German tanks ?

Greetings troops.

Some pictures regarding some Panzer III Ns I purchased.  Some assembling pictures as well as the initial base coat.  Enjoy.

These are the HQ for my Eastern Front German forces I am slowly gathering.  My friend Steve is doing the same on the Russian side of things.  We are looking to hit some eastern front action starting around the Battle of Kursk.  It is a slow paced process ... but you will get to see something different on the blog.

327th Glider Infantry's 2nd squad of 1st platoon Able company  is formed up.  Basing is beginning.  I am going to attach them via superglue and see if that makes the bond stronger to the base.  Basing and scenery will still be place via wood glue/white glue.  Here are some pictures as well.

Third squad of 1st platoon, Able Company is now forming ....

I hope all is good in everyones foxhole.  Follow your chain of command and sound off if needed !

Joe Mezz

Poll Results

Greetings troops,

After a landslide vote (1 out of 1) I will be moving on to antitank weapons for my support platoon.  I have always loved the GMC tank destroyer and will most likely start with this unit.

Last week I was able to make it over to my friend Steve's house for our weekly FOW game.  Sean and Jaime commanded the battle.  I was a "military advisor" to Sean.  It was an excellent battle.  Both sides played extremely well.  The battle came down to a dice roll ....... Jaime pulled out the win but El Alamein was captured by the British at a heavy cost.  Sean played a great game and I would have done things exactly the same.

You can check out Steve's blog for the AAR ...

http://www.indierockclimber.blogspot.com/2010/04/tunisia-campaign-game-3.html

Steve's wife Lydia also has a blog named "Feedin' the Troops".  She cooks on our FOW nights based around a secret ingredient like Iron Chef.  The first week's secret ingredient was cream cheese and last week was avocado. Welcome to the company Lydia !  Your cooking is AWESOME !  Next week's secret ingredient is peanut butter. You can check out her blog via the link ....

http://www.ironlydia.blogspot.com/

Nothing too much going on today.  Yard work was completed and now I think I will get some painting done.  I bought a light with magnify glass/lights.  I will see how it does and write up a little review later.

Till then ... be safe.

Joe

Sidi Bou Zid AAR

Greetings Troops,

My friend Steve has numerous pictures and the AAR for the Battle of Sidi Bou Zid ....

What Would Patton Do ?

Enjoy .... !

Joe Mezz

AAR - Sidi Bou Zid

Greetings Troops,


Wednesday evening was the weekly campaign night for our newbies group of CVFOW club.  The campaign is centered around North Africa, which includes German, British and American forces.


Lydia cooked again for the group, once again topping herself.  She had a "secret" ingredient to use for the meal, similar to Iron Chef.  The secret ingredient was cream cheese.  Chips and dip, stuffed shells and an awesome pastry dessert was had by all. BRAVO Lydia ....... excellent meal.  Next week's secret ingredient is avocado.


This evenings game was Jamie as the German forces and myself as the Americans.  The following was the force organization ...

Germans

Germans HQ - Panzer III N, 2iC

3 Panzer III Ns

3 Panzer III Ls

3 Panzer IV F2s (including 2iC in a kamfgruppe)

4 Panzer II Fs

1 platoon of Armored Cars

Schutzen platoon (panzergrenadiers)

Americans

HQ - 2 Shermans

3 Platoons of Sherman Tanks (Total of 9 tanks)
1 Armored Infantry Platoon
1 Priest Platoon
1 Recon group (Consisted of 3 infantry stands)


The battle was an Encounter mission.  Jaime won the initial deployment roll while I won the initial move roll.

Initial Deployment Photo - Classified 

Jamie is wearing the green shirt.  For reference, he is my north.  My forces (L to R, East to West) were 2IC near the eastern objective, Armored Rifles in halftracks near the woods, 1st Platoon of Shermans on the main road leading North and last but not least 2nd Platoon of Shermans with the HQ near the western objective.

Jamie (East to West, L to R) had his grenadiers in the eastern village near the German East Objective, 1 platoon of Panzer III Ls near the middle salt flats and his HQ in a Panzer III N nearby.  Last unit placed was his armored cars in the western olive grove.


The initial and following round was not much to type about.  The scenario started at night, limited visibility due to darkness and a sandstorm.  During this time I was able to move 1st platoon (Shermans) up the middle road while sending 2nd platoon (Shermans) moving up the western flank.  The armored rifles took to the woods and eventually dug in and sat protecting the eastern objective.  The 2IC supported the rifles on the east flank while the HQ (Sherman) protected the western objective site.


From here on out, things moved quickly.  The storm and night lifted for Jamie and he was able to pop a shot at my Shermans of 1st platoon, nothing connected.  Jamie had early troubles due to bogging down and helped  get some of my other Shermans moving without being fired on.


My start of the 3rd round brought 3rd platoon (Shermans) and the platoon of Priest into the fight.  3rd platoon deployed near the eastern objective while the Priest battery deployed in the Western flank.  

3rd Platoon arrives to the Eastern flank ...

Priests take the field ...

The western flank was destined to be burning tanks and charred hulls.  1st Platoon scored the first kill by popping open a Panzer IIIL in the middle.  2nd Platoon began to move west to east and forced Jamie to move his armored cars back towards the east flank.  3rd platoon move north and occupied an area between two hills with views of Panzer IIILs to the Northwest.  The 2IC stayed looking east towards the only level ground approach.

First Blood ..... courtesy of 1st platoon

Jamie got the reserve roll I was hoping he didn't.  The Panzer IVs entered the field .... bad for me.  The entry point was behind 2nd platoon on the western flank ...... really bad for me.  I was going to get some pictures when I realized the camera battery had died.  Mental note 23476 ..... charge the camera battery next time.

The AAR may get a tad brief and fuzzy at this point.  The tank battle in the western flank eventually took out all Panzer IVs (not sure how I pulled that off), 2nd platoon held out against numerous odds and took many tanks with them ..... eventually falling to just the HQ in the area (he jumped command of a tank).  The Priests held out and moved once in the Western flank to adjust fire towards the end of the game but nothing spectacular. 

1st Platoon eventually took heavy casualties and pulled from the field.  Jamie had his last reserves of tanks come into play in the western flank which helped turn out a bitter and stubborn tank battle.  These survivors eventually turned east to help take on 3rd platoon.  The 2IC in the east took out 2 Panzer IIs after they had wiped out the recon in one shooting phase.  The 2IC then assisted 3rd platoon in the east by running the eastern board edge chasing the armored cars and what was left of the Panzer II platoon.  

3rd Platoon pushed hard into the salt flats to contest the northern objective.  Another Panzer II went up in a cloud of fire and caused the other to leave the field after a failed motivation check.  In a brilliant and last ditch effort, Jamie's grenadiers tank assaulted 3rd platoon but were pushed back in a counterattack.  On a do or die roll of the dice I was able to motivate the troops to stay and consolidate towards the objective ..... contesting it.  It was the beginning of my turn when we had to call the game at the time limit.  Since I was contesting at the beginning of my turn ..... victory was mine ...... barely.  4-3 allies win.

Post Battle Thoughts

I was extremely lucky the dice were in my favor this night.  Jamie had bog problems all night long, as well as some sour dice at the end.  Give the battle another hour and things would have swung in the Axis favor for sure.  The Shermans were good at move and shoot maneuvers.  Keeping them on the move and getting into position for side/rear shots was the best thing I could do.  The Priest gave just enough to help bail tanks and stall attacks, I almost had to direct fire with them at one point since Jamie almost broke the western flank with those Panzer IVs.  Jamie did a great job, Steve again was awesome .... and our rulebook for the evening :)  Thanks also needs to go to our advisors Sean and Dallas .... great job fellas.

Overall I had a great experience and battle.  I look forward to the next game and seeing what Iron Chef Lydia has in store for us next week !

Till then .... don't forget to vote on the poll question ..... 5 days left !

Joe Mezz

Monthly update ....

Greetings Troops,

Just a quick update since April has arrived ...

As you can see from my last post I have finished 1st Squad.  2nd Squad is at about 85% completed as for painting.  Then the basing will occur etc, etc, etc.

I have our weekly group FOW night tonight and so looking forward to it.  It is my first points battle and should be interesting.  This time I will not forget the camera's memory card.  Photos and AAR will be on by this weekend for sure.

I am trying to decide which support role to fill after I have completed the initial company for the 327th Glider Infantry.  I may let you the troops decide the next direction ..... let me know !

Till the next briefing ..... be safe and keep the hobby rolling

Joe Mezz