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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: matiec on September 20, 2016, 07:08:32 PM

Title: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: matiec on September 20, 2016, 07:08:32 PM
I have been working on an operation sealion project for some time. This has been inspired by several books, several articles in magazines which i have picked up over the years. A love for WW2 and in no small part by the fact that I was brought up in SE Kent. Although it is fiction it is great to read books about WW2 battles centred around locations that you know well. As a side track I have moved into VBCW and this has allowed me to collect and build lots of the stuff I needed to get Sealion to the table. Finally i am there and we played our first battle last weekend.

In a nut shell the Germans have already obtain a small foothold, they are looking to consolidate the bridgehead by clearing out  the areas around Seabrook and Hythe before pushing inland to swing east to attack Dover and Folkestone and to capture a significant harbour.

Troops from the first landing ships the the 17th Infantry Division have met up with Fallschirmjager from the 20th Parachute Regiment. they are looking to clear Hythe where the rear guard of the 2nd London Brigade, supported by the Hythe and Seabrook Homeguard are looking to hold back or at least delay the invasion.

More details of what happened are at wargamesinthedungeon.blogspot.com (http://wargamesinthedungeon.blogspot.com)

.......but here are a few shots of the action

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sHEBIPa5NRRK-tVgj6LvNs6tgQsnbNjt3JVEDzyWJglnIL-KThzrVUATBUT_Ie3jBHFjBxHLtoC6jA=w1366-h768-rw-no)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/U_Rp76rSP0zgpVOc-VAXNbB4RSg_eIwdZAQ0m_L289p7gYE74eFlJYBM5xn3Gr33ePMFk1FGZf65kw=w1366-h768-rw-no)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Xy8xy40wHMA3OgZIiqyr6JIsyQEkkZWGHHePp39Cc7yE9-xEvVlqbDV1J3VLRPT1lA3fjAo4-2iVeQ=w1366-h768-rw-no)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7faL_jLQcOLeHaBbQ3wCA7PImShr79qC06mKOkN1KCDo6Y3GUyIW8ybcizr9c8nK8srYaGK2cTpwKg=w1366-h768-rw-no)

My plan is this will be a long term project with scenarios developing as i go. There seem to be limitless possibilities looking into the future........ :)

Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Elk101 on September 20, 2016, 07:38:45 PM
Very nice table and an enjoyable read on your blog.
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Michi on September 20, 2016, 07:45:23 PM
If youīre ready to consider the pulp route as well, donīt forget these:
(http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll111/wamasaka/Rome/MiniaturenfotosOriginale116-1.jpg)


Englandīs capital is in urgent need of a proper public transport system. London transport got its red AEC Routemaster doubledecker buses recently, but there is trouble coming along: The evil Reich has launched V1 flying bombs and other mean things against the city. The battle of Britain is raging and the public transport has to be protected to keep the city alive. Rocket scientists were developing the ultimate answer to the threat from above and finally produced the backpack for flying conductors to guard their bus or tube train.
Young women from all over the country volunteer for Londonīs new air service. They are chosen for light bodyweight and agility, equipped with the all new backpacklauncher and swimsuit-styled flying combinations for aerodynamic reasons. Armed with a powerful Lewis 2.0cal. repetition assault gun, they are destined to throw themselves against those flying bombs to gun them down before they reach their destinations. The girls become famous for brave and daring deeds. Nobody knows, who they really are, because they have adopted typical London Transport names, but it is rumoured that many of them are young nobles andit is said that even members of the Royal Family were taking flying lessons with those backpacks. The forces have already begun testflying them as well, yet with no good results, as the weight of a fully equipped soldier is too high. Meanwhile the men are collecting cigarette pictures of the young flying ladies...
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Phil Robinson on September 20, 2016, 08:11:26 PM
Tremendous, look forward to seeing more in the future.
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: matiec on September 20, 2016, 08:16:59 PM
Are checked in and the photos don't seem to show  :'( but they did on my laptop ?
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Happy Wanderer on September 20, 2016, 10:11:23 PM
Great stuff,

Funny how things go. Our Op Sealion project has been a slow burner around here as well (for years) and we are having a big bash this weekend. We like the quasi-VBCW quality about it as well which can be combined with 'hard history' depending on how the mood takes us.

Was that played with the new Bolt Action v2 rules? We're going to give them a run this weekend. They seem an improvement in a number of key areas that push the game toward more historical than Hollywood IMHO.

Once again, super stuff and looking forward to your updates.

..a perennial crowd favourite..and you've executed it nicely

Keep it coming 👍
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: matiec on September 20, 2016, 11:29:59 PM
Thanks for your kind comments.......played with old version of bolt action I haven't got the new set yet and am debating if this is a good idea or not ? :)
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: PatG on September 21, 2016, 02:13:44 AM
Great looking game
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Yankeepedlar01 on September 21, 2016, 07:36:27 AM
Super looking game on the Blog Matt!
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: matiec on September 21, 2016, 07:39:46 AM
Thanks for looking.......not sure why the photos didn't show will check this out?
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: aircav on September 21, 2016, 03:47:49 PM
Brilliant stuff  8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: matiec on September 21, 2016, 06:29:07 PM
Thanks sorry the photos didn't show here but they are on the blog :)
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Viden on September 23, 2016, 11:44:57 PM
Excellent stuff. Operation Sea Lion is an interesting but sadly overlooked option for wargaming.
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: 6milPhil on September 28, 2016, 09:38:11 PM
Good Stuff... have you considered the mighty armoured RH&DR?

(http://s134542708.websitehome.co.uk/pillboxes/assets/images/db_images/db_armouredtrain1.jpg)
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Eric the Shed on September 28, 2016, 10:16:47 PM
Fantastic stuff...you have some cracking scenery
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Vintage Wargaming on September 29, 2016, 01:29:23 AM
Good Stuff... have you considered the mighty armoured RH&DR?

(http://s134542708.websitehome.co.uk/pillboxes/assets/images/db_images/db_armouredtrain1.jpg)
Sgts Mess do the train in 20mm - cracking way of fitting a train on the table
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: matiec on October 29, 2016, 08:12:09 PM
Thanks guys just checking back in and yes to the RHDR that's in my plan, Eric praise on my scenery from you is praise indeed cheers.
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: manchesterreg on November 01, 2016, 04:32:47 PM
Lovely work, just started to branch out into a 1940s Sealion period, wondering how your doing the campaign? Is it structured or just a series of random battles, i had tried to do a flow chart type, from initial air landings to seaborne, but found i was making things a bit too complicated.
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: matiec on November 06, 2016, 06:55:02 PM
Sorry had missed your comment and not checked back for a while. In a nutshell I am using the campaign as a way of generating interesting and engaging battles, rather than a competitive approach....so in essence the campaign is map based , I know the area pretty well anyway. Broadly then I am using info from the various published books and making the rest up. Example being with a bridge head between Folkestone and Dymchurch it is clear you are going to want to eliminate the airfields at Lympne and Hawkinge two battles in the planning stage. If the result doesn't work I either develop a work around or perhaps the Germans push harder for that objective. Hope this helps happy to discuss more perhaps on my blog ?
Title: Re: Operation Sealion : The Battle for Hythe 14th July 1940
Post by: Dave Knight on November 06, 2016, 07:10:27 PM
very nice indeed