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

6 Day Para Painting Challenge: Day 2

Hey Folks,

Day 2 was quite productive in the Para Painting Challenge.  So far I have;

• Undercoated Everything
• Almost finished the "Panzerfausts out the Wazoo" FJ platoon.  Just have touch ups, some final detail work and basing to do. 
• Almost finished Vondy and a Panzerfaust Trap Team
• Blocked in and Ink Washed the PaK 40 platoon.

First  fully Panzerfaust equipped Platoon almost done

State of Progress Day 2

WIP PaK's

God knows why I chose and army with Camo to paint to a ridiculous timeframe!

Pooch is coming round tonight for a combined painting marathon.  I plan to get the first platoon and PaKs finished and hopefully make a start on blocking in another platoon.

Teams Finished:     0
Teams WIP:          14
Teams to Start:      23

Cheers
Jason

6 Day Para Painting Challenge: Day 1

Hey Folks,

Simon is hosting a Market Garden Total War game soon and next Thursday we are running a trail game at the Cavaliers.  It was in discussion about forces available that we realised that apart from Stephen S's new British Para's there are very few finished Paratrooper armies around!  You cant have Market Garden without paras...so Pooch and I threw down a crazy challenge, paint 1200pts of Para's by next Thursday!

Pooch is doing the US 82nd Airborne (he had an army in his drawer...) while I managed to scrounge and trade stuff to get enough models for a 6th Fallschirmjager Kompanie...

6th FJ for Market Garden

• Kompanie HQ with CiC PzFaust, 1 Stummelwerfer 42, 3 Panzerschrecks
• Von Der Hydte with 2 Panzerfuast Trap Teams
• Full Fallschirmjager Platoon with CMD SMG Panzerfuast 
• 2/3 Fallschirmjager Paltoon, all with Panzerfausts
• Machine Gun Platoon with 2 MG42 HMG's
• Mortar Platoon with 2 Stummelwerfer 42's
• Anti-Tank Platoon with 4 PaK 40's

So as you can see above today I based everything and under coated the first platoon...so lots more to go!

Cheers
Jason

Snow Challenge: Winter Panzers Update Three - But Where has the Snow Gone?

Hey Folks,

The Snow has gone now...and so has the Winter whitewash;

Tried my hand at the license plate...note sure if this is exactly where it went?

And with my StuG's I did for the Autumn Sperrverband. I am stoked  that I remembered the way to paint them so they match!

I decided to go back to weathered and chipped three tone camo as it really is more versatile then the winter wash. White Panzers look cool, but don't fit anything other then winter and it means I am really restricted is say someone wants to do Normandy or Italy for example. I am going to stick to the Autumn colouring from now on :)

Yes this means have to re-paint the Hornisse :P

Got a painting evening coming up soon, so might do some Hummels next.

Cheers
Jason