GAME: Operation Preying Mantis

 Sunday we played our modern naval game, Operation Preying Mantis, at Savannah Lion Games. The rules we used were Naval Command. The US had a huge advantage in number of ships, planes, and technology. However, what the Iranians lacked in numbers and weaponry, they made up in freedom of action. Where as the Iranians could do whatever they want the US had to follow strict rules of engagement.

A view of the Straights of Hurmuz. At the very top SAG Delta, consisting of the destroyers O'Brien, Joseph Strauss, and the Frigate Jack Williams can be seen passing through the straight. The US Surface CAP can also be seen loitering at the CAP point off the coast of UAE. At Bottom the Revolutionary guard can be seen harassing the passenger ferry African Queen.  

SAG Bravo, consisting of the Destroyers Merrill, McCormick, and the LPD Trenton, approach the Sassan oil terminal.

SAG Charlie, consisting of the Frigates Simpson, Bailey, and the missile cruiser Wainwright, park next to the Sirri platform and prepare for their bombardment.

The heaviest fighting happened at the straight when the Iranian navy sortied out. Here the frigate Sabalan burns after being hit by a Harpoon and guided bomb from SuCAP's A-6. It would later sink from flooding.

After the Sabalan was sunk the Iranians launch a number of air strikes using every F-4 available. While the F-14s were engaged with one strike, another group managed to get close to SAG Delta. The destroyer O,Brien ended up being hit with a Maverick missile. Also hit by Iranian gunfire, the destroyer suffered a fire and severe flooding that damaged systems. However, the ship was able get flooding and fire under control and went on to nearly sink the frigate Sa'am. Of the five flights of phantoms sent out, only one flight manage to return to base.

Nearby trawlers watch as the Sassan platform burns after being demolished by Marine placed charges. At this point we called the game with both sides able to declare marginal victory. The US managed to destroy all their primary targets, but O'Brien was damaged. While the Iranian navy failed to stop the US from destroying their platforms, the Revolutionary Guard, not shown in the pictures, ran wild on the commercial shipping. They damaged several merchants and tankers.

INJ TAMA part 5

 Been a while since I posted anything due to computer problems. A few weeks ago I finally finished my Japanese light cruiser model. Here's the picture. 

I got some other stuff done too and I hope to post again tonight. 

IJN TIMA Part 4

 I'm back everyone. Had a little sign in trouble with the Blog post. But now, I've got it working again. If some of you remember a couple of years back I started on this model.

I made some good progress on it but then other projects started taking priority and I never got back to it. Well in the past few weeks I decided to go ahead and finish it. Here she is almost done. 

Now I just have to do some touch-ups and maybe some weathering and a diorama base. On the wargaming front, I've got some new mini's on the way and some surprises. I hoping to do some Megablitz soon, as well as tryout some new rules this summer. 

More houses and ships

I continuing to work on my invasion game hopefully I'll have it done by GnomeCon. If not I'll play it out within the next few months. This time I painted even more rural houses, I should have enough now. Here's some picture of the new houses.

Most of these are houses I brought at Rapier a few years ago.

 And now for something completely different. I know I stated a few post ago that I was done with the ships and I am, for the naval game. I still need some LST for the ground game to mark the landing zones for the naval infantry. Since hardly anyone makes Russian LST models, I only found an Alligator class model that cost $50 (too much!), I decided to make them from scratch.

Using balsa wood and scale line drawings for reference. 

Since these models well be representing individual ships, instead of groups, I made them 1/600 scale as opposed to 1/300. Here's how they came out.

Two Ropucha class LSTs. These were the most complex to be built, so of course in needed two of them.

An Alligator class LST and a Polnocny class LSM.

There not pretty, but they'll get the job done. Now I'm working on my next batch of NATO forces. Here's a sneak peek.

 Anyway that's what I got now.

Ships of the Sea Museum

A few days ago I decided to go to the Ships of the Sea Museum here in Savannah. As one can guess this a museum on ships and features some very nice models. The last time I was at this museum was over twenty years ago when it was still on River Street. I didn't get any pictures back then, but I did now.

First room of the Museum

The steam liner Pulaski. Over 290 people were killed when the boiler of this ship exploded and broke the it into 3 pieces.

One of the Ironclad models.

Another Ironclad model. This one of the CSA Savannah.

On the bottom floor there is a display dedicated to ships in bottles.

More ships in bottles.

The Titanic

Another model I found interesting.

At the time I visited, the museum was hosting an art exhibit dedicated to the Savannah River. One the artist made artwork only from trash he had found along the river's bank. Here we have the lighter fish.

In installation made with more junk.

An early doctors surgical kit.

A whale died to give you this politically incorrect ship model.

A model of a WWII tanker.

Just down from the tanker was this model of a Liberty ship. Below it you can see a model of the nuclear powered merchant ship Savannah.

On of the highlights of the trip was this very large model of the cruiser USS Savannah. The Savannah had a little fame having survive a hit from a radio controled glide bomb during the Salerno landings.

Here's a picture of the ships aft.

In the last room I visited was this large and lite model of the Titanic sinking.

Overall a nice way to waste a couple of hours. Now for some gaming news. I've still got a number of scenarios ready for Shipwreck. I'm hoping to do one of them sometime in the next month. I'm also very close to finishing my HOTT army. After that I'm planning to make some more Megablitz units.

IJN Tama Part 4

I returned to my slow work on the IJN Tama this week. I've added some of the fittings to the hall. Next I might start adding some of the camouflage to the harder to reach areas.

It's actually starting to look like a ship now.

A close up of the funnels

In other news, I've started basing my next batch of ships for Shipwreck. These well be more early cold war designs, this time for an actual historical scenario. I'm also starting to collected up the forces I need for a HOTT army. Lastly, I'm hoping to do a Shipwreck game some time in the next couple of weeks.

IJN Tama Part 3

Things are going ever so slowly on the Tama. I've started some of the initial painting. Hopefully I'll get more done later. But I'm going to be spending the next few days getting things ready for a game this Sunday. Anyway here are a few pictures.

I've added the base coat and painted the deck. I've also started painting the spotter plane.

Here's a picture of the completed gun turrets.

As I stated above I'm planning to do a game this Sunday, so I should have some better photos for you next week.

IJN Tama Part 2 and my find of the week

Things are going slowly on this new model. Not only is it more complex than the Mig, my house right now is an icebox. Still I've managed to make a little progress on it.

I finished  most of the larger fittings. From left to right we have the main bridge, funnels, rear deck, and spotter plane. Not pictured are the 6 gun turrets. 

Here the main hull is being assembled.

I also started working on the base as I plan to make this model into a diorama.

And now for my find of the week. I managed to find a copy of this book on line for only $10. Not bad considering the book cost hundreds when it first came out.

Still in very good shape.

These books were used by western intelligence agencies and full of useful information. I like this copy as it was printed just after the end of the cold war when information on the Warsaw Pact was becoming unclassified, but before the mass decommissioning.

Not only are major warships covered, but it also has information on support ships and even government owned civilian vessels.

Unfortunately having started another job has started to cut into my game time. I also currently have no coms as I'm behind on my phone bill. Still I hope to get back on track soon.

Cruiser Tama Part1

For the rest of the year I've decided to continue working on my model collection. This time I'm doing the Japanese light cruiser Tama. I've just started this project as well as a new job, so this may take a while.

A picture of the kit itself. What attracted me to this particular kit was the fact that the ship was camouflaged during the invasion of Kiska in the Aleutians. Most Japanese capital ships were just plain gray.

A look at the parts.

The first step is building the various sub structures and fittings. Here is the beginning work on the gun turrets. I decided to keep them on the sprue as I added the guns.

Hopefully I'll be able to get more of it done this week.