What if Lt Colonel George Custer was instead assigned to the 5th Cavalry on Mars....
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| From GDW's "The Soldier's Companion" |
Wonderful conversions in 15mm (not mine!)
And some 28mm USMC Infantry on patrol (on Venus in this case)
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Thursday, 16 May 2024
Monday, 24 August 2015
US Naval War College Museum
As the original college building, there is where Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, USN, second War College President (1886-1889) and subsequently a renowned naval historian, first delivered his lectures on sea power—lectures which were first published in 1890 as the epochal The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783.
While relatively small, the Museum has some great artefacts, particularly noting that Newport was also the US Navy's torpedo facility and training school. Here are a couple that caught my eye:
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| The US Navy Protected Cruiser USS Chicago. |
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| The USS Stiletto (1885) - wooden torpedo boat used for experimental torpedo development |
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US Navy Torpedo Boat No 1: USS Cushing (1890). The first steel hulled, ocean going TB
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| Newport has been key in USN torpedo development |
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| Full size Fish and Howell model torpedoes - nose aspect. Quite different to the better known Whitehead design |
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| Full size Fish and Howell model torpedoes - stern aspect |
https://www.usnwc.edu/About/NWC-Museum.aspx
Saturday, 18 July 2015
Flying Airfield takes off!
Brigade has released a new Nef, and a monster it is!
Today we’re unveiling a new Aeronef model, and our largest to date in this range. The Langley is an American carrier which supports up to 18 fighters in its capacious hangars. It’s well equipped with anti-fighter batteries for self-defence, although with nothing in the way of offensive armament.
The model has been computer designed and 3D printed, but styled to fit in with the existing models in the US fleet.
The Langley is available on its own, or in a pack complete with escorts, fighters and bases. The new anti-fighter turrets are also available in a pack of 12, along with a second circular AA turret – ideal for conversions or upgrades to your existing models.
Today we’re unveiling a new Aeronef model, and our largest to date in this range. The Langley is an American carrier which supports up to 18 fighters in its capacious hangars. It’s well equipped with anti-fighter batteries for self-defence, although with nothing in the way of offensive armament.
The model has been computer designed and 3D printed, but styled to fit in with the existing models in the US fleet.
The Langley is available on its own, or in a pack complete with escorts, fighters and bases. The new anti-fighter turrets are also available in a pack of 12, along with a second circular AA turret – ideal for conversions or upgrades to your existing models.
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
War Plan Red: Part 4
The US Plan to defeat Great Britain, based on their assessment of the likely British plan to blockade the Atlantic and invade through New England to threaten the vital industrial heartland of the US (for more detail see here).
Having assessed the likely British plan, US planners broadly concluded that:
Having assessed the likely British plan, US planners broadly concluded that:
- Naval situation in the Atlantic would at best be a standoff with neither side having no significant advantage, OR the British would sabotage the Panama Canal and gain a decisive advantage
- British efforts to lodge an invasion force would likely be staged using Canada as a forward operating base
- British Cruiser and submarine forces operating out of Canada and the Caribbean would be sufficient to blockade the majority of merchant traffic, and
- British threats to the North East of the US would likely be effective before the American industrial and manpower superiority could be mobilised.
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| Allied convoy assembles in Halifax: Exactly what the US planners wanted to prevent |
In consideration of these factors, the US planners concluded that the answer to defeat Great Britain was to immediately go on the offensive and remove the British ability to utilise Canada and other forward operating bases, by seizing “Red bases in the western North Atlantic, the West Indies, and the Caribbean.” The strategic priority was Halifax, Nova Scotia and its all important naval base which would be critical in supporting a forward deployed Royal Navy operating on the East Coast of the US. The US estimated it had a maximum of 14 days before the combined RN Home and Mediterranean Fleets would be operating on their doorstep. Use of this time would be critical.
The US Army had only limited initial resources but those available would strike north rapidly. Within 3 days of mobilisation, a Corps of 3 Divisions (some 25,000 troops) would muster at Boston. Depending on the situation, they could move north through Maine using the rail network to enhance their mobility, or proceed north under fleet escort to conduct an amphibious attack on Halifax. In considering the lessons of WW1, US submarine warfare would also be waged to interdict Canada from British shipping and deny the buildup of the forces required to undertake an invasion of the US and deploy accordingly.
The US Army had only limited initial resources but those available would strike north rapidly. Within 3 days of mobilisation, a Corps of 3 Divisions (some 25,000 troops) would muster at Boston. Depending on the situation, they could move north through Maine using the rail network to enhance their mobility, or proceed north under fleet escort to conduct an amphibious attack on Halifax. In considering the lessons of WW1, US submarine warfare would also be waged to interdict Canada from British shipping and deny the buildup of the forces required to undertake an invasion of the US and deploy accordingly.
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| The best defence... |
This track would also be supported by spoiling attacks along the eastern boarder. As troops became available, an advance would be made from upstate New York against Montreal and Quebec while another force would advance to take the hydro-electric plants on the Niagara River. Other moves would be made to safeguard the Detroit industrial region and capture other key infrastructure such as the Sault St marine canal and its locks. The occupation of Canadian territory was a priority, weather and logistic wallowing. Realistically, in these early stage there would be little that Canada could do without British reinforcement, though aggressive aerial attacks were expected with little that could be done to prevent them.
Back at Sea, the short period before the Royal Navy appearing in strength was critical. The US Atlantic fleet (4 Battleships plus cruiser support) would be used to strike British possessions. Initial targets were Jamaica, the Bahamas and Bermuda, to be followed up if possible with attacks on Trinidad, St Lucia and British possessions in the West Indies. These would reduce the use of these bases to interdict merchant traffic and help safeguard the Panama Canal. On the great lakes and in the pacific Canadian ports would be blockaded.
With the British ability to invade the East Coast significantly degraded, the US Army would focus on dislocating the Canadian Eats and West coasts to prevent a buildup of Indian or ANZAC troops from the Pacific coast. Capture of the Winnipeg rail centre, a crucial rail node, was key in this, followed by the occupation of Vancouver and British Columbia.
Overall, the US plan was to strike quickly to remove Canada as a staging point, prevent a British buildup and allow US mobilisation efforts to come to fruition. As unlikely as the situation was deemed, it was deemed to be a valid strategy.
Should Japan enter the War on the British side, a join War Plan Red-Orange would be activated (War Plan Orange being the contingency plan for war against Japan). British Naval strength was seen to be the biggest threat and the intent was to prosecute a "Red First" policy, analogously prescient to the 'Europe First' policy of WW2.
One point to consider - War Plan Red was developed in 1927 after the Geneva Naval Conference of that year, and was approved in 1930. Transplant this scenario to a VSF setting and a few different aspects come into play. The demilitarisation of the US-Canadian boarder, key to the US twentieth century plan, started in the late 1870s. Residual infrastructure could still be present and even be reactivated in a period of tension. Use of such facilities for aeronef raids into the US might degrade or delay the initial thrust into Halifax. Alternatively, an RN aquanef blockade could be established off the East Coast prior to hostilities, nullifying the initial US freedom of acton. Lots of possibilities.
Alternatively, if it appeals to you as is then there is a board game from Avalanche Press you may wish to investigate (thanks Michael P, for the information).
Back at Sea, the short period before the Royal Navy appearing in strength was critical. The US Atlantic fleet (4 Battleships plus cruiser support) would be used to strike British possessions. Initial targets were Jamaica, the Bahamas and Bermuda, to be followed up if possible with attacks on Trinidad, St Lucia and British possessions in the West Indies. These would reduce the use of these bases to interdict merchant traffic and help safeguard the Panama Canal. On the great lakes and in the pacific Canadian ports would be blockaded.
Overall, the US plan was to strike quickly to remove Canada as a staging point, prevent a British buildup and allow US mobilisation efforts to come to fruition. As unlikely as the situation was deemed, it was deemed to be a valid strategy.
Should Japan enter the War on the British side, a join War Plan Red-Orange would be activated (War Plan Orange being the contingency plan for war against Japan). British Naval strength was seen to be the biggest threat and the intent was to prosecute a "Red First" policy, analogously prescient to the 'Europe First' policy of WW2.
One point to consider - War Plan Red was developed in 1927 after the Geneva Naval Conference of that year, and was approved in 1930. Transplant this scenario to a VSF setting and a few different aspects come into play. The demilitarisation of the US-Canadian boarder, key to the US twentieth century plan, started in the late 1870s. Residual infrastructure could still be present and even be reactivated in a period of tension. Use of such facilities for aeronef raids into the US might degrade or delay the initial thrust into Halifax. Alternatively, an RN aquanef blockade could be established off the East Coast prior to hostilities, nullifying the initial US freedom of acton. Lots of possibilities.
Alternatively, if it appeals to you as is then there is a board game from Avalanche Press you may wish to investigate (thanks Michael P, for the information).
Thursday, 11 September 2014
War Plan Red: Part 3
The British Plan
...or at least, the US planners' assessment of the likely British plan...
The War in the Atlantic
This was assessed to be the dominant, but not only, theatre of maritime operations. The RN would initially seize control of the North Atlantic by combining their Home and Mediterranean Fleets and operating from a forward base at Bermuda. British cruiser and submarine forces would try to cut US Atlantic lines of communications from bases in Halifax and Jamaica. The Royal Navy would blockade the East Coast of the US, disrupt commerce, harass coastal areas with bombardment, and conduct Air and Amphibious raids to further degrade the economy and, ultimately, popular will of the US people for the war.
The British would expect the US to immediately redeploy the bulk of their Pacific Feet to the Atlantic via the Panama canal, and generate a Fleet in being with which to contest this blockade. If this was achieved, no decisive engagement would be sought initially as both sides were well balanced and the result could go either way.
Accordingly, the US Navy would remain in a defensive posture concentrated in the Western North Atlantic, threaten British lines of communication, wear down Royal Naval strength and await favourable opportunity for Fleet Action. Of course, if the Panama Canal could be disrupted or sabotaged, this would be a different story...
The War in the Pacific
The British Asiatic Fleet would be concentrated at Singapore with only light, inshore forces remaining at Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. Indian troops would muster and link up wight he Fleet before for assaulting the Philippines to neutralise the US naval facilities holdings in Manilla. This would safeguard threats to British trade and commercial interests and subsequently, the Asiatic Fleet would be utilised to destroy any residual US Naval island holdings throughout the Pacific.
With the bulk of Empire assets investing the US East Coast, Hawaii was expected to remain a safe bastion and while it might be attacked to disrupt and commerce raiders operating from there, no invasion or landing was expected.
Alaska was expected to be raided from Canada, but only lightly and this was seen as acceptable.
...or at least, the US planners' assessment of the likely British plan...
The War in the Atlantic
This was assessed to be the dominant, but not only, theatre of maritime operations. The RN would initially seize control of the North Atlantic by combining their Home and Mediterranean Fleets and operating from a forward base at Bermuda. British cruiser and submarine forces would try to cut US Atlantic lines of communications from bases in Halifax and Jamaica. The Royal Navy would blockade the East Coast of the US, disrupt commerce, harass coastal areas with bombardment, and conduct Air and Amphibious raids to further degrade the economy and, ultimately, popular will of the US people for the war.
The British would expect the US to immediately redeploy the bulk of their Pacific Feet to the Atlantic via the Panama canal, and generate a Fleet in being with which to contest this blockade. If this was achieved, no decisive engagement would be sought initially as both sides were well balanced and the result could go either way.
Accordingly, the US Navy would remain in a defensive posture concentrated in the Western North Atlantic, threaten British lines of communication, wear down Royal Naval strength and await favourable opportunity for Fleet Action. Of course, if the Panama Canal could be disrupted or sabotaged, this would be a different story...
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| Panama Cana - a vital Strategic link |
The British Asiatic Fleet would be concentrated at Singapore with only light, inshore forces remaining at Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. Indian troops would muster and link up wight he Fleet before for assaulting the Philippines to neutralise the US naval facilities holdings in Manilla. This would safeguard threats to British trade and commercial interests and subsequently, the Asiatic Fleet would be utilised to destroy any residual US Naval island holdings throughout the Pacific.
With the bulk of Empire assets investing the US East Coast, Hawaii was expected to remain a safe bastion and while it might be attacked to disrupt and commerce raiders operating from there, no invasion or landing was expected.
Alaska was expected to be raided from Canada, but only lightly and this was seen as acceptable.
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| Landings by ANZAC and Indian troops on the West Coast of the US where seen as acceptable risks |
The Land War
The pivotal US territory was seen to be the industrial North East region of continental US. Possible landings by ANZAC and Indian focus on the West Coast or striking south from Canada could and would be tolerated in order to maintain a strong defensive perimeter to safeguard the industrial heartland of the USA.
Should the Royal Navy manage to defeat the US Atlantic Fleet and establish sea control (either though battle or should the Panama Canal be disputed and the Pacific Fleet trapped) it was expected that invasion would come via sea with amphibious landings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These forces would then strike westward through Connecticut, disrupt the region generally and threaten New York. This would greatly shorten the period of conflict and try to overcome the US mobilisation effort while also degrading industrial capacity.
War planners concluded that the British Empire could achieve this outcome, the US choice would be reduced to what kind of terms to ask for in their surrender...
The pivotal US territory was seen to be the industrial North East region of continental US. Possible landings by ANZAC and Indian focus on the West Coast or striking south from Canada could and would be tolerated in order to maintain a strong defensive perimeter to safeguard the industrial heartland of the USA.
Should the Royal Navy manage to defeat the US Atlantic Fleet and establish sea control (either though battle or should the Panama Canal be disputed and the Pacific Fleet trapped) it was expected that invasion would come via sea with amphibious landings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These forces would then strike westward through Connecticut, disrupt the region generally and threaten New York. This would greatly shorten the period of conflict and try to overcome the US mobilisation effort while also degrading industrial capacity.
War planners concluded that the British Empire could achieve this outcome, the US choice would be reduced to what kind of terms to ask for in their surrender...
Thursday, 4 September 2014
War Plan Red: Part 2
Having discovered the 1920/30s era US Military plans to engage in hostilities with the British Empire (here), I had to delve deeper. Admittedly, neither side considered such a war remotely probable, but it was certainly not impossible should issues regarding international trade route and overseas territories come to a head.
Archives were searched, journals read and the odd book discovered. For the discerning strategist, the following detail is provided. Note that the UK never committed such plan to paper, but some good guesswork assessed their likely operations.
Pre Conflict Comparison
The Royal Navy had slightly more naval power, with the main battle line spread between the Home Fleet and the Mediterranean. It would be able to rapidly concentrate and venture across the Atlantic to have significant presence at Nova Scotia within 13 days. In comparison, the bulk of the US Navy battlewagons were in the Pacific and the timely use of the Panama Canal was critical in being able to face off against the British fleet in the Atlantic.
Royal Navy US Navy
Battleships 16 18 (12 in the Pacific)
Battlecruisers 4 0
Aircraft Carriers 6 3 (larger capacity than RN equivalents, all in the Pacific)
Cruisers 62 18
Destroyers 175 221
Submarines 57 68
Air Force strength was significantly in favour of the British, though redeploying it to Canada would take significant sea lift capacity. The British could muster such lift capacity but it would have to be balanced with other priorities, such as ground forces.
RAF US
Fighter Squadrons 12 3 Pursuit, 2 Attack
Observer Squadrons 5 9
Bomber Squadrons 11 2
Manpower wise, the British Army could rapidly mobilise more soldiers from across their dominions than the US, but the US could build a greater land force over time.
British Empire
Regular Forces 100,000 man Expeditionary Force (4 Divisions, 2 Cavalry Brigades)
Deployable to Nova Scotia within 30 days
Overseas Forces Canada: 52,000 (increasing to 120,000 in 11 Divisions in 30 Days)
India and ANZAC forces: 13 Divisions available at short notice
Territorial Army 13 Divisions available within 6 months
US
Regular Forces 100,000 men at home,
9 Divisions
Overseas Forces 40,000 in Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico and Hawaii
National Guard 175, 000 (60 days to mobilise)
18 Divisions (understrength), 9 Cavalry Brigades
More to Follow...
Archives were searched, journals read and the odd book discovered. For the discerning strategist, the following detail is provided. Note that the UK never committed such plan to paper, but some good guesswork assessed their likely operations.
Pre Conflict Comparison
The Royal Navy had slightly more naval power, with the main battle line spread between the Home Fleet and the Mediterranean. It would be able to rapidly concentrate and venture across the Atlantic to have significant presence at Nova Scotia within 13 days. In comparison, the bulk of the US Navy battlewagons were in the Pacific and the timely use of the Panama Canal was critical in being able to face off against the British fleet in the Atlantic.
Royal Navy US Navy
Battleships 16 18 (12 in the Pacific)
Battlecruisers 4 0
Aircraft Carriers 6 3 (larger capacity than RN equivalents, all in the Pacific)
Cruisers 62 18
Destroyers 175 221
Submarines 57 68
Air Force strength was significantly in favour of the British, though redeploying it to Canada would take significant sea lift capacity. The British could muster such lift capacity but it would have to be balanced with other priorities, such as ground forces.
RAF US
Fighter Squadrons 12 3 Pursuit, 2 Attack
Observer Squadrons 5 9
Bomber Squadrons 11 2
Manpower wise, the British Army could rapidly mobilise more soldiers from across their dominions than the US, but the US could build a greater land force over time.
British Empire
Regular Forces 100,000 man Expeditionary Force (4 Divisions, 2 Cavalry Brigades)
Deployable to Nova Scotia within 30 days
Overseas Forces Canada: 52,000 (increasing to 120,000 in 11 Divisions in 30 Days)
India and ANZAC forces: 13 Divisions available at short notice
Territorial Army 13 Divisions available within 6 months
Regular Forces 100,000 men at home,
9 Divisions
Overseas Forces 40,000 in Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico and Hawaii
National Guard 175, 000 (60 days to mobilise)
18 Divisions (understrength), 9 Cavalry Brigades
More to Follow...
Tuesday, 26 August 2014
Imperial Germany's Invasion plans for New York
Apparently, this increasingly ambitious series of late 19th Century plans included dispatching a significant fleet to cross the Atlantic, conducting a decisive engagement in the vicinity of Norfolk Virgina, dashing north to shell Boston, and then sending battalions of Prussian chaps ashore in New York to install panic and plunder the city.
Cheeky Blighter!
Not sure how successful that might have been but there has to be some games in that!
http://europeanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa050902a.htm
http://www.americanheritage.com/content/german-plan-invade-america
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/may/09/kateconnolly
http://en.potiori.com/Imperial_German_plans_for_the_invasion_of_the_United_States.html
http://io9.com/the-secret-german-scheme-to-invade-america-before-the-f-1628063060
Saturday, 23 August 2014
War Plan Red
In doing some research into the US War Plan Orange this week, I stumbled across some other interesting plans developed in the aftermath of WW1, mostly to exercise War Planning and Strategic staffs learning, but also useful as the basis for contingencies.
Of striking interest to me was the US War Plan Red, which was to fight a war against England, and potentially Japan also as per the provisions of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. War Plan Red had a number of subset plans, notably War Plan Scarlet against Australian, New Zealand and Commonwealth interests in the Pacific, and War Plan Crimson against Canada. Interestingly, War Plan Red had the US assume a strategically defensive posture against what they saw would be a mostly Atlantic affair and prepare for a landing of British Troops on the east coast of the Continental USA. At the same time, the planner saw that a invasion of British interests in Canada and the Caribbean would be the best way to reduce British interests on the continent.
All very interesting, particularly when one then lays on top of that the Canadian Defence Scheme Number 1 which was for a counter invasion of the US to stall for time and allow British support to cross the Atlantic. The Canadian plan saw flying columns seizing territory along the Pacific and Atlantic US coasts. An audacious plan indeed but one that was seen as sufficiently desperate it might just succeed if the dice rolled correctly.
And so were laid the plans of what might have been, but more interesting is to consider them being executed in the 1890s...with a few VSF elements thrown in...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Plan_Red
http://tarpley.net/online-books/against-oligarchy/britains-pacific-war-against-the-united-states-in-the-age-of-the-anglo-american-special-relationship/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Scheme_No._1
http://www.glasnost.de/hist/usa/1935invasion.html
Of striking interest to me was the US War Plan Red, which was to fight a war against England, and potentially Japan also as per the provisions of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. War Plan Red had a number of subset plans, notably War Plan Scarlet against Australian, New Zealand and Commonwealth interests in the Pacific, and War Plan Crimson against Canada. Interestingly, War Plan Red had the US assume a strategically defensive posture against what they saw would be a mostly Atlantic affair and prepare for a landing of British Troops on the east coast of the Continental USA. At the same time, the planner saw that a invasion of British interests in Canada and the Caribbean would be the best way to reduce British interests on the continent.
All very interesting, particularly when one then lays on top of that the Canadian Defence Scheme Number 1 which was for a counter invasion of the US to stall for time and allow British support to cross the Atlantic. The Canadian plan saw flying columns seizing territory along the Pacific and Atlantic US coasts. An audacious plan indeed but one that was seen as sufficiently desperate it might just succeed if the dice rolled correctly.
And so were laid the plans of what might have been, but more interesting is to consider them being executed in the 1890s...with a few VSF elements thrown in...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Plan_Red
http://tarpley.net/online-books/against-oligarchy/britains-pacific-war-against-the-united-states-in-the-age-of-the-anglo-american-special-relationship/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_Scheme_No._1
http://www.glasnost.de/hist/usa/1935invasion.html
Friday, 15 August 2014
Maine Maritime Museum
The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath is mainly focused on the old wooden schooners built there in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. However like the great Museum in Paris (see here), there are some lovely warship models and these caught my eye during my visit last week:
USS Katahdin
Built in 1893, she was an innovative ironclad ram designed for inner harbour defence. Armament was four 6pdrs but the maim weapon was the ram. Rendered rapidly obsolete she was decommissioned and sunk as a target vessel in 1909.
USS Machias
Built in 1893 this was a schooner rigged gunboat. Her main armament was eight 4 inch guns, backed up by four 6 pdrs and four 1 pdrs. She had three separate commissions and ranged far and wide before being sold to the Mexican Navy in 1920.
USS Katahdin
Built in 1893, she was an innovative ironclad ram designed for inner harbour defence. Armament was four 6pdrs but the maim weapon was the ram. Rendered rapidly obsolete she was decommissioned and sunk as a target vessel in 1909.
.jpg) |
| pic from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Katahdin_(1893) |
Built in 1893 this was a schooner rigged gunboat. Her main armament was eight 4 inch guns, backed up by four 6 pdrs and four 1 pdrs. She had three separate commissions and ranged far and wide before being sold to the Mexican Navy in 1920.
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| pic from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Machias_(PG-5) |
USS Dahlgren
Coastal Torpedo Boat built in 1900 she was fitted with four 1 pdrs and 2 torpedo tubes
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| Pic from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Dahlgren_(TB-9) |
Monday, 28 November 2011
US Aero-navy Conversions
Have a look at these great conversions by Nic at "Fen Edge Wargaming" - some great new takes on Brigade's designs:
http://web.me.com/n.j.hawkins/Fen_Edge_Wargaming/Fen_Edge_Wargaming/Entries/2011/3/22_USN_Aeronef_Conversions.html
http://web.me.com/n.j.hawkins/Fen_Edge_Wargaming/Fen_Edge_Wargaming/Entries/2011/3/22_USN_Aeronef_Conversions.html
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Confederate Aquanef
Hot on the heels of the Tsar's designers are the Confederate Aquanef builders!
Confederate inventors were the first on the board when William Cheeney developed a small three man submersible in the James River of Virginia in 1861 shortly after the outbreak of hostilities. A second, larger craft was developed by the same team and was similarly experimental. Cheeney’s craft were unsuccessful and were poorly documented although their existence was reported by Union spies. They were the first of a long line of curious craft...
Read more at Suite101: Confederate Submarines of the Civil War: From The CSS Hunley to the CSS David | Suite101.com http://christopher-eger.suite101.com/confederate-submarines-of-the-civil-war-a121370#ixzz1cXvIhRTT
http://militaryhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/confederate_submarines_of_the_civil_war
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| CSS David Charleston 1865 - public domain image |
Read more at Suite101: Confederate Submarines of the Civil War: From The CSS Hunley to the CSS David | Suite101.com http://christopher-eger.suite101.com/confederate-submarines-of-the-civil-war-a121370#ixzz1cXvIhRTT
http://militaryhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/confederate_submarines_of_the_civil_war
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
15mm Figures For America's Splendid Little War
From Sculptor/Modeler/Author Chris Ferree, returns his original line of figures for the Spanish-American War in 15mm. First produced by Richard Houston over 10 years ago as part of the innovative "Battles In A Box" miniatures collections, the full line is once again available exclusively from TVAG.
Masterfully cast by Tom Dye of GFI/MiniFigs USA, the figures come from newly mastered molds and are as crisp and full of character as ever.
"Rough Riders!" consists of all troop types actually sent to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine Islands by the United States, and as they fought the defending Spanish forces. The Spanish are themselves well represented by the troops (as defined by recognizable uniform types) defending the last outposts of their former Empire.
And as combat with the Spanish ended, new foes appeared. Of these, the most colorful and exotic were Spain's perenial Philippine enemies, the Moros. "Rough Riders!" provides these fanatical warriors and their lethal weapons in spades.
Friday, 17 September 2010
WW1 Described In Terms As A Bar Fight
Sent to MAC by Mal Wright and as he said quite a good laugh.
Germany, Austria and Italy are standing together in the middle of
the bar-room, when Serbia bumps into Austria, and spills Austria's
pint.Austria demands Serbia buy it a complete new suit, because
there are splashes on its trouser leg. Germany expresses its
support for Austria's point of view.Britain recommends that
everyone calm down a bit.Serbia points out that it can't afford a
whole suit, but offers to pay for cleaning Austria's trousers.Russia
and Serbia look at Austria. Austria asks Serbia who it's looking at.
Russia suggests that Austria should leave its little brother alone.
Austria inquires as to whose army will assist Russia in compelling
it to do so.Germany appeals to Britain that France has been
looking at it, and that this is sufficiently out of order that Britain
should not intervene.Britain replies that France can look at who it
wants to, that Britain is looking at Germany too, and what is
Germany going to do about it? Germany tells Russia to stop
looking at Austria, or Germany will render Russia incapable of
such action.Britain and France ask Germany whether it's looking
at Belgium. Turkey and Germany go off into a corner and whisper.
When they come back,Turkey makes a show of not looking at
anyone.Germany rolls up its sleeves, looks at France, and
punches Belgium.France and Britain punch Germany. Austria
punches Russia.Germany punches Britain and France with one
hand and Russia with the other. Russia throws a punch at
Germany, but misses and nearly falls over. Japan calls over from
the other side of the room that it's on Britain's side, but stays there.
Italy surprises everyone by punching Austria.Australia punches
Turkey,and gets punched back. There are no hard feelings,
because Britain made Australia do it.France gets thrown through
a plate glass window,but gets back up and carries on fighting.
Russia gets thrown through another one, gets knocked out, suffers
brain damage, and wakes up with a complete personality change.
Italy throws a punch at Austria and misses, but Austria falls over
anyway.Italy raises both fists in the air and runs round the room
chanting.America waits till Germany is about to fall over, then walks
over,waves a fist at Germany while Britain knocks it out, then
pretends it won the fight all by itself. By now all the chairs are
broken, and the big mirror over the bar is shattered.Britain, France
and America agree that Germany threw the first punch,so the
whole thing is Germany's fault.While Germany is still unconscious,
they go through its pockets,steal its wallet, and buy drinks for all
their friends.
Nobody comes out of it looking particularly good.
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
USS Meade painted
Following up on yesterday's article at TMP by Tony on building the USS Meade, comes another today on painting and finishing her up.She looks beautiful with decals on and ensign flying. There is also a great section on how he made his own flying stand to hold up this model
Great job Tony!
You can see all the pics and details here:
http://theminiaturespage.com/workbench/941847/
Tuesday, 6 February 2007
USS Meade scratchbuild
Tony Harwood has posted an article at TMP on his scratchbuilding project of the USS Meade in 1/300 scaleYou'll see we even get a mention here with this bit:
"The first batch of pictures show the initial stages of construction, plus some rough drawings that I made from pictures that I found on the web – Paul James' blog Yours in White Wine Sauce – and in particular, a set of photos entitled Fleets of the Red Sky (which can be found in the Aeronef section)."
Huzzah! Glad to be of service Tony and the Meade came out beautifully!
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