Tabletop Games

The men of the Kriegsmarine were often asked to do more than serve at sea. U-Boat and ship crews could be found in land actions in many theatres, wearing their trademark blue sailor’s uniforms or the grey-blue U-Boat leathers as they took the fight to the enemy. The German Navy (or Kriegsmarine) had the peculiar battle honour of being involved in the first action of WW2 and also its last. Infantry units of the navy, equipped with Wehrmacht weaponry and wearing their trademark dark blue uniforms and steel helmets, assaulted the Polish port of Danzig in the opening action of the war and, five years later, flew into the maelstrom of Berlin, landing in parks and on lakes using seaplanes or any other available transport aircraft. This time they were equipped with panzerfausts in an attempt to stave off the avenging Russian armour. They formed at least three divisions and some regular army officers were placed in the units to give them the value of their experience. They frequently fought under their usual officer, so a unit could be led by a Korvettenkapitän or U-Boat commander. They fought in Poland, Narvik, Russia, Dieppe, Arnhem, many of the cut off German garrisoned ports, as well as Holland and Berlin. The Welsh 53rd Division fought them regularly in Holland and found them full of fight, giving them the nickname of the "Blue Devils".

Always at the forefront of the fighting, the Waffen-SS were well-equipped, even as the supply of new materials and weapons became more of an issue for the Third Reich as Allied bombing campaigns pummelled German industry. Armed with the best weaponry the Wehrmacht could field, the Waffen-SS fought with discipline and tenacity although they had little choice as they knew the enemy would give no quarter to their hated foe – SS troops being dealt with brutally, if captured. These figures are shown wearing a mix of the wool-lined M40 and fur-lined M43 parkas issued to Waffen-SS troops – the latter being available in grey, tan or Italian camouflage pattern. This box set contains a 10-man Waffen-SS squad of which separates into:

• NCO and 1 man with assault rifle
• 2-man LMG team
• 4 men with rifle (2 with panzerfaust)
• 2 men with assault rifle & panzerfaust

Whilst the propaganda headlines may well have gone to the big cats such as the Panther and the Tiger, the Panzer IV was the backbone of German armoured capability throughout the war. You can choose to build your Panzer IV as one of three different variants:

• The short-barrelled Ausf. F1.
• The long-barrelled Ausf. G with its distinctive ball muzzle brake. Respectfully known by British forces in the desert campaign as the 'Mark 4 Special' it saw action in the Western Desert and the Russian Front primarily.
• The Ausf H with its new muzzle brake and protective schürzen side skirts. A regular sight on late war battlefields, the Ausf H is one of the iconic Panzers of the war.

As with the other Bolt Action plastic vehicles, this kit is highly detailed yet easy to build. It provides a rugged gaming piece and will also appeal to painters and modellers. The Panzer IV comes with a comprehensive waterslide decal sheet, allowing you to finish your new tank off perfectly! This vehicle can also be used in games of Achtung Panzer!, the game of close-quarters tank-on-tank combat. Its rules can be found in the Achtung Panzer! rulebook.