The Commander Series Forum

Does anyone have any ideas on how to include armoured/unarmoured trains or river monitors/gunboats? So:

- Rules to accommodate them
- Possible Stats
- Sources of models (10mm)

I couldn’t see if these have already been discussed/posted before. I’m thinking of a few scenarios with them involved.

Cheers,

R

Trains have come up - there's a couple of posts with suggestions on them and linked to someone's blog who used them - can't remember who though!

Here we are -

http://www.blitzkrieg-commander.com/Content/For...

&

http://www.blitzkrieg-commander.com/Content/For...

WWII - armoured trains were mostly used as indirect/long range fire units. Modelling them ruleswise (based on stuff from FOW but) - count each artillery car as a battery of the relevant calibre (Russian 76 or 122, German 105, or 75mm), infantry cars as 1-2 MG platoons, with a platoon of dismounts of the standard infantry, commanded by the train. Rail patrol cars were often based on light tanks or armoured cars, so I'd add 5cm movement, and use the rest of the tank/A/C stats.

For on table trains - armoured ones are fairly chunky so 4-5 hits per car and save on a 4. Randomly decide which is hit and until the engine is dead they keep moving. Move rate 30cm per move - and I'd allow them to fire direct on the move - with a minus 2 die penalty, all weapons.

Ordinary trains - treat as soft transport, rest as above.

Models - N gauge is about right, but more expensive than GW. Del Prado did do a locomotive range in that scale which are much cheaper and you may be able to find.

Armoured gun boats would be TpT, and take the armour from the turret - move at 10cm, can fire and move. (some may well be much faster) Models, I suspect card or platicard is going to be needed, with a word to manufacturers about the crew and turrets. Reasonably certain Pendraken for one will supply he turrets less hulls.

All totally unofficial -

IanS

Just finished some wagons for mine. Take a look;

http://irondwarfwargaming.weebly.com/current-pr...

Pete

The train looks good Pete and a bargain at a £1.00.

Thanks for all the links, pictures and advice gents, all very useful! Looks like the next project has potential after all.

I've already picked up quite a few sources with pictures of Romanian Danube monitors that operated in WWII. Many were pretty ancient and, consequently, look magnificent. Although they tended to be completely covered with camouflage (a ship shaped moving piece of flock isn't quite the right spirit me thinks).

They had some early action around the lower reaches of the Danube Delta. The Soviets also had a flotilla that supported an attack on the Romanian's poorly equipped 15th Marine Battalion at Chilea Veche on 26th July and wiped them out (they had no AT-guns to penetrate the Soviet gunboats). Later they had to pass the 17th Battalion, who had 47mm AT-guns, and they lost four gunboats, though the monitors escaped. So perhaps a bit off beat, but interesting nevertheless.

Rob

I might be tempted to treat the gunboats like recce for orders - an unlimited range single action initiative (but limited to move or fire, not recce spotting etc), and/or ignore the range penalty for orders...