Goumier support

Goumier Support

Being the total pedant I am about my wargames, an issue many share I`m sure 😁I was struck by the need to create a few more support weapon teams for my Goumier Tabor.

First up a 1917 water-cooled Browning 1917.30cal MMG.

The Strelets pack M151 actually has a MMG and gunner, but I wasn`t happy with the guns detail (again the pedant in me screams out loud) So I took the Browning from the Esci US infantry set No 202 and combined the two.

This allows me to field a Goumier MMG section with a US supplied .30cal for NWE. 

All the orbats I`ve found online indicate Goumier Tabors had anti-tank platoons, most online sources seem to agree this would be Bazooka, rocket propelled weapons. Now noone does a Goumier Bazooka team in 20mm and I`m not anywhere near as skilled as out Portuguese comrade Joao Pedro Peixoto, but with a little cutting, an arm swap, a white metal Bazooka from the bits box and some plasterscene I created a moving team for my Tabor, note the straps made from tin foil - a really old school conversion 😁

Santa Faz and the SCW

Santa Faz and the SCW

This is not a wargaming article, just a short piece of history. 

I only learned of this incident yesterday during a trip to the church with our Spanish walking group and feel it deserves telling to a wider audience. 

Please understand I am not making judgements, or commenting on religious beliefs, just documenting history here.

  

Santa Faz Church as it is today

The Monasterio de la Santísima Faz was founded in 1453 by Pedro Mena, a local priest inspired by the relic of the Holy Face (Santa Faz) of Jesus. This piece of cloth, believed to have been used by Saint Veronica to wipe Jesus’ face on his way to Calvary, bears the miraculous imprint of Jesus’ face. 

Old postcard image of the relic

Within the monastery grounds also stands one of the best preserved watch towers in the local area dating back to the 13^th Century, this is part of the San Juan Tower Walk path which we did with Alex back in 2013.

https://baberonwargames.blogspot.com/2023/04/tower-walk-san-juan.html

 The Santa Faz (Holly Face) of Alicante is a Catholic relic that is venerated and kept in the Monasterio de la Santísima Faz near the Spanish city of Alicante. The original canvas was a linen cloth with bloodstains depicting a face. Years later, these stains were highlighted with red paint. The tremendous devotion to the Santa Faz aroused led to the canvas gradually being reduced in size due to the pieces cut off by wealthy families. Therefore, a reliquary was placed on it with an image of a Santa Faz in front and an image of the Virgin Mary behind. It is one of the three faces recognized by the Vatican.

The relic is the object of a pilgrimage, which annually attracts more than 260,000 pilgrims, this year (2025) being held today - May 1st.

Santa Faz in its reliquary today

At the start of the rebellion in Spain on 26 July 1936, the settling of scores, revenge, and murders began on both sides. Alicante, remaining in the Republican zone and fell under the control of militiamen during the first months of the war. The monastery was attacked by Communist and Anarchist militia and the church was devastated, they burned the main Baroque style altarpiece, destroying the statues of the facade and the Renaissance baptismal font.

Other churches and religious buildings were also attacked and sacked on the same day around the Alicante area and the casket holding the remains of Father Pedro Mena was burnt in San Juan.

Luckily the relic was saved thanks to the brave intervention of some neighbours - Senor Antonio Ramos Alberola (Tonico Santamaría) who was the local mayor and Senor Vicente Rocamora Onteniente, who sneaked into the chapel and after breaking into the glass cabinet spirited the Santa Faz to safety, hiding it in a shopping basket.

After spending the night at the local mayor's house, the relic was transported by tram or municipal vehicle (depending on the story) to the Provincial Council, where it was stored in the safe. Later, communist mayor Rafael Millá Santos and former mayor Lorenzo Carbonell would save the relic from falling into the hands of government officials who were requisitioning gold objects for the Reparations Fund. The relic spent the next three years hidden at the Villa Marco Estate, where it had been used, secretly during various religious celebrations during the Civil War years.

 The church was used as an aircraft factory by the Republic. The monastery became a Checa – a facility created in the Republican zones to detain, interrogate, torture, summarily try and execute (outside lawful courts) those suspected of sympathizing with the rebels. Checas were mainly used by individuals or groups related to political parties and unions outside the general rule of law.  

 Some sources I have read say that after the occupation of Alicante by Nationalist troops, the Littorio Regiment (which was a mixed regiment with both Italian and Spanish personnel by this period) were housed in the monastery, they left several pieces of graffiti depicting Mussolini and war scenes on the tower, but I have found no photographic evidence to confirm this. Pending archaeological studies, it is believed that a mass grave may exist. In 1989, a replica of the casket of Mósén Pedro Mena was made.

 After the Civil War, the church was restored but did not reopen for three years! A new altar was built, much more spectacular than the original, according to plans by architect Juan Vidal Ramos and thanks to donations from Manuel Prytz.

 

The alter today

 

 

 

Dragon`s Teeth

Dragon`s Teeth

I continue my rather productive April with these resin Dragon`s Teeth strips from S&S Models, nothing very complicated in my process - undercoat, marine grey onto the teeth followed by a GW Nul Oil wash, then a simple flocking of the base - it is my understanding that large parts of the vaulted West Wall or Siegfried Line was completed years before the Allies reached it in 1944, so parts were over-grown and quite dilapidated. Each piece is 3" x 5" more or less, so the four strips end to end cover 20 inches.

Playing with the camera to show scale

 

75mm Pack howitzers of 69RAA Italy

69RAA 75mm Pack Howitzers

Back in October I posted a mule packed 75mm Howitzer: 

https://baberonwargames.blogspot.com/2024/10/goumier-support.html 

The idea was this would represent the moving battery from 1st Battalion, 69RAA (Regiment Artillerie d`Afrique) which were part of Gillaume`s French Mountain Corps and were attached to the Goumier during the hard mountain fighting in Italy.

However I painted the deployed gun with a Goumier crew, which wasn`t really correct, so I decided to build a second deployed gun - Waterloo1815 (pack APO38) and painted up crews for both guns plus a battery command element. 

The new gun with a mixed crew - 2 by Esci, the other from Waterloo1815

Same gun with the No2 crew - Waterloo1815 and a heavily converted (including a new head) Airfix ground crew figure

Battery command - Waterloo1815 (with a new kepi head) and a converted Esci figure

A couple of shots of the complete deployed battery

More Goumier

More Goumier

Eleven more Goumier from Strelets (pack M151) suitable for Sicily, Italy and NWE. You will notice a couple of duplicates, these will be separated among different platoons in the final Tabor orbat.

The last two I slightly altered, the left hand guy appears to be in the process of throwing a grenade, so I gave him one. 

The other guy is posed walking with a Thompson under his right arm and a pistol in his left, not a bad pose, but I didn`t want or need so many SMGs - why do figure manufacturers not look at actual orbats when planning boxes of figures?? he started out like this (you get 4 in the box) 

Anyway with the help of a new sharp blade I pruned away the Thompson, added a pack from the spares box and painted him up as a medic, losely based on this photo:

The whole batch together

When I did a quick I discovered I was a few figures short for my Tabor orbat, so quickly rushed them through.

Again all Strelets

Prummern 2

Prummern 2

Attack on the town and German counter-attack

 This tabletop game that follows directly on from my last with the US troops of the 334^th Infantry attempting to seize Prummern: https://baberonwargames.blogspot.com/2025/04/prummern-november-1944.html 

I decided to expand the game to include the 9^th Panzer division counter-attack on November 19^th.

History

By mid-morning on November 18, the bunker line in front of the town had been cleared and the hamlet of Loherhof was also firmly in Allied hands. 2^nd Battalion of the 334^th US infantry was in position to move against Hill 101, so everything seemed to be going well.

However aerial observation had spotted a large column (estimated at 4-5,000 men) with tanks and other vehicles coming from Heinsberg, just 8 miles to the north and a counter-attack seemed likely. So Brigadier-General Bolling ordered the seizure of Prummern to go ahead as soon as possible.

The task was given to 1^st Battalion 334^th supported by tanks of “A” Squadron Sherman Rangers Yeomanry (later relieved by “C" Squadron) and Crocodile flame-throwers of 141^st RAC.

Meanwhile 2^nd Battalion 334^th was to dig-in on Hill 101 and around Loherhof to protect the flank of the advance. Tanks from “B” Squadron SRY were to support this defence and assisted the US infantry by volunteering to tow forward the battalions AT guns so they could be emplaced, as the guns own towing vehicles could not move in the cloying muddy conditions! It is noted that this both surprised and delighted the Major Eleazer acting commander of 2^nd battalion who praised the British tankers cooperation. At nightfall the “B” Squadron withdrew to refuel and re-arm, but returned at dawn to resume the general attack.

 The attack on Prummern itself was a tough fight with many entrenchments and each house defended, but by evening most of it was in American hands. “C” Squadron moved up to allow “A” Squadron to withdraw to re-arm & re-fuel. In the early hours of November 19 following a brief artillery barrage infantry from Panzer Grenadier Regiment-10 and several tanks from Panzer Regiment-33, both from 9^th Panzer Division launched an attack against the defenders of Prummern!  

 The game

For a better overview please refer back to my last game based on the November 18 attack on Prummern, the game ended with the Allies holding one half of the table and the Germans still holding Prummern. So this is where this game will start and I re-set my table with Loherhof becoming the jump-off point at one end and leaving more table north of Prummern for the later German counter-attack.

The first half of the game is 1^st Battalion US 334^th Infantry supported by British armour`s attack to capture Prummern. Then once the Germans have been driven out, 1<sup>st</sup> Battalion, now supported by “C” Squadron SRY must defend against 9<sup>th</sup> Panzer`s counter-attack.

 Allies

1^st Battalion 334^th Infantry commanded by Lt. Col. Lloyd H. Gomes

“A” company has taken about a platoons worth of casualties, so “B” & “C” companies will lead the assault

Due to the thick mud only battalion mortars and MMGs have managed to be brought up to the line, the 57mm AT guns have been left behind.

“A” Squadron Sherman Rangers Yeomanry

Crocodile Flame-thrower (141^st RAC)

M10 tank destroyer (“B” company 638^th Tank Destroyer Battalion)

Support

Battery B 326^th US Field Artillery - 105mm howitzers

German defenders

Elements of 183rd Volksgrenadier Division (Oberst Hampfuer)

About 4 platoons plus some support weapons

Support

Battery, II battalion, Panzer Artillery Regiment 102 (105mm)

 Special scenario rules

Mines – there were mines scattered all over, tanks must roll 1D6 each move a 1 results in them hitting a mine (usual dice for effect)

 German ammunition shortages – each time German mortars or artillery fire they must roll 1D6 on a 1 all ammunition is exhausted!

 Table

Looking toward Prummern

B & C companies with armour ready to move off

2^nd battalion dug-in against any potential German counter attacks around Loherhof and Hill 101

In Prummern the remains of 183^rd VG await the storm

The extra bit of table beyond Prummern

1^st Battalion 334th Infantry`s Attack on Prummern

Turn 1 – US artillery zero on the church, causing some German casualties including the sniper in the spire

German artillery and mortars respond

Turn 2 once again the US artillery brackets the church causing more German casualties, one Sherman trips a mine, but luckily survives (maybe the mine was a dud?)

The German reply is ineffective

Turn 3 The US artillery shifts its barrage a bit further into town, once again inflicting random casualties among the defenders

German artillery and mortars continue their ineffective counter fire, but two forward German MG nests open up on the advancing infantry causing casualties. Unfortunately both nests are spotted and targeted by British tankers, the first burnt to cinders by the Crocodile, the second in the churchyard blown to bits by Sherman guns!

Turn 4 further US artillery strikes the town, US infantry from “B” &”C” companies move to engage outlying enemy positions covered by the tanks. The Churchill Crocodile breaks into the orchard and unleashes another burst of flame engulfing a group of fleeing Germans including the FOO from Panzer Artillery Regiment 102 effectively removing their off board fire from the German arsenal!

Unfortunately for the Churchill it has exposed its flank to a concealed Panzershreck team who planted a rocket into the flame spouting monster and knocked it out

Turn 5 more US artillery smashes into Prummern causing more casualties and a morale check among the defenders around the church.

The Shermans supporting the infantry engage German positions as they appear, the Panzershreck team who just knocked out the Churchill are machine gunned, another MG nest is wiped out by cannon fire

Turn 6 US artillery brackets and wipes out the `88

Another MG nest bites the dust curtesy of Sherman cannon fire

It isn`t all going the Allies way – two platoons from “C” company have to make morale checks due to casualties and a brave German officer plants a panzerfaust rocket into a Sherman which blows up!

Turns 7-10 The American infantry take several turns to clear buildings, supported by the British tanks, though these act more in support than leading the charge since what happened to their mates.

German defence is stubborn, but whenever they appear to be holding a tank will pitch and clear the way.

Turn 11 German morale finally cracks. Those at the northern edge of the town flee, others with nowhere to run simply surrender.

American 1^st Battalion HQ group at the church

German night attack

At about 3am on November 19^th tank engines are heard approaching Prummern from the north and this is the prelude to a German thrust by elements of 9^th Panzer to re-take the town.

Allies

1^st battalion 334^th Infantry (less casualties)

“C” Squadron SRY

 Support

Battery B 326^th US Field Artillery - 105mm howitzers

 German attackers

Elements of 9^th Panzer Division

Elements Panzer Regiment-33

2 Kompanies of Panzer Grenadier Regiment-10

Support

Battery, II battalion, Panzer Artillery Regiment 102 (105mm)

 Special rules

 Mines – the US battalion commander has had his men us German mines to mine the road into town

 Monty`s Moonlight – searchlights bouncing light off the low cloud negates much of the darkness

 M10 tank destroyer – if this survived the attacked on Prummern, it can be added to the defenders

The attack

1^st battalion organised their defence with “B” company dug-in on the right half, “C” company on the left and “A” company in reserve. Battalion HQ set up in the church with battalion support weapons mortars positioned central and the MMGs parcelled out among “B” & “C” companies. FOO for the 326^th Field artillery took up position in the church spire. The tanks of “C” Squadron SRY positioned themselves covering all approaches (as they did historically), the M10 was positioned on the far right flank.

The game opened with 3 turns of random 105mm fire from 2 batteries of Panzer Artillery Regiment 102. This artillery caused considerable casualties among B & C companies – C company in particular was badly hit.   

The Germans arrive

Turn 1 The US FOO fails to contact his guns, the Germans advance

Turn 2 the lead Panther is hit by the Firefly`s 17pdr, a 75mm from another Sherman and a 76mm from the M10!

The US FOO connects with his battery and bracket the flanking infantry company, 1st battalion`s mortars join in also!

On the German left, the infantry began to take casualties from C company, the German LMG teams return fire causing casualties, the Panzer IV blasts one house

Turn 3 In the centre the Panzer IV pushes past the burning Panther and takes hit from the M10

The US artillery and battalion mortars once again bracket the supporting infantry company causing more casualties and a morale check!

On the German left a combination of the Panzer IV and LMG teams cause enough casualties to make the US “C” company also make a morale check!

Turn 4 The Germans in the centre badly fail their morale check and break, another US artillery stonk speeds them on their way!

On the left the Panzer IV moves forward machine gunning fleeing GIs, the accompanying infantry begin clearing houses.

Turn 5 The Panzer IV comes face to face with a Sherman, they exchange fire. The Panzer receives light damage, the Sherman burns!

Seeing the collapse of “C” company, “A” companies CO acts and moves forward to stop the rout

Turn 6 “A” company stabilize the situation and stall the German infantry, the Firefly moves from the town square to deal with the damaged Panzer.

Turn 7 The Panzer is toast! “A” company and what was left of “C” company start a counter-attack to drive back the German infantry.

Turns 8-9 see the Germans driven out of Prummern  

History

The German tanks advanced towards the town, two were hit whilst a third struck one of the mines laid on the road. The German infantry proved a tougher challenge and infiltrated the northern part of the town and had to be cleared out the following morning!