Forged in Battle

A long term project I am working on for another commision is one of each of the range of WW2 models from Forged in Battle Andy's Models has commissioned this www.andysmodels.co.uk (nice discounts on all his range) Below are the British Tanks. In my opinion the models are better than battlefronts, far more detail, easier to construct, they do all have bases though which I like but many don't

Late War Sherman M4

Kangaroo

Sherman VC Firefly

Sherman VC Firefly

4

Late War Stuart

Sherman Mine Sweeper

Sherman Mine Sweeper

Desert War Stuart (Mid War)

Mid War Sherman

Mid War Grant, I liked these so much I how have an army of them

Sherman M4

Mid War Lee

Late Desert War Sherman

Ok yes it has been many whiles since I last wrote anything on here, a busy summer of painting, gaming and Olympics has kept me away. So what's been going on for the last few months? All that follows...

Early War Germans and British

A client asked me to repaint his two rather tank heavy armies, the original painting was rough and I couldn't quite get all the detail out in the new layer of paint.

Early War German Armoured Company

Early War British Armour

German Infantry

British Vickers Light Tanks

British Crusier Tanks

German Armour Panzer III, IV, II and Is

More British Crusiers

Ze Germans

More Light Tanks

German Panzer IVs

Apocalypse and end of Campaign

Well it's been a while sorry, games and painting and other far less exciting stuff have been getting in the way; but now as I'm waiting for the varnish to dry on the latest batch of Germans I will bring this upto date. Starting with... Apocalypse

With the end of the Svaard Campaign we have been playing for the last year came the final battle between the forces of the Imperium staring the Dark Angels, Imperial Fists, Scythes of the Emperor, Tau, Inquisition, Knights and Imperial Guard. The evil enemy, Lots of traitor Guard, Death Guard and a Titan.

Sorry for side ways shot.. but this is deloyment

Having won most of the campaign advantages the Imperials set up first, my Dark Angels taking the far right flank, unfortunately during the enemy deployment, a line of very high walls appeared in front of me. Not to mention the tank traps and minefields (a real failure in recon!)

I ended up facing the walls defended my some Guard, with more guard and the Death Guard inside the fortress.

Dark Angels move forwards

 Turn one started with my battle company supported by the Iron Wing slowly walking forwards towards the traitor gun line, the Dark Angels not showing any fear, then suddenly the Scythes of the emperors drop pods landed right in front of me, the whirlwind launchers destroying most if what had faced me on the walls

Imperial Fists Hiding 

Scythes of the Emperor saving the day

Then instantly regretting it!

The Death Guard then Turned on the now trapped Space Marines. I Brought down my Assault Marines to screen the Scythes as they attempted to reform the battle line.

The fray at this end of the battlefield was also joined by a enemy warhound that soon found itself fighting three knights in close combat.

At the other end of the table the Imperial Fists where having all sorts of problems, facing a guard tank company. Fortunately for them a friendly tank company was available to help out.

The rest of the story I will tell in pictures..

The Knights having despatched the Titan turn on the Death Guard

More Traitors Turn up by Valkyrie

Imperial Tank Company supporting the Imperial Fists

View of the battle, far down the end were the Tau

Trying and failing to kill an enemy commander, he later hid behind the wall

A sneaky late outflanking attack from the red scorpions is soon dealt with

Imperial Fists and Guard Containing the last Red Scorpion

All that's left of two tank companies

Unfortunately time was sort and the battle came to a rather anti climatic end, and also a draw. Most of my army survived and so did my commander ( they were objectives). My hero of the battle was a devastator sergeant that had been awarded a orbital comlink as i campaign advancement, and managed to kill two Baneblades with it.

Lessons learnt on the day, all my squads need transport, either tracked or drop pods, leave more time for the game, and don't play on a sloping table (the dice don't stop)

Flames of War

As promised it's time for last weeks Flames of War report.

Pippin

The Paras first operation was an away mission, an early launch of the operation was interrupted by the gas safety inspection and then a call from the dog walker saying she refused to walk Pippin any more has he is a pain in the bum!

Sorry for the low quality of Pictures again, I forgot my camera and had to use my Blackberry!

We (Mike, Rod and I) played 3 battles, Paras v Germans, Germans v US Paras, and US Paras v Germans again


Battle One, Paras v Germans

2000 points. Paras: CHQ, 3 platoons of Paras, 1 Para Assault Platoon, HMG Platoon, Mortar Platoon, 8 gun Artillery Battery, 6pdr AT platoon and a flight of typhoons

2000 points Germans, CHQ, 2 platoons of panzer grenadiers, HMG Platoon, 3.7cm AA platoon, Tiger Platoon, Panzer IV platoon, Nebelwerfer battery (I think, correct me if i'm wrong mike)

We decided on the encounter battle, half our forces started off table, and were subject to (in comparison to 40k) harsh arrival rules (no attempts until turn 3) 

HMG Platoon with nice fields of fire

 The Battle Started with the Germans advancing through the corn fields, and a ineffective opening barrage from the Nebelwerfers, unfortunately for the Germans this gave away their position to the Para artillery spotters which today were on top form, one barrage from the howitzers destroyed 4 of the rocket launchers and sent the rest packing.

Next the Paras revealed their snipers hidden in the fields and started to snipe at the enemy spotters and HMG platoon, pinning them down. The Para artillery now ranged in on the Tigers but caused little damage, the Mortars proved more effective against the pinned HMG platoon.

On turn three a Para platoon arrived, but still no sign of the Typhoons that were proving to be very elusive. German Platoons also started to arrive but with no cover to hide from the now very forward Para artillery spotters they took heavy damage as soon as they arrived. and the following turn after their Panzer IV platoon took a battering from the guns (2 destroyed and 2 bailed out) the Germans decided to conserve their forces and pull back.

This game being the first proper one we played of FoW proved a learning experience for both of us, artillery is very important, both for destroying the enemy and pinning them down, even 3" mortars can take a platoon out of action and even cause tanks to worry.The only assault we tried was the para assault v the Tigers but they refused to engage, oh and I like snipers!

Game Two US Paras v Germans

While our host Mike went and made lunch (bacon and cider) I took over command of the Germans and went up against Robs Americans. we played the same battle, again 2000 points. German force the same, can't quite remember the US order of battle but I think it was CHQ, 2 platoons of Paras, Howitzer battery, sherman platoon and a flight of fighter bombers.

 So again  we started with half our forces in reserve, I decided to leave the armour and CHQ in reserve and deploy as much infantry as possible. The Americans done the reverse and had the tanks on the table to start. These raced across the table towards my line and all the sudden I wished I had something bigger than an MG42 available, then the Thunderbolts turned up, and boy! aren't AA platoons useful!

The Nebelwerfers, now not facing a massive counter battery proved much more effective than the last battle, bailing out the shermans for a turn and slowing them down.

Not for long though, they soon were on the move and machine gunning their way through a German panzer Grenadier platoon and HMG platoon. Almost reaching the objective in the German deployment area.

Now in a classic, perfectly timed and placed rescue five Panzer IVs roared into the fray right in front of the Shermans and effectively blowing them away (think 3 dead and one bailed out)

 One loss to the Germans was the AA platoon, destroyed by the US artillery before their last spotter was killed which silenced them. Now the thunderbolts had free range over the battle and destroyed and entire platoon on the right, allowing a double timing Para platoon to again threaten an objective.

Tigers! they arrived again perfectly placed in front of the American paras, machine guns blazing and cut them all down in the open

It all proved too much for the Americans and they left in a hurry!

Battle Three

My turn to watch as rob (US) and Mike (Germans) battled it out again, same forces, but this time with the free for all battle so everything started on the table.

Er oops 6pdr AT can't actually damage Tigers!

 I still have a few more bits to get for my Paras, but next I think will be a SS panzer Company!