Dipping my Toe - 15mm WW2 Miniatures - Part 2

Along with the 25-pounder field guns, I recently finished up four unpainted Morris Quad Trucks.

The Morris Commercial C8 FAT (Field Artillery Tractor)—commonly known as the Quad—was the iconic workhorse used by British and Commonwealth forces throughout the Second World War. I painted these up and based them specifically for a dry, desert environment to match the rest of the force.

To round out the batch, I also completed three sandbagged observation / MG pillboxes to give the battlefield a bit more depth and defensive cover.

The 25 Pounder and Quad combo always brings to mind the classic Airfix Kit. Follow the link for more information on the model kit.

Dipping my Toe into the water - 15mm WW2 Miniatures

I already have plenty of 25/28mm WWII figures and models, along with hundreds of pieces of WWII micro-armour from GHQ, Heroics & Ros, and Scotia. Because of this, I swore I wasn’t going to get into 15mm.

Then, two weeks ago, an offer appeared on our local Discord group chat that I simply couldn't pass up.

To appease the storage gods, and my roommate —and uphold my "one in, one out" apartment policy—I put up some unused 25/28mm Bolt Action models and ancient figures to give away. It was a win-win for everyone. I finally revealed my newly acquired 15mm stash to my roommate today, pointing out the ultimate justification: they take up significantly less space than what left the building.

As I mentioned in a recent post, I’ve been wanting to explore WWII skirmish gaming, and these new 15mm figures fit my operational requirements perfectly. More importantly, no painting required. I ended up swapping in some custom MDF bases and magnetized the entire force right out of the gate—makes transport and tabletop setup completely effortless.

A huge thank you to Helge for the incredibly generous giveaway! I received a British Desert Rats force—originally picked up from an old eBay purchase with a super basic paint job. While there’s even more in the lot, the items listed below are the ones that immediately sparked my interest.

o    6 Sherman III

Tanks are metal, not plastic!

o    2 Rifle platoons with attachments and miscellaneous HQ

First Platoon

2nd Platoon

o    MG platoon with carriers

Eight Bren Carriers

25pdr battery with staff
and (unpainted) transports not shown

Battlegroup Kursk - 15 mm

This afternoon I was introduced to Battlegroup Kursk, a ruleset by The Plastic Soldier Company. We were six players playing on a 6 x 8 foot tabletop at the Abyss. I elected to play Soviet and was given command of six T-34s. After my force had been reduced to one tank, I took command of three T-70s. 

Having been recently introduced to Battlegroup NORTHAG, I was interested to see how similiar the game flowed. One new action I appreciated was the ability to double tap.  The option of two shots was unavailable with the modern period rule set. There are a few changes I would like to see. For example,  you had multiple chances to acquire a target. IMO if you fail the first attempt then you should not be able to try again in the same turn.

At the end of the Game - A Bloodly Affair

We kicked off play at about 2PM and were finished just after 5 o'clock. My command was the 5 burning T34s on the right side of the playing field. A sixth is below the hill's crest but within 5 inches of the red objective marker, allowing the Soviets to claim the point. After the majority of my tanks were brewed up, I was handed three T-70s to have fun with. They had started near the white farm building (another objective) at the far end of the table and rushed across the open ground, closing with the enemy. I reached shelter in the central woods, which is covered with smoke, but under the gaze of two of the Tigers. In the final move of the game, two of the light tanks outflanked the big cat and opened fire on its exposed side. Unfortunately it was to no avail. 

A fun afternoon, rolling dice, with a friendly group of like minded gamers. At the end of the day, everything but the Tigers seemed to be burning. I was content to be the target while my comrades destroyed the enemies of the Soviet peoples. I was only able to claim one destroyed PZ III, despite my losses. 

28mm Bolt Action - UK Paras

 A year ago I made a purchase from Facebook Marketplace of a 2nd edition Bolt Action WW2 Airborne Force. The figures were from Artizan Designs and were painted to what I thought was an excellent standard, based and varnished. Certainly better than what I could have obtained through my own efforts. 

The photos were the original photos that were on the marketplace. The total force was 45 figures and consisted of 

3 Airborne command squad armed with pistol, Stengun, Rifle + 1 Medic

Troops 

Section 1  - 10 man Airborne Section armed as follows 4 Rifles, 5 Stenguns and 1 Bren gun.

Section 2 - 10 man Airborne Section armed as follows 6 Rifles, 2 Stenguns, 1 Thompson, 1 Bren gun

Ad Hoc Section - 10 man Airborne section armed as follows 7 Rifles, and Stengun and 2 Bren Guns

Weapon teams 

1 metal Airborne flamer 

1 metal Airborne light mortar 

1 metal Airborne Sniper 

1 metal Airborne spotter 

1 metal Airborne medium mortar team (3) 

1 metal Airborne MMG team Artizan (3) with wounded/dead trooper 

4 metal Airborne PIAT team armed with 2 PIATS and 2 loaders

Artillery 

1 - 6 pounder anti tank Airborne (3)

The purchase of these figures allowed me to gift the Warlord Games British Airborne Starter Army that I knew I would not get around to painting anytime soon. 

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 8

Once again I return to Northern China, with reinforcements for the cause of The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. This heading has become the catch phrase for my 20mm (1/72nd) scale WW2 Imperial Japanese forces.

First addition are three Type 97 medium tank Chi-Ha by Dragon Models. The models themselves come pre-painted, with a plastic base and display case. I only had to open them up and rebase the tanks to my liking.

Type 97 medium tank Chi-Ha

I found the following listing for HO WW2 JAPANESE SOLDIERS and HO 14 PAINTED TRACKS on eBay. It sounded like a fantastic deal. I really wanted 14 trucks. The soldiers were Airfix LMG teams. The vehicles were repainted die cast models, to which decals of Japanese flags had been applied to the cab doors. I was unable to read the company details on the bottom of the vehicles. Another reason to have my eyes checked. Note: I have since replaced my glasses.

The batch included six cargo trucks, to which I added loads to the back of five. The other eight I have designated as transport, since they have visible benches on the sides for seating.

Cargo Trucks

Transport Trucks

Vehicle Park Storage

WW2 Soviet 57mm AT-Gun ZiS-2 Model 1943

This post about the ZiS-2 57mm AT Gun is an update from August 2009. I was not happy with the previous presentation  of this excellent piece of Soviet equipment and remounted it on a 60mm x 80mm base, so the gun and the crew were both on the same element.

Heroes of the Soviet Union: Heavy Metal

The T-34 was the most widely produced Soviet tank of the Great Patriotic War. This week I built two ARII 1/50^th Scale T-34 model kits. They were included in a box of gaming supplies I picked up at Cangames in 2006. They have been in the cupboard ever since.

ARII T-34s with 28mm Infantry for Scale

These kits are for remote control motorized models and I am sure the diehard model builders out there will slight me for not going the extra mile and completing the kits as originally designed. All I intend to do is run a mid-war Soviet tank platoon alongside my 28mm Soviet Infantry. I have a third tank that has been shown in a previous posting. It too, was purchased in the same box of models and game bits and is clearly a different scale. That’s OK, it can be the Platoon Leader’s vehicle.

Today was a fabulous, warm day in Montreal. It was a perfect day to sit on the balcony, catch up on some reading, take some photos and spray some minis. The tanks were treated to a coat of Flames of War, Soviet Armour War Paint. Decals and detailing need to follow.

Heroes of the Soviet Union Part 1

I present my latest platoon of Soviet Infantry based for the WRG War Games Rules Armour & Infantry 1925-1950 © 1973.  I already have 3 Soviet platoons (28mm figures) mounted on individual stands and felt like doing something retro with this group of figures. It consists of

1.   A three man command stand
2. Two three man LMG stands
3. First Rifle Squad with 3 four man Rifle Teams
4. Second Rifle Squad with 2 four man Rifle Teams and 1 four man SMG team

Command and LMG Teams

This rule set has always been a favorite of mine. I've been playing with them practically since they were first published. Over the decades I have played  with many other WW2 rule sets, and I even own a number of them. I keep coming back to this set for a quick and simple game.  

As they are based, I’d have no problem using these figures for Blitzkrieg Commander, the most recent ruleset I've purchased for this scale of game.

In my opinion the front line soldiers of the Red Army deserve the title “Heroes of the Soviet Union”. Regardless, if they were conscripted or volunteered:  they overcame frightful losses, often due to the incompetent leadership during the early war period, and later war attitudes  which allowed Soviet generals to squander thousands of lives knowing  they had the manpower and a belief at the top, that the ends justified the means.

First Squad

Without a doubt to paraphrase the Right Honourable Winston Churchill, “the Russian Armies tore the guts out of the German Army.” 

His words may be read here, in their entirety, in his report on the War Situation given to the House on August 2^nd 1944.

2nd Squad lead by SMG Team

Work in Progress, WW2 Soviets

My collection of World War II Soviet skirmish figures continues to grow. This time I am experimenting with the Army Painter system. The figures were primed and then sprayed with Leather Brown. When I have finished painting the details I plan to wash half the figures with Minwax Wood Stain (English Oak)  and the other half with Liquitex Transparent Burnt Umber. I washed my 15mn Hussite Army by the 2nd method and I like the effect.

These figures are a mix of West Wind and Black Tree.

Rebasing Micro-Armour Infantry and Heavy Weapon Groups

For years I lead a very active wargaming life playing microarmour. I remember purchasing my first vehicles from Heroics and Ros in the late 1970s for what worked out to about $0.25 CDN per vehicle.

Over time, I played many rule sets but I kept returning to the set that offered the perfect combination of complexity and playability, both for  World War 2 and the Modern Period. I refer to the WRG  Armour and Infantry 1925-1950 (June 1973) and Wargame Rules for Armoured Warfare 1950-1985 (June 1979). This 2^nd rule set replaced the earlier version of the rules which covered to 1975.

My introduction to the revised Modern rules was at a gaming convention held at St Mary's University in Halifax against a team from the Armoured Warfare School based at CFB Gagetown. They taught us civilians a lot that day.

WARGAMES RESEARCH GROUP - Rules Ancient and Modern and other periods in between, a website by Sue Laflin-Barker, provide pdf downloads to these and other out of print WRG rule sets.

My only complaint about these rules was the level they presented the infantry and heavy weapons units. I imagine they are what would be labeled as fire teams. My own interests tend towards a squad level unit, using markers for multiple hits.  In recent years I have tended towards Blitzkrieg Commander for WW2 and Cold War Commander for the modern period. For these rules I looked at rebasing the majority of my 600 infantry as squads on a 40mm x 20mm base and I am very happy with the results. 

WW2 Soviet Hvy MGs

WW2 Soviet AA Gunss

WW2 Soviet Mortars

WW2 Soviet Combat Engineers

WW2 Soviet Anti-Tank Rifle Teams

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 7

Once again I return to the Soviet-Japanese struggle for Changkufeng-Khasan, 1938 on the Mongolian frontier thanks to Five Arrows Figures and Fine Art, who were in attendance at Cangames this year. This year at Cangames I parted with a few games that I had not touched in years and as a result, covered all my convention costs including 4 Japanese WW2 resin trucks that I purchased.

Among the items that Five Arrows sells are vehicles from Frontline Wargaming.  I purchased two of each of the following vehicles to beef up the mobility of my Japanese Imperial Army.

J1   Isuzu TX40 GS Truck (4-Wheeled 2 Tons Cargo capacity)
In August 1938 The first and second models of TX40 were completed at Kawasaki Plant.

Isuzu TX40 GS Truck

J2   Isuzu Type 94A/B Personnel Truck (6-wheeled)

Isuzu Type 94A/B Personnel Truck

As one of the oldest companies in the Japanese automotive industry, Isuzu traces its beginnings to 1916, the year Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. and Tokyo Gas and Electric Industrial Co. initiated plans for automobile production. In 1922, Japan's first domestically produced truck, a Wolseley model A-9, was completed. In 1934, after meeting Ministry of Trade and Industry standards, vehicles were renamed 'Isuzu' after the Isuzu River in the Ise Shrine area. This is the origin of the company name, which was changed to today's 'Isuzu Motors Limited' in 1949.

I found it really hard to find any information about either of these vehicles. IMO the history of the company seems to be very revisionist, commencing in 1949, with almost no motion of the war years.

Soviet Medium Tank Battalions 1944

I had another two GHQ WW2 tank battalions to paint. This was a very quick job in the late fall before the temperature starting reaching below 10C during the day. I sprayed painted them using a can of War Paint (Flames of War) Soviet Armour SP02. I found the product provided a nice easy coat if the instruction were followed. After they dried I applied a wash of transparent burnt umber by Liquitex (Series 2 No 130). I found this to be a very quick way method to get the units ready for battle.

Go West, Young Man! Part III

There is no doubt that the sacrifice of the poor bloody infantry of the Red Army led to final victory in May of 1945.

Platoon CO with Runners

In the words of Churchill ~ It is the Russian Armies who have done the main work in tearing the guts out of the German army. In the air and on the oceans we could maintain our place, but there was no force in the world which could have been called into being, except after several more years, that would have been able to maul and break the German army unless it had been subjected to the terrible slaughter and manhandling that has fallen to it through the strength of the Russian Soviet Armies. (Aug. 2, 1944).

I spent my evenings this past week, when I was not playing Twilight Struggle, painting a WW2 Soviet Infantry platoon.  I bought most of the figures about the same time on eBay and they were mixed when they were primed.  The packages included figures by West Wind Line: Berlin or Bust (by Old Glory) and Harlequin Miniatures (now know as Black Tree Design). Together the two different companies provide a great mix of poses and figures.

1st Squad: 7 Riflemen and 1 SMG and a Sgt

On paper each Soviet Rifle squad would consist of a Sgt, with an Assistant Squad leader, 1 LMG (Gunner and Ammo Carrier) team, 2 SMGs and 6 or 7 Riflemen. Squads were rarely full strength or fully equipped. I have painted three 9 men squads, none equipped with the LMG teams.

 

2nd and 3rd Squads

The 2nd squad has 7 riflemen and 1 SMG, while the 3rd squad had 2 SMGs but only 6 riflemen.

Note: When I was putting the figures away, in my Soviet War Chest, I discovered I had already painted three LMG teams. I only had to add my yellow dot code so each team was matched to a squad. Now each squad can exercise various manpower  and equipment options.

LMG Teams Added to the Platoon

I still have another 50 primed Infantry figures to paint. These figures will allow me to bring a platoon in winter camo pattern, and a 2nd summer dress platoon up to strength. In addition, to a squad of Combat Engineers that need to take to the field with their flamethrowers and mine detectors, there is a newly arrived mortar section (4x mortars with crews) from BTD Miniatures to paint.

To complete this project I have one pack of BTD (WW2010) Soviet Character Set and four packs of Battle Honors WW2 Soviet Infantry unopened. The first, Russ-7 is a package of 10 tank riders. The second package,  Russ-18 consists of four 2 man Anti-Tank Rifle Teams.

Finally there are two packs of Russ-22 (each with 2 x Maxim MGs and NKVD Crews). If you watched Enemy at the Gates, you know you can't go to Stalingrad without them. It is amazing that despite such criminal encouragement, the heroic soldiers of the Workers and Peasants Red Army advanced into the heart of Nazi Germany.

The Anatomy of a Small War Part 5

During the festive season I returned to the Soviet-Japanese frontier in Mongolia.  I picked up on eBay a HO-Ni Tank Destroyer and four 75mm Regimental / Pack Guns, all by SHQ Miniatures.

SHQ Type 1 Ho-Ni I Tank Destroyer

According to Wikipedia, the Type 1 Ho-Ni I was developed by utilizing the existing Type 97 chassis and engine, and replacing the gun turret with a 75 mm Type 90 Field Gun mounted in an open casemate with frontal and side armour only. The mounting for the 75mm Type 90 field gun allowed for ten degrees of traverse and elevation from -5 to +25 degrees.

The Type 1 Ho-Ni I carried 54 rounds of ammunition. This vehicle was produced in small quantities between 1941 and November 1943, until superseded by the Type 2 Ho-Ni II with its Type 91 105mm howitzer. The total number produced was only 124 units and they first saw combat in Luzon in the Philippine Islands in Dec 1944. As such, I really cannot use it in a 1939 campaign but I wanted to upgun my Japanese, with this great looking piece.

Improved Type 38 75mm Field Gun

(Guns by SHQ Crews by Waterloo 1815)

I also bought from the same seller four 75mm Infantry guns. Searching on-line I identified the miniatures as the Improved Type 38 75mm Field Gun.  SHQ markets them as 75mm Regimental / Pack Guns.

The original design was purchased from Krupt and produced under licence in Japan prior to World War One. After the war design changes were made as Japanese industrial capabilities advanced. Finally before the start of the Sino-Japanese War the final design of  what is called the "Improved Type 38" Field Gun went into production. About 400 pieces of this model were produced. The Japanese were never able to replace all of them or their earlier designs with the Type 90 75mm Field Gun. Thus the Type 38 Field Guns, though outdated, served until the end of WW2.

My complaint with SHQ Miniatures is they do not sell the guns with their crews. You have to make separate purchases. I found that Waterloo 1815, the Italian plastic soldiers manufacturer offered a box set of  WWII Japanese 70 mm Gun and Anti Tank Crews  (Number AP003) that would suit my purposes.  The figures are made of medium hard plastic, and are very easy to paint.

WWII Japanese 70 mm Gun & Anti Tank Crew  (Number AP003)

I utilised the gun crews for my SHQ artillery pieces and I also assembled the Type 92 70mm IGs and will mount them later. The guns assembled without a hitch. There is enough flex in the plastic that they do not snap when being put together. This may have been a problem if they were made of hard plastic.

Each box contains two guns and 16 figures (in 8 poses). The other figures are AT infantry or LMG teams. I have some Platoon 20 and Frontier Japanese WW2 Infantry that I need to paint. I'll add these plastics into the mix.

Type 92 70mm Battalion IG

From the above photo you can get an idea of the size of the guns when compared to the SHQ artillery in the background. All models are 20mm or 1/76th scale. I assembled two of the IG guns with the gun shield and two without. I found pictures of both on the internet and I like the varity, The Type 92 Battalion Gun could fire high-explosive shells , armor-piercing, and smoke rounds.