STALINGRAD Bolt Action Mega Battle!

……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

This tank is truly a Fire Breathing Dragon on the table top (well at least when it doesn’t get taken out by a Panther Tank on the 1st turn, as in the image below!).

It is has the ‘slow’ special rule which means that  A vehicle that is designated as
slow has a basic move rate of 6” when Advancing and 12” at a Run.” This is a bit of a disadvantage for a tank that will be at it’s most lethal up close with it’s flame thrower, however a light anti tank gun, a rear of turret MMG and an hull MMG is still a effective against infantry, soft skin vehicles and much of the German Early and Mid-War armour of the period.

The reason that it has the ‘Slow’ special rule is due to it’s ‘Armoured all round’ special rule. Its armour is heavy all round. This means that it can get up close and personal (which is what you want from a flame thrower armed tank), as it has the same 10+ heavy tank armour at the sides and rear. This is a considerable advantage over side armour 9+ and rear armour 8+ that it would have without this special rule.

It may be slow, but it can deal out damage whilst on it’s way, and when it gets close it is lethal, and very difficult for the Axis forces to take out with the weapons of the time.

This tank is going to be the back bone of my Guards Platoon, which I intend to use defensively. When the German’s close in to capture ground and buildings, this Dragon of the table top will make them wish they hadn’t!

If anyone is interested in re-creating the scenery, or owning this awesome tank, please use my following affiliate links:

KV-8 flamethrower tank

Sorry for the poor quality image, but you get the gist of how much I managed to get done as a result of last years ‘Spring Clean Challenge’.

I am now able not just to field a single reinforced platoon, but a company sized force.

Without taking up Ontabletop’s  ‘Spring Clean Challenge’, I would not be in this position. I would recommend it to others, as it really helped me focus, and get stuff done.

The platoons in this picture are:

A motorised SMG squad platoon of two 12 man SMG squads, with an 8 man Siberian Veteran SMG squad, with support weapons and truck transports.

A Naval Infantry Platoon with 3 squads and light support weapons.

An armoured platoon of 2 T34’s and a KV1.

A Strafbat Platoon of 2 and a bit squads.

A Guards Squad of 2 understrength LMG squads with support weapons.

As part part of this years ‘Spring Clean Challenge’, I plan to add new units to all of the platoons that I have developed so far.

Ontabletop’s ‘Spring Clean Challenge 2021’ provided to be the inspirational tonic to assemble my collection of ‘Stalingrad Ruins’, that I had had lying around unopened for 3 years. I already had a decent sized Stalingrad themed Soviet army, but no Germans for them to go up against, and no scenery to frame the battle.

I dived in Big-Time, and took up the challenge to build my hobby dream of a “Stalingrad Mega Battle” for Bolt Action. It was also a great way of keeping motivated after being nearly killed off by Covid 19, and trying to recover.

Last years challenge was so great, and lead to so much getting done, that I have restarted it for this years Challenge. I have been busy mass manufacturing and painting for this year’s challenge, and only now am I about to see the first of I hope many pieces getting finished. Watch this space.

In the meantime, here is the scenery that I painted during last years challenge. Soon to be added to. Watch this space….!

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

A commissar takes desperate measures to restore discipline amongst routing Strafbat troops, as a Naval Infantry NCO prepares to receive fresh troops via ferry, whilst the last of his men stave off the closing enemy. The landing stage hangs by an horse hair.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Soviet Naval Brigade box set

Soviet Infantry plastic box set

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

Discount code: TTMINI5

What’s better than a single Panzer III, THREE Panzer III’s!

Miniatures by Warlord: https://store.warlordgames.com/products/panzer-iii-plastic-box?aff=42

Scenery by 4Ground:

https://www.4groundpublishing.co.uk/indie-design/tftb-master-builder-series/tftb-grudinin-mill-chimney

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

Discount code: TTMINI5

This rather striking looking vehicle is going to be placed in a ‘Stalingrad Armoured Kampfgruppe Reinforced Platoon’ (see Warlord’s ‘Stalingrad Campaign Book’), as the Armoured Car choice.

It is a ‘wheeled vehicle’ and can move 12″ on regular terrain, or a whopping 24″ on roads. It however cannot cross ‘rough terrain’, which makes up much of Stalingrad, and will rely on Pioneers to remove barbed wire road block. It can however move swiftly on roads, having 2 x 90% pivots per movement, so to threaten enemy small and artillery teams, and generally make a nuisance of itself.

It is armed with a Light Autocannon and a co-axial MMG. It will be great for taking out small enemy teams in cover, and critically knocking out enemy transport vehicles, and hopefully taking out some of their passengers. On occasions where the 231 cannot cross terrain, the 40″ range of it’s autocannon will give it a decent amount of long range punch to threaten enemy infantry, teams and light vehicles from a distance.

It has the ‘Recce’ special rule, which means that it can retreat out of harms way if shot at, potentially wasting an enemy units shooting for a turn.

As long as it is used in accordance with it’s strengths, and not used in an anti tank role, it should be a great asset to my Panzergrenadier infantry.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Sd.Kfz 231 (8-Rad) Armoured Car

German Pioniers

Scenery by 4Ground:

https://www.4groundpublishing.co.uk/28mm-road-barbed-wire-barricades?search=barbed%20wire

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

Discount code: TTMINI5

I really struggled to find a water feature that I liked, then I spotted the ‘La Haye Sainte Sand Pit’. I turned it into a Polluted Pond for my Stalingrad project. It could equally be utilised for 40K, Star Wars Legion or even 15mm Napoleonic’s as intended.

These guys with a Veteran Unit rating, access to up to 6 SMG’s, an LMG and a Flame Thrower, can deal out more damage than any other squad available to the Germans.

They come in a 30 man box set using Warlord Games’s Blitzkrieg German plastic sprues, with additional metal heads, a host of weapon  and specialist equipment arms.

The range of variation in the metal heads has allowed me to field a unit of characterful individuals, all with unique ways of camouflaging their helmet (Ooh, Er, Missus!). I have painted one with a ‘Soviet Amoeba pattern’ cloth cover, as well as an Hungarian equivalent, and the chap with a battered and bandaged bonce particularly stands out. Not at least that He is carrying a Teller Mine.

Miniatures by Warlord Games:

Blitzkrieg German HQ (1939-42)

German Pioniers

Scenery by 4Ground:

https://www.4groundpublishing.co.uk/28mm-road-barbed-wire-barricades?search=barbed%20wire

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

Discount code: TTMINI5

Barbed Wire is available in some Campaign Books, and I am keen to utilise it in my Stalingrad Battles. I like the 4Ground kits, and the way the models can be easily placed almost anywhere on the tabletop. The Pioneers are able to remove whole sections after taking a down order when adjacent.