Squad level action from the end of World War Two at Colours 2025.
I went to Colours 2025 at the Newbury Racecourse last week. Its been a fair few years since I have been to Colours, I have a feeling it might be as long ago when Colours was at the Hexagon in Reading after they changed the name of the show from Armageddon. Anyhow the show was great and there were a fair few traders there, I did buy something.
On the top floor though were all the demonstration and participation games. I thought the scenery for the participation game, the Battle for Berlin 1945 was excellent, though I think it was trams which caught my eye.
I did participate in the game, using my usual tactics of messing things up… enjoyable though.
I was pleased to hear in the Battlefront preview video in December 2024 about their new releases.
Back in 2011 I wrote this after the release of the Mid-War Monsters.
I do hope that we see future “monsters” for Flames of War, there are some nice concepts and ideas out there for both Early-War and Late-War.
In the Battlefront preview video it was announced that Battlefront would be producing some Early War ‘Eavies. The preview included glimpses of the British TOG and the French Char 2C, see some photographs in this post.
Alas in a recent video announcement, the release of these massive tanks was said to be delayed. However we did get to see some photographs of painted versions of these monsters.
This is the French Char 2C.
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This is the British TOG.
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Alongside these we saw some British A13 cruiser tanks, infantry, artillery, and the delightful Light Tank VI.
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For the French we saw the Char B1 bis.
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These will (I suspect) be all plastic kits. I’ve been waiting well over ten years now for these monsters, I can wait a little longer…
In the original preview video there was also mention of a German super heavy tank, but it was not identified in the review, I suspect it might be the Großtraktor that was built by Krupp and entered service in 1935. However despite seeing some nice PzKpfw I tanks and PzKpfw III tanks and variants, no mention was made about the German tank…
Though we did hear about a 1960s version of Team Yankee called Checkpoint Charlie, sounds interesting.
This year is the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of allied forces from Dunkirk (Dunkerque) in 1940 from the encroachment by the Germans.
I recently had the chance to visit the Museum Dunkerque 1940 Operation Dynamo. The museum is in WWII casemates with exhibits recounting the history of the 1940 Battle of Dunkirk.
It’s a marvellous museum which tells the story of the evacuation.
I was pleased to hear in the Battlefront preview video about their new releases. Back in 2011 I wrote this after the release of the Mid-War Monsters.
I do hope that we see future “monsters” for Flames of War, there are some nice concepts and ideas out there for both Early-War and Late-War.
Well here we are thirteen years later and next year we are going to see some Early-War Monsters.
In the Battlefront preview video (see below) it was announced that Battlefront would be producing some Early War ‘Eavies. The preview included glimpses of the British TOG and the French Char 2C.
There was also mention of a German super heavy tank, but it was not identified in the review, I suspect it might be the Großtraktor that was built by Krupp and entered service in 1935.
More a medium tank than a heavy tank, the other option might be the Eckard Extending Panzer.
Anyhow, I had been thinking about getting some 15mm Char 2C models (3D printed versions), but I think I will wait now for the Battlefront model, I have been waiting over ten years, so what’s less than a year between friends.
It was eighty 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.
More photographs of the evocative 54mm scale D-Day model at the Nothe Fort in Weymouth.
Operation Sea Lion was the code name for Nazi Germany’s planned invasion of the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain in World War II. The operation was never launched, as the German Luftwaffe failed to achieve air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF).
The plan for Operation Sea Lion was developed in the summer of 1940, after the German victory in the Battle of France. Hitler believed that Britain would be forced to surrender if it was invaded. The German army would land on the south coast of England and quickly overwhelm the British forces.
The invasion was scheduled to take place in September 1940. However, the Luftwaffe was unable to achieve air superiority over the RAF. The RAF Fighter Command fought a series of decisive battles against the Luftwaffe, and by the end of September, the Germans were forced to postpone Operation Sea Lion indefinitely.
The failure of Operation Sea Lion was a major turning point in the war. It showed that the British were not going to surrender without a fight, and it gave the Allies time to build up their forces for the eventual invasion of Europe.
Landing between Dover and Hythe, German troops push inland supported by the Luftwaffe and the impregnable panzers, and strike out towards London. The British, desperate to defeat the invaders, rally and prepare for a crucial confrontation at Maidstone. Realistic, carefully researched and superbly written, Invasion is a classic of alternate history and a thought-provoking look at how Britain’s war might have been.
There was one section which caught my eye
…the men of Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland, several hundred of whose members were trained to ride in the remarkable Fieseler Storch monoplane which could deliver five assault troopers at a time on landing strips only a few yards in length.
Fieseler Fi 156 Storch at RAF Cosford.
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a small German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II. It remains famous for its excellent STOL performance and low stall speed of 31 mph.
This got me thinking about a possible gaming scenarios of the Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland flying in during Operation Sealion.
Airfield Attack
In an attempt to capture an airfield intact, the Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland fly into an RAF airfield in their Fieseler Storch aircraft. Their plan to take the airfield so that the Luftwaffe can fly in more troops and supplies.
During the Second World War in 1941, Crete was invaded by German airborne forces while it was being held by Greek, British, and Commonwealth forces. The Allied land forces failed to recognize the crucial significance of the airfields and therefore did not defend them sufficiently, which enabled the German invasion to succeed largely. As a result, the German paratroop and glider forces were able to capture the RAF base at Maleme with significant casualties. The Germans were subsequently reinforced by air from behind Allied lines, ultimately resulting in the loss of the entire island and substantial Allied casualties in what was later known as the Battle of Crete.
You can imagine a similar scenario here during Operation Sealion.
The airfield is poorly defended, RAF personnel and a few armed guards.
Once taken, the Germans need to hold the airfield against attempts by local British forces (regular army or even Home Guard) to retake the airfield, so that the Luftwaffe can fly in reinforcements and much needed supplies.
You could create a turn based narrative, for scoring points. The more turns the Germans hold the airfield for, the more points they get.
Taking Dover Castle
The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 saw the tunnels converted first into an air-raid shelter and then later into a military command centre and underground hospital.
In an attempt to decapitate the British command, the Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland fly onto Dover Castle in their Fieseler Storch aircraft. Their plan to take the castle, capture the bunkers and disruptBritish command and control during the German invasion.
Dover Castle is well defended and if the Germans are successful in taking the castle, then they can expect a British counter-attack to try and retake it.The Castle is defended by regular British army forces.
Landing on the Mall
The Mall is a tree-lined road in London that runs from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square. It is a popular tourist destination and is often used for ceremonial events, such as royal weddings and parades. The Mall was originally built in the 18th century as a fashionable promenade. It was later redesigned in the early 20th century to create a grand processional route in honor of Queen Victoria. The Mall is now lined with trees and has a number of important landmarks, including Admiralty Arch, the Victoria Memorial, and St. James’s Palace.
The Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland fly into London in their Fieseler Storch aircraft and land on the Mall.
Now they land in central London to capture key objectives, or even planning to capture high profile prisoners.
From here they can get to 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, the Ministry of War, Horse Guards, BBC Broadcasting House and other key strategic targets.
Another idea is for the The Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland fly into London in their Fieseler Storch aircraft and land on the Mall. They then need to prepare the Mall as a makeshift runway for Junkers Ju52 transports bringing in reinforcements and supplies.
Junkers Ju52/3M (CASA 352L) at RAF Cosford.
The Ju 52 is a three-engined, all-metal monoplane that was first flown in 1932. It was used by the German Air Force during World War II and is still in use today by a number of civilian operators. The Ju 52 is known for its ruggedness and reliability, and it has been used in a variety of roles, including passenger transport, cargo transport, and military transport.
The Mall is 930 metres long and 36 metres wide. The Junkers Ju52 had a wingspan of 29 metres, but only needs a landing strip of 457 metres. It can also take off in just over 600 metres. It would be a tight fit, but the ability to land a transport in the heart of London would make it much easier to both reinforce an invasion force, but also to take away any prisoners.
There are potentially lots of other ideas for scenarios for the Infanterie Regiment Grossdeutschland and their Fieseler Storch aircraft during Operation Sealion, which I might explore in another blog post.
In addition to the Tiger Moth’s principal use for initial training, the Second World War had RAF Tiger Moths operating in some other capacities and roles. These roles included maritime surveillance and defensive anti-invasion preparations; some aircraft were even outfitted to function as armed light bombers.
This got me thinking about how the RAF might have used Tiger Moths during a successful Operation Sealion. The usual factor for a successful invasion of England by Germany in 1940 was the destruction of the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Of course there are all the naval challenges as well in crossing the channel, but for the sake of argument, let’s say that they were resolved. So would the RAF use them in the defensive anti-invasion role?
Then I did some research and found that the Air Ministry back in 1940 had similar thinking and came up with Operation Banquet.
Operation Banquet was a British Second World War plan to use every available aircraft against the planned German invasion in 1940, the German code name was Operation Sealion.
Operation Banquet was planned, as after the Fall of France in June 1940. The British Government needed to make urgent anti-invasion preparations, as the Royal Air Force engaged the German Luftwaffe in a struggle for air superiority in the Battle of Britain. This included building defences, bunkers, setting up auxiliary units and training the Home Guard.
At the time the threat of invasion was very real and having lost a significant amount of military hardware in the fall of France, the British military were rightly concerned about defending the country against a German invasion. A successful German invasion was dependent on destroying much of the RAF capability, hence the , by the British, to utilise all available aircraft in the event of German troops landing on the beaches on the South coast.
In May 1940, the Air Ministry had started to realise that beyond the normal fighter aircraft reserves of the RAF, it may be necessary to throw every serviceable aircraft into the battle. On 17 May, an Air Ministry meeting outlined ambitious plans to make use of various aircraft in the event of an invasion. This would include transport and training aircraft. Early in July 1940, about 1,000 aircraft, from Tiger Moths to Wellington bombers, at training schools, were ready for anti-invasion operations, with hope of another 1,000 aircraft when the scheme was complete.
Among the Banquet plans was Banquet Light which would see the formation of striking forces composed of De Havilland Tiger Moth biplanes and other light aircraft of Elementary Flying Training Schools. De Havilland put forward plans for converting the Tiger Moth into a bomber by equipping it with eight 20lb bomb racks beneath the rear cockpit. The Banquet Light strike force would be used for Army co-operation, bombing concentrations of airborne troops or soldiers landing on the beaches. If the Germans had adequate air defences, then the plan wouldn’t work, but the thinking was that in the confusion of an amphibious landing they would not have the time or the capability to set up effective air defences.
The use of slow aircraft for ground attack operations was not new and not without precedent, Netherlands Fokker C.Xs, German Henschel Hs 123 and British Hawker Hector biplanes had operated on the continent without unsustainable losses; against advanced troops without time to establish adequate air defences. Slow, highly manoeuvrable aircraft could make accurate ground attacks and escape destruction. This would be a military need in the event of Operation Sealion.
This could make for some interesting scenarios and games.
It was seventy-eight 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.
More photographs of the evocative 54mm scale D-Day model at the Nothe Fort in Weymouth.
The Rolls-Royce armoured car was a British armoured car developed in 1914 and used in World War I and in the early part of World War II. At the outbreak of World War II, 76 vehicles were in service. They were used in operations in the Western Desert, in Iraq, and in Syria. By the end of 1941, they were withdrawn from the frontline service as modern armoured car designs became available.
This mode, which I bought about twenty five years ago now, was originally designed and manufactured by the Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company (HLBSCo) they were then small and relatively new.
A version of the model is still available today and the other HLBSCo models are available from Empress Miniatures. The newer version consists of more resin and less white metal.
I bought the model for Tally Ho! but also intend to use it with my Bolt Action Home Guard forces.
I gave the model a base coat of Cruiser Tank Green (700), which I am not sure is the right colour for a 1940s Rolls Royce Armoured Car.
I think though looking at other models, that it’s probably okay, andfine.
I wasn’t too happy with it, so after a while I decided to give the model another basecoat of Army Green Spray from the Army Painter range.
Once dry I masked the model with blu-tak.
I then used a Humbrol Tank Grey 67 spray for the dark colour.
The next stage will be painting the tyres and detailing.
The Morris CS9/Light Armoured Car was a British armoured car used by the British Army in the World War II. The vehicle was based on a Morris Commercial C9 4×2 15-cwt truck chassis. On this chassis a rivetted hull was mounted with an open-topped two-man turret. The armament consisted of either Boys anti-tank rifle and Bren light machine gun or Vickers machine gun.
I have the Bolt Action Morris CS9 Armoured Car resin kit. Having constructed the model and given it a white undercoat. I then gave the model a base coat of Cruiser Tank Green (700).
Another view.
I wasn’t too happy with it, so after a while I decided to give the model another basecoat of Army Green Spray from the Army Painter range.
The green is very similar. Then spray gave the model a smoother finish.
Once dry I masked the model with blu-tak.
I tried to copy the camouflage pattern as shown in the 1940 photograph.
I then used a Humbrol Tank Grey 67 spray for the dark colour.
The other side.
The next stage will be painting the tyres and detailing.
