WIP| American units part 2

First up are a battalion of M2 Bradley  Infantry Fighting Vehicles (USM 10).

M2 Battalion and HQ

 

The HQ is an M2 and an M577 and a couple of figures.

HQ M2 and M577

 

Close up of the M2 Bradly by Heroics and Ros.

M2 Bradley

M2 Bradley

 

To go with the M60 tank battalions are an infantry battalion in M113s (USM11).

M113s and HQ

The HQ is an M113 and an M577

HQ M113 and M577

Two battalions worth of infantry all from "US Infantry in new helmets" (M10)

Infantry battalions

The infantry are supported by , from front to back, TOW ATGWs, Heavy Machine guns And Dragon ATGWs.All are from "US Infantry Support-New Helmets"(M11)

Support Weapons

They also have indirect fire support from some mortar carriers. Two types are used, the medium M125(USM54), and the heavier M106(USM20).

M125 and M106

Also available are a number of anti tank units. The older M113+TOW(USM16) and the newer M901 Improved TOW Vehicle(USM15).

M113+TOW(front) and M901 ITV(rear)

To support both the Armour and the Infantry are a company of engineers in M35 trucks(USM40)

engineer company

Heavier engineering equipment comes in the form of an M728 CEV(USM33), an M88 ARV(USM35) and a M60 AVLB(USM37).

M728 and M88

M728 and M88

M60 AVLB

M60 AVLB with bridge removed
 

Finally all are supported by the artillery. this consists of M901A1 SPGs(USM25) and an M110 A2 SPG(USM22)

M109s and single M110

M109A1s
 

That's all the US models on my work bench at the moment, hopefully they'll be ready for a game in January 2013! Still in a bag are a couple of M10 warthogs and 2 Huey Cobras once they're on their flight stands I'll post some pictures. Still need to order three MLRS rocket launchers and some recce and that should be about it.

WIP | American units part 1.

After much deliberation I  decided to do an American Army circa 1985 as an opfor to my Soviets. The rules we use at the Grimsby club are the Cold War Commander rules by Peter Jones, and my units are organised with these rules in mind. The orbat I've used is adapted from one listed on the Fire and fury site . All the orbats on this site are easily adapted to CWC, the Soviet ones being very good.  My units are all based in the same way, on 2mm precut mdf, from Warbases. I've found them to be consistent quality wise and their service is also excellent. All the models listed are Heroics and Ros.  

 First up is the CO, Forward Air Controller and Forward Artillery observer.The Co stand consists of an M113 (USM11), an M577(USM14), a Hummer Personnel Carrier(USM42) and 3 figures from the US infantry in New Helmets set (M10) on a 40mmx40mm base. The FAC is a Hummer Personnel Carrier on a 2 pence piece. The FAO come in two types, one is an M113 the other is an M901 Improved TOW Vehicle(USM15) converted into a Fire Support Team(FIST) artillery observer vehicle. This is identical to a M901, it just has more aerials! All on 2p pieces.

CO, FAC and FAOs


 

Looking at the orbat, the Americans didn't seem to go very big on air dfence units. The priciple air defence unit consists of  M730 Chapparral(USM31) and Stinger teams in Hummers. The Stinger teams are from US Infantry Support-New Helmets(M11). The vehicles are mounted on 20mmx40mm bases and the stinger teams on 20mmx20mm bases.



M730 Chapparrel and Singer teams in Hummers

M730 Chapparrel and Singer teams in Hummers

 

 As the US Army was undergoing a number of changes in the mid 80s, with the gradual introduction of new equipment and a general program of improvments, I've organised my Armour accordingly. The most modern tank in the US invantory is the M1 Abrams(USM02). Iam going to have two HQs per tank battalion to give them some flexability. The HQs are an M1 and an M577 on a 30mmx20mm base.

M1 tank battalion and HQs

HQ(M1 and M577)

M1 company

M1

M1

The tank the M1 was to replace was the M60A3(USM05). In the mid 80s both types were still in use so;

M60A3 tank battalion and HQs
 

HQ (M60A3 and M577)

M60A3 company

M60A3



M60A3

Next post the Infantry, Artillery and supports.



Soviets on manoeuvres!

 

Took some of my Soviet kit to the Grimsby club last week and Malc Johnson, who also runs the club web site, took some pictures. All staged for the camera, they reminded me of the pictures you see of the Soviets on manoeuvres during the cold war.



2S1 Gvozika 122mm spg

More bridging!

Su27 provides fighter cover

Mil8 flight following the road.

Yet more bridging units

2S19 "MSTA-S" spg

Mixed column of FROG 7s and 2S19s



Mil8

WIP | US MERDC cammo.

Just started an American force for CWC as additional opponents for my ever growing Soviet hordes. Since I decided to go with a force organised for around about '85, the majority of the units will still be in MERDC. Here are some pics of some H&R M109A1s (code USM 25).I quite like the look of the MERDC but I'm not sure if it's not looking a bit "busy".

 

 

 

Also on the work bench are a couple of H&R KA27 "Helix B" naval helicopters, (code SMA404).

 

 

 

 

Lurking in the back ground is an HQ stand for  my Mech infantry consisting of a M577 and an M2 Bradley, both H&R (code USM 14 and USM 10 respectively).

Saturday's Game | Part Two, The battle

After selecting our forces, it was time to deploy. As the attacker I made a note of my scheduled artillery and starting positions of the British units. Danny then deployed the Soviets on table in their defencive positions.

Soviet left flank

 

Soviet centre

Soviet right of centre

Soviet right flank

The Soviets deployed their forces dug in, in prepared positions, behind a series of visible and hidden minefields. The green rectangles in front of the Soviet positions represent the visible minefields. the Soviets concentrated their armour South of the town.

 The British started by giving partial air superiority to the Soviets! Turn one saw the British artillery targeting the empty woods South of the town. The British then moved on and advanced towards the Soviets, deploying all the force to face the Soviet right flank, North of the town. The Soviets responded by firing on the British recee units, revealing their positions. 

Turn two saw the Brits continue to advance and target the units that had revealed themselves in the previous turn. The remaining recce units located a number of unmarked minefields in a line, linking the North and South of the table.



British advance

The Soviets replied by continuing to shoot at the Brits recee. Once again the British artillery targeted an empty area.

British continue to advance

Turn three saw the British army reach the edge of the minefield, to screen the mine clearing unit on the left of the picture. The Soviet infantry attempted to engage the Challenger's with RPG fire, resulting in a barrage of return fire. The vulnerable FV432's made their way through the woods. This turn saw the Soviet player attempt to relocate his armour from the South of the town towards his now servilely threatened right flank. This was hampered by a roll of double 6, a blunder!

Turn four saw the Brits continue to engage the infantry in the woods and start to engage the Soviets who had managed to filter into the town. the mine clearing unit cleared the first string of mines. The Soviets continued to filter more units into the town but found themselves pinned in place by six challengers on the Brit right flank. The Soviet infantry in the centre right woods also found themselves pinned in place, not wanting to risk moving North, exposing their flanks to the Brit tanks.

Soviets taking fire in the town



British screening  force

 Turn five saw the Brits starting to move through the minefield into the woods. The screening force continued to exchange fire with the Soviets in the town. The Soviets, pinned in the town could only return fire at the Brit screening force.

Turn six saw the Brits streaming into the Soviet rear area unopposed. It was at this point Danny suggested we call it a day as the Brits now had six turns to exit the table! A major British victory.