BPM 15mm Jeep fleet

 I've already got some BPM jeeps but I had a couple of orders from other suppliers go astray, so while I pursued refunds or whatever, I just ordered some more stuff from BPM, who have always been very reliable. Originally I only wanted one Jeep, but as I was ordering anyway, I bought a few more..

Quite a few more in fact! A fleet of Jeeps!

I went for resin prints as they are so much better quality, even if more pricey, but as Jeeps are so small, they were still quite cheap, and well worth it to avoid peeling off all the printing flash.

These three are configured as .50 cal armed US jeeps, although if you don't look too closely they will do for Lend Lease Russian jeeps, or maybe even British.

They are the same as my unarmed BPM Jeeps, but come printed with a mounting pole and (unfortunately) separate .50 cal MGs. I did get these to stick on eventually, with a mixture of UHU and Superglue, and they seem to have  bonded quite well.

I had some spare Jeep crewmen from a pack of BF Jeeps, and I added a couple of modified PSC US Halftrack passengers. As these are armed recce type jeeps, I thought they needed crews.

They will do nicely for US Cavalry Troops or possibly Airborne Div recce companies. I painted them in Vallejo Russian Uniform then gave them a heavy wash of Bronze Green which both gives shading and tones the green down to look more like OD.

What I actually wanted originally was an SAS Jeep and a British Para recce jeep from 1st Airborne Recce Squadron, so I did these two up in that configuration.

The para jeep is also in Russian uniform, but with a lighter wash of Bronze Green as the UK version of camo green was a bit lighter than OD. The SAS jeep is in Light Stone.

I added some stowage to the 'SAS' jeep - a big box and some Jerry Cans (all PSC). The drivers are both PP 'Seated British'. The Para jeep guy has a beret and I painted him in a maroon beret and DPM smock, while the SAS Jeep driver is in a service cap and Khaki Drill. Who knows, maybe it is David Stirling himself?

The final pair are these oddities, the 'Bantam Blitz Reconnaisance Car', the precursor to the Willys Jeep. It is still a 1/4 ton 4x4 vehicle but obviously has a different bonnet and front mudguards. I can use these as US Jeeps as well as quite a few were built, but I'm planning on using these as Gaz 64s (or similar) for my Russians as I'm a bit short of small Russian vehicles. They look different enough to be Russian anyway. I did these in Vallejo Russian Green and painted the drivers as Russians with high black boots. For all of them I did the windscreens dark blue with a white highlight.

Elephant Hunting

 We haven't been to the Eastern Front for a while, so time to visit Kursk again, the northern flank this time. This scenario is taken from the Command Decision IV rulebook and covers the 81st Infantry Division attack on the 410th Rifle Regiment on the Road/rail line to Ponyri at the Battle of Kursk. Notable for the presence of the Elephants of 654th Panzerjaeger Abteilung.

Battlefield from the 'south'. To make life easier over Zoom, I've swung the compass 90 degrees. The actual battle was fought North-South. The main rail line to Ponyri and Kursk runs from the southwest. It is rolling countryside dotted with fields and open woods, but the stream is swollen with rain from the occasional thunderstorms and an obstacle. There are various buildings around the rail bridge which crosses the stream. The Germans need to capture the rail bridge and crossroads on the far side of the stream. 

The Russians have a fairly ordinary Rifle Regiment, massively overextended trying to hold a front of 7km, but heavily reinforced with artillery and AT assets. They are also well dug in with extensive field telephones and alternate positions dug, as well as wire entanglements and minefields.

Pete is the overall Russian commander, and John B commands the Rifle Battalions.

The various Regimental assets. Ambulance (yes I know the Russians didn't use red crosses, but I've painted it...), supply columns, 120mm Mortar Battalion, Field Artillery battalion, AT, Infantry Gun and SMG companies. Plus the inevitable NKVD firing squad and my converted 'officer with big megaphone'. The Airforce is also around in the form of a flight of Sturmoviks, with a dashing FAC riding a motorcyle.

Racing to the rescue is the 1442nd Heavy Tank Regiment with KVs. Commanded by Russell. These are supposed to be KV1S, but rivet counters will no doubt notice they are early model KV1s. One day I'll get to use my KV85.

The combat debut of my new 122mm Field Guns! They will undoubtedly vanish in a ball of flame at the first encounter.

The wicked Germans. 184 and 185 Infantry Regiments from 81st Division.

184 Regiment has three battalions, plus attached Engineers and Infantry guns. I've fudged the OB a bit as they are supposed to have two strong battalions, but instead I've given them three weaker ones. The force ratios with the Russians work better that way. The 654th is also present with a couple of Zvezda Elephants. Tim commands the 184th and Mark the 654th.

The 185th also has attached Engineers, and a battery of Elephants for (Heavy) AT support. Air support is provided by my brand new 3D printed Ju 88. Also a candidate for being shot down at the first sign of trouble. Jim commands the 185th.

Finally all the Division level stuff. A couple of battalions of horse drawn 105mm guns, ambulance, supply column etc. John A is overall CO and has a large HQ stand.

The Russians spent some time plotting out their defences. As von Moltke observed, mistakes in the initial deployment cannot be corrected, and this is a key part of the game for the Russians. They have a forward defence line covering the obstacles, and then a second line dug along the stream.

 

View from behind the Russian defences as dawn breaks on 5th July 1943.

Following a rather ragged preliminary bombardment (the Russians very unfairly fired their own counter barrage), Tims IR 184 came marching on, led by the 654th, straight down the road to Ponyri.

Despite some losses and suppression from the German barrage, the Russians popped up from their trenches and began to blaze away with everything in range.

All fire, including from the artillery and 120mm mortars, as well as the Sturmoviks, was concentrated on the Elephants. Under the massed barrage, even the heavily armoured Elephants took some hits as vehicles were damaged by the intense fire. This of course protected the German infantry from fire. 

The Elephants halted to reorganise, while the German artillery and Luftwaffe pounded the Russian positions on the ridge. The German infantry advanced behind the barrage.

And ran right into the Russian kill sack. The leading battalion was pummelled in the enticing gap in the wire and minefields, and became disorganised.

Ambulances moved up to evacuate the wounded and another German battalion moved left flanking through the minefield. Unfortunately it wasn't a dummy and they suffered serious casualties. In the far distances Jims 185 IR with another battery of Elephants came on, they'd been delayed by the Russian counter barrage.

The Sturmoviks strafed the Elephants, artillery hit the Germans in the minefield and the Russian infantry concentrated their fire on the Germans in the valley - who had finally had enough and withdrew into the rear. The Elephants had to reorganise again, the Russians had effectively pinned them down  - for now. 

The Germans in the minefield assaulted the Russians on the hill, despite being disordered, supported by artillery and the Luftwaffe. The Russians gunned them down and they retired in disarray, but the Russians were also severely weakened, and under assault, unable to reorganise. The NKVD can be seen standing behind them to 'encourage' them.

Leaving their casualties behind, the Commisar gave them permission to withdraw. The road was open! Russian artillery covered the retreat as Jims Regiment rolled over the hills in the northwest and approached the defences there.

In the centre the Russians were back at the river crossing, in trenches they had prepared earlier. The KVs of 1442nd Tank Regiment also rolled up on the far side of the stream now.

The Elephants rolled forwards again, and Tims last battalion occupied the hill. Meanwhile Jim put his engineers into the wire obstacles, covered by artillery fire and the rest of the Regiment.

Sturmoviks and the Russian artillery firing over open sights at the Elephants covered both the Russian infantry reorganising, and an aggressive move by the 1442nd across the railway bridge. In the north, defensive fire disorganised the German engineers attempting to gap the wire. Tims last battalion was shot up by the Russians on the hill to the south and became disorganised.

The Elephants kept in rumbling forwards. Artillery fire and Ju 88 strikes hit the Russian infantry to their front, and the Elephants followed up with an overrun attack.

The Russian defensive fire was ineffective and they ran or were crushed under the tracks!

The KV1s launched a desperate attack into the flank of the 654th, but this was beaten off with losses. Attacking super heavy Tank Destroyers with tanks turned to to be a bad idea. In fairness, Russell was hideously unlucky, 6 dice needing 5+ each and not a single hit...

The KVs fell back along the stream to reorganise. The Russian centre was now wide open wiht no reserves left. The only bright spark for the Russians was that concentrated fire finished off Tims last battalion of IR 184. The Elephants had now lost all their immediate infantry support. 

In the north, Jims IR 185 kept up a heavy fire on the Russian defences, but just couldn't seem to get enough momentum to pass the wire.

We broke for the evening at that point, and both sides had a chance to ponder their options.

The Germans opened aggressively when we reconvened. Simon took over the 654th and they rolled over the ford into the depth of the Russian position and occupied the crossroads. Jim meanwhile attempted to gap the minefields in the north with the infantry supported by his Elephant battery. The other infantry provided covering fire. The mass of Russians in the northeast are the routed remains of the central defences.

The Russians counterattacked! The Germans from IR 185 in the wire were destroyed by concentrated artillery and mortar fire, despite the attempts to replenish them. One Russian battalion reoccupied the hill in the centre, cutting the Elephants off and providing a vantage point for the FAC.

The Russians in the north fell back covered by artillery fire as IR185 finally broke through the minefields. Suddenly there were a lot of Germans all over the northeast of the Russian position. The KVs and another Russian battalion concentrated back on the stream crossings. 

The Germans put in an attack on the river crossing, covered by the 654th and the Luftwaffe.

The Russians fell back instead, and brought artillery, air and tank fire down on the Germans out in the open.

They broke and ran, leaving some abandoned Elephants behind. The Russians had now concentrated all their remaining forces around the crossings.

The Elephants of the 654th advanced on the railway station, but the KVs didn't rise to the bait. Instead they struck out across the corn fields towards the remains of IR 185. Meanwhile Russian infantry stalked the Elephants, covered by air and artillery. Ill equipped to deal with infantry in close country, the 'Porsche Tigers' were destroyed.

The Russians now initiated a general advance northwards, which prompted II/185 to stop advancing and start digging. I think it was safe to say the German offensive had been halted in this sector.

The NKVD providing suitable encouragement for the troops, surrounded by blazing tanks and buildings. 

II/185 frantically digging in on the edge of the woods, as KVs threaten them.

Meanwhile the routed German infantry reorganise on the edge of the table. They will have to do it all over again tomorrow.

That went really well, and was far close than I expected. I was a bit worried that the Germans would just roll right over the Russians as they outnumbered them 2:1 and had better troops. The obstacles and staggered German entry provided just enough buggeration to offset the numerical and quality advantages. 

The Germans never quite seemed to get coordinated attacks going, while the Russians managed their central position well. It was pure serendipitty that the unsupported Elephants ended up wandering around behind the Russian lines, just like their real life counterparts, and were picked off one by one as they blundered around.

The new obstacle rules seem to be working well, and next time I'll do something a bit more open.

15mm 47mm AT guns

 The Italians needed some 47mm AT guns to go with their field artillery, and as I was getting some stuff from Peter Pig, I bought a pack of their 47s.

You get two guns in the pack, but no crew. 

They are nice little pieces with separate gun barrels and that distinctive PP modelling style with slightly exaggerated detail. Hardly any flash and went together fine.

I actually struggled a bit with crew figures as all the PP gunner figures are standing, but these are so tiny I needed some kneeling figures. In the end I scavanged some of the spare heavy weapons crews, which was annoying as I wanted to use some as kneeling engineers. Maybe I should have got QRF guns, at least they come with appropriate crews.

They look suitably diminutive anyway. I just did them in plain sand with the usual washes and extra layers of drybrushing. It occurs to me I should maybe have painted the tyres on the wheels. Oh well, a job for another day.

I had also picked up one of the Italian engineer packs, and for some reason it included three Solothurn 20mm AT rifles, which were a useful addition to my AT strength. I think some of the kneeling figures came with these, but I can't actually remember. I would have preferred to put an extra figure on the AT rifle bases but I couldn't find anything suitable so I did them as single figures.

Anyway, that will do for Italian guns for now. I'll get a couple of Breda 20mm AA at some point.

Battle of Gaugamela

 After the victory at Issus, Alexander spent a few more years swanning around Asia Minor, but a final showdown with Darius was inevitable. Darius raised (yet another) Army and eventually they met in the titanic struggle at Gaugamela. Yet another Command and Colours Ancients scenario. 

This time it is a nice clear plain, which makes a change from the rivers at Issus and Granicus. The Persian Army is impressively huge too, although the blurb notes that Darius was running out of decent infantry by this time, but had amassed lots of cavalry. So much cavalry, that some of them may look a bit like Punic Wars Spanish....

The Persian Army is hard on the baseline so needs advance or be obliterated by retreat results.

Alexanders Army is slightly different now and has more cavalry. The Macedonian left. Various Pike and Hypaspists, light infantry out front, cavalry on the flank and Auxilia in support. Parmenion is once again leading the Phalanx. 

And on their right we have Alexander with two units of medium cavalry and a light cavalry. Strangely there is a lone Heavy Infantry unit supporting them, and also light troops out front. Those are Peltasts in the rear.

Persian left. Lots of cavalry, supported by Light infantry, bows and some Auxilia. Obviously the Persian 'auxilia' aren't actual Roman style Auxilia, just raggedy medium infantry with some missile capability. But it is what CnC calls them, as does DBA. 

Persian Right. More cavalry, Light Infantry, Bows and Auxilia.

The Persian Centre, where all the fun stuff is. Heavy Cavalry, Scythed Chariots and Elephants! Plus more Auxilia and two units of Medium Infantry, which I modelled as Immortals. This time Darius is with the Heavy Cavalry.

I'd completely forgotten there were Elephants at Gaugamela, it was a real surprise when I read the scenario.  

Darius supervises proceedings. The Elephant looks suspiciously like a Carthaginian African Elephant, as I'm all out of Indian Elephants. The Scythed Chariot on the left is a proper Zvezda model, and very nice it is too. The one in front of Darius is converted from the Atlantic 'Greek Cavalry' set, by adding scythe blades to the wheels and harness and adding a Persian crewman. 

Well, this is quite a thought provoking scenario for both sides. The Persians are just so far away from the Macedonians. The Persians need to get off the baseline, and in particular shift all those units which are vulnerable to retreat destruction, especially the Chariots and Elephants. Then it is figuring out how to inflict death by 1000 cuts with all those light troops, backed up by the mass of cavalry.

Alexander has slightly different problems - how to avoid those shock units devastating the Phalangites, how to keep all the Persian Light cavalry from running riot, and how to get the Phalanx into action when the Persians are so far away.

First up, the Macedonians play 'Order Light Troops' and push a bunch of units within javelin/bow range of the Scythed Chariots and Elephants, hoping for some hits/retreats. It also clears the way for the Phalanx to form up.

The Persians respond very aggressively! Light Cavalry surround the Macedonian Lights, hoping for some retreat results. I've always been a bit doubtful of the 'running around the enemy' thing in CnC, but it does encourage you not to leave gaps in the line.

Over on the Macedonian left, the Bowman evade damaged in the face of the Persian cavalry. It gets them out of the way of the Phalanx anyway. I also took the opportunity get the Peltasts onto the extreme flank.

But on the Macedonian right, their Light cavalry is destroyed. The Persians are driven back a bit though, although the Horse Archers are careful to stay in bow range.

The first Scythed Chariot sets off. I might as well burn these early, they can only take two hits and are optimised for offensive action with their armour etc. If they can get in amongst the Pikes, they can do real damage.

I'm glad I managed to make a gap in the Macedonian Lights, as Alexander leads the Companions against the Chariots in an effort to destroy them before they crash into the Hypaspists.

Alexander succeeds, but then the next Chariot and the Elephants roll forwards. The Chariots make contact with one of the Macedonian Medium Cavalry.

And sends the cavalry retreating with two hits! Thank goodness there was a retreat route. This isn't looking good.

The sacrifice of the cavalry allows the Hypaspists to close on the Chariots and get the first strike in. The Elephants are in stomping distance of the Phalangites and will get 5 Combat Dice if they make contact. The only unit in range to intercept is another unit of Macedonian Medium Cavalry, really the worst unit to be engaging elephants. At least they have a leader. 

The Hypaspists despatch the Scythed Chariot, but the Elephant sends the Cavalry in headlong retreat without a scratch on it. I'd forgotten how good elephants are, particularly against cavalry. The Macedonians avoid destruction by one hit, as they (just) have room to accommodate the extra four hex retreat inflicted by the Elephants.

Nellie goes stomping on the Phalangites.

But with great good fortune, the Phalanx 'only' takes two hits and stands. The battle back sends the Elephants packing, and inflicts enough damage to avoid the dreaded Elephant Rampage. That was a close run thing, but the exchange has ended in the Macedonian favour in that the three shock units are destroyed, but at the expense of two crippled cavalry units and a badly damaged Phalanx. No actual units were lost though, but it has crippled the Macedonian Cavalry.

With his cavalry largely crippled, Alex is keen to get the war winning Phalangites into action and begins laboriously moving them up, with a range of cards played. 

The Persians respond with a strong move on their right.

And an overwhelming move on their left! I can't quite recall which card combos they had to pull this off, but I distinctly recall 'Double Time' and no less than two 'Line Command' cards. There are now three missile armed units within range of Alexander himself, backed up by three Persian cavalry units.

The Persians unleash their secret weapon, 'Darken the Skies'! All the missile troops get to fire twice, and the Companions vanish in a hail of javelins and arrows. Alex, however, survives... and evades back to the last remaining Macedonian Cavalry unit, with a mere one hit left. Things not looking too good for Alex here. 

In the centre however, the Phalangites are slowly sorting themselves out into a game winning Steamroller. 

The Persians pre empt them with a first strike (Double Time card iirc) , but this only succeeds in forcing the Hypaspists to retreat. Bad luck Darius.

And now the Persians are in range of the Phalanx. Parmenion rolls over one of the Persian infantry, and ends up in an interesting oblique echelon formation. 

The Persians counterattack with their Medium Infantry, but Parmenion hangs on with just one hit remaining. 

And a cheeky Persian Cavalry unit runs through a gap and attacks Alexander! This has a really good chance of wiping out the last Macedonian cavalry, and possibly Alexander with it. 

Sadly the Persians are unable to manage a single hit, and Alexander shrugs off the retreat results (Alex plus Companions can ignore 2 retreats). 

The Macedonians counter charge and rout the Persians. The Persians were a bit unlucky with those attacks, they could easily have racked up three more banners. 

The Phalanx now takes revenge and tears into Persian centre. 

One Persian Auxilia is routed, but the Apple Bearers hang on. 

Darius personally leads the Persian Heavy Cavalry in a counterattack! 

The initial charge is a glorious success (just look at those dice, for hits and a retreat) and a Phalangite unit is ridden down. Sadly, the momentum attack bounces off Parmenion, having only inflicted two hits. 

The Macedonian counterattack on the blown cavalry routs them, and in the confused melee, Darius is also killed. Game over. 

General overview at the end of play. There are still lots of Persians left, and not huge numbers of Macedonians. 

The right flank is a bit chaotic, with units scattered all over the place. 

On the left, the Persians have a large superiority and are well concentrated. 

But the Persian centre has largely gone at this point, which is astonishing considering how much stuff started there. 

And Alexander is still (just) in the saddle. 

Gaugamela was the decisive battle of Alexander's war against Persia, although the Hydaspes was yet to come, Persian power was broken at Gaugamela. 

I can't help feeling I didn't play either side very well there. I struggled to get my head around the odd initial deployment, and was perhaps too concerned with getting the Persians off the baseline. The Macedonians also tried to do the same thing as in the previous battles, and smash the Persian centre with the Phalanx, which proved extremely hard as both sides were so far apart. 

Instead I think I should have focused more on the light troops and the Skirmish battle, the Persians in particular have an enormous superiority in light troops and can probably just shoot the Macedonians to death, like the Parthians at Carrhae. 

I'd certainly like to try that one again as well as Issus. Hilariously, I also ran out of Persian cavalry, but I have another batch to paint, so next time, I won't have to make up the numbers with Iberians!