Glasgow Warhog

Well the first thing to say is it was a great day out in a new location with lots of space.The guys at the Falkirk club were great hosts.

We attended the Carronade Wargame Show with our "revised" Omaha Beach D Day Game on the 6th June 2026. The date also suited the Dumfries Wargaming club they had a fantastic 28mm St. Mere Eglise game.

So the second thing to mention is WE WON. Yippee! We won 1st place for the Best Demonstration Game and made our mark on a trophy / shield. Which was great - 1st place (in a tight field).

Our game was a massive 12 foot x 12 foot table (with a walk in section for access). It was huge - our largest. There were well over 1,200 28mm figures on the table. It was a logistical nightmare... assembling, painting boxing -up, transporting then unpacking. But we made it happen.

A special thanks to our troops (Joe, Gavin and Roberta) and also to everyone who came up and had a chat. We have two videos on U tube a short one and a longer version if you prefer moving pictures!

U-tube full video link: https://youtu.be/oZwDKNLRY4g

U tube quick look video link:

Omaha Beach - west side - Draw 1 (Vierville-sur-Mer) and Draw 3 (Les Moulins).

US side - 29th Infantry Division (with a small section of 1st Inf. ) 2nd and 5th Rangers

German Defenders - 352nd Infantry Division

So here is how our game went...

GAME REPORT

So we start with the second waves approaching the beach. D-1 (WN72) gap in at the bottom right of the picture.

We used 2 (6ft x 4ft) sea mats and 2 (6ft x 4ft) beach mats with the hillside made from blue extruded foam board. This takes it to 12 foot x 12 foot. The beach mats were not wide enough for us so we also used sand boards (plywood covered sand) to extend the beach and sit under the bluffs.

Apologies for the amount of pictures ...but it was just ..."the longest day".

Obstacles were barbed wire strips, Czech hedgehogs, log ramps, log posts and Belgium gates (Element C).

"after each salvo the battleship would be pushed sideways...and the waves rocked our Higgins boats"

We had engineers blowing up gates in the sea.

Approaching troops are in the thick of it from the start.

(the actual designer of the Landing Craft - Higgins was raised in Omaha USA...)

Below: Getting to the beach was hard - you had to manoeuvre and wait...for a space... under fire.

As it was second wave we could use the larger Landing Crafts and Dukws...

And... the swimming tanks DD Sherman tanks. One DD has a collapsed cape in this photo on the left.

Troop inserts are used. So that we can empty the craft and send out empties. Troop inserts are 3d printed legs on a base with spare plastic heads, arms and green stuff.

Below: The larger Landing Craft we scratch built. No plastic company dare make a huge 28mm one this size..(please do!). So out came the mdf board and plasticard and we just built it (using plans for sizes).

But when you land this much 'kit and guys' from one LC - it can have a big impact.

Below: A US Navy crew seen giving orders. This lot landed at the Les Moulins Side.

Navy crew are plastic converted US marines. webbing is removed or covered up by Green stuff (modelled into life jackets - following the WW2 pattern).

The other side (Verville) had lots of Shermans but they were being held up by obstacles...

Until the Bangalore team showed up.

Below: The Sherman bulldozer ploughed through the obstacles. No "Hobarts funnies" were used on this beach. Shermans are numbered as per our research of the beach and yes number 10 is there in centre side on. (Number 10 is one of the Frank Capa photos you may have seen for this section)

Space is tight....watch out for the teller mine on that ramp!

This is a good overhead shot of the table. Its so big its hard to get a great shot of it.

Below: A US Bulldozer arrived and helped to make some headway through the obstacles. I was able to clear 3 sections of wire with this one bulldozer.

Then it was charge!

Below: Sherman took a hit from WN 72 bunker...

The infantry guys are specifically built. Each box matches the exact assault boats (flamethrower, mortars, bar, bangalore, bazookas etc. they are well equipped).

Nearer to the middle the 29th were just taking pot shots at the German 352nd ...I kept the US 29th behind the wall (hard cover) until the MG42 tobruks on the cliff were silenced and we had more numbers.

Below: the Vierville side from the German perspective.

Most of the Germans were in bunkers but the odds were against them although they had the high ground and had scoped it in HMG's and mortars.

The Germans ...under the command of General Lieutenant Dietrich Kraiss (reporting to Field Marshal Rommel) Note: The 352 emblem was not used on German uniforms during WW2.

The 352nd is the only German Army “300” division engaged on D-Day.

As I pushed through to D1 draw with the armour - another Sherman tank took a hit from WN 72 (at almost point blank range). All of the tanks and LC's are numbered for Omaha.

Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) would be at this end... in the Holywood version.

Number 10 was hit from the WN72 bunker

Navy Engineers tackle the "Element C in the sea".

Time to get out! This Landing Craft is about to be a submersible!

Hot glue is used on the side of this Higgins to simulate waves (as well as paint and gloss varnish. The inside was painted blue -then models inserted. Then a resin water pour applied. You can just make out the hole in black hole on the base - behind the existing GI. I couldn't go too thick on the pour otherwise the water level in relation to the board would've looked strange.

"take it easy" - guys on stretchers, guys on walkie talkies..

The Germans are still in action on the Les Moulins side.

Casualties were mounting at both draws.

We painted all of the extra weapons and ammo boxes for scatter.

Below: Vierville is on the left. Les Moulins on the right.

The trench lines are as close as we could determine from maps and photos.

More LC's get in...with armour dropped right onto the beach.

The German 50mm in the open casement in front of Les Moulins is about to be overrun along with the MG34 tobruk (bottom left).

Below: You can see why it took four of us us 90 minutes to set up...its a long stretch of beach

Below: This guy finds cover - takes a breath and goes to work with a bangalore.

The captain with a Rangers helmet (might be Capt Millar AKA Tom Hanks)...lol. But all of the troops are heavy loaded with equipment.

There's a lot of stuff landing at Les Moulins...view from the house (Les Sables d'Or - a house used by Luftwaffe as an observation post).

Attack on Les Sables d'Or...

Lets Go 29 ers! Over the wall in numbers.

HMG is taken out immediately

The house is in US hands.

At D1 draw the picture is starting to look similar. Below...more ammo!

But theres still one German gun firing at Les Moulins...

Below: Engineers strap up the submerged Belgian Gate with TNT.

Below: Another Belgian Gate on the beach is blown apart!

But still taking hits on the shore...

Below: A small group of the German 352nd block the Les Moulins draw.

There's not many Germans left.

Below: Meanwhile in the centre a Ranger asks ..."err...did somebody bring a rope with a grappling hook..."

"I did...no problem - we will be up here in a flash..."

But danger pops up everywhere..

But it is dealt with...its not so much my good dice rolling - its just lots the US dice to roll!

This shot shows just how 'playable' the cliff/hills are (due to our design build). I also like the clear bases in this picture. But you get the sense of height.

I have a US General Cota figure on the table...and he's supposed to be here.. but I haven't seen him lately. LOL

Below: A signalman tells the destroyers which targets to hit...

Keep moving forward

Below: Bangalores take out more seawall...

These guys have all the gear..a weapon, back pack, some with pick axes, bangalore, ammo pouches, canteens, wire cutters, hand grenades, knife, shovels (this guy has it on his ankle strap), ...heavy duty.

On the beach more arrive. "there's a space over there"

Below: A signalman in the water guiding in those Landing Craft - using flags.

Engineers remove the last of the obstacles

At Moulins, on their left the 29ers are on the bluffs looking to take out that last gun.

Each of the Higgins Landing Craft carries a Mortar team, Flamethrower team, Bazooka team, bangalore x2, a sniper, a bar gunner and riflemen. So there's a lot of heavy weapons available.

err did anyone bring the panzerfaust....! I thought you had it! Ohhh No.

I gave it to you!

Below: the 29's locate the last gun...sneaking up from above.

The Germans are flanked.

A Captain gives the command and a grenade is thrown into the gun below ...Kaput!

Below: In the centre it is all go - take out the HMG and up on onto the top

Below: Then the bunker with TNT

The German does not see what he is up against...behind him the numbers gather and a flamethrower.

His back is against the wall!

The German try to fall back using the trenches.

Its over

Below: Some pockets of small resistance still continue the defence. But its the weight of numbers that the attackers have that decide the outcome. 'Where are our Panzers'