Russian tank and SP crew

 I have been completing pieces from my project drawers again, first up some ww2 Russian Tank and SP crew, a mix of Orion and Plastic Soldier Company. The Orion figures are soft plastic so the clean up is a little difficult, the psc are nice but oversize IMHO. 

PSC, Orion, PSC

Orion, PSC, PSC

PSC, PSC,PSC

PSC, PSC, PSC

Cheers 

Matt

Birthday Haul

  Last week was my 55th birthday, as a treat we visited the champagne district of France, we stayed in Épernay then visited a number of champagne house (17), Reims cathedral and Museum and managed three 1814 Napoleonic battle locations. When I returned home I had a number of packages awaiting pick up.

The most exciting was the Old Guard band by Warlord Games, some books on Stalingrad, French Indian war bits, French Waterloo uniforms, American airborne medics in Normandy, six T54 for my ongoing Egyptian project for Yom Kippur war, a new gardening trowel and sone zinnias for my garden. 

Very blessed with great gifts from Vanessa, Allison, Mum, and my mates. 

Cheers

Matt

Whisky on the Rocks - Invasion of Gotland 1981, outline

French Wargame Holidays Wargames 

Campaign Weekend 4-7th October 2024

Summer 1981 - “Admiral Ivan Kapitanets was relieved the briefing was over, finally the command to launch the offensive against the West.  The political animal Major General Vladimir Platov’s 11th Guards army is to take the southern Swedish mainland. His Naval Infantry command to the island of Gotland; the key to the eastern Baltic. Then there establish the installation of  Surface to Air missile batteries, controlling  the skies over the baltic and Northern Europe.” We are coming….

I have been thinking about the Cold War and new Wargame to close the 2024 Wargame Holidays.  A Long weekend of Cold War Wargaming. The weekend gaming scenario - “What if the invasion of Gotland circa October 1981?  For those with long memories a Soviet Nuclear Whisky class Submarine S363 grounded itself  off the coast of Sweden in October 1981.  The Swedes decide they want to to keep the grounded submarine and stop it from departing until investigations were completed. 

The game plays out the scenario’s :  The Russians commence operations to recover the submarine and invade Gotland and Mainland Sweden. The game will concentrate on the Russian invasion of Gotland, with airborne and amphibious landings.  The goal to take out the Swedish early warning radar, air assets, and the Naval gun 152mm emplacements defending the ports and channel. Capture the port, airfield and barracks of Visby, Närs coast guard base, the island of Faro with its anti shipping missile batteries and take out the Bunge airfield, all before the Swedish Marine and army reserve can arrive to tip the balance. 

I have researched available 1981 orders of Battle to create the game. To expand the scenario to a weekend game, some elements will take place on the board game ‘Next War, Deadly Northern Lights’. This will track off table Air assets, naval combat and reserves before the game commences etc. The table top will fight the ground actions with or without air support as per earlier map movement.

Gaming across 3 - 4 tables, broken into three phases, the opening moves are VDV spetsnaz assaults on radar installations, electrical supply, communications and the air bases. Followed by missile bombardment of the air bases, the VDV parachute - air landing assault, and Marine Sea landings. Each will carry over casualties and losses so the order of battle will be fluid. Each phase has the possibility to include a reinforcement phase for each side.  

Sign up to my blog to stay tuned for my next article covering 

 # The breakdown of the Orders of Battle

 # The tables layout using Force on Force special forces games. 

 # The order of Battle for the small element games

 # Rapid Fire Able Archer for the larger games. 

To enquire about booking contact me 

Email lhoteldeherce@orange.fr 

FB Messenger

Mobile - +33 06 45 40 30 50 & What’s App

French Wargame Holidays

Cheers 

Matt Williamson 

Rad Flak Maidenhauptführerin and Russian sniper

 

Rad Flak Maidenhauptführerin  and sniper

additions to the 20mm collection again for the analogue painting challenge.

First up a Rad Flak Maidenhauptführerin  officer, the miniature is from Minaron miniatures and I think is listed as a librarian from memory, but this one will join my fall of Berlin collection 

Next up is a Russian female sniper, again a entry for the analogue painting challenge. the miniature is from the AB miniatures range.

Vozdushno-Desantnye voyska Rossii - VDV Russian Airborne part 2

VDV Russian Airborne part 2

VDV airborne badge

Another item to complete for the analogue painting challenge are my soviet airborne brigade, with that in mind I have prepared my Able Archer organisation. The VDV battalions had a lot of support weapons so it is difficult to portray this so I have added a support coy with a mortar coy as per soviet doctrine.

Airborne Parachute Regiment (530 men in each battalion)

Regiment Command company 

CO + 5 figs sniper, First aid and communications, UAZ 469, GAZ66 truck,

• Recon coy 6 figs 1 x BDRM2 1 x UAZ 469
• Air defence coy 1 x UAZ 469 with 1x AA ZU23-2 3 figs  1 x  (9 Strela-3 / Igla MANPADS) 2 figs UAZ 469, 1 x BDRM SA9 
• anti tank battery 1 x ATGM 9K111 Fagot 2 figs, 1 x SPG-9MD recoilless 3 figs 

1st Battalion

OC + 5 sniper, 2 x RPG, first aid and communications mounted in BMD1

 

1st Company to 3rd Company

 assault company 6figs PK LMG Mounted in BMD1 

assault company 6 figs PK LMG mounted in BMD1

assault company 6 figs PK LMG mounted in BMD1

 

support company

AGS launcher 2 figs, spigot ATGM 2 figs

 mortar coy 

Observor 2 figs, 1 x 82mm mortar 3 figs, 1 x PM38 2B11 120mm mortar 3 figs

 

2nd Battalion

OC + 3 sniper, first aid and communications

 

1st Company to 3rd Company

assault company 7 figs RPG-16, PK LMG 

assault company 7 figs RPG-16, PK LMG 

assault company 7 figs RPG-16, PK LMG 

anti tank battery 

1 x ATGM 9K111 Fagot 2 figs, 1 x SPG-9MD recoilless 3 figs

 

support company

AGS launcher 2 figs, spigot ATGM 3 figs

 mortar coy 

 Observer 2 figs, 1 x 82mm mortar 3 figs, 1 x PM38 2B11 120mm mortar 3 figs

3rd Battalion air assault 3 x Mi8 Hips

OC + 5 sniper, RPG x2, first aid and communications

 

 

1st Company to 3rd Company

 assault company 7 figs PK LMG 

assault company 7 figs PK LMG 

assault company 7 figs PK LMG 

anti tank battery 

1 x ATGM 9K111 Fagot 2 figs, 1 x SPG-9MD recoilless 3 figs

 

support company

AGS launcher 2 figs, spigot ATGM 3 figs 

 

mortar coy 

Observer 2 figs, 1 x 82mm mortar 3 figs, 1 x PM38 2B11 120mm mortar 3 figs

ASU 85 x 2  (withdrawn from service in 1993)

I have ordered the extra pieces in metal from S&S models to make up the  plastic battalions short fall of heavy weapons.

cheers

Matt

 

T-26 Tanks....... Вперед

 T26 tanks forward!

The last of the recent purchases of from Clive models, five diecast T26, these are absolutely lovely pieces and I suspect a little more robust for wargaming then the current plastic kits I have. Another pre purchase for nexts years project (I tell myself that!) 

I will only give these guys a wash and grime job, plus basing and they will join my Russian horde. 

Russian T26 tanks

cheers

Matt

T34 атаковать!

 T34 Assault !

I picked up some diecast T34s from Clives diecasts for my early Russian army, which I plan to paint next year. Further additions to the stash....... a repaint I suspect is on the cards too.

cheers

Matt 

KV2 build part 1

 KV2 build progress

I know I should not be building eastern front stuff at the moment but Piers has inspired me with his Stalingrad photos on the Wargamer Forum  , so I completed the KV2 build during the week in between the renovations. 

I plan to get some paint on it this week I hope.  

Cheers

Matt

Russian KV1 markings

Russian KV1 markings KV 2 Tank Markings

While digging through looking fir some research pictures in one of my zip drives,  came across some eastern front 1942-43 KV1 and KV2 tank unit document. Some time ago I come across a piece I found on the net somewhere and I have edited it and added extra unit detail from my research pulling together a document I will continue to update as I can. Hopefully it will be useful to the Russian ww2 modellers and wargamers out there. 

I originally put it together three years ago when I was modelling some vehicles, and looking at the confusing mess of guards and non guard units. 

I love KV1 and KV2 tanks, but the markings have always been a puzzle, particularly KV2 as I have seen none in any photos of the Corps or brigade markings . 

I plan to add some photos of vehicles with the markings to give a visual reference also. Do not hold your breath as this is a working document at the moment and may be a year or two from completion. 

In order to more easily control and identify fighting and transport vehicles, the Commander of the Army's Armoured Forces Semyon Krivoshein gave the following order: For heavy tank units, the introduction the following identification marks:

 
1st Tank Corps : Rhombus
Each tank should be marked with a sequential number.
The numbers for tanks in the 1st Tank Corps: 1-210 unknown how allocated
1st tank corps wheeled transport, the following ranges: 1st Tank Corps: 1-600 (unknown how allocated)
Each brigade should have 70 numbers reserved, starting with the number of the brigade. The letter code should be the numerator and the number code should be the denominator inside the outline.

1st Guards Mechanized Rifle Brigade
2nd Guards Mechanized Rifle Brigade
3rd Guards Mechanized Rifle Brigade
16, 17, 18, 19 Guards Tank Regiments (combined into the 9th Guards Tank Brigade by 1945)

8th Guards Mechanised corps (raised October 43): Rhombus


26th Tank Corps (becomes the 1st Guards Tank Corps 8th December 1942) A Circle
A Circle in white paint on the side and rear of the turret. Each tank should also be marked with a sequential number. The 26th Tank corps numbers allocated were 280-490. Each brigade should have 70 numbers reserved, starting with the number of the brigade. The letter code should be the numerator (top) and the number code should be the denominator (bottom) inside the outline of the circle.

26th Tank Corps wheeled transport, establish the following ranges:: 750-1200 (unknown how allocated)

19th Tank Brigade (becomes the 16th guards tank brigade on 8th December 1942): ?

157th Tank Brigade (becomes the 17th guards tank brigade on 8th December 1942): Ж

216th Tank Brigade (becomes the 15th guards tank brigade on 8th December 1942): З


14th Motor Rifle Brigade (becomes the 1st guards rifle brigade on 8th December 1942)?


4th Tank Corps: (becomes the 5th guards tank corps in Feb 43) Square
A Square drawn on in white paint on the side and rear of the turret. The size of the marks is 50 cm, with a 5 cm thick outline. 4 Tank Corps tank numbers allocated: 4th Tank Corps: 490-700 unknown how allocated.  Each brigade should have 70 numbers reserved, starting with the number of the brigade. The letter code should be the numerator and the number code should be the denominator inside the outline.

4th tank corps wheeled transport 1200-1600

Assign the following letters to brigades:
89th Tank Brigade: А
117th Tank Brigade: Б
158th Tank Brigade:
159th Tank Brigade: В

 
3rd Guards Tank Brigade: Г

3rd Guards Tank Brigade tanks allocated numbers: 210-280

3rd Guards Tank Brigade wheeled transport: 600-750

 

44th Motor Brigade: Д
29th Tank Brigade: Е
14th Motor Brigade: И
45th Tank Brigade: К
69th Tank Brigade: Л
102nd Tank Brigade: М
4th Motor Brigade: Н
22nd Motor Brigade: О
1st Guards .TP: П
2nd Guards TP: Р
4th Guards TP: С

Yet to be place and labeled 
133rd Tank Brigade (11th Guards tank Brigade)
16th Guards tank Brigade
20th heavy tank brigade (46th Guards Separate Heavy tank assault regiment)
25th Guards Tank Brigade
15th Tank Brigade
4580th Separate Heavy Tank Battalion
13th Heavy Tank Regiment
4th Tank Brigade
89th Separate Heavy Tank Battalion
57th Guards Separate Heavy Tank regiment
178th Tank Brigade
6th Guards Tank Brigade
220th Tank Brigade
1st Tank Division
5th Tank Division
53rd Guards Tank brigade
178th Tank Brigade
4th Tank Brigade
16th Tank Brigade
13th Guards Separate Heavy Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Brigade
47th Tank Brigade
36th Guards Tank Brigade

 
cheers
Matt

Minarions Russian destroyed aircraft

I have the plane bug again so building 1/72 scale and 1/300th aircraft again. Off the last weekend was a great offering from Minarions for their SCW collection, as I do early war Russians I have added it to my collection by adding some spare stars and a number, very happy with it as it was a single day build and paint.

Cheers
Matt

30 day kit build challenge

So what is the 30 day kit challenge? Well, something I Copied from Gunbird and his blog "20mm and then some". As I have moved from a house to a unit I need to make room with the tons of kits that I have. So with that in mind I'm starting the 30 day kit build challenge also

Goals are simple, you will build kits during the 30 day challenge:
Any material (plastic, resin, metal, wood).
New in the box or partially built, it matters not.
Gun, tank, truck, aircraft, ship, animal? Your call.
Kit must be basically finished, based if you prefer that, to qualify.
Finished kit must be ready for primer.
Resin and metal upgradesets can be applied after the build.....the goal is to get kits built and ready for primer, not to finish them with paint and varnish etc.
You decide how many kits/models you want to build in the 30 day period.
You set the penalty for not meeting your goal (and after that it is the honor system)

Anything beyond that is up to you

My goal is, in the period from 6/6/17 up to 6/7/17, is to work on a kit every single day, up to a grand total of 20 kits. If I can build more kits n the month, then bonus, if I can't build too many during the week and have to finish them in the weekend, no problem. 20 is my goal and I'm sticking to that.

My penalty is that if I don't make my target, is to sell any unmade kits at the end in my stash.

So, starting with Day #1 (22nd of May 2017), I'm starting with a kit.
Feel free to join in btw.


Cheers
Matt

Team Yankee .....Fail

A game put together loosely based on a total assault of a combined heliborne and armour thrust using every bit of armour I could muster for my Polish and Soviets, my Americans and Brits. The thrust was a complete victory for the soviets as the NATO dice rolling was disasterous.

Battle of Kodziowce & Sopockinie Poland 22 Sept 1939

Battle of Kodziowce & Sopockinie Poland 22 Sept 1939

Down at the club this month we decided to have a early war rapid fire game, so I decided that we would have a Polish vs Russian game, (as my Poles have not been out for some time) finding scenarios for this part of the war is tough as they mostly concentrate on the German invasion in the west. So I had a quick read through a number of my books and online and settled on my version of the battle of Kodziowce. I made up the troops around some field reports and came up with this order of battle and scenario details.
Ian and Leigh supplied the Russians.

Special rules and victory conditions

Russian; all artillery must use direct fire as per doctrine in this period.
The River must be crossed at the bridge for artillery, trucks and Infantry. A recon can be done once for each 1 ft section, a successful crossing will be found for tanks and infantry on a 5 or 6 on a D6.
Game lasts 10 turns.
Setting up aircraft arrival, roll for each turn on a D10 which turn the Russian aircraft are available, then record, then roll for each turn that Polish aircover is available. Then roll for fighters or bombers 1 to 3 Fighter, 4 to 6 bomber. Then match the Russian and Polish arrivals, Fighters drive off other fighters on highest roll and automatically drive off fighter bombers.
Church offers heavy cover, other buildings light cover.
Observation, Movement, Woods, terrain, as per RF rules.
Game lasts 10 turns.
Setting up, roll for each turn on a D10 which turn the Russian aircraft are available, then record, then roll for each turn that Polish aircover is available. Then roll for
fighters or bombers 1 to 3 Fighter, 4 to 6 bomber. Then match the Russian and Polish
arrivals, Fighters drive off other fighters on highest roll and automatically drive off
fighter bombers.
Church offers heavy cover, Polish may only use the church on a successful roll of 6 on a d6 other 

buildings light cover.

Observation, Movement, Woods, terrain, as per RF rules. No shooting through the village as it is a BUA.

Victory conditions

Polish total victory if both R35s escape off the table and the russians do not clear both villages of Kodziowce and Sopockinie.
Russians minor victory if Kodziowce cleared of all enemy, and one R35 destroyed.
Russian major victory if both villages cleared and both R35s destroyed.

Russian 15th Tank Corps, 2nd tank Brigade
Infantry Command
1 coy of two BA 10 A/C
3 Coys of infantry trucks 10 figs each
1 HQ coy 10 figs radio truck and car
1 support coy 2 x MMG and 1 x mortar
1 bty of two M1902/30 76mm Inf guns
two coy of cossack cavalry 10 figs each mounted
1 AA gun horse tow

armoured command
1 coy of two BT26
2 coy of two BT7
1 x BA 20
2 coy Inf trucks 10 figs each
1 coy of two 122mm artillery tractor tows

Aircraft
Aircraft 1 Polikarpov I-16 and one Fighter bomber Polkarpov I-15 max six turns permitted combined

Turn 1
1 coy of two BA10 A/C on the table Northern road

Turn 2 

arrive on Northern edge between river and table edge
3 coys of Infantry in trucks each 8 figs
1 support coy in trucks (9 figs, 2 x MMG, 81mm mortar) and HQ
1 bty of two 76.2mm M1902/30 FG
1 coy of two T26
1 coy of two BT7

Turn 3 dice for aircraft cover

Turn 4 arrive of southern road
2 coy cossack cavalry
1 x A/A gun horse towed
Turn 4 arrive on Northern road
1 coy of two BT71 BA 20
1 coy Inf in truck 8 figs

Turn 5 arrive on northern road

1 coy of infantry truck 8 figs
2 x 122mm M1910/30 How, 8 figs, tractors

Polish Wołkowysk Cavalry Brigade  101st Polish reserve cavalry Regt

1 HQ coy AT rifle, sniper, 46mm light mortar 10 figs

3 coys of Infantry each 11 figs LMG

1 support coy 2 x MMG, 1 x 81.2mm stokes mortar
1 coy calvary 8 figs (in Sopockinie)
1 coy two R35

1 Coy two Vickers 

1 Coy one FT17 MG

1 coy horse 75mm arty and truck tows and observers (in Sopockinie)

Air cover 
1 fighter and fighter bomber 6 turns total of cover rolled at start PZLP.11 and PZLP.23

All units unless noted set up in the village of Kodziowce and may dig in 

Alas my poles could not stand, the successful flanking arrival of the BT7s and my bad AT fire really let me down along with poor observation rolls for the artillery. A minor victory to the Russians .An enjoyable game, a few tweaks to the scenario and it would work better as it was too easy to cross the river on a 5 or 6.

cheers

Matt 

A Fatwa on you and your mother! FOF batrep

At Cancon myself and Matt C (Wartime Minis) decided to hold a FOF participation game using Wartime minis and some terrain I made especially for the game and for Matt's collection.

We only conducted games on the Sunday and we had eighteen people play and a number also watching. The pics are from the first and last games of the day!

I wanted a basic and fast scenario for the participation game.

 Basically the Afghan Mufti Mujaheddin leader had  to save his wife from three fire teams of Russian conscripts, 1 heavy weapon fire team and two rifle fire teams with grenade launchers. The  Mujaheddin  had 6 fire teams Morale D10 while ever their leader was alive but only fired on D6, I also made them elusive while in cover, the mufti had to collect his wife in person. Of the 8 games played he was captured in three of the games, killed once, badly wounded three times and only once was the feat achieved to get his wife out :twisted: the Russian conscripts were regulars on D8s all round, they put up a good fight and only really failed once, when all three fire teams failed a morale rolls in the same turn and bugged out!

I also had a flock of sheep who moved randomly  to interrupt fire if they were caught in any crossfire!

Cheers
Matt