On The Workbench: Fighters, Bombers and Transports

A big push on painting 1/600 WW2 aircraft brings the current painting project near the end with just Ju52's and a couple of Walrus Floatplanes left to complete.

The state of my increasingly messy workbench a couple of days ago before some of those planes were finished. Also in sight are various 1/3000 and 1/1200 ships that I have begun prepping ready for painting as soon as the aircraft are finished. The intention being to complete all the ships required for Operation Nostalgia.

Continued -

Operation Nostalgia: Map Moves Day 2 move 5

The weather at the start of move 5 was fine as a result air operations would resume. As this was the final move before nightfall, and with all 3 Arados available, they all took to the skies to resume their designated patrol areas. A reminder -

Aside from patrolling the sea on the lookout for allied ships or aircraft formations, those that passed over islands not occupied by Axis troops were instructed to check for any signs of enemy activity. In this instance Kasos is the only island where British commandos had landed. Aside from daily checks to establish if they had been discovered through intelligence, each time an Arado passed over them they threw a D6 and if a '6' result they would have been sighted. Neither of the 2 Arados passing over Kasos spotted any activity.

Continued -

Operation Nostalgia: HMS Triton attacked by Italian Corvettes

Having resurfaced following it's escape from an attack by a German Arado floatplane, the submarine, HMS Triton sights 3 Italian Corvettes bearing down on them. The weather has turned stormy with a force 7 sea state giving the sub crew confidence that they can successfully evade their attention.

Scale = 1/3000th

Models = Tumbling Dice

Rules = General Quarters 3

Table Size = 4'6" x 3'.

This is another small action but one in which I can further explore the submarine rules in GQ3. On to the action:

The 3 Italian Corvettes in line astern sight the Triton as they are in turn sighted by the sub.

HMS Triton on the surface sights the Italians.

Continued -

On the Workbench: US, British and Italian Aircraft

With this batch of aircraft complete the end of this particular aircraft painting project is in sight. All are 1/600th scale from Tumbling Dice.

6 Italian SM.79 "Sparviero" medium bomber completes the Italian aircraft for Op Nostalgia. They will be used as torpedo bombers in the campaign.

Continued -

Operation Nostalgia: Map Moves Day 2 Move 4

The situation at the end of Move 4 -

This move saw the return of stormy conditions and therefore all aircraft are grounded. Several Axis ships have returned to port for refuelling and repair. 

Having evaded the Arado floatplane, the submarine, HMS Triton (red 5), resurfaces and continues to move towards the sighting of Blue 6. As it approaches Anafi, it's lookouts spot 3 Italian anti-submarine Corvettes (blue 8) bearing down on them. 

NEXT: Triton's fight for survival. 

Operation Nostalgia: Arado Floatplane v Brit Submarine

This was always going to be a quick action and so it proved! Having scanned the rules I am using for this campaign I settled on Action Stations which provided for dice rolls for each weapon firing and thus a little more detail.

The Arado stats varied between GQ3 and those contained within Action Stations and Bag The Hun rules. Principally that in GQ3 the Arado is equipped with Depth Charges whereas the other two list it's ordnance as 2 x 110lb bombs. On checking my books and online there is no reference to depth charges so I am going with the other two. Which is unfortunate for the Germans in this action.

The Arado is also equipped with two front facing 20mm cannons and an LMG. There are also 2 rear LMG's which cannot be used for straffing.

HMS Triton has a 4" deck gun but no AA armaments. On to the action:

On seeing the Arado closing on them, the Triton immediately crash dives. It is clear though that the German plane will get in at least one attack. As it approaches the submerging submarine the Arado opens up with it's 20mm cannon and forward machine gun. Hits are scored but only superficial damage caused.

As the Arado passes overhead it drops both light bombs. They straddle the sub and one is dangerously close but neither hit.

By the time the Arado has circled preparatory to another straffing run the submarine had submerged. The Axis forces were now alerted to the fact that an enemy sub was operating within the Aegean.

That has to be the shortest AAR I will ever write not helped by the absence of AA weapons on the sub! Placed into the context of the campaign though it adds to the story of how it is developing.

NEXT: Map Moves