Collecting & painting 'pre-Dreadnought' warships (Part 3)

During 2025 I friend bought me 2 warship waterline models from the pre-Dreadnought period. At a car boot sale.... Unknown scale, unknown Country of origin but probably European... I liked them very much, I got intrigued by them but couldn't find which warship type they were or from which country. After some months I decided to paint them like British pre-Dreadnoughts in their Victorian colour scheme: black hull, white deck house and ochre yellow funnels (see photo).

Several months later I read on a war game blog some remarks about like wise ships, from 'Minifigs'. A lively discussion erupted between a small number of readers, as there apparently were several companies who had produced likewise models in different scales. On an internet auction I bought some additional models and I decided to paint them as all my white metal models had lost most of their paint. More people had painted them; sometimes in their real world colors, sometimes from a fantasy country (see pictures below from some blogs). Most models of warships are grey, but the green ones are from Austria-Hungary (when they had an Adriatic Fleet, from 1867 to 1918).

Anyhow, I tried to get more information about my waterline models as it was clear that they all were very different. In scale but also in kind of metal. According to my investigation a British company called B.M.C. (Brighton Manufacturing Company or Brighton Model Company) started production of waterline warship models in the early 1900s. In scale 1:1200 (100 ft to 1 inch) and 1:1800 (150 ft. to 1 inch). During the Victorian Age more people had time and money to buy toys and at the same time a Naval Arms race developed between the Great Powers. Not only toy model train sets got popular; waterline warships as well. Also the first 'Jane's Fighting Ships' publication became available in this time ('standard' recognition scale: 1:1200), which was a helpful source for the Jane Navel War Game (from the same author). Companies tried to develop ship models for this game but were also asked by Governments to develop recognition models for the military (to train look-outs onboard ships and pilots). The following early companies emerged.

Bassett-Lowke (UK). their first models were hand-made of wood, with wire masts and guns. Probably scale 1:1800. Advertised as 'most accurate representations to actual ships' they were quite rude compared to today's toy standards. According to Wikipedia, there were at least 2 reasons to change production to white metal. First, these metal models could be made by machines (cheaper & quicker) and secondly: from 1908 onwards the company was not allowed anymore to sell their highly accurate models as this would help a possible enemy (like Germany). The concern of the censors was that the accuracy of these detailed models of Royal Navy ships could give vital information to the enemy. In order to have some representation of the Royal Navy for their war time catalog, Bassett-Lowke replaced their prohibited Royal Navy models by purchasing the less detailed metal ship models of the RN made by B.M.C. These metal B.M.C. models while detailed, had their origins as game models and were therefore less accurate depictions of RN warships. The company stopped trading in the 1960s.

B.M.C. (UK): their production of metal waterline warship models started around 1903 and stopped in the 1920s(?). In scale 1:1200 (100 ft to 1 inch) and 1:1800 (150 ft. to 1 inch). These more than 100 different models were hollow cast (the inside was open), painted and with wire masts. At starboard rear end most models had a specific number, in Roman numerals: B.I HMS Duncan, B.II HMS Swiftsure, B.III HMS King Edward VII, and B.IV HMS Lord Nelson etc.. The ship models could be purchased individually or could be purchased in numbered boxed sets (Bassett-Lowke). They were actually toy-like, although they represented specific ships, and one could distinguish several warship classes and -types.

Boucher (USA): E.H. Boucher Manufacturing Company began making large-scale display models for the US Navy in 1905. From 1917 (USA had entered WW1) production grew as more official customers required recognition models scale 1:1200. 

Crescent (UK): under license they copied (in die cast metal or 'pot metal') the models from B.M.C./ Basset Lowke. From 1920s towards 1980. I believe mostly in scale 1:1800 (painted). Without masts but very crisp hollow casts. They used in the beginning the same model numbering as B.M.C, although in Arabic numerals (B1: HMS Duncan, etc.).

Minifigs (UK): a British firm who produced wargame toys from the 1960s onwards. They made waterline ships as well.

Timpo (UK): They made 1:1800 scale waterline ship models from 1930s onwards.

Dinky: apparently they made waterline ship models next to their large range of cars.

Wiking (Germany): a well known continental European Company. Started in the 1930s, mostly with scale 1:1250 (the metric equivalent of 1:1200). Their last ship catalogue is from 1975 I believe. They are still in business but only as a manufacturer of car models (1:87) for model train enthusiast.

My current collection:

1903 HMS Swiftsure (1:1800; Crescent B2)

Pre-Dreadnought battleship, initially designed for Chili, 11,800 tons, 4x10-inch main armament. Model length: 82 mm. Arabic numeral & crisp open casting points towards Crescent. Repainted from Victorian trim (1st picture of this blog) into period-correct grey. Torpedo nets & booms still visible at model (during WW1 removed).

1904 HMS Lord Nelson (1:1800; Crescent B4)

Pre-Dreadnought battleship Nelson-class, 16,500 tons, 4x12-inch main armament. Model length: 82 mm. Arabic numeral and crisp hollow casting points towards Crescent. Repainted from Victorian trim into period-correct grey. Torpedo nets & booms still visible at model (during WW1 removed).

1906 HMS King Edward VII (1:1800; BMC or Crescent; no nr.)

Pre-Dreadnought battleship King Edward-class, 16,350 tons, 4x12-inch main armament. Model length: 81 mm. No number visible (B.III or B3 expected) but hollow casting and 2 masts (rear is missing) makes this possible B.M.C.? Painted in period-correct grey. Torpedo nets & booms still visible at model (during WW1 removed).

1909 HMS Indefatigable (1:1800; B.M.C. nr. XVI)

Battlecruiser Indefatigable-class, 18,800 tons, 8 x 12-inch guns. Model length: 91 mm. Roman numeral (XVI) points towards B.M.C. Painted in period-correct grey (including blast bags main armament). Torpedo nets & booms still visible at model (during WW1 removed).

1900 HMS Highflyer (1:1800; ? no nr.)

Protected cruiser 2nd class, 5,600 tons, 11 x 6-inch guns. Model length: 80 mm. Hollow casting. No information on manufacturer. Painted in period-correct tropical trim (operated during WW1 in West- and East Indies).

1914 HMS Birmingham (1:1800; ? no nr.)

Light cruiser Chatham-class, 4 funnels, 5,400 tons, 8 x 6-inch guns. Model length: 81 mm. Hollow casting & 2 masts makes this possible B.M.C. No information on manufacturer. Painted in period-correct grey.

1903 B-class destroyer (1:1800; ? no nr.)

30 knot/4 funnels destroyer, 470 tons, 1 x 12 pounder gun, 2 torpedo tubes (18-inch). Model length: 45 mm. Closed hull with 1 mast. Unknown manufacturer. Painted in period correct black.

1915 WW1 Flower class minesweeper (1:1800; ? no nr.)

Minesweeper Acacia or Azalea-class, 1200 tons, 2 x 4-inch guns. Model length: 47 mm. Hollow casting, 1 mast makes this possible B.M.C. Painted in period-correct light grey.

1904 Devonshire-class Cruiser (1:1200; Bassett-Lowke or B.M.C.)

Armoured cruiser Devonshire-class, 11,000 tons, 4 x 7,5-inch main armament. Model length: 116 mm, crisp hollow casting including 2 masts points towards Bassett-Lowke. Removable stern deck house missing. Painted in period-correct grey.

1907 D-class submarine (1:1200;? no nr.)

D-class submarine, 550 tons, 3 torpedo tubes. Model length: 54 mm., closed hull cast. Unknown manufacturer. Painted in period correct black.

1930s K-class submarine (possibly 1:1000: ?)

Possible K-class submarine, 1,900 tons, 8 torpedotubes (18-inch). Model length: 77 mm. Massive hull, periscopes visible. Unknown manufacturer. Painted in period correct black.

   

Battle Report: 1940 French Navy against Italian Navy (GQ3.3 Rules)

Historic background: my Naval Wargame mate Edzard bought himself recently the whole French WW2 fleet (1:3000, second-hand), so it was interesting to test them against the Italian fleet. France always had an Atlantic Fleet and a Mediterranean Fleet, but Italy only had a Mediterranean one (although in WW1 they had a specific Adriatic focus as well - against Austria-Hungary). Anyhow, during the 1922 Washington Fleet Reduction Conference the US and UK delegations forced France and Italy to become, numerically, equal smaller parties to the resulting Naval Disarmament Treaty. Well below Japan in the permitted tonnage of Capital Ships (a ratio of 9 ships to 5). This was seen by the French as incompatible with their European and imperial security obligations. The growing Nationalistic Italians were quite happy with this outcome as they saw the Mediterranean as their own sea. It took France 1 year to convince their parlement to ratify the treaty. In truth, France humiliation was a result of economic exhaustion in the wake of WW 1... 

Despite the intention of Naval limitations and the 1929 economic crash, a Naval Arms race developed between both countries. From the 1920s France developed 'super destroyers' (contre-torpilleurs) to support her planned battleships and to use them as 'scouts' in the Mediterranean Sea (instead of light cruisers). The Italians became very concerned about these and the planned French battleships and tried, initially within the constraints of 'Washington', to modernize their WW1 battleships and build new ones.

Especially when France did build 2 new battleships (Dunkerque class; 26,500 tons with 13-inch guns in 2 quadruple turrets), along the lines of the British Nelson-class battleships. Both French & British classes had their main guns grouped on the forward part of the ship (main reason: to concentrate the required armour to defend those main guns and save weight). The Italian reaction to the French Dunkerque class of 2 battleships became the 35,000 ton Littorio class with 9 x 15-inch guns (up to the max. 'Washington' limits), of which 2 were commissioned in 1940 (Vittorio Veneto and Littorio). The third ship (Roma) was sunk upon

completion in 1943 and the fourth (Impero) never finished. Both countries hadn't signed the 1930 London Naval Treaty and had no intention to participate in the 1935 London Naval talks. Note: both London treaties tried to get rid of super-destroyers and limited normal destroyers to 1,500 tons and 'destroyer leaders' to 1,850 tons (only 16% of total destroyer tonnage was allowed to be destroyer leaders). From 1935 suddenly the German Navy was allowed to grow as well and in the 1930s they had already 3 'Pocket Battleships' (Deutschland-class) far above the 1919 'Versailles' treaty limit of 10,000 tons each, armed with 11-inch guns. The French reaction to these 4 planned powerful Italian battleships (and the German naval developments) were 4 Richelieu-class battleships (within the max. Washington limits, with 2 quadruple turrets of 15-inch). But the first 2 ships (Richelieu and Jean Bart) were not ready before Italy entered WW2....and the other 2 (Clemencau and Gascogne) were never finished. 

Set up both fleets: Given the chosen year of 1940 and the chosen limit of 50 Victory Points per fleet,

Edzard had cunningly painted the most modern French super-destroyers (Mogador-class; 2,900 tons with 8 x 140 mm. guns) and 'normal' destroyers (Le Hardy class torpilleurs d'escadres; 1,800 tons with 6 x 130 mm guns). Unfortunately he couldn't use his Richelieu class battleships, as they were not commissioned in 1940 yet, so instead he had to paint 2 ships of the Dunkerque class. Supported by 2 different heavy 8-inch cruiser types: 1 x Suffren-class and 1 x 'Algerie'. The only 'intel' I had beforehand were his painted ship types; no numbers & no composition of the French fleet... But I realized he was not allowed to use the Richelieu-class. Due to several reasons I was short in preparation time but had to decide which Italian ship types I wanted to use. There was no time left to buy or paint new ships. My collection of 1940 Italian warships scale 1:3000 did hold several classes of battleships, several classes of heavy cruisers and several classes of destroyers and torpedo boats. Unfortunately I didn't have light cruisers before 1940, which could be a good match against the French super-destroyers. My 2 Capitani Romani class 3,700 ton light cruisers were not commissioned before 1942 and my 2 Etna class 1943 Airdefence light cruisers were not even painted yet... To compensate for my weaker Italian destroyers & torpedo boats, I maximized on at least 1 modern battleship of the Littorio class (9 x 15-inch guns; good armour). If I had chosen both of them (Vittorio Veneto & Littorio), I needed 42 victory points, which would limit me too much to keep those very capable French torpedo-equipped cruisers, super-destroyers and normal destroyers away from my battleships. You need cruisers (or super destroyers) to keep them at bay. So I settled for an older battleship (the modernized WW1 Andrea Doria with 12.6-inch guns), supported by a 8-inch cruiser of the Zara-class and Bolzano, an improved Trento-class 8-inch cruiser. As I expected a large contingent of French ships, I selected 1

Soldati-class destroyer (1,675 tons with 5 x 120 mm guns), supported by 2 torpedo boats of the Spica-class (640 tons -outside the London 1930 Treaty! with 3 x 100 mm guns). Intended tactic: the Italian battleships should keep the French at long range (defensive) and the destroyer/torpedo boats would disrupt the expected French torpedo-attack. However, no plan survives first contact with the enemy...

Set up of the game: 1:3000 scale miniatures; no aircraft, no submarines, no radar. 4 x 6 ft sea mat. General Quarters 3.3 Rules. France started in the SE corner, Italy in the opposite NW corner. Northerly wind (5 Bft), visibility: 24,000 yds.

The French fleet (right photo) started sailing in 4 divisions: Div 1: 2 battleships Dunkerque class in line abreast. Div. 2: super-destroyers Mogador & Volta in line astern. Div. 3: 3 destroyers, Le Hardi, Epee & Fleuret in line astern. Div 4: both heavy cruisers in line astern (I didn't read the intelligence-brief on them beforehand. Algerie was much better armoured than the older Suffren-class). 

The Italian fleet (photo below) was sailing in 2 divisions: Div 1: both battleships and both cruisers. Div 2: 1 destroyer (Carabinieri) and 2 torpedo boats (Spica & Lupo) in line abreast, in front of Div. 1. Italian warships are recognizable by their red-white diagonal stripes on their deck (to prevent accidental bombing by the Italian Airforce!).

Turn 1: The Italian Div. 1 sailed with 20 kts. course: 150 towards the enemy. Div. 2 accelerated to 30 kts. The French fleet deployed smoke to cover a large part of their composition. Only both battleships (French Div. 1) were outside the smoke.

Turn 2: Both fleets closed each other with a relative speed > 40-50 kts. The Italian Div. 2 was visible for both French battleships. French Mogador opened fire with her 140 mm guns at Carabinieri but missed at 21 kyds. Torpedo boat Lupo however was hit by a 13-inch shell (weight: 525 kg.) fired by one of the French battleships. Leading to extensive damage to her armament. 

Turn 3: the Italian torpedo Div. accelerated to 32 kts. in order to decrease the distance. The Italian ships seemed to accelerated to do the same. The Italian battleships had a clear view on the French battleships and engaged them with their forward 15-inch batteries at around 24 kyds. Only Vittorio Veneto was able to hit Dunkerque,

resulting in visible fire. Both Italian battleships used their second DCT and aft 15-inch turret to engage visible French smaller units but missed. The French cruiser Algerie did hit the small torpedo boat Spica with a 8-inch shell (weight: 127 kg.) with devastating effect (3 damage points). The crew of Spica failed the morale test and tried to withdrew from te scene with a max. speed of 14 kts. After this exchange the Italian Admiral was surprised that the French fleet exposed their vulnerable battleships (like bait?) but did hide their very potent super destroyers, destroyers and decent cruisers behind a smokescreen..? The French Admiral was also puzzled by the Italian fleet composition: he had expected more Italian light cruisers (to fight his contre-torpilleurs of the Mogador class) but he had now a brand new (and heavily armoured) 15-inch battleship as opponent.

Turn 4: both fleets were closing in on each other. The Italians had realized from their tactical plots that the French battleships sailed with only 15 kts. and the rest of the French divisions, covered by the smoke screen laid by Volta, made some pincer movement in order to attack the Italian fleet with torpedo's from the East? The Italian battleships and cruiser were unfortunately not very successful this turn with their artillery. Strasbourg did hit Andrea Doria at 21 kyds, but her armour was not penetrated. The super destroyer Volta fired her 140 mm guns at the small (600 tons) Lupo and hit her twice.

Turn 5: the French crew of the Dunkerque managed to extinguish the considerate fire around her funnels. Both French battleships kept pointing their bow towards the incoming Italian battleships. By

doing so, they kept all of their main guns (16 in total) on target. The Italian Admiral ordered a torpedo attack on the French destroyers and cruisers in the east. However, his staff torpedo officer explained him that both Spica torpedo boats only had 45 cm. torpedoes with a very limited range of 3,300-4,000 yds... So the sole destroyer Carabinieri launched 6 torpedoes at long range (max: 8,700 yds) in Easterly direction, although most of the French ships were hidden behind the refreshed smoke screen. During the gunnery phase the Italians had big problems to hit anything. The shots fired towards the Dunkerque class battleships missed at 18 kyds and both French super destroyers were also difficult to hit as they executed evasive manoeuvres. Dunkerque returned fire towards the Vittorio Veneto but her modern armour was to strong to be penetrated by the 13-inch shells... Dunkerque used her 130 mm. secondary armament against the damaged Lupo and hit her. Strasbourg returned fire on Andrea Doria but her shells couldn't penetrate her armour... Now the French Admiral realized he had quite a problem to get rid of these Italian fast battleships... Anyhow Strasbourg placed a hit on nearby destroyer Carabinieri. A fire broke out.

Turn 6: During the damage control phase the crew of Lupo passed their morale test (despite their expanded damage) and the much larger crew of Carabinieri managed to extinguish the fire. Both Lupo and Carabiniieri (with the white flag) turned 90 degrees portside, to close the distance towards the French threat of a torpedo attack. Now both French super destroyers generated smoke. The 6 Italian 21-inch torpedoes were running (35 kts.) towards the end of the French formation, but didn't cross (yet)... 

Vitttorio Veneto fired a broadside (including port secondary guns) at 15 kyds towards the forward French super destroyer, resulting in 7 damage points for Mogador. Although she had 9 hull boxes and 2 separate DCT's (Fire Control Equipment) like a light cruiser, the inflicted damage was substantial. She lost 1 DCT; her bulkhead was shattered, some turrets out of action, her speed tumbled, fire broke out, etc. She moved out of the line. Unfortunately, Andrea Doria missed Strasbourg at 12 kyds (!). Bolzano fired at Dunkerque at 15 kyds and hit her with a 8-inch shell (weight: 110 kg.); without penetrating. Suddenly the Italian staff artillery officer remembered that Strasbourg was a little better armoured than her older sister ship. New artillery orders: Italian cruisers couldn't penetrate French battleships; Andrea Doria would concentrate on Dunkerque. Although the ranges were quite close, some ships had problems to hit big targets. Strasbourg 13-inch guns couldn't hit Vittorio Veneto at 15 kyds, but she did hit damaged (and without torpedoes) Caribinieri at 9,000 yds with her secondary guns (4 damage points; Caribinieri lost her central 120 mm. gun, a nearby torpedo mount and some hull boxes). Dunkerque missed Andrea Doria at 12 kyds. but her secondary armament did hit damaged Lupo again (3 additional damage points. Italian Div. 2 was now out of speed, out of torpedoes and only 50% of the guns operational...). Mogador used 1 of her remaining 140 mm. turrets against Zara, but the 40 kg shell didn't penetrate her armour but started a fire on deck. Retreating torpedo boat Spica was fired upon by 8-inch fire (weight: 127 kg.) from Algerie and was sunk! The Italian Div. 2 was shot to pieces by the French but especially the Italian battleships looked invulnerable.

Turn 7: During the damage control phase the crew of Zara managed to extinguish the raging fire. The fire had melted their floatplane. The crippled torpedo boat Lupo failed her morale test and tried to crawl back home. However she now was surrounded by French combatants, which could clearly see her as the French smokescreen blew away. The 6 Italian torpedoes had reached the end of their run and, without hitting something, sank to the bottom. The French Div. 2 (minus the Mogador) & Div. 3 had made a very large turn around the Italian Div.1 and had to steer back to get into torpedo range. Geometrically this was not a good position as most of the Italian ships at this point could still do approx. 30 kts (away from the French) and the French torpedoes had a speed of 39 kts. and should be fired within 10,000 yds. But with this geometry they had to be fired at a much closer distance! Andrea Doria fired at 9,000 yds a 12.6-inch broadside at Dunkerque, penetrating 1 of her forward turrets. Vittorio Veneto missed with her broadside Mogador at 9,000 yds! and her secondary 15 cm. guns couldn't penetrate Strasbourg. Bolzano fired a 8-inch salvo on Algerie and did hit her twice. Strasbourg returned 13-inch fire at Andrea Doria at 9,000 yds but didn't penetrate! Dunkerque fired at Vittorio Veneto and placed 2 hits, only 1 penetrating 540 kg shell (1/2 hull box). Dunkerque secondary armament did hit the nearby Carabinieri twice (2 additional hull boxes). Algerie did hit Zara at 15 kyds with a 8-inch salvo (2 damage points; aft 8-inch turret out of action) and Suffren did hit Bolzano at 18 kyds, resulting in a broken bulkhead and some associated flooding. The Italian cruisers and battleships had to slow down to 27 kts. but were still desperate to sink both French battleships. The retreating torpedo boat Lupo and the heavy damaged Carabinieri were both down to half their max. speed...

Turn 8: Bolzano's bulkhead was quickly repaired and therefore her speed was only limited to 30 kts. The Italian battleships maneuvered to keep a broadside towards the French battleships and slowed down to 20 kts. A classic 'crossing the T' situation developed for the Italians. The very capable (and operational) French Div. 2 and 3 tried to get closer for a torpedo attack but seemed a bit outmaneuvered. Vittorio Veneto engaged with her 15-inch guns the better armoured Strasbourg (3 penetrating hits) and Andrea Doria engaged with her 12.6 inch guns Dunkerque (2 penetrating hits). Both French battleships had each only 1 quadruple turret left... Dunkerque was able to return fire towards Andrea Doria (taking out her aft twin 12.6-inch turret). Bolzano was hit by the secondary guns of both Dunkerque and Strasbourg, resulting in some light damage. The retreating super destroyer Mogador fired at the crippled & retreating Lupo at 6,000 yds and sunk her. The French destroyer Fleuret fired a 130 mm. salvo at the damaged Carabinieri. The resulting damage (4 damage points) limited the speed of Carabinieri to 5 kts. The Italian Div. 2 had been destroyed... The Italian battleships however still tried to sink the French ones.

Turn 9: The remaining Italian combatants kept on sailing a southern course, away from the French torpedo threat, but continued engaging both French damaged battleships. Unfortunately, Vittorio Veneto (again!) did not hit Strasbourg at this close range. Andrea Doria did hit the more damaged Dunkerque, but only resulting in some light damage!? Bolzano fired with her remaining 3 main turrets at medium range at Suffren, resulting in 1 engineering hit. Strasbourg returned fire with her remaining quadruple 13-inch turret at Andrea Doria at 6,000 yds. and took out her other twin 12.6-inch turret, resulting into a fire. The French (armoured) cruiser Algerie managed to hit Zara with a 8-inch salvo, resulting in a devastating hit in the engine room, with the result that Zara was 'Dead in the water' (DIW). Carabinieri was sunk by French destroyers...

Turn 10: during the damage control phase the crew of Andrea Doria were able to extinguish the large fire. However, due to the severe engineering hit of Zara most of her fire fighting pumps couldn't be used, so she remained on fire and DIW... The Italian Admiral decided he has lost this battle and he did send his 2 battleships, protected by Bolzano (with her 3 remaining main gun turrets) home. Given the presence of 4 French fast destroyers (still with their torpedoes), Zara (DIW) was a sitting duck.... Anyhow, a clear victory for France, although both French battleships were susceptable to additional damage from Italian guns while the Italians sailed away from them... But the French destroyers could also try to chase the Italian battleships, as 3 of them had a speed dominance of approx. 8 kts.

Closing remarks:

1. The rule & data set of GQ3.3 was quite accurate with regards of the French & Italian WW2 fleet; even the individual differences between Strasbourg and Dunkerque or between the different Italian and French so called Treaty Cruisers were right. The fact that we continued the fight while multiple (Italian) ships were sunk and capital ships from both sides were severely damaged, is probably not very realistic... Most navies want to preserve their battleships after some serious damage, so they can repair them and use them in a following battle. But... we played a game and wanted results the same day!

2. Super destroyers are awesome. In the real world, but also because of the GQ3.3 rules. Although the Mogador class were 2,900 tons, had 9 watertight compartments, 3 Victory points, real (heavy) gun turrets and 2 (big) DCT, they enjoyed GQ3.3 rule protection as 'destroyers' (less hit probability by 8-inch guns). Anyhow, they ripped apart the lesser armed Italian ships.

3. According to historic documentation, as a rule of thumb, the 10,000 ton Treaty cruisers with 8-inch guns couldn't be properly protected (armoured) from enemy 8-inch fire. Within this game 3 examples were present: Algerie did hit Zara at 15 kyds with a 8-inch salvo (penetrated 1 of her turrets) & Suffren did hit Bolzano at 18 kyds, resulting in a broken bulkhead and some associated flooding (both turn 7). Zara was (again) penetrated by a 8-inch salvo from Algerie (turn 9).

4. Italian - French naval arms race. 1940 is just 1 moment in the Naval Arms race. In a different moment (1942/43?), both French Richelieu-class battleships should have been operational (France answer to Littorio-class), but Italy then had possibly also her third Littorio-class battleship operational (Roma) and some additional light cruisers to combat French super destroyers...  Anyhow, I fully appreciate the danger Churchill saw when those modern French units could fall in German hands in 1940 (and why the British fleet tried to sink them at Mers-el-Kebir / French Algeria in July 1940 Operation Catapult). And the same with the Germans: they feared the Italian Navy (to a certain extent) when Italy changed sides in September 1943 and put quite some energy in the destruction of battleship Roma (devastating air attack by 6 Do-217 bombers with Fritz-X radio controlled glide bombs), capture of unfinished battleship Impero, unfinished aircraft carrier Aquila and some cruisers in September 1943 in order to prevent Allied use of those Italian capable combatants.

5. Did I use my 50 points for the 1940 Italian fleet wisely? The 2 Spica-class torpedo boats were useless in this kind of battle! Better would be a second Soldati-class destroyer, although they were not a match against Le Hardi-class (or super destroyers for that matter). Italian battleships were sturdy. The game was 7 Italian against 9 French ships; if I had chosen 2 Soldati-class DD's it was 6 vs 9... quite difficult.

Naval Wargames weekend at Fleet Air Arm Museum RNAS Yeovilton

The Naval Wargames Society organizes on a yearly basis the Naval Wargames Weekend. As a rather new Naval Wargamer I visited this weekend in 2023; I participated in the weekend of 2025 (with a 1986 Cold War Naval Wargame scenario) and I visited them again this year. This BLOG-input describes some observations I made during my 2026 visit.

The venue was conducted in a rather large (separate) function room of the museum but not in between the aircraft and ship models of the museum itself. In the function room there was place for at least 10 very large gaming tables. I visited at Saturday and Sunday morning. As a Naval Wargamer myself I am interested in Cold War, WW2, WW1 and pre-Dreadnoughts. During the weekend there were naval war games with regard to early sailing ships (1500s), late sailing ships (1800s), pre-Dreadnoughts (1880-1906), WW1, WW2 and Cold War. In scale sizes from 1:200 down to 1:6,000.

Rule Systems. I was very much surprised that I met so many players who had developed their own Naval Rules. Because the commercial available Rule Systems didn't fit their needs, their imagination or their models. So I met a group (the 'Luton Lancers') who had adapted the 'Nimitz' WW2 Rule system to use it for their WW1 naval game/scenario. That is quite a job: you possibly have to adapt some specific rules but I am sure you have to design/calculate all the required ship data cards (of this different ships from a different era) yourself!

Another person had collected 1:600 Airfix models of British warships (2 Frigate types and a LPD) and had developed an aircraft focused Rule System around it, so he could game 1979 Iranian air attacks on British warships in the Persian Gulf, defended by UK Phantom fighters.

Professor David Manley showed us his newest ideas/version of a game in which the crew of a warship can game damage control onboard: what is the damage?, where is the damage? Which limited resources can I use to fight the damage? What will happen (knock-on effects...) when we are not able to rectify the disaster quickly? Etc. From some discussions during the weekend I did understand that Artificial Intelligence is already looking around the corner as well...

And there was a guy who showed a rule system without any 'game turns'. So both (or all) players had not to wait for each other, but after they had moved a contingent of their troops, they turned a small sand timing glass (which belonged to that contingent) and that military force was not allowed to move for 2 minutes (and could be shot at, etc.). Interesting thought! 

And a guy (Dave) who had developed a method to game a modern fight of a UK surface Taskgroup against a nuclear USSR submarine. The submarine plotted a certain (secret) pre-planned course on a piece of paper (to patrol an area) and the surface Taskgroup (and her ASW hero's) had full freedom to sail around (on a numbered hex sea mat), trying to find it. Without the knowledge what the position and intended movement (PIM) was of the sub. With fixed sonar- and torpedo-ranges their paths could cross (or not).

You can get new ideas. For instance: when you want to game scale 1:200 WW2 US aircraft carrier (3D printed!) & Airwing against a Japanese opponent you use 3 large tables, meters away from

each other. Table 1: US carrier, Table 2: blue sky with clouds, table 3: Japanese carrier. Table 1 and 3 can launch their aircraft, but the ship on these tables can also game air defense (when attacked on their own table). And table 2 (the sky) can be used to game fights between attackers and CAP-aircraft. I didn't follow the game in detail, but the airwings could fly from table 1, via 2 to 3 and vice versa. However, this will not fit my Naval War Game Room... 

The Naval Wargame which used 1:300 scale WW2 coastal ships (or was it 1:350?) had an interesting method of displaying how fast a warship was sailing: the ship models didn't use a base, but underneath the model a rectangular piece of plastic was visible, with a painted wake. On this piece 3 marks were visible: 'fast', 'normal' and 'slow'. And the amount of wake that was visible, made clear which speed it used. It was probably part of the Cruel Seas Rule System?

Another idea, to randomize the showing up of a reserve force/unit. First you throw a D20 die; you remember that number result. And every next turn you throw a D6, and distract the D6 result from the number you had thrown with the D20. Until you get to zero. Clever.

You are exposed to new material. During the weekend the most local Naval Wargamers (from Somerset I believe) played 2 different WW1 games but both with miniatures scale 1:6000. I had never seen these in the flesh (only on pictures). They are tiny!

And the guys from RAF Cranwell Table Top Gaming Club (Andy & David) showed me their newest 3D-printed islands, terrain, naval forts and city's (for their 1:2400 Naval Wargame recording 1898 US vs Spain Imperial War). And we had interesting discussions about those 1:2400 miniatures and what the best Rules were for modern Naval Wargaming...

Anyhow, I enjoyed myself very much during this weekend. Thank you Simon for organizing this and thank you participants for showing up and explaining me your wonderful Naval Warfare Games. Hopefully I can attend a next version in the future.