Russian Tank Crew

  A few pieces from Mars plastic figures, escaping tank crew, perfect for rapid fire. Simple blue overalls and black tanker caps 

Cheers

Matt 

Soviet NBC road checkpoint

 A bit slow this week, after a month of assembly of plastic kits. This weekend I pulled out some Soviet NBC chaps from the moderns project draw.  The figure with rifles are from a old Esci box of Warsaw pact figures, the figure with the note board is from Airfix I think 

Cheers

Matt

 Falaise Pocket Tour 2025

A full guided 10 hour day, We follow the route of the US 1st infantry, 90th Infantry,  2e division Blindée  to the positions on the south side of the pocket driving north to Argentan Normandy from Mayenne, Pays de Loire. We then switch over to follow the Canadians and Polish routes to close the pocket. We complete the day with a 3 course dinner in the spa town of Bagnolles de l’Orne, before retiring to the chateau in Mayenne. 

Available dates in July, August and September Book or enquire here 

Battle of Serabaeum October 1973

 

Battle of Serabaeum October 1973 

 Pedro and I played a simple Rapid Fire Able Archer.game based on the Israeli attacks west of the Suez in 1973 around the village of Serabaeum. We are play testing the new Able Archer rules before their release later in the year. We are planning English, French and German language release, then Finnish, Spanish and Chinese (as these languages cover all of our French Wargame Holiday guests) 

Village is considered as hard cover, observation to fire required, auto observation at 6 inches, armour must morale test to enter village, artillery observation by Observation team and infantry commanders only. Isreali infantry and centurions elite.

Israeli Order of Battle 

243rd Paratrooper Brigade

After taking the village the Orders hold village of Serabaeum for 10 turns against Egyptian counter attack. Support infantry and armour arrives on a D10 turn.

1st parachute battalion (in village) 

HQ 

OC + 5 radio, light mortar team, anti tank team vehicle 

1st company 

8 figs, lmg, grenade launcher 

2nd parachute battalion arrive Radom D10 turn 

HQ 

OC + 5 radio, light mortar team, anti tank team 

1st company 

8 figs, lmg, grenade launcher 

2nd company 

8 figs, lmg, grenade launcher 

Tank Company 

2 x Sho ‘t Meteor Centurions L7 105mm, class 3 gun, class C armour, medium 

Egyptian order of Battle 

Egyptian orders are to recapture the village and prevent the Israelis from taking the high ground to the west of the village. 

73rd Sa’iqa Parachute Regiment  

1st Battalion 

HQ 

OC, radio, sniper, observer element + 2 vehicle 

1st Coy 

RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5 + vehicle 

2 Coy 

RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5 + vehicle 

3rd Coy 

RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5

Support coy 

HMG, 81mm mortar, sagger AT vehicle 

2nd Battalion (arrive on D6 turn)

HQ 

OC, radio, sniper, observer element + 2 vehicle 

1st Coy 

RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5 + vehicle 

2 Coy 

RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5 + vehicle 

3rd Coy 

RPG, MMG, rifle grenade + 5

Support coy 

HMG, 81mm mortar, sagger AT vehicle 

Armour Battalion (arrive D6 turn) 

Morale tests per company for armour 120mm class 2 gun, D class armour, slow

HQ 

1 x JS3

1 x zSU 57-2

1st company 

3 x  JS3 

Rocket battery 

BM13 Katyusha rocket 132mm 10 points table 4, unguided rocket templates 4 rounds, after observation, use rocket template.

The village of Serabaeum

Egyptians arrive, the HQ Armoured coy arrived with the first battalion 

The first IS 3 falls victim to antitank fire

The Egyptians assault 

Isreali reinforcement arrives turn 5, immediately the first centurion is knocked out by long range fire from the IS-3

Israeli reinforcements arrive in the village turn 6

Second of Egyptians battalion arrives 

A draw,

Israelis lost one company of Para, and both centurions, but held two buildings at the end of turn 10

 Egyptians held the one building of the edge of the village, and contested another, lost one JS3 however one battalion lost a commander and was down to below 50% but managed to pass its morale check. 

Next game more armour and add reconnaissance by air, then air support. 

Cheers

Matt

WIP Wednesday

 For the last two weeks working on plastics kits as the desire to paint is on a downshift at the moment due to jet lag from my rapid visit to Oz for my sons wedding. 

 

Chateau Carrouges tour

 Chateau Carrouges - the last duel 

One of our more popular afternoon and evening tours is the monument Historic Carrouges Chateau, the former chateau of Jean de Carrouges, the HYW Baron who fought in the last French Judicial combat against his squire Jacques de Gris in 1386. Not much of the 14th chateau remains having been devastated in the later period of the Hundred years war and again in the wars of Religion. However much of the 16th, 17th and 18th century rooms and furnishings remain, the chateau also houses the basse Normandy “chase” hunting collection and includes one of the last wolves from the early 20th century hunted on the estate, until their reintroduction into Maine-Normandie parc natural three years ago. Well worth a visit, we also visit the spa town of Bagnolles for dinner to complete our half day tour. 

Bookings are available this summer here