Battlegroup Westwall

 

I thought I'd share a few pictures and initial feelings about the new softback Battlegroup supplement covering the battles at Germany's border in Autumn 1944: Battlegroup Westwall.

Now Westwall is a softback supplement so is designed to be used with a couple of other Battlegroup products, these being the rulebook and the Axis and Allies lists from Overlord (or the later reprint Beyond the Beaches) so you'll need those to get the most out of it - although like all Battlegroup products the history and scenarios included can be worth the cost and this also has a mini campaign included!

So, presuming you're not like me and just slowly collecting all of WW2 (I jest but it's getting closer) is this book for you? As previously stated it covers the period after Normandy but before Wacht Am Rhein (Bulge) and Into the Reich - so September to November. Although the British were also fighting fiercely at this point their main focus was Holland (and any suitable rules found here can be used for Holland - Battlegroup is a tool kit) and this book focusses primarily on the American forces slogging their way through the dilapidated re-re-done fortifications of the Westwall: the last line protecting the Fatherland, as the remnants of the once mighty German army desperately re-arm and reform behind it. It also covers the particular misery of the fighting in "the Big Hurt" or Huertgen forest with special rules for thematic occurrences like airburst in canopy and forest floor. 

Like all Battlegroup books there is a comprehensive history overview section that covers the background events leading up to and action from Aachen to Huertgen Forest, the events around Lorraine and the fortress city of Metz. As ever its well written, has a great selection of real pictures and miniature shots and lots of interesting informational inserts with details about key events. Now you may ask why you need 26 pages of History information you could get anywhere else, but I would argue the history is so well written and focused, including giving a breakdown of the units involved and the action you're trying to portray that it is necessary and really beneficial for beginners and old hands alike (I think I have definitely forgotten more about WW2 than I'll ever know). People would definitely complain if it wasn't there (they’ll complain no matter what) and for the newcomer to WW2 gaming it is a real boon - it may even spark your interest in the historical side.

 Whilst it uses the lists from Overlord (only one full list in this book - the German Panzer Brigade Battlegroup) there are the usual additions and subtractions listed for all the necessary forces so you can tailor the Volksgrenadier Division list (Wacht Am Rhein), Germany Infantry Division 1944 (Overlord) and Armoured and Infantry Combat Engineers for the US lists (Overlord). 

The key addition present here is for the german lists in the form of the new Defense section with more detailed Westwall specific defenses including sparse minefields, flak bunkers and a comprehensive list of bunker types with new options such as defensive machineguns and flamethrower shelters. This is a really interesting section and breathes new life into any bunkers you have for already bought for those rarely played and often harrowing Normandy landing games. 

Alongside the lists and amendments is the scenario section. Battlegroup is well known for its generosity and proliferation of scenarios in its books and this one delivers with .....one. Yep just the one but it's important and not unexpected. It's an attack/defense scenario with the Axis player holding a fortified defensive line, nothing too shocking there. This isn't bad news however as many there are another 6 scenarios hidden away in the section after the army lists; the mini campaign. 

The Clipper Campaign is a 6 battle mini campaign covering Operation Clipper in late November 1944 and can be played as Americans or British (if you don’t have US) against the Germans (in reality it was the US vs Germans). There are six scenarios to be played that are squad to platoon in size (1 squad and 5 platoon sized games) with the historical forces listed or the ability to select replacement forces from your available miniatures (as usual). It's not as complicated as the Torch/Kasserine one but a nice addition that should be doable in a good, long weekend or over a few weeks at club.

As stated the full list presented here is the German Panzer Brigade Battlegroup which replaces the standard panzer Brigade from Overlord. This is a very thematic list which may admittedly seem bland to those not interested in or aware of the historical significance of the options: as it appears to simply have very few options. This list represents the armoured counter attacks (mostly the southern Lorraine front) by the new, very cut down Panzer divisions and is a welcome addition to the available stable of late war formations. The Author goes as far to state that the traditional panzers divisions of Normandy and Into the Reich aren't suitable for this period of conflict and you should look to Wacht Am Rhein if they are more your taste.

This new supplement arrived this morning (I paid for it myself and everything) and I'm really pleased to add it to my existing precious pile of Battlegroup books - I may not play much Westwall but Huertgen is on my list (when I finish my trees) and I intend to keep picking up any books The Plastic Soldier Company puts out in the Battlegroup series. 

Battlegroup:Westwall can be bought direct from The Plastic Soldier Company here.

Stay safe,

BeneathALeadMountain

A quick look through Battlegroup Pacific War

So a new Battlegroup book has arrived and this one is the first step (lets hope there’s more) into the Pacific Theatre, more specifically the Pacific and Far East in 1944-45. This book like the others in the series is by Warwick Kinrade and is a supplement so you do need the separate rule book to play.

Straight away the book is obviously good quality, it’s hard bound and full of background information, period photographs and pictures of miniatures on beautiful tabletops to help inspire you. First up there is a contents page and an introduction by Warwick about what the book is and how he came to make some of the decisions and choices. 

Next up, like all the Battlegroup supplements there is an excellent introduction to the actions and forces in the theatre. It’s well written and engaging with numerous interesting sidebars about specific conflicts, events and participants. It always surprises me when I see people complaining on forums about the fact you have to have a rulebook and a theatre specific supplement, these books are excellent value and the background information allows a complete WW2 novice to get a grip on their chosen theatre and have a good fundamental knowledge of the types of conflict you’re trying to represent. Even a knowledgeable WW2 buff will find information they didn’t know or benefit from the succinct and well written recap on the Pacific.

After the background information there is a section on amphibious assaults (it seems the similar to the original Overlord book) with special rules that will allow you to represent the Amtracs, DUKW’s and landing craft desperately battling to shore in an attempt to secure a foothold on the island of your choice. Next there is a section on the theatre specific rules that give the real flavour of the conflict and how it differs from say Normandy or Tunisia. This covers things like the use of direct lay mortar fire, combat shotguns, lunge mines and Nikaku teams and even a close protection team for an M3 Grant tank (a group of chaps that occupy the back deck of the tank and use their sub-machine guns to keep enemy infantry away from their precious ride). There is the expected Banzai rules which seem very well thought out and this sections hints at the fact that these battles are going to be very different from other games of Battlegroup I’ve played so far.

After the theatre specific rules there’s a description of the new counters (the system that makes Battlegroup such a fun, tense and dare I say realistic game - as realistic as pushing little metal dollies around a table could be) and their effects. Whilst some supplements share counter sets the Pacific one is a new and unique set that instils the flavour of the island hopping or jungle fighting that went on.

Next up the book has 5 force organisation charts. Two for the Imperial Japanese Army in 44-45 (an Infantry division list with adjustments for playing in Burma and an Island garrison force), two for the US (a Marine Corps list and an infantry division list) and a list for the British in Burma (later in the book in a separate section on Burma as it’s quite different to the island hopping campaigns) with adjustments to represent the Australians. It’s very noticeable that these battles will be very infantry-centric and armour is not as prolific as most other theatres. Whilst the American and British have Grants, Sherman, Stuarts and Matildas the Japanese armour is scarce and out dated. If you’re a fan of tanks then this theatre may not be your favourite but it does allow the importance and actions of the poor bloody infantry to shine (also the forces will/should be easier to collect as unlike say, the Germans in 1944 you won’t need umpteen numbers of various armoured vehicles to allow you to field just a few representative forces, a couple of tanks should cover most of your needs).

The army lists are exactly what you’d be used to with this system but the lists have some excellent thematic units like war dogs for the marines (gives you scout2), amphibious landing craft and AFVs or the discussed close protection teams for British Grants. It’s the Japanese lists that are the most interesting. As the period covered is when the Marines are on a roll and the Japanese are effectively retreating or fighting to the last man. There are ways to add BR to your overall rating or diminish the war weary Americans as they lose the will to keep grinding against a force of fanatics that already consider themselves dead. There is the option for a Japanese Last Remnants platoon where the poor chaps have very few if any firearms (and often no ammo) and have to rely on the trusty bit of sharpened bamboo to defend themselves with.

The Japanese defences section is really characterful from spider holes with varying occupants, to numerous booby traps or concealed caves that allow multiple infantry units to appear as if from no where.

After the lists is a section covering specific terrain - jungle and assorted undergrowth. This is very different to the scenery used for the European theatre and really hammers home the problems for vehicles and infantry fighting in such a complex environment. As a table you are going to need a lot of trees and undergrowth to get the feel for what you’re trying to represent (people always seem to ignore terrain but it really is the third army on the tabletop and generally the better the terrain the more fun the game IMHO).

Next up is 5 scenarios ranging from Amphibious assault, to taking/holding a beach stronghold or overlooking fire base and then the fight through dense jungle and the importance of taking and holding key hills. Like all the Battlegroup scenarios they have a map, background information and any specific rules and example forces to fight it out (but you can always adjust these to fit your collection) and whilst these are specifically ‘Pacific’ in flavour many if not most of the scenarios throughout the series of books can be adapted to fit your chosen battlefield.

After this is the section on Burma, with its own background information and the British infantry division list with a helpful addition to allow you to represent the mighty Australians.

Finally you have the standard Appendix covering the weapons and vehicles of both sides, quick reference sheets and the all important BR counters. Also you get to see the first vehicle reference cards for the Japanese.

So that’s about it for this ‘quick’ look at Battlegroup Pacific. I’m really excited for it and whilst I’m still working on Overlord (and into the Reich) and Tunisia I can see how it should complement these other two theatres and provide a third and different experience. If you haven’t tried Battlegroup I can’t recommend it enough, it’s straightforward but feels engaging and has strong flavour. It works on different sizes from small squad games up to platoons and above, with each size giving a fun, playable experience.

I hope this has been of some use and if you want a copy it can be bought from The Plastic Soldier Company’s website here. Apologies for the bad photography as I’m down to one hand (your palm can burst if you hit it hard enough, something I found out this week) which is going to slow down my already ambling hobby speed but at least I’ve got a new book to digest.

Stay safe and well, feel free to comment or ask me any questions about the book,

BALM