Cold Wars Aquisitions

I was looking to get a river boat of some sort and decided to go with the Miniature Building Authority's version. I think it needs a few additions, but I got a great deal on it. I also purchased an Old Glory torpedo boat. It seems like it has plenty of pulp potential.

 

Now, if I could just get either of these on the table, all would be grand! :-)
I also picked up a copy of Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear. The big draw on this particular game was hearing of a solo expansion to be released in the near future.

 

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Up Front Kickstarter In It's Last 48 Hours

If you are like me and have been waiting for Up Front to be re-printed, make sure you get in on the Kickstarter campaign. The 48 hour count down has begun. This deal is rediculous. The base game and additional core nations alone is over 1300 cards. At the current stretch level, the number of cards you get is more than doubled. To get all the cards, a pledge of $125 USD is required (shipping included for US adresses).

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1325766284/up-front-the-card-game

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Axis and Allies Simulator App

Whenever we played Axis and Allies in college, one of the tools that always accompanied the game was a calculator. Yeah, we really geeked out when we played, but what do you expect from physics students. So, I was kinda excited to see someone actually made an app to calculate the same sorts of things we used a calculator for. It is free too. There are other apps that do the same thing that are not free. This one comes with my recommendation.

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Axis & Allies Global 1940

  I acquired both the Axis & Allies 1940 Editions (Europe and Pacific) in the hopes that someday I would actually play the global rules. Each edition is a game of it's own, but when you combine games you get a single epic game that needs an entire gaming day to setup and play. The board dimensions are 70" x 32". WOW! 

  I have good memories as a younger man playing the original version. Who could have thought the original could be topped .... well here it is in all its grandeur. I did actually get to play this last week and was very glad to get the opportunity.

I think this is turn 2 and the Japanese Pacific fleet is coming after what little resistance the British forces can muster in this part of the world. Yes, that is 3 fully loaded aircraft carriers, 4 destroyers, 2 battleships, 2 subs, 2 cruisers and 2 transports. Oh .. and 11 fighters, 5 tactical bombers and 1 strategic bomber on the coast!

There are a lot of Rising Suns in this shot!

Memoir 44 Online

Memoir 44 is another game I have not played in a while due time constraints, opponent availability and so on. Recently I have downloaded the Memoir 44 Online client. It is done very well and players are always available. The first 50 credits are free and then you can purchase credits in bundles after that. Each game can range in cost from 0 to 3 credits. This online adaption gets my highest recommendation. If you like this board game, you will love this port! You can get it here.

Disposable Heroes

  Tonight, R. Lee and I played a little Disposable Heroes, something neither of us has done in quite some time. We had a good time and I hope we do this again soon. The game was a non-historical situation with R. Lee fielding 800 points of Italian Paratroopers and I fielded my US Airborne with an early war Sherman in support.

28mm WWII Late War German Grenadiers

  I have finished my next 2010 goal "G01 - DH&C7B German Platoon". Doc M. painted them and I based them. I think they turned out pretty nice.

Command Section

Rifle Squad 1, Rifle Section

Rifle Squad 1, LMG Section

Rifle Squad 2, Rifle Section

Rifle Squad 2, LMG Section

Company Support: Panzerschrek Team x 2

Company Support: HMG Section and Heavy Mortar Team

28mm WWII U.S. Paratroopers

Posting my goals got me to thinking about my U.S. Paratroopers I painted for Disposable Heroes and I decided to do a quick photoshoot of the miniatures. Artizan Designs is the manufacturer.

Command Section

Rifle Section 1

Rifle Section 2

Machine Gun Team 1

Machine Gun Team 2

60mm Mortar Weapons Team

Battle of Stonne, France - May 1940

Thursday night I finally got to do some historical wargaming with some friends I haven't seen in 2 years (where does the time go). We played Battlefront WWII from Fire & Fury Games which are my rules of choice for Company level WWII action in 15mm. Our host is using 20mm figures and vehicles which work equally well.

Historical Background (May 1940):
After breaking through at Sedan, German forces were to move south to a line of ridges to protect the southern flank of the German advance prior to a westward advance to the English Channel. The village of Stonne was part of this southern flank and the plateau it occupied represented some amount of tactical value since it overlooked the local area for miles around. On the 14th of May and into the 15th, the German forces fought to a standstill around the village of Stonne against the occupying French forces. After a volley of attacks and counterattacks the German forces eventually occupied Stonne in the evening hours of the 15th. On the 16th another French counterattack briefly contested the village. After this the French never again had the opportunity to seriously disrupt the Germans.

Scenario:
This scenario represent the final French counterattack on the 16th of May. The French forces approach the village from the south and the German forces are already deployed in the village of Stonne.

Table layout

The French advance has barely started and the German mortars have begun pounding the French infantry.

Soon machine gun fire erupts from the second floor windows of the village and the French infantry on the east side of the advance make for some cover in the woods.


A French commander contemplating his position.


Meanwhile, on the west side of the advance some German armor reveal themselves as they open fire on the French armor.


The 81mm mortars immediately lay down smoke to cover the infantry advance.


In the middle, the French infantry are ambushed by some very tough German troops.


The French infantry are getting chewed up as they approach the German armor for an assault.


One of several mortar barrages attempting to silence the German machine guns and the French infantry advance on the east side has successfully assaulted the first of many buildings. You can see the German forward observer running in the open back to the village.


On the west side the French infantry have recovered enough to mount yet another bloody assault on the German armor.



On the east side the French infantry continue their advance on Stonne by moving to the next wooded area where they will have to advance on the village in the open.

Light French armor maneuvering on the German armor's flank has gotten the Germans to change position.

French infantry assaulting the eastern end of the village.

An armor orgy results in the destruction of the German armor as well as many of the French armor as well.

The French assault on the village is working. Most of the German occupants are either dead or running down the northern slopes to safety.

The hard fought and costly French victory would be short lived though. When German reinforcements arrive, the French will lose control of this village until the allies return several years later to liberate the area.