Technical, Tanks, and SPGs

Since my last Harad game, I have decided to create another RCL armed technical. This decision was inspired in part by the performance of the RCLs in the last game, partly by the discovery of a semi-finished scratchbuild RCL amongst some figures, and mostly because I really like technicals.

Step 1: find a suitable vehicle Step 2: Layer on the stuff

The base vehicle is a very old Corgi Range Rover, which has received many repaints throughout its long service life. Driver is an Esci German from the SdKfz 11 kit. The armed fellow in the back is from the Mars Mujahideen set, as are the RCL rounds. The last figure is an Arab of unknown manufacture purchased via an online auction site. Stowage also includes sandbags and an ammo box from the Esci Accessories set. The final piece comes from the Airfix German Mountain Troops set.

A view from the side.

And a view from above.

The gifts from Katherine have been added into the Harad war stocks. Currently this puts me at 14 M-48s. Which would be about a full tank battalion, depending on the exact TOE I use for Harad. The TOE is probably going to be based on either a US or UK model, as these vehicles represent some of the equipment that was available in 1979.

Lots of Tanks! Airfix M-48s in a Harad Tank park.

The view from above

 The Centurions are currently enough to build up a strong reinforced armour company. Adding (and repainting) two more would make enough for two companies. Should I also add in some of the kit versions as well, fielding a second understrength battalion is also possible. Again, this represents elements of the old 1979 Imperial Army.

Airfiix Centurions. Do I add in more from my other Armies?

The current rush to figure this out is because I am launching a Harad gaming campaign soon. I say gaming rather than wargaming, or roleplaying, as what I what to do cuts across traditional lines. I have discussed doing this for some time, but it is planned to get things running in earnest next year. The campaign will involve a blending of several gaming formats LARP, RPG, Grand Strat, and table top wargaming. Each of these will feed into the ongoing narrative of the campaign. The campaign will stress consequences for actions, and will require the juggling of military, political, economic, and political factors. The campaign will have players taking  the part of one of many quite different factions and other interested parties involved in a civil war situation set during the late 20th Century. So far I have had a number of people get very interested in this, and it should result in better games of toy soldiers. The down side is that I am probably going to have to supply the vast bulk of equipment used. Fortunately, by using different gaming formats, much of the battles that aren't practical, or useful, to tabletop can be resolved by other means.

The Airfix SPGs. More additions to the Harad project.

Replacement gun from a set of Hong Kong Army men.

View for the front. The new gun looks more solid that the original.

I do like the Airfix SPG, It seems a little too big to be the US M-40 155mm SPG, but I haven't done any measuring of comparisons to the  1/76 Matchbox kit yet. My main issue is not the size of the vehicle, but rather the size of the gun. I think I will be trawling through the horde for some replacement guns, or other stuff to mount on it. Although, at least one should become an ammo hauler. And I think I could rig up one as a missile launcher... Hmmm... and I do have a source for some additional gear.

The battle of Kitchen table Round Five

First some back story. Frank likes Napoleonics and is keen on playing games of Volley and Bayonet. Another friend had recently bought a set of rules called Waterloo (or something equally similar) which is a Warhammer product using their War of the Ring rules engine to play small Napoleonic actions. Four games were played on my kitchen table,. resulting in four great French Victories. Later that day, the French lost a game of Rugby.

Naturally, all of this went to my head and resulted in a small amount of trash talk. I am making my Volley and Bayonet French up out of largely Airfix figures, as such due to the hunched up nature of the figures, Frank has refered to them as being my Uruk-Hai French. His Army, as always, is beautifully painted and quite shiney.

The WIP French Horde.

Another WIP. Airfix Waterloo French Cavalry (Cuirassiers). These are figures I bought brand new at Hobday's when they were released in the 1990s. And, yes, I have painted the saddlebags things wrong. I plan to correct this when I give them more paint for the next battle.

And divided into to two divisions.

Airfix French Infantry Officer mounted on Airfix Cowboy horse. figure was acquired second hand with bent arm. I added the horse, gave a repaint, and the now standard GW Devan Mud wash. it's great stuff!

And some pictures of Frank's Redcoats. Frank uses Hat British Infantry of some type, with added SHQ metals, the occassional Strelets figure, with some Zvedza thrown in too. All very nice.

Nice stuff. Each VB stand is a Brigade, but Frank puts on the Colours of one of the Brigades battalions to make it look pretty.

I believe these fellows are Guards... But I wouldn't bet on it!

The British deploy. In one spot. A novel but successful measure.

The table had some terrain put down by Frank. The Urban areas are buildings he has made up for his CD3 Bosnian games.

Both sides deploy. the French lack room to deploy fully, and this will cost them.

Very Nice BUAs for all seasons and a variety of periods.

Great looking Barn, Shed, or windowless Slum. No window tax due here!

The view down the road to the other town.

The main street of a no horse town?  I love these buildings!

The game was like the last game of Volley and Bayonet (VB) - quick, brutal, and marked by an utter ignorance of the rules! It was all over in around four turns (I believe each players go counts as half a turn), as the enemy came on in the same old way, and got beaten in the same old way (to paraphrase some guy). Essentially, I committed the same mistakes Frank did when he played me. I keep on wanting to put units behind, and in base to base contact with, other units that are assaulting the enemy. In some systems this rules in bonuses to the attacking unit as it is supported by friendlies. In VB, this results in no bonus, but actually creates the risk of units becoming disordered by the front unit if it is forced to fallback after an attack. This occurs something like this.

Look its the British! Lets advance and crush them by throwing both Divisions against one wing!

This will be successful! Look how many stands are in support of the attack!

The attack is suboptimal. The French are disordered!

The Counterattack by the British, and the French get further disordered to rout status, and both Divisions hit their exhaustion point.

Stands actually eliminated during the game. French Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry.

In short, I took a pounding, had lots of fun, and both Frank and I increased our understanding of VB. Clearly I need to get cracking on with painting the French! The key question is, especially for campaigns, if the terrain doesn't favour your deployment, should you commit to battle? For our pick up games, I will game on any terrain, with any force, as playing against the odds is something I enjoy, and often learn from. Campaign games would require slightly more thought as to whether or not a battle should be joined.

Christmas Presents from the Wife

My very clever wife decided that since she was not going to be at home this year, as she is working down south on the Ice, that she would hide an envelope full of cash that I could use to buy Wargaming stuff. Recently, the location of this envelope was revealed to me, and I dutifully complied with her instructions!

Naturally, I felt that I needed to beef up the forces I have available for use in Harad. My first thoughts were to buy more plastic soldiers, possibly some more militia from Caesar, or to try and hunt down some other suitable figure types. What I actually did was much better. I got tanks. I got lots of tanks.

I contacted Glenn Sibbald, a local Airfix collector, who has helped me obtain things in the past for projects, about being able to source a couple of the Airfix ready made models that I like. Glenn told me that he might have a couple of things for me, and that I should pop round on Sunday.

The Haul. 9 M-48s, 3 Centurions, 1 Antar Tank Transporter, and a set of Airfix Modern Russians.

The Mighty Antar! I will have to make up a new rear ramp out of plastic card.

Close up of the cab. A fine addition to Haradian forces.

A view from above.

Lots of lovely tanks!

Every Army needs some spare parts! Glenn chucked in these as an extra.

  I am extremely happy with this lot, and am looking forward to adding them in to the Harad project. Thanks Glenn! and Thank you too, Katherine!

Action on the Umbar Highway: Part Two.

Having given details of the setting, and both forces used, in the previous post, I shall begin detailing the action at Bar Izian. Both sides started movement at the tables edge, and all motorised, mounted, armour, and mobile units made quick progress.

The Nod Column, turn one.

Separatist Armoured Cars. Two Saladins (One by John Bull Models, the other a Playart Diecast), and a Cadillac Gage V-150 (Metal, Maker unknown).

Separatists quickly seize the town.

Nod Recon encounters a Separatist Infantry company. It gets hit and is forced back into the woods.

Enter the Camels, followed by the Technicals. Note the Armoured cars in the distance.

The Separatist view of the Nod Advance.

And safely securing the Separatist left flank is a T-72 Platoon.

Lagging behind on foot, Nod Militia advance up the highway.

The Nod advance seemed to go fairly well, until the shooting started. Things started to go down hill at that point. Turn one had the Separatists advance, whilst happily brushing aside Noddist Recon forces.

Nod Militia advance through the woods.

Separatist Armour advances toward the high ground.

Nod Recon gathers themselves in the safety of the woods.

The first technical to die.

A Noddist Camel patrol is eliminated.

Separatist Infantry advance and eliminate more camels.

Separatist Armour seize the high ground.

And wipe out the column below.

Two technicals are left. The T-72 destroyed the RCL Technical at left.

More Separatists flood the town.

Noddist 106mm RCL engage enemy armour on the hill. 1s to hit.

Meanwhile Noddist Militia advance through the woods.

Militia at front, followed by Engineers.

The Recoilless Rifles hit, and the Separatist armour is brewed!

Nod regulars seize the high ground on the other flank.

More Camel shooting....

A view from afar. End of Turn Three. This is the Noddist high water mark of success.

And the Camel is pinned.

And then gone.

The advance across the dead ground is thwarted by Separatist infantry in the town.

Engineers have their advance blunted by the remaining Armoured car.

Some damage is caused by Noddist Mortar fire. Frank uses plastic counters and blue tack to mark hits.

The survivors gather in the woods.

The T-72 clears the high ground, while counter battery mortar fire eliminates the Nod Militia Mortar.

Despite casualties, the Separatists still hold the town.

And then a Recoilless Rifle is knocked out.

More dead Nod Militia. At this point Nod starts to break off the attack.

A clear victory for the Separatists. 

It was a quick and fun game. Victory was still possible for Nod, until I moved too quickly by advancing the Infantry out of the woods without dealing with the last Armoured car first. The major Nod advantage was that I outnumbered Frank in infantry, and if I had dealt with that remaining Armoured car, I would have been able to bring that advantage to bear. Still, a very interesting game, and one that I enjoyed playing.