Goodbye 2012 - Hello 2013!

With the New Year fast approaching I thought it would be good to review what I planned for this year, what I actually did and my plans for 2013.

Despite the economic situation and the impact of having moved house at the end of 2011, 2012 did see some progress on a couple of my major projects but not quite as planned!

28mm Mahdist War - as planned I managed to complete the last elements of the first phase (the Suakin Campaign) of the project well underway but I decided to put a hold on the second phase - Khartoum.  I'm not sure this second phase will find it's way into the 2013 plan but who knows?

28mm Indian Mutiny - Having finished of the additional figures I had picked up (Mutineer light infantry and cavalry, artillery for both sides, some personalities and some civilians) which was meant to result in a pause, I then went on to pick up some more figures (which are currently in the painting queue).  So finishing off those figures and picking up some additional Gentlemen Volunteer and additional Bengal cavalry will be part of my 2013 plans.

28mm WW3 - With the Mongrel Soviets and the additional BAOR done, I actually managed to get this one finished as planned.

28mm Early War Polish - A platoon of these is currently with the painter and I have the SdKfz 221 and TKS on the workbench - so I am a little behind my original plan but it is progressing.  I hope to get this all finished and on to the table early in the first quarter of the New Year.

15mm Marlburian - As you will have noticed from the plethora of posts this month, the first phase of this project is actually completed.  Most of the figures for the second phase have been purchased and some are already off for painting.  I suspect this second phase will be finished some time before the end of 2013!

28mm Montrose - These are in various stages of basing and I still need to settle on a set of rules!

25mm French Revolution - The only thing still holding the basing of these back is making a decision on the ground terrain (i.e. what colour).  Not terribly impressive as this was my excuse a year ago!  I will be finishing them in 2013 (probably...)

28mm RCW/WW1 Eastern Front - I didn't really plan to progress this project this year - and so I managed to keep to this plan anyway!

So those were the planned projects at the beginning of 2012.  During the year I added a couple of other ideas too:

28mm WW2 Paras - So my British Paras are painted and based but they haven't yet hit the table in anger.  The Bolt Action US Paras I picked up are awaiting a further squad to make up the platoon and then they'll be off for painting (so that's a 2013 item)

28mm WW1 Belgians - These were my prize from draw at the Maidstone club open day and are now in the queue to go off for painting.  I am hoping that they will be back in time to be used before the end of 2013, although 2014 (as the 100th anniversary) might be more appropriate?

15mm Early WW2 - I managed to get some more of these based and to the table but still have quite a few more to do - so that's another thing for the New Year.

My only other concrete project for the New Year will be Muskets & Tomahawks in 28mm - I plan to have some suitable forces bought, painted and played with before the year is out!  Other than that my plans could only be described as "emergent" and will, obviously, be limited by budget - so probably a year of consolidation (i.e. adding to existing things) rather than new.

The Mutiny: 79th Highlanders

The second standard bearer for the Indian Mutiny project is for the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameron Highlanders):

The figures are from Mutineer Miniatures and the flag is from GMB Designs.

The Mutiny: 2nd Bengal Native Infantry

I've just finished the standard bearers for a couple of my units for the Indian Mutiny.  Here's the first - the 2nd Bengal Native Infantry:

The figures and the flag are both from Mutineer Miniatures.

Skirmish Campaigns: Red Devils of the Orne

The final WW2 book in my Skirmish Campaigns collection is also one of my latest acquisitions and it's entitled Normandy '44 - Red Devils of the Orne.  It centres on the fighting east of the Orne river in June 1944 involving the British 9th Parachute and 1st Canadian Parachute Battalions.

Normandy '44 - Red Devils of the Orne is a 60 page, black and white, staple bound book in US letter format which includes 12 scenarios forming three campaigns.

As before the book follows the standard Skirmish Campaigns structure, starting with a single page introduction, a two page explanation of the Skirmish Campaigns format, a table detailing how to translate the scenarios to various sets of rules and a strategic map; however, it doesn't contain the usual background history, but has a two page annotated bibliography before moving into the actual scenarios.

Paratroops of 6th Airborne Division blackening their faces, 5 June 1944 © IWM (H 39066)

There are three campaigns:

• Critical Moments - 3 scenarios covering the Merville Battery assault and the actions around Varaville
• Mesnil Crossroads - 3 scenarios covering the desperate fight to hold the crossroads at le Mesnil on the 8th June
• Chateau No-Man's Land - 6 scenarios surrounding the battle for the Chateau St. Côme from the 9th to the 12th June

The first scenario is an assault on a casemate and so, whilst infantry only, requires the casemate itself and the surrounding trenches, bunkers and magazines.  The second and third are played on the same terrain which requires a number of buildings, including the gatehouse which is the centre of the scenarios, along with some trenches and bocage.  Other than some motorcycles the first of the two is infantry only  whilst the second requires 2 x captured R35 tanks and a possible truck mounted AA gun.  Incidentally the last of these three scenarios requires 6th Commando rather than airborne troops.

As might be expected the three scenarios making up the Mesnil Crossroads campaign are all played on the same terrain representing the crossroads.  This time a walled farm and smaller walled house along with a hill, woods, bocage and fields are needed.  The first of these is really infantry; however, the second and third require a StuG III.

The final campaign is also played across the same terrain centring around the Chateau although two of the scenarios do have a slightly shorter version as they are more condensed.  Obviously a building suitable to represent the chateau itself is required along with some stables and a barn; whilst the remainder of the table is woods and a little bocage.  The first and second scenarios are principally infantry with a jeep with a gun mount and a horch car as a variable attachment for the Germans.  The third introduces 2 x StuG IIIg and an SdKfz 233 as a variable attachment.  The fourth provides for a German base force with 1 x SdKfz 250/1 and a couple of french civilian trucks but allows the selection of additional support (at the expense of victory points) which includes 2 x StuG IIIg, 1 x SdKfz 250/9, 1 x SDKfz 233 and 1 x PzKpfw IVd (the latter being a speculative addition in any event).  The fifth has only the StuG, an optional SdKfz 251/1 and a universal carrier for the paras.  Whilst the final scenario has either the StuG or a Marder III and 3 x Shermans and a Firefly to support the paras.

As I only received this book a few days ago, I have yet to play any of the scenarios; however, I fully intend to remedy that as I have almost enough kit in 28mm for the infantry scenarios - I'll need to do a little more collecting for the armour required though.

WSS: Régiment Mestre de Camp Général

My final unit for this phase of the project is more cavalry, the Régiment Mestre de Camp Général.  Originally raised in 1635 the Regiment fought at the Battle of Blenheim in Grignan's Brigade between Blenheim and Oberglauheim.

The figures are from Black Hat and the flag is from Maverick Models.

WSS: Régiment du Roi - Cavalerie

Originally raised in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, under the name of Régiment de Dragons du Cardinal (the Cardinal's Dragoon Regiment), the Regiment passed to the King on the Cardinal's death in 1641 and was renamed the Régiment de Fusiliers à Cheval du Roi (The King's Regiment of Mounted Fusiliers); and finally, in 1646, it was renamed the Régiment du Roi – Cavalerie (the King's Regiment (Cavalry)).  At the Battle of Blenheim, the Regiment formed part of the Marquis de Broglie's Brigade under the Comte de Zurlauben between Blenheim and Oberglauheim.

The figures are from Black Hat.

WSS: Régiment Royal - Cavalerie

Raised in 1635 as the Régiment Cardinal-Duc Cavalerie, the Regiment was renamed in 1668 the Régiment Royal Cavalerie. At Blenheim they formed part of Massenbach's Brigade in the Corps commanded by the Marquis du Bourg under the Elector of Bavaria.

The figures are from Black Hat and the flag is from Maverick Models.

Skirmish Campaigns: Drive on Minsk

The next of Skirmish Campaigns booklets is another one on WW2 but this time it's the eastern front with Russia '41 - Drive on Minsk.  This one is centred on the German invasion of Russian in 1941.

Russia '41 - Drive on Minsk is a 60 page, black and white, staple bound book in US letter format which includes 12 scenarios forming five campaigns.

Anyone who has been following these posts will be familiar with the Skirmish Campaigns structure but for anyone coming in new - it starts with a single page introduction, a two page explanation of the Skirmish Campaigns format, a table detailing how to translate the scenarios to various sets of rules, a strategic map, three pages explaining the 5 campaigns followed by six pages of background history and then the bibliography before moving into the scenarios.

As with the previous two WW2 books this one requires a significant amount of armour if you want to play all the scenarios.  Unfortunately there are no infantry only scenarios this time although a couple do only require armour on one side or the other.   Overall you would need 2-4 x PzKpfw IIc, 2-4 x PzKpfw IIIg, 2 x PzKpfw IVe, 2 x StuG IIIb, 2 x SdKfz 231, 3-6 x T26, 3 x BT-7, 2 x BA-10, 3 x T34, 2-3 x KV-1, 1 x KV-2, 1 x OT-26 (the ones listed in italics are only needs as variable attachments) along with various trucks etc.  You also need Soviet airborne troops for the final two scenarios.  The scenery is mostly hills, woods and marsh with a few buildings being required.

If you are interested one of the scenarios Armor Clash (sic) is available for download.

I have yet to play any of the scenarios in this book but I am hopeful that I will get some of them to the table eventually.

Happy Hogswatch!

Here's wishing you all a very merry Christmas (careful now!) and hoping that Santa brings you something fun!

Thank you for taking the time to read my random witterings and particularly to those of you who were kind enough to comment - if only for stopping me thinking I'm talking to myself.

As you'll see from my year end round up and 2013 post (coming soon) I've plenty more planned on the gaming front...

WSS: Régiment des Dragons de la Reine

The regiment was set up on 14 September 1673 as the Régiment d'Hocquincourt. It took the name Régiment des dragons de la Reine (Queen's Own Dragoons) in 1675. The regiment fought at the Battle of Blenheim as part of Hautefeulle's Brigade.

The figures are from Black Hat and the flags are from Maverick Models.

WSS: Régiment du Mestre de Camp Général des Dragons

The regiment was originally raised in 1674 by the Comte de Tessé, for whom the title of Mestre de Camp Général des Dragons was created in 1685. The regiment fought at the Battle of Blenheim as part of Hautefeulle's Brigade.

The figures are from Black Hat and the flag is from Maverick Models.

Skirmish Campaigns: Withdrawal to Dunkirk

Hot on the heels of the Ghost Division, my next Skirmish Campaigns booklet is one of the follow ons, it's entitled France '40 - Withdrawal to Dunkirk.  The follows the last days of fighting around the Dunkirk perimeter in May 1940.

France '40 - Withdrawal to Dunkirk is a 60 page, black and white, staple bound book in US letter format which includes 12 scenarios forming five campaigns.

Once again, the book has the standard Skirmish Campaigns structure, starting with a single page introduction, a two page explanation of the Skirmish Campaigns format, a table detailing how to translate the scenarios to various sets of rules and a strategic map (with a small paragraph below showing how to roll the five campaigns into a single grand campaign); however, it restricts the history to a single page followed by the bibliography before moving into the twelve scenarios.

The first two scenarios are infantry only but involve bicycle mounted Germans versus Belgian troops (although the bicycles are easily resolved and they could be converted to other Allied troops).  The next scenario has German infantry facing 5 Dingo scout cars possibly supported by a universal carrier and crew or an A9.  Along with some British and German infantry and German trucks the fourth requires 2 x PzKpfw IIc plus 2-4 PzKpfw IIIe or 2-4 PzKpfw IVd as variable attachments facing 3-5 x A9, 2-3 x A10 and 3-6 x Mark VIB although the larger numbers are as a result of variable attachments again but quite a number as you can see.  The fifth has 4 x PzKpfw IIc, 2 x PzKpfw Ib, 2 x PzKpfw IIIe, 3 x A9 and a Mark VIB plus a kubelwagen, a SdKfz 251/1 and 4 motorcycles with sidecars along with the accompanying infantry.  The sixth and seventh are infantry only scenarios, although some British trucks are called for in the sixth and a universal carrier and German motorcycle combinations as variable attachments in the seventh.  The eighth sees German infantry facing the French in trucks with 3 x R35 with an additional 2 x R35 and 2 x PzJaeger as variable attachments.  The ninth is similar but asks for 2 x H35 in addition.  The tenth is Germans versus British infantry but the eleventh sees the Germans needing 2 x PZKpfw IIIe, 2 x PzKpfw 35(t) and 2 x PzKpfw IVd as variables.  The final scenario is similar.  A number of the scenarios, particularly the later ones require quite a few buildings but otherwise are all relatively straightforward.

I have only managed to get one of the scenarios to the table, which was in 20mm at the club (some photos here).  I do have plans for adapting a couple of the others to enable them to be more practically playable with my collection though.

WSS: French Artillery

The French foot can't go into battle without some guns to support them:

Again, the figures are from Black Hat.

WSS: French Commanders

Obviously my French foot needs some commanders.  So here they are:

The figures are from Black Hat.

Skirmish Campaigns: The Ghost Division

The next WW2 book in my Skirmish Campaigns collection is also my latest acquisition and it's entitled France '40 - The Ghost Division.  The follows the rapid advance of Rommel's 7th Panzer Division during the German invasion of France in 1940.

France '40 - The Ghost Division is a 56 page, black and white, staple bound book in US letter format which includes 10 scenarios forming three campaigns.

The book has the, hopefully now familiar Skirmish Campaigns structure, starting with a single page introduction, a two page explanation of the Skirmish Campaigns format, a table detailing how to translate the scenarios to various sets of rules, a strategic map, three pages explaining the campaigns, six pages of background history and a selected bibliography before moving into the actual scenarios.

The scenarios don't require huge amounts of infantry - most not even a platoon - but some need quite a few armoured vehicles including 2 x SdKfz 222, 2-4 x PzKpfw IIc, 2-4 x PzKpfw 38(t), 2 x PzKpfw IVd, 2-4 x Char B1-bis, 4-6 x H39, 2-4 x S35, 3 x Matilda 1 and 1-3 x Matilda II (the larger number generally includes variable attachments).  This is, perhaps, unsurprising given the subject of the book but might be a little daunting in a larger scale like 28mm and only a single scenario requires no armour at all; however, some of the scenarios only have armour on one of the sides.  The terrain is all pretty straightforward with only a few buildings required.

If you are interested one of the scenarios Dragoons at Haut-le-Wastia is available for download.

As I only received this book a few days ago, I have yet to play any of the scenarios; however, I fully intend to remedy that as I have a reasonable amount of the kit required for some of them albeit in 20mm!

Christmas Lard!

The latest season special from the Too Fat Lardies was released just this morning (and very early too by the looks of things - I nearly missed it!)

This year it's 127 page long pdf stuffed with articles, scenarios and additional rules and ideas for most of the Lardies' rule sets.

It's available from the Lardies website for only £6.

Just to whet your appetite the contents look like this:

• Introduction - A Festive welcome from Lard Island
• Sea Wolves - Dux Britanniarum for the Age of Vikings (rule ideas and scenarios)
• The Bulls of Bravo - A scenario for Charlie Don't Surf
• “The Bounce” - A 1940 Bag the Hun scenario
• Gunthur Mensch’s Panzer Tactics - WWII top tips for tanks
• Panzer Angriff - A mini‐campaign for I Ain't Been Shot Mum (IABSM)
• Invasion Earth - Building forces for Quadrant 13 (The Lardies' new SF rules)
• The Yanks are Coming - US character generation for Through the Mud and the Blood
• More Sturm Abteilung Vor! - Stosstruppen tactics in the Great War
• Stosstrupptaktik! - a pre‐game scenario enhancer for Through the Mud & the Blood
• Olkhavatka! - A Kursk scenario for IABSM
• Breakfast at von Tiffany’s - A dawn raid in Russia, 1942/3 for Bag the Hun
• Road to Ruins - Building WW1 ruined fortifications
• Swedish Dux - The Stockholm Dux scene
• WWII Kriegsspiel - Kriegspiel using the Meckel Map
• The Roundwood Report - Sidney Roundwood's annual report
• Lard Approved - The new Lard Approved 
• Lovely Weather for Dux - Weather in Dux campaigns and games
• You Dirty Rat - The roaring twenties and assembling gangster forces
• TweetFace - A guide to staying in touch with The Lardies in the age of social media

WSS: Régiment Royal

My final French foot unit for this phase of the project is the Régiment Royal which was first raised in 1656.  In 1703 the first two battalions of the regiment were in the Battle on the Speyerbach where it lost its colonel-lieutenant the Marquis de Calvo. Pierre René de Brisey Comte d'Enonville was appointed as its new colonel-lieutenant.  The following year the regiment fought at the Battle of Blenheim where it was forced into Blenheim village and a large part was taken prisoner. After the Battle the remnants of the regiment were collected at Thionville and rebuilt at Sédan.  The regiment royal was also present at the Battle of Oudenaarde but was not engaged.

The figures are from Black Hat and the flag is from Warflag.

WSS: Régiment de Navarre

My penultimate foot unit for the French this phase is the Régiment de Navarre.  First mentioned in 1597, the regiment has a long history prior to the War of Spanish Succession (WSS) including fighting in the Nine Years War.  During the WSS it fought at the Battle of Blenheim and almost the entire regiment was taken prisoner in Blenheim village.  The small number of men who escaped capture were assembled at Nancy as the core of the reformed regiment. The regiment also fought at the Battled of Oudenarde and Malplaquet.

As before, the figures are from Black Hat and the flag is from Warflag.

Skirmish Campaigns: Norway!

The second WW2 book, chronologically, in my collection of Skirmish Campaign books is Norway!  The book is centred on the German invasion of Norway in April 1940 and the Norwegian, British and French response.

Norway! is a 56 page, black and white, staple bound book in US letter format which includes 10 scenarios forming two campaigns.

The book starts with a single page introduction, a two page explanation of the Skirmish Campaigns format, a table detailing how to translate the scenarios to various sets of rules, a strategic map, three pages explaining the campaigns, six pages of background history and a selected bibliography before moving into the actual scenarios.

The scenarios are all around platoon size and the only armour required is a lone PzKpfw I in the base forces but addition ones, SdKfz 222 or PzKpfw IIs in the variable attachments; however, many of the scenarios require Norwegian troops, which will be difficult to source in some scales.  In addition, they call for a mix of troops on both sides with the Germans requiring standard infantry, mountain troops and fallschirmjaeger; whilst the Allies require standard British infantry, Scots Guards, French Foreign Legion and Chasseurs Alpins in addition to the Norwegians (with some ski troops needed in the variable attachments).

British troops with French Hotchkiss H39 tanks in Steinland, Norway, 1940 © IWM (N 229)

The terrain is largely woods and hills but some scenarios require a few buildings and one needs part of the twon of Bjerkvik.

If you are interested one of the scenarios Encounter at Roa is available for download.

I have yet to play any of the scenarios from the book, largely as I don't have the suitable figures and, indeed am finding it difficult to source appropriate ones in 28mm.  Of all the Skirmish Campaigns booklets I have I suspect this is the one I am likely to actually play the fewest scenarios from.

WSS: Régiment de la Reine

My next French unit is the Régiment de la Reine.  The regiment's origins were in the Mazarin Français Regiment, which in 1661, was named Régiment de la Reine Mère by Louis XIV as part of a general reorganisation of the French Army. Following the death of Louis' mother in 1666, the regiment was renamed the Régiment de la Reine.  The regiment was part of the Marquis de Rosel's Corps at the Battle of Blenheim under the Marquis de Buzancois.

The regiment also fought alongside the Régiment de Languedoc in New France in the Seven Years War.  I also have this unit in my French & Indian War collection.

The figures are from Black Hat and the flag is from Warflag.

WSS: Régiment de Languedoc

The next unit for the French is the Régiment de Languedoc.  The regiment was formed in 1672 by Louis XIV and recruited from the Languedoc region which gave it its name.  It formed part of the Blenheim reserve in the brigade under the Baron d'Argelos.

This regiment went on to fight in New France during the Seven Years War and I have a unit to represent them in my 15mm French & Indian War collection.

As before, the figures are from Black Hat and the flag is from Warflag.

Skirmish Campaigns: The Black Brigade

The next in my collection of Skirmish Campaign books is the first in what is their core period - World War II - it's Poland '39 - The Black Brigade.  The book focuses on September 1939 and the actions involving the Polish 10th Mechanised Brigade, of the Army of Krakow, under Colonel Stanislaw Maczek in their struggle against the German invasion.

Poland '39 - The Black Brigade is a 56 page, black and white, staple bound book in US letter format which includes 10 scenarios forming four campaigns.

The book starts with a single page introduction, a two page explanation of the Skirmish Campaigns format, a table detailing how to translate the scenarios to various sets of rules, a strategic map, three pages explaining the campaigns, six pages of background history and a selected bibliography before moving into the actual scenarios.

Whilst the infantry requirements for the scenarios are all relatively small, the majority of them require armour of some sort.  The Polish are mostly equipped with TKS tankettes or Vickers E light tanks and the Germans with SdKfz 222 armoured cars or PzKpfw I or II light tanks with a few motorcycles thrown in.  The largest scenario calls for 4 x Pzkpfw IIc, 1 x SdKfz 221, 3 x Vickers E and 3 x TKS (2 with MGs and 1 with a 20mm cannon) along with assorted other vehicles.  With regard to terrain, most of the scenarios are pretty straightforward with not too much requirement for buildings, just light woods, hills and some fields.

I have yet to play any of the scenarios from the book, but will be able to once my Polish figures are painted; however, that will be using a little poetic licence as my figures aren't right for the Black Brigade (who wore the German 1916 pattern helmet and black leather coats - hence the unit's nickname).  A small range of suitable 28mm figures are now available through Gorgon Studios.  Clearly some of the scenarios, especially the larger ones, may make more sense in a smaller scale given the amount of vehicles (although a TKS doesn't actually take up much space!).

Picture from www.wwiivehicles.com

If you are interested one of the scenarios, Rabka-Mszana Road is available for download.

WSS: Régiment d'Artois

The second unit for my French forces is the Regiment d'Artois. The regiment was initially created in 1610 by the Comte de Beaumont Saint-Vallier.  In 1670 became part of the Régiment Royal then a year letter was renamed to Régiment Chateauneuf and, finally in 1673, it took the name of the province of Artois.  The Regiment was part of the Blenheim garrison under the Marquis de Balincourt.

The figures are from Black Hat and the flag is from Warflag.