Battle for Villers Marie

Club met and engaged in a pitched battle for Villers Marie- a small French hamlet which American forces had scrambled to occupy(only to face an onslaught by a larger German force).

The forces arrayed were:
Americans: 2xM4 Sherman(76mm),1 xM4 Sherman(75mm), 1 xM3 Stuart, 16 Infantry, 1x50mm mortar
Germans: 2xPanzer V Panther, 1xPanzer IV F, 1xPanzer IVH, 1xSdkfz 222 Armored Car, 1xSdkfz 231/1, 1xSdkfz 231/9, 1x75mm AT gun, 22 Infantry, 1x82mm mortar

The American objective was simply to survive, with the promise of a reinforcment force on the way. The Germans approached from the west seeking to eliminate the "yankees".

A Panzer IV and two Panthers advance across a harvested field towards the town. Some French farmer is not going to be happy!

To the north, massed German infantry with half-track support approach the ford across the river.

The American forces are thinly stretched but spread out to cover the major approaches into the town.

A Sherman prepares to decimate anything that dares cross the river.

German forces approach the ford, but few would make it across. About the time they reach the water's edge, American tank and mortar fire cause havoc amongst their ranks.

Brave or ill-advised? A Sdkfz 222 armored car plows forward across the bridge...shortly thereafter it was burning wreckage.

A Sherman peels open a Sdkfz 231/9...not very encouraging to the even less-armored Wehrmacht troops on its flanks.

American reinforcements arrive in the town! 2xM3 Grants, 1 Half track and five more infantry deploy to beef up the defenses.

Without a target in sight, this G.I. decides to take pot shots at an SS Recruitment Poster!

Finally some German armor crosses into the town square, but subsequently into a crossfire of Sherman, Grant and Stuart tanks.

Througout the battle this 50mm mortar crew killed and disrupted the German infantry advance to the north. These guys never saw their handiwork, but it figured significantly into the battle.

As dusk sets, a German Panther takes down a Sherman, but with ammo running low, the Germans withdraw in good order with their three remaining tanks. The Americans have held their ground.

And finally...the or "best shot of the game award" goes to Stephen who fired on an American BAR gunner in a building window. With a -2 for firing and moving, -1 for height disadvantage, -1 for shooting through trees and -2 for building cover...he needed a 12 to kill his target(note the roll picture below!).

Mid-Week Mechanized Engagement Part II

Day 2...
Finally my flanking Tiger has reached the north side of the town and has positioned itself on the bridge- but there is little left of the rest of my force by now. This Panzer VI will have to be an army of one!

I do catch one of Gareth's Shermans with a nice rear armor shot- poof!

Not long after that kill, and a few American shells just missing me- I score a hit on a second Sherman! Maybe I have a chance after all(but see that Olive Drab shadow on the road behind me across the river- one of Gareth's Grants is closing- having followed my same path using the ford to the east!).

Meanwhile my last resistance in the town, a couple of infantryman, have been cornered by a halftrack and Gareth's G.I.'s...not a chance for me this time!

After knocking out the two Shermans I grow hopeful- but Gareth's end-run Grant immobilizes me, while a second, still in the town, delivers a knock-out. Gareth's massing riflemen and BAR gunners eliminate my last two soldiers on the bridge for good measure.

Roaming the streets unopposed, the Americans gesture to the civilians that it's alright to come out now- the town has been liberated.

Another victory for my son....another loss for dad!

Mid-Week Mechanized Engagement Part I

Gareth and I squared off again for an American vs. G.I. battle. He brought the following to the fight:

Americans: 2xM4 Sherman(76mm), 2xM3 Grant, 1x Half Track, 15 Infantry

I brought:
Germans: 2xPanzer VI Tiger, 1 Jagdpanzer IV, 1 Half Track, 15 Infantry

The image below shows our initial deployment locations- we would be converging on a small town which was sure to make for an interesting street fight.

A view of my two Tigers and tank riders. I anticipated good hunting against his measely Shermans and Grants...silly Amerikaner and their tin cans!

A nice look at Gareth's armor streaming in from the town from the West. Unseen in the picture is a flank escort of infantry making their way through the church.

Below you can see our initial deployments. I made stunted moves into nice firing positions- opting to let him move into my field of fire. Gareth took full advantage of my cautious approach and he quickly moved in to take most of the town. I sent a rogue Tiger across a ford to the north side of the river(bottom of the picture)- I planned to flank him later.

Our initial engagement saw me outgunned in the town, but I was counting on my thick armor and flanking panzer(who would get there eventually!) to even the odds.

Unfortunately, Gareth rolled high and immobilized my Tiger and knocked out my Jagdpanzer! Darn! Of course my first shots missed their mark.

My "end run" Tiger continued to make its way around the flank, but now my infantry in the town had no surviving armor support for the moment. Schnell, Tiger, schnell!!!

To be continued...

DBA Polybian Roman Army Grows...

Here is the 15mm Roman Army so far(about 1/3 done). Remember, I am new to 15mm mini painting and I am sure I will improve! I need to work on taking better close-ups with my camera.

The Hastatii...the youngest legionaries(and classified as "Blades" under DBA rules).

The Principes...the medium-aged legionaries(and also classified as "Blades" under DBA rules).

The intrepid Triarii, the veterans and last resort of the Roman Republican Army. The expression "The battle came to the triarii" was an old saying that meant the engagement was desperate. (The Triarii are considered "Spears" under DBA rules).

Friday Night Fight...Part 2

Here is the second part of our U.S. ETO troops vs. Fallschirmager engagement. I was hoping to win the battle of surviving tanks so my Panzer IV could help my dwindling infantry force.

As shown above, a fierce battle was raging for the stone wall on the North side of the battlefield(the yellow discs identify disrupted soldiers). What you can't see in Gareth's other halftrack with its 50cal bearing down on my men!

Finally some good news for the Wehrmacht!- My Panzer IV took out his other Sherman. Yet...he immobilized me before I got the killshot so now I can't move to support the infantry skirmish!

My infantry has given up the wall after a beating and has hunkered down in a line of bushes. Gareth relentlessly pursued with this halftrack and infantry.

My immobilized Panzer IV does not miss the opporunity to pick on Gareth's half track which is conveniently just down the road in clear line of sight. My AP shell makes quick work of it. (unfortunately a rogue bazooka-armed G.I. hit the weak rear armor of my immobile tank the following turn)

...but my fun is shortlived. When my MG-42 armed sole survivor takes down two men in melee I begin to hope I can pull it out. Just be to safe, though, Gareth sends his remaining five men after me. My last man goes down...and Gareth emerges victorious once again.

Friday Night Fight...Part 1

Opposing Forces:
Americans: 2xM4, 2x, 15 Infantry, 1 50m mortar

Germans: 1xPanzer IV(H), Sdkfz 251/9 Half Track, Sdkfz 222 Armored Car, 15 Infantry, 81mm mortar


Gareth and I engaged in an American Infantry vs. Fallschirmjager battle tonight. Our forces converged from opposing sides in a meeting engagement...the church was at the center, altough our battle would skirt around the structure as we both tried to keep our infantry close to vehicular support fire.
A view of Gareth's armoed column moving out...two M4(76mm model) Shermans supported by halftracks.
Some of my German Fallschirmjager deploying forward near the hedgerows.

My Panzer IV(H) and Sdkfz 251/9(halftrack with 75mm gun) deploy near the Southeast corner of the church.

After I fail in an initial blitz, one of Gareth's Shermans scores a direct hit on my halftrack!

On the North side of the church a separate engagement rages. I send in my 20mm-armed armored car to wreak havoc amongst his halftracks...but of course the bazooka-armed G.I.(seen in the pic) uses his rocket launcher as a can opener!



More tomorrow...

First DBA Unit!

I finished my first DBA unit for the Polybian Roman Army th at I am building. It is 15mm scale which is smaller than I've done before- but it's "ok" for a first try. There will be pics of more of the army forthcoming as I finish new elements. By next fall I hope to have completed a Carthaginian army as well so we can do a Punic Wars campaign!

Headed to Historicon!

Well I just reserved my hotel suite for my son and I to attend Historicon 2009 in York, PA this July...I am beyond excited about it. If you've never heard of Historicon it is pretty much the largest yearly wargame convention in the country.

I plan to not only partake in a few games there but to bring back great ideas for the club. They also have an entire hall of wargaming merchandise which I will certainly take advantage of. Click the links below for more information.

http://www.historicon.org/ (convention site)
http://www.historicon.org/HIST2008/photoThumb.asp (photos of last year)

In addition, my son and I will make a side trip the U.S. Army Ordinance Museum in Kentucky which features loads of WWII tanks from all nations!(I've always wanted to see a Panther tank up close and personal!)
http://www.ordmusfound.org/index.htm (museum home page)

New Roadways

O.K....here is a shot of the collection of new roadway sections. In total they connect to create several yards of road...plenty to cover our game tables. Note that I created many straight sections of different sizes, two large curves, two small curves, a divergent road section, four-way crossing and "T" section. I like the way they turned out...if anyone would like to know how I made them just drop me an email.

Vineyard and New Road Sections

Over break I experimented with a lot of terrain modeling techniques. Here is a vineyard that I constructed...



I didn't like the look of the old road sections so I made an entirely new set. Here is a preview...






In the corners are teasers of other new terrain additions that I will detail in future posts(harvested field-upper left, tall grass-upper right, cemetary and bushes-lower left).

River Ford and German Rifle Squad

Here is a new terrain piece that I made...it has become increasingly clear from club play that we needed another river crossing(so I made this ford piece to fit with our river terrain).

It's been two years since I painted 20mm figures so I am a bit rusty...but here's five new Germans(4xrifles,1xofficer w/pistol) for our battles(miniatures by Fantassin(now "War Modelling").

Spring Break Eastern Front Action

Here are some pics from some games that my son and I had over Spring Break. Gareth played the Soviets and I was the Germans. He beat me in three consecutive skirmishes...yeah, he owned me!

And finally, Gareth's Soviets , led by an officer, prepare to storm the church and finish off my "hanger ons". Note the destroyed Panzer III in the road...finished off by a T-34 down the road(easy pickings for the Reds!).