STALINGRAD Bolt Action Mega Battle!

A great little addition to my ‘Stalingrad Armoured Kampfgruppe’ plastoon (see page 146 ‘Campaign Stalingrad’) is this 2 man Flame Thrower Team.

It has been kit-Bashed with a metal German Soldier head from Warlords ‘Germans in plain steel helmets’ metal sprue, and Africa Corps Plastic sprue. Both heads have been chosen because they are wearing goggles, to add to feel of being mounted mech infantry, like  many of their platoon compatriots.

I would recommend Flame Thrower teams to any player looking to take out enemies entrenched in cover, which these guys will find by the bucket load facing them in Stalingrad. The weapon has the great ability to ignore cover to hit roll penalties! If it hits, it has D6 serious chances of killing enemy infantrymen with a +3 to the dice roll., and then what’s left has to take a morale check to stay on the table with a killer D3 + 1 pins.

This small but very effective unit will be used aggressively as a spearhead unit to break a whole in the enemy line, after being moved up in an Hanomag transport, and will pave the way for an Panzergrenadier (Stalingrad) infantry squad to capture a building etc.

he application of some Vallejo ‘Gloss Varnish’ and some ProPigments ‘Black’ add two vastly contrasting finishes to the models, which adds a further level of verisimilitude and immersion on the tabletop.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Afrika Korps

Sometimes accidents will happen! Yesterday I was completely chuffed with this characterful new addition to my Stalingrad Mega Project, and today I found him partially disarmed, in a quite literal manner on the floor having half an arm with his SMG broken off.

I have had as some of you know a somewhat colourful life, and I try to look for the win in a bad situation, as many of us who play Soviets are bound to do. One highly improbable but actual blessing in disguise was that the MP40’s magazine had broken off in an absolutely clean line, exactly where the port ends in the weapon. This enabled me to re -glue the arm in a different position, sculpt some green stuff into the gaps and give the figure a new pose.

The new pose looks like he has shot his load (O0owh Er Missus!) and is in the process of having to quickly reload. I like the new element of desperation and reality that the model now has!

A fun quick little project, to get a squad leader for my Hiwi’s painted and in the cabinet.

I used a German Ushanka from Warlord’s Plastic ‘German Infantry (Winter)’ box set, but cut of one of the ear flaps and re glued it in a more dynamic looking position. It looks like he is desperately letting rip with his MP40, with a stance to suggest poise and action, which the direction of the hat flaps in motion further suggest.

I actually quite like this miniature as he is pretty unique, and I enjoyed getting him painted in an evening.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Armies of Germany 2nd Edition

Blitzkrieg German Infantry plastic boxed set

German Grenadiers plastic box set

Germans Infantry (Winter)

Research Material Osprey Books:

https://ospreypublishing.com/uk/german-army-193945-3-9781782002192/

Scenery by Tymeagain:

https://www.tymeagain.co.uk/store/index.php?route=product/search&search=urban%20ruins

I have started an Heer Veteran squad to be the core of my 3 squad Heer platoon. I originally planned to try a single test piece, but got carried away.

I have finished 4 German infantrymen (soon to be of a larger squad.) and wanted them to stand out clearly from their compatriots in the other 2 Regular Heer squads which were assembled using purely the components from Warlord’s Blitzkrieg German Infantry plastic box set. The intention to make them stand out as Veterans on the table top in a non over the top manner. The first thing I did was give them heads from the German Infantry (Winter) box set. This gives them a very much separate look from their ‘Regular’ mates.

The cherry on the cake which firmly anchors them as ‘Veteran’, was to add a plastic Iron Cross to each model. This looks great across the group as an whole without being over the top. Each Iron Cross suggest bravery on a personal level, and is a relatively discrete detail at 28mm, but one that will clear upon close inspection.

All I need to do is finish the LMG trooper and I will have a new squad to add to my German forces.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Armies of Germany 2nd Edition

Blitzkrieg German Infantry plastic boxed set

German Grenadiers plastic box set

Germans Infantry (Winter)

Research Material Osprey Books:

https://ospreypublishing.com/uk/german-army-193945-3-9781782002192/

Scenery by Tymeagain:

https://www.tymeagain.co.uk/store/index.php?route=product/search&search=urban%20ruins

I have been aware that the Wehrmacht recruited and used foreign “volunteers” under various methods of recruitment (more of that in a later article), as auxiliaries and combat troops. I had read about the use of Hilfswillige (Hiwis) in many of the books that I have read on the subject. I thus  in felt that they were a missing part of my Stalingrad Mega Project. I wished to get some on the table top but, was unsure to how they were equipped, what uniform, Civi clothes, or random mixture of both they would have worn.

I rely heavily on Osprey books for my go to reference material for uniform and equipment colours to inform my miniature painting. I also enjoy the back ground information to add to my knowledge, so that I can add period details and flavour to my games of Bolt Action. I found by accident an image of an armed Hiwi in Ospreys’ The German Army 1939-45 (3), Eastern Front‘ from their Men at Arms Series  (Image by Stephen Andrew from The German Army 1939 –45 (3): The Eastern Front 1941-43 by Nigel Thomas © 1999 Osprey Publishing). This provided the answer to my question and the inspiration to start kit bashing a few units of Hiwis for my games of Bolt Action.

I have used the Osttruppen rules (Armies of Germany, page 29) which are suitable for untrained and seriously undermotivated troops, like Hiwis.

I decided to try assembling a single miniature as a test piece for a detachment of Hiwis for Bolt Action. I used a plastic Winter Soviet body, with plastic German rifle arms and webbing form Warlord’s Plastic Blitzkrieg infantry set. I then sculpted an arm band and patch for the Hiwis ushanka. I like the heavily mixed and improvised look that this creates, and can’t wait to get more assemled, painted and on the gaming table!

I watched an episode of TIK History some time ago (I will post a link when I can find it!), where he discussed documents showing how Hiwis were armed, and it mentioned troops with rifles supported by MMG and Mortar Teams. This has given me serious food for though and I will not feel that my Stalingrad Axis forces will be complete without them.

God willing, this single miniature will be the first of many, which I intend to add to bulk out my somewhat under strength and under powered platoon built around 2 Feldgendarmerei squads. This would make sense that the Foreign “Volunteers” were paired with the Military Field Police to keep an eye on them. Usefully there are rules for Military Police in the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ campaign book (page 43), which I will be using for the German Feldgendarmerei, which will allow Hiwi units to re-roll rally tests, and keep them in the fight.

Watch this space for further developments.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

https://store.warlordgames.com/products/armies-of-germany-2nd-edition?aff=42

Soviet Winter Infantry plastic box set

Blitzkrieg German Infantry plastic boxed set

Bolt Action Campaign: Battle of the Bulge

Research Material Osprey Books:

https://ospreypublishing.com/uk/german-army-193945-3-9781782002192/

Scenery by Tymeagain:

https://www.tymeagain.co.uk/store/index.php?route=product/search&search=urban%20ruins

Some times you have glaring gaps in your order of battle/display cabinet, and one of mine has been my Guard division troops. I started of strong and put together 2 under strength squads, then got distracted by more distinctive looking, or unusual units such as Straffbat troops.

These guys are going to be a solid backbone for my Soviet Army in my ‘Stalingrad Mega Battle’. I have 2 squads so far, and intend to build another, and run them all at full strength and Regular rating.

I am using the “No land beyond the Volga” Reinforced platoon as the basis for this platoon, which will allow them to take an MMG, HMG and up to six Anti Tank Teams.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Soviet Infantry plastic box set

I plan to anchor them in  the Pavolv’s House building at the centre of the battle, kit them out with as much fire power as possible, and a have the as the central lynchpin holding the Soviet centre ground. Having hard cover, with high elevations in the multi storey Pavlov’s House, They should be incredibly difficult to dislodge, and will have birds eye views to shoot at the enemy from. As a result I will be giving them an Heavy Mortar, an FAO and a multi purpose ZIS 3 Anti Tank Gun, which can also fire as a Light Howitser.

I totally ignored the Soviet Heads sporting a Ushanka. The siberian box set forced me to have a go and now I love the miniatures with them, and the look they bring to the table top!

I like the idea (which is also my justification for using this tank in Stalingrad) that this is a lone survivor of the vast tank armies that pretty much got destroyed earlier in the War.

It has bags of character, but ‘light tank’ armour and a ‘light Anti-Tank Gun’, which means it will struggle against Panzer III and IV’s, but is a real threat to infantry (it has a Co-Axial MMG. so it can fire the main gun or the MMG) and artillery, even if in cover. It will also be great for chasing down Hanomags, Trucks and Armoured cars.

The paint scheme is simple, and I applied an heavy level of weathering and scratches to the paint work, to give the impression of heavy use and ware.

The red star was achieved by use of an airbrush and a Star  Stencil from Anarchy models.

Anarchy Models Stars:

https://www.anarchymodels.co.uk/hs02—allied-stars-39-p.asp

Soviet BT-7 fast tank