Haans's Diary of all things German

[leopard]

A fine battle, wondering where the Luftwaffe actually are, or if they exist? Paused to rest in a small abandoned village, some chance, damned British jumped us surrounded. Loss of scout units these days is getting serious.

Dug in and tried to work out what was going on while the shells rained down. Dug in around the artillery I could see some of those cursed 25 pound guns the Brits are so fond of, ahb well we know how to handle them - ignored them for now.

More concerning, armour from both sides, I could see M4 units, 2iC reported a breaching group with churchilld from the other side. Well, with a grin I remembered where the jagdpanther crews had camped, they would enjoy that, between them and the platoon over there they could hold that flank.

Faced the M4 backed by engineers, lost the pak40, but drove the Brits back hard, the artillery firing over open sights showed them the lessions of the last war.

North flank safe the Brits revealed a couple of there Armoured carriers, bypassed the heavies as they munched on the heavier armour.

Heard a huge explosion as the British shells found thief mark on the cats, the other caught the British carriers and kept on firing, a few Brit survivours tried a futile assault but where pushed back.

The remaining Btits pulled back, lacking the mobility we regrouped, nice village, shame to leave it but the bombers would be bound to follow.

Another day, another few miles

[leopard]

Remained in the village, change in orders from command, reinforcements arrived to assist with a warning that some Allied armour was on the way, singing something about lumberjacks for some reasons they say.

Yet again surrounded, much larger defensive force, unpacked a few creates of panzerfausts and handed them round, told everyone to keep their heads down, no heroics were are here to hold ground not win the war.

One flank saw the arrival of four M4 and some infantry, the other more infantry and two more M4 platoons, plus a few lone tanks further back that had to be command units, a few carriers buzzing around like hornets, plus the most unwelcome appearance in the clear skies of a flight of typhoons.

This was going to be a long day.

The damned fireflies did for the jagdpanthers, they had only just got the second one going again, not sure if they will fix them this time. Thankfully the sFH18 managed to crucify that platoon of M4 and the enemy pulled back to circle behind a wood and regroup, 2nd platoon followed them at a distance aware the enemy infantry was lurking in a wood - with the flank secure they made ready to strike into the wood, 1st platoon just held under amazing levels of fire, watching a few M4 brew up to long range fire from the anti tank guns.

Other main flank saw 3rd platoon and the pioneers push back the third enemy armoured formation, with the mortars giving a wonderful demonstration of why its a bad idea when infantry advance to hold close formation, with the loss of much of 3rd platoon and the leFH18 battery to tank shells though they were driven back.

2nd platoon assaulted into the woods but were driven back, recovering enough to cause enough casualties with guns to drive the enemy infantry off, leaving a reduced armoured force which felt obliged to charge the lines, what remained of 1st platoon saw off the advance, with which the Allied forces pulled back.

Once again heavy casualties, but victory. (4-3 to the Germans due to casualties suffered).

Another great game, nice to take the wheels off an run a larger force, 2k5 is brutal but the Grenadiers defended reasonably well, just no point at all in trying to spread out. That Typhoon did very well, some seven turns in a row arriving on target and typically removing something for its trouble. My artillery managed to give a demonstration of how to miss, the leFH18 10.5cm guns I don't think hit anything all game bar one direct fire round, which bounced off. The sFH18 heavies did better but its still back to artillery school for the gunners.

Developing more respect for the fireflies, this list needs some adjustments so as not to need the jagdpanthers at all, scouts would be useful, as would some SS infantry for assaults, just currently lack either. Panzerfasut rifle/MG teams are perhaps on the expensive side normally but in this level of game well worth the points.

[leopard]

Early / Mid War German forces


Panzer Pioneer Platoon, un-armoured transports


Panzer Scout Platoon, as per Eastern Front and not the newer style "motorcycle recce"


8-Rad Heavy Panzerspah Patrol


Panzer IV-F2, there are a few more of these amazingly useful tanks in the army


Panzer IV-D, Early War only version


Panzer 38(t), again a few more of these with eight in total in the army


Sd.Kfz 251/1A, Providing enough mechanisation for a single infantry platoon


Panzer II-F, light armoured recce, A 5th model is lurking somewhere


Panzer IV-F1, single platoon of them, sort of half way house between a Pz-III-G and a Pz-IV-F2


Panzer III-G, the army has an unholy number of these tanks, sadly with only AT:7 they always need some support from heavier units


Sd.Kfz 7/2 (3.7cm) Armoured flak half tracks

Infantry gets borrowed from the rest of the army as and when required, likewise air support.

[Baldie]

They look great.
Hope those rumours of troops massing in the East are just that.

Our master plan of slowing down invaders with our own dead bodies may have a few flaws.

[leopard]

Afrika Corps finally got an outing, against the hated Germans (you can see why Haans has a red star and is watched closely). Managed a victory against some mountain troops who were caught napping by the Schutzen actually using the trucks for a blitz assault past a couple of anti tank guns and onto the objective for a win on the third turn, having captured the objective on turn 2.

Moral of the story, defend the objectives above all else, only got away with this through a mistake by the enemy otherwise would have had to sit and wait for reinforcements.

Luftwaffe had fun against the Luftwaffe.. who spent the whole game chasing each other off, except for a single air strike, which missed - way to go guys... again...

Hasty Attack is a nasty one in a small game as three objectives to defend can be a royal pain for a small force.

Fun though, and the desert guys finally managed to get out of the box, even if only for a couple of rounds of action.

[Tiger 1]

Was great to see you Dale

[Baldie]

The figs looked great as well.
Don't worry about Haan's Petrov has recently and rather unexpectedly recieved the Legion De Honour

[leopard]

Bin painting, don't have an army to use this beauty with (as yet), but the model is very nice so added it was.



Airbrushed the base colours, in theory there should be a mottled effect in the light blue but thats a bit beyond me at present, also the decals are designed for the dark green bodywork so a bit too light here but not bothered as I like the look.

[leopard]

Update on Mid War stuff, also usable Early War, well some of it.

Second pair of 8-Rad for the heavy recce platoon



Obviously un-weathered, waiting the rest of the decals to arrive




Panzer IIIN, with the as yet un-named 2iC driving, again waiting the rest of the decals before weathering

Its not quite that black in person, the gloss and sunlight makes it look darker but it is pretty dark, wonderfully sinister to hide in the shadows. Weathering will lighten it up a bit.

Decals so far are by PSC, and unlike the Battlefront ones actually fit on the model. Though irritatingly the 2. Panzer decals are 1944 period (which the website doesn't mention) so have ordered some earlier ones which will provide nice red/white numbers as well as divisional marking.

Not holding my breath on them arriving before the event so will probably be running a few glossy tanks. Plan is to repaint the rest into these colours but thats for another day.

[Baldie]

Too many nice figures, I am really struggling with my SCW lot.
Think it is the lack of tanks.