Wednesday 24 November 2010

WW1 Alternative History


My desire is to be able to extend the length of the First World War for two reasons.


First, it will allow me to field the interesting Liberty tank and Char 2C, neither of which were fielded. I just like them, what more can I say.

Secondly, it will allow me slide into an alternate British Civil war scenario, based on the unrest and strikes that were part of the unrest that resulted from the effects on Britain during the war years. So I talked to my uncle-in-law about this to get some solid ideas.

As I understand it the Ludendorff Offensive failed due to the poor logistical follow-up due to a lack of transport and tanks that prevented the Germans from obtaining their strategic goal. This offensive is discussed in Julian Thompson's book Lifeblood of War: Logistics in Armed Conflict, pp.46/47. Also at the tactical level the Germans had little or no armour, and no battlefield radios, so having initially succeeded they were unable to maintain momentum. All the Allies had to do was keep their nerve until the German offensive ran out of steam.

Therefore this operation by the Germans seems to me to be the key thing that needs changing in my alternative WW1 history. The strategic goal, to drive a wedge between the French and British Armies in France, and thereby forcing the British back on to the Channel ports (for effectively a 1918 version of Dunkirk), was clearly a key to any German victory the reality was the best they could do was negotiate peace terms.

Ironically, the unforeseen consequence of the Ludendorff Offensive was to ‘unlock’ the three and a half years of stalemate on the Western Front, and therefore restore mobility to the battlefield again. The Allies were able to take advantage of this new situation due to superior logistics and the new combined arms evolution from fielding tanks. This is seen quite clearly at Amiens in August 1918, when the British Armies under Haig inflicted the "Black Day" on the German Army, which the Germans were not able to recover from. For more read Why the Germans lose at War, by Kenneth Macksey. See pp. 52/53. Summary; the German military have brilliant tacticians, and are outstanding at the operational level, most of the time, but are lousy strategists.

Therefore the Germans best chance of prolonging the war was to have:

1. Not embarked on a policy of unrestricted U-boat warfare, which brought the USA in on the side of the Allies, but I want Americans so I need to leave this in.

2. Stayed on the defensive on the Western Front behind their hugely strong positions, which means no Ludendorff Offensive. I can use that.

3. Instead offer to make real concessions in the interests of peace. For example dropping one of their conditions that keep the French territory they had overrun at the beginning of the War. Easily enough assumed to have occurred.

Monday 27 September 2010

Balkrunia and Karagoz - The War at Sea

One of the facets of an early 20th century ‘imagi-nation’ that I intend to take full advantage of is the naval side. As my two protagonists are based on the Balkan nations and the forces of Ottoman Turkey then the potential for much in the way of naval activity is very high. The ‘terrain’ I will be fighting over makes use of the 1914 -1918 maps of the Mediterranean available in the board game ‘The Great War at Sea: The Mediterranean’ although some of the national boundaries will need to be modified. For the ship models for the two sides I have been extremely fortunate to have acquired a substantial reinforcement to my existing collection of old Minifigs 1/1200th scale WW1 ships and so these models will furnish all of my needs in respect of hardware. The first batch had been acquired from ebay but far and away the largest portion came from Bob Cordery ; to whom once again I extend my most grateful thanks.

I will post a fuller background to the composition of the fleets once I have decided how best to split them up. My feeling at the moment is to have a Karagozian fleet mostly of earlier vessels but with a couple of ‘state of the art’ types whilst the opposition has more modern types overall but is mostly lighter in weight. In any event, I want the fleets to be quite different in their composition in order to present each side with differing tactical challenges.

For the rule I will probably use a variant of Axis and Allies: War at Sea as these are simple and great to use for a club night game. I will also be making use of the aerial dimension as well and plan to make use of the Irregular miniatures 2mm biplanes and probably some Brigade models dirigibles for air support.

The models themselves will be easy to paint as detail wise they are very basic. It was a great shame that Minifigs never expanded the range (German ships were mooted but never materialised) and indeed, the moulds seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth. When the fleets are ready I will post some pictures to the blog of the Eastern Mediterranean’s finest in action.

Monday 30 August 2010

Vickers 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun

Some years ago I visited the Military Museum situated in Montjuich Castle, Barcelona.

One of the weapons on show was described as being a Vickers M31 75mm Anti-aircraft Gun (which seems to have a lot of mount for not much barrel!).

There was no information available about this gun and its mounting, and it looks very different from any of the photographs that I have seen of the Vickers M31 75mm Anti-aircraft Gun. In fact the mounting looks more like that used for the Krupps 88mm Anti-aircraft Gun, but the barrel was definitely not a cut-down 88mm one!

Sunday 11 July 2010

Protecting the Border - The Fortification of the Borka's Western Banks

Several rotating batteries overlooking the bridgehead at Uldiva.

Too many invasion from the east have left Alcovians feeling vulnerable and exposed in the past but the new leadership of the country has promised to strengthen the defenses of the country to make sure that the nation needn't suffer yet another invasion.

Building off of the increased presence of aerial scouts and the always present APA river service, Princes Ukko and Ullo, co-commanders in chief of Alcovia's armed forces have undertaken a massive construction effort designed to fortify the western bank of the Borka against invasion from neighboring Iqenistan. Included in these plans are bunkered batteries and reinforced block houses on the Alcovian side of all bridges spanning the Borka River.

The construction of these defenses has alarmed the Iqeni people who find themselves suddenly in range of some very large guns. Despite official diplomatic protests, Alcovia has not seen fit to dismantle any of their emplacements and batteries instead offering their assurances that the fortifications are purely for defense and really serve no substantial or effective offensive purpose. In fact, the number of emplaced batteries that can strike at any Iqeni holdings are few and generally only located around the heaviest of bridgeheads. There are still plenty of places where there are no river fortifications or where the type of emplacements are of limited range.

Wednesday 30 June 2010

Second Foray

I'm having a week off work, busy doing nothing other than a bit of painting and recharging my batteries. Today I finished reading Volumes 5 & 6 of Charley's War, which I bought as inspiration for my WW1 games. I'm at the stage in the story where Charley is at Étaples, where the mutiny kicked-off. The writers notes refer to the use of a "red" flag and the suggestion of socialist revolutionary ideas, which makes for a fascinating kick off point for an earlier "Very British Civil War".

I imagine had a successful revolution taken place then Britain would have withdrawn from the war, leaving France to face Germany, perhaps with American help? Alternatively, the British civil war would have caused enormous turmoil within the Empire, but ultimately failed then we might have seen the German army splitting British forces from the French and demanding terms for the French to surrender. One could then imagine that the Americans then arrive to draw the war out for another two or three years before some new resolution is achieved.

Malta Fever by C.V.Usborne

Now this is a rare gem of a book. Published in 1936 and written by C.V.Usborne (a Rear Admiral that served in the Mediterranean in WW1 - more of which later) the novel has Malta as the backdrop to what is essentially a spy story with an 'imagi-nation' twist. The story revolves around two brothers in the navy and the fact that one is in debt and the other has just been passed over for promotion and has the misfortune to have some secret war plans stolen from him and is thus accused of being a traitor. After various twists and turns including a court martial the older brother is cleared and promoted to Captain. As, perhaps, a sign of the times in which this was written (mid 30's), the story contains the obligatory 'oily foreigner', a plucky and game English rose (I keep having this image of Kate Winslett portraying her!), a bluff old Admiral in charge of the Mediterranean fleet, some cocktail parties, horse racing and even the essential 'salt of the earth' cockney type gunners. The character of the Admiral seems to have been loosely based on Admiral Cunningham - even down to the 'drooping and watery eyes' and the forthright nature in which the said Admiral conducted himself. To be honest the story is very shallow and borderline jingoistic and could not by any stretch of the imagination be classed as a great work of literature but nevertheless it does have a lot of commendable content and a certain period charm.

I enjoyed the description of the court martial from the procedural perspective and the references to naval protocol but the book is relatively light in terms of technical detail (again probably a reflection of the times as much as anything).

Kandavia as a Mediterranean power was deemed to be up there with both France and Italy in the estimation of the Foreign Office and the Admiralty. The country arose out of the turmoil at the end of WW1 and although not located specifically has been attempting to negotiate with another 'imagi-nation' - Urgay - for a large Mediterranean port to make use of the economic boom occasioned by the discovery of numerous gold reserves. The country has a British trained navy based on small vessels - destroyers, torpedo boats and submarines as well as a powerful air force. Key to the story is the location of a squadron of 'super bombers' made from an elasticated metal that is impervious to bullets. This bullet proof skin is eventually overcome by the scientists operating in Woolwich (specifically a Scottish scientist!) designing a special type of ammunition that is able to penetrate the metal.

The whereabouts of the squadron of super bombers is eventually traced to Kandavia and the discovery of the same is what enables the older of the two brothers to eventually clear his name.

The threat to Malta is emphasised although the air defences are far better than what was historically available. The impact of Franco's Spain and Hitler's Germany is also thrown into the mix as well as the relative impotence of the League of Nations.

The author has written a couple of non fiction titles including one which covers small scale naval actions in the Mediterranean during WW1 as well as the invasion of Morocco so I will endeavour to locate these as well as both subjects are of interest to me.

I must confess that the idea of Kandavia really appeals to me and so I shall try to research both the author and the background to see if any further details can be gleaned.

At the very least both Balkrunia and Karagoz will now have some company......................;-)

Sunday 20 June 2010

The Chaco War - Resources on YouTube

Having watched part of today’s football match between Paraguay and Slovakia (which the Paraguayans won by two goals to nil) prompted me to do some online research into the Chaco War. What surprised me was how much there was available on YouTube!

By using the simple search request ‘Chaco War’ I found the following : The quality of some of the film used is quite poor, but this does not detract from the fact that these are a very useful source of inspiration to anyone interested in the Interbellum period.

There are probably a lot more such resources out there; it is just a case of finding them!

Saturday 29 May 2010

Latest draft of my Interbellum rules is now available

After a few struggles and diversions along the way, I have finally managed to complete the latest draft of my INTERBELLUM rules, and they are available in PDF format as a download from my Interbellum website.

Please note that the rules are password protected; the password is 'interbellum'.

The rules do incorporate some ideas from my previous rules, WHEN EMPIRES CLASH!. In particular there are now rules for the use of Transport Units as well as a whole new section at the end that sets out rules for the use of aircraft over the battlefield. The rules have yet to be play-tested (or even properly proof read!), but I set myself the goal of finishing the draft today ... and managed it!

Tuesday 25 May 2010

New 15mm Montenegrans

Irregular Miniatures have just released 15mm WW1 Montenegrans:

SBWM1Montenegran infantry (in many assorted positions) 22/5/10A
SBWM2Montenegran Machine gun & 2 crew 22/5/10F
SBWM3Montenegran officer 22/5/10A
SBWM4
Montenegran gun & 4 crew 22/5/10

No pics but they should be perfect for 'Bolkans' imagi-wars whether as regular or irregular forces.

There's also more pics of the 15/20mm guns on their Really Useful Gun page.

Cheers
Mark

Monday 24 May 2010

More truth from THE TRUTH?

Further to their recent revelations, THE TRUTH has published more images of prototype self-propelled artillery based on the FT-17 chassis.

The first picture shows one of the previously featured prototypes, but this time the photograph has been taken from the side of the vehicle.

The second prototype is different from those already featured in that the armament is reputed to be a 149mm howitzer. The latter has been fitted with an armoured shield that offers some protection to the crew.

It is worth noting that none of these designs allow the armament to traverse more than a few degrees, and that half the designs have armament that faces towards the rear of the chassis. These designs give the artillery mobility, but not the ability to be used offensively.

Saturday 22 May 2010

THE TRUTH prints ... the truth?

Further to its recent article about self-propelled artillery that uses the FT-17 chassis, THE TRUTH (the official newspaper of the Soviet Peoples' United Republic) has printed the following photographs.

The first photograph shows a vehicle where the 75mm gun is mounted in a fixed position low down in the hull front. Whilst this would make it very easy to use the gun where the range is short and the crew needed to be protected by armour, it is difficult to understand how it could be used to provide traditional artillery support.

The second vehicle has obviously been designed to use the tracks and lower hull of the FT-17 to provide a means of moving a 75mm gun over difficult terrain. However, the fact that the gun faces towards the rear of the hull seems to show that it could not be used offensively as it could not engage targets as it advanced.

The third vehicle seems to combine the best aspects of both of the previous prototypes. Its gun faces forward, which means that it can be used offensively, whilst the crew platform at the rear provides some shelter to the crew on a fire-swept battlefield.

THE TRUTH did not provide any further information about these prototypes, and their country or countries of origin are unknown. Only time will tell if these prototypes are the progenitors of a whole new breed of self-propelled artillery.

Friday 21 May 2010

Self-propelled Artillery prototypes

The latest issue of THE TRUTH, the official newspaper of the Soviet Peoples' United Republic, has published an as yet unsubstantiated report that they have obtained pictures of several self-propelled artillery prototypes based on existing FT-17 tank chassis.

The article does not give any indication where these photographs were obtained nor which country has built these prototypes. One can only hope that they will publish these photographs and further information as soon as possible.

Sunday 16 May 2010

Interbellum sources and resources

I have continued to add both fiction and non-fiction books to my Interbellum website.

So far all the fiction books I have added are ones that were written during the inter-war period, but I expect to include non-contemporary ones is due course. In the case of the non-fiction books I have selected those which were either written during the inter-war era or which mainly deal with wars, campaigns, and/or weapons from that time period.

The website is still in its early stages of development, and I still have lots of stuff that I can add to it in due course. At some time in the future I also intend to add pages that cover films that were either made during the inter-war era or that cover incidents from the 1920s and 1930s.

Thursday 13 May 2010

A Pain in the Bolkans 4

Dateline: Geneva
By our Correspondent at the League of Nations.

Amidst unprecedented scenes of chaos and mayhem in the chamber today, two national delegations resorted to physical violence and had to be removed from the League Building.

Count Duckula, the Ainamor representative, had just risen to speak in the debate on the Scandanavian Pig Smuggling dispute when the gentleman from the Brobdingnag Union leaped to his feet and interrupted him with loud accusations of Ainamor atrocities against the Union in the just ended Royal Army exercises near the Union border.

Showering delegates with photographs which he claimed to be proof of his claims, Shishkebab Bey appeared to say that the Royal Army had made several incursions into Union territory and committed numerous offences including kidnapping and assault of women and goats from border villages, sniping at Union Gendarmerie border guards and turning the Union flag upside down outside town halls and other official buildings.

This was greeted with howls of laughter from Count Duckula and the singing by his assistants of the Ainamor National Anthem " Cummen havago iffudink yurhardenuff ". Almost at a point of apoplexy, Shishkebab Bey then denounced the Ainamor Royal Aviation Corps for having bombed the rail junction at Cheyssac, destroying several buildings and killing a number of villagers.

Cheyssac in ruins.







At this point, Count Duckula stated that the accusations were totally without foundation, but that if the RAC had truly intended to bomb Cheyssac then rather than merely damaging it, the village would have been totally wiped from the map. Whereupon Count Duckula went down under an assault from several Union delegation members, including Shishkebab Bey wielding a large, traditional but not ceremonial knife. An unseemly brawl between the two missions only ended when police carried the two parties from the building.

The Union delegation left for Boughre without comment. Count Dukula was last heard screaming abuse at the Bey and shouting " This Means War! ".

Monday 10 May 2010

Interwar Tanks

One of the books I found on my shelves whilst I was searching for sources to add to my Interbellum website was THE FIGHTING TANKS 1916-1933. It was published in 1933 and its authors were Major Ralph E Jones (Infantry, US Army), Captain George H Rarey (Infantry, US Army), and First Lieutenant Robert J Icks (Infantry Reserve, US Army). Besides containing lots of interesting data (including the approximate numbers of tanks in the World's armies) and photographs, it had a diagram that showed the comparative size of several different interwar tanks.

Sunday 9 May 2010

Interbellum sources and resources

I have begun to add some more pages to my Interbellum website.

These new pages will deal with fiction and non-fiction books that people interested in the interwar era might find useful. The fiction books will hopefully inspire ideas for new imagi-nations (or the development of existing ones) and the non-fiction books will cover data about various real armies, equipment, and weapons as well as some of the more obscure wars.

The website is still very much in its early stages of development, but I hope to add stuff as and when I can.

Tuesday 4 May 2010

Liebedeshusaren...

Hinterland Miniatures, who I've not heard of before, have released a range of female Hussars, which might be of interest to you Eastern Europe types.

There are pics of other figures toting bolt-action rifles on the site and I must say I'm quite impressed.

Vickers Tanks arrive in Slobenia!

Painted a company of 9 Vickers export tanks last week (T26a) - destined for the Slobenian front. The twin-MG turret platoon is shown below:

I'm not that impressed with the finish - the moral of the tale being, don't paint a company of Sci Fi mech armour then get carried away when you are tired and a bit slap happy with the brush.

Mind you, they are 15mm SDD models and a bit light on detail/crisp lines so can't beat myself up too much.

They're fine for the table just now, but I think I'll need to revisit them with a Polish style camo.

Cheers
Mark

Saturday 1 May 2010

Interbellum at The Too Fat Lardies

Too Fat Lardies - are currently having a sale across all of their products. Well worth a look, but for Interbellum gamers the Summer Specials have a lot to recommend them at only £3.50 (link) each.

There are articles, scenarios and rules supplements covering a wide range of Interbellum subjects - Russian Civil War, German Freikorps, Spanish Civil War and other conflicts.

The 2006 Summer Special is of special interest as it includes several articles about colonial warfare in the Interbellum period.
  • Grabbing Mussolini's Baubles: IABSM for the Interwar colonial conflicts.
  • Trouble Brewing Up: a North West Frontier Scenario for the above.
  • I'll Be Seein' Ya: an East Africa scenario for the above
The same issue also includes:
  • Guards, TO POLTAVA! A Russian Civil War mini-campaign for Triumph of the Will
  • Aah, Condor: SCW stats for Bag the Hun
Plus all the usual Lardiness. Even if you don't play the Lardy rules, the articles, scenarios and how to's, all make up a great read in their own right.

Cheers
Mark

Rippov dead!

Today's issue of THE TRUTH, the Soviet Peoples' United Republic's official government newspaper, reports that the famous aircraft designer General Rippov died some days ago as a result of a freak accident.

General Rippov was cleaning his personal sidearm when it went off accidentally, shooting him three times in the back of the neck. The police officer investigating the incident – Major Alexei Nikasov of the People’s Security Bureau (PSB) – stated that 'It is incredible that such an experienced officer would clean a loaded gun, and that he would think it safe to wave it about in the way he must have done in order to inflict the injuries he suffered.'

Major Nikasov made no comment about a rumour that the gun must have been loaded with very unusual bullets as it is thought that three different calibre rounds were recovered during the autopsy.

Friday 30 April 2010

Will Alcovia Have An Airforce?

The Alcovian government has always suffered from a bit of hesitation on the subject of an air force. In fact, the concept of a dedicated air force has so far escaped the Alcovian military' grasp. Though scouting and courier planes and a few experimental bombers have existed in military service, they have manifested themselves as a collection of curiosities and aborted projects.

The earliest use of aircraft in Alcovia was a small fleet of a dozen Airco DH.2 scout planes purchased after the end of WW1. These planes were used to scout and survey the border between Alcovia and Iqenistan. Though officially unarmed, the pilots of these scout planes seldom left themselves unarmed as there was always a threat that their unreliable craft might leave them stranded in the harsh Alcovian wilderness.

A nuisance to Iqenistani border posts, these planes often came under fire by border guards and on a few occasions even damaged. It was late in June of 1920 that the first Iqenistani plane entered the air, it's pilot taking potshots at an Alcovian scout surveying the upper Borka river. This brief and rather ineffectual clash resonated through Alcovian leadership and prompted a more serious consideration of air power. If Iqenistan had planes, they might make the move to an air force. But, Iqenistan did not escalate their air power and seemed to reflect the same apathetic stance on air power as Alcovia.


By 1922 the aircraft in Alcovian service were showing their age and nearly unusable. The new planes being produced in the rest of the world were starting to capture the imagination of the nobility and military leadership, but had yet to gain favor among the government. Airplanes were still seen as unimportant and the idea of a service of military fliers unneeded. One man, Colonel Chuka Yagirin took the initiative and invited representatives from Italy, Germany, Britain, and Russia all to show off what they had done with airplanes and arranged an air show for the benefit of the government, the nobility and the military. In a clever move, he also invited members of the common population to witness, holding a lottery for tickets to the event.

The Yagirin air show was a resounding success. All the participants in the event showed off their latest and greatest, hoping to wow the leadership. Demonstrations of aerial skill as well as ground attack and bombing capabilities were held. In one impressive display a mocked up convoy of wooden vehicles was towed by oxen across the open field where it was riddled with bullets by strafing aircraft and then bombed in a spectacular display. The nobility were impressed, the military interested, and the common folk spellbound, but Alcovian leadership was still not enthusiastic. Col. Yagirin did succeed in securing a small order of a dozen German Fokker D.IX which had been delivered by 1923.


One of the biggest things hindering aircraft use in Alcovia has always been the tendency for the ground to get rather wet and soft, making reliable landing surfaces difficult to maintain. Airstrips that have been built and used are one rainy autumn or spring thaw away from turning into sucking quagmires. One solution to this was the adoption of float planes and flying boats, using the numerous lazy rivers, backwaters and canals throughout the country.

In the 30's Alcovia is having to rethink the concept of an air force. It's patchwork collection of speculatively purchased craft and aging machines cannot possibly carry forward into the modern age of fight that is becoming more and more obvious. With Russia becoming more and more involved with Iqenistan, providing them with weapons and materials, Alcovia must look to the west for designs that fit its needs. There is hope that a number of designs will be found from a single source so that a reliable and easily maintained fleet of new aircraft can defend the country in what seems an inevitable war between Iqenistan and Alcovia.

Monday 26 April 2010

Rumours of unrest in the Lauranian Armed Forces

The recent news – as yet unsubstantiated – that the Lauranian Ministry of Defence has ordered armoured plate from Korrupt Arms, coming as it does in the wake of suggestions that the Lauranian Army at home and overseas might be reorganised, has led to rumours of unrest within the upper echelons of the Lauranian Armed Forces.

It is thought that some senior officers in the Army are concerned that they might be placed on the half-pay retired list if the reorganisation takes place, and if the armour plate is to be used to reinforce the existing border defences, such a reorganisation seems more likely. Fewer troops than the Army presently has on the strength would be required to man the chain of fortresses that may be built, and whilst the Artillery branch might be expanded, there is a possibility that the Cavalry would be reduced to a single Regiment or even disbanded altogether. The role of the Infantry would also change from a mobile to a static one.
Extract from The Lauranian Courtier

My First Foray

Unlike most of the contributors so far, I'm not planning an alternate country setting, rather I'm planning an alternate timeline, or timelines, as I have a couple of ideas on the go.

The first is the Spanish Civil War, with liberties taken to please me (T28s & T35s specifically), which I intend to use the Pendraken 10mm new SCW range for. I bought two armies with German and Italian tanks at Salute, and await T26s, BT5 and BA6 armoured cars in due course.

Then I plan to extend the Great War into the 1920s, again using Pendraken 10mm figures, and use the background of A Very British Civil War as inspiration, except driven by something other than the King & Mrs Wallace as the fuel. The Police & Miners strike of 1918 for example. Also, a chance to field MkIXs.

Other alternatives involving the imaginary ideas of H. G. Wells are a possibility too.

I won't post pictures on here yet, but instead post links to my modelling blog:

http://panther6actual.blogspot.com/2010/01/british-tommys.html

http://panther6actual.blogspot.com/2010/04/ww1-wip.html

Enjoy.

Sunday 25 April 2010

The Central Banana Republic

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I own a hardcopy of the US Marine Corps SMALL WARS Manual (1940) and just a little inspired after this blog took off I read through it again. The book is an invaluable DIY manual should you ever want to invade a Banana republic and I thoroughly recommend you read it if you are interested in the 'colonial' side of the Interbellum. A download is available here: http://www.smallwars.quantico.usmc.mil/sw_manual.asp.

The Small Wars Manual put substance to my desire to do something with Eureka Miniatures 15mm 1941 US Marines, the ones with Tommy helmets, armed with Springfields etc. We're talking Back To Bataan rather than Sands of Iwo Jima. So, fully imbued with Interbellum ethos I've created the Central Banana Republic to capture some flavour of the 'Banana Wars" in Honduras, Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Panama during the 1920s and 30s.

This discrete project also gave me an additional push to rework my jungle terrain - which can be seen in more detail on my blog dedicated to 15mm Sci Fi gaming. I'll rework the pics for this blog once I have the correct period minis painted.

Rules? As it stands - We Can Be Heroes 2 for the smallscale 1-2-1 stuff and and Ambush Alley and Force on Force for anything larger.

Cheers
Mark
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Is Laurania buying armour plate ... and why?

It is rumoured that the Lauranian Ministry of Defence has placed a large order for armoured plate with Korrupt Arms. This story emerged from sources close to the Minister in the wake of the recent visit to Laurania by Basil Bazarov, Korrupt's leading salesman.

Does this presage a programme to build armoured vehicles for the Army or will the armour be used to reinforce the country's border defences? Might orders for new warships be in the pipeline?
An extract from The Lauranian Courtier

Polish Invasion of Czechoslovakia 1938

The annexation by Poland of the Zaolzie region of Czechoslovakia in 1938 is pure Interbellum gaming fodder.

There are some fantastic photos on Militaryphotos.net. Steer clear of the majority of the responses as they are twaddle and would make TMP proud:

Polish armour entering a city

Polish 10th Brigade

Cheers
Mark
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Interbellum Imagi-Wars in 1/600th

I admit to being a confirmed 15mm gamer but the Interbellum Imagi-Wars has me seriously looking at 1/600th and Oddzial Osmy's great range of 1/600th miniatures.


There's something about the miniatures meets Panzerblitz that appeals to me, and I can easily play divisional size actions using Chris Kemp's excellent NOT QUITE MECHANISED or Tim Gow's MEGABLITZ rules. Even if you don't want to play these rules, I recommend a gander at Chris' Eastern Front org charts for the Italians, Hungarians and Romanians. Perfect middle European fodder if you are searching for Orbat ideas without falling into the trap of creating Ruritanian Panzer divisions.

What I like about the Oddzial Osmy range is that the Polish range alone includes infantry, cavalry, tankettes and a whole heap of Vickers export models. In this scale it's both economical and practical to get them ALL onto the gaming table in the same scenario. Of course we lose the character of the uniforms but this can be made up for in the character of the formations and major equipment used.

If you are interested in the potential of 1/600th, look at the Polish, Italian, early Russian, French and some of the early German models.

Attractive and effective terrain can be scratch built very easily or bought cheaply from Irregular Miniatures as this photo from their website shows:

So, I may opt to continue playing Interbellum Imagi-Wars in both 15mm and 1/600th to get the most out of this fun gaming genre - and to fill in whilst I wait to see what Flames of War bring to the party with their planned 15mm Early War releases this August.

Cheers
Mark

mekanizksy cobbly hygineczy

The Slobenian Ministry of Interior Works and City Cleansing proudly displays it's new fleet of mekanizksy cobbly hygineczy vehicles.

Prince, Viceroy, Minister of Interior Works and City Cleansing, Mikhail Slobardjy claims that City Cleansing Department personnel can now be deployed swiftly to any part of Slobnik to deal with public health issues. Citizens can be proud that their taxes are going towards keeping the city's streets and drains clean.

To maintain the efficiency of the mekanizksy cobbly hygineczy fleet, the vehicles will receive an annual 'overhaul' during the two week summer period of potato picking and army manouvres.

Slob Nadarnisch

Friday 23 April 2010

Aviation News: Rippov-1 crashes during World Air Speed Record attempt

Today's issue of THE TRUTH, the Soviet Peoples' United Republic's official government newspaper, reports that the prototype Rippov-1 fighter crashed last week during an attempt to break the current World Air Speed Record.

The report states that during the turn at the end of the first high-speed flight along the specially laid out course, both wings appeared to fold back upon themselves and the 'plane ploughed into the ground, killing the pilot instantly.

An official enquiry into the accident has determined that the crash was a result of poor workmanship on the part of some of the engineers and workers at the Rippov Aircraft Factory, and they and their families have now been reassigned to work in other industrial sectors where their lack of care and attention to detail will have a less disastrous impact on output.

Thursday 22 April 2010

Lauranian Army of Africa may also be reorganised

For many years the Lauranian colony in Africa has been garrisoned by a mixture of Regular Army and specially-raised units. The latter include both locally recruited 'native' units and the Overseas Legion.

The specially-raised units of the Lauranian Army of Africa includes:
  • 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Overseas Legion (1° and 2° Regimentas Infantaria da La Legiona Oltramara)
  • 1st to 4th African Infantry Regiments (1° - 4° Regimentas Infantaria da Africa)
  • 1st and 2nd African Artillery Batteries (1° and 2° Batterias Artilleria da Africa)
It is expected that the Lauranian Army of Africa will undergo some restructuring in the forthcoming months, but it is likely that this will not be as drastic as that to be undertaken within the Regular Lauranian Army.
Extract from The Lauranian Courtier

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Lauranian Army: Is a reorganisation on the cards?

For many years the Regular Lauranian Army has been organised as follows:
  • A regiment of Guard cavalry (Lanca da Guarda [The Lancers of the Guard])
  • Three regiments Guard infantry – 1st to 3rd Regiments of Infantry of the Guard (1° - 3° Regimentas Infantaria da Guarda)
  • Four regiments of line cavalry – 1st to 4th Cavalry Regiments (1° - 4° Regimentas Cavalria)
  • Twenty regiments of line infantry – 1st to 20th Infantry Regiments (1° - 20° Regimentas Infantaria)
  • Six batteries of field artillery – 1st to 6th Field Artillery Batteries (1° - 6° Batterias Artilleria da Campa)
Traditionally the Regular Army has been supplemented in time of war by the Republican Militia. This is organised on a regional basis, and all able-bodied male Lauranians from 18 years of age up to the age of 55, who are not members of the Regular Armed Forces or the Regular Army Reserves, are expected to serve in the Militia.

In the light of recent technological developments, the Army High Command is considering a complete and radical restructuring of the existing army so that it can adequately defend Lauranian sovereignty, especially as tensions in the region are on the rise.

The nature of the new structure is unclear at present, but it is expected that there will be a reduction in the number of horsed Cavalry Regiments as some or all of the latter become mechanised, and the existing single-battalion Infantry Regiments may be amalgamated to form larger two or three-battalion Regiments. One branch that can expect to expand is the Artillery, as it will need to be enlarged to cope with the growing demands for anti-aircraft defence.
Extract from The Lauranian Courtier

Karagoz - The Tarnished Jewel of the East

If the ‘Eternal Empire’ of Balkrunia is seen to be progressive, dynamic and forward thinking then that of Karagoz would probably be described as the exact opposite. Although at various points in her long and turbulent history Karagoz was a major power, those halcyon days are now but a dim and distant memory. Years of internal strife and corruption, weak and vacillating rulers, expensive and pointless foreign wars and economic mismanagement have all taken their toll. The empire is still large in terms of geographical area but that is simply because most of what is Karagozian territory is largely undeveloped. The areas that had been developed had been poorly served by the creaking and inefficient bureaucracy that bedeviled most aspects of Karagozian life. For example, the agricultural heartland, when properly managed, was more than sufficient for the empire’s needs but after years of abuse, corrupt officialdom and the use of outdated farming methods operates at a fraction of its potential capacity. As a result of this chronic mismanagement the empire was forced to look to its provinces to compensate for the shortfall in domestic agricultural production. The Karagozian Balkrunian provinces were (and still are) agriculturally efficient and so inevitably an ever increasing burden of production was placed upon them. As produce quotas became ever more demanding so the resentment of the Balkrunian population festered. The local Karagozian provincial governors were, for the most part, indifferent to the plight of the locals and indeed, the entire region was seen as little more than an opportunity for self aggrandisement and exploitation. Backed by well equipped garrisons to enforce the law, the Karagozian local government quickly became a source of oppression and in doing so became to a large degree, the author of its own destruction. The preliminary protests against the continual raising of produce quotas were brutally suppressed and a spate of show trials resulted in wholesale imprisonment and even executions. The story of the Balkrunian War of Independence from 1889 to 1894 is well known and need not be repeated here. It is sufficient to note that as a result of the Treaty of Berne the Karagozian Empire was forced to cede all of its Eurpean Balkrunian provinces and to recognise the independence of the newly established nations of Balkrunia, Serotia, Grebania and Albengro. However, the treaty was slightly less satisfactory from the Balkrunian perspective as the territorial demarcation line markingt he border with Karagoz was set much further west than the Balkrunian Duma wanted. In any event though the treaty was nothing less than a catastrophe for Karagoz as almost overnight the empire had lost its most agriculturally productive region and so was then faced with a large scale food shortage. As food supplies dwindled so widespread rioting and civil unrest flared up across the length and breadth of the empire. The Sultan was powerless to intervene in the crisis (the usual banner headline of the state controlled press was that ‘The Sultan took tea as usual’) as the treasury was depleted and further financial credit from the international community was not forthcoming. Inevitably, given their traditional role in Karagozian daily life, the military stepped in to assume control and restore a semblance of order and so within days the Sultan and his closest advisers were placed under house arrest and martial law declared.

The military revolution under the leadership of Mustapha Kanca was the short, sharp shock the empire needed to stabilise the economy and restore order and although not a long term solution it provided a valuable breathing space whilst political, economic and social bridges were rebuilt after years of wanton abuse. The reforms were many and far reaching. To begin with, a large amount of bureaucracy was removed and government processes streamlined. A system of checks and balances was installed with recognised levels of accountability and clearly defined levels of responsibility established. The civil service became organised and based on a meritocracy rather than the old system of patronage. A ‘charm offensive’ was undertaken on the international stage with the obvious intention of encouraging investment in the empire. With typical Eastern diplomatic adroitness the advantages of supporting the Karagozians based upon their geographic location was offered as both a carrot and a stick in their dealings with the international community. The Russians, the British, the Austrians and the French were all courted at some stage and the hopes and fears of each were used as the music in the diplomatic dance. The Karagozians are masters of subterfuge and so more and more requests were made - more in hope than expectation usually – of the international community and were usually granted on the back of the these hopes and fears. In the Machiavellian world of international diplomacy as long as the status quo is maintained then everyone is content. The Karagozians were masters in ensuring that they set the status quo and that everyone else needed to maintain it. The irony of all these political machinations is that for the most part the international community were well aware that they were being manipulated but were content to allow this as long as their own agenda was being serviced. The Karagozians preferred to see their standing on the world stage as being a result of their own efforts rather than the reality of being supported for reasons beneath their consideration.

After a brief period of house arrest the Sultan was retained as a constitutional figurehead and the National Assembly ensured that that his remaining power was carefully controlled and above all, limited. Gone were the days of the Sultan’s whim being taken as law and of the intrigues of the Seraglio – the so called ‘harem politics’ so beloved of the ill informed but sensationalist western ‘yellow press’. To the international community the Sultan and all the trappings of Eastern opulence were exactly how the exotic East was imagined to be and so the illusion was maintained upon the world stage – cynically so, in order to project the image of continuity and age old ceremonial tradition. The real power though, existed with the new National Assembly.

To their credit, the military handed the reins of power back to the newly formed National Assembly as soon as stability in the region was assured. There was a sting in the tail though as before doing so a series of laws were introduced to safeguard the strength and position of the military under the new regime. This was the final contribution to the reformation of the Karagozian government by Mustapha Kanca before his assassination whilst on an inspection of the new rail terminus at Edirne. The perpetrator of this heinous crime was never caught although rumours persist that the Sultan or his former Grand Vizier, Kerim Dohnat, were behind the assassination, presumably in an attempt to bring about the restoration of the old order.

The new National Assembly has achieved much in the short time it has been active but there are many obstacles still to be tackled. The economy is weak and the treasury is reliant on the good auspices of the international community for its continued support. Foreign bankers largely manage the countries finances and understandably, the government behind these organisations wants to ensure that their interests are both protected and promoted. In respect of the military this means that a veritable army of ‘advisers’, experts and salesmen are to be found in the capital of Istantinople – each championing their own particular tactics or equipment. Despite this apparent wealth of material being touted at extremely competitive rates the traditional Karagozian skills of haggling, nurtured through the centuries in countless bazaars, the army is very selective on the equipment it procures as is the navy and many are the salesmen that have been given short shrift whilst attempting to peddle inferior merchandise. The downside of this active equipment procurement policy is that the variety of material in use is large with all the associated problems of, for example, ammunition supply. Under the guidance of predominately German advisers, strenuous efforts have been made to standardise equipment where possible. For the most part this has been achieved by ensuring that the three main divisions of the army – the Guards Army (Muhafiz Ordu), the Regular Army (Duzenli Ordu) and the reservists or Part Time Army (Yari Zamali Ordu) are uniformly equipped as far as possible. The best equipment tends to be concentrated in the Guards Army whilst the reservists usually have to make do with the oldest and most random selection of kit.

For the most part the Zaragozian Army (Zaragoz Ordu) is organised along similar lines to that of Balkrunia but with the constituent units when at full strength usually some twenty five percent smaller than the Balkrunian equivalent. Higher level formations, divisions and corps, are similar in content to that of Balkrunia i.e. three brigades, but never with more than a single brigade of reservists. On the subject of the reservists it should be emphasised that these formations may be poorly equipped in comparison with the rest of the army but they are by no means inferior in respect of fighting ability. The Guards Army exists at roughly corps strength and only takes the field under a full mobilisation. A single mixed brigade of Guard infantry, cavalry and artillery is permanently deployed in Istantinople as a ceremonial escort for the Sultan although the cynics have observed that their presence in the capital may be to ensure the Sultan’s continued good behaviour!

At the present time the Karagozian Empire stands very much at a crossroads in terms of its national identity. The days when the Empire ruled supreme across much of the Middle Sea have long gone but the importance of her geographical position ensures that she will continue to be courted by a succession of suitors. She will have to negotiate her way carefully through many diplomatic machinations and be mindful of her reduced position on the world stage. That she will be capable of achieving this there is no doubt; however, her relationship with her Balkrunian neighbours is a very delicate one and requires extremely careful handling. The peace that exists at present suits both sides as each party is endeavouring to stabilise their respective economies and build up their standing within the larger international community and so the prospect of any military action in the short term is remote. There is no doubt though that the Berne Treaty was unsatisfactory to both sides and so the appropriate remedial action will not be long deferred. The situation of the so called ‘Eastern Question’ is one that the international community is watching, albeit uneasily.

Pirates of the Meandering Sea


Invasion barges assemble on the Alcovian side of the Borka during preparation for the counter-offensive following the invasion of 1854.
 

The border between eastern Alcovia and western Iqenistan is a 500 mile stretch of the river Borka. Snaking its way out of the Capaccian Mountains the stretch where the two neighboring nations meet is known to Alcovians as the "Meandering Sea", a name derived from the wide, slow-moving and twisting waters of the Borka. It is along this watery span that Alcovia's flotilla of river boats, gunboats and monitors patrols, keeping a vigil against invasion from the east.




An early Alcovian river monitored, based off of American Civil War designs.
 
Since the mid-nineteenth century, Alcovia has endeavored to maintain their presence on these waters, following the invasions of 1832 and 1854 when large sections of eastern Alcovia were seized and occupied by Iqenistani troops. Since their repulsion and the reclamation of those territories, a steady program of acquisition and production of vessels suitable for river patrol and fresh water naval bombardment has been a major priority. Beginning with the purchase and importation of foreign vessels, and later by the construction of native vessels, often copied or under license from foreign shipyards, Alcovia now boasts a sizable river flotilla of some 150 vessels ranging in size and type from small coal-fueled patrol steamers to fully armored gunboats boasting multiple turrets.

Alcovian customs and border patrol vessel. This vessel is a conversion of a civilian river craft carrying light guns and a contingent of ASA border marines. Known affectionately by their crews as "Pirate Brigs".
 
Service in the Apa Sirviciul Alcovia, is considered a service for cutthroats and desperate men. Operating far from the capital and with a great degree of autonomy, the sailors of this branch of Alcovian service are known for their brash, often loose adherence to the law. They are also renowned for a certain roguish nature and lack of couth that more “civilized” circles often find distasteful. For these reasons, ASA servicemen spend little time in central or western Alcovia and usually hail from the rougher eastern towns and villages who have a history of river piracy, wrecking and smuggling. In fact, many Alcovian sailors aren’t even from Alcovia at all, having been either pressed or recruited into service from foreign nations or from foreign vessels plying the Borka.

These foreign servicemen are most often confined to the ASA special border marines. Specializing in trans-riverine operations, hit and run and interdiction, these men are often sent on strike missions against targets across the river and into Iqenistani territory. These men are hard, often veterans or deserters from other country’s armed forces who pride themselves on their craftiness, skill in combat and the diehard attitudes. Their most famous mission to date was the storming of the river town of Kuzbhani in 1916 at the southern tip of the Iqenistani/Alcovian border where some 150 border marines rescued Countess Natavya Kishinug, daughter of king Ilya’s brother Ukko.

The princess had been abducted as a political prisoner when her private yacht was forced to dock in Kuzbhani after experiencing engine troubles on its return from the Black Sea. The military garrison commander of Kuzbhani, Rikan Alabash, had seized her from the residence of the city’s mayor Ulmor Fedaha. Alabash had hoped to use her as a bargaining chip in his own military and political agendas. When the border marines were through with their mission, however, Alabash was slain and the garrison of Kuzbhani devastated.

In the aftermath of this brief conflict, Fedaha insisted that Iqenistan not use this as an excuse for war by his people in a very public display of regret at the actions of his countryman, Alabash. In this operation, only three border marines were killed, all of their bodies returned to Alcovia where they were entombed as national heroes and the reputation of the border marines was reaffirmed and their national character established as the go-to men for dirty jobs.




A modern Alcovian "Bortha" class river monitor sporting two 15cm guns in a forwar turret. Six of these vessels built between the years of 1915 and 1925.

Sunday 18 April 2010

The Duchy of Tradgardland Navy Part 1

In 1904 the Duchy of Tradgardland Navy was fortunate to purchase two costal defence vessels from Russia. They were renamed "The Duke Karl Frederick" and the "Von Bergman" and set to work defending the duchy from all nations which would threaten her...

Friday 16 April 2010

Mountain warfare

High in the Alps the sun is shining on a Spring afternoon. The Army Red/White heavy machinegun team waits,ever vigilant,upon the border...

Schweiz or Army Red/White

Let me welcome you to my other imagination project - which is created to be used primarily with 54mm figures al fresco using Funnylittlewars rules. I am collecting a force circa 1914 and one for the 1930's too. My interest began on Swiss holidays as a boy and exposure to Elastolin figures especially the older compostion ones...

Thursday 15 April 2010

A Pain in the Bolkans 3

A Pain in the Bolkans 3

Dateline: St Pode de Vache
By our Special Reporter.

No sooner was King Mikhailus making threats against the Brobdingnag Union on the wireless earlier this month, before the Royal War Ministry announced a series of major military exercises in the southern county of Borta, just adjacent to the Union border.

A Ministry press release stated that "The Royal Army and Air Corps are determined to defend the Kingdom's borders from any and all external threats. This ongoing series of exercises will show the world that Ainamor will not knuckle under to any enemy."

Official photographs released by the Ministry show Ainamorian forces on Manoeuvres, including recently acquired modern aircraft.

After issuing a statement condemning the exercises as "blatant warmongering directed at Brobdingnag", the Union Ambassador to St. Pode de Vache has been recalled for "consultations".

In a separate announcement from the Latviestonakian Ministry of Truth, the Republic added its' condemnation of Ainamor's actions stating that "Knakians everywhere are justly concerned that Ainamor's ambitions are not limited to internal matters." The Republican armed forces have been put on alert and limited numbers of reservists have been called up.

Inspiring figures...

I am probably "teaching my grandmother to suck eggs" but having browsed the Tiger Miniatures website five minutes ago I was struck by the potentiality for you all with Eastern imaginations. The 28mm figures look great - well worth a look!

Monday 12 April 2010

War in the Bolkans?

Dateline: Boughre.
By our Special Reporter

Tensions rose in the Bolkans today, as here in Boughre, capital of Ainamor, King Mikhaelus made inflammatory remarks about the neighbouring Union of Brobdingnagia in his weekly wireless broadcast to the nation.

Cut off from the sea by her neighbours, Ainamor has been forced for many years to rely on the Union's rivers and railways for both exports and imports. However, the Union is industrially and financially weak and her transport infrastructure reflects this. Ainamor has long pressed the Union to sell to her control of the river and rail transport systems, promising that under the kingdom's care the trains would run on time. The Union has so far resisted but the King in his speech demanded that this dispute be resolved once and for all.

"The Brobs may be content to wallow in their sloth and lassitude", the King stated, "but the Kingdom of Ainamor is no decadent oriental slum and demands the right to advancement for our citizens. The Union and it's deliberate policy of frustrating Ainamor's desire to seek her rightful place in the world will not be allowed to continue. We are a peaceful people but enough is enough!"

Brobdingnagia has lodged a formal complaint with the League of Nations about the bellicose nature of the King's speech and has claimed that Ainamor is mobilising her reserves in a clear threat of war.

For a fuller background to the situation in the Southern Bolkans, please read our Sports and Leisure Supplement: http://monsewer-crapaud.blogspot.com/

Balkrunia - Gateway to the East: Part 4

The various forces making up the Balkrunian army, whilst diverse in respect of ethnic origin and local tradition, all maintain certain uniform traits. The most significant of these is the actual organisation of the constituent battalions, batteries and regiments and also, to a lesser extent, the higher formations – the brigades, divisions and corps. The credit for this regularity of organisation should be given to the elected Commander in Chief of the Balkrunian Army, General Markov Zerbeast. At his insistence (and in the face of much provincial opposition) the Duma was able to implement the Army Reform Dictate of 1908 which regularised the organisation of all military and paramilitary formations within the empire. Crucially though, the question of manpower within each formation has been left to the individual provinces.

The infantry is organised into four company battalions with company strength varying from around two hundred and fifty to around one hundred and fifty officers and other ranks. Cavalry regiments tend to be slightly smaller with a maximum strength of around eight hundred officers and men; again in four squadrons. It is very unusual but not unknown for cavalry regiments to operate as a whole entity in the field. Customarily they are attached at squadron level to the infantry battalions for reconnaissance duties. Field artillery and machine guns are organised into companies of six pieces and are usually divided amongst the infantry battalions at the rate of two pieces per battalion. It comes as no surprise then that a Balkrunian infantry brigade consists of three battalions with an attached cavalry regiment, an artillery battery and a machine company of six weapons divided amongst the infantry units.

Three such brigades form a division and as a rule one or two of the brigades consists of provincial troops. The assignment of provincial troops within a division is usually decided upon at mobilisation and the resultant organisation stays in place for the duration of hostilities. A division of three brigades is further strengthened by an additional artillery battery of heavier weapons and a Guards Rifle Battalion. The Balkrunian Guard consists of the equivalent of an infantry division i.e. nine battalions of infantry and these are always attached to the infantry divisions during time of war. Their battalions are organised in the same way as the line troops with the only difference being that a company from each battalion (nine companies in total) is assigned guard duties and do not as a result take the field. The reduced strength of the field battalions is partially offset by each Guard battalion having its own machine gun platoon so their firepower is roughly comparable. There also exists three Guard cavalry regiments; one of which is used for escort and ceremonial duties whilst the other two are in the field. Unusually for Balkrunian mounted troops these units are always deployed together and are never divided amongst the regular divisions.

A Balkrunian corps sized formation contains from two to four divisions and like the divisions are usually organised upon mobilisation. Taking this a step further, a Balkrunian army group consists of two to four corps although it is rare for this level of formation to be used. The most common formation is undoubtedly the corps and this tends to be as high as most Balkrunian commanders aspire to. The geography of the region by and large also places limits on the size and sustainability of a formation as Balkrunian logistical arrangements are usually fairly basic. The empire as a whole does not have the necessary infrastructure to support large modern armies with the attendant transport needs etc. The road and rail network is adequate for normal usage but without the capacity for use in wartime. Where possible use is made of water transport and whilst this is efficient it too suffers from limitations of capacity.

The net effect of this logistical deficiency is to restrict prolonged military operations by large formations which is why most Balkrunian ‘armies’ tend to be small by comparison with their usual enemies. Smaller forces are easier to supply and sustain in the field and enjoy greater tactical flexibility at the expense of staying power and durability. Most Balkrunian commanders accept this and so their offensives tend to be well prepared and pushed on with extreme prejudice until literally the last round and the troops can move no further. This is where the provincial troops come into their own as they are well used to operating on a logistic shoestring so to speak. Speed and resolute daring is the watchword of these hardy troops and this is probably just as well as the all important logistical tail will invariably be overwhelmed within a couple of days of the start of an offensive. Karagozian commanders have learned to exploit this to an extent and will usually, if possible, allow a Balkrunian attack to develop and expend itself prior to counter attacking. Balkrunian offensives tend to be very ‘stop and start’ and this is an area than they are keen to improve upon. However, expenditure on the less glamorous but equally essential ‘sinews of war’ in the shape of improved road and rail link and a properly constituted army supply service is very hard to obtain from the Duma who prefer to devote monies to weapons and equipment.

Despite this shortcoming Balkrunian armies are very dangerous when on the attack and resolute when on the defensive and will expend lavish amounts of ammunition (and manpower) to achieve a specific aim. The problem has always been how to exploit a successful offensive and in this the Balkrunian high command are not alone. Recently, Balkrunia has experimented with armoured units following the recent acquisition of a substantial number of surplus French Renault FT 17 tanks. The version in use is the gun armed variant and so trials have been undertaken using infantry or cavalry to support, and in turn be supported by these machines. A small number of Schneider vehicles have also been acquired and expectations are high that these vehicles will represent a major advance in Balkrunian military capability – principally when used to exploit an attack. The high command is also keen to incorporate aerial reconnaissance to identify weak points in the enemy positions so the infiltration units of provincials can move as far as possible without hindrance, bypassing enemy strong points so the regular troops can contain these at their convenience.

The major debate within both the Duma and Balkrunian high command is whether or not these new armoured formations should be added to the existing divisions or kept back to form an army level reserve for maximum impact. Either way, these high level deliberations have caused much consternation and dismay in neighbouring Karagoz and will in all probability persuade the Sultan and his military advisers that similar steps need to be taken within his own armies. Balkrunia has lit the powder trail; it remains to be seen whether it will burn to its logical outcome or regional prudence will extinguish the flame.

The picture above shows Gen. Markov Zerbeast and his staff observing the annual manoeuvres of 1910.

Spring

With Spring just around the corner (and the Landstorme cleaning their rifles for the forthcoming season of shooting matches and local musters) the Livgaard ter Fod or Ducal Footguards can be seen marching outside the Ducal Palace. Soon they will discard the overcoats of Winter and parade in their Summer Uniforms.