How many tanks are there in a “tillie” of Matilda’s?

An Australian A12 Matilda II.

58 of Course! A squadron includes 5 fighting troops and 1 HQ troop, totaling 18 tanks. A “Tropical” Armoured Regiment Tropical Scale’ comprises of 3 of the above squadrons. and four HQ tanks.

“The 2/1 Recce Squadron had a slightly different structure as a result of preparatory training in cooperation with the Matilda Frog flame tanks that were to be deployed with the squadron.The tactics that had been developed involved a formation of one troop of 3 gun tanks and one troop of 3 flame tanks for a total of 6 tanks. The formation would advance in line ahead in the order of two gun tanks, followed by two flame tanks, with a gun tank behind and finally a flame tank bringing up the rear.”

“When a target was engaged, the lead gun tanks would break off to provide crossfire from the flanks while the two flame tanks closed the range. The flame tank and gun tank in the rear provided further covering fire and security in the event of an enemy ambush. Thus, the formation could mutually support its members with both gunfire and flame attack from any direction with any of the required tanks on hand to exploit any success or cover for withdrawal as needed.” The Tank Encyclopaedia.

Balikpapan was the largest single deployment of Australian armor in the entire Second World War. With a total of 33 Armoured Fighting Vehicles landing on day 1.

Richard Simmons starred as Sergeant Preston, who patrolled the Yukon Territory in search of renegades and outlaws, during the time of the Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s^. In every episode, Preston was assisted by his Alaskan Malamute Yukon King, who had been raised by a female wolf. In episodes taking place during the summer he rode his horse Rex

Sergeant Preston, Yukon King, and Rex

I have work out some MWWBK’s rules that allows the characters to join a unit that can add a little something for one point without being OTT. I am thinking Sergeant Preston can join a unit and give it leadership 5+, only one figure can be used the foot with foot and mounted with mounted. If Yukon King is added to a unit he allows the unit to re-roll one and only one failed close combat die roll per turn. This means if the unit is in close combat more than once in a turn they only get one re-roll. Although the figures are attached to a unit they do not provide an extra shooting or close combat die.

Yukon King

Sgt Preston and Rex

Preston, Rex and Yukon King

Two childhood heroes together

Below is a photograph of a Royal Australian Air Force bulldozer being paraded on the back of a truck through the streets of Melbourne in front of an adoring crowd.

Taken on October 27, 1944, the image is a part of the machine parade, which took place in the second Victory Loan March through the city.

Why a Dozer and not a tank? In 1944 we did actually have tanks and so its not because of that, but rather the bulldozer was an important part of the war effort.

In fact Admiral Halsey was quoted as saying:  “If I had to give credit to the instruments and machines that won us the war in the Pacific, I would rate them in this order:  Submarines first, radar second, planes third, bulldozers fourth.”

The model I have is correct for Australian uses in some but not in others. Above is the Australian CR-1 based on the Caterpillar D7 design and manufactured under license. They were the first bulldozers manufactured in Australia. The model is permanently on display in the Australian Army Museum of Military Engineering.

You will note in this model that, although it is a D7 there is no armoured cabin. These types were used by the British in Normandy.

I can find no pictorial evidence of any armoured D7’s in Australian use.

I will continue to look for one. I know that Company B have them, however postage from the USA is prohibitive. I can get the Company B one from Great Escape Games, but 28 quid each is a bit rich for me. If any one is aware of an STL I would be pleased to receive a comment from you.

I have previously posted on the Matilda II Dozer, however they were not very effective in Borneo as the “coral mud” continued to grind away the drive mechanisms. As a result the CR-1 soon replaced them.

Back to the NWMP tomorrow.

The second unit of dismounted North West Mounted Police.

I have been struggling how to classify them in MWWBK’s as they were meant to be “trained like cavalry, but designated as police“.

A close look at the role of the volunteers from “the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) who participated in the South African War (Boer War), 1899-1902, shows that the bulk of the NWMP contribution took place within two units, the Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR) and Lord Strathcona’s Horse (LSH)”.

“The role of the NWMP in both units was to counter the guerrilla operations used by the South Africans to frustrate the larger, slower British army throughout the early stages of the war. Both the CMR and LSH, led primarily by NWMP officers, achieved considerable success.“

Canadian Military Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2008

So they were “trained like cavalry, but designated as police“, and to counter the guerrilla operations of the Boers. A close look at the definitions of each troop type in MWWBK’s shows that the best fit the Irregular Infantry, Irregular Cavalry options.

The rule book reads” “This troop type includes Boers, army scouts and volunteers, and colonial police”. They were well equipped and had excellent discipline.

As a result I have classed the dismounted NWMP as Irregular Infantry with Modern rifles @5pts each.

The Mounted NWMP fits the Irregular Cavalry designation “This category includes those regular cavalry units who were less inclined to mix it with sabre drill, preferring to stand off and shoot (although still capable in close combat with pistols and melee weapons”.

The “Lancer” units could be given the lancer upgrade.

Tomorrow something a little different.

The figures are from Pulp Figures by Bob Murch in Canada from his Yukon Peril range.
I find postage from North America too costly so you could try North Star. . A number of the figures in the range seem to have disappeared. The Gatling gun is a 7th Cavalry from Artizan Games.

I am not sure if the North West Mounted Police ever used the Gatling Gun but below is the “primary source” proving that they did.

Still from the movie “North West Mounted Police”, although this one is used by the Canadian “rebels” to influence First Peoples to their side.

Certainly in the 1885 during the First Nations “Northwest Rebellion” the Canadian Royal Regiment of Artillery fielded Gatling Guns in both their A and B Batteries.

The Gatling Gun Jefferys, Charles W. (1950)
The Picture Gallery of Canadian History Volume 3, p.163
(Drawing by McLean, Thomas Wesley, 1881-1951)

In 1897, the NWMP positioned a Maxim Gun at Chilkoot Pass, aimed at the American side due to the influx of American gold seekers heading to Alaska. Although most were not invading, Canadian authorities required all individuals entering Canada to carry 2,000 pounds of supplies, which angered many Americans who found it too costly and difficult to transport.

The North West Mounted Police installed the Maxim Gun after hearing rumors of waves of disgruntled Americans threatening to charge the border without the required supplies.

Don’t care if any of this is true or not, here is my GG for Men Who Would Be Kings.

The model is a Seventh Cavalry model from North Star.

Tomorrow some more dismounted NWMP.

The North West Mounted Police were always meant to operate as “mounted infantry”. Canadian Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald who defined its purpose as “the preservation of peace and the prevention of crime” in the vast NWT. Macdonald envisioned the police force as a para-military force, writing that the “best force would be mounted riflemen, trained to act as cavalry… and styled police”.

More Men Who Would Be Kings North West Mounted Police tomorrow.

I have been looking for some mini skulls for some time but Goldilocks like I found some that were two big and some that were too small but as you know it just takes a little time to obtain some that a just right.

These came from Amazon Australia – 115 for $16.93 delivered.

You can see that the skulls are about 1/2″ wide by about 3/4″s long.

I originally was thinking that I would use them straight from the original container during games but after just one it became apparent they would end up everywhere but alongside the unit they were supposed to.

My go to base size is 40mm rounds because most of the “cheap” poker chips are that size and there always seems to be some in Thrift Shops going cheaply.

After undercoating and dry brushing white.

A wash with Army Painter “light tone”.

Another wash lightly of “GW Nurgle Contrast”

Bases flocked.

Bases clear flat varnished with Tamiya TS80 rattle can. I do this to remove any gloss from the washes and to help “fix” the flocking.

The finished articles.

I thought I would have lots left over for other projects, but only have seven left.

I decided that I would use enough to fill up their storage container. There are 18 of each markers (18X1, 18X2, 18X3), using up 108 of the original 115.

The lot on display.

Growing up I was enthralled by the TV show “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” and “Northwest Mounted Police”, the Cecil B Demille epic starring Gary Cooper and Madeline Carroll.

In “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” Preston patrols the wilds of the Yukon with his horse Rex and his faithful dog Yukon King, battling both the elements and criminals. Richard Simmons starred as “Sergeant Preston”, a series of tales set in Canada’s Yukon territory during the days of the great gold rush of the 19th Century. Colorfully red-coated Preston of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, struggled to keep law and order for three seasons in 78 colour episodes on CBS from September 29, 1955, to February 27, 1958. Prior to this it was a radio show that ran from 1940’s until 1954 called “Challenege of the Yukon”. Colour kept the TV series in syndication far beyond that of others filmed in b/w.

The story goes that the Canadian Northwest near a settlement fort, Sgt. Jim Brent (Preston Foster) and Ranger Dusty Rivers (Gary Cooper) vie for the attention of government nurse April Logan (Madeleine Carroll), the sister of Constable Ronnie Logan (Robert Preston). However, the men band together to stop whiskey runner Jacques Corbeau (George Bancroft) from instigating a native uprising by preventing the massacre of a Mounted Ranger unit, whose demise would leave the settlers completely undefended.

The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was established in 1873 as a Canadian police force to ensure order in the North-West Territories, addressing lawlessness and military threats by merging military and police functions, with a mobile unit wearing red coats akin to military attire.

The NWMP was created by Prime Minister Sir John Macdonald to ensure peace and reduce crime in the NWT, modeled after a military unit, due to concerns that American traders could incite First Nations and provoke U.S. military intervention and annexation.

In 1874, the NWMP traveled almost 900 miles to Alberta, where they built forts and patrols to enforce Canadian law, facing difficult but gradually improving living conditions on the prairies.

The march West

By 1896, the government aimed to dissolve the NWMP, but the gold discovery in Klondike led to the decision to maintain control over prospectors. The NWMP fought in the Second Boer War and received the Royal title in 1904. Public opposition to disbanding increased as many served in the First World War, and concerns about a Bolshevik threat prompted investigations. Following the Winnipeg General Strike, the NWMP merged with the Dominion Police to form the RCMP in 1920.

Given we are playing Men Who Would Be Kings more regularly I decided that I needed a more regular contingent to play with. I have lots in 20mm plastic, but hardly anything in 28mm that we are using at the moment. I have some Pulp figures that I purchased from North Star a long time ago.

I thought about giving them lancers but decided against it at the last minute. They are often depicted with them, but also with their white ceremonial pith helmets as well. I eventually succumbed and ordered some Empress Miniature’s Zulu War British Lancers from Elite Miniatures Australia. They are on their way as I write!

I have three infantry units, and some vignettes to finish painting. More tomorrow.

Heavy Cavalry in Silver Bayonet are an expensive option at twenty-three recruitment points. With breastplate, sword and pistol they have a good defence but their attack is only average.

The mounted speed is eight which means a possible move of twelve inches but they cannot move in buildings including ruins so unless they dismount they may have some difficulty searching clue markers in some scenarios.

Unless you use a Litko Horse Character Mount you need to duplicate the figure mounted and dismounted. In most cases, these days, the Litko mount is more costly than a duplicated figure.

These actually paint up surprisingly well.

If you really want to use a cavalry figure I would suggest that the Junior Officer at one point cheaper is a better option. Their equipment of a fencing weapon and two pistols is more effective, and their ability to choose an attribute and their additional speed makes them a very viable option.

The same figure can be used for both options.

Like in every wargame, you need to choose troop options that suit your style of play. If you want to get into close combat quickly then cavalry is an option worth looking at.

You can have five mounted figures without choosing any twice. These include Officer with the combat rider attribute, Junior Officer, Heavy and Light Cavalry and a Veteran Hunter with the combat rider attribute. Other than your Officer, the Veteran Hunter with blunderbuss, which can be fired when mounted, is the best mounted option at just seven extra point than the Heavy Cavalry.

So for me this figure is not likely to be used all that often, and then more likely as a Junior Officer.

HMMM? We all have one “His Metal Mountain of Mourning“!

Yesterday I provided an overview of the new Silver bayonet campaign booklet “Egypt: In the Shadow of the Sphinx”.

Today I will outline the figures I plan to use. I do NOT need to purchase any new figures and I have tried, where possible, to use suitable unpainted models from HMMM. Here are my choices undercoated, based, and ready to paint, although I need to finish a few other projects first.

The Officer armed with a musket and a fencing sword hidden behind his cloak.

The right hand was changed for one carrying a musket.

A Bedouin armed with rifle

Egyptian conscripts armed only with side arms.

Egyptian scouts one with heavy weapon and the other with musket.

A Junior Officer, Bedouin or whatever.

Janissaries armed with musket and fencing sword.

4 Infantrymen armed with musket.

During the Sudan Wars the Egyptians often changed sides. They were dressed exactly like these with Fez and white uniform. I have assumed that given their Ottoman heritage that 60 years earlier their uniforms were similar.

These will do as more “colourful” infantrymen or as Mameluke figures.

This one in particular would make a good Mameluke.

At 30 recruitment each I would much rather take 3 infantrymen than one Mameluke, or indeed – a Veteran Hunter.

An Artillerist. I will add a sword and a pistol prior to painting.

A Supernatural Investigator. I am not sure what weapons I will put in his hands as yet. Most likely a fencing weapon and two pistols. I will also give him a back pack for of his “stuff”.

A Moslem “Champion of the Faith” and a “Worshiper of the Old Gods”. Unfortunately I had none of these unpainted. “Shame oh the shame”!

An Occultist that I use for the French as well.

An Egyptian sailor that I will arm with a pistol and sword.

Here is a sample 100 recruitment contingent, consisting of an Officer, Champion of the Faith, Scout with musket, Bedouin with musket, two Janissaries, and two Infantrymen. This is a good “all-round” force.

Another sample list. This time I have added a Mameluke and two Egyptian conscripts (38 recruitment), and deleted the two Infantrymen and the Scout (38 recruitment). This contingent is more geared towards close combat.

Well there you have it – my take on an Egyptian contingent for Silver Bayonet.