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| One half of Force K - HMS Aurora and HMS Penelope |
This year I've been re-starting my WW2 Naval Plans that I put on the back burner about 6 years ago. Next off of the work bench we have two British Cruisers and three Italian destroyers/torpedo boats.
By late 1941, the Royal Navy was running short on ships but had temporarily managed to get ahead in the Mediterranean. By early 1942 the RN was thoroughly knocked for 6 and on the defensive everywhere, especially in the Med. But for a short period, Force K composed of the small cruisers Aurora and Penelope and two destroyers ran the table against the Italians.
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| I've had fun researching camouflage patterns. The cruisers of Force K used a rather natty two tone grey pattern with light upper works and dark hulls. |
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HMS Aurora may have been the best shooting ship in the RN. Penelope was nicknamed first HMS Pepperpot after a heavy bombing left her a lot of splinter holes, and then HMS Pocurpine after the holes were plugged with timbers that extended outside of her hull.  |
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| The cruisier models are both GHQ and I'd forgotten how fiddly these could be. |
I also have three Italian escorts the Soldati class Alpino, the Freccia class Fulmine and the Spica class torpedo boat Calliope. The first two are GHQ and the Calliope is CinC.
This ships will count towards my total in the Naval Side Duel as I inch along incrementally. They will also give me a squirrel point in the Squirrel challenge once I amass a full 25 points for the WW2 project (currently I sit at 20 points).
Back again, Peter? So soon?
Those ships are rather spiffing. I'll go along with your suggested points (I'm sure they are based on scoring from previous Challenge years), so that's another 10 points for you.
Tamsin
Nice work Peter. Plugged with timbers? Yikes!
ReplyDeleteThanks Greg. I added photos to show the effect. There was also a destroyer HMS Porcupine chihuahuas was bombed and split 8nto two parts which were used as accommodations in Gibraltar as HMS Pork and HMS Pine!
DeleteChihuahuas? Oh auto-correct, you've done it again!
DeleteMissed that (what a surprise). Scratch small yappy annoyance and replace with “which was”
DeleteThat basing is superb and the tags with the name really effective - excellent stuff!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jamie.
DeleteCheers Tamsin. Faster than what I intended but there we go.
ReplyDeleteGreat work
ReplyDeleteThanks Adam
DeleteExcellent work on those ships, Peter.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ray
DeleteSuperb ships. GHQ's do come with a lot of tiny metal parts that I tend to super glue to my fingers
ReplyDeleteThanks very much. Fingers that’s for amateurs for a real challenge super glue them to your eardrum!
DeleteSome very nice boats you got there Peter! But why are the labels on the long side instead of the rear of the models? Visually I'd find the latter more appealing but I guess it'd be harder to read?
ReplyDeleteThanks very much. I’m not sure there is a reason except it’s how I started off and I’ve kept going with it! Mostly I expect it’s just easier to put a name and flag onto a long narrow box than a square one.
DeleteFair enough
DeleteWonderful work Peter and a very interesting bit of history. I always find the strategic aspect of the naval war fascinating, especially when the Allies were on their back foot, trying to make do with what they had on hand (which was not alot!).
ReplyDeleteThanks Curt. The RN was mostly running on paint fumes by this point. The Italians had the Med pretty much to them selves for 6 months in 1942, and then it flipped completely.
DeleteLovely work Peter.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul
DeleteGreat work Peter. I really need to see them on the table at some point, as you still have not taught me how to play GQ (at least I think that was the rule set you guys were using). We have talked about it a few times, but never seem to get around to it. To many games, not enough time....
ReplyDeleteThanks Byron. When were able to do so I’ll put on a game for you.
DeleteLovely looking ships and really nice basing!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Cheers Iain.
DeleteWhat a story! The wooden pegs were either a brilliant bit of improvisation, which is insane enough, or standard RN operating procedure, which is madder still. Thanks for giving us some background on these lovely cruisers!
ReplyDeleteThanks Evan. I think it was literally what ever floats your boat. iIRC they did a fast fix in Malta to get her off to Gibraltar before she got bombed again, as Malta was no longer safe.
DeleteLovely looking ships, Peter. The porcupine story is one of those wierd pieces of history that seem almost unbelievable, but are surprisingly true.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stuart. Can’t make this stuff up...
DeleteI'd feel happier if my ship wasn't able to be pierced by splinters!
ReplyDeleteThat’s the general aim!
DeleteAlways good to see some Naval stuff, great job !
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Ken. More on the slipways.
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