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31 Aug 2016

SOTCW Journal 88, 31 August 2016

SOTCW Journal 88, 31 August 2016

I am pleased to announced that Journal 88 has just been published in print and PDF formats.

Articles

Subscription News – Information for the next subscription of The Journal
The War in Angola – Some interesting Ambush Scenarios for modern games
Hungary's Red Army – The 129 day Army – March-August 1919
March on Madrid – A Campaign of the first 100 days of the SCW*
Meet The Members – Secretary Phil Gray
Notes on the Great War – Rob Morgan's continuing WW1 series
The Battle of Annual – 22 July 1921 – colonial warfare in Morocco
Harry Lime and the Sewer Police – An idea for a wargame underneath Berlin
The Chinese Civil War – A look at the war between 1927 – 1950
Ghosts of the East – Fictional Soviet vehicles
Modelling a Blocao for the Rif – A simple conversion of resin terrain
Pistol Popping! – A discussion of handgun usage in wargames
Two or Three Shermans to build – A kit review and build

Regulars

The Armoury – Reviews of 15mm – 28mm Wargaming vehicles
Rules of War – Reviews of Wargame Rules
Little Warriors – Reviews of figures and animals in all scales
Bookshelf – Book Reviews
Rob's Rearguard
All members will now need to resubscribe to the Journal for the next six issues. Details in the magazine or on the website.

We are moving to a bi-monthly magazine and if you subscribe now you will get an additional 10% off. Yes that's right 6 issues in PDF format only £6.30 GBP

SOTCW

30 Aug 2016

Slingshot 307

Slingshot 307

Slingshot 307 is currently being printed and should be out by the end of June. Contents include:

Table of contents:

• Arming the Slaves, by Richard Andrews
• It's a Long Way to Tibareni (4), by Alastair McBeath
• The ‘Drunken One' at Campaign 2016, by Steve Rathgay
• Actium Naval Rules, by Harry Ryder
• Pharsalus Battle Day Reports

Pharsalus in Japan, by Aaron Bell
Pharsalus with ‘To The Strongest!', by Paul Innes
Pharsalus using ‘Scutarii', by Bill Butler

• Hannibal Triumphs! – ‘Morten et Glorium', by Richard Jeffrey-Cook
• Another Consideration of Chaeronea, by Chris Hahn

The editor is always looking for more articles, photographs and art, so feel free to contact him if you have an idea you would like to pursue.

Slingshot

25 Aug 2016

Summer Sale - 30% off Books and eBooks, New Releases and Preorders plus News from the Osprey Games Team!

Summer Sale - 30% off Books and eBooks, New Releases and Preorders plus News from the Osprey Games Team!

August has been a busy month for us, with half the team heading off to the US for GenCon, leaving the rest of us here in Oxford to hold the fort. Thanks to everyone who came to say hello to us in Indianopolis, we hope you had as much fun as we did!

We've got some great new releases to show off but first some news that will interest the wargamers amongst you. We're currently running our Summer Sale, with 30% off books and eBooks. New releases and preorders are excluded, but it does mean that you can get some great deals on Bolt Action, our Osprey Wargames series and the award winning Frostgrave rules.

New Releases

Bolt Action: Konflikt '47

Bolt Action: Konflikt '47

Fully compatible with the incredibly popular Bolt Action rules, Konflikt ’47 takes the war to a completely new level. Rifts torn in the fabric of space have brought huge technological advances, and this ruleset gives players everything they need to field forces incorporating the incredible new weapons and technologies as they engage in tabletop battles for supremacy and survival.


Broken Legions

Broken Legions

Broken Legions is a set of fantasy skirmish rules for a war unknown to history, fought in the shadows of the Roman Empire. Various factions recruit small warbands to fight in tight, scenario-driven battles that could secure the mystical power to defend - or crush - Rome. A points system allows factions to easily build a warband, and mercenaries and free agents may also be hired to bolster a force. Heroes and leaders may possess a range of skills, traits and magical abilities, but a henchman's blade can be just as sharp, and a campaign can see even the lowliest henchman become a hero of renown.

Available to Preorder

Colditz Castle - World War II.

Colditz Castle - World War II.

An impregnable fortress. An inescapable prison. Until now.
Designed by Major Pat Reid, one of only a handful of prisoners-of-war to escape Colditz Castle, and screenwriter Brian Degas, Escape From Colditz is the iconic game of careful planning and nerves of steel.

Become Allied escape officers - assemble your equipment, plot your escape routes, and coordinate your efforts to avoid the guards. Become the German security officer - maintain control through guile, ruthlessness, and careful observation despite limited numbers.

This deluxe edition of the classic game for 2 to 6 players includes both original and updated rules, new hand-painted artwork, an oversized board, 56 wooden playing pieces, 100 fully illustrated cards, a 32-page history book, and unique replicas of artefacts from the prison.

Seventy-five years ago, Major Reid braved barbed wire, searchlights, and armed guards to Escape from Colditz. Now it's your turn to do the same.

Frostgrave: Forgotten Pacts

Frostgrave: Forgotten Pacts

In this supplement for Frostgrave, players lead their warbands into the northern reaches of the city, exploring the ruined temples of the Frozen City to search for the lost secrets of evocation - the art of summoning demons. While the lure of such knowledge is great, few wizards have ventured into this region as it is overrun by barbaric northern tribesmen who have descended from the hills in their own search for treasure. Marking themselves with demonic sigils, many of these barbarians have aligned with ancient powers discovered amongst the temples. Along with a host of new scenarios focusing on the exploration of the temples, the book also contains new treasures, spells, soldiers, and creatures that can be found amongst the ruins.

Bolt Action: Armies of Germany 2nd Edition

Bolt Action: Armies of Germany 2nd Edition

Revised and expanded for Bolt Action 2nd Edition, this book provides players with all of the information they need to command Germany's military might. Detailed unit options and theatre selectors allow players to build armies for any of Germany's campaigns, from the Blitzkrieg against Poland and France, through North Africa and the Eastern Front, to the fall of Normandy and the defence of Germany.

Osprey Publishing Ltd

24 Aug 2016

Pose Variety by Good Ground LLC

Hello to all. Over the years, I have seen many postings revolving around the lack of variety in poses available in many 10mm ACW lines. This is an observation which in my opinion, is somewhat justifiable. One of my objectives with Good Ground Miniatures was to avoid this trap. My early packs had 4 to 6 different poses in a standard pack of 12 figures. As my lines have expanded, I have been able to increase the number of poses in a pack. As each new pose was created, the next pack in line often had that pose modified and added to the mix. With my purchase of the old Starfort/Langton line of figures in 2014, I was able to exponentially expand the number of poses. I thought I would post a few examples of the latest packs and the variety available in each of those standard infantry packs of 12 figures.

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The number of poses in the standard packs adds an esthetic quality previously not available in 10mm. It allows for realistic looking lines of battle with an almost infinite variety of poses. The pictures above are not designed to be "artsy", but to show some examples of the pose variety available from our 10mm ranges Cracker Line and Plank Road. Shown below are the results made possible by this variety. We hope this does a little to change the minds of those folks about variety in 10mm ACW lines. When you consider our figures mix well with Pendraken, Magister Militum and much of the GHQ range, variety in poses should be almost unlimited for you 10mm enthusiast and those considering 10mm.

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Good Ground LLC

Ancient History Magazine 6, 24 August 2016

Ancient History Magazine 6, 24 August 2016

Rome of the Twelve Tables

The museum piece: Svenja Grosser, "Female gladiators - Fight to the draw"

Evidence from literary sources, inscriptions, and legal texts proves that women participated in Rome’s gladiatorial contests. To this evidence, we can add one depiction that shows two female gladiators – a relief from Halicarnassus.

Theme: Jona Lendering, "Rome in the fifth century BC - A crisis and its consequences"

After the fall of the monarchy, Rome went into decline. It had to defend itself against tribes from the mountains and had to cope with internal conflicts. To put an end to the latter, the Romans decided to write down their laws. It was the beginning of a legal tradition that was to dominate the Mediterranean world for centuries to come.

Theme: Richard Kroes, "The laws of the Twelve Tables - Clarifying the rules"

Dangerous foreign enemies and domestic conflicts: in the first half of the fifth century, Rome had to cope with serious difficulties. The Laws of the Twelve Tables were meant to solve the conflict between patricians and plebeians.

Theme: Marijke Gnade, "The fifth century in Latium - An archaeological dark period"

Rome’s sumptuary laws – to be discussed on page 31 – forbade conspicuous funerals, which makes the tombs of fifth-century Latium rather poor. Many ancient settlements are still occupied, making excavation impossible. As a consequence, archaeologists find it difficult to understand the world in which the Twelve Tables were written. There is one exception: Satricum, where a large sanctuary of Mater Matuta, a spectacular Latin inscription, and more than two hundred graves have been found.

Theme: Sidney E. Dean, "Roman patrician and plebeian pantheons - Upstairs, downstairs"

A major feature of the Roman Twelve Tables is the differentiation between the patrician and plebeian social classes. While the plebeians gained certain rights and securities through the Twelve Tables, the class structure – marked by patrician dominance – was largely cemented by the laws. But legal status, participation in government, and advancement opportunities were not the only factors separating the upper and lower classes in the early Roman Republic. To paraphrase George Bernard Shaw, patricians and plebeians were two groups of people divided by a common religion.

Theme: Andrei Pogăciaş, "Coriolanus and his legend - Hesitant traitor, tragic hero"

Gaius Marcius Coriolanus was a legendary general of Rome at the beginning of the fifth century. Victim of the conflict between the patricians and plebeians, he turned against his own city one of the few Roman military commanders to do so.

A cinerary urn from the age of the Twelve Tables, the mid fifth century. Interestingly, this young man is reclining as if he is attending a banquet in Greek style. The head of this limestone sculpture is removable, allowing the ashes of the deceased to be put into hollow body. Found in Chiusi, it is now in the Altes Museum in Berlin.

Theme: Mark McCaffery, "Death and funerals in Republican Rome - Three veils, a purple tunic & ten flute-players"

The tenth of the Twelve Tables clarified and established rules for a proper funeral. One of its aims was to limit conspicuous expenditure, a political instrument that the legislators wanted to be blunted. These laws were so successful that Roman graves from this age are quite sober, making this age an archaeological “dark period”.

Theme: Jona Lendering, "The significance of the Twelve Tables - Epilogue"

The Twelve Tables averted Rome’s disintegration but did not create unity. The tensions between patricians and plebeians remained. The real significance is the birth of a society that was, compared with contemporary societies, quite charmed by legal procedures.

Special: Jona Lendering, "The chronology of Mesopotamia - Deeper and deeper"

The study of Antiquity is not famous for spectacular breakthroughs, but occasionally, fundamental discoveries are made. Recently, one of the greatest puzzles was solved: the chronology of Mesopotamia in the Middle Bronze Age.

Special: Lauren van Zoonen, "The Nike of Samothrace - Winged victory"

Samothrace is not the most famous of the Greek islands. Small, mountainous, and situated in the northern waters of the Aegean Sea, it was on the periphery of the Classical and Hellenistic world. However, it has received a place in all books on art history, because it is the place where a priceless sculpture was uncovered on 15 April 1863: a winged victory. The Nike of Samothrace is one of the most important works of art from the Hellenistic age.

Special: Mike Manarpies, "Fossils in ancient Greece - Beasts or heroes?"

Surely those tales about supernatural beings such as minotaurs, cyclopes, giants, and heroes with superhuman abilities and stature must have been just “stories” for the ancient Greeks as well? The common people may perhaps have believed in those famous mythological creatures, but one would expect a more critical approach from the educated classes. But what if there appeared to be proof of their existence?

A reconstruction of the famous statue of Augustus, found in the villa of his wife Livia in Primaporta (a suburb of Rome). The little Amor on the dolphin would have reminded every ancient visitor that Augustus’ family claimed descent from the goddess Venus, as was broadcasted in Virgil’s epic poem Aeneid. On the body armor are representations of military successes during Augustus’ reign.

Special: Patrik Klingborg, "The dark side of Rome's first emperor - Augustus the monster"

The emperor Augustus took great care to present himself as the man who had extinguished the flames of civil war. While stressing his own peaceful intentions, he tried to erase evidence to the contrary. Still, this hostile information once circulated and is as important as Augustus’ own account. A historian needs to take it into account to get a balanced image of Rome’s first emperor.

Philosophy: Kees Alders, "A short look at Stoic logic - Does God play dice?"

The conquests of Alexander the Great profoundly changed the Greek world. The old dichotomy between the independent Greek city-states and the eastern world empires ceased to be relevant. People were citizens of a common world. The world view changed, and hence philosophy, as we see in our series on Hellenistic philosophy. In this issue: the early Stoics after Zeno.

How do they know?: Jona Lendering, "How do we decipher ancient languages - Breaking the code"

Archaeologist often find ancient texts. If they are written in a language that is still in use, like Latin, we can understand them. Other texts, however, are more problematic. Even worse, some ancient texts are written in a script we don’t understand. Still, progress is possible.

Ancient History Magazine

23 Aug 2016

Osprey's Big Reveal

It's time for our Big Reveal, where we give you a sneak peek at the books we are bringing out in 2017. So far, we've given you a look at Men-at-Arms, Combat Aircraft, Weapon, X-Planes and Warrior, with plenty more planned over the next couple of weeks.

Osprey's Big Reveal: Men-at-Arms


 Dutch Armies of the 80 Years’ War 1568-1648 (1): Infantry

Dutch Armies of the 80 Years’ War 1568-1648 (1): Infantry

During the course of the 80 Years’ War one of its main leaders – Maurice of Orange-Nassau – created an army and a tactical system that became a model throughout Europe. This study focuses on the Dutch infantry, examining how Maurice of Orange-Nassau mobilized patriots and volunteers from across Europe, introduced innovative new training methods and standardised the organisation and payment system of the army to make it more than a match for the occupying Spanish.

Roman Army Units in the Eastern Provinces (1): 31 BC - AD 195

Roman Army Units in the Eastern Provinces (1): 31 BC - AD 195

Between the reigns of Augustus and Septimus Severus, the Eastern provinces of the Roman Empire frequently saw brutal fighting, most notably during the conquest of Dacia by Trajan, the suppression of the Great Revolt in Judea and the intermittent clashes with Rome’s great rival Parthia. Drawing upon the latest archaeological research, this book examines the variation of equipment and uniforms both between different military units, and in armies stationed in different regions of the Empire.

Dutch Armies of the 80 Years’ War 1568-1648 (2): Cavalry, Artillery & Engineers

The second in a two-part series on the Dutch armies of the 80 Years’ War focuses on the cavalry, artillery and engineers of the evolving armies created by Maurice of Nassau. Using specially commissioned artwork and photographs of historical artefacts, it shows how the Dutch cavalry arm, artillery, and conduct of siege warfare contributed to the long struggle against the might of the Spanish Empire. These two books include previously unpublished details of unit flags.

Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-70 (1): Piedmont and the Two Sicilies

In the 1840s, post-Napoleonic Italy was 'a geographical expression' – not a country, but a patchwork of states, divided between the Austrian-occupied north, and a Spanish-descended Bourbon monarchy, who ruled the south from Naples. Two decades later, it was a nation united under a single king and government, thanks largely to the efforts of the King of Sardinia-Piedmont, and the revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi. This book, the first of a two-part series on the armies that fought in the Italian Wars of Unification, examines the Piedmontese and Neapolitan armies that fought in the north and south of the peninsula.

Armies of the Greek-Italian War 1940-41

In October/November 1940 an Italian army some 200,000 strong invaded Greece across the largely undefended Albanian border. Britain supported Greece, at first by sea and in the air and later by landing British and ANZAC troops from North Africa, but the main burden of the six-month war was borne by the Greek Army, Navy and Air Force. Although greatly outnumbered, LtGen Papagos's Greek army was so successful against the Italians in north-west Greece that by 22 November it was actually advancing into Albania, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing much equipment. Simultaneously faced with disastrous defeats at British hands in North Africa and at sea, Mussolini appealed for German help. Although providing German troops and aircraft imposed a serious delay on the planned invasion of the USSR, in early April 1941 the Wehrmacht invaded both Yugoslavia and then, with nine divisions including a Panzer Korps, Greece.

Next up in our Big Reveal is the Combat Aircraft series, which sees four new books landing in 2017.

Nakajima B5N ‘Kate’ and B6N ‘Jill’ Units

Entering service during the Sino-Japanese War, the Nakajima B5N (code-named ‘Kate’) excelled and went on to achieve surprising and dramatic successes in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Its replacement, the Nakajima B6N ‘Jill’, while a marked improvement over its illustrious predecessor, was never able to achieve its full potential in combat due to advances in Allied aircraft, finding itself relegated to the dreaded Kamikaze strikes in the latter part of the war. This book will cover the history of both aircraft, including their design and development, as well as the combat highs and lows of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s premier torpedo-bombers.

Ju 52/3m Bomber and Transport Units 1936-41

The all-metal Junkers Ju 52/3m enjoyed a solid – indeed, revered – reputation amongst its crews and the troops and paratroopers who used and depended on it. For more than ten years, it saw service as a successful military transport, with its distinctive, three-engined design and corrugated metal construction becoming instantly recognisable. This, the first of two books, details its service as a bomber in Spain and in South America, followed by its pivotal role in early war operations during the invasions of Poland and France, the airborne invasion of Crete and the early stages of Operation Barbarossa.

A-6 Intruder Units 1974-96

In the three decades after Vietnam, the veteran A-6 Intruder remained the most powerful strike aircraft available to the US Navy and Marine Corps. Engaging in operations over Cambodia, Lebanon and Libya during the 1970s and 80s, the A-6 maintained its reputation as the ‘Main Battery’ of carrier aviation, remaining in service through the First Gulf War up until 1996 when its duties were taken over by the F-14 Tomcat. Filled with first-hand accounts from pilots and navigators, and fully illustrated with profile artwork and photographs, this is the complete story of the US Navy's main medium attack aircraft in the latter part of the Cold War.

Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero Bomber Units

Initially developed by Savoia-Marchetti as a transport aircraft, the aircraft had evolved into a dedicated medium bomber by the time the S.79-I made its combat debut in the Spanish Civil War in 1936. During World War 2, it became Italy’s most successful bomber, and the most produced, with around 1370 built between 1936 and early 1944. Although initially hampered by poor tactics, the S.79 bomber crews nonetheless scored sunk a number of Allied vessels. The bombers patrolled ceaselessly over the Mediterranean providing a constant threat to Allied sailors in the early stages of the war. This volume chronicles the history of the S.79’s war in the Mediterranean, North African, Balkan, and East African theatres.

Next up is a look at the Weapon series, which examines the most important, famous and infamous weapons throughout history.

Colt Single-Action Revolvers

In 1836, Samuel Colt changed the face of warfare with the production of the first of a series of iconic and influential single-action revolvers, including the .44-calibre Colt Walker and the seminal .45-calibre Colt Single Action Army, which remains in production today.  These weapons shifted the role of the pistol from single-shot weapon of last resort to a practical and powerful sidearm that gave the soldier the ability to defend himself once his primary armament was discharged.  They transformed cavalry tactics and relegated the sword to a largely ceremonial role in many armies.

The FN Minimi Light Machine Gun

In 1974, renowned Belgian arms company Fabrique Nationale brought out a ground-breaking new light machine gun, the Minimi. Its success has been meteoric, arming more than 45 countries around the world.

The Minimi offers the ultimate in portable firepower. Firing the high-velocity 5.56×45mm round, the Minimi is a gas-operated, lightweight, belt or magazine-fed weapon, able to burn through cartridges at a cyclical rate of up to 1,150 rounds per minute, making it the weapon of choice for tactical support at squad level.

The Suomi Submachine Gun

Entering service in 1931, the 9x19mm Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun saw extensive combat with Finnish troops during their fight against Soviet forces in 1939–44. It was also manufactured under licence in Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden, and remained in Finnish service until the 1980s, an indication of its durability.

Rugged and accurate, the Suomi was a favourite with Finnish ski troops who would strike from ambush, cutting down Soviet troops, then skiing away into the woods. Initially used by the Finns as a light machine gun at infantry squad level, it eventually became a dedicated submachine gun, and since it had been designed to be more accurate than the typical SMG, it was often even used as a sniping weapon, or to supplement longer-ranged rifles such as the Mosin-Nagant.

The Pilum

A heavy javelin, normally used as a shock weapon immediately before contact, the pilum was designed with a particular speciality: it could penetrate a shield and carry on into the individual behind it. Relying on mass rather than velocity, at short range a volley of pila had much the same effect on a charging enemy as musketry would in later periods.  The design was not uniform, with a wide diversity of types throughout the developmental history of the weapon, but for more than four centuries it remained a vital part of the arsenal of weapons at the disposal of the Roman legionary.

Sharpshooting Rifles of the American Civil War

At the outset of the American Civil War, the Union Army's sharpshooters were initially equipped with the M1855 Colt revolving rifle, but it was prone to malfunction. Instead, the North’s sharpshooters preferred the Sharps rifle, an innovative breech-loading weapon capable of firing up to ten shots per minute – more than three times the rate of fire offered by the standard-issue Springfield .58-caliber rifled musket. Other Union sharpshooters were equipped with the standard-issue Springfield rifled musket or the .56-56-caliber Spencer Repeating Rifle.

Conversely, the Confederacy favoured the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifled musket for its sharpshooters and also imported from Britain the Whitworth Rifle, a .45-caliber, single-shot, muzzle-loading weapon distinguished by its use of a twisted hexagonal barrel.

US Grenade Launchers

Reliable, easy to use, and lethally effective, the M79 grenade launcher stands as an iconic symbol of the Vietnam War. It had a profound influence on small-unit tactics, making a valuable contribution to the squad’s overall firepower at the expense of one rifle per M79 assigned. As the Vietnam conflict continued it was joined on the front line by experimental models such as the magazine-fed T148E1 and pump-action China Lake grenade launcher, as well as two launchers intended to be fitted under the barrel of the new M16 assault rifle, Colt’s XM148 and AAI Corporation’s M203. The M203 remains in US Army service today alongside a newer model, the M320, while the US Marine Corps now also fields the M32 multiple grenade launcher – like the M79, a standalone weapon. The M79 and its successors also influenced the design of tripod- and vehicle-mounted full-automatic grenade launchers, which for the most part, used similar, but different high-pressure 40mm rounds.

The 'Broomhandle' Mauser

At a time when most handguns were limited to six rounds, the ten-shot Mauser caught the attention of the world for its unprecedented firepower and formidable high-velocity 7.63×25mm cartridge, offering longer range and better penetration than other pistols of the day. This saw its ultimate expression in the first-ever select-fire handgun – the ‘Schnellfeuer’ machine pistol, fed by a detachable magazine and offering both full-automatic and single-shot modes. Long-barrelled carbines were also produced to take full advantage of the weapon’s power and accuracy, and even standard variants were supplied with a combination shoulder stock and holster, prefiguring the ‘Personal Defence Weapon’ of today.

Cavalry Lance

Offering formidable reach and striking power, the lance has been the quintessential shock weapon of the cavalry throughout history. Yet with the development of cavalry firearms and the widespread disappearance of armour from the European battlefield, it became somewhat marginalized. However, by 19th century the lance, much changed from its medieval predecessors in both form and function, was back in use by the majority of Western militaries. A weapon once considered obsolete returned to favour, seeing action in a host of conflicts including the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War and World War I. It was not until the disappearance of the mounted warrior from the battlefield that the lance was finally consigned to history.

X-Planes is our brand new aviation series, looking at the dangerous and thrilling world of experimental aircraft. The first 2 books in the series publish in September 2016, and we are pleased to announce four new titles for 2017.

XPL: North American X-15

The revolutionary X-15 remains the fastest manned aircraft ever to fly. Designed and built as the Space Race hotted up, the X-15 was intended to research hypersonic speeds and flights to the edge of space, and form the basis of a possible orbital spaceplane. It obliterated previous speed records, achieving Mach 6.7 and altitudes beyond the edge of space, 100km above the Earth. These ultra-high altitude flights – where the air no longer supports aerodynamic flight, and X-15 pilots relied on spacecraft-style rocket thrusters to keep control – qualified several pilots as astronauts, including Neil Armstrong. In all, the three X-15s made 199 flights, testing new technologies and techniques which helped make the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle viable propositions.

XPL: Luftwaffe Emergency Fighters

In late 1944, the German Air Ministry organised an ‘Emergency Fighter Competition’ intended to produce designs for quick-to-build yet technically and tactically effective jet fighters capable of tackling the anticipated arrival of the B-29 Superfortress over Europe, as well as the British Mosquito and US P-38 Lightning which were appearing in ever-greater numbers.

Thus was born a cutting-edge, highly sophisticated series of aircraft designs, including the futuristic and elegant Focke-Wulf Ta 183; the extraordinary Blohm und Voss P.212, and the state-of-the-art Messerschmitt P.1101 series. As the war ended before they could be fully developed and built, none of the Emergency Fighters saw service, but these advanced aircraft would heavily influence fighter design in the early years of the Jet Age. This book includes a new colour three-view of every Emergency Fighter, plus technical art and a battlescene of how jet aerial combat might have looked if World War II had dragged on into 1946.

XPL: TSR2

The TSR2 is one of the greatest 'what-if' aircraft of the Cold War, whose cancellation still generates anger and controversy among aviation fans. It was a magnificent, cutting-edge aircraft, one of the most striking of the Cold War, but it fell victim to cost overruns, overambitious requirements, and politics. Its scrapping marked the point when Britain's aerospace industry could no longer build world-class aircraft independently. More than 50 years after it first flew, it is still one of the icons of British Cold War aviation, at once representing the very peak of British aero-engineering achievement, and the most powerful symbol of its decline.

XPL: Bell X-2

Pioneering the now-standard layout for supersonic fighters, the Bell X-2 was one of the most influential research aircraft of the early Jet Age. Although it now looks like a conventional jet fighter, it was revolutionary at the time, with swept wings and a completely new type of airframe, and was capable of exploring Mach 2–3 for the first time. Designed in the late 1940s alongside the X-1 programme, Bell combined the most advanced US technology with knowledge captured from Nazi Germany to produce aircraft that were far ahead of any others in their field.

In the early 1950s the absence of adequate computers and supersonic wind-tunnel data meant that pilots could only test new technologies the hard way. Both X-2s were destroyed in crashes, killing two test pilots, but the knowledge gained from the program was invaluable in developing aircraft that could safely fly in the Mach 2–3 range. Every high-speed aircraft from the 1950s onwards, from Concorde to the SR-71 Blackbird to the hypersonic X-15, relied on data originally gained by the X-2 and its brave test pilots.

 Next up in the Big Reveal we have Warrior, which will be seeing two new titles join its ranks in 2017.

Roman Legionary 109 - 58 BC

From 109 BC, when the cohort replaced the maniple as the crucial tactical subunit of the legion, the centurion, although inferior in military rank and social class, superseded the tribune as the most important officer in the legion. The Roman centurion, holding the legionaries steady before the barbarian horde and then leading them forward to victory, was the heroic exemplar of the Roman world, the personification of virtus – masculine valour and excellence. This period is often overlooked, but the invincible legions that Julius Caesar led into Gaul were the refined products of 50 years of military reforms.

British Tank Crewman 1939-45

Great Britain had introduced the tank to warfare during World War I and maintained its superiority with the ‘Experimental Mechanised Force’ during the late 1920s, which combined lorried infantry with fast tanks to produce good results against more conventional forces in several major exercises. Despite these successes, the Experimental Mechanised Force was disbanded due to a mixture of defence cuts in the 1930s depression (so severe that even soldiers' pay was cut) and opposition from traditionalist officers, especially from the cavalry. Britain thus lost leadership in tank warfare, and was relatively unprepared for World War II, both in terms of doctrine and equipment. However, it quickly became obvious that building a large and effective armoured force would be key to defeating Germany.

This study examines the men who crewed the tanks of Britain’s armoured force, which was only four battalions large in 1939. It looks at the recruitment and training of the vast numbers of men required, their equipment, appearance and combat experience in every theatre of the war.

In today's instalment of the Big Reveal we are charging into the thick of battle, with eight new Combat titles scheduled for release in 2017.

Panzergrenadier vs US Armored Infantryman

During World War II, the two pre-eminent mechanized infantry forces of the conflict, the German Panzergrenadier arm and the US Army’s armoured infantrymen, clashed in France and Belgium after the Normandy landings.  These engagements went on to profoundly influence the use of mechanized infantry in the post-war world.  Drawing upon a variety of sources, this book focuses on three key encounters between July and December 1944 including during Operation Cobra and the Battle of the Bulge, and examines the origins, equipment, doctrine and combat record of both forces.

New Zealand Infantryman vs German Motorcycle Soldier

In April 1941, as Churchill strove to counter the German threat to the Balkans, New Zealand troops were hastily committed to combat in the wake of the German invasion of Greece where they would face off against the German Kradschützen – motorcycle troops. Examining three major encounters in detail with the help of maps and contemporary photographs, this lively study shows how the New Zealanders used all their courage and ingenuity to counter the mobile and well-trained motorcycle forces opposing them in the mountains and plains of Greece and Crete.

Longbowman vs Crossbowman

For centuries, the crossbow had dominated the battlefields of continental Europe, with mercenaries from Genoa and Brabant in particular filling the ranks of the French army, yet on the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War they came up against a formidable foe. To master the English longbow was a labour of years, requiring far greater skill to use than the crossbow, but it was much more flexible and formidable, striking fear into French men-at-arms and cavalry.

Canadian Corps Soldier vs Royal Bavarian Soldier

In 1917 the soldiers of the Canadian Corps would prove themselves the equal of any fighting on the Western Front, while on the other side of the wire, the men of the Royal Bavarian Army won a distinguished reputation in combat. Employing the latest weapons and pioneering tactics, these two forces would clash in three notable encounters: the Canadian storming of Vimy Ridge, the back-and-forth engagement at Fresnoy and at the sodden, bloody battle of Passchendaele.

Boer Guerrilla vs British Mounted Soldier

Waged across an inhospitable terrain which varied from open African savannah to broken mountain country and arid semi-desert, the Anglo-Boer wars of 1880–81 and 1899–1902 pitted the British Army and its allies against the Boers’ commandos.

The nature of warfare across these campaigns was shaped by the realities of the terrain and by Boer fighting techniques. Independent and individualistic, the Boers were not professional soldiers but a civilian militia who were bound by the terms of the ‘Commando system’ to come together to protect their community against an outside threat. By contrast the British Army was a full-time professional body with an established military ethos, but its over-dependence on conventional infantry tactics led to a string of Boer victories.

Viking Warrior vs Anglo-Saxon Warrior

In the two centuries before the Norman invasion of England, Anglo-Saxon and Viking forces clashed repeatedly in bloody battles across the country. Repeated Viking victories in the 9th century led to their settlement in the north of the country, but the tide of war ebbed and flowed until the final Anglo-Saxon victory before the Norman Conquest. Using stunning artwork, this book examines in detail three battles between the two deadly foes: Ashdown in 871 which involved the future Alfred the Great; Maldon in 991 where an Anglo-Saxon army sought to prevent a renewed Viking invasion; and Stamford Bridge in 1066 which forced King Harold Godwinson to abandon his preparations to repel the expected Norman invasion to fight off Harald Hard-Counsel of Norway.

German Soldier vs Soviet Soldier

By the end of the first week of November 1942, the German Sixth Army held about 90 per cent of the city of Stalingrad. Yet the Soviets stubbornly held on to the remaining parts of the city, and German casualties were reaching catastrophic levels. In an attempt to break the deadlock, on 2 November Hitler decided to send additional German pioneer battalions to act as an urban warfare spearhead. These combat engineers were skilled in all aspects of city fighting, especially in the use of demolitions and small arms to overcome defended positions and in the destruction of armoured vehicles. Facing them were Soviet troops hardened by months of fighting experience. They had perfected the use of urban camouflage, concealed and interlocking firing positions, the application of submachine guns and grenades at close quarters, and sniper support.

Soviet Paratrooper vs Mujahideen Fighter

In 1979 the Soviet Union moved from military ‘help’ to active intervention in its neighbour Afghanistan, with Soviet paratroopers seizing Kabul at the end of December 1979 and motor-rifle divisions crossing the border to reinforce them. Four-fifths of the Afghan National Army deserted in the first year of the war, which, compounded with the spread and intensification of the rebellion throughout the provinces – led by the Mujahideen, formidable guerrilla fighters – forced the Soviets to intensify their involvement. The Mujahideen were never a singular force, though they shared tactics and behaviours that spoke to a common cultural and military experience. They understood the value of surprise, fighting on one’s own terms and the intelligent use of terrain, behaving in a manner that was oftentimes not so different from that of their ancestors fighting the British over a century before.

Next up in Osprey's Big Reveal we have the Aircraft of the Aces series, which will be seeing four additional titles in 2017.

Jagdgeschwader 53 ‘Pik-As’ Bf 109 Aces of 1940

Boasting pilots who had been blooded in the Spanish Civil War, Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) ‘Pik As’ or ‘Ace of Spades’ achieved great success in the skies over France and Britain in 1940. Among the leading aces were Werner Mölders, Rolf Pingel and Hans Karl Mayer, all of whom received the Knight’s Cross for their successes in aerial combat. The successes of its pilots resulted in JG 53 being credited with 258 victories following the Battle of Britain for the loss of 51 pilots killed or captured. This study follows the aces of JG 53 into battle, telling the stories of their victories, losses, and ultimate fate.

MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War

Having honed their skills on the subsonic MiG-17, pilots of the VPAF received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966. Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the USAF, US Navy and US Marine Corps crews striking at targets deep into communist territory. Although the communist pilots initially struggled to come to terms with the fighter’s air-search radar and weapons systems, the ceaseless cycle of combat operations quickly honed their skills. Indeed, by the time the last US aircraft (a B-52) was claimed by the VPAF on 28 December 1972, no fewer than 13 pilots had become aces flying the MiG-21, with five more claiming four victories. The best fighter then available to the VPAF, more than 200 MiG-21s (of various sub-types) were supplied to the North Vietnamese.

Jagdgeschwader 1 ‘Oesau’ Aces 1939-45

Formed shortly after the outbreak of World War 2, and equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109Es, Jagdgeschwader 1 was initially tasked to defend the regional North Sea and Baltic coastal areas and the Reich's main port cities and naval bases. The greatest task for JG 1 though came after 1942 in its defence of the Reich against the US Eighth Air Force’s B-17s and B-24s, bearing the brunt of defence against increasingly regular, larger and deep penetration USAAF daylight bomber raids with fighter escort. Levels of attrition subsequently grew, but so did experience among the leading aces who were often the subject of propaganda films and literature.

Allied Jet Killers of World War 2

Allied fighter pilots began encountering German jets – principally the outstanding Me 262 fighter – from the autumn of 1944. Stunned by the aircraft’s speed and rate of climb, it took USAAF and RAF units time to work out how to combat this deadly threat as the Luftwaffe targeted the medium and heavy bombers attacking targets across the Reich. It was soon discovered the best way to down a jet was to attack it when it was preparing to land after its mission has been completed. Occasionally, a pilot would get lucky and hit a jet whilst it was attacking bombers, knocking out an engine that then slowed the fighter enough for it to be caught up and shot down. A number of high-scoring aces from the Eighth Air Force (Drew, Glover, Meyer, Norley and Yeager, to name but a few) succeeded in claiming Me 262s, Me 163 and Ar 234s during the final months of the campaign, as did RAF aces like Tony Gaze and ‘Foob’ Fairbanks flying Spitfires and Tempests. The exploits of both famous and little-known pilots will be chronicled in this volume, detailing how they pushed their aircraft to the limits of their performance in order to down the Luftwaffe's 'wonder weapons'.

Osprey Publishing Ltd

22 Aug 2016

10mm Han Chinese by Newline Designs

A great addition to our range of 10mm figures – Han Chinese. The figures come in packs of 30 infantry figures, or twelve cavalry, or three 4-horse chariots. Each pack £4.00 GBP

Han Chinese

10HA01 Han Swordsmen 30 figures incl command

10HA01 Han Swordsmen 30 figures incl command

10HA02 Han Halberdiers 30 figures incl command

10HA02 Han Halberdiers 30 figures incl command

10HA03 Han Crossbowmen 30 figures incl command



10HA06 Han Heavy Chariots 3 x 4 horse chariots

10HA06 Han Heavy Chariots 3 x 4 horse chariots


10HA07 Han Horse Archers 12 cavalry



10HA08 Han Heavy Cavalry 12 cavalry


Newline Designs

18 Aug 2016

Miniature Wargames 401, September 2016

Miniature Wargames 401, September 2016

We are currently working on this issue. On sale 19th August 2016.

As the Olympics reach their climax and the wargamer about town looks for new things to hold his attention, issue 401 lands on his doormat just in time!

In To the next river, the fifth installment of The red empire strikes back – fighting the Great Patriotic War one battle at a time, Andrew Rolph continues his series of Ostfront scenarios with a desperate defence of a river line by a hastily cobbled together kampfgruppe in danger of being overwhelmed.

In Centreville refought, Mike Batten and his friends from the Shrewsbury Wargames Society discovered that they had inspiration in common, sparked by the late, great Terry Wise and his simple games with Airfix toy soldiers.

A Piper at the Gates sees John Treadaway setting out a scenario for the popular ‘hard’ sci-fi ruleset Hammer’s Slammers, which can easily be translated to most modern settings. In addition, he recounts how The Editor mercifully avoided disgracing himself in his first ever Slammers encounter!

In Grenouisse at bay part 3, The Editor continues his account of the latest installment of his image-nations campaign, which brought players from around the UK together at the final showdown weekend in Ayton, Yorkshire. This month, he plunges us into the opening action of the campaign. However, it was not a battle that opened the hostilities, but an 18th century covert mission gone wrong!

Tony Harwood has been Making More Hay, following up his first haymaking project that appeared in issue 392 with a delightful covered haystack suitable for any historical or fantasy setting. So pick up your pitchforks and get cracking!

And finally we have a show report from The Joy of Six 2016 by Neil Shuck who reports on this specialist micro-scale event.

Of course, we have our regular spots too:

In his Briefing The Editor considers the many ways in which our hobby is fulfilling, involving as it does so many creative strands.

In World Wide War gaming, The Editor continues his research into the English Civil War, now trying to find suitable model buildings; looks at the Kickstarter success of Miniature Wargaming: The Movie; and picks another pair of Blogs of the Month.

The Editor completes his regular spots this month with Forward Observer, scouting out the latest offerings from The Plastic Soldier Company, Black Hussar, Crusader Miniatures, Totentanz Miniatures, Total Battle Miniatures, Lancashire Games, Rapier Miniatures, Rapid Fire and Tiny Wargames.

Diane Sutherland gives us Corking outcrops in her Continuing tales of a wargames widow. She’s never one to waste a bit of cork, especially if there’s a decent bottle of red underneath it, but lately husband Jon has been driving her barking mad with demands for realistic rocky outcrops. Once again, our heroine proves that there’s no recycling challenge she cannot meet.

In Fantasy Facts, John Treadaway returns with his regular monthly roundup of genre goodies, including one that was a complete mystery! Even knee-deep in gnolls, he’s managed to find the time to play a bit, but realises that the games just aren’t as big as he remembers...

Author and well known demo game supremo Steve Jones of the Newark Irregular picks up the Wargaming my way, our series featuring a different wargamer every month telling us just what it is about the hobby that they love. Next time, it could be you!

In Hex Encounter, boardgame specialist Brad Harmer-Barnes makes some recommendations for recreating that Hollywood feeling, perhaps without the glamour, but with plenty of entertainment.

In his Send three and fourpence column, Conrad Kinch our roving reporter from the Emerald Isle manages to corner the creator of Commands & Colors and many other successful gaming systems Richard Borg, in an attempt to extract the latest intelligence from this wargaming hero.

Of course we have our Battlegames Combat Stress Appeal and finally, our regular review slot Recce.

Our front cover photo, taken by the Editor, shows action during his first ever game of Hammer’s Slammers, hosted by our genial F/S-F Editor John Treadaway.

Remember also to check out the new “Downloads” section on the new website at  for additional material for Andrew Rolph’s article.

And a reminder, if you would like to feature in the new Wargaming My Way column, here’s the brief. Write about whatever you love about the hobby, the games you like to play, the periods/genres you love, how you like to paint, who you admire… Basically, write about why you love wargaming, and more importantly how and why you’ve ended up pursuing it your way. Length, no more than 2,000 words, plus supply half a dozen or so images to accompany the piece. So, over to you! If you’d like to feature, send your submissions in the usual way to henry@henryhyde.co.uk. I also advise using Dropbox or Wetransfer.com as a more organised way of sending your material, rather than just attachments to an email.

Roll ‘em high!

Miniature Wargames

14 Aug 2016

WWI Tractors & Morser Released by Pendraken Miniatures

These have been working their way through the moulding queue for a while now, as there's a few parts involved in some of them and we wanted to make sure they were easy to assemble.  First up we've got a pair of Austrian tractors, manufactured by Austro-Daimler.  The M12 was produced before the war began and was put to use towing the Skoda 30.5cm Morsers.  By 1916 the army were looking for a better tractor to do this job, so the M17 was brought into service instead.  Whilst exact production numbers are not known, some of these M17's were used by the German army as well, so could be put to dual use on your tables.

We've also got the aforementioned 30.5cm howitzers, in both deployed and towed versions, with the deployed gun coming supplied with a set of crew.  We've also added it to the WWII German range where we'll supply it with WWII crew.

WWI Austro-Hungarian

AH17    Skoda 30.5cm Morser M11 gun, deployed with crew (1)    £3.00

AH17    Skoda 30.5cm Morser M11 gun, deployed with crew (1)

AH18    Austro-Daimler M12 tractor    £3.00

AH18    Austro-Daimler M12 tractor

AH19    Austro-Daimler M17 tractor    £3.00

AH19    Austro-Daimler M17 tractor

AH20    Skoda 30.5cm Morser M11 gun, dismantled with 3 transport trailers    £4.95

AH20    Skoda 30.5cm Morser M11 gun, dismantled with 3 transport trailers

Forum Discussion
Pendraken Miniatures

13 Aug 2016

ACW Gamer: The Ezine Issue 12, August 2016

ACW Gamer: The Ezine Issue 12, August 2016
                                                                             
Issue 12 of ACW Gamer is here. A 39 page PDF (including cover) for you to download online. Featuring:

Kingston House, a Chickamauga Scenario
Painting “Johnston at Shiloh”
A beginner’s introduction to ACW Gaming
The end of “Kirby Smith’s Confederacy”
A look at Brave Hearts Trembled, a scenario book for Antietam

ACW Gamer

WWII Revamps & Releases by Pendraken Miniatures

This batch of releases includes a variety of revamps along with some new additions as well.

For the British, we've got the first of the new Shermans rolling out of the factory with the M4A4 75mm and Firefly ready, plus some new M4A1 types.  Plus we've also got a new Grant ARV ready to drag some broken armour to safety.

For the Soviets, we've had the SU-85 / SU-100 / SU-122 revamped as well, so those are now crisp new models.  And finally we've got a few new additions, including the Morser gun for the Germans, a C33/35 tankette for the Italians and an AMC Schneider P16 armoured car.

WWII British
BR30    M4A4 Sherman, 75mm    £3.00

BR30    M4A4 Sherman, 75mm

BR33    M4A4 Sherman Firefly, 17pdr    £3.00

BR33    M4A4 Sherman Firefly, 17pdr

BR181    M4A4 Sherman, 75mm with turret back box    £3.00

BR181    M4A4 Sherman, 75mm with turret back box

BR182    M4A1 Sherman, 75mm    £3.00

BR182    M4A1 Sherman, 75mm

BR183    M4A1 Sherman, 75mm with turret back box    £3.00

BR183    M4A1 Sherman, 75mm with turret back box

BR184    Grant ARV    £3.00

BR184    Grant ARV

WWII Russian

SV10  SU-85  £3.00

SV10  SU-85

SV11   SU-100  £3.00

SV11   SU-100

SV12 SU-122   £3.00

SV12 SU-122

 WWII German

GR242    Skoda 30.5cm Morser M11 gun, deployed with crew (1)    £3.00

GR242    Skoda 30.5cm Morser M11 gun, deployed with crew (1)


WWII Italian

ITA25    C33/35 command tankette (2)    £2.80

ITA25    C33/35 command tankette (2)

WWII French

FRE58    AMC Schneider P16 A/C    £2.80

FRE58    AMC Schneider P16 A/C

Forum Discussion
Pendraken Miniatures

11 Aug 2016

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy, 86, July 2016

Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy, 86, July 2016

Napoleonic Russia

Column: Rick Priestley, "This gaming life - It's a goal"

With more and more wargames styling themselves as ‘skirmish’ in type and intent, it’s certainly starting to look like a pretty crowded niche. What was once an occasional or minority interest is becoming practically mainstream. Considering all of these new and exciting developments, it does beg the question – exactly how big is a skirmish wargame?

The remains of the Dutch 34th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division mount a last desperate defence of the area.Special: Piers Brand, "A bitesize battle for the capture of Arnhem - Clearing the tomb"

In April 1945, the Allied forces launched a sequence of operations, one of which was to secure the city of Arnhem, the site of the heroic stand by 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market-Garden in the previous September. A war correspondent who entered the city after its capture viewed the destruction and debris of the previous battle and likened it to ‘entering an ancient tomb’.

Special: Joseph McCullough, "A Frostgrave mini-campaign with a difference - Warriors of Athena"

My own love of Greek myth comes from two sources. The first is the original 1981 Clash of the Titans film, which I watched way too many times when I was a kid. The other was the game Heroes of Olympus by Task Force Games, which also came out in 1981. Billed as a ‘role playing game’, the boxed set came with loads of hex maps and cardboard counters, which made it feel more like a board game, but the rulebook is a dense treasure trove of ideas for gaming in the world of Greek myth and includes its own extensive charts for determining the parentage of a hero. It is the best purchase I ever made in a $1 shop.

Special: Dillon Browne, "The Romans march against Palmyra - Clubs versus kontos at Emesa"

Typical isn’t it? One of your favourite ancient cities stays out of the news for centuries, and then when it is on the news, you wish it wasn’t. The ancient city of the Palmyrans fascinated me when I first started playing wargames. Their daring stand against the Roman Empire had a romantic feel to it. This wasn’t the empire at its peak, though. It was starting to suffer from civil wars, invasions, and financial collapse. Perhaps with better luck, the attempted independent Palmyran state could have succeeded.

Theme: Adrian McWalter, "Why wargame with a Napoleonic Russian army - Slavsya, Otechestvo!"

This is something I always ask myself when I walk away from the wargames table following another defeat at the hands of the French. After all, Russian commanders were drunken fools and their troops lacked the natural aptitude for war that characterized the French soldier, as the British historian Francis Petre would have us believe. Yet I always return to my green-coated sons of Russia. Why? Well, let’s take a look.

Securing the river crossing, they attack the Russians.Theme: Adrian McWalter, "The Battle of Gorodetschna - The Black Eagle's claws"

Having driven deep into Russia, Napoleon was on the brink of taking Smolensk. Nevertheless, to the south, Tormasov’s Third Russian Army of the West had become a real threat. On 27 July 1812, General Tormasov defeated Reynier’s Saxons at the Battle of Kobrin. To stabilize the situation, the Emperor ordered Schwarzenberg’s Hilfkorps to cooperate with Reynier and suppress this Russian threat. Obeying his political master’s instructions from Vienna, Schwarzenberg had so far avoided any serious or overtly aggressive engagement with the Russians. But since this was a direct order from Napoleon himself, the Austrian commander-in-chief now had no option but to act offensively.

Theme: Eoghan Kelly, "Battles in the Khanates, June and July 1805 - The Russian Carrhae"

In 1805, while the situation in the Caucasus deteriorated, the continued rise of the new French Empire meant Russia had to keep a close eye on the West – especially their treaty obligations, following the bruising campaigns of 5 years earlier by Suvaraov. As a result, the forces available to the Russian commanders in the southern Caucasus were quite limited, especially as war with the Ottoman Empire seemed imminent as well.

Theme: Michael Leck, "The Finnish War of 1808 - The boy versus the bear"

Sweden in 1807 faced an ultimatum. If it didn’t join the Continental System against Britain, Russia would be obliged to attack Sweden, under the terms of the Treaty of Tilsit (1807) with France. King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden viewed Napoleon as the ‘Antichrist’ and Britain as his ally, so the King instead entered into negotiations with Britain to prepare a joint attack against Sweden’s old enemy Denmark. As a result, Russia launched its surprise attack at the end of February 1808 without a declaration of war.

Theme: Michael Leck, "History and rules for Sharp Practice - The Swedish Army, 1805-09"

The Swedish army of the Napoleonic war was primarily an infantry force. The organization of the infantry regiments, battalions, and companies had not changed very much during the previous century, and neither had the battlefield tactics or the way the soldiers were recruited. Still, the allotment system (indelningsverket) and its part-time regiments dominated, complemented by a number of enlisted jaeger, artillery, and garrison regiments.

For Poland and Poniatowski!Theme: Roger Murrow and Guy Bowers, "The fight for Utitsa and the southern flank - Borodino with a Polish twist"

The Battle of Borodino was fought on 7 September 1812 between Napoleon’s Grande Armée and the forces of Imperial Russia. The fighting involved approximately 250,000 troops, and both armies suffered a staggering combined 70,000 casualties, making Borodino the bloodiest battle of the Napoleonic Wars.

Theme: Guy Bowers, "Collecting a Napoleonic Russian army - For mother Russia and the Tsar"

Imperial Russia had a large empire, which stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Its army was vast and powerful, and it took the combined might of the French Empire with all of its allies (some reluctant, such as Prussia and Austria) to threaten Russian dominion. Still, the resulting invasion failed. Russia was truly a force to be reckoned with.

Theme: John Morris, "On the cover - 'Russian' to the front"

Not long before writing this, General Guy Bowersevich sent a rider to my studio, demanding a cover and article on the mighty armies of Tsar Alexander. I said “Yes”. I always do. There’s something about a heroic charge I can’t resist. They say that, in this life, if you’re not living on the edge, then you’re taking up too much space.

Column: Colin Philips, "The irregular - Daniel is my brother"

So WS&S 85 arrives at work and I can’t wait to jump in and look at it. Why? Well firstly, my Zombie article, ‘Boarding the Blue Noah’, is in it in all its glory. Having only published a few articles in WS&S, the newness of having something printed has yet to wash off. And then, of course, I peruse the remaining articles.

Hobby: Tony Harwood, "Building a Russian gun redoubt - A Napoleonic redoubt"

When Guy suggested that I build a Russian Napoleonic-themed piece of terrain for this issue, I started looking around for inspiration. A wooden church? No, I’d already built a church. A Russian windmill? No, I’d already built a windmill. What about a redoubt? Perfect, and I had most of the components I would need in my spares box.

Hobby: John Bond, "Making realistic foxholes for World War II - No purple hearts for hiding in a foxhole!"

The title of this piece was the cry that rang out from legendary US Marine Henry ‘Jim’ Crowe at Guadalcanal in 1943. But that’s what foxholes are designed for. Not so much for hiding as to stop you from getting a Purple Heart! They provide excellent cover – a great defensive platform from which to engage the enemy, while at the same time minimizing your exposure to enemy fire.

Ancient Spanish warriors.Hobby: Ruben Torregrosa, "Painting Vixtrix ancient Spanish - Masters of Iberia"

The conquest of the Iberian territories by the Romans was definitely not easy, and more than one surprise was waiting for the invaders at the hands of the Iberians. In this article, I’ll show you how to paint these brave warriors, using the new outstanding plastic miniatures from Victrix.

Let's play: Seb Burlage, "Bolt Action 2: Better than the original - Let's play Bolt Action 2"

As a self-proclaimed Bolt Action fanboy, I was very excited to receive version 2 rules to playtest. I couldn’t wait to see if any radical changes had been made or if some of the highly debated issues from the first edition were fixed. Happily, it appeared that I wouldn’t be disappointed.

Reveiws: Stephen Luscombe and Eoghan Kelly, "Game reviews"

In this edition of game reviews, our writers take a look at The Kingdom is Ours, Baroque, and Over the Hills: A Napoleonic Wargame.

Column: Richard Clarke, "Up front: The elephant in the room"

It was undoubtedly what a mate of mine calls a “Dakka Dakka moment”, when enthusiasm and pure joy of the game gets in the way of what, with a cooler head, we’d know was simply a bit daft. Personally, I reckon my opponent had been limbering up for our game by over-dosing on War Picture Library comics and their very charming brand of stiff-upper lip heroism which inspired many a schoolboy.