world war two – Felix's Gaming Pages

Irish Defence Force Armoured Vehicles

For me two of the most interesting vehicles at Tankfest 26 were the two armoured vehicles from the Irish Army Museum at the Curragh.

These were used by the Irish Defence Forces. There was a Landsverk L180 armoured car.

There was also a Landsverk L-60 tank..

These were of Swedish origin. The Irish government only bought two Landsverk L-60 tanks. Likewise there weren’t many Landsverk L180 armoured cars either, after an initial order of two, a further six were delivered in 1939. Another five were ordered, but could not be delivered because of the war.

Seeing these and later reading about the Irish Defence Forces it got me thinking about possible period scenarios involving these armoured vehicles. I also got thinking what if the Irish government decided to beef up their armed forces in response to threats to their country.

German Invasion of Ireland – The German High Command did in fact draw up an invasion plan for Ireland, called Operation Green. The plan was to mislead the UK about German plans, and the plan itself was seen as a support for the main Operation Sealion.

Though you could also see a scenario, where the Germans did successfully invade Great Britain, and then plan to invade Ireland to prevent the US from using Ireland as a staging for liberating occupied Great Britain (and the rest of Europe). Following a successful invasion of the UK mainland, and the surrender of the UK, the German High Command decided that the threat posed by a neutral Ireland being used a stepping stone by US forces and was too great.

British Invasion of Ireland – In order to stop Germany using Iceland, the British did invade the island country in the North Atlantic. Operation Fork saw the landing of Royal Navy and Royal Marines forces at Reykjavík, who occupied Iceland without resistance. Would they do something similar with Ireland. The British government, in secret liaison with the Irish government, drafted Plan W, a planned occupation of Ireland by the British Armed Forces to counteract a potential German invasion.

The question is, would there be resistance from the Irish forces. Would neutral Ireland seek support from others, America perhaps, even Germany.

Both these ideas, depending on the timeframe could be used as the basis for some interesting games between various forces.

82nd Anniversary of D-Day Landings 6th June 1944

It was eighty two years ago that the liberation of Europe began with Operation Overlord and the Normandy landings on the 6th June 1944.

In the depths of the Nothe Fort in Weymouth (as well as a civillian nuclear bunker (now abandoned)) there is a really beautiful 54mm scale model of the D-Day landings.

Lots of different models in there including an Horsa glider. It is a representative model and does not reflect an actual beachhead.

Plastic Somua S35

On the cover of Wargames Illustrated this month was a free plastic sprue from Battlefront, either a British Light Tank or a French Somua S35. On my magazine was the Somua S35.

This Somua S35 was on display at the Bovington Tank Museum.

I will probably try to recreate this camouflage pattern.

The Somua S35 was a French cavalry tank of the Second World War. Built from 1936 until 1940 to equip the armoured divisions of the Cavalry, it was for its time a relatively agile medium-weight tank, superior in armour and armament to its French and foreign competitors, such as the contemporary versions of the German Panzer III medium tank.

This is a nice little kit and it went together really easily.

The next step was a base coat of Wraithbone.

I took a photograph of the Char 2C next to the Somua S35 medium tank. The Char 2C was a huge tank in comparison.

Undercoating the French Char 2C

The Char 2C was developed during the Great War, but did not enter operational service until after the war. It was a heavy tank landship designed for the trenches of the First World War.

Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C. They were delayed for a while. However, in the end I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t.

You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts. After constructing the models, the next stage was undercoating the models.

After giving the models a white undercoat, I then gave them a base coat of Wraithbone Spray.

I think this might be lighter than I thought it would be. However I am planning to use a wash on the models. I am attempting to recreate this paint scheme.

The Char 2C is quite a big tank and I took a photograph of the Char 2C next to a Somua S35 medium tank.

The next stage will be the green camouflage pattern.

Constructing the French Char 2c Platoon of Tanks

The Char 2C was developed during the Great War, but did not enter operational service until after the war. It was a heavy tank landship designed for the trenches of the First World War.

Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C. They were delayed for a while. However, in the end I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t.

You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts.

I washed the resin and took the time to glue the tracks to the hull of the tanks. I then glued the metal weapons, of which two are attached to the two turrets and three to the front of the hull.

I decided to glue the rear smaller turret into the hull, as I couldn’t really see any advantage in having it loose.

The next stage will be an undercoat.

These are lovely crisp castings and really look the part. You also realise how large they are, well they were super heavy for their time, even if later in the second world was there were even larger and heavier tanks.

They’ve arrived

I have been thinking about getting some French Char 2c tanks for a while now for my French Flames of War forces.

After Agence Rol, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Char 2C was developed during the Great War, but did not enter operational service until after the war. It was a heavy tank landship designed for the trenches of the First World War. By 1921 , ten tanks were built, and were operational during the start of World War Two. After Germany broke through French defences in June 1940, they were sent away from the front to save them. They were unable to reach safety and deliberately destroyed to prevent capture.

I did think about getting some resin models, even a 3D printed version. However in December 2024 Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C. They were delayed for a while.

So, of course I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t.

You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts.

The next step will be to wash the resin and then give them an undercoat.

Base coating the TOG I Tank Platoon

The TOG 1 was designed in the expectation that battlefields of the war might end up like those of the Great War. Its specifications required it to be able to cross any sort of churned-up countryside and trenches. Armed with a 2-pdr gun and machine-guns.

These are 15mm scale models for Flames of War. In the box are three models. These are resin castings, each model consists of a pair of resin tracks, resin hull, and a resin turret. Also in the box are metal weapons and plastic crew.

After washing the resin pieces I assembled the models. I then gave the models a white undercoat. The next stage was the base coat. I had thought about going down different routes with this. However, in the end I used some Army Painter Army Green Spray.

The next stage will be painting the tracks, or might add some camouflage.

Undercoating the TOG I Tank Platoon

I ordered the TOG I Tank Platoon for Flames of War.

In the box are three models. These are resin castings, each model consists of a pair of resin tracks, resin hull, and a resin turret. Also in the box are metal weapons and plastic crew.

After washing the resin pieces I assembled the models. I then gave the models a white undercoat.

The next stage will be a green base coat.

Construction of the TOG I Tank Platoon

I ordered the TOG I Tank Platoon for Flames of War.

In the box are three models. These are resin castings, each model consists of a pair of resin tracks, resin hull, and a resin turret. Also in the box are metal weapons and plastic crew.

After washing the resin pieces I assembled the models. Each tank is made up of of four resin pieces, two tracks, the main hull, and the turret. Then the metal parts were added, two hatches, the turret weapon and a barrel for the main hull weapon.

They have a similar look to the French Char B1.

I decided against adding crew models to the tanks. Here are all three models.

The next stage will be a white undercoat.

Char 2c Tank Platoon

I have been thinking about getting some French Char 2c tanks for a while now.

I did think about getting some resin models, even a 3D printed version. However in December 2024 Battlefront announced that they were releasing models of the Char 2C.

Sadly they were delayed, but will be released at the end of the month. So, of course I pre-ordered a box, who wouldn’t. You get three models in the box, these are resin kits with metal parts.