RAF: The Battle of Britain 1940 by Decision Games

In this rainy weather we are currently experiencing in California,  I am really enjoying the boardgame: "RAF: The Battle of Britain 1940" by Decision Games.

I have had little experience with "solitaire" games. RAF contains two; a game for the RAF player and another for the Luftwaffe. It also has a two-player game. So you are getting three games in one. I have just tried out the RAF solitaire game "Lion" and find it is very enjoyable and highly playable. It really works as a true solitaire game.

How it does so is via a very sophisticated set of cards designed to simulate raid targets, dates and times, sizes and formations. Really thrilling and highly recommended!

Here is a link to the game page:

http://shop.decisiongames.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1019

As usual, Boardgame Geek has numerous useful aids, reviews and demonstrations of the system. I found the game through Geek, learned to play it and how to order it. What a service to the gaming community!

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/40209/raf-battle-britain-1940

The Great Fire of London: 29th December 1940

Today marks the 75th Anniversary of the worst air raid of the London Blitz. On 29th December 1940, a first wave of German bombers raided London each carrying 180 of small incendiary bombs packed with magnesium. Around 100,000 incendiaries were dropped creating 1,500 fires and the destruction of hundreds of buildings. 163 people died in the raids, including 16 firemen, with a further 503 were injured.

28 incendiary bombs landed on St Paul's Cathedral. One bomb melted the lead on the dome. However the bomb fell through the roof and was extinguished and St Paul's thereby saved.

The fire damage appeared to be of such magnitude that it is referred to as "The Second Great Fire of London", the first referring to the fire of 1666.

130 sorties were made by the Luftwaffe bomber forces on the December 29th. However the raid was intended to be much larger; deteriorating weather limited bombing operations to only two hours of attacks which ended prematurely at 10pm. The use of incendiaries in a concentrated area of the City of London NW of St Paul's created the large number of fires.

British 4.5-inch anti-aircraft gun and crew, of 52nd Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery

My father, Sydney William Davis, 891332,  served in the 154th Battery, 52nd (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, during this period. His 4.5" battery was posted on Primrose Hill, the Isle of Dogs (in London's former docklands) and the Hackney marshes. In his memoirs, he does not indicate exactly where he was on specific dates but would have had a very good view of the events of December 29th wherever he was stationed. In his own words "The Isle of Dogs was definitely the worst as it is of course in the middle of the Dock areas and we were frequently ringed by fire".

The 52nd HAA was assigned to 26 A.A Brigade in the 1st AA Division. Bombardier Davis recounts that "Initially firing at night was more of a boost to civilian morale than to bring down German bombers". With the introduction of radar direction, the AA defense became much more effective. My father's troop was credited with 13 bombers in the first month of its introduction. However I think this was in 1941.

4.5-inch anti-aircraft battery

Today in London,  an air raid siren marked the 75th Anniversary.

The Battle of Britain: Five Months That Changed History; May-October 1940 Paperback – February 14, 2012 by James Holland (Author)

I don't often write book reviews or recommendations. However, since 2015 is the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, 1940, I would like to suggest the following as a book worthy of consideration:

The Battle of Britain: Five Months That Changed History; May-October 1940 by James Holland

There are of course dozens of books on the subject and I have read quite a few. What I like about James Holland's book is the way he addresses all elements of the period May-October 1940 to set the air Battle of Britain in context. Holland discusses not only the military situation overall but also the political situation, the geopolitics (ie the USA), the leadership, the individuals who fought on the ground as well as in the air, on the home front as well as the front lines, the technology, economics and feelings of the time. I have never had a better understanding of all of these dimensions than in reading this book.

This is not your typical "Battle of Britain" book. However I really enjoyed the full perspective it gives on this fascinating time in modern history.

Highly recommended!

Fire & Maneuver: 1940

More images from the battlefield. This time, the 1940 scenario, wherein the Mk VI's and Cruisers of the Bays probe to locate the axis of the German advance.

A9 Cruiser Tank Mk I and A10 Cruiser Tank Mk II.

I have just heard from Neil Burt at Troop of Shewe that my A9 and A10 tanks for my Queen's Bays project are ready to ship. These images are from the extensive gallery Neil always posts to document his work.

The 28mm models are from Warlord Games.

A10 Cruiser Tank Mk II,   "B" Squadron HQ ,  Queen's Bays 

A9 Cruiser Tank Mk I Regimental HQ Squadron, Queen's Bays

Panzer I

I have just received some new images from Neil Burt at Troop of Shewe of my latest commission. To add to my collection of early WW2 AFV's, I now have these PzKpfw I's, (Panzer I's). The models are newly released Panzer I's from Warlord Games who also made the tank commander. Neil has applied his usual authentic finishes and weathering to create to the models but tells me they required very little additional modification, other than the aerials he will add next.

Of the 2,574 tanks used in the invasion of France in May 1940, an astonishing 523 were these diminutive early Panzer I's.