Windward Islands Squadron progress

Just a very quick update on the Windward Islands campaign. I’ve managed to get some more ships painted up, though they still need varnishing, ensigns and rigging. These will probably be split between the French and British so that Henry and I can start getting some games in. Now I’ve found a method I’m happy

Standoff

15 October 1915 Lt. Nighy watched the artillerymen laying out the linen strips to form a letter on the ground – ‘L’; they were ready to fire. Quickly he tapped the wireless: ‘G-G-G’, and a puff of smoke told him the first gun had shot. He looked to the right, where his target lay behind

Last Roar: The Vamps

“I say, old chap; would you mind passing me the salt?” The Indian officer stared for a moment at the Egyptian flight leader before he saw the joke. Shalabi Kahir’s English was impeccable, as was that of the Indian instructors, and his impression of a plummy English accent was almost convincing. The Indians laughed, and

Attrition

Sunday 3rd October 1915 Major Sommer banged his fists on his desk, “Gott im Himmel!”, he shouted, “How am I to support the infantry without any damn planes?” Major Friedrich, the General’s aide-de-camp, remained impassive, “It looks like Betancourt will not be the centre of the offensive after all, Gerhart”, he said, brushing an imaginary

FREE! MiGs over Merklin

With the 70th anniversary of the clash between US and Czech jets over the German/Czech border approaching, I’ve written up the scenario/mini campaign which is now available on Wargames Vault free of charge. The 6-page booklet can be found on Wargames Vault here: https://www.wargamevault.com/product/423811/MiGs-over-Merklin The blog entries for this little project can be found here:

Betancourt Trench Maps

Just a quick post to share the maps we’re using for the Fokker Scourge campaign. These were just done in PowerPoint using the draw and insert shape features, with the tree pictograms culled from the internet. The idea is to add a sense of immersion, though really the campaign could be run with a sheet

Knights Errant of the Sky

“Every flight is romance, every record is an epic. They are the knight errants of this war.” British Prime Minister David Lloyd George Friday, 1st October 1915 Lt. Edward Crouch tried hard to focus, the sound of the archie, the anti-aircraft artillery, seemed every moment to be getting closer. He stared through the viewfinder of

The Prodigal Returns

Unteroffizier Adolf Claus hastily buttoned his tunic as he ran along the trench. He was a big man, and despised running, but the sentry’s tone had been urgent. He rounded the corner, where the sentry had indicated. Sure enough, there was a man caked in mud, sat on a crate and calmly smoking a cigarette

Fokker Scourge? My arse!

Lt. Jager coaxed the Albatros off the ground, already he could see the British aeroplane going around for a second pass and he felt utterly helpless and alone. When he’d landed in the tiny field on the Allied side of the lines he’d turned to wish the agent he was carrying good luck, but already

The Last Roar: Maps

“So, this is it, gentlemen; we are going to war again. And it may be our last hurrah” Commander Lionel Bartlett let his words sink in. There was murmuring amongst the assembled squadron commanders, an air of excitement mixed with trepidation familiar to all from their service in Korea. “This will be our area of