Kursk conjures up images of swirling, days-long tank battles but there were hundreds of small infantry actions that were fought during the legendary Operation Zitadelle. German Infantry clawed their way through Soviet strong-points held by determined and stubborn battalions.
Here is my Soviet 1st Platoon, based for Battlegroup: Kursk, and Rapid Fire among other games. About 3/4 of these troopers were originally painted and based for Crossfire on 1 1/4" square stands. I figured I could still play Crossfire with them in their current configuration. They will also make for a "tidier" Flames of War battlefield if I should decide to play it - I would just have to accept the degradation in figure numbers (about 50% less per platoon). I'm okay with it...
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Platoon Picture Day |
Figures are a mix of Command Decision, Battlefront, and a few Peter Pig thrown in for good measure. Oh and I can't forget Plastic Soldier Company either...
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tough as nails Soviet squad. The varying uniform colors are intentional. |
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A far cry from the ragged, pitiful battalions who broke so easily in 1941.... |
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In Battlegroup: Kursk Soviet support options are plentiful. Here is my MMG team. |
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82mm mortar stand. Should somebody tell Ivan he's trying to load a 120mm mortar round into that tube? |
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Platoon Command Team and Mortar Spotter. Lieutenant Ivanovich leads his men into action! |
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80% completed NKVD Crew....you don't want to run into these fellows on the battlefield. |
Still another platoon to finish basing and a few support elements to finish painting along with the Company Command Stand and I will have a much larger unit for upcoming Battlegroup: Kursk games, or some other games like Panzerfaust: Armored Fist, Schwere Kompanie, Crossfire, etc.
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The rest of my Soviets. I still have another platoon to finish basing, and another platoon to paint up! Can you see that German and Soviet armor in the background also? |
And just because I had my camera laying around:
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Fresh volunteers for the Summer of Horse and Musket! A product of my re-basing schemes. 3 British Battalions, followed by a SYW Austrian and a SYW Prussian Battalion. |
Great stuff! Nothing says Soviet like waves of infantry supporting a swarm of T-34s!
ReplyDeleteI find the NKVD to be an essential choice for upping the BR of any Russkie force.
Thanks, Paul! I am anxious to get those NKVD guys on the table and see how they do. To date, I have not played many larger games with any forward HQs units.
DeleteYou gotta love attacking on the table with the Soviets in any game! I love horde armies!
Nicely painted platoon - the mix of different manufactures works well.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Dan
Thank you, Dan! The battlefront and peter pig seem to work well. The PSC guys are a tad on the skinny side so I've tried to give them all their own bases.
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