The Colonel's Recovery Repeats: Late German World War II Forces in 15mm

I'm officially a cranky old man with a cane with 6 weeks to go until full recovery. The good news is that I have started painting again per the PLAN! BWAH HAH HAH HAH HAH Agghh *cough, cough*. Okay, enough of that. 

I have always been amazed at the versatility of Battlefronts' 15mm line of WWII vehicles and figures. The detail is amazing and the parts and figures add to the possibility of endless conversions. None of the vehicles were painted with an air brush and about 95% of the paints used are Vallejo with some Citadel colors. All of the figures and vehicles below are based on actual photographs (some rare color pictures) from the war. Original published on April 16, 2024. 

The Panzerkampfwagen VI please don't ask me which version); the infamous Tiger Tank.

While I am finishing up some projects that I am not quite ready to post yet, I thought I would share some of my favorite photos from my Late War German World War II force.

Panzergrenadier Executive Officer.

10.5 cm Artillery Battery

Fire Direction Center with Communications truck.

Gun Teams.

One of the rare Mounted Panzer Grenadier Companies on the Western Front, 1944.

Warlord Games Fallschirmjäger Sniper Team

Yeah I'm on a Fallschirmjäger kick. Here is the sniper team from Warlord Games. The barrel on the gun seems a bit short but honestly, I just didn't feel like researching late war sniper rifles.

Warlord Games Fallschirmjäger 75mm PaK 40 anti-tank gun

 

Another great pack from Warlord Games. The 7.5 cm Pak 40 (7,5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40) was a German 75 millimeter anti-tank gun developed in 1939-1941 by Rheinmetall and used during the Second World War. The Pak 40 formed the backbone of German anti-tank guns for the latter part of World War II, mostly in towed form, but also on a number of tank destroyers such as the Marder series. Approximately 20,000 Pak 40s were produced.

Nothing like a picture to help you finish your fiugres/models. I am going to go over the gun with a brown wash to give it some depth and a grey or black wash along the muzzle flash.

The Pak 40 was the standard German anti-tank gun until the end of the war, and was supplied by Germany to its allies. Some captured guns were used by the Red Army. After the war, the Pak 40 remained in service in several European armies, including Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Norway, Hungary and Romania.

The weapon was effective against almost every Allied tank until the end of the war. The Pak 40 was much heavier than the Pak 38; its decreased mobility meant that it was difficult or even impossible to move without an artillery tractor on boggy ground.

 General characteristics:

• Caliber: 75 mm
• Barrel length: L/46
• Rifling: 32 grooves, right-hand increasing twist, 1/24 to 1/18.
• Length with the carriage: 6.2 meters (20 ft., 4 in)
• Length: 3.70 meters (12 ft., 1.7 in)
• Width: 2.0 meters (6 ft., 7 in)
• Height: 1.25 meters (4 ft., 1 in)
• Weight (combat ready): 1,425 kilograms (3,142 lbs)
• Traverse: 65°
• Elevation: -5° to + 22°
• Rate of fire: 14 rounds per minute
• Engagement range: 1,800 meters (5,906 ft.)
• Indirect range: 7,678 meters (25,190 ft.) (HE shell)
• Projectile weight: 3.18 to 6.8 kg (7 lb. 0.2 oz to 14 lb. 15.9 oz)

Warlord Games 28mm Fallschirmjäger Squad

I have painted various manufactures Fallschirmjäger such as Black Tree though I have not tried Artizan Design yet (love painting their figures of different periods). I found a good deal on eBay for a Fallschirmjäger Starter Army with the plastic Warlord Games Fallschirmjäger.  I took one look at the sprue for the figures and my mind literally went blank - no doubt you can really individualize your unit but for me their were just too many options. So I found on eBay the Fallschirmjäger Squad blister pack in metal which is sadly out of production. These are great metal sculpts from Warlord Games. They do have a new metal squad that incorporates some of the older figures below with some new random figures including a pretty cool MG42 LMG.  Here is the older Fallschirmjäger squad blister pack:

Late German World War II Forces in 15 mm

The Panzerkampfwagen VI; the infamous Tiger Tank.

While I am finishing up some projects that I am not quite ready to post yet, I thought I would share some of my favorite photos from my Late War German World War II force.

Panzergrenadier Executive Officer.

10.5 cm Artillery Battery

Fire Direction Center with Communications truck.

Gun Teams.

Mounted Panzer Grenadier Company.

Taking an August Break Re-Post: My Afrika Korps miniatures featured in A Wargamers Guide to The Desert War 1940 - 1943

 I'm honored to have some of my Afrika Korps miniatures featured in Daniel Mersey's latest book A Wargamers's Guide to The Desert War 1940-1943 available on Amazon and at other fine retailers.

It's humbling to see miniatures you have painted in the same company with Michael Perry of Perry Miniatures, Wargames Illustrated and Big Lee himself!  (If you have not seen Big Lee's Miniature Adventures, you are in for a treat!)

Afrika Korps 88mm Gun featured in the book

If you want to see the other photos, you have to buy Dan's book!  Here is the summary: Continuing this exciting new series of guides for wargamers, Dan Mersey gives a wargamer's perspective on the North African campaign of World War II. Dan gives an overview of events from the opening British successes against the Italians, to the famous duels between Monty and the Rommel (the Desert Fox), right up to the US-led invasion of Operation Torch and the eventual defeat of the Afrika Korps, and offers advice on how to recreate these on the gaming table. Daniel 

Mersey discusses factors to consider when choosing an appropriate set of commercially available rules, or devising your own, to best suit the scale and style of battle you want and to capture the flavor of the period. The relevant ranges of figures and vehicle models are also reviewed. Analysis of the forces involved, organization, tactics and strategies will help with building your armies and there are interesting scenarios included. Whether this is a new period for you, or you are looking to refresh your existing interest in the period, this handy guide is sure to hold much if interest for you.

August Break: 28mm Afrika Korps Unit Complete

 

Platoon Headquarters Section. Miniatures by Warlord Games.

As you can tell from the title I finished the Afrika Korps platoon I was working on. The HQ Section is by Warlord Games and the Infantry Squads are by Artizan Designs.

1st Squad:

2nd Squad:

3rd Squad:

Heavy Machine Gun Support (from Warlord Games):

8 cm Mortar Section:

 Artizan Designs.

 Warlord Games.

Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Leader.