From Greg:
As a wargamer, I am always trying to put my German WW2 troops in halftracks, but I think the reality is that the half tracks - even though thousands were built - were always in short supply, and if a trooper was in a Panzer Grenadier or Panzer division, it was much more likely he would be travelling in a truck or soft skin vehicle as opposed to riding to glory/futility in a Hanomag - if he got to ride at all. I think most German soldiers walked, just like the foot-sloggers in all armies. It is the lot of the infantryman!
These are Battlefront models - two Opel Blitz trucks, and two SUV-style trucks that I think are known as Kf70s (?). The models are resin, cast in one piece, with base attached. The decals are Battlefront as well - very useful. I particularly like the look of the Kf70 (although I have no idea if they were actually common vehicles). It looks a lot like the SUVs I see idling in the drive through line at Starbucks. More German consumer vehicle foreshadowing...
Again, these should not be too common in a tactical gaming situations, but "wheels are better than heels" when it comes to being a foot slogger. These trucks would carry the MG teams, mortars and even the Panzer Grenadiers themselves to their next hotspot, so they are OK for a game, and are also useful for Spearhead games. Can also be nice objective pieces, targets for air strikes etc.
I painted the Kf70s in later period yellow and left the Opel Blitz trucks in the early war dark grey.
Phew - 900 points out of the way, and setting my sights on 1000!
It's really good to see these 'garden variety' vehicles as they played such a substantial role in Germany's military machine. The next step in this progression would be to do a few stands of the largest mobile element in Germany's army of WWII: the common horse.
These four trucks will give Greg 24 points.
great stuff, not much left for your 1000 then your par is in sight
ReplyDeletePeace James
Nice work Greg!
ReplyDeleteAlways like to see a Blitz, very well painted the four of them
ReplyDeleteIan
Great stuff, the Kf70s are smashing.
ReplyDeleteGreat work Greg!
ReplyDeleteIIRC, most Panzergrenadier divisions only received enough half-tracks to equip 1 or maybe 2 of their battalions. I think even at their peak, the Grossdeutschland only had enough to equip a full regiment and 1 battalion of the other. So, most panzergrenadiers would have been on foot or truck-mounted.
Very nice!!!
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