Flames of War

12. and 16. Luftwaffe Field Division

  

I have embarked on a project of a few firsts, it is my first foray into 15mm and my first proper historical project. I'm a big history buff, but it has taken me years of other wargaming to finally start a historical army, no real reason for that i suppose, possibly I knew I would be too concerned at getting all the uniforms and colours correct, or ending up buying too many things! :)

Anyway, I am modelling the 12th and 16th Luftwaffe Field Division, they will be the 12th on the Eastern Front and the 16th in the West. Fortunately the organization is relatively similar as are uniform details so they should be happily interchangeable with a few different units. I chose to do the LFD because I had a Grandfather in the Luftwaffe (I have quite a complex family history!) as well as the huge appeal of doing a unsung regular unit, who never get much attention.

Anyway, for those who have gotten this far, here is my first completed unit the ubiquitous Flak 88, i have painted a few of the gunners wearing their cotton drill pants, as I saw on photos from the Eastern Front. As well as some of the shells painted with the yellow HE and black for AP. 

8.8cm Flak 36 Platoon

Pikemen!

More pikes painted, some other projects have been distracting me but these are coming along at a reasonable rate, got the bases done, want to put a few more stones down though.

I have some awesome historical models lined up and ordered that i'm looking forward to receiving, they will fit in perfectly with the lads i've got so far as well.

Garrison Pikemen Form Rank

 

  
The Line formation is a strong defensive technique of the pikeman and the Garrison. The mutually supportive pikes and the width of the line ensures that any enemy would have to fight with great difficulty to break through. Similarly any cavalry approaching from the front quadrant will be soon skewered on the forest of pikes. Whether behind the walls of their fortresses and keeps or in suitable open ground the Garrison Pikemen are a formidable body of men
 

The heavy armour and pikes of the Garrison usually results in a defensive posture being taken. These tactics can be decisive when dealing with large numbers of enemies. These tactics are particularly effective in the natural choke-points and defensive positions of the Black Mountains, well known to the Garrison troops and commanders. Many times during the infrequent up-swellings of Goblin tribes has the Line infantry of the Garrison taken this formation and broken the Goblonoids as they are funnelled towards the waiting ranks of Pikes. 

As with any regiment in the Empire the musician plays a useful role. The notes of the trumpet playing specific tunes is distinct and clear over the noise of the battlefield. Commands for Advance, Retreat, Form Rank and more are all learnt by the pikemen as part of their basic training.  In the front rank Musiker Emmerich's Trumpet is adorned with a hand stitched tabard displaying the Imperial Cross.

The Black Mountain garrison forces were present in the campaign against Grom the Paunch in the Imperial year of 2040-2042. Fighting under Prince Wilhelm of Reikland the Ost Averland pikes took heavy losses in the Battle of Bloody gorge.

As a result of this campaign the Black Garrison forces was significantly reinforced into a heavier permanent armed force to form an increased presence in the mountains. The result of this is an greater ability to provide greater warning for future incursions and a better bulwark against Orcish and other aggression.