Two Game AARs and a lot of pictures!

Gane 1: A FFT AAR, Germany, 1987.

The game was a Czech and a Soviet Tank Regiment against a US Army Armored Cav Squadron. The game didn't last too long, even with Hinds in support (they were remarkably ineffective, one being shot down and the other doing little more than killing a Brad with an AT-6 shot).

The Soviets and Czechs advanced on a broad front on either side of the road running the length of the table (we played on a 4 x 4 ft space, it was the only table Jage and I could get at E and E that day). The Soviets did well initially, losing a battalion in exchange for killing most of a US Cav troop. A early T-80 does have a shot of killing an M1 front on. Not a great chance, but better than nothing.

The Czechs on the other hand? They basically melted away. Their T-72s were little more than target practice for the US M1s. Most of the Czech platoons ran away from failed QCs rather than dying outright, by the time the regiment tested, there was barely a battalion's worth of T-72s left.

The Russians kept on, and tried to flank the US position in the center, but lateral movement by the Americans on my flanks pretty much put paid to the Soviet advance. The game was over in three turns.

Here are some pics. Yes, Virginia, the Soviets need artillery. They really shouldn't leave home without it.



A really bad pic of the hapless Czechs!



A pregame pic of the Soviets



The Hind after it ate a Stinger (Hey, it's semi-historical!)

Game two was an FoF game set loosely in East Prussia in late 1944/early 1945. I let Jage use his newly painted Handschar (I said they were a late personnel draft that never got to the division). They were part of a weak platoon rearguard along with two understrength squads of regulars, and a small anti-tank team from the Volkssturm.

They faced a Soviet force of 7 T-34s (Mix of 76 and 85, I know it's not historical but I couldn't get all my 85's done in time!) Also, they were backed up by a platoon of Tank Riders, and some scouts in a Scout Car and on horse (I never used the latter, they'd have been cut down, as you'll see later).

I was playing the Soviets against my Stepfather Lou, and Jage again. Needless to say, I made a crucial mistake early, I played the Soviets cautious. To be fair, I was running the game more than I was playing tactical, but they beat me good. But let's describe the game. I moved up a T-34/76 on my left, and lost it to Panzerfaust fire from the Volkssturm, who promptly got the heck out of there. I didn't blame them with what was to come.

I brought in another T-34 and more Panzerfaust fire killed the crew. Two T-34s down and I tried a new tack, bringing in the scout car on the right, using some elevation to gain some cover. I forced the Handachar back with some machine gun fire and brought in the rest of the T-34s.

Here's where I made my mistake. Instead of rolling the T-34s right up on the woods and debussing next turn, accepting the risk, I debarked as soon as I got the vehicles into the woodline, and advanced the infantry over a bit of open space. I decreed all the Soviets had SMGs...and they paid for it...with the Germans cutting them down at ranges the Soviets couldn't do a thing about. Morale rolls began to tell, and soon the attack bogged down.

By this point, I'd gotten a few "1s" on my reaction rolls, and one FoW card I pulled was a very lucky "Fire, Fire" card. I used to promptly set the stone ruins on fire in the center. I began to get hope again and tried to get the infantry moving again, but the Handchar returned, and they cut down the remaining Soviets. To make matters worse? The Germans panzerfausted ANOTHER T-34. They only needed to kill one more and I was toast. Needless to say, this is when their reinforcements, a Mk IV and a JgPz IV showed up...and roasted another T-34. Game over. It was hard fought, and though the Germans took light casualties, they didn't get off scott free.

We had a lot of fun, and my stepfather had some good ideas for my storage sitrep and seemed to be interested in the hobby.

Anyhow, that's it for now. Here are some pics, Jage took some more, and those can be seen here



The Soviet high water mark



A shot of the Soviets before the game



The German VS anti-tank team.

T-34s, more books and some figures!

Well, my Syr Hobbes order came last week, lots of US and Brit SF, and some Russian half figures for my vehicles..this will be fun! And I split a second hand consignment of Battlefield 20mm with Jage. He got the Russians, the Handachar and Jungwitz Cossacks and half the FJ. I took the other half of the FJ, the misc packs (lots of half figures for tanks there!) and the winter SS for Bulge stuff.

I sprayed up using the FoW Soviet Tank Color (it's done by Army Painter and doubles as a primer coat, what can I say, it's expensive, but not bad as a time saver) some T-34/85s that had been sitting forlornly from when I purchased them as a set from somebody on TMP.

I did miss some spots, you always do when you spray in my experience. So, I asked about on TMP, the Guild and the AAG forums, and Piers was nice enough to tell me to try the Vallejo Russian Green, but also that the shades on it tend to differ a bit. No worries, the Soviet Army's paint stocks always had a bit of "play" in them, and once they're properly detailed and weathered, and then chipped? You won't notice a damned thing!

I also have some pics of another modern micro-armor game we ran. Americans v. Soviets. Soviets lost again, but they did pretty much bag most of a US Armored Cav troop for the loss of a battalion of T-80s. Yeah, the Soviets would consider that a fair exchange. The Czech Tank battalion with T-72s, well, they simply died like dogs, with the survivors (most of the regiment, surprisingly!) ran for the hills.

I like FFT, it's damned fast and well thought out, I really wish Ty would get 3 out before I am old enough to collect SSI! I am looking forward to the game I've got planned on Saturday, now I've just got to plan the actual scenario...It will be a bit bigger than stuff we've run before, but I think all will appreciate it!

As for book reading, finally finished Generation Kill, I liked it but it was a bit long on "We killed a lot of civilians", and short on "what the battalion was actually doing". Not saying it isn't a good bit of work, but I liked Not a Good Day to Die better. Also finished Tonight We Die as Men. Fine bit of work there. Ian Gardner did himself proud with the book, and the bit of research he did on the Douve river bridges on D-Day has corrected a long-standing error. I like that Mark Bando was involved in the book. He's also done a lot with the 101st and really showing the division was more than one company (again, no offense intended to the members of E/2/506th).

I also gave Jage my extra 2300 stuff and my older HS books. Hope he finds them useful. I sure did!

Well, that's all for now, pictures soon!

My Wargaming projects

Inspired by Krieger..I'm taking stock of where I am now Wargaming wise...and it's not as bad as I think...

20mm WWII

Germans: I've got a short SS platoon and a Platoon of Late War regulars, I am filling it in with more K-98 armed fellows and a dismounted 2nd LMG for the regulars, along with some personality figures (COI set from FAA, some mounted SS Cav and the Volksturm) the SS have their extra stuff (except for some extra Ehliem personality fellows)! My late war FJs need to be organized and painted, and other than that and I have more than enough vehicles for them. Will pick up guys eventually to do LWFD and Lehr, but that's a bit down the road. So, Late War Germans are done. I can do up to Bulge, I will probably get some Winter Krauts for them eventually. EW Germans are in the nacent stage, but I intend on a Platoon each of SS, FJ and Regulars. Have a nutty idea to get a German Armed trawler to duel with my Soviet Gunboats.

US: The US stuff is kinda haphazard, my Paras are painted more late war than Normandy, and I will paint up some for that period, and my regulars need to be organized a bit. I think if I just sit down and paint it, it'll get done to a level I need. Vehicles are mostly done, but need to build some Shermans for the summer days as well as some more Winter Americans. SGMM will come in handy here. Also want to get my hands on some ACs and M16 Quad .50 HT's for them.

Brits: Done, except they need some lighter stuff, some Fireflies and probably the Paras/Commandos need a bit of filling out. Got enough Britannia to fill out the Canadians, -2 Bren guns...Hope Wargames fills that back-order. Think I've got most of what I need for BEF. Want a Matilda or two for that.

Russians: I may have the proverbial Russian Horde, hell I am not sure how much Russian I have. I am probably just getting some 45mm and 100mm ATG and a SU-76 or three and call it done. May get some lighter boats for my Russian Sailors.

French '40: Pretty much done, may get a 25mm ATG for them, but other than that, just gotta paint 'em.

Belgians '40: Got some second hand, building more later.

Norwegians '40: See above.

Dutch '40: I am done painting and collecting. Got some spare figs that I will filter into my Marines, but other than that...we're good.

US 1941: Need to get a field gun for them and the SGMM mortar and AAMG packs, but I have what I need for them.

Japanese: Got one squad painted, and a ton unpainted...time to fill out the rest.

20mm Post Apocalyptic Cold War Moderns

Soviets/Warpac: Got what I need, except for some fellow in Greatcoats. I really like the Libmins stuff better. Will acquire at some point. May get some Afghansi types for BUTR. I do want to get them some trucks, a ZSU-23-4 and a couple of UAZs.

US: Same. Just need to paint/repaint, as needed. May pick up some specialty to fill out as I need to. May get some more for my BUTR project.

Brits: See above. May pick up some SF to fill this lot out. Need to get them some more light vehicles.

Germans: Have what I need, but was Flecktarn common in the mid-90s? And would G-36 really have been issued in a continuing Cold War? And, do I get the East Germans and just paint them with Olivgrun uniforms?

Armed Civvies: Got plenty, need to work up some other items for them, but that's a case of modifying some BEVO pickup trucks I got in a deal.

Iranians: Ok, I think a mix of some insurgent types on the market now, mixed with some of the Afghani and multipurpose lines would work well for Pasdaran, As for the other items? Well, that's going to be Ehliem West Germans. Maybe a seperate unit of their Pakistanis?

15mm Sci-Fi:

Hammers Slammers: Got what I need, I just need to finish painting it.

Terminator: Other than an Air HK I got from GZG, and some of those Spider Drones, I think we're good here. Got to paint the polymorphs I got, as well as the humans!

Aurore 2300: TFL's done, May get them some tanks later. French need some vehicles, as well as to be painted, as do the Kafers. I think the Heavy APCs from GZG look very Kafer. Eventually a German and US force will be built. I also have some cops and armed civvies that will work well for the Tanstaffl militia. The French Militia I have covered too. Dunno what I will use for US Army and Marines (Edit: Just realized, Rebel minis Hardtop EF Marines will fit the bill rather well, and there's a lot of choices in Hover APCs for the Marines. I've got some wheeled vehicles for the Army as they're going to be a from a Light Mech Brigade)., was thinking the FCT types, which I have, but I am not as nuts about them as I used to be. The NAC will be the Brits, I just need to get them some vehicles.

Aliens: USCMC is done, have some extra figures promised to GG. Just gotta paint it.
Aliens, will fill out my QRF holdings with some Khurasan Space Demons.

Stargate, my way: Got the figs except for some more Jaffa. Gotta paint it

Djazlah: Have the figures to do it, may need some more vehicles, for both the Emir and the Caliph, but that will be relatively easy.

Traveller: Got the figures, GG's making the APCs for the Imperial Marines, Army's going to be my CMG Arc Fleet Recon guys. GZG Hi-Tech Grav for the vehicles. As for the Zhos? New Israelis from GZG and their Advanced Grav. Got the figs for Aslan, but not sure about vehicles. Vargr will be a mix of RAFM and GZG. Also have some RAFM stuff for the generic lower-tech troops/Swordies/mercs (mix them with the OUDF fellas I have).

The UNSC I picked up? Mixed with the Rebel Minis spies...Generic SF types.

I also have some odds and sods, probably going to be some generic baddies or alien hordes types, though the more ridiculous stuff may go. Stay tuned on that.

6mm Sci Fi

Real mix of Battletch, Ogre, GZG, Stan Johansen, and some Brigade Models stuff. I may even have some GW Epic...not real sure. I do have a LOT of 'Mechs. Not planning on getting anything more till I organize and paint this lot.

6mm Modern

Soviets: Got plenty, maybe a few more T-62s and some BTR-50s/152s but we're done. Just paint more. Also, some Soviet Airborne types (infantry).

West Germans: Done, may get some Light Infantry, Just paint

Brits: Need some Warriors and more Challeys. And, some more FV-432.

US: Done with Germany, Iran plans are coming along, want to just get some US light forces built.

Iran: Very early in the process. My Brits can do double duty to SOME extent here. And I have 113s coming out of my ears. Need lots of infantry for these fellas.

Terrain needs

Roads, Rivers, Forest bases (one can make those out of felt), more hills, walls and some more farm like buildings, but I got plenty of everything else. Also need jungle and swamp terrain for my Pacific stuff. And, a desert mat.

Long post...phew.

New Pictures for more stuff I did, WWII this time!

Finally, an update, Some WWII FoF AARs

Ok, it's a very pic heavy update this time, a couple of short Force on Force WWII games, Both games were very bloody draws, with the Germans getting the worst of it. I still have a lot to learn about the rules, as Dwin and I have found out. But, the rules have done as promised. And believe me, they deliver. I hope to have some WIP photos and some other items, especially the long promised 15mm TFL troops shortly. I also picked up some interesting purchases, such as the two Flames of War Art of War books. They are good value for the money and between them and the Artizan guides, you really can't go wrong in the painting department.

More soon!

Here's a change of pace

A Hetzer for my 20mm WWII Germans!

Cork buildings are done!