United States NAVY SEABEES (Brummagem part 3, and New Additions)

                                            MY SEABEES ARE READY FOR SERVICE

Seabees were American battalions of artisans, and also dockworkers, recruited during WW2. Originally civilian contractors, they were later attached to the US Navy so as to grant them full prisoner of war status if captured. 

Many of these battalions were recruited for service in the Pacific. Some of these would participate in island landings, with the intension that they would hurriedly construct aircraft runways. Worth noting, they not only received small arms training, but on occasions participated in frontline action.

On a recent visit to my local collectables shop, I spotted a damaged Dinky 1960s fork lift truck. Thought it would make a useful addition to my Seabees battalion. With a paint strip/repaint, replacement tyres, and a converted plastic farm worker, it is now ready for service. This project cost only £2!

A 1942 photo. OK, slightly different, my model is a 1948 design, but fine for my wargames.....

Change of Job, ZOO KEEPER TO CHAUFFEUR 

Picked up this 1970s plastic Britains Zoo Keeper in the collectables shop for 50p. Missing most of its paintwork, decided to respect the original coat colour of green, but employ the figure as a chauffeur. 

Oh dear, wonder if he can get it to start?

Original condition

MORE WW2 DUTCH

I just wasn't happy with the mule and two attendants recently purchased. The paintwork was just shoddy, and the heads were badly moulded. I decided to paint strip and replace the heads with some home-cast. And having done that, drafted the two soldiers into my Dutch army.

For purposes of education.....

Original state

A NICE DAY OUT!

Went out on August 21 for a brisk walk into town. Picked up a bag of dates, a tub of ice cream......... and then popped into the collectables shop. Left the premises with six Airfix Australians (£3), to serve with my recently completed Australian Army jeep. And picked up another W. Britains jeep for £5. The trader is a kind fellow and offered some discount as a regular customer. I declined, he had just furnished me some suitable tyres from his spares box.

I will need to paint strip the jeep.....

DR WHO ARRIVES

Spotted a bag of Dr Who figures in a charity shop, one of which was 54mm in scale. Offered £1.50 for the figure, which they accepted. I watched Tom Baker play the Doctor in the late 1970s. I think Genesis of the Daleks is the best storyline in the Dr Who franchise, which has now gone down the plughole of contemporary BBC television. 

Update..... the figure is part of a 2004 anniversary set produced by Corgi Toys

THE BRIDGE AT BRUMMAGEM (Part Three)

MOVE SEVENTEEN commenced with an American airstrike, which resulted in the church being hit again, and this time it caught alight. The German Marines were forced to vacate the next move. More useful, the US artillery fired on the machine gun position, and blew it to smithereens (D6, followed by a D6, three casualties). MOVE EIGHTEEN saw the HMG in the windmill open up on the AA Gun position. Down to half strength, the surviving gunners fled. The Germans in the fortified house were also suffering casualties, but held on. MOVE NINETEEN saw the Americans reach the river, and they began crossing over. German fire had been largely silenced, only small arms from the SS battalion, and a mortar team were still fully operational and Chris's dice scores were unusually poor! MOVE TWENTY, the Americans continued to move across the river (it takes three moves and no firing) with little opposition! Unfortunately, American HQ now sent word that the loss of the bridge had made any crossing unnecessary! GAME OVER. One more move would have seen an American victory!!!!!!! (We had agreed to a twenty move game.)

FINAL PHOTOS

The gun position is deserted.

An American tank is crossing the river, one move more!

American artillery open fire

The LMG position is silenced.

The fortified house is about to fall.

American infantry begin to cross over, they just needed another two moves!

German command receives word, the Americans are pulling back?

State of the Table

CASUALTIES

SS Battn. 1, Empire Workers 5, Engineers 1, AA Gunners 2, Marines 2, PAK crew 2, Aircrew 1, 

LMG post 2, LMG post 3, Civilians 1.

US Engineers 7, M3 crew 3, Jeep crew 3, Tank crew 1, Infantry 8.

GERMAN VICTORY

MGB

REPLYING TO COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS

Thanks Brad. Both Chris and I very much enjoyed the game. My move-and-fire tactics turned out to be a mistake, should have used full moves, to reach the river. But then my casualties would have been heavier, for sure! Yes, it is always fun to have a browse in the collectables shop, his main trade is in collectable cards, lego, sci-fi products. Vintage die-cast is his private hobby, but happy to carry some toy soldiers too.

Same here, MJT. For many years I preferred Pertwee, still love Day of the Daleks, the Daemons, and also the Sea Devils. But a friend encouraged me to view again Baker's 'Genesis', and I had to admit it is an excellent story, with some powerful acting. 

Thank you, Donnie. When researching modern armies, you can't help discovering a load of auxiliary units are involved in any strategic action. And they often end up involved in the frontline fighting too. These units can add so much to any scenario. In the wargame above, the German Empire Workers played a key role in the game. Cheers.

Hello Roger. I made some enquiries into the cost of posting a model jeep to Norway. It is rather expensive. Actually, it is absolutely ridiculous, £15, or more, and there may be customs duty. That would be by Royal Mail. 

Thanks Quinn. Have just laid out the figures and terrain for the next game, back to 1848 with the Germans versus Danish armies, a lot more colourful!