The Streets of Stalingrad, Part 1: A Bolt Action Meeting Engagement

Urban fighting in the streets of Stalingrad have always been a favorite theme of mine and with Bolt Action rules it's been satisfying so far. Some of you may remember a few batreps I had posted in the past with other attempts at wargaming this setting using rules sets like Nuts! and Flying Lead. 

Unfortunately both rules sets mentioned left me confused, frustrated and unsatisfied with their complexities (e.g. Flying Lead grenade rules) and numerous chart referencing thereby resulting in non-resolution of tactical situations. Not so with Bolt Action.

For this game we decided on another meeting engagement with roughly equal sides of infantry and armored support. To master the game mechanics and to ensure a fast flowing game we started with small and simple teams and minimal vehicles. 

Here are the belligerents:

(click on the pix to enlarge)

The Soviet Command Team: 1st Lieutenant (Naval) in the center flanked by SMG armed infantry.

1st Squad with SMG armed NCO, 8 Riflemen, and an LMG gunner and loader. Using the Soviet special rule, this squad is 'free'.

2nd Squad with SMG armed NCO plus two additonal SMGs, 6 Riflemen, and an LMG gunner and loader. This squad is not 'free'.

3rd Squad has the same composition as 2nd squad and has the same points cost.

Weapons support: medium MG with a crew of 3.

Armor support: SU76 aka Suchka (Little Bitch in Russian b/c of her unreliable steering) in the foreground with a T34/76 backing her up.  

The German Command Team: 1st Lieutenant in the center flanked by an SMG and Panzerfaust armed infantry.

1st Squad with SMG armed NCO and 9 Riflemen.

2nd Squad with SMG armed NCO, 7 Riflemen, and an LMG gunner and loader.

Weapons support: medium MG with a crew of 3.

The ever ubiquitous SdKfz251/10 HT for support.

The awesome StuGIIIG!

Coming up next: the encounter!

The most Iconic WW2 Half Track yet!

The ubiquitous Sd.Kfz.251 Half Track by Hanomag is one of the most versatile AFVs in German arsenal and one of my favorites. I also have this vehicle in a few scales. 

(click on the pix to enlarge)

Some of it's variants... 

Here they are in 15mm for use with my Flames of War miniatures in front of some HO scale prepainted buildings I got from my local model railroad and trains store.

In a previous post "More PanzerGrenadiers" (http://thehistoricalminiaturist.blogspot.com/2010/07/more-panzergrenadiers.html) I featured these infantry and half tracks that were acquired from two different sources. They were already painted which suited me just fine. The dunkelgelb (German Armor Yellow) was OK but was lacking due to a typical application of camo on these later paint schemes. 

I planned to repaint them to Panzer Grey. Also the infantry was finished with a semi-gloss which is not to my liking. I prefer all my minis to have a flat matte finish that really helps the weathering effects.

Since these were acquisitions I can only guess who the manufacturers were. My guess for the infantry is Artisan. Company B for the halftracks. Chime in and let me know if you know.

Because of the coolness of the Bolt Action rules and the relative ease of play, my gaming group got some renewed interest in WW2 skirmishing. So that meant that the day finally arrived for repainting these bad boys to my preferred color. Time to get them out of mothballs for a makeover.   

Done and shown here with a mix of my German troops from different manufacturers: Battle Honors, BTD and Artisan(?).

At one point I thought these half tracks were from Warlord but upon my investigation of their site and online store, their models did not come with an integral base, like these models show.

I've since applied matte finish to the acquired infantry and have modified some of them as the gun crew for this 251/10.

They're ready to fight!

StuG IIIG

One of the most produced AFVs in Germany, the Sturmgeschütz assault gun was based on the Panzer III chassis.  After many improvements and upgunning the model G sports a long 75mm capable of taking on Soviet tanks such as the T34 and a personal favorite of mine.

(click on the pix to enlarge)

Another fine model from Warlord is this German Army AFV and assault gun: the Sturmgeschutz III aufklarung G aka the StuG IIIG. 

I love the simplicity of assembly and not too many teeny, tiny, little fricken pieces! 

I decided to leave out the side skirts to see more of the model. IMHO this is really a well designed assault gun and makes a fine infantry support weapon. 

After numerous steps of dry brushing, coloring, weathering and dipping, she's ready for the final step of matte varnishing with Testor's Dull Kote. 

Less is more and she's battle ready.

Achtung! Bereit für die Action und Kampf!!

Coming up soon: The units are coming together for an eminent confrontation using Bolt Action rules amongst 'The Streets of Stalingrad'.

Mini Tanks Part 1: The Simple and Reliable SU-76M

The SU-76M was a ubiquitous AFV that was an all around, all purpose gun for the Soviets. From self propelled artillery to tank hunting, she was able to do it all. It's always been a favorite of mine because of its simplicity in her design and I have collected this vehicle in numerous scales. Technically, it's not a tank but an Assault Gun but being built on the T70 chassis it at least fits that size category.

According to Wikipedia: 

"Crews loved this vehicle for its simplicity, reliability, and ease of use. However, the steering was also sometimes regarded as cumbersome, leading crews to also refer to the vehicle as suka ("bitch") or Suchka ("little bitch")." 

(click on the pix to enlarge)

The resin and metal castings of this model are of superior quality.
The crew is fully detailed and can be modeled inside or outside of their vehicle.
There's barely any flash on these models. Truly worth it!

Again, the quality is evident in how the parts fit
together perfectly with no time wasted on prep
(as in sanding or carving to make the pieces fit together). 

Aside from the fine detail of this model's exterior,
the same quality is extended in the fighting compartment.
There's even ammo shells molded on the insides. 

Prep consisted of washing the assembled model in water and dish washing liquid.
After drying she's mounted on nails and is ready for primer and color. 
In between these steps I usually dry brush with a Sand color before weathering.

Here she is with a StuG IIIG (also from Warlord) 
without side skirts that I'll feature in a post all her own.
After weathering and another go at dry brushing with highlights,
I applied Army Painter's Quickshade Strong Tone by brush rather than dipping.
I let it cure per directions then hit it Testor's Dull Kote and voila!

Here's the finished product ready for gaming.
I tested her out using a good combination of firepower:
my Suchka partnered with a T34/76
(this is a nice model from P.M.D. and available from Battlemart).

Here's Suchka in action trying to get a bead on a hidden SdKfz 251 HT.
Stay tuned for the next post as she and her sister (T34/76)
will be pitted against a StuGIIIG (shown above) and an SdKfz 251/10 HT. 

Going a-Viking! Part 2

Upcoming battle royal and rumble that Mikey and I were getting ready for at OwlCon 2014 held in Rice University, in Houston. That meant getting new units painted to supplement my existing Huscarls as well as getting Mikey's long ship out of mothballs, painted and weathered to transport his Vikings. While mine were at the final stages of completion he was frantically doing the same. Gotta love them shield transfers...

(click on the pix to enlarge)

More detail on the just finished units of Warriors from Black Tree Design.

My Huscarls from Wargames Factory on review and deciding which ones to make the team and get to travel. Archers on the ship stay home this time around since I'm not using missile troops.

Practice session at Mikey's where we combined our terrain on his Hexon.

A close up shot of my two scratch built hovels and attached wood shed. Wooden barrels and various trade goods from both our collections.

Mikey's Warband.

Mikey's Warband going out for a test drive.

Scratch built haystack in the background with Rune Stones from Fenris Games in the foreground to add some Viking flavor.

Mikey's round huts.

Some jockeying for position on both our parts in this practice game.

I painted Mikey's Long Ship from Old Glory.

Some weathering.

Both of our warbands with their Long Ships ready for transport to OwlCon.

Onto Rice University for OwlCon!

My Warband heading down the river for the brawl.

Mikey's Long Ship has grounded with his troops ready to disembark.

My Berserkers charging across the meadow against Welsh bowmen.

My Warriors charging a Welsh warrior unit across the street by the hedgerow.

My Huscarls springing into action and eventually eliminating the Norman Cavalry unit.

In conclusion, out of 6 Warbands, I hacked and slashed my way to a bloody second place! I lost to a Welsh unit. Mikey's unit was the third unit taken out by a combination of Welsh bow fire and Norman cavalry charges. Better luck next time, Mikey!!