WW2 1/56th German Panzer Grenadier 80mm Mortar

 A medium 80mm mortar, the Granatwerfer 34, effective and accurate, provides on call fire support over a modest 2.4km range. This platoon support has its own dedicated sdkfz251 halftrack.

Next post will be a couple of Opel Blitz metal trucks from Ebob miniatures.

All the Best

Peter.

WW2 1/56th German Panzer Grenadier MG42

 This is one of a variety of company assets used to support the Panzer grenadier Platoon. A Medium Machine Gun, the belt fed MG42 here is mounted on a tripod in sustained fire support role in a defensive position. 

Again these are Warlord Games metal figurines, nice to see a manufacturer supply the bases with all their World War Two minis.

Next will be a mortar for indirect fire support.

All the Best,

Peter.

WW2 1/56th German Panzer Grenadier Squad 2

 This is the second Wehrmacht Panzer Grenadier squad, it has its own dedicated sdkfz251 halftrack.

As usual these are painted in enamels, oils and acrylics. The winter tufts were made with a flock box and WWS 4mm winter tufts.

Next will be a Heavy Machine Gun on tripod as one of the company supports, I'm using 'Rules of engagement' by Great Escape Games'.

All the Best, Peter.

WW2 1/56th German Panzer Grenadier Squad 1

 This is the first of two Wehrmacht Panzer Grenadier squads, I may expand the platoon to three infantry squads after I finish the Fallschirmjager Platoon  I have planned. 

Warlord Games metal figures from their 'Bolt Action' range, these have a sdkfz251 halftrack as dedicated transport.

Next will be squad 2. 

All the Best, Peter.

WW2 1/56th German Panzer Grenadier Platoon HQ

 Continuing on with my German Wehrmacht Panzer grenadier platoon is the Platoon Head Quarters, comprising a Lieutenant (German spelling; Leutnant), a Platoon Sergeant and a batch of associated NCOs, a medic with wounded etc.

All Warlord Games metal figures these will go with the sdkfz251 command halftrack.

Painted in enamels and oils and based with winter tufts, I made a point of adding the helmet badges where I could.

Next will be the infantry squads and supporting arms.

All the Best, Peter.

WW2 in 28mm (1/56th scale) German Armoured Platoon 1944-1945

German Armoured Platoon  - (Waffen SS Panzer Grenadier Platoon.)

Introduction.
The remaining squads of the Panzer grenadier Platoon have now been painted and based ready for a bash with elements of the British 11th Armoured Division using my old school World War Two gaming rules planned in my previous posts, 'Tactical Commander' published by TableTop Games and 'World war II infantry Action' by Newbury Rules. Although my platoons will be organised as per my copy of 'Rules of Engagement' (RoE) my definitive ruleset I will be using most of the time. I am looking forward to testing out these older rulesets using a benchmark scenario (to be devised in a future post) against the newer rule systems available now.

Platoon Head Quarters includes a medic and radio pack

 Company Support Heavy Machine Gun MG42 providing sustained fire support

Belt fed MG42

Anti Tank Capability provided by a panzerschreck equipped soldier as there are no dedicated anti tank teams in the platoon.

Also a number of panzerfausts are distributed amongst the squads

Panzerfaust in the typical antitank role, they can be used against buildings to temporarily neutralise defending troops.

.

A bit theatrical but it serves to illustrate the danger armour has in getting too close to infantry.

MG42 gunner in the process of changing an overheated barrel.

In addition to the HMG a total of four belt fed MG42 Light Machine Guns are available, two to each squad, giving adequate firepower.

I will have to ditch the halftrack transports if I want a Panther tank as a Divisional support and keep within the Rule of engagement Combat effectiveness of CE24, The British Armoured platoon they're going to fight has a Comet so I think it would be wise for the German platoon to call up a Panther.

The Platoon will consist of:
1 Infantry Platoon HQ 8 man squad
2 Infantry squads including 2x LMG and 10 men per squad (with 1 Panzerschreck and 6 panzerfausts and added as additional equipment)

Support Options:
1 Company support 3 man squad providing sustained fire with a MG42 Heavy Machine Gun on a tripod,
1 Company support 4 man squad with 8cm mortar
1 Divisional support 1x tank, a Panther ausfG for a 1945 game).

using Rules of Engagement rules this gives me a Combat Effectiveness (CE) of 24 equal to that of the British armoured platoon they are going to fight.

Any how must finish off the Panther I have acquired, no airbrush as yet.
Until then Cheerio for now.
Peter.

WW2 in 28mm (1/56th scale) German Armoured Platoon 1944-1945

German Armoured Platoon  - (Waffen SS Panzer Grenadier Platoon.)

Introduction.
I've been collecting 28mm figures for a World War Two bash sometime in the future. Almost completing a British armoured platoon of the 11th Armoured Division circa 1944 & 1945, with a few M5 halftracks still needing to be acquired to provide transport for the infantry.

Elements of the 11th Armoured Division fought a number of different Waffen SS units in 1944/45 so after buying a boxset of metal Waffen SS miniatures from Warlord Games I've managed to find the time to paint half of the platoon at the moment.

My interest in old school World War Two gaming was kindled when I managed to pick up a copy of 'Tactical Commander' published by TableTop Games and a copy of 'World war II infantry Action' by Newbury Rules on ebay. Although my platoons will be organised as per my copy of 'Rules of Engagement' (RoE) my definitive ruleset I will be using most of the time. I am looking forward to testing out these older rulesets using a benchmark scenario (to be devised in a future post) against the newer rule systems available now.

The Platoon will consist of:
1 Infantry Platoon HQ 8 man squad
the section is mounted in a sdkfz251 armoured halftrack
2 Infantry squads includin 2x LMG and 10 men per squad (with a maximum of 2 Panzerschreck and 6 panzerfausts and added as additional equipment)
with each squad mounted in a sdkfz251 halftrack

Support Options:
1 Company support 3 man squad providing sustained fire with a MG42 Heavy Machine Gun on a tripod,
the squad is mounted in a sdkfz251 armoured halftrack or truck

1 Company support 4 man squad with 8cm mortar
 the section is mounted in a sdkfz251 armoured halftrack or truck

1 Divisional support 1x tank (PanzerIII ausfM or a PanzerIV ausfH for a 1944 game or a Panther ausfG for a 1945 game).

using RoE rules this gives me a Combat Effectiveness (CE) of 22 to 26 depending on my choices.

A few of each squad carry the STG44 full/semi automatic assault rifle.  

Mortar Squad with 8cm mortar and 4 crewmen.

The Base is 60mm round mdf 2mm thickness

some painters paint red mortar bombs on their models, these would probably be drill rounds, so I painted mine green.

LMG support in the form of a belt fed MG42 with two crew

Warlord minis have multiple head variants.

The character in the centre carries a tellermine and extra panzerfausts 

All gun barrels are painted black as they should be!

The character in the foreground carries a Panzerfaust Anti-tank rocket.

Uniform camouflage comprises Eichenlaubmuster “Oak Leaf Pattern” camo jackets and Erbsenmuster “Pea Pattern” camo trousers, the initial colours were painted in moderately vivid colours, then washes were applied to tone down the colours to reduce contrast to create a more 'lived in' look.

Any how must finish off the Platoon Head Quarters and HMG support squads. Then I can try out my old rulesets.

Until then Cheerio for now.
Peter.