German Grenadiers vs Brit Tanks in Encounter

A target rich environment!

Game 3 of the Lords or War MW 109 pt tournament was against Craig and his Brits. As always the painting level for Craig's army was outstanding! It's always so much more fun playing against a well painted army. Plus Craig is such a gentleman in all games it's always a good time. He had spent a lot of points on cards just like Shawn, which was new for me. One of them was the lucky card (may not have been the lucky card) which said that the player can automatically pass a saving throw. My question is what if you don't get to make a saving throw? The specifics was his OC in a Lee getting hit by a Tiger's main gun. We rolled off and carried on but I have no idea if we played it right.

Big Willie's German Grenadiers
OC and 2IC
Full Grenadier platoon
Full Grenadier platoon
Full HMG platoon
3 x 2cm SP AA trucks
3 x Marder IIIs
3 x PaK 40s
2 x 8-Rads
2 x 10.5cm guns
Tiger
looted KV

Craig's Brits
OC and 2IC in Grants
4 x Grants
4 x Grants
3 x Stuarts
3 x 6 pdr AT guns
4 x 25 pdr guns
Armoured Car Recce platoon
Full Armoured Rifle platoon

Set Up

Objectives are bottom center guarded by PaK 40s and across from them guarded by 6-pdrs. Other objective is behind the train station top left and off camera middle left by the oil tanks.. The parking lot of Brit tanks to the right are Craig's reserves

German Grenadiers vs US Light tanks in Dust Up

US tanks and Observer ready to take the fight to Jerry!

Lords of War in Oakville held their last MW 109 pts FoW tournament the other weekend. I decided to play my Ghost Panzer Grenadiers and see how they continue to stack up. My first game was against Dennis and his Americans from Fighting First.

Big Willie's Germans
OC with 2IC
Infantry platoon
Infantry platoon
HMG platoon
3 x SP 2cm AA trucks
3 x PaK 40s
3 x Marder III
2 x 10.5cm guns
2 x 8-Rads
Tiger I
looted KV

Dennis' Americans
OC and 2IC in Lees
5 x Lees
5 x Stuarts
Full Armoured Recce platoon
Full Armoured Recce platoon
Full Armoured Rifles platoon
3 x Armoured Mortars
3 x T19 SP guns
3 x M10s
4 x Brit 6-pdr AT guns


Set Up

Objectives are in front of the 10.5cm guns and in the woods and just above the house/church and in the woods at the top of the picture

German Panzers vs German Mountain Infantry in Breaktrough

Mountain guns fire over open sights on Panzers!

This game was my final game of the Nationals preparation tournament held at the Duelling Ground in Toronto. It was a 1500 EW tournament and I was matched against Dean and his mountain German infantry.

Big Willie's Panzers
OC and 2IC in Panzer IV Ds
2 x Panzer IV Ds
2 x Panzer IV Ds
Full Armoured Pioneer platoon with supply truck
2 x Nebs
2 x 8-Rads
3 x 2 cm SP AA trucks

Dean's Mountain Infantry

OC and 2IC

Infantry platoon

Infantry platoon

Pioneer platoon

6 x Mortars

4 x Mountain guns

4 x Mountain guns

3 x Panzerjagers

2 x 8-Rads

Set Up

Objectives are on the stream top left and just off camera to the left

German Panzers vs Italian Infantry in Dust Up

Italians advance on the hardened Germans

This weekend the Duelling Grounds in Toronto held a Nationals preparation event. So it was 1500 EW without allowing Japanese.  I am not a big fan of early war so I basically raided my various armies to see what I could cobble together and settled on German medium tanks. My first game was against Jay and his Italian Infantry.

Big Willie's Panzers
OC and 2IC in Panzer IV Ds
2 x Panzer IV Ds
2 x Panzer IV Ds
Full Armoured Pioneer platoon with supply truck
2 x Nebs
2 x 8-Rads
3 x 2 cm SP AA trucks

Jay's Italians
OC and 2IC
Full infantry platoon
Full infantry platoon
Barsigliary (sp?) platoon
Engineer platoon
4 x AT guns
4 x mortars
4 x 75mm guns
4 x 100mm guns
2 x AA trucks

Set Up

Objectives are in the field far right and on the road right of centre, by the bend in the road centre of the picture and behind the building far left

Panzer Pioneers vs British Infantry in Encounter

Utter devastation around the objectives as the Brits Keep Calm and Carry On!

My final game of Op HUSKY 2016 (180 MW) was against Carsten and his British 8th Army, Infantry. We were placed on the desert table which is awesome, because I have a soft spot for fighting in the desert. I always find that in encounter I often try and push to hard, ie before the reserves arrive. Something I think I'm going to need to do more is wait for reserves and then push hard.

Big Willie's Pioneers
OC and 2IC
Full armored pioneers
Full trucked pioneers with supply cart
Weapons pl with 2 x MG42 and Mortars
2 x Panthers
4 x Marders
2 x SP AA guns

Carsten's Brits
OC and 2IC
Infantry platoon
Infantry platoon
3 x UCs
HMG platoon
AA platoon
4 x 25 pdrs
3 x Shermans


Set Up

Objectives are far right above the house, top  right by the hill, mid left behind the houses and bottom centre by the hill

Panzer Pioneers vs Finn Infantry in Hold the Line

Finn Infantry is the wall that breaks the German wave

My Game 2  of Op HUSKY 2016 a 1850 MW tournament was against Stormtrooper Nick and his Finns. Nick is always a tough as nails opponent who is also a great dude so I was looking forward to the game. I was playing a mechanized force and Nick was playing Infantry so I would have the difficult task of trying to dig out his fearless veteran infantry.

Big Willie's Pioneers
OC and 2IC
Full armored pioneers
Full trucked pioneers with supply cart
Weapons pl with 2 x MG42 and Mortars
2 x Panthers
4 x Marders
2 x SP AA guns

Stormtrooper Nick's Finns
OC and 2IC
Full infantry platoon
Full infantry platoon
Pioneers platoon with supply vehicle
3 x Hvy mortars
2 x PaK 40s
3 x T34s

Set Up

Objectives are in the river just above the bridge and far back left by the woods

German Armoured Pioneers vs Russian Mixed Tanks in Encounter

The night was lit up by the burning hulls of Russian tanks!

My sixth and final game of the NATC 2016 (MW 1650) was against James and Russian mixed Tankovy. The mission was Encounter which meant I was going to be attacking a ton of Russians be it infantry dug in, small tanks or rockets. James was the first player I've ever played against that had enough rockets firing to actually use the devastating bombardment template. That thing is a physiological weapon it I've ever seen one.  We were paired on the desert table, which means it was going to be easy to see each other the whole time. This game also marks the 100th battle report that I've done for Covering Fire!

Big Willie's Pioneers
OC and 2IC
Full Armoured Pioneers
Half Trucked Pioneers
Armoured Mortars
4 x 7.62 Marders
2 x 8-Rads
2 x 2cm SP AA trucks
2 x Panthers

James Mixed Tankovy
OC in T34
7 x T34s
10 x T26s
10 x T26s
8 x Katushkas
Infantry platoon
Anti-tank rifle platoon
AA platoon

Set Up

German objectives are far right by the the oasis and top right by the village ruins and Russian objectives are left by the hill and just off camera slightly further left 

German Armoured Pioneers vs British Armoured Cars in Pincer

Iconic German Panthers vs British Artillery in the snow

My fifth game of the NATC 2016 (MW 1650) was against Roger and his beautifully painted British Armoured Car squadron. The mission was Pincer which meant I was going to be attacking veteran British Guns who were dug in and hidden in the many woods Also, it was on a snow board where everything was going to be moving a slow going speed.  Good thing is it would slow down Roger's cars more than my infantry.

Big Willie's Pioneers
OC and 2IC
Full Armoured Pioneers
Half Trucked Pioneers
Armoured Mortars
4 x 7.62 Marders
2 x 8-Rads
2 x 2cm SP AA trucks
2 x Panthers

Rogers Armoured Cars
OC and 2IC in Humbers
Recce ptl light
Recce ptl light
Recce ptl heavy
Recce  ptl heavy
3 x Shermans
4 x 6 pdrs AT guns
8 x 25 pdrs with observers and battery commander in Stuarts

Set Up

Objectives are in the woods far right and in the woods back right by the building

German Armoured Pioneers vs Russia Infantry in Cauldron

Marders move up to machine Russian as they break from cover!

My fourth game was against Ben and his massive Russian infantry. The mission was Cauldron which meant I was going to be attacking Russian infantry who are dug in around the objective in rubble. Ben is also an engineer so he and I hit it off right away. It looked like I was going to have my work cut out for me as he had a massive amount of infantry I was going to have to chew through in order to take the objective.

Big Willie's Pioneers
OC and 2IC
Full Armoured Pioneers
Half Trucked Pioneers
Armoured Mortars
4 x 7.62 Marders
2 x 8-Rads
2 x 2cm SP AA trucks
2 x Panthers

Ben's Russian Infantry
OC and 2IC
Full Infantry company
Small Infantry company
Anti-tank rifle company
Pioneer company
6 x Heavy Mortars
4 x Spetznas
3 x SU 85s

Set Up

Objectives are in front of both hills in the centre of the board on the right

German Armoured Pioneers vs US Armoured Rifles in Fighting Withdrawal

Marders spring an ambush on the advancing Americans!

My third game was against Francois and his US Armoured Rifles. Francois was part of the Western Canada team at the NATC 2016, so it was a battle for the North and we were hoping to be the Jon Snows. The mission was Fighting Withdrawal and I rolled to be the defender. I was hoping that I could keep my undefeated streak to finish off the day.

Big Willie's Pioneers
OC and 2IC
Full Armoured Pioneers
Half Trucked Pioneers
Armoured Mortars
4 x 7.62 Marders
2 x 8-Rads
2 x 2cm SP AA trucks
2 x Panthers

Fracois Armoured Rifles
OC and 2IC with 37mm gun
Full ARP with 37mm
Full ARP with 37mm
3 x AMs
3 x Priests
Armoured Recce
Recce
4 x Lees
2 x M10s

Set Up

Objectives are far left by the forward water feature, middle left on furthest back road and bottom right

German Armoured Pioneers vs US Armoured Rifles in Breakthrough

Marders pounce on the unsuspecting dough boys

My second game was against Stephen and his US Armoured Rifles. The mission was Breakthrough. I was feeling pretty good after the great game that I had against Jeff so I was going to try and keep the undefeated streak alive.

Big Willie's Pioneers
OC and 2IC
Full Armoured Pioneers
Half Trucked Pioneers
Armoured Mortars
4 x 7.62 Marders
2 x 8-Rads
2 x 2cm SP AA trucks
2 x Panthers

Stephen's Armoured Rifles
OC and 2IC with 37mm gun
Full ARP with 37mm
Full ARP with 37mm
3 x AMs
3 x SP 105mms
Armoured Recce
Recce
5 x Lees
2 x M10s

Set Up

Objectives are behind the ruin on the right and far right at base of the hill

German Pioneers vs Grenadiers in Dust Up

Panthers sink their teeth into a tasty Brumbar

I had the pleasure of joining Stormtrooper Nick, Technoviking and the Terrain Guy representing Eastern Canada at the inaugural  North American Team Championship 2016. This years event was a 1650 MW tournament with teams of 4 players squaring off against another team of 4. I had a great time meet new players catching up with old friends. I think the tournament organizers, Tony and his team deserve a special shout out. They did an amazing job keeping the games running smoothly and they even went the extra mile providing snacks and drinks.

My first game was against Jeff and his German Grenadiers. The first mission of the tournament was Dust Up.

Big Willie's Pioneers
OC and 2IC
Full Armoured Pioneers
Half Trucked Pioneers
Armoured Mortars
4 x 7.62 Marders
2 x 8-Rads
2 x 2cm SP AA trucks
2 x Panthers

Jeff Grenadiers
OC and 2IC
Full Grenadiers
Full Grenadiers
4 x Marders
2 x 8-Rads
3 x Panzerwefers
2 x PaK 40s
3 x Brumbars

Set Up

Objectives are in the woods and by the road on the left side and on the back side of the hill and in the wheat field on the right

Jagdpanthers finally done

More finished work that needed finishing. The 2 Jagdpanthers are complete.

Also, since its fun to have the most POWERFUL gun in the German arsenal, I figured I would also finish off the WEAKEST door knocker as well. Although technically this one has the Stielgranate (the same one used in Carantan episode of Band of Brothers). So continuing with finishing stuff off as fast as possible.

German Grenadier Pioneers vs US Light Tanks in Hasty Attack

Panthers sink their teeth into the Stuarts

This week I had the chance to get a 1710 MW game in against the Technoviking.  I was playing Eastern Front Grenadier Pioneers and he was playing a US light tank company from North Africa.  We rolled up the mission and it was Hasty Attack where I was going to be on the defensive against the attacks of Technoviking. I continued the new trend of taking black and white photos, hope you guys like it.

Big Willie's Germans
OC and 2IC
Full Armored Pioneer platoon with supply truck
Under strength trucked Pioneer platoon
4 x Marder III
2 x 8-Rads
2 x 2cm SP AA guns
2 x Panthers
3 x Nebs

Technovikings Americans
OC and 2IC in Stuarts
3 x Stuarts
3 x Stuarts
Armored Rifle platoon
Armored Rifle platoon
Armored Mortar platoon
4 x M10s
Recce platoon
4 x 105mm platoon

Set Up

The attacking objectives on both hills and by the church, the defender objective is at the base of the hill far right

Czech Panzerkompanie vs New Zealand Infantry in Hold the Line

Panzers ready to assault!

So now that the holidays are over, it's back to our weekly game night here in Gagetown.  Tonight, I played an early war match, 1390 points.  For my list, I took the following for my Czech Panzerkompanie from Barbarossa, Confident Veteran (except as listed):
HQ: 1 x Pz 38 (t) B, 1 x Pz 39 (t) E
Pl: 3 x Pz 38 (t) B
Pl: 3 x Pz 38 (t)
Pl: 3 x Kradschützen MG squads, with AT Rifle
Pl: 2 x NbW 35 (with spotter)
Pl: 2 x Flammpanzer II
Pl: 1 x FlaK 36 with extra crew (Confident Trained)

We rolled off for mission, and we got Hold the Line.  As a tank company, I had the honour of attacking. My opponent had an early war infantry company of New Zealanders.  He started with the following on the table, the remainder in delayed reserves:
HQ
Infantry Platoon
2 pounder platoon
Arty Platoon
The layout was as you see here

This is looking from my end as attacker.  He placed his objective in the back area surrounded by the hedges.  I put one there on the right, the German Cross.
I had three options.  I could go left, and strike deep at his arty platoon and AT platoon, I could go in the middle, turning near the rubbled church and then split the defences, or I could go right, and use the woods and the house there to mask my approach.  I went with the latter option.

Mid War US tanks vs German Aufklärungs in Counter Attack

Bacon Tree (no wait that's an 'am-bush)

Today at Gamezilla, I played a game against Quentin.  The armies were mid war.  For the US, I had a tank company (Confident Trained):
OC and 2IC in Stuarts

Stuart Platoon (4 tanks)
Sherman Platoon (4 tanks)

Armored Rifle Platoon (2 bazookas)
Recon Platoon (2 sections in jeeps, HQ and bazooka in halftrack)
M10 TD Platoon

105mm Howitzer Platoon

The Germans had:
Aufklärungsschwadron (mechanised list, Confident Veteran)
HQ
2 x Pl (SdKfz 205/1)

10.5 cm howitzer platoon

8 rad platoon

Pz IV Pl

Heavy AT Pl (2 x FlaK 36)

Limited Air (Stuka)

Set Up

The US is attacking.  Their deployment zone is near, right.  The Germans defending near, left.  The German Objectives are in their zone, and in the zone far, left.  The German reserves will appear far, right corner.  US force is confident trained, and the Germans are confident veteran.

Bolt Action AAR

I was visiting the Bay Area last week and was able to attend my old gaming group.  Even though generally people are more pre-20th century, we do go in for WW2 every so often.  This was our first outing with Bolt Action by Warlord Games.  The pictures are not my own, and generally don't follow the action, but I figured I could give an overall idea of how the game plays.

We were playing Russians.  Our squads were split up, and we had far more armor on the table than would normally be the case.  It was 1000 points a side, with the Russians trying to take a center objective.  The Russians had several squads with Sub-machine guns, a KV-1, and 2 T-34s, including an MMG and higher up teams.

 The Germans setup to defend the objective with reserves.  The Germans were effectively a Panzer Grenadier force with a Pz IV, a Wespe armored artillery, a half track, a Pak40, a couple of trucks with infantry squads.  The objective had an MMG in the bottom of a building.

Here's a shot of a green unit of Russians trying to assault the Pz IV.  They were unsuccessful both times, but it was worth it to see the assault rules.  Assaults are very bloody.  The Russians were able to pin down the MMG in the building and shooting was able to kill the 3 crew.  Small crews are quite vulnerable as far as we could tell.  The pak40 crew also fell to shooting.  I suspect we did something wrong.

This was a faceoff between the Wespe Gun and 2 T-34s across the main road...

The Wespe nuked one for the T-34s. I do like that there are no templates to worry about.  The 2nd T-34 took down the Wespe with a stationary fire shot.  Moving and shooting gives a small disadvantage to firing.

I really like the rules.  Its like 40k in its simplicity, but without any special rules for a great many special troops. Of course there are special troops and rules, but everybody is human, and all troops have a use.  Some people might find the tank rules a bit bland (light, medium, heavy, very heavy guns, and softskin, light, medium, heavy, and extra heavy vehicles) but you definitely think like a tanker in support of infantry, and you generally only get 1 tank per 1000 points anyway.  Great stuff.  Can't wait until the British and Japanese source books come out.  I can finally finish my Australian force and start the Japanese.

Trucked Pioneers vs Armoured SS Infantry in Free for All

The Killing Fields! This game was a 1650 LW game to help us get ready for the coming fall tournaments. I played against Dan and we rolled up Free for All. I'm continuing to tinker with my Pioneer list and this game was going to give me more food for thought. The main debate that I'm finding is Armoured troops with Tigers or Trucked troops with Panthers. What do you guys think?

German Pioneers OC and 2IC with fausts Pioneers with supply vehicle and faust Pioneers with supply vehicle and faust 2 x 15cm guns 3 x Panzer II 3 x Panthers 4 x Marder III Ms

German SS Panzergrenadiers OC and 2IC Full Armoured Infantry platoon Full Armoured Infantry platoon Full Armoured Infantry platoon Half Armoued Pioneer platoon with Stuka fuss 2 x Cannon half tracks HMG platoon 3 x Panzer IV Hs 2 x PaK 40s

Panzer Pioneers vs Wiking Panthers in Counter Attack

Massive Carnage! This battle was again a 1650 LW match up in preparation for the Nov tournament to be held at Perkins Hobby House. I played against Ian who was running Wiking Panthers. We rolled up Counter Attack, which worked out well because I wanted to play a mission I wasn't as familiar with.

Panzer Pioneers OC and 2IC Fausts Full Pioneers with faust and supply vehicle Full Pioneers with knacker and supply vehicle 2 x Tiger IEs 3 x Nebs with PaK 38 3 x Panzer IIs 4 x Marder IIIMs

Wiking Panthers OC and 2IC Panthers 4 x Panthers 5 x Panzer IV Hs 2 x 8-Rads 2 x AA trucks

Panzer Pioneers vs Kamfgruppe Piper in Hold the Line

Tiger lurking in the town behind wire and mines! This game was in preparation for the Nov LW, 1650 tournament which will be held at Perkins Hobby House. If you haven't signed up already you can contact Gary by email or phone to do so, details are here. Or visit the Petawawa Miniature Soldiers forum. I played against Luggs and we decided to roll for the mission, which ended up Hold the Line. As I'm playing Mech infantry vs Tanks I would be defending.

Panzer Pioneers OC and 2IC with Fausts Full Platoon Pioneers with Faust and PSV Full Platoon Pioneers with Knackers and PSV 4 x Marder IIIMs 3 x Nebs with PaK 38 3 x Panzer IIs 2 x Tiger IEs

Kampfguppe Piper Piper in Panther OC and 2IC in Panzer IV Js 4 x Panzer IV Js King Tiger 3 x Pumas 3 x AA trucks Half track Cannon platoon 4 x 10.5cm guns