As with all gamers, projects come and go. Models you were thinking of moving on get a new lease of life due to a comment in the Hobby or a movie on TV. This will hopefully be my record of my best endeavours not to start anything new until I have at least completed 75% of what I already have....as if that is ever going to happen ;)
LSSAH Sector Game 1
This is snapshot of the terrain in the immediate vicinity of the starting actions on the first day. Hill 228.6 is on the left hand side and 220.5 is slightly North East.
This pitches the elements of 8.Komp/II.Rgt-2 against elements of the lead battalion of 151 Rifle Regiment.
German Platoon (1 Officer) Points=182 13 BR Grenadier Platoon 100 Pts 11-r BR - Platoon HQ (6 men) - Squad 1 5 men + 3 man MG42 team +4 Pts - Squad 2 5 men + 3 man MG42 team +4 Pts
- Squad 3 5 men + 3 man MG42 team +4 Pts - Combat Medic 8 Pts 0-r BR - MG42 Team (3 men) 18 Pts 1-r BR - Medium Mortar Team 24 Pts 1-r BR - Foxholes for 20 men 20 Pts 0 BR Soviet Company (4 Officers) Points=188 16 BR Rifle Company 188 Pts 16-i BR Company HQ (4 Men) - Platoon HQ (3 men) - Squad 1 8 men - Squad 2 8 men - Squad 3 8 men - Squad 4 8 men
- Platoon HQ (3 men) - Squad 1 8 men - Squad 2 8 men - Squad 3 8 men - Squad 4 8 men - Platoon HQ (3 men) - Squad 1 8 men - Squad 2 8 men - Squad 3 8 men - Squad 4 8 men
I am not one to chase the perfect list and have always tended to try and follow "reasonable" historical structures. So I have thought about doing the same for BG Kursk. These are my interpretations for specific games on the Southern Pincer for a series of games covering 5 - 12 July 1943 which I have called the 7 days at Kursk. The ideas of the games is that it lets me field specific forces which in turn drives the painting progress :)
Day One - 5 July.
In the morning you have:
8.Komp/II, Rgt -2/LSSAH capturing Hill 228.6 and then being subject to a counter attack by units of 151 Rifle Regiment.
Once the counter attack had been dealt with, LSSAH then prepared to launch its attack on Hill 220.5. This was an attack with dismounted Grenadiers supported by Tigers and Sturmgeschutz; then, onto the second belt with the Panzergruppe being brought forward with an intermediate action involving the Tiger company against 230th Tank Regiment counter-attack
DR attacking Beresoff/Beresov and then the second belt with dismounted Grenadiers and no armour support which includes facing a counter attack by Soviet armour in front of Beresoff/Beresov.
T attacking Gremuchi with dismounted Grenadiers supported by Tigers and Sturmgeschutz with the Panzergruppe being brought up very quickly to continue the attack
As a taster this is a small snapshot of the terrain in the region taken from Google Earth with the Kursk historical maps overlay
My initial idea was to break each of the engagements down into constituent parts but as BG Kursk is a game and not a simulation, pieces of it don't quite fit the game system. So I have decided to bathtub up each Divisions actions into one game per day (3 Divisions, 7 Days = 21 games) and play some more generic type games.
So the new sequence will see LSSAH and T having a mix of forces while DR will be mainly an infantry and artillery fight up. In all cases the Soviet defenders will see a strong infantry contingent supported by armour and artillery.
Always on the lookout for something different, I found an article recently which discussed the make up of the covering force for 1 (NL) Corps. Following concerns that the NL forces might take too long to deploy from Holland the covering force came from 1 (GE) Corps in the form of 3rd Panzer Division, supported by the NL 103rd Recce Bn & 41 Panser Bde and the US 3rd Brigade from 2nd Armored Div. What a cracking wargaming collection.
So off digging out OMG I found that the NL Orbat didn't quite match the information on the Orbat85.nl website. So this is an update to it (less points). It doesn't have the Bde Recce Company. 41st Pantser Brigade Bde HQ 1 X HQ(M577) Str.4 Bde Recce Platoon 2 x M113C&R Str.3 41st, 43rd Pantser Battalions BHQ 1 X HQ(Leopard 2) Str.4 Maint Sect 1 X ARV(Leopard) Str.3 Recce Plt 1 X Inf(Landrover) Str.4 1 X YPR-765 PRRDR(GSR) Str.3 3 Coys,each 4 X MBT(Leopard 2) Str.4 42nd Pantserinfanterie Battalion BHQ 1 X HQ(YPR-765 PRCO-C) Str.5 Maint Sect 1 X ARV(Leopard) Str.3 Recce Plt 1 X Inf(Landrover) Str.4 1 X YPR-765 PRRDR(GSR) Str.3 3 Coys,each 3 X YPR-765 PRI Str.4 Support Coy 3 X YPR-765 PRAT Str.3 3 X 120mm(YPR-765 PRMR) Str.3
41st Engineer Company 1 X AVLB(Leopard) Str.2 1 X CEV (Leopard) Str.2 3 X Eng(M113) Str.4 41st Air Defence Company 3 X PRTL(Caesar) Str.3 3 X Stinger(Landrover) Str.3 41st Field Artillery Battalion 1 X HQ(M577) (6AR) 3 X M109A2 Str.6 The Bde deployed organisation forms three equal battlegroups with the following structure: 41st, 43rd Pantser BG BHQ 1 X HQ(Leopard 2) Str.4 1 X ARV(Leopard) Str.3 Recce Plt 1 X Inf(Landrover) Str.4 1 X YPR-765 PRRDR(GSR) Str.3 2 Coys,each 3 X MBT(Leopard 2) Str.4 1 X INF(YPR-765 PRI) Str.4 1 Coy 2 X MBT(Leopard 2) Str.4 1 X INF(YPR-765 PRI) Str.4 1 X YPR-765 PRAT Str.3 42nd Pantserinfanterie BG BHQ 1 X HQ(YPR-765 PRCO-C) Str.5 Recce Plt 1 X Inf(Landrover) Str.4 1 X YPR-765 PRRDR(GSR) Str.3 2 Coys,each 3 X MBT(Leopard 2) Str.4 1 X INF(YPR-765 PRI) Str.4 1 Coy 2 X MBT(Leopard 2) Str.4 1 X INF(YPR-765 PRI) Str.4 1 X YPR-765 PRAT Str.3 Support Coy 3 X 120mm(YPR-765 PRMR) Str.3 And then add the following to the Covering Force mix103rd Recce Battalion BHQ 1 X HQ(M577) Str.4 1 X ARV(Leopard) Str.4 3 Coys, each 2 X MBT(Leopard 2) Str.3 3 X M113C&R Str.5 1 X 107mm(M106) Str.3
Team Yankee - Soviets
I jumped on the TY bandwagon when it was first announced. As usual, with not having a regular opponent, I thought about collecting both sides, however the idea of taking up TY was that I could hope to find regular opponents so I have stayed with Soviets and now looking forward to the 2017 release schedule to see what is going to be added.
As I prefer "historical" organisations I was hoping that TY would let me field a more intelligent Soviet force than the book with the ability to field an task organised Forward Detachment or an Advance Guard. TY has very basic soviet forces with some areas that hopefully will be addressed in the future warsaw pact supplement. But for now I have a Motor Rifle company of BMP-1/2 and a Tank Comany equipped with T-72 backed up with a ZSU-23-4 pair and a 2-S-1 Battery.
Infantry are Eureka which due to the change in exchange rate are now unaffordable...grrrr
Core MR Company
Tank Company (10 MBT Variant and not the 13 expected to support a MRB)
BMP-2 Recon Platoon, ZSU-23-4s (from Zvezda)
Battery Combat Observation Outpost and Battery FDC from QRF with Zvezda tracks replacing the metal ones from the kit.
References:
A. Hammel, E and Lane, J. 1985. 76 Hours, The Invasion of Tarawa. Pacifica: Pacifica Press.
And the US Tarawa film clip from the national archives
Narrative terms:
CT to mean Regimental Combat Team. I dont tend to use it as it is very confusing as for example the three assault battalions came from 2 different regiments but were under command of CT2 and the other Landing Teams as they landed were also placed under CT 2 until later in the battle.
LT to mean Battalion Landing Team
Unit nomenclature follows the format of Platoon (if known)/Company/Battalion/Regiment. Example, 1/A/1/18 is 1st Platoon, Coy A, 1st Battalion, 18th Marine Regiment and K/3/2 is Coy K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd marines. Some sources just state Company B, 2nd Marines. This would actually be Coy B, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and not the 2nd Battalion.
In terms of boat loads I have never found the definitive but have made up a composite from varying sources over the years. There is some generalisation in my figures as the accounts aren't straightforward to follow. For example one account has a rifle platoon split into one load of 12; one load of 17 (12 riflemen plus five from Pl HQ) and one load of 13 (12 riflemen plus Pl Sgt) and another account has LVT-124 carrying 18 men (K/3/2)
Essentially the three LT (Battaltion Landing Teams) which conducted the initial assault each used a similar structure (less LT2/2). The accounts all quote 42 LVT-1 in wave 1 (I read this as initially as 14 per LT). 24 LVT-2 in wave 2 (8 per LT) and 21 in wave 3 (7 per LT). There were spare LVTs allocated as spares to replace break downs etc. However, Ref A, has an account where one LT has 15 Tractors so I don't know if this includes the allocation of spare vehicles, another LT has 24 in the first assault wave (but could mean 24 in the waves to the Right/West of the pier and therefore two battalions worth), and then 12 in the remaining LT. So I don't think there is anything like an identical structure across the three LT and am now somewhat unsure of just splitting things into 3 LT groups.
LT 3/2 were assigned to Red Beach 1, LT 2/2 were assigned to Red Beach 2 and LT 2/8 to Red Beach 3.
Each LT opted to land with two assault companies adjacent to each other. But the initial wave only carried in two rifle platoons plus elements from the Company weapons platoons. This first wave was in LVT-1s. This is because the LVT-2s didn't arrive until the morning of the actual assault, so the planners had to make two plans just in case these new LVTs didn't arrive. As a result the assault wave 1 went with what was actually on hand. The accounts talk about the slowness of the assault crossing the reef and that as a result the gap between the waves closed up,somewhat (in addition the LVT-2 were slightly faster) as a result the narrative about which LVT arrived exactly when are intermingled while other reports state that the the wave separation of 3 minutes per wave was followed.
[img]http://tarawaontheweb.org/lvtsky.jpg[/img]
Specific changes mentioned:
LT2/8 reinforced E/2/8 with a platoon from G/2/8 to provide a link between it and F/2/8. If so this would account for an additional 3 LVT loads in the 3rd wave, assuming that the reserve platoons from E/2/8 and F/2/8 came in as wave 2.
The company structure went along the lines of the following:
The platoons had migrated to the E series and as such had 42 men (3 sections of 12 and a 6 man Pl HQ). Most of the sources state that that 3 LVTs carried each platoon. Which means each LVT carried between 12 and 18 marines, and there are plenty of references to 18 man boat loads. If each LT had roughly 14 LVTs and 3 per platoon and we know that the plan had each company landing two platoons that gives us 12 LVT-1s.
I orignally made an assumption that elements of the 60mm mortars and .30 Cal LMG teams were distributed among the platoon vehicles. This then leaves the other two LVTs carrying the balance of the Company Weapons platoon (about 15 marines). However Ref A, Page 51, has a line which says the the weapons Platoon leader K/2/2 brought in three 60mm Mortars in his track so I am revising this assumption that they are in their own AMTRACs somewhere. The report of LT 2/8 says there were 12 AMTRACS in the first wave in which case, and noting that the arrival schedule between waves had become compressed, may mean that the elements in the 3rd wave could have included these weapon teams. In which case it might make for a clearer breakdown.
Wave 2 has the 3rd rifle platoon and possibly a section of Combat engineers and the 8 LVT-2s in the LT would seem to support this (3+1 per Company). Ref A, Page 59, lists the 17 occupants as being assault engineers from from 3rd Platoon A/1/18.
Wave 3 has the company HQ and a MMG platoon from the Bn Heavy Weapons platoons plus other supports, apart from LT 2/2 which had elected to land it's 3rd rifle company in early and held the MMG platoons back on the LCVPs. Ref A, Page 57 indicates that a section of the MMG Platoon was in an AMTRAC with the Platoon Commander so would assume that three of the LVT-2s are used per LT for the MMG platoon (less 2/2)
I keep meaning to add more detail as i found it but the same HDD crash which lost all my aircraft artwork also had all my Tarawa source information so gradually having to find it all again.
If anyone has more info to flesh it out it would be great fully received, Plus the above has a lot of generalisations in it, which I did have recorded as to where it came from. For example the CMOH Citation for SSgt Bordelon mentions "his" LVT but it is in fact the one carrying the Company Commander (who also survived the initial hit) so I do need to go into more detail
I thought it time to go back and look at detail on the structure of assault waves.
We know that the LVT-2 only joined up with the rest of the invasion force as the assault began so were allocated to the second and third waves (a back up plan of how to go without the additional vehicles had been made)
A range of sources state that:
42 LVT-1s comprised the first wave;
24 LVT-2s, the second;
21 LVT-2s, the third.
Divide that between the thee assault battalions and we get something like
14 LVT-1 in wave 1
8 LVT-2 in wave 2
7 LVT-2 in wave 3
As to the loading plan, the three assault battalions appear to have had the same tactical loading plan based on the E Series organisations;
Four reinforced rifle platoons in the first wave
Two reinforced rifle platoons in the second wave
Two Company HQ and supports in the third wave
The rest of the battalion would follow in LCVP
Each wave was meant to have been separated by 3 minutes but in war nothing goes to plan and there is plenty of evidence documenting the intermingling of the boat teams on the way in.
The three waves carried the lead companies from the three Landing teams onto Beach Red-1, Beach Red-2 and Beach Red-3.
Looking at the landing plan at company level in more detail we have:
Two rifle platoons with the Company weapons platoon 60mm and .30 Cal Sections in the first wave
one rifle platoon in the second wave
Company HQ and a Platoon from the Bn MG platoon in the third wave.
The assault rifle platoons are stated as comprising 42 men. This is three 12 man sections and a 6 men in the Platoon HQ.
If each assault platoon has 3 LVT-1s that makes 6 per company and 12 per LT or 36 in the first wave. So what went in the other 6? It is reasonable to assume that the other 6 are split two to each LT, one per company and could have carried the balance of the Company weapons platoon if we assume that the 60mm and .30cal teams are dispersed in the rifle platoon vehicles (Platoon HQ, SNCOs, ammo carriers etc). If we accept this model that gives us a combat loading of 18 men per vehicle (rifle platoon LVT) and 15 men in the Weapons platoon LVT.
Wave 2 then has a similar loading plan
3 LVT-2 carrying the third platoon of each company
1 LVT-2 carrying an undisclosed load possibly combat engineers (noting there isn't any more company support elements or battalion weapons mentioned in the first two waves in the available accounts)
This was going to be an Anti-Tank ditch 10" long to use with BG Kursk.
But now I have made it I am not so sure. It might now become part of a trench system instead and I will go back and redo a ditch along the lines of one of the photos in the Blood, Steel, and Myth book. I think my issue is that my ditch is too regular so that could be addressed. The other way would be to change the angle of the banking. However, that would require a different construction approach and I am not sure of what materials I could use that would still keep this with a reasonable low relief.
I have always found Tarawa interesting so when the nice people over at Grenzer games were talking about their new rule set "Muzzle Flash", I was intrigued to how it would handle a specialist engagement.
So I invited them over and threw a challenge down. Beach Assault. Played on a 5' x 4' table with the USMC attacking from the long table edge. The rules are played at 1:1 which was interesting as I am in the process of rebasing all my infantry as single figures and hadn't made any progress with the USMC or Japanese so we played this using my old 3 figure and 2 figure bases with me snipping figures and sticking them onto new 20mm MDF bases as the game went.
A view of the Defenders which comprised five figure sections each with a LMG. Four 14mm HMG bunkers and two 40mm Anti-Boat guns.
The USMC would be straight infantry organised as an E Series comapny. NCO, 9 Riflemen, 2 BAR Gunners. In hindsight I would have been better off actually thinking about what the game system needs so I was missing Corpsmen and aid station the 60mm Sections and the 1919 LMGs which would have been expected at the early stages of establishing the USMC amphibious warfare doctrine and also hadn't included the company commander. We also threw all the LVT1 & 2's onto the table as the first wave rather than the 3 sequential waves that were used at Tarawa.
The USMC laid out in their entry positions, they are actually off table at this point. The rules cater for friction in terms of arrival which related well to the actual events on Betion in that some of the Amtracs never arrived and the Infantry had to entry wading and had already suffered some casualties and other Amtracs arriving on later game turns at random.
This section is wading to the beach from their destroyed AMTRAC and have already lost 2 men including a BAR.
One gap in the sea wall in covered by a 14mm HMG
There are two Japanese sections dug into the sea wall in prepared positions
These two AMTRACS will be delayed and wont enter until I roll the required number indicated on the dice. One more AMTRAC to the left is also delayed so I was already down to just two assualting platoons.
First turn. This isnt IGOUGO, each figure can reserve dice to use in the opponents turn so as I entered in the 14mm and Anti-Boat guns opened up. I had to start disembarking the marines short of the obstacle. Elements of one section have reached the wall and I have reserved some actions for use in the enemy turn. The AMTRAC at the bottom has been hit but is still mobile, 2 rifle disembarked.
Wading under fire is as deadly in the game as in reality. I have dead and wounded in the surf just above the jetty but I have managed to pin the Japanese section directly opposing the section.
The AMTRAC to the right has been riddled with 14mm fire I have one killed as he leapt over the side and the rest of squad are pinned in the vehicle. If they don't collect their wits they are in trouble.
In turn two the Japanese defenders are forced to retire but the AMTRAC is now hit with 40mm fire and I have five wounded in the vehicle.
In the center I have also pushed the defenders back but I am still in the fire arc of another section on the left and the bunker on the right.
The AMTRAC is still mobile and uses the gap in the sea wall while the section near the bunker attempt to destroy it with grenades and satchel charges. I ended up causing two killed and one injured from a mistimed grenade attack. In the bunker itself one of the Japanese defenders sacrificed himself by smothering the posted grenade. Two other marines worked their way to the entrance and have breached the door. In the ensuing firefight another marine goes down and the Japanese defenders are down to one man.
On the left flank the US have made some progress have pushed an AMTRAC through a gap in the sea wall while the AMTRAC on the extreme flank has unloaded a complete combat effective squad.
General situation at the end of the US Turn 2. The US have cleared the initial 30 metres or so of the beach.
Two marines have worked their way to the rear of the bunker and are priming grenades and satchel charges.
Turn 3 and the US now have two sections on the left flank poised to try and take the bunker and then attempt to clear out the Japanese rifle pits, however there is still a Japanese 14mm HMG bunker which will have to be dealt with.
As this was a play test we had stopped at this point. Very involved and both sides are engaged throughout the turn. You need lots of game markers for stress status and you do need to actually have the non combat units in your force as non evacuated casualties continue to affect your units performance.
Impulse buy for BG Kursk. While out shopping today I popped into Antics Model Shop and found a restock of the Zvezda kits. These are in a most substantial plastic than the earlier Art of Tactics kits and at £2.99 a model I couldn't pass them up. So NINE kits later (2 each of the Ferdinand, SU-152, T34/76 1943, and a T60, M3 Lee and M3 Stuart) it was off to the physio
