Battlegroup: Somewhere near the Kursk.

We played another game using the Battlegroup rules, focusing on the Kursk expansion and the Soviet-German battle for the village. This time, we played the Flanking Attack scenario with both forces at 500 points each.

SCENARIO: Flanking Attack
UMPIRING: Bartek Żynda

SCENERY: Bartek Żynda, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Bartek Żynda

1. Forces.

SOVIETS

(Mike, Tim)

Soviet Rifle Division Battlegroup

HQ (Gaz Jeep)

Rifle Platoon

AT Grenades update

Maxim MMG team

Light Mortar team

45mm ATG + Truck

75mmIG + horse tow

T-34 Platoon (3 x T-34/76)

2 x Kv-1S tank

Cavalry Squadron (Scout)

37mmATG + truck

Repair Vehicle

Counter bombardment

3 Officers

32 BR

GERMANS

(Bartek, Jimmy)

German Panzer Division Battlegroup

Pz.Kpfw. III (HQ)

PzGrenadier Platoon

AT Grenades upgrade

MG42 upgrade

3 Trucks

Light Mortar team

Medium Mortar team

MG42 Tripod team

PaK40 ATG + Truck

StuG Platoon (3 x StuG III)

Sd.Kfz.222 (Scout)

88mm AA/ATG – Kfz.7 tow

Panzer Ace upgrade

Timed 105mm barrage

3 Officers

32 BR

2. The game.

We started with a weather roll, and Jimmy rolled a 5, which meant that air support was available. Next, we placed the objectives, consisting of four key locations: the central church as objective number one; the village entrance from the Soviet triangle, where the main force would enter; a house on the German side; and a forest on the Soviet reconnaissance force’s side. After selecting the deployment triangles, the Germans deployed three units, while the Soviets deployed six. Finally, the reconnaissance forces took their positions.

The initial bombardment by the Soviets was ineffective, and no German units were successfully pinned down. However, due to inadequate reconnaissance, the Germans found themselves within the firing range of one of the KV tanks, which led to their destruction. As a result, the Germans began to experience significant losses.

Both sides then began to occupy their respective objectives. The Soviets captured the church and the entrance on their side, while the Germans took control of the house and the forest. From that point on, a brutal battle for the village erupted, with the objectives frequently changing hands as the fighting intensified and moved into very close quarters.

German artillery support was highly effective, successfully taking out a Soviet anti-tank gun. One of the StuGs struck a mine, which left it immobilised. The remaining StuGs then joined the battle, supported by PaK 40 and 88mm guns, which proved deadly for the Soviet tanks. They managed to destroy two T-34 tanks that had advanced into the village, as well as one KV tank. However, the German infantry was beginning to suffer heavy losses, prompting Jimmy to come up with a new idea.

Despite my warnings, he relocated his Pz. III tank, which was our senior officer, was to support the infantry in the forest. This move left him vulnerable to fire from a Soviet 75mm infantry gun. The likelihood of destroying the tank was low, but Mike decided to take the risk and succeeded! Unfortunately, we lost a senior officer.

Both sides attempted to deploy air support tokens, but neither was able to summon them. In the end, the Germans captured the church, while the Soviets secured the forest, leading to an ongoing battle with neither side reaching its morale limit. When the game concluded, we tallied the points for both sides: the Soviets lost 20 points, while the Germans lost 26 points. As a result, Stalin's Lions won the battle.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/631841809210352

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720331921528

Cruel Seas: Mine Fields Everywhere!

In our next game, we used the Cruel Seas rules. This time, the Kriegsmarine was assigned to clear the minefields the Royal Navy had laid overnight, which had blocked the harbour entrance.

SCENARIO: Tim Chant
UMPIRING: Tim Chant

SCENERY: Michael Schneider, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Tim Chant

1. Forces.

ROYAL NAVY

(Ben, Gordon, Tim)

2 x Fairmile D

3 x Vosper I 

2 x Vosper II

KRIEGSMARINE

(Alasdair, Bartek, Jimmy)

3 x S-38 type 

3 x S-100 type 

2 x R-23 type 

8

2. The Game.

A port located in occupied Europe. During the night, the Royal Navy successfully laid three of the four designated minefields. The Kriegsmarine had two boat groups stationed in the port: one, which I commanded, consisted of minesweepers, while the other, commanded by Alasdair, included torpedo boats for cover. Additionally, another group of boats, led by Jimmy, was set to be deployed. In the port's roadstead, a group of British boats under Gordon's command was stationed. Two support groups were moving toward the port: one, consisting of Vosper boats, was under Ben's command, while the stronger group, composed of Fairmile boats, was under Tim's command.

It all started with a minor disturbance in the harbour. With a minesweeper commanded by a less experienced crew in the lead, I decided to shift the positions of both boats. However, this manoeuvre made it difficult for Alasdair's boats to leave the harbour. Due to my unclear instructions, he was only able to get two of his three boats out while the third was blocked by my vessels. Alasdair's manoeuvre, however, successfully drove away Gordon's boats, which had sought cover behind the incoming Royal Navy reinforcements. Jimmy's vessels then moved to confront them, but without support amid the chaos in the harbour, they had to face the advancing British boats alone. Isolated and outnumbered, he began the fight bravely, though ultimately ineffectively.

Jimmy bravely fought against the overwhelming force of British guns and machine guns, but his efforts were largely ineffective as they began to decimate his units. Soon, the first of his boats was destroyed, and the subsequent vessels suffered significant damage from British shellfire. 

After consulting with me, Jimmy decided to ram the enemy ships, which led to chaos in Gordon's squadron. Two of his boats collided and sank as a result of this manoeuvre. Unfortunately, this tactic also cost Jimmy his last remaining ships. 

It was only after this that Alasdair left port, and I took my minesweepers to the first minefield. I successfully cleared the area, but due to time constraints, the game had to come to an end. The Germans managed to create one safe route into port for the incoming convoy, destroying two British boats in the process, but at the cost of three torpedo boats. This resulted in a poor exchange for them and limited success overall. The game will, of course, continue in the future.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/631841809210352

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720331791473/

Battlegroup: Warsaw 8.09.1939.

Battlegroup with the Blitzkrieg expansion, focusing on the defensive war in Poland in 1939. I have decided to recreate the first German attempt to capture Warsaw on September 8, 1939, when tanks from the 4th Panzer Division attempted to seize the Polish capital with a frontal assault. This initial attempt was unsuccessful, and Warsaw did not surrender until September 28, 1939. What will the outcome be this time?

SCENARIO: Die Hexenkessel, Bartek Żynda
UMPIRING: Bartek Żynda

SCENERY: Bartek Żynda, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Bartek Żynda

1. Forces.

POLES:

(Mike)

Forward Headquarters

Infantry Platoon (Regular)

Heavy Machine Gun

2 x Light Mortar

AT Gun

75mm Schneider Gun

Wz.34 AC (Gun)

7TP (Gun)

26BR

GERMANS:

(Alasdair, Jimmy)

Forward Headquarters

Infantry Platoon (Regular)

Heavy Machine Gun

Medium Mortar

ATG + Medium Truck

IG + Medium Truck

4 x Medium Truck

Panzer I Platoon

Panzer II Platoon

Sd.Kfz. 222

2 x Sd.Kfz. 221

32BR

2. The Game.

Mike positioned his forces on the outskirts of Warsaw, with infantry in the front and artillery in the rear. When the German vanguard entered the battlefield, they had the opportunity to flank the Polish troops but chose not to take advantage of it. Instead, they pushed forward through a narrow corridor. This decision greatly aided the Polish defenders, who effectively pinned down the Germans with grenade launchers and rifle fire. A 7TP tank also made its presence felt, inflicting significant damage on the German armoured cars. Although the Germans eventually managed to disable this tank, the crew remained inside, continuing to destroy or disable additional German vehicles with their weapons.

The Germans found themselves trapped in the suburbs, but their tanks managed to push into the streets of Warsaw. Despite this, they were effectively pinned down by Polish grenade launcher fire. The Germans called in artillery support, but not before Mike drew an air support token—his second token, in fact. Unfortunately, his initial attempt to request an airstrike was unsuccessful. However, this time was different. A PZL-23 Karaś appeared, equipped with six light bombs, which turned the tide of the battle. 

The bombing raid on the German positions in the open field severely damaged their morale, causing it to collapse. Just as in the actual historical battle, the Germans were forced to retreat. Their dream of quickly conquering the Polish capital failed to materialise.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/1102295478594449

FLICKR: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720331639520/

First figures in 2026: Soviets 28mm

With the return of two systems to our club—Bolt Action and Chain of Command—I decided to enhance my 28mm Soviet forces. I needed to add a few tanks and support weapons. All the figures and models featured in this post are from Warlord Games.

Let's start with the T-34/85 tanks. I've decided to create a platoon of these tanks and painted one in Polish colours. I believe that all kids my age, as well as those who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, were fascinated by the wartime series "Four Tank-Men and a Dog." Although the plot was heavily propagandistic, promoting the "brotherhood in arms" between the soldiers of the Red Army and the "Reborn" (which means "subordinate" to the Soviets) Polish Army, the adventures of the brave crew captured the attention of generations of Poles, including myself.

The next tanks I worked on are the T-34/76. Warlord Games offers three versions in their set: one is the 1940/41 model, while the other two feature enlarged turrets—a rounded turret from 1942 and a hexagonal turret from 1943. I decided to build one model of each version. Instead of using the decals that came with the models, I replaced them with decals from the book "Eastern Front Part I" by Stanisław Jabłoński and Rafał Dudziński. This book not only provides paint schemes but also includes decals. Although the decals are in 1/35 scale, I carefully selected those that fit my models perfectly.

The final components of my upgrades include two support weapons: a 120mm heavy mortar and a flamethrower.

It is important to note that all the models presented in today's entry are part of the Forum Strategie painting competition. It is a non-competition work, as I am one of the jurors for the competition.

The link to the thread below outlines the steps for painting these models. Please note that the thread is in Polish.

https://strategie.net.pl/viewtopic.php?f=231&t=23358