A summary of movements and actions at the end of turn 4.

3 attacks are launched. WAF and EAF Land Based Air and a Carrier based attack from Ryojo.

Only the WAF are successful in locating their target, and not a particularly impressive one at that! The crippled Dutch destroyer Kortenaer escorted by another destroyer, Van Nes, are attacked by bombers. Aircraft availability proved to be poor with only 8 x Nell and 3 x Betty bombers available for the strike using medium bombs on a high level bombing run.

4 x bombers targeted the lead vessel, Van Nes, with 7 on the Kortenaer.

Turning now to the final surface v surface action on turn 4, the US EastGroup reinforced by two New Zealand light cruisers successfully intercepts a very small Japanese invasion convoy heading for Banjermasin in Borneo. 

EastGroup had come through an air attack unscathed and now had a chance to interrupt Japanese invasion plans.

The Japanese convoy under the command of a veteran Admiral Tanaka on the flagship Jintsu.

EastGroup under the command of Admiral Glassford on the Boise.

Turning now to the east, the Australian Darwin group escaped unscathed from a torpedo bomber attack and now make a dash for an invasion convoy heading for Kendari. Enroute they are intercepted by the Japanese EAF patrol.

This will be yet another night time engagement. The Australians are in line astern with the Australia leading heading due north. The Japanese patrol is approaching from the west at a distance of 15,000 yards (75cm) being the maximum visibility at present. The weather is a very calm force 2 with clear skies. A new moon limits visibility.

More progress has been made refurbishing my collection of models painted decades ago. Hence the rather random nature of the ships completed. British ships have now received their refit and the Italians and Germans are next in line.

All are 1/3000th scale Navwar models.

Left to Right: Mauritius (this was a new model and may make an appearance in the "Defending the Malay Barrier" campaign), Newcastle and Belfast.

Continued -

Focussing on the Dutch CenGroup, their flagship has pulled out due to damage sustained in a bombing attack. The flag has been transferred to the light cruiser Java and the group has continued north with the intention of disrupting a Japanese convoy headed for the Malay peninsular.

Before they have any chance of engaging the convoy, they in turn are intercepted by the Japanese Distant Cover Group under the command of Admiral Kondo in the heavy cruiser Atago.

Nearest the camera are the Dutch consisting of 2 light cruisers and 8 destroyers sailing north west. At the top of the photo is the Atago group consisting of 1 heavy cruiser and 10 destroyers approaching from the north. The action starts during the 0400 - 0800 watch and therefore during the dark hours at this stage. No ships have yet been spotted by either side. After 10 turns dawn will break. Neither side has the benefit of radar.

A reminder of the situation at the end of turn 3. Japanese objectives captured are circled.

WAF has completed 2 tiers and the EAF 1.

Continued -

A reminder of the situation at the end of turn 2 with objectives captured by the Japanese circled.

For this turn it will be a priority for the Japanese to complete tier 2.

Continued -

 More additions to the Carthaginians for Trebia have been completed along with several more refurbished 1/3000 scale ships.

Only 2 bases will be required for Trebia but with an extra pack in the unpainted pile it needed to be done. A little more uniform in appearance than I originally intended! As with nearly all my 6mm figures they are from the Baccus range.

The final actions of campaign turn 2 are potential air attacks on crippled or disabled ships underway for repair.

The first phase is a carrier strike group from the Ryojo attempting and failing to locate the crippled Houston and its destroyer escort.

The final phase are the Land Based Aircraft attempts. The WAF fail to locate the crippled HMS Dragon in poor weather. The EAF however, are blessed with clear skies and good weather and do find HMAS Canberra escorted by HMAS Hobart.

I used the Campaign Air Ops in GQ3 rather than Tactical Air Ops to speed things along.  

The first attacking wave consisted of 9 flights of 'Nell' bombers. 4 targeted Hobart and 5 Canberra. Medium bombs were dropped keeping the aircraft out of short range AA fire. Neither Australian ship scored any hits using their long range AA armament only. The Canberra was faced with a heart-stopping moment with a near miss. They only had one hull box left and the near miss reduced that to a half!

The second Japanese wave consisted of 7 flights of 'Betty' bombers. 2 targeted the Hobart and 5 Canberra. On this occasion the Australian AA fire proved far more accurate. Hobart damaged one bomber and Canberra shot one down.  As the medium bombs rained down Canberra held its breath. Even a near miss would sink her. Fortune favoured the Australians with all bombs falling wide. This signalled the end of turn 2.

This is the 2nd scenario in the Rapid Fire! supplement 'Operation Market Garden'. Orders of battle have been converted for Blitzkrieg Commander (BKC) rules. 

This posting will provide an introduction to the game including objectives etc.

Game details:

Table Size 4'6" x 3'

Figures - Heroics & Ros (new sculpts)

Rules - Blitzkrieg Commander IV

My interpretation of the map contained within the scenario book.

 The US Airborne for the 505 PIR is now complete and is the subject of the next game.

All figures are of the new Heroics & Ros range and the orders of battle are taken from the Rapid Fire 'Market Garden' supplement. This represents the full regiment of 3 battalions.

I have covered this in previous blogs but a reminder here on converting RF orbats to BKC. It is relatively straight forward with each stand representing one platoon. With regard to the number of figures it is roughly RF + 50%. Or a ratio of 1:10. For vehicles the ratio is 3 in BKC for every 2 in RF. No change for artillery.

My N.Africa campaign continues. 

A reminder of the situation:

It is now 11th December 1940 and the Italian advance has halted with most of their units settling down into fortified camps.

The British counter-attack has begun and the setting for this action is in the south of the map. The 7th Armoured Division has begin its 'left hook' and comes into contact with the Italian 63rd Cirene Division south of Nibeiwa. 

Continued -

Firstly the latest painting progress. A long overdue attention to the Market Garden project - Groesbeek Heights.

Almost complete prior to basing.

The finished figures. Laid out in their battalion formations suitable for BKCIV and Rapid Fire Reloaded. The only complete battalion is in the centre. That on the left is awaiting its HQ base, on the right the HQ and support company. The top right is the beginnings of a 4th battalion and on the left a Divisional CO and FAO. All battalions will be brought up to strength on completion of the next batch. Figures are a mix of Heroics & Ros and 2D6.

 The final batch of ships before returning to figure painting is now complete.

Two Essex class carriers and the lead ship of the Bogue class escort carrier. All Davco. Back left to right: Intrepid, Bogue Front: Essex

Continued -

 The latest on the carrier progress - a quick update:

I have for the most part worked in batches of 3 ships and here is from top to bottom, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Junyo. All Navwar.

With the blog having switched to a nautical theme over recent weeks, I post here an update on naval painting, in particular aircraft carriers. I have purchased some flight deck decals from "Flight Deck Decals" (link on the right) which really are superb. They do require some trimming to fit as closely as possible the Navwar models and many are also suitable for Davco. The current naval painting bug has inspired me to crack on with aircraft carriers in particular to utilise these decals.

Royal Navy carriers (all Navwar) from left to right: Top row; Hermes, Ark Royal, Glorious Middle row; Ameer, Victorious, Furious Bottom row: Biter; Indomitable, Eagle

Continued -

The second Japanese patrol was also successful intercepting the USN EasGroup which is the subject of the next game.

The heavy cruiser Nachi with 4 Shiratsuyu class destroyers are on a reciprocal course with the US sweep which it sights at a distance of 23,000 yards (115cm). The US force consists of the cruisers Houston and Boise escorted by 9 Clemson class 4-stacker destroyers.

An overview at the start.

In this phase the Japanese have sent out two patrols with the intention of intervening any allied sweeps before they interfere with any invasion or supply convoys.

The first action sees WesGroup out of Singapore intercepted by the WAF patrol:

Two Japanese Land Based Air attacks were launched. One each from the Western Attack Force and the Eastern Attack Force.

Turning first to the WAF:

The 4 British cruisers were in line astern lead by the Danae, followed by the flagship Exeter, Durban and Dragon. The cruisers were escorted by 7 destroyers. 9 flights of Nell bombers are in the first wave. One was damaged by AA fire with the remaining 8 dropping their payloads.