Finished: 15mm Wespe and Hummel Gun Sections

Hi folks,

The last two vehicle units on my project sheet for my German Panzergrenadiers have been completed. After a week or so of sitting on my desk awaiting tufts, I've managed to motivate myself!

These two units do not form part of the Panzergrenadier force per say, but would be divisional support assets. 

First up, the Wespes:

My lack of motivation for these models meant I've not added any sort of foliage to them - something I'll probably fix when I come to paint and add crews. It was a bit of a cop out, but it's a time consuming step and I really just wanted to finish these off and start painting something else. 

From my research, these vehicles had no hull numbers, and few tactical markings other than the German cross. I've added a divisional badge sign on the rear (no easy place to put on on the front). Camo was done roughly using the same colours as the half-tracks and stippled to be a bit softer. 

I'll have two crew members to paint and add to these at a later date. 

Next the Hummels:

These are much bigger models than the Wespes, being very chonky (unsurprisingly, the same footprint as a Panzer IV, given they use the same hull). I've crew still to add to these, but as per above these will be done later. Also, no other tactical markings I could see historically in the period so pretty simple decal wise. 

These models also need foliage adding, which I'll do when I return to add the crew. I did make an attempt to paint the striped sticks - having first checked these were supposed to be striped. I'm still not convinced that there were not barrel cleaning poles. 

All six models are 15mm scale metal and resin kits from Battlefront. For the Wespes, this now gives me a unit of six. I doubt the Hummels will get much table time, but they were part of the divisional artillery for 12th SS as far as I can see. Also, something to worry players with during scenario games!

With these units done and off my table, I'm now moving on to painting something slightly more modern! 15mm Team Yankee Dutch!

Finished: 15mm Battlefront Sdkfz 251/1D Panzergrenadier Company Transport

Hi folks,

Happy holidays!

As is traditional at this time of year, I have started the first week of the new Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge painting something which isn't for the challenge... but finishing off models I was already working on. 

I lost my mojo for painting German half-tracks for a few weeks, mainly while I prepped models for the next phase of the project - to be painted over the challenge. That was particularly unfortunate, as I didn't have much to do to finish them off. 

Still, with a need to move on to challenge task, progress has been forced and the last four half-tracks have been completed. 

These models are again all 15mm Battlefront metal and resin kits. The hull numbers for this platoon are 231-234. I've gone with a lighter camo pattern for this group, meaning that the models look lighter than those completed previously, who had more hull space taken up by camo areas. I also went light on the foliage. 

Crew figures will be painted and added at a later date. The unit paint planner currently looks like this:

With the accumulated vehicles for the HQ, 3 platoons and HMG platoon:

Given how insurmountable this project had seemed (one of the reasons I had been putting it off for so long), I am pleased to have gotten at least the transport done. These can be used with my existing painted German infantry to act as Panzer grenadiers for any games we manage to put on. It's also given me a bit of an insight into what painting my German Armoured Recon force will involve, and made that a little less daunting. 

I'm fairly happy with my formula for painting these now. For my own future reference:

1. 50/50 Dark Yellow (70.978) and Dark Sand (70.847) base (could/should be switched for Middlestone, given later steps post wash)

2. 50/50 mix of black and brown wash

3. Drybrush MIG light sand drybrush paint

4. Tidied with dark yellow/dark sand mix to leave just edge highlights from drybrush

5. Tracks saddle brown, wheels, tools and MGs German grey, seats + exhaust beige brown/mahogany, tool handles/MG stock and grip mahogany. Soft tone wash to these items when painted. 

6. Camo: reflective green/german camo medium brown diluted about 60/20/20 with dark yellow and dark sand. 

7. Stipple standard hull colour over camo to dull down/blend in camo if needed. 

8. Highlight tracks, tools and MGs with dark rubber, tool handles/MG wood/seats beige brown. 

9. Internal 'wall' painted black around drivers seat. 

10. Add 'tree' branches for foliage, paint mahogany brown (late in process as it was a late addition to the models - DO NOT add foliage before varnishing). 

11. Gloss for decals. Decals - side hull Skytrex numbers and Doms cross, rear - PSC numbers, front and rear number plates, front 12th SS symbol. Further washes if required. 

11. Decal treatements then matt varnish, then ultra matt. Decals weathered using hull colour post varnishes (varnish application will wash weathering off). 

12. Weather vehicle with weathering powders, add foliage to tree branches. 

Painting efforts now turn to this years Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge, and meeting my personal target of 250 points (equivalent of painting thirty one 15mm vehicles between now and mid March...). I've a few things lined up, as usual, but I hope to make progress with the rest of the Panzer Grenadier project:

Enjoy the rest of the holiday season!

Initial 15mm Sdkfz 251/1D platoon

Hi folks,

A bit of time has been spent over the last two weeks trying to get my first unit of German half-tracks to a state I was happy with. Unfortunately, this turned out to be more of a chore than I was expecting. I'm still not 100% happy, but seeing them based up tonight they actually look ok. Painting British stuff is a lot easier!

These are older Battlefront 15mm resin kits, with plastic tracks and wheels. 

I've still to add crew to them, which will come much later. Two will have machine gunners and passengers, while the other two will have passengers. 

I've based in my standard style, and added some foliage to the vehicles in the form of seafoam sprigs and leaf scatter. Not hugely keen on how this looks, but it helps break up the camo pattern a little. It also fits in with by SS tank units.  

Decals have been applies as usual, a mix of Skytrex, Doms Decals and PSC. 

Looking at them now, I've forgotten to add my usual dust weathering powder on the wheels and tracks, so will have to sort that. 

I really struggled with these, mainly I think because I went too bold with the camo colours, used the wrong brown, had to work to bring up the yellow more and to make the camo more subtle. My earlier attempts looked much more like the very late war hard edged stripes, rather than the more subtle Normandy camo. Still, the images I used as reference showed that this unit used a lot of brown and green on their vehicles, with only small amounts of base yellow showing. This is very different from the common schemes people use with a yellow base and small splotches of green and brown. I eventually tried multiple times, before resorting to using thinned down yellow and a stippling effect to tone down the camo pattern.

They look much better on bases, and I will use these as templates for the next lot. Thankfully, there isn't a lot of painting on them, if you know what you're doing!

 

Next painting project - 10 and 12 Kompanies, III Battalion, SS Panzergrenadierregiment 26 - Kampfgruppe Wünsche (7 - 8 August 1944)

Hi folks,

The last few weeks has been spent prepping and researching (a lot of researching) into my next major painting project. This will be one armoured infantry company (#10 company) alongside the heavy (support) company (#12 company). In addition, platoons from various other support elements within III Battalion, SS Panzergrenadierregiment 26 as well as the divisions artillery and support units. 

Once the infantry is painted, this force (less half-tracks) will also fill in for the dismounted motorised troops of SS Panzergrenadierregiment 25. Although I may have to add dismounted SS support units, such as mortars and infantry guns.

At the time of Operation Totalize, this battalion, less #9 Company, were part of Kampfgruppe Wünsche. 

III Battalion made up the only armoured infantry battalion in the Division at the time, with 4 companies mounted in sdkfz 251 half-tracks. I have no idea at the moment what the strength was of the unit at the time of Totalize, but I am willing to bet it was nowhere near full strength. Collection wise, better to have more which can go futher! The presence of half-tracks in this unit also explains why I decided to cover troops from a 2nd (different) Kampfgruppe. 

This Kampfgruppe also took part in the German counter attacks against the allied break-in on 8th August 1944, and included Tigers from Schwere Panzerabteilung 101, Panthers from I/12 SS Panzer Regiment and Panzer IVs from II/12 SS Panzer Regiments 8th company. 

My collection already includes 7th company Panzer IVs, and some Panthers marked up with partially hidden identification numbers. The Tigers are another future project. My existing models are for Kampfgruppe Waldermuller, who were supported by the dismounted troops of I/SS-Panzergrenadierregiment 25. 

My main focus for this project will be on the vehicles initially, and primarily on the standard half-tracks. I've found that in recent large games I've had to borrow these models from others in order to represent German units, so figured it was about time I painted my own. Unfortunately, this full unit (which I'm building to a rather unhistorical full strength), has a lot of vehicles. More when all the support elements are included. Around 40 vehicles in total. 

So far, I am working on the infantry carriers, command and HMG carriers (16 half-tracks in total). 

My current thinking is to do these in batches of 4 vehicles. Infantry I will worry about in the future! I've still to work out whether any of these should have additional weapons, such as 37mm A/T guns. 

A large part of my issue has been checking I have the required decals before I start, which led me to having serious issues establishing what the hull numbers should be. Some help on the Flames of War German Forces Facebook group gave me a starting point, in the form of images of this unit being inspected prior to D-Day. The visible hull numbers allowed me to determine the layout for the unit. Young David then came to my rescue with a graphic for another Panzer Divisions numbering system, which matched what I had found. I've been updating my painting plan with these numbers as I find them. 

I'd note here that I am aware the 12th SS tank units 'added five' to the hull numbers. However, I've no evidence that this was done by the Panzergrenadiers and the copy of the order I have seen refers only to Panzers. The images of these vehicles from May 1944 shows them with the numbers I've used in my plan. 

Note that yellow = WiP. 

I have had to guess hull numbers for some platoons, such as the Grilles (6 of which were delivered to the Division in July 1944). I've included flamethrower half-tracks, which some sources state were not present in Normandy - although I have read a Canadian account of being attacked by these vehicles while fighting 12th SS. I'm unsure of hull numbers for these currently. Also in this plan are 3 more Wespes, 3 Hummels and some Panzerpioniers (which may be upgraded to their own small company, although this may involve more halftracks). Three Pak40s and tow vehicles have been added, and I'm planning a full unit of six 8cm half-tracks (again, issues with sources here, the BF books say the unit had double the number in the normal OOB - so I may decal these as a mix of 3 different companies). 

For Flames of War fans, the plan was initially done for v3 using the Atlantik Wall book. However, I've made the decision to largely switch to v4 unit organisations (which drop HQ teams and vehicles for  support platoons), mainly due to wanting to save money and painting time on command vehicles and teams for support units. It was a hard decision, but easy to fix in the future if I need to, and easier on me in the short term. As an example of what this means, in v3 a battery of Wespes would have also required a Kubelwagon and OP team per platoon, and a HQ section with command and staff teams, truck and Kfz 15 field car (a total of 4 additions vehicles and 4 infantry teams). In v4, you only represent the six 'fighting' vehicles. 

All in all, this is a bigger project than my more recent allied ones - from a research, motivation and painting perspective. Painting German kit, especially camo'ed German kit, will take longer. There is a personal issue with making a start, due to some indecision paralysis. Then there is the foliage needed. The infantry is also harder work - while I have the nice older metal SS figures, they are also wearing camo. And don't get me started on storage space.

But you eat an elephant one bite at a time, so I'd best get started (but don't worry, I have a few random British vehicles and teams to paint as I go, just to mix things up a bit). 

Finished: 15mm German defenses

Hi folks,

Some more finished bits done for the large D-Day game. Much of this was in concert with what Dave D had available - for example, the two scratch built 5cm KWK guns were for gun pits he constructed. 

Tobruks are a mix of Battlefront, scratch built and 3d printed, with BF models crewing them all. I ended up with two Mortar tobruks, two machine gun tobruks at ground level, the french gun turret and three MG tobruks with lids. The ones with lids I cut the legs off gunners for the BF halftracks and glued them in place, allowing these to be also used as ground based tobruks if the lid is placed on the table. 

I forgot to take a picture of the completed 5cm KWK bunker:

Frankenstein Monsters - Zvezda King Tigers with 'Porche' Butlers Printed Models turrets

Hi folks,

Another recent side project for me, partly driven by a new book I picked up during the 1st lockdown. I've a few of these Dennis Oliver books now and find them pretty useful. I also added the Jagdpather, Jagdpanzer and StuG titles to the collections this year. The Tiger book I primarily picked up due to my planned Tiger force based on Schwere SS-Panzerabteilung 101 for 8 August 1944. 

I will admit to being taken with the idea of having a couple of the King Tigers in my collection. 

Given the type of large, scenario style, games we enjoy playing as a group, I'm always on the lookout for bits to add which may add challenge or an interesting learning opportunity. I've read a bit about Operation Goodwood this year and with my growing collection of British armour, thought it would be fun to do a scenario game for that at some point (3 full squadrons by the time I have my Cromwells done). I also thought it would be interesting to have a couple of very big kitties in the collection. 

Unfortunately, Battlefront are not currently producing their Normandy era King Tigers, and Ebay prices are a bit mad. So I went looking for other options. Obviously, I couldn't be satisfied with using the later style turrets (although a very few of these do seem to have made it to Normandy)

I finally picked up a couple of the Zvezda 15mm King Tigers, which come with the later style 'Henschel' turrets. I know these are not the technically correct turret names, but they are the common terms, so I'm sticking to them for now. 

These kits go together pretty easily, although I recommend paying attention to some of the assembly walkthroughs on Youtube as there are a couple of bits which can trip you up. I assembled this beastie whilst playing in Dave D's recent Zoom game, and paid probably less attention that I should have - like not accounting for magnetizing the turret and hull. 

My cunning plan was then - as a trial - to pick up a couple of the earlier turrets from Butlers Printed Models (BPM). These are not the highest quality prints, with a bit of printing evidence visible on them at close range (they don't use resin printers, but FDM). At a distance though, they don't look too bad. 

Size wise, the BPM turrets are a good match, and look 'right' on the Zvezda hull. The BPM turret does come with a 'Battlefront' style turret peg (about .5 of an inch wide), which I removed with a modelling saw. As the FDM style of printing them leaves these hollow, it was easy enough to roughly add a magnet. 

Unfortunately, my haste and lack of thought in building the first hull led me to having to cut a hole in the bottom of the Zvezda turret for the magnet, and attach it in place using a length of sprue glued to the inside bottom of the turret. The hull magnet is on the outside of the hull, rather than the sensible approach of being inside the hull. The 2nd version I build will have the magnet inside the hull and turret. 

The Zvezda kits cost me about £5.25 each, while I paid £4 each for the turrets (when postage was included, which doubled the cost from the £2 price). I suspect a larger order from BPM would have made this more worthwhile. 

Missing Zimmerit on these models is a consideration, given that the early hulls would have had it from the factory, and I am tempted to try and add some myself. However, this might be a step too far modelling wise at 15mm, and remains a distant idea. 

AAR: 15mm Flames of War, D-Day+1 (Canadians vs 12th SS)

Hi folks,

With the new year, new effort has gone in to getting dates booked for regular gaming sessions at our local venue. Also known as attempting to herd cats when it comes to getting at least four gamers together on one day.

As such, to start things off we got ourselves sorted out for the first game of the year in Billingham at the new location of the dance studio we use. A much bigger room with adjoining space... which of course set us to wondering how many more tables we could get!

While I remember, Martin's report on this game can be found here.

We had a little discussion about games after our last meeting in Scruton in December, but in the end I decided to 'host' this one, as my FoW stuff hasn't been out the boxes much. Dave had offered to do something with his Americans. My recent reading has been about the Canadians in Normandy so I figured I would set up a game to reflect some of my reading.

I really had three major aims for this game:

1. Try to represent the situation in the days following D-day, when things were still in a state of flux and the German troops were being deployed into the fight with little coordination. The German units in Normandy, while having some experienced officers and NCO's, were just as prone to tactical mistakes.

2. Try to show the guys how the Commonwealth/British troops have to work in defence, as they have mainly only ever been attacking during our scenario games.

3. Try to show that tanks can't hold urban areas, and the importance of combined arms.

The tables were set up reasonably quickly. I provided the rough outline and the guys set to arranging bits.

The table was more than 12' by 6', but we used the ends for holding paperwork, models and drinks. The setup wasn't of any particular place, but representative of the Eastern side of the allied landings (north of Caen). Lots of large crop fields and a few orchards and farmsteads.

The guys all played the Canadians for this game, and had an understrength infantry company with a section of 2 x 6-Pdr A/T guns, a platoon of 4 x Vickers HMG's and 2 of the support companies 3" Mortars. They were tasked with holding the crossroads in the centre, and decided to hold the crossroads and each of the farms in order to prevent flanking. One platoon went to each location and one was held behind the hamlet in reserve. They also had a battery of 14th Field Regiment Priests (theoretically) and the guns of HMS Belfast (again, theoretically). Representing history, these would be unavailable until later in the game, though they did not know this when they set up.

The Germans were attacking the crossroads, were unaware of the exact allied positions and in a hurry to counter attack the beaches. I was running a very simple system for the Germans. Each turn I would roll for reserves (odds/evens = yes/no), composition of reserves, location of entry along my table edge and reaction of the on table Germans to the situation (again, will they do x, yes/no).

I wanted the attackers to be particularly armour heavy, to represent some of the early armoured counter attacks which were unsupported by infantry or had limited infantry, and how useless these were against troops in built up areas and Norman farm complexes. I also wanted to get my newly painted Panthers and Panzer IV's on the table!

Three Panthers opposite Ian

Two Panthers up the middle, along with a mounted Panzergren platoon. 

I do like Dave's trees. 

The Canadian central defences - not much to see. 

Dave's farm - the same, not much to see!

Panthers and some Panzergrens mounted in halftracks led the way. For this game we were using a simple 'what makes sense' system with regards to spotting. Units that had fired were visible (generally), or else on a successful skill check hidden units could be spotted (where we assume units are looking for the enemy). On the right, Dave's farm came under attack by a large platoon of mounted Panzergrens. These weathered a storm of Vickers .303 fire to unload close to the walls, while the troops inside assaulted into the building. A tense back and forth raged, before the attacking platoon was repulsed. The survivors took further casualties falling back over the field, before being picked up and whisked off to reorganise - and report the enemy's position.

In the centre, not much happened. The Panthers advanced to the crossroads but would not risk ambush from the buildings. The 251's took mortar fire which was ineffective, and smoke was fired at the lead Panther.

On the left, the panthers advanced cross country, encountering no enemy forces but being subject to a very heavy bombardment from HMS Belfast as the Naval OP had eventually fixed his radio (1 in 6 chance every turn).

Note: we play a bit fast and loose with the command rules and splitting of units. For the Canadian 6 Pdrs and Vickers, they effectively became part of the platoon to which they were attached, and had to be supported by infantry. I feel this better reflects how these support weapons were used.

Green marker is the ranged in marker for HMS Belfast. The Canadian infantry out in the open here soon scarpered into the safety of the farm buildings. 

Survivors of the failed assault on Dave's farm fall back - the red lego token means the unit is pinned. 

Smoke on the lead Panther, which only served to warn the Germans there was something ahead to worry about. 

There were a few minor moves from the Canadians, mainly shifting a 6-Pdr out of sight of the Panthers, and moving some Piat teams around to try and get flank shots on Panthers. Dave meanwhile re-jigged his defences to cover gaps caused by casualties.

Canadian side of the crossroads - lots of hiding units - the buildings were full as well. 

More German re-enforcements arrive - a platoon of Panzer IV's and two more platoons of Panzergrens. 

Orchards need basing...

Dave had no A/T guns on his end, and I think his Piat had been taken out early. Dave's platoon was by far the worst hit in the fighting. Probably an MC or DSO in the works for the platoon leader. 

Panthers move around to open up fields of fire, while the Panzergrens dismount and move into the orchard. 

Some Canadian re-enforcements arrive to try and stem the tide. Two more of the support companies 6-Pdrs. The first time these limbered models have seen the table I think?

Another view of towed 6-Pdrs

A couple of 17 Pdr armed M10's also arrive on the other flank, heading out to take on three Panthers. This shot shows the reserve platoon and Mortar postions at the rear of the crossroads.  

The Panthers close in on Ian's farm. A gutsy Piat team gives the Panther on the road a nasty shock and earache, but the 5+ firepower roll really makes it hard to kill stuff with it. 

The Panzergrens at the crossroads dismount and enter the orchard, where they get hit by 3" Mortar fire and small arms fire. This causes heavy casualties, pins the platoon and sends it back. 

As more Panzer IV's arrive in the centre, a platoon of StuGs turn up on the left, adding more pressure to Ian's flank. To help, a troop of two towed 17-Pdrs arrive, and were rushed over to Ian's flank to support the M10's.

The Panther on the right is bailed by a Piat shot, while the platoon 2" mortar puts down smoke to shield the Piat team. 

One of Martin's 6-Pdrs (hidden behind the far hedge between the buildings) takes a shot at the side armour of the Panther, but misses. The gun was then taken out by return fire. 

The 6-Pdr is a little more visible in this shot. You can also see the black marker representing the 3" Mortars ranged in spot. 

The full strength Panzergren platoon is hit hard, the orchard soon filling with bodies. 

It was around this time that 14th Field Regiment, RCA, finally got off the beaches and could lay down some fire. Immediately the SS infantry began to take a hammering - mainly those around Dave's farm who had been closing in on his dangerously depleted platoon. His troops had already fallen back further into the compound to avoid the fire from 5 Panzer IV's and the mortar bombardment of the previously occupied buildings (the Germans being unaware the troops had pegged it out the back door...).

Meanwhile, Ian's M10's work their way forward to get a shot. Unfortunately at this time the dice roll came up for the Panthers to move, and an M10 was lost. The other, returning fire, bailed a Panther. Thankfully the Canadians also received some tank support in the form of some Sherman DD's. These were shifted over to help Dave.

Having been bailed once by the M10, a Panther is hit by long ranged 17-Pdr fire from the hill to the rear. Another bailed result and a failed last stand check saw the crew head for the rear. 

The StuG's had arrived and poured fire into the farm buildings. A 3+ save and then a firepower roll to have to kill teams behind those stout walls really made then Canadian Infantry tough to shoot out of the buildings. Try as I might, the dice rolls were not coming up with any more German infantry. 

The Panzer IV's in the centre move up to support the Panthers. Martin attempts some 6-Pdr fire, which fails to hit. He then lays a smoke screen with his 3" Mortars (we did this in the wrong order, smoke bombardments are supposed to happen first). 

Artillery and small arms fire (those Vickers teams were helping) took out one Panzergren platoon as it advanced through the orchard. The other platoon (seen here on the far right) was also hit and moved behind the hill to lose LoS. Every time they moved forward, they were hit by artillery (including HMS Belfast's guns, hence the big craters)). Meanwhile the Panzer IV's worked their way into the orchard and continued to shoot up empty buildings. DD Shermans can be seen top of the image. 

With a lack of infantry, the German armour began to push forward themselves. This is where the guys carefully marshaled (other than Martins...) A/T assets began to prove their worth. As the German tanks moved into more open ground, they were hit by fire from deployed guns.

Dave's Sherman DD's move up to support his remaining infantry and try to flank the Panzer IV's. 

The 6-Pdrs wait... Martins gun on the right was soon to be knocked out as the Germans, replicating Eastern Front tactics, charged through the smoke screen. Shooting through two hedges is tricky by the rules, but I went with a 'skill check to see a target' and the target got concealment. 

Nice shot of the smoke and waiting 6-Pdr. You can also see here a German Recce platoon that had arrived but could not get through the hedgerow in their halftracks. 

Ian's two 17-Pdrs deployed on the crest of a hill.They would take out the second Panther (just to the right of the building) who was unclear where the shots came from. The third Panther kept passing it's last stand test, but backed up as it assumed there was enemy armour behind the farm. 

Bit of a gap in images there. Martin received two more M10's, which he carefully moved to be able to ambush advancing Panzer IV's. Two Panzer IV's were brewed by these, and another by Piat fire from the buildings. Ignore the armoured roof on the 3" M10's - they are modelled for a Op Totalize unit, and my 17-Pdr versions are still in the paint pile.  

No photo's, but in the centre another troop of three DD Shermans took out two Panzer IV's who had killed one of Martins infantry sections left in the woods. They pushed through the woods only to come face to face with the Shermans. An exchange of fire left both German tanks burning.

In the orchard, the two 6-Pdrs engage Panzer IV's - say what you like about their effectiveness vs big cats - versus these Panzer IV's. Dave's Shermans had moved up to get in on the act and killed the final one. 

Those are going to be some smokey apples. Dave's infantry were also re-occupying the buildings they had previously left, as the final German infantry platoon was being hammered by repeated bombardments. 

With no more German infantry in the offing and tank casualties mounting, the SS troops broke off and the battle ended. The Canadians held their objective (although there was a Panther parked on it for a while). A really good example of this being a period where the advantage lays with the defender, and how allied artillery is hugely effective against troops in the open advancing. For Dave especially just getting the pin on an advancing platoon was huge, and kept the pressure off his beleaguered platoon.

The final lay of the table at the end. The Germans were on the objective but could not hold it. Infantry moving into the building near them would have been too dangerous. Without their own infantry, the way to the beaches remains closed!

Ian's troops held out all game with few casualties versus 6 German tanks, one of which had a 10.5cm gun. You can also see here the other troop of Shermans and the Panzer IV's in the centre. 

While Dave fought off three Panzergren platoons and a troop of tanks, but took heavy casualties doing it. 

And that was it, another little dabble into the peculiarities of the Normandy campaign. I'm really looking forward to the British and SS books coming out for late war v4 in the next few months. I know I'll be left wanting more, but it will make these games a bit easier paperwork wise. Still really like the mechanics of the game, loved the look on the table (although as ever, it was set up in a hurry and is a portable set - more time to set the table would always be better and give a better finish). First time we did not run out of hedges, but more field material required to fill in some of the open spaces. The Hotz stuff is great for that, but I need some (bigger) area's of standing crops.

Orchard also needs based (I re-based these just before the game) and possibly needs extending as on a 12' by 6' I felt like I should have had a few.

As ever, mat provided by Dave, as were a lot of hedges. Models were mine aside from the German Halftracks, which were kindly loaned by Ian. Mine are still in the painting pile...

Next game set for the beginning of Feb, but no arrangements as to what. Possibly 10mm Fantasy - better get cracking on my painting.