Battle Report - AAR for Fate of a Nation

Hello hello...

Recently our club decided to move ahead with a Fate of a Nation campaign, however the GM decided to base it on the Tank Aces model to give that system and the more modern force lists a try.  In July we had the opportunity for Arab and Israeli forces to meet and go toe-to-toe.

Using the Tank Aces was a fun idea (we also ran an Infantry Aces Italian campaign that was very successful) but there were some definite quarks to the system that had some pro and con game play issues...none of which took away from the overall enjoyment and fun of the day.  As always, miniature battles are much more fun to play than the real ones!!

Anyhow, I arrived at the day with a T55 Arab tank force as well as an Israeli Isherman tank force ready for action.  We needed an extra IDF player, so I volunteered to play the long guns.  The GM was press ganged into action partway into the morning when another IDF player showed up so he took my T55 horde for a spin...

All in all, I played 3 games, with the first one being waaaaaaaaaaaay longer than the other 2 combined...

Game 1: my first opponent was a mixed Arab tank force, composed of T34's, IS3's, and a few ISU 100's (?).  Needless to say they easily had 4:1 odds on my 5 Ishermans.  The most difficult thing with playing this force in this game system was the inability to shoot at an entire platoon/company.  With Tank Aces, each tank is an independent team...this means you can only target one tank at a time...as well, I had forgotten one of the abilities of the IDF (re-roll failed to-hits when over 16" and stationary) which certainly cost me some kills...regardless, the game was fun, I think I killed approx. 10-13 tanks (memory is a little foggy), but we ran out of time...my company commander was still alive at the end however...

Deployment...IDF on the right, Arab forces on the left in the ville...

 

Turn 1...shooting by IDF, none by Arab forces...more bails than kills...these bails would haunt me...the IS3's were very very tough to crack.

 

Turn 2...IS3's remount and get themselves into the fight...T34's take some more pain, but keep on chugging

 

Turn 3+...IDF guns hitting far, managed to get some kills on the IS3's.  These 3's took the bulk of my focus, bordering on obsession...they definitely interrupted my shooting cycles.

More long range gunnery... 

Game 2: Without a lie, this game literally took 5 minutes...I'd like to say that the vastly outnumbered IDF tanks took the fight to the enemy and through guts and determination were able to soundly defeat their foe...I'd like to say...

The IDF brought the fight to their foe...and were soundly crushed by an Arab horde of T34's...I think the number came in at 25+...25 T34's!!!!

Israeli right flank...

 

 

Israeli left and centre (left)...right flank (above)...Arab horde of T34's

The horde on the move...IDF shooting is ineffective...here they come!!!

 

Their shooting is much more effective...something to do with volumes (?!?)

Closing the loop on the company commander...one brewed up T34 off in the distance...

Game 3: This game took longer than 5 minutes...however it was the IDF's turn to lay out a spanking.  I was up against 5 Jordanian M48's...in this situation, it all came down to deployment and who would win the initiative to shoot first.  Deployment was like a mirror...after I placed my first tank, my opponent placed his in a shooting position, I then placed my next tank to cover his first tank, and he then did the same, which I repeated, etc, etc.

It really came down to who was going to be able to shoot first.  This time, I was very lucky on the roll, was able to shoot first and effectively removed the immediate threats to my tanks in turn one.  Actually, I think I knocked out 3 of his 5 tanks in turn one...the remaining 2 turns were spent mopping up and hunting his remaining tanks down.

The IDF get some payback in this one...taken part way through turn 1...

As I said, a lot of fun was had on this day...I like the Arab-Israeli lists...I enjoyed the Tank Aces...I even enjoyed the relative mayhem that the rules caused...all in all, a great gaming day.

Take care folks.

What's Next:

WW1 German troops in 28mm...currently on the painting bench, hoping to have them finished by end of the weekend.

Air Support -- Fate of a Nation and Vietnam

Howdy folks,

Hello again to you all, I hope your summer has been outstanding.  As promised, I went on an August hiatus and am now just getting caught up blog-wise.  I will admit, I have lurked for the past week and focused more on prepping minis for my 'To-do Project' pile (approx. 2-300 15mm figs) than on actual painting.

However, I took the opportunity to snap some pics today of some aircraft that I finished up at the end of July.  These aircraft will fill out some points requirements for my Fate of  a Nation lists, as well, I painted up a North Vietnamese Air Force Mig17...not sure where I'll use the NVAF Mig, but the paint scheme looked really cool and...well, I just had to try it...

Anyway, here are some pics of the aircraft.

What's next:

• Battle report from our clubs Fate of a Nation tank ace campaign; and
• Last night I started on some 28mm WW1 German troops...yes, I have been bitten by the recent Great War bug (thank you Battlefront) and wanted to try painting these troops on a larger scale before tackling a couple hundred of them when they arrive in the mail.  I will try to finish these troops soon and post some pics.

Take care all...

Group Shot... (l to r)

NVAF Mig 17, Arab Mig 17, IAF Ouragan

Arab Mig17 and Israeli Ouragan, both are Battlefront...

 

Hero shots of Arab Mig17...

Hero pics of Israeli Air Force Ouragan...

various poses of North Vietnamese Mig17...painted up on a whim and I really like how it turned out...maybe it will make a snatch & grab or demolish objective for a Force On Force game...

Figures showcase - Various Elhiem Figures

Howdy folks,

As we're getting into August and this camper gets ready to take an internet hibernation for a couple of weeks I thought I'd follow up my Eh Team post with a showcase and overview of some of the various Elhiem Figures that I've had the pleasure to try painting over the past year or so...

I have to admit I was never one to have the goal of collecting miniatures in 20mm...that being said, being a fan of Force on Force by Ambush Alley Games I was exposed to some outstanding miniatures that were painted extremely well.  One painter that comes to mind is Piers Brand, without a doubt this fellow is an inspiration and has influenced my purchases...I can only hope that my painting comes within a fraction of the skill he consistently displays.

If you're ever curious, just take a look at some of his work on Elhiem, Khurasan, or Ambush Alley...simply outstanding.

So, with this in mind, I found a few convenient excuses to start a small collection of 20mm that started with some pre-painted Forces of Valour M1s, Bradley's, and T72s...and then continued with the occasional purchase from Elhiem.

One year+ and this is some more of his great miniatures that I've completed.

As always, take care and thanks for the views...see you in a few weeks.

 

Every scenario needs running aircrew...how else will you ever know they can actually run...

 

Group shot...minus the Eh Team...

The shooters...and SOF dude photobomb on the right...

SOF dudes...

 

 

How do you get aircrew to run...this guy has an idea how...

Great looking sniper team...I'm certain these are also Elhiem...I know I purchased them from his website...

 

 

 

The Eh Team

Howdy folks,

Inspired by one of the Special Forces packs from Elhiem Figures and just how much they reminded me of some dynamic Hollywood inspired special ops teams from recent movie and 1980s tv...I couldn't help but ask myself: How would these guys look if they were Canadians?

For your viewing pleasure, I present to you, the Eh Team:

<insert appropriate David Foster or Blue Rodeo theme music here>

Framed for a crime that they did not commit but nonetheless are very very sorry for, these four highly trained operatives have eluded authorities and remain at large to this day...

 

In command of the team, Major John Campbell, MB, CD, has served as an infantry officer for over 25 years with the PPCLI, Airborne Regiment, and most recently JTF-2.  A master planner and tactician he loves "it when the Operational Planning Process comes together."

 

 

 

The default team quartermaster, Warrant Officer Steve Miller, CD, has spent the majority of his military life ahead of and away from the very guns he trained and crewed on as a young gunner in the RCHA.  Able to find practically anything his gunmates needed, Miller honed his skills as a scrounger serving in various brigade pathfinder and recce platoons as the sole FOO.  Once with the JTF-2, "Chudly" Miller became a hording, scrounging, acquiring legend...easily recognizable by his Canadian flag patterned neck scarf, anything that Campbell needs to make his plans work can be acquired...

 

 Having grown up on the tough streets of North Winnipeg, Sergeant Tommy F.C. Proudfoot is always front and centre to the action.  He is the team wheelman and muscle all rolled into one big intimidating package.  Inspired by his namesake Tommy Prince, Proudfoot began his career as a black hatter in the LdSH(RC) ultimately becoming a Master Sniper...as a young Trooper able to drive anything the regiment put on the road, Proudfoot can get the team into and out of any troublespot a vehicle can go or a rifle can reach...



Finally, Captain Jean-Francois "Poutine" LaRocque is the newest member to the team.  Having met Campbell during a "routine" medical appointment at CF Health Services Centre in Ottawa, JF took his skills as a tactical helicopter pilot and immediately sought transfer to 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron as a Griffon pilot ultimately serving with JTF-2 as their Air Liaison Officer.  Always seen in his trademark Habs jacket, Poutine is the teams unexpected wildcard...yup, the Air Force guy who makes the Army guys look sane...

 

 

Take care folks, comments welcome.



Battlefield Window Dressing - Odds n Sods

Howdy folks,

For me, some of the best parts of this hobby centre around the research that goes into deciding what kind of force to select for a given era.  In the case of sci-fi, the 'research' phase gives way to, what back story can I create that helps make the character of the force.  For historical based forces, what era am I interested in...which belligerent...do I want to focus on a particular vehicle or equipment type.  I do try to put a lot of deliberate thought and effort in the decision process.

When it comes to the battlefield, a lot of what helps prop up the character of the force or scenario or overall appearance of the table comes from the window dressing items that can be brought to the table.  With this in mind, I thought I'd showcase some of the items I've recently worked on.  I've got a few pics for various era's.

Thanks as always for the views...take care.

In the future...there will be war...for Tomorrow's War and a force centered around disgruntled miners turned insurgents.  They will still need transport...some Battlefront vehicles, press ganged and painted up as the Novo-Tajik Mining Consortium...

 

Never travel anywhere without your FLIR sensor mast...addition of a sensor scope to the top of a Stalinets tractor...

Stalinets tractor with two Khurasan light crawlers...all adorned in the company colours and logos on the passenger doors...Tomorrows War supply convoy with Technical escort

 

When you need random cargo to fight for...look no further than a hodgepodge of bits from QRF, Battlefront, and God knows where...

 

 A mix of Peter Pig markers from the AK-47 line, good for many recent and past conflicts as arms or supply cache...worth fighting for or sweeping for... 

 

A more current look at technical riding about in a battlezone...Peter Pig Toyota trucks with a ZPU-1