Para

The complaints department recently received more feedback from Corporal Chef Martin, so in response to that we have this post; nothing from 2REP though Dave! First up, Russians.

Next we have German varieties, most manufacturers are represented.

British, I've been thinking about re-modelling these, but Para always seem to come in last on my list of priorities, one might be tempted to suggest that this is just the natural order of things, however.

US, Revell and Airfix figures.

Fun with Chainsaws

Not really much to show at the moment. Whilst I'm working away on various projects, just started another battalion of US infantry for Korean War gaming, have still found time to get sidetracked on others as well. Here is my main storage cupboard which has been moved at the expense of one meter of bench. I'm not much of a builder and the chainsaw was, well, a bit brutal really, but it did the job. Catchy title I thought!

This is the fully assembled landing fleet for Inchon, thanks to Paul for the extras.

Here are the Heavies, nice. They fit well enough for my purposes as you can hardly see a rivet on them. These will be parked next to my Centurions in the Post-War section of the cupboard.

This is a stand of wire for Great War stuff, but me and a mate use these for all representations of wire entanglements for all eras, base plate, match sticks and fuse wire.

Lastly, a nice little scenic addition that I picked up from the model show last weekend NZ$5, sweet, pity there wasn't more to choose from.

Demo Game Actual

A few pictures from the game held at the local barracks over the weekend. Eight battalions attacking over a 6000 yard front. This picture shows the storm troopers in front of the British wire. Paul from Plastic Warriors played the British (Royal West Kents) and I played the German 53rd Division.

This is about turn three or four. The storm troopers have gained the center front line, which had been subjected to a gas attack plus tanks and aircraft. Their unit had only taken light casualties and were looking good to put some pressure on the redoubt. However, all three tanks had broken down by this stage.

This shows the redoubt and its garrison, the whole position was hardly touched. Air bombardment proved ineffectual and the gas barrage did nothing either; in fact it actually blew back into the storm troopers as they were looking to enfilade the western side of the redoubt.

This shows the last of the defenders on the northern edge of the map, unfortunately the two assaulting battalions had been shattered by the time they were thus reduced.

Same story in the south, the Germans were starting to gain reasonable field position, but had suffered heavy casualties in so doing, and at one stage I had something like nine companies who would not advance due to poor morale.

The whole assault was not going well, and this was compounded by the arrival of British aircraft and the continued support of a well placed gun battery, which had provided excellent work all game. We didn't play as much as we could of, but there was a lot to see at the show from other contributors, coffee to drink and cigarettes to smoke - natter, natter. Had it played out, the Germans would have likely failed to take the redoubt or the village this part of the line was protecting. Paul defended well and with most of the German assets proving unreliable the British won the day quite convincingly.

Demo Game Progress

The first two are the right and left hand sides of the map. I have had to substantially rework the original format for this game as accurate maps of the initial assault have proven elusive. What we have here is the 'Battle Zone' which was the second line of defence and ended, in this sector at least, at the village of Moy. This part of the line has benefited from a lot more research from scholars, possibly because this is where some British units stood firm and offered great resistance.

This zone consisted of two lines of reasonably well prepared defensive works of about 4000 yards in depth, and included a redoubt and a pair of hills.

This one is overlooking the redoubt in front of Moy, and it is here that the British were attacked by some German tanks; as they were in other parts of the line as well.

Lastly, a picture of the assembled forces, thus far. It works out at roughly a slightly understrength German infantry division plus gas, tanks and aircraft versus a slightly over strength British infantry regiment, with a little artillery support - couldn't be without the premier arm now could we? I am so far behind on this project it is not even funny, and am down to just two nights to go. Next post will likely be of the day itself.

Update

Here are a few of the landing craft that will feature in our Inchon game. These belong to a friend and I am also borrowing a few from Paul at http://plasticwarriors.blogspot.com/

Once I get all of the assault vessels assembled I'll know exactly how many waves there needs to be in each assault, but this will be helped by the seven turn delay between waves one and two.

Here is a recently acquired Corsair which will be providing air support to the Marines, it was a nice simple little kit to assemble, but the decals proved fickle and difficult to work with.

Last one is of a couple of massive hills that I am planning to use in this demo next week. Due to unforeseen circumstances I am way behind in sand bag manufacture, which this project needs to be even close to completion, so need to get cracking.

Trench Layout

Am in the process of putting together a layout for a demo game in a couple of weeks time, and here is the more or less final result. Nothing very exiting to see yet.

Still have to add a number of scenic items and finalise the orders of battle, but the layout is the important part to start with.

Looking south-west towards the Crozat Canal, actually the
dog's bed

This is where the village of Moy, or what is left of it, will be. I now need to make a substantial number of sandbags and do some serious tidying up on the modules. Will try to get a few pictures up of the day itself, as I think there will be some good stuff from other contributors.

2nd Battalion ROK

More or less finished the second battalion of my ROK regiment for 1950, though they still need tidying up.

Figures from a number of manufacturers are represented, and I think the overall look of the unit suits the state of the South Korean forces at this time.

This is the first battalion, it and the others will need weapons and mortar platoons added to match these improvements as the war progressed, but for 1950 all support weapons are grouped at the regimental level.

Here is the second battalion.

Third battalion. My figure selection choices were getting a bit low at this stage, which wasn't helped by the wholesale destruction of three or four stands (actual number unknown) by our puppies, who staged their own little offensive on these guys a couple of nights ago.

This was all that was left, oh and a couple of legs and mangled heads.

Here are the defaulters, who maintained dumb insolence when charged with conduct prejudice to the good discipline of the household. Fortunately for them this place has a few barrack lawyers on hand to argue their case; ah puppies.

WW1 Stuff

Still plodding away with the rest of my South Koreans at present, so not much else to show. Am playing around with some ideas for a Great War demo, and here are a couple of the contenders: either something from March 1918 involving gas, guns and stormtroopers, or perhaps a representation of the first tank verses tank engagement; still not sure yet, more research is required. Anyway, here are some pictures of a few of the allied troops likely to be involved, in this instance Canadians.

Quite a good set this, although the plastic leaves a bit to be desired.

Last couple are of German aircraft which will be used in a ground support role, whatever I eventually come up with.

With the workings of Inchon still on the table in my shed, I may have to stage a small takeover of the lounge to work out my trench layout for this demo. This is not going to please her indoors, but sacrifices must be made to ensure accuracy, anyway, we'll see. If I get some time this week I'll take a couple of pictures for you.

Inchon Map Demo 3

Same stuff as before, so this is just a bit of an update. All of the ground scale has been done now, and there were surprisingly few adjustments required. A couple of the major hill features needed moving by a few inches and likewise with the main railway station. The NKPA figures that you can see here and there have been used to test march times to their relevant areas of reinforcement at various times during the game.

I got these T34s online, good job there was two of them because that is just how many we need. I'm not really into late-war stuff, but have the basics. In game terms they will represent two understrength tank platoons operating independently of each other, and the only armour the NKPA get for this action.

Last one is the only wheeled transport the NKPA get. I think I got this overseas, a Russian kit of some sort. There is only minor detailing left to do on the map, but that will have to wait until game day. I have to pull my trench boards out next to see if they are going to fit in with some Great War ideas that I'm playing around with, so the next pictures from Inchon that I post should be of the game; in the meantime I have to source a Pershing tank and Corsair aircraft, as well as numerous landing craft and other vessels.

Inchon Demo Map 2

The tape measures show the boat lanes and initial objectives for the assault battalions. Wol Mi Do will be garrisoned by a company with the rest of its battalion deployed in depth, and its HQ in the Asai Brewery, which is just behind Cemetery Hill in the lower right.

Downtown Inchon has been reworked, the industrial zone starts from the bottom of the picture.

The British Consulate area of the waterfront was a bit more up-market than other parts of Inchon, so I moved buildings around to better represent this. The road crossing the railway line in the center left leads to the tidal basin, where a fourth battalion of marines come ashore on about turn 8.

Last one shows the forward slopes of Observatory Hill and its emplacements. There are still numerous details to be worked out, but I have the basic ground scale and major features pretty much right. The next thing to do is mess around with the landing times and approximate troop positions.

Inchon Map: Demo One

This is my first attempt at a map for our Inchon game, planned for the holidays. Seems this is going to be a difficult one to get right. The first picture shows the right flank of Red Beach, looking over the causeway from Wol Mi Do island. The factory building represents the Nippon Flour Company, and the industrial area starts here and covers most of the left hand side of the map. The crude wooden blocks will eventually be painted and represent the sea wall.

Left flank of Red Beach showing the Asai Brewery and the fortified Cemetery Hill in front of it, this feature had to be taken quickly on the day as it overlooked a large part of the beach.

Another shot of the flour mill, looking towards Green Beach at Wol Mi Do.

This is the British Consulate, hemmed in by a good sized cliff face and the railway line leading to the sea wall.

This is the port's railway station, about 1000 yards from the beach, or 20 inches in our scale.

And here is the station that serves the city.

Part of the housing district. It is quite out of scale and will need substantial reworking in future attempts.

Just a bigger shot of downtown Inchon, Observatory Hill in the middle right is in about the right position, but the housing in the first block needs to be closer to it, and we'll need to put in some more dirt roads. When doing historical scenarios I always try to match the terrain as close as possible to the actual area. Researching the various OOBs is also a bit of fun too.