The last of the Kyoushuneko Chinese (for now).

Just before the weather got to the point where paint was drying on the brush, the last of the Kyoushuneko prints roll off the paint table production line finishing off - Chinese month for June.

I went for a lighter Khaki for these, which appears to be prominent in the south of the country. Unlike the previous 88th division these are equipped with British & US Kit (or copies)

I had a couple of head swaps to give me a little more variety and pinched a couple of backpacks and water bottles from some warlord supres to give them a slightly different feel to the other troops.

Whilst I am really happy with them, the Chinese in apple green looked great, so now think I need a 'few' extra's to top up the Nationalist forces - Looks like an order is coming Eureka's way.

In total 2 more squads, a second AT Gun, 81mm Mortar and Sniper.

Let's see if these reinforcements can slow the Japanese advance.

Tobruk 1941 - Bolt Action

Wyre Forest Club Day and the Battle for Toburk.

April 1941. The British fortress of Tobruk stands alone on the Libyan coast, held by the battle‑hardened Australian 9th Division, supported by British artillery and a handful of tanks.

Rommel’s newly arrived Afrika Korps, fighting alongside the Italian Ariete and Brescia Divisions, launches its first probing assaults. Dust storms, poor maps, and fierce resistance turn the attack into a brutal, confused struggle across wadis, wire, and minefields.

A 6 player game with 3 Allied Players & 3 Axis Attackers - Forces listed below for those who are interested.

Player A – Australian Infantry Company

• 3× Veteran infantry sections,  1× Vickers MG, 1× 2‑inch mortar

Player B – Australian Infantry Company

• 3× Veteran infantry sections, 1× Boys AT rifle, 1× Vickers MG, 1× Forward Observer (artillery)

Player C – Australian Support & Reserves

• 2× Infantry sections, 1× 3‑inch mortar, 1× AT gun (2‑pdr), 1× Carrier section (2 carriers)

Pooled Troops - British Armour & Artillery

• 1× Matilda II, 1× Cruiser Mk IV, 1× 25‑pdr artillery, 1× Bren carrier with engineers

Axis Attackers (3 Players)

Player E – German Afrika Korps (Assault Group)

• 2× Veteran infantry squads, 1× Panzer III, 1× Panzer II, 1× MMG, 1× Light mortar

Player F – German Afrika Korps (Mobile Group)

• 2× Mechanised infantry squads (trucks), 1× Panzer II, 1× 81mm mortar, 1× Sniper

Player G – Italian Ariete Division

• 3× Regular infantry squads, 1× L6/40 light tank, 1× Breda MG team, 1× Medium mortar

Italian Brescia Division

• 3× Infantry squads, 1× 47mm AT gun, 1× Autoblinda AB41 armoured car, 1× Engineer squad (demolitions)

Axis Objectives

• Primary: Capture at least two Allied strongpoints (bunkers, trenches, or artillery pits).

• Secondary: Exit one unit off the Allied table edge (representing a breakthrough).

• Bonus: Destroy the Matilda II.

Allied Objectives

• Primary: Prevent Axis forces from capturing two strongpoints.

• Secondary: Destroy at least one Axis armoured vehicle.

• Bonus: Keep the perimeter line intact for 10 turns.

On the day a score draw,  the Axis forces were lucky destroying the Matilda in the opening exchange having massed their armour on the right flank, a strong advance from the Italians in the centre was held up by Mortar and Bren fire. 

The Australians continued to funnel troops into the forward damaged bunker, the Italians got close but were unable to break in to it. The German Armour reached the lip of the trench line, but the clock ran down.

A fun game with everyone engaged from the first turn. Thanks to Steve the War Photographer for the excellent shots of the game.

Chinese 88th Infantry Division (2)

It's June and back to the Sino-Japanese conflict.

Opted for the apple green colour for this unit, I had seen it on some 'dress' units but they do like rather different to the other units completed.

The 88th Division was part of the “German-trained” elite units formed in the 1930s, and as such it represented the closest China came to a standardised, modern infantry organisation at the start of the war. While still subject to shortages and battlefield attrition, its structure was more consistent and better equipped than typical Nationalist units.

The backbone of section firepower, was centred on a ZB‑26 light machine gun, the most widely used automatic weapon in Chinese service during this period, together with several riflemen. Although for very early war units I might strip the LMG team and replace with additional riflemen.

I bolstered this faction with a HMG team, swapping heads from some of the original 3D casts.

I am currently sticking together some additional Japanese and figured I might 'borrow' a couple of the knee mortars for the Chinese units, having done some reading they seem to be introduced later in the war to counter the Japanese grenade launcher platoons.

D Day - Fox Green, Omaha Beach (Wyre Forest Club)

Last Sunday saw a fantastic D Day outing almost 82 years to the day. Fox Green Omaha beach, but with so many players taking part we also dropped in a bridge for the Para's to defend from any German's looking to reinforce the beach. You can thank AI for the narrative.

The sea was still churning behind them when the first men of the 16th Infantry Regiment staggered onto Fox Green. 

The smoke from burning landing craft drifted low across the surf, mixing with the spray and the grit kicked up by machine‑gun fire. The German lacked that killer blow numerous DD Shermans were hit one vanished in a plume of water and steel before it could even fire a shot. The second crawled onto the sand, turret already traversing toward WN62, only to be struck by an anti‑tank round that punched through its side and left it burning like a beacon on the beach.

The infantry pressed on pinned behind the shingle, the survivors of the first wave were a patchwork of shattered platoons—riflemen without officers, engineers without equipment. The German guns raked the beach in long, merciless sweeps inflicting multiple pins on each squad.

But inch by inch, the Americans began to push forward.

The engineers were the first to break the paralysis. Crawling through sand and smoke, they cleared a narrow breach in the seawall helped by naval artillery fire. It wasn’t much—just enough but it was the first crack in the German grip on Fox Green.

The Rangers surged up the bluffs.

At WN62, the defenders fought with grim determination. MG42s chattered from concrete embrasures, and mortar rounds burst among the advancing Americans. The cost was brutal—men fell in clusters, some never even seeing the enemy who killed them. But the Rangers flanked the position, scaling a ravine under covering fire from the destroyers offshore. When they reached the bunker complex, the fight turned to close‑quarters chaos—grenades, rifles, and raw desperation.

By midday, WN62 fell silent.

To the east, WN61 held out longer. Its guns had already claimed one of the Shermans and dozens of infantrymen. But with WN62 neutralized, the defenders found themselves exposed. A coordinated assault by the remnants of two rifle platoons finally overran the trenches. The last German gun crew surrendered after their ammunition ran out.

WN64, isolated and battered by naval fire, collapsed soon after.

The Sherman's advanced up the draw.

In the rear the Germans faired no better in attempting to break through the para's defending the bridge. Every attempt to break though the cordon was thwarted, multiple German vehicles - all that was left to was to face against each other on opposite river banks.

Back to the beach when the firing finally died down, Fox Green was a landscape of wreckage—burning tanks, shattered landing craft, and the bodies of men who had crossed an ocean to reach this strip of sand. The Americans had secured the beachhead.

They had lost two tanks and numerous men, but the bluffs were theirs, the strongpoints silenced, and the path inland open. The cost of Fox Green would be remembered, not for the ground gained, but for the men who refused to yield it.

A cracking days gaming - end to end action with everyone engaged. German firing was rather poor but it was still a tough ask for the Allies to break though. Thank goodness for the Naval Gun fire to keep jerries head down.

Played using Bolt Action V3.

Sino-Japanese War - Xenos Rampant - Scenario Delta - Ceasefire.

Welcome to June and finally an opportunity to give the Chinese and Japanese a run out, still plenty more on the paint table, but enough now to get a game together.

Flicking through the Xenos Rampant Scenario's - Cease fire felt like the perfect game to kick off the string of battles, 6 numbered markers with both sides not wanting to be the one to fire first. - Once the balloon goes up Victory Points for being closest to the markers at the end of the game +5 Victory Points if your Opponent fired first. 

In the tense outskirts of a remote Manchurian village, both Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) forces and Chinese National Revolutionary Army (NRA) units are conducting live-fire exercises. 

The situation is already volatile—patrols overlap, nerves are frayed, and neither side trusts the other’s intentions. 

Played across the table both sides manoeuvrer looking to get close enough to grab the makers but conscious that being in the open is not good for one's health if the firing starts. 

Within XR I pulled down the Chinese morale and increase the Japanese they are also very tasty in hand  to hand with sharp blades, the down side they all have wild charge so keeping them on mission might be a problem.

So a battle of quality vs quantity, the IJA cross the paddy field and both sides skirt round the compound separated by a high wall.

Something had to give the IJA Tankette grabbed the terrain marker, facing off against a against a Soviet made BA10. The NRA Morale broke first and they firer a round at the little Japanese tank - war had started.

So much time had been wasted getting into position it was now a frantic rush to grab the markers and push back the enemy. The Chinese broken cover from the wood rushing past a Japanese armoured car who was pouring fire into the compound.

At the river crossing the Japanese morale kept a section in play but it was slowly whittled down by twice their number.

In the centre of the table the Medium Tank pushed forwards grabbing the central marker as their supporting infantry pinned the defending Chinese in the field.

The BA 10 having taken care of the Tankette grabbed the left hand marker with the Japanese too few in number to cover all 6 markers with any concentration of force.

Night fell and the Chinese had bagged a surprising victory.

Chinese - 5 Markers in their possession 15 Points.

Japanese - 1 Marker in their possession and they did not break the cease fire 8 Points.

Great fun for the first outing, a couple of tweaks are needed to the units and point values, but it had a really good feel to it and a great scenario which matched perfectly the opening of the war itself.

Now for the next batch of Chinese troops and I suspect more Japanese.

Dust & Tears Campaign - Game 3

After the battle at Marmistra the remaining party made good progress and the Port of Alexandra came into sight, when the dice let them down and an encounter was triggered

Stripped of a number of their heavy cavalry this encounter might be more challenging within only one unit of Knights.

The pilgrims edged forwards one unit of Elite Knights, accompanied by 2 Spear units, 2 missile units, a warrior unit and 1 skirmisher screen.

8 Arab blinds were spread across the table, the Christian mission to cross the wadi with as much of the party as they could. To the front of the party Arab forces appeared, light cavalry blocked the advance of the Christian forces.

The Arabs rushed forwards showering the skirmishers, felling 3 of their number, they scuttled backwards.

Warriors charged the Christian line but were counted by the knights who pushed them backwards, the fanatics are great in attack but not so good in defence.

The Arab forces fell backwards, driven further backwards by a volley of crossbow bolts who took out a number of Arab archers who struggled to match them for accuracy.

The Christian blood lust was up and having dispatched the warriors followed up crashing into the Arab cavalry. The way to the wadi crossing was open.

More Arabs appeared on the far side of the wadi. A greater push is going to be needed.

A tough fight and a number of Christians fell before they could break the Arab defenders.

As the Arab defenders fled, the Christians took stock, adjusting for losses, the Pilgrims pressed on.

1 Knight Unit, 1 Warrior Unit, 2 Missile Units, 1 Skirmish Unit, 1 Spear Unit.

Outremer - Christian Missile Units

What comes first, the painting or the gaming?

Sometimes you need to keep the games going, to drive the painting on. Only a few more Crusader Units left before the decks are clear. 

12 Crossbow Men, with a number in white smocks to show their commitment to the cause.

Next up 12 Archers from Fire Forge Games, these go together really well and are quick to paint.

Dropped into Warbases Midgard movement trays to keep the units together.

Now for the next outing as the march to Jerusalem continues.