A Sandbox

One of the great things about these games is the pool of aircraft that players provide. Random aircraft are then parceled out at the capricious whim of Richard when successful calls are made. Previous games have seen air and indeed artillery assets commanded at Divisional and Corps level and allocated where deemed most necessary to succeed.  Despite my best efforts, the Shackleton was never called on to provide Close Air Support for NATO. But we have plans for Electronic Warfare assets in future games, to add to the Command and Control mayhem. So maybe it'll get a spin then. 

Generally around this time, Richard Phillips hosts a big Cold War Commander game at his place, The Unit, in Stone, Staffs. This year, was a Northern Front game, with a soviet invasion force cutting across Finland in an effort to secure the northern reaches of Norway. This has irked the Finns, who have decided that once bitten is twice shy and have ignored warnings from the Kremlin and have mobilised their forces. Along with a NATO task force of US, Dutch and Royal Marines, they have established a defensive line, seeking to defeat a force of Czechoslovakian and other WarPac forces including a naval brigade who have landed on the outskirts of Tromsø.. So, with that scene set, forces deployed on Saturday morning, teas and coffees primed, battle was joined.  Tromso before the battle.. tanks and APC's are deployed from landing craft of various types.  The Finnish forces dug in on the Lyngen Line, field defences based on the Lyngen Alp...

My first ship model. It wasn't fun. It has coincided with my needing a new prescription for my short sightedness. So an eye test and a bill north of £400 later, I'll be getting new varifocals. The joys of middle age. 

My main priority of the summer holidays was to play at least one game. Time, inertia and Real Life scuppered my solo campaign plans, but I did at least get to play my old mucker Andy T at a game of Maurice. We borrowed the scenario for Grymauchs solo blog, details  here  which is a great source of inspiration. We played around with the forces, I ended up with 3 brigades of Rebels and a cannon, arrayed as per Grymauchs scenario.  Dug in regulars with Irregular infantry in front, forming Putnam's brigade. In Maurice, skirmishers like these have a longer range of 6 Base Widths. This is an incredibly useful trait. This force was led by a Notable (chosen at random.)  MacDougalls brigade with the CO planning destruction of King George and his Hessian lap dogs. The scenario called for the American forces to fight a delaying action in order to prevent General Howe turning Washingtons flank on White Hills. In terms of Maurice this meant either fighting...

A wander round the excellent  Muckleborough Military Collection  on my holidays. Didn't go on the bone-rattling drive in the back of a Bedford around the sight this time, but at least my lad was a bit happier to stop and read some about some of the exhibits this time! Always good to see things in reality to get ideas of scale and presence. The Dingo, for example,  really is a small little chap that could easily hide behind shrubbery. I'm not tall, but could easily look into this!  2pdr porter 6pdr 17pdr. A real beast of a piece!  Chieftain, Stug, Sexton and a Pz.61 Meat Chopper quad .50cals.  ex Irish Army Comet.  T55 in centre, with a T34/85 in running order next to it , with only 1 logged repair in its 79 year history and a T55 bridge layer.  the rest of the camp, ex RAF Weybourne, used to train AA crews from WW1 to the Cold War.  ...

Finished the village, quite pleased with the tin roof on the workshop building. Will add some vehicles and some street furniture anon.