Flames of War: Day of Days Tourney Report

Hey Folks,

The 12th Day of Days was held this weekend in Timaru hosted by Craig and it was a great weekend :)

It was an Axis vs Allies team event with each player having 1100pts. Theme was the Normandy Breakout battles. I went with Andy and we took Kampfgruppe Luck from the veteran 21st Panzer Division.  Specifically we ran "Rommels Funnies" - a horde of converted Assault Guns built from captured French vehicles by the talented and resourcefull Alfred Becker

These are are all Front Armour 2 (read: wafer thin) which means we would often die if we got hit. We planned to just not get hit! The above is my now favourite SPG - the Buete StuH packing an awesome 105mm gun. These guys can bombard and have 32" range Breakthrough Guns so smash infantry good!

Andy had the StuG Batterie

Command StuG (PaK 40)

2 platoons of 2 StuG's (PaK 40's)

1 platoon of 4 StuH's (105mm) 

1 full battery of Lorraine Schepplers (150mm)

I ran the Motorised Panzergrenadiers

Major Hans Von Luck

Command 

2 platoons full Panzergreens in Trucks

1 platoon 4 PaK 40 Half Tracks

1 platoon 4 StuH's (105mm)

1 platoon full Motorised Scouts 

First game was against Mark (US Armoured Rifles) and Dave (US Armour) in a Hold the Line

KG Luck dug in and awaiting the onslaught 

Basically we were defending two fords and while the tanks got close I managed to hold them off long enough for Andys StuG's to arrive and start to snipe out the tanks. The far ford above was hotly contested with two armoured rifle platoons cut to ribbons in the shallow water by timely artillery barrages and massed machine gun fire. 10-2 win to Ze Germans! 

2nd Game was vs Martin (British Churchill Sqaudron) and Robert (Canadian Paras) in a modified Free for All. We ended up isolated from each other with my panzergrens facing the paras in a ruined village while Andy took on 14(!) Churchills with his StuG's on the outskirts. Oh and they bought a Heavy Cruiser for Naval Gunfire Support...

Schleppers don't like 12"Shells hitting them :(

Poor Andy got smashed by the Cruiser but managed to slow the Churchills down  long enough for my reserves to come to his aid, holding his flank. Meanwhile the village was a grind first with highlights being the Leeming like Paras jumping into buildings only to be Breakthrough Gunned to death. Over and over...

Neither side could get to an enemy objective so it was a 2-6 Draw

3rd game in the second day was vs Wellingtonians Mark (British Infantry) and Simon (British Armoured) in a No Retreat. We were attacking so went with a massed infantry assault supported by the two StuH batteries...which got caught in the open by a full battery of mortars...

Assault Guns lead the way!

With our attack on danger of stalling and down half our infantry we got lucky and managed to remount our StuH's. Breakthrough guns obliterated two platoons of infantry and we eventually steam rollered forward into the woods with the objective. 

Extreme Close Fire Support

Meanwhile our ranged AT SPG's took a toll on the British Armour and we ended up breaking both enemy companies in the same turn. Huzzah! 8-4 win to us 

Last game was vs our old foes  Pooch (Task Force A) and Adam (US Cavalry) in another (but not modified) Free for All. 

Totally forgot to take photos but it was one of those games we should have lost. The yanks were all up in our grill from the first turn and put heavy pressure on us. Some desperate defence and a lot of luck saw Andy broken but the Panzergreens carry the day. Highlight was capturing a whole platoon of Sherman's in a assualt (sorry Pooch!)

Speaking of Panzernackers I picked up

Most Assaults! Which I was stoked with :)  - and a box of Cromwells...I sense a Desert Rats army in my Future

Overall we were last place for Axis (conceded to many points with our glass cannons) but  think 6th overall. 

Thanks to Craig for the awesome weekend, everyone we played and to Andy especially for a great team mate to throw down some dice with! 

Cheers

Jason 

Flames of War 2012 Completion Challenge: Ze Germans

Hey Folks,

Pooch and I were discussing how much Flames of War models we have lying around, being all tardy and unpainted and the like.  So far he has been a machine and cracked through some Kiwi Armour of Mid and Late war as well as Early and Late war Germans.

I, truth be told have not done a whole lot, mainly focusing on Dystopian Wars as well as being diverted by SAGA.  Craig's Day of Days event has prompted me to paint up some Germans, and it was while searching through my collection I realised I had a ridiculous (though not as bad as some: I'm looking at you of the broken arm, you know who you are!) amount that needed to be built and painted...so the Challenge this year is to get this done;

 And note this doesn't include all my Transports that I need to strip/ assemble and paint.

 So for the Panzers this is;

• A full 14 Tank Tiger Kompanie (note 6 of the Forged in Battle Tigers are a mates that I will paint for him) Including two Tiger I (Porsche) that will do double duty in my 653. Schwerepanzerjager Kompanie
• Another Elefant (for 3 total) and a Jagdtiger for 653. Schwerepanzerjager
• 4 Brumbarr's, 3 Mobelwagons and 3 Hummels for the Panzer IV Panzer Kompanie (11 Panzer IV's painted so far)
• 5 StuG's to add to my 5 Painted StuG's to make a StuG Batterie
• 9 Panthers, 2 Jagdpanthers and a Bergepanther to make a Panther Kompanie
• 4 PaK 40 RSO's to go with a Speerverband

For the Infantry this is;

• 5 Grenadier Platoons, 3 with Light Mortars.  This combined with my one painted platoon will allow me to field a Grenadier Kompanie or Sperverband as well as have more than enough MG Teams to transition to a Panzergrenadier/ Aufklarungs Kompanie or Sturm Kompanie as well as Rifle Teams to field a Schirungs Kompanie
• 1 Pioneer Platoon with two goliaths. This combined with my painted Pioneer platoon, and pumped out by some Grenadiers will allow me to field a Panzerpioneer Kompanie or a foot Pioneer Kompanie
• 3 More Fallshcirmjager stands, allowing me to field two full strength squads in Fallschirmjager Kompanie
• 6 HMG Teams and 2 8cm  to add to my two painted Mortars and HMG's so I can field two full HMG platoons and a full Mortar platoon.
• A full PaK 40, Pak 36 (7.62cm)r, Pak 38 and Pak 36 Anti-Tank Gun platoons
• 3 NW42 Nebelwerfers
• Objectives

So this is an awful lot to paint, and I STILL want more (I would love a Czech and a Medium Panzerkompanie) but I really need to get all this done first...and then onto fixing/ painting replacements for my damaged Soviets and the start of some Kiwis!

So, better get cracking then!

Cheers

Jason

Day of Days Aufkalrungs: Sorted

Hey Folks,

I am heading down to Craig's Day of Days event so really need to get an army sorted! This is a teams event and I am going with Bob as my partner, who is bringing his "travel" army.

I was planning to do Kiwi Infantry (Maori Battalion) but their is no way I will get them painted in time, so we switched sides to Ze Germans.

I have gone for this;

As they look like alot of fun.

Nutted out the list finally to be;

Stab.Zug
Hauptman and 2iC with Panzerknackers

1.Zug Motorised Aufklarungs Platoon
HQ with Panzerknacker and 3 Squads

2.Zug Gepanzerte Aufklarungs Platoon
HQ with Panzerknacker, 3 Squads and extra SdKfz 250 Halftracks.

3.Zug Motorised Heavy Platoon
HQ, 2 8cm Mortars and Observer

4.Zug Gepanzete Anti-Tank Platoon
HQ and 3 Pak 38's with SdKfz 251 Transports

5.Zug Heavy Armoured Car Patrol
2 8-Rads

6.Zug Motorised Panzer Pioneer Platoon
HQ with SMG, 3 Squads and a Pioneer Supply Truck

7.Zug Nebelwerfer Battery
HQ, Observer, 3 NW41's and a PaK 36 Anti-Tank Section.

1200pts on the dot.

I have almost all of this, and only 7 stands of infantry to paint.  Alas I do have all the vehicles to paint, so its time to crack out my crappy airbrush and see if I can get a good effect out of it!

Will post up some WIP shots soon, as only have just over a month to do this...

Cheers
Jason

A new SAGA has begun: the Normans Invade!

Hey Folks,

Jamie has got into SAGA  and it looks pretty cool, especially after I stole to Rulebook from him yesterday.  A good scrounge through my collection of half started projects yielded great results:   A box of Crusader Miniatures plastic Norman Knights (which I was going to use for Impetus) as well as a box of Gripping Beast Saxons.

SAGA really doesn't need a lot of models to play and is a really simple (but deep) game.  I think I am going to love it, as it slots right in with my "beer and pretzels" play style.

A few hours conversion work and bam: a 5 point army to take Jamie's Vikings on this Monday night;

Crap photo, and its all just grey plastic but the above breaks down to;

• Comes Robert de Comines (Warlord!)
• 2 Units of 6 Knights (3pts of Hearthgaurd)
• 1 Unit of 8 Warriors with Spears and Shields (1pt)
• 1 Unit of 8 Warriors with Crossbows (1pt)

The two foot units are converted from Saxons.  The Spear unit has spare Knight heads and a few Kite shields so they look the part, apart from the fact they are all in chain-mail, so are probably too heavily armoured.  

Likewise the Crossbow unit are all converted, but I ran out Norman heads so used a mix of Saxon heads and some left over Ancient German helmeted heads.  I also gave them all swords, so I figure they can be one of the many Mercenary units employed with the promise of lands in England.

Very much looking forward to painting this, though I also have an army to paint for Day of Days and the Iron Man Challenge, which looks like it will be an Italy Mid War Aufkalrungs Squadron.  I am busy on the scrounge for more SdKfz 250 Halftracks (or US M2/3 Halftracks) as well as some armoured cars...

Cant wait for the game on Monday night!

Cheers

Jason

FJ's @ Conquest 2011

Hey Folks,

Just finished up today at Conquest today and things went pretty well, all my joking about "submarining" after Bob's Para's slaughtered me...but I ended up picking up;

Which was awesome.

After much "list frothing" I ran 6th Fallschirmjager from Market Garden as seen here with the addition of two of  Pooch's Jagdpanthers. I did change the list a little bit to have two 7 stand FJ platoons and a 7 stand FJ Pioneer platoon (with 2 Flamethrowers) and a full HMG platoon.  It was quite a good choice in the end.

I didn't take my camara alas, so in brief;

• 1st game was vs's Bob's British Paras in a Free Fall on the Bocage Table...went down 1-6 as I sort of faffed about and didn't plan my attack (or defence) well. Bob played a perfect game and let me hang myself out to dry.  Bob's a great man to play too :)
• 2nd game was vs Simon's British Rifles (with breaching group) in a Fighting Withdrawal...at night!  Simon hadn't played Fighting Withdrawal before and I hadn't fought at night...it was interesting and bloody.  I managed to hold out in the end with a Jagdpanther and one platoon holding out for just long enough (the full 8 turns) wining it 4-3.  Simon should have won and some unlucky unpinning rolls cost him dear. 
• 3rd game was vs Adam's Neisei in the City with Not One Step Back.  I had played plenty of cityfighting but it was Adams first fight in the bloody mess that is Urban warfare.  It takes a bit to get used to how the room/ building interaction works and how tough infantry are.  The Arty/Air got my Jagdpanthers in the end but I ground through his flank to take it 5-2.  As with the game vs Simon the HMG's did good work suppressing the enemy infantry.
• 4th game (today's first game) was vs Jeff's British Rifles (with Croc's and Wasps!) on Craig's Awesome Cassino Table in a No Retreat...and again at night!.  I managed to hold the hordes off and keep most of the flamethrowing vehicles away (no thanks to the Jagdpanthers who continued there suck form).  Jeff failed some critical unpinning checks again and I managed a 6-1 win.
• 5th and final game was vs Jim's Panzergrenadiers in Dust Up.  We both had never played this mission before and it was quite interesting.  We each set up a strong defensive fort in our quarters and once it was obvious he wouldn't come to me (which would have been suicide) I sent a platoon with Vondy off  over a river and towards his edge and my incoming reserves.  Jim had two Tiger I's (ROF3) waiting for my flanking Jagdpanthers and we traded fire with the Jagd's coming off best but losing one in the process. My flanking force got pinned down but the platoon on the trek got in and grabbed the objective after a bitter fight.  This left my initial defence force weak and Jim's flank force almost pushed through and grabbed MY objective.  In the last turn my PaK's ran away so 5-2

Estella picked up a well deserved Best Sports with Pooch and Craig 1st equal, but Craig landing 1stPlace (for like the 10th time :)) as he defeated Pooch in their game.

Thanks heaps to Stephen S for running it and Comic's Compulsion for Hosting the event. 

Cheers

Jason

6th Fallschirmjager at Market Garden, Christchurch Cavaliers Total War!

Hey Folks,

Here is a the first 4 turns of the Total War game organised by Simon.  It was super awesome and the other Christchurch Bloggers have been blogging up a storm about it.

Jamies Report

Adam's Flyby

Martins Brilliant Report

Super kudos to Simon for organising it, Andy T for ironing out the game play wrinkles and Stephen S for all his awesome terrain...and I will think you will all agree it looked suitably EPIC :)

Looking from Eindhoven through Nijmegen to Arnhem at the far end. 

Nijmegen

Arnhem

6th FJ Deploy on Hells Highway...yes thats a Jagdpanther

Facing FOUR 30 Corps Companies! 

I don't know why, but the Jagdpanther seemed to put the woolies up the Allied Tank Commanders...

At the other end - British Paras advancing from Oosterbeek

Jamies Sperrverband defending the outskirts of Arnhem

2cm FlaK 38 Portees! Super Cool

Frost's boys hold the bridge

Gott in Himmel! Jabos!

30 Corps Advances...

And starts to grind through my FJ, who fall back toward the Highway in the Center

But Nowhere is Safe!...Panzerfaust Trap team takes out a Bogged Tank left all by itself...

An the Jagd is Bailed, and stays Bailed as a) I cant roll a 4+ to remount in two turns and b) I  seem to only roll ones for Armour Saves!

Panzerschreks race forward but only bail one tank...

So wisely retreat to await the onsalught

And this is how it was when I passed command to Pooch, who was commanding the Luftwaffe Company "holding" Nijmegen...apparently the poor FJ's were  wiped out to a man in subsequent turns.  

And a parting shot of the Para's slowly getting ground down in Arnhem

What I didnt take photos off was my PaK 40 Ambush that I popped on the far flank next to the 2 Priest Batteries that had just double moved...it killed a 3 Priest and drew off a Sherman Platoon and a Motor Rifle Platoon.  Likewise when I pulled out a Panzerfaust Trap team down by the Priest's later on a Motor Rifle Platoon came back to deal with him...

This diversion of forces, defensive tactics (and the Jagdpanther "psy weapon") delayed the Allied Armour and helped ensure they didn't quite get to the Bridge in time to save Frost.

End result was a Narrow Victory to the Germans...how historical!

Cheers
Jason

Fallschirmjager in Eindhoven: Market Garden Test Game

Hey Folks,


Here was the whole point of the Para Painting Challenge, getting the Fallschirmjager done for the Market Garden Test game:

Board from JOE's bridge end, the first town their is Eindhoven 

Fallschirmjager with masses of Panzerfaust lurk in the town while the larger platoon holds the Crossroads. 

Welsh Guards Cromwells race down a side road to avoid the town, 

PaK 40's ambush...

More Ambushing PaK's

Meanwhile the 107 Panzerbrigade reserves turn up and are jumped by the mighty Beep Beeps!

And a massive horde of German Grenadiers from KG Tettau overuns the British Para's in Arnhem

The Cromwells overrun the PaK's (eventually!) but are in turn jumped by the Panzerfaust Trap teams ...

Cromwells burn round the other flank and avoid the town...

...and Assualt the big Para platoon and are eventually ground  down.

The poor Welsh Guards didnt really have a chance once the first platoon got nailed. This has led to a re-write of the scenario deployment.

Looking forward to the next Trial game!

Cheers
Jason

Para Painting Challenge: Day 6 - Finished!

Hey Folks,

Done!

FJ ready to close Hells Highway...

Big FJ Platoon

HQ Teams

HMG's and Mortars

Now I wont be doing another one of these mad challenges in awhile I think, but I have painted more FOW infantry in these 6 days then I have in the last 6 months!

I also think I have finished first...as I got an email from Pooch saying his last unit was drying in the Hot Water cylinder...tardy Americans :P

Now to see if they can hold of the Guards Armour (or Rifles) of 30 Corps.

Cheers
Jason

6 Day Para Painting Challenge: Day 5

Hey Folks,

Just like Pooch I haven't had a chance to upload pics but I did get quite a bit done last night:

• Finished painting the HMG's and Mortars, but have yet to flock the bases
• Blocked in and washed the rest of the HQ, Panzerschreks, Stummel and Panzerfaust Trap teams

So this just leaves the Big FJ Platoon and HQ Sections to finish painting, and then flock all the bases. Alas I have a work thing on tonight, so I wont be home till 9ish :(

So I am a bit behind Pooch...I blame the Camo :P

Teams Finished:  14

Teams WIP:       24
Teams to Start:   0

Cheers
Jason

6 Day Para Painting Challenge: Day 4

He Folks,

A Marathon painting session this night has seen some good progress on the Fallschirmjager;

Progress so far!

FJ Platoon blocked in and ink washed

Mortars and HMG's Blocked in an Ink Washed

Sweet. I'll block in the remaining Command Teams tomorrow night then work on finishing the HMG's and Mortars...the end is in sight!

Teams Finished:   14
Teams WIP:        17
Teams to Start     7

Cheers
Jason

6 Day Para Painting Challenge: Day 3

Hey Folks,

Got some good painting done last night and actually finished two platoons!

I have also started to block in the Mortars and HMG's

Pooch is making Beep Beep noises...

Here is the state of it so far;

Panzerfaust equipped FJ platoon all finished and based.

PaK's good to go.

This was a Panzerfaust trap team, but as I only need two trap teams and he is standing I reckon he will do for the big FJ's platoon command.

Vondy.  Alas his Luger's barrel snapped off so he now has a smaller pistol...

So we are at:

Teams Finished:   14
Teams WIP:         7
Teams to Start:     17

Right, back to work...

Cheers
Jason