Against Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Balkans

 This book by Djordje Nikolić and Ognjan Petrović covers the Royal Yugoslav Air Force at war in 1941. While I can struggle with books on air warfare, this was a no-brainer purchase for me. 

The Royal Yugoslav Air Force (RYAF) (Vazduhoplovstvo Vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije) was the air force of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia from its establishment in 1918 until the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941. From modest beginnings, the RYAF expanded and modernised its fleet with aircraft from various countries, including France, Germany, and the UK. Significant efforts were made to develop the domestic aviation industry, producing Yugoslav-designed aircraft like the Ikarus IK-2 and the Rogozarski IK-3.

By the outbreak of World War II, the RYAF had a diverse fleet, including modern fighters such as the Hawker Hurricane, Messerschmitt Bf 109, and Dornier Do 17 bombers. It played a defensive role during the Axis invasion in April 1941, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the superior numbers and tactics of the German Luftwaffe.

The introductory chapters describe the RYAF's history and expansion and provide a detailed order of battle. 

The fighting in 1941 is covered chronologically, with each day diaried as bullet points. A bit different, but it helps differentiate between the different sectors. The main battle over Belgrade, the defence of the airfields (Zemun, Kraljevo, and Nis) and the later actions in the south. The bombing of Belgrade by the German Luftwaffe was the most significant event during the invasion. The Luftwaffe launched a massive aerial assault on the capital, causing extensive damage and civilian casualties. The RYAF attempted to intercept and repel the German bombers. Despite their efforts, the RYAF was overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemy aircraft and the Luftwaffe's advanced tactics.

Finally, each aircraft type is covered, along with a fine collection of photos, most of which I haven't seen before. This is not just a technical description; the authors cover some of the actions they fought in. The Yugoslav types are particularly interesting, as are the 73 ME109s that ended up fighting against the Germans.

Even after the airfields were lost, some 30,000 men from all aspects of the air force arrived in Sarajevo on 12 and 13 April, where they formed three infantry battalions to defend the city. The majority of them ended up in captivity after the fall of Sarajevo on the 15th. Many RYAF personnel continued to fight with the Allies, particularly in the Middle East and later in the Soviet Union and Italy.

This isn't the first book on this air war. Christopher Shores' 1987 book covers the whole Balkan campaign. However, this book drills into the RYAF and is an excellent addition to our knowledge of the conflict.

I don't have any immediate plans to add the RYAF to my Blood Red Skies squadrons. But a plane or two to support my 28mm Yugoslav army of the period is a possibility.

Buffavento Castle - Cyprus 1974

 This weekend (20/21 July) is the 50th anniversary of the Turkish military intervention on the island of Cyprus in July 1974. 

The 1960 agreement on independence for Cyprus included a Treaty of Guarantee that formally engaged Turkey, Greece and Britain in the island’s future security. Article I of that treaty bans Cyprus from participating in any political union or economic union with any other state, effectively blocking Enosis. This union with Greece was the main aim of the coup plotters who overthrew President Makarios, kicking off the latest stage of the Cyprus conflict.

Article II requires the other parties to guarantee Cyprus' independence, territorial integrity, and security. Article IV reserves the right of the guarantor powers to take action to re-establish the current state of affairs in Cyprus. It also entitled these powers to take multilateral action among them or, as a last resort if no concerted action seemed possible, each guarantor to unilateral actions confined to restoring its status according to the treaty as a democratic, bicommunal, single, sovereign independent state. It was this last clause that the Turkish Government used to justify the 1974 intervention.

I have posted background materials, maps, orbats, etc., on the military plans on the website. 

The original Turkish plan was to land in the south near Famagusta. But when a defecting Turkish Captain revealed the plan, the landings shifted to the north near Kyrenia. Airborne troops would land north of Nicosia and link up. The landings were successful, and a Greek counterattack was repulsed. The airborne link-up was fiercely resisted and wasn't achieved until the following day. However, overall, the Turkish intervention went well. They put an amphibious regt. & infantry regt. ashore, dropped an airborne brigade, and air-landed a commando brigade. The first successful corps-size opposed landing since the Suez crisis.

We have gamed the initial landings and the crucial battle for the Agirda Pass, which enabled the airborne landings to join up with the beachhead. This was the GDWS display game at Carronade in May.

So, this weekend, we decided to refight one of the consolidation actions that took place after the initial UN ceasefire, or more accurately, an operational pause. The ceasefire meant the Turkish VI Army Corps were pinned into a relatively small area within range of Greek artillery and a growing minefield belt that would be difficult to break through. In this phase, they aimed to remove Greek salients and strengthen their position if further large-scale fighting was required. 

One such salient was around Buffavento Castle, originally Byzantine, built to guard the mountain passage from Kythrea to the north coast. It was once captured by Richard the Lionheart in 1191. Turkish paras (3rd Para) launched their attack on Buffavento Castle on 25 July at 08:00, which was held by the National Guard 361st Infantry Battalion. In a strong position (945 metres high) the defenders fought off the initial attack and the Turks regrouped. At 03:00 the following day, the 3rd Airborne Battalion attacked again with two platoons climbing the slopes supported by machine guns emplaced in the Buffavento woods. At 1215, the paratroopers had control of the castle.

The refight was done using 20mm figures and Modern Bolt Action rules. The initial Turkish assault went well after the Greeks were plastered with air and artillery bombardment. However, a Greek counterattack pushed back the paras. A second squad of paras also successfully assaulted, but the Greek reserve pushed them back. All looked lost for the Greeks as a third squad of paras captured the front line, and the Greeks failed their activation. However, a devastating artillery strike from a 25pdr gun destroyed the Turks. So, the Greeks held on, just as they did in the first attack in 1974. 

It was an excellent game and would make a good participation game at a show.

A Stake in the Kingdom

The latest in my Nigel Tranter re-reading project covers the period when James V was King of Scots. However, David Beaton was the real power behind the throne. Tranter tells the story of this remarkable character who rose from the seventh son of a minor laird to the highest levels in the church and government. 

David Beaton was born in 1494 in Fife. He studied at St Andrews and Glasgow universities in Scotland and later in Paris. He never wanted to be a proper churchman and became an Abbot without taking holy orders. It says much about the state of the church during this period that he could do so. He was married before he took holy orders and maintained his wife and large family afterwards.

His friendship with the French King and his support for the Auld Alliance against Henry VIII's England earned him a lucrative appointment as Bishop of Mirepoix in 1537. Pope Paul III made him a cardinal in December 1538. He succeeded his uncle James Beaton as the Archbishop of St Andrews in 1539, becoming the leading church figure in Scotland.

His political influence during James V's reign continued after that sorry monarch died, when he acted as the de facto ruler of Scotland during the minority of Mary, Queen of Scots. He opposed the Protestant Reformation and worked to maintain the Catholic Church's influence in Scotland against Henry VIII's machinations. He was assassinated by Protestant nobles on May 29, 1546, at St Andrews Castle.

David Beaton remains a controversial historical figure, and Tranter doesn't sugarcoat his ruthless conduct. He is remembered for his staunch defence of Catholicism and his significant political influence in Scotland, but also for his role in the persecution of Protestant reformers. His assassination marked a pivotal moment in the Scottish Reformation, contributing to the eventual decline of Catholic power in Scotland.

This is primarily a story of political manoeuvrings. There was military action, with Henry VIII regularly sending armies into Scotland. The Scots won the Battle of Haddon Rig (near Kelso in the Scottish Borders) in August 1542. However, James' army suffered a severe defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss in November of that year. Beaton was not averse to donning armour when required. In 16th-century Scotland, that was often!

Some of my 15mm Tudor army, which hasn't seen the tabletop for a long time.

Battle of Drumclog 1679

On 1 June 1679, a Covenanter force defeated government troops led by John Graham of Claverhouse at Drumclog in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. I regularly pass the small village on my way down south, yet I have never looked at this small action in any detail. A couple of guys from my wargame club are involved in the reenactment society, The Earl of Loudoun's Regiment of Foote, and they were doing a small event near the battlefield today.

By 1679, the Restoration government was persecuting the Covenanters, and Claverhouse, better known to his enemies as 'Bluidy Clavers', had been appointed to disperse conventicles in southwest Scotland. Claverhouse’s dragoons attempted to disperse the Covenanters who had gathered for a conventicle at Loudoun Hill (the site of Robert Bruce's victory in 1307). The Covenanters, despite being outnumbered and less well-armed, took advantage of the terrain. The boggy ground favoured the Covenanters, who used it to neutralise the advantage of the dragoons. The Covenanters, under Robert Hamilton’s leadership, launched a charge outflanking Claverhouse’s dragoons, causing confusion and then rout.

It was a small action, with less than 200 on each side, but it is remembered as a symbol of resistance against religious oppression.

Loudoun's is Scotland's only Civil War reenactment group, with over 100 members. Today's event was small-scale and without any musketry or cannon fire because of the farm the event took place on rear horses. Nonetheless, watching the pike drill and supporting stalls was interesting. 

The stalls displayed food, medicine, and surgery during the period.

The battlefield is on a hill above the village, marked by a monument.

Glasgow Museum's have a painting of the battle, although it could look more accurate to me.

My 15mm Covenanter army for the tabletop is from the earlier Civil War period when the Covenanters were the government of Scotland battling Montrose and King Charles I.

Stirling Castle and the Argylls

 A work trip to Stirling yesterday included a meeting in Stirling castle, which makes an enjoyable change from the standard dull committee room. Despite regularly driving past the castle, I haven't been inside the castle for years.

Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland. It is situated on a crag surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, giving it a solid defensive position. Its strategic location, guarding a downstream crossing of the River Forth, has made it an important fortification in the region from the earliest times. There have been at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, including several during the Wars of Scottish Independence, with the last being in 1746, when Bonnie Prince Charlie unsuccessfully tried to take the castle. 

My first stop was the Grand Battery, which severely damaged the Jacobite forces in 1746. You can also see the site of the old Stirling Bridge, William Wallace's famous victory, and Bannockburn, Robert Bruce's decisive battle site, even if the precise location is contested. 

The buildings inside the castle are not particularly interesting, although they are often featured in the books of Nigel Tranter, which I have been re-reading. 

The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Even if it was odd to take a German client around parts of it! The museum is fitted into many small rooms in the castle on several floors. I'm sure it has been upgraded since my last visit and the displays are excellent, with clear modern descriptions.

The museum has a collection of paintings that will be familiar as they have often been reproduced in books. 

Mad Mitch in Aden

Korean War

And in pride of place, The Thin Red Line by Robert Gibb, although I think the original is in the National War Museum in Edinburgh Castle. It portrays an action at the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854, when the 93rd Highlanders, drawn up in a long line, remarkably halted a Russian cavalry charge. The phrase 'The Thin Red Line' is, in fact, a misquote. Eyewitness war correspondent William Russell wrote in his despatch for The Times of 'a thin red streak topped with a line of steel'. I had a print of this painting on the wall of my office for many years. 

The story has passed into Scottish military history folklore. As bayonets were fixed, Campbell rode to the front and called out to his troops, ‘There is no retreat from here, men! You must die where you stand.’ The response was, ‘Aye, aye, Sir Colin, an needs be, we’ll do that.’ A story that encapsulates the appeal of military history in a couple of sentences.

Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool

We are in Teesside for a family funeral tomorrow, and a few spare hours this afternoon was an opportunity to visit the Museum of the Royal Navy in Hartlepool.

The centrepiece of the museum is HMS Trincomalee, one of two surviving British frigates of the post-Napoleonic era. Her near-sister, HMS Unicorn, is in Dundee, and I have regularly visited her on business trips. Trincomalee was ordered in 1812 and built in teak in Bombay, India, due to oak shortages in Britain due to shipbuilding drives for the Napoleonic Wars. She was a 38-gun frigate of the Leda class, although rated as 46 because carronades were counted in armament from 1817. She was launched in 1817 and arrived in Portsmouth in 1819, too late for the Napoleonic Wars, so she was put in reserve. Trincomalee was refitted and rearmed in 1845. She departed from Portsmouth in 1847 and remained in service for ten years, serving on the North America and West Indies Station. 

The ship is in much better condition than Unicorn and is fully masted.

The dock buildings have been converted into shops of the period, with nautical themes.

There is a display area describing the ship and a series of displays on naval life of the period. If you are in the area, it is well worth a visit.

Persian Army of the Napoleonic period

 My latest project has been completed, at least for now. The Persian army of the Napoleonic period was inspired by Lawrence Kelly's book Diplomacy and Murder in Tehran. I followed that up with a history of the South Caucasus and, finally, the most useful, Maziar Behrooz's Iran at War.

While Behrooz is essential reading for the history, the wargamer will find David Brown's booklet, The Persian Army of the Napoleonic Era, indispensable. It is available as a PDF download from Wargames Vault. This provides all the available details on the units and pictures that help with painting. We don't know everything, so some judgement is needed.

The Persian Army of the period fought against the Russians and the Ottomans, giving the wargamer a new opponent for these armies. The French and the British dabbled in the region and provided some support at different times. The army itself is interesting and colourful, with a mix of European-type units, traditional militia, and cavalry.

My current favourite ruleset for this period is Blucher, which enables large battles and doesn't require hundreds of figures. I went for 15mm because Irregular Miniatures do a decent range.

The project got a kick start when I noticed Mark Bevis was selling off his armies of the period. In 1994, Mark wrote a guide to Middle Eastern armies of the period that helped me get into the period at a time when there was very little written.

I bought some of his regular infantry and artillery and rebased them for Blucher.

Next up were the regular cavalry from the Irregular Miniatures range and Zamburak camel gunners. I will supplement these with some of my Ottoman figures of the period to represent tribal cavalry.

And finally, a unit of Russian deserters formed a guard unit known as the Great Warriors. Again from Irregular

The army first appeared on the tabletop against the Russians and performed very well.