St Nazaire Raid, 28th March 1942, refought 10th October, 2015

On October 10, 2015, I participated in a Fire & Maneuver demonstration game of the 1942 Raid on St Nazaire. My friends and I built the detailed set, my personal role being very limited. The game was unusual and exciting as the small British fleet of motor launches accompanied the HMS Campbeltown on its final charge on the lock gates of the Nomandie dry dock. I took the role of the British commander. After the run-in to the dock and the mole, the on-board commandos have a furious fight to attain their objectives, demolish their targets and attempt to escape on the motor launches. 

The game took place at an HMGS event in Anaheim. The author of Fire & Maneuver developed most   of the scenery, the ships and the special rules pertaining to this raid. It produced a thrilling game and a delight to look at.

Patache "Nuestra Señora del Socorro", 1588

My latest 1/350 scale model warship of the Spanish Armada is the Patache "Nuestra Señora del Socorro", 1588. This another excellent commission by master modeler Julián Fernández de Sevilla Campos of ModelJShip. 

The "Nuestra Señora del Socorro" was built in 1586 in Santander. She was a Patache, a light armed vessel similar to a caravel, of 50 tons with 14 guns, 15 crew and 20 troops. She served in the Squadron of Castilla during the battles of the Armada in 1588. The Patache is described as having an overall length of 85ft and a beam of 25ft.

                               

The inspiration for this conversion was once again an excellent illustration by Joseph Wheatley in "Historic Sail" in which he portrays a patache, 1588.

                     

The basis for the conversion was another 1/350 scale plastic warship from Zvezda, the "Santa María". Since she was a nau of about 58 ft, although heavier at about 108 tons, this little ship provides a nice foundation on which to construct a later Patache. However the extent of Julián's conversion can be seen from a comparison of the original Zvezda model:

Here are further images of Nuestra Señora del Socorro. The sea-base is custom made by Julián and I think this is his finest sea-scape so far. Additional parts and crew are by Langton.