Workbench: T35 Death machine

First, a moment of awesome.



See this? This is a Soviet T35. When they built the T28 an engineer came up and asked the designers if they had enough turrets. They curtly replied "Nyet" and sent him to the Gulag. Of course there wasn't enough turrets, IT NEEDED MORE TURRETS. Thus this 100 ton leviathan was born. It had paper thin armor and needed 11 people to operate, but hey, it had more guns than Navarone and was made of awesome. And get this, in later production runs they turned the awesome dial to 11 and installed FLAME THROWERS- Plural. One flame thrower wasn't enough for a tank this cool; they needed more.

It would come up to smaller tanks and go, "hey you there, with your 45 mm gun. Yah, that gun's cool- I had 2, I hear some of your friends have a flame thrower installed too. That's pretty sweet. But look at this... 2 flame throwers. Aw yah, this trash right here is special. I can even do 18 miles per hour and I'm taller than a house. Pretty sweet I know. I can even do wicked sweet back flips. You should check it out sometime." all while hanging out behind a soviet 7-11 sipping on a slurpy and nursing the injury he got in a shallow ditch 'because he wasn't ready dude-GOSH'.

Only 90% were lost in the only action they partook in during the stages leading up to the battle for Moscow to transmission failure alone... and shallow ditches.

But that last 10%- WERE EPIC.




And I digress. Board progress. I actually don't have a more recent photo. The boards are 50% flocked but I didn't photo it. Shame.

Now in technicolor

And for something different:
Nazi war footage of the fight for France.



I have to say it's fascinating and chilling all the same seeing the war from a different perspective and that, despite what our cinema would proclaim, lots of soldiers died, the enemy was competent and resilient, and John Wayne didn't single handedly defeat all of Germany.

Green!

Only had 30 minutes, so I strapped the little adviser on and got what I could done. Seizing time has gotten a bit easier I must admit now that I don't sleight even a scant 10 minutes that might come my way. His feet ended up green though.


Lessons I learned from "Days of Thunder":
Nothing brings about team work between enemies like hating the new guy.
Hardees and Mellow yellow sponsor all of Nascar.
You can always pass someone by going low.
When you see a wreck, speed up.
Rental cars should be used in destruction derbies because there are no consequences.

Master Blaster Rules UGUUuuuu

Approaching the end of this three. After this its painting and flocking.

Nevermind the mess.










Progress was made in part by the helpful observations of Master (to my Blaster). He was completely content to be carried around in the carrier, make observations, and generally drool on things.
It does however make it real hard to wash your hands.



I think my camera on my black berry is really hosing out. The quality of photos coming off of this thing has really dropped off as evident in these photos.

And for something different: The aftermath of Whitman's charge through Viller's Bocage and an assessment of the Tiger tank.

Drydex: It makes boards

The boards are still coming together. Though, I admit the cuts on the foam might not have been as precise as they could have been. They are almost more spackle now than foam.

Board board board board baby

Making progress on the boards. I've found that setting a small amount of time every day is easier to apportion than say, committing a full day to completion.
For one thing, my attention span is a lot easier to corral and with smaller goals its easier to be satisfied.












I'm actually really unimpressed with how the pits on the one end of the board came out. I'll make them a muddy quagmire in the end, but we'll see if it is any sort of recovery. The inspiration came from an episode of Band of Brothers, but they look more like abandoned quarries or something.

"I was a Combat Engineer. Isn’t that ridiculous? The two things I hate most in the world are combat and engineering.” Mel Brooks

A personal history

This time of year is always a bit hard on me. I would have posted this earlier, but I was sick out of my mind for a bit.

I really don't want to see this disappear off the internet, so here is an online account with a friend of his of a Red Barracades ASL Campaign round that my father wrote.

Campaign Game After Action Reports

ASL: AAR: RB CG III Day ONE

• From: "Joe Wilson"
• Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 13:47:26 -0500

The folowing is an AAR of RB CG III. I'm playing the Russians, my opponent is Dale Jinks. We plan to play out the whole CG, down to the last stone locations. You gotta love this game! Any feedback for the lowly Russians is appreciated.

Oct 17 1942 The Germans Are Coming, The Germans Are Coming!

Russian purchases: I8, I3, O1, M1, M1. All normal/full strength. 8 CPP spent.

German purchases: S1, A1, I1, M1. 13 CPP spent.

Russian Battle Plan: My guiding strategy is to burn upper level buildings before their capture and fall back to the factories. East of the factories I plan on digging in and try to hold the North bd edge as long as posssible then fall back towards the Chemist's shop (X9).

German Plan: Attack from the West edge into factories, use dummies as part of a feint from the North edge.

Russian Setup: Stacks with leaders setup in B12, F6,and M6 to kindle on Tn 1. A 1-3-5 bunker complex in V5 with wire has 3 dummies in the PB, 2 are 5/8" ? to appear to be an AT gun. A HMG is in the trench to be moved in to the PB as needed. This deception worked well. One 45LL AT was in W10 level 1 (fortified), the other in O9. Also bldgs W10 (grnd), K10, P6, I8, and J13 are fortified. Trenchs in V5, W2, N15. Tunnel from I8 to K10. The tunnel is hoped to be used in the next CG day as part of a surprise counterattack, since it would not be discovered unless both entrances are enemy controlled. The Mol-P Pltn and the Rifle Coy are deployed in reserve relatively close to the front (a MISTAKE). Also due to misunderstanding the cloaking rules, the use of dummy cloaks was not fully employed (I thought you got only 5 cloak counters per RG). BIG MISTAKE !

Here's something for Q&A: The Red Barricades CG roster has EC preprinted as Moderate but SSR RB1 says EC is moist. We played as Moist.

Ger Tn 1: Gusts start the game. Ger. lays a smoke barrage at pre-reged F9. He advances with HSs leading the way, hitting the Rus. screen of dummies and some 5-2-7s in the C hexrow. Ger. Mk IIIs are moving in atempting to cut off Russian retreats. Russian does call in OBA SR near H2 but not adjacent to any concealed enemies in sight to avoid extra chit draw. Small concealed stacks assault move/advance from the North edge.

Rus Tn 1: Large Ger dummy stack is KIAed by prep fire into U1. Russians try to extradite from west edge. Kindles 2 flames in B12, one in F6, one in M6. Stack advances into F6 cellar to prepare for sewer movement. Russian sniper gets a kia result from the Ger sniper, Rus SAN now = 3. Another MISTAKE, must try to protect sniper with nearby friendly units rather than keeping it alone near the german sniper. Rus SR moved closer to main Ger forces near D10.

Ger Tn 2: Ger. loses Battery Access. Ger. begins crossing Tramvanaya ST. from the West. Russian west edge screen starts dieing, some survivors flee eastward. Some Reserves are uncovered, but not the MOL-Ps yet. Germans are in F5-F6. A MkIII ESBs into the Russians in C13, passes bog and ESB checks, his adv fire MG shots Malf BOTH MGs! Russian reaction fire fails. Blaze in B12 breaks a 5-4-8. An entering Stug IIIB from the North malfs his MA. Melee exists in C13 with 9-1 and 1 sqd, a broke sqd routs away. It doesn't look good for an escape by the 9-1 so he stays put to help in CC with no luck (vs motion MkIII w NO MGs). Little action on the Northside. The Ger moved more infantry from the West and 3 STugs from the North, near g-j rows. Rus 70mm harrassing OBA, with no hope for accuracy, lands at C10 breaking a few but mostly scaring the germans.

Rus Tn 2: Ger 36 FP def fire vs melee in C13 KIAs all the Russians. Concealed MOL-P team in E13 is broken from Def fire, unable to move away or attack nearby Mk III, the surprise is over! Despite Ger. attempt to extinguish flame in F6, it becomes a blaze. Rus 70mm harrassing OBA shifts in and lands in E13 causing the advancing Germans to head for cover, slowing their advance. Rus stack moves into sewer from F6 to D7 hoping to escape underground. Ger. regains battery access.

Ger Tn 3: Ger. deployment TC trips a booby trap ! Ger. 80mm OBA lands in I8 with no effect on fortified Russians. Ger. advance continues bypassing some broken Russians into B18. A MkIII bypasses F13 to VBM sleeze the Russians. A Stug IIIb w Malfed MA bogs when entering Russian occupied J5. Later CC eliminates the Stug. M6 is fully ablaze now. The Russian Left flank is crumbling as few units are making it back to the factories. 3 sqds,MMG and 10-0 are holding em off from I8.

Rus Tn 3: Russians begin moving some infantry from the right flank back into the factories and from the O8 factory to bulster the left flank. Ger. OBA hits I8 again for no effect. I could move those guys out of there by the tunnel, but I still hope to keep it a secret and hope for a break in the OBA fire to escape. Ger. Def. fire takes a lucky shot at the L10 rooftop looking for the observer and FINDS HIM ! The 7-0 is only pinned. Can he get out one more OBA mission ? The remainder of the Russian left moves into the factories except for stragglers in I8, J9,L6,K10,K11. K10 must be held at all costs to keep the tunnel !

Ger Tn 4: Ger Prep fire breaks the obsvr on the roof (ugh!), he will die there if he must, gotta get that OBA back! Ger OBA shifts to M9. Ger advance is becoming a steam roller around the Russian left flank, advancing into F19-F18, F13-14, F11-12, G10, K6, and L5. Ger fire breaks the defenders of I8, while a MkIII sleezes the defenders. They rout away with the 10-0, Ger. advances in to I8. The North side is silent, a few concealed Germans hug the board edge.

Rus Tn 4: The Rus. 45LL AT opens up from O9, his multishot reign of terror destroys a Stug in J6 and shocks the MkIII that is in bypass of I8. Ger shifts his OBA to N9 but without LOS to the known unit in O10, but he draws Red for the 2nd card (YES!). He was sighting from offboard at N0. Ger. sniper gets the KIA vs a 9-1 in P7, causes 2 other sqds to break. The 7-0 observer on the roof finally bites it, failing his CR wound check, the phone still in his hand.

Ger Tn 5: The 3 Stukas have arrived! The Ger. cautiously assault moves toward the Foundry hall and Factory O7 from the West and NW. An encircled Russian sqd trapped in H9 goes berserk. The MkIII is OK. The 45LL AT shoots at it again, tries for APCR but doesn't have it, goes for the AP and MALFs ! The Mk III backs out of sight. Ger. continues to move down the West edge and around the Rus. left flank unopposed. He gets to A23, G22-23, U23, J18, I12, I9.

Rus Tn 5: Another broken Russian squad dies to fate on a self- rally attempt (the 3rd time). Berserk Rus. sqd charges I9 to die in CC. Ger. OBA hits V5 to suppress the AA mode HMG in the trench (the sqd breaks). Stukas hit Russian right flank positions, 2 fail TCs, but one gets CH on W5 to KIA 1 sqd and rubble building. J13 (fortified) is attacked by numerous adjacent Germans, all occupants (2 sqds) break and rout back. A new 4-4-7 advances in to take their place. The wandering sewer rats (3 sqds + 9-1) have made it to D16, they startedsewer movement back on Tn 2. The Game does NOT end! "Oh the pain!"

Ger Tn 6: Ger. sniper gets another KIA on the Rus. sniper, Rus. SAN = 2. Ger. begins moving into L16 factory and Foundry Works. Rus sqd in J13 breaks and must rout to the roof to escape. Ger. tanks move closer to O9, the AT is still out of action (Gotta fix that gun!) Germans move on to occupy G22, J17, K18, J13-15, K13-14, L8-M8, B25, C24. Ger. lose OBA for good!

Rus Tn 6: MOL-P hit on adjacent infantry in K18 leaves a flame. The first MOL-P hit of the game out of perhaps 3-4 shots. Yet this one would lead to the gutting of the factory. Another Rus. 4-4-7 goes berserk, this time in O8, charging out of a perfectly good factory. The Stukas are ineffective, one mistakenly attacks and bre0aks a Ger. sqd at M9 (Yea!). The GAME GOES ON, PLEASE LET IT STOP !

Ger Tn 7: Things are slowing down, the German moves forward cautiously gaining: J21-22, I22, K22, C28, E25, K20, L14-18, L12-13, K10, L9-10, M9 and M14. K18 blazes up !

Rus Tn 7: The Rus. berserker charges into M7 to die in CC. The Luftwaffe mercifully doesn't attack. The Russians move out of LOS to survive. The GAME ENDS.

POST GAME action: The Germans won, easily. German losses = 23 CVP. Russian losses = 45 CVP. After resolving effects of blazes and perimeter determination, the German has 161 stone locations. The German perimeter runs roughly from U1 to L5 to L9-K10-J11to L12 to M14-L14 to L18-K19 to K22 to E25 to C28 to A27. The Rus perimeter, is basically opposite. The Rus. 45LL AT didn't survive refit.

Lessons learned by the Russians:

1. The attacker always advances faster than you plan him to, Murphy's law.

2. Protect you SAN just like you protect leaders from sniper attack. It is harder to regain SAN in a CG, and the Russians need a good SAN to kill German leaders and reduce his attacks.

3. Deploy in depth and keep rout paths open, although I tried to follow these precepts, it obviously did not work. The ground lost actually doesn't worry me, I'm worried about failing to kill Germans. Only 23 cvp inflicted and 12 came from armor kills. That bodes badly for the Russians. On top of it, the Germans are saving CPPs !

German successes: Good job for the Krauts. He used HSs alot to probe, draw fire and cutoff retreats. His OBA had a pre-registered hex and plentiful ammo, it seemed to last forever. The Stugs had some bad luck, but the MkIIIs did well in cutting off retreat paths. The game didn't end until turn 7 which gave him lots of ground. Is it simply just hard for the Russians on day one ?

Cheesy Rule: During the refit sequence, I had to show my 45LL AT in the upper level location, although it had remained hidden until that time. Now the Krauts know where it is, and that it won't be moving anywhere. The dummies in the pillbox did have him fooled. Too bad he did not attack on that side.