French Colonial Infantry

I thought you might like to see one of the latest painting projects that I plan to undertake. There is a new line of 28mm minitures called "Askari Miniatures" that are very nice quality and very well priced. I saw a painted unit of French Foreign Legionnaires (FFL) on display at the Cold Wars convention and decided that I had to have them. I also grabbed a bag of tiralluers algeriens to use as French colonial allies. I thought they would be a colorful addition to the table top. So, the problem is finding information on how to paint them. I don't have any books with color plates on the FFL and the internet sources are rather sparse. The first picture is about all I have found so far. I get the impression that the tiralluers algeriens normally wore blue over blue unlike the zouaves that wore blue over red. I am also assuming that it is not a very dark blue either. I also see that the Askari Miniature chaps painted theirs blue over white! (second picture) Maybe there were variations from regiment to regiment? If anyone knows, please leave a comment.

New Material for the Reading Room

I don't know if you wargamers out there have noticed it or not, but it seems to me that just within the past few years there has been an sudden rush of memoirs from German WWII veterans. These books provide new perspectives that are of great interst to anyone with an interest in WWII. I have seen several already. The best examples are the "Panzer Aces" books by Franz Kurowski and "Blood Red Snow" by Gunther Koschorrek. So far my "hands down" favorite is "Blood Red Snow."

Just this morning I started the latest release, "Sniper on the Eastern Front" by Albrecht Wacker. I have only read a couple of chapters, but so far it looks promising. I'll write more on it when I'm finished, which shouldn't take long, it's a short book.

Sihayo's Kraal Concluded

To conlude the description of this game let me just say that it was a good close game. In the end the British side failed to earn the required number of victory points, but not by much. The NNC units were only moderately successful in charging up the hill. Two of them took too much "friendly" fire from the British infantry units behind them and they evaporated. The two Brit infantry units continued on without them but they were not able to capture enough objectives before time ran out. I was able to get the NMP unit to the top and exit it off the table for two whole victory points. I thought I might have the game won at that point but I still fell short.

Sihayo's Kraal Opening Moves

Here you can see the NNC advancing toward the Zulu positions in the rocks and the hill sides. You can't see the British infantry that are right behind them in every picture, but believe me they are there.

Sihayo's Kraal Scenario (continued)

Today we'll get back to the Sihayo's Kraal scenario I brought up earlier. Here you can see my wife Teri, the worlds most recent TSATF convert, and scenario designer Roy Jones plotting the Zulu defensive strategy. In the bottom photo you can see the task facing the British force. They have to scale the plateaus, capture objectives, and exit troops off the table edge at the top. If you look carefully you can see clumps of boulders and caves in the side of the cliff, these are both objectives and places for hidden Zulu units. The path going up the middle is the only way for the British regulars to get up onto the cliffs. Their Natal Native Contingent (NNC) allies are the only one who can scale the cliffs at any point.

Speaking of the NNC, this was the most intriguing aspect of the scenario. There are only four NNC units, two regular Brit infantry, and one cavalry unit of Natal Mounted Police (NMP). The idea is to put the NNC out in front to attack uphill. As long as there is a British unit directly in their rear they get a -2 die roll bonus on all there morale checks, including "closing-to-assualt" and "standing-to-fight." This makes an otherwise totally unreliable force fairly effective. Just imagine the scene! The NNC are advancing toward Zulus who are waiting for them up above (and in this scenario all Zulus have muzzleloaders), they are of course reluctant, but because of the rows of British bayonets right behind them... Well, you get the idea! I thought it was a brilliant idea that really made the scenario something special. It was a blast! (pun intended, sorry) Next time I'll tell what happened!

News Flash! Sudan Wargame Scenario book in the "Pipeline"

"Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman"  

Interesting news everybody! I just found out from a good source that Mark Fastoso and Roy Jones have plans to write a Sudan Scenario book once they finish their "Zulu War 1879" book. But here is the big surprise; they say it will cover the "Late Sudan campaign," in other words, the Kitchener/Omdurman campaign as opposed to the Gordon Relief Expedition campaign that is commonly gamed with the "Sword and the Flame Rules." To quote my source: "...there will be a massive 21st Lancers scenario." Now that sounds jolly good, doesn't it?

Remember, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!

Sihayo's Kraal Wargame Scenario

Well, my wife and I had a great weekend at the Cold Wars, gaming convention. I will start off by talking about the Zulu War scenario we played with 25mm miniatures and Larry Brom's classic "The Sword and the Flame" rules. I was looking forward to perhaps play testing another scenario from Mark Fastoso and Roy Jones', Zulu War 1879 scenario book. When we got there we found out that Mark ran a scenario called "17th Lancers at Zungeni" on Friday afternoon. I'm still kicking myself for missing out on that. However, we noticed that Roy Jones had another scenario listed in the addendum and we quickly scooped up tickets for it. The scenario is "Sihayo's Kraal" which was the first engagement in the Zulu War. Chief Sihayo, if you will remember, is the chap who obliged the British Governor with a pretext for war. He sent a party of warriors into the British colony of Natal to retrieve a couple of adulterous women from his kraal. They were brought back and promptly executed.

Anyway, to our great surprise on Saturday morning, my wife and I ended up being the only ones with tickets for the game! Let me tell you something folks, when you see these scenarios listed, you need to jump on them! You are guaranteed a good time! Well, your loss was our gain! The two of us had a great time playing the scenario ourselves with Roy Jones' providing his usual stellar performance as gamemaster.

Like the other scenarios from this collection I have played this one was outstanding. The situation was challenging and interesting and the balance seemed to be perfect. These guys really have talent for writing well-crafted scenarios and coming up with some really innovative ideas.

I'll write more about the scenario next time. In the meantime, check out these photos of Roy Jones and I setting up the scenery and the 25mm miniatures. In both these photos, Roy is the guy on the left and I am on the right.

Also, I was hoping that the scenario book would be available for purchase at this convention, but Roy says it is not ready yet. Hopefully it will be out for Historicon in July.

"Cold Wars" or Bust!

Well everybody, it is the morning of March 17, 2006, but am I planning to celebrate St. Patick's Day? Heck no! Not only am I not Irish, I'm hitting the road for that sun and fun capital of the world, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and I'm going to the HMGS East "Cold Wars" convention! If any of you have not been to this annual event you really need to try to make it some day. You won't regret it. The theme of this year's convention is the "Rise and Fall of Rome: A Millenium of War."

All the details can be found here.


I am hoping to participate in a lot of World War II "Flames of War" action for all you mavens of mechanized mayhem, and a lot "Sword and the Flame" action for all you round-eyed imperialists! We'll discuss it all when I get back! Hope to see you there!

German Hetzer

My co-blogger Klumzey Keith is down with the flu. So to cheer him up I'd thought I'd post this picture of Keith's favorite AFV, the German Hetzer, which was a jadgpanzer adapted from the Czech T38 tank. This left side is open so you can look inside and see exactly how "cozy" it must have been for the crew of four. You can even see the remote control mechanism for the MG up on top. Now I ask you, who else but the Germans could have come up with something like that in those days?
My son Andy took this picture just this past Saturday up in Aberdeen. Maryland that is.

Italian M13/40

Keith has also been painting up a 15mm force of Italian Areite Division tanks, guns, and troops. So, in order to inspire him to get off his sick bed and back to working on them, I am posting this new and improved picture of the M13/40. This is the "mystery tank" I posted a few days ago under "Stump the Blogmeister." Since nobody ventured a guess; I win! Anyway this is a much better picture. To begin with the sun was shining, and my son Andy used his camera which actually takes better pictures than mine! How did I let that situation occur?

British Mark IV and Whippet from WWI

Okay everybody, as I said before, I drove back to Aberdeen to get some better pictures. My son Andrew and I both had our cameras going and between the two of us we got about 120 shots. It's a lot to go through. In the first round of looking through the pictures, these two that Andrew took stood out for me. These close ups of the British Mark IV and the Whippet were just so clear and detailed that I just had to post them. I hope you not tired of looking at pictures of tanks because its about all we have right now. Keith and I have been so preoccupied with things lately that neither of us has been able to do hardly anything gaming-wise. That will be rectified soon because I am going to the Cold Wars convention in Lancaster, Pennsylvania this weekend! If any of you have a chance to go, I highly recommend it. Check out our "Historical Miniature Gaming Society, East" link under "Gamer Resources" if you want to learn more about it.

Blogmeister Keith and a Panzer I

Here's another interesting picture for you. This is our very own Klumzey Keith standing next to a Panzer I on a cold, misty, rainy day. You can't get a good feel for how small those things are until you stand someone next to one. Keith is not a short man, he is about 6 feet tall.

Incidently, I drove back to Aberdeen this past Saturday to get better pictures. I'll be posting some of them soon.
So, more later,
Bwana Bill

Stump the Blogmeister, Again

Alright everybody, I don't know about you but we had so much fun with our Stump the Blogmeister games (see below) that we just have to do it again. This time we know the answer to the question, but lets see how many of you can get it. Here it is; can you identify this particular tank? Leave a comment if you can!

The Ever-Impressive and Imposing Jagdtiger

Here are a few more armor pictures I thought you might like. This Jagdtiger is on display at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum in Aberdeen, Maryland. It is certainly one of the more spectacular things up there due to its imposing size. This vehicle is the tank destroyer(or what the Germans called, the "jagdpanzer") version of the infamous Tiger II, or King Tiger. There is one interesting tidbit about this particular vehicle. The main gun appears to be smaller than it actually is because this vehicle was "scuttled" by its crew. They drained the hydraulic fluid out of the main gun's recoil damper and fired the gun; for the last time. They say that the breech remains impacted to the rear wall of the gun compartment. So, even though the gun still looks quite huge, it is the 128mm Pak 80, it is actually bigger than it appears to the observer today. I'm sure there are some other interesting stories that could be told about this particular Jagdtiger. If you look carefully at the closeup shot of the glacis plate you will see scars from projectiles that impacted and were deflected. You can also see a big gouge that was taken out of the recoil sleeve surrounding the main gun.

Reader Response to "Stump the Blogmeister"

Reader Jay very kindly responded to our query on the unusual tanks here and here:

"About your tanks...

The second tank is the M6 heavy tank. It was developed but never put into production because the Army ground forces calculated that they could ship 1.5 M-4 shermans for every M-6 heavy. By the time we got into combat in France, the M-6 design was obsolete. The M-26 pershing was developed and shipped instead, arriving a few weeks before the war endded.

Your first tank is either a "stretched" M-26 or a a "stretched" M-46. The rear drive sprocket which is out of your photo will tell which is which.

The M-26 has a rear drive sprocket lower than the line of return rollers for the upper line of track.

The M-46 has the rear drive sprocket in line with the upper return rollers.

There were a number of these "stretched" experimental tanks. This one looks like it has been lengthened about 4 feet, having an extra pair of road wheels, and a much larger turrret carrying the 120mm AA gun instead of the normal 90mm gun. The enlarged turret also had 2 loaders, one for the shot and one for the powder charge. There was even one of these things built, carrying the 155mm gun (that is a BIG gun guys!)

This philosphy of "stretched" hulls was actually put in to production about 1959 or 60 with the M-103 heavy tank. This was a stretched M-48 tank, again carrying the 120mm AA gun. About 50 were built and they were fielded in Germany as independent companies, held at corps level. The philosphy was they they would loiter at the rear of the battle area, picking off the JSIII Russian tanks, while the M-48 mediums mixed it up with the T-34 and T-44 tanks at shorter ranges.

You can see info about the M-6 in Chamberlain and Ellis' wonderful book "British and American Tanks and AFVs of WWII"."

If anyone can find a link to that book, I'd love to publish it here! I searched Amazon and Google, but no luck.

Thanks so much for your time and the great information Jay! We're not tankers, but we love our tanks!

Update from Armaments In Miniature - 15mm WWII Aircraft for the Discerning Wargamer

I wanted to pass on some good news about Armaments In Miniature(AIM). I was checking out the website there, looking specifically for an Italian airplane model to compliment my Compagnia Carri. In addition I was hoping to find a P40 to support my American paratroopers. Dave produces some the absolute finest true 15mm resin aircraft models I've ever seen. You can buy painted metal planes for slightly less, however they are not in proper scale. It always looks better, to me at least, to have everything in the same scale! Another reason that his models are great to use is that they fit so nicely on his terrain clearing stand, which is something every 15mm World War II gamer should have!

What follows is Dave's reply to my email query on the current status of various remolds!

"The Fiat CR.42 is in production and I have detailed decals for it (two different squadriglia). I also have the CR.42AS version which was a dedicated ground attack version for North Africa. I also have two different decal set for it.

I have an Italian version of the Ju-87B-2 (Ba/Ju-87B-2/R-2/TROP) with Italian bombs, drop tanks, dust filter and Italian decals.

The P-40E was just completed and I am working on the parts mold to provide a bomb and drop tank.

Also waiting to complete the parts mold for the Kittyhawk IA (British version of the P-40E).

Just competed the remaster of the Me-109G-6 and added a bomb, drop tank, 21 cm rocket launchers, and 30mm add on wing guns. Have an Italian version available with decals.

Just ready to pour the first part of the production mold for the Junkers Ju-52/3m 5ge model.

Late in March I will have the Bell P-39 D and a remaster of the French D.520.

I also have a early war landing craft available, the LCP(L).

I remastered the Il-2, Il-2 Type 3, I-16 and the Ju-87D-1."

As a Post Script to the above information, Dave also sends: "...the new models will be introduced at HMGS East Cold Wars '06 in Lancaster, PA and I hope the have my web site updated by the end of March"

Wow! I'm so excited about these new releases, I'm going to have to order several new models! I'll make sure I post photos when I get done!

For photos and previous posts about AIM, click here and here. The Terrain Clearing Stand can be found here.

A New Game - to Your Blogmeisters!

Bwana Bill and I have been talking about Legends of the Old West by Warhammer Historicals.

After reading the rules, I feel that they are full of fun fluff and they are completely playable. Apparently this ruleset is somewhat like of Games Workshops Lord of the Rings - mixed with Mordheim - which are both games I love to play!

Basically, you start with $200.00 and use that to build a "posse". You have to have at least 3 members to start, though it's probably better to have a lot of members. More figures mean you can make your opponent roll more die!

With Bwana Bill's Whitewash City buildings and a bit of home-baked terrain we'll be all set!

Figures are another topic entirely. I have a few that I've collected, but so far my favorite are by Shadowforge Miniatures which I purchased through Brigade Games - the "Earp Sisters" set! I actually bought them for my wife, however they are such great minis that I recon I'll have to mosey on down to my paintin' room and slap a dab o' paint on them thar critters!

The figures I have were purchased, cleaned, and painted are from the Desperado line by Monday Knight Productions. I am happy with the quality, however they are true 25mm, which makes them a tad small compared to the Shadowforge minis.

Still, I look forward to my gang of banditos riding into town, guns blazing, taking hostages, robbing banks, and being generally bad hombres! I have a 'gunslinger' looking figure with two pistols, a former Southern Army Scout with a Winchester rifle, a buffalo hunter/trapper/trader with a buffalo gun, and a gunslingin' gambler, as well as a Mexican bandito and a renegade deputy.

Bwana will have to come up with a band of cowpokes or lawmen to counter the threat of my dastardly gunslingers!

Stump the Blogmeister

Hello again all you tankmeisters! Today we want to return to discussing our recent trip to the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum in Aberdeen, Maryland. Our tour guide took us to a remote lot were a lot of old prototype stuff is parked. This was a great opportunity because these vehicles are not considered to be on public display.

We saw two enormous U.S. heavy tank prototypes from the WWII era. They were never put into production because the logistics of getting them to the overseas war zones was just too hard. Here's the problem, I was so busy taking pictures that I was only half listening to what our guide was saying, so I can't remember the names of these beasts. He called one "the M6" and the other I don't know at all. If anyone knows, please leave a comment. I could always send an E-mail question to the kind gent who showed us around, but that would spoil all the fun, don't you think?

Anyway, I was kind of shocked when I saw these. I had never seen or heard of them before. I might be exaggerating, but it seemed to me that these things were comparable in size to the German Tiger tanks of WWII. If you think I'm wrong, please tell me!

Here is a photo of the first one:

Stump the Blogmeister (continued)

Here is the second one, unfortunately it is not a very good picture, the weather was really bad that day:

It looks to me that this one is the M6. It had a 3 inch gun (which is equivalent to about 75mm)AND a 37mm gun side-by-side in the turret. It also had twin .50 cal. MGs in the bow and it weighed 63 tons! That would make it comparable in size to a Tiger II wouldn't it?

The Miniatures We Use

For the most part, our figures and tank models are Battlefront Miniatures however we have a few that are by Old Glory as well.

Another minature manufacturer we have seen in 15mm is Quality Casting, which is actually by Battle Honours Miniatures of the U.K.

In addition, the terrain you see in our games is in part terrain that we have created ourselves, but we also put out some buildings by The Miniature Building Authority.