Some new concepts

Leader capacities
Normal leaders are included in their unit's base or bases.
The following leader figures are represented by a single figure on a small base:

• Company commanders (often captains)
• Platoon leaders (often lieutenants)
• 'Good' commanders.  This can be one of the platoon leaders or company leaders from above, or their NCO, or simply a leader of men that stands out on the battlefield.

These leaders have a quality rating (4,5 or 6) and a rating (+1,0,-1,-2) as well as a rank:

A few German tanks

The german Whermacht and Volksgrenadier squads are well underway, so in order to start playtesting for good, I still need tanks and ordnance.  Here are 3 german tanks, an early panther and a PzKpfW IV G and H.  I tried to paint them in Western camo, which was relatively common in Normandy through Bastogne.

German colour chart

Here is a list I found on the internet listing the colours the Germans used troughout the war.  Because of changing strategy, supply issues and different theatres, there is a lot of variation.  Sometimes equipment gets moved from one theatre to another without the opportunity for a professional repaint.  Sometimes supplies are scarce or missing, and the troops have to be inventive.  A missing camouflage colour is no exception, even more so near the end of the war.

Mini magnets for tanks

My sample shipment of mini magnets came through.  I intend to use them in order to have magnetized tank turrets.  They don't fall off and they turn really smoothly.  Put the first pair in, which wasn't easy.  I really have to get a non-magnetic pincet, and a new drill that makes clean 2mm holes, because the one I have now is not in good shape.

Therer definitely is some technique involved in mounting the magnets:  do it the wrong way and before you know it you have magnets covered in superglue flying around.

More troops

I finished the preparation and priming of another platoon of US Airborne in Normandy clothing, as well as my first platoon (just about) or regular German Wehrmacht.  I have already painted the bases as well, but the pic is from yesterday, just wanted to post this before leaving for Luxembourg and Germany for 3 days.  As soon as the germans are finished, I start on a sampler of ordnance, and a few tanks, in order to be able to start the 'official play-testing' for SSOM. 

Two friends of mine and my son are going to be the initial test team, in order to thoroughly test what is being called the v0.1 rules.  These feature full rule chapters for infantry combat, ordnance use, and tank combat, as well as drafts for infantry vs armor and ordnance vs infantry.  The suppression system is in place, although not in stone yet.  I did some extensive simulating in excel yesterday, and ran every possible scenario for infantry vs infantry HE fire.  I think the balance is there.  There is an advantage in going for multiple lower firepower attacks, but only high firepower attacks can have Elimination as a result.  This will be an ongoing strategic decision for players, depending on terrain, leadership, attacker and defender troops morale, and the overall strategic situation on the table.

US and GE Tanks Cards

Here is the second version of the German tank cards, and the first version of the US cards.  I still have to double check the US cards for errors, and I am waiting for some answers on armor questions, as well as cross check data on the penetration and muzzle velocity of the 76 mm M1, My data are inconsistent.  For now I have put it on a par with the German 75 mm KwK gun used on the IVh.