2009-2010 New Release List

[ACWBill]

Actually, for its time the Matilda MK I was completely capable and very much superior to the likes of the Panzer I, which saw combat in Poland, France, Africa and Russia despite being meant for training only. That being said, if combat ability was the standard of judgement for model production, then %75 of the figures produced would never have made it to production. Some nations would not even be represented by infantry if that were the case. Every Italian tank would have to be taken out of production. I think the standard should be:

1.) Did it see service?
2.) Was it used in any numbers?
3.) Will customers buy it?

By those standards the Matilda MK I is a winner. I am in for several packs myself. With all those things considered the most important one is the "ugly but cool" factor. Like the aforementioned Italian tanks, they are ugly, but they take to paint so well due to that very bolted-on but glorious lack of pulchritude.

[Mk 1]

Actually, in the period of 1936-1939 Italy had one of largest tank force in the world. IUp to about 1938 they were second only the the Soviet Union, and at the start of the war fell in third behind the Soviets and Germany. And no one outside of the Soviet Union knew the scale of the Red Army tank force, so in fact Italy was seen by most Europeans as the 2nd largest tank force at the start of the war.

Of course it was made up almost exclusively of L3s (except for a precious few Fiat 2000s -- really just supped-up license built Renault FTs). Multiple thousands saw active service in the Italian army, and it was exported to several foriegn armies as well.
It was ultimately to Italy's great distress that they settled on their design and built up their force just a few years before the rest of Europe settled on more advanced and powerful designs. Once they figured out that they needed new tanks, they had all the economic reasons mitigating against a second rapid build-up, since all the tanks (tankettes) they built the first time were still in service.

So don't nobody go diss'ing no L3s on scale of production!

Oh, and don't nobody go diss'ing no Mk 1's neither!

[Ritter]

Word! Brother!...in small arms!

[CG1]

I think that clarifies the number 1 needed release for 2010/2011 - Individual Wargamers, armed with a variety of Rules, T&OEs and Assorted Weapons Data Manuals. Cohesion score -1?

[Schwerepunkt]

Let's see, I did not mention PzKw I. It too was a worthless piece of crap. All Matilda I had was a .303 MG and could make 13 km/hr. Now, what is meant by an Infantry tank?
At the low spead, infantry could probably out run it.

[Ben]

Not too much on the list for me this year but I think I'll try the M39 APC and the M1A2 TUSK.

@Pibber: I always enjoy seeing your models, especially the VN and scratch built items. The V2 is scratch built too isn't it? Didn't see that one from you before.
I share your wish for the AMX VCI, this is the only vehicle I really miss on this years list.

Kind regards,
Ben

[Mk 1]

Let's see, I did not mention PzKw I. It too was a worthless piece of crap.

I'm'a tell you again, don't be diss'ing no Mk 1s!

[Gort]

I'll just add to the Mk.1 madness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DbfCzrenYI

[Schwerepunkt]

The greatest thing about the name is the Aussie song. I am glad for you that your beloved tank (if the term is fitting) is now being produced. I know there were later marks of the Matilda carrying a 20mm gun. Were there any larger caliber gun carried and could they achieve higher speed?
I was serious when I asked what an infantry tank was.

[Mk 1]

The greatest thing about the name is the Aussie song.

It was from the song that the tank was named, as I understand it.

I know there were later marks of the Matilda carrying a 20mm gun. Were there any larger caliber gun carried and could they achieve higher speed?

Mathilda II carried a 2pdr, which was a 40mm gun. This was the standard British anti-tank gun of the late pre-war and early war period.

I don't think any British tank carried a 20mm gun during WW2. The 15mm Besa machine gun on the Light Tank Mk VIb was about as close as they came to a 20mm gun on a combat tank.

The one exception might be some anti-aircraft hybrid vehicles, which may have mounted them on a tank chassis.

I was serious when I asked what an infantry tank was.

British tank doctrine in the pre-war period developed along three seperate lines: Light Tanks, Cruiser Tanks, and Infantry Tanks.

Light Tanks were intended for reconnaissance work. Cruiser Tanks were meant to lead exploitation operations in independant formations. They emphasized high speed and a firepower over armored protection. The Armored Regiments, Armored Brigades, and Armored Divisions were equipped with Cruiser Tanks. Infantry Tanks were intended to breach enemy lines, advancing with and in support of infantry formations. They emphasized armored protection over firepower, and were specifically designed NOT to be faster than the pace at which infantry was expected to advance. Royal Tank Regiments (RTRs) were equipped with Infantry Tanks.

Examples of Cruiser Tanks: A9, A13, Crusader, Cromwell, Comet

Examples of Infantry Tanks: Mathilda I, Mathilda II, Churchill

Cross-overs (designed for one role, but serving in both): A10, Valentine

Abandonning the idea of a Cruiser and moving towards a "Universal Tank" (MBT): Centurion.

And ... in British parlance, the Pzkw I was a "Mk 1".

[Noble713]

June 2009
W81 T-72 (new model!)
August 2009
RC18 Red Chinese Individual Infantry
RC19 Red Chinese Ind. Heavy Weapons
October 2009
US95 US Individual Infantry #2
N530 M1A2 TUSK
December 2009
R64 Russian Individual Infantry #2
W84 BTR-80/A

What era are the infantry? I'm hoping ultra-moderns for all three, but I fear 70s-90s for the Chinese and WW2 for the US/Russians.

I'm with many others in scratching my head at the major gaps in the existing lines while obscure stuff gets made. I was REALLY shocked and disappointed with the whole "1947" thing.

I understand that fleshing out the modern Chinese is difficult because of their rapid modernization, but nevertheless it's stuff that actually exists and is in service (1,500 Type 96's), unlike the '47 lineup which barely got off the drawing board in real life. Maybe I don't spend enough time on the forums (there was no '47 line in the catalog at my last visit, for example) but I saw far more people wishlisting for CV90's than E-100's.

I bought a Stryker company and some Taliban a while back because GHQ was churning out a bunch of ultra-modern stuff and I was really inspired. Now I'm back to playing 28mm and 6mm sci-fi, where I already possess complete lineups of everything I need and want (just gotta paint 'em all).

*sigh* I guess I'll check in next year...

[pibber]

More informations, about the PzIV G :

Only 200 Ausf F2s (including 25 converted Ausf F1s) and 1275 Ausf G were produced by Krupp-Gruson, Vomag and Nibelungenwerke.
Both variants were designated Sd.Kfz.161/1.

Since March of 1943, additional 412 Ausf Gs were produced armed with newer 75mm KwK 40 L/48 gun and were designated Sd.Kfz.161/2.
Ausf G’s new 75mm gun was mounted with double baffle muzzle brake.

Late models Ausf Gs were fitted with steel armor skirts and resembled early models of Ausf H.
Ausf G featured new simplified design turret mounted with smoke grenade launchers.

The Pz IV family :

Panzerkampfwagen IV (Short - Kurz) Sd.Kfz.161 - October 1937-March 1942

* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf A - 75mm KwK 37 L/24,
* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf B - 75mm KwK 37 L/24,
* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf C - 75mm KwK 37 L/24,
* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf D - 75mm KwK 37 L/24,
* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf E - 75mm KwK 37 L/24,
* Panzerkampfwagen Ausf F1 - 75mm KwK 37 L/24,

Panzerkampfwagen IV (Long - Lang) Sd.Kfz.161/1 - March 1942-March 1943

* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf F2 - 75mm KwK 40 L/43,
* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf G - 75mm KwK 40 L/43 (early),

Panzerkampfwagen IV (Long - Lang) Sd.Kfz.161/2 - March 1943-March 1945

* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf G - 75mm KwK 40 L/48 (late),
* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf H - 75mm KwK 40 L/48
* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf J - 75mm KwK 40 L/48
* Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf J - Panzerbefehlswagen / Panzerbeobachtungswagen - Command Tank / Observation Tank

Which model of Pz IV “Gâ€￾ GHQ will offer to us ?
If it’s the Ausf G - 75mm KwK 40 L/43 (early) :
It’s a good model for autumn 42, winter 42-43 and spring 43 on eastern front. It’s not very good for summer 43 because most of them have been destroyed and become rare in russia at this time.
Good model for north africa too, I suppose.

If it’s Ausf G - 75mm KwK 40 L/48 (late) (longer gun than early version) :
After an Hitler’s decision, it was quickly order to mount sides skirts on last versions PzIII / PzIV turrets an hulls in july 1943 for operation “Zitadelâ€￾ (the kursk battle).
Of course, not all Pz III and IV could received the transformation but most of them wear it at kursk. So, Their silhouette were very similar to PzIV Ausf H present at kursk battle too.

I don’t know how many Ausf G were sent in Italy...

Concerning the Sherman :
I believe it’s not suitable for Normandy because the first 76 mm gun Sherman to enter combat in europe was the M4A1 in july 25th during operation “cobraâ€￾, (we already had this model in GHQ’s US WWII line).
This model was closely followed by the M4A3 76mm in august/september 44. (In august, the Normandy battle is about to finish)

Sherman 76mm (M4A1 - M4A3 - M4A3E2 JUMBO - M4A3E8 HVSS) were more and more present in US armored units, october 1944 to may 1945.
By the end of the war, half the US Army Shermans in Europe had the 76 mm gun.
So, I think it’s a very good model for the second half of war in europe (november 44 to may 45).
But his absence in the catalogue past years not prevent us to play US armored units in europe 44-45. (We can use the actual GHQ M4A1 76mm very present until january 45 or M4A3E8 or Jumbo 75mm)

However, yes, an M4A3 75mm with split hatch turret commander would have been more judicious.
Sherman M4A3 75mm with split Hatch is a must have for war in Europe. (I have many because I have the chance to buy “oldâ€￾ GHQ’s M4A3 75mm with split hatch before it was out of the catalogue)

I supposed someone who’s playing another scale (1:4 or 1:5) don’t really care about the small commander’s hatch of the M4A3 sherman ! Because a single US armored platoon in europe would have been equiped with five differents turrets (with sometime differents guns too !)
So, which model would be choosen to put on the stand to represent five different vehicules ?

All wargamer playing 1:1, really care which model of vehicule they use. I play 1:1 until battalion level. That’s why I really make the difference between LVT 1, LVT3 and LVT4 (big differences between these vehicules) and that’s why I make difference between Sdkfz 251/17â€￾Câ€￾ and 251/17â€￾Dâ€￾ (big differences too !).

Wargamers like me (playing only 1:1), have to face many problems to constitute real units composition : for example, we can’t play german armored platoon pioneer engineer mid 44 until the last days of war ! : because we don’t have SPW 251/7 model D in the catalogue !
(Except for 251/3 (HQ) and 2 (phone), it’s very, very rare to see “model Câ€￾ after mid 1944 !)

Criteria of choice for a new model, for me :
1) did it see service ?
2) the presence indispensable in the most notorious battles of WWII (even if it was in very small quantity).
3) did customers buy it ?
4) the important role in units or army’s (for example make the SdKfz 251/1 “Dâ€￾ without the squad leader vehicule SdKfz 251/10 “Dâ€￾ or Sdkfz 251/17 “Dâ€￾, it’s not good : Without 251/10 or 17 “Dâ€￾ we can’t make a real full late war Pz Gr platoon.)

Vehicule’s quantity really producted during the war is not a criteria for me to choose a model to be product by GHQ.

However, I respect GHQ’s choices for these news releases.
I’m very happy to see GHQ could make news release, even if most of them not very exciting me this year. (I’m very patient, so, I'll wait next years for some essential items...)

To Ben :
Thanks for your best regard.
Yes the V2 is a scratbuild.
I've scratchbuild the SdKfz 7 command fire post and one opel blitz tanker too. I have to make the liquid oxygen trailer and the V2 landing platform (to much work).
The camo color patern is not historical (it was a testing from me). I have an other V2 without paint. I'll paint it later with the right camo....
I post over photos of this model soon...
and many new Vietnam photos for inspiration...

[Schwerepunkt]

The more opposition there is to the new line of German armor (Wehrmacht '47), the more I will write to support it. As I am a collector rather than a wargamer, these new models are a tremendous boost. Those who do not like them can convert made models or wait until new releases appear.
I don't think the constant threads expressing opposition or dislike are going to change GHQ's policies one bit. Keep on, keepin' on, GHQ.

[chrisswim]

Okay, lets have 15-20 more vehicles for the US in the '47 line-up, and another 20 for the German '47 line-up, add 8-10 more for the Brits. But not for me. Not sure what figures should be made to expand the line-up for the '47.

I would prefer CV 90 Series, I will buy that for my modern. Just as I have extensive German, US, Brit, French, Russia et el, Chinese, South African, Bulgian, Brazil, Japanese, etc. So my vote and my monetary votes go this route.

Pick up the '47 line, looks nice. Will not think of trying to talk you out of it. Have a wonderful time with it, creative figures. Can certainly use them in a Sci-fi game.