June saw the second Naval Wargames Weekend at the “Explosion”
Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport . My plans
for the event were dashed by both Liz and I suffering various debilitating
injuries in the week before, meaning I couldn't walk, Liz couldn't drive or do
anything requiring two hands, and so I had to stay home to look after the
children. Thanks then to Mark Backhouse for providing some feedback on the
event.
The show was, as last year, a small affair but featured
some excellent games.
Simon Stokes ran his “Blackbeard’s Last Stand” game
as featured at Salute. The Solent Wargames Group, ably led by Mark Backhouse
presented a beautiful 28mm Sudan Falklands during 1914, played out in
1/1200 with some excellent models, and to cap it off a 1/600 ACW naval game
using the popular “Hammerin’ Iron” rules from Peter Pig.
Mark Barker’s “Inshore Squadron” chose the
bicentenary of the outbreak of the War of 1812 to stage a refight of the battle
of Sandy Hook – War of 1812, whilst Jim
Wallman brought along his ever popular WW2 Damage Control participation game
set on board HMS Belfast.
Meanwhile, the Bognor Regis Wargames club brought a
28mm “Very British Civil War” game (which they also ran at Salute), proving
that this genre has a maritime as well as a land based component – and that NWS
members have a pretty good representation at the UK’s premier wargames event
Mark’s game featured the intrepid Lt. Nelson and the
Red Sea Rifles on a daring mission out of Suakin in 1884 to recapture some lost
Egyptian rifles being used to arm the local Fuzzy Wuzzy tribes. Mark played it three times with the Naval brigade
coming out on tops twice and losing once. The second pic shows the sad demise
of the third game when Lt. Nelson and his men met a rather sorry end!
Mark Backhouse and Jim Wallman took a load of photos
which they have made available to me to put on the blog, and a selection of
them can be seen below.
The show, whilst small, was deemed a success by those
attending and there is a definite will to run it again next year (as long as we
can maintain the links with the museum). There were some thoughts to increasing
the scope of the event to include traders, but I don’t think the size of the
event justifies this at all – although there have been some thoughts as to a
“bring and buy” which we can explore for next year. Whilst the event doesn’t have
a formal “mission statement” the aim is, I feel, to provide an annual forum in
which naval gamers can get together for a few games and a chat to swap “fish
stories”, thoughts, tips and ideas and perhaps the odd model or two.
Timing was, to be honest, “not optimal” since the
event clashed with the Jubilee weekend (I knew there was something significant
about that date when we agreed it with the museum!) which kept many people
away, so an event in 2013 will be better timed! The location, in the museum’s conference
area, was much better than last year’s event in the grand magazine which,
whilst very atmospheric, was very dark.
So watch out for the next event in 2013 – dates
posted as soon as they are decided.
Classic headgear for the 1890s wargamer
Mahdists cause trouble for the trusty boys of the Naval Brigade
Hope the Nordenfelt doesn't jam (again!)
Blackbeard’s
Adventure awaits the government onslaught
Action in the Falklands
Jim Wallman's popular Damage Control game
Jane and Ranger close
on Blackbeard for his final battle
British steamer and
barge from Bognor’s VBCW game
A Very British Civil
War, and some Very Lovely Models
Bob Kirk and
compatriots contemplate the Sudan
Jim Wallman explains
the intricacies of WW2 damage control
Simon’s “Blackbeard”
game
HMS Aeolus plies the
sea off Sandy Hook
The Naval Brigade and Mahdists mixing it!
