STALINGRAD Bolt Action Mega Battle!

The ‘Siberian Veterans’ plastic box is the ‘Soviet plastic infantry’ box set, with the addition of 2 metal bodies, a selection of metal arms and weapons/equipment, and a range of metal heads with Central Asian features.

I love the variation that this brings to the tabletop, and they are seriously dangerous on the battlefield. And as such, I decided that I would like an whole platoon of them, and to use spare heads from the two box sets that I ordered to kit-bash my regular Soviet Weapons teams into Siberians. This will give a great visual overall look to the platoon and tie it all together when I use it in my Stalingrad Mega Battle.

Scenery by 4Ground, Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Soviet Infantry plastic box set

Soviet 50mm light mortar and Flamethrower teams

Flame Throwers have the great advantage that they ignore cover when shooting. In a city fight, this is particularly useful, especially when they also ignore enemy units minuses to hit for being down as well.

They also lay at least 2 pins on each enemy unit each time they have successfully hit, and then must take a morale check. This must still happen even in the unlikely event that no casualties have been inflicted.  This means that putting between 2-4 pin markers an hit, is going to cause many units to flee regardless of casualties. The odd pin from an infantry unit or a sniper first will mean that even Veteran units will turn tail and run from an hit from these guys, IF I can get them close enough?

To quote Wayne England from the first Wargaming magazine that I ever bought, White Dwarf 135, ‘An occasional wounded model in a unit is very effective’. H e also described how to add a drop of blood red paint to a wet surface, which I tried soon after and was impressed by the effectiveness of the trick. His last gem on the subject was ‘It’s best to underplay these effects- a whole unit drowned in gore looks terrible’.

I added a touch of brown to the red, so to look like partly dry blood on the bandages.

Siberian Veterans boxed set

Scenery by 4Ground with a degree of decoration from myself.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Blitzkrieg German Infantry plastic boxed set

By the time of the Battle of Stalingrad, the PAK (PanzerAbwehrkanone) 36 anti-tank gun was seriously underpowered. The stop gap measure of developing a hollow shaped charge (with very limited range) was taken to prevent the 15,000 or so of them being totally useless in the face of superior Soviet tanks such as the T34 and KV series.

In game terms, I love the model and the in game challenge that this model presents. It has +4 pen that makes taking on a T34 a serious challenge at short range, and nigh on impossible at long range and against the dreaded KV series heavy tanks. However, if either of these beasts are foolish to enter half range (24 inches and under) it can fire a stielgrenate and gain a +6 pen, which can deal a killing blow.

Realistically I intend to use it to take on enemy infantry in cover, and get the odd shot (even if it’s just to put pins on) opposing vehicles and armour.

The crew have been fitted with heads from Warlord’s Plastic Blitz Opal passenger sprue, so that the whole Platoon have the same look.

Scenery by FactoruM/4Ground.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Blitzkrieg German Pak 36 anti-tank gun with stielgranate

Sometimes it’s not all about being one of the BIG-BOYS, as my old school mate “Slappy” will tell anyone willing to listen.

Having a low compact form will be an advantage in a city fight such as Stalingrad, but also in any pretty much any theatre, particularly the low walls, fences and hedgerows of much of mainland Europe and Asia.

The BT-7 and the T-70 tanks have identical basic profiles in Bolt Action, however the much smaller T-70 has a real advantage when placed in much of my scenery in comparison to it’s bigger team mate, being significantly smaller, and able to hide behind enough of it to gain cover.

Bolt Action is a game where evening out the odds as many times as possible will have a real impact on the survivability of your models in game.. Being in cover gives the enemy a -1 (Soft Cover) 0r -2 (Hard Cover) to hit. Being small and low enough to hide easily gives the T-70 a lot more survivability than most tanks. It is also low enough to hide behind buildings and shoot through the windows.

I love both these models, but the T-70 is now my go-to city fight light tank. It’s unlikely to take down a Panzer III or StuG, but that’s not a problem as I intend to use them for taking out enemy weapons teams and whittling down infantry squads.

Does anyone have any interesting thoughts, experience with gaming or historical images of tanks hiding please?

If you are thinking of buying the either or preferably both of the two smashing models, or indeed anything else from Warlord, please follow my affiliate links so that I can earn a small amount of cash that keeps to project going?

Soviet T70 Light Tank

Soviet BT-7 fast tank

Scenery by 4Ground.

I have always loved Osprey books, ever since I first encountered them as a bored Secondary School Boy, who found them to be a light in the darkness of dull educational volumes, and even worse tweenager novels, when we were forced to pick a book in the school library.

As a keen historical wargamer, these books are an absolute must. The ‘Campaign’ series have really come into their own as background reading paired with  Campaign’ books for Bolt Action. Very quickly I have found that an Osprey book can turn a brief over view of a Battle or Campaign into an in-depth understanding, with areas of specialist knowledge.

This book is great for designing my own battles building up to the great city battle (the battle of Stalingrad was in reality a campaign), and has given me inspiration on what forces and units to work on, such as the 24th Panzer division. This book has also inspired me to model rear echelon forces such as Hiwis and workers from Organatzion Todt using converted and kit-bashed Warlord kits.

I don’t wish to spoil the contents for any potential readers, but I would thoroughly recommend this book as for it’s historical information to add depth and inspiration to any wargamer interested in this major moment in World History, and there is a wealth of inspiration for my future games of Bolt Action.

Please follow the link to the Osprey website:

https://ospreypublishing.com/stalingrad-1942-43-1

Yes, yes and YES!

I have had two of these guys sitting and staring at me for nearly 2 years. It’s a great feeling to have all of them done, and I can field them together as a complete ‘Tank War’ platoon on the table top.

These guys have the ‘Heavy Tank’ armour rating, and the ‘Armoured all round’ special rule, and resultantly are very difficult targets for the Axis anti tank guns and Tanks taking them on.

They are also ‘Slow’, so I will have to think carefully when deploying them.

They are equipped with Medium Anti Tank Guns, which are reasonable when taking on StuG’s, Panzer III and Iv’s.

With such an high and all round armour rating, they will be of serious concern to the Axis players, as their tanks will be at a serious disadvantage when taking them on.

I enjoyed painting them up in a uniform manner. I have weathered them heavily to represent their continued use since the the Molotov/Ribbentrop pact went sour.

I used star stencils from Anarchy Models (find link below) with a few controlled blasts from my air brush. Compared to transfers the difference is staggering, the Soviet Stars really stand out, with no reflective shine, and weather in with the rest of the model.

If you feel inspired by any of my work, or wish to checkout the featured products, or even just buy anything from Warlord Games, please follow my affiliate links:

KV1/KV2 Platoon Box Set:

KV1/2 Platoon

Tank War Rule Book:

Tank War – Bolt Action supplement

Anarchy Models Stars:

https://www.anarchymodels.co.uk/hs02—allied-stars-39-p.asp

……When it’s a German Beute-Panzer, or a ‘When it’s a Factory Worker Crew” T34!

I love this kit, and have enjoyed what it can build with a few additions. Bolt Action has rules that have allowed me to build the three variants pictured, which to add variety to my hobby and gaming.

I like the likely scenario that 2 T4’s could end up duelling on the table-top, particularly if it’s between the Worker Crewed Tank and the one pinched by the Germans. The workers in effect having to fight their own creation.

To help me out, if anyone is interested in ordering anything from Warlord or 4Gound, please use my affiliate links:

Warlord Games’s ‘Campaign Stalingrad ‘ book has rules for T34/76’s coming out of the the production line for the then beleaguered Dzerhinsky Tractor Factory. There are 3 variants available  for the Soviet player to field in His/Her games of Bolt Action. This variant is the ‘Factory Worker Crew’.

This is a fun and characterful way of  modelling this Option on the table top. I selected a suitable candidate from the ‘Soviet Peoples Militia Squad’, as a commander to represent this option, where things have got so desperate, and the German’s so close, that the factory workers are crewing tanks to defend themselves.

It really pained me not to paint chipping, damage and ware on a tank. This model is driving out factory fresh, apart from one cannibalised still dirty wheel, to represent shortages of materials, and the tank is covered in coffee mug stains and cigarette ash, that has been issued to keep the workers working up until the moment that they can drive the tank out and fight.

In addition, one last finishing detail to add further narrative, a commissar has stuck a copy of order 227 (‘not one step back’) to the under-side of tank commanders hatch. Another reason if one was needed to keep fighting.

To help me out, if anyone is interested in ordering anything from Warlord or 4Gound, please use my affiliate links:

Quite a bit of work here, and I really was conflicted about painting the exterior cream, but decided upon a uniform grey to tie it in with the rest of my Stalingrad scenery, and miniature bases.

I have added fresh details to the interior including portraits of ‘Comrade Stalin’ over every door frame, enforcing the feel of the buildings time and place in a totalitarian regime, dominated by a single personality.

https://www.4groundpublishing.co.uk/tftb-pavlovs-house-end-block

For the more eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed the Soviet Officers planning room complete with maps of the city, a portrait of ‘The Boss’ and a pair of field glasses on the window sill. Just to keep them on their toes, the NKVD have the room next door with a red door, an even bigger portrait of Stalin, tools of their trade in the form of leaflets detailing order 227 (not one step back), a pistol to back this up with, and have knocked an hole in the wall so they can hear everything that the officers are saying

Great! At last my OnTableTop.com ‘Spring Clean Challenge’ is bearing fruit, I now have an officer to lead my ‘Stalingrad Kampfgruppe Reinforced Platoon'(rules in the Stalingrad Campaign Book). These guys are armed to the teeth with up to 4 SMG’s and 2 LMG’s and can kick out a LOT of fire power. A great aggressive force backed up by a Panzer III to take out enemy armour, a Panzer IV and scout car to take out enemy infantry squads and teams, with HE that will blow them out of the ruins and rubble. Combined with the Panzer III tank platoon, I have half a company to field as part on the table top.

The officer has had some painstaking work for his cap badge, eagle and waffenfarbe. The tanks and troops are designate as 24th Panzer Division, with the tank squadron bearing the ‘Leaping Horseman’ divisional insignia.

I love ‘Mad-Bob’s’ scenery and miniatures. I his folding scenery is really the work of a genius! Which is why I still feel like a Philistine for assembling this superb model in a near static position. The deciding factor was that I wanted to give his superb model a custom paint job to tie it in with my Stalingrad scenery from those clever chaps at FactoruM, whom ‘Mad-Bob’ has teamed up with to manufacture his model.

Stalingrad was full of warehouses and factories, and this model is a perfect addition to my project, it also could be used quite happily with other locations and game systems.

oks with through my affiliate links:

Last years Spring Clean Challenge resulted in a great new multi platoon army for my aspiration to host a “Stalingrad Mega Battle”. After starting with 11 figures, I am now in a great position, and can hold decent sized battles, however, I still have the burning ambition to build the force up to a good company and an half in size.

I suspect that it needs more infantry to take on my Soviets with confidence, and taking up this years OTT ‘Spring Clean Challenge’ I can further develop the force and build up the element that I have.

The core of the force was the Jager Platoon (‘Into Hell Platoon’, Stalingrad Campaign Book) with two Stugs in support, then I added a Panzer III platoon, a ‘Stalingrad Kampfgruppe Reinforced Platoon’, (Stalingrad Campaign Book), a seriously week rear echelon platoon of two Felgendamerei squads, an inexpeienced officer and Propaganda Cameraman, and finally I have an understrength Pioneer Platoon of 1 squad and a Captain.

My immediate plans are to get an officer to lead my  ‘Stalingrad Kampfgruppe Reinforced Platoon’, which I intend to use in conjunction with the Panzer III platoon, and add a couple more teams and beef up the Panzergrenadier squad.

I also would like to get the Pioneers a second squad, the Felgendarmerei realy need some rear echelon troops (more on that soon) to herd into battle/hide behind, and the Jagers could do with a third squad, a couple of weapons teams and specialist to finish of the unit.

It may not be the biggest, baddest tank in Bolt Action, but in an early War and even a mid War setting (such as Stalingrad), it’s not going up against PAK 40’s and the late War German Big-Cats. Granted, it is likely to get sent to the Bovington-Tank-Museum-in-the-sky if taking on a Panzer III head on, but in the maze of Stalingrad, and careful use of cover it could quite easily take it out from behind.

This tank comes with a Light Anti-Tank Gun with co-axial MMG. It can fire one or the other in a turn. At 125 points (Regular) it’s the just under the points cost of a basic squad of 10 infantry men with an LMG. It’s that realm of expectation that I have for it on the table. The German Squads of this period do not have the later dreaded Panzerfausts, and this little tank is to them a real threat! I plan to use it to target motorised and armoured enemy infantry in their trucks and halftracks as an early priority, then enemy artillery/weapons teams, officers  and if a suitably sneaky ‘Texas-Heart-Shot’ on an enemy Panzer should arise, great. The key thing is to remember, It’s not there to take on the Panzer III and IV’s, enemy soft skin vehicles, scout cars and light tanks yes, but it’s the enemy infantry that are most vulnerable to it’s Light Anti-Tank Gum HE even when in cover.

It’s a great plucky little model, with bags of character, and was fun to paint. I can’t wait to use it in my first game.

I love Warlord’s T34 kits as they are so simple to assemble and paint quickly. The ability to assemble and paint the tracks separately is particularly helpful.

The box allows for 3 different variants of the t34/76 to be assembled, with one of the 3 different turrets. I have chosen the STZ (Stalingrad Tractor Zavod) variant.

I like the kit and have decided to manufacture as many different variants that I can, that are within the Bolt Action rules and/or army lists, as well as being historically accurate. I was surprised that Bolt action has so many ways that I can assemble and use this kit in a non standard way.

Warlord/Osprey has 2 books that feature rules for using captured enemy vehicles (Battle ground Europe page 85/ Ostfront page 47).

The special rules have that come under that Brandenburgers heading are great, but for disguised vehicles, or vehicles still in the enemy’s colours, and I will not discuss them here, as this tank in clearly painted and marked as German. In the “Stalingrad Mega Battle” I intend to run this tank simply as ‘Inexperienced’

I plan to use this tank as back up for my rear echelon platoon that I am building around Feldgendarmerei and other non frontline squads.  I used a metal Panzer commander from Warlord to enforce the sense of this tank being looted by the German’s.

I am really pleased with the over all look, based upon historical images on Google, and can’t wait to use this colourful miniature on the tabletop against some of it’s Soviet brothers.

Miniatures and books:

T34/76 Medium Tank

Ostfront: Barbarossa to Berlin – Bolt Action Theatre Book

Blitzkrieg German Panzer Crew (1939-42)

Battleground Europe: D-Day to Germany – Bolt Action Theatre Book

4Ground sadly are having a closing down sale, so if you would like to get any of their scenery that I have featured of not, it is an excellent time to buy as their is a sale on. In addition I have a further discount code: TTMINI5

Scenery by 4ground:

https://www.4groundpublishing.co.uk/ports-of-plunder/ports-of-plunder-short-dock-with-stairs-04?sort=p.model&order=DESC

https://www.4groundpublishing.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&search=urban%20ruins