Published by Cassell in 2000, War at Sea in the Ironclad Age is one of those hardback books full of colour plates.
That might imply that it is a lightweight – “coffee table” book. For a landlubber like me it was an excellent introduction into a period of history I have had little interest in before.
Roughly covering 1850 to 1900 it charts the development of the Ironclad – the transition from wooden sailing ships to the 20th century “Dreadnaught”.
My initial interest was through this years main project – The Wars of Italian Unification eventually concluded in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war. Before that the Austrians and Italians had already fought one significant naval action in the Adriatic, the battle of Lissa in 1866. It was notable for poor management and control rather than any technology on show.
The book covers several key actions over the 50 year period using clear and helpful diagrams
At the battle of Lissa the Italians had the only “turret” ship present, in the brand new British built “Affondatore” that also had an enormous front ram hull design.
The Italian “Affondatore” (roughly meaning the “sinker”) when presented with an opportunity to ram the Austrian “Kaiser” failed to do so. The Austrian Flagship “Ferdinand Max” rammed the “Re d’Italia” sinking her immediately (technically the Italian flagship, although the Admiral had already decamped to the “Affondatore”).
The period saw technology rapidly change – submarines, torpedoes and heavy guns in revolving turrets all made their appearance. The American Civil War showed off the sleek “Monitors” of inshore/river warfare.
Lots to consider and what I found helpful was that the book is full of useful information tightly presented – even if often repeated in different ways. This helped and the use of coloured maps with 3D ships showing phases of key actions also helped in my understanding.
The Author Richard Hill – a retired Rear Admiral – addressed a new period for himself as well, thanking John Keegan the series editor for the opportunity. Just maybe the freshness of the words, to me, reflect his new enthusiasm for this period in history.
I obtained the book from Dave Lanchester, who suggested it, when I was seeking a book about mid 19th century european naval warfare.
Dave has no website but is easily contacted – details below.
Myton, Wyke and then Kingston upon Hull to give it its proper name has always looked to the sea and has many connections with northern Europe, notably Scandanavia, the Baltic and the Netherlands or Low Countries.
The River Hull came to prominence in the 12th century when the Cistercian monks of Meaux (near Beverley) exported their wool to Europe and developed the river entrance into a thriving port leading to the creation of the hamlet of Wyke. Wyke is variously described as being a settlement – the word “wic” being a common term although some say it comes from scandanavian meaning creek or small river.
Victorian Arcades can still be discovered with artisan shopsCity Hall and theatre harks back to a time when Hull enjoyed much prosperity
By the end of the 13th century King Edward I granted Wyke its first charter and it became known as Kings Town on the River Hull or Kingston upon Hull.
in 2022 the Maritime Museum reopens after several years of renovationOptimistic Hotels from a bygone erawhen public houses were everywhereimposing buildings remain despite Hull being the most bombed city during World War 2 and then decades of constant demolition and redevelopment the old town down by the river Hull still has some impressive buildings where renovation has given them another lifeAnd yes there still public houses dotted aroundThe river Hull defines the reused Old town on its west bank while the east bank is still largely a different industrial legacyElegant arcades still existwith some very fascinating shops!Trinity Market has been renovated and rejuvenated with plenty of small enterprisesand there are people still remembered through the odd statue such as Amy JohnsonThe Deep Aquarium is a big draw for the cityWith a fabulous central tank holding many species it really is worth a visiteel with attitude!plenty of bright fish to be seenNearby you can find eateries next to the marinaand boats are still to be foundThis shark statue at the Deep with the River Hull flood barrier behind – signs of our timesThe Deep Aquarium is a magnificent site located at the confluence of Hull and Humber
Today Hull, as it is commonly known, is a post industrial city which usually means tourists avoid such places. Hull is rich in history and has some excellent locations to visit. So make 2022 the year you visit.
Arnald, George; Charles I Demanding Entrance at the Beverley Gate, Hull, 23 April 1642; Ferens Art Gallery; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/charles-i-demanding-entrance-at-the-beverley-gate-hull-23-april-1642-78270
Kingston upon Hull was the place where the real spark of a rebellion occurred. the English Civil War has many claimants to its origins. From Parliamentarians to Scottish religious covenantors the subsequent victory had like success many parents. Failure is invariably an orphan.
Nowadays the differing claims are somewhat muted through 300 years of reconstituted monarchy.
So we should not underestimate the risk a certain Sir John Hotham took. Twice he refused King Charles access to the vital weapons arsenal held within the walls of Kingston upon Hull.
On the map the gate No7 was the Beverley Gate where King Charles I was denied entry and whose foundations are preserved today. The foundations now lying below current street level were given a new surround and saved for the City as part of the 2017 cultural celebrations.
In 2017 they were not quite ready for the public – today you can descend to the original gate level and see them as King Charles would have done!
Hull as it is known today is interesting not just because of its white telephone boxes and the Amy Johnson statue!
It is not regarded as a classic city of the north like York or Chester, yet it is full of history.
In 2017 the city enjoyed UK city of culture status and this gave it a big lift in terms of arts and culture – like so many places Covid19 has dented the benefits.
I have previously blogged about the Narwhals tusk……………now departed to the north sea
Do not be deterred – go and see Hull and visit that gate where history was made.
William of Orange one of our influential British Monarchs has an equestrain statue in Kingston upon Hull on the edge of the Old Town.The River Hull empties into the broad Humber Estuary some 25 miles from the north seaArnald, George; Charles I Demanding Entrance at the Beverley Gate, Hull, 23 April 1642; Ferens Art Gallery; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/charles-i-demanding-entrance-at-the-beverley-gate-hull-23-april-1642-78270
I wonder what would have happened had Charles secured Hull?
With summer now a distant memory, here is a reminder of sunny days in 2021.
looking towards the mouth of the Tamar where Devon and Cornwall meetThe marina the old harbour at the very mouth of the Tamar on the Cornwall side is Kingsandview from the heights above KIngsand Nearby Cawsand, just a short walk from Kingsand, is where the Plymouth ferry beachesEarly morning sun over CawsandThe Plymouth ferry arrives at Cawsandand beaches as the commuter queue forms!simple boarding technique means sometimes the ferry can’t run if this operation cannot be doneonce aboard its all engines reverse and the vessel eases off the shingle
The memorial is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Great War and also World War 2
Sunday 14th of November is Remembrance Sunday – a day when we can remember those who lost their lives in conflict across the globe. We can also remember those who served and are still alive and live with the mental and physical scars of war.
Pursuing my side game of buying “face to face” for my latest project, in the world war two era, means wargames shows count.
For decades wargamers have treated shows as their own very necessary High Street. Remember once upon a time visiting “fairs” were very much part of medieval life for whole areas of a country. And of course prior to the internet and ebay they were the dominant route to wargaming purchases.
Quite simply the hobby could not sustain even general hobby shops on the high street even with railway and broader modellers sharing the same sources.
In fact talking about fairs reminds me that there is an excellent book by Graham Robb called the “Discovery of France” which highlights the circularity of life in France right up to the 20th century where whole rakes of the population derived their living through moving around the country. Even if your not a Francophile this book is a fascinating insight into a country which has dominated European Military history. His book certainly gives, in my view, a different view of France.
And then for the wargame shows, Covid19 really did drive us all fully online which may have far reaching consequences. On the evidence I saw at Leeds I am not sure what they will be though. Yes traders down, gamers down but then again we now have a late year crowded calendar plus organisers still having an obligation to manage their events to minimise the effects of Covid19 spread.
I for one, was a happy customer of the face to face variety.
I had stored up some planned purchases and spending money so here is a run down of my acquisitions and of course a “thank you” to the “SUPPLY CHAIN” without which we would not have the hobby we all enjoy.
First up some basics from Pendraken – 40×40 mdf bases for my currently stopped MAIN 2021 Project of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848/1859.
Colonel Bills yielded some 20mm preloved WW2 metals in the shape of a British Universal Carrier by SHQ and Romanian 47mm Schneider AT gun by FAA.
Regular visit to Coritani aka Magnetic Displays bought me some much needed paintbrush replacements and I spoilt myself with a prepainted crossroads – yes it was one of those days.
Stonewall Figures had some interesting kits and BT7 Russian Tanks were on my shopping list so these two Pegasus models dropped into my hand. And well these T34/76 armourfasts fell in as well.
Next up is a venerable book published in 1973 by Donald Featherstone. No4 in the series this is a bit late for me (1943-1945) as I am focused on early war activity. But it does cover the Tunisian Front and apart from Egypt/Libya where the British main north african action was, there is not so much printed material on matters west of Tunis.
Having grown up with Donald Featherstone books I find them an easy read: I know what I am getting. A nice purchase from Dave Lanchester.
Now for something completely different and I mean different. In this blog I have recounted my “sanity line” being nothing more recent than 1730-ish or the end of Peter the Greats reign. I caved in to Wars of the Italian Unification for 1848/1859/1866/1870 and suddenly found an interest in naval actions as well. You can see the slippery slope here………….Gradually ironclads have been creeping into my wargaming thoughts. So this book at Dave Lanchesters store was shown to me by Dave when I asked innocently if he had anything on Lissa 1866. Thanks to Dave I have a very nice 244 page hardback covering the second half of the 19th century.
Next up in contrast Grubbys Tanks yielded a small booklet at just 16 pages offering Rapid Fire fast play. This ruleset started life in 1994 so if age is pedigree that will do. I will give it a shot.
Now the Peter Dennis paper soldier books always look attractive and I finally picked up one I had previously nearly purchased back in 2018. The Spanish Armada is completely off my gaming list but I just could not resist, what with my current naval gazing.
I also tipped gaslands into the shopping basket at Dave Lanchester’s – not for me but as a christmas present for someone else.
The next two books from Dave were pure indulgence. The Russian Army in the Great Northern War 1700-1721 and William III’s Italian Ally 1683-1697 both Helion publications. I am hoping they will be ok on typos but I am not holding my breath. even so as I have posted before Helion publish where others fear to tread. So I have to be grateful.
Finally this is a repurchase – in fact I think it may be the third time I have bought this ruleset. Careless ……..
I do like Peter Pigs ideas, especially the uncertainty of process, and this set offers something a little different on the WW2 front.
Well thats it. Quite a mix when I think about it: More books than expected and less models.
So apart from Rapid Fire from Grubbys Tanks, I bought all my books at Dave Lanchester’s, who I must say keeps his books in very good condition.
The ones that got away or rather failed to appear – Russians by Plastic Soldier Company (Grubby’s were not short on Germans or US boxes though) and maybe a BA10 armoured car yet Stonewall Figures have promised to look out for one of them and set one aside for next year when they head north again.
So thanks to all my suppliers at Fiasco 2021 may you all prosper.
Thanks to Leeds Wargames Club for a very enjoyable show, all the sweeter, after such a long break from this aspect of wargaming.
Back to painting table………I wonder what will be up next?
After almost 2 years absence, wargame shows once again became a reality and I was pleased to have visited Leeds Wargames Club’s show at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.
Fiasco sponsors Sue Ryder Charity and the Soldiers Charity – the Army’s National Charity as well as Models for Heroes and the Battlefields Trust.
Hicks Hall was again the venue with a reduced trader and gaming footprint which made circulation easier.
I felt people had come to buy, people came with a purpose – to trade. And to meet fellow gamers, talk, discuss, game and well – enjoy themselves!
This is the first show I have attended since Recon 2019 almost 2 years ago.
Mask wearing was evident as was no mask wearing, but numbers were down so crowding and congestion were not an issue.
Notable for me, were two games right at the entrance, The Battle of Stoke Field 1487 and The Italian Wars.
The Italian Wars was a great spectacle with colourful 15/16th century pike, arquebusiers and mailed knights not to mention artillery, bills, swordsmen and many flags by Petes Flags.
Bradford Battletech Battalion caught my eye as their hex game with these recent (2019ish!) kickstarter plastics robot warriors looked quite enticing even for someone like me, that normally struggles for gaming interest after Napoleon has hit the buffers. I say normally because today most of my purchases were World War Two themed!
On the The Italian Wars table the buildings are made in west yorkshire but I forget the name……….the Yarkshire Gamer knows and has probably mentioned them in his podcasts
A recent Yarkshire Gamers podcast about the Italian Wars.
And the Winner is…….
I did not get the name of the demonstrator at Breese and Hudson but I am guessing he was either Mr Breese or Mr Hudson of Mansfield or more specifically Radcliffe on Trent. He was lucid and measured in explaining Stoke Field, while being clearly very enthusiastic and showing his enduring interest in the battle. In fact absolutely everything you could wish for from a demonstrator when just strolling up to a demo game that catches your eye.
The rules they played to were never mind the billhooks expanded, and yes I forget to get a photo, but given it was 1487 you can guess the Wars of the Roses picture or rather can you?
Stoke Field is an outlier battle of the wars with King Henry VII already in power. The battle itself involves significantly, Irish soldiers as well as European mercenaries – notably pike. Like many interesting campaigns this battle ended quickly but that is no barrier to the gamer. Makes a change from Barnet, Tewkesbury and Towton.
So Stoke Field and Messrs Breese and Hudson win my vote as top show stand!
One of my latest side projects is World War Two, like most projects I soon reach for the online supply chain. Lockdown has driven this approach even more.
And to start me off my first purchases were from Hannants and Models Hobbies. These companies have given me great value especially for projects where I buy all I need in one go.
But hang on I was/would be buying mainstream stuff, not obscure or discontinued lines. And this was to be a side track slow burn project. So bulk buys would not be the order of the day.
Then it occurred to me that I could go out of my way, with lockdown easing, to visit real hobby shops.
I also decided my interest would be more early war, ideally more inter war era. Just to make life difficult again, this is not the popular end of WW2. Yet this was a fantasy ww2 happening on Fauxterre so anything goes and flexibility is the watchword.
Ok so far, but hobby shops tend to stock the popular, as in, that’s loads of late war armour with a preponderance of German kit.
And then I had another brainwave. After going through online availability I realised I had a massive choice. I would just buy the cheapest stock available in dribs and drabs.
This random approach really started to appeal. It would also make this project different again.
Such an approach interestingly is increasingly not online (and certainly not ebay) + white van man, despite Amazons best endeavours. Don’t get me wrong, online has been fantastic for choice and it still offers great value and even ebay can give you amazing bargains (the effort required though has changed).
So I decided – cut out the postal costs. I would buy piecemeal and when other activities had paid for my journey.
Then if a shop turned up I would go in and see what was available.
This actually fed my Fauxterre ideas. The opponents are both struggling to resource their forces. The parallel for WW2 is the Russians. They took various kit from the USA, France and Britain before getting their own plants working to meet demand. And the Germans reused thousands of captured kit. Probably the most useful panzer they had early on was actually the Czech built 38T? The Russians also benefited from the US inventions of Christie that ultimately led them to the T34 as I understand it.
So a bit of history bashing and Fauxterre sees two protaganists poorly armed going to war with essentially inter war/early war kit and with inter war mentalities.
Next up was – which forces to use – given I had decided no german kit.
I chose the Russians simply because this whole sidetrack project was started by Charles Grant and his Battle Gaming book from 1977 – a charity shop surprise discovery.
Airfix came up often as the low cost option online and seeing as they had made Russians, the very ones in Charles Grant’s book, so that was it. Only they don’t make them any more and old sets are now online and vintage and with a price to match!
In the shops its allied west or german it seems.
After some wrangling I decided I would stick with the Russians and that led me to The Plastic Soldier Company and their good value sets. The Russians kit would be opposed by American kit with splashes of any other kit I liked, while playing that “buy cheap in a real shop” game.
I have made some progress and here are my first kit builds.
ok the PSC gaz trucks work, venerable bren carrier + 6 pounder is cheap and the semovente by Italeri are good value. The jeep and gun was a failure – I assumed I was getting two jeeps not two build choices – look harder before you leap next time. The mountain gun – well the gun dates from 1920 so its just the carriage thats a bit modern.
Lets see how I get on with this slow burn side track project.
The Wargaming Erratic 
