After Hours Episode 8- Monuments to the Stupidity of Man.

After Hours 08- After recording episode 24, Steve, Luke, and Jon discuss Fortifications, and further discuss tournament formats moving into the future before unwinding with some good ol' fashioned shootin' of the breeze.

LIMITED TIME OFFER!!
GET AFTER HOURS EPISODES 1-5 FOR HALF PRICE!

New to after hours? Been waiting to take the plunge? Wait no longer! Get caught up quickly, and be cooler than your friends! Offer is only available until September 4th, 2011!!

Read More

Humber Armoured Cars

I painted some Armoured Cars for my Brits just to make sure everyone knows I have not gone all Nihlist on you all. Enjoy!

Humber LRCs advance!

Humber IVs follow up.

Read More

WWPD News From the Front Episode 24

"Living in Post-Irene Virginia"
Steven, Luke, and Dirty Jon talk about their Guns of August experiences, Anatoli's Polish Campaign pdf for Flames of War, Fortifications, "That Guy" and Hellfire and Back. "Neither Wind, Nor Rain, nor Acid Blood" can topple the WWPD Media Empire!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:10 - Guns of August AAR
• 0:58 - WWPD Infantry Aces
• 1:06 - The September Campaign by Anatoli
• 1:12 - N00B ZONE: Fortifications
• 1:33 - Dealing With That Guy
• 1:43 - Hellfire And Back Impressions
• 2:03 - The Value of a Unit's Potential

Download this week's episode directly: http://www.archive.org/download/WwpdNewsFromTheFrontEpisode24/WwpdNewsFromTheFrontEpisode24.mp3
Subscribe via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wwpd-news-from-the-front/id398903039
Subscribe with other: http://feeds.feedburner.com/WWPDPodCast

Links discussed in this episode:
Muster/Guns of August
Easy Army
Triangle Simulation Society's Southern Front
Heroes of Armageddon
WWPD on Facebook
Wounded Warrior Project
Anatoli's Game Room

EDITOR'S NOTES:
This was recorded before lunch! We were all beerless trained.

Read More

Imperial Guard Chimera

Yes, you heard right.  I painted an Imperial Guard Chimera.  I needed a break from 15mm.  Apologies for the poorly edited photos! Click each photo to see the unaltered version.

Read More

Imperial Guard Chimera

Yes, you heard right.  I painted an Imperial Guard Chimera.  I needed a break from 15mm.  Apologies for the poorly edited photos! Click each photo to see the unaltered version.

Read More

FEC Goums vs Panzergrenadiers in Italy

TOM'S FEC GOUMIER (Cassino) HQ Full Goum Platoon Full Goum Platoon Full Goum Platoon Goum Weapons Platoon Goum Mortar Platoon US 105s + AOP 3x HMG Nests

STEVEN'S PANZERGRENADIERS (Dogs and Devils) HQ Full Panzergrenadier Platoon Full Panzergrenadier Platoon Full Panzergrenadier Platoon Panzergrenadier Heavy Platoon (4 HMGs, 2 Mortars) Nebelwerfers Scout Patrol (3 MG teams) 4 HMG nests + 4 barbed wire

Oh boy. Two lists with fortifications, and the mission is Free For All. Welcome to World War I!

Due to the static nature of this game, a full turn by turn AAR would probably be somewhat boring. Instead, I will just post the pictures after a brief summary.

GAME SUMMARY

Basically, the battle was a standoff for a long time. Artillery hammered on each other, and we both made feints and pushes up the flanks. My nebelwerfers pinned Tom's 105s, who failed to unpin for 6 or 7 turns, which really allowed my troops to move around unmolested. Finally, two Panzergrenadier platoons were able to assault Tom's Left Flank guarded by a single Goum platoon plus his artillery. One of the Panzergrenadier units broke, but the 2nd was on fire, passing numerous morale checks! They eventually ran the Goums, and started their turn holding the objective. Each of us lost one unit.

View from the German lines.

German side: objectives are in the bottom left (below the treeline), and the bottom right (on the road).
Goum side: Objectives in the large wood in the top center, and just to the north of the wood on the right side.

>>>CLICK TO READ THE REST

Read More

East Front Infantry Aces Progress

Last night we got in some Infantry Aces games at Dirty Jon's. We decided to launch an Eastern Front Infantry Aces campaign to help us all escalate our forces. The first game we played is here: Infantry Aces Game One

STEVEN AND TED

Ted and I actually got two games in. I ran Guards Rifles with 2 1-platoon companies. Both were upgraded to Rifle/MG with one swapping for SMGs. The SMG company then had 2 light mortars and the other had a maxim HMG. Ted ran German grenadiers with 2 platoons and an HMG platoon which he allocated out (2 each) to his grenadier platoons.

GAME ONE was No retreat. Ted started with one platoon on the board, which got to be deployed in ambush. So I did what any soviet commander would do- double-timed it towards both objectives!

My Strelkovy double timing it!


SMG platoon on the left


Rifle/MG Platoon on the right

In the end, Ted had to choose where to spring his ambush, and committed to one flank praying his reserves would arrive on the other. His HMGs followed up with a brave assault did knock out one of my companies, but the other company was able to seize the other objective. Our first game netted both of us 2 experience points.


Strelkovy seize the objective.

GAME TWO was Breakthrough. Ted and I finished our first game quickly, and so played a second round. This time I was again attacking in Breakthrough. Ted committed all of his forces to try to break me before my reserves arrived. Unfortunately, a well deployed maxim HMG kept him at bay. My reserves arrived and seized the objective while Ted tried up until turn 6 to break my first company. In the end Ted's entire company was ground down, while my Rifle/MG company was reduced to 2 stands. This time I earned 3 experience points and Ted earned 1. This officially nets me my first Infantry Ace skill.

LUKE AND JON

On the other board, Luke's soviets also attacked Jon's Grenadiers in No Retreat.


Jon's Grenadiers


Luke's soviets


More of Luke's reds.

I didn't see much of Luke and Jon's game, but I believe Jon stopped Luke in his tracks, and Luke lost a unit.

INFANTRY ACES STANDINGS

ALLIES STEVEN'S GUARDS STRELKOVY: 7 XP   Ace Skill: TBD LUKE'S GUARDS STRELKOVY: 3 XP JOE'S GUARDS STRELKOVY: 5 XP

AXIS JON'S GRENADIERS: 5 XP SEAN'S FINN INFANTRY: 4 XP TED'S GRENADIERS: 5 XP

Read More

British Rifles vs Italian Bersaglieri

STEVEN'S BRITISH RIFLE COMPANY HQ Rifle Platoon + Sticky Bombs Rifle Platoon + Sticky Bombs Rifle Platoon + Sticky Bombs Scout Patrol 6 Pounders RA Battery w/ 4 25 pounders 3x Matildas 3x Valentines

JAIME'S ITALIAN BERSAGLIERI HQ Full Bersaglieri + Passaglia Bombs Full Bersaglieri + Passaglia Bombs Cannon Platone w/ 75s 2x Lancias 5x M14/41s Full Semovente Battery + AA MGs

Jaime hadn't played a game of flames of War in a long time, but was anxious to resume command of the Italians. I made an effort to make a board that was MUCH sparser than I usually make- even for the desert. I used the new Hellfire and Back rules for generating the terrain ahead of time. We rolled for the mission and came up with No Retreat. Naturally, the British would be attacking at night.

DELOYMENT AND TURN ONE

Jaime began with 1 Bersaglieri and the Cannons on the board. Lancias would be placed in ambush. Steven elected to attack at night. The objectives are in the upper center just in front of the cannons, and the bottom left just above the small ridge line.

The desert is bathed in darkness.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST

Read More

Unit spotlight 15cm sIG33 auf Panzer I

From Wikipedia

The 15 cm sIG 33 (Sf) auf Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf B (sometimes referred to as the Sturmpanzer I Bison) was a German self-propelled heavy infantry gun used during World War II. The Invasion of Poland had shown that the towed sIG 33 guns assigned to the infantry gun companies of the motorized infantry regiments had difficulties keeping up with the tanks during combat. The easiest solution was to modify a spare tank chassis to carry it into battle. A sIG 33 was mounted on the chassis of the Panzer I Ausf. B, complete with carriage and wheels, in place of the turret and superstructure. Plates 13 millimetres (0.51 in) thick were used to form a tall, open-topped fighting compartment on the forward part of the hull. This protected little more than the gun and the gunner himself from small arms fire and shell fragments, the loaders were completely exposed. The rearmost section of armor was hinged to ease reloading. There was no room to stow any ammunition so it had to be carried by a separate vehicle. When mounted the sIG 33 had a total 25° of traverse and could elevate from -4° to +75°. It used a Rblf36 sight.

The chassis was overloaded and breakdowns were frequent. The vehicle's extreme height and lack of on-board ammunition were severe tactical drawbacks.

Thirty-eight were produced in February 1940 by Alkett. Thirty-six of these were organized into independent schwere Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanie ("Self-propelled Heavy Infantry Gun Companies"); mot.S. Numbers 701-706 and these were assigned to the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Panzer Divisions in the Battle of France as well as Operation Barbarossa. The 705th and 706th were destroyed during Operation Barbarossa, belonging to the 7th and 10th Panzer Divisions respectively. Of the remaining companies only the 701st participated in the opening stages of the subsequent Case Blue in 1942, although it, and its parent 9th Panzer Division were transferred to Army Group Center by the end of the summer of 1942. The last reference to them is with the 704th Company of the 5th Panzer Division during the middle of 1943.

In Flames of War

Name  weapon	Mobility  range	Front  ROF	Side  anti-tank	Top  Firepower	Equipment and Notes
15cm sIG33 auf Panzer I  15cm sIG33	Half-tracked 16"	0 1	0 8	0 1+	Overloaded, Slow tank. Bunker Buster, Hull mounted, Heavy infantry gun

So far I've only been on the receiving end of this beauty! I like that they get the "heavy infantry gun" rule, which makes them especially mean to guns and infantry. Combine that with bunker buster, high AT, and 1+ firepower and these guys can seriously bring the pain! I am looking forward to getting them on the table. I like the idea of them slowly trundling up with the infantry, ready to come to the fore when stiff resistance is found.

Read More

Panzerjaeger I spotlight

From Wikipedia

The Panzerjäger I (German "Tank Hunter 1") was the first of the German tank destroyers to see service in the Second World War. It mounted a Czech Skoda 4.7 cm pak anti-tank gun on a converted Panzer I Ausf. B chassis. It was intended to counter heavy French tanks like the Char B1 that were beyond the capabilities of the 3.7 cm PaK 36 anti-tank gun then in service and served to extend the usable lifetime of otherwise obsolete Panzer I tanks. Over 200 were converted in 1940—41. They were employed in the Battle of France, in the North Africa Campaign and on the Eastern Front.

In Flames of War

Name  weapon	Mobility  range	Front  ROF	Side  anti-tank	Top  Firepower	Equipment and Notes
Panzerjäger I  4.7cm PaK(t) gun	Half-tracked 24"/60cm	0 2	0 8	0 4+	Hull mounted.

The panzerjaegers (which we affectionately call Marder Primes) are fairly singular in their purpose. With no machine gun for anti-infantry duties, and light armor, their role is clear: Anti-tank sniper. I look forward to getting these on the board, and hope that they can give the French a "what have you!"

Tom's Panzerjaegers have featured fairly prominently in several of our early war games, most notably here where I borrowed them and used them and Panzer IVs to hold up his SOMUAs and thus stop one flank cold. I am looking forward to getting my own into action!

Read More

Unit spotlight StuIG 33B

From Wikipedia

The Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz 33B was a German self-propelled heavy infantry gun used during World War II. A new, fully enclosed, and heavily armored superstructure was built on the chassis of the Sturmgeschütz III. It mounted the improved sIG 33/1 infantry gun, offset to the right side, for which 30 rounds were carried. It could only traverse 3° left and right, elevate 25°, and depress 6°. A Maschinengewehr 34 machine-gun was fitted in a ball mount on the left side of the superstructure with 600 rounds. Its traverse limits were 15° left and 20° right, and it could elevate 20° and depress 10°.

Sources differ as to the development history. Chamberlain and Doyle say that Alkett was ordered in July 1941 to convert a dozen Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. E chassis and that these were finished in December 1941 and January 1942 - but not issued. On 20 September 1942, another dozen Sturmgeschutz IIIs were ordered to be converted, and the existing vehicles were rebuilt. Trojca and Jaugitz contend that all twenty-four were built by Alkett starting in September 1942 from repaired Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. B, C, D and E chassis.

The first dozen were delivered by the end of October 1942 and assigned to Sturmgeschütz-Abteilungen (Assault Gun Battalions) 177 and 244, then fighting in Stalingrad. The remaining dozen vehicles could not be delivered to Sturmgeschütz-Abteilungen 243 and 245, also fighting in Stalingrad, after the Soviets surrounded the German 6th Army on 21 November. Instead, the vehicles were formed into Sturm-Infanterie-Geschütz-Batterie/Lehr-Bataillon (Assault Infantry Gun Batterie/Demonstration Battalion) XVII. The battalion was assigned to the 22nd Panzer Division as the Germans attempted to relieve the trapped 6th Army. The Division was virtually wiped out in the fighting and the battery was assigned to the 23rd Panzer Division where it became the Sturm-Infanterie-Geschütz-Batterie/Panzer-Regiment 201 (also known as 9. Kompanie/Panzer-Regiment 201) for the rest of the war. The last strength report to mention them lists five remaining in September 1944.

In Flames of War

Name  weapon	Mobility  range	Front  ROF	Side  anti-tank	Top  Firepower	Equipment and Notes
StuIG33B  15cm sIG33	Fully-tracked 16"	7 1	4 13	1 1+	Hull MG, Slow tank. Bunker Buster, Hull mounted

I've never fielded these on the table, but I've always thought they looked absolutely awesome. Baby Brummbars! These will look great leveling buildings in Stevograd.

Read More

Infantry Aces!

BY PETE ELLIS

On Monday night the Central Maryland group got together and threw down 3 games of Infantry Aces as a primer for our upcoming Tournament (on the 27th!), as well as an IA campaign that I'm running. Every person who took part had an outstanding time, and Rob (my opponent) casually remarked that it was one of the most fun games he has ever had.

We each used Cassino/Italy themed lists and ran with one ability at the 500 point mark. Rob, my Opponent, took his Fallshirmjaeger while I squared off with my 3rd I.D (I was in the 3rd, so I'm partial to my guys!).

The game basically came down to a few bloody assaults, and me having to kill every single German Paratrooper on the table. One building in particular saw I think three of four assaults, with the current occupiers getting thrown ouch each time!

All three games came down to the wire, but really only took about an hour and a half to play - including time for BSing and taking photos.

I snuck a few pictures of the game next to me in here, involving British Commandos versus a Grenadierkompanie. Enjoy!

>>>CLICK HERE TO SEE THE EXCELLENT PICTURES!

Read More

Hellfire and Back

I finally got my copy of Hellfire and Back and can't wait to start getting some games in with it!  This is the latest book for Flames of War by Battlefront Miniatures for those of you living under a rock.

By now you probably know most of what there is to know if you cared to find out, but I'll cover some quick bullet points of things I found interesting:

ITALIANS

• My god, their 8 Million Bayonets table is harsh.  It was always fun to say the Italians sucked in mid war, but in early war they truly do!
• Due to their suckiness you can get a serious horde going on.  The Carri list can have 16 M14s, and 12 tankettes for less than 1400 points.
• The Fucilieri strongpoint list looks fun.  I am sold on all of the fortification lists, they seem like a blast.
• The Bersaglieri are gonna be tough.  Small units, bad ratings, no integral AT?  Ouch.  But they do get a lot of good support.
• Overall the Italians look like a lot of fun!  I'm gonna have to start adding Fucilieri to my collection!  It never ends.

GERMANS

• The Panzers are *expensive*.  BUT they have a ton of flexibility with only 1 required combat unit.  The Panzer IIIs are ROF 3, AT 7, FP 4+ which is just mean in early war.  But they come to just over 150 each! 
• Captured panzers!  The panzer III units can replace one panzer III with a Stuart, Crusader, Matilda, or Valentine.  The Matildas are of course wildly expensive, but the English don't have much that can touch em.  
• You can't get nearly as many Panzer IIs as you can in Blitzkrieg- the Mittlere list can only get a single Panzer II unit.  The Leicthe Panzer unit can get 2.
• Schutzen/Panzerschutzen are about what you'd expect.  Similar to Blitzkrieg- with ATRs and light mortars added.  I am looking forward to running these guys.  Many support options
• The stutzpunkt list looks interesting.  Core combat unit is essentially a schutzen platoon with trenches, wire, and mines.  Additionally, they have a pak 38 nest and a 5cm nest.  Those should give the brits the business!  They also have a compulsory 88 nest.  It's expensive as all hell, but looks cool!  They also have a boat load of armor support- this could be a mean list!
• Infanterie list.  I didn't spend too much time looking at this (didn't get a chance to crack the book until late) but it's basically confident trained german infantry.  Plenty of good support of course- could be a good list!

BRITISH

• The British BAR actually seems like it could be a very fun and playable list.  It's a lot more pricey than the BK version, and thus a bit harder to "optimize".  I don't see it as being quite the killer as the BK version, but it could still be mean.  It has more support options (plus captured italian tanks!).
• Crusaders and Stuarts.  Both of these lists are fairly standard, but they look like a ton of fun!  The Crusader list can have A13s mixed in as well, which saves you some points over going all crusaders.
• Infantry Tanks- As usual they look pretty decent, just expensive.  You can have Matildas and Valentines mixed in the same squadron.  I'm fairly certain this is the only place you can get a MkVI C in the entire British arsenal (the 2iC).  Lots of support, but you won't have many points left for it!
• Rifle Company- fairly standard british rifle company with 8th army, guards, and Indians.  
• Commonwealth Rifle Company- again fairly standard, with New Zealanders, Australians, and South Africans.
• Div Cav- Australian or New Zealand.  Lots of carriers, light tank mk VI Bs and captured italian armor!  Fun looking list.  Mechanized, but gets the "swanning about in the blue" rule which lets you move an objective up to 12" before the game starts.
• Armored cars- what's not to love about those antiquated rolls royce and Morris CS9s?  Also get the swanning about the blue rule.
• Tobruk Strongpoint- awesome Australian fortification list.  Similar to the German stutzpunkt except much lighter on AT.  Can use captured italian 47mm gun nests- they're only ROF 1, but they get semi-indirect fire.    Can have a "platoon" of all fortifications- HMG nests, mines, wire etc.

THE BOOK

• The book itself is, as usual, awesome.  A LOT more history has been crammed into this book than any other.  The graphic design is top notch, battlefront continue to improve in that regard.  Great maps, and a full timeline view of the campaigns.
• Lots of cool new terrain guides and new terrain features.
• Plenty of gorgeous pictures

OTHER COOL STUFF

• The fortification deployment rules are really cool.  Basically they're deployed in "strong points" that can't overlap with other strong points- which captures the flavor of the strongpoint idea well.
• 3 new missions!  One for 2 strongpoint lists facing off called "Over the Wire".  Very cool concept- it's a very confused night fight with twisting fortifications all over the place.
• Witch's Cauldron which is very very similar to the unofficial mission Counter Attack
• Dust Up- which has been in pdf form for a little bit.  Sean and I have tried it out twice now and it's pretty decent.
• Painting Guides as usual

In closing- I've been waiting for this book for a long time.  Normally that much build up can only lead to disappointment, but so far hellfire has not failed me.  I am really quite impressed with it, and cannot wait to start putting brush to lead to add some new troops!  I'm gonna have to give it 12 out of 12 L3/35 tankettes.  I have no real gripes with it, or even minor complaints.  If I could just get a solid desert campaign book out of Battlefront, my life would be complete.

Read More

Guns of August Pictures

To see all of the pictures the I-95 guys took, check out this album: http://gunsofaugusti95tournament.shutterfly.com/

Click here for my AAR: http://www.wwpd.net/2011/08/stevens-guns-of-august-aar.html


Matt Lehman and I face off in Italy.

>>>CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST!

Read More

T-Shirts on Sale!

From now until August 21st, our T-Shirts are on sale!

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR SHIRTS FOR SALE!

Who: Anyone and everyone!

When: Starting today, all the way until August 21.

What:
Coupon Code: What$5
Discount: $5 off any order!

Coupon Code: Save$10When
Discount: $10 off subtotal of $50+

Coupon Code: Whosaved$35
Discount: $35 off subtotal of $100+

Where: Anywhere you want!

Disclaimer: Please enter coupon code What$5 or Save$10When or Whosaved$35 before completing checkout. Discount is applied to the base price and does not include shipping, taxes, or additional charges. Email us if you have questions. This offer may not be combined with other offers. Orders under this promotion may be delayed beyond normal. Coupons valid from 8/15/2011 to 8/21/2011 11:59 pm Mountain Time.

Read More