In, err, celebration, I suppose, here are some close-ups of my completed Luftwaffe Jaeger Platoon. Click on the pics to expand
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Now to base...
Chevalier de la Terre
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Back online...
Back online..after SEVEN MONTHS. But, on the bright side, wireless RULES!
In, err, celebration, I suppose, here are some close-ups of my completed Luftwaffe Jaeger Platoon. Click on the pics to expand
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Chevalier de la Terre
In, err, celebration, I suppose, here are some close-ups of my completed Luftwaffe Jaeger Platoon. Click on the pics to expand
Chevalier de la Terre
Monday, 15 September 2008
Luftwaffe Figures
Luftwaffe Test Figures...
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...not bad; I'm attempting to do the whole platoon this week.
CdlT
Friday, 12 September 2008
Russians and, err, more Russians
All the rage apparently. Anyway, here are the photos of Wednesday's game, though not very professional; I'll try better next time. I played JB twice in MW, while Colin and Mike played each other twice as well, though in LW. I completely forgot to take pics of the first game, which is a pity because there were mounds of dead Cossacks and burning SU 85s, but I did get some of the second which JB won...go figure.
My plan was to hold the left-most objective with a full-strength Panzergrenadier platoon with attached 2ic and C-in-C (both panzerknackered) with a 'knacker Command Team. As long as I could counter-attack in any assault (which i should with attached CO), I felt confident that I could deal with the initial wave (always T-70s) and hold off the KVs until reserves arrived. The Tiger would hopefully have dealt with a few KVs by then as well, while the Panzer IIIs took on T-34s and the ambush waited until they couldn't possibly miss.
A good plan, perhaps. But, alas, it was not to be; the dice gods laughed at my foolishness...and laughed...and laughed....and laughed...
The Tiger holds the hill.
T-70s and KVs.
T-34s in the woods.
Soviets advance...
...
T-34s cross the river, one succumbed to a Panzer III.
T-70s confront the German infantry.
PaK 38s revealed from ambush. With 9 shots I managed to score 9 hits. JB saved 8...ONE T-34 died. Criminal, just criminal...
T-70s and KVs. The Tiger managed to kill one...yes ONE...despite having Every Shot Counts as Tiger Ace Skill.
PaK 38s and a Panzer III duel it out with T-34s...
...the PaKs ultimately lose.
...
A Panzer III falls to a KV round.
Now, this was the crux of the game. The T-70s assaulted my Panzergrenadier and killed one base. The Panzergrenadier Platoon (incl. 3 Panzerknacker teams!) the failed their motivation to counter-attack, and then failed the C-in-C's re-roll; they fell back.
...
The dog...'nuff said.
Here JB counts out his Russian Tankovy...one hundred and one...one hundred and two...one hundred and three...one hundred and four.... I'm told the gent of the far right was acting as umpire...he looks the part, anyway.
My initial set-up. The mission was Hold the Line, my German Panzergrenadiers (DAK-based, but I fielded a Tiger for a change) defending against Ruussian T-70s, T-34s and KV 1s and 2s. First Panzergrenadier Platoon is on the right objective, Tiger I and two Mk III Ls in the centre, PaK 38s in ambush, second objective to the right of the right-most Panzer III. In reserve were Infantry guns, another Panzergrenadier Platoon and three mortars...not ideal for fighting an all-tank army, but I've won before with similar odds.
My plan was to hold the left-most objective with a full-strength Panzergrenadier platoon with attached 2ic and C-in-C (both panzerknackered) with a 'knacker Command Team. As long as I could counter-attack in any assault (which i should with attached CO), I felt confident that I could deal with the initial wave (always T-70s) and hold off the KVs until reserves arrived. The Tiger would hopefully have dealt with a few KVs by then as well, while the Panzer IIIs took on T-34s and the ambush waited until they couldn't possibly miss.
A good plan, perhaps. But, alas, it was not to be; the dice gods laughed at my foolishness...and laughed...and laughed....and laughed...
Panzergrenadiers await the Red onslaught...
The Tiger holds the hill.
T-70s and KVs.
Soviets advance...
...
T-34s cross the river, one succumbed to a Panzer III.
T-70s confront the German infantry.
PaK 38s revealed from ambush. With 9 shots I managed to score 9 hits. JB saved 8...ONE T-34 died. Criminal, just criminal...
T-70s and KVs. The Tiger managed to kill one...yes ONE...despite having Every Shot Counts as Tiger Ace Skill.
PaK 38s and a Panzer III duel it out with T-34s...
...the PaKs ultimately lose.
...
A Panzer III falls to a KV round.
Now, this was the crux of the game. The T-70s assaulted my Panzergrenadier and killed one base. The Panzergrenadier Platoon (incl. 3 Panzerknacker teams!) the failed their motivation to counter-attack, and then failed the C-in-C's re-roll; they fell back.
...
The Panzergrenadier then failed their motivation, leaving the objective barely contested, plus the PaKs were all dead... the two Panzer IIIs were dead by now as well...the Tiger crew ran away...
I conceded defeat; all-in-all not a very good show from my side, but fun nonetheless, despite some positively shocking dice on both sides.. Well done JB!
Other pics. JC on the left, yours truly on the right.
I conceded defeat; all-in-all not a very good show from my side, but fun nonetheless, despite some positively shocking dice on both sides.. Well done JB!
Other pics. JC on the left, yours truly on the right.
Colin on the right, Mike on the left. Mike, as you may have noticed, looks rather enthusiastic (the burning StuG at the bottom may have something to do with it...) while Colin puts on brave face.
The dog...'nuff said.
All for now.
CdlT
CdlT
Sunday, 6 January 2008
49th (West Riding) Division
A belated Happy New Year to anyone who cares to listen. Not much has been happening over the “Festive Season” in SA, but then nothing usually does as the whole country appears to shut down for four weeks…I’m not complaining either.
My university registration has been completed for the first semester of ’08, finished today to boot. It looks like a mix of Ancient History, Anthropology, English and Psychology…and wargaming and painting, hopefully! Two more years to go…
Still painting like mad, having finished a British 3” Mortar Platoon and a platoon of Vickers MMGs and a few assorted command pieces. Nearly done the two Crusader IIs, then more infantry, the Cromwell Squadron, LotR Gondorians and 28mm Crusaders…why did I get myself into this?!?
In future I’m going to track my painting progress and post a monthly list of what I have (or, as the case may be, have not) painted in the last month. Thing might not be pretty, so consider yourself forewarned!
I’m also trying to get my grandfather’s records of the Second World War, but the extended family and co. seem reluctant to part with them for some reason I cannot fathom, especially since none of them know anything (and I do mean ANYTHING) about the Second World War. My grandfather died nearly 11 years ago and he never spoke much of the war from what I can gather from my father and uncles. Apart from knowing that he was in the 2nd Battalion, the Essex Regiment, in 56 (Sphinx) Infantry Brigade in 1944-45, I know little else. Initially 56 Brigade was attached to the 50th (‘Tyne Tees’ or Northumberland) Infantry Division until August 1944, also coming under command of the 7th Armoured Division and the 59th Division for periods, when they joined the 49th (‘Polar Bear’ or West Riding) Division. In terms of histories I have Patrick Delaforce’s Divisional Histories on the 50th and 49th Divisions, but the former makes little mention of 56 Brigade while the latter is of course concerned with August ‘44 onwards. Thus, from June to August 1944, I know nothing save for this comment is Delaforce’s “The Polar Bears: Monty’s Left Flank” which says:
‘The Pompadours’, the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment, were raised in 1755 and took their name from the deep purple facings of their eighteenth-century uniform. From 12 June the wood near the village of Verrières was known as ‘Essex Wood’, where Tiger tanks took an appalling toll. A week later the Pompadours took part in the three-day battle for Tilly-sur-Seulles against the Panzer Lehr Division. Again casualties were heavy, and after 16 days in action they were a very, very tired battalion. Lt.-Col. G.G. Elliott had taken over from Lt.-Col. Higson after the 12 June battle. For most of July the 2nd Essex were at Parfouru l’Eclin, under most vicious stonking from Launay Ridge. Then, from 8 to 17 August under the command of the 59th Division, after several daring night marches they captured Forge-à-Cambro east of Thury-Harcourt. Brig. Ekins commanded the well-respected Sphinx Brigade when it joined the Polar Bears at Pedouze on Saturday 19 August.”
(From The Polar Bears: Monty’s Left Flank, Chapter 25, Pg 126)
Not much prior to August ’44 then, so I’ll have to keep looking.
My university registration has been completed for the first semester of ’08, finished today to boot. It looks like a mix of Ancient History, Anthropology, English and Psychology…and wargaming and painting, hopefully! Two more years to go…
Still painting like mad, having finished a British 3” Mortar Platoon and a platoon of Vickers MMGs and a few assorted command pieces. Nearly done the two Crusader IIs, then more infantry, the Cromwell Squadron, LotR Gondorians and 28mm Crusaders…why did I get myself into this?!?
In future I’m going to track my painting progress and post a monthly list of what I have (or, as the case may be, have not) painted in the last month. Thing might not be pretty, so consider yourself forewarned!
I’m also trying to get my grandfather’s records of the Second World War, but the extended family and co. seem reluctant to part with them for some reason I cannot fathom, especially since none of them know anything (and I do mean ANYTHING) about the Second World War. My grandfather died nearly 11 years ago and he never spoke much of the war from what I can gather from my father and uncles. Apart from knowing that he was in the 2nd Battalion, the Essex Regiment, in 56 (Sphinx) Infantry Brigade in 1944-45, I know little else. Initially 56 Brigade was attached to the 50th (‘Tyne Tees’ or Northumberland) Infantry Division until August 1944, also coming under command of the 7th Armoured Division and the 59th Division for periods, when they joined the 49th (‘Polar Bear’ or West Riding) Division. In terms of histories I have Patrick Delaforce’s Divisional Histories on the 50th and 49th Divisions, but the former makes little mention of 56 Brigade while the latter is of course concerned with August ‘44 onwards. Thus, from June to August 1944, I know nothing save for this comment is Delaforce’s “The Polar Bears: Monty’s Left Flank” which says:
‘The Pompadours’, the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment, were raised in 1755 and took their name from the deep purple facings of their eighteenth-century uniform. From 12 June the wood near the village of Verrières was known as ‘Essex Wood’, where Tiger tanks took an appalling toll. A week later the Pompadours took part in the three-day battle for Tilly-sur-Seulles against the Panzer Lehr Division. Again casualties were heavy, and after 16 days in action they were a very, very tired battalion. Lt.-Col. G.G. Elliott had taken over from Lt.-Col. Higson after the 12 June battle. For most of July the 2nd Essex were at Parfouru l’Eclin, under most vicious stonking from Launay Ridge. Then, from 8 to 17 August under the command of the 59th Division, after several daring night marches they captured Forge-à-Cambro east of Thury-Harcourt. Brig. Ekins commanded the well-respected Sphinx Brigade when it joined the Polar Bears at Pedouze on Saturday 19 August.”
(From The Polar Bears: Monty’s Left Flank, Chapter 25, Pg 126)
Not much prior to August ’44 then, so I’ll have to keep looking.
49th (West Riding) Division Order of Battle, June 1944
(This is merely a provisional OOB, as I find more information I will update it. Any information is welcome)
70th Infantry Brigade
10th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish
146th Infantry Brigade
4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
1/4th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Hallamshire Battalion
147th Infantry Brigade
11th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers
6th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons
7th Battalion Duke of Wellingtons
Divisional Artillery
69th Field Regiment Royal Artillery
143rd Field Regiment Royal Artillery
185th Field Regiment Royal Artillery
55th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Artillery
89th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
Divisional Engineers
289th Field Park Company Royal Engineers
294th Field Company Royal Engineers
756th Field Company Royal Engineers
757th Field Company Royal Engineers
23rd Bridging Platoon Royal Engineers
Divisional RASC
460th Company Royal Army Service Corps
482nd Company Royal Army Service Corps
483rd Company Royal Army Service Corps
118th Divisional Company Royal Army Service Corps
Divisional RAOC
49th Ordnance Field Park Royal Army Ordnance Corps
49th Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit
Divisional REME
70th Infantry Brigade Workshop
146th Infantry Brigade Workshop
147th Infantry Brigade Workshop
Royal Army Medical Corps
146th Field Ambulance RAMC
160th Field Ambulance RAMC
187th Field Ambulance RAMC
16th Field Dressing Station RAMC
17th Field Dressing Station RAMC
35th Field Hygine Section RAMC
Machine Gun Battalion
2nd Battalion Kensington Regiment
Other Units
49th Recce Regiment RAC
49th Provost Company CMP
49th Divisional Signals Royal Corps of Signals
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