November | 2011 | P.B.Eye-Candy

Archive for November, 2011

U-Boat Landing Party

Posted in Uncategorized on November 29, 2011| 2 Comments »

I’ve added a quick look at some new releases from Peter Pig on the Reviews page.

1 Gebirgsdivision Summer 1942 (Rostov)

Posted in Gebirgsjaeger, NQM, Operational Games, PBI, Peter Pig, WW2 on November 22, 2011| 8 Comments »

They’ve been on Partisan duty in the Balkans for the last few weeks, but the Mountain Division was formed for its historical role as a supporting wave to 22nd Panzer‘s assault on Rostov in the opening phase of Fall Blau.

Although they had plenty of vehicles and supporting arms, the Gebirgs divisions were light divisions, and primary transport was by mule train – so I’ve chosen to make the formation up with mostly foot stands and horse or muled transport.By 1942 the third infantry regiment (Nr. 100) had been removed to form the core of a new division (5th Mountain Division) and 1st mountain Division only had 6 battalions (Regts. 98 and 99). However, the extra bases from the earlier configuration will be useful in providing additional stands for the recce battalion in Megablitz and the like.

For PBI, the unit comes in at platoon strength with 3 sections plus light mortar and sniper – and the guns can take their place appropriately.

The teeth of the division: elite specialist infantrymen

(figures by Peter Pig)

Although not part of the official division, you will notice the Stug battalion in the picture which was attached to beef the division up for the city assault operation.

For variety, and for use when the stands get switched over for company scale use (PBI) I have given the artillery Regiment a mountain infantry gun and a mountain artillery gun. Both were commonly transported broken down into mule loads.

7.5 cm le.GebIG 18

The le.GebIG 18 was the light, mountain gun version of the IG 18 with spoked wheels, no gun shield and a split trail … this one is converted from a Peter Pig model which they happily supplied with the spoked wheels (which was a start, then the knife came out) ..

7.5 cm Gebirgsgeschütz 36 (7.5 cm GebG 36)

The standard mountain artillery piece was the GebG 36 75mm. This one is by Battlefront, and you can buy them individually from the Flames of War special orders list (the service is prompt and not too expensive). I have assembled it without the gunshield supplied as most of the ones I see in photos are without. The crew is a FoW/Peter Pig mix. The whole gun is pretty chunky for a small light 75 but looks the part.

Both guns can be seen in action towards the of the Wochenschau clip at the bottom of this post.

Admin stand … Signals unit

(I have added a couple of figures from PP’s Afrika Korps Command pack to the HQ transport)

As a nod to the Alpine traditions of the Gebirgsjaeger I have decorated the bases with rocks and model railway heather … the eidelweiss would be a bit too small to show in 15mm scale but the hardy plants I can do give the troops a distinctive look I quite like. I have given a very loose indication of the eidelweiss emblem on the side of the soldiers’ caps (although I don’t really think it would be big enough to see) and where the epaulettes can be seen, I have used the light green mountain troops waffenfarbe.

Ski Troops markers (Peter Pig models)

There are just a handful of markers to designate the specialist skills of these troops. I’ve half done them envisaging players deploying them in snowy conditions from unexpected directions (‘most people can’t move but these guys can!‘) – and half just because Mr Pig makes them so how can you resist? Actually, I have removed some from their skis to use withing the foot bases (as they have nicely modelled windcheaters etc.) for a nice touch (e.g. the rearmost figure crewing the small mountain gun).

Here comes trouble…

I think these are some of only a very few ski troops available in 15mm. Piggy’s range of separate heads means that enterprising enthusiasts can put then to a number of uses (and, just a thought, QRF do that aerosan … !) …

After battering their way into Rostov, the Gebirgsjaeger marched through the scorching Caucasus and into the mountains in the most southern thrust of Fall Blau. 22nd Panzer and its tanks, of course, got sent to Stalingrad.