I can see the pub from 'ere!

Some time ago I came across a picture of a mobile observation tower in the Airfix guide to 8th Army in the Desert (number 20). I don't think anyone makes one in 15mm, so I had a go myself.

The tower is a little wider than the one in the picture I have (for ease of construction) and it's based on a Morris AA tractor (with the ammo boxes removed and some sides added) not the 30cwt(?) in the picture, but there is no mistaking what it is and it will make a good, and different, FOO stand.

The tower is made out of wire pins (the uprights), and thin card (red stuff) soaked with superglue. The metal bit at the top is a turret lid and this was the key to construction: I pushed 4 holes it in a 'square' pattern and glued the pins in these first, the other end of the pins were glued into holes in the resin casting - square, no-wobble solid from the start.

The figure is the upper half of a British officer and the legs of a German motorcyclist. The AA tractor and figure are FoW.

If you are wondering why they built them. The Western Desert is dead flat in most places and there are no tall buildings (not many buildings actually); if you wanted 'high ground' to observe from you had to take it with you.

Some bits and pieces

Recently I have been emmensely busy with work, the chaos caused by having the builders in (and subsequent decorating by yours truly with a much bigger brush!) and family life in general. I've also been putting the finishing touches to an article or two - the first, my rules for ancient naval warfare " Fleet of Battle" will be out in Wargames Illustrated next month (complete with playing counters). Consequently, this blog has been neglected of late - it will be for another month or so. But I have had time, just, to take a few shots of the basing I'm using for my desert stuff.

Bases are 2mm MDF (bought in 4 x 3 foot sheets - 5 for £20 - from a picture framing materials supplier), with painted 'sand and glue' texturing, woodland scenics coarse turf, and grass tufts by Mininatur. Minis are FoW.


First up, a British 'battle group' HQ stand - my C-in-C.

My first Germans - 2x 8.8cm flak guns and prime movers.

First WWII units

This weekend I took a break from the Punic Wars and painted a few vehicles and guns for 22nd Armoured Brigade Group, Nov 1941. (But don't worry - I'm now back with the Punic Wars project.). I'm still waiting for my sheet 2mm MDF so they are unbased. The first units are:



2nd RG Hussars Regiment- 10 Crusader Mk1.

Anti-tank battery 102nd AT Regiment - 2 2pdr portee and 1 truck

C Battery 4th RHA - 2 25pdr, 2 Quad tractors, 2 limbers, 1 truck, 1 AOP in carrier (this piece is a standard FoW carrier which has had extra radio equipment, a telephone-cable spool [rear], a scratch built rangefinder and 'map' [for easy table ID], and an extra crew member added), and 13 25pdr crew - 6 per gun plus battery officer.

Now back to the project.........................

22nd Armoured Brigade Group

Here is the wargames organisation that I'll be using for 22nd Armoured Brigade Group, November 1941.

I'll add more as I do them, and eventually I will have one for every force taking part in Operation Crusader.

My first tank in 20 years

Last night I test painted a 15mm tank for the first time. It is the first tank I've painted in 20 years and the first 15mm tank I've painted, ever. I'm happy with the result.

The model is a FoW Crusader Mk 1. It has been painted as A squadron 2nd RG Hussars of 22nd Armoured Brigade, November 1941. It was painted in Humbrol enamel (mainly '63 sand' lightened with 'white 34') and Liquitex burnt umber acrylic ink (in two dilutions - 50% and neat).

The whole job took about an hour of painting time, but I think I can halve this by painting in batches (probably 10 vehicles at a time). This 'non-project' (see previous post) is gonna be a doddle!

This is not a project - 1st order arrives

I have always had an interest in World War II. In the past I have collected stuff for the Russian front (in 6mm) and North West Europe 1944 (in 10mm). But that was many moons ago, and for at least 20 years I have not had any WWII stuff at all. The main reason I gave up on the period, was the perennial one, rules - or rather lack of a set I was happy with. This changed a couple of years ago when Mark D. (fellow Ilkley Lad) began putting on East Africa games and later Western Desert games using Classic Piquet, Field of Battle WWII or Blitzkrieg Commander.

The bug had bit deep and I began buying books on the subject. After some general reading I decided to 'do WWII' slightly differently to my previous efforts. I decided to concentrate on two months of the Western Desert Campaign - Operation Crusader November 1941 - January 1942. From this point on my book buying became much less general and eventually I found three books which furnished me with as much information as I will need (well nearly).

The first two books are military histories of the operation. The best is 'The Sidi Rezeg Battles 1941' by Agar-Hamilton and Turner. This is one of the best military histories I have ever come across for any period - but like the battle the narrative is very complex. This is where 'Crusader' by Richard Humble came into its own. This is a much less comprehensive history, and consequently the narrative is much easier to follow. After reading 'Crusader', 'The Sidi Rezeg Battles 1941' became a joy to read because I knew the twists of the tale and could immerse myself in its bounteous detail.

The last of the three books is 'Benghazi Handicap' by Frank Chadwick. This is an army list and scenario book for Command Decision. It covers the Western Desert Campaign up to the end of Crusader. The army lists are fantastic and, though I will not be using the rules, I can't recommend this book highly enough. It has taken most of the hard slog 'hardware' research out of the equation.

A year ago I met someone who gave the offer of a discount should I wish to pursue a collection in 15mm, providing the order was 'significant'. When deciding what to do with the money from my ECW sale, I remembered this conversation, phoned him and firmed up the offer. Today, the first part of the order arrived (some stuff was out of stock and will follow). It comprises 15th Panzer division, less some of its heavy artillery, about 2 thirds of 7th Armoured Division, a couple of 'I' tank regiments, and a brigade of infantry. The rest of 7th Armoured, some more German stuff and all the Italian stuff will form a later order.

But this is not a project. It is, like my naval stuff, a filler period. Something to do slowly, and only when the mood takes me.

The Battle of Trimini - part 2

Here are some photos of the second night's play. There is very little blurb. The day after the game I took three days out of my comfort zone to help a friend with his art / trade show (doing donkey work, mainly) and the battle, as well as the feeling in my arms and legs, has drifted into distant memory.

The Allies kept up their inexorable advance. Here and there their progress was slowed by counter attacks by the Swiss and the constant pecking of French skirmishers, but eventually all organised resistance was crushed.

The French C-in-C and his gendarmerie did not make it out of camp (locked), and only just managed to fight off raiding Venetian stradiots who caught them in their PJs. This was probably a good thing - one of the striking factors in this battle was the way in which French command stands had a nasty habit of getting themselves killed at the first opportunity. They started the battle with 7 commanders, including the C-in-C, and ended it with just 2 - never have so many 1s been rolled on d20 (to fire) and d12 (for melee) - whilst the Allies didn't lose any.

The battle ended, possibly with another hour of play still in it, with all hope of French victory snuffed out. A decisive victory for the allies.

The Battle of Trimini (part 1)

"...and gentlemen in Trimini, now abed, will think themselves accursed they were not here." muttered a French pikeman to his comrade - who just gave a customary Gallic shrug.

Before dawn broke the reports of enemy activity were becoming more alarming by the minute. So many reports were coming in that both the Swiss and French pike squares, which had been stood-to, began a shambolic approach towards the picket lines. Minutes later the boom of French cannon in the forward lines signalled to all that something was afoot.

The plan of the Imperialists and their Venetian allies was plain to see: A massed infantry attack in the centre would be supported by a double envelopment by cavalry. The Allied army came on with great speed and within the hour the French pickets were falling back before the onrush of Landsknecht and Romagnol pikemen as the outer earthworks were overrun. Only a charge by the French pike square checked the Landsknechts who advancing on open ground. The fighting was fierce and the French put up a most gallant resistance, even under the devastating fire of supporting organ guns, before finally giving way and taking to their heals. Elsewhere the allied pike were pressing forward against light resistance, but were slowed whilst extricating themselves out of the earthworks. The Swiss plugged the gap.

The Venetians meanwhile were advancing around Trimini and an assault was looking imminent. In the main French camp all was chaos. Before the first hour was out only the Swiss managed to show some discipline, form up, and move out of camp (removed 2 locks) towards the sounds of the fighting. On the allied left the Venetian stradiots and mounted arqubusier met with no resistance and, as the Landsknechts crossed the earthworks, were at the outskirts of the French camp even as the Swiss were leaving it.

On the right, the presence of the French stradiots (who had quickly taken position there) and mounted crossbowmen slowed down the advancing allied cavalry wing with desultory skirmishing, advances and evades.

Next week we shall continue the action.