German Heer Pt.3- Infantry Squads 2- Veterans & Begliet

 Veteran Grenadier Squad

Originally, this squad was made up of basic grenadier models who were given extra gear and better weapons to denote their more elite status. I wasn't completely satisfied with how they looked, but found an answer in the Warlord plastic Waffen SS sprue. The additional heads, equipment and weapons allowed me to make some individuals that looked like no other soldiers in my force. The 6 men the sprue allowed me to put together freed up some grenadiers to slide into other squads and gave the veterans a more unique appearance.

The 4 grenadier models that remain in the squad are the make-ups to a 10 man squad, but are the ones that I felt fit in (& were already painted & had the equipment I needed them to have...) I know the SS men are wearing the fancy lace-up collared smocks with baggy sleeves, etc, but I covered them all in my primitive Sumpfmuster camo scheme, so hopefully they don't look too out of place and seem like hardy combat veterans that have accumulated a decent amount of experience, firepower and gear between them.

Four StG44s is enough, I really feel, to not feel like overkill (or min/maxing). Two LMG/MG42s gives them some punch and differentiates them from the standard squads. I don't want elite squads to become too abusive in what they're equipped with, or an enormous points sink. I think this squad comes in at around 200 pts, roughly. Ok for larger games where they can be accommodated. Red base edge denotes an NCO, as always.

Begliet Squad

One of my favourite squads in the Soviet army list is the Tank-rider squad. Images of Russian soldiers clinging onto the backs of T-34s as they rumble into battle have always inspired me, and were a big part of why I chose a Russian army first when I started playing Bolt Action. Imagine my happiness when I read through the Stalingrad campaign book and discovered the Begliet (Bodyguard) squads! SMG armed troops riding into battle on top of a StuG! Perfect!

So, some of the discarded veteran grenadiers that needed to make way for their Waffen SS sprue replacements (see above) moved into this squad. A couple needed arm replacements to be equipped with MP40s, but otherwise I had six men already out of the full squad of ten. I didn't opt for an LMG/MG42 in this squad, as I decided close-quarter support for the StuG was more important than a few more mid/long range shots with an LMG.