Updating Blitzkrieg 1940 Support Classifications to CoC 2

Following on from my musings over how the new vehicle aspects from Chain of Command 2 might be applied, I thought it was time to consider how the 1940 Support Options might be classified in to the new support types.

Chain of Command 2 classifies support options according to specific types. These classifications are indicated by colour-coding on the support lists, making it easy to determine which types of support are available for a given scenario.

These are:

• Blue - denotes Engineering support choices
• Grey - represents Mortars
• White - indicates Infantry Units
• Green - for Support Units
• Yellow - defines Transports
• Orange - signifies Light Vehicles and Armour
• Red - represents proper Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Whilst the Blitzkrieg 1940 book scenarios don't have these additional support classifications applied to them (yet.. watch this space), it might be helpful to consider how the 1940 Support Options would be classified if you choose to use them with the new scenarios in the core rulebook.

There is the addition of new types of Support Option such as replenish points that just predate the creation of the 1940 rules, so those need adding in too.

With no definitions of what necessarily constitutes each of the classifications of support I have used my judgement (flawed though it may be) to make a suggestion as to what each might be considered to be. Feel free to amend or point out any errors I may have included.

The updated classified Support Lists are available in the Files Page on the blog, there is one for each of the nations in the 1940 book.

Enjoy!!

Painting 20mm 1940 French

And so the pile of grey resin printed shame must be addressed...

First thing was clearing my painting desk (which is why my missus calls me "Captain Chaos") and just having the paints and brushes I need in front of me.

There are a few colour photos taken in Dunkirk by a German photographer Weper Hermann of 13 German Mobile Assault Unit that included French troops here, here and here. Given the passage of time, these give the uniforms quite a brown tinge, and I also noticed different colour belts and boots too. I will try and add in this variety to the squad.

I am going to focus on the core infantry platoon first, so three squads, V-B squad and senior leaders.

Starting out, I base the figures on 20mm metal washers (that will stick to a magnetic sheet) and supplement with a magnet that fits int he base to increase magnetic stickiness (that's a word I think?).

Next undercoating using Vallejo Grey Primer and applying it with a cheap Temu airbrush that is just about up to the job. I prefer a lighter primer as it makes the resulting paint job brighter on the table top.

Sonic Sledgehammer video is the basis of what I am attempting to do, I like using washes but not in a speed painter style and this one looks pretty much perfect.

So what follows is from Sonic's video with a few tweaks by me to totally convert the paints used to Vallejo:

• Undercoat with 70.601 Vallejo Grey Primer.
• Paint uniform with 70.921 English Uniform and then a very heavy dry-brush with 70.879 Green Brown.
• Paint the skin using 70.815 Basic Skin Tone and then apply two washes of ArmyPainter Quickshade Flesh Wash to bring it to life.
• Main backpack 70.824 German Camouflage Orange Ochre.
• Leather belt, ammo pouches and belt chest 'suspenders' in 70.846 Mahogany Brown plus edges of backpack leathery bits also the chin strap.
• Small bags, water bottle and strap across the chest in 70.821 German Camo Beige
• Rifle woodwork with 70.875 Beige Brown.
• Boots with 70.984 Flat Brown or 70.875 Beige Brown or 70.846 Mahogany Brown.
• Adrian Helmet with 70.888 Olive Grey
• Rifle metalwork base with 70.862 Black Grey.
• Buttons with 70.863 Gunmetal Grey.

At this point all the dull stuff is done and time to feel that your figure doesn't look like a two year old has painted it - the magic of washes!

Give it a wash of Army Painter Strong Tone all over thinned with a drop of Vallejo 71.361 Airbrush Thinner. I usually do a couple of washes as sometimes just one wash isn't strong enough for my liking. 

Figure with all basic colours applied and first washes completed

Suddenly the figure looks like something you would be happy to put on the table! Now to sex it up a little.

Now on to the highlighting (usually a 2 stage process with the original colour and then additional highlight):

• Highlight the uniform with first 70.879 Green Brown with a drop of Airbursh thinner, and then highlight with 70.988 Khaki.
• Now highlight main backpack with 70.824 German Camouflage Orange Ochre and then 70.847 Dark Sand.
• Highlight the leather belt, straps and backpack edging with 70.846 Mahogany Brown land then with 70.818 Red Leather.
• Pick out the rifle metalwork with 70.863 Gunmetal Grey.
• Highlight flesh with 70.815 Basic Skin Tone.
• Highlight small bags, water bottle and strap across the chest with 70.821 German Camo Beige.
• Highlight helmet with 70.888 Olive Grey and then 70.922 Uniform Green. Pick out the helmet rims with 70.863 Gunmetal Grey if you wish in a few places.
• Highlight rifle woodwork with 70.843 Cork Brown.
  

I must say I am pretty pleased with the result, and so a few pictures of the first squad...

Hope you have found this painting guide helpful and I am off to get a better camera and learn how lighting works...

3D Printing for 20mm Chain of Command

With my platoon STLs sourced the next step is to resize, sort out supports and determine resin settings - which anyone who has used a 3D printer will know may well turn out not to be a walk in the park.

My 3D printer is Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K S printer which works for me as I have limited space on my desk. It has a relatively small plate as a result but produces excellent prints. I will be using Elegoo 8K Space Grey resin which I find to be a good balance of flexibility, resolution and of course, price.

When resizing STLs I have found that some are more "heroic 28mm" than 28mm but I start with a 78% reduction and then compare to see if a further reduction is needed. With Colonel Muller's files a simple 78% is perfect.

I use LycheeSlicer to batch resize to 78%, repair where needed and add supports. This is where the resizing of files presents the first challenges: rifles and AT gun barrels can get very thin and I faced a challenge with the edges of some of the French helmets which would get damaged when removing supports after printing. 

The fiddly supports on the back of French helmets

Overview of typical supports

I am printing at 0.025mm, so quite high resolution and near the maximum of the printer. As mentioned I support in Lychee, export to Chitubox and then create the print file.

After a lengthy printing (due to the resolution) and cleaning, I let them dry for a day and then a dip in very hot water before very careful support removal.

And voila!

A finished print in 20mm

Updating Blitzkrieg 1940 Vehicles to CoC 2

With the advent of the excellent Chain of Command 2 it introduced some new vehicle aspects to the game - turret speed and smoke generation. As the core rulebook is very much focussed on the late war with its Army Lists it now leaves the Blitzkrieg 1940 players with questions about these new aspects and if they are applicable to vehicles in the relevant Master Arsenal lists. 

These questions have come up in my playing of this period and this article covers our House Rules to bridge the gap.

Here are my thoughts on the Blitzkrieg 1940 supplement and how those new vehicle aspects could be applied - I do not claim to be an expert but I have carried out internet research as much as i can to try and back up my suggestions. 

Note: I am marking the general assumption that all turret speeds are "Average" unless otherwise noted - while the rotation speed can often be found through research, the cut off of when that becomes slow is a mystery wrapped up in an enigma to me.

Belgium

Captured Carden Loyd in 1940 with open top

Image: www.armedconflicts.com

Smoke

Belgian vehicles did not deploy smoke on their T13/T15 and the AGC-1 is a French pattern tank that also didn't use smoke. Sadly no smoky fun for the Belgians.

Turrets and Notes

The wonderfully bizarre Carden Loyd MK VI with FRC 47mm was only able to have a 10 degree traverse so its turret would be "Fixed". I would also add the attribute "Open Body" to this vehicle as can be seen here where destroyed or captured Carden Loyd's can be seen with no top armour. 

The rear facing gun on a T-13 B1/B2 had a limited 120 degree rotation with it's armoured plates up, 360 degrees if these were dropped (and I would suggest a corresponding drop in vehicle armour to 1 whilst deployed like that).

Gun Shields

The 47mm FRC M1931 was equipped with a gun shield.

The Netherlands

7- veld 75mm Field Gun
Peeters Ben, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Smoke

The vast armada of impressive, powerful and numerous Dutch armour did not avail itself of any smoke (to be fair it didn't avail itself of any armour either...).

Turrets and Notes

I would suggest adding the attribute "Open Body" to Carden Loyd MG Carrier.

Gun Shields

The 7-veld 75mm Field Gun, although ancient, did have a gun shield.

Britain

Vickers Light Tank Mk.VIB

Image: IWM (MH 3585)

Smoke

At last we get to some smoke capabilities that were present in the Early War period. As per the inter-war period and British tank development it is mostly the "infantry" tanks that have smoke capability and the faster "cruiser" tanks didn't. These "infantry" tanks could use their smoke to assist the accompanying foot troops in their movement on the battlefield.

The Vickers Mk VIB, Vickers Mk VIC, A11 Matilda I and A12 Matilda II all had forward facing smoke mortars.

The Morris CS9 Armoured Car was also equipped with a smoke bomb thrower (that little tube centred on the turret).

Turrets and Notes

I would suggest adding the attribute "Open Body" to Bren/Scout Carrier.

Gun Shields

Both the "1 Pounder" and "2 Pounder" both have gun shields.

Germany

Panzer III
User:Fat yankey, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Smoke

The German approach to the use of smoke evolved during the war. In the later war there was an assessment of German use of smoke by American Military Intelligence Service:

"Smoke shells are fired from the 75-mm guns of the Pz. Kpfw. IV's [1], and also, it is reported, from 88-mm guns on other armored vehicles. Smoke shells are not fired by the Pz. Kpfw. II [2] or the Pz. Kpfw. III [3], both of which are equipped to discharge "smoke pots" with a range of approximately 50 yards. These pots are released electrically, and are employed chiefly to permit the tank to escape when caught by antitank fire."

Smoke-Shell Tactics Used by German Tanks" from Intelligence Bulletin, Aug. 1944 

The German use of smoke was markedly different, it was not to assist or support infantry, rather a defensive cover to use for tactical withdrawal.

In the early war, tanks did not have forward facing smoke grenade launchers, instead they had Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung (N.K.A.V.), a rear mounted grenade dispenser used to disperse up to five Schnellnebelkerze 39 smoke grenades when the commander activated them from the turret. It was succeeded from about 1942 onwards by the turret mounted Nebelwurfgerät launcher.

In game terms I would suggest this means the tank (as per 15.3 Vehicles Deploying Smoke), when deploying smoke the player places a 6” wide by 3” deep area of smoke directly behind the vehicle (and not 6” in front).

Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung were equipped on:

• Panzer I A-B
• Panzer II A-C
• Panzer III A-C
• Panzer IV B-C. 

Turrets and Notes

Other amendments to vehicle characteristics would be:

• Adding "Low Profile" to Stug IIIA
• Adding "Open Body" to Kfz 13, SdKfz 221, SdKfz 222 
• Adding "Low Profile, Open Body" to SdKfz 250/1B 

Gun Shields

The Pak 35 3.7cm, IeIG 18 7.5mm Infantry Gun and sIG 33 15cm Infantry Gun all had gun shields.

France

French Armoured Fighting Vehicles Image: IWM (MH 8513)

Smoke

France and the use of smoke don't mix - I could not find evidence of smoke use in any French AFV.

Turrets and Notes

To reflect the rather adhoc nature of the Laffly W15 TCC and Laffly SA-34 TCC I would suggest adding the following attributes:

• Laffly W15 TCC:  Slow turret with a a limited 60° rear facing gun traverse and "Open Body"
• Laffly SA-34 TCC:  Slow turret with a a limited 60° forward facing gun traverse and "Open Body"

Additionally I would add the note of "Radio" to the best AFV the French have (IMHO) - the Panhard 178.

Gun Shields

The Canon de 25mm L/72, Canon de 47mm L53 and Canon de 75mm M1897 all have gun shields.

And so ends my exploration of sprinkling some version 2 over Blitzkrieg 1940 support options. Thoughts and feedback appreciated.

Creating 20mm 1940 French Armour Options - Part Four or Quatre

 

Rounding off my take on 3D printing resources for my 20mm Early War French force we get to the armoured (and not so armoured) vehicles.

Again there are some fantastic artists out there who create some amazing models, I have focussed on a French creator called Counlane Models. He started his collection with the Early War French so inevitably I became a fan, my friend also succumbed to his German models as well.

There are also many other greta resources and many free models as well, anyway let's get on with the list:

• AMC Schneider P16 with Junior Leader

• AMR 33 with Junior Leader

• AMR 35 ZT-1 with Junior Leader - A choice of two models, the earlier version and the later one.

• AMR 35 ZT-2 with Junior Leader

• AMR 35 ZT-3 with Junior Leader

• Canon de 47mm portee on Laffly W15 TCC - this is the only model I can find of this portee option. 

• Car with no crew - simple French car here.

• Char B1 bis with Junior Leader

• FCM 36 with Junior Leader

• FT-17/31 37mm with Junior Leader

• FT-17/31 MG with Junior Leader

• Hotchkiss H35 with Junior Leader

• Hotchkiss H39 with Junior Leader

• Laffly SA-34 TCC Canon de 25mm L72 portee with Junior Leader - I wanted a forward facing 25mm portee here and there are no models I could find so I had to combine a couple of files. I started with this free basic flat top Laffly S20, edited it to open up the back and then took the 25mm AT gun and edited the legs of the gun to shorten them to fit in the back of the Laffly. I then added in a couple of crew from the same AT gun. Pretty pleased with the result.

Amended 25mm portee STL

• Lorraine 38L carrier with trailer and driver - fantastic model that has the main carrier and trailer covered and uncovered.

• Lorry with no crew - a common Chain of Command 2 support choice that I have added in to the 1940 choices for two points. There are quite a few choices out there for models that fit the lorry/truck slot and both free and paid for:
• Citroen U23 with french passengers - From Eskice, this a fantastic model with passengers you can add in as well.
• Laffly S20 TL - Lovely model that formed the basis my 25mm portee above but also comes with several different options.
• Renault AHS, AHN & AHR - These trucks are really nice, many models and with removable roofs. Easily resized to 20mm and print really well.

• Panhard 178 AMD with Junior Leader

• Renault AMC 35 with Junior Leader

• Renault Char D1 with Junior Leader

• Renault Char D2 with Junior Leader

• Renault R35 with Junior Leader

R35 from Coulane Models

• Renault R39 or R40 with Junior Leader

• Somua S35 with Junior Leader

As you can see there are a lot of armour options out there, I suppose reflecting the general interest in tanks in the hobby. The challenge can be when resizing these that parts can become very thin so careful supporting is needed and also very careful removing of said supports. I will post pictures of my armour as I paint them.

Creating 20mm 1940 French Support Options - Part Three or Trois

 

G.Garitan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This time I will focus on the non-vehicular support options open to the French in the 1940 Blitzkrieg book. 

This will be the most challenging aspect of sourcing files as the need to find a decent STL to resize to 20mm means that some of the rarer items will be difficult to find. I suppose there is always the option of buying a 20mm fill in from one of the suppliers of published 20mm miniatures that exist.

Again Colonel Muller has most bases covered but there are a few outliers in amongst them. 

Pictures below are from Colonel Muller so all copyright etc due to him.

Support Choices

• 37mm mle M1916 Infantry Gun with five crew and Junior Leader - perfect model with officer and two crew, needs additional two crew though. 

• 60mm Brandt mortar Team with Junior Leader and four crew - although a reserve regiment this does the bill. The officer is superb and comes with four crew so a full complement.

• Canon de 25mm L72 AT gun with five crew and Junior Leader - with officer but only three crew.

• Canon de 47mm L53 AT gun with five crew and Junior Leader - with officer and only four crew and a very nice sandbag emplacement that you can also use on other support options.

• Canon de 75mm M1897 with five gun crew and Junior Leader - again with officer and only three crew but you purchased the upgrade limber this gives you an additional three crew/officers.

• Captured MG34 - this would be an upgrade for the usual FM 24/29 LMG in a squad. There is this option with tripod support or this one without. The issue is replacing the FM 24/29 LMG on a model with the MG34 - which is certainly achievable with some fiddling around in 3D editing software.

• Engineer Demolition/Engineers Mine Clearance/Wire-Cutting Team - this is one of the challenges I found in sourcing appropriate three man squads. There is this single figure from Colonel Muller with an explosive charge but you would still need two more suitable figures to complete the team. I think I will go for using the ammunition carrying and crew figures from amongst the other support options and group them in threes as to fill in as these three teams. I might add dynamite and other tools to the figures or bases to help distinguish them.

• Escouade de Fusiliers Motocycliste - my previous post covers these chaps.

• Forward Observer Team with fixed line telephone and 81mm mortar section - given the new v2 version of Chain of Command and the removal of the need for an onboard FO this is slightly redundant but I include it for completeness and my nerdy need for a full list, plus it is also a great model.

• Francs Tireurs - whilst not strictly needed, being able to put down on to the target JOP a figure to indicate its impact would be nice. Something suitably resistance looking here or here or maybe a French policeman would do then job?

• Fusil Anti-Char Boys Team with two crew - nice choice of a pair advancing or lying prone.

• Medical Orderly - Not a single figure but a first aid post, I think the chap with the saw would make a suitable medical orderly to roam the battlefield.

• Sniper Team - a couple of choices here - either Reserve or Active.

• Two Bouteilles Incendiaires - a great selection of four infantrymen throwing lit bottles.

That about wraps up the non-vehicular support options, the main issue is crew counts to match Chain of Command requirements and the engineer teams being a bit of a compromise.

More to add to the pile of grey resin shame methinks. Next up will be the armour support choices.

Creating a 20mm 1940 French Dragon Portés Platoon - Part Two or Deux

 

Building upon the basic 1940 French infantry platoon in my previous post, next on the build list is a Dragon Portés/Division Légère Mécanique (DLM or Light Mechanised Division) platoon who could also serve as motorcycle reconnaissance as well.

Again I will be looking towards Colonel Muller as my source for STLs I can resize to 20mm. I am thinking I would like to have the option of having them mounted on motorcycles as well so I will effectively need two platoons - one mounted and one dismounted.

Pictures below are from Colonel Muller so all copyright etc due to him.

Senior Leaders and NCOs

Armed with a pistol, there are a couple of options here:

• French Officer Dragon Portés - A single pistol armed officer.

• Dragons Portés NCO Group 1 - Two armed with pistols and one with SMG.

Junior Leaders, Riflemen and LMGs

The remainder of the platoon are included in files that are a mixture of these roles, I have detailed which is included in what selection.

• DLM Dragons Portés Combat Group 1 - Three rifle armed infantry. 

• DLM Dragons Portés Combat Group 2 - Three rifle armed infantry. 

• DLM Dragons Portés Combat Group 3 - Two rifle armed infantry and one LMG.

• DLM Dragons Portés Combat Group 4 - Three rifle armed infantry. 

• DLM Dragons Portés Combat Group 5 - Two rifle armed infantry and one LMG. 

• DLM Dragons Portés Combat Group 6 - Two rifle armed infantry and one LMG. 

• DLM Dragons Portés Combat Group 7 - Two rifle armed infantry and one LMG.

Adding to this are the mounted options:

• French Sidecar 1 - Motorcycle with sidecar mounted LMG. 

• French Fusiliers motocyclistes - Two mounted rifleman and a third suitable to be a NCO. 

• French Fusiliers motocyclistes 2 - Two mounted rifleman and a third suitable to be a NCO. 

• French Fusiliers motocyclistes 3 - One mounted rifleman, one with SMG and one with pistol that would suffice for a Lieutenant.

Rifle Grenadiers

An ideal selection of one NCO and three V-B grenadiers here.

That rounds out the basic Dragon Portés/DLM platoon which should be fun to paint. Some of them might make excellent French jump off points too.

Creating a 20mm 1940 French Infantry Platoon - Part One or Un

Sébastien Romero, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

3D printer - check, ocean of resin to hand - check, lack of understanding what I was getting in to - check.

The challenge with wanting to 3D print and then field a 1940 French platoon in 20mm for Chain of Command is you have to search for the models that you like and have enough options to cover the extensive support options as well. From my research and trawling of the interweb, I discovered there are two main sources of suitable files - those of Eskice and Colonel Muller - both French nationals which is a nice coincidence. 

After much deliberation I went for Colonel Muller as the primary source of my squad although I will add in some of Eskice's sculpts when they can fill a gap.

All the links below are to Wargaming3D, just through personal choice I use this one (I am not affiliated or any such thing so use your wargaming STL site of choice).

There are a few main types of infantry squads in 1940 Chain of Command, so I am going to focus on sourcing figures that can be used to make up most of the core infantry squads - they all share common types of figures, giving me the flexibility to make up many different types of platoons.

Pictures below are from Colonel Muller so all copyright etc due to him.

Senior Leaders

To start with I want these to be distinguishable from the general infantry so I am looking for either officer with caps or distinctive poses to make them stand out as Lieutenants or Sergeant-Chefs.

They are armed variously across the types of platoons with either a pistol, rifle or SMG.

So looking at Colonel Muller's excellent sculpts there are some great choices for officers;

A suitably relaxed Officer and if you want De Gaulle and Cpt. Rochefort. For a more general selection of officers that would also fit well there are several choices in the French HQ group. There is also a lieutenant and adjutant in this group with some NCOs.

Junior Leaders, NCOs and more Lieutenants

Again, a great selection to choose from with some strong character sculpts that add some fun to the squads.

My favourite sculpt for an Inferior Senior Leader is this chap - he just looks slightly incompetent but has only a pistol and no rifle.

There are several groups of NCO sculpts that Colonel Muller has created: 

• French NCO and Officer - Two officers with pistols, one with SMG and one with rifle.

• French Veteran NCO - One officer with pistol, three with SMG.

• French Reserve NCO with rifles - Four NCOs with rifles.

• Dragons Portés NCO - Two officers with pistols and one with SMG.

• French NCO - Single NCO armed with a choice of rifles.

Rifleman

There are a lot of choices from Colonel Muller to make up the choice of the bulk of your platoon - whether it is front line or reserve regiments. I mix them up as I see fit to give the variety of poses amongst a squad or team.

• French Reserve Infantry combat group 1

• French Reserve Infantry combat group 2

• French Reserve Infantry under fire

• French Reserve Infantry throwing grenades

• French Reserve Infantry at rest

• French Reserve Infantry on alert

• French Reserve Infantry charging with bayonet

• French Regular Infantry combat group 1

• French Regular Infantry on patrol

• French Regular Infantry group scouting

LMG Teams

• French LMG Team

• French LMG Fire Team 1

• French LMG Fire Team 2

• French LMG Fire Team 3

• French LMG on the move

• French LMG with sandbags

Rifle Grenadiers

• French Reserve Infantry VB grenade launcher

These choices give me the core of a Platoon Headquarters, V-B Team and Group de Combat in various squad combinations. 

I will post soon with other French infantry squads and also the support and vehicle options to print that I have found on the interweb.

So off to the 3D printer I go, bottle of resin in hand to start printing like my life depends upon it - bring on the soon-to-be mountain of unpainted grey resin shame...