The author has been a wargamer since the 1970s, member of Wargame Developments and a serious rule writer since the early 1990s. His longstanding interest in asymmetric warfare led him to develop a series of wargames to reflect the individual characteristics of such conflicts. This is his first book published through The History of Wargaming Project.
The topic of counter Insurgency is under represented in table top hobby wargames. The relatively few sets of rules in this area have nearly all focused on the tactical level combat. All except one of these sets of rules are written to portray the operational/ campaign level situation. Using card based systems, these games are particularly suitable for the solo wargamer.
These games are not ‘fair’; they each aim to give the wargamer a greater understanding of the particular conflicts they represent. From the sands of the Sahara, to the Mountains of Afghanistan, they place the wargamer in the position of command; facing an elusive enemy. The games Boots on the Company Level Actions in the early 21st. Century An Isolated Six Months in the Sahara Eight Years in a Distant Soviet involvement in Afghanistan Counter- insurgency in South West Africa Good Morning LBJ’s War 1965-68 Flying The Irish Troubles 1920-21 This book is published by the History of Wargaming Project as an example of recent innovation in hobby wargames.
Besides a Foreword written by Brian Train (who is probably the foremost designer of counter insurgency board wargames), the books has six separate rules for COIN games:
Company Level Actions in the Early 21st Century: Boots on the Ground (by John Armatys)
An Isolated Outpost: Six Months in the Sahara
Soviet involvement in Afghanistan: Eight Years in a Distant Country
Counter-Insurgency in South West Africa
The Irish Troubles 1920-21: Flying Column
LBJ’s War 1965-68: Good Morning Vietnam!
The book also contains an extensive list of COIN games and rules as well as a five-page bibliography. To me this was the best part of the book.
I liked it and it was worth the purchase at under AU$25.00 from Amazon.
The only occasion that Australian troops faced Japanese tanks in the Pacific was two Type 95 Ha Go Light Tanks at Milne bay. The Bolt Actions lists give Australian lists the options of Anti Tank Rifles or PIATS.
As you can see the mud saved the Australians from having to deal with them during the decisive battle for the airstrip.
At Milne Bay the Australians regretted leaving their ATR’s behind because even the Ha Go Light Tanks proved difficult to deal with.
The Australians did not like the PIAT because it was useless as a “bunker buster” and had a huge kick which often dislocated the firers shoulder.
By the time of the landings during “Operation Oboe” in 1945 the Australians were using bazookas to deal with enemy strong points.
The OOB for the Australian 101st Mortar Support Platoon has two Bazooka teams attached to the HQ section.
This unusual weapon was developed by the ever-ingenious Provos for use in Northern Ireland. It was used in several attacks on barracks and police stations throughout the North. While a very handy area weapon, it is usually grossly inaccurate against point targets such as small buildings. Against targets such as tank farms, military bases, or ammunition dumps, is where it excels, raining large canisters of high explosive all over the area. There is no recorded use of any mortar truck during WW2, and I have not been able to obtain any contemporaneous evidence.
They were certainly used in the post-war conflict in Ireland with their last recorded use that I can find was in 1991.
The vehicle cab of this truck looks decidedly more modern.
The barrels of the mortars themselves were made of steel tube, with the diameter varying with what tubing was available and could vary in size with the type of projectile used.They were mounted on a flat-bed truck and supported with anything that came to hand. They were normally set at a 45-degree angle. Any number of barrels may be fitted, though most versions used from four to eight.
A modern diagram showing the location of the timing unit.
The IRA did not have the same access to conventional military assets. Instead, they relied primarily on guerrilla tactics and small arms. Captured enemy equipment (British) was not as readily available as it was to European Partizans. As a result their operations often involved ambushes, raids, and sabotage, utilizing light weapons that were more readily available to them.
Another more modern version.
The model version depicted here was designed from these photos by Drew from Wargames Holiday Centre Australia and 3D printed. On handing them to me on Tuesday night he said, “Here you have two of the only three in the world, and I have the other”!
Given that Drew printed off two for me I painted up the other one as well!
I thought I had better be “even-handed” with the truck colours!
I wonder if “David Anthony” is driver for both vehicles?
You know him – he is the one that “his father calls him William while his mother calls him Pat”!
The model(s) will be fun to use in Bolt Action as they are a very unreliable weapon that can explode destroying the truck! Then again I wouldn’t be using an IRA army if I was playing competitively would I?
The truck has six improvised mortars, with each individual mortar a one shot weapon. The lorry may fire one or two shots per turn, and the ‘To Hit’ number is always 6+.
Aim cannot be adjusted between shots. A double 1 when rolling to hit means that one of the bombs has exploded in the barrel; the lorry is destroyed and becomes a wreck.
Tomorrow I will start on the last two vehicles to complete the IRA project.
This Second carrier will be used to transport the Lieutenant’s Support Section so that it can move quickly to any sector on the table that may require its assistance.
Today we have the Lieutenant’s support team, which is a mixture of various specialists formed as a rifle section that could both support the gunners but also replace any crews that have suffered casualties.
The miniature was commissioned by Drew from the Wargames Holiday Centre Australia to be given to all Bolt Action participants at Cancon over the January Australia Day long weekend. This was a fitting memento to players on Australia Day.
Edward (Ted) Kenna was born at Hamilton, Victoria, on 6 July 1919. He completed his education in his home town before becoming a plumber. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1940 and served in the 23/21st Battalion in Victoria and later in the Darwin area. In June 1943 his unit returned to Victoria before being sent to Queensland. At this point the unit was disbanded and its members allotted as reinforcements to other units. Kenna was assigned to the 2/4th Battalion and embarked for New Guinea in October 1944.
On 15 May 1945, Kenna was involved in an action near Wewak, New Guinea, during which he exposed himself to heavy fire, killing a Japanese machine gun crew and making it possible for his company’s attack to succeed. For this he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Three weeks later he was shot in the mouth and spent more than a year in hospital before being discharged from the AIF in December 1946. The following year he married Marjorie Rushbury, who had nursed him at Heidleberg Military Hospital.
After his discharge from hospital, Kenna returned to Hamilton. Proud of their Victoria Cross winner, the people of the Hamilton district raised sufficient funds to build Kenna and his wife a house which remains the family home. The Kennas had four children. After the war he worked with the local council and played Australian Rules football for the local team. He has attended many Victoria Cross reunions in London and has led the annual ANZAC Day march in Melbourne. In the 1980s Kenna had his portrait painted by Sir William Dargie and in July 2000 he was featured on a postage stamp as part of an issue commemorating Australia’s living Victoria Cross winners. He died in Geelong on 8 July 2009. (AWM)
The Citation:
“In the South West Pacific at Wewak on the 15th May, 1945, during the attack on the Wirui Mission features, Private KENNA’s company had the task of capturing certain enemy positions.
The only position from which observation for supporting fire could be obtained was continuously swept by enemy machine gun fire and it was not possible to bring Artillery or Mortars into action.
Private KENNA’s platoon was ordered forward to deal with the enemy machine gun post, so that the company operation could proceed. His section moved as close as possible to the bunker in order to harass any enemy seen, so that the remainder of the platoon could attack from the flank. When the attacking sections came into view of the enemy they were immediately engaged at very close range by heavy automatic fire from a position not previously disclosed.
Casualties were suffered and the attackers could not move further forward. Private KENNA endeavoured to put his Bren gun into a position where he could engage the bunker, but was unable to do so because of the nature of the ground.
On his own initiative and without orders Private KENNA stood up immediately in full view of the enemy less than fifty yards away and engaged the bunker, firing his Bren gun from his hip.
The enemy machine gun immediately returned Private KENNA’s fire with such accuracy that bullets actually passed between his arms and body. Undeterred, he remained completely exposed and continued to fire at the enemy until his magazine was exhausted. Still making a target of himself, Private KENNA discarded his Bren gun and called for a rifle.
Despite the intense machine gun fire, he seized the rifle and, with amazing coolness, killed the gunner with his first round. A second automatic opened fire on Private KENNA from a different position and another of the enemy immediately tried to move into position behind the first machine gun, but Private KENNA remained standing and killed him with his next round.
The result of Private KENNA’s magnificent bravery in the face of concentrated fire, was that the bunker was captured without further loss, and the company attack proceeded to a successful conclusion, many enemy being killed and numerous automatic weapons captured.
There is no doubt that the success of the company attack would have been seriously endangered and many casualties sustained but for Private KENNA’s magnificent courage and complete disregard for his own safety. His action was an outstanding example of the highest degree of bravery.”
The concept of bravery is a universally admired trait, one that transcends cultural boundaries and is celebrated in various forms of art and storytelling. When seeking a miniature to represent specific bravery in action, it’s important to consider the values and attributes that embody the concept of bravery. From ancient myths and legends to modern-day heroes, the embodiment of bravery can take on many different forms, each resonating with its own unique symbolism.
I believe this miniature is a fitting tribute to such a brave Australian.
As with all good (?) gamers, as soon as I arrived home. I was on the eBay site and purchased a lot of my own.
The planes just clicked together (I have not used glue on any of them), and come pre-painted. Some are hideous pinks bright orange etc., but all I needed for these models was to paint over was the slogan “fighter” pictured above. It would have made sense if it was “kampfer” but English writing on a German fighter – I don’t think so.
The planes are hardly modelling standard, but all I needed was something suitable for wargaming, with the detail and accuracy rated a far second to cost.
These were clicked together and painted in under two hours.
They even came with the decals on them.
I will purchase some of the “Inspection Telescopic Mirrors” below from Bunnings to use as stands. See the post “Dogfight over Stalingrad” to see how they can be used to vary height, tilt up and down and bank. At AU$5.99 each they are a steal.
The Bf 109 was arguably the best fighter in the world in 1940. It was faster than the Spitfire at high altitude, could dive more rapidly and carried a more effective armament of two cannon and two machine guns.
The 109 could also climb a lot faster and it could be thrown into steep dives thanks to its fuel-injected engine.
Sadly the one thing the models lack is a pilot, but you have to look closely to notice they are flying remotely. Weird War anyone?
For $27.50 for five planes pre-painted I am more than happy.
I have some Spitfires and P51 Mustangs to use for my Australians. Alas the sellers do not have any Japanese WW2 planes at all.
Also known as “LP1 Carrier (Aust)”. Australian production similar to Bren carrier but welded and with some minor differences. About 60 were sent to North Africa in 1940 and saw action in North Africa, Greece and Palestine. In all, 160 LP1 carriers were built by Victorian Railways at their vast Newport workshops in Melbourne. They were not successful as the engine overheated, there was a shortage of spare parts and break wear was excessive. Although problematic, much was learnt from the experience, and a new design was produced, which corrected many of the inherent faults of this first model.
Also known as “LP2 Carrier (Aust)”. Australian-built variant of the Universal Carrier. Also produced in New Zealand. Used 1938–1939 Ford commercial axles; the 2A had 1940 Ford truck axles. Over 2700 of these were produced.
Bolt Action allows the Vickers Machinegun version shown above to be used as an alternative to the 3″ Mortar version posted on yesterday. The Mortar platoon hardly needs another motorised mortar, so this will be a good option.
I have two more of these kindly printed by Drew, that I will add in the next few days as similar options for the Artillery and Machinegun Support Platoons.
The Carrier, 3-inch Mortar (Aust) was a design based on the 2 Pounder Carrier with a 3-inch mortar mounted in place of the 2 pounder. Designed to enable the mortar to have 360 degree traverse and to be fired either from the vehicle, or dismounted. 400 were produced and were ultimately sent as military aid to the Nationalist Chinese Army.
I cannot find any record of Australia using them in the South Pacific, but they are in the Bolt Action list so here is another one to add to the short range HE support of the 2/7th Field Artillery troop.
Tomorrow – Bolt Action has another choice instead of this and I will post on it tomorrow.
