with Lance Matthews
Our group – the Flames Of War Regina Rifles, FRR, has events almost every month and sometimes more than
once a month. And, every second month we have a large team game. Next month in March there will be a
large Great War Battle.
I have owned Great War Germans for years. And while I have slowly worked on them they still need quite a bit
of work. However, my son was on the fence about what he wanted and last year he decided that French
Cavalry was the choice. Well, it took a while and ‘tanks’ to the sale on Great War items we finally bought the
last FT-17. Unfortunately, that is where we are now – we own all the models and blisters! Cringe – but they are
still mostly in the packages. Now, until the 21 st of March we will be assembling and painting like fiends in an
effort to make the French battle ready!
Great War Germans:
Infanteriekompanie HQ – 2 points
– 2 Mauser pistol teams
Infanteriekompanie Platoon – 18 points
– 6x G98 rife teams
– 2x MG 08/15 teams
– 1x Flamethrower team
– 1x 1.3cm anti-tank rifle
– 1x M1917 rifle grenade team
Infanteriekompanie Platoon – 14 points
– 6x G98 rife teams
– 2x MG 08/15 teams
– 1x Flamethrower team
– 1x M1917 rifle grenade team
Machine Gun Platoon – 14 points
– 3x Maxim MG 08 HMG teams
Werfer Section
– 2x Granatenwerfer mortars – 6 points
3.7cm Anti-tank Gun – 8 points
A7V Panzer – 19 points
A7V Panzer – 19 points
Great War French Cavalry:
Escadron De Cavalerie HQ– 2 points
– 2x Lebel pistol teams
Cavalerie Platoon – 14 points
– 6x Berthier rifle teams
– 2x VB Rifle grenade teams
– 1x Chauchat MG team
Cavalerie Platoon – 14 points
– 6x Berthier rifle teams
– 2x VB Rifle grenade teams
– 1x Chauchat MG team
Cavalerie Machine-Gun Platoon – 9 points
– 2x Hotchkiss HMG Team
Renault FT-17 Char D’Assaut Platoon – 36 points
– 2x Renault FT-17 (MG)
– 3x Renault FT-17 (37mm)
Char Saint Chamond Tank – 21 points
Sniper – 4 points
Looking closely, in the above photo, you will notice some of the bases are upside down. This is by intent, as one cavalry
platoon will be right side up and the other will be as mentioned upside down. When dismounted one “infantry” platoon
will be right side up and the other, you got it, upside down to match. Also, if you look closely at the right front large base
one of the horses appears shorter than the others – that is because it is a mule that is stuck carrying the ammo for the
Chauchat MG team.
And that is all we have managed to assemble so far, the rest being similar to the below photo:
Well, wish us luck on our assembly and massive painting project!
Meanwhile, our opponents/team mates are also working hard at assembling their troops for the epic battle!
Jace P – French
Kyle S – British
Matt V – Canadians
Conner J – Germans
Jeff S – Germans
Ryan J – Germans
And, those are just the players that we have that are raring to go!
As my son and I scramble our fighters so do the rest of our group of allies and enemies work hard to assemble
and make ready their own forces for the ‘Great’ game. Matt has been itching to play as he has recently
purchased a Canuck Force. Canucks – I shake my head. Not to be out done Kyle who has owned his army
since the original release, and much like me, is also now working feverishly to finally finish painting his
collection.
Matt’s list of Great War Canadians:
Canadian Rifle Company HQ – 2 points
– 2 Webley pistol teams
Rifle Platoon – 15 points
– 5x SMLE Rifle Teams
– 2x Hales Rifle Grenade teams
– 2x Lewis MG teams
Rifle Platoon – 15 points
– 5x SMLE Rifle Teams
– 2x Hales Rifle Grenade teams
– 2x Lewis MG teams
Armoured Autocar – 20 points
– 2x Armoured Autocars
Sniper – 4 points
– 1x sniper (1 man, 1 rifle, 1 shot)
Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery – 25 points
– 3x OQF 18 pound gun (Green)
Mark IV Male Tank – 17 points
– 1x Mark IV Male Tank (Green)
But, we have a problem.
Kyle has decided to switch from British to Canadians. I tried to explain to him that Canada is a back water
nation; they probably sent their soldiers to the Great War with hunting rifles instead of army issue weapons. I
even further pestered him suggesting that their soldiers probably had shovels with holes in them. Undeterred
he stood his ground wanting to play them. I went as far as to suggest that the Canadians probably did not even
receive gas masks but were instead forced to use urine soaked rags to stave off the deadly effects of mustard
gas. Kyle countered that the Canadians were elite troops. Elite troops – they probably spent most of the war
hopping trains to get from place to place instead of fighting.
He seems pretty stubborn about it so I guess we have another Canadian army on the field instead of proper
British troops.
Kyle’s list of Great War Canadians:
Canadian Rifle Company HQ – 2 points
– 2 Webley pistol teams
Rifle Platoon – 15 points
– 5x SMLE Rifle Teams
– 2x Hales Rifle Grenade teams
– 2x Lewis MG teams
Rifle Platoon – 15 points
– 5x SMLE Rifle Teams
– 2x Hales Rifle Grenade teams
– 2x Lewis MG teams
Veteran Field Gun – 11 points
– 1x OQF 18 pound gun
Mark IV Male Tank – 23 points
– 1x Mark IV Male Tank (Veteran)
Mark IV Male Tank – 23 points
– 1x Mark IV Male Tank (Veteran)
Mark A Whippet Tank – 11 points
– 1x Mark IV Male Tank (Veteran)
Stay tuned for the After Action Report, AAR, next month. Which will, of course, include a lot more painted miniatures!
Or, hopefully a part three which will show our progress as well as some of our opponents/team mates lists!
