WW2 Naval Convoy Theme .. Mixing the Pot of Ideas

It all started with a Waterstone's book token left over from Xmas, or rather a Xmas present looking to be used. Whilst in store I was looking around and saw Max Hasting's Operation Pedestal, this I had already listened to on Audible but thought that a hard copy would help me plan for a naval miniatures game (see below, everything seems sensible just now, the narrative of the battle is good, but sadly when I got it home I felt a little short changed on maps and orders of battle that the wargamer seeks out):

Sitting nearby was another beguiling book, this time on the Arctic Convoys and with a recent take on operational decision making by the Admiralty based on information from Bletchley Park and its Enigma decryptions (see below, the "pair" nicely finished off the book token, job done - one a "Hot" sunburn Mediterranean campaign, the other a "Freezing Cold" ice chipping off the railings Artic campaign weather, Mother Russia here we come!):   

The fun started when I got back home and rummaged through my existing book and game library coming across "Hunting The Beast", trying to kill the Tirpitz and then a recently "gifted" Arctic Convoy game from Avalanche Press (see below, the map inside it is an absolutely beautiful masterpiece): 

I have a few more books that cover the action in the Mediterranean (see below, all bought with the intention of getting my Navwar 1/3000 Italians to fight it out with the RN and the odd Free or Vichy French ship thrown in for good measure): 

There was still more fun to be had in the "Wargaming Library" - Paddy Griffith's classic Sandhurst Wargames book includes a very detailed "Sink the Tirpitz" style game (see below, I like many other wargamers I know possess at least one copy of this [quad] game, but still do not have all the pieces for all the games, as it really needed to come in a box - alas it is now out of print despite it being a classic): 

Although not as beautiful as the Avalanche Press Artic Convoy map, the Sandhurst Wargames maps are still very functional and "interesting" especially the one detailing the fjords of Norway. Given that these were the days when we did not have Google Maps on tap, when it was produced this was a very enigmatic addition to any wargamers collection (see below, one interesting part of the game is that there are many ingenious ways [FAA, RN surface action, X-Boats] in which you can try to sink the Tirpitz and her companions - not saying you will be successful at any of them. I don't think getting the RAF's 617 Squadron to drop Grand Slams on her, as in the one that worked, is actually one of them):   

This is all "settling or stewing" in the back of my mind, where the wargame scenario idea "mixing pot" resides.

Spies do it best in "Plain Sight" and a link to a free AI course and what the Vatican thinks!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51467536

Black boxes are just that and they could be working for another side as well as your own.
If you want to take a look at what can be inside them there is a free AI course running at the University of Helsinki:

https://www.elementsofai.com/

Vatican, IBM and Microsoft call for Ethical AI:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51673296

Various History Links and WW2 Game Links

Various interesting links I have accumulated other the year or so, so while in the process of clearing out my email I thought I would store them here:

Best Response to New Zealand ODI World Cup Result in Defeat so Strong in Praise:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48986469

RUSI "Strike" Concept Report:
https://rusi.org/publication/newsbrief/explaining-british-army%E2%80%99s-strike-concept

1940 Flanders:
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK-NWE-Flanders/index.html

Hut 6 Book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hut-Six-Story-Breaking-Enigma/dp/0947712348/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515452408&sr=8-1&keywords=the+hut+six+story+gordon+welchman

Dunkirk: http://www.beastsofwar.com/dunkirk-week/evacuation-part-five-air-operations-command-games/

PanzerX:
https://www.relativerange.com/tactical-gamex

Info Chess:
https://paxsims.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/infochess-and-permutations-of-classic-games/
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=how+to+play+information+Chess&oq=how+to+play+information+Chess&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.7495j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#safe=active&q=wargaming+infochess

Wargaming Scenarios:
http://mr-home.staff.shef.ac.uk/hobbies/scenario.html

Online Wargame:
http://empire.openmpe.com/empire/

Afghanistan Deadliest Day:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3MPJwFTmsQ7T8jbwZ1TbhdW/deadliest-day-how-one-patrol-in-afghanistan-still-haunts-british-soldiers-ten-years-on?intc_type=singletheme&intc_location=radio4&intc_campaign=bbcsounds&intc_linkname=article_deadliestday_contentcard56 

Something Different .. An Enigma Machine

While passing through London Kings Cross i had an annoying "wait" for my train, so I decided to put it to some good use. Withing walking distance of the station is the British Library so I decided to be a tourist and have a look. Inside the building there was a sign that said "The Turing Institute" - which although closed to the General Public had this interesting piece of history on display (see below, an Enigma Machine [or mock-up]): 

Another interesting feature is that in the British Library (more museum if you ask me) it is very hard to get your hands on a book (unless you buy it) as you need to register for a "Readers Pass" and then I believe they go get it for you. No browsing. So I just used their free WiFi and had an expensive London coffee and bought a book but more of that later ;)