Patrol Boat Riverine: Peter Pig PBR

My Vietnam skirmish project is one that I plan on revisiting with some more terrain and a few new miniatures. In the meantime I figured that I'd highlight my Patrol Boat Riverine (PBR) miniature from Peter Pig.

I don't mind admitting I'm a bit of Peter Pig fanboy. They can do no wrong and nearly every miniature that they manufacture I would buy. I ultimately went with Flashpoint because their SEAL sculpts were so cool looking (Peter Pig does not offer any true SEAL figures), however I liked the sculpt of Peter Pig's PBR so I purchased that instead of Flashpoint's offering, which looked great but seemed larger.

The canvas top and U.S. star on the radar are not regulation but it breaks up the solid drab scheme of the real world PBR. The tub gunner in front is magnetized and sports the distinctive black beret of the Navy river patrol section. The gunner in the far back has a LMG and the second gunner has both an LMG and grenade launcher. Quite an effective weapons platform if you ask me. That pesky antenna took some shrapnel damage in the last battle and the repair crew hasn't gotten around to getting a fresh coat of paint on it.

In my Green Faced Men rules module the PBR can drop off/pick up a SEAL team and lay down some pretty effective cover fire as well. PBRs fought in teams of two but I reckoned due to the clandestine nature of the SEAL work just one would suffice. I did purchase a Light Seal Support craft from Flashpoint but have not painted that up yet. The LSSC or STAB, is a smaller light boat for clandestine insertion and extraction. Not as heavily armored but faster.

Just missing Lance's surfboard. Charlie don't surf!

Charlie is always watching...

Keep Rolling those natural 20s

  -15mm Dieter

Target Locked On: Falklands '82

While I diligently work away on a few too many projects, I figured that I would show a project which might not ever reach my wargaming table. Lets talk the air war over the Falklands in 1:300 scale.

These little jets were purchased on Etsy, the shop owner absconded without completing the order but did manage to ship these to me before they went on the run. Luckily, Etsy has a good policy on these sort of snafus and I was able to get my hard earned dinero back. These are cool if simplistic little 3D printed miniatures. They came painted and decaled to boot! Hopefully I can source some more planes with matching decals to complete at a later date.

RAF HARRIER

I originally had planned a full complement of Harriers, a couple of Vulcan bombers (Black Buck Raids), and slew of different Argentine aircraft from the French made Mirage, Israeli Dagger (Nesher), and the British Canberra bomber. I even started to look at some ships for the British armada before this project went on a indefinite hiatus. I based these with Litko flight bases which are nice but have the disadvantage of being physically glued to the bottom of the aircraft.

Fuerza Aérea Argentina A4 Skyhawk

The ruleset that I originally chose, Target Locked On!, seems like a blast to play, although I have yet to properly play a round. As previously mentioned on this blog, I based my homebrew rules for the Russian Civil War aerial combat off some of the mechanics from TLO! As the title might suggest, this game has a neat mechanic for locking on and/or evading radar for missile attacks. I have seen some other Cold War jet-age rules/miniatures and may give this genre another crack, either with these miniatures or different miniatures in another conflict.

Keep Rolling those 6's

 -15mm Dieter

Kentuckians AWI Peter Pig/Stone Mountain 15mm

Happy end of Summer to everyone. Near Labor Day in the states and I've been diligently working on several new and exciting projects. Most recent project finished was 15mm American War of Independence Kentucky militia. These miniatures are for an AWI skirmish game using the snappy ruleset, This Very Ground (Iron Ivan Games) which I first highlighted in the post British Rangers & Shawnee, Oh My! As previously mentioned these are great rules to play with a fun shooting mechanic that is effected by black powder smoke filling the battlefield among other factors. Highly recommended.

Peter Pig militia captain and mountain man armed with long rifle

Stone Mountain militia

These figures are a mix of Peter Pig and some vintage circa 1980s? Stone Mountain miniatures which were still on the original blister pack and purchased from eBay. Most of the rank & file are Stone Mountain but the Kentucky mountain men, the elite woodsmen, are Peter Pig's militia in buckskin. The details on Peter Pig's is the usual quality-outstanding but the Stone mountain figures look nice painted up as well considering their age and lack of ornate details.

Over there boys!

For an upcoming battle report, which I've dubbed the Skirmish at Soggy Bend, the Kentuckian militia will consist of one officer, irascible Major Hugh McGloin, 10 militia including a lieutenant, and 8 mountain men. Even though they will be outnumbered by the opposing Anglo-Native allied army 28-18, the mountain men shoot at longer range with a slightly better chance to hit.

Keep rolling those crits...

 -15mm Dieter

Moro Patrol

Going back to the jungle again for a different American counterinsurgency campaign, Philippines 1902-1913. In the aftermath of total victory in the Spanish-American War, US forces fight a low intensity war with the native Moro people of the southern Philippines, attempting to impose tax regulations and to disarm the warlike Moros. At first glance, this campaign pitting pre-doughboy US troops against brave Muslim warriors fighting with swords and spears might seem like the typical colonial wargame, and well, maybe it is, but it's at least unique.

Miniatures by Bloodaxe (Historifigs), who offer several different made to order 15mm lines in a few unique periods/settings. These miniatures are lead free pewter, a fact I appreciate now that my eldest little rascal has taken an interest in my tabletop happenings. These specific miniatures are chunky but seem to scale well with other 15mm. We'll take a look at the U.S. troops, Filipino constabularies, and Moro warriors below.

I started this project with ten stands per side but have enjoyed them so much that it's expanding. As usual, these projects tend to grow during the process. In regards to terrain & scenics, I was able to make a smooth transition carrying over from my last project in the jungles of Vietnam 1968 to Progression era Philippines, saving myself a little time/effort/money. The part that is most exciting is the ruleset, Moro Patrol, that I'm currently working on. I may post these rules in the near future as a file share if anyone might be interested.

My favorite subset from this series is definitely the Philippine Constabulary, sporting loin cloths and slouch hats. They are molded with rifles sans bayonets which look better than the US troop offerings. I based one US army officer with the constabularies, the rank and file representing the stalwart non-Moro Filipinos who enlisted in the American officered Constabulary, whilst the officer represents a Yank officer employed by the constabularies.

The regular US army troops are standard fare, bedrolls, rifles with bayonets, and campaign hats. These guys are rather dull save for the officer with pistol but I do appreciate that they have sculpted period burly moustaches! I cut down a few of the rifles to make them shotguns, which were popular with US army troopers in the Moro conflict. Added bonus with these miniatures is they could conceivably be used for a Spanish-American War scenario as well. The Moro are fairly standard as well, spears, rifles, or old muskets, close combat machetes (barong), and a ululating chief. A few Kris wielding swordsmen would have been a nice addition. The machete troops can be upgraded in Moro Patrol to Juramentado, jihadist die-hards who gain a significant melee bonus and who will charge enemy stands whilst braving withering gunfire.

Philippine Constabulary

U.S. Army Regulars

Moro warband

The combat system for this game is predicated on jungle fighting and siege combat. The Moros held Cotta forts, well defended clay mud citadels often dotted with trenches, where the Moro Datu (chiefs) usually made a last stand. I've yet to 3D print an appropriate fort but that will certainly feature in a upcoming battle report. US forces have an MG and mountain cannon at their disposal, firing more accurately & frequently. The Moro have better melee attacks with spears which can be thrown a short distance or used in close combat.

Juramentados on the attack

Keep Rolling those Crits...

-15mm Dieter

The Other Charlie Company: Flashpoint VC

Still plugging away with playing and testing some finalized rules for my campaign module, Green Faced Men: Navy Seals in Vietnam when I realized that I had yet to showcase the Viet Cong figures from Flashpoint's Vietnam War line. Like their detailed SEAL counterparts these are truly stellar metal miniatures with many unique sculpts and lots of accurate weapon options.

The Other Charlie Company, VC Fireteam Flashpoint

The specific pack which I ordered and painted is Local Force VC/NLF Rifle Platoon, 36 figures total but I only painted 26 for my campaign. I also added some booby trap/tunnel/objective markers which look great alongside these figs. The majority are sculpted with bolt action rifles with a few officers carrying Ak's & "found" M-16's. I think my favorite is the older chap with a long beard or the stealthy AK officer pictured below. A handful of RPG teams (I decided against painting the included loaders) and LMG gunners round out this generous set from Flashpoint. All miniatures shown are based on Proxie Models 20mm rounds which have become my standard base for single basing 15mm figures.

VC emerging from the tunnel system

Keep rolling those Crits..

 -15mil Nguyen

GFM: Operation Jolly Woodsmen

Got in a few quick games during the Christmas break testing out my Navy Seals Vietnam module based on Ivan Sorenson's No End in Sight V2. Gamed a few missions and of those I recorded this game for a quick Battle Report. Codename Operation Jolly Woodsmen, Summer 1968.

SEAL OFFICER

In this operation the SEALS are attempting to take out a pesky sniper the "Woodsmen" who has been harassing allied troops for weeks. Just recently the Woodsmen shot a ARVN colonel mortally wounding him. This is a high value target. The Viet Cong can use three tunnels to traverse the map quickly, setting up ambushes or escaping heavy firepower. If firing more than once from the same position, they reveal their location. If a SEAL figure is equipped with a radio, they can call in artillery fire from nearby naval ships.

The SEALS gave away their position early after a lone VC riflemen took the tunnel system and ambushed Delta team. He was silenced after pinning one SEAL in the second turn. The SEALS quickly moved into cover and the firefight began. The Woodsmen took notice and fired at Alpha team first. One figure pinned but no hits otherwise. Not caring to give away their position the Woodsmen did not fire again until Turn 3, moving prone to better cover near Alpha's position. The SEALS turned the tide beginning in Turn 3 with Alpha team, rallying one pinned figure and Delta moving into assault position.

The Stoner LMG and Delta's heavy suppressive fire in the bottom half of Turn 4 being decisive. The Woodsmen turns out to be the Woodswomen! Heavily wounded after the top half of Turn 4, it's unlikely that she'll take up a rifle again. The SEALS retreated with no casualties, bagging three VC. It pays to be the winner. Next time I play this operation I'll being playing as the Viet Cong because it seemed a fun layout for old Mr. Charlie.

Happy New Year, Keep Rolling those Crits...
-15mm Dieter

Men With Green Faces: Flashpoint Vietnam Navy SEALS

Showcasing a finished batch of Flashpoint Miniatures Vietnam Navy Seals. Ready to duke it out over the river ways and brown waters of the Mekong Delta. I purchased a pack each of SEALS and Viet Cong from Flashpoint in Australia with the idea of wargaming small skirmish games at squad level. I've tested out the rules and once I refine/customize a bit more, will be writing up a battle report. In the meantime lets check out these awesome figures.

The ruleset which I'm using is a modified version No End in Sight Cold war & modern Platoon Combat v.2 by Ivan Sorensen. These rules place a heavy emphasize on moving cautiously into cover. You fire Shock Dice and Kill Dice hitting on 5-6 & 6 respectfully. The idea here being that most of your firefights would be chaotic with an unseen enemy in a tight quarters jungle environment. I've been calling this module, Green Faced Men: SEAL Operations in Vietnam.

I've added a few simple wrinkles to represent the clandestine nature of most of the SEAL missions. Sorensen's rules are very fluid, the author tells the gamer several times to make up their own rules depending on historical considerations or simply how the player would like to play. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of some solo play tables and general ideas on how to play the game solitarily.

Codename Operation Poacher 1968

Flashpoint did a phenomenal job with these miniatures. Each figure is completely unique in the pack of twenty four. You can tell the sculptor took a lot of care and added plenty of flare to each miniature. Very good detail, rivaling the well known 15mm producers like Peter Pig and Old Glory. For my money, these are some of the best Vietnam special forces miniatures out there. The one quibble I have is that their is no SMG or grenade launcher figures included. Picture below shows the different backpacks on each figure.

The Men With Green Faces

Keep Rolling those Crits...

 -15mm Dieter