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

Armies from LW Nationals

Here are some of the armies that were used for the LW Nationals.  I know some of the owners but only an handful.  There were a ton of other armies that I didn't get a chance to take pictures of.  The quality of painting was outstanding!

My US Paras

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.

Brown/Green Stuff Sandbags Tutorial

Capt is coming along nicely!

As part of the Avenger's initiative I wanted to do as much modeling as I could.  Here is my first attempt at making brown/green stuff sandbags.  I was really surprised at how easy this was and how fast it went and I'm very happy with the final product.

Make sure that you use lots of water on your hands or any tools that are going to be touching the brown stuff.  Also make sure that you have mixed the putties together well and that there are no streaks of one colour or another.

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.

The Avenger's Initiative

So here is the group shot that got the ball rolling

So after playing around with easy army I have found the perfect fit for my latest FoW army idea.  I'm calling it the Avenger's Initiative because the army is going to be lead by Capt America (using the rules for Lt Spiers from the Nuts book, has bullet proof cover even in the open, tell me that doesn't sound like a certain shield).   My son and I have been watching Avenger's Earth's Mightiest Heroes and that help fill in the blanks.

HQ
OC - Capt America (aka Lt Spiers)
2IC - Bucky

Combat Platoons (aka the Capts Commandos)
Parachute Infantry with HQ, 2 x Bazookas, 1 x 60mm mortar and 6 rifle stands lead by Taccoa Sgt
Parachute Infantry with HQ, 2 x Bazookas, 1 x 60mm mortar and 6 rifle stands lead by Taccoa Sgt

Weapons Platoon (Howling Sgt Nick Fury)
LMG platoon with 1 section (4 LMGs)

Support Platoons
Sherman Platoon with 1 x Jumbo (The Incredible Hulk), 1 x Sherman (Black Panther) and 2 x Easy Eights (Thor and Ironman)
Tank Destroyers platoon with 4 x M18s (Hawkeye, Black Widow, Wasp and Ant Man)
Glider Artillery with 3 x 105mm guns and jeeps


Works out to 1650 on the nose.  With Game Summit's tournament in Feb I wonder if I can have it all done in time....