tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50263715767761243682024-02-08T14:23:21.506+13:00The Wars of PoochChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-48470514453634290352014-04-30T09:36:00.005+12:002014-04-30T09:36:57.432+12:00A long time of no posting.Well, it has been a good year since anything got posted here.<br />
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In that time, I have certainly not been idle in my gaming, but rather have been very distracted writing rules for Skirmish Sangin, and playing no small number of skirmish games.<br />
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In light of this, the blog here has waned into a damp squib of a thing.<br />
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I have decided that there won't be any more posts being put up here. Instead, I have two other blogs which include a whole lot of content from me.<br />
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To keep up with what I am up to you should look at...<br />
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For Skirmish Sangin stuff, head here- <a href="http://skirmishsangin.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Skirmish Sangin Blog</a><br />
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For Impetus stuff, head here- <a href="http://mczermofpoochandprinnyplayimpetus.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">McZermof, Pooch and Prinny Play Impetus</a><br />
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Thanks for all who have read and commented on this blog over the years, do check out the other two blogs to see what I am up to!<br />
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PoochChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-9028518467585857972013-05-18T11:37:00.001+12:002013-05-18T11:37:31.989+12:00Building an ASLAV Part 2- finishing the buildSo, building has been completed on the ASLAV, the weather has cleared enough for me to undercoat ASLAV today, so paint should start tomorrow (all going well). <br />
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Adam correctly pointed out that my ASLAV was missing a spare wheel on the back. I had the plan of making a cast of one of the imprint wheels from green stuff, then build up the rest of the wheel from green stuff. Seemed to be a good plan, except I made an absolute hash of it! So, flagging that entirely, I opted to make my spare wheel with a cover on it. All the photos I have seen of the ASLAV show it without a cover, so I am using some artistic licence. I made it from a couple of 16mm washers, covered liberally with green stuff. I added a recognition panel to the cover to make it a bit more interesting. I plan to paint the cover in the desert AUSCAM, need to double check on the colour for the recognition panel tho<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOLksk5MAvUKhJK0UO5nQUKrKFAI8ErgQNJ44f011oRu9TA_TVVbsBo_y0TyL73vqbq8BuYRMFCKQrXq1NxdriNUuXbgymmCFduavLa_5KunYjd_O0DMniFl3b7Pc3Qt2Y_zC3wKbnYzJ/s1600/Built+ASLAV+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOLksk5MAvUKhJK0UO5nQUKrKFAI8ErgQNJ44f011oRu9TA_TVVbsBo_y0TyL73vqbq8BuYRMFCKQrXq1NxdriNUuXbgymmCFduavLa_5KunYjd_O0DMniFl3b7Pc3Qt2Y_zC3wKbnYzJ/s320/Built+ASLAV+4.jpg" /></a><br />
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Another thing that which was missing from the kit was the ammo box for the pintle mounted FN MAG 58, so I whipped one up from some Green Stuff. I think that is all the building I am going to do, I could keep covering it in kit, but I do like the Australian vehicle camo, so I want to keep plenty of flat panels for the camo scheme.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDtS86jnDknJ9-FD7AD60k1sYVVlxoFEFKVRaj_m6BjPASiHDJPfXudMfrMhQoEcAQJdNzyqDuupLh3jlBB6vNyafl8bkoY_PzGZLkOHwf4LyRV9VxbP_3_z9o1q2K0FKZAPWbB0UgZr-/s1600/Built+ASLAV+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDtS86jnDknJ9-FD7AD60k1sYVVlxoFEFKVRaj_m6BjPASiHDJPfXudMfrMhQoEcAQJdNzyqDuupLh3jlBB6vNyafl8bkoY_PzGZLkOHwf4LyRV9VxbP_3_z9o1q2K0FKZAPWbB0UgZr-/s320/Built+ASLAV+3.jpg" /></a><br />
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So, off to undercoat the ASLAV, hoping to get the paint on it tomorrow. <br />
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Look Curt, TWO posts!<br />
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CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-88688553675015290182013-05-12T14:52:00.000+12:002013-05-12T14:52:02.836+12:00Building an ASLAV in 28mmSorry for the lack of posting, in short I have become very heavily involved with <a href="http://www.radiodishdash.com/">Skirmish Sangin</a>, which is taking up most of the mental capacity I have for writing, leaving very little enthusiasm for posting stuff up here. <br />
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Which is more than a bit lame, so I have decided to try to put myself back onto here. It will be pretty low key, but should be able to last a bit better than when I last tried this (all of 2 months ago!)<br />
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Anyway....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmyTNrx_WarF8prhfYNHC79n6cPN1H_-vL4vdDqw5eEFN4HWnZcIJJrymUPKBZKRerXDfiBlC14BvbYUXYI_NHZMCmvRi1wzefHqarvwv_-Spp1TfGeYjLsKz0HrNEPKFA0Lxer69JVJS/s1600/ASLAV+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmyTNrx_WarF8prhfYNHC79n6cPN1H_-vL4vdDqw5eEFN4HWnZcIJJrymUPKBZKRerXDfiBlC14BvbYUXYI_NHZMCmvRi1wzefHqarvwv_-Spp1TfGeYjLsKz0HrNEPKFA0Lxer69JVJS/s320/ASLAV+1.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex0fm8uIsspCTsexDdiqYqieva3slmo_0oZoO7qXTWDym7EoTCqCiro7a29IeD-Cc3nGOf8c0VdDaMQXsy1TnDunECbVjB2QvbAr-tj2YV_Va2A1Tzj45gsirIjDyb9O9BV4L8ZXoMvM0/s1600/ASLAV+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex0fm8uIsspCTsexDdiqYqieva3slmo_0oZoO7qXTWDym7EoTCqCiro7a29IeD-Cc3nGOf8c0VdDaMQXsy1TnDunECbVjB2QvbAr-tj2YV_Va2A1Tzj45gsirIjDyb9O9BV4L8ZXoMvM0/s320/ASLAV+2.JPG" /></a><br />
This is a first WIP look at my current project, an ASLAV (Australian LAV-25) in 28mm. The initial model comes from Imprint, and I have added my own modifications to it.<br />
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The primary difference from the Imprint Kit and the ASLAV is the exhaust, which I resculpted from Greenstuff and a bit of hacksawing. It was really the main problem, and took far longer than I had expected to sculpt (straight edges are not my forte). I am happy with how it looks currently.<br />
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Other additions are medical tape camo net on the front of the vehicle,backpacks from the Airfix 1/48th plastic Modern British Infantry and jerry cans on the turret.<br />
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Once the Green Stuff has dried, I will get some paint onto it, hoping to have it done by the end of the week, so keep looking out.<br />
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PoochChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-89587922627810321662013-02-21T18:01:00.001+13:002013-02-21T18:01:33.289+13:00Day of Days 2013So, as time rolls on, the inevitable occurs, it is time for Day of Days again! This year it is a doubles tournament, themed around the relief of Stalingrad. So Mid War, and none of the REALLY cool toys for the Germans, just PaK 40s....<br />
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Nick and I are working together again, after my successes last year with tanks (8 tanks, fielded in 4 games. 32 total tanks, 31 destroyed...) clearly the only solution was for me to bring tanks AGAIN! The kaiser won't be expecting that... <br />
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To balance the Axis/Allies, we opted to play for the Allies, meaning both Nick and I needed to get a Soviet Army! Tankovy was not to hard to get, Nick had the hard task of getting a Cossack army! To be fair, it was his fault for choosing the ponies...<br />
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My force of Guards Tankovy works out as..<br />
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HQ- T-70<br />
Tankovy Platoon- 9 T-34<br />
Light Tankovy Platoon- 10 T-70<br />
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and...<br />
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That's it.<br />
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I chose again to use my winterwash technique using the sponges out of blister packs, and quickly worked up my force.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bpWxeKLFPqAZSx-oZHlN0Dx7yfownKVSMY7ux_3N7UnTXIgh9XwINO1D3f5QpFCUM8F0GGYvk8BXggqvjOfSmZ9tPSYxKbB2eLsEHrwC5ai5keveSHs4A5yZKRfwU9sMaTZbrYuDy1tf/s1600/BF+T-34s.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bpWxeKLFPqAZSx-oZHlN0Dx7yfownKVSMY7ux_3N7UnTXIgh9XwINO1D3f5QpFCUM8F0GGYvk8BXggqvjOfSmZ9tPSYxKbB2eLsEHrwC5ai5keveSHs4A5yZKRfwU9sMaTZbrYuDy1tf/s320/BF+T-34s.jpg" /></a><br />
There are two more T-34s, which somehow missed this shot...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXlEj-MzC6JuDuC-u1uUqgzarF8mGBfAMntSXfAEcZhl7UTEGg0xbxGwbPnXDDbApIA_Dm6NAcJQnPIIDnYCJK3mc8XMWS2UIbJ4OeGe-6zOaAoJizuOsm3V5yWBoh_3M5MLhsBvUHCDZ/s1600/PSC+T-70s.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXlEj-MzC6JuDuC-u1uUqgzarF8mGBfAMntSXfAEcZhl7UTEGg0xbxGwbPnXDDbApIA_Dm6NAcJQnPIIDnYCJK3mc8XMWS2UIbJ4OeGe-6zOaAoJizuOsm3V5yWBoh_3M5MLhsBvUHCDZ/s320/PSC+T-70s.jpg" /></a><br />
10 Plastic Soldier Company T-70s. I was really impressed with these, and plan to write something up about them in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRyrblv_NrmwdJrPmoLQtXPOzxT1TdaUEscAcY16Qi6TKBDUMuLrhusqubkIJCRwGg1Bx0JGLs7qcLcREfGtB2rxElsdA3EXRhQaI5THZcFf7bhzRlnZkLK2CtsR-1q86PWxwRvtTPeWM/s1600/BF+T-70.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRyrblv_NrmwdJrPmoLQtXPOzxT1TdaUEscAcY16Qi6TKBDUMuLrhusqubkIJCRwGg1Bx0JGLs7qcLcREfGtB2rxElsdA3EXRhQaI5THZcFf7bhzRlnZkLK2CtsR-1q86PWxwRvtTPeWM/s320/BF+T-70.jpg" /></a><br />
Lastly, the Company Commander in his T-70<br />
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Another tournament special thing is that in some rounds, we may get air support. So, I picked up a cheap plastic Zvezda LaGG-3 fighter- mainly so I can complain about lag if it doesn't come in!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3k7MWSLvnCtitxNICTrbJCK4Ybn2erM3KPfrT9THdKZu3HeJyWDDOFoLE0BUDt8SU0vtIUYmv3-UqNfEJWD7cGmFimqu9Nsu7KFV9mGiQGRLO0C-XsFG7MPUbsemmmImk66Z5TYp0jGqd/s1600/LaGG-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3k7MWSLvnCtitxNICTrbJCK4Ybn2erM3KPfrT9THdKZu3HeJyWDDOFoLE0BUDt8SU0vtIUYmv3-UqNfEJWD7cGmFimqu9Nsu7KFV9mGiQGRLO0C-XsFG7MPUbsemmmImk66Z5TYp0jGqd/s320/LaGG-3.jpg" /></a><br />
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The colour scheme has been taken straight from Google- this is the paint scheme on a LaGG fighter on display in Moscow. And conveniently, it works perfectly with my Winterwash colour scheme!<br />
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So there it is, a quick little update, I plan to do an AAR following the tournament. Big question, will I lose more than 31 tanks?<br />
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CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-88000518818150563422013-02-05T09:47:00.001+13:002013-02-05T09:47:36.627+13:00SAGA- Anglo-Saxon Warband PaintedSo, as part of the Analogue Challenge I set myself the goal of finishing some of the many projects which I have purchased, and then not done a single thing with.<br />
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The first of these, is an Anglo Saxon warband for SAGA. I bought this when I bought my Irish Warband, so roughly a year and a half ago. All that it was used for in that time was for spare pieces, being repeatedly raided for weapons, heads and anything else that I thought might be useful. With SAGA starting to become popular here, there are about 3-4 warbands which I know are on people's painting tables (right Tim?), I thought it was about time for me to get these guys out and painted. To help inspire me to paint them, I decided to use Little Big Men Studios shields, because from seeing Kent's gorgeous Carthaginians I knew that the transfers would really make my Saxons "pop".<br />
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So, here we are, all six points of the Warband.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG60Ec5a9qbWLUJttBaOJxQM_G6XsoD6DMsEtj_hpcbBqIUJZEcZffHov0Uw95My1FvOrhEpPomNxcHYdmm4rhccTR6Q-hBdcjRF0p0-ipfWdHGbF-NlCkZPEiEXTURDvmhKb7dTyvhxv0/s1600/Saxon+Warband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG60Ec5a9qbWLUJttBaOJxQM_G6XsoD6DMsEtj_hpcbBqIUJZEcZffHov0Uw95My1FvOrhEpPomNxcHYdmm4rhccTR6Q-hBdcjRF0p0-ipfWdHGbF-NlCkZPEiEXTURDvmhKb7dTyvhxv0/s320/Saxon+Warband.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Starting with the Warlord, he is a Gripping Beast metal miniature, looking rather dapper in his purple cloak.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUEWoBJwHZXwNoLdYSw1hjB69cB1wjUy85TjPcUUADxYCjlRWG1ojhrd8FWpK-HtdfX-hAbeUltM7QqdqN6q2kT6IG-cY5ss1i742DruF4s0_5-Un3YMzLtLGwEpHY_pn4mdh6_Ql1z4w/s1600/Warlord+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUEWoBJwHZXwNoLdYSw1hjB69cB1wjUy85TjPcUUADxYCjlRWG1ojhrd8FWpK-HtdfX-hAbeUltM7QqdqN6q2kT6IG-cY5ss1i742DruF4s0_5-Un3YMzLtLGwEpHY_pn4mdh6_Ql1z4w/s320/Warlord+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTgSN5c25pdEpLfSIKZQb2rFogsTF1PxmhVXCr-TXOFcNHA1ca3Bu7TTv70XyDxHSkcbUKU-mUFNWXZcRen547L6eHhfM35XxuEwuoB1qKaH9tlBL__dKDdJdCvQ5eHVnA4hsBPd0YRZ-/s1600/Warlord+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTgSN5c25pdEpLfSIKZQb2rFogsTF1PxmhVXCr-TXOFcNHA1ca3Bu7TTv70XyDxHSkcbUKU-mUFNWXZcRen547L6eHhfM35XxuEwuoB1qKaH9tlBL__dKDdJdCvQ5eHVnA4hsBPd0YRZ-/s320/Warlord+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The first point is a unit of four Hearthguard. Two are metals from Gripping Beast, the one with two swords is a Gripping Beast plastic, and the fourth is a Warlord Games Celt, with some GB plastic parts. I am particularly happy with the tattoos on the Celt, that success was what actually inspired me to paint up a whole army of Impetus Celts!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9Xul4Aa7cWPLOb19MWTluf9MtHSlI4V39SaK6xgA_ZaCHWaQos-C-HOddEyOFFDChYaMu7aTw7C_Q2ubV3qlPHo_PJrgdibwEGg2LKX67bP1RX1qhK61No1YtG4FuZTQZ_OnPbTzcQ19/s1600/Hearthguard+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9Xul4Aa7cWPLOb19MWTluf9MtHSlI4V39SaK6xgA_ZaCHWaQos-C-HOddEyOFFDChYaMu7aTw7C_Q2ubV3qlPHo_PJrgdibwEGg2LKX67bP1RX1qhK61No1YtG4FuZTQZ_OnPbTzcQ19/s320/Hearthguard+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YSV0bVWVxnR1QflBkVCbJFJvPu48LfiuYzBR6iANjtg7kUkIisRbfZEbNkJ_K12D1Py5db9nO2ACfprFEIPm9L7mHWRkE0pzrix15V4EwH6tBipdAFLEircf3MjhuiZ3wd4nwlSbDeU9/s1600/Hearthguard+Closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YSV0bVWVxnR1QflBkVCbJFJvPu48LfiuYzBR6iANjtg7kUkIisRbfZEbNkJ_K12D1Py5db9nO2ACfprFEIPm9L7mHWRkE0pzrix15V4EwH6tBipdAFLEircf3MjhuiZ3wd4nwlSbDeU9/s320/Hearthguard+Closeup.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The rest of the Warband is made up of four units of 10 Warriors. These are all Gripping Beast plastics, with Little Big Men Studios shield decals.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcCtA5eoTxCF-mKD4LGwXTWWoSFuM-qQ38jtDTeRcYEX2vzKJkGv9BNMQGOqeXfS2KrjXe4H9w7lmnlvravkyggr30y-ThUFeAHW-7Y_EUHZ9VGZ9yEfQ-UhwSMg-oXONKQsE-8iToDvd/s1600/Warrior+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcCtA5eoTxCF-mKD4LGwXTWWoSFuM-qQ38jtDTeRcYEX2vzKJkGv9BNMQGOqeXfS2KrjXe4H9w7lmnlvravkyggr30y-ThUFeAHW-7Y_EUHZ9VGZ9yEfQ-UhwSMg-oXONKQsE-8iToDvd/s320/Warrior+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The first (of many) old projects finished!<br />
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Back to the painting table, I will keep updating here with more of the painting.<br />
<br />
CP<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-31604329446138795562013-02-04T18:01:00.001+13:002013-02-04T18:01:20.514+13:002013- It has been a long time coming!Well, after a good month plus of a hiatus (unannounced of course), I figured I would put something up here, just to remind you all that I am still kicking around!<br />
<br />
2012 ended on an insanely busy note. I moved cities, and began working on the Analogue Painting Challenge. It has taken a fair while to sort through the mountains of boxes, and certainly most of my gaming stuff is still in a box, but I am settled in! The new city has opened up new opportunities, I have been encouraging the new locals into a variety of my favourite games- Impetus, SAGA and Force on Force. Thankfully, there are more than a few locals who were already keen on them, so we are well on the way!<br />
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My painting has been trucking along really well, actually as it stands I am in the lead in the competition! Well, a 20 point lead, but a lead is a lead! But I will do big picture dumps of that soon.<br />
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The plan for 2013 then?<br />
<br />
Well, I am thinking of going to some tournaments....<br />
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-<i>Day of Days</i> Nick and I are running some Soviets, by some, I mean a whole lot! My side of the army is already done, but more on them in the future.<br />
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-<i>Nationals</i> Although it is in Wellington this year, I just can't get excited about 3 days of Flames of War. There are some cool late war lists which I could run, but I can barely justify 3 days of gaming, and if I am not going to enjoy it... On the other hand, the locals enjoy the fantasy game Malifaux, which has a 1 day competition, which is altogether more tempting. <br />
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-<i>Southcon</i> For something new this year, Southcon are running an Impetvs competition, based loosely around Far Eastern armies. With EI 5 just coming out filled with cool eastern lists, it made total sense! There are plenty of armies being planned, and my idea is to run Ikko Ikki, an army of peasants! But more on those when I see the lists, and make some plans.<br />
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-<i>Panzershrek</i> Apparently a good tournament, I have heard good things! It is late war doubles, and Bob and I are making evil, evil plans....<br />
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-<i>Call to Arms</i> The grand plan here? A group of us have gotten together and have decided to refight the Day of the Rangers in 28mm. So what that means, is I am going to pick up and paint some sweet as 28mm US Moderns! On that too, I am having a game of <a href="http://www.radiodishdash.com/">Skirmish Sangin</a>, which is a set of rules from a local company, will be interesting to see it in action!<br />
<br />
Plus Conquest probably and that will likely round out my tournaments for the year!<br />
<br />
So what else is on the plan?<br />
<br />
ACW- The Gettysburg Refight is this year, and I need to get painting!<br />
Moderns- Taliban, 2003 War US<br />
Impetus- Romans, Greeks, Celts...<br />
SAGA- I wouldn't mind those Plastic Conquest Normans...<br />
<br />
Oh, and a whole host of Flames of War too!<br />
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A bit of a cop out post I know, but it is to try to get me back into the habit of blogging as well as posting pictures to Analogue!<br />
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Painting is progressing very well...<br />
<br />
CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-575179816139520092012-12-21T16:06:00.001+13:002012-12-21T16:06:35.557+13:00SAGA: The Taxman Cometh...Adam and I managed to find time to have a game of SAGA last night (not that hard, SAGA doesn't exactly take long for us). The Brave and dashingly handsome Irish were fighting the ruthless, cold, kitten killing and generally bad guys, the Rus.<br />
<br />
The Irish were hanging in their village, tending their crops, telling stories of their greatness and downing an ale or two, before the a messenger of the oppressive land owners arrived, demanding their due. Screaming something about taxation and representation, the Irish dutifully sent that messenger back headless.<br />
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Apparently that was not payment enough, so it was not long before the Rus arrived..<br />
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Cue the Imperial March from Star Wars....<br />
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The Warlord FionĂșir emerged from his castle, ready to do battle.<br />
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The Warriors sallied forth to defend the wagon (which might have been previously owned by the Rus. It was their own fault for leaving the windows down and the keys in it)<br />
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The Rus advanced relentlessly towards the Irish, but much to their suprise, the Irish sallied forth from their walls, and sought combat! So much for a walk over!<br />
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The Irish ran forward, throwing Javelins at the oncoming Rus. In spite of a ridiculous number of projectiles, no one died. Not even a scratch. Loki was pulling the wool over the Irish eyes!<br />
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There are meant to be less of them!<br />
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This clever plan of running out and throwing sticks seemed to maybe not be the best idea. First, the women and children were hiding in the woods, and were spotted by the evil lord along with his axe-wielding vassals...<br />
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Ruh Roh.<br />
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The Levies needless to say did not last long. They killed one of the enemy, but were not spared.<br />
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Then the enemy levies sought combat with the brave Irish boys..<br />
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Which ended with the Warriors killing many Levies, but losing almost all of their number. Then they ran off (stupid enemy battleboard ability killing my dudes)<br />
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In the centre, FionĂșir surrounded by his loyal wolfhounds was ambushed first by enemy warriors, who sacrificed three of their number to roll an astronomical 20 attack dice! <br />
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Before...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60lXpY9tHnBmOhHz5DVNdct83DpzN2AzsdQreiAwlmO6SCuKSu0jBrYyHSO8ez3WUBnHtZGHF7IOwJdZbFkNwjYpWQenA6K58FDZ9C_wQ2QvNyWmlygLNOlfDMCNCax0pVIdyiYxFgcZI/s1600/IMG_0947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60lXpY9tHnBmOhHz5DVNdct83DpzN2AzsdQreiAwlmO6SCuKSu0jBrYyHSO8ez3WUBnHtZGHF7IOwJdZbFkNwjYpWQenA6K58FDZ9C_wQ2QvNyWmlygLNOlfDMCNCax0pVIdyiYxFgcZI/s320/IMG_0947.JPG" /></a></div><br />
And after...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlvs8YfSWl_xBbpAnvu9VtcfQweYHVPUB1k5Go-sNHFCF9VV9KjvzIDuJtuOpBZZpjHFiIr7K3PA2ttEvZ5HoF0tvojRs0oRNyWSUUfftyL3uZXvSitwzbAo0DM7Ilqwg-gpFfV8qE5CG/s1600/IMG_0948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlvs8YfSWl_xBbpAnvu9VtcfQweYHVPUB1k5Go-sNHFCF9VV9KjvzIDuJtuOpBZZpjHFiIr7K3PA2ttEvZ5HoF0tvojRs0oRNyWSUUfftyL3uZXvSitwzbAo0DM7Ilqwg-gpFfV8qE5CG/s320/IMG_0948.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The cunning Rus had sought to isolate FionĂșir, for without his loyal hounds he was easy picking for the heavy axes of the enemy Varangians.<br />
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But the Varangians themselves were then ambushed by yet another unit of warriors (I have a few), who pelted them with their javelins. This time, the missiles had an effect, killing almost all of the number. The last Varangian was killed trying to avenge the death of his brother in close assault with the Warriors.<br />
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But then those warriors were ambushed by the enemy Warlord and some more Varangians, the mutual destruction leaving just two men standing before the gates of the village.<br />
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The game ended shortly thereafter, when that lone warrior rolled many, many 6's on a dice to give himself a lot of Javelin dice, then proceeded to throw them all at the enemy Warlord. One missile was enough to cause a fatal wound, saving the village!<br />
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Not that there is anyone left alive in the village...<br />
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Was a fun game of SAGA, something very different! It was good to play SAGA after so long, the Irish were getting very bored sitting in a box without a game!<br />
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Right, painting challenge is all go, I need to get cracking. Moderns game Saturday, which will be awesome.<br />
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CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-22394834384137291982012-12-20T12:49:00.001+13:002012-12-20T12:49:15.990+13:00Nam by Mark Baker, a review.I bought <i>Nam</i> second hand when I was in Australia and had not got around to reading it until now. I would by no means call myself any sort of expert on the Vietnam War. I know a bit about it through my reading, but I know that there are a lot of people who read this who know far far more than I do. But yet, I am compelled to comment on this book. I finished up reading this book a couple of days ago, and after a few days of stewing about it, I was prompted to write about what I thought.<br />
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The book <i>Nam</i> by Mark Baker has been around for quite some time, published first in the 1980s this book is a collection of stories from people who were in Vietnam, soldiers, marines, nurses and others who told of their experiences through the conflict. Baker took the interviews and chronicled them together based on a series of titles, the start of the conflict, boot experiences etc, through to combat and finally coming back stateside.<br />
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The book is told from the first hand perspective of individual soldiers, and paints a pretty bad picture of them as a whole. The soldiers are portrayed through their words as being perpetually stoned, not giving a damn about their job, totally disbelieving about their purpose and totally immune to the horror of the lives that they take. Drugs are talked about at length, stupidity of senior officers (even from boot Lieutenants) is constantly talked about. Most of the book is following this track, it is almost horror writing. Americans (through their words) are seen as murderers, massacres are commonplace and sought after to perpetuate "kill-counts". <br />
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And that bothered me.<br />
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I have had the privilege of meeting servicemen, some of whom have served in different conflicts, including Vietnam. I know that I have a boyhood idealism when it comes to war, I grew up reading Kipling and the concept of the great adventure of war has stuck with me. Equally, I can comprehend the horror that was the Vietnam War through what I have read. Could I really understand what it was to go to war there? No, and I won't pretend I can. <br />
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But this book bothered me.<br />
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I am not so naive to believe that there weren't drugs in Vietnam. Equally, I know the war was not the heroic Americans saving the Vietnamese from the bad bad communists. But to portray every single character in a book as being that baby-killing stoner really bothered me. I can accept the fact that they existed. That war was frustrating militarily, fighting an enemy who refused to fight on equal terms, an enemy which held complete command of the local populace, who could melt into their surroundings. <br />
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How could you combat that? Collateral damage was tragically inevitable.<br />
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But I fail to believe that all of the soldiers who served in Vietnam were the stereotype presented in the book, and that is what bothers me. I know that the war was horrible. But perhaps I choose to believe that it did not destroy everyone like those who were portrayed in the book. I think there were heroes from that conflict, people who sought to help the Vietnamese, rather than simply racking up a kill-count. <br />
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And if I am wrong, so be it. Leave me to my delusions.<br />
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The saving grace of the book, was the concluding chapter. The plight of Veterans when they get home is something which the western world struggles with. We ask soldiers to do so much, but do we give them enough in return? I don't think so. I am sure statistics exist about suicides of servicemen, of them being incarcerated, of their inability to reform to civilian life. Is that so hard to understand? I think it isn't, they have gone through something unimaginable and unthinkable for society as a whole, broken rules which are socially taboo and have been kept isolated from society for the last however many years. And we expect them to reform right back in to line. <br />
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And that bothers me.<br />
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To all the veterans who read this, thank you for your service. I hope that you have found whatever form of peace which you need to be yourself. As for the book, well, I urge you to take it with a grain of salt. But there is a kernel of truth to the stories told, but I fail to believe that this was standard operating procedure for the conflict.<br />
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Please comment if you agree or disagree, correct me if I am wrong please.<br />
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Tonight, the painting challenge starts....<br />
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CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-44812438192763190312012-12-15T15:34:00.001+13:002012-12-15T15:34:44.313+13:00ACW Test Model and Preparations for the Painting ChallengeThe school year has almost finished up, which has started to offer me a whole lot more time to get into modelling projects before I need to pack everything up for the move!<br />
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In that time, I have been cracking into painting a 7 base unit of ACW soldiers, and here is the first completed soldier!<br />
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Just a standard Perry Plastic model, no conversions, just simple painting. His pants are pretty muddy, but that hasn't really come through in the photo. I did that mainly to break up the bright blue of his pants, so that it wouldn't overpower the rest of the model. He looks pretty good I think, will certainly fit the bill! The remaining 34 guys from the unit are all half finished too, hopefully will get them done and have the whole unit finished by tomorrow night.<br />
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Along with painting up a whole lot of blue, I have been getting things out of boxes and assembling them. I have had plenty of 28mm figures stuck unpainted (usually in their original blisters) as part of old projects, old ideas or they got stuck in the too hard basket.<br />
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The plan then for the Analogue challenge is for me to get them OUT of their boxes, and get them painted so I can actually use them! Or at least have them painted in their box!<br />
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The first couple of these armies got taken out of their boxes and put onto bases today.<br />
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Empress miniatures Taliban and Insurgents, they are at least on some bases! I have some USMC on order to oppose them too, probably using Force on Force I think. But they are lovely miniatures (I have avoided them for so long, but Empress are gorgeous), so I am looking forward to painting them!<br />
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Two squads of ANZACs in Vietnam and one squad of NVA infantry from Eureka Miniatures. There are a couple more on the way just to complete the ANZACs, and I will go looking at other companies to flesh out the NVA, as Eureka only do these 10! Not sure which rules I will use for these, I have the Ambush Alley rules, so they might work, but if you have any suggestions, let me know.<br />
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Oh, and that green blob in the back? A 28mm Huey. Can't do some Vietnam gaming without in my book! Just to give myself a bit of a challenge while I am at it. I think I will petition Curt to make it worth a few more points, it is ginormous!<br />
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Anyway, off to undercoat these now, then will get back to painting ACW. Then I need to prep a whole lot of 6mm Modern infantry, then I might start prepping some ACW... then some Thirty Years War....<br />
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CP<br />
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-47022201124288216142012-12-09T15:06:00.000+13:002012-12-09T15:06:30.812+13:00Analogue Painting Challenge 2012: Well, why not?Well, it is that time of year again, Curt has laid out the next painting challenge, so another three months of frenetic painting will be had!<br />
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Given I am moving house in this period, I am not expecting much from myself at all, but if it will get some more things out of the boxes, painted, then put back into boxes, then so much the better!<br />
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This year there is a whopping 47 entrants, who each have 3 months to paint as many historical (or Tolkein) miniatures that they can manage! <br />
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The points breakdown has been modified for this year,<br />
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6mm foot figure = 1 point<br />
6mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 2 pts<br />
6mm vehicle = 3 pts<br />
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15mm foot figure = 2 pts<br />
15mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 4 pts<br />
15mm vehicle = 6 pts<br />
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20mm foot figure = 4 pts<br />
20mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 8 pts<br />
20mm vehicle = 12 pts<br />
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28mm foot figure = 5 pts<br />
28mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 10 pts<br />
28mm vehicle = 15 pts<br />
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54mm foot figure = 10 pts<br />
54mm mounted figures, artillery piee or crew served weapon = 20 pts<br />
54mm vehicle, limber, etc. = 30 pts <br />
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So, there are plenty of points on offer! It is likely I will just have 15mm, 6mm and 28mm models, but you never know with me!<br />
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<b>The Plan</b><br />
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Well, the plan is to paint...<br />
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-28mm ACW Union 1st Corps. I have almost got my first unit done, now to do the rest!<br />
-28mm Thirty Years War. I have a whole Spanish Army which has been in a box for god knows how long.<br />
-15mm Flames of War figures- I have a whole lot of random stuff that needs to be done, things like Hellcats, Late War German armour, I wouldn't mind doing more Soviets. Plus whatever I play for Day of Days and Valleycon...<br />
-15mm Vietnam. I still have a bit of this which hasn't been totally finished. <br />
-28mm Vietnam and Moderns- I have a few things for both of these which should get done at some point. Wouldn't mind some vehicles too actually.<br />
-6mm... Something modern. I can't seem to keep myself from getting more and more of this stuff. But some USMC definitly, then perhaps it is time to go to the Russians..?<br />
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Plus I need to paint ONE Samurai figure to send to Curt, as payment of entry.<br />
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A lot of plans and ideas, but now I have to actually put that all into some form of action!<br />
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But for now, I am off to do some assembling.<br />
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CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-89372398297371974522012-12-06T07:21:00.000+13:002012-12-06T07:21:07.434+13:006mm Moderns- Australians!Well, it was inevitable after my trip to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps museum that I would write the rules for the Australians in <b>Conflict '89</b>.<br />
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The Australians adopted a pretty interesting formation in the modern period. Historically, the Australians (and New Zealanders) were regarded as some of the best light infantry in the world. Battles like Tobruk, El Alamein and the fighting in Papua New Guinea during the pacific campaign cemented that reputation. <br />
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But it was in those battles which the Australians realised the need for specific close supporting armoured formations- they were actually one of the first formations to be supported in big tank attacks in World War One. Through the later New Guinean campaign they were supported by Matilda tanks, using them as a jack of all trades style vehicle.<br />
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But on to the modern period. The Auzzies drove Centurions during the Vietnam War, by all counts they loved that tank, finding Splintex (flechette) rounds especially effective.<br />
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In the period of Conflict '89, the Australian armoured were equipped with Leopard 1AS4 tanks.<br />
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And here are my 10 Leopard 1AS4 Tanks, showing off the awesome colour scheme that is AUSCAM.<br />
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Supporting the Leopard tank formations is the Mechanised Infantry. Still equipped with the M113 of the Vietnam era (the AUSLAV is not available until the mid 90's), the Australians utilised multiple turret configurations, the most unique being the M113 MSV, which was an M113 equipped with the turret from a Scorpion light tank. This vehicle was tasked as an infantry support vehicle, based on their experience in Vietnam. Also in the formation is a mortar carrier also.<br />
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Again the M113s are showing off how cool AUSCAM is!<br />
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Of course, the M113s are transports, so need the infantry too<br />
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Infantry with 2 MILAN ATGMs and 2 Red Eye MANPAD<br />
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Also in support, there is a recon platoon of four M113, two equipped as MSV vehicles<br />
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I put them on bases with their dismounts, so I could tell which was which in relation to my formations.<br />
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Of course you also need someone to command it, this is the Battalion XO with his M577..<br />
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Another hallmark of modern warfare is using an unarmed helicopter as a forward observer for artillery batteries. The Australians use the Kiowa in this role.<br />
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So that is it, the whole lot!<br />
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What is next? Well.. These have been started..<br />
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But more on those soon.<br />
<br />
CP<br />
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-75202946553096432732012-12-05T10:06:00.000+13:002012-12-05T10:06:01.177+13:00Masters 2012- A Recap of the Guards in WellingtonLast weekend, 12 of the best (according to Rankings HQ) FOW players in the country congregated in Wellington to have a throw down to decide who would be crowned the Master of NZ FOW! <br />
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Ok, so I might have made the title up, and there are a fair few people who weren't at the tourney who I would rate a much better player than me, but at any rate I headed there anyway!<br />
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First game was against Tim W, who was running Hungarian Tanks. We played a Hasty Attack. 5-2 Win.<br />
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I rolled attacker on this mission, not that it overly matters when it is tank vs tank. This whole game boiled down to two very important things, firstly, Tim's reserves ALL came on in the exact wrong place (3 5's for reserve location), and his Panther bogged in the river when it didn't need to cross it.<br />
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But anyway, some pictures of the game.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjYK0-yv0v-AVCSz0bWMbpbcuyE6JNDyke25NAeNSJ-G-CLwmKxK_qyYPeSgmOukTbIgH7SqFFd4FZYZLi3uUFFO67hq4yOe4wYZHnVwQrGekRt0ikgMg42Ky5DX_3mzMlQZS4UsBNhg1/s1600/IMG_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjYK0-yv0v-AVCSz0bWMbpbcuyE6JNDyke25NAeNSJ-G-CLwmKxK_qyYPeSgmOukTbIgH7SqFFd4FZYZLi3uUFFO67hq4yOe4wYZHnVwQrGekRt0ikgMg42Ky5DX_3mzMlQZS4UsBNhg1/s320/IMG_0886.JPG" /></a></div>First Troop prepares to engage the Hungarian Hetzers and Panthers before the game begins.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1sG-RZNCFXJBib5T24anRLqMtZ6U0KTRtkOYYBCNNOlOW2bM1hondeQdO-4bTaSTbldsobW60GMxJEMMPZBHpXOuPE-sHZtchBVw0qTcf8rhUBMf9UEeWdWMYAs6sLP89jkzNvNlbrKu/s1600/IMG_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1sG-RZNCFXJBib5T24anRLqMtZ6U0KTRtkOYYBCNNOlOW2bM1hondeQdO-4bTaSTbldsobW60GMxJEMMPZBHpXOuPE-sHZtchBVw0qTcf8rhUBMf9UEeWdWMYAs6sLP89jkzNvNlbrKu/s320/IMG_0887.JPG" /></a></div>The 2iC tank goes stalking off by himself. This was a common tactic for me in the tournament, but this was the only time that it really worked, it got me in trouble a couple of other times!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrY-jg8uDBHdsvbCMdlYcg4faqEUpieDJUnLd7qJKNq0NZNZanJfLHrh1dwF2He4JW8ue-mJFf_SSpycAaxlGa4xICoDuXmvfr5_iFwIDTgNeqTFXMNfvTVepl8556HkCCHVS_l-o1ONU/s1600/IMG_0888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrY-jg8uDBHdsvbCMdlYcg4faqEUpieDJUnLd7qJKNq0NZNZanJfLHrh1dwF2He4JW8ue-mJFf_SSpycAaxlGa4xICoDuXmvfr5_iFwIDTgNeqTFXMNfvTVepl8556HkCCHVS_l-o1ONU/s320/IMG_0888.JPG" /></a></div>The Stuarts came on as my first reserve, double timing up the right hand flank. This allowed them to flank Tim's CiC panther in the next turn, forcing it to move, when it was then dispatched by a 17pdr shot straight through the front plate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtJBLZvS0ObTTieU2gOByVkSw5nJFHTeprUhDdApvpYxnNL4iukfbev3Y7YS0gTj2Xr1CAnAsNDGrcykRnkYGdpAX7PXOPNQ-CWXfR7euNupWkD64yi-JZpxexu4q_z-zwWtLJXHOJXr2/s1600/IMG_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtJBLZvS0ObTTieU2gOByVkSw5nJFHTeprUhDdApvpYxnNL4iukfbev3Y7YS0gTj2Xr1CAnAsNDGrcykRnkYGdpAX7PXOPNQ-CWXfR7euNupWkD64yi-JZpxexu4q_z-zwWtLJXHOJXr2/s320/IMG_0889.JPG" /></a></div>Tim had one objective very well covered, by both Heavy Artillery and by Panther tanks. The artillery had little effect over the game, primarily due to me rolling an ungodly amount of 6's and 5's to bounce hits onto the top armour of sherman tanks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarfYwM-tRYNsMvjGYGAOR7q9e90h3qRWrEzAdCDzHIa9hIqbrS_qJ7C1fnvORYXaM383Gl39cLuEqJ8x7zo1A9LcfxOs1zqckN8hjhedSQtkk4YGjxUFFS50MABrk6ymDAdAv39PX7drh/s1600/IMG_0890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarfYwM-tRYNsMvjGYGAOR7q9e90h3qRWrEzAdCDzHIa9hIqbrS_qJ7C1fnvORYXaM383Gl39cLuEqJ8x7zo1A9LcfxOs1zqckN8hjhedSQtkk4YGjxUFFS50MABrk6ymDAdAv39PX7drh/s320/IMG_0890.JPG" /></a></div>My CiC went alone to try to destroy the last of the Hetzer platoon, thus preventing them from contesting the objective. It was not to be, as it missed. But what did happen was the Firefly behind the Hetzer put a 17pdr shot from 2" away into the back of it, finally destroying the tank. The CiC had his rear hanging out in front of 3 panthers, which had no other targets, he was hit and penetrated repeatedly to the rear. Ouch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ7yEXJWJxlsSvBba1nXyCOk2RtMOPv1RRk9BC8U1E7iPfvhXxtJBlFoubDzA_fhB6BMtiCTtrHPiQrVilzBpc1I6T2S-0viks3oLuZFCWqrJlU0Sv6QSDuESIgggSep0AV9_H7CVTD8T/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJ7yEXJWJxlsSvBba1nXyCOk2RtMOPv1RRk9BC8U1E7iPfvhXxtJBlFoubDzA_fhB6BMtiCTtrHPiQrVilzBpc1I6T2S-0viks3oLuZFCWqrJlU0Sv6QSDuESIgggSep0AV9_H7CVTD8T/s320/IMG_0891.JPG" /></a></div>This was the end shot of the game, in the bottom left of the picture is the burning Hungarian CO, in the top left is two bogged Shermans who spent 3 turns trying to unbog, only for both to rebog! The bottom right shows the remaining two Stuarts who are duelling with Nimrods (for one loss each). Burning in the centre are the Guards CO and the 4 Hetzers, but in the middle of the wood is the objective, held by the one active Sherman tank in the whole bunch!<br />
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The other flank devolved into the Turan II tanks duelling with 2 75mm Shermans, to amount to a whopping 1 destroyed Turan after no less than 5 turns of shooting at long range! Worst Gun Duel EVER....<br />
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A 5-2 win for the Guards, but was a result of Tim making one mistake, and his reserves not appearing where he needed them.<br />
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Game Two was against Steve Hill, who was running SS with Barkmann and 2 Jagdpanthers. I lost 6-1 in a Free for All.<br />
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This game... I couldn't do anything right on my dice. I know wargamers are quick to blame their dice (workmen and tools etc), but in this instance, I couldn't buy a piece of luck. <br />
<br />
Steve was running a very defensive SS panzergrenadier company, based around 2 mobile elements of Barkmann and 2 Jagdpanthers. Looking back at it, I should have deploed at long range, used Semi Indirect Fire and just said "come at me bro", but I didn't. I attacked, and payed the price for it. Sitting on my back board edge just isn't me, and that is probably why I don't win tournaments much, I just don't have the patience to time out win.<br />
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The Shermans deployed ready to start..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVe1QSW-qigZIIjpU3OSiL5I7C3YVeYB7gBX87QNCfKNU6kzxRyUz8lXkpdcelNmnTk0ia0UFqqJdU6-Ldi4y9HzCthDibl5hDRhgyCoi1ZYKYxufhlDLCfadTyc23OylNBUte3jjzCF-/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVe1QSW-qigZIIjpU3OSiL5I7C3YVeYB7gBX87QNCfKNU6kzxRyUz8lXkpdcelNmnTk0ia0UFqqJdU6-Ldi4y9HzCthDibl5hDRhgyCoi1ZYKYxufhlDLCfadTyc23OylNBUte3jjzCF-/s320/IMG_0892.JPG" /></a></div>What do you mean "no rolling barrage"? Where are the Lancasters? The 5.5's? The thousands of Typhoon rockets?<br />
<br />
And from that point it was all downhill. Steve deployed Barkmann forward, to make the most of his GTG status, he was deployed behind a low wall, where upon he fired twice, and killed 2 fireflies. From two shots. The Guards responded, getting a hit which went through the armour, and then.... I failed my firepower. My one chance to get a quick attack, and it does that. Barkmann did eventually die, but only after he had knocked out three more tanks. Then, because he is Barkmann, he came back, and shot two more tanks (because he repaired his tank, and then doesn't count as moving, nor has any penalty) By this time, I had two shermans which were refusing to unbog on a low wall, one troop was fully destroyed and I had no fireflies in the others.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Mts2pHyS5Z0FLDDGCENkungpoHzNTKJHEXCVG7J4PxzTIV-4PHrZg2_9jhA5la_8KAlgJYW0dwxyBfzNdrHvWI6x0mHrayxkkFfGO-H0lZ4yFRaBfLQB9Q8-zX8JCadfTCz6_KYXNg1q/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Mts2pHyS5Z0FLDDGCENkungpoHzNTKJHEXCVG7J4PxzTIV-4PHrZg2_9jhA5la_8KAlgJYW0dwxyBfzNdrHvWI6x0mHrayxkkFfGO-H0lZ4yFRaBfLQB9Q8-zX8JCadfTCz6_KYXNg1q/s320/IMG_0894.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I resorted to my usual tactics of assaulting things, but the cornfields slowing down the movement of my stuarts, which meant that they were sitting in front of Barkmann and two Jagdpanthers, who dutifully annihilated them. My one chance at a point was from his platoon of 2cm Flak guns, which I got down to ONE gun, who then failed THREE saves from 75mm HE. One of the three dice needed to be a 3+. Did I get one? No. <br />
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Sigh.<br />
<br />
So, I died. But credit to Steve, he was most accomodating in letting me destroy myself with WW1 tactics upon his anti-tank assets.<br />
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Game Three was against Steve Chambers, in a No Retreat. A 4-3 Loss.<br />
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I was not feeling the best after the last game, I have said it before but I don't mind losing, I just hate feeling like I can't do anything. Give me destruction over impotence any day.<br />
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So when I drew Steve, who I know is a very good Soviet player, with an army with more tanks than I have, I knew I might be in trouble! <br />
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As it was, Steve deployed IS-2s, 2 platoons of infantry and a platoon of SU-100s in ambush. My plan was simple, throw everything but one troop up the left flank, send one troop to flank the right, then hope for the best.<br />
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Turn one amounted to me flanking an IS-2 with a 17pdr firefly, which dutifully annihilated it! The the Stuarts with their recon move zipped forward and assaulted the objective, claiming it for the Guards! Casualties beyond that were light. Then the SU-100s appeared from ambush, and so did the SU-122s from reserve. And they shot, and suddenly I had less Stuarts. In fact I only had one left! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhF6QC4NR6gM-rL_trIetS03sz_OMpvEXaMFy4ykfUw92zZ3DhMttPdGLwfHN8Jj4U0GA_SRJIipuN0-KXPTnaq6o7mTuUjQG7Vj8DiYOLdp_M01nDwZFoL6vlvN00PUk0f_842zcV-mwj/s1600/IMG_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhF6QC4NR6gM-rL_trIetS03sz_OMpvEXaMFy4ykfUw92zZ3DhMttPdGLwfHN8Jj4U0GA_SRJIipuN0-KXPTnaq6o7mTuUjQG7Vj8DiYOLdp_M01nDwZFoL6vlvN00PUk0f_842zcV-mwj/s320/IMG_0896.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The Stuarts when all was looking good...<br />
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The Shermans drove forward to reinforce the Stuarts, firing at the SU-122's, causing damage. Fire went into the SU-100s too, but their frontal armour protected them from firefly rounds (FA 9? Sigh). The IS-2s were seen off by a 17pdr round into the flank, the third running away from the fight. More fire went into the infantry, putting them below half, but they were still able to unpin and contest the objective.<br />
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And so, the shooting war began in earnest. SU-100s sniped at Shermans, which in turn were sniping at SU-122s and the fireflies were engaging the SU-100s. By this time, the SU-100s were flanked by 3 Troop, who fired 75mm into their flank, only to have them bounce off the armour.<br />
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The T-70s rolled on in reserve, hoping to shoot out the Sherman's flank, but they missed! The 75mm shermans tried to finish the SU-100s (to die gloriously) but could only bail two (firepowers!). The Troop's firefly did knock out 2 T-70 with the 17pdr however.<br />
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But the SU-100s were doing the damage, heavy rounds going straight through the shermans front armour. With unsuccessful return fire, the Shermans were finished off.<br />
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They did still have the objective, and Steve had to shoot the Universal Carriers, CiC Sherman and a Troop Commander Tank to prevent me winning the game. He had 2 shots with moving SU-100s on a 6 to kill the Troop Commander (which succeeded), 1 shot with 1 Sturmovik to kill the CiC Sherman (which succeeded) and 4 BA-64s to shoot the 3 Universal Carriers, which BAILED the one Carrier who was contesting! <br />
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If he had failed ANY of those 3 dice rolls, it would have been a 4-3 to me. But as it was, he didn't, so a well earned win to him.<br />
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The Battlefield was littered with wrecked tanks, T-70s, Shermans, Stuarts, SUs and IS-2s....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcAoVY2h-1z3R_giS2QsTRUyj4feUHM1C2Yfa8rVIlQzILXcZ-ac7Ps2RbwMsEwNsHYR06apxhgIu6kPQjSokV5QMuFkSAWai9IMJiQrBKWj2ZUaBIQV0pt_5ZFz5Z3NXmM7jFPY1_QJf/s1600/IMG_0897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcAoVY2h-1z3R_giS2QsTRUyj4feUHM1C2Yfa8rVIlQzILXcZ-ac7Ps2RbwMsEwNsHYR06apxhgIu6kPQjSokV5QMuFkSAWai9IMJiQrBKWj2ZUaBIQV0pt_5ZFz5Z3NXmM7jFPY1_QJf/s320/IMG_0897.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tUXJvquTH4zNN8uYYjccSCrpCSsEH2diD-1nmCCp12f3JyiS3k1I14xFUtLn0tfWzkl8349Tci7jYSUQkUF331qfmH09qoGPPhqL7vFxjzn1Ihq0iSc1f5ozISwIYKUP09rmw8fQeoZO/s1600/IMG_0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tUXJvquTH4zNN8uYYjccSCrpCSsEH2diD-1nmCCp12f3JyiS3k1I14xFUtLn0tfWzkl8349Tci7jYSUQkUF331qfmH09qoGPPhqL7vFxjzn1Ihq0iSc1f5ozISwIYKUP09rmw8fQeoZO/s320/IMG_0898.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Game Four was against Bob, who was running Chaffees, in a Breakthrough. I lost 5-2.<br />
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I didn't think enough this game. Simple as that, I made a deployment error early on, and paid the price for it.<br />
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Bob put on table 1 platoon of Recon, and his Tank Destroyers. I SHOULD have put my recce and Bofors on table, but rather than doing that, I put all my tanks on table as a hammer...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1KtyXyVN43zSnHefRS9ukNrod34qAwQGhjeaFHrc9Ng_rrPpv5f46l3oL5I3VpzF2-dXIJtWc9ykEAMyz-E2VR-HZuERmt4uW74NvSbcdnRLTR8Ew56c9xYyeo9Wh8cNURGOvCzahfxS/s1600/IMG_0900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1KtyXyVN43zSnHefRS9ukNrod34qAwQGhjeaFHrc9Ng_rrPpv5f46l3oL5I3VpzF2-dXIJtWc9ykEAMyz-E2VR-HZuERmt4uW74NvSbcdnRLTR8Ew56c9xYyeo9Wh8cNURGOvCzahfxS/s320/IMG_0900.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Which in spite of looking awesome, was not the way I should have played the game. Turn One amounted to me driving forward looking cool (the comment was made that this was EXACTLY like a Bridge to Far, before the shooting started).<br />
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Bob's turn two amounted to him rolling BOTH of his reserves, and springing his Jacksons out of ambush. Which meant ahead of me was 4 Jacksons, behind me was 10 Chaffees, and the Shermans were stuck in the middle.<br />
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And they died. In droves. Three Jackson TDs fired their 90mm guns, rolling 5 hits and 5 successful firepower tests. Scratch First Troop off the ledger.<br />
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The Chaffees fired at 2nd Troop with 20 stabilized shots. Scratch Second Troop off the ledger.<br />
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Quickly, the Guards were 2 wickets down, for no runs.<br />
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In an attempt to save the day, the remaining troop fired back at the Chaffees. With 10 shots, 4 of which being 17pdrs (not that it matters to a Chaffee), and they all missed.<br />
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Hitting on a 4+.<br />
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So, the Jacksons fired again, and I had even less shermans, the Chaffees fired and I had even less again.<br />
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I did manage to kill ONE platoon of Chaffees through actually rolling to hit, but this game my dice were even worse than against Steve. Which says a lot!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ePgxsYba0LDna_e2BMmXmRAOk6-9_LPZuHFYwToZut45DGv7Iv71IJaCfp-AitLu6FoOxZZPUFrwrvMZIbFas6e_rbAWWSYBXOGij6oZKVmVJKusm3mo0ncLcwAwkvoovJkctHY56Xr/s1600/IMG_0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ePgxsYba0LDna_e2BMmXmRAOk6-9_LPZuHFYwToZut45DGv7Iv71IJaCfp-AitLu6FoOxZZPUFrwrvMZIbFas6e_rbAWWSYBXOGij6oZKVmVJKusm3mo0ncLcwAwkvoovJkctHY56Xr/s320/IMG_0901.JPG" /></a></div>Stuarts deployed forward to seize the objective!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbbSDhrc3IjrqrZd9bc-XufVsx_S43jltndMajSE-8Tsl1mgbNDKd8I7Hmkqz8BDbA_ILX9s0CgsK_5QIze_nMB2Sy1i5Huc8AVqfeVAAiRZWJ-YjYViuNddl5xShLMuj5zPihfy0h5cq/s1600/IMG_0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbbSDhrc3IjrqrZd9bc-XufVsx_S43jltndMajSE-8Tsl1mgbNDKd8I7Hmkqz8BDbA_ILX9s0CgsK_5QIze_nMB2Sy1i5Huc8AVqfeVAAiRZWJ-YjYViuNddl5xShLMuj5zPihfy0h5cq/s320/IMG_0902.JPG" /></a></div>Oh, Hello Jacksons.... 90mm you say?... AT 14?....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHsPU1YnzDMDUzKnjDeC3VOt9XGwmxZvaoHJLhhqFTMeZRcv_REx0HJGp_bzBoppEqR3seb9jorRqJaMaiVIj02CXIkAXML0EtB9sDAgWoTvOcXII-juZ1IHLwa50Ac2drblW637P-lnh/s1600/IMG_0903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHsPU1YnzDMDUzKnjDeC3VOt9XGwmxZvaoHJLhhqFTMeZRcv_REx0HJGp_bzBoppEqR3seb9jorRqJaMaiVIj02CXIkAXML0EtB9sDAgWoTvOcXII-juZ1IHLwa50Ac2drblW637P-lnh/s320/IMG_0903.JPG" /></a></div>Shermans attempting to engage the Chaffees in spite of losses...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjb83-_3lCwg1bVQ_-_Jq8dRlXseVuAxYUZmEjMsVO3YY8sv-AL1eLc1rMMOzlgfciCNEVHPOuhF5cWsQRePnaXnSpEmRAqUF7zPpMkpC4ZIw3rGFgB0d6bjxXcepKTI5CCGCALneBegJ/s1600/IMG_0904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjb83-_3lCwg1bVQ_-_Jq8dRlXseVuAxYUZmEjMsVO3YY8sv-AL1eLc1rMMOzlgfciCNEVHPOuhF5cWsQRePnaXnSpEmRAqUF7zPpMkpC4ZIw3rGFgB0d6bjxXcepKTI5CCGCALneBegJ/s320/IMG_0904.JPG" /></a></div>A troop moving past a destroyed Jackson, trying to engage the Jacksons and Chaffees.<br />
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So a 5-2 loss. I like playing Bob, but I don't like it when he is rolling well. Because it makes my army disappear, and that makes me sad. I can't fault him for the game, like Steve he played it perfect and really if he had average dice, I still would have been under the pump, but a little bit of luck my way and it would have been much different!<br />
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Game Five was against Damien in a Fighting Withdrawl with his 12 platoon Finnish Army.<br />
4-3 Loss.<br />
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So, if there was ever an army I didn't want to fight in a Fighting Withdrawl it was the 12 platoon army of Confident Veteran Finns!<br />
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I knew I had to attack hard, and fast. I took the 3" mortars with my column platoon for smoke, and NEVER used them as a smoke weapon! What they did do was roll a LOT of 6's for firepower, meaning that they were doing all the killing for the first couple of turns!<br />
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Behind recce Stuarts, the shermans advanced fast up the left flank which was guarded by 2 PaK 40s and lots of infantry. The Stuarts assaulted early, putting a platoon below half (which passed the test), but pushed them back off the objective. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_CRK-WPxY-GAE4nqLcm2cp3AcvyefNd8mSJT10rTn6iuoyv-UR-4Ug5saVhoPOXHGFIFtmxR5092Av8eU_zNCjq5zYxnC7aDD1p7nRNv8C1BJMI5cNIw-rCnRAl_JrThgMWRFe32ojLZ/s1600/IMG_0905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_CRK-WPxY-GAE4nqLcm2cp3AcvyefNd8mSJT10rTn6iuoyv-UR-4Ug5saVhoPOXHGFIFtmxR5092Av8eU_zNCjq5zYxnC7aDD1p7nRNv8C1BJMI5cNIw-rCnRAl_JrThgMWRFe32ojLZ/s320/IMG_0905.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Casualties from the PaK 40s were pretty intense, destroying many a sherman and stuart, but I was able to destroy them with both the 3" mortar (which was kicking ass by this point) and with 75mm direct firing shots.<br />
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To win the game, I decided to assault with two troops of Shermans into a wood, to destroy the two platoons of infantry lurking within. The first troop went in, bogged one on the way in, but killed 2 teams. The pioneers responded, killing one, and I failed my morale (with a reroll), then tried to get out of the wood, and bogged. So 3 dead Shermans, for 2 dead infantry. Ouch. Scratch that troop.<br />
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So the next troop rolled in, with the CO attached. Who then bogged on his way in. The other 4 assaulted, killing multiple teams, but the Finns responded, bailing one, forcing the troop to take morale. Which failed with a reroll, thus meaning the CO was dead.<br />
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The two units of Finns ran away, but I was under half, and my CO was dead stuck up a tree like some lost kitten. So before I could win the game, I broke on company morale.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5zX96dYwiL3ap_DQa-XT7SbTEESUVmPTcJ12fY4mJtuA51VaKJ_QjNaWreN3ku4YYOxkUnNUOjHhp4mp2moVQcp-d5YA4J9QSOJj0MzxuaemFLZVbmP7qy_vyi-YS77TC0SaUjX3sljk/s1600/IMG_0906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5zX96dYwiL3ap_DQa-XT7SbTEESUVmPTcJ12fY4mJtuA51VaKJ_QjNaWreN3ku4YYOxkUnNUOjHhp4mp2moVQcp-d5YA4J9QSOJj0MzxuaemFLZVbmP7qy_vyi-YS77TC0SaUjX3sljk/s320/IMG_0906.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Damn trees!<br />
<br />
Game Six was against Rob Shirley, in an Encounter, which was a 5-2 win to me.<br />
<br />
This game was interesting. Rob did not have a lot of AT, but he did have a lot of panzerfausts in trenches. I thought a clever turn 1 assault by Stuarts might be fun (it wasn't), so with that failure, I deployed back and just started shelling the enemy. <br />
<br />
The plan went well, his Hornisse appeared, then got shredded by Semi Indirect Fire, the PaKs got sniped by direct firing 75mm and one was killed by a Bofors! <br />
<br />
The only glitch happened when Rob's halftrack recce were able to bail the stuart contesting the objective, meaning I had to break his company to win the game! <br />
<br />
But, through no less than 3 seperate assaults, I was able to kill one platoon, von Sauken and put another below half (which ran), meaning he had to automatically fail company morale.<br />
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This game I felt SHOULD have been easy, but I should have known that aggressive infantry are scary to tanks, as his infantry very nearly caught my Shermans unawares when they went down to the woods.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOktC3Q74H_FMKboMMo1f27PFVjtyQNp8eUUkogmYX3ligu3eOkU6fz9cdqfEpLkJhiM1AY8IEa92KsvyD2ZPk14GSpvQ0GKXLHo10NqHDtRb0oHlGXe8MeE9XARmGTTjGJr0Yi-NObQCx/s1600/IMG_0907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOktC3Q74H_FMKboMMo1f27PFVjtyQNp8eUUkogmYX3ligu3eOkU6fz9cdqfEpLkJhiM1AY8IEa92KsvyD2ZPk14GSpvQ0GKXLHo10NqHDtRb0oHlGXe8MeE9XARmGTTjGJr0Yi-NObQCx/s320/IMG_0907.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I was getting a little stressed this game, Rob was making me think hard, which is why there are no photos!<br />
<br />
So, all told I had a good weekend. I haven't had "bad" dice in a long time, so I was probably over due for some. Usually they are pretty good actually. But, as it was, the bad dice I had, I was needing them to be good dice, not just average, so it was my own fault for stretching myself too far on the odds.<br />
<br />
It was fun running Guards, but I think I am more of an infantry player than an armoured commander. <br />
<br />
CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-28793112886592664022012-11-30T07:22:00.001+13:002012-11-30T07:22:54.668+13:00Masters 2012- The Irish Guards go to war...This weekend is the Masters tournament up in Wellington, to which I am lucky enough to have gained an invite to.<br />
<br />
The tournament is 1750 late war and after SO MUCH indecision about which army to play, I was ranging between Panzer IV's, Hellcats, Scots, US Paras and Kingtigers, I decided upon this...<br />
<br />
Irish Guards Armoured<br />
<br />
HQ- 2 Sherman V<br />
Tank Troop- 2 Sherman V, 2 Sherman V Firefly<br />
Tank Troop- 2 Sherman V, 2 Sherman V Firefly<br />
Tank Troop- 2 Sherman V, 2 Sherman V Firefly<br />
Column Platoon<br />
Recce Troop- 4 Stuart V<br />
AA Gun Platoon- 3 Bofors<br />
<br />
So, the plan? Well, I have a lot of Shermans. Which I enjoy. I like me my Shermans!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PkTq1bXITSGxqLc1K1LaXNxguQELcoEs4uWP26IbQoJ8f1Q3lNEmX-Tns0I6A979pXp4qnCCyknN2T_JYnw4tgq_qcCo1xDk6DKL4edBrCquJYZTPf3iXuUdkCNYRbdRlZ3ZAM6RUQ_I/s1600/IMG_0884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PkTq1bXITSGxqLc1K1LaXNxguQELcoEs4uWP26IbQoJ8f1Q3lNEmX-Tns0I6A979pXp4qnCCyknN2T_JYnw4tgq_qcCo1xDk6DKL4edBrCquJYZTPf3iXuUdkCNYRbdRlZ3ZAM6RUQ_I/s320/IMG_0884.JPG" /></a></div>How could you not?<br />
<br />
The plan beyond bringing a whole lot of Shermans is to use the superior mobility which I will have over infantry forces, and use the extra maneuver elements which I have over the enemy (4 troops of tanks, rather than 2 or 3)to allow me to dictate the point of battle. By setting up mobile semi-indirect firing firebases, I should be able to leapfrog my shermans up to the objectives.<br />
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In saying that, when Operation Market Garden began, the Irish Guards were in the lead. All was well for the first 9 minutes, then all hell broke loose, and in short order, the lead 9 tanks (I think) were knocked out.<br />
<br />
So if I lose a lot of Sherman tanks, it is historical! <br />
<br />
I managed to get a game in with them last night against Josh, a skilled young player down at the club. He was running 10 Stugs, 4 Panzer IVs, some 105s and a platoon of infantry.<br />
<br />
We rolled Surrounded and Josh lost the dice roll, so he was in the middle.<br />
<br />
He was feeling a bit bad about being in the middle, especially when I put Semi-Indirect firing 75mms to the rear of his StuGs, but that quickly dissipated as the 5 hits I rolled, he rolled 5 6's to save, then I failed my firepowers! The stuarts and carriers (column platoon) however were off being a nuisance, the stuarts were assaulting infantry, the carriers were assaulting 105mm guns.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEYvD4cGM4YVjs3iT_s-gcFx33hwldcmcDrQhn8qzNlP5GCzI9UqANA_6d_Om9UI7L9fk35YxrNVtMyTJQATMxWopSZHs85tdbZT3hTqqM1UcswskWjg_ZnJ0qTJrBvEUhFkqILimac0a/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEYvD4cGM4YVjs3iT_s-gcFx33hwldcmcDrQhn8qzNlP5GCzI9UqANA_6d_Om9UI7L9fk35YxrNVtMyTJQATMxWopSZHs85tdbZT3hTqqM1UcswskWjg_ZnJ0qTJrBvEUhFkqILimac0a/s320/IMG_0882.JPG" /></a></div>JEB would be proud...<br />
<br />
Josh's response was to remain stationary and fire, which when it is at Guards in concealment at long range, was not overly effective. <br />
<br />
I had placed two troops on one flank with the carriers, with the other troop, the stuarts and the bofors on the other flank. Basic goal was for the stuarts to punch through the infantry, then seek to link up with the shermans behind his StuGs, where AT 7 becomes very very good. I left two troops stationary to duel with his StuGs and Panzer IVs, which with Semi Indirect Firing 17pdrs I was more likely to win (and did so)<br />
<br />
In spite of all my moving, Josh remained stationary within his gun duel. He moved panzer IVs to ensure that all of them had shots, or were in concealment, but they were inevitably stationary.<br />
<br />
It was only a matter of time before the 17pdrs reaped their toll, as well as 75mm shermans and stuarts to the flanks. The carriers MG'd or assaulted all of the 105's (comical), and the bofors? Well ONE bofors shot ONCE. And it missed. Oh well.<br />
<br />
I like the list, but will I like it this weekend?<br />
<br />
Who knows.<br />
<br />
CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-63159075970430063032012-11-24T21:32:00.000+13:002012-11-24T21:32:26.663+13:006mm Moderns- Israel and Britain on the attack...So, another 6mm Moderns game was had on Friday, with us testing the new attacker/defender mission which had been tried last week and perfected (somewhat)over the week.<br />
<br />
The scenario was simple, the Israelis and British were seeking to push through the lightly held Egyptian border guards, to recapture the Suez. But waiting behind the front lines were Jordanians and Egyptian Mechanised formations, made up of T-72, Chieftan and M60 battle tanks!<br />
<br />
On table for the Egyptians were three rifle companies, one heavy (120mm) mortar company.<br />
<br />
The forces which were trying to push the front were three Israeli Tank companies of M60 tanks, which were supported by a Warrior Company from the Scots, which were supported by a trio of Challenger 1 MBT from the Scots Guards. On the right flank, the Queen's Dragoon Guard (QDG) were ready to engage on the right flank.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCU2wt5CNb0jt0OkHueW7rCBtUr7qJQUzXXkY4RyNoICRYrUWAHoLkAwNWm1JAOZ0JY8pDjNwskop-YEDvbCQzP8YWsMILGfcyP-vKR2rXJNu_Xf2luLaogTfQU7s8I1OQzuY3aam79oX/s1600/IMG_0871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCU2wt5CNb0jt0OkHueW7rCBtUr7qJQUzXXkY4RyNoICRYrUWAHoLkAwNWm1JAOZ0JY8pDjNwskop-YEDvbCQzP8YWsMILGfcyP-vKR2rXJNu_Xf2luLaogTfQU7s8I1OQzuY3aam79oX/s320/IMG_0871.JPG" /></a></div>The centre of the Allied battle line.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvER0wQl1doasUUMNKJhyphenhyphenvJ7U4YWmiq2TY1qtrteqvbzbiNVLjf6xu8LL0yMG4JosXUkYA02NcFJLR2SPQugn9Xwdb0_B0Xpg5yqQgCfr_9KXAEHI4Y0JKHwq4Dmo_QIJ3nxQsdIjLCatU/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvER0wQl1doasUUMNKJhyphenhyphenvJ7U4YWmiq2TY1qtrteqvbzbiNVLjf6xu8LL0yMG4JosXUkYA02NcFJLR2SPQugn9Xwdb0_B0Xpg5yqQgCfr_9KXAEHI4Y0JKHwq4Dmo_QIJ3nxQsdIjLCatU/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" /></a></div>The QDG on the right flank, deployed in a protective wadi.<br />
<br />
The battle was immediately joined by the Israeli Recon moving at high speed straight up the road, and opening fire upon the enemy roadblock. The fire was unsuccessful, but the infantry were forced to put their heads down. The QDG moved forward in the protective cover of the wadi, one Sultan APC was torn apart by a Sagger AT missile from one of the infantry formations. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5Hr1iMxFwmHWo_hb2S4gL40PvR6QZO6eKjcSywndRygyAnSJClgSsbceVyLDMY2_lbfMq3scZ-hMJzChfCR5VDcQuOVmSUUSw9sSPzhKQvAhpiK8LX_wL2D-ksGhHrd0eNyDBc17AUM0/s1600/IMG_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5Hr1iMxFwmHWo_hb2S4gL40PvR6QZO6eKjcSywndRygyAnSJClgSsbceVyLDMY2_lbfMq3scZ-hMJzChfCR5VDcQuOVmSUUSw9sSPzhKQvAhpiK8LX_wL2D-ksGhHrd0eNyDBc17AUM0/s320/IMG_0872.JPG" /></a></div><br />
In spite of the fire, the Scimitars were able to reap a terrible toll on to the centre infantry company, breaking the formation.<br />
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The Egyptian response was to send in a Crocodile (Hind-D) gunship onto the lead M60 formation. The AA fire was ineffective, the Hind's fire was ineffective and everyone involved was left confused as to what actually happened!<br />
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Pushing their advantage, the Challenger 1's advanced at double time to form a position alongside the M113's in the centre of the table. One Challenger was rendered inoperable by a Sagger hit to it's right hand track, the other two pushed forward and fired onto the centre company with their heavy weapons.<br />
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The lead armoured elements of the Egyptian and Jordanian forces were held up by H&I fire (or got stuck stopping at the pub or something) and were stalled for the first turn off table. <br />
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The Israeli M60s sought to push through the gap created by the British, but were stalled by damage to the road by the Hind strike, one company were stalled, but the other two were able to push forward to support the M113s.<br />
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The RAF Harrier's rolled in on the Crocodile, destroying it utterly with cannon fire. There were two MiG's attempting to catch the Harriers on the hop, but to no avail, the Harrier pilots were well up to the challenge, and were able to avoid any damage.<br />
<br />
The defenders wrested initiative from the allies, dropping heavy 120mm mortar rounds onto the M113s and the two remaining Challengers. Both Challengers were rendered inoperable (yes, I failed 3 3+ saves from 3 dice rolls. Refer to previous outings with Challengers for more of this) and two M113s were destroyed.<br />
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The Black Watch raced forward in their Warriors, engaging the enemy infantry blocking the road. Casualties were light (Jas rolled amazing saves), but when the M60 tanks engaged the infantry, supported by the Black Watch, the casualties were far more extreme. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HaVQhdgSgbDbwaG7KWcAJW1BWnD73akn15EoCsf4RXhKYvdqYdXCGm2-yoX2sx2YbTQhmJ2sYff-xYVhdNpeNSdcMfMiZkiOruUlu9FqE-qoPJ5Ca6ipDtCC6mApo7JPV-aYFVXA6TnC/s1600/IMG_0874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HaVQhdgSgbDbwaG7KWcAJW1BWnD73akn15EoCsf4RXhKYvdqYdXCGm2-yoX2sx2YbTQhmJ2sYff-xYVhdNpeNSdcMfMiZkiOruUlu9FqE-qoPJ5Ca6ipDtCC6mApo7JPV-aYFVXA6TnC/s320/IMG_0874.JPG" /></a></div><br />
With the road now clear, it was time for the breakthrough. Except for that one sticky wicket, provided by the entire armoured reserve arriving...<br />
<br />
Wave after wave of heavy tanks appeared, pouring fire onto the Israeli battle tanks. The Israelis did give as good as they got, dealing damage to the enemy T-72s, in spite of their losses.<br />
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It was at this point that the QDG elected to clear the nearby summit entirely of life. Using a <i>Sustain Fire</i> action, pouring on 30mm Raden, Swingfire missiles, GPMG and throwing an operations table, the recon formation was able to totally wipe out the defending infantry, without a single infantry man left to explain what happened. <br />
<br />
The Egyptian and Jordanian tanks were beginning to take their toll onto the Israeli armour, with multiple formations of tanks being suppressed and destroyed. But, the weight of fire returning onto the tanks from the Israelis also began to toll- the T-72 lost half their number and broke under the weight of fire. <br />
<br />
The final turn began with the initiative again with the attacking Israelis and British, who sought to punish the lead most company of enemy tanks, which was M60s. First, a company of Israeli M60s fired upon them, then the QDG moved forward to occupy two of the three forward objectives, then proceeded to knock out an M60 with the 30mm Raden on a Scimitar (lucky ish shot with a High Velocity 30mm), which broke the formation.<br />
<br />
From here, it was a matter of the Jordanians and Egyptians having to recapture strongly held objectives, which they just couldn't do. One after the other, their tank formations were suppressed or destroyed, their main highlight being their Chieftans and 120mm mortars were able to force the Black Watch to break, but the Israeli M60s did not let up, knocking out the remaining enemy units to activate, the ZSU, the T-72s, all were destroyed before they could inflict further damage.<br />
<br />
The last act of the game was two MiG-29s freshly rearmed for ground attack rolling in onto the Queen's Dragoon Guard. Naturally, the RAF were there to intercept...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdirElKeOs0a5tEXQ0V6zja0rA_ALLyLTZOKbV1NsDS6A1Q13XZvgF1AiHhOb1XBY4_4vuv9ilaoJncQCKtQ5lPX-bLTda-nBrRUusvooqJpb6cI9etYq0cGuvJJYoxvBh9P4U08eLLXvA/s1600/IMG_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdirElKeOs0a5tEXQ0V6zja0rA_ALLyLTZOKbV1NsDS6A1Q13XZvgF1AiHhOb1XBY4_4vuv9ilaoJncQCKtQ5lPX-bLTda-nBrRUusvooqJpb6cI9etYq0cGuvJJYoxvBh9P4U08eLLXvA/s320/IMG_0880.JPG" /></a></div><br />
And rolled in, first firing Anti-Aircraft missiles, then their 20mm cannon. Catching them as they flew through the canyons, the Harriers rolled no less than 5 hits!<br />
<br />
And the MiGs passed their saves. All of them. On a 5+. God Damn pink dice!<br />
<br />
But with that, the MiGs shot and failed to kill some Scimitars. On the whole the QDG were rather miffed about the whole ordeal, but they did claim two objectives thus winning the game...<br />
<br />
Another game of Moderns done, another interesting mission. I am happy with a lot of what we have got at the moment, there are a few list things that need to be checked and balanced, but it is my fault that those haven't been done. Our new mission worked great, so no we have TWO missions to play! I will poke the guys with a stick until they think of a third....<br />
<br />
We (I) have decided it needs a cool name, so <b>Conflict 1989</b> is what I have come up with so far, it suits the lists we have made etc, so I think it works!<br />
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I will finish my school reports tomorrow, then I need to look at my Masters FOW army. Because that is next weekend! So it might be a FOW based week next week. Then again, usually when I say that, random stuff happens. So stay tuned...<br />
<br />
CP<br />
<br />
<br />
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-76403165188266861622012-11-23T06:46:00.001+13:002012-12-05T07:15:54.574+13:00And now for something COMPLETLY different (sortof)...Hasslefree Miniatures this year are running a sculpting competition, where the winner will get cast and put into their range for sale. By entering, you will get in return a lead cast version of your sculpt.<br />
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Basically it is a really cheap/easy way to get some new miniatures for their line, but I put my cynical nature aside, and felt the need to share my Intellectual Property with them!<br />
<br />
The miniature we were to work from was an armature, looking like this..<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hfminis.co.uk/img_cms/product_images/l503web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="349" width="500" src="http://www.hfminis.co.uk/img_cms/product_images/l503web.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Which to mean, sort of screams the hyper-sexualised fantasy-type female that gamers are so ruthlessly mocked for- I mean she has high heels MOULDED ON for crying out loud!<br />
<br />
So my plan was to take this armature and turn her into something far more realistic and modern. After some googling, I found this...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYY5siTSNV1gYalJK0BLD8CkJIpjpgFoafpTxhowY5MJtdgGXCeZovnB5QY5LaynABzDZyVHUooPTBII_FpbfXFmC6-Pzv14VehORfX57_e-VdV1249k7VjJA1M7Ya1xdJgH0sxIUemqH/s1600/sculpting+plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="263" width="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYY5siTSNV1gYalJK0BLD8CkJIpjpgFoafpTxhowY5MJtdgGXCeZovnB5QY5LaynABzDZyVHUooPTBII_FpbfXFmC6-Pzv14VehORfX57_e-VdV1249k7VjJA1M7Ya1xdJgH0sxIUemqH/s320/sculpting+plan.jpg" /></a></div><br />
She is an Italian (I thought she was Belgian, but I was wrong! Thanks Panaldi for the correction) paratrooper, shown at a relaxed position, assault rifle, webbing, camo all looking cool. When I decided I wanted to sculpt something a bit more "real", this was exactly what I wanted.<br />
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Being the Anglophile that I am, she had to change nationality to British, plus had to change her assault rifle to being an SA-80. Most certainly had to keep the beret too! <br />
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It was the first sculpting I have ever done, beyond making a canvas tarp or filling a gap on a model, and this is how it has turned out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/231149_496914463674169_1172546707_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="960" width="538" src="http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/231149_496914463674169_1172546707_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The photos make it look a whole lot less "neat" than I remember it being, but that is my finished product!<br />
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I would tell you to all go off and vote for mine, but really, you should look at the other entrants and vote for the one which you like- after all then you will be able to buy it!<br />
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You can view the others <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.496503997048549.113778.205953016103650&type=1">on facebook</a> or on forum of doom (no link yet, apparently they will be up at some point).<br />
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Moderns game tonight, trying out an improved version of the mission Adam and I played last week.<br />
<br />
CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-15428983712552629402012-11-22T07:24:00.000+13:002012-11-22T07:24:43.842+13:006mm Moderns- A Comparison of AbramsMy 6mm armies are growing rapidly, the 6mm counter on the right ticks ever higher, but what of the miniatures themselves? <br />
<br />
So, here is three different company's take on the M1 Abrams.<br />
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The three competitors....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EfPRDj1TmFdqz8NjkM6HlG88lFStCNjleRZKJz6jxBGeEifgkReK_x1LUwbQZzfBBxgNO-RFoaXt56F4TxzsKizTMP2AezmUJh9J_8_9gF74s2nAz25vzuwwLN9NikOrm7FLOG1w-bWf/s1600/IMG_0865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EfPRDj1TmFdqz8NjkM6HlG88lFStCNjleRZKJz6jxBGeEifgkReK_x1LUwbQZzfBBxgNO-RFoaXt56F4TxzsKizTMP2AezmUJh9J_8_9gF74s2nAz25vzuwwLN9NikOrm7FLOG1w-bWf/s320/IMG_0865.JPG" /></a></div>GHQ, Heroics and Ros and Scotia-Grendel<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyNBB4DCiWHs4GEVpbY0c_SI4Lq8URoPxpIXU4FBh43XSfGrQni3dmALem79nms1vgsYr5OYwPnZDjf80TwUr4aCvSM2hovq2yIHnnk9hHtk1AHVDCi9XE-9foyRD_RPg94IXz-khL0mT/s1600/IMG_0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyNBB4DCiWHs4GEVpbY0c_SI4Lq8URoPxpIXU4FBh43XSfGrQni3dmALem79nms1vgsYr5OYwPnZDjf80TwUr4aCvSM2hovq2yIHnnk9hHtk1AHVDCi9XE-9foyRD_RPg94IXz-khL0mT/s320/IMG_0866.JPG" /></a></div>First up, <a href="http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/ghq-military-models.html">GHQ</a>.<br />
Cost? Around $2.50 NZ per tank. Which for a 6mm tank gets pricy fast, but the quality is about what I expect from BF in 15mm scale. Most of my armies and miniatures are from GHQ, because I don't mind paying that bit more for quality. The unbuttoned crew look awesome, along with the cupola MGs.<br />
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All in all GHQ is the best in quality, hands down. But expensive, and very annoying how they only sell in packs of 5 tanks!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILUbwPBhEgU48F9kHL013Po_CTWGSm9wO3z0cB8O5P1LxRb9ewxETI2T7gNmZNMniDzX8fkJip6dAOuzM0tmrHnMvTMbBu-U0sgr5D7lUd1SmUjpRbIO4fzVXs1up8LO097yv-c02d6oA/s1600/IMG_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILUbwPBhEgU48F9kHL013Po_CTWGSm9wO3z0cB8O5P1LxRb9ewxETI2T7gNmZNMniDzX8fkJip6dAOuzM0tmrHnMvTMbBu-U0sgr5D7lUd1SmUjpRbIO4fzVXs1up8LO097yv-c02d6oA/s320/IMG_0867.JPG" /></a></div>Next up <a href="http://www.heroicsandros.co.uk/">Heroics and Ros</a><br />
So H&R. Immediately you notice that the details are not as crisp, the turret is tiny and it is unpainted. Well, the paint is my fault, but the rest is with H&R! <br />
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I have used H&R miniatures to plug gaps in the GHQ range, things like specialist AA weapons, or howitzers (H&R come with crew, GHQ don't). My whole French army is H&R actually, and they look good.<br />
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A whole lot cheaper than GHQ (around $1 per vehicle), but in comparison, don't buy their Abrams!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5ugwmpyaU2jGpZhNSxyeaXGCMBlZhAQ-C2jPR8sx6eloxxBJHzAr6AakaSwZ1khzPPN_pLhG_yk3jfmdz8WOVrngsHwDaJvB7QIBUbY3WDb9Ukfz95IjrZzK4DFSgyzEotefYFU-DEW1/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5ugwmpyaU2jGpZhNSxyeaXGCMBlZhAQ-C2jPR8sx6eloxxBJHzAr6AakaSwZ1khzPPN_pLhG_yk3jfmdz8WOVrngsHwDaJvB7QIBUbY3WDb9Ukfz95IjrZzK4DFSgyzEotefYFU-DEW1/s320/IMG_0868.JPG" /></a></div>Lastly <a href="http://www.scotiagrendel.com/">Scotia</a><br />
What to say here. Yes there is a fair layer of paint on the top (not done by me), but still, there are NO details on the model. There are barely any roadwheels on the tracks!<br />
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So, by far, the worst in the Abrams competition. But, the Scotia range is the best of the three, and I can honestly say that their AAVs are as good as GHQ's models. Which is tough, because it is hard to know if you would get this lump of lead, or an actual model.<br />
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Make your own choice, but the GHQ miniatures are consistely good, H&R is pretty consistently ok, and Scotia have some brilliant models, just not the Abrams! With GHQ running at twice the price of the others, maybe I will take the risk a couple of times to see what I get...<br />
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Till next update,<br />
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CP<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-62093471525239989772012-11-21T07:12:00.001+13:002012-11-21T07:13:47.564+13:006mm Moderns- A French holding action in Southern GermanyLast weekend I managed no less than two 6mm Moderns games. I forgot my camera for the first game, but it was a victory to the US. The USMC's official write up is <a href="http://panzerfaustnostalgia.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/epic-modern-blood-for-oil.html">here</a>. The US Army correspondents didn't make it to the battlefield apparently, but the USMC guys got a good write up done.<br />
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As for the second game, Adam and I had a quick 1500 point each throw down, to try out a new mission that had been boiling around in my brain for the last wee while.<br />
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I was running part of the French 6th Light Division, which was tasked with holding the line in Southern Germany. The initial defensive line was covered by Armoured Cars and infantry.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LXWGWQ1y9KKdvIgBpbWa81rt7lN50CIP-gt1UGS8XUG7mruyJcV4rXW7AXijgwHrFkoXEPZWhmcm9HpcY9mLAp1s8i_566gYEM15tpYqaaONa9DCMdam0s-CXvIJCTooKkexj1S0dz-W/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LXWGWQ1y9KKdvIgBpbWa81rt7lN50CIP-gt1UGS8XUG7mruyJcV4rXW7AXijgwHrFkoXEPZWhmcm9HpcY9mLAp1s8i_566gYEM15tpYqaaONa9DCMdam0s-CXvIJCTooKkexj1S0dz-W/s320/IMG_0855.JPG" /></a></div>The Armoured Cars in a wood<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9eaIa2LCtCNv0dTrJMCCmLrL43wDgbYBgZll_LIFiNnvB0nkE5oKOyU-EJMl47uYsx9x4NdgGTPTRehoRelxiZcOCWyMnOzO6L9bc5TJy13tn5IwVL-8Dda9MxEx2R5IoVp2v3SgwvjZ/s1600/IMG_0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9eaIa2LCtCNv0dTrJMCCmLrL43wDgbYBgZll_LIFiNnvB0nkE5oKOyU-EJMl47uYsx9x4NdgGTPTRehoRelxiZcOCWyMnOzO6L9bc5TJy13tn5IwVL-8Dda9MxEx2R5IoVp2v3SgwvjZ/s320/IMG_0856.JPG" /></a></div>The Company of Foreign Legion defending the line of advance over the bridges.<br />
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The Soviet advance was quick and bloody- the armoured cars and infantry were immediatly assailed from the air by two Hind-D attack aircraft, the Man Portable missile in the Foreign Legion company was unable to draw line of sight onto the helicopters, meaning they could rake the armoured cars with ATGM, rocket pods and their nose mounted heavy cannon. Needless to say, the armour of the AMX-10RC was insufficient to stand up to such a heavy bombardment, their only saving grace came from the concealment from the woods.<br />
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With them distracted looking up, the Guards Motor Rifle Company advanced in line ahead of them, seeking to push the river crossing in their amphibious vehicles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich-Cq9KiEhAIeARCy4RKRpsy58yAobOIGcUxaOJftTq_NY73pMkZ2qfbifgCo1zhIP5OmxaxsOO6PyV7ELf2fCiWsHDEZ1314GFL5CVKZLZ0u76RmpD4whhrSUdfZ3OyesG8rYq7aGaq2/s1600/IMG_0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEich-Cq9KiEhAIeARCy4RKRpsy58yAobOIGcUxaOJftTq_NY73pMkZ2qfbifgCo1zhIP5OmxaxsOO6PyV7ELf2fCiWsHDEZ1314GFL5CVKZLZ0u76RmpD4whhrSUdfZ3OyesG8rYq7aGaq2/s320/IMG_0859.JPG" /></a></div><br />
One AMX-10RC was still composed enough to fire, dutifully destroying an enemy vehicle with the 90mm gun. However, one destroyed from a company with 10 vehicles was never going to slow the Russians down, as they pushed forward to the river's edge.<br />
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The Foreign Legion sought to more securely capture the bridgehead, to deny quick access to the other side for the enemy heavy T-72 tanks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCkxORjfi-YqvdWfkJEYWGd89t51UTWqgURxslx1_npRFF4vatStJha3RjfHi2m0I8arX0WHNwGTIpfJd8KCPVuuBC7aAHjflH6PdM0hEm0_Nog3eHq8cLqsO18Ad7IhwZZHaQd6jNx_9/s1600/IMG_0861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCkxORjfi-YqvdWfkJEYWGd89t51UTWqgURxslx1_npRFF4vatStJha3RjfHi2m0I8arX0WHNwGTIpfJd8KCPVuuBC7aAHjflH6PdM0hEm0_Nog3eHq8cLqsO18Ad7IhwZZHaQd6jNx_9/s320/IMG_0861.JPG" /></a></div><br />
However by pushing forward they opened themselves up to return fire from the T-72, which was ruthless in the extreme. The few survivors pulled back into the cornfield to await reinforcements.<br />
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The Chasseurs were set to reinforce the pickets of defenders, but they were too far away to influence the battle immediatly.<br />
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The Soviets claimed initiative, quickly sending their Motor Rifle Company over the river, to destroy the last of the AMX-10RC.<br />
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It was at this time that the first formation of AMX-30B2 tanks arrived from their staging area, immediatly put in to battle. They opened fire on the enemy Recon BMPs, destroying them outright.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI1ms6JUNQQsTcf_gsXkrTxspzO6okLEmaLeFLfSEOv8UXEoZtDLzXmRuzKiqV4rUC6pvXR05f20JMz5hNWEVqsdpPOVcCfuZTJZBpV9f3d_vs82Wwr6Z7jVuvGAooE-GtnwbGu8fnjkO/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI1ms6JUNQQsTcf_gsXkrTxspzO6okLEmaLeFLfSEOv8UXEoZtDLzXmRuzKiqV4rUC6pvXR05f20JMz5hNWEVqsdpPOVcCfuZTJZBpV9f3d_vs82Wwr6Z7jVuvGAooE-GtnwbGu8fnjkO/s320/IMG_0862.JPG" /></a></div><br />
But return fire was quick in coming from the enemy T-72, who could now push themselves over the bridge, opening up on the lightly armoured French vehicles with their heavy main guns. The Hind-D rolled in on them as well, losing one of their number to a Roland SAM, but when the smoke cleared, there were only three remaining AMX-30 in the company.<br />
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The Second company of AMX-30 rolled on behind the first, firing their cannon at the T-72, causing no less than five of the heavy soviet tanks to erupt into a ball of flame. The remaining two tanks moved behind the cover of the bridge to protect themselves.<br />
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The final French reserve arrived in the form of three VAB Mephisto ATGM launchers, which immediatly engaged the large Motor Rifle Company, registering further hits on the company.<br />
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But it was not long before the weight of Soviet Air Power began to toll, the Su-24 aircraft rolled in onto the lead company of AMX-30B2, destroying them outright, the Hind-D rolled in onto the second company causing a full half of their number to be destroyed. The remaining T-72 engaged the remaining company with their cannon, destroying even more. The remanents of the foreign legion were mopped up by the Motor Rifle Company, and the three VAB Mephisto, all that was left attempted to stem the advance, but the damage was done. The Soviets had claimed the bridgehead, and with enough numbers to force their advantage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMESTSaxNyKbp8YXsHI3D3CxxdWCV51C7tCBj-31wTzWEazHoCUSSQH33d7O8qHjHaR-4o-rU9TeuevGbKB8tPiHU5Syh5LCFqmx72kk2GZXSWkN94kgvxzjRTv-lfDHVlwE3GodTHjck/s1600/IMG_0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMESTSaxNyKbp8YXsHI3D3CxxdWCV51C7tCBj-31wTzWEazHoCUSSQH33d7O8qHjHaR-4o-rU9TeuevGbKB8tPiHU5Syh5LCFqmx72kk2GZXSWkN94kgvxzjRTv-lfDHVlwE3GodTHjck/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" /></a></div>Smoking wrecks, but a captured road through...<br />
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This was a cool game. It was a chance for us to try out a new Attacker/Defender style of mission, which really made the game interesting. My garrisons tried to hold off the whole soviet army, before the AMX-30s could come on to save the day. As it was, it was too little, too piecemeal and they got picked off as they arrived. Credit has to go to Adam for totally smashing me with his Air Support!<br />
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I do not miss the Crocodile.....<br />
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Another game friday, where I will flesh these rules out a bit more. I need to paint my Masters army, plus have a lot more 6mm that I want to do. And need to write reports and do the work thing.<br />
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Busy!<br />
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Also, 40,000 people have looked at this blog (or one person has 40,000 times), so thanks very much for reading, I hope you have found something you liked!<br />
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CP<br />
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-636537503918328172012-11-14T06:55:00.001+13:002012-11-14T06:55:32.534+13:00ACW Has arrived....On Saturday, Craig delivered me my massive haul of ACW, ready for me to paint them up for The Gettysburg refight next year, as well as (hopefully) some good ACW gaming using <i>Fire and Fury</i> and <i>Blackpowder</i> too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvbFM8YFYoINdUfQLZqlOoSFNXx3UhTVa9nQ6SwExrBKrw1F8NnrPUqyp4vmgPBe-HxY9cbIzLB9IX4F6sSGqdJo8cWj4cy6DIkWt9NlsvzNynd3BLKpoLCF4DqFJhQTr7T9T8ZBqz_ck/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvbFM8YFYoINdUfQLZqlOoSFNXx3UhTVa9nQ6SwExrBKrw1F8NnrPUqyp4vmgPBe-HxY9cbIzLB9IX4F6sSGqdJo8cWj4cy6DIkWt9NlsvzNynd3BLKpoLCF4DqFJhQTr7T9T8ZBqz_ck/s320/IMG_0844.JPG" /></a></div><br />
And it is quite a haul!<br />
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I am also adding some figures and heads from Steve Barber Miniatures, but more on them when they arrive.<br />
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This pile amounts to 6 boxes of infantry (216 Infantry), 2 boxes of Zouaves (84 infantry) three artillery pieces (with a 4th coming), mounted commanders and 12 cavalry. Just a little bit to paint!<br />
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I will be representing 1st Corps in its entirety for our refight, hopefully we will play the whole three days, so I will be able to use more than a skeletal force!<br />
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Some of them have been undercoated, hoping to have some test models done in the next day or two, stay tuned.<br />
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Plus I need to figure out what I want to take to masters! Too many choices!!<br />
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CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-24001985757186837842012-11-12T16:46:00.001+13:002012-11-12T16:46:37.179+13:00FOW Masters 2012- Where I am at....*So, with all the tournaments I have been attending lately, and by virtue of doing alright in them, I have qualified for the NZ Masters FOW tournament.<br />
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Now it does sounds a bit self-proclaiming to talk about the masters, and I haven't really had any interest in it whatever. I attended a couple of years ago, and did really enjoy myself- but it all harks back to why I enjoy wargaming, the playing against enjoyable people!<br />
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So, my attempt to make myself sound like less of a %$#( by going to masters, on to the real list stuff.<br />
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There has been a whole lot of list frothing going on for the last month or so, this is what I had come up with..<br />
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Kampfgruppe Peiper<br />
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HQ- Two Kingtiger<br />
Schwere Platoon- Kingtiger<br />
Panzer Platoon- 4 Panzer IV<br />
Panzer Platoon- 4 Panzer IV<br />
SP AA Platoon- 3 Wirblewinds<br />
Recon Platoon- 3 234/1<br />
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So, all armour, all Fearless Trained. Lots of big tanks, lots of little tanks and hopefully enough to keep me entertained!<br />
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So I took it to our FOW day yesterday (<a href="http://craigswargamingblog.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/chch-fow-day.html">craig's report</a>) to see how it would fare.<br />
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The first game was Surrounded, against Lionel, who was running Romanian Tanks. To sum up this game, everything in his army rolled Confident Veteran. Good. Plus we were playing the surrounded mission, I should have auto attacked, but didn't realise I had it, or didn't think about it. As it was, I really should have attacked!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlMY0wHMeHmTDiJ8OcBnzkVKd4JzI16HnNZdofrm7ybfU7iYenS8euDTtEO2_k-TSQDPgSQJx-i5tNYz_Tixeufq1IeSRFz5f4_IIhY5KFGdaNvxFAzQLziGNMAtKJt8fk1aShhq8HM0U/s1600/IMG_0833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlMY0wHMeHmTDiJ8OcBnzkVKd4JzI16HnNZdofrm7ybfU7iYenS8euDTtEO2_k-TSQDPgSQJx-i5tNYz_Tixeufq1IeSRFz5f4_IIhY5KFGdaNvxFAzQLziGNMAtKJt8fk1aShhq8HM0U/s320/IMG_0833.JPG" /></a></div>Or I should have painted my Kingtigers...<br />
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As it was, the Kingtigers kept failing firepower rolls and then I kept failing motivation tests. On a 3+. Super...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdTRn578a2zOq3cGeSaTqyNLCEUkeaaCpmxsxsp_82WfhU0paaAtiRMDGWZkaCcCJB2KFfpfb0dUpPYqg2F3K6zkhwbcYGkjCgzkBJKQLNXuAlR7a5lo-K6lPqHdHKgP0y5iovjY6nUL7/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdTRn578a2zOq3cGeSaTqyNLCEUkeaaCpmxsxsp_82WfhU0paaAtiRMDGWZkaCcCJB2KFfpfb0dUpPYqg2F3K6zkhwbcYGkjCgzkBJKQLNXuAlR7a5lo-K6lPqHdHKgP0y5iovjY6nUL7/s320/IMG_0834.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgus0taR9DPKOs8GIlW2wWaDfiRqt4x1jvqcu4R2YFRspWNu3NbcflOQL_-srU5Q98vVA3nY_ayGtTVXZQOUxKegFf1uUmF9UaRIZPYHOZ7g-mxvnTBB8P94XEc9yOwtoUxaxfZ64vB9QTX/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgus0taR9DPKOs8GIlW2wWaDfiRqt4x1jvqcu4R2YFRspWNu3NbcflOQL_-srU5Q98vVA3nY_ayGtTVXZQOUxKegFf1uUmF9UaRIZPYHOZ7g-mxvnTBB8P94XEc9yOwtoUxaxfZ64vB9QTX/s320/IMG_0835.JPG" /></a></div><br />
So although I killed a few things, including assaulting Lionels artillery with Recon vehicles (awesome), I eventually died, and lost the objective. <br />
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So not a good start for the Kings!<br />
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Game two was against Keith, who was running a heavily reinforced company of Strelkovy.<br />
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We played a cauldron, with Keith defending. He deployed a whole lot of strelkovy in buildings, with some ISU-122s in a forest to keep my tanks honest. The game started auspiciously, I lost a Kingtiger in the first assault!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BFHh-s9ljlBTL3LQqP3e5i6iAvP85e37fONIzYnXic2mRWgnFDaDJUQ_EFsVOC07YQeheJE1_D2qKlQ5BEkDNchq-i0Y7usbKryjUGB8Sn7c2-yrNLdsvAtl13c_vwwMtd0cTq-Iva1o/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BFHh-s9ljlBTL3LQqP3e5i6iAvP85e37fONIzYnXic2mRWgnFDaDJUQ_EFsVOC07YQeheJE1_D2qKlQ5BEkDNchq-i0Y7usbKryjUGB8Sn7c2-yrNLdsvAtl13c_vwwMtd0cTq-Iva1o/s320/IMG_0838.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Oops!<br />
<br />
<br />
But from there, it was all German, all the time. Keith was unable to respond to my massive firepower (3 Wirblewinds firing directly into buildings while stationary!) and I just kept passing my firepower rolls. Which more or less meant the end of Keith! <br />
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No reserves prevented any last ditch efforts by Keith to change the result. A 5-2 win to the Germans.<br />
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It was at this point that I decided that KINGTIGERS ARE BORING! I have this issue frequently, and I am glad I realised this before time! <br />
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So I went home, and changed the army to US Paratroopers!<br />
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And they were a whole lot more fun. Chris W and I had a game, where his Kampfgruppe Kastner were attacking the Paras in a Fighting Withdrawl. He advanced his 4 StuH 42 assault guns too far forward, and they only got one round of shooting before they were ambushed first by the M18 Hellcats, then by a full platoon of US Paratroopers!<br />
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Needless to say, they all died. Then that platoon of paras proceeded to fight off no less than 2 full platoons of infantry, with the 3rd platoon being mangled in the attempt to destroy them. They died to a man, but they held up the enemy infantry assault so long that the other 2 platoons didn't lose a single stand!<br />
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The part which was the most fun was 2 platoons of 4 recon jeeps, who went off machinegunning the enemy gun teams. PaK 40s, mortars, they were all shot by the heavy calibre bullets.<br />
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So Masters is coming up, and I need to make a choice about what to take. I have a day at home tomorrow, so I plan to give it some serious thought, need to work out which I like the most!<br />
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But more on that tomorrow,<br />
<br />
CP<br />
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-43561098623665282042012-11-09T07:29:00.001+13:002012-11-09T07:29:53.639+13:00X-Wing: Because getting to say Pew Pew is coolLately in addition to the large amount of work I have been putting into 6mm Moderns (new rules, new armies), I have been playing a fair few games of the Fantasy Flight Games X-Wing rules (<a href="http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite.asp?eidm=174">link</a>), and on the whole, have found them awesome!<br />
<br />
The rules themselves are pretty easy to pick up- you have attack dice and defense dice, you have a little dial that you can spin to work out how far you move. X-Wings have shields and better guns, but at TIE is ridiculously maneuverable and are dirt cheap, so there are lots of them!<br />
<br />
I have been finding that it gets really interesting when both players are clued up to the rules. The games then become faster, pretty brutal and an actual test of tactics, I think it is like SAGA in that the game itself is simple, but the interactions etc is where the tactics (and interest) comes in.<br />
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Another plus for me is that the miniatures are really nice!<br />
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Here are some shots from different games we have had.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhFYJFF3SxyMzUn-OoP5Vi-kwcKxh712kFFXH039JW4kZ2zD8LJdXYtouuG3-WHlmOkVd8RHI7PINkJKwoZ9wSbiClK20eenAvCM-RpkmHSni0hyU4CJF6XC20uP7ChJoOS0UCffSFLXk/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrhFYJFF3SxyMzUn-OoP5Vi-kwcKxh712kFFXH039JW4kZ2zD8LJdXYtouuG3-WHlmOkVd8RHI7PINkJKwoZ9wSbiClK20eenAvCM-RpkmHSni0hyU4CJF6XC20uP7ChJoOS0UCffSFLXk/s320/IMG_0803.JPG" /></a></div>A TIE Fighter ready to begin the engagement<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjaOt1oi3JrV8hqDFuOJLjquUIs-eGiSZ1xjGGAkPe8ddtAL9_79DRn3XcviI8_cq5itmeLvZqNI0WASN4iHpCUi7hGdIPz6pQzE2EnkDi9j8AMHeix7F7d0DgV3Qe-0ElLg154Y4M0C4/s1600/IMG_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjaOt1oi3JrV8hqDFuOJLjquUIs-eGiSZ1xjGGAkPe8ddtAL9_79DRn3XcviI8_cq5itmeLvZqNI0WASN4iHpCUi7hGdIPz6pQzE2EnkDi9j8AMHeix7F7d0DgV3Qe-0ElLg154Y4M0C4/s320/IMG_0804.JPG" /></a></div>The X-Wing in this case is somewhat outnumbered (1-4 odds, that's about the ratio in the movies?)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyM9wsaw59CCKBabpvuFi86pSa2e_mkyCppdr7e5mdIvpFOWmNby1dDz0rWxkpyttULf2rqgQ7Cp4-_BUToV0Wgx1qxprL7xB3E4e4XfOVkXUA2d_0ZYP6WRM_O1wtYjqesLsJH-5ZNjk/s1600/IMG_0811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyM9wsaw59CCKBabpvuFi86pSa2e_mkyCppdr7e5mdIvpFOWmNby1dDz0rWxkpyttULf2rqgQ7Cp4-_BUToV0Wgx1qxprL7xB3E4e4XfOVkXUA2d_0ZYP6WRM_O1wtYjqesLsJH-5ZNjk/s320/IMG_0811.JPG" /></a></div>A close up on an X-Wing<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWesGb9GJKV_DUw2hQFUG56IE1QxRLjRLqApKCL4xcvKc4sJf_8u7-vAO5e1oXCjVrvpME2eQj587WDy6a-ggGeXyWbRYQL7VG7p6MCIOYdtBB1D-sLkH6QA242BLJJCy2lWEEWzCrYwY/s1600/IMG_0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWesGb9GJKV_DUw2hQFUG56IE1QxRLjRLqApKCL4xcvKc4sJf_8u7-vAO5e1oXCjVrvpME2eQj587WDy6a-ggGeXyWbRYQL7VG7p6MCIOYdtBB1D-sLkH6QA242BLJJCy2lWEEWzCrYwY/s320/IMG_0813.JPG" /></a></div>Adam an I have often found ourselves caught in a "furball" of fighters, this is before every aircraft initiates an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immelmann_turn">Immelmann Turn</a> to re engage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AzyHkRUbH9FcD2iIZ3LTuvxEDG7hDLerDO8cOzf32fMWMYGGSvRBaZivSCQYRLF4hxo40y72L1tAangO10g4PJl29_tAyy72PX1ZINvCVnvf7s-G2X8FtMANaYsEx6rDLRA3_qZNR1CT/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AzyHkRUbH9FcD2iIZ3LTuvxEDG7hDLerDO8cOzf32fMWMYGGSvRBaZivSCQYRLF4hxo40y72L1tAangO10g4PJl29_tAyy72PX1ZINvCVnvf7s-G2X8FtMANaYsEx6rDLRA3_qZNR1CT/s320/IMG_0831.JPG" /></a></div>Darth Vader with Red Pilot (posthumously named Mook) hot on his tail. Mook later exploded, but not long after Darth exploded too!<br />
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So, a very cool game. Nice and simple, but really fun. Comics (the Local Gaming Store) is going to (or thinking of?) running a 60 point competition, so I have been tinkering away at what would be the most fun to run.<br />
<br />
5 Academy pilot (not even graduated yet) TIE Fighters would be wrong right?<br />
<br />
Right?<br />
<br />
FOW tomorrow, time to break out my Masters list.<br />
<br />
CP<br />
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-32881455535792526142012-11-06T14:46:00.001+13:002012-11-06T14:46:37.013+13:00Epic Moderns- Israeli Incursion Repulsed!It had been a long time coming, but it was time to break out the 6mm Moderns again!<br />
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This time it was a full 4000 points of Israelis against a defensive force of Soviets.<br />
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The Israelis had invaded one of the (many) Soviet client states, the invasion led by one of their heavy armoured formations based around numerous M60 tanks, and under the cover of the IAF.<br />
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To counter this massive armoured thrust, the Soviets sent a large detachment of Naval Infantry, supported by T-72 tanks. Also attached were elements of the 3rd Guards Tank Regiment, One full company of T-72s, three companies of T-55, with a mechanised company in BMP-1s in support.<br />
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A leading tank company was deployed forward in the centre, with two Recon platoons in BMP tracked vehicles holding the urban area on the Soviet right flank.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlcjvyzhWhM6qmIpTkT1KqtYz6HGiOH3bH5bjTpfgNYZPYN2S4PM8t2lpgapaMcxkQVV0pEUsUdEkCISlJAhK1vPUsp2aOZaMchGLqJsSg5FQabvYrX8W8nyIVeAS3CT38n-AE9knGdmh/s1600/IMG_0815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlcjvyzhWhM6qmIpTkT1KqtYz6HGiOH3bH5bjTpfgNYZPYN2S4PM8t2lpgapaMcxkQVV0pEUsUdEkCISlJAhK1vPUsp2aOZaMchGLqJsSg5FQabvYrX8W8nyIVeAS3CT38n-AE9knGdmh/s320/IMG_0815.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The opening blasts of Soviet Artillery and Air Support ushered in the battle, causing few casualties among the enemy Anti-Aircraft and Tank formations. <br />
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The Israelis were quick to respond, causing massive casualties among the lead tank platoon which had adopted the forward position in the centre. Thankfully for their supporting companies they had managed to cause a smokescreen to protect the tanks advancing behind them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmdYY69qFLPYru5QT4oEkdX4CKUs8CbY0YwwfQ_-E1hw652c37GXY0lwYwKd6JYd42xtKR1HyCo5AkiklHn36cjfSrTC_G-CBcP7u0_rSOMgitfSxeHSzd043ZmfkDaTqNBGqs3AkOriF/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmdYY69qFLPYru5QT4oEkdX4CKUs8CbY0YwwfQ_-E1hw652c37GXY0lwYwKd6JYd42xtKR1HyCo5AkiklHn36cjfSrTC_G-CBcP7u0_rSOMgitfSxeHSzd043ZmfkDaTqNBGqs3AkOriF/s320/IMG_0817.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The lead company was annihilated by the combined fire of two Israeli tank companies, TOW equipped M113s.<br />
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The IAF made their force felt first onto the Soviet artillery, a flight of F-16 aircraft equipped with missiles destroyed the entire artillery battery, then two flights of AH-1 Cobra gunships unleashed punishing fire onto the Naval Infantry company destroying their supporting tanks and some of their transports.<br />
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The return AA fire was totally underwhelming as all aircraft were able to escape.<br />
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It was at this point that Nicholai Valivesky and his BMP recon units sought to push the advantage, deciding to stall the massive formation of Israeli Paratroopers outside of the city, lest they get inside the protective walls. Valivesky brought his guns onto the enemy anti-aircraft units, destroying multiple enemy AA vehicles.<br />
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Vengeance was quick in coming, the full force of the paratrooper company was unleashed onto Valivesky and his men. Merkava tanks, Paratroop infantry and heavy armoured personell carriers destroyed the small unit, but crucially their advance was stalled outside of the city.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgru34OOh7sP7KDYGtX3rgesedBjNMfUYTS_BYwQyH6daQi90l1t9AkOQTnD8vQm9OTHktB-XjadwWJKDaPBz7J4iZCITzEswz7QYuANfTG1Swn7jSJjjRU4r8Q438Xkl6ZC9HnD1cLRRun/s1600/IMG_0819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgru34OOh7sP7KDYGtX3rgesedBjNMfUYTS_BYwQyH6daQi90l1t9AkOQTnD8vQm9OTHktB-XjadwWJKDaPBz7J4iZCITzEswz7QYuANfTG1Swn7jSJjjRU4r8Q438Xkl6ZC9HnD1cLRRun/s320/IMG_0819.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Return fire was enacted for Valivesky from a full Guards Armoured Tank Company of 10 T72 tanks, destroying first the enemy Merkava tanks, then beginning to systematically destroy the enemy transport, stranding the paratroopers outside the city limits.<br />
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The T-72 tanks supporting the Naval Infantry joined in the firing at the Paratrooper company, totally destroying the enemy transport. By this time, weight of fire had begun to toll onto the paratroopers, and once a third tank company, this time of T-55s joined the firing at the paratroopers, the paratrooper company was totally destroyed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-N8_gE8ua4blKLGX0lOsVcYgWl1DjtzkQGeIRhUw9SAtZ6MC-zPoiqQ09WdCQzxXKQoiztyzCo5yb6tS2y9PAu-qL93IvOljhflmZH3-pGubG1_0LMOeiv4eErBLLPwcIr7wFYSHliGR/s1600/IMG_0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-N8_gE8ua4blKLGX0lOsVcYgWl1DjtzkQGeIRhUw9SAtZ6MC-zPoiqQ09WdCQzxXKQoiztyzCo5yb6tS2y9PAu-qL93IvOljhflmZH3-pGubG1_0LMOeiv4eErBLLPwcIr7wFYSHliGR/s320/IMG_0822.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The Cobras rolled in onto the tanks, but to no avail, the damage was done. A full tank company of M60 tanks attacked the T-55s at close range. The Israelis were hampered by the close in fighting among the buildings, while able to destroy the lead T-55 tanks, they were quickly flanked and overwhelmed by the so called inferior T-55 vehicles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIeqNO65qsLmW4O014MsRARteBpt4zjiqdPzBLaWSa5plqdt3q67FkhL40RsK0noesPc0MoYRCK8LDXO36PD5uNZx4fLzJXg9AzbbPgGN0QesyjZSYjqswVIO1MrpghBpLDhkmUTdXJRs/s1600/IMG_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIeqNO65qsLmW4O014MsRARteBpt4zjiqdPzBLaWSa5plqdt3q67FkhL40RsK0noesPc0MoYRCK8LDXO36PD5uNZx4fLzJXg9AzbbPgGN0QesyjZSYjqswVIO1MrpghBpLDhkmUTdXJRs/s320/IMG_0823.JPG" /></a></div><br />
The area outside of the city was filled with smoke and burning wrecks of tanks. Somewhere, in the centre of the smoke was Valivesky and his 4 BMPs.<br />
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With the end of the Paratroopers and their supporting Tank Company, the road was clear for the Naval Infantry BMPs to rush forward and claim the enemy Blitz objective.<br />
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With that, the battle was won for the Soviets. The Israelis engaged into attacks to attempt to push the Soviets off the objective, but the Soviet tank forces were too strong, and the Israelis were unable to recapture the objective.<br />
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Another really cool game of Moderns, I think our best yet! Our rules are coming along really well, little tweaks left now and it will be great!<br />
<br />
CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-49068726863488358802012-10-25T10:36:00.001+13:002012-10-25T10:36:56.084+13:00Conquest 2012: RecapSo, the weekend marked the 10th Conquest run by Comics Compulsion and the Christchurch Cavaliers.<br />
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As previously mentioned, it was a 1600 point Mid War competition, based around the anniversary of the battle of El Alamein.<br />
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I was running an Australian Rifle company, based around what I knew about the 9th Australian Division from a memoir of a digger that I had read recently. Basically it was a lot of infantry, with mortars, 25pdrs, 6pdrs, Carriers and a detachment from the Australian Divisional Cavalry in Stuart light tanks.<br />
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So with the mass of speed painting done on the nights prior to the tournament, it was time to get started! Like Craig, I have neglected to take photos- I forgot!<br />
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Game 1 was against Chris W, who was running Pioneers with Marders. Lots of Marders.<br />
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The mission was No Retreat, and it was a night attack. Representing the first rush to claim high ground at the start of Alamein, the Australians sought to attack the German positions under the cover of night.<br />
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Being pioneers meant that there was a whole lot of Barbed wire on the table. A whole lot! <br />
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So with the left flank totally locked down by three lengths of barbed wire, I was forced to attack wholly up the right flank. Turn one, I advanced as silently as I could, not firing to keep my positions hidden. <br />
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The Germans however had no such compulsion, opening up with all of their firepower. A platoon of Carri appeared out of the darkness on the top of the nearby high point, opening up with their multiple machineguns. The pioneer infantry added to the fusillade, obliterating the First Platoon, causing the survivors to rout (fearless, yay)<br />
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With no other tactical choices, the australian advance continued, pushing towards the high ground on the hill. The enemy Italians were seen off by a combination of 6pdr Portee and 25pdr fire.<br />
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But it was the infantry who would have to win the day, they continued to push forward. But the Germans once again opened up with all of their machineguns, crippling 2nd platoon and it took the urgings of the Company Commander to get them to remain in position on the battlefield.<br />
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It was now the turn of the Germans to continue firing, the arrival of the Marders heralded a further annihilation of the next platoon of infantry as they advanced forward. The 6pdr portees were quickly annihilated, being eradicated by the 76.2mm cannon from the Marders.<br />
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The Australians continued to push forward, but with no anti-tank assets left, all that remained was to attempt to destroy the marders with 25pdrs indirect fire. One Marder was even destroyed by a 3" Mortar!<br />
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But that was all that the Australians could claim, the infantry were slowly wasted away, as were the support assets such as the Stuarts and Carriers. All in all, a very tough game. Chris decided to hit, with everything in Turn One and Two- I lost two full platoons of infantry when they should have had concealment from night. Coming back from that would simply be impossible.<br />
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A 5-2 Loss.<br />
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Game Two was against Jim, who was running a super cool Panzergrenadier company with Dianas!<br />
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Jim had to attack me in a Cauldron, so I deployed two platoons of auzzies, 25pdrs and the Portees in ambush. My plan? Use the Portees to harass any armour and hope that the Auzzies could hold on!<br />
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Jim foiled my plan of using Portees to kill tanks by not deploying any. So, simply I zipped my Portees out to begin machinegunning his mortars! But, with the new Mortar rules, the Germans were able to quickly eliminate no less than 3 of the Portees in short order, ruining their fun entirely. The remaining 6pdr deployed itself in a wadi and sat threatening any tanks which might come its way. <br />
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Jim pushed a big infantry attack through some rocky ground, under the covering fire of some infantry guns and mortars. The Auzzies held firm, using their 2pdr bombardments to destroy first the enemy AT guns, then proceeding to rain shells down onto the infantry. <br />
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But this was changed when the Australian reinforcements arrived, the Stuarts moved on and immediatly assaulted Jim's infantry reserve. With no AT guns to protect them, they were quickly forced down to half strength and forced out of their positions. The Stuarts continued to harass the infantry and support weapons, eventually able to destroy the mortars and infantry.<br />
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Jims infantry assault had stalled by bren gun fire, and once the enemy was pinned and under pressure, it was time for the Australians to counter charge with cold steel.<br />
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Jim threw a last attack to gain a point with an attack of 2 heavy armoured cars, but both were destroyed with Sticky Bombs.<br />
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A 6-1 Win to the Auzzies<br />
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Game Three was against Rob Shirley, in a Dust Up.<br />
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Rob was running his traditional German Grey panzers, with captured 25pdrs, Panzer IV longs, Panzer II's and all led by that chap Rettermeier.<br />
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The plan was simple attack hard and fast with 2 platoons of Australian Infantry, hope the 25pdrs could kill a couple of Panzers with indirect fire and hope that the 6pdr portees could kill the tanks to allow the infantry assault to continue.<br />
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How did it go?<br />
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Well. Very well. The infantry raced into the buildings, opening fire onto the enemy positions. But it was the 6pdr portees who placed themselves in such a way to have their shots onto the enemy tanks. Quickly the Panzers started to burn. But it was when the Infantry started to reach the tanks that the Panzers started being in trouble. All it took was a couple of sticky bombs to destroy Rettermeier, to destroy the Panzer IV platoon and once a couple of Panzer IIs had been knocked out by 25pdrs, it was a large infantry assault that destroyed the enemy panzers.<br />
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A flank attack by two Enemy panzers was quickly seen off by direct fire from 25pdrs, whereas the Auzzie flank attack cost the Germans dearly, destroying 25pdrs and preparing them for a last ditch infantry assault by the Australians. Another infantry assault went in on the 3 SP AA guns of the Germans, one having been killed by MG fire.<br />
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Once they were seen off, the Australians have total control over the battlefield. In fact, the Australians had both objectives, as well as Rob only having a single Observer stand left on the battlefield.<br />
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A 6-1 Win to the Australians.<br />
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So, day One had gone alright, two good wins, but one loss. The Allies had gained the momentum, and were pushing hard at the Germans ready for Day Two.<br />
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Game Four was against Dave D, in a Pincer.<br />
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With the initiative with the British, it was time for another attack. The mission was Pincer, with the Australians attacking at night.<br />
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This game was silly. <br />
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It started at night, with the Australians advancing under the cover of night with three platoons of infantry massed in the centre to attack the forward objective. Here was when the game could have been over quickly, Dave had 6 shots to hold back my infantry assaults, and had succeeded in not one, but 3 pins!<br />
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So with the infantry stalled, the Germans were able to smash the infantry with artillery, MG and tank fire. Here was Dave's first chance to win the game, two platoons of Australian infantry simply dissolved in the ensuing firefight and assault. But, Dave's infantry disappeared too. Which left the job of capturing the forward objectives to his Panzers.<br />
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While the infantry assault went on, the 6pdr portees positioned themselves to destroy the 2iC tank, while the Stuarts put a 37mm shot straight through the centre of Rettermeier's turret, destroying it.<br />
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The Universal Carrier platoon positioned themselves to assault the enemy 25pdrs, losing one of their number to defensive fire, but managing to destroy the two guns! They then moved to assault the staff team, killing it and breaking the platoon.<br />
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But the German reserves had arrived, the Panzers began to swarm over the Stuarts and Universal Carriers, destroying the Stuarts and leaving one carrier hiding from the combined firepower. A platoon of tanks attempting to push the Aussie infantry off the objective was seen off by 6pdr portees, 25pdrs and sticky bomb equipped infantry.<br />
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The game ended when Dave's last attack, a flanking mission by 3 Armoured Cars was seen off by defensive fire by Rifles, with their loss, his company broke.<br />
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A 4-3 win, which could have so easily been a 6-1 either way earlier on.<br />
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Onto Game Five, and there was only one person who I could be playing. Craig C, and it was the Australians attacking the Germans at night, in a Fighting Withdrawl.<br />
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My plan was to advance as fast as possible, closing the gap to Craig's position with as much haste as possible, to assault and destroy the enemy position before he could react.<br />
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It was a nice plan, but it didn't quite go to plan!<br />
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I managed to push forward with all haste, one platoon even riding carriers! But once they reached the German front line, Craig's ambush appeared, to defend his guns. Night held, which kept my infantry from being totally obliterated. <br />
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The 25pdrs began to find their range, pouring down punishing fire onto the head of the German position, destroying guns and infantry alike with their shells. With the enemy positions thinned out, it time for another infantry assault, which pushed the Germans off the objective and put it in the fragile Australian hands.<br />
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On the other flank, the Australian 6pdrs were under fire from Marders. But, with no loss to themselves they were able to hit and destroy 2 Marder, and bail another. The platoon then failed it's morale.<br />
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The German defense now hinged upon the Italian Assault Guns, who put themselves into the wadi to protect the objective. But once the 25pdrs found their range, the 6pdrs began their fire also, and finally an infantry assault by the 2 remaining Australian infantry teams was able to destroy the Italians utterly, leaving the Australians on the objective, and in charge of the game!<br />
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A 4-3 win, well fought and hard earned!<br />
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So, 5 games played, 4 wins, one loss. So after a bad start, the Australians were able to pull it back and even when attacking tanks, they were able to come out on top!<br />
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My points were enough for 3rd place, just the one point behind Craig!<br />
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Another enjoyable weekend gaming, it was fun to run Australians. Now I need to paint some 2 pdrs for them, so I can take them to Valleycon next year! <br />
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CP<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-87993148882005979232012-10-20T07:43:00.000+13:002012-10-20T07:44:02.263+13:00Conquest 2012- All good to go!On Thursday night I was able to finish off the basing on my Australians, so they are all good to go!<br />
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I have had these Australians since For King and Country came out a very long time ago. That was the real reason to get these guys painted, to start actually trying to clear out the stuff in my cupboards!<br />
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So a lot of infantry in Slouch Hats. Now, this is a bit ahistoric, the Australians are no idiots, so when they went in to combat they were ALL sure to put on a tin hat, despite their pride in their slouch hat, they knew that a helmet might just save their lives.<br />
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But they look cool, so here they are!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3618TS-wA3dHpqJAx6pExsShpTM9vLqVFAvJF4-cOBTQz6uSImGvjmFLr4Ne-oPdDRyJfND86UqgvNHff0IJoKTKXhxtPSAuWWFVuFPdmAwq9m_bza_pDMfuqAh8UcLviyQBoSqR8eS6/s1600/IMG_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3618TS-wA3dHpqJAx6pExsShpTM9vLqVFAvJF4-cOBTQz6uSImGvjmFLr4Ne-oPdDRyJfND86UqgvNHff0IJoKTKXhxtPSAuWWFVuFPdmAwq9m_bza_pDMfuqAh8UcLviyQBoSqR8eS6/s320/IMG_0784.JPG" /></a></div>The Completed Army, ready to go!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogh6Je_Mt8r9mcVNuUsu3BdPRu591h7fDaSSk2sTuH-lLf0-5WD3ZcHcVhVGsEZGFBsiutg4Ja2pxS1gafkxidj7kR_GbPaVS4m74U_TXracfs4jCVJU6MlYcTAVZg4FOlxae4-5FMleq/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogh6Je_Mt8r9mcVNuUsu3BdPRu591h7fDaSSk2sTuH-lLf0-5WD3ZcHcVhVGsEZGFBsiutg4Ja2pxS1gafkxidj7kR_GbPaVS4m74U_TXracfs4jCVJU6MlYcTAVZg4FOlxae4-5FMleq/s320/IMG_0756.JPG" /></a></div>First Rifle Platoon<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNqN6HG6SfnFDPIPDw_TNk1KVBZR0DOFnV6TWxpnlPwZrjy6c9MjawhIwPcNopkYQo0eB5L27-zArGea2h_u0C7c4z6UCL7bxrDW-nFgb-wiwa_qtyui8T216cC0fXSDsmQK2-KyE1Pwe/s1600/IMG_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNqN6HG6SfnFDPIPDw_TNk1KVBZR0DOFnV6TWxpnlPwZrjy6c9MjawhIwPcNopkYQo0eB5L27-zArGea2h_u0C7c4z6UCL7bxrDW-nFgb-wiwa_qtyui8T216cC0fXSDsmQK2-KyE1Pwe/s320/IMG_0759.JPG" /></a></div>Second Rifle Platoon<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb6mI8CkIGOb6gPhcIkBFWgCkhkHcsfJcYqqEMyKm2pzFcFJgTf0f1bWnSK4OBzw351pIjYP0Mcm3sxWywufwsNSig8h9GI4k0roBNYnjbqO4t11z_y-9S0eQyCGLkDDFc7V4Y7jlRKme/s1600/IMG_0763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwb6mI8CkIGOb6gPhcIkBFWgCkhkHcsfJcYqqEMyKm2pzFcFJgTf0f1bWnSK4OBzw351pIjYP0Mcm3sxWywufwsNSig8h9GI4k0roBNYnjbqO4t11z_y-9S0eQyCGLkDDFc7V4Y7jlRKme/s320/IMG_0763.JPG" /></a></div>Third Rifle Platoon<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWFBYliq1OPIjOmxFsLWvySINPbBqPj2WKHzBO76nq_mgwAPFEdlRHvJfhLk_qrHmyRwPXIdR1AgKJFcU6AM4UNwzNjH9nfX_1RmLE3U53jX-ICcxwuElJrXW-XbE1yBYYL-UXQCS4Pbe/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWFBYliq1OPIjOmxFsLWvySINPbBqPj2WKHzBO76nq_mgwAPFEdlRHvJfhLk_qrHmyRwPXIdR1AgKJFcU6AM4UNwzNjH9nfX_1RmLE3U53jX-ICcxwuElJrXW-XbE1yBYYL-UXQCS4Pbe/s320/IMG_0768.JPG" /></a></div>Mortar Platoon<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHeJTcoxSxqrrHDswaFhBeZ4Fq-whO6YlhaLY64WQOE7EboPhUtU9kwlReg8DAVX_nN469aCatJzr1M-DJprusU0ELF0gB8aXLl6ehp791fzh_q7rpAZm2l7WtummL8U_Kb3SoyfjCAYK/s1600/IMG_0753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHeJTcoxSxqrrHDswaFhBeZ4Fq-whO6YlhaLY64WQOE7EboPhUtU9kwlReg8DAVX_nN469aCatJzr1M-DJprusU0ELF0gB8aXLl6ehp791fzh_q7rpAZm2l7WtummL8U_Kb3SoyfjCAYK/s320/IMG_0753.JPG" /></a></div>Carrier Patrol<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtw9oFtLwqaadl6wXufxoYbHlHnpfnwmv5lsO8NQ4Sls-hatFbKcU999L9nw14DINaNy7_AvCVVSmk_2bu0NpVpovWK-iTI1NfvmLmuL7ElPtTpPGyUIdret8_4e9I_Zk-A19UHXbR_vQ/s1600/IMG_0766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtw9oFtLwqaadl6wXufxoYbHlHnpfnwmv5lsO8NQ4Sls-hatFbKcU999L9nw14DINaNy7_AvCVVSmk_2bu0NpVpovWK-iTI1NfvmLmuL7ElPtTpPGyUIdret8_4e9I_Zk-A19UHXbR_vQ/s320/IMG_0766.JPG" /></a></div>25pdr Battery (From my Valleycon Army this year)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HzgjhBUf1CRZV22AdQjHLcvCX0cFc_zm6VZ8fmvj8ZsFhrVFbVkadef4-B3hCK8bxi4OxoDO6qxozGeth5u2ACCSKK7tNuUemid1FyYQMKNat-p2Qt5iDmtt_fXIRGKRdWa-3eW8lgYn/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HzgjhBUf1CRZV22AdQjHLcvCX0cFc_zm6VZ8fmvj8ZsFhrVFbVkadef4-B3hCK8bxi4OxoDO6qxozGeth5u2ACCSKK7tNuUemid1FyYQMKNat-p2Qt5iDmtt_fXIRGKRdWa-3eW8lgYn/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" /></a></div>A platoon of Divisional Cavalry Stuarts. The Australian Div Cav had a whopping 3 Stuarts, the rest were Crusaders II by this point. Prior to that they had captured Italian tanks and Bren Gun carriers!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyx4NVB5d3uuJq8BQB1dpfhn5uNxIcwIWlpPE9G8VLe2erpRz-gtpS3TWZce_m_tqTKTcv1J2ow894yzlCpeVKTglDjdfq3WLN9zw8j5_Afn8UQ7Cdqgopo2OPiHmRYkzpG2w_qGR8S1p/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyx4NVB5d3uuJq8BQB1dpfhn5uNxIcwIWlpPE9G8VLe2erpRz-gtpS3TWZce_m_tqTKTcv1J2ow894yzlCpeVKTglDjdfq3WLN9zw8j5_Afn8UQ7Cdqgopo2OPiHmRYkzpG2w_qGR8S1p/s320/IMG_0773.JPG" /></a></div>The Stuart Platoon Commander, showing off his slouch hat<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAI8whYzyUn4yZyuK_MAeMj0u_rfBgLwqtJJ2QXh79fV3sPg1DtGS_QTspIEHfRE97Pa7PO4cls7CaBub40UO8nKh4HTwV_COQ2vMYZyxxDewvl-yb-fygLe98K8MNoVrmNwQAO9isHW_/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAI8whYzyUn4yZyuK_MAeMj0u_rfBgLwqtJJ2QXh79fV3sPg1DtGS_QTspIEHfRE97Pa7PO4cls7CaBub40UO8nKh4HTwV_COQ2vMYZyxxDewvl-yb-fygLe98K8MNoVrmNwQAO9isHW_/s320/IMG_0778.JPG" /></a></div>The 6pdr platoon dismounted<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGs5Git2FWk7USGNkm7G3fLew7VOXWTQrYlqBxGq827qHtsTY3B3lrGHJ5riyiWQgQrrNrqYkDFX5SSJdGGBF3xVo2W8-B2TJ7F2MOy_6p_vNIKdK1HhKrgHvADwWuewKrzQhzqjdRAh5/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGs5Git2FWk7USGNkm7G3fLew7VOXWTQrYlqBxGq827qHtsTY3B3lrGHJ5riyiWQgQrrNrqYkDFX5SSJdGGBF3xVo2W8-B2TJ7F2MOy_6p_vNIKdK1HhKrgHvADwWuewKrzQhzqjdRAh5/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" /></a></div>The 6pdr platoon mounted up on their portee trucks<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYZ6ntB4hDTBz9mEA8ZMJOHBWIqSDUWY1HS2rYyOYxaz87YFJ_oV8zueXsRiWGlhyIRX9QVuflQ4B9zZNkP0TikVOKt74LhHjU5zICOrpdH-BIvX-Luf5JESRCHDFOvp_gc4EMxFuasS3/s1600/IMG_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYZ6ntB4hDTBz9mEA8ZMJOHBWIqSDUWY1HS2rYyOYxaz87YFJ_oV8zueXsRiWGlhyIRX9QVuflQ4B9zZNkP0TikVOKt74LhHjU5zICOrpdH-BIvX-Luf5JESRCHDFOvp_gc4EMxFuasS3/s320/IMG_0779.JPG" /></a></div>Company CO and 2iC. The miniature is the Charles Upham model, I figured a commander throwing grenades would put me in the right frame of mind for what I wanted him to do!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_lgUN1SwT2Nrz7nTUGNqN9YsNXu9ZW0-KJWA3vAHG4q-_WZLPLgAwnoFQoPhHHXZHoo-9WTIkNiBjgyrQoM6J-egHOJniDm9V1J9ZYMF3ViVFXdWZlX7cq-ktLcLgiqD3uEH3aEl8b-4/s1600/IMG_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_lgUN1SwT2Nrz7nTUGNqN9YsNXu9ZW0-KJWA3vAHG4q-_WZLPLgAwnoFQoPhHHXZHoo-9WTIkNiBjgyrQoM6J-egHOJniDm9V1J9ZYMF3ViVFXdWZlX7cq-ktLcLgiqD3uEH3aEl8b-4/s320/IMG_0782.JPG" /></a></div>Destroyed Valentine objective. Last seen as part of my Valleycon army...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQuMstMRtYqX2lfeRXrqgrNUwPwxtWkLYGTF1Oi6_CuqEsgVAx7_Qo_iqpCPkZpaLV5Rb_TP3PKJs881tbKSdwtPIbgC1LbihFtKhciBsJLpXqN1-4eTsuxWanJi-F4UwGiLTD3bVKJ11/s1600/IMG_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQuMstMRtYqX2lfeRXrqgrNUwPwxtWkLYGTF1Oi6_CuqEsgVAx7_Qo_iqpCPkZpaLV5Rb_TP3PKJs881tbKSdwtPIbgC1LbihFtKhciBsJLpXqN1-4eTsuxWanJi-F4UwGiLTD3bVKJ11/s320/IMG_0781.JPG" /></a></div>A knocked out Crusader objective<br />
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So that is my Auzzies. But, the Tournament Organiser had a problem last week, that there were not enough allied players. So an allied army had to be found! I sortof remembered that I had a Light Tank Company lurking in a box somewhere, and figuring it would be in good nick, thought I could lend it out. When I found the box on Wednesday night, they were not in good shape at all. <br />
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So two frantic nights painting, and this is the result, ANOTHER 1600 point army!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3W8MwawPa1zLZhgzgSY9KBGU6vOhkzL6C0FKW5IPfTqXTyKqgX2gJmTU_v-Vji2aaGei5kQO9JC804xvtPoGEhdErNGXGBMrC7KleX9TLWIOjBwuNQ5ImOEmpzvYlgiCHbm30_Xshq4ij/s1600/IMG_0787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3W8MwawPa1zLZhgzgSY9KBGU6vOhkzL6C0FKW5IPfTqXTyKqgX2gJmTU_v-Vji2aaGei5kQO9JC804xvtPoGEhdErNGXGBMrC7KleX9TLWIOjBwuNQ5ImOEmpzvYlgiCHbm30_Xshq4ij/s320/IMG_0787.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Lots of Stuarts, some Grants and Shermans, a Motor Platoon and Limited Hurricanes. Fast, Direct and to the point!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEXwvDIIrnJukq8kJValIIBWt1dYYgBsAfhUzNe3ZyH156WRpGLTz3d-AZMW1DfnvVbgtS1dezNpjGeZPKX1zJqsC3V2kAgkxjB8Zg8-iKr4X79R_W__wo5eV4mOWG44DnyAdbLaeNhe1/s1600/IMG_0789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEXwvDIIrnJukq8kJValIIBWt1dYYgBsAfhUzNe3ZyH156WRpGLTz3d-AZMW1DfnvVbgtS1dezNpjGeZPKX1zJqsC3V2kAgkxjB8Zg8-iKr4X79R_W__wo5eV4mOWG44DnyAdbLaeNhe1/s320/IMG_0789.JPG" /></a></div>A close up on a Grant<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbanFR7dvNF08JIuDBVYm7F1OtjOclXa1lnG_UgNSPanPKK8kPJ57mRR6vB0CcbSooeBKjDrn-C2s0k1zDwOptkBonpotudHQCj8K1Bw_pnPCjT_yyjl_Cv3ghAGh9iKbHRzDN73yB1mzc/s1600/IMG_0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbanFR7dvNF08JIuDBVYm7F1OtjOclXa1lnG_UgNSPanPKK8kPJ57mRR6vB0CcbSooeBKjDrn-C2s0k1zDwOptkBonpotudHQCj8K1Bw_pnPCjT_yyjl_Cv3ghAGh9iKbHRzDN73yB1mzc/s320/IMG_0790.JPG" /></a></div>A close up on the Company Commander Stuart, showing off his national pride! Or making sure he doesn't get strafed by the Hurricanes...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yIAB5RiBFPVFQc7AvgmmbJTvlClFPJrj8hG7ENdTsuFbBNZTntvvCX18STg-mrOgVRwFgpDwilPwvN6jWqYYd-iIbd_-98Mgo90okp0exMGfemK4DrWFMREXurosajkuUvm3KxGTRazK/s1600/IMG_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yIAB5RiBFPVFQc7AvgmmbJTvlClFPJrj8hG7ENdTsuFbBNZTntvvCX18STg-mrOgVRwFgpDwilPwvN6jWqYYd-iIbd_-98Mgo90okp0exMGfemK4DrWFMREXurosajkuUvm3KxGTRazK/s320/IMG_0758.JPG" /></a></div>Now I managed to find something while I was searching for the Stuarts. So let's compare. Above, is an Australian Platoon Commander, painted in 2012. Not my finest work, but still pretty reasonable I think.<br />
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Below is one of my Rifle teams from my Conquest army in 2002. Notice a difference?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxyJT0GueKT6RLHh5JllyuATj5grWG41FqDgpJPBvzatHafIKo62S5s-7tnlO3thGoZuqrWm7H0Bddl3ealbnqBAy0LetfJNYYxtmHc_p6OkW7tsLkylMFO7p0NioQDUz965W8f5geAWf/s1600/IMG_0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxyJT0GueKT6RLHh5JllyuATj5grWG41FqDgpJPBvzatHafIKo62S5s-7tnlO3thGoZuqrWm7H0Bddl3ealbnqBAy0LetfJNYYxtmHc_p6OkW7tsLkylMFO7p0NioQDUz965W8f5geAWf/s320/IMG_0792.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Bit of a change isn't it?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKVXpS4xwtsesuZ1b1CkRIahyphenhyphenjItZWD2QJLfQ8yKXmlY7fAg8mkmA3qvJMpsg_U5d8pmitQaexrONoCGvEZbxnK-HUn4PA_O-XS1wB_fiFJ2iCdLGhKYmj0VTK1xpdyUnr6mC9H1jfr3d/s1600/IMG_0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKVXpS4xwtsesuZ1b1CkRIahyphenhyphenjItZWD2QJLfQ8yKXmlY7fAg8mkmA3qvJMpsg_U5d8pmitQaexrONoCGvEZbxnK-HUn4PA_O-XS1wB_fiFJ2iCdLGhKYmj0VTK1xpdyUnr6mC9H1jfr3d/s320/IMG_0785.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Oh, and I had a game of Dystopian Wars last night with Jason too- was super fun. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Dystopian Wars, and last nights game culminated in pretty much EVERYTHING being boarded and prized! All large ships were prizes, and there were only 3 Mediums left which had any marines left!<br />
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Off to Conquest now,<br />
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Auzzie Auzzie Auzzie!<br />
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CP<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-72795895073100175372012-10-17T19:12:00.000+13:002012-10-17T19:12:41.737+13:0015mm Vietnam ReinforcementsSo along with painting a horde of Australian infantry, I was tinkering away with some 15mm Vietnam US stuff too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-E64_E20GLwq1lPiCrg4m5q_BKBQbNgEu7CBL9zw__zmCJdAP5bVXVUeT7-Gaapt6v1bc8i6lVS1TAsGfYQ7SWp39_-hNOkIapOcfYhjSkvM8D7CA-GgEGeLB0v1X1_rD0mny_kIJsy4/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-E64_E20GLwq1lPiCrg4m5q_BKBQbNgEu7CBL9zw__zmCJdAP5bVXVUeT7-Gaapt6v1bc8i6lVS1TAsGfYQ7SWp39_-hNOkIapOcfYhjSkvM8D7CA-GgEGeLB0v1X1_rD0mny_kIJsy4/s320/IMG_0731.JPG" /></a></div>Just a few transports! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv4NmvSoiozYwNL_nd_i05VaJLY0tFnCbAWo4Jw2XgPo5QPqrYVpHi4HVZtKiq56xJn3Y4wQvfCW-rPKWkTVlHPB0_QEtIQh6bXvn2O1CJ5T1TyOTtRZWhxac86GytZTg-CKDxtEVekrU/s1600/IMG_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv4NmvSoiozYwNL_nd_i05VaJLY0tFnCbAWo4Jw2XgPo5QPqrYVpHi4HVZtKiq56xJn3Y4wQvfCW-rPKWkTVlHPB0_QEtIQh6bXvn2O1CJ5T1TyOTtRZWhxac86GytZTg-CKDxtEVekrU/s320/IMG_0734.JPG" /></a></div>2 M113 from Battlefront Miniatures. The 113 on the right has a couple of crew from Flashpoint miniatures- those two guys usually sit out of the door of a UH-1.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7NFcUu2KMA8G3VSGYYDivU5MJYyLP0nSmnNyQN0cmYeQJf36CXlQhss6vPXa4LLzdV50yK3k06QTyn693-KwyVg_O_Jo6K8vvTVMyyzwbLOHRBlyhveZTqI_AkgwemmKcg_u5m25O0Js/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7NFcUu2KMA8G3VSGYYDivU5MJYyLP0nSmnNyQN0cmYeQJf36CXlQhss6vPXa4LLzdV50yK3k06QTyn693-KwyVg_O_Jo6K8vvTVMyyzwbLOHRBlyhveZTqI_AkgwemmKcg_u5m25O0Js/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" /></a></div>2 M113 ACAV vehicles, both from Battlefront miniatures. With the addition of two M60 machine guns with gun shields, the ACAV (Armoured Cavalry Vehicle) was used in a scouting role, but for fire support- it is not bad at all! One has a Mark 19 Grenader Launcher rather than a 50 cal heavy machine gun.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmJ-XnDM27K54YEYpB902gNgNXb37TV1XXbcF-vhhd84kshGEHWaFbWdiYPS4IX4YXWsv__QvaE_ncdLSIxnQgKQE1OEWnH2Ek0XHMLRUFKA1X34KJZaTAYUwK2m_IdGXK18D7v_OX3hl/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmJ-XnDM27K54YEYpB902gNgNXb37TV1XXbcF-vhhd84kshGEHWaFbWdiYPS4IX4YXWsv__QvaE_ncdLSIxnQgKQE1OEWnH2Ek0XHMLRUFKA1X34KJZaTAYUwK2m_IdGXK18D7v_OX3hl/s320/IMG_0740.JPG" /></a></div>An M106 Mortar Carrier from Flashpoint Miniatures. I am not as keen on the Flashpoint miniatures as the Battlefront ones, the resin that they are made of didn't like paint adhering to it, even after I cleaned it twice. But, it's not all bad, it came out ok.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOMutnUqyfZg71G6h0VVdcgYYUlzoyA5nO9jMspIQVW8wiJCr7baVuVWmjuw8WNq_mWK3oFiUew0p2UjtGbNZq2N0yb0VJELC-hQ8fuQmIKJBurBvCQ0Aw8L4jBdIyLHyPLJoPAmoSUNk/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOMutnUqyfZg71G6h0VVdcgYYUlzoyA5nO9jMspIQVW8wiJCr7baVuVWmjuw8WNq_mWK3oFiUew0p2UjtGbNZq2N0yb0VJELC-hQ8fuQmIKJBurBvCQ0Aw8L4jBdIyLHyPLJoPAmoSUNk/s320/IMG_0745.JPG" /></a></div>A Flashpoint miniatures Lieutenant. When Flashpoint get miniatures right, they really get it right. Some of the miniatures I won't use, but I do love this Lieutenant, and his style with the 45!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6M31fhdu786FS5CIDWU121L8kHV1yD5dUr5illJOWDnl9poNC4Xp14Uvutss5vnQ4tvr4LK1iLKshVvi2meookIK_RiCHeVV3QMIXKLJhKrf5kXwr5SzHtru-qQFV8CVh329Ct9reBNf/s1600/IMG_0748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6M31fhdu786FS5CIDWU121L8kHV1yD5dUr5illJOWDnl9poNC4Xp14Uvutss5vnQ4tvr4LK1iLKshVvi2meookIK_RiCHeVV3QMIXKLJhKrf5kXwr5SzHtru-qQFV8CVh329Ct9reBNf/s320/IMG_0748.JPG" /></a></div>Another of the Flashpoint excellent miniatures, this one is a soldier carrying a wounded buddy out of trouble.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQqRMPkHolNr6TUD7zmaFlmBrQaKz6Z-PmSTQwub2zJYYmyqBmfsLsGuaUwcVzwsHrkcw4iDvLbKRFGy_BeUukMOWGZpwEMxRY1uzkTS-4RskHGmAo43oIZozJe2Cvt6RxZkieaSeajly/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQqRMPkHolNr6TUD7zmaFlmBrQaKz6Z-PmSTQwub2zJYYmyqBmfsLsGuaUwcVzwsHrkcw4iDvLbKRFGy_BeUukMOWGZpwEMxRY1uzkTS-4RskHGmAo43oIZozJe2Cvt6RxZkieaSeajly/s320/IMG_0750.JPG" /></a></div>Two "Kit Carson" local guides. There were some Vietnamese who served with the US forces as scouts, interpreters, translators or as ambush detectors! They had a reputation for "disappearing" when the bullets started flying, but as scouts they were useful (it seems)at detecting ambushes. They are armed with the earlier M14 rifle, rather than the more modern M-16 rifle. <br />
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So, more stuff painted, but they aren't auzzies. Positive is that it will give me time to get to painting Australians right? Right?<br />
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More painting needs to be done...<br />
<br />
CP<br />
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Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5026371576776124368.post-61355675868244875002012-10-15T21:30:00.001+13:002012-10-15T21:32:27.608+13:00Conquest 2002: A Look Back....So, Conquest is fast approaching for 2012, and I have been manically painting Australian infantry for the competition. Am I done? No, but to make me feel better about myself, I am going to write a blog post and hide from the unfinished-ness.<br />
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This year's Conquest is markedly different to other years. Firstly, it is the 10th anniversary of the competition! 10 years ago, minus a week, a young impressionable youth wandered into the local gaming store in Christchurch, Comics Compulsion on a Friday night. Playing a game on a back table were two really nice guys, Tim D (the owner of said LGS) and Stephen H (local WW2 officionado). The two were playing a game, British against Germans, with some tiny looking tanks. Interest piqued, I stayed until the shop closed, rolling dice, moving tanks and playing what was my first historical wargame. Wouldn't have a clue who won, all I knew was that I was hooked!<br />
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So, the next day I went back with my mum (my bankroll!) and walked out again a couple of hours later with a large box of stuff- enough for a 1500 point US Armored Rifle Company in fact!<br />
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My list was... US Armoured Rifle Company<br />
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HQ- Bazooka, Jeep, M2 Halftrack<br />
Armored Rifle Platoon- Full Strength<br />
Armored Rifle Platoon- Full Strength<br />
Tank Platoon- 3 M3 Lee Tanks<br />
Tank Platoon- 3 M5A1 Stuart Tanks<br />
Armoured Recon Platoon- 2 M3A1 Scout Cars, 2 Jeeps<br />
Self-Propelled AT Platoon- 2 M10<br />
Limited Air Support- A36 Apaches (1/72nd Scale Mustangs!)<br />
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So there it was, 6 platoons of awesomeness! Taken in those days from the Version One Rulebook, where all the lists were printed in a terribly illegible format.<br />
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I had two weeks to paint the army for the tournament. Now, I knew next to nothing about tanks in WW2. All I knew was the few stories I had read, so tank gun barrels were silver, and all the infantry were in classic OD.<br />
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I did manage to get them painted the night before, and turned up as a fresh faced kid at my first tournament. Handily it was around the corner from my parent's house too!<br />
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At the tournament, there were I think 8 games, 4 Free for All and 4 Hold the Line (where it was a straight roll off to see who would attack!). <br />
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I don't remember much of the games themselves. I remember using Craig's Sturmovik air support to kill his KV-1s, I remember assaulting Dale's Italian artillery with infantry, when he was attacking me in Hold the Line (and my style according to some hasn't changed).<br />
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I also remember winning the tournament. Now that sounds very much like bragging, and to me then, it was really important. I felt a great deal of pride to win! Looking back at it now, I feel embarrassed about how much it did mean to me. Which is why I can understand those players who do want to win at seemingly any cost. But, that just is not me anymore. I have won more than my fair share, as I have lost my fair share. <br />
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The main thing that I do remember, is the people I played against. At that tournament I met many people I am proud to still call friends, some people who I regularly share emails with, some who come to stay with me for local tournaments, others who return the favor for me when I travel.<br />
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So that is what Conquest means to me. It was where I began this journey into history, through wargaming. It is where I met some amazing people, shared some wonderful moments with them, and most importantly learned to laugh when all you can roll is a 1.<br />
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Oh, and I am still painting Auzzies...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb4aLkZMYNh8DZUnRf_G4xQRiIxB-n_IlxUY356eZ8lbVw11tmZIUDVSGm3BS0p28IrGwWvlfHgygpeW9TyI3Ctgwd-aDaU3q0pR4X_pwMOqdaxvlz7LmPwrixRRnVELbCrIFSrXZbLrQ/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb4aLkZMYNh8DZUnRf_G4xQRiIxB-n_IlxUY356eZ8lbVw11tmZIUDVSGm3BS0p28IrGwWvlfHgygpeW9TyI3Ctgwd-aDaU3q0pR4X_pwMOqdaxvlz7LmPwrixRRnVELbCrIFSrXZbLrQ/s320/IMG_0722.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Paint, paint, paint...<br />
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CPChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746496591351069177noreply@blogger.com4