A big Merry Christmas to everyone, we are home in France this year for a cool winter, I do hope Santa is good to you! I will be painting g for the analogue painting challenge as usual!
Cheers
Matt
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Thursday, December 19, 2024
90th Infantry Division in Normandy part 1
90th Infantry Division in Normandy and Pays de Loire
One of the American projects I am planning to build winter is the 90th infantry division (Tough Hombres) for the analogue painting challenge. The 90th landed on Dday at Utah beach, fought their way through the Bocage west of St Lo, suffering horrendous casualties along the way. They captured the important river bridge at Mayenne allowing Pattons army to break out east the swing and close the gate on Falaise.
My plan is to build the 357th Regiment, the reconnaissance troop, and a battery of artillery to start with.
Historical Organisation
Headquarters, 90th Infantry Division
357th Infantry Regiment Col Barth
358th Infantry Regiment
359th Infantry Regiment
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 90th Infantry Division Artillery343rd Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
344th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
345th Field Artillery Battalion (155 mm)
915th Field Artillery Battalion (105 mm)
315th Engineer Combat Battalion
315th Medical Battalion
90th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized)
Headquarters, Special Troops, 90th Infantry DivisionHeadquarters Company, 90th Infantry Division
790th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
90th Quartermaster Company
90th Signal Company
Military Police Platoon
Band
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Fallschirm Aufklärungs Abteilung 12
Fallschirm Aufklärungs Abteilung 12
This parachute reconnaissance battalion was created at the begining of January 1944. An independant unit attached to II. Fallschirmjager - Korps, it was led by Hauptmann Gotsche. I have quite a few spare fallschirmjager, so it will be an easy build. A lot of accounts mention no or not many Armoured cars were available, I plan to at least have 1 Italian Armoured car (1 destroyed at St Lo). And possibly one other in the 1st company, the remainder of the battalion in VW kubelwagens. The support coy, will have heavy cars. Flak 20mm and a pak 40.
Stabs Kp
1Italian armoured car AB 41/43.
222A/C
1 Kp- (Lt Von Konitz)
1 Kp- (Lt Von Konitz)
2 x Kubel wagon 8 figs
2 Kp- (Lt Runge):
2 Kp- (Lt Runge):
2 Kubelwagen 8 figs
3 Kp- (Lt Tereux)
3 Kp- (Lt Tereux)
2 Kubelwagen 8 figs
4 Kp- (Haupt. Raabe): Heavy coy
Flak 20 4 figs light car
81mm mortar 3 crew
2 x MG42 6 crew
5 Kp- (Lt LLig):
1x 120mm mortar 4 crew heavy car
1x 7,5 cm pak 4 crew 40 heavy car
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
341 StuG Brigade
341. Sturmgeschütz Brigade
This unit was formed as 341. StuG.Abt. in December 1943. It was reorganized as 341. StuG.Brig. in February 1944.In May 1944 the unit was located near Narbonne in southern France and it was still forming. On 1 June it had 19 StuG and 9 StuH which can be compared to an authorized strength of 45 assault guns. It remained in southern France during June and recieved further assault guns. On 1 July it was at full strength, having 33 StuG and 12 StuH.
Commanders
Hauptmann Dr Karl Ernst Bumm February 14 1944 - 6th August 1944 wounded
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1615/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341 leaves the Toulouse region in 5 convoys towards Pz.Gr.West.
1st convoy leaves on 25.7.44.
28.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1643/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st convoy to Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc (northwest of Nantes, movement at 22:00.)
The brigade had 20 assault guns on 27 August 14 and five days later it reported twelve assault guns.
On 1 October the brigade had 544 men which was only four less than its establishment called for. During September casualties amounted to only 18 men, while 133 men arrived as replacements. Five men had left the brigade for other reasons than being casualties. Accordingly the brigade must have had 434 men on 1 September.
No deliveries of assault guns to the brigade has been found among the records of the Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, except 17 StuG III and 10 StuH III sent to OB West on 31 July for further distribution.These arrived 9 August and may have ended up with 341. StuG.Brig. The assault gun deliveries indicated by Tornau/Kurowski may also have been taken from various training facilities in France (there was e.g. an assault gun school at Tours). On 1 October the brigade had 10 combat ready assault guns and 13 in short term repair.
Hauptmann Gunter Dreyer August 1944 - September 1944
Hauptmann Dr Eric Barkley September 1944- 8th December 1944 KIA
Movements
24.7.44Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1615/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341 leaves the Toulouse region in 5 convoys towards Pz.Gr.West.
1st convoy leaves on 25.7.44.
28.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1643/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st convoy to Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc (northwest of Nantes, movement at 22:00.)
2nd convoy to Couëron (northwest of Nantes, movement at 22:00.)
3rd and 4th convoy on 26.7 at the entrance to Nantes.
29.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1648/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st and 2nd convoy to Rennes, movement planned at nightfall.
3rd convoy to Redon, movement in the evening.
4th convoy to Beslé* (north-east of Redon), movement in the evening.
* Beslé station is a railway station on the Rennes to Redon line, located in the municipality of Guémené-Penfao.
30.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1655/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st convoy and 2nd convoy unloaded early on 30.7 at La Boussac and Pleine-Fougères (east of Dol).
3rd and 4th convoy stopped at Rennes; continuation planned for 30.7 after dark.
5th convoy at the entrance to Nantes.
31.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1662/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
3rd convoy unloaded early on 30.7 at Combourg (south of Dol).
4th convoy unloaded on 30.7 in the evening at Rennes.
5th convoy on 31.7 at Redon, continuation planned at nightfall towards Combourg.
1.8.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1672/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
5th convoy unloaded on 1.8 at Combourg.
It was reported on 1 August that the two committed batteries were almost all destroyed, while the third battery was still close to Rennes. It was reported that five railway cars with elements of the brigade were still in Redon on 2 August.
2.8.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1681/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
(StuG of the 5th road convoy) 2.8 to Redon, movement at nightfall towards Rennes
According to Tornau/Kurowski the brigade quickly received new assault guns from Paris and Tours. How many the brigade received is not clear, but it was reported that on 3 August four assault guns were in the area of Nantes and it is possible that these were intended for the 341. StuG.Brig.
3rd and 4th convoy on 26.7 at the entrance to Nantes.
29.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1648/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st and 2nd convoy to Rennes, movement planned at nightfall.
3rd convoy to Redon, movement in the evening.
4th convoy to Beslé* (north-east of Redon), movement in the evening.
* Beslé station is a railway station on the Rennes to Redon line, located in the municipality of Guémené-Penfao.
30.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1655/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st convoy and 2nd convoy unloaded early on 30.7 at La Boussac and Pleine-Fougères (east of Dol).
3rd and 4th convoy stopped at Rennes; continuation planned for 30.7 after dark.
5th convoy at the entrance to Nantes.
31.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1662/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
3rd convoy unloaded early on 30.7 at Combourg (south of Dol).
4th convoy unloaded on 30.7 in the evening at Rennes.
5th convoy on 31.7 at Redon, continuation planned at nightfall towards Combourg.
Commitment to stem the American breakout
The unit was first comitted to combat in the Brécey - Avranches area on 31 July in Kampfgruppe Bacherer along with the iii 897 regiment, 77th infantry division and two battalions II Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-und-Ausbildung Regiment 2 FJD to retake Avaranches. Heavy fighting occurred whilst trying to retake Pontaubault bridge. It seems that 1st Batterie was the first unit to see action. During its first days of combat, this battery lost twelve of its fourteen assault guns. |
| StuG III destroyed by AT fire, note the modified Shurzen and debris guard on top of the Mantlet. |
1.8.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1672/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
5th convoy unloaded on 1.8 at Combourg.
It was reported on 1 August that the two committed batteries were almost all destroyed, while the third battery was still close to Rennes. It was reported that five railway cars with elements of the brigade were still in Redon on 2 August.
2.8.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1681/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
(StuG of the 5th road convoy) 2.8 to Redon, movement at nightfall towards Rennes
According to Tornau/Kurowski the brigade quickly received new assault guns from Paris and Tours. How many the brigade received is not clear, but it was reported that on 3 August four assault guns were in the area of Nantes and it is possible that these were intended for the 341. StuG.Brig.
Fighting Pontorson - Dinan - St. Malo area.
Again the fighting was costly and the ii battery of the brigade eventually was surrounded.
1944 at the corner of rue de Dinan and de Langrolay/Rance in Pleurtuit
The StuH was destroyed by a 57mm from the 121st Infantry Division on the 9th August, an artillery round subsequently hit the vehicle blowing it apart.
 |
| Destroyed by company L by bazooka 121st Infantry Division on the 8th August, St Malo, |
 |
| St Malo destroyed by C Company 644th tank destroyer battalion 12th August |
Withdrawal north east.
The brigade had 20 assault guns on 27 August 14 and five days later it reported twelve assault guns.
On 1 October the brigade had 544 men which was only four less than its establishment called for. During September casualties amounted to only 18 men, while 133 men arrived as replacements. Five men had left the brigade for other reasons than being casualties. Accordingly the brigade must have had 434 men on 1 September.
No deliveries of assault guns to the brigade has been found among the records of the Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, except 17 StuG III and 10 StuH III sent to OB West on 31 July for further distribution.These arrived 9 August and may have ended up with 341. StuG.Brig. The assault gun deliveries indicated by Tornau/Kurowski may also have been taken from various training facilities in France (there was e.g. an assault gun school at Tours). On 1 October the brigade had 10 combat ready assault guns and 13 in short term repair.
Monday, December 2, 2024
Aérospatiale Alouette III. Ia French Gendarmerie
A very old kit from the stash is finally completed, I elected to actually paint this one as a French gendarme helicopter, with a Force on force scenario in mind. I have another two Alouette’s which will join my French airforce and a mercenary unit in the future.
A simple build, but the instructions leave a little to be desired, I added Elhiem civilian crew models and added a weight in the mid section so I can add a flying stand if required. The decals were a little old so I clear varnished them, only a few splintered, but not terrible. Overall quite happy with my build results.
Cheers
Matt
Sunday, December 1, 2024
NATO pilots and ground crew
Another small project completed. A mix of Airfix and Esci Miniatures. The pilots are a mix of RAF, USAF and Luftwaffe. I could not resist painting some of the ground crews in aircraft carrier jackets.
Cheers
Matt
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