82 Airborne Glider Engineers vs 101 Easy Company in Breakthrough

The OC, Capt America watches the deployment of his forces

Game 3 of the Lords of War 1750 LW Bastogne themed tournament was against Matt and Easy Company of the 101st. Those that have read my other battle reports know this would be the second time that my 82nd had gone toe to toe with the 101st. The final mission was Breakthrough and the special rules we used were ice, snow and fog. Fog would be a real challenge for me because until it lifts its just like fighting at night. Which meant my observers would have a hard time seeing Matt's army.

Big Willie's 82nd
OC and 2IC
Full Engineer platoon with cart and 'zooks
Full Engineer platoon with cart and 'zooks
Cav Recon platoon
4 x Sherman platoon with 8 Easy 8s and a Jumbo
3 x 105mm guns
3 x Priests
2 x 155 Long Toms
Limited Air support

Matt's Easy Coy 101st
OC and 2IC
Full para platoon
Full para platoon
Full para platoon
4 x AT gun platoon with 'zooks
6 x glider 105mm
2 x para 75mm
4 x Int Jeeps
2 x 81mm mortars

Set Up

Objectives are on the road by the edge of the wire and near the top centre corner just behind the hill

82nd Airborne Glider Engineers vs US 2ID in Dust Up

US planes swoop down on a strafing run machine guns catching a platoon in the open

My second game of Lords of War 1750 LW Bastogne themed tournament was against Christian and his US 2ID. I've only played against US 2ID once before and I've heard a bunch of the complaints and people calling them wood elves. I understand what the game designers were going for but have a really hard time thinking that these troops would move faster across country that Paratroopers, Rangers, Commandos, and FSSF. In this game we had ice, snow, and the threat of a blizzard. The mission was Dust Up and I was the attacker.

Big Willie's 82nd
OC and 2IC
Full Engineer platoon with cart and 'zooks
Full Engineer platoon with cart and 'zooks
Cav Recon platoon
4 x Sherman platoon with 8 Easy 8s and a Jumbo
3 x 105mm guns
3 x Priests
2 x 155 Long Toms
Limited Air support

Christians US 2ID
OC and 2IC
Full infantry platoon
Full infantry platoon
HMG platoon
Mortar platoon
4 x Towed tank destroyers
4 x 105mm guns
Engineer platoon
2 x Cav Recon platoons
AA platoon
Dismounted Recon
AOP

Set Up

Objectives are centre between the two snow drifts and behind the bottom left hill and the other objectives are in the village top right

82nd Airborne Glider Engineers vs Kampgruppe Pieper in No Retreat

82nd Airborne Glider Engineers dug in around the objective

Lords of War ran a 1750 LW theme Battle of the Bulge event and it was one of the best run tournaments that I've played in. It was also the first time that I've played with the weather effects of ice, snow, blizzards and fog. My first game was against Rob who was rocking a King Tiger Pieper list. The mission was No Retreat and it used the rules for snow, and ice which didn't hurt me as the defender but would slow Rob's advance.

Big Willie's 82
OC and 2IC
Full Engineer platoon with cart and 'zooks
Full Engineer platoon with cart and 'zooks
Cav Recon platoon
4 x Sherman platoon with 8 Easy 8s and a Jumbo
3 x 105mm guns
3 x Priests
2 x 155 Long Toms
Limited Air support

Rob's Germans
OC in King Tiger
King Tiger Platoon
5 x Panzer IV platoon
Full Grenadier platoon
2 x Grilles
3 x Whrilbilwinds
4 x Cannon half-tracks

Set Up

Objectives are in the woods centre foreground and just in to the left of the woods behind the windmill

We're paratroopers Lieutenant. We're supposed to have 3 full platoons.

Finally finished my US Airborne troops (the infantry part). It was the old box of 3 full platoons. 161 figures all told, and it took years because I undercoated them, and the coat turned into that horrible snow like powder. Had to remove it with a toothbrush, and after that I didn't feel like painting them anymore, until now.

Every platoon comes with a tow cart, bazooka, medium mortar, leader team, and 9 fireteams(!)
The HQ comes with the Old man, 2nd IC, 3 bazookas, and 3 snipers, oh and a pathfinder. I started back on them because I got into Fireball Forward (http://fireballforward.com/) which is a great alternative to FOW, and all the book's scenarios use Easy Company.

I will eventually paint the supporting 75mm pack arty, and MGs for these guys but I just can't be buggered painting infantry 15mm for a while, so I'll be doing something like 28mm or tanks or something instead. Will probably finish my Germans or even get going on the snow covered Finns perhaps..

But regardless, here they are, nicely static grassed which is new for me in 15mm. No insignias because that's too small.

 

Before I forget, the colors I used on all the infantry, here they are. I had to change some colors from the old GW colors half way through. Its a mixture of Vallejo and GW.

(GW changes shown in this table:  

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Paint_Range_Compatibility_Chart)

Skin: Base GW Doombull Brown, Highlight GW Tallarn Flesh

Rifle Stock: GW Bestial Brown or Vallejo Chocolate Brown
Uniform: Vallejo US Dark Green
Helmet/Bazookas: Vallejo Olive Grey
Foliage on Helmet: GW Camo Green
Tires and random grey: GW Adeptus Battlegrey
Webbing: Vallejo Green Grey
Ink: GW Devlan Mud, or GW Agrax Earthshade
Base: Base Vallejo Chocolate Brown or GW Bestial Brown, GW Highlight Gorthor Brown, Final Highlight GW Tan

US Paras vs JagdTigers in Fighting Withdrawal near St-Lo

Shermans draw a bead on a JagdTiger

In celebration of the final day of the Overlord campaign Dan and I got a game in.  Unfortunately it wasn't from the new books but from Nuts with 1780 pts of my US Paratroopers going against his JagdTiger Company.  But that didn't stop us playing a game for St-Lo where the Red Skull was using some of his Hydra weapons against the Yanks!  We wanted something that was like the counter attacking Germans trying to push through the Airborne who were attempting to hold them up.  We rolled Fighting Withdrawal which I think worked perfectly.  I had my list with Cap 2 x Paratrooper platoons, 1 x MG platoon, Shermans Cav Recon, 2 x M18s and 3 x 105mm with P-47 support.  Dan was running with 3 x JadgTigers, 2 x assault rifle faust platoons, 4 x 10.5cm guns and2 x self-propelled AA guns.

Set Up

 Objectives are at the intersection, in the Bocage and in the distant left by the woods

US Paras vs Hungarian Infantry in Counterattack

Their everywhere man.....

Game 4 of the LW Nationals event in Fredericksberg was against Leo and his Hungarian Infantry.  He had 2 big infantry platoons with a pioneer platoon.  3 of the break through assault guns, a platoon of 3 PaK 40s, an HMG platoon, some light recce tanks, some light AA gunes and a battery of heavy guns supported by sporadic air.  You can see some great shots at Battlefronts own website here.   My 1780 pts were spent on 2 Para platoons, MG platoon, Shermans platoon, Cav Recce, 3 x 105mm guns and 2 x M18s supported by Limited air support from P-47s.

Set Up

Objectives are in the corn field and the destroyed Tiger at the south end of the town

82nd Airborne vs 101st Airborne in Cauldron

Smoking Shermans as far as the eye can see

Game 2 was against Henry who was running 101st Airborne.  His LW Nationals list was 2 Para platoons, 6 x 105mm, 3 x 105mm, 2 platoons of guards Shermans with 2 fireflies and 4 armoured recon jeeps.  I had 2 full para platoons, para MG platoon, Sherman platoon, 105mm platoon, Cav Recon and M18s.  The mission was Cauldron and Henry was going to have the difficult task of digging me out.

Set Up

82nd dug in the trees with TDs protecting the flank

US Paras vs British Guard Infantry in Encounter

Howard Stark shows off his mad pilot skills taking out a whole platoon literally single handedly!

Game 1 of the LW Nationals was against Joses.  He was running British Guards and I was running US Paratroopers.  The total was 1780 pts and the first mission was Encounter.  My list consisted of 2 Paratrooper platoons, an MG platoon, Cav Recon, Shermans, 2 x M18s and 3 x 105mm.  I attached my MGs out and deployed both Para platoons and the Tank destroy platoon.

Set Up

Objectives are in the field top left, in the cross roads front and centre, near the woods top right and in the woods top centre

US Paras vs German Grenadiers in Free-for-All

The Infantry just before the assault....

Game 6 of LW Nationals was still at 1780 pts.  I was running my US Paras with 2 full platoons, machine guns, Shermans, 2 x M18s, Cav Recon and 3 x Glider 105mms.  My opponent was Jerry and he is the best sportsman that I have ever played against in any game system.  He was smiling and up beat, helpful all the time and really made my weekend.  Apparently he owns a game store in Indianapolis, which I will be visiting and supporting any chance I get.

Set Up 

 Objectives are on the hill and south of the town and north of the town and in the field at the top of the board

US Paras vs Panzerspah in Pincer

Too good to be true?

It is that was taken before the first Recce move of the game.  Game 3  of the LW Nationals was 1780 pts and I played against Paul.  He was running German armoured Recce supported by tank hunters and Panzer IVs.  I was running the Avenger's Initiative with 2 full Para platoons, Para Machine guns, Shermans, 2 x M18s, Cav Recce and some Glider 105mms.  I was automatically the defender and combat attached the machine guns out and deployed the two big platoons and held the Shermans in ambush.  Paul was an excellent sport but his dice betrayed him and wouldn't let him buy a hit or save.

Set Up

 Objectives are behind the wood and on the hill both on the right side of the table

US Paras and Light Tanks vs Panzer Grenadiers and Infantry

Para troopers don't care you have half-tracks for a mounted assault!

This was game 3 for the I-95 doubles event.  It was encounter so PhantomRescue and I opted to have only my force on the table with his coming in from reserves.  We were playing against Chris and Dom.  Their 2000 pts was spent mostly on Panzer Grenadiers backed up with a Panzer IVs company.  These guys were excellent opponents with Chris and I having our share of bad luck.  We had the chance to hang out with them over the weekend and enjoy some frosty beverages.  I'm looking forward to seeing these guys again the next time we are down that way.

Set Up

US Paras dug in on both objectives supported by the guns, while the other platoon is ready to make a push for the near enemy objective

US Paras and Light Tanks vs Panzer Grenadiers and a StuG Battery

Even fearless paratroopers get unnerved sometimes (snake eyes for tank terror)

The second game of the I-95 Doubles was vs Mitch and John.  They were running a StuG battery and Panzer Pioneers.  The mission was Free-for-all at 2000 pts a side.  These guys were great to play against and I traded contact info with Mitch.  Turns out he's a Rugby player and a currently serving member of the US military, so we had tons to talk about.

Setup

Heavy Bocage to fight through

US Paras and Light Tanks vs German Infantry

My US Paras get their first kill ever and it's a Big Cat!

The Thursday of Historicon was the I-95 doubles event.  It was LW 1000 pts a player that you could swing 100 pts if you wanted.  I was playing US Paras with 2 x M18s and 3 x M3 Howitzers supported by limited P-47s.  My partner was running a light tank company with Chaffes and Cav Recon.  

The first game of the I-95s doubles tournament was against Jesse and his partner (sorry I forgot the name).  The mission was blind domination.  This was the first time I'd played this mission and while I liked it, I would have liked to have played it a couple times in advance of the tournament.  They were running Grenadiers from Devil's Charge complete with 2 x StrumTigers, a JagdTiger and fake MPs!  I don't have full army lists but here is a picture of what they were running.

Ze Germans!

WIP Shermans

Here are the first painted members of the Avengers (Ironman, Thor, Hulk and Black Panther).  Thanks to Rex from Crac des Chevaliers for the how to on paint these guys.  The stars still need a little refinement but I'm happy with how they are turning out (for now).  Up next are Recce and the Tank Destroyers, I'm going to need to pick up the pace if I want to get this army done before Historicon.

Avengers Initiative WIP

Here are some WIP shots of the Avenger's Initiative, the plane (P-47, "Avenger") took me about two evenings to get done (I still have to paint the bombs).  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  In the back ground you can see the various other platoons.

Operation Overlord and Historicon!

WWPD in conjunction with Battlefront are doing Operation Overlord campaign.  It looks like it's going to be an awesome time.  I borrowed the image above from their website that's supporting the campaign.  This is also a perfect fit with my 82nd Airborne that I'm working on so I have yet another reason to get them done.  As part of the campaign you have to submit battle reports so stay tuned for a bunch that will be coming down the pipe.

82nd Airborne video

Thanks to Nuclearvault for uploading this video.  If you don't subscribe to him your missing a ton of amazing videos from WWII to present day.  This one is all about the 82nd Airborne.  Did you know they made 4 combat jumps in the war instead of the 2 that the 101st did?  They fought in Italy and then came up for D-day and they were also in the Battle of the Bugle.  I hope you all enjoy this as mush as I did, it certainly help get me motivated to work on the Avenger's Initiative.