“Set Europe ablaze!”

[Digits]

So ordered Winston Churchill, looking to take the fight to the Germans though the formation of Commando units and other means of “ungentlemanly warfare”.

I’ve always been fascinated by small action raids and upon seeing that Grey for now games are going to release 02 Hundred Hours, hopefully at some point next year I have decided to capture a few projects under this heading.


“02 Hundred Hours is a forthcoming skirmish wargame focusing on night-time raids in World War II.
Field an elite force of Commandos, SAS, Paratroopers and Rangers to infiltrate the enemy lines under cover of darkness.
Or play as the defenders, carefully setting patrol routes so your sentries can spot raiders in the shadows, utilise guard dogs, officers or even the dreaded Gestapo.
Inspired by classic war movies as well as historical events, 02 Hundred Hours is a fast paced game with roughly 10-20 models on either side. The game’s Alert system makes stealth a core part of the action – spotting your enemy in the darkness is key to victory!“


I have already started collecting a few bits with exactly this in mind, specifically the fantastic Château from Total Battle Miniatures.  Ideal for an officer snatch or assassination plot!




But I want to separate my WW2 regular forces from the more clandestine ones and start putting together  a series of mini projects to be able to play out small unit actions over interesting objectives.

With that in mind, I also want to put together a few industrial type facilities for raids in say Norway, guard towers, defensive positions, search lights, fish oil factory etc.

I also hopefully have a U Boat coming from Empress (courtesy of Santa) with a view to making a small representation of a U Boat pen and quayside.    Will feature a loading crane, torpedoes on trailers etc.

I will be buying a box of Warlord Plastic commandos and looking for suitable German guards (of which I have only a few minis already).

Lots of opportunities for introducing agents, other special forces, resistance and other types, with already some lovely minis in metal from the likes of Artizan to
Collect too.

Let’s hope the rules are both soon available, and more importantly, GOOD!



I have the first new purchase for this, so time to start doing a bit of painting!

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

This sounds good, right up my street! Sounds like a good set of rules.

I like your ideas, I have a U-Boat, this might inspire me to actually paint it!

[has.been]

Looking forward to seeing where you go with this.

[Digits]

Cheers fellas.

Yes, trying to keep it “doable”, I kind of like this simple pen, Dora 1 in Trondheim…..should be easy enough to do something like this…or at least the front face.



Capture a radio set, assassinate a prominent sub commander, steal torpedo blue prints or simply blow up as many U- boats as possible….lots of reasons to raid a sub pen I’m sure!

[has.been]

1)Blow up the lock gates.
2)Steal the new guidance system (you'll need a plan of the
   Sub's interior layout) for the interior action.
3)Tamper with the torpedoes, so they'll blow up when launched.
4)Kidnap the Chief Designer/Engineer.
5)Place fake information/graffiti framing the local collaborator
   as a 'member of the Resistance'
6)Fit a guidance beacon so that the RAF can accurately hit the pen.
7)Stop the Nazis keeping the Ark of the Covenant.
'Botch' the raid & 'accidentally' leave behind someone (dead)
   who has information about the Invasion/D-Day being Norway.
   (See the film, 'The Man Who Never Was')
9)Escort a specialist Navy team onto a U-Boat...& steal it!
10) D-Day is tomorrow, so create as much mayhem as possible
      after 2.00 hours. To drag resources away from the beaches.

Just a few ideas to be going on with. Let me know if/when you
you want more.

[Digits]

You and I need to sit down for a few hours and build a lengthy list of possible scenarios mate!  I love your imagination!

So I’ve been looking at images of pens.   The channels within seem to vary but holding maybe three boats might prove a little big for my liking so I will make it just wide enough for two.  I think I’m just going to represent a couple of channels too otherwise it would be too big.  I think I will make it so it’s just maybe 8/10 inches deep and park a couple of sub front sections within to look like it’s partially full.

I’m going to sketch up a plan for it, but this image shows me some ideas for the visible internals.

[vodkafan]

Not U boat pens, but the new "Scottish" range of buildings by Warbases I immediately saw would be useful for Norway.

[vodkafan]

  I think I’m just going to represent a couple of channels too otherwise it would be too big.  I think I will make it so it’s just maybe 8/10 inches deep and park a couple of sub front sections within to look like it’s partially full.

Disappointing. So you are not going to follow my suggestion and build Marineville from Stingray then? 

[Digits]

Errrr….no.

Am I the only one but I always thought Troy Tempest reminded me of Janes Garner?

[vodkafan]

Errrr….no.

Am I the only one but I always thought Troy Tempest reminded me of Janes Garner?

Even the way he spoke. Uncanny resemblance. Always thought Phones had a low IQ and should never have been in charge of the radio

[Digits]

Ok, digressing a little, but I now feel equally stupid for not knowing and strangely vindicated fir having recognised it!

From Wiki

“The process of designing and making the puppets took four months and each of the main characters was sculpted in duplicate to allow episodes to be filmed in pairs.  Some of the main characters were modelled on real-life actors; for example, Troy Tempest drew heavily on the looks of James Garner.  Gerry Anderson said that he did not explicitly instruct the sculptors to base Troy on this actor; instead, he named Garner simply to help them visualise the character, as he could see that they were struggling with his original brief (which merely called for Troy to be square-jawed and heroic-looking).  Titan was based on a young Laurence Olivier, and Surface Agent X-2-Zero on either Claude Rains or Peter Lorre.  Atlanta Shore has been likened to Lois Maxwell (who voiced the character), while Marina has drawn comparisons to both Ursula Andress and Brigitte Bardot.”

[carlos marighela]

Every time I see Commandos in kayaks, I think of the late David Lodge in an episode of Q8 turning from Spike Milligan to the camera, breaking the fourth wall by addressing the audience with “I was in Cockleshell Heroes”. Indeed he actually was but then so was Anthony Newley. It’s not quite up there with Spike as a Dalek but remains memorable for some odd reason.

[Digits]

I used to live in Stockport.   They put up a memorial to one of the Cockleshell Heroes, local boy James Conway, who was in Cuttlefish.

Not my picture….but I came across it by accident one day.  Was nice to see the recognition.

[Belgian]

Sounds interesting and think Wargames Atlantic is working on official miniatures if I recall correctly.

[Digits]

I believe so, but I’m sorry to say, I’m really not struck on Wargames Atlantic miniatures.   They really don’t in my mind work very well.   It’s hard to put in words but there is a lack of clutter which is one thing, but they just look….goofy.   Too many long arms away from the body….if you look at pictures of real people, weapons are typically held close in to the body, but theirs just…don’t.

I used to think nothing of butchering plastic minis to get a pose I liked…mainly when collecting GW imperial guard…..but these days I prefer metal minis truth be told, then fill in with plastics where I have to.    Unfortunately, there aren’t too many Commandos in metal in the woollen caps I like,  so will probably opt for Warlord but even their British plastics don’t look exactly great….just  better than WA I think.  Saying that, I’ve ordered a few metals from Black Tree designs….let’s see what they are like first…