Battlefront Humber Armoured Car Troop (BBX34) review

Hi folks,

Apologies for lack of regular content currently. A bit of time away from home and prep for a game tomorrow has meant I've not spent a lot of time painting.

I wanted to get a quick review of one of the newer Battlefront products I'd picked up recently. I 'needed' a further three Humber armoured cars to get my planned 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry force to the point that the vehicles are correct for the Totalise period. Seeing that Battlefront have released these vehicles in packs of 3, I grabbed a pack on Ebay for £18 including postage.

As described, the pack contains 3 Humber Armoured Cars. These would be the Humber III version. They come with a unit card and a commanders sprue, and have options for the commanders hatch to be open or closed (the open option is actually a separate part).

The resin is crisp and clean and there was barely any flash on the metal parts. As usual, I ran over mould lines with a knife, just to get rid.

Now, three nice new armoured cars, suitable for me to use for my Normandy force - the old resin and metal blister was sold as a Humber III/IV and had the option for the 2pdr with littlejohn adaptor - which I hadn't used.

However, nowhere had I seen any mention that these models were re-sculpts of the older ones rather than re-packed models. And they are fairly large re-sculpts at that. Here is the newer model (in the darker grey resin on the left) against one of the older blister pack kits.

These shots show the increased quality of the newer kit versus the old - but also the increased size. Unfortunately, I can't cope with having the different sized vehicles in the same force, so the new ones have to go (it would be too costly to replace all the older ones I have). Thankfully some of the chaps from the club, having gotten into Battlegroup, have use for single armoured cars. This lets me recoup some of the money spent. I've still got one to get rid of, so it looks like I will be out of pocket slightly.

All in all then, a great kit - very nicely detailed and I'm very impressed. Just not so impressed with the sudden change in size, which make my earlier models look tiny in comparison. No decals in the pack either, which is a shame. But a quality product and decent value for money.

Battle for Noyers, Part 3 - Player Brief

Operation Pomegranate - Part III

Origins (History)

Operation Pomegranate (also known as the Second Battle of the Odon) was a series of operations fought by the British Army in World War II in mid-July 1944 against Panzergruppe West as part of the Battle of Normandy. Operation Pomegranate were intended to draw German attention away from the upcoming assault from the Orne bridgehead, code named Operation Goodwood. After four German infantry divisions arrived in Normandy, the objective was to prevent them from replacing German Panzer divisions deployed opposite the British Second Army for operations against the First US Army, which at the time was preparing to break out of the German defences (Operation Cobra).

Strategic Plan 

XXX Corps launched Operation Pomegranate on 16 July. The objective of 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division on the right is to capture Vendes and the surrounding area, in the center the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division is to capture the villages of Noyers-Bocage, Haut des Forges and Landelle and on the left the 53 (Welsh) Division is to attack, ready for the corps to advance towards the high ground north-east of Villers Bocage. 33rd Armoured Brigade is to support the efforts of 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division.  

Tactical Plan – 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division, Phase II 

Phase I of the attack began at 5:30 a.m this morning with units of 177th Brigade supported by 33rd Armoured Brigade clearing their start lines and advancing on their objectives. 

On the right, despite encountering stronger than expected resistance which saw the leading units taking heavy casualties, 1/6th South Staffs supported by B Squadron 144 RAC have successfully captured their objective (the hamlet of Brettevillette). With this objective in Allied hands, 1/6th South Staffs then switched to the defensive to allow the Phase 2 forces to pass through.  

On the left 5th South Staffs, supported by C Squadron 144RAC, advanced to capture Les Nouillons. This attack ran into several unmarked friendly minefields, but achieved it's objectives.  

Phase II of the operation began at 1pm, with A Coy 2/6th South Staffs and A Squadron of 144RAC passing through 1/6th Staffs Brettevillette to initially capture Pt 126 and Noyers Railway Station before pushing through to attack Noyers village from the North. At the same time C Coy 2/6th South Staffs, supported by available tanks from B and C Squadron 144 RAC, advanced from Les Nouillons and attacked towards Noyers village from the East. 

Both attacks encountered heavy resistance and stopped short of the village as night fell.  Friendly forces are consolidating, with a further advance on Noyers planned for first light.  

 

Terrain

The area around Brettevillette and Noyers consists of large crop fields bounded by tall hedgerows. Orchards and sunken lanes are prevalent. Several enemy minefields were discovered and breached during the Phase II operation.  

Known Enemy Forces 

Infantry from the newly arrived 277th Infantry Division are confirmed to have taken up prepared defensive positions in the Noyers area. This Division has newly arrived in Normandy, and is believed to have been transferred from coastal defense duties in Southern France. Today's fighting has shown that they are heavily supported by dug in and concealed anti-tank guns - dug in infantry and machine gun positions offered heavier than expected resistance. The enemy has deployed minefields as part of his defensive network.  Enemy Self Propelled A/T guns were engaged and destroyed during the fighting, as was a single Panther from 9th SS Panzer Division. Further enemy armored units are reported to be in the area, including further tanks from 9th SS Panzer Division. At dusk reports were received of several Panzer IV's advancing from the town. 

Objectives 

2/6th South Staffs, having advanced and secured Noyers railway station and points SOUTH, is to defend these gains. In addition, the orchards bordering the SOUTHERN fields are to be the start line for 1/6th Staffs morning assault on Noyers. This start line is to be secured by 2/6th Staffs before first light.   

As such, objectives will be: 

1. The defence of Noyers railway station.  
2. The holding of recent gains (subject to tactical considerations) 
3. The clearing of the orchards to the SOUTH of Noyers railway station as the start line for the 1/6th Staffs advance (Phase III) before first light on the 17th.  

Points of Note 

1. Preparatory bombardment will be available to support the clearing of the orchards. A forward observer (FOO) from 116th (North Midland) Field Regiment has been attached to the company to provide fire support.  
2. Two defensive fire points may be nominated to aid artillery support of the defensive positions 
3. Enemy armour has been reported to your front. It is unlikely that this armor will operated at night without infantry support.  
4. The tanks of 144 RAC have retired to replenish fuel and ammunition, and conduct required maintenance. Armoured support will be available at first light.  
5. Expect enemy attempts to retake previous positions.   

Finished! 15mm Typhoons, Aid Post and Forward Air Controller

Hi folks,

Aside from posting videos and laying out tables, I've been chipping away at the lead mountain. Having finished up a load of infantry recently, I fancied something a bit different. I've had a few ideas percolating in my brain for a while, regarding stuff I wanted to do for Battlegroup. The FoW v4 Scenario I ran earlier in the year opened my eyes to the possibility of including such units in those games as well, so I decided to put aside the infantry and move on to something that was a bit more of a diorama.

With regards to the RAP (Regimental Aid Post), there are not a lot of pictures out there of these operating in Normandy. I've read a few books which gave details of how these might be set up and run (mainly in the excellent 'Stout Hearts' book by Ben Kite), and saw a 20mm aid post done by the talented Piers Brand, before finally settling on something. I had read one account of a Regimental Aid Post set up in a field, which was subject to enemy fire. To protect the wounded and medics, some Universal Carriers were parked to offer cover. Combining this idea with the other images I had seen, I mocked up a base.

The plan was to use two Universal Carriers, a large base (initially the size of a beer coaster) and various casualty and medic figures I had. I eventually ordered a beer coaster sized laser cut MDF base from East Riding Miniatures in order to get the same thickness of base as I use elsewhere.

The end result was a aid post designed to be placed up against a hedge or building, which would give a decent representation while being tasteful.

I'm reasonably happy with the outcome. I had decided, based on other accounts, to use some of the dead figures I had - moving them to the other sides of the carriers away from the living. I've some medics, working to treat the wounded, and a couple of stretcher cases and walking wounded ready to be evacuated when the ambulance jeep next comes up. Some piles of supplies and the likes help dress up the base, and make it look a little more set up and planned. Another medic escorts a Jock carrying a wounded man into the post.

Both carriers have some camo netting on the outside facing - an attempt not to draw fire. I decided that a red cross wouldn't be represented here, but I might revisit - perhaps with a sign stood against one of the carriers.

My research into this area has opened my eyes to an aspect of the technical ability of the allied forces that I had missed in my previous reading. Stout Hearts has some excellent info on how the medical services in Normandy operated. The chain of treatment was pretty short, with most of the effort going into immediate triage, treatment and then evacuation. Within hours of being wounded a man could be on a flight back to England and a established hospital.

One story in Stout Hearts tells of an officer visiting an aid post to see some of his injured men. At the hospital he feels faint at the sights and sounds, and is invited to lay on a stretcher to recover. The exhausted Officer falls asleep - and wakes up being offloaded from a Dakota in England!

In addition to the aid post, I painted up a Forward Air Controller as an interim model. I'm pretty sure a Dingo is incorrect for this role, and it should be a Humber Scout Car or an LRC. I only had a Dingo to hand, so went with that for now. I've now ordered the special character set for the Guards which comes with the Humber and the M3 Scout Car with the RAF officer.

I've marked the Dingo up as a 154 Brigade HQ vehicle. I'd no cap wearing binocular figure left, so had to settle with a tin hatted RAF officer.

On call above, are three Typhoons - the one with propellers I painted a couple of years ago, and used as a template for the other two.

You can see from the bases that these are all different models! The two propeller less aircraft as Battlefront models - one white resin and one grey. Both vary slightly in size, which is apparent close together but not so apparent apart. The propellered aircraft is a MicroWings clip together plastic Typhoon 1b, which cost less than £3! Again, it varies in size, but not hugely. I have ordered BF bases so that all three will have the same base, as well as the extended length stands to get them a bit higher off the ground. I also did a little more weathering after these pics were taken.

I'd have loved to have them all the same, with the same squadron markings - but for now these will do!

Next in the painting queue, I've switched sides! I decided to crack on with my 5cm A/T guns for my Germans. I then added to this plan slightly:

5cm A/T guns, 7.5cm Infantry Guns, 2 and 3.7cm AA guns... might as well have something to shoot at Typhoons with!

I've also managed to finish some outbuildings and gates:

More on these later!