Morris Light Reconnaissance Car

Morris Light Reconnaissance Car

Morris Light Reconnaissance Car (LRC) was a British light armoured car for reconnaissance use produced by Morris Motors Limited and used by the British during the Second World War.

This Morris Light Reconnaissance Car was on display at Bovington Tank Museum.

Morris Light Reconnaissance Car

The vehicle was used in the North African, Italian and in North-West Europe campaigns. Some served with the RAF Regiment, others were given to Polish units.

Over two thousand were built.

Bravo November

Bravo November is the original identification code painted on a British Royal Air Force Boeing Chinook HC6A military serial number ZA718. It was one of the original 30 aircraft ordered by the RAF in 1978 and was in service up to 2022. It has been upgraded several times in its history, now being designated as an HC6A airframe. 

It has seen action in every major operation involving the RAF in the helicopter’s 39-year service life. Since 1982 it has served in the Falkland Islands, Lebanon, Germany, Northern Ireland, Kurdistan, Iraq and Afghanistan. The aircraft has seen four of its pilots awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions whilst in command of Bravo November.

It first came to the attention of the general public for its survival of the Falklands War. In April 1982 Bravo November was loaded, along with three other Chinooks, aboard the container ship MV Atlantic Conveyor bound for the Falkland Islands on Operation Corporate. Atlantic Conveyor was hit by an Exocet missile, destroying the vessel along with its cargo. Bravo November was on an airborne task at the time and managed to land on HMS Hermes, gaining the nickname The Survivor. It was the only serviceable heavy lift helicopter available to British forces involved in the hostilities.

The helicopter was retired from service in March 2022, as part of a project to replace the RAF’s nine oldest Chinooks with more modern CH-47F variants.

In April 2022 the aircraft was transported to RAF Museum Cosford, and is now on display to the public in the museum’s new Falklands War display.

West Midlands Military Show 2024

I went up to Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton to visit the Alumwell Wargames Society West Midlands Military Show 2024.

There was some excellent looking games there. I was impressed with the quality of the scenery and the painting of the models.

I liked the Warhammer 40K Last Stand at Glazer’s Creek, which was based on part of the huge Massacre at Big Toof River game that was shown at UK Games Day  back in 1997. They had lots of Praetorian Guard defending against a mob of Orks.

I didn’t buy anything, despite being tempted by a few things.

Space Wolves Deimos Pattern Rhino

This Space Wolves Deimos Pattern Rhino was on display at Warahmmer World.

Space Wolves Deimos Pattern Rhino
Space Wolves Deimos Pattern Rhino

The Rhino is the most widely used armoured personnel carrier in the Imperium. Based on ancient STC technology, the fundamental design is robust, reliable, and easy to maintain, with an adaptive power plant that can run off a wide variety of fuels.

Blackburn Beverley

The Blackburn B-101 Beverley is a heavy transport aircraft produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Blackburn Aircraft. It was notably the only land-based transport airplane built by Blackburn, a company that otherwise specialised in producing naval fighter aircraft.

Only a single Beverley has survived, the first production aircraft XB259. There is currently a fund raiser to move the aircraft. In late January 2024 the Solway Aviation Museum acquired the aircraft and launched a £60,000 appeal for donations to cover the costs of further dismantling work then transporting the aircraft to Carlisle for restoration and permanent display there.

Blackburn Beverley

A photograph was released of the Blackburn Beverley and the camouflage scheme did remind me of something. Back in January 2023 I wrote a piece about an idea I had for an alternate Desert Storm set in 1959.

The re-release of the (Airfix) Fairey Rotodyne reminded me of an idea I had for an alternative history background for gaming. The basic premise was a Desert Storm background but with 1950s tanks, aircraft, helicopters and VTOL craft like the Fairey Rotodyne.

I also mentioned that:

I would have painted the models in a desert camouflage similar to the US Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU).

Though not quite the scheme I was thinking about, the camouflage scheme on the Blackburn Beverley, which I am guessing is based on a real RAF camouflage scheme. So I am now thinking to use the actual RAF scheme.

Also see the Instagram Airfix posts on the Blackburn Beverley for more photographs.

M4A4 Sherman

The M4 Sherman, officially Medium Tank, M4, was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II.

The M4A4 was the most common lend lease Sherman type used by the British Army.

This Sherman M4A4 tank was on display at The Tank Museum.

A Sherman M4A4 tank was on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

I have posted a few photographs on the blog of Simon’s 15mm British Sherman tanks he has painted for Flames of War.

Flames of War British Sherman Tank

More photographs of 15mm Flames of War Sherman Tanks.

Imperial Fists Typhon Heavy Siege Tank

This Imperial Fists Typhon Heavy Siege Tank was on display in the display cabinets at Warhammer World.

Named for the ‘Great Beast’ of Ancient Terran myth, the immense Typhon Heavy Siege Tank was developed by the Mechanicum alongside the Spartan, with which it shares a basic chassis design.

This is the Forge World resin kit which was available before the release of the Horus Heresy plastic kit.

I quite like the weathering of this model.

I have the plastic kit version of the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank on my workbench, which I am painting up as an Imperial Fists Typhon.

I have also posted photographs of the Sons of Horus Typhon Heavy Siege Tank. I think the Sons of Horus model is the plastic kit.

More photographs in the Typhon Heavy Siege Tank Miniatures Gallery.

Dead of Night

This spring sees the release of the new Alex Garland film, Civil War. Set in an America which is breaking apart, the film is about a group of journalists travelling across the United States in an ever escalating conflict which is engulfing the entire country.

Though I’ve not seen the film and don’t know how it ends, I was reminded of a book I have read, Dead of Night by Brendan DuBois, which is about the aftermath of a (near) civil war in the US.

For years UN peacekeepers have been deployed to war-torn regions of the world from Rwanda to Serbia and Congo to East Timor. 

Now it’s America’s turn.

Samuel Simpson is a young, idealistic journalist from Canada. Seeking adventure, he volunteers to become a records keeper for a UN war-crimes investigation team at work in upper New York State. Months earlier, a crippling terrorist attack against the United States resulted in its cities being emptied, its countryside set afire, and its government shaken to its knees. In the aftermath of this attack, a virtual civil war broke out, until UN peacekeepers arrived to establish an uneasy peace. While Samuel and his team travel through the New York countryside, searching for evidence of an atrocious war crime, he promptly realizes that death is quick to strike from any farmhouse, road corner, or rest area. 

There are lots of potential gaming scenarios from this background.

I mentioned in my previous post on Civil War that the background to the film raises a lot of ideas for gaming scenarios. The aftermath of the situation after the film, with the addition of UN peacekeepers adds a range of different forces, vehicles, aircraft, and armour.

Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy

The Armstrong Whitworth Argosy was a British post-war transport/cargo aircraft; it was the final aircraft to be designed and produced by aviation company Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft.

This Armstrong Whitworth Argosy was on display at RAF Cosford.

The cargo deck.

More photographs of the Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy.

Civil War

This spring sees the release of the new Alex Garland film, Civil War.

Set in an America which is breaking apart, the film is about a group of journalists travelling across the United States in an ever escalating conflict which is engulfing the entire country.

The war is between the US government and “Western Forces” which includes California and Texas. The trailer mentions nineteen states seceding from the union. It also talks about a three term President. According to the constitution American presidents can only serve two terms, could this be the reason behind the secession?

The background to the film raises a lot of ideas for gaming scenarios. As well as regular US armed forces, there is the National Guard for each state, and the film also brings in partisan extremist militias into the fight as well. The conflict allows opportunistic forces to take advantage of the chaos.

There are lots of miniatures available to game these scenarios. I am looking forward to seeing the film.