Getting into the final straight now although Lock down will highly likely cause a postponement on the game. Mar Stalin will not be happy... I have now managed to paint all the German defenders. all guns and artillery pieces now done along with infantry, medics and even suppression counters (wounded and dead Germans). I managed to get my airbrush out on the German models and had my first attempt at making and foliage to some SP guns. I was pleased with the effect.
All my Commandos and Royal marines are painted (over 340 of them!) See here is the 1st Special Service Brigade led by Lord Lovat with his Piper Bill Millin (currently in 2 colour schemes). That comprises of No 3 Commando, No 4 Commando, No 6 Commando, No 45 (Royal marine) Commando and No 10 (French) Commando. In addition to land on the right flank is No 41 (Royal Marine) Commando from 4th Special service brigade, Both Brigades are supported by 5th Independent Armoured Support Battery - Centaurs and Sherman Op tanks. Next on the painting table are 3 SP Artillery Regiments and to re-base, SP AT batteries of M10s, 185th infantry Brigade and a Sherman Battalion.
This is the first in what may be a series of blog posts showcasing my wargames armies.
And now for the Union army
20mm plastic figures have been fun to paint, and I reckon even a very basic paint job looks good, so I may be open to doing other periods in this scale. I intend to put on a game with these armies at the club using a retro set of rules, possibly the Airfix ACW ones, once we are back to normal.
In this time of no barbers, however, I am reduced to growing period-specific facial hair.
Best wishes,
Piotr
In this time of lockdowns myself and John played a Memoir 44 game Hellfire Pass by telephone.
In this game I played the German/Italian forces defending the Pass and John played the British. The historical battle took place on 15 6 1941 and lasted 3 days.
Halfaya Pass is a route through a 600 foot high escarpment- whoever held the Pass controlled the main westward route into Libya and is the key to the relief of the besieged garrison at Tobruk.
The pass was held by the Germans and Italians. Under pressure from Churchill, General Wavell launches Operation Battleaxe . On 15.6.1941 the 11th Indian Brigade supported by the 4th Royal Tank Regiment advances on what became known as Hellfire Pass.
John started the British attack with a barrage and then committed some infantry and armour down the road leading to the Pass and discovered that it had been mined - his armour took casualties. He then attacked the Dug in German infantry on the German left of centre and this attack was beaten off. John switched his infantry attack to the Italians defending the Axis right flank caused some loses but took casualties in return. At this stage the British were losing 4 victory points to 0 all his loses being British Infantry
He then launched an armoured assault using his strong armoured units to overrun the two Italian Infantry units defending the German right Flank and a German Infantry unit defending the centre. The Axis had lost 3 units in one turn and John had narrowed the gap to 4-3 (Axis 4 victory points British 3 victory points).
The Axis countered this attack using Artillery fire and brought up their own armour in a counter attack. The Axis were winning by 5 to 3 and needed to destroy one more unit for victory. The Axis pushed there unsupported armour to far forward trying to deliver a knockout blow and nearly paid the price as they came under attack from 3 British armoured units surviving by the skin of their teeth (john was unlucky the armour survived just). The Axis knockout blow came not from armour but a German Infantry unit fixing bayonets and charging in to destroy a British Infantry unit (using the card Behind Enemy Lines). The game ended in a 6-3 Victory for the Axis.
We both enjoyed the game and intend to try playing another game by phone in the future.
Whilst we are staying at home this is giving me some more time (when I can hide from family) to make some progress on this project. I sincerely hope we are are all out of this by then.
All landing craft have now been painted. 6 LCTs, 2 LCI(s), 12 LCAs and 16 LCMs and 1 Landing craft Rocket. The first few waves of the Brits have now been painted. The DD tanks (featured in early blog) are done. To add to these I have completed, Hobart's Funnies - 77th and 79th Assault squadrons, The Royal Marine Armoured Support Battery, and The Beach group with its supporting weaponry. The First infantry Brigade is also completed along with its HQ and medics. I have also painted the 2 MMG companies that landed with the two infantry brigades
I have now started on the Germans which should not take too long. In the pictures are captured French and Skoda Artillery pieces and a few SP guns and AT guns. After the Germans, are the Stafordshire Yemonary Shermans, the second Infantry Brigade, three armoured artillery regiments, SP AT gun troops, and five Commandos to paint.....
Hello All,
I hope you are keeping safe and sane at this difficult time. Of course there are more serious matters than wargaming to attend to. At the same time, many of us now have buckets of free time available for personal projects - and no excuses not to finally action them; so I thought I'd update you on some of mine, for your entertainment and diversion.
When I'm not applying for jobs - like Sisyphus - during the week (yes, I left B&Q on 1 March), I have several wargames' activities on the go.
1. 42mm November Uprising (1830-1831)
