Blitzkrieg: Dutch Infantry Platoon

As you will have seen from earlier posts this month, I have recently painted up a Dutch Infantry Platoon for Chain of Command. This is not my first stab at the Koninklijke Nederlandse Landmacht (Royal Netherlands Army) of 1940, but this time, with the CoC weekend event to get ready for, I managed to paint up a usable force!

The majority of models are from May '40 Miniatures which I picked from Great Escape Games. I used May '40's painting guide for the infantry uniforms and AFV's.

Dutch Infantry Platoon for Chain of Command with supports

Dutch Mitrailleurgroepen (infantry section)

Dutch Schwarzlose M.08 MMG and crew

Chain of Command requires five crew for the MMG so I enlisted a couple of Great Escape Romanians, which are, with some minimal conversion to their kit, are pretty much identical to the Dutch, to make up the numbers.

Dutch 47mm Bohler PAG AT gun with crew and Junior Leader

I needed to do the same with the AT gun. Fortunately Great Escape sell Romanian gun crew in separate packs.

Dutch Forward Observer with 80mm mortar

Although medium mortars are off table in Chain of Command and I only needed the FO, May '40 sell them as one set. It is a nice model to paint and I'll probably put it on the rear table edge when employed in games.

Dutch "sniper"

I'm sure I read that a sniper was a support option in one of the Dutch Chain of Command lists - it wasn't! :-)

Dutch Engineer Team

Engineer Teams are a useful List One support in CoC if you have a support point over. Given some of the Blitzkrieg handbook scenarios utilise them I thought it would be a good idea to paint up three figures to represent engineers. Unfortunately I had run out of May '40 Miniatures (and Romanians!) but I did have some old Gothic Line Dutch I had bought a decade earlier, so three got repainted. They are not as nice as the May '40 models but they were what I had to hand.

Dutch S Type Kazemat

It seems the Dutch like their bunkers so I had to have at least one. My attempt to make an S Type Kazemat out of foam was a messy disaster so I converted an MDF Sarissa Precision British Pill Box which provided a reasonable facsimile if not 100% perfect one.

Dutch Carden-Loyd Mk VI tankette

The Dutch had five Carden-Loyd carriers, Mk VI versions with closed roof, which made it a bit harder to source but I found a 3D printed one on Etsy from MiniGeneral. It should have a shield on the MG but I haven't got around to making one for it yet.

Dutch M.36 Pantserwagen (Landsverk L-181)

The M.36 Pantserwagen was used by the Dutch cavalry so my infantry platoon had to pay an extra point to have one as a support option, but I really, really wanted one! The May '40 resin model is lovely but the decals that came with it fell to pieces in the water. Fortunately I had some I-94 Enterprises 1/144th aircraft ones which I was able to use on both AFV's.

This turned up to be quite a useful force at the event, even with restrictions such as the Mitrailleurgroepen Lewis gun not being able to move and fire, or the section itself operate as teams like other armies. There are a few things I'd like to do to expand it, some entrenched troops for one - and May '40 have just released a Ford DAF 01Y PAG-trekker artillery tractor which would be really useful for the Bohler AT gun but I'm going to have to hope Great Escape Games get a stock in as I can't justify the shipping and potential Brexit fees sting just for one truck...

Sharp Practice: Skirmish at Halfway Swamp

Having spent recent gaming time in the Second World War (whether that be 6mm 'O' Group or 28mm Chain of Command), Andy suggested a long over due return to the American War of Independence with Sharp Practice and as he dug out his lobsterbacks and a scenario from the Swamp Fox supplement, I dusted off my rebels.

The scenario, based on a skirmish between Colonel Francis Marion ("The Swamp Fox" himself) and Major Robert McLeroth of the 64th Foot in December 1781 required a lot of rebel militia forces so I had to make use of some of my Continental regulars who I slotted into the Veteran Rebel Militia, obviously back home in South Carolina after time served up north still proudly wearing their blue coats!

Having received intelligence that Major McLeroth would be leading a column of recruits for the 7th Fusiliers to Camden to join their regiment there, the Swamp Fox decided to ambush the lobersbacks at the farm at Halfway Swamp, leading Veteran Rebel Militia towards the road the British will be travelling along.

Aware of the presence of the legendary rebel leader in the region, McLeroth ordered Sergeant Dowling to scout ahead with a group of Light Infantry skirmishers from the 64th Foot.

Whilst the volunteers for for the 7th Fusiliers (Tory Loyalist Militia types) "marched" towards Camden led by Captain George Kelly and Lieutenant Anthony Chalmers-Brown - it'll take some serious effort by a Sergeant Major to whip these boys into shape!

Behind them Major McLeroth led the escort from the 64th Foot (bayonets fixed no doubt to encourage the Militia "volunteers" on their way to Camden).

Spotting the Tory Militia marching down the Camden-Charleston road, Marion snapped his men into a firing line, whilst Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Horry brought the Kingstree Regiment Militia up behind in support...

Surprised by the appearance of so many rebels, McLeroth split the 64th into two formations, the second under the command of the inexperienced Captain Willian Stanford.

As the British prepared to face down the American rebels flanking the main road they suddenly spied more enemy to their front - Lieutenant Colonel Lemuel Benton commanding three groups of Newly Recruited Militia and two groups of Militia skirmishers commanded by Major John Vanderhorst and Captain Robert McCottry respectively. Whilst the Newly Recruited Militia would not be able to stand against the bayonets of the redcoats, Benton was hopeful that his men might get a couple of good volleys in, even if they were Poor Shots.

Major McLeroth ordered Chalmers-Brown to get his Loyalist Militia to face off against the Swamp Fox whilst he led his 64th Foot further down the main road and Kelly led the other Militia around the rear of the building.

Sergeant Dowling ordered his men to the edge of the swampy woodland and opened fire on the enemy Militia to their front...

Gad! A British musket ball creased the brow of the Swamp Fox and knocked him from his horse! Dazed Marion lay prone on the dusty road...

His Veterans opened fire, a volley tearing into the Tory Militia, killing two.

Major McLeroth ordered his redcoats to boldly push forward and engage the enemy militia, killing two and inflicting more Shock on them, whilst Stanford ordered the remainder of the 64th down the main road.

Volleys were traded and redcoats, bluecoats and Tory Militia fell dead.

Whilst at the very edge of the range of his men, Lieutenant Colonel Benton ordered his to fire, fire and keep firing down the main road at the redcoats!

Whilst they were Poor Shots Benton's Newly Recruited Militia managed to inflict enough Shock on McLeroth's men that one group of them were forced to fall back!

As his command wavered, Major McLeroth ordered Captain Stanford to go in with the bayonet on Marion's leaderless Militia!

The British attack forcing the Veteran Militia to fall back into the swamp!

Vanderhorst and McCottry's skirmishers took position behind the rail fencing and opened fire...

On Kelly's Loyalist Militia, killing one and inflicting some Shock. A firefight erupted between the rebel skirmishers and Tory militia, caught up in their own private battle.

Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel Horry ordered a group of the Kingstree Militia, who were slowly advancing through the swamp alongside the road, to open fire at the 64th who had pushed Marion's men back...

Several lobsterbacks falling to the well aimed shots of the Kingstree men!

With Major Vanderhorst's men concentrating on the enemy Militia across the field, Captain McCottry ordered his men to concentrate on the redcoats by the farm building...

Shocked by the fire coming in from their flank, the decimated redcoats wavered...

And broke, running back to Charleston as quick as they could!

Dowling's Light Infantry skirmishers traded fire with the Kingstree Militia to limited effect...

An eagle's-eye view of the battlefield revealing the finely balanced situation, the British wobbling under American fire, but still capable to carrying the road to Camden if they could just close with Benton's men and put them to the bayonet!

Major Vanderhorst's private battle with Captain Kelly came to a sudden conclusion...

A rebel musket ball lodging itself in the Tory Militia Captain's skull!

Then in a shocking example of cultural misappropriation Sergeant Dowling ordered his Light Infantry skirmishers to throw tomahawks at the Kingstree Militia and charge in on the Americans...

The noble Lieutenant Colonel Horry took a slight wound from the British but he remained upright as his men saw off the redcoat attack (that'll teach them to use weapons stolen from America!)

The Kingstree men decided to see the 64th's skirmishers off with a final volley...

Resulting in the surviving redcoat skirmishers fleeing into the woodland swamp! (probably to be eaten by alligators).

The coup de grace was administered by a detached group of Lieutenant Colonel Benton's Newly Raised Militia who levelled their muskets and fired at Major McLeroth's men...

The 64th broke, the surviving lobsterbacks running as fast as their legs could carry them back to Charleston! The British Force Morale crashed to zero and victory was handed to the supine Swamp Fox!

A lot of fun was had here, a somewhat challenging scenario for the British that went the way of history. Nice to play some AWI Sharp Practice again, we should do this again soon.

Chain of Command: Case Orange...

Last weekend I took part in a Blitzkrieg 1940 themed Chain of Command weekend down Bristol Independent Gaming organised by Andy, giving my new Dutch army a run out. The event gave each player four games and had a campaign element to encourage players not to try pointless death or glory  Commando comic charges at the enemy!

My first game was against Troy, a local uni student who had never played the game before, indeed his only wargaming experience was having played Stargrave with fellow student Elliot using pizza boxes as terrain! Despite this, he handled his German force very well deploying one section on one flank utilising the railway station for cover.

Whilst the Dutch infantry deployment was delayed by Stukas, fortunately my Pantzerwagen M.36 arrived...

And turning a corner managed to surprise a section of advancing Germans!

Bravely they decided to try and charge the Dutch armoured car and toss a grenade in the hatch - which they failed at and saw their NCO wounded!

However that was the high water mark for my Dutch, the Carden-Loyd carrier was driven off my German MG34 fire!

And Troy concentrated his remaining force in the gardens of the houses, bringing overwhelming MG34 fire - and a flamethrower - to bear, forcing the only Dutch section which got past the Stukas into headlong flight!

My second game was against David with a 2nd Wave German platoon, complete with Panzer!

David had to clear the Dutch from the table, so I hid two sections in the orchard...

Whilst David hid one of his in the garage across the road!

My third section advanced on the Germans who had swiftly captured one of my deployment points...

And with the help of the second section's Lewis gunner and a MMG in the Kazemat (bunker), managed to wipe out the enemy unit.

However with the main gun on my Pansterwagen being disabled by a lucky Panzer shot, the game soon turned into one with the German tank just chasing my troops around the board firing HE and MG's at them, whilst they tried to be anywhere but near the Panzer!

However by the time the game ended the Dutch still had a lot of troops on the table so Andy declared it a winning draw for them as the Germans hadn't cleared the defenders from the battlefield.

The next day saw my lads up against Troy once again, this time both of us tasked with searching a village for reported hidden intelligence...

The Dutch section here finding a nice sofa and some cutlery in the building next door!

Troy clearly hadn't read the no Commando comics tactics and one of his sections managed to lob a hand grenade into the hatch of the M.36 Pantserwagen! (10+ on 2D6 on his first roll!)

Despite this set back things generally went favourably for the Dutch...

An MG34 team that appeared...

Walking into the fire of a Dutch infantry section and routing.

Another section uncovered the intelligence - a German who had been hiding in a cupboard!

Needing to stop the Dutch getting the prisoner to the safety of their table edge, the Germans rushed forward relying on overwhelming firepower...

Whilst this did not work against the Carden-Loyd carrier...

A different section overwhelmed their Dutch opponents in a vicious melee!

However it was too little, too late as the Dutch successfully escorted the captured asset to safety and victory!

My final game was against Frazer with his somewhat reduced Schutzen platoon (they had taken a lot of casualties in the previous games) on a very flat and empty looking table...

Tasked with holding the two sectors I deployed into, I went with a mix of forces including the Carden-Loyd carrier with its useful machine-gun and a Kazemat with a 47mm AT gun in case the Germans had any panzers (lesson learnt from game two!)

Frazer consolidated his surviving troops into two large sections...

And advanced rapidly across the board luckily managing to claim several successive phases on his dice rolls!

I employed entrenchments for one section this time in an effort to help slow down the German advance...

However despite wounding one of their NCOs, the Germans charged across the flat fields of the Netherlands.

Desperate times called for desperate measures and I ordered an artillery barrage on the Germans, even though it would catch some of my troops in the fire zone.

However despite this, and casualties caused by an off-table machine-gun, Frazer managed to get two teams off the table in double quick time.

However he left the Dutch still in charge of the battlefield so Andy awarded victory to the doughty tulip lovers!

Overall the weekend was very enjoyable, especially as I hadn't played that much Chain of Command and was using a new army with some peculiar characteristics - looking forward to Case Orange Twee!