Victor's Hungarian Assault Gun Battery Part One While working on Stalin’s Europe, there were two lists that jumped out at me as something I’d like to try. The Soviet Sherman Battalion, and the Hungarian Assault Gun Battery. While I still might do the Sherman’s one day, after seeing Wayne’s Zrínyis painted up, and getting the opportunity to use them in two different battle reports, my choice became clear. Here I’ll show you my mostly assembled, un-painted force, and explain my crazy reasons for choosing what I have. I also want to talk a bit about the fun I’ve had with modelling, and my plans for finishing the army which I can show off in the New Year. Below: Victor's army fully assembled.

Being primarily a German Big Cats player (even when busting out my FJ, a few Jagdpanthers or King Tigers aren’t too far away), I saw this list as an opportunity for something different and a bit more varied.

There are a few firsts for me with this list: More than the minimum number of combat platoons; an infantry support choice; a recce platoon; an immobile gun platoon and Panthers without stormtrooper moves!

The Army Lists

Rohamágyús Üteg Assault Gun Battery - 1500 points Company HQ StuG G 90 points Rohamágyús Platoon 3x StuG G 270 points Rohamágyús Platoon 3x Zrínyi II  225 points Rohamágyús Platoon 3x Zrínyi II 225 points Harckocsizó Platoon 2x Panther A 365 points Armoured Car Platoon 3x Csaba 39M 80 points Anti-aircraft Platoon 2x Anti-aircraft Sections 55 points Assault Pioneer Platoon 2x Pioneer Squads with Command Panzerfaust SMG upgrade 190 points   Total: 1500 points

Rohamágyús Üteg Assault Gun Battery - 1750 points Company HQ Zrínyi II 75 points Rohamágyús Platoon 3x StuG G 270 points Rohamágyús Platoon 3x Zrínyi II 225 points Rohamágyús Platoon 3x Zrínyi II 225 points Harckocsizó Platoon 3x Panther A 550 points Armoured Car Platoon 3x Csaba 39M 80 points Anti-aircraft Platoon 2x Anti-aircraft Sections 55 points Assault Pioneer Platoon 3 Pioneer Squads with Command Panzerfaust SMG upgrade 270 points    Total: 1750 points

Modelling I wanted to capture the struggle of the Hungarian army in Budapest, and do all my models a little beaten up, as if they’ve been fighting for months. When it comes to painting, I also intend to have each of the vehicle platoons in a different paint scheme, to emphasise the banding together of left over equipment towards the end of the siege.

HQ and Combat Platoons The biggest decision when making this list was what proportion of Zrínyis and StuGs to have. I decided that since it was the Zrínyis that got me interested in this list in the first place, it made sense to have two platoons of them. For the Zrínyis, I was excited to use the new mesh Schürzen, but also saw it as a good way to differentiate my two platoons. To make the HQ Zrínyi stand out even more, I added some stowage, including a spare StuG shurtzen piece, which he picked up from one of his mates. With the StuGs I wanted their shurtzen to be quite damaged and much of it missing. I did this by cutting pieces off, and bending key points with pliers. For the platoon I used StuGs from the StuG box, and the HQ StuG is the one from the Panzerkanonen box set.

Panthers I couldn’t resist having these. Not only is the Panther one of the coolest looking tanks, but I’ve also had good results with them. Although I am going to miss my Stormtrooper moves. I haven’t done much to the original models for these, just a few missing mudguards, bent side skirts and track pieces. I’ve used two models from the Panther box, and the Panther model from the Panzerkanonen box. I like the individually sculpted tanks, and feel they add character to the platoon.

Assault Pioneers My limited experience with infantry has usually been in a defensive role, so to mix things up I wanted a platoon I could be really aggressive with against infantry or tanks. Also, flame throwers sound like fun! I’ve got big plans for these guys. Since we’re defending Budapest here, I want them fighting in the streets. And to show their aggressiveness, I thought it would be cool to show them assaulting from a building. I’ve drawn up a plan for the bases that form a mini diorama when put together.

It’s going to be a test of my modelling skill, but I think the hard work will really pay off and I’ll learn a few things along the way. Working in the studio has its perks, such as access to spare parts. I’ll use these to adorn my bases. You may have noticed that I’m only planning to have three Hungarians per bases. This again is to show that they’ve been defending this streets for a while so their numbers are whittled down, and also, since the bases are going to be quite full (with a helping of dead soviets), I don’t want them being too crowded.

Armoured Cars Two reasons for these. 1. I should probably learn how recce works properly, and 2. Wayne informed me that the Hungarian police had two Csabas painted in blue! I thought this would look really cool, and I’m gonna have to use some creative license and have 3 blue ones.

Objectives A bit stuck for ideas here so far, but I’ll be leaving these till last anyway. I like the idea of having a Soviet Pioneer supply truck that the Hungarians would like to get their hands on since they currently won’t be having one. So stay tuned as next year I’ll be showing my progress with painting the vehicles, and sculpting the infantry’s bases.

Anti-aircraft Platoon I’ve never used immobile gun teams before, it always seemed like their effectiveness for the game is determined in the deployment step, but now I welcome the challenge. I also think the 40mm Bofors is an interesting model. I plan to base them in a rubble building. ~ Victor.