M51 - A New Old Tank

I have a thing for Israeli equipment. It is more a retro thing I guess. How so, well look at the vehicles used in Lebanon in the 1980s or on the Golan in 1973. The Merkava, right out of Flash Gordon, was used next to the Centurion 105. There were the traditional M113 (with and without bed spring armour) and towards the end even heavy APCs.

By far one of my favorite retro tanks has to be the M51. Known in the west as the Super Sherman or Isherman, this is a Sherman that is married to French 105. While there were changes, including a massive counter weight and muzzle brake, this is a modern AFV able to fight above its weight from the 1960s to the 80s.

Now this vehicle is limited to a number of Israeli conflicts but was never exported in its original form so while the M50 can be used by PLO (captured), South Lebanon Army (exported) and militias (stolen?) the M51 is used on the West Bank in 1967 and a number of actions on the Golan in 1973.

Anyone interested in the M51 will have a hard time digging up information. Information on building models is more common than their combat use or even what units they were assigned to. Recently I found a book on the Israeli Northern Command for 1973 that has helped fill-in the gaps, more on orders of battle latter. Knowing Hebrew does come in handy for research as most online translators return interesting results.

From top to bottom Gaming Models, FOW, SHQ

My renewed interest is that I have now found a new source for the M51 at Gaming Models. This is a company that is little known in the hobby, a niche in a niche hobby, that offers many unique vehicles. The costs are also low enough that if I want to try a new period or theater it is easy. I mean how many R35s does a guy need in German colors. Do not answer that.

So here are my thoughts on the M51 in 15mm from four different suppliers. I was at first surprised that the number was that high for a tank that only 180 were built. Three of the models I own personally, and a gaming chum offered the fourth. I am keeping this simple, basing it on cost and appearance.

Cost

• Flames of War $27 for 2
• Gaming Models $5
• Quality Casting $10
• QRF $6.87 (with today’s currency conversion)

Appearance

FOW to the left, Gaming Models to the right

Flames of War – A good casting and fine detail with heft to the model. It will not be easily knocked around. Paints up well and overall a good model.

Gaming Models – Good casting and detail. It is a resign so it is not overly heavy. Can be purchased primed and is easy to paint up.

Gaming Models left, QRF to the right

Quality Casting – I am reviewing this after see a friend’s miniature and also looking for references online. This was a disappointing model that is not true to scale in height of the body or the turret. Made of white metal and has heft.

QRF - A fair and older design that needs attention. The turret and body seems like it was pushed down, not true to scale. Also made of white metal.

Overall

The Flames of War and Gaming Models are the best of the lot. The M51 is not a vehicle that is not big demand for gamers today or for arms merchants in the past, although it could show up in the arms bazars of some imagination. If you want to fight on the Golan, they are both great looking models and either are worth having on the table based on appearance. But if you are looking to fight on the Golan once or twice a year go with the Gaming Models, they look good and are great for the price.

Pimping My Ride

One of my biggest issues with painting and weathering vehicles is the fiddly bits such as national ensigns and markings. I often see the names and wonder how I am going to do that with a 15mm tank?

So I was happy to see these from Flames of War for their World War I German A7Vs. I am sure we will see similar ones for the British but my current German tanks are about to get an upgrade.

Link to the Flames of War page on how to use them.

Flames of War - 1918

I was glad to see Flames of War entering the gaming environment of World War I. They are the 800 pound gorilla and by them entering I can only hope that more manufactures will also join in and add to the wealth of 15/18mm figures and vehicles out there.

With a little surprise on my part I see they skipped the battle of maneuver in 1914 and the trenches of 1915-17 straight to the breakout offensives of 1918. Well Flames of War is in the business of selling tanks as Mark says so it makes sense. I do think they missed the boat in selling the infantry and cavalry for 1914. That is a colorful period, perfect for their rulebooks and trade publications.

They also went with German on British actions so we are missing the US Doughboy and French Poilu. Funny they already have the FT-17 already made.

And than I received in my mail box the email of their new releases. This is for the German forces…

Assembling Biltz's Battlegroup
with Blake Coster

Years of combat have made your infantry a tough fighting force. The cutting edge of your attack is the imposing A7V panzer and Stoss (shock) platoons. This tank is superior to British tanks in practically every way. Mass them against a weak point in the enemy line and use its overwhelming firepower to tear open a gap in Tommy’s trenches.

What?

I am glad to see the Germans have a team of two tanks per company. There were only 20 A7V built so that is enough for two battalions.  I also did not realize so that they were superior to anything the British had.  Well the A7V was a big target with poor armor and poor off road speed. Its one strength is on road movement and most battles in 1918 did not happen on the road.

This is only a problem if people playing the game do not know their history. Gaming can come with a certain level of disbelief but this is historical gaming I thought. It is a concern to me a both as a gamer and historian. Do I own an A7V? Yes I have two. But if they are on the table the Germans are looking forward to a hard time. Either that or it is VBCW, but that is another story.

The German Shock Platoons will be useful for any 1917-18 battles and should be the strength of the unit. I guess it is all about the tanks.

Arado 234

This one threw me, the Arado 234 as a gaming miniature. Flames of War will be releasing this aircraft latter this month. Now a Stuka armed with the 37mm cannons makes sense to me for a tabletop game, although they will spend more time off table than on. The HS 129 is another useful candidate as well, but than they added to the list Me262, FW190 and now my favorite the Arado 234. What were they thinking?

Ok, they were thinking they were going to sell miniature aircraft just like they sell tanks. That is their business model. Now the Me262 and FW190 are great aircraft (every German army needs these) that were used rather successfully in World War II, or at least as successful as you can be considering you are on the losing side of the war.

But the Arado 234, we are taking about a jet recon/bomber. An aircraft that cruises at 435 mph. I do bot get it. How do you use this aircraft in any miniatures engagement? While I know it was used against the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen and Remagen is currently big on the Flames of War product line it does not make sense.  This is more useful for a game of Over the Reich or Bag the Hun than Flames of War.

Can anyone give me a good reason why this should be in the OB for a miniatures army?

Flames of War – The Great War

We knew it was coming. One of the worse secrets in the industry, the list for Flames of War – The Great War Miniatures Game has been released.

I have play Flames of War a couple of times and it is interesting but not my cup of tea. I will stick with the Lardies. But, they make great miniatures and I wanted to see what they were going to release. We also can use the 6-Day War release as a guide to what they are going to do.

With all of that in mind I am disappointed in their releases. Their releases are for 1917-18, not 1914-15. Which is a shame as the uniforms and kit for the early days of the war are colorful and flashy. Just what a tabletop game needs. So we are looking at the end of the war, while the media today is talking of the opening moves of The Great War.

So lets looks at the parts list.  The Germans infantry have the standard kit, but grenades are only talked about with the shock troops. Not historically accurate but I can wait to see the figures. I also do not see the Lewis gun for either side. The Lewis was the preferred LMG used by the Germans and British. I hope they are somewhere in the figure mixes.

There are also a few strange occurrences with the tanks. We have the Mark IV tank for the British while the Mark V maybe more appropriate. It is good to see the Whippet, my favorite tank for the period. The behemoth A7V is shown. A battleship on tracks. Unfortunately it was not as good as the German propaganda would have us think. But Flames of War has this write up;

“The panzer is new and unstoppable weapon. Our A7V is more powerful, faster and bettered armoured than Tommy’s tanks. These steel beasts will break the British frontline, opening the way to victory.”

And this copy comes from the army list. I cannot wait to see the breakdown table in the rules.

For me I will look at the miniatures and I am sure I will buy the Whippets, Mark IVs and A7Vs. Well not to many A7V as the Germans only made twenty of them. I may even see if the figures will work with my Peter Pig miniatures. But I am afraid they missed a great market to enter into by focusing on the later war and trenches over the earlier period. As they have not expanded their AIW, I fear they will also not expand The Great War range. This release looks good but poorly executed.

A-1 Skyraider

The recent release of the A-1 Skyraider by Flames of War will be useful and necessary for the American and South Vietnamese forces. But I want to bring up another theater for their use, equatorial Africa.

Introduced by the French, these aircraft are a useful asset to use in COIN actions in and around Djibouti, Madagascar, Gabon, Chad, Cambodia and the Central African Republic.

From http://en.wikipedia.org.

"The Skyraiders had only a short career in Algeria. But they nonetheless proved to be the most successful of all the ad hoc COIN aircraft deployed by the French. The Skyraider remained in limited French service until the 1970s. They were heavily involved in the civil war in Chad, at first with the Armée de l'Air, and later with a nominally independent local air force staffed by French mercenaries. The aircraft also operated under the French flag in Djibouti and on the island of Madagascar. When France at last relinquished the Skyraiders it passed the survivors on to client states, including Gabon, Chad, Cambodia and the Central African Republic. (several aircraft from Gabon and Chad have been recovered recently by French warbird enthusiasts and entered on the French civil register).

The French frequently used the aft station to carry maintenance personnel, spare parts and supplies to forward bases. In Chad they even used the aft station for a "bombardier" and his "special stores" – empty beer bottles – as these were considered as non-lethal weapons, thus not breaking the government-imposed rules of engagement, during operations against Libyan-supported rebels in the late 1960s and early 1970s."

These have a great deal of potential for TOOFATLadries' B'Maso! I am sure they will be added to Daddy’s Little Men’s forces. What do you think Mark?

Photo from…

And the Winner is…Me!

I want to give a shout out to Chris Stoesen of Wargamer’s Odds and Ends fame. A little while back he was running a number of contests on his blog and I took the time to answer the questions fully by looking through his older blog posts.  

I enjoys especially the post An Early Christmas: Expansion of the Italian Navy Porto Corsini, but than again I was a sailor and I am always drawn by sharp looking ships.

Oh, back to the contest, I won. So two days ago a rather heavy package arrived containing two panthers, four Marmon Herrington III, two Soviet 76mm IGs and a Stug III. My late war Germans are very happy.

So thank you very much Chris. All will be put to effective use, including the Marmon Herrington III. I found out they were used by the Rhodesians until the late 70s.

Thank you again Chris.

Here are the prizes.

Mediterranean Goodies

It is a very good time for gamers interested in the Middle East. 

To start off Wargames Illustrated in Issue #312 offered a 1967 Six Day War supplement. This will go along with their release over the next month or so of the vehicles of the Six Day War. Many of these will be repackaged Vietnam ear weapons with some notable additions. This includes the M50 Super Sherman and the M51 Isherman (the i-Sherman). Both of these are useful for my preferred period the 1973 October War. And they do have a certain coolness factor.

I am also glad they will be repurposing some of their Vietnam vehicles. I have wanted to purchase the ZSU 57 but I didn’t need four of them, so I am pleased they will be selling them in groups of two. I need to check and see if Mark needs one.

While right now they only have four product codes showing, more are on the way.

Nice complements to these are the releases and announcements from Khurasan Miniatures. They are releasing for next month a new line of Yom Kippur War figures starting with Syria with Egypt and the IDF coming soon.

The Syrian Infantry looks really good and I bought one of the new T62s as a test. The prices for the infantry is acceptable but the cost of the tanks are approaching FoW. I just need to wait to see the quality. I have been impressed with his figures in the past and on that I made my purchase.

Lastly Mark and I will be running a Golan engagement on Oct 26th at Dragonhead Distributors. Rules are FFT3. Game will start around 12 so stop buy if you can.

Now back to painting the 3mm aircraft insignias, again.

Recycling an Item

I had to renew my subscription to Wargames Illustrated and every year I look to see what they offer as an incentive. Recently they were offering some really nice looking tanks and assault guns for World War II from Flames of War. As none of them would convert over to the Middle East (can you imagine a King Tiger in the desert) I went with the American Fire Direction Center. It looked like a nice enough tent set up but I was surprised at the quality of the castings. I see this as a base camp for either side in Lebanon 1982 or the War of Attrition. Possibly to be used as part of an Egyptian camp looking to be raided by the IDF.

What other items have you been able to recycle for the gaming table?

Image from the Flames of War Website.

SU-100 Part II

After painting up my SU-100 in Soviet colors, I find this video on how to do it. While it is to late for me, I wanted to share it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/flamesofwar