Sonnenwende refought again

Tried operation Sonnenwende (Solstice) using Rapid Fire down at the club today, details of the scenario, etc can be found on GWP at
http://xsorbit30.com/users5/wargamesroom/index.php?topic=3701.0

We fought for 5 hours (12 moves) but didn't reach a final decision, but it was hardly likely that the German s would reach their objectives as their losses were being to mount and all the Russian reinforcements had arrived.

The real problem was the slow movement rates.roads and cross country rates and cross country half of that. As a result the Germans had only reached the top of the ridge. The high point of the game for me (as a Russian) was taking out one of the Tiger IIs with a mine and then managing to finish it off with a lucky shot from a Sherman 76mm.

Will

WW2 Russian 120mm Mortars

A sudden change of plan! I found when preparing for a game that I didn't have some elements of the Russian forces so it was off to my boxes so see what I could create/use.

I was short of MMGs but I just added in some WW1 MMGs so they should not be too noticeable. There was one extra 82mm mortar needed so I use a left over figure from the Italeri's Russian winter infantry. The big gap was 120mm mortars and for this I used the ones from the Pegasus Mortar set (I had bought an extra set just in case). The crews are a mix of Airfix and head swapped WW1 Russian Heavy Weapons figures. I also used these for some extra brigade commanders that I was missing. The radio operators had their caps cut down to side caps as well.


Till then, I'll be playing Operation Sonnewende using Rapid Fire rules.

Will

Original picture, taken when the light was fading

Ottoman Turks for BoB (2)

Some more close ups of the Turks for those interested, showing the artillery and the commanders



Will

WW2 Senegalese (2)

There have been some requests for some close ups so here they are
With some support

Will

WW2 Senegalese (1)

Virtually anywhere the Vichy forces fought the allies there were Senegalese present, so I had to have one to add to my Rapid Fire French forces

The figures are from the Waterloo 1815 Anglo-Egyptian army set as it's the only one providing fez's. The mortar and MG crews are head swaps onto some WW1 Ottomans. Given a shortage of French MGs I've equipped them with a WW1 German Maxim.

I see see several early war amphibious actions on the way, including Safi from the original Rapid Fire rules.

Will

Ottoman Turks for BoB (1)

Well, the first of my new purchases are finished, these are WW1 Ottoman Turks, which I intend to use for Russian Civil War/Back of Beyond games.

I've created four infantry companies, the same number of MGs and a couple of Artillery guns

I kept one of the German advisors just for fun, seen above explaining to the Turkish commander how to read a map

The guns are above, the colour looked OK to start, but they came out slightly greener than I would have liked. They are now a bit to similar to my Russian guns

A nice quick "army" to produce and a good start to reducing the pile of purchases

Will

On the workbench - July (2)

At last the big consignment from Harfields arrived with all the goodies I hadn't manged to find at recent shows.

1 x Anglo-Egyptian Army
1 x Maya Warriors
1 x Turkish Infantry (World War I)
3 x Ukrainian Foot Cossacks & Artillery
2 x Reitars Of Charles XII (Great Northern War)
1 x Russian Artillery Of Peter I
1 x Swedish Artillery Of Charles XII
2 x Lieb-Drabants Of Charles XII
6 x Parthian Light Cavalry
3 x Parthian Heavy Cavalry
1 x Turkish Janissaries
3 x Russian Infantry Of Peter The Great

What are they all for?

The Parthians were on offer and they will be used to build a WRG 6th Parthian army

The various Great Northern war stuff will start my move into the League of Augsburg/War of Spanish Secession period.

The Janissaries, plus another pack will be used for the LOA/WSS and also for the French in Eygpt 1798 (3)

The Maya will add some variety to my current Meso-American armies

The Waterloo 1815 Anglo Egyptians will be used for French Senegalese infantry (2)

The foot cossacks and artillery are to go with/against my renaissance Poles and the artillery can also be used against the French in Egypt

The Ottoman infantry are to go with the Ottoman artillery and be used for RCW/Back of beyond games. (1)

(1-3) will be the first areas I will focus on.

Will