Two squads of the 82nd Airborne shortly after landing in France.
Captain Royce Rudham surveys the scene with his men in tow...
Figures are from Artizan.
Showing posts with label Section. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Section. Show all posts
Saturday, 8 September 2012
Sunday, 15 April 2012
"Currahee!" (Overpaid. Oversexed. Over here.) - 101st Airbourne.
An understrength platoon from 'Dog' Company of the 506th PIR, 101st US Airborne.
Painted using the Army Painter technique (speed painted!)
Figures are from Artizan.
"Hey Joey - which way to Europe?" Pathfinders.
1st Squad, under Sgt. William 'Buck' Hemmings.
2nd Squad, under Sgt. Richard 'Tricky' Warden.
3rd Squad, under Sgt. Thomas 'Duke' Dukeman Jnr.
Command group, led by Captain Ronald Autumn.
Dusk falls on Sgt. Floyd McGrath and the support weapons team...
Painted using the Army Painter technique (speed painted!)
Figures are from Artizan.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
The Russians are Coming II!!
More Russian infantry. Late war Eastern Front.
Still a work in progress - lots more to do!
Figures are all Bolt Action.
Russian Squad under Serzhant Pavel Malinovsky.
Russian uniform from the Imperial War Museum.
Still a work in progress - lots more to do!
Figures are all Bolt Action.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Fallschirmjäger II.
9th April, 1940. A small unit of Fallschirmjäger under the command of Leutnant Dreher, soon after landing as part of Operation Weserübung in Denmark.
Leutnant Dreher and his squad just outside Aalborg Air Base.
The squad MG34 sets up.
Dropped far from the others, Jager Schmidt runs to rejoin the squad!
2nd unit, again painted as early war Fallschirmjäger.
Figures are all Wargames Foundry. Sorry the photos are a bit blurred!
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Operation Biting.
We join a snippet of the action during the Bruneval Raid, otherwise know as 'Operation Biting', the codename given to a British Combined Operations raid on a German radar installation in Bruneval, France that occurred between 27–28 February 1942 during World War II.
A number of these installations had been identified from Royal Air Force aerial reconnaissance during 1941, but their exact purpose and the nature of the equipment that they possessed was not known. However, a number of British scientists believed that these stations had something to do with the heavy losses being experienced by RAF bombers conducting bombing raids against targets in Occupied Europe. A request was therefore made by these scientists that one of these installations be raided and the technology it possessed be studied and, if possible, extracted and taken back to Britain for further study. Due to the extensive coastal defences erected by the Germans to protect the installation from a sea-borne raid, it was believed that a commando raid from the sea would only incur heavy losses on the part of the attackers, and give sufficient time for the garrison at the installation to destroy the Würzburg radar set. It was therefore decided that an airborne assault, followed by sea-borne evacuation would be the ideal way to surprise the garrison of the installation and seize the technology intact, as well as minimize casualties inflicted on the raiding force.
For more information on the real Raid on Bruneval see my post on Airborne Raids.
Two men were killed in the operation and six were missing, all of whom survived the war. Two German prisoners were brought back, one of them the Wurzburg's operator. The German report on the raid commented: 'The operation of the British Commandos was well planned and executed with great discipline... although attacked by German soldiers they concentrated on their primary task.' The raid had been a great success due in large measure to the element of surprise. Even while reading an account of the action in a newspaper the Supply Officer of the Glider Pilot Regiment, whose training area the paras shared, did not associate them with the raid.
Plan of the assault.
A number of these installations had been identified from Royal Air Force aerial reconnaissance during 1941, but their exact purpose and the nature of the equipment that they possessed was not known. However, a number of British scientists believed that these stations had something to do with the heavy losses being experienced by RAF bombers conducting bombing raids against targets in Occupied Europe. A request was therefore made by these scientists that one of these installations be raided and the technology it possessed be studied and, if possible, extracted and taken back to Britain for further study. Due to the extensive coastal defences erected by the Germans to protect the installation from a sea-borne raid, it was believed that a commando raid from the sea would only incur heavy losses on the part of the attackers, and give sufficient time for the garrison at the installation to destroy the Würzburg radar set. It was therefore decided that an airborne assault, followed by sea-borne evacuation would be the ideal way to surprise the garrison of the installation and seize the technology intact, as well as minimize casualties inflicted on the raiding force.
The Villa ('Lone House') and the Wurzburg Radar ('Henry').
Below are Captain John Ross and Sergeant Tasker as they prepare to assault and hold the beachead at Bruneval to secure the escape of Major Frost and his men during the mission. As Captain Ross discusses his next move with his heavy weapons section, he instructs Sergeant Tasker to take his section to assault the German casemates on the cliff between the radar site and the beach.
Missing nearly twenty of the men assigned to him, Captain Ross and some of his heavy weapons team assess the situation.
Meanwhile, Sgt. Robert "Tusk" Tasker prepares his section for the assault on the German defences.
Sgt. Tasker and his men move out.
Two men were killed in the operation and six were missing, all of whom survived the war. Two German prisoners were brought back, one of them the Wurzburg's operator. The German report on the raid commented: 'The operation of the British Commandos was well planned and executed with great discipline... although attacked by German soldiers they concentrated on their primary task.' The raid had been a great success due in large measure to the element of surprise. Even while reading an account of the action in a newspaper the Supply Officer of the Glider Pilot Regiment, whose training area the paras shared, did not associate them with the raid.
A Wurzburg Radar at the Imperial War Museum.
It is not easy
to quantify what was gained from the operation...but it was very significant
indeed. One of the many off-shoots was the construction of three radar and
communication vessels known as Fighter Direction
Tenders (FDT 217, 216 and
13). The FDTs provided vital radar and communications cover off Normandy from
D-Day to D+20. Only when land based radar and communications units became
operational in France did they move off station. Their design incorporated two
types of radar, one using British frequencies and the other using German
frequencies.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Germans on Patrol III.
The next group of Germans done. These are effectively an understrength veteran 'gruppe' still in their early war uniform. They look to be more of a 'defensive' squad with the HMG and ammo carriers and a couple of MP40's. Transport is provided by three Kfz 250's - a Kfz 250/1, a Kfz 250/7 with Mortar and a Kfz 250/9 with 2cm Cannon.
Leutnant Werfel and his men emerge from their bunker on orders to move to a new location...
Leutnant Werfel and his men emerge from their bunker on orders to move to a new location...
The men exit the safety of the bunker.
Feldwebel Achen and Leutnant Werfel pause before moving out.
Gefreiter Biermann thinks he spots something and pulls up his MP40!
All is safe. The gruppe move out...
Figures are from Black Tree Designs. Vehicles are from Bolt Action and kindly prepared and painted for me by Tony Nicholls. Bunker is from the excellent p.m.c. range found on ebay.
Monday, 3 October 2011
The Russians are Coming!!
A small handful of Russians that are work in progress. Keep distracting myself with other models when I should work on the Germans!
Figures are Bolt Action.
Serzhant Pavel Malinovsky leads a Russian section assault!
Figures are Bolt Action.
Saturday, 10 September 2011
WWII Squad Structure.
WWII Squads:
US Army Infantry Squad - 12 men: Squad leader (Thompson submachine gun 'SMG', M1 carbine, or M1 Garand rifle), 10 rifleman (M1 Garand rifle), 1 automatic rifleman (BAR). Organized as: Able Team (2 scouts); Baker Team (5 rifleman), Charlie Team (3 rifleman + BAR). One rifleman per platoon would generally carry a bazooka in addition to his personal weapon. There were 3 rifle squads per platoon in a rifle company.
US Airborne Infantry Squad - 12 men: same as infantry squad except that the BAR is replaced by a M1919A1 light machine gun (LMG). Same organization as the regular infantry squad. In practice the organization was flexible to the mission with one or more rifles often replaced by submachine guns and one man in the squad carrying a bazooka (generally one per platoon).
USMC Rifle Squad - 13 men (1944): The marine squad evolved throughout the war, adding additional firepower with each increment until settling on the 13-man configuration in mid 1944. Organized with a squad leader (Thompson SMG), and 3 x 4-man fire teams (3 rifles + 1 BAR each). In addition to the assigned personal weapons, the company commander could allocate 1 demolition pack and 1 flame thrower per squad as well as 1 bazooka per platoon, depending on mission requirements. These weapons would be carried by one of the squad's rifleman in addition to a personal weapon (often an M1 carbine to lighten the load). Since marines were often engaged in close-in fighting, they would frequently scrounge Thompson SMG's to replace rifles when available.
British & Commonwealth Infantry Squad (Section) - 10 men: Section leader (Sten SMG), Assistant Section Leader (rifle), 6 riflemen (rifle), Bren Number 1 (Bren LMG), Bren Number 2 (rifle). British and Commonwealth forces carried the .303 Enfield rifle (bolt action) throughout the war. The basic squad structure remained constant throught different battalion types (e.g., infantry, motorized, parachute), while the Para's were able to add additional Sten guns based on mission requirements. PIAT anti-tank weapons were allocated to squads from the company level as in the US forces.
Germany (Gruppe) – 10/9 men: The basic German squad centered around an MG34 or MG42 general purpose machinegun (GPMG); personal weapons for the gunners were pistols and rifles (generally), squad leader (MP40 SMG), 7 riflemen (Karabiner 98K 'Mauser' bolt action rifle). As the war progressed and manpower losses mounted the Germans were forced to reduce squad size to 9 men (dropping a rifleman). Panzergrenadier squads (halftrack mounted) had 8 dismounts with 2 GPMGs; Fallschirmjager (paratroop) squads were authorized 11 men, also with 2 GPMGs. In 1944 and 1945 many squads were below authorized strength even after replacements.
USSR - 10 men: The basic infantry squad included a squad leader (SMG), assistant leader (rifle), 5 rifleman (rifle), machinegunner (DP light machinegun), assistant gunner (rifle). Like the Germans, the Soviet forces suffered under terrible casualties and were frequently forced to reduce squad size. They also formed SMG squads of 9 or 10 men all armed with the PPsh 41 submachinegun for close-in assault. In some configurations, the SMG squad would be supplemented with an LMG.
Japan - 13 men: The squad consisted of an NCO squad leader, a machinegunner (Type 96 LMG), and 11 riflemen. All carried bolt action rifles (Arisaka) except the machinegunner. The Japanese did not employ submachineguns in any significant numbers.
US Army Infantry Squad - 12 men: Squad leader (Thompson submachine gun 'SMG', M1 carbine, or M1 Garand rifle), 10 rifleman (M1 Garand rifle), 1 automatic rifleman (BAR). Organized as: Able Team (2 scouts); Baker Team (5 rifleman), Charlie Team (3 rifleman + BAR). One rifleman per platoon would generally carry a bazooka in addition to his personal weapon. There were 3 rifle squads per platoon in a rifle company.
US Airborne Infantry Squad - 12 men: same as infantry squad except that the BAR is replaced by a M1919A1 light machine gun (LMG). Same organization as the regular infantry squad. In practice the organization was flexible to the mission with one or more rifles often replaced by submachine guns and one man in the squad carrying a bazooka (generally one per platoon).
USMC Rifle Squad - 13 men (1944): The marine squad evolved throughout the war, adding additional firepower with each increment until settling on the 13-man configuration in mid 1944. Organized with a squad leader (Thompson SMG), and 3 x 4-man fire teams (3 rifles + 1 BAR each). In addition to the assigned personal weapons, the company commander could allocate 1 demolition pack and 1 flame thrower per squad as well as 1 bazooka per platoon, depending on mission requirements. These weapons would be carried by one of the squad's rifleman in addition to a personal weapon (often an M1 carbine to lighten the load). Since marines were often engaged in close-in fighting, they would frequently scrounge Thompson SMG's to replace rifles when available.
British & Commonwealth Infantry Squad (Section) - 10 men: Section leader (Sten SMG), Assistant Section Leader (rifle), 6 riflemen (rifle), Bren Number 1 (Bren LMG), Bren Number 2 (rifle). British and Commonwealth forces carried the .303 Enfield rifle (bolt action) throughout the war. The basic squad structure remained constant throught different battalion types (e.g., infantry, motorized, parachute), while the Para's were able to add additional Sten guns based on mission requirements. PIAT anti-tank weapons were allocated to squads from the company level as in the US forces.
Germany (Gruppe) – 10/9 men: The basic German squad centered around an MG34 or MG42 general purpose machinegun (GPMG); personal weapons for the gunners were pistols and rifles (generally), squad leader (MP40 SMG), 7 riflemen (Karabiner 98K 'Mauser' bolt action rifle). As the war progressed and manpower losses mounted the Germans were forced to reduce squad size to 9 men (dropping a rifleman). Panzergrenadier squads (halftrack mounted) had 8 dismounts with 2 GPMGs; Fallschirmjager (paratroop) squads were authorized 11 men, also with 2 GPMGs. In 1944 and 1945 many squads were below authorized strength even after replacements.
USSR - 10 men: The basic infantry squad included a squad leader (SMG), assistant leader (rifle), 5 rifleman (rifle), machinegunner (DP light machinegun), assistant gunner (rifle). Like the Germans, the Soviet forces suffered under terrible casualties and were frequently forced to reduce squad size. They also formed SMG squads of 9 or 10 men all armed with the PPsh 41 submachinegun for close-in assault. In some configurations, the SMG squad would be supplemented with an LMG.
Japan - 13 men: The squad consisted of an NCO squad leader, a machinegunner (Type 96 LMG), and 11 riflemen. All carried bolt action rifles (Arisaka) except the machinegunner. The Japanese did not employ submachineguns in any significant numbers.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Germans on Patrol II.
Here is my second batch of painted German Wehrmacht. To be honest they are not all complete (some of them look like they are walking across a sandy beach at the moment) and I need to add a couple more men with an MG34 and ammo to complete a squad but I couldn't resist posting an update!
A squad under the command of Leutnant Adler set up a defensive position in a ruined farmhouse...
Figures are a mix from West Wind, Wargames Foundry, Bolt Action and Black Tree Design.
A squad under the command of Leutnant Adler set up a defensive position in a ruined farmhouse...
Adler postions his MG42 team.
Feldwebel Trommler sets up his mortar team for best effect.
Obergefreiter Mauer leads his rifle section to the perimeter of the farmhouse.
A 'birds eye' view of the defensive position.
Meanwhile, Sturmscharfuhrer Ritter and his spotter Unterscharfuhrer Hahn take up a vantage point in the tree-line.
Finally, satisfied that the objective is secure, Leutnant Adler and Obergefreiter Mauer move the squad to a secondary position...
Figures are a mix from West Wind, Wargames Foundry, Bolt Action and Black Tree Design.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Germans on Patrol.
Been slowly working on one or two German Heer for a while (in between Vikings and WW1 Russians) to add to the small bunch of 'Jerries' for our WW2 project. Here is Hauptmann Klaus Degl leading a group of men on a patrol of a ruined farmhouse...
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Figures from Artizan, West Wind, Crusader and Bolt Action.
Hauptmann Degl sends forward Gefreiter Ochs under the cover of Unterfeldwebel Schirlitz.
Degl leads his men to check the other side of the ruined building.
The Hauptmann and his men secure the perimiter. To the right, Oberfähnrich Stahl surveys the area ahead with his sniper, Obergefreiter Dennhardt, in tow...
Figures from Artizan, West Wind, Crusader and Bolt Action.
Monday, 30 May 2011
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