Squad Level Skirmish Second World War Rules

I've been mulling over the way ahead for my 28mm WW2 project, with the inevitable suspicion that Chain of Command is more practicable in 15mm. It's not the core platoon sized force that's the issue but the need for support options, which pushes the price bracket even higher than it would be otherwise. It also means that the relative cost factor of 15mm makes 28mm just the other side of silly.

This became painfully apparent when I was costing up a Soviet platoon using Crusader Miniatures, which levelled off at about £75 to £100, once I'd factored in a handful of heavy weapons, tanks and extras. This is just not feasible for me at the moment, even if I used plastics rather than my prefered metal figures. On the flipside, 15mm is a fraction of the cost and I already have the figures, so it's not rocket science to do Chain of Command using these smaller scale models.

However, I'm now revising the scope of my 28mm project to focus on squad level skirmish, with no more than a platoon as the default unit strength. This is more like Bolt Action, which I'm not a fan of, so an alternative set of rules is up for selection. At the moment, this will be Iron Cross from Great Escape Games, as the guys at the club think it's a really good set of rules. I'm also going to have another look at Five Men at Kursk by Nordic Weasel and as an outside third place option, Rate of Fire from Crusader Publishing.

One new set of rules that caught my eye, while browsing Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy in WHSmiths the other day, is Ultracombat Normandy by Dish Dash Games. These are the guys who produced the popular Skirmish Sangin modern rules, although the WW2 system is different. I really like the look of the rules from what I've read online and the price of the rule book too, as it's available in .pdf format, with the element cards as a free download. I also really like card based systems!

I may download the rules for a closer look?

Winter Platoon Hetzer Support

I knew that I had a couple of Tamiya 1/48th scale kits in the loft that I could use as armoured support for the Winter German Platoon, so after a rummage and some colourful language, I extracted a Hetzer and a StuG III G from the plastic kit pile. I prefer 1/48th scale with 28mm and usually use Corgi diecast models or Blitzkrieg Miniatures resin ones but these Tamiya kits are cheaper and still suitable for wargaming.

They have a hefty diecast metal chassis as well, which adds some much needed weight and rigidity to the finished models. The only real issue are the tracks, which are link and length so a bit fiddly. I am going to take the Hetzer on holiday with me to build while I'm away, leaving the StuG for a rainy day, so at least the platoon will have some armour support.

Easter Holiday Project

I've been thinking through some ideas for a clean up and base project that I can take on holiday next week. I've done this before, with mixed success, as it almost always ends up with a box of assembled and based figures or models, which then go back in a box and are never seen again! However, it's a useful wargamey thing to do and keeps me busy, when otherwise I'd just be sitting around enjoying the sunshine but achieving nothing at all. Nothing wrong with that but it's fun to have something to do in the evenings and I quite enjoy assembling and basing too.

This time, I'm going to base up a core platoon of late war winter equipped German infantry for Chain of Command, to use against my existing late war US platoon which I painted a long time ago for Bolt Action! The thinking behind this is that it will enable me to pay solo games with the figures I already have and will make use of the Cigar Box Battle snow cloth that I has been under-employed but for which I have some nice woodland and river terrain. I can easily add more terrain pieces to this including ruined buildings, roads and scatter, so it's killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.

The figures are all Artizan Designs which I've had for ages, so I don't need to buy any new ones, and I also have a couple of Britzkrieg Miniatures resin half tracks to go with them. I have a PaK 40 too, so that's a good reason to assemble the Sdkfz 251 Hanomag as a tow, while the Sdkfz 250 that I also have will be a command or scout vehicle. However, I'm not going to repeat the mistake I made with my stalled Japanese platoon and glue together all the numerous support options under the sun, as this just put me off painting the buggers last time!

Sherman Stowage in 28mm

This looks like the contents of my loft!

I'm now completely bogged down by a back log of work, having had no time over the weekend to keep up to date, so much so that I had to bail out of the Iron Cross game last night to mark a Year 8 set of books for today. How rubbish is that? I did get the 1/72nd scale resin stowage for the What a Tanker! project in the post yesterday, which cheered me up a lot, as it is really nice and will be great for loading up the 1/72nd scale US Shermans for that 'late war' on campaign look. I'll add some to the models I've already built as soon as I get the time.

This way to the stowage men!

I was so impressed that I have now ordered a set of stowage in 1/56th / 1/48th to use on my 1/48th scale Corgi Sherman M4A3's, which I originally re-painted for Bolt Action a few years ago but which are now destined for Iron Cross. I've never been happy with these, as they look far too 'bare' and lack the 'pile it on with kit and sandbags' look. They also need some snow camouflage I think, to match the winter terrain that I now have assembled, albeit only in part as I have lots more laser cut 28mm stuff to glue together for the Battle of the Bulge.

Iron Cross

I missed last week's Fire & Fury ACW game at the club due to the sudden dash to Brittany for the funeral, so I'm making up lost time this week by joining in with a four player game of Iron Cross. I have the rules and have watched a couple of games from a distance before, but this will the first time I've actually had a go. 

It's a 600 point a side British vs. German late war scenario, so I'm really  looking forward to it. If I like the mechanics, I'm thinking of dusting off and reorganizing my 28mm US platoon, perhaps adding a few more extra bits that have been hanging about for far too long, so that I can use it for Iron Cross too.

Trees, Trees and more Trees

I've started on the winter woodland scatter terrain for the What a Tanker! game, although it will also be re-useable for other things in 20mm and 28mm. These are terrain templates from Supreme Littleness Designs and East Riding Miniatures, combined with plastic tree stump bases from Woodlands Scenics. I only have either small trees or big trees left in the bag, so it may look a bit odd without many medium sized trees to mix in, but I think it will be okay once they're all together. I'll texture the bases next to blend in the stumps, then undercoat the whole lot with brown and grey spray paint, before finishing off with some white snow effect over spraying and dry brushing.

L'Armee de l'ombre

I have all three books in the L'Armee de l'ombre trilogy now, having popped into the local bookstore while shopping for the trip home. This series of graphic novels details the experience of a group of soldiers on the Eastern Front, so it is pretty brutal stuff but beautifully realised by the author / artist, Olivier Speltens. It's also a cracking story even if I am struggling through the French text at times, with some very well thought out set piece scenes that really capture the experience of war on the Russian Front. If you are looking for inspiration for your company or platoon level scenarios, you need look no further.

The Big Hurt

Two Hour Wargames have a 25% off sale at the moment, so I had a look to see if there was anything of interest, having already got a copy of NUTS!, their WW2 squad and platoon level skirmish rules. I was looking for some scenario material to use with my 28mm Artizan late war US infantry, which have been looking for something to do for a while and have been gathering dust. I like the idea of adding to existing projects at the moment, rather than starting completely new things from scratch.

I still have a handful of figures to paint up to create a full complement platoon. In the meantime, I've been thinking about using them for squad level skirmish games instead of Bolt Action!, which isn't my cup of tea, or Chain of Command, which requires way too many figures and extras to be do-able. The club is keen on Iron Cross but I also like the look of Five Men at Kursk, which is very much a squad level game.

The end result is a pdf of The Big Hurt, which features twenty one squad level scenarios set in the Hurtgen Forest from October 1944 to February 1945. This fits in perfectly with my pre-exiting autumnal figure basing theme and with my terrain collection, which includes a lovely winter gaming mat and some really useful river sections. I also have plenty of terrain bits to add to this to make up some good looking forest terrain and defensive positions.

The scenarios look really good too and easily convertible to Iron Cross, Five Men at Kursk or whatever rules system that you might want to use including NUTS!, of course. I don't have any Germans at the moment but I have already collated all the Artizan figures I need for some late war opposition, so may well dig them out in the new year and actually get on with this long neglected project.

Iron Cross Ideas

I had the chance to see Iron Cross in action at the club last night and to have a chat with the chaps who've been playing it of late to see what they thought about it. The overall impression seems to be that it is a very neat and enjoyable system, with lots of decision making and tactical play enhanced by the use of the counters which determine who does what. This was a simple but really effective way to add an element of uncertainty and randomness to the game.

This was seen as a really positive aspect of the rules system and certainly seemed to result in a cut and thrust style game, with lots of choices and plenty of game play. I was duly impressed and thought it looked like a lot of fun, so I've dug out my copy of the rules for a proper read through. I bought these when they first came out but didn't get round to doing anything with them, despite being frustrated by Bolt Action, the rules of choice at the club.

One thing that does really appeal to me about Iron Cross in particular is the use of four or five man fire teams as the building blocks of a force, which means that I will have more than enough figures, heavy weapons and vehicles to put together a late war US unit using my existing collection, so no need to add loads more figures as with Chain of Command. I'll see if I can wangle a game at the club sometime soon....?? 

Siegfried Line

I've been working on some terrain bits and bob's for my late war WW2 project, based around the tundra terrain cloth that I bought cheap before Xmas. The latest addition to the 'to do' list are a couple of boxes of anti-tank obstacles, which I'll base on mdf hedgerow terrain templates from ERM. These will then be deployed as Siegfried Line defences alongside my Snapdragon resin trenches, although I'll also need some bunkers for the Germans to hide in. I did try to scratchbuild some dragons teeth using an ice cube tray and plaster of Paris but it didn't work, so the off the shelf version is very attractive, especially as I got them for a tenner a box.

Easter Plans

I have a couple of things to do over the holidays, which will be spent away as usual, so no painting but plenty of preparation work instead. The first plan is to base up the Artizan Designs figures for my late war German platoon, which can then be painted for use against my late war US infantry. I'd like to break away from Bolt Action and try out some other WW2 skirmish level rules, so this seems like a good way to go.

The second project is one I intended to do over the last summer holidays but didn't get round to. This is a third army for the Back of Beyond in the shape of a Copplestone Turkish expeditionary force. It looks like there will be at least one Back of Beyond game at the club in the next couple of months, which is great as it will hopefully inspire some renewed interest in a fourth club campaign, in which my small but well balanced Turkish force may even take part.

Bolt Action Late War German Grenadiers [7]

I've always had a soft spot for the Sdkfz 250, probably due to the old Airfix 1/32 scale kit of Rommel's desert command version which I built as a kid, so I thought I'd add one to the late war German platoon. This is a Blitzkrieg Miniatures resin model in 1/48th scale, as all my other vehicles are 1/50th scale Corgi diecasts which look enormous next to their 1/56th scale counterparts. I will use this one as a command vehicle for my HQ or as a transport for my forward observer team. A bit expensive for what it is but I like it.

Bolt Action Late War German Grenadiers [6]

A while back I set out my plans for a Bolt Action German platoon to use against my existing late war US platoon. The original idea was to model a Volksgrenadier platoon but, as I already have a load of Artizan figures in greatcoats and winter smocks, I decided that this would be a regular Heer grenadier platoon without the obligatory assault rifles. The Bolt Action game at the weekend has reminded me about this project so I've been fiddling around with a painting schedule and colour schemes.

While I was in Cornwall at half term I picked up a Flames of War paint set for late war German infantry which, together with my existing collection of Vallejo and Foundry paints, will form the basis of my approach to these figures. They'll be in a mixture of Autumn camouflage smocks and greatcoats, which will fit in nicely with my winter equipped Americans. I have also been working out what I will need to fill out the ranks, with the Easter holiday as a good time to base them all up.

One thing which I don't have is a tow for my PaK40, so this has been on my list of things to get hold of over the last few months. I prefer 1/48th scale diecast models for this sort of thing but hadn't been able to locate anything suitable. As a result, I decided to try out a Blitzkrieg Models resin vehicle, in the shape of an SdKfz 251/1 Hanomag half track, which seemed ideal for the purpose. The model arrived today having been ordered late on Monday and I have to say I am suitably impressed.

The casting is nice and clean with no air bubbles or distortions, although there s a little bit of flash around the hull and in a few corners. The model itself is nice and chunky, which means that little bits are unlikely to snap off in action, which is a problem I've had with some other resin models. The internal detail is also really good, with various bits of kit strewn around the crew compartment and hung from appropriate locations around the hull.

A really nice model in my preferred scale and, at only £20 a go, not too expensive as along as you don't want a whole Panzer Grenadier company of the things! I will definitely be looking to the Blitzkrieg range for more 1/48th scale AFV's, especially an M5A1 Stuart or M10 tank destroyer for my late war US infantry, both of which I'd really like to add to the platoon as recce and anti-tank fire support respectively. These aren't available yet but I'm hoping will be scaled up for the 1/48th scale range before long.

Operation Nordwind

I found this hardback in the second hand bookshop today for two quid. It's an interesting subject which is overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge but is well worth a look as an wargaming alternative. It also give my 28mm Artizan Yanks another excuse to be deployed in winter terrain and to have at least one Corgi Sherman tanks painted up in snow camouflage. I really should get round to finishing off those last few remaining figures to use with  Bolt Action!, Rate of Fire or Iron Cross.

Iron Cross First Impressions

I only opened the envelope a couple of hours ago but I have had a brief flick through of Iron Cross to get a few first impressions. The rulebook is very nicely presented but is definitely on the thin side, which isn't a bad thing and reflects the 'easy to learn' and 'compact' format of the rules. The booklet itself is well laid out with a full contents page making it easy to navigate and with plenty of diagrams, helpful tips and explanatory box outs to make things easy to work through. I particularly like the artwork, which is a nice touch.

I haven't had time to read through the turn sequence in any detail or work out the order of play beyond the use of command tokens to activate units, which is a bit like card based activation crossed with order dice, but will get down to a proper read through over the weekend. I have had a closer look at the orbats and lists, which are a bit abstract but include the typical AFV's, support and infantry units that you'd expect. The lists are for the usual NW Europe theatre and include US, British, German and Soviet forces, so no radical surprises there.

The use of five man 'detachments' as the basic infantry unit seems a bit odd until you either think of them as fire teams or take into account that a lot of people will have Flames of War element based armies, which I suspect the rules have been deliberately written to accommodate. It also means that you can field a decent sized force with about 30 figures in 28mm, so ideal if you haven't got a lot of them or don't have the time to put a historical platoon sized force together with all the whistles and bells, as in Chain of Command, for example.

I was hoping that the rules would be more 'historical' than Bolt Action but I'm not sure that this is the case, at least as far as unit composition is concerned. I'm sure that the tactical game play is what this claim is based upon although whether it does so 'better than anything else on this scale' remains to be seen. I suspect the Chain of Command and IABSM fraternity might disagree, although the Bolt Action fans probably don't care either way? I do like the idea of a bit of tactical ping pong and if the rules cater for this it will be one step up from the predictability or artificial randomness of some other rules.  

Anyway, I hope to get a game set up at the club in the New Year, once the dust has settled and I've finished off the last of my 28mm Artizan US infantry and my new tanks. The rules seem to favour the wheeling out of AFV's alongside a core of infantry units, so it's a definite combined arms approach to WW2 by the looks of it. This makes me think that it would possibly work better as a 15mm or 20mm ruleset, in the same way that Rapid Fire is pitched, rather than a 28mm skirmish level game like Bolt Action is designed for. I don't know but this is the 'feel' that I get from my first flick through of the rulebook, with an in-depth review coming along as soon as I can find the time.

Bolt Action Tank War

The Corgi diecast M4A3E8 that I found on eBay a few weeks ago has arrived and it's a cracker! Here it is next to my existing Shermans that I've repainted for use with my Artizan US infantry platoon. It won't be difficult to refurbish the Easy Eight to match up with my other tanks, with the potential for a Bolt Action Tank War game on the horizon. The new Iron Cross rules also seem to feature relatively large numbers of AFV's, at least in the game reviews that I've been reading, so I'm sure I'll be able to make use of the Shermans for that too. You can't beat a bit of armoured punch!

Iron Cross

 

 

I decided to order the new Great Escape Games WW2 rules yesterday, along with some counters for the US and Germans. I'm hoping they will arrive in the post sometime before next weekend, so that I can read them through over the Xmas holidays, although the post is very slow at the moment so I'm not holding my breath. I have also finally received my order of Artizan late war winter Germans and the extra US riflemen in greatcoats that I need to complete the third squad for my Bolt Action reinforced infantry platoon. These arrived today, so I haven't had time to base them up but will do so tomorrow, ready to take them on holiday for a lick of paint.

Iron Cross

This looks interesting. It seems as though it's aimed at a platoon level games despite the official blurb, with lots of tanks and support units and relatively few infantry, judging from the composition of the army deals that are listed on the Great Escape Games website. I like the sound of 32 pages of rules, of which the core mechanisms only take up 10 pages, with a definite fast play impression from the synopsis on the website:

Iron Cross is compact, easy to learn and has tons of decision making, tension and tactical nuances. What it does better than anything on this scale is give you a game that feels like WWII and looks like WWII. It’s a game that gamers can quickly pick up, without the extra padding in other WWII games to enable the player to concentrate on close quarters engagements between opposing forces of tanks and infantry.

 

Iron Cross is elegantly simple. Iron Cross uses a dynamic activation system which means players are always involved and constantly faced with tactical decisions. Playable in any scale, forces represent formations from company to battalion size. This book contains the rules for Iron Cross, scenarios and orders of battle for German, US, British and Soviet forces from 1944-45 in the European theatre of operations.

 

The inevitable tokens and chits look pretty flash too, although I'm not a big fan when it comes to littering the terrain with loads of nick nacks. I may well add this to the Xmas stocking, although I have plenty of other rules that I can play around with for 28mm. If it's anything like the other Great Escape Game skirmishy rules, it will be probably be £25 well spent and will give my late war US infantry something else to do in 2016.