I managed to pick up a copy of "Operation Squad" from eBay this week, so that being the case I thought to offer my view of the game. For those that have not come across these rules they are a set of skirmish rules for WW2 which concentrate on infantry actions at squad level. They are not scale specific but given the move rates and ranges they would mostly suit 28 or 20mm figures. Indeed the pictures in the book show 28mm figures, so it could be argued that was the rules intent. I see no reason they would not work equally well for 20mm though.
The slim volume, a mere 46 A4 pages in length is full colour with a soft back cover stapled together. The Production quality is good, but not outstanding in any way. Following an introduction and some colour pictures the Rules start on page 6 and finish on page 23. Firstly let me say that the rules are all logical and appear in the right order starting with turn sequence and ending with morale checks and a summery of figure characteristics. The turn sequence is a reactive system where figures have a chance to react to what is being done by an opponents figures as opposed to a "you go I go" system. Having tried a practise game I will say they work and work quite well and can easily be adapted to other settings and eras. I know of one person who is adjusting them to a wild west gunfight setting, while I shall be looking at using them for WW1 East Africa. Shooting for example revolves around the attacker rolling 3d6 and adding a number of dice dependant on range, the figure being shot at rolls dice for things like cover and if they have moved and other factors like hiding. The Defenders score is subtracted from the attackers and should the result be 11 or greater the target has been hit. 11 results in pinning while 16 is KIA. So the difference in dice rolls dictates the severity of the hit. As in real life no figure has multiple wounds so getting hit by a bullet can result in instant kills no matter how much you might think the Sergent is a hero!
4 scenarios are included which takes you to page 30. They are nothing so special that you would not have thought of them yourself, but they do offer you a basic structured game scenario. Most people will accept them for what they are and treat them as a starting point. They are all designed, as is the whole game for 1 squad to fight one opposing squad. Bigger battles can of course be catered for but I would suggest that a single squad be played by each player, at least to begin with.
Most of the rest of the book cover squad rosters for some of the major nations. Therefore in the basic rule book you may take a squad of American, British (or Commonwealth), German or Russian. Each nationality has 3 or more squad choices representing standard infantry or elite squads. Each of these choices also has different points values.. A British Rifle squad has a points value of 235 pts while a British Paratrooper squad would cost 340 points. You then have the points values of any tweaks you might feel that you need to make to your squad, like adding a sniper (+90 pts) or buying the Medic Characteristic for a single squad member (+15pts), or adding some equipment, Binoculars (+10pts) if carried by a leader (corporal or Sergent).
Each nationality has its own weapon charts which define the weapons characteristics used by their troops. These are not usually given a separate points cost unless listed under the squad roster. The weapons characteristics seem to fit with what I have read about the weapons of the period, as such to me they do seem to be fairly accurate. I do have niggles about some of them, but generally I feel they are correct without relying or special rules for each weapon.
Generally these rules retail for about £18-20. My personal view is that while I do like these rules that price is too high. I feel a price of £10 would be more fitting. (As mentioned I got mine in an eBay auction for £7.60 including postage and for that price I am very happy.)
In conclusion: I do like these rules and have plans for them. I can see them being used at the club as they are quick to learn yet give a good level of challenge. Having already played a practise game I am happy with the way they work and they way they encourage you to use a squad tactically on the tabletop. My main issues with the rules is the cost as mentioned above especially as they have already published 2 supplements at the same price each. One supplement covers vehicles, while the other covers a greater variety of nationalities and squad roster. As I believe a single armoured vehicle would totally unbalance a game which focuses on single figures to create a squad I cannot see to mush use for it at present. The other supplement might be interesting, but I feel I could already adapt the basic selection of squads should I wish to field Japanese Finnish, Italian or other squads and weapons from the late war period.
I hope you have found this a useful review. I shall blog again on Monday. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and talk to you soon. Clint.
The last vehicle for my Federal States Europa (FSE) Platoon. This vehicle being the command vehicle has some obvious sensor arrays. I have not checked the vehicle stats but I should imagine it will have better Communication, and detection equipment and a more formidable ECM than standard vehicles. From my point of view this finished the vehicles for the Platoon. I will try to get the last infantry finished in the next few days, which will give me one complete platoon. 
And Finally for today, I made some cakes for work yesterday. Here are three of them. Someone told me you could make cup-cakes in ice cream cones so I just had to try it! The good news is that it does indeed work. So I had to cut down a "Flake" to make them look as much like ice creams as possible. The analogy falls about when you take a bite as it is not cold and is much more cake like! Still I like the effect, they taste OK as well but the ice cream cone has a very different texture than you would expect in a cake. 
Please join me this day, 11th November, in taking a minute in silence to remember those who who have suffered harm or death in the defence of Britain and the commonwealth.
SO I finally managed to paint my first 2 bases of mounted Apaches. The figures are LKM/QRF (http://www.quickreactionforce.co.uk/) look in the Frie Korps section on the web site. These figures were the best Apache Indian figure I could find and easily obtain. I actually picked them up at the BROADSIDE show this year the trader tends to carry about 4 packs to each show, so I bought them out. I like these figures, they are very characterful and fit the feel of a tribal nation. Of particular note is the figure hanging on the horses neck and firing a pistol while using the horse for cover. They did have some flash from casting, but they cleaned up easily and without too much effort. I shall be getting more. Some are armed with Pistols others with Rifles. Most if you look carefully have a knife in the belt as well. I feel they are well sculpted and a they come with a variety of poses in a pack it adds to the variegated feel of the fugues. 
These are 2 Stug 3s by Battlefront. Both are resin from the Flames of war starter set. Another eBay purchase, they are nothing special as such, but are good value both in pounds and PBI points. One of the reasons for the good points value is the fact that they don't have a turret but a fixed gun mount. This is not too much of a drawback in PBI and is definitely worth the points drop. You just have to make sure you are pointing towards the enemy, which you would mostly be doing anyway to get the greatest armour value. So from a PBI point of view a couple of very handy AFVs.
Two crew are also included and they have limited room inside the contratpion so one is half sitting outside. In combat I am sure he'd be hunkered down behind the steel sidings, but for now he's perched on the rear edge. I have painted the crew in artillery uniforms as opposed to late war camouflage with red markings on their epaelettes. I am not sure if this is correct, so don't copy it thinking I know what I am doing, I don't I just went with what I thought as opposes to what I know. So only a 50/50 chance it's right! Details like this are not worried about at the club too much, don't get me wrong there is always one (usually me) who will point out any errors. the really observant will discern a "water and tan" (AKA Splinter A) helmet cover on the closest guy despite the fact that I said no camouflage. And the less observant will have just looked to make sure. It came out a little bit too dark but maybe it got wet and is drying out! 
Here we have the currect lance of mechs I am working on, still a bit to do, but these are about 80% done. From left to right a 35 ton Panther, a 40 ton Cicada, a 60 ton Dragon and 70 ton Grasshopper. I must admit I have only piloted the Panther from this selection so I don't really know how to play them yet, particularly the grasshopper. I have painted them in Kurita colours (Red) mostly just to contrast with the green of the previous lance. I did not want them to be super bright so started with a black undercoat and a purple base coat, to build up a depth of the tone. Overall I am not unhappy with them. I have found that they do need a lot of cleaning up before painting. Loads of molding lines which have to be trimmed before painting, and I always miss a few unnoticed until the paint goes on. It's a pain, but worth going back and scraping or cutting them off to get a better finish. I appreciate that I got them all cheaper than RRP so I am willing to put up with the hassle. 8 mechs painted so far and a lot more to go yet (about 18). So it will take me a while to get through them.
This should be the last of my US Infantry for PBI. I still have a couple more bits and bobs to do, but this should finish the actual infantry for the Yanks. Germans are another matter, I also have a 105mm Howitzer and crew to add. But generally speaking that is it for the US, at least for now.
WE have one last Bazooka team and a final command team and 4 Garand rifle stands. None of this is the most exciting painting project, but it does mean that they are "Finished" I never accept any wargames project as completely finished as there is always something you can add or optional troop choice or whatever. That said having already had two battles with these troops I do know that I have enough to play the game and enough to have a few choices with troop selection. Which means I can perhaps start a new project, or more likely progress another which has stalled or stopped.