Martlet Games 3 to 5.5

Today Mark and I ran two and a half games of Operation Martlet and it was a great way to learn the finer points of rules. These battles were fought on the second and third tables of the ladder campaign.

For those not aware, TOOFATLardies has released a set of pint sized campaigns that are not only a great deal of playing value but help new players learn the finner parts of the rules. I am a firm believer that gamers that buy Chain of Command should also pick up one of the pint sized campaigns.

The first game we played, was the second battle of the second tier of the campaign. The last battle we fought with scenario number two was a German victory. This second battle, Mark was able to get most of his troops on the board before me, thanks to the pre game bombardment. I saw the writing on the wall and conceded before I lost any of my valuable troops. That is an important part of this campaign system, to remember that there will be times when you need to cut your losses and pull back. I am certain that the battalion command will be mad that we pulled back, but at least I still have some of my platoon left for now.

Battlefield for scenario number two.

The next two battles were fought of this battlefield with the villa and cross roads as the objective. In the first game the British had a strong position on the German left flank placing a section, a forward observer and a senior leader behind the road. A strong force until they ran into the farm house with an mg42 on the second floor and an infantry section on the ground floor.

British section and forward observer fighting from an awkward position. After two phases of receiving machine gun firer the senior leader takes cover while still spouting orders.

The British Senior Commander taking cover while still giving orders.

After a few more phases the British found losses were mounting and they pulled back to regroup. Next up game five. With game five the British launched a combine operation. A mortar barrage came down near two of the German positions covering the attack moving up both the center and the right flanks.

German position in the center of the German lines; watching the approaching British armour and mortar barrage.

 

One of two British tanks advancing on the German position near Fontenay. One of the reasons why I may be leaving Fontenay and prepare for a counter attack.

The Chain of Command Campaign system puts the players in a position where they have to look at the long term and in the case of Operation Martlet the Germans are trying to slow down the advance with limited resources. The British have significantly more assets at their disposal (pesky pre-game bombardments) but have a scheduled to meet and need to press on. 

I can see where our next two game, five and six, will be fought on the third rung of the campaign ladder. Can the Germans old them off, time will tell.

Sd Kfz 13

With only 147 built, the Kfz 13 was still important in the development of German mechanize doctrine. Seen as nothing more than the Adler car chassis with an armoured bathtub on top; it was used in Aufklarungs (reconnaissance) detachments in both the Polish and French campaigns. After these two campaigns the older design was relegated to training and internal security. The open top being defenseless to grenades and the poor off road handling made it more suitable for training and police work. I would not be surprised if a few of these were found on the back roads of the Balkans used by police units. The retro look works well with historical gaming as well as the What Ifs including Dad’s Army (Sealion) and A Very British Civil War.

Now if I was starting out fresh with wargaming I would be playing using 20mm miniatures as many of the vehicles I would want are rare in anything but models done in 1/76 or 1/72 scales. One of which is the Kfz13 until now. After a conversation with Craig over at Gaming Models he was able to build the base Kfz13 model and I heard from him he was working on two other versions, the radio version and one for artillery spotting. This is great for my Germans for Poland and Sealion.

Before sharing the images of the models here are two You Tube videos of these armored cars in action by reenactors.

Here we have the armored cars just primed and waiting for the initial coat of German Gray. There are two Sd Kfz 222s and two Sd Kfz 13s.

 This is a photo where I am trying to test out my new macro lens.

While armed, it looks like it could be a touring car. The MG 34 though, could come in handy for those with long commutes.

Additional resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kfz_13

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/maschinengewehrkraftwagen-kfz13.htm

21st Panzer Divison

In 1944, the elements of the 21st Panzer Division were varied as the standard AFVs of the day were in short supply. Halftracks used were not the normal Sd Kfz 251 but a mix of German weapons on captured French chassis courtesy of Major Alfred Becker. When I was trying to build a small force for TOOFATLardies' Chain of Command I was forced to look at several expensive alternatives, but than I found Craig's resign vehicles from Gaming Models.

His vehicles allows me to have one of this and two of that at a reasonable price.  The four tanks below are for the battles to the east of Caen, and will stand up to any gamer's scrutiny.

Paint Table Saturday

My latest additions to the German Army are a mixed lot for the 12th and 21st Divisions around Caen. I have been trying out at least five versions of German Dark Yellow (Dunkelgelb). While I have had mixed results I am pleased with the over all.

This force includes:

Panzer IVG
2 Panthers
Sd Kfz 250/1
Sd Kfz 250/10

Marder
2 of Sd Kfz P107
Sd Kfz 135/1 150

5 infantry as crew

This is a mix of German originals and French conversions. These will be used next week in a battle west of Caen using Chain of Command rules.

British Paras

I cannot tell you how much I am disliking 2016. I have been away from my blog due to a loss in the family and now help the rest of my family get their lives moving again. So how do I grieve, well I put my energy into writting and I have done dam little of that.

While this is not any great piece I saw this and wanted to share that the Plastic Soldier Company will be releasing these in a few days. It is 144 figures, enough to build three platoons. Very suitable for Chain of Command battles around Caen. I see them fighting my Germans east of Caen soon.

Paint Table Saturday

Paint Table Saturday a Day Late and Other Things

Well I am doing well for 2016 as I have completed the 4Ground farm house to go along with the two barns I finished in 2015. The last of this lot is a few walls and the cemetery. Not bad starting out 2016 with one of my two Christmas orders almost completed. Now the half tracks and armoured cars will take a little longer. The early war support troops may never be completed as I only needed six figures and an infantry gun out of the pack for Martlet. May have to find another pint sized campaign to handle these unneeded (currently) figures.

Now the first battle between Mark and myself was not good for the Germans. My troops had trouble getting on the board and the mist had little effect on the British. Not a great first game.

Now the second battle that will be fought latter this month has a lot of prospects. The Germans are ready and I am sure Mark is all set.

This image is from Daddy's Little Men. Additional images and a write up by Mark can be found on the blog.

State of Gaming in 2015

I love when the end of the year rolls around and we read of predictions (including ones we make ourselves) for the new year and a look back on our general state of affairs. I know I will not make my painting goals or games played. I can live with that and try harder for 2016. Yet as a veteran gamer I do like to think about our over all condition of our hobby and for some their professions.

My history with gaming goes back forty plus years and I have seen many trends come and go. I know there will be a few new companies on the scene each year and few will also leave us. There will be the latest games dealing with The Battle of the Bulge, Midway, Waterloo or Normandy because we still have not created the ultimate gaming experience. This is generally not a bad thing, but we keep re-fighting the same two to three months of history year after year and convention after convention.

So where are we today; probably in the best possible position for our hobby ever. I will defend this statement by siting three items, technology, shows and demographics.

Technology such as 3D printing and Social Media allow gamers to have access to information and products we never believed possible. 3D printers allows designers to offer many versions and types of vehicles without the long drawn out process of traditional sculpting. This comes with a cost, in dollars, euros and pounds, but we now have the ability to add support vehicles to all of our armies. I can even add the AA-tanks to my 3mm Poles to use in Northwest Europe. Major companies have trouble making lesser know vehicles available economically. 3D printers make this possible.

Social Media not a new trend but definitely maturing, allows groups to gather and share research and technique. This also comes at cost, I need more shelf space for the books that I have acquired because of these conversations. These communities help you to find local gamers and clubs. It is surprising how many of us are out there.  If you take the time to be active on these communities you will add gaming buddies as well as friendships as some of use share their lives on there as well. Even picked up so awesome recipes from the Lardies.

Conventions and Shows are changing and in some ways for the better and others, well not so good. Attendance in the big name shows are down. That goes for attendees and the vendors. While the numbers are rarely released on the shows listening to the tone on boards and social media you get the feeling that the world has changed. I know this as I have attended some of these shows since the mid-1980s.  I have found that the major sows I attend here in the US do not have the same excitement that they did in the past. Some blame the Internet and the fact that we do not have to come to shows to buy everything we need for the coming wargaming season. But when I come to a show now there is not the excitement of seeing something new, I saw it already on line. We can do better with demos and generating the excitement online before the show, but it takes effort and that I see is missing.

But smaller regional shows are all the rage here in the northeast. There are more of them popping up all the time. Within two hours of me is a club or show event going on at least once a month. In the summer and fall I can choose up  to three in a month. Yes there are more of us out there (am I repeating myself) than we think. Are they generating excitement, some, but they are smaller and scrappier and I see them only getting better.

The D word, Demographics. I want to end on an up note for 2015. Our hobby is growing in both numbers and diversity. WS&S magazine did a second survey and the results are encouraging.  What we need to remember is to be more inviting, to get people to our clubs and allow the army of solo gamers to have a chance to use their troops against real opponents.

While I may not have painted as much as I would have wanted, I am looking forward to 2016 being a great gaming year. Now I have to place that order for the Unix P107. Von Luck needs at least two. :-)