Audible Book: Admiral Jellicoe and The Crisis of the Naval War

This was a fascinating subject as Jellicoe was very much a "war hero" for his services to the Grand Fleet, leading up to and beyond Jutland, but the inability to deal with the U-Boat threat was his Achilles Heal (see below, revealing more as a detective story of what was not said, what he was prepared to say and what he was focused or overly fixated on): 

All in all I found it a turgid read, but was totally fascinated by the way the man was consumed with detail but somehow missed the most facing pungent problem facing the Allies in WWI (he considered fighting U-Boars nigh impossible). The convoy solution to the problem was mentioned in passing (and is literally the oldest trick in the naval service book) as "logistical problems were eventually solved", no hint at the political issues (understatement, ahem) with Lloyd George and no admission of credit to which the crisis was turned around. Plenty of attention to efforts and energy of ideas and systems that did not really yield the results effective convoys did. A far cry from an account of the same period from these Wikipedia pages: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoys_in_World_War_I

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jellicoe,_1st_Earl_Jellicoe

WATU - Western Approaches Museum at Liverpool

Hats of to the volunteers from DSTL, the RN, the RCN, the Defence Academy and the ubiquitous PaxSims gurus for helping create this event. Something I would have loved to have seen in the flesh but the write-up is almost as good as being there (see link below):

https://paxsims.wordpress.com/2018/09/08/watu-wargame-report/
Visiting this museum is on my "bucket list".

Like the organisers I truly believe WATU was an astounding "one of a kind" establishment. It being a very important cog in the machinery that helped win The Battle of the Atlantic by bringing together the men and material (or true operational characteristics of the machinery) together with sound operational tactics in a unique gladiatorial training arena. It even broke down the prejudicial barriers of the sexes - woman (WRENS) doing "more than a mans work". The softer feminine assistance (see the Cruel Sea) during the game helped the learning experience. Although undoubtedly a high pressure environment for the officers, WATU was still "a safe place to train" in the Constructivist Psychology sense of the word, before meeting the real adversarial enemy who asked for and took no quarter.

If you wish to see the other side of the tale, take a trip on the Mersey Ferries to see U-534 recovered from the seabed lodged at the Woodside Ferry Terminal, something I was able to do last Father's Day (see below, OK sad dad that I am I got a "tank ruler" and "Tommy tea mug" as well, a triple win):

Now I will have to check out my naval wargames collection now for a U-Boat convoy battle game, I think I have copy of AH Submarine somewhere. It would be interesting to contrast the "after the battle" thoughts on simulation with the "in-period" artefact to see how close or far apart they are.

Essential WW2 Naval Wargaming: Reading and Listening (WATU) - Connections 2017

The slides are good:

http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/17-WATU.pdf

But the audio is bloody fantastic:

http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/Strong.mp3

But don't take my word for it, listen to it yourself!

Airfix "Das Boot" 1/400

Cue "Bas Boot" music ....

Although small, this ex-Heller (now re-distributed by Airfix kit) certainly captures the sinister shape and feel of VIIc U-Boat, aka the "scourge of the Atlantic". The 1/400 scale is slightly odd to fit into my other big naval modelling ranges (1/600, 1/720 and 1/700) but could comfortably "sit on the mantelpiece" as a mini-model to attract the attention of inquisitive kids and cats (see below):

If truth be told it was a bit of a whimsy purchase, spotting it marked as slightly damaged (scratched packaging and without the starter paints) at half price (£4.00) in a garden shop of all places I took a punt at it. 

This is its basic colour scheme but I feel the need to "weather it up a bit" to give it a North Atlantic patrol 'feel'. Time for a few dark Vallejo washes and a bit of rust. That can come later.

 :)

Now how do I get it on the tabletop?

A Mine Laying U-Boat Whatever Next (Type VII D)

How about this for a dastardly and cunning idea, the Germans developed the Type VII D mine laying U-Boat. Longer than the Type VII C with a mid-section inserted carrying five static moored mine laying silos. This was a bit like modern ballistic SSBN's, except that they dropped out of the bottom of the hull and were permanently flooded being outside the pressure hull (see picture below): 

Another birthday present, stuck together and glued, I seem to be slipping into a "put it together" mode drifting away from painting and finishing things off.

North Atlantic rendezvous, a Type VII D, meets up with a Type VII C (see below):   

A game idea, a game idea, a kingdom for a decent game idea?

PS: There is no shortage of water where I live currently live as we've had above a months worth of "typical rainfall" for the season in just over twenty four hours (see above, there is usually a good two foot extra space beneath that footbridge).

Birthday Present - Das Boot in 1/350 Type VIIC U-Boat

It can be nice to be surprised. In short I am a happy man drifting through my forties (another birthday down) still making plastic models that I never asked for but when opened are a nice piece of history (see below):

This is the 1/350 scale Revell Type VIIC German U-Boat and it is a lovely detailed kit. Destined methinks to be painted as U-81 which sunk the Ark Royal (boo hiss) in the Mediterranean in 1941.

Once fully completed I will have to find a wargaming use for it ;)