The First Game is Nearly Here

Hello

While a long, long time has past, progress has been made.

Much of the time has been taken up with painting. My collection of West Germans in NATO 3 colour camouflage is nearly complete. LVPT7s and LAVs for US marines are done, though only in MERDEC. Various bits and pieces for Soviet Airborne forces, completed.

Perhaps the biggest task has been painting infantry bases. I now have sufficient bases of British in DPM and West Germans (in whatever they call their uniforms.)

Brits back left and right, West Germans front and back right

 US in BDU

Here's the US BDU close up

Though I still need to do US forces for the late 70s before the BDU was introduced about 1980 (as best as I'm able to determine.)

I also revamped my Soviets.

Motor Rifle Troops

 

Soviet Airborne

But the big thing is that the board for the Attack by the 2nd Guard Army has been laid out, the troops have been sorted, labelled and placed in readiness for the game to kick off.

Currently the delay is around settling on how to represent Soviet-Style Doctrine.  Mostly settled but not quite sorted.  Then there is my natural procrastination, I'm a master at that.

So, hopefully, soon, I will have begun and have something to actually report.

Proof of Life ?

Hi all

Just to prove that I'm still up and running, here are some photos of the painting that I've been doing.

Russians - BTR80, BTR60, T72s, SP Artillery, PMP bridge, AA, BMD, etc

Canadian BMG - Centurions, Leopard 1s, M113s, Lynx, M150, etc

French - Armoured Division AMX30s, AMX10Ps, VABs, etc

French - the Armoured Division plus extras

United States - M1A1, M2 and assorted supports (all NATO 3-colour)

United States - M1 Abrams, M2, M60A1, M60A3 and supports (all MERDEC)

United Kingdom - Challenger 1, Bedford trucks and supports

I think that there are well over 450 models. I still have to base them (I'm sure that I said that last time I posted). Mind you I've been adding T80Us, T72 + ERA, T64 + ERA, so more to Base.

You may be wondering, or not, where I've got to with the Central Front Campaign system. Well, ... I fell down the rabbit hole that is what tanks, where and when, in the Group of Soviet Forces, Germany. Some progress, but not really resolved. Not sure its possible, at least not from public resources.

But, recently I got bored/itching to do some gaming. So, I've rewritten a "Race to X ... Campaign" to suit my own needs. I hope to get into it soon.

Cheers ...

US Army, Part 2

Here's another interim update.  I'm not far from having something for the Battle Generator, just not quite yet.

So ...

To tied us over, here's Part 2 of my US Army forces.

First up, an tank heavy brigade, in winter verdant MERDEC camouflage.

 Brigade HQ;
1st Mechanised Infantry Battalion - M577 HQ std, 4x M2 combat std, 1x M901 std; 
1st Tank Battalion - M1 HQ std, 4x M1 std;
2nd Tank Battalion - M1 HQ std, 4x M1 std;
Artillery Battalion - 2 M109 155mm Howitzer.









Second, a balanced brigade, in summer verdant MERDEC camouflage.

 Brigade HQ;
1st Mechanised Infantry Battalion - M577 HQ std, 4x M2 combat std, 1x M901 std;
2nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion - M577 HQ std, 4x M2 combat std, 1x M901 std;
1st Tank Battalion - M1 HQ std, 4x M1 std;
2nd Tank Battalion - M1 HQ std, 4x M1 std;
Artillery Battalion - 2 M109 155mm Howitzer.







 This sort of completes my US forces from 1976 to the mid-80s.

Till next time, when I promise to have something useful on the Battle Generator.

The US Army, Part 1

To fill the space till I can work through my Battle Generator ideas here's some more photos of my forces, this time the US Army.

First up, an infantry heavy brigade, in winter verdant MERDEC camouflage.

Brigade HQ;

1st Mechanised Infantry Battalion - M577 HQ std, 3x M113 combat std, M901 std (should have two);

2nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion - M577 HQ std, 3x M113 combat std, M150 std (should have two); 

Tank Battalion - M60A1 HQ std, 3x M60A1 std;

Artillery Battalion - 2 M109 155mm Howitzer.

Second, a tank heavy brigade, in summer verdant MERDEC camouflage.

Brigade HQ;

1st Tank Battalion - M60A1 HQ std, 3x M60A1 std;

2nd Tank Battalion - M60A1 HQ std, 3x M60A1 std;

Mechanised Infantry Battalion - M577 HQ std, 3x M113 combat std, M150 std (should have two);

Artillery Battalion - 2 M109 155mm Howitzer.

 

Third, a balanced brigade, in summer verdant MERDEC camouflage.

Brigade HQ;

1st Infantry Battalion - M577 HQ std, 3x M113 combat std, M901 std (should have two);

2nd Infantry Battalion - M577 HQ std, 3x M113 combat std, M901 std (should have two); 

1st Tank Battalion - M60A1 HQ std, 3x M60A1 std;

2nd Tank Battalion - M60A1 HQ std, 3x M60A1 std;

Artillery Battalion - 2 M109 155mm Howitzer.

Finally, the Divisional HQ and the Recon Battalion, which comprises:

M577 HQ std, 2x M114 ACAV recon std, M150 std, and 3x M60A1.

Not photographed is the rest of the Artillery Brigade - M110s etc, and the Combat Aviation  Brigade.

All up, with 5 mechanised infantry battalions and 5 tank battalions we have most of a late 70s ROAD division. An additional tank or mechanised infantry battalion would determine  whether it's a Armoured or Mechanised Division.

The remaining forces are my M1 Abrams, but I need to finish the Bradley's to go with them.

Cheers, till next time