Time To Mix'n'Match On The Wargames Front?

After the end of play yesterday, a package arrived with one of the French WWII aircraft contained therein, that I'd ordered as part of my current plans for a Fall Rot French force. Trying to find aircraft in suitable scales to go with my 10mm figures is always tricky, especially if you are going outside the standard ones such as the Spitfire, the Me-109 etc. 

This got me to thinking of how over the years I've changed my attitude with regards to aircraft, but also to buildings. When I first got back into historical wargaming, everything had to be in 15mm/1:100, as that's what was standard at the club back then, or ditto with 28mm skirmish level games. The latter was always a bit of a challenge, as the buildings had to be huge to accomodate even just a section of figures!

As I moved heavily towards 10mm/1:150th (or 1:144th depending upon manufacturer), I stick with the same scale for the buildings are aircraft too, as that's what I was used to. But then I saw my friend Keith's SYW games (and others online), where he went a scale down for his buildings, so 1:72nd with his 28mm figures, and they just worked. Thus began my journey to do the same, using 6mm/1:300th buildings, which worked a treat. No more cases of just a few buildings representing a town or a village, but in the same footprint I could probably double their number and get that right visual look.

As I began to look at my airforces for my BKCII games, I slowly went in the opposite direction, moving a scale up, generally trying to go with 15mm/1:100 scale planes, which worked a treat. I worked on the assumption that of course they would be closer to us with our God's eye view and so would give the impression of being at height over the games table. 

Availability of models is somewhat limited as mentioned above, so I've had to generally go with what I can find, this I have 1:144th Zvezda kits, 1:100 diecast planes and lately a couple of 1:72nd ones too. There is of course the issue of storage for these, as whilst a 1:44th scale bomber is still pretty big, at least I can store it easily, but a 1:100 or even 1:72nd would be a challenge!

But mixing scales on the games table certainly works for the sort of games I play, and that trompe l'oeil effect that it creates does add greater depth and dare I say it, a more realistic look to the game?

My latest purchase on the right, a 1:72nd MS. 406 French fighter, next to some 1:100th diecast aircraft. Seen like this the scale difference is marked.

But when on the games table, the trompe l'oeil effect really kicks in, with the different scales not really noticeable, but the illusion of depth is created.

What Next?

Well with the Met Office forecast for at least another month of wet weather, there will be precious little time spend outside, unless it warms up a bit, that's for sure! The games room has been cleared up so with luck, some painting might kick off later today. It's also the annual Pendraken painting competition, so I might try my hand at an entry of two, but i'm not pressurising myself to do this, unlike in previous years. It is after all a hobby!

Thanks for reading and hopefully this might have given some of you food for thought? As always thoughts and comments greatly appreciated!

TTFN.

Fall Rot, France, 6th June 1940 - "Bite Him Like A Dog"

With all the prep work done and dusted, I managed to finish the game this morning, so here is the AAR:

Starting Positions

Just a quick refresher before getting onto the action.

An overview of the table, with the British coming on from the top left corner, the Germans from bottom right.

The British Recce force all ready to do.

Ditto the Germans.

The main British force.

The main German force.

The Game

As is the norm now, I'll try and give a flavour of the game via captioned photos, to try and keep it as concise as possible, letting the photos do much of the talking.

End of Turn 1. In the early morning mist, the British fairly motored forward, reaching the bridge at Fleury-sur-Andelle before the Boche.

A Vickers MkVI light tank takes guard on the bridge.

End of Turn 2. The British Recce troops move out to the flanks, just in time as the German Recce troops arrive rather quickly.

A Daimler Dingo scout car watches the approaches to the wooden bridge.

Likewise the CS9 armoured car covers the ford.

A Sdkfz 221 crests the hill to see the British already at the ford.

An sdkfz 222 moves towards the church on the hill.

An sdkfz 231/232 approaches the bridge to see it guarded by the Vicker MkVI.

The end of Turn 3. The main British force is slow to arrive, whilst the Germans move on more quickly and engage the CS9 armoured car b7 the ford.

The first of the PBI begin to march on towards Fleury-sue-Andelle.

The Vickers MkVI moves back from the bridge, wary of the Sdkfz 231/232's 20mm autocannon.

The German Leichte Kompanie engage the CS9 armoured car, but fail to KO it.

The German infantry move quickly forward, spreading out to cover the flanks and avoid the BUA.

The Schwere Kompanie close in on the bridge.

The end of Turn 4. The British Recce troops retreat as more infantry arrive as well as the Cruiser tanks, only for the latter to be heavily engaged by the German Leichte Kompanie.

Much needed Infantry tanks and support weapons begin to arrive.

The Cruisers and Light Tanks immediately come under accurate and sustained fire, losing one Crusier Tank.

The Schwere Kompanie pushes forward ready to fire into Fleury-sur-Andelle.

The German infantry make good progress on the right flank and in the centre.

The Leichte Kompanie Pz II's have crossed the ford and are ready to turn the British left flank.

The start of Turn 5 and the Luftwaffe arrives...

...and in force.

The end of Turn 5. Coming under sustained pressure, the British consolidate where they can, with the Matilda II's advancing and KO'ing the Pz IV on the bridge. The Germans struggle ot move forward but carry on engaging the British tanks.

The German Recce troops move off to advance over the wooden bridge whilst the battle rages near to Fleury-sur-Mer.

The German heavy artillery arrives and deploys for some direct fire support.

The British lose their last Cruiser tank.

The Luftwaffe attacks are taking their toll on the British right flank.

The British Artillery and ATG move forward to try and cover the left flank from any German Panzer advance.

The Matilda II's KO the Pz IV on the bridge.

On Turn 6 the Luftwaffe arrives again.

The end of Turn 6. The British C&C is somewhat lacking, with the Vickers MkVI light tanks retreating, but the Matilda II's advance towards the bridge.

The German Recce troops have crossed the wooden bridge and threaten the British left flank.

A German Infantry Kompanie slowly moves towards the wooden bridge.

The Schwere Kompanie retreats to safety behind the BUA's, wary of the Matilda II's armour and firepower.

The PBI is taking a bit of a pasting from the Luftwaffe.

The formidable Matilda II's block the entrance to Fleury-sur-Mer.

The end of Turn 7. For the British the combined weight of the 18pdr Artillery Battery and the Matilda II's, sees the German Pz III's suppressed or KO'd, but they are suppressed in turn by combined fire from the German Schwere Kompanie and the Heavy Artillery. 

The German Recce troops make light work of the Daimler Scout car and are ready to engage the British infantry.

Combined firepower sees the Matilda II's suppressed.

The Leichte Kompanie Pz III's are having a hard time.

The Leichte Kompanie Pz II's are now round the hill and behind the crest, whilst to their front the German Artillery has KO's the CS9 armoured car and a Vicker Mk VI light tank.

The Matilda II's are making a difference, but can they halt the German advance?

The end of Turn 8. Once again the C&C fails, but at least the Artillery carrys on suppressing the Leichte Kompanie Pz III's. Things suddenly turn up trumps for the Germans, as they KO the Matilda II's as well as KO'ing a lof of the British Infantry.

The German Infantry finally reach the wooden bridge.

The German Recce troops and their 20mm autocannon cause havoc and destruction to the British Infantry.

The Leichte Kompanie's Pz II's begin to turn the British left flank who have nothing available to stop them.

The Schwere Kompanie's Panzers breathe a sigh of relief as the Matilda II's brew up.

The way is clear for the German Infantry to move over the bridge to try to enter Fleury-sur-Mer.

The Germans are on both flanks and almost in the rear of the British troops.

End of the Game

Suddenly the British losses mounted and with their flanks turned and route of retreat threatened, they had no choice but to surrender. Some Vickers MkVI light tanks were probably able to get away, but nothing that would worry the German forces.

The German butcher's bill. Very light all things considered, but two of the Pz III's were nearly kaputt.

The significantly higher British losses, much of which came about in the final Turns.

Post Game Thoughts

Well I really enjoyed that game, the first of 2026! In all it took about 3 hours to play, which feels about right given the forces involved and the scenario itself. As always some post game thoughts in no particular order:

• Yet again BKCII came up trumps in terms of giving a fun but believable game. Keeping to my core set of rules really does pay dividends, as was certainly the case here.
• Henry Hyde's scenario layout actually translated really well to my normal 4' x 4' table and with my WWII forces. The terrain layout is very well done and has lots of subtleness to it, that's not immediately obvious until you start to play the game. Having a hill with the church on it breaks things up nicely, allowing actions to develop almost seperate from the whole.
• Having done all the research before hand certainly added another level of enjoyment to the game, as I really did feel like this action was set during Fall Rot and was part of the delaying action to protect the route to Rouen.
• The CV difference between the two forces felt right and certainly gave a good feel of the Wehrmacht almost at the height of its powers, with conversely the British still very much playing catch up. Both sides had some good and bad Turns, but the Germans were always able to just keep that one step ahead and never let the British get back in the game.
• The Luftwaffe certainly helped the German cause and things could have been even better, but failed command rolls at least kept the game going for a few more Turns than otherwise might have been the case. An contrast the absence of the British AASF meant that they had little with which to hurt and hamper the German's build up, but again this felt right as by this point there were very few British aeroplanes left in France.
• The lack of decent firepower for the British light tanks did make a difference, as they could not realistically face up to even the Sdkfz 222, 232/232 or the Panzer II's that they came up against. In contrast the Matilda II's were pretty tough cookies, but they did not have enough of them nor enough support for when they moved forward.
• Looking at trying to take Fleury-sur-Mer of to even bypass it, you realise why the Germans needed plenty of heavy firepower support, whether via the Luftwaffe, off table or direct fire heavy artillery pieces and why they would leave the BUA's for the following on troops to mop up.

What's Next?

Well apart from having a good tidy up to get the games room back to normal, some more painting is in the offing. Really I should focus back on my Canadians in Normandy campaign, but I must admit I'm in very much a Fall Rot groove at the moment, so will have to wait and see what grabs me first and foremost. Alongside this of course there is always plenty of reading going on and ideas floating around in my head. It's all very much WWII focussed at present, but how long that will last remains to be seen. After all it is a hobby and there is no pressure to do anything, which is rather nice and one of the advantages of solo gaming!

I hope you enjoyed this AAR and all the build up to it and well done for getting this far!

As always thanks for reading and any comments are greatly appreciated:).

TTFN.