Bolt Action Far East - (Not) Breaking the Jitra Line 1941

Wow this seems rather green and lush compared to the number of recent desert games. A great club game bringing together various players collections of Far East forces with an encounter based loosely on the breaking of the Jitra Line in 1941 and the blocking force at Nangka.

Japanese forces advance on mass looking to capture the bridge and break through the US forces defending it.

The Marines were dug in and were able to pour fire into the charging Japs.

Both sides were able to pick their own support points so we (Japanese) opted for a light tank to break the line.

However the Yanks were ready for them, rushing forward with satchel charges meant for destroying the bridge instead throwing under the tank and immobilising it. There would be no breakthrough today.

Games like this really get the creative juices flowing despite several projects on the go, some of the new Warlord releases for the Far East are very nice..... I must stay focused.

Western Desert - German Armour.

After last weeks outing where the Italians were soundly beaten, I thought I might as well stick with a theme and get the last of Germans off the paint table. They were in need of some extra support and mobility given how the allies have now acquired a number of pieces of heavy metal which most certainly gives them the edge...

Sticking with the 3D prints a Medium Pz III to try and counter the Matilda, this one from 3D valley comes with it's two turret's one closed up and the other with an open copula, it sculpted with a number of bits of campaign clutter, canvas sheeting and the like so has that on campaign feel.

The Pz II acquired off e-bay, a nice printed it needed an officer to sit in the top to really finish it off and goes nicely with the Sdkfz 250 which is one of the latest releases from Warlord in kit form, the box has plenty of variants including Rommel's version - This one is fine for pushing recon elements forward.

Also in shot some wheeled transport for the Germans, unlike the British lorries who come with the option of open topped or an enclosed canvas back, the German print only comes exposed, but a good excuse to bag some Perry dismounted infantry to sit in the back.

Some great bits of kit the miniature arms race for desert superiority really hots up.

Africa Korps Support Sections.

Having completed the Commonwealth forces, the German Africa Korps clear the paint table, a mix of Warlord and Artisan Miniatures.

A great addition to the German forces and perfect timing as the campaign games are calling.

The German Light AT Gun - 37mm should be ok for stopping some of the lighter armour the allies have. But might struggle against some of the larger peices.

The battle word 75mm IG will be a valuable addition to the Axis assault.

The main stay of German defences the MG42, the Artisan figures are a little more bulkier than the Warlord figures but they blend in well once based up.

Next up..... a couple of BIG games.... and a green table for a change.

Warlord Games Bren Carrier Patrol.

I finished the Bren Carriers a few weeks ago, but they were lacking crew and did not look the part as empty shells. As I near the end of the Operation Exporter project time to clear up some of the last elements and clear the extras.

Nice simple kits to put together from Warlord Games, I mixed up the head gear with a mix of slouch hats, tin bins and turbans for the Indian troops.

Each of the carriers is armed with a Bren gun rather than a Boyes AT rifle. A great addition to the allied forces, I do have a couple of extra Bren Gun's to add to the top for air defence but worry that protruding out of the top of the vehicle they might imply drop off vs game play. Let's see......

Fire up the V8's and let's see how they do in battle.

2nd Section of Commonwealth Infantry

Yet another section of Commonwealth Infantry clear the paint table.

This time with a mix of tin hats and slouch hats and all wearing back packs so I can identify these on the table from other sections.

10 Australians to help break the Vichy French all figures from Warlord Games. A mix of an NCO armed with a SMG and a Bren team in support.

Next support the long awaited support weapons.

Australian Infantry - Warlord Miniatures.

Nothing gets the brush strokes goings than a big game...

As the Cotswold Day looms the Australians take to the field add to the Commonwealth forces for Operation Exporter.

Warlord Miniatures a 10 man section with a Bren Team and NCO armed with an SMG.

Stay tuned for the big game....

Operation Exporter - Free French Perry Miniatures.

Back in the swing of things.... Armed with a new found focus fresh troops roll of the paint production line. It's surprising how switch off the TV and devoting an hour before bed each evening gets things moving.

Applying the approach of no mini is left behind this is Free French squad made up on the last of the Perry's and Warlord figures, a mix of head gear and weapons but I am working on the assumption that parade ground standards drop a little when your 2 months in the field with temperatures hitting 100 degrees.

A 10 man section armed with an LMG and VB launcher means they do pack quite a punch when compared to the Brits.

Next up Australians keeping the theme going. I have urge to play these out in a wider campaign, bringing together the various forces, but perhaps blending it with elements of Platoon Forward. More on that later, right now it nice to be clearing down troops that have been staring back at me for a number of months...

Afrika Korps - Vehicle Painting Guide.

After several weeks away finally some time on the brushes and some German vehicles for the Western Desert. These take me right back to being a kid with Airfix and Matchbox figures, playing out Commando Comic stories.

There are plenty of Afrika Korps Painting guide out there on the interweb so here's my take. Transported from Western Europe many of the vehicles retained their dark grey finish before being given a paint job of dark yellow sand, the harsh conditions often meant that the yellow oaint chipped off which showed the grey colouring at the points of wear.

In the interest of time I undercoated them with a Army Painter sand followed by a light spray of Army Painter Skeleton Bone to give the vehicles some shade.

Once dry using some foam from the various blister packs I dabbed a black grey mix on the areas of most likely wear and tear, the edges of the hull and front and sides in particular, this gave the vehicle an in campaign feel.

At this stage it looked like I might have over done it.

But the addition the of decals in some cases on the grey patches and the adding in of the details such as spare fuel or water tanks, entrenching tools etc. I opted for a brown for the tracks with a metallic dry brush to give it that worn feel. 

Once dry the entire vehicle gets a flesh wash with a 70/30 water mix to give some areas a little more density, adding in some strong tone to the mix when it comes to the track areas. These was to give that dusty feel, once dry with a large paint brush and a very limited amount of Vallejo dark sound mixed with white I dry brushed the entire vehicle.

All done.

Really pleased how these turned out, the 251/10 was from Warlord late war with the tire on the front, but it fits the bill, the 222 was from the Gentleman's War Starter Set which is a lovely piece of kit.

Now to get them on the table.

Dispatches from the front XXIX - Small scale actions.

I had every intention of ploughing through the remaining Commonwealth Infantry and Free French but having completed the prep, basing and undercoating the thought of 80 boots, 40 rifles and webbing etc put me off a little. Perhaps next week unless something shiny comes along.

Instead I opted for the assembly line of the last support weapons for the allies and axis forces. Some nice castings from Warlord in shape of AT guns, Mortars and Infantry Guns...

I did sneak in a small order to Northstar with an extra HMG above, but really for some of their Africa Korps casualties which will make up pin markers for future games - I have hunted high and low for allied casualties and have drawn a blank, which was a surprise as almost every other range of figures across history seems to have them in all scales....

On the subject of purchases, Fred over at Two Send Fred is working on a small wadi for me, I was after a connector for my larger purchase, this is the draft mock up. This will be great for future games, more on that in a separate post.

Plans are afoot to finally give the Pony Wars rules an actual run out at the club. I wanted to be clear on the rules, hosting several players in one go, nothing frustrates me more than agreeing to host a game and not know the rules or spending valuable game time reading them while everyone looks on.

Whilst most definitely of there time the reaction tables really do make for interesting command decisions and they Indians numbers can get out of hand really quickly....

Over at the Wyre Forest Club I gave Bolt Action Modern a run out with my North Koreans facing off against the South Koreans with support from a British/UN modern contingent. Much like the news from Ukraine it turns out that T55's don't last long against more modern dug in armour.

The village of Fooket with dug in Dragon Teams and LAW's lining the walls.

The NK armour rushes forward with closed up armour and infantry in support.

The Brits lie in wait on the tree line.

Kim's forces burn in the field as the M60's take there toll.

A fun encounter if you were western backed forces, not much fun for the Koreans from the north.

You till next time....

German Africa Korps - Infantry Support Options

A few more Germans to bolster the Axis forces, having had a few days away and reading up on the pressure the Vichy Government were putting the German's under for support in defence of their Middle Eastern territories it got me thinking about a wider 'What if' and a role of German ground troops...  but that's for another day...

First up a 81mm Mortar to add some weight to the German Infantry, I based them on a single base with a pin sabot to record casualties...  another one of those topic's which promoted some discussion on some Bolt Action Groups about the merits of single figures and spreading out the likely hits on figures.... I have never been one for micro measurement, if you are having to rely on 1/8th of an inch to catch the edge of a figure... we probably won't play very often :-)

A MMG/HMG depending on requirements.... 

The crew are in a mix of uniforms to give them that lived in campaign feel.

A must for any German force to give additional fire support.

Next up.... I suspect some vehicles as I prep a whole bunch of Australians who need sticking together.

Duel in the Desert - German Hardware

After the British Light Armour time to balance the books with some German reinforcements.

A great piece of kit from Warlord Games, this was originally from their Eastern Front range, but a change in crew from Perry Miniatures and the German defences are bolstered.

A large crew to service a big gun.... I did post the image on the Bolt Action FB Page, which promoted a string of posts about the ability of the gun to be able to move and shoot on an advance dice....

I won't be using that rule..... I am not sure you will be man handling 16,000 lbs around the table in sand whilst then loading and firing.

Now an excuse to put this lot on the table.....

Next up more French...... maybe....

British Western Desert Armour.

After a brief detour it's back to the desert and some British Armour for the Western Desert and Operation Exporter.

Three Vickers Lights Tanks two Mark VIc (15mm Cannon) and a Mark VIb (.50 HMG). Great casting from Warlord with lots of additional stowage to give that in campaign feel.

I opted for commanders hatch open, it's a touch hot in this tin cans. I thought about adding a sky blue/green camo pattern but in the end figured the desert yellow would be enough for most encounters.

Next up some German opposition to balance the odds.