It has been a wonderful weekend.

I am thinking I need to declare today as a bank holiday as I have been very productive this weekend in the gaming (and work) realms.

Friday I enjoyed both a nice lunch with Mark Kinsey and finding a new game store not that far from me. Dragonhead Distributors is near Allentown PA and is a full service game shop. As I did not bring any of my “wish lists” it did not slow down finding something to buy. While I do not play Flames of War, it does not stop me from wanting their 15mm miniatures. At this shop I picked up the Brummbär and Hetzer for TOOFATLardies new rules Chain of Command (which is now available to pre-order at their site).

Saturday was a workday (work that pays the bills) with some work on 88mm flak gun and two 7.62 cm Pak 36(r) for “Highway to Hell” also a TOOFATLardies game based on their 2013 Summer Special.

Sunday was spent fighting in the Shenandoah in 1862 against my good friend Tim Tynan. The game is “Stonewall in the Valley” (why is it now called “Banks in the Valley”? by GCACW. While the game is only on turn 16 (of 103 I think) my Federals have cleared the northern map and General Fremont is on his way.  More on my strategy latter.

And today while I did work, I was able to work on the Brummbär and Hetzer as well as the two PAK36(r)s. The Postman was nice and brought the support weapons I needed for Hells Highway and I also based up my newly arrived French WWI infantry painted by Evil Bob.

Like I said a very productive weekend.

How I see my Brummbär

Where Have I Gotten To?

I would first like to thank Bob over at Evil Bob’s Miniature Painting service for the excellent work he has done for my Lebanese militia and Syria Commandos. I look forward to using the militia against Mark’s IDF.

These pictures are from Bob’s blog.

Now some of you may wonder why I appeared to of fallen off the planet. I have enjoyed gaming this period with friends and have introduced the TOOFATLardies’ rules to many gamers new to the TFL way of gaming. At Historicon I had a great time watching my PLO get hammered by a well played SLA sweep. But current events in Syria and Libya have been hitting me very close to home. I wish the people over there well and I find it hard to game a conflict so recent that the players could have been there.

I thank you all for your understanding as a take a hiatus from the world of Lebanon 1982.

MicroMark Releases

I just saw this from Mark and think these will be of interest for those following my blog.

Mark Bevis, 

173 Accrington Road, Burnley, Lancs, BB11 5AL
tel 01282 702644
email: sultanbev@gmail.com

Download pdf format lists at:
http://zkluroztcttctzorulkz.wargamevault.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=3426

or order online at:
http://www.helion.co.uk/prodtype.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=61&numRecordPosition=1

MODERN ARMIES OF THE COLD WAR 1947-1989
AIR59A: Arab Air Forces, October 1973, Yom Kippur War (replaces List AIR59)
AIR64: Algerian Air Force, 1962-1988, Algeria
AF76M: Ethiopian Infantry Division, 1975-1979, Ethiopia
AF77M: Ethiopian 10th Mechanised Brigade, 1975-1977, Ethiopia
AF78M: Ethiopian 92nd Mechanised Brigade, 1977, Ethiopia
AF79M: Ethiopian Militia Division, 1977-1980, Ethiopia
AF80M: Ethiopian Independent Mechanised Brigade, Army Support, 1978, Ogaden
AF81M: Somali Motorised Brigade, 1974-1978, Somalia, Ogaden
AF82M: Somali Infantry Brigade & Corps Support, 1975-1979, Somalia, Ogaden
AF83M: West Somali Liberation Front, 1976-1978, Ogaden
AF84M: Somali 2nd Tank Brigade, 1974-1978, Somalia, Ogaden
AR17M: Algerian Armoured Brigade, October-November 1973, Egypt
B52MA: British Infantry Brigade, 1964-1972, all theatres (replaces List B52M)
B77MB: British 24th Infantry Brigade, July-September 1961, Kuwait, Operation Vantage(replaces Lists B77M and B77MA)
E13MA: Egyptian Corps and Army Support, 1973-1974, Egypt (replaces List E13M)
GK16M: Greek Cypriot National Guard, 1966-1974, Cyprus
GK17M: Greek Cypriot National Guard Corps Support, 1966-1974, Cyprus
K4M: Kuwaiti 35th Armoured Brigade, 1987-1990, Kuwait
K5M: Kuwaiti 6th Mechanised Brigade, 1987-1990, Kuwait
K6M: Kuwaiti 15th reserve Mechanised Brigade, 1987-1990, Kuwait
K7M: Kuwaiti 80th Infantry Brigade and Corps support, 1987-1990,Kuwait
K8M: Kuwaiti Army, 1954-1962, Kuwait
K9M: Kuwaiti 6th Mechanised Brigade, 1962-1969, Kuwait
K10M: Kuwaiti 35th Armoured Brigade, 1963-1970, Kuwait
K11M: Kuwaiti 15th Mechanised Brigade, 1962-1970, Kuwait
K12M: Al-Jahra Kuwaiti Brigade Group, October 1973-September 1974, Syria supersedes information on List SY9M)
LA65M: Cuban Mechanised Force, 1978, Ogaden
SU6MA: Saudi Arabian 20th Mechanised Group, October 1973, syria/Jordan
(replaces List SU6M)
SY9MA: Syrian Infantry Brigade & Corps Support, 1971-1975, Syria (replaces SY9M)
T24M: Turkish Order of Battle, July-August 1974, Invasion of Cyprus
T25M: Turkish Airborne Brigade, 1970-1980, all theatres
T26M: Turkish Commando Brigade, 1970-1980, all theatres
T27M: Turkish Special Strike Force Landing Brigade, July 1974, Cyprus
T28M: Turkish 39th Infantry Division, July-August 1974, Cyprus
T29M: Turkish 28th Infantry Division, July-August 1974, Cyprus
T30M: Turkish 5th Armoured Brigade, July-August 1974, Cyprus
T31M: Turkish Cypriot forces, 1966-1974, Cyprus

MODERN ARMIES 1991+
AR18M: Yemeni Armoured Brigade, 1996-2005, Yemen
AR19M: Yemeni Mechanised Brigade, 1996-2005, Yemen
AR20M: Yemeni Infantry Brigade & Army Support, 1996-2005, Yemen

NAVAL LISTS
NAV14: Algerian Navy, 1980-1989

SLA vrs PLO

The South Lebanese Army while investigating the report of an arms cache in one of the neighboring villages came under fire prior to withdrawing, Associated Press has reported today from Beirut.

While it has not been confirmed, unidentified members on staff say it was a poor showing for the SLA. No additional comments have been received from official sources.

Now for the PLO view…

It was a great day for the PLO. Two columns of the SLA attempted to enter the village looking for arms and supplies. One column was to approach the village, clear a roadblock and support the second column approaching the village’s stores and warehouses.

Trouble started early as the right column moved faster than expected and their M-113 was quickly engaged in a firefight from one of the warehouse buildings. After taking three hits by RPGs the M113 retired to check on the damage to the APC.

This left the four squads to secure the warehouse complex. One squad unfortunately had trouble crossing the road and was brought under fire by a PLO LMG team firing from the roof. A squad was able to take one building but was forced to pull back after the M113 and a third squad pulled back. A fourth squad did reach their objective, but was unable to contact the left column. They also pulled back with the other three squads.

The left column was unable to remove the roadblock as they were under fire. Once they secured the PLO position they received orders to pull back to the start line.

(The PLO leader at this position has a different stand on this as he was holding off a superior force and he only left once his position was untenable. He escaped with his own life and his RPG team and the truck. It was our only truck.)

While causalities were similar, 7 PLO for 8 SLA, the fact that the PLO held the field allowed them to recover arms from the causalities and check on their wounded.

 Right column bring the warehouse under fire with the M-113.

Left column under fire while approaching the roadblock.

 SLA pulling from one of the warehouse buildings.

 LMG team bring the SLA squad under fire.

 The PLO commander at the roadblock returning the truck.

M-125 Mortar Carrier

With the completion of the M-125 mortar carrier, I have now completed more figures in the different categories than I have bought this year. Mean the lead pile is getting a little smaller.

Waiting on the blank cards to finish out the deck for my SLA game. Right now the led M113 bumped into the Lebanese militia holding up in one of the buildings along the road. So much for the battle plan.

Platoon Forward - Lebanon Style

In getting ready for my first Platoons Forward campaign I used the rules and modified them slightly to fit a Lebanese militia faction. From my rolls I think we come from a religious organization.

The road looking towards the village.

My concern is that in the past my PLO can win a game but normally there are few troops left standing.

As we are guarding the southern approaches to the town we have acquired an old truck that will enable us to move half of the unit at a time.

Platoon Commander (Avg Die)

• Pragmatic
• Religion
• Even

Second in Command (D4)

• Egotistical
• Religion
• Even
• Military Family

o   +1 Officers

o   +2 Major and above

Headquaters

An RPG Team of two men and a radioman

Support

LMG Team of three

Squad #1

4 AKs

1 RPG-7

The Bigman's Headquarters (Looks a lot like a warehouse out of Clear and Present Danger.

Squad #2

4 AKs

1 RPG-7

Squad #3

4 AKs

1 RPG-7

 

 Showing both sides of the road.

 

Squad #4

4 AKs

1 RPG-7

Roadblock on one of the two roads.

Number of squads was determined by an averaging die as the PLO and militias really did not follow any formal TOE/OB.

Next up the aggressor.

It is Finally Done

With the last of the olive (or were they lemon) trees my quiet village is now complete. We do have some concern about certain (bombed out) areas. We even have a flock of sheep coming into the older part of the village. As it has expanded, we look forward to the radio tower for our new station.

 The village on a 4 by 6 table. White boards was to experiment with a Photoshop effect.

 A view of the town and the market.

 An over view of the orchard.
The warehouse is in the center of the picture.

 My favorite part, the older section of the village.