AK47 Winter Wobbler [1]

I've decided to crack on with the AK47 Superpower Backed army for completion by the end of term. The Local Education Authority, in it's air conditioned, water cooler hydrated, shag piled wisdom has decided that this will be on the 21st of December. So, with no further ado (is ado a word or does it need a hyphen?), here's the bulk of the army laid out for inspection.

As you can see, there's a single professional beret clad infantry unit complete with half painted MTLB APC's, alongside a unit of regular T55 tanks, half of which are still wrapped in plastic. These are needed as potential additions to the army in the political phase of the game. To the right there's a unit or two of regular small arms, RPG bases and heavy weapons, with either BTR60's or trucks for transportation.

I need to sort out a couple of militia units for the army but I have plenty of figures for this and some rather neat Toyota pick-ups that will do the job very well. I'll try to limit the number of militia infantry bases that I need to paint up, as at only seven points each they're a little bit of a pain when you need ten bases as minimum. I'm sure I can cut down the workload with a bit of imagination and some judicious bits and bobs from The Scene.

I'll also be adding a 1/100 scale plastic kit of an Mil Mi24 Hind gunship and a ground attack aircraft of some description, just in case I get lucky on the double dice rolls!

AK47 Presidential Guard [5]

 

 

I've had a re-think about the AK47 presidential guard and have decided to use it as the first unit in a new Superpower Backed army, rather than as an addition to the existing Mbote Dictatorship army. This is partly down to the fact that the camo scheme that I've used is very different to the bog standard green on the Mbote AFV's and, on reflection, is a little bit too much of a clash.

 

It's also due to a shortfall in little red triangle decals for the Mbote insignia and the existence of a whole load of pre-based, helmet wearing soviet style infantry in the surplus box, alongside several really nice Skytrex BTR60's. This will be enough for at least two more units, leaving me with only a couple of militia units to sort out.

 

I was planning another army or two anyway, so why not use what I've already got and put one together for minimal effort? I didn't fancy tackling my based up Colonial Settlers or my box of Religious Movement bits and bobs, so a Superpower Backed faction is a good alternative and will help shift some of the surplus lead in the pile.

Bolt Action Game

The game at the club this evening was an envelopment scenario using the Bolt Action rules. The action took place somewhere in the Rhineland in early 1945, with my late war regular US reinforced infantry platoon attacking Mike's veteran SS dug-in defenders. It was a really good game and I'm getting a better hang of the rules, although I'm still a bit unsure of some of the more arcane mechanisms. It was a challenging scenario too and ended up in a draw, although I reckon a couple of turns would have made a US victory fairly likely, especially as one of my infantry squads was within a gnats whisker of the enemy deployment zone. Good fun!

AK47 Presidential Guard [4]

A little more time on the AK47 professional T55 tanks and MTLB APC's this evening, although the results are less than obvious. I need to add the decals and do some weathering next, before sorting out the bases and giving the whole lot a decent coat of Army Painter matt varnish. I'm out at the club tomorrow night, so this will have to wait until mid-week.

Sub Lieutenant (S) Cyril Bert Jackaman

 

Sub Lieutenant (S) Cyril Bert Jackaman

 

Royal Naval Reserve

 



HMS Manistee

 

24th February 1941

 

Age 24

 

At 22.42 hours on 23 Feb, 1941, u107 fired a spread of two torpedoes at HMS Manistee (F 104) (LtCdr Eric Haydn Smith, RNR) south of Iceland and scored a hit in the engine room. The ship had escorted the convoy OB228 until it was dispersed at 21.00 hours the same day. She was also attacked by the Italian submarine Bianchi (Giovannini), which fired a torpedo at 22.56 hours, claimed a hit in the stern from a distance of 600 metres and then continued to chase other ships of the convoy.

 

At 22.58 hours, U107 fired two coups de grâce that missed because the ship suddenly continued. Also a stern torpedo fired at 23.42 hours missed because it was a surface-runner. The U-boat began a long chase of the zigzagging ship and fired two torpedoes at 07.58 hours on 24 February. One of them hit in the stern and caused the ship to sink in 58°55N/20°50W. HMS Churchill  was ordered to search for survivors, but found none. The commander, 18 officers and 122 ratings were lost.

 

Driver William Jackaman

Driver William Jackaman

776466

310th Brigade
 Royal Field Artillery

6th November 1918

Age 23

AK47 Presidential Guard [3]

I got some decent time in on the AFV's for the Mbote Presidential Guard this afternoon, although they look a bit garish and none too tidy at the moment. I need to drybrush the tracks then give the whole lot a thorough gunge wash, before I start on the detailing, weathering and tidying up this time tomorrow.

Copplestone Christmas!

That really nice Mr Copplestone has a  slightly premature but very welcome 10% off Xmas Sale this weekend. I have had my eye on his re-released Zanzibari regulars for quite a while, so have ordered a couple of packs of the marching figures, as I think they look particularly splendid. I've also ordered two packs of the superbly sculpted Watuta warriors as the core of an Ngoni inspired army, alongside a small selection of brazen Tuta women archers. Superb!

AK47 Presidential Guard [2]

I've  added a couple of clanky old T55's to the Mbote Presidential Guard in order to give the unit a bit more punch. The MTLB APC's the troops will be transported around in are unarmed, in order to squeeze in four bases per vehicle, so the tanks will be used as much needed fire support. I've also spray undercoated the small arms bases, along with the heavy weapons, so will be able to start on them this evening.

AK47 Presidential Guard [1]

I found this unpainted professional unit in the box of unfinished AK47 bits yesterday and have decided to give them a quick paint up for the game in a couple of weeks time. They were originally based up two years ago, so have been gathering dust since then!

http://jimswargamesworkbench.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/ak47-summer-offensive-21.html

This means that the Bolt Action bits and bobs will go back in the box for the meantime. I will, however, crack on with cleaning up and basing the final units for the In the Heart of Africa tribal villagers, ready for painting once the AK47 Mbote presidential guard are finished.