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Miniatures Adventure => The Great War => Topic started by: TacticalPainter on December 23, 2020, 04:18:47 AM

Title: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 27 08 23)
Post by: TacticalPainter on December 23, 2020, 04:18:47 AM
A bit of a back story to the project. I've always been interested in the First World War and my long time board gaming opponent has too. When I returned to miniatures after a very long break I tried to find ways to get him interested. With that in mind about five years ago I bought the Lardies Through the Mud and Blood rules and enough Germans and British 28mm from Great War Miniatures to make up the numbers for each side. Just as I started painting the figures my friend confessed that miniatures was just not for him. He's a counter and hex man and the rather fluid nature of a miniatures table was too much for him to get his head around. So the project stalled and I focussed on my Second World War collection for Chain of Command. However, joining a new club has introduced me to a wider ring of players two of whom are avid players of the First World War and so I finally had my first game using Through the Mud & Blood. Enjoyed it and it gave me the impetus the resuscitate the project and get painting.

So the basic British platoon is as good as done. I'm short a corporal for one section but otherwise I have enough for a full late war platoon that should cover most of 1916-18. The corporal and a few other riflemen are in the paint queue along with a big batch of Germans that include regular infantry and stormtroopers.

As 'big men' is such a key concept in the Lardies rules I've based the officers and NCOs on larger bases and added more terrain.  Here are a couple of officers:

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/D94hzZ.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poD94hzZj)

Here are the NCOs

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/4ANbvp.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pm4ANbvpj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/bhoHtH.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmbhoHtHj)


The other ranks are on 25mm bases and the GWM range gives plenty of great characters and enough to make up rifle grenadiers, bombers, rifle men and Lewis teams.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/8qIx2w.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/po8qIx2wj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/gHMcVe.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pngHMcVej)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/k13pgG.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnk13pgGj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/OkheWH.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnOkheWHj)


I've decided to try using rare earth magnets in my bases and store the figures on metal letter trays racks. Happy with how that's turned out too.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/eSNDpc.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pneSNDpcj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: flatpack on December 23, 2020, 06:03:29 AM
They look very nice figures, great start.
Good luck with the Germans.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: vodkafan on December 23, 2020, 08:48:18 AM
 Hey nice choice of figures TP, great to see you moving up to "proper" scale  ;)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: TacticalPainter on December 23, 2020, 09:27:07 AM
Hey nice choice of figures TP, great to see you moving up to "proper" scale  ;)

LOL, you’re not paying attention. WWII is the only period I play in 20mm.....
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: vodkafan on December 23, 2020, 10:03:54 AM
LOL, you’re not paying attention. WWII is the only period I play in 20mm.....

That's correct, I only know you from your CoC games. O lordy What other gaming goodness have I been missing?  :o ;D
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: Driscoles on December 23, 2020, 06:07:37 PM
These Sir, are absolutely brill!
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: Captain Blood on December 24, 2020, 01:14:56 PM
 Very nicely done. Well done  8)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: armchairgeneral on December 24, 2020, 04:19:58 PM
They look excellent  :-*
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: TacticalPainter on January 06, 2021, 05:56:16 AM
A bit more from the workbench. I’ve finished painting the remaining GWM British infantry and command figures. They need a good varnish and then I’ll finish off their bases.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/w1EHUv.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmw1EHUvj)

I have six of the GWM trench raiders, a lovely set of sculpts with great character. Here’s the first two:

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/RInjVI.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poRInjVIj)

I think these and the officer with the pistol are some of my favourite figures.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/7XuyAP.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/po7XuyAPj)

While I have other British to do, like a Vickers team, I’m keen to complete enough Germans to begin playing a few games. These are the first two, a bit of a ‘proof of concept’ to make sure I’m happy with the colours, which I am.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/ThEQR0.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poThEQR0j)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 06 01 21)
Post by: Driscoles on January 06, 2021, 07:25:22 PM
Still very good  :)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 06 01 21)
Post by: Shahbahraz on January 06, 2021, 07:35:34 PM
Very nice work.. must not be tempted by WW1, must not be tempted by WW1, must not be tempted by WW1...
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 06 01 21)
Post by: Marine0846 on January 13, 2021, 02:08:48 AM
Lovely British.
So well painted.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 06 01 21)
Post by: Dr. Moebius on January 13, 2021, 09:04:25 PM
Great painted miniatures. I like your style and details like the dirt and scratches on the helmets.

Thanks for sharing
Alex
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 06 01 21)
Post by: TacticalPainter on January 19, 2021, 10:38:15 PM
With the core British platoon done, I’ve moved on to the German platoons. That’s a plural as I plan to have a regular platoon and a stosstruppen platoon. Once again these are all Great War Miniatures and the first batch of ten are painted with just the bases to be finished off.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/EEETLr.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poEEETLrj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/X7fYq5.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poX7fYq5j)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: flatpack on January 25, 2021, 07:11:42 AM
They are coming over as very well painted figures. Great stuff, well done.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: monk2002uk on January 26, 2021, 08:49:23 AM
Lovely work, TacticalPainter.

Here are a few thoughts as you come to consider deployment of the figures into the field. The general literature on German assault- or storm troops is heavily skewed by the post-war focus on the highly specialised units, such as Sturmbataillon Rohr. This reflects, in part, the role that Rohr played in promoting his work and his unit. It also reflects the propaganda that was linked to such units in the lead-up to WW2.

The concept of Sturm (assault) was well known throughout the German army from before the war. In the earliest months of the war, there is mention of Sturmkolonnen (assault columns) for example to describe ad hoc formations of infantry companies created for a very specific attack on an enemy position. Thus, the adjective Sturm- was used in a range of contexts. The first specialist meaning was linked to the creation of Sturmabteilung Gaede (Assault Detachment, so not a standard company as such), which was created by a formal order from the German War Ministry on May 4 1915. Rohr took over from Gaede after the initial poor performance of the Sturmabteilung in its first attack. Rohr was able to leverage his royal patronage to increase the size and scope to a Sturmbataillon. Each company within the battalion were designated as a Pioniere=Sturm=Kompagnie (Pioneer Assault Company).

With the early successes of Sturmabteilung Rohr, the role of the specialist unit expanded to include a much wider training role. Meanwhile, some divisions, corps, and army commands had taken separate initiatives to set up small units that were specifically designated to support key attacks. These units were at the Trupp (squad), Zug (platoon), and occasionally at the Kompagnie (company) levels. In 1915, the few such units often had Sturm- appended to them.

Rohr's unit were heavily involved in developing the concept of Stoßtaktiken (shock tactics). This indicated the realisation that 'shock' and 'assault' were not the same concept. Shock tactics, which were divided into support and close combat tactics, were designed to maximise the effectiveness of an assault. Overwhelming fire power from multiple coordinated weapons systems was key. Shock tactics were gradually disseminated throughout the German army in a train-the-trainer style. A division might send a squad of men to be trained by Sturmbataillon Rohr and these men would be designated as a Stoss=Trupp (literally a 'shock squad' or 'shock section' in direct translation but often translated as 'assault squad') back in the division, typically as a division asset and not at the regiment level. As more men were trained up then the number of Stoss=Trupp would increase to form a Sturmkompagnie. The plural of Trupp is Truppen, hence the emergence of Stosstruppen to refer to multiple designated squads.

In English, the term 'Stosstruppen' has come to be linked with the concept of stormtroopers. It refers to men who are trained specialists in assault tactics, typically in the context of WW2. In WW1, it is better to think of the term as meaning more than one squad of men trained in Stosstaktiken, where the emphasis is on the unit itself rather than the men within it. In German, Sturmtruppen can refer to a collection of men that were involved in assaults but it can also refer to a group of Assault Squads. Note that German WW1 war diaries, regimental histories, etc often refer to British, Canadian, Australian and other enemy soldiers as Sturmtruppen.

As the war progressed, the concept of Sturmtrupp (ie a specialist squad) was picked up at the regiment, battalion, and company-levels to varying degrees. The role/s of such squads were variable too, reflecting the lack of common understanding in shock tactics. In theory, several Stoss=Truppen ('shock' squads) could be formed into a Stoss=Zug ('shock' platoon) but this term is exceedingly rare in my experience. Sturm- is used for the designated companies, even within Sturmbataillon Rohr and its specialist equivalents. The term Sturmblock (literally 'assault block' but better translated as 'assault group') by highly specialist Sturmbataillonen to refer to a combat group of around 60 men, along with light- and heavy machine guns, Minenwerfer, and Granatenwerfer.

Further to the problems linked to word 'stormtroopers' in English, the WW1 literature often imbues 'stormtroopers' with special powers. This includes the power of 'infiltration', which is often reflected in special rules for 'stormtroopers'. 'Infiltration' is the ability to slip between defenses and get into the rear areas. On a table-top, defences are often table-edge to table-edge. 'Infiltration' therefore requires the stormtrooper figures to have attack bonuses of some sort to more easily overcome the defenders.

'Infiltration' is not an accurate concept. The highly specialised assault troops from the likes of Sturmbataillon Rohr were not involved in this way during the likes of Operation Michael in 1918, to which the term 'infiltration' is most closely linked. The super-specialists were parcelled out across the two major armies and were involved in very specific attacks on difficult defensive positions. The assault troops in Operation Michael that 'infiltrated' were the frontline infantry units, not the super-specialists. When 'infiltration' did occur, it was mainly because of the fog and the widely separated British defensive redoubts. Even super-specialists could not 'infiltrate' between well organised defenses that were organised in depth and with mutually supporting weapons systems.

Within the wargame context, a Stoss=Trupp will be a squad within the battalion that has likely received some training in Stosstaktiken, often partial training. The squad will be more experienced in participating in assaults because that was their role. This was similar to the concept of 'raiders', where a 'raid' involved a planned small-scale (less than company size) assault. A huge and fundamental difference from the specialist assault units was the lack of fully integrated support weapons systems, as represented in the Sturmblock concept. This difference, coupled with the variable training in those tactics that were under the direct control of the squad, means that we should be very cautious about assigning special powers to 'stormtroopers' IMHO.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: TacticalPainter on January 30, 2021, 11:07:26 PM
Thanks, that’s an informative read. I’m also weary of assigning any troops of an apparent ‘elite’ status with superpowers. I’m more interested in the tactical use of these squads and how that differed from regular infantry. For the same reason I don’t like rules that give Japanese unit superpowers when they make a banzai charge (when in reality it was no more than a suicidal charge with minimal chance of success but maximum chance of 100% casualties).

I’m inclined to view these units as specialists rather than some sort of high powered elite. They were trained and equipped for specific assault tasks and I’m interested in modelling their performance against more regular infantry and the various roles each were asked to perform. It’s the same way I’m interested in the evolution of the British platoon and the devolution of tasks to specific sections of ‘specialists’.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: monk2002uk on February 01, 2021, 07:44:08 AM
I agree with your point about 'superpowers'. The concept of 'specialists' within regular infantry units is interesting. With respect to the German terms Sturm= (assault) and Stoß= (shock), I have been working on a very interesting translation. It comes from the post-war regimental history of German 174th Infantry Regiment (IR174). My current focus is on the battles in the Race to the Sea during late September and early October 1914. IR174 encountered French forces at Chaulnes and Lihons, south of the Somme river. The line stabilised between these two towns. On 30 October 1914, IR174 launched an attack on French-occupied Lihons. As with all regimental histories, the content was compiled after the war when the concept of Stoß= had taken on a new meaning, at least as defined by the super-specialist training units. Nevertheless, here is what was written in the account for the attack (the translation is mine as are any mistakes therein):

"October 30 was going to be a difficult day for the regiment. [42nd Infantry Division] had decided to break through the enemy position at this point in the line. The infantry was going to attack in 7 assault columns (Sturmkolonnen) after the intense preparatory bombardment by the artillery and Minenwerfer."

The history then provides details of the assault columns, each of which comprised 1-3 infantry companies drawn from IR70 on the right wing of the attack (2 assault columns) and IR174. Each column had two Pioneer squads attached and had another company in reserve to follow through Nachstoß. The field artillery had been reinforced with a heavy (15cm) howitzer brigade and with a Mörserbataillon that included a 10cm gun battery.

"The columns stood to according to the timetable, with the Stoßkompagnien tightly-packed together [I have left the German original term in place so you can get a feel for the meaning]. The Sturmtruppen were well-equipped with ladders, axes, and hatchets; the men left their haversacks in the trenches.

Stoßtrupp 3 was able to take the brickworks north of the road [on the right wing of the attack]; further advance in this sector failed with heavy losses due to the determined enemy resistance. Lihons village would undoubtedly been captured if, unfortunately, the order had not been issued mistakenly to withdraw the Sturmtruppen that had occupied French forward trenches and part of Lihons.

In the early hours of 1 November, the remnants of the Stoßtruppen that were still in contact with the enemy were withdrawn back to the starting positions."

Bear in mind that the account is describing German infantry in 1914, which is a clear reminder that we are discussing concepts rather than the way that Stoßtruppen are normally portrayed in the English literature.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: FlyXwire on February 03, 2021, 12:48:43 AM
There was an interesting discussion in a post-WWII wargame exercise conducted in the USA with German Generals Balck and Von Mellenthin, where Gen Balck was asked to comment on the WWI Stosstruppen infiltration tactics (later attributed by the British and Americans as the von Hutier tactics) - he was unaware of them ever being used during his combat experience.

Document page 52-53 (PDF Pg 58-59), and with special note the yellow highlighted passage in the document):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B666O7-HemObS1BWdE85dTdubnM/view
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: monk2002uk on February 03, 2021, 09:50:56 AM
Thank you for the reference. Hermann Balck's father wrote several books on tactics in German, which were published before WW1. For anyone who is interested, you can download an English translation of one of the books here:

Link (https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Tactics_Introduction_and_formal_tactics/h0ZAAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0)

It clearly shows how the concepts of fire and movement, shock, etc were being formulated before WW1. One can imagine that Hermann Balck would have sat and talked with his father about these aspects many times.

Balck's comments in the interview confirm the points I was making about 'infiltration' tactics. If the question had been couched differently, such as 'Were non-specialist German assault troops expected to bypass points of resistance whenever possible in an effort to disrupt the enemy and break-through?' then the answer would have been 'Yes'. I have seen examples of German Operation Orders from WW1 that include this type of reminder. Balck is noting, however, that assault tactics included a strong emphasis on tackling strongpoints by various means, not just somehow mysteriously bypassing them.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: FlyXwire on February 03, 2021, 06:53:39 PM
Robert,

I thought you might enjoy that link.

Dave
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: monk2002uk on February 04, 2021, 08:56:18 PM
I thought you might enjoy that link.
For sure! Thanks again, Dave. Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during the original interview...

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 20 01 21)
Post by: TacticalPainter on February 08, 2021, 12:33:22 AM
A slight distraction has diverted my attention to another project (as these things are wont to do!). More additions and some others finished off and based. As with the previous all figures are from Great War Miniatures.

Here's a British MG crew:

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/tIEQpv.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmtIEQpvj)

I needed a few extra figures to round out the platoon including another corporal and two men as scouts with the platoon HQ. These were joined by a few surplus figures that will no doubt come in handy in the future, including an additional Lewis gunner.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/H0cwPw.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmH0cwPwj)

I've been trying to find ways to theme the bases of the leaders to correspond to their leader status in Through the Mud & Blood but to do it in a way that left them open for use with other rules. As they are on slightly larger bases it's allowed for additional terrain elements and so I've used things like sandbags to mark the leader's command level. In the case of some of the leaders below I've also tried using a piece of duckboard and having the leader level correspond to the number of rungs. In this case a British level 4 leader and a level 1 corporal (represented by the single stanchion for the barbed wire).

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/XA5Bzm.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnXA5Bzmj)

The first of the Germans are now finished.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/3SfztC.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pn3SfztCj)

And once again with their leaders I've used duckboard where I can to show their command level.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/XtBRjY.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmXtBRjYj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 08 02 21)
Post by: Driscoles on February 09, 2021, 10:07:52 AM
Love the Germans !
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 08 02 21)
Post by: Metternich on February 10, 2021, 12:33:01 AM
Superb painting of both the Germans and the British.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 08 02 21)
Post by: Nickyc on March 26, 2021, 10:34:39 AM
Beautiful work with a real Great war feel to them, any updates mate :)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 08 02 21)
Post by: James Morris on March 26, 2021, 05:52:37 PM
Superbly painted and based.  The leader solutions are very elegant.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 08 02 21)
Post by: Ash on March 27, 2021, 09:45:22 AM
These are superb.
I've always been interested in this period, but most of the minis I've seen have been early war.
Really like the look of these.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 08 02 21)
Post by: TacticalPainter on February 09, 2022, 11:53:15 AM
Well, this project has turned into one of those slow burn projects that start off with the best intentions and are slowly pushed to the back of the paint queue when new distractions rear their head. Well, pleased to say it's back on track at the moment and I've made a serious dent in the paint queue with most of the Germans platoon now finished. These are all Great War Miniatures and lovely figures too.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/V69As5.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poV69As5j)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/KRGC26.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnKRGC26j)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/DvPCnG.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmDvPCnGj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/VIX8g4.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poVIX8g4j)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/pfrUhc.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmpfrUhcj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 09 02 22)
Post by: Mindenbrush on February 10, 2022, 12:39:17 PM
Excellent work as always.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 09 02 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on March 13, 2022, 12:21:08 AM
Finally managed to get the new figures into a game. This was a small scenario on a 4x3 table using the Lardies 'Through the Mud & Blood' rules. It was set in Pozieres in 1916 and published in the Lard Magazine 2021. It's a fairly small game with an Australian platoon (1 Lewis section and three rifle sections) against three German rifle sections. All the rifle sections on both sides had bombers so apart from them and the Lewis Gun this was a fairly simple order of battle.

I don't have any 28mm terrain to make up a village in ruins but I do have an awful lot of 20mm terrain and, at a stretch, it could be made to work for this scale. It did mean at times the buildings were a little crowded but overall it made the game playable.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/w88dki.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnw88dkij)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/5errU2.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/po5errU2j)

The Australians managed to successfully evict the Germans but not without a struggle. A perfect sized game for a club night.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/RwHVBt.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnRwHVBtj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/eLUEBm.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmeLUEBmj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/ljDmDu.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmljDmDuj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 13 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 13, 2022, 07:20:54 AM
Lovely figures, as usual. The smaller size buildings still work visually.

I don't know the Pozières scenario from the Lard Magazine. Were the Australians entering into the village or did they start within the buildings? Was there a preparatory barrage? The Australians had a slight tactical advantage numerically. Did the Germans have the tactical advantage of defending? I am wondering how the latter advantage was overcome during the gameplay. Thanks.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 13 03 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on March 13, 2022, 07:41:19 AM
 The Australians enter on blinds, the Germans have two sections on the table (as blinds, on one side of the crossroads) and one entering the table. They have the advantage of concealment plus two dummy blinds and defending good terrain. No preliminary bombardment the Australians are already in the village and the scenario has them winking out the remaining Germans. Initial German success came from overwhelming one Australian section that pushed too far forward. Australian success came from concentrating firepower and overwhelming individual German sections. The Germans probably played a too forward defence which paid dividends early but ultimately cost them. It was really about close quarter infantry fighting - suppression with the Lewis and then in with the bombers.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 13 03 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on March 15, 2022, 06:49:05 AM
Another new addition, this time a 7.7cm Feldkanone and crew, once again from Great War Miniatures. That lead pile is slowly getting smaller!

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/LXgahx.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poLXgahxj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/K8GVeI.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnK8GVeIj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/u5KrCv.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmu5KrCvj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: Driscoles on March 15, 2022, 10:40:27 AM
Nice pics from a nice gaming table!
Great gun model too.
Thanks for sharing!
Björn
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 13 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 15, 2022, 07:35:07 PM
...suppression with the Lewis...
Thank you for the extra information. I will check if the Lewis gun was used in close quarters fighting in a built-up area. Did you find that it gave significant extra firepower?

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 13 03 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on March 15, 2022, 08:26:24 PM
Thank you for the extra information. I will check if the Lewis gun was used in close quarters fighting in a built-up area. Did you find that it gave significant extra firepower?

Robert

I’m not sure if what remained of Pozieres at the time would qualify as a built up area, more like piles of rubble where once there was a village. The Lewis added some additional firepower, but not a ‘significant’ amount.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 13 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 16, 2022, 09:40:41 AM
I’m not sure if what remained of Pozieres at the time would qualify as a built up area...
There is no doubt that the town had been devastated by the bombardments during the weeks before the Australian attacks went in. This was a recurring pattern across the many towns and villages of the greater Somme battlefield. Each example, including Pozières, posed a different sort of tactical challenge from attacking an isolated pillbox or MEBU. The rubble was piled up, interfering with line of sight and movement. Cellars were commonplace in the villages. These were often hardened by the German defenders in the preceding months and were often linked together with tunnels. I have just completed a detailed review of the German and Canadian accounts of the fighting for Courcelette, which happened slightly later than Pozières but mirrored the nature of the fighting. I will look out the details for Pozières now.

What strikes me, in general terms, is when this type of fighting is replicated on-table and involves roughly equal size attacking and defending forces resulting in a 'win' to the attacking forces. Please, this is not a criticism of the game you played.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 13 03 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on March 17, 2022, 02:32:51 AM
.

What strikes me, in general terms, is when this type of fighting is replicated on-table and involves roughly equal size attacking and defending forces resulting in a 'win' to the attacking forces. Please, this is not a criticism of the game you played.

Robert

The objective for the scenario was for the Australians to force two German sections from the table. The Germans need to cover both sides of the road which means one squad on each side and the third arriving as a reserve to reinforce a key point. Australians held one squad with one of their sections on one flank, which was mauled in the process but did their job, while the other three sections concentrated on the other flank. They overwhelmed the squad there and the reserve squad that was fed in to try and hold the position. The German player may have done better conducting a fighting withdrawal and a defence with more depth. Keep in mind this is designed as a small scenario focusing on low level infantry tactics. The Australians don’t retake the village, at best they drive a weak German platoon back from one of their positions.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 19, 2022, 04:18:59 PM
The scenario about Pozières is designed to simulate close quarters fighting in a BUA during the Somme battles. It is helpful to understand more about the scenario details, thank you. With regards to the acronym 'BUA', I am not wedded to it in any way so if there is a more suitable term then we can use that in this discussion.

What follows is not directed at the scenario specifics or to the way that the game was played out. The key things were to get those lovely figures on the table and to have a good time. Ultimately, that is what wargaming is all about. What I like about such games is the way they can prompt further historical investigation. I have just completed a detailed investigation of the Battle of Courcelette, which occurred after the Battle of Pozières. Courcelette is just along the road from Pozières, which is why it has been interesting to shift focus to the latter.

The village has much the same layout today as it had back in 1914. Basically there is a line of houses along each side of the main Albert-Bapaume road, with a T junction. The branch of the T goes off towards Thiepval. This road has a line of houses on each side as well. As noted above, the houses had been hit many times by the frequent bombardments over the preceding weeks. General Smyth drew a sketch based on the action on 22/23 July 1916, when the Australians first attacked the village. It is not clear how accurate the sketch is but it should be noted that many photos of Pozières were taken later or, such as the photos that include Gibralter (the armoured lookout tower) were not actually taken in the village itself:

(https://www.greatwarspearhead.com/_Media/general-smyth-sketch_med.jpeg)

Irrespective of the state of the houses themselves, the big tactical threat they posed related to the inter-connected cellars. This was typical of so many villages and towns in the Somme. The Germans created the connections, as well as strengthening the overhead cover. This gave ready access to any part of the village, essentially, whilst moving underground. In other examples of fighting in this type of terrain, Germans would even appear behind attacking troops and shoot them. The Australians were prepared for this problem. The Battalion Order No. 1 issued on 22nd July 1916 to the Australian 3rd Battalion noted:

"The garrison of POZIERES consists of the remnants of Battalions which have lost heavily in the recent fighting. The cellars of the village are occupied and connected underground."

The garrison had, in fact, been replaced only a few days previously. The exhausted 'remnants' were relieved by elements of the newly arrived 117th Infantry Division. Specifically, 157th Infantry Regiment took over the Pozières sector. It is the only one of the three divisional regiments that published a regimental history. In mid-1916, the regiment contained three battalions (I., II., and III.). II. Battalion was subordinated to the command of the 20th Bavarian Infantry Brigade and was held at Le Sars. III. Battalion was placed in reserve at Courcelette. This meant that there were only 4 infantry companies defending from Pozières to 'east of the Pozières-Contalmaison road' (my translation).

The regimental history goes on to note that the 'very strong enemy attack (Australians) with superior forces... pushed into Pozières and attacked 4th Company/157th Infantry Regiment in the rear'. This indicates that, due to the dispersal of IR157, Pozières was defended by a company-size element. It was attacked by at least 4 Australian battalions, not counting the battalions that were more focused on attacking OG-1 Trench on the right flank of the Australian attack.

The Australian objectives stopped short of capturing the whole village. IR157 attempted to counter-attack with III. Battalion but this was beaten off with MG fire and artillery. The second major assault on the rest of Pozières took place on 25th July. The parts of the village still in German hands were only defended by 3rd Company/IR 157. The regimental history records:

"25th July: Renewed all-out attack against 3/157 at 4 am [German time was one hour ahead on the Western Front]; 3/157 was pinned in the flank and rear. It was crushed by the enemy's superiority. Leutnant der Reserve Roske fell in close combat."

I will deal with the preparations for and execution of the Australian attacks in another post.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: FreakyFenton on March 19, 2022, 05:08:22 PM
Nice pictures of well-painted miniatures, thank you for sharing!
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 19, 2022, 05:18:08 PM
Quick side note - IR 157 lost 16 officers and 907 men in the 4 days of fighting before it was withdrawn.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 20, 2022, 08:42:11 AM
FWIIW, here is the sketch from the German official history of the Battle for Pozières. It comes from the chapter covering the period from the 21st to 31st July 1916:

(https://www.greatwarspearhead.com/_Media/screenshot-2022-03-20-at_med.png)

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 20, 2022, 09:28:56 AM
The second important German source on the Battle of Pozières comes from the Schlachten des Weltkrieges series. Specifically, it is volume 2 of Somme-Nord (The Northern Somme Sector), subtitled Die Brennpunkte der Schlacht im Juli 1916 (which translates as 'The key highlights of the [whole Somme] battle in July 1916').

Here is the battle map for 23rd July, when the Australians first attacked Pozières:

(https://www.greatwarspearhead.com/_Media/pozieres-map001.png)

It illustrates very well the tactical challenges faced by the Australians. Only the southwestern end of the village, facing down the main road towards Albert, was directly occupied by German defenders (4th Company/157th Infantry Regiment). Even there, the German defenders were in a trench line, which Smyth illustrated in the sketch I posted earlier. The trench line then continued to hook around outside the village to connect up on the northeastern side with the OG-1 trench. 3rd Australian Brigade was tasked with taking the trench line outside the southeast-facing side of the village. It was enfiladed from the Australian right flank, however, causing a major tactical issue not least because OG-1 was at a higher elevation.

The map shows how the Australians broke through the junction between 4th Company/IR 157 and 10th Company/Reserve Infantry Regiment 77 (newly arrived as part of 117th Division). RIR 77 did not create a regimental history so there is no more detail about what happened to this unit, not even in the official history. Once the Australians broke into the southwestern end of Pozières, they were able to take out 4/157 as noted in the previous post. The rest of the village contained the headquarters' elements of III. Battalion/RIR 77 and II. Battalion/IR 27 (I am waiting for IR 27's regimental history and will post any relevant material once it arrives).

"Panzer T." on the map stands for Panzerturm (literally 'armoured tower'), which is known as 'Gibraltar' in the English literature.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Gibraltar_bunker_Pozieres_%28AWM_EZ0098%29.jpg/796px-Gibraltar_bunker_Pozieres_%28AWM_EZ0098%29.jpg)

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 20, 2022, 03:00:46 PM
...10th Company/Reserve Infantry Regiment 77 (newly arrived as part of 117th Division).
Apologies but this is not correct. RIR 77 was part of 2. Garde Reserve Division and it did leave a regimental history. I have ordered a copy but it will take a few days to arrive from Germany.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 23, 2022, 08:55:54 PM
Turning to the Australian perspective, I have been examining the various war diaries and other accounts for the first attack on 22/23 July. The first aspect is around the deployment and use of Lewis Guns. All the sources so far confirm that Lewis guns were distributed as teams, rather than sections. This distinction is clearly made when the specialist bombers from Battalion Headquarters are described as a 'section'. In the case of 3rd Battalion, there were two Lewis gun teams assigned to the whole battalion. They were attached to C and D Companies, forming part of the 3rd attack wave. The 3rd wave was sub-divided into two 'lines', with the bomber section attached to the first line and the Lewis gun teams to the second line. The Lewis gunners were expected to make for the strong points that the engineers and pioneers were instructed to build. This is consistent with the role of Lewis guns in providing covering fire once a position had been consolidated. To help with provisioning the Lewis guns, three men each from C and D Companies were assigned to 'accompany the gun crew and carry extra magazines'.

The Australian attack was launched under the cover of a lifting barrage. The men only had short distances to cover, which they managed to do so effectively that the German defenders were taken by surprise. Accounts talk of machine gunners being attacked before firing. In other battles on the Somme, several attacks on BUAs required units to attack over much longer distances. In these cases, Lewis guns were used to provide a base of fire, pinning unsuppressed German defenders including machine guns whilst the riflemen and bombers manoeuvred against them. Thus Lewis guns would facilitate entry into BUAs but, once in the ruined villages, the bombers and mopper-uppers took over. I will touch on the roles of the latter specialist types in another post.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 24, 2022, 11:47:40 AM
Although Pozières itself was a village, the German defences including significant numbers of mutually supporting trenches. Most of the Australian attacks involved taking these trenches, rather than the fighting in the BUA itself. The situation was different in Longueval, for example, where the BUA was more complex and larger. The following account is typical of Lewis gun involvement in trench attacks. The details are quoted from Bean's official history:

'[On the 25th July] it was 3.55 when the leading companies of the 4th [Battalion] under Major Brown, headed by the bombing platoon under Lieutenant Boileau and three Lewis Guns under Lieutenant Cooke, and the company bombers, began their advance up the winding thoroughfare of "K" from the 2nd Battalion's barricade. ["K" Trench is marked as 3/157 on the German map of Pozières posted on March 20]. The trench here was about five feet in depth, with brown earthen walls. The Germans waited quietly behind their barricade, and the first intimation of their position received by the Australian bombers was the sudden bursting of about half-a-dozen stick-bombs, which killed or wounded several and caused a monetary scatter. Boileau and Sergeant Baxter, however, rallied the men and began steadily to bomb the enemy. Germans farther along the trench hampered the bombers by sniping over distant traverses. To check this and prevent the German bombers from jumping up to look where they threw, the Lewis gunners in rear of the bombers mounted their weapons on the sides of the trench and directed their fire ahead of the attack. By this time the two leading companies of the 8th were fast advancing through the village in extended lines. Traill's company of the 8th, now under Lieutenant Fay, followed some distance in rear, keeping pace with the 4th Battalion's bombers, who were not difficult to locate, since both they and the Lewis gunners were now advancing in the open, along the parapets. ...on the left, the Lewis gunners of the company [from 8th Battalion], firing at the Germans in front of the 4th, greatly helped the progress of the bombers, and the enemy retirement in "K" became faster and faster."

Lewis guns operated best when firing across longer lines of sight than were available in close quarters fighting.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 15 03 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on March 25, 2022, 01:50:24 AM
More Germans completed, this time a few support units and once again all from Great War Miniatures.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/Ic97GS.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poIc97GSj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/923/48jJxC.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pn48jJxCj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/W4ErEr.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poW4ErErj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/BO0kOM.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poBO0kOMj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/TIgMN3.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmTIgMN3j)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/ptP1G9.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poptP1G9j)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/922/MS6aFK.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmMS6aFKj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1024x768q90/924/UWWXjK.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poUWWXjKj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: armchairgeneral on March 26, 2022, 10:19:58 AM
Excellent work on those  :-*
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: Metternich on March 27, 2022, 11:49:57 PM
Superb painting.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 28, 2022, 07:02:11 AM
Lovely paint jobs. The GWM range is very good and you have showcased the quality of the casts.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on March 31, 2022, 06:38:27 AM
The regimental history for Infanterie Regiment nr. 27 arrived yesterday. Part of the 6th Company was positioned on the southern side of Pozières, sandwiched between 10th and 11th Companies from RIR 77 (whose history has also arrived but I have not translated yet). Here is the relevant section of the history pertaining to the assault on 23rd July:

"During the night of July 22/23, the enemy attacked the position in front of Pozières with strong forces. They managed to break through the left wing of 4./157 and the right wing of 10./R.I.R. 77 with several companies, due to the fact that the trench garrison had been annihilated in this sector by very heavy artillery fire. The attack in front of the 6./27 and 11./77 was repulsed with heavy casualties, some of which were inflicted during close combat [in the trench south of Pozières not in the town itself]. 6./27 noticed the English [sic. Australians] in the rear and immediately deployed an M.G. thereby avoiding complete encirclement. The remnants of 6./27 and 10./77 retreated north so as not to be completely surrounded. Likewise, part of 6./27 (10 men) fell back to the switch line north-east of Pozières. The enemy repeatedly renewed his attack. An attempt was made to rally and counter-attack with elements of I.R. 62 and R.I.R. 77 but this failed and the English were able to penetrate further into Pozières. The situation was unclear. The two sector commanders, Hptm. Lyons, II. Battalion/27, and Major von Lettow, III. Battalion/77, noticed around 0400 hours that the enemy was in Pozières and conducted a fighting withdrawal from the town with their staff. They immediately deployed forces for a counterattack on Pozières, namely Major von Lettow with II./157 and Hptm. Lyons with parts of 5./27. The attack went in at about 0500 hours towards the enemy in Pozières. It was directed along both sides of the main street on the north-east edge of the town. By this time, however, the English had already fed substantial reinforcements into Pozières, estimated to be at least two battalions. It soon became apparent that a large number of enemy machine guns had been set up, so that the counterattack did not advance and it was not possible to recapture the town back from the English. Hauptmann Lyons and Doctor Albrecht, who had left the command post shortly before the English entered the town to bandage the wounded, were taken prisoner by the English."

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on March 31, 2022, 09:03:59 PM
Thanks Robert, very interesting and detailed series of posts. I think Alex Southeran who designed the scenario has carried out archaeological work in the area too.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on April 01, 2022, 06:27:51 AM
Thank you. The archaeology of the area is very interesting. I have had the privilege of going down into the tunnels near La Boiselle for example. It was a vivid though only partial reminder of what conditions were like.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on April 01, 2022, 07:12:28 AM
The history from Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment nr.77 has been a bit more difficult to navigate. The relevant section is quite short:

"In the early hours of the 22nd July, the enemy artillery fire abated somewhat but started again at 0700 hours with unusual intensity and continued uninterrupted into the evening. At 0850 hours 14th Infantry Brigade issued an order for 9th, 10th, and 11th Companies [of III. Battalion, RIR 77) and their staff to be replaced by three companies and staff from III. Battalion, IR 62. [Note that 10th Company, RIR 77 was defending the trench line due south of Pozières in between 4./157 and part of [Teile] 6./27.]

A short pause in the [artillery] fire was followed at 2130 hours by another heavy barrage on the front line, including the first and second trenches. The relief of 9th, 11th, and 12th Companies was carried out between 12 midnight and 0045 hours [on the 23rd July]. They moved off to a bivouac in Ligny.

The relief for 10th Company had not arrived by 0100 hours. In the meantime, the English [sic. Australians] managed to break through the companies on the right flank [of 10./RIR 77 - namely 3rd and 4th Companies, IR 157]. [The Australians] attacked 10th Company on the right flank and from the rear. Desperate hand-to-hand combat ensued, which probably wiped out 10th Company."

Note that the last paragraph appears to be supposition because the whole of 10th Company was wiped out. The description of the mode of attack is at variance with IR 157's account. This is not unusual. Any break through is usually attributed to the failure of a flank company(s). This is not unique to German regimental histories. Given that 10th Company had been in the line for several days and was expecting to be relieved at any time, it would not be surprising if the company was completely overwhelmed by the Australians. This would fit with the accounts from IR 157 and from IR 67.

Here is the relevant map from the RIR 77 regimental history. 10th Company is marked '10 Kp.':

(https://www.greatwarspearhead.com/_Media/rir-77-map-23_med_hr.jpeg)

Robert

Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on April 01, 2022, 07:50:11 AM
"...It soon became apparent that a large number of enemy machine guns had been set up, so that the counterattack did not advance..."
It is important to be cautious about what is meant by 'machine guns' from 1916 onwards. The term covers both automatic rifles/light machine guns as well as medium machine guns, often without discriminating between the two. We know from previous accounts that the Australians posted Lewis guns in strongpoints on the edge of Pozières. Undoubtedly fire from Lewis guns contributed to the German description above.

I have checked the relevant Australian Machine Gun Company war diaries. 1st Australian Machine Gun Company fired indirect barrages during the assault phase of the attack on Pozières but two Vickers machine guns were then taken forward to a strongpoint in Pozières. No time is given for this but it seems likely they were in place by the time of the German counter-attack.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm
Post by: Shahbahraz on April 01, 2022, 05:51:43 PM
That's correct, I only know you from your CoC games. O lordy What other gaming goodness have I been missing?  :o ;D

Well AWI Sharp Practice for one...
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on April 02, 2022, 08:31:50 AM
From the evidence so far, the Germans appear not to have defended the actual village of Pozières directly. There are no accounts of ruined house to ruined house fighting in this instance, though there were examples in other towns on the Somme, such as Longueval. This doesn't mean that a 'what if' scenario based on Pozières is invalid. I want to come back to this type of fighting separately.

Historically, Pozières reflected two types of fighting from a skirmish perspective: trench-based close combat; and clearance of underground fortified cellars once a village is captured. The latter process was known as 'ratting' by the Australians. There are some details of this process in Australian sources relating to Pozières, which I will share.

The trench-based close combat was similar to many other examples, both local to Pozières and more widely on the Western Front generally. The most vivid examples around Pozières related not to the village itself, although 'K' trench featured heavily in the immediate aftermath of the first Australian assault on Pozières, but to the fighting along the O.G. trenches (I and II - "O.G." referred to the "Old German" second line of trenches from July 1st, when the Somme infantry battle started).

Before examining these types of warfare in more detail, it is worth reviewing how "Through the Mud and Blood" rules handle the tactics involved. With respect to close quarters fighting, two 'specialist' functions are considered alongside 'The Rifleman': 'The Bomber'; and 'Trench Cleaner'.

'The Bomber' attacks close range targets with a bonus, attacking 'as a group rather than throwing individual grenades'. In addition to a bonus for operating at close range, there is an additional range band that defines the maximum effective range.

'Trench Cleaner' is defined as "an aggressive soldier whose job is to mop up any enemy resistance at close quarters".

I want to return to these definitions after considering more historical evidence of how tactics played out in BUAs and trenches during the Battle of the Somme, ie before the systematic introduction of rifle grenades on the British side and before the introduction of the MG08/15 on the German side.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: Grumpy Gnome on April 02, 2022, 09:01:32 AM
Another entertaining and informative thread! Great stuff!
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on April 07, 2022, 01:59:07 PM
I have not studied the Australian training programme for the lead-up to the Battle of the Somme. The most detailed study on this was published by Jon Porter in his wonderful two-volume (so far) series 'Zero Hour, Z Day'. Each volume deals with one British Corps in the preparations for and execution of the attack on July 1st, 1916. Within each volume, there is a section entitled: 'Training, Rehearsals and Orders'.

Volume 2 covers XV Corps and the operations involving Fricourt and Mametz. Porter wrote:

"The introduction of new weapons necessitated intensive training and consideration of tactics employed in their use in cooperation with the principal infantry weapon - the rifle. Previous British encounters with German infantry had exposed poor training, inferior grenades and defective tactics which usually resulted in Tommies coming off second best.

In a direct trench assault, grenades would now take the lead role as the primary infantry weapon. Assault and trench clearance training would develop around bombing tactics, with rifle and bayonet, rifle-grenade, Lewis-gun and Stokes taking a supporting role to bombing manoeuvres.

In order to achieve these training goals, initially, divisional 'Grenade Schools' were established."

Porter has included some very useful diagrams. This one covers the various roles and processes involved in bombing along trenches:

(https://www.greatwarspearhead.com/_Media/bombing001_med.png)

He also presented a description of the platoon organisation for a bombing attack:

(https://www.greatwarspearhead.com/_Media/bombing002_med.png)

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on April 10, 2022, 02:03:41 PM
Porter covered off the mid-1916 German approach to bombing:

"The British were not the only army evolving new low-level tactics. German forces also developed their own small-scale bombing techniques with several differences to methods employed by the British. Every German infantryman was trained in the use of all German grenades and, most, in the operation of captured grenades. A German bombing section was led by an NCO who commanded and led from the front armed with a rifle or pistol. There were no bayonet men.

To the rear of the commander, two bombers armed with 'stick' grenades threw their bombs to kill or disable the enemy bombers whilst behind them two further bombers armed with the longer range 'egg' grenade endeavoured to 'take out' British bomb carriers. Following on behind the section, like their British counter-parts, 'carriers' followed with a supply of bombs. Only when the forces met on Z Day would it be seen which tactics were superior."

The information is attributed to 'TNA SS562. Captured German document: "Weapons of combat".'

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: monk2002uk on April 10, 2022, 03:27:14 PM
In volume one of 'Zero Hour, Z Day, Porter quotes from Lt. Col. Essex from 10th Essex Regiment. The battalion was part of 53rd Brigade, 18th Division, which attacked in the southern-most sector of the British front:

"We were exercised in both assault and support and towards the end of our training it became clear to us that we were to be support battalion [so] we practised sending forward "mopping up" platoons with each of the assaulting battalions..."

The 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers was also designated as a support battalion. Porter notes:

'For the task the Battalion deployed three platoons of nettoyeurs, one platoon each from B, C, and D Companies. The three nettoyeur platoons advanced in rear of the 'attacking' battalions' third wave. Once into Montauban, the assaulting battalions' orders required them to advance through the village without any unnecessary halt to Montauban Alley. If and where enemy dugouts [in the BUA of Montauban] required clearing, the nettoyeurs would bomb and enter the underground shelters to kill or capture the occupants.'

This is a good description of how a shattered BUA was to be attacked only a matter of a few weeks before the assault on Pozières. Note that the word nettoyeur is the French word for 'cleaner'. The function of nettoyeurs was quite different from the concept of 'Trench Cleaner' in 'Through the Mud and Blood'. Nettoyeurs were more commonly referred to as 'mopper-uppers', as noted in the first quote above. They carried supplies of phosphorus grenades, designed to burn out underground dugouts and cellars, as well as Mills bombs. The use of P-bombs was discouraged once it was realised they rendered the dugouts difficult to repair and re-use afterwards.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on June 25, 2023, 06:58:34 AM
After a few distractions I'm back at this project. Firstly, I want to finish off a few things that I started and secondly I'm keen to start playing using the Chain of Command variant.

Having painted up a German 77mm gun it was only right I complete the 13 pounder for my British force.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/eoeVKs.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poeoeVKsj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/QenmUx.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnQenmUxj)

While I was painting those crew I also used it as an opportunity to finish off the Great War Miniatures British trench raiders.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/RDtS1z.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poRDtS1zj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/YuP3eT.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnYuP3eTj)

When I first started this project I was tempted by the Warbases MDF model of a Mk1 Male. However when it arrived I was disheartened at the lack of detail particularly the fact there are no rivets, something that is such a feature of this first generation of tank. I began building it and then lost interest. However it seemed a shame not to finish it off, what did I have to lose? I was tempted to make a few small additions just to add more detail. While it's tempting to do a lot more I decided I'd rather spend time working on other projects and let the paint job do some of the work.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/eTh3Ga.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poeTh3Gaj)

I added items using plastic card and scratch built a new exhaust system using wood dowel and toothpicks. These are modest changes.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/JwFEE8.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmJwFEE8j)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/zHqB38.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnzHqB38j)

Once primed it began to look a lot better and gave me hope it can be turned into something reasonably acceptable.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/HsLspV.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnHsLspVj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/Um5f2x.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnUm5f2xj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: Dargonsploof on June 25, 2023, 03:54:21 PM
This is a lovely thread informative and with nice painting.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: Ray Rivers on June 26, 2023, 12:22:43 AM
However when it arrived I was disheartened at the lack of detail particularly the fact there are no rivets, something that is such a feature of this first generation of tank.

Did you consider pins for the rivets? Not sure how difficult it would have been but you could have put little dots where you wanted the rivets and then just pushed the pins (or drilled a very thin hole first) through the mdf. Never tried it myself on mdf, but it works well with plastic card.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: TacticalPainter on June 26, 2023, 12:46:59 AM
Did you consider pins for the rivets? Not sure how difficult it would have been but you could have put little dots where you wanted the rivets and then just pushed the pins (or drilled a very thin hole first) through the mdf. Never tried it myself on mdf, but it works well with plastic card.

It crossed my mind for a millisecond to try something like that, but you do realise how many rivets these things have?  :o Considering I was on the verge of throwing this out the small detail I added was about as far as I was prepared to go. If I want a better one I'll buy a resin or 3D print. This project is about seeing how much of a silk purse I can make from this sow's ear without too much effort.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 03 22)
Post by: Ray Rivers on June 26, 2023, 01:53:36 AM
It crossed my mind for a millisecond to try something like that, but you do realise how many rivets these things have?  :o Considering I was on the verge of throwing this out the small detail I added was about as far as I was prepared to go. If I want a better one I'll buy a resin or 3D print. This project is about seeing how much of a silk purse I can make from this sow's ear without too much effort.

Don't worry about rivet counters...  ;) It doesn't have to be perfect.

Having said that, I understand exactly what you mean. Even 50 or so would be a huge pain in the arse.

Carry on! Enjoying the thread.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: TacticalPainter on June 26, 2023, 03:19:10 AM
The Mk1 has now had a base coat of paint and is certainly starting to look the part, I'm glad I finally persevered with this. Amazing what a lick of paint will do.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/dVLSm1.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pndVLSm1j)

Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: Baron von Wreckedoften on June 26, 2023, 07:02:18 PM
You could always use it as a "wooden" model used for training purposes.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: Baron von Wreckedoften on June 27, 2023, 06:54:12 AM
I've now had a chance to read through the entire thread and what a veritable treasure-trove it is, thanks to your painting and Robert's encyclopaedic knowledge and ability to share it.

I have some thoughts, if I may be permitted:-

In constructing my own German forces, first off, I noticed that support weapons seemed to operate in pairs, or multiples thereof - minenwerfer, grantenwerfer, flammenwerfer, heavy MGs and "sniper/marksmen" heavy MGs (what was the difference, Robert?), and field guns. 

In terms of field gun support, I went with a pair of Russian guns from the Tsuba Russo-Japanese War range sold by Empress.  These guns were captured in droves from the Russians in 1914-15 and were parcelled out to assault units on the Western Front because the nature of the weapon (originally designed as a fortress gun with the specific role of sweeping the ditches in front of the main walls) meant that the barrel had a far superior angle of depression to most of its contemporaries, and it also had an excellent canister round.  There were weak points - the strength of the wheels being one of them - but otherwise it was highly thought of by its new owners!

Incidentally, a slightly pedantic point perhaps, but given that field guns were usually man-handled by Stosstruppen, I would suspect that any extraneous weight (such as the "riding seats" in front of the gun shield) would have been removed.

As I understand it, pamphlet SS143 which was issued to all British Empire forces, evolved from the early experiences of the Somme battle (which few people outside our coterie of Great War enthusiasts appreciate lasted 142 days, not 1).  For example, Lewis Guns expanded from one-off weapons specifically allocated "from above" by Battalion HQ, to two guns per section by mi-1917 (there is a famous photo of a ten-man Aussie section with four of them - as fine an example of "blagging" as you could hope to find!); ditto rifle-grenadiers who expanded from two to four within their specialist section (and then eventually seem to have disappeared - what was that all about?).

I had formed the impression that British Empire troops did not use field guns in close support, until I read about an Australian gun team that advanced to the edge of Pozieres and started firing at point-blank range up the main road into the village!

I would be interested in Robert's take on something that has always confused me: I started off thinking that the role of Stosstruppen was to by-pass strongpoints and leave them to the more heavily-armed "line infantry" following them up.  Then I started reading about how they were, in fact, specifically trained to crack the particularly "tough nuts" that the ordinary infantry weren't trained/equippec to deal with.  These two concepts seem to be mutually exclusive, so is this the post-war "re-writing" of the role of Stosstruppen that Robert refers to?  Or is it a different approach adopted by two different types of units, perhaps according to the unit commander's own views on trench warfare or those of the OC of the division to which it was attached?  Or does it represent a shift in philosophy within the German army generally?

Finally, as a huge fan of the GWM Great War range (to the extent that I'm attempting to negotiate a better range of late war Highlanders from the sculptors) I've added below a list of the packs you would need to set up a British Empire platoon and a German zug:-

British Platoon 1917-18

Command – 1 officer, 1 sergeant, 4 corporals, 2 runners
Lewis Gun section – 4 gunners (2 teams of 2 men each), 4 riflemen/ammunition carriers
Rifle Grenadier section – 4 gunners, 4 riflemen/ammunition carriers
Bombing section – Six bombers, 2 riflemen/ammunition carriers
Rifle & bayonet section – 8 riflemen

GWM packs - 1 x B 001 (Officers/Senior NCOs); 1 x B 005 (Lewis); 2 x B 013 [two Rifle Grenadiers and three Bombers in each]; and 2 x B 002 + 2 x B 003 (Corporals, Runners, Ammo Carriers and Rifle & Bayonet men - basically, all the guys above who are underlined).

German Zug 1917-18 (Line)

Command – 1 officer/senior NCO, 4 gefreiter (2 runners/scouts)
LMG gruppe 1 & 2 (each) - 2 gunners, 8 riflemen/ammunition carriers
Grenadier gruppe 1 & 2 (each) – 8 riflemen, 2 bombers

GWM packs - 1 x G 001 (Officers/NCOs); 1 x G 005 (MG08/15 teams); 1 x G 013 (bombers); 7 x G 009 (gefreiter/infantry in light equipment - ie no packs). 

Personally, I prefer the infantry without packs, as most late war scenarios have the Germans defending, which looks more natural; alternatively, have 1 x G 009 for the gefreiter, and 3 x G 002 + 3 x G 003 (infantry in packs I & II)

German Zug 1918 (Stosstruppen)

Command – 1 officer, 1 feldwebel, 4 gefreiter (2 runners/scouts)
LMG gruppe 1 & 2 (each) – 2 gunners, 6 riflemen/ammunition carriers
Assault gruppe 1 & 2 (each) – 6 bombers, 2 riflemen*
[* As I understand it, these guys were not ammunition carriers, but "point" men who advanced down a trench ahead of the bombers to clear out individual enem soldiers.]

1 x G 001 (Officers/Senior NCOs); 1 x G 009 (gefreiter); 1 x G 005 (MG08/15 teams*); 2 x G 013 + 2 x G 014 (Stosstruppen I & II); 1 x G010 (MP18 sub-machine guns)

The MG pack (G 005) has two MG08/15 teams and one with a captured Lewis Gun; these latter were mainly re-issued to Stosstruppen, so buying a second pack (to go with the one you bought for your "Line" zug) will allow you to give your Stosstruppen either two MG08/15 teams, or two Lewis teams.  Bergmann MP18s tended to be issued as and when available; it is tempting to assume they were given to/commandeered by NCOs, but this would not necessarily be the case in every zug; if you wish, this pack can be replaced with another of either G 009, G 013 or G 014.

And after that brief(!) hijacking, I shall now return you to your normal crew!

Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: monk2002uk on June 27, 2023, 05:45:48 PM
Thanks, Baron. A lot to pick up on. The Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilungen ('Sharpshooter or Marksmen Maschine Gun Detachments') were elite MG forces that operated as Army Command level assets. They were parcelled out as needed, being attached to frontline infantry divisions/regiments and adding extra-firepower to supplement the regular MG08 companies. The gunners wore a distinctive arm patch:

(https://www.kpemig.de/media/image/product/86290/md/1-weltkrieg-aermelabzeichen-fuer-maschinengewehr-scharfschuetzen-getragenes-stueck-nach-angaben-des-verkaeufers-hersteller-kschorp-stuttgart.jpg)

The patch was often torn off by the gunners as it was perceived, with some justification, that the wearers would be shot when captured.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: TacticalPainter on June 28, 2023, 11:00:04 AM
Thanks Brendan, that's extremely useful info for both order of battle and GWM figures. Excellent.

Here's the Warbases Mk1 Male tank finished. Despite all my early misgivings, with a bit of love and care it can be turned into a reasonably presentable gaming piece. It doesn't bear close inspection and as for the rivet counters, well, it won't take long for them to count the rivets, or terrible lack thereof. Nonetheless here it is.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/dmLbBC.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmdmLbBCj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/Ck6H3Z.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poCk6H3Zj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/QktCmb.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pmQktCmbj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/It05TK.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poIt05TKj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/FLFPit.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/poFLFPitj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: Driscoles on June 29, 2023, 07:16:47 PM
Looks very good 👍
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: Ray Rivers on June 29, 2023, 10:14:31 PM
Yep!

Came out well.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: Metternich on July 03, 2023, 09:35:27 PM
Herr Baron, you area bit generous with the LMGs for the German Line Zug.  Two MG 08/15s per platoon was aspirational in 1917.  While many Zug did have two, many also had only one.   Also, by 1917/18, due to a shortage of commissioned officers many Zug were led by Offizierstellvertreter (equivalent of a warrant officer), or senior NCOs (it wasn't uncommon to have a company with only two or so officers, both Leutnants with the more senior as company commander, with a battalion often commanded by a Hauptman - captain),
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: Baron von Wreckedoften on July 04, 2023, 06:56:23 AM
Thanks for that extra info Metternich.  I think what I shall do is give any "line" zug operating solo, as it were, two, and any operating in conjunction with other forces (eg Stoddtruppen) just one, to keep the carnage down a wee bit.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: Metternich on July 04, 2023, 03:25:12 PM
Herr Baron,
              That certainly would work.  Not that there weren't Zuge (platoons) with two LMGs in 1917, but it was more uncommon in the first half of that year than it probably would become in 1918.  In early 1917, some Companies would have only 1 or 2 LMGs (which remained true of units on the Eastern Front - don't know when/whether those redeployed to the West after the Russian collapse would have received more), and these were probably held by the Company hqs (as would the Grenade Launcher team) rather than be integral within a  platoon. 
              There was a lot of interesting experimentation by German small unit commanders in the latter half of the war.  Dr. Bruce Gudmundsson (a professor at West Point), in his seminal work Stormtroop Tactics, compared  two different companies within the Bavarian Life Guard Regiment in 1918, each of which had totally different TO&Es (also note this was an elite unit with a good combat reputation, and probably would have some priority in getting equipment).  Quoting Dr. Gudmundsson in the two paras below [bracketed text is mine]:

 One  Company is divided into five platoons - three identical "battle platoons" (Kampfzuge) , an  "expansion platoon" (Erganzungszug), and a reserve.  The "battle platoons" are composed of two "unit squads" (Einheitsgruppen) [Dr. Gudmundsson earlier describes these as hybrid squad consisting of a LMG team plus a four-to-eight man rifleman/grenadier team] and an assault squad (Stossgruppe).  The company reserve contains two specialist squads:  a small reconnaissance squad and a grenade launcher squad.  The "expansion platoon" contained four spare NCOs and 16 spare men, as well as the company armorer.  [I assume that a "small squad" would be 4 to 6 men, rather than 8.  The men and NCOs in the expansion platoon probably were used to either beef up a platoon for a special situation or task, or as replacements for casualties; they probably also could be used by the company CO as a counter-attack force to regain a lost position] [I note that this company seems to have six LMGs in total, issued two per battle platoon.  The company seems to have one grenade launcher, which is at the disposal of the company CO]

The other company has only four platoons.  The three "line" platoons are similar to each other - each has two rifle squads and two LMG squads.  The first of these three platoons, however, also has a grenade launcher squad while the third has an assault squad.  The company Hqs platoon has another, albeit smaller (four men instead of eight) assault squad and a small reconnaissance squad.   [This company likewise appears to have 6 LMGs, two per "line platoon," but differs from the first company in that its line platoons also each have two "pure" rifle squads.  Also, rather than retaining control of the grenade launcher squad, the company CO has attached it to the first platoon.] 
   
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: Metternich on July 04, 2023, 03:37:44 PM
Herr Baron,
  I saw that early on in your thread you made reference to the Through the Mud and Blood rules.  The set is one of my favorites for simulating small unit tactics in WW1, as you can properly reflect the different roles of: Bombers/Grenadiers; Riflemen; Assault troops (by which I would include the pistol/rifle-and-bayonet armed man preceding a trench bombing party; as well as the Stosstruppen both within the German rifle company or in separate designated Stosstrupp units), Rifle Grenadiers; LMGs; and Granatenwerfer (grenade launcher).  I think the rules also convey well the importance of small unit leaders (including the influence of NCOs).
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: Baron von Wreckedoften on July 04, 2023, 06:33:26 PM
Thanks very much for those two posts - extremely useful.  I am something of a "Bavarian nut" when it comes to wargaming, and almost all my WW1 German units are Bavarian in nature, so I shall be incorporating your notes into my own!!!
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: monk2002uk on July 08, 2023, 07:14:47 AM
In terms of field gun support, I went with a pair of Russian guns from the Tsuba Russo-Japanese War range sold by Empress.  These guns were captured in droves from the Russians in 1914-15 and were parcelled out to assault units on the Western Front because the nature of the weapon (originally designed as a fortress gun with the specific role of sweeping the ditches in front of the main walls) meant that the barrel had a far superior angle of depression to most of its contemporaries, and it also had an excellent canister round.  There were weak points - the strength of the wheels being one of them - but otherwise it was highly thought of by its new owners!
As you say, large numbers of the 7.62 cm field guns were captured on the Eastern Front. Your choice of the Empress range is a good one.

Most Russian Putilov guns were organised into new field gun regiments to support the infantry in the East. By 1916, these new regiments were absorbed into the German TO&Es but the guns themselves were replaced due to the inferior steel causing rapid wear on the gun barrels.

Some Russian guns found their way to the Western Front. Due to the demands of the Verdun battle, the German defenders of Montauban and Mametz in the southern sector of the British attack on the Somme had captured Russian (and Belgian) guns. This freed up German guns to be transferred to Verdun but compromised the defence of this sector.

Sturmabteilung Rohr started experimenting with what would be become known as Infanteriegeschützen (infantry guns - IGs). Prior to this, the German field gunners would manhandle the Krupp field guns in direct support of the infantry. There were many examples of this in the early weeks of the war. When Russian guns were modified for this direct fire support role as IGs then the barrels were shortened and the guns were mounted on smaller carriages. The barrel wear was a major problem, which meant that German IG designs followed, supplemented by large numbers of Austrian-supplied Skoda mountain guns. The IG guns were designed to be as light as possible and used a combination of field guns with cut-down barrel lengths mounted on mountain gun carriages.

IGs were not specific to specialist Sturm units. Every infantry regiment was meant to have a complement of these guns to support infantry assaults and to help with anti-tank duties.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: monk2002uk on July 08, 2023, 07:24:59 AM
Incidentally, a slightly pedantic point perhaps, but given that field guns were usually man-handled by Stosstruppen, I would suspect that any extraneous weight (such as the "riding seats" in front of the gun shield) would have been removed.
The infantry guns (IGs) were definitely custom- or purpose-made, depending on the year, to be as light as possible. As mentioned above, the gun carriages were typically based on mountain gun carriages. These replaced the field gun carriages and were not equipped with the 'riding seats'.

Bearing in mind that there were various grades of Stosstruppen, the super-specialist units such as Sturmbataillon Rohr had their own dedicated IGs. These are often referred to as Sturmkanonen - assault guns. Stosstruppen in standard infantry regiments were trained by the specialists but they usually lacked the dedicated support weapons that provided the Stoss- - shock - element of the term. They would be supported by the standard IG guns within the regiment, where IG gun support was deemed appropriate and possible.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: monk2002uk on July 08, 2023, 08:41:01 AM
I had formed the impression that British Empire troops did not use field guns in close support, until I read about an Australian gun team that advanced to the edge of Pozieres and started firing at point-blank range up the main road into the village!
Yes, there are numerous examples of field and mountain guns used in close support of British and Dominion troops. The latter were particularly well suited for this role. They feature in battles like Neuve Chapelle, Anzac Cove landings, Sari Bair, and the Somme to name but a few.

Ultimately the tank became the weapon system for delivering direct 'artillery' fire support to infantry in the British and French armies.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: monk2002uk on July 08, 2023, 11:12:17 AM
I would be interested in Robert's take on something that has always confused me: I started off thinking that the role of Stosstruppen was to by-pass strongpoints and leave them to the more heavily-armed "line infantry" following them up.  Then I started reading about how they were, in fact, specifically trained to crack the particularly "tough nuts" that the ordinary infantry weren't trained/equippec to deal with.  These two concepts seem to be mutually exclusive, so is this the post-war "re-writing" of the role of Stosstruppen that Robert refers to?  Or is it a different approach adopted by two different types of units, perhaps according to the unit commander's own views on trench warfare or those of the OC of the division to which it was attached?  Or does it represent a shift in philosophy within the German army generally?
The highly specialised Sturmtruppen relied on heavy direct and indirect fire support to achieve specific objectives. Their assaults were well-planned and practised. Any perceived loss of fire support would lead to cancellation. Within the specialist Flammenwerfer units, for example, even a low-ranking NCO had to the authority to call off an action in support of conventional infantry forces if the latter were not paying enough attention to fire support.

The further down the scale of Stosstruppen that you go, the more likely it was that the fire support element would be diluted. This reflected variations in the amount of training as well as variations in the attitudes of infantry commanders, within whose units these small collections of more highly trained men were located. As the adjective Stoss- suggests, 'shock' was the key to success. This points to their role in tackling the hard tasks, opening up the way for (less heavily armed) infantry colleagues to exploit. It might be argued that Stosstruppen infiltrating their way through defences, bypassing strongpoints and popping up in rear areas would be a 'shock' but this is not the meaning of the term  ;)

Two streams of writing seems to have fostered the impression of the 'infiltration' tactics. Post-war, the Nazi regime definitely played up the stormtrooper concept. The goal seems to have been to create a stereotype that would inspire young men to join the army and to instil an offensive spirit.

The second set of sources related to the explanations for the failure of Fifth Army to defend adequately against Operation Michael. 'Infiltration' worked in this context, not through the use of specialist stormtroopers but as a result of the British line being so thinly defended in a hastily upgraded front, which had been quiet under the French previously.

Robert

Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: Baron von Wreckedoften on July 14, 2023, 04:58:39 PM
As you say, large numbers of the 7.62 cm field guns were captured on the Eastern Front. Your choice of the Empress range is a good one.

Most Russian Putilov guns were organised into new field gun regiments to support the infantry in the East. By 1916, these new regiments were absorbed into the German TO&Es but the guns themselves were replaced due to the inferior steel causing rapid wear on the gun barrels.

Some Russian guns found their way to the Western Front. Due to the demands of the Verdun battle, the German defenders of Montauban and Mametz in the southern sector of the British attack on the Somme had captured Russian (and Belgian) guns. This freed up German guns to be transferred to Verdun but compromised the defence of this sector.

So would I be right in thinking that by, say, the end of 1916, the Putilov guns had "worn themselves out" and been replaced by Krupp versions (at least on the Western Front), or would the odd example still be in service into 1918, for example?

Robert - many thanks for this and the other answers.  I hope it wasn't too time-consuming for you, but I suspect that I am not the only reader to find your comments invaluable!
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 25 06 23)
Post by: TacticalPainter on July 15, 2023, 06:16:10 AM
Robert - many thanks for this and the other answers.  I hope it wasn't too time-consuming for you, but I suspect that I am not the only reader to find your comments invaluable!

Indeed you are not, a very welcome contribution to the thread.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: Metternich on July 15, 2023, 03:44:43 PM
I would certainly second that.  Robert's knowledge of German WW1 units is encyclopedic.
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: monk2002uk on July 18, 2023, 05:09:14 AM
Thank you, All.

Your contributions, not limited only to questions, inspire further research. I am only too happy to be part of this. It is great to see so many sources, particularly primary sources, becoming available. Plus I have the privilege of being in contact with many other experts in various aspects of the war.

Robert
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 28 06 23)
Post by: TacticalPainter on August 27, 2023, 07:21:27 AM
While it's all well and good painting the figures my main issue is terrain. I game the Second World War in 20mm so most of the buildings I have that are suitable for the First World War are too small. I can fudge things like trees but not buildings. So I've used the Warlord Games Ruined Hamlet set to put together three pieces for a forthcoming game. It's a fairly versatile set and I've put together a longer, tutorial blog post on how I made these which you can find here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2023/08/terrain-making-using-warlord-games.html

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/qkTuBf.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnqkTuBfj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/8yZncs.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pm8yZncsj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/rAUlxS.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/porAUlxSj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 27 08 23)
Post by: TacticalPainter on August 27, 2023, 07:26:37 AM
I also made my first attempt at a stretch of trench. My preference is not to do above ground trenches but I need to work out how best to do these on some form of terrain board and then how to store them. That may be a challenge. Meanwhile, other than being 'above ground' I'm pleased with the way this has turned out. I'm going to be using it in a forthcoming game as a piece of trench joining two of the ruined buildings from the earlier post. While I was at it I've also made up sections of barbed wire.

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/qocxjT.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pnqocxjTj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/mQ6ClW.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pomQ6ClWj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/eBPqra.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pneBPqraj)

(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/8ZoYFP.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pn8ZoYFPj)
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 27 08 23)
Post by: Baron von Wreckedoften on August 27, 2023, 07:45:26 PM
Splendid work, Mark!!!
Title: Re: First foray into the Western Front in 28mm (updated 27 08 23)
Post by: Metternich on August 28, 2023, 01:46:44 PM
And your figures are very well-painted as well, despite it not being your main focus !