German & American WW2 Armour & supports.

I've been a bit busy of these last few weeks, accelerating my collection of hardware for the upcoming World War Two campaign, so this post will be a mixed bag, starting with a smart little German 'Puma' eight wheeled armoured car, the sdkfz234/2 variant with 50mm L/60 KwK gun.

The Puma sdkfz234/2 

This particular model is a JTFM 'Diewaffenkamer' resin model with a 'Bolt Action' commander speaking into his headset.

Oils and enamel were used on the vehicle with with the addition of acrylics on the tank commanders face.

This reconnaissance armoured car had a rear driving position for a hasty retreat.

Nippy but expendable.

The aerial is a 3amp fuse wire which I'll replace with some 10amp fuse wire to make it more satisfactory.

Decals from Warlord Games

This vehicle will form the other half of my reconnaissance platoon for the German Battle Group.

The Wespe
The Wespe 105mm self-propelled gun provides indirect supporting fire for the German Battle Group.

A Warlord Games resin kit with metal parts

The Camouflage and washes are thinned oil paint mixed with enamels.

The Sdkfz251/D Halftracks.
JTFM enterprises in Canada provided the sdkfz251/D half tracks for the panzer grenadiers, the nice thing about JTFM Diewafemkammer range of vehicles is that they come with 4 panzer grenadier crew and plenty of stowage, spare helmets, MG42 machine guns, rucksacks etc. so no real need for sourcing extra bits of kit.

This JTFM model has the tracks cast as part of the main body just to make constructing the kit that much easier and faster.

Sherman M4A3 75mm Tank
And finally this week, forces representing the U.S.A in the form of a 'bolt Action' Sherman M4A3 75mm tank with crew provided by Warlord Games.

 The raw beastie, resin and metal kit from Warlord Games comes with one tank commander.

M18 Hellcat 'Tank Destroyer'
And an M18 Hellcat Tank buster with a 76mm gun. storming passed a knocked out panzer III.

The panzer III brews up as its ammo catches fire and burns off.

A very nippy little vehicle the M18 Hellcat can reach speeds of up to 60mph, capable of outflanking and out running the much heavier German armour.

Anyhow, got to order a few more items and then draw up a map of the combat zone....then let loose the Dogs of War.

until then,
Cherrio
Peter.

Oops and MERRY CHRISTMAS and have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

WW2 28mm 1/56th German Panzer Grenadier Platoon Supports.

German panzer Grenadier Platoon  - 

Introduction.
I've been collecting 28mm figures for a World War Two campaign sometime in the future, continuing with a German Grenadier platoon based on units of a Panzer Division 1944 & 1945.

The Army list I have used is the Rules of Engagement SS Panzer Grenadier Platoon

The Platoon will consist of:
1 Infantry Platoon HQ section
the section is mounted in a sdkfz251/D half-track
2 Infantry squads (maximum of 2 Panzerschreck anti tank weapons and  6 panzerfausts added as additional equipment)
each section is mounted in a sdkfz251/D half-track 1 point each vehicle

Combat Effectiveness (CE) of 19

Support Options:
1 Company support section sustained fire Heavy Machine Gun 1 point each

1 Company support section with 3 inch mortar 1 point each

1 Divisional support 1x tank (either a Panzer ausfM at 3 points or Panzer IVH at 5points or Panther G at 6 points or Tiger II at 8 points).

using RoE rules this gives me a Combat Effectiveness (CE) of 19 to 29 points depending on choices

RoE Divisional support: The Panzer IIIM or PanzerIVH could be used for a mid to late 1944 game for example Kampfgruppe Knaust at Arnhem (18th september 1944) was equipped with 6x Panzer IIIM and 2x Panzer IVH.

I've re-worked the panzers camouflage schemes and added decals. Vehicle manufactured by Diewaffenkammer, crewman by Bolt Action

 The overhauled Panzer IIIM

 The tankie clutches a pair of binocular whilst smoking a short cigar

 The Turret numbers indicate 4th Company 1st Platoon 3rd vehicle

 A gasoline drum rides on the back

 I might put a turret number on the back as some tanks seem to have.

 The camouflage effects were created with oil paint mixed with enamels and turpentine.

The overhauled Panzer IVH

 I may put the shurzen side skirt armour on

.

Vehicle and crewman manufactured by Diewaffenkammer

For a Campaign game I need some reconnaissance units to match the British so I managed to acquire a sdkfz234/1 8-Rad with a 20mm autocannon, The chassis is the same one used for a Puma sd.Kfz234/2 heavy armoured car, I'll acquire one of those in the near future probably from Diewaffenkammer.

The sdkfz234/1

A mesh over the open turret top is supposed to help protect against grenades

Vehicle manufactured by Diewaffenkammer.

The 8-Rad vehicles were all wheel drive with a separate rear drivers position for a quick get away.

Anyhow the infantry vehicles need to be acquired and maybe a dismounted reconnaissance crew for the armoured car.

Until next time.
See ya.