spetnaz move a bit too close to the pioneers. Two flamerthrower teams charge out of the church but disappointingly only manage to knock out the command team and their halftrack.

Meanwhile the SU-100 start to enjoy life under a cloud of smoke.
 

While the Tankovy pummel the pioneers in the church (knocking out a stand), the first reserve (the trained Marders) turn up managing to knock out 2 tanks and bail a third at long range. They then stormtrooper to avoid return fire.


The Soviets press in on the church and start to whittle down more of the Pioneers with shooting


With the T-34 closing in the Germans pick their moment and deploy the Marder ambush. They target the lead company at close range using positioning to ensure the T-34s will only have three tanks able to shoot without moving the whole platoon. Meanwhile the trained Marders pop out for shots at the front of the company. Despite shooting trained troops at close range they only knock out 1 tank, then fail to stormtrooper. Meanwhile the veteran Marders knock out 2 more tanks and bail another tank before stormtroopering to put another of the T-34s at long range. The Nebelwerfers bail a tank, and the Spetnaz halftrack. Sadly this does not cause a platoon test

It was time for the soviet response. All the bailed vehicles remount, and those that could targeted the Marders. Despite their weak armour, the Marder platoons were only taking a few shots each needing 4s and 5s respectively. With average hit dice alone, I would lose one or two Marder in each platoon, but could probably finish the T-34 company with the next volley of fire. So how did that go?

Yep, two dead platoons!

So plan B, with the Pioneers bravely holding on, but slowly crumbling, the bulk of the Grenadier platoon head over towards the other objective. Meanwhile a second grenadier platoon also arrive to help secure the objective, but fail to dig in.


With that the T-34 line up to machine gun the none dug in infantry.

With a raft of failed infantry saves the T-34s mow down most of the platoon and run over the rest of the platoon. They then assault into the second platoon. The panzerschreck misses and the assault kills most of the defenders and one of the T-34s. The command team breaks off but fails to unpin the turn after. With that the 2iC sprints towards the objective. As long as he passed the stormtrooper roll I would contest the object next turn and win the game.

The Paks knock out another two tanks and break the platoon. The company commander did not join the platoon so he could contest the objective. Thankfully the 2iC made his stormtrooper roll, and I won the game 4:3.

Saturday, 31 December 2016

Summary of the Year

Well this year has been fairly productive for me (which is more than can be said for December if I'm honest, see later). I've ran my first tournament, taken part in a Podcast, and got a fair amount painted. This has included:

6 British desert trucks
21 Soviets T-34
A wrecked T-34
6 SU-100
4 ISU-122
1 IS-2
5 ISU-152
Spetnaz platoon
3 tournament prizes
PHR Dropzone Commander force
3 Buildings
A Necromunda Escher Gang
A platoon of Panzer 38(t)
2 Sd Kfz 251/2
4 Brummbar
4 Stug/StuH
4 Jagdpanzer
2 Infantry Guns
Pioneer Supply Wagon
Pioneer Supply Vehicle
US Parachute Bazooka teams
US Parachute 57mm AT Guns
US Tank Destroyers
The Rebel Fighters, Imperial Fighters and Rogues and Villians packs for Star Wars Armada
Discworld Death

Hopefully I can keep up the pace next year!

Hades Assault Walker



Pioneer Supply Vehicle

I've managed to finish off the Hades Assault Walker and the Finnish Pioneer supply vehicle before the year end and start the Panzer Grenadiers and Pioniers, however Christmas has been busy, so I'm not expecting them to be done before tonight! I've also built 4 Chieftains, and bought more Team Yankee British, so I'm expecting more Team Yankee stuff  to be done in the new year. For now the challenge for January is to paint the German infantry and get the Team Yankee stuff built!


Sunday, 18 December 2016

Pick and Mix 2016

So yesterday I ran my first tournament. It was only a small event (6 players with an intro game as well), but we got through it in reasonable time with minimal problems. I've attached some photos below!

Prizes


































Sunday, 11 December 2016

Keep On Truckin'

So I though I'd post up some pictures of my completed CMP 15 CWT trucks and Morris CDSW Bofors Tractors. Due to my absence of a desert battlefield, you'll have to tolerate pictures of them in Europe!

 Morris CDSW Bofors Tractors

CMP 15 CWT Trucks



 Convoy! (Queue 1970s cheesy music)

Sunday, 4 December 2016

December Challenge

So just a quick update to announce the December painting challenge. This month I hope to to finish painting the following:

  • Desert Bofors tractors and trucks (nearly finished)
  • PHR Hades heavy walker
  • Finnish Pioneer Supply vehicle
  • Panzergrenadier Platoon
  • Panzerpionier Platoon

I'd also like to get the following built:
  • 5 Chieftains
  • 2 Lynx
  • 2 Strelkovy platoons and Zis-2/3 guns
  • 2 Panzer IV/L70 (A)
  • 3 Panthers
Luckily I have some holiday at the end of the month!