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Miniatures Adventure => Weird Wars => Topic started by: dm on 05 January 2014, 05:08:36 PM

Title: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: dm on 05 January 2014, 05:08:36 PM
Hadnt heard anything of Operation Highjump in 1947 till today and came across it by chance while searching for other things. Have spent a bit of time reading and mulling over some of the online conspiracy theories connected to it and having a good grin along the way but thought they would be great for some Weird War scenarios and games and was wondering if anyone had used these for the basis of games or scenarios?

The conspiracy stuff seems to have it all i.e secret bases, missing U-Boats and possible engagement/s with UFO's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Highjump

http://www.unmuseum.org/germufo.htm
 
http://www.examiner.com/article/did-us-navy-battle-ufos-protecting-nazi-antarctic-sanctuary-1947
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: Hat Guy on 05 January 2014, 11:15:36 PM
I'm writing a UNIT-based game for the Doctor Who RPG at the moment, this is invaluable thank you.
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: Michi on 05 January 2014, 11:23:41 PM
Hadnt heard anything of Operation Highjump in 1947 till today

...Thule knew it better: The island hosted one of some secret entrances to the inner earth. If Bartowitsch had really made it there, he was now in what parascientists call "Hollow Earth". Thule had their own interest to get hold of him, because he had not finished the work on the Haunebu flying disc yet. The KSK-Kraftstrahlkanone raygun was only a mockup for aerodynamic research on the flying saucer...

Oh, of course I used that background. New Swabia, Haunebu, Kraftstrahlkanonen - it´s all there:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=12278.0
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=12261.0
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=14627.0
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on 06 January 2014, 12:32:16 AM
I included a Highjump scenario in the NUTS! War Without End weird war campaign book.

SCENARIO-6 FINAL REICH

Background: December 30, 1946. The US has assembled a task force to defeat remnants of the Third Reich that have been discovered at a secret base in Neu-Schwabenland, Antarctica. “Operation Highjump” includes an amphibious assault group centered around CV-47, the USS Philippine Sea. After brushing past German air and submarine attacks the Americans blasted paths through the coastal ice wall and landed assault units from the 6th Marine Division that headed inland for the German bases in the Schirmacher Hills (a geographic zone of thermal springs and warm water lakes with a relatively mild year round climate).


SITUATION

Mid-day, December 30 near “Site Cadillac” in the rocky Schirmacher Hills. Recon units of 2nd battalion, 22nd Regiment are approaching Site Cadillac from the southwest, and have spotted a possible entrance across a small warm water lake.

http://www.twohourwargames.com/warwiendwewa.html

Cheers!

Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: Jakar Nilson on 06 January 2014, 01:45:42 AM
Before Highjump, there was the British Operation: Tabarin (1943-45)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tabarin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tabarin)
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on 06 January 2014, 02:49:51 AM
Before Highjump, there was the British Operation: Tabarin (1943-45)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tabarin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tabarin)

Left out of that Wiki entry is their encounter with a Hanebu that damaged the HMS Scoresby with a strafing run!
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: dm on 06 January 2014, 06:47:20 AM
Thank you all for the information :) and those games Michi are truly stunning :-*

Always been a big fan of paper panzers and all that 1946 stuff but hadnt took the Hanebu flying disc with more than a pinch of salt before.

I am now thinking of having a go at a small project in 15mm based upon some of the info here :) Had been wondering what to use my Peter Pig U-Boat and downed aircraft crews for and now have a few ideas.

Does anyone make any late/ post war American infantry in 15mm in winter clothing other than in greatcoats? Or will it be down to greenstuff ,eye strain, some swearing and a few packs of US Marines/Infantry converted to wear parka coats lol.

It will have to be millput and plastic card to try and scratch build a couple of Hanebu flying discs.

With the re-release of some of the WW2 1/144 scale aircraft by Revel i might even add a Me 262 that could come from a hidden snow covered hanger/bunker to spice things up and for the Americans a Corsair or Mustang or two.

More ideas for gaming scenarios could perhaps be based on this and encounters with Polar Men or a forgotten platoon of German infantry of seems worthy of a game or two, read link

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/tierra_hueca/esp_tierra_hueca_13.htm

Feeling inspired :)
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: SBMiniaturesGuy on 06 January 2014, 05:43:09 PM
@Michi, you set the bar VERY high for this genre! Your modeling and painting skills are the tops, and your games look like a lot of fun!
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: dm on 06 January 2014, 10:31:45 PM
Have spent the evening trying to sculpt hoods on a small unit of Peter Pig US Marines and have undercoated them ready to paint up in a winter uniform. The results are varied but overall fairly pleased with them as a first attempt at trying to convert infantry at this scale. Took inspiration from photos of US troops in Korea in the 1950's during winter months. These will form part of a recon unit which will be used to locate and maybe destroy any Hanebu bunkers they come across in the frozen landscape.

Will add a German defence force to protect the few craft they have stashed away and operational and thinking of using late war Peter Pig infantry and again greenstuff hoods and maybe the U-Boat crews to add some variety to the force.

Now looking for things i could make a few saucer craft with and have been thinking of using metal lids from food jars as the base of the crafts and milliput the rest of the structures.


Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: Westfalia Chris on 06 January 2014, 10:48:33 PM
Regarding saucers, I had a good result for mine by mating a plastic dish with a craftstore "plastic medallion" flattened hemisphere:

(http://www.dminis.com/images/img.1166144374854.jpg)

A word of warning, though, that the type of plastic for the dish can be problematic - the saucer above worked out fine and is still as new 7 years later, but the dish for a second one intended for Retro Scifi games was made from a terrible vinylish stuff that had all primers I tried flake off.

Metal will obviously be less susceptible to that, albeit heavier. If you are going for a "parked" piece, i.e. not mounted on a flying base, I'd say thin metal would be the way to go.
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: dm on 06 January 2014, 11:27:44 PM
Wow!!! What is a superb craft 8) 8) 8) and just the sort of thing i was aiming at having a go at making. Have two Pasta sauce jar lids at present to use as the basis for smaller saucer craft but will have a go at making a larger craft out of similiar materials that you have used for this one. Thanks for the very inspiring photo Chris :)

I dont really buy into the ideas of Aliens or visitors from other dimensions but may include a group of inter-dimensional/ time travelling/ space beings for this project... to add a bit of Rosswell type fun to the scenario and now wondering if anyone makes any Greys or Little Green Men in 15mm???
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: dm on 07 January 2014, 08:33:20 AM
This is the rough background idea for my game setting.

Late 1944 sections of top secret wonder weapons department dispatched to a undisclosed but very well established location by a fleet of U-Boats. With it teams of engineers, scientists and infantry and enough supplies to last till orders are given.

Early 1945 a new team arrives but no information on them is shared, they have their own well armed private guard unit and keep totally to themselves in a base away from the main development sites. Mystery surrounds them.

Late Spring 1945 last radio messages from high command are very chaotic and then no radio contact at all. Weapons development continues.

Early 1946 U-Boat arrives with news that the war has been over since mid 1945. In- fighting breaks out and U-Boat sunk. Order is restored by the mystery unit and weapons development continues.

Late 1946 flying discs sightings are reported in various locations across the planet. One is forced down by bad weather and crew captured and taken to top secret location in America. Order given to whip up the media to miss-inform people on what these sightings are.

Top secret orders given to send task forces to try and find locations of flying discs and capture them and those behind them before the Russians do.


Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: Michi on 07 January 2014, 09:31:41 AM

Late 1946 flying discs sightings are reported in various locations across the planet. One is forced down by bad weather and crew captured and taken to top secret location in America. Order given to whip up the media to miss-inform people on what these sightings are.

Top secret orders given to send task forces to try and find locations of flying discs and capture them and those behind them before the Russians do.




Sound like a well planned start with a good background. Thrilling stories to be expected...
Title: Re: Operation Highjump anyone based any games on this?
Post by: dm on 09 January 2014, 08:49:07 AM
Forces collected so far for my gaming scenario;

Joint special mission task force
1xUS Ranger squad 12 men
1xUS Marine squad 12 men
1xSAS/mixed Commonwealth squad 10 men
1xEplosive experts squad 6 men

Flying disc base
2xInfantry squad 20 men and heavy MG support
2xHeavy infantry support weapons and crew
1xU-Boat squad 8 men and support weapon
1xAir crew squad and support team 10 men
1xFlying Disc (scratch built)

All are 15mm and Peter Pig Miniatures and will be based individually for skirmish type games and a lot of them will be converted with green stuff to give them a suitable South Polar region look.

Looking to add a couple of tracked units to support the joint task force but cannot think of what to use yet. Have seen photos of rusting kit left in the South Polar region that looks like they were based upon the Stewart light tank and might have a go at a conversion or two but have also seen photos of a Weasel used in a post Highjump mission.

Air support for the Joint task force will be two Corsair Navy fighters if i can get my hands on a couple of 1/144 scale kits.

Will add a few Grey or Alien types without weapons to the defending force but scouring the net have not found anything yet that i like and want them to look sinister rather than cartoony.

WW2 Skirmish games rules will be used.

The joint task force mission will be to search and destroy/capture the secret flying disc and the defenders mission will be to protect the flying disc till it can get into the air and fight to the last man in doing so.

The aliens will have the abilty to use some sort of psychic power to freeze weapons or individual members of the task force at close range for a movement/action round to add a bit of spice to the game (based on a dice roll system) but they will depart and leave if the defending squad takes too much damage. Thinking of using one alien per defending squad.