Baber on wargames: March 2018

Thursday, 29 March 2018

Blast from the past

This morning Facebook (as it does) threw up images from the past as "memories".

These images this were of the lads playing wargames with Dad.

These first two are photos of a Rif War game, a blockhouse re-supply

Chris was 8 and Alex 11

This last photo actually appeared in Henry Hyde`s Battlegames – Tabletop Teasers Vol1

I would guess the guys are a few years older

Tuesday, 27 March 2018

Upnor Castle and the Battle of Medway

Had a rare weekend off and attended a wedding of Debbie`s brother in Kent.

The wedding ceremony was held at Upnor Castle which is famous for its participation in the Battle of Medway, June 1667.

The English forces were totally unprepared for the Dutch assault on Chatham.

Dutch forces captured Sheerness fort and forced the Unity, a 42-gun guardship, to retreat towards Chatham.

They then broke through a defensive iron chain on the Medway, allowing them to attack the fleet at its base.

Finding the ships unmanned they attacked them again, leaving many ablaze.

Most humiliating of all, the flagship Royal Charles - as well as the Unity - were captured and towed back to the Netherlands as a prize.

The Dutch victory was celebrated in paintings, many of which can be seen on display in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

Photos of the fort

This 37mm (1ldr) breach loader was on display along with a dozen or so gun powder muzzle loading cannon. I would guess this one dates towards the end of the 1800s?

Thursday, 22 March 2018

US trucks

Raventhorpe, Ready to Roll trucks

Studabaker 2.5ton 6x6

Dodge 6x6

Wednesday, 21 March 2018

The Mighty Wehrmacht

Started Monday morning 😆

Various equine bits `n pieces for my late-war German HQ

Mounted recce patrol

There maybe more lurking in various boxes?

3 Revel gunners

4 Britannia SS cavalry

All together

3 draft animals (for towing infantry guns, etc)

2 x Raventhorpe, 1 x old Skytrex

Pack mule train Combat Miniatures

Ambulance wagon Raventhorpe

Friday, 16 March 2018

US Assault Infantry

Bought two packs from Tony at Raventhorpe by mistake - D`oh! 😄

Read "LCVP boat teams" as naval crew (which is what I needed), when in fact they are assault infantry boat teams - D`oh!

Anyway 30 figs all together, some very interesting poses and nicely cast so I decided to paint them up anyway as regular leg infantry and a bunker assault platoon -

Spotter team

Moving 81mm mortar team

Moving .30cal team

Various rifle armed guys (one with BAR) I`ve added more satchel charges to some figures

Bazooka, Bangalor torpedoes, pole charge

Flamethrower and guys with satchel charges

Lone NCO

Bunker assault squad

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Re-purposed trucks

Some years back (20+) when I was too fussy about what vehicles go with whom (I know amazing isn`t it) I bought a set of "Yesteryear" trucks from Lledo. They were US Army between the wars stuff and at the time ended up in the rear echelon of my US force. They have sat in a drawer now for many years awaiting the day when I found a more suitable use for them. This last weekend I found myself at a loose end so dug them out and gave them all a re-paint, the plan is to make them more useful.

Studabaker Van & Ford AA truck

My thoughts are the van can be a civilian vehicles (street furniture) or one of many taken into military service.

I gave the truck a general military colour, so it can serve with the French, Spanish or even Germans as a transport vehicle.

Ford AA crane

Gave this one a total re-paint then roughly weathered it to look like a hard-worked civilian vehicle. My thoughts are this will make an interesting visual addition to an industrial, railway or dock battlefield.