I ask this because - when I gamed in 20mm and 15mm - the post D Day period was very popular. And it was not just doomed airborne operations about a bridge or a vital village crossroads in the snow.
The AFVs for such actions are already on the shelf, so it is only the figures that are lacking. I remember the thrill of placing a Matchbox Comet on the table and feeling that at last I had an Allied tank that 'could be a contender'. In terms of actions, late war European theatre was the only outing for the Comet. Must be the only British tank to have only one mark?
Does anyone on the forum game post D Day/late war Brits, and what do you use for suitable figures ?
A small range of turtle shell helmet and battle dress would also allow very early but enjoyable NATO/Warsaw Pact games. I have seen images of 1951 Belgian infantry in British battledress supported by Chaffee tanks.
The only late war stuff apart from the obvious and I am not sure if this counts a the obvious was Operation Goodwood, but we did it in 6mm
My late war gaming in 20mm and 15mm was not so much a scaled down plagiarism of actual operations. More an 'advance to contact' on a fictitious village or location in a set time frame like post Operation Plunder. (March 45).
Like a lot of what I now do in 10mm, its a glorified skirmish. The units, the equipment and the troops are historically accurate, but the scenario owes more to my bits and bobs of scenery than an actual battle. Big set piece 're-enactments' are fun, but take a long time to set up and - if realistic - often reflect the real outcomes.
Ad hoc skirmish with a few hills, a hamlet and a vital bridge or cross roads that provides the objective to be defended/taken is the instant coffee wargaming that has widest appeal.
I just wondered if 10mm had a 1945 fraternity as it would appear that 1939/40 Pre-Dunkirk now has a strong following.
When I owned 10mm stuff for BKC it was all 1944 Normandy stuff. But I had no opponents to play against - got sick of solo gaming - so sold the lot on eBay.
Now, there's the opportunity for games, but I've no toys :'(
Europe 1945 would be interesting. Though shortages may hinder Axis forces, in games. But, a good scenario with achievable objectives for both players would deal with that issue.
Playing as the German forces doggedly fighting to defend their country and people, as the Western Allies moved forward from the west and the Soviet onslaught from the east showed no sign of stopping. Collecting a small Kampfgruppe of Germans, while my opponent has to paint 20+ T34s and hundreds of Russian soldiers ;D
While I do tend towards the Barbarossa & pre-Dunkirk theatres, I have played a few post-Normandy battles, but I have to admit, although my tanks etc. are correct, I use the same figuires for infantry, just in different organisations!
All of my WW II chaps are Late War -Germans, Anglo/Brits, Russians any year Japanese but they are in 6mm. I had a solo of game with the Germans and Brits as an intro to my post D-Day What If campaign in mid- Kent late last year and enjoyed it. My table is the right size for 6mm, is usable for 10mm anad just works for 15mm, anything bigger is really a non-starter.
Many thanks for your comments and observations. Three things usually inspire wargamers . First an available range of figures and secondly an inspiring narrative. Sometimes the narrative comes first like "Band of Brothers". The narrative also needs to transfer to tabletop.
Late war Pendraken has the Comet tank and a reasonable range of AFVs and APCs - we even have a Ram Kangaroo. Strictly speaking the MkIII turtle helmet would be more accurate, but with a bit of scrim and foliage they will pass muster.
Opposition wise we have most late war armour (are we missing a Tiger II?). We have late war German infantry, and even the STG44 and Voltstrum.
Looks like all we are needing is a good war movie set in 1945 Europe featuring Brit infantry and Comet tanks to provide the images and fire up what wargamers run on. Imagination.
Quote from: Sunray on 29 January 2016, 12:38:06 PM
Ad hoc skirmish with a few hills, a hamlet and a vital bridge or cross roads that provides the objective to be defended/taken is the instant coffee wargaming that has widest appeal.
I may be forced to borrow this line ;)
My late WWII gaming is 6mm and others own the Brits who have fought from 1940-1945 ;)
That's another factor Paul. Fellow gamers with figures in the same era and theatre will be an incentive. Of course the German player has an advantage - he can also play Eastern Front.
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To some extent it depends on what you consider as late war. We've played several interesting games based on the battles for the Scheldt Estuary, off the top of my head I don't think the Germans had much armour but the Brits/Canadians deployed everything they had and it was very slow and bloody going before the last island was captured.