Campaign in Greece

My latest Balkan reading is a reprint of the Air Ministry, Air Historical Branch study, Campaign in Greece 1940-41.

This is a history and analysis of the British air campaign in support of the Greeks in 1940-41. The resources were limited as the campaign was viewed as a distraction from the western desert campaign, at a time when the Germans, under Rommel, were arriving to bail out the Italians. However, as this study shows, even if more aircraft were available it would have been difficult to deploy them given the lack of all weather airfields. Like the land campaign, organisation was patched together and there was poor communication between the allied commanders, including poor AA cover and observer support.

Most of the campaign was fought by Blenheim and Wellington bombers protected by Gladiator fighters. Obsolete, but still did a really good job. Some Hurricanes arrived in the spring of 1941. The RAF claimed 231 enemy aircraft confirmed and 94 unconfirmed, for a total aircraft lost of 209. Of these 72 were lost in combat and 83 destroyed or abandoned on evacuation. The rest in low flying attacks on poorly protected airfields.

This is a reprint of a typewriter study so the production quality is very poor. None the less it has lots of useful data and a fairly frank assessment of the campaign successes and failures.

More German armour

Latest additions from the painting tray for my early war German project. We have some light armoured cars, Pkw 1 command tanks and some trucks. All from the Forged in Battle range.

Foot next with the Gebirgsjager being based up.

The Parthian

My latest historical fiction read has been Peter Darman's book 'The Parthian'. First time I have read his work and very mixed reviews for a book that is very good value on the Kindle.

First the story. Our hero is Prince Pacorus, a Parthian prince who gets captured by the Romans and ends up a slave in Italy. He is liberated by Spartacus and he creates a Parthian style light horse unit in the slave army. So the book is really about the slave revolt, a popular fiction theme at present. His unit helps give Spartacus the edge over his Roman opponents in a series of battles the length of Italy, until eventual defeat when Pacorus slips back to Parthia.

Other reviewers seem to either love or hate this book. It is certainly hard work in places and could have benefited from some aggressive editing. Typos are particularly irritating and unnecessary in a professional publication. The story line is less than plausible in places, but then the story of Spartacus is pretty amazing. On the plus side the battle scenes are well described and the historical context well researched. I certainly had no problem putting it down, but I equally never felt the urge to give up. I won't rush to get the next title, but could be tempted. 

Greek WW2 figures in 28mm

I reviewed the new Rif Raf range back in August when David Burns kindly sent me some samples.

I have eventually got round to getting them ready for the tabletop. Not quite up to David's standard but they still make very presentable figures. Not sure what I am going to do with them as I am not going to start this conflict in another scale. famous last words!

Might make an appearance as an overseas legion in VBCW. Communist exiles from the Metaxas regime perhaps?

Naval mutiny!

The navy has mutinied in Glasgow and joined the Clydeside Brigade. useful reinforcements as these are trained troops in the best Battleship Potemkin tradition.

These are First Corps figures supplemented by some villainous looking Blue Moon characters. Oh and one of Simon's converted steam lorries that I picked up at Falkirk.

International Brigades

Fought my first full game with the revised edition of Flames of War. Also an opportunity to field some recent reinforcements for my International Brigades fighting off Franco's forces and their Italian allies in the Spanish Civil War.

It may just be my inexperience in playing these rules, but I struggled to find too many changes in the revised rules. Assaults are certainly simpler but the other changes have largely passed me by. I know a lot of wargamers get a bit sniffy about Flames of War, but I think they are an elegant system that give a good game. 

For this game the International Brigade was occupying a reasonably strong position based on a village with hills on either side. The Nationalist launched pinning attacks on the right and centre while the Italians, supported by tanks and artillery, attacked the left. They were initially successful but a counterattack drove them back. The forces of fascism held back, at least for another day.

The full tabletop

Italian left flank attack

The village and International Brigade position

Moors and Carlists in the centre

Lots of 75th anniversaries for the Spanish Civil War at present. It was 75 years ago last October when Largo Caballero, Prime Minister of the Republic authorised the raising of foreign volunteers. Last February was the anniversary of the Battle of Jarama, where the International Brigades, British Battalion in particular, lost many men defending Madrid.

The International Brigade Memorial Trust is currently taking an exhibition around the country and it's well worth a look if it's in your area.  



Marius' Mules - Invasion of Gaul

My latest Kindle read has been Marius' Mules - Invasion of Gaul by S.J.A.Turney.

I am something of a sucker for Roman fiction so here we go again with another story of the Legions and their wars. This time none other than Julius Ceasar and the Gallic wars.

The story takes us through the early stages of the invasion, up to the defeat of Ariovistus, showing how Ceasar engineered conflict in Gaul for his own purposes. It describes camp life in some detail and the internal as well as external conflicts.

Now this isn't in the Scarrow league. It can be heavy going at times, the dialogue is a bit cliched and the characters rather predictable. Very much black and white with few shades of grey. However, I was never tempted to give it up. I see two more in the series so I might be tempted - but not just yet. 

Road to Manzikert

Just finished Brian Todd's book 'Road to Manzikert - Byzantine and Islamic Warfare 527 - 1071'.

Manzikert is of course one of the decisive battles in medieval history. The defeat of the Byzantine Empire, including the capture of the Emperor, by the Seljuk Turks resulted in the loss of Anatolia to the Empire. While there was something of a recovery, the Byzantine Empire lost key revenue, manpower and horse breeding areas to the Turks.

This book is about much more than the battle. The authors take us through 500 years of conflict from Justinian through the rise of Islam to the coming of the Turks. Usefully, not just a focus on the Byzantine Empire but good chapters on Islamic warfare as well.

The narrative is well written, but the strength of the book is in the maps and diagrams of the key battles. This really brings the text alive. Recommended.

Pike & Shotte

I played my first game today of the new Black Powder renaissance variant, Pike & Shotte. I play tested with a small Polish v Austrian Imperial clash. First impressions, very positive.

Those familiar with Black Powder will have few problems as the basic game mechanisms are the same. Few annoying differences that are not justified by the period, as I found with FoGR. The same chaotic order system, blunders and the rest that take a bit of getting used to, but great fun. Like the other variants, this is not a system for the rules lawyer or tournament player. 

My first reaction to the concept of units that appear to split up pike & shot 'regiments' was not positive. However, I realised that it forces you to adopt 'brigade' size formations of infantry, rather than having units in unhistorical positions as is allowed under other rules. I suspect I will shift to the 2/3rds distances that I use for Black Powder, when playing on a standard 4 feet deep board. At 28mm, units can fly across the table.

I have a few issues with the army lists. No Croat foot skirmishers for the Austrians or war wagons for the Poles. But these are simple to add on given the annex on army lists and points.

The presentation is up to the usual Warlord standard. Well laid out, clear tables and plenty of eye candy. A potted history for those not familiar with the period, plus army lists for all the main conflicts. No need for an extensive (and expensive) range of supplements. And a quick reference sheet that appears to work. Not something you can say about most rules. Recommended.

Carronade

I was at the Falkirk show, Carronade yesterday. Well organised as always by the Falkirk lads in a good venue. Excellent spread of traders and I picked up a number of items for current projects.

The GDWS WW2 group put on a good display of very unusual armour with their Barbarossa 1942 display.

and here a few other displays that caught my eye.

First Germans

First German troops for the Seelowe Nord project. Decided my Gebirgsjager will need some armoured support if they are to rampage across Yorkshire.

These are Panzer II tanks and some field cars. From the Forged in Battle range and very good they are. Good raised detail makes painting a joy, particularly with a drybrush. The gun barrels were a bit fiddly but that would be my only reservation. Bought some more today at the Carronade show.

The last of the Italians (for now!) lurking at the back in the form of a truck mounted AA gun. Nice Battlefront model, but I do find them very fiddly, parts don't fit well and could do with some instructions.

  

Salute

A somewhat belated post on my visit to the Salute show.

As most will know this is the largest wargame show in the UK, held at the Excel Centre in London. Bit of a hike from Scotland, but I linked it up with a rare visit to Craven Cottage to see Fulham beat Wigan. Good day all round!

Most people go to Salute because just about every trader is there and this year was no exception. It took most of my available time just getting round the stalls. Having to fly back later in the day restricted the size of my purchases, but I picked up lots of bits and pieces for current projects. Bumped into another GDWS pal with many carrier bags and an airline challenge to follow.

On my last visit to Salute I was a bit disappointed with the display games. Not this time. There were several I could have watched all day. Particular pleased to see the Warlords South American Wars of Liberation  after having followed its progress on the Liberators Forum.

Snapped a few games that caught my eye:

Awesome Peninsular War game using 54mm Vitrix figures

Nice VBCW game

Very scenic Franco-Prussian War game

Fort Paull

A trip to Hull to visit my partner's mum over Easter didn't hold out much in the way of historical interest. However, I did manage a visit to the York model railway show and picked up some scenic bits and bobs as well as admiring the modelling skills.

Hull's latest tourist attraction is the renovated Fort Paull on the banks of the Humber Estuary. The original fort was built in 1542 and the current version in 1864 although updated for use in WW2.

A team of volunteers have done a good job with a variety of exhibits and display rooms. Well worth a visit.

Tiger Command

I have just finished reading 'Tiger Command' by Bob Carruthers and Sinclair Mclay based on an original manuscript by Ritter von Krauss.


This is a story about a German tank crew on the Eastern Front. They give up their Panzer IV F1 to be retrained to use the new Tiger 1. They return to the Eastern Front to avenge their comrades with the new 'super' tank. There are a number of sub-plots involving their main opponent on the Soviet side who turns out to be a renegade German.

The story is apparently based on the author's wartime experiences and it is certainly a good appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the Tiger. The reader also gets a good understanding of the essential teamwork involved in fighting in a tank in WW2.

Perhaps not the greatest writing style, but none the less a good read. One the tankies will enjoy.

Amsterdam

I had a very pleasant short break in Amsterdam before Easter. Not a lot of military interest and describing what there was not helped by my accidentally deleting the photos from my camera!

The best is probably the new ship museum. They have a full size replica of a Dutch East Indiaman. Very impressive, although how they accommodated a crew of 350 is a mystery to me. Inside the museum the section on the 'Golden Age' has a good collection of ship models and other items. Not a lot on naval warfare but well worth a visit.

The Amsterdam Historical Museum has a collection of weapons and armour although sadly I missed their special exhibition on trade with the Ottoman's in the Levant. That will run until August.

The Rijksmuseum is of course the must do visit in any trip to Amsterdam. I have been a couple of times before many years ago and remember the wonderful dioramas in the basement that inspired me to start renaissance wargaming using Peter Laing figures. The museum is undergoing a major refurbishment so they have moved the Old Masters and other selected exhibits to a single wing. Still worth the effort and here there was an Ottoman exhibition with a number of books and plates.

This one of the siege of Vienna was especially interesting.

There are a number of paintings and exhibits of naval warfare and the Dutch colonies. Plus one of my favourite pictures - Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch'.

Amsterdam is a lovely city, and even without much of military interest, still worth a visit.

War in the West (Axis Triumphant)

Just finished 'War in the West' by Brian Clarke. The basic premise of this alternative history is that Hitler falls ill and dies at the start of the war and is replaced by Reinhard Heydrich.

Heydrich being smarter and more rational simply doesn't make the mistakes Hitler made. Aided by some amazingly effective intelligence assets and no Ultra, he conducts an almost faultless campaign. The seizure of the Azores brings Britain to its knees and the book ends with the fall of the Soviet Union in a campaign season.

I have to say that I struggled with this book. Some parts of the conflict are dealt with in minute detail and others brushed over. I kept expecting some twist at the end when it would all go wrong for the infallible Heydrich. But it doesn't, and this is the silliest part of a very silly story. The author clearly hasn't heard of Von Moltke's maxim "No battle plan ever survived first contact with the enemy". If he had he would understand that things go wrong in war and other challenges would have caused the German's difficulties, even without Hitler's crazier interventions.

In summary this is very poor fantasy, not even alternative history. Not worth the effort or the very modest 79p it costs to download on the Kindle.

More Italian reinforcements

Flames of War army lists mean a requirement for more Italian mortars in particular. Quite enjoyed painting 15mm figures again. Forgotten how quick it can be.

These are mainly from the Peter Pig range. Bases from Warbases.

Albanich 2012

First Scottish wargames show of the year today in Dumfries - Albanich. Small show but well supported by some good traders and some very good display games.

Glasgow & District Wargames Society took our Very British Civil War display game, 'We are not amused'. The Duchess of Argyll is shipping arms to the BUF and are intercepted by the Clydeside Brigade. Scottish Government forces intervene to ensure neither side gets their hand on the weapons. The battle was fought along a shallow river (Last Valley) and through the village. The Clydeside Brigade eventually fought their way across the river but not in sufficient numbers to exploit their victory.

A good day out and as always good to meet other clubs and pick up some supplies. In my case plenty of bases from the excellent Warbases, some scenery from Last Valley and some German tanks for Flames of War. I resisted some lovely Aventine Elephants, for now at least!

The Duchess own unit and BUF platoon defend the village

Another VBCW game from Dumfries

Impressive Dublin uprising game

The Legion

Just finished my latest Simon Scarrow novel 'The Legion'. This is in his Roman Empire series following the adventures of Macro and Cato, now both Centurions, around the Empire's wars.

This episode takes place in Egypt. Cato and Macro are chasing the slave pirate Ajax along the coast where he is impersonating a Roman unit and destabilising the Empire's hold on what was a vital province.

He is eventually cornered by the flotilla led by Cato, but escapes overland. Ajax heads for Nubia and joins up with the Nubian army that has launched a major attack on the southern provinces. Cato and Macro are ordered to join the 22nd Legion and Cato ends up commanding the legion after the death of two previous commanders.
Scarrow is a master story teller. His books have real pace and his heroes have that anti-establishment edge that make them interesting and powerful characters in their own right. The model is of course Sharpe, just back a few centuries. Be warned this is very difficult to put down!   

Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler

I know books are not good for me. Good historical fiction is really bad for me.

I enjoyed Andy Johnson's book Seelowe Nord so much that I just had to wargame it. A German invasion of Yorkshire in 1940. I have regular British troops in 15mm, but a key role in the book was played by a Home Guard platoon.

So off to Peter Pig who have all you will need in metal. A quick paint job and there we have a Yorkshire version of Mr Mannering and this merry band. These are based and organised for Flames of War. I used the Lines of Communication platoon data from the Blitzkrieg supplement.

Next I will need some Germans. Why did I sell of my last 15mm Germans? I have decided on a Gebirgsjager company. As some one who has puffed and panted my way up a fair few Scottish mountains I have nothing but respect for mountain troops who had to do it with equipment, in all weathers and without the benefit of modern walking gear. 

Lots of metal ordered for what will become one of my key projects for the year. Watch this space - eventually!