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

Red Falcons v. White Camels BatRep

Greetings all and Happy Fall! Working diligently away at some new homebrew rulesets, some solo campaigns for said rulesets, and miniatures for the long winter ahead. Played a quick game last weekend pitting the Soviet Red Falcon squadron against the RAF intervention force and their White Russian allies. Tested my homebrew rules which I have altered a bit since last sharing this project. 

....Somewhere over Russia, 1919. The rumble of biplanes through the crisp autumn air. Conditions optimal for dogfight. Our White Camel RAF intervention force is led by a White Russian Snipe piloted by the Ace Alexander Kazakoff, a single Camel triplane, and a DH.9 two seater. Their opponents are the flying Great War air museum, the Workers’ and Peoples’ Air Fleet. We'll just call them the Red Falcons for brevity sake. Consisting of a white French Nieuport, German Pfalz, and the squadron leader-the enigmatic Black Baron. Flying a sinister all black Fokker triplane, rumor tells that perhaps he's a German mercenary in paid service to the Bolsheviks Rubles are just as good as marks Comrade!

Turn Length: 5

Victory Conditions: DH.9 is shot down or the Red Falcons lose two 

planes and/or the Squadron Leader.

After Turn One

The Black Baron struck first doing damage to Kazakoff's Snipe and then zooming off towards the bomber. Next up, the Camel did damage to the Niueport with a roll of 17 and 20. On the following turn Kazakoff rolled a 1 for initiative order and finished off the Bolshevik Niueport in quick order. The DH.9 began shooting, successfully hitting the Black Baron only to suffer a jam to it's front guns on the third turn. The Black Baron executed a flawless Immelman turn pulling in behind the Camel, spraying the Englishmen's aircraft with one successful hit while the Pfalz attempted to hit the DH.9 with no luck. Starting the last activation, the Pfalz successfully hit the the Ace Kazakoff on it's second barrage. Shooting from the gunner's seat, the DH.9 successfully hit the green Pfalz once on it's last activation of the game.

Each aircraft carries two small dice during the dogfight. The green dice indicates each pilot's activation order while the blue dice represents altitude. Change altitude to avoid enemies or anti-aircraft fire from below. After five turns of some hotly contested high altitude action all our daring pilots returned to their respective aerodromes low on fuel, save for the Niueport which lay smoldering in the Russian turf, Kaput!

Keep Rolling Those Crits

 -BB

British Rangers & Shawnee, Oh my! Peter Pig AWI

Happy Summertime all. Here is a little peek at some very snazzy Peter Pig AWI Native Americans and their British & Canadian ranger allies. Painted up a small force to battle the locals in the colony of Kentucky circa 1782 during the American war of independence.

Calling this upcoming skirmish the Battle of Salt Lick Bend, loosely based on the real Battle of Blue Licks, a defeat nearing massacre for the Kentucky colonials near the tail end of the AWI. The Kentuckians remain on the To Be Painted table however. Led by the irascible “Dirty” Captain Girty, this force includes two units of 10 Native American allies, meant to represent an alliance of many different tribes but primarily the Shawnee and Wyandot, and one detachment of Anglo-Canadian rangers. I may expand to one more unit of Native allies eventually to outnumber the hapless Kentuckians even more.

Captain Girty

Really enjoying the Peter Pig stuff. I will definitely be purchasing more in several different periods because they are highly detailed, well proportioned, and have some great sculpts and poses. At the time of this post I purchased some English Civil War pikes, artillery, and a few cavalry + some Russian Civil War figures. Stay Tuned. I also picked up a few of the lucky piggy dice because, c’mon, look at them! After looking I found a Petey Pig dealer in California, Brookhurst Hobbies. I've been very happy with their selection and service so far.

Using the ruleset This Very Ground: Victory or Death by Keith Stine (2nd Edition, Iron Ivan Games). In my opinion, this is a really good ruleset for wargaming skirmish level battles in North America from the 1600’s-1800’s. The book itself looks nice, is well laid out with lots of pictures and tables for a bunch of different conflicts and eras. $25 USD for a hard copy. You can find the rules here. I altered some of the distances and tweaked some rules to make it friendly for 15mm scale on a 4x4 foot table or smaller. For combat and leadership each unit has three characteristics (d10), Marksmanship, Valor (Melee), and Courage. Officers hold the line, rallying off disruption and smoke counters after units have fired, or join in for extra chutzpah during the melee attack.

Shawnee warrior & Sachem Peter Pig 15mm

Anglo-Canadian rangers leading the way

Keep Rolling those Crits..

  -15mm Dieter