Royal Observer Corps: The Eyes and Ears of the RAF in WWII

The key roles played by the Royal Observer Corps in the Second World War have, all too often, been overshadowed by more glamorous arms of the defence forces.

The teams in the Sector Stations, plotting the battles raging above, and the Spitfires and Hurricanes swooping upon the formations of enemy fighters and bombers, present easily-imagined and dramatic scenes. Yet between the radar stations, detecting the German aircraft approaching over the Channel, and the Sector Controls were the little sand-bagged posts of the Observer Corps that provided over-land tracking of the enemy formations.

The Royal Observer Corps (the Royal prefix being approved in 1941) proved a vital link in the communication chain in the defence of the UK, particularly in the Battle of Britain, as it provided the only means of tracking enemy aircraft once they had crossed the coastline. The highly skilled Observers were also able to identify and count the enemy aircraft, turning blips on a screen into actual types and numbers of German machines.

Even after the threat from the Luftwaffe receded after the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, the ROC again came to the fore when the V1s opened a new reign of terror in 1944. Because these small, fast weapons were so hard to detect the RAF s fighter controllers moved into the ROC s operations rooms so that they could respond to the V-1 threat more rapidly.

In this official history of the ROC written shortly after the war, the corps operations throughout the conflict are set out in great detail. This includes a section on the last flight of Rudolf Hess, as well as one detailing the work of those who were selected for employment as Seaborne Observers on ships during the D-Day landings, where their specialist identification skills were used to prevent the all-too prevalent instances of friendly fire.

This history provides an account of the ROC which is just as important in understanding the operations of the corps as the Observers were in the defence of the United Kingdom during the Second War.

The War of Atonement: The Inside Story of the Yom Kippur War

A scrupulously researched account...the most authoritative yet to have appeared. Financial Times, Certainly the best account of the war from the Israeli standpoint that has yet appeared or is likely to appear for some years to come. Basil Collier, New York Times Book Review

This is the authoritative account of the Israeli Army s performance in the bitter Yom Kippur War of 1973. The origins of the war in the turbulent history of competing powers in the Middle East are fully explored, as are the build-up of Arab forces that almost caught Israel by surprise, and the realisation of the Israeli leadership that they would have to fight against overwhelming odds for the survival of their state.

An analysis of the political implications of the conflict brings this epic tale to a close. A gripping narrative, punctuated by first-hand accounts and interviews with combatants,  The War of Atonement  is full of drama and tales of inspirational bravery. For this edition Chaim Herzog s son, Colonel Michael Herzog, has written an Introduction that places the book in the context of his father s achievements and gives a revealing insight of the man himself. This is the most comprehensive work on a conflict that has had major implications for our own troubled times.

Update 25: Post Kickstarter Update 11 · 10mm Ogre Mammoth Riders from Black Gate Miniatures

The last day of February 2018.

As with most things in life everything, the road runs seldom straight. This week sees "The Beast from the East" causing havoc in the UK. Schools closed, kids off and sub zero temperatures all day and night.

I have taken this opportunity to work indoors. My workshop is not heated or insulated and is pretty cold at the best of times. That has also allowed me time to get my mould can repaired, it has be suffering from wear and tear. Things should get back to normal next week and I will crack on with the production of the Greenlings and Junk Lobba.

This week has also seen the first 10 backer packages shipped. Everyone who didn't order Greenlins or Junk Lobbas should have received a PayPal invoice for their P&P. My intention is to ship within 24 hours of receipt of the PayPal payment.

A few people have requested to have their order split and shipped in two parts. This might prove too expensive to do for places that suffer customs charges, however, if you want me to split your order and ship everything but the Greenlings and Junk Lobba now, then I am happy to do so. This week is a great opportunity to do it as I am kind of trapped indoors anyway!

Rid has painted up some more stuff and I have attached some pictures below. Thanks to him as ever.

Painted Junk Lobba

"Free" Big Boss and the 4th Yeti and Savage Kin models

 It will be nice to start seeing pictures of the Ogres appearing on the web as people finally get their hands on them. Almost there now, just need to get these Greenlings and Junk Lobbas sorted.

Speak to you next week.

Ogres forever!

Barry

Kickstarter
Black Gate Miniatures

From Normandy to Auschwitz

The odds on Paul le Goupil living to see the end of the Second World War let alone the 21st Century were negligible in 1944\. Yet he did. As his extraordinary memoir describes, as a young man he found himself caught up in the maelstrom of the Second World War. Active resistance to, and defiance of, the German occupation came naturally to Paul but led to his capture, beating and interrogation by the Gestapo and solitary incarceration in first French prisons. Worse still was to come and after an appalling journey and various labour camps he ended up in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. He experienced starvation, slave labour, unbelievable hardship - death for many was a relief. Paul survived but his suffering was not over as he and others had to endure a nightmare march before being liberated by the advancing Russians. All this and far more make this memoir an unforgettable, moving and inspiring account.

Fireteam: Modern - Afghanistan

Fireteam: Modern - Afghanistan, Army Lists for Conflicts in Afghanistan

This book provide players with the forces that are required to recreate combat engagements from the various conflicts that have taken place in Afghanistan over the past 40 years.

Soviet/ Afghan War
Afghan Civil War
Coalition Invasion of Afghanistan
ISAF Operations
Counter-Insurgency Operations

A Copy of Fireteam: Modern is required to use these lists.

Wargame Vault

Missile Threat Solo Rules & Mercenary Air Campaign

This book gives you everything you need to play Missile Threat solo and to play the Mercenary Air Campaign.

The Solo Rules:

These include all the rules needed for solo games, as well as random aircraft tables for every conflict and faction covered in Missile Threat. Random Ground Asset and Naval Vessel tables are also included. The solo game relies on regular playing cards to generate unknown hostile aircraft and ground assets, so prepare to be surprised!

The Mercenary Air Campaign:

Manage a group of fictitious Mercenaries as you purchase aircraft and ordnance, select missions, get paid and attempt to survive! This campaign runs on the basic Missile Threat rules, and is aimed at solo play but can easily be a co-operative game. Players start with a selection of pilots and a pool of funds and must purchase aircraft and ordnance from a weapons market. They then use what they have to fly available missions and if they succeed: get paid.

The Mercenary air campaign is all about the "rule of cool" - you won't be limited to light attack aircraft, but rather any aircraft around in your chosen theater, period and faction. The campaign uses the Complete Aircraft & Ordnance List provided with the Missile Threat rules, and allows you to buy and fly many of the more unusual or lesser used aircraft from the last 60 years, as well as the regulars.

The Mercenary air campaign has 3 difficulty options, ranging from easy mode with 4 pilots and a sh*tload of cash, to the hard mode of a lone wolf pilot with the last of his savings.

There are 5 different periods to choose from: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s+

Each period has 5 different theaters to play in: Balkans/Eastern Europe, Central/South Africa, Middle East, South America, and South-East Asia

Each theater has 2 factions you can work for: Either the government or the rebels.

In this way there are 50 different options for playing the campaign. You could be working for the rebels in South America in the 1990s, or working for the government in the Middle East in the 1960s. Each option has a customized random aircraft and ordnance table to reflect the period, theater and alignment. That's 100 D66 tables!

This book is designed to supplement the Missile Threat main rules, which can be purchased here:

Wargame Vault

Shield Wall - The Dark Age Sagas volume I

A notoriously unstable and rebellious member of the Roman Empire, Britannia was thrown into bloody conflict as the Western Roman Empire began to crumble. Axe, spear and sword became the dominant currency for those vying for control of the kingdoms.

Shield Wall is a supplement for Hail Caesar which introduces the main battles, armies and personalities of the Dark Ages in the British Isles from around 400AD up to 1000AD.

In addition to the traditional Hail Caesar massed battles the supplement introduces rules for smaller scale engagements between warbands as reflects much of this period. Shield Wall also contains campaign rules and several linked scenarios ­– from Badon Hill to Brunaburh.

The army lists are included for Limitanei, early and late Saxons, Romano-British, Welsh-Cymru, Irish, Picts, Gaels, Vikings and Irish-Norse.

A copy of the Hail Caesar rulebook is required to use this supplement

When you order your copy of Shield Wall directly from the Warlord Webstore you can get a FREE figure and what better than a marauding Viking running off with the Spoils of War!

Warlord Games

Resistance Is Futile v4 Sci-fi Wargame Rules

Resistance Is Futile v4 Expanded and radically revised!

Resistance Is Futile v4 Sci-fi Wargame Rules, Fast and fun game play, revamped morale and control rules, flexible units, heroes; usable with 40k or other sci-fi armies, includes optional background fluff!

SCIENCE-FICTION WARGAME RULES

THIS IS THE fourth version of the rules, which have radically changed and developed to be virtually an entirely new set. What’s changed? There's been lots of minor developments, but also fluid rules for unit coherence which combined with new unit morale rules work in a unique way. If your grizzled captain leading a unit of conscripts is shot, you could be in trouble!

Shooting has been revamped into a quick and easy system, both for direct and indirect fire. Sequence of play is much more flexible, vehicle and monster hits have variable results, going prone, suppression and overwatch rules have been integrated, etc.

Finally, and while certainly optional since you can use whatever game universe background you like, we’ve beefed up the fluff about our own universe. There are numerous lists giving examples of various troop types which you can use as they are, or as examples to show you how to create troop profiles for you own wargame armies.

BONUS! When ordering the PDF version you will be sent the 72-page full colour version and a 72-page print-friendly version. The rules also, in addition, come with quick reference sheets to ease game play.

Wargame Vault

New Releases for February 2018! from Osprey Publishing Ltd

Up to 70% Off ALL Books, eBooks and Games!
Throughout February we have an amazing sale on the Osprey website, which includes discounts of UP TO 70% OFF! Every book, eBook and game is on offer, so don't delay! Order that book you've had your eye on, start a new series, or get a deal on our pre-order titles.

As always, Gold and Silver members can take advantage of the monthly sale alongside their existing membership discounts.

Morning Star, Midnight Sun

Following the disastrous Java Sea campaign, the Allies went on the offensive in the Pacific in a desperate attempt to halt the Japanese forces that were rampaging across the region. With the conquest of Australia a very real possibility, the stakes were high. Their target: the Japanese-held Soloman Islands, in particular the southern island of Guadalcanal.

Hamstrung by arcane pre-war thinking and a bureaucratic mind-set, the US Navy had to adapt on the fly in order to compete with the mighty Imperial Japanese Navy, whose ingenuity and creativity thus far had fostered the creation of its Pacific empire. Starting with the amphibious assault on Savo Island, the campaign turned into an attritional struggle where the evenly matched foes sought to grind out a victory.

Following on from his hugely successful book Rising Sun, Falling Skies, Jeffrey R. Cox tells the gripping story of the first Allied offensive of the Pacific War, as they sought to prevent Japan from cutting off Australia and regaining dominance in the Pacific.

The Royal Air Force

The world's first independent air force, the Royal Air Force celebrates its centenary in 2018. In the 100 years since the end of World War I, the service has been involved in almost continuous operations around the globe, giving the RAF the longest and most wide-ranging history of any air force in the world. But over the years this history has also become entangled with myths.

The Royal Air Force: A Centenary of Operations will set the record straight, dispelling these as it uncovers - in both words and photographs - the true exploits and accomplishments of RAF personnel over the last 100 years. From its formation as an independent service in the dying days of World War I, its desperate fight against the Axis air forces in World War II, to its commitments during both the Cold War and modern times, this is the complete story of how the RAF has defended Britain for a century.

Savoia-Marchetti S.79 Sparviero Bomber Units

Initially developed by Savoia-Marchetti as a transport, the aircraft had evolved into a dedicated medium bomber by the time the S.79-I made its combat debut in the Spanish Civil War in 1936. During World War 2, it became Italy's most successful bomber, and the most produced, with around 1370 built between 1936 and early 1944. Although initially hampered by poor tactics, the S.79 bomber crews nonetheless scored sunk a number of Allied vessels, and provided a constant threat to Allied sailors in the Mediterranean in the early stages of the war. In East Africa and the Red Sea the Sparvieri were the most modern bombers in-theatre, proving a challenge to RAF and SAAF biplane fighters.

Using specially commissioned full-colour artwork, first-hand accounts and historic photographs, this volume chronicles the history of the S.79's war in the Mediterranean, North African, Balkan, and East African theatres.

Defenses of Bermuda 1612–1995

Due to its location in the western North Atlantic some 600 miles off the Carolinas and halfway between Halifax in Canada and Jamaica in the West Indies, the island of Bermuda was a key naval haven for the Royal Navy over the centuries. It was vital for the Navy first in the development of its American colonies, then during its rivalry with the United States, and finally as allies with the United States. The need to defend its 64 miles of coastline and ports has resulted in the construction of about 50 forts from 1617 to 1945 even though its total land mass is only 20.6 square miles. This led to an incredible concentration of fortifications with 2.5 forts for every square mile. Today, the legacy of these defence efforts remain either as disused structures or parks scattered throughout Bermuda, many of them now popular tourist attractions. Using stunning commissioned artwork and meticulous research, this is the fascinating story of Britain's "Gibraltar of the West”.

Gebirgsjäger vs Soviet Sailor

In 1941-44, Nazi Germany's Gebirgsjäger - elite mountain troops - clashed repeatedly with land-based units of the Soviet Navy during the mighty struggle on World War II's Eastern Front. Formed into naval infantry and naval rifle brigades, some 350,000 of Stalin's sailors would serve the Motherland on land, playing a key role in the defence of Moscow, Leningrad, and Sevastopol. The Gebirgsjäger, many among them veterans of victories in Norway and then Crete, would find their specialist skills to be at a premium in the harsh terrain and bitter weather encountered at the northern end of the front line. Operating many hundreds of miles north of Moscow, the two sides endured savage conditions as they fought one another inside the Arctic Circle.

Featuring archive photographs, specially commissioned artwork and expert analysis, this is the absorbing story of the men who fought and died in the struggle for the Soviet Union's northern flank at the height of World War II.

Malta 1940–42

In 1940, the strategically vital island of Malta was Britain's last toehold in the central Mediterranean, wreaking havoc among Axis shipping. Launching an air campaign to knock Malta out of the war, first Italy and then Germany sought to force a surrender or reduce the defences enough to allow an invasion. Drawing on original documents, multilingual aviation analyst Ryan Noppen explains how technical and tactical problems caused the original Italian air campaign of 1940-41 to fail, and then how the German intervention came close to knocking Malta out of the war. Using stunning full colour artwork, this fascinating book explains why the attempt by the Axis powers to take the British colony of Malta ultimately failed.

The Kuban 1943

In the summer of 1942, the Wehrmacht invaded the Caucasus in order to overrun critical oil production facilities at Maikop, Grozny and Baku. However, the Red Army stopped the Germans short of their objectives and then launched a devastating winter counteroffensive that encircled them at Stalingrad. Consequently, Hitler grudgingly ordered an evacuation from the Caucasus, but ordered 17. Armee to fortify the Kuban bridgehead and hold it at all costs in order to leave open the possibility of future offensives. On the other side, the Soviet Stavka ordered the North Caucasus Front and the Black Sea Fleet to eliminate the Kuban bridgehead as soon as possible. The stage was set for a contest between an immovable object and an unstoppable force.

With the help of stunning specially commissioned artwork, this book tells the enthralling story of the impressive but strategically foolish German stand at Kuban, which tied down seven Soviet armies in a sideshow battle of attrition, which the Soviets dubbed ‘the Kuban meat grinder.'

Rolling Thunder 1965–68

Operation Rolling Thunder was the campaign that was meant to keep South Vietnam secure, and dissuade the North from arming and supplying the Viet Cong. It pitted the world's strongest air forces against the MiGs and missiles of a small Soviet client state. But the US airmen who flew Rolling Thunder missions were crippled by a badly thought-out strategy, rampant political interference in operational matters, and aircraft optimised for Cold War nuclear strikes rather than conventional warfare.

Ironically, Rolling Thunder was one of the most influential episodes of the Cold War - its failure spurring the 1970s US renaissance in professionalism, fighter design, and combat pilot training. Dr Richard P. Hallion, one of America's most eminent air power experts, explains how Rolling Thunder was conceived and fought, and why it became shorthand for how not to fight an air campaign.

World War II Vichy French Security Troops

After the Fall of France in 1940, a new puppet state was set up in the south. Officially known as the French State, it is better known as Vichy France. This collaborationist Vichy regime's armed forces were more active and usually more numerous than German troops in the task of hunting down and crushing the maquis - the French Resistance guerrilla forces

This book will cover the organization and operations of Vichy French Security Forces, including: the new Vichy Police Nationale, particularly their Groupes Mobiles de Reserve, the Service d'Ordre Légionnaire , and the Milice Francaise, a ruthless anti-Resistance militia armed partly with British weapons captured from SOE airdrops. Fully illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs and commissioned artwork, it tells the story of Occupied France from the perspective of those who sought to keep it in German hands.

T-90 Standard Tank

In the wake of the T-72 tank's poor performance in the 1991 Gulf War, the Kremlin instructed the Russian tank industry to drop the discredited T-72 designation in favour of the T-90 Vladimir. The T-90 was in fact a further evolution of the T-72 family, but the name change represented an important break in Russian/Soviet tank design history. The T-90 has become the principal export tank of Russia, and is in service in large numbers in many countries including Algeria, India, and many of the former Soviet republics. Using detailed illustrations and full colour artwork, this book will also describe the evolution of the T-90s many failed successors including the little known Bokser, Molot, and T-95, as well as its likely successor, the new T-14 Armata, and the wide range of specialized vehicles based on the T-90 chassis such as the formidable Terminator tank support vehicle.

Jackspeak

Jackspeak is a comprehensive reference guide to the humorous and colourful slang of the Senior Service, explaining in layman's termsthe otherwise cryptic everyday language of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and the Fleet Air Arm. Featuring more than 4,000 alphabetical entries, it was compiled by an ex-RM surgeon who spent 24 years in theservice. With useful cross-references and examples of common usagethroughout, along with excellent illustrations by Tugg, the cartoonistfrom service newspaper Navy News, it is the essential book forcurrent and ex-Navy personnel and their families, or anyone interested in the modern armed forces.

Conway is proud to present a revised and updated edition of this classic volume, which is already acknowledged as the standard reference for every Jack, Jenny and Royal joining the Andrew, or for any civvy who wants a real insight into the unique culture of the Navy.

Tanks

From an internationally acclaimed expert in the field comes a detailed, analytical and comprehensive account of the worldwide evolution of tanks, from their inception a century ago to the present day. With new ideas stemming from the latest academic research, this study presents a reappraisal of the development of tanks and their evolution during World War I and how the surge in technological development during World War II and the subsequent Cold War drove developments in armour in Europe and America, transforming tanks into fast, resilient and powerful fighting machines.

From the primitive, bizarre-looking Mark V to the Matilda and from the menacing King Tiger to the superlative M1 Abrams, Professor Ogorkiewicz shows how tanks gradually acquired the enhanced capabilities that enabled them to become what they are today - the core of combined-arms, mechanized warfare.

The Cutty Sark Pocket Manual

Constructed on the Clyde in 1869 for the Jock Willis Shipping Line, Cutty Sark was one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest. Cutty Sark spent just a few years on the tea routes before the opening of the Suez Canal and the increasing use of steamships made clippers unprofitable on shorter routes. It was turned to the trade in wool from Australia, where for ten years she held the record time for a journey to Britain. After finishing her time in service as cargo ship, and then a training and cadet ship, it was transferred to permanent dry dock at Greenwich, London, for public display.

This handy and illuminating pocket manual collates original documents to tell the fascinating story of how the legendary Cutty Sark was commissioned, her design and building, life on board and her notable journeys.

Concorde Pocket Manual

First flown in 1969, Concorde was the first supersonic aircraft to go into commercial service in 1976 and made her final flight in 2003. She was operated primarily by British Airways and Air France. British Airways' Concordes made just under 50,000 flights and flew more than 2.5m passengers supersonically. A typical London to New York crossing would take a little less than three and a half hours compared to around eight hours for a ‘subsonic flight'. In November 1986 a Concorde flew around the world, covering 28,238 miles in 29 hours, 59 minutes.

Today, Concordes can be viewed at museums across the UK and in France, including at IWM Duxford, Brooklands and Fleet Air Arm Museum, as well as at Heathrow, Manchester and Paris-Orly airports. However, there have been recent reports suggest that a Concorde may start operating commercially again. Through a series of key documents the book tells the story of how the aircraft was designed and developed as well as ground-breaking moments in her commercial history.

'Nam

Vietnam. In a small corner of the world, one of the most bloody wars to be fought occurred in this small county in Southeast Asia. Traditionally framed as a war of small skirmishes, long patrols, and guerilla ambushes, there is a lot more that happened, including full-scale offensives and pitched battles…

The US and its allies have all the advantages of mobility and firepower. The ubiquitous Huey helicopter has become a symbol of the war itself as it carries troops into battle and unloads rockets on the enemy. Heavily armed flotillas sail up the windy Mekong Delta. Heavy tanks and M113 ‘tracks' bash their way through the jungle searching for enemy strongpoints, and resolute ‘grunts' hold firebases against fierce enemy assaults…

Meanwhile, the Nationalists have all the advantages of the home team. They fight as guerillas, choosing the time and place of major operations or surprise attacks and appearing from nowhere to ambush enemy hunting them. When the time is right, they even commit their tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and seasoned troops into the fray to achieve total victory.

‘Nam gives you have everything* you need to take command of one of these forces. Building on the success of Battlefront's Team Yankee, these rules and forces are easy to learn and use. Within these pages you can find all of the scenarios, missions, and notes on terrain to fully brief you before you step onto your Huey to lead your troops to the landing zone!

*Well, almost everything. A groovy playlist of 1960s tunes is compulsory for maximum playability.

Bolt Action: Campaign: Market Garden

Market Garden was a bold plan, designed to capture the Rhine crossings along the Dutch-German border and establish a foothold for an advance into Germany. A massive combined arms operation involving airborne landings and an armoured thrust, it was one of the most dramatic and controversial operations of the war. This new Campaign Book for Bolt Action allows players to command the forces facing each other across the Rhine, fighting key battles and attempting to change the course of history. New, linked scenarios, rules, troop types and Theatre Selectors provide plenty of options for novice and veteran players alike.

Osprey Publishing Ltd

10mm American Reinforcements from Lancer Miniatures

Couple of new items now listed for my 10mm US range, M3 half tracks and 57mm AT and some nice little hedge cutters so you can finally get out of the bocages. More variants for the m3 will of course be done, and crew for the 57mm. As usual apologies for bad pictures, but keep spending my money on toys instead of a good camera, plus until they are painted properly it doesn't really show the details. http://lancerminiatures.com/index.php…

WW2 American 10mm

M3 halftrack

M3 Halftrack with removable tilt

57mm ATG

Cullen prong hedge cutter x 5

Lancer Miniatures

10mm WW1 Russian Cossacks from Kallistra

WW1 Russian Cossacks are now available from Kallistra.

World War 1 - Early War Russian

WW1-RU11 Russian Early War Cossacks - (16 Figures + 4 Bases)

WW1-RU12 Russian Early War Dismounted Cossacks Firing - (32 figures + 4 bases)

WW1-RU13 Russian Early War Cossack Horse Holders and Mounts - (16 mounts, 4 horse holders + 4 bases)

Kallistra Ltd

New Ponds and Lakes from Timecast

New Ponds and Lakes will soon be added to our Range 38 Flexible Terrain Range.

Here is a quick snap of the first out of the moulds.

Range 38 Rivers & Watercourses

Ponds and Lakes

Timecast

10 - Piece ‘Bridgehead’ Set from Battlescale

ONLY 10 SETS AVAILABLE!

Our latest (limited) offer is one for the WWII gamers. This 10 - Piece Set is offered at a discounted price of £40, saving a combined total of £9.35 on the range!

There are only 10 of these sets on offer so don’t miss out!

The set contains:

1 x Battle Damaged Bridge

1 x European Townhouse #1

1 x European Townhouse #2

1 x European Ruin #1

1 x Terrace Ruin

1 x Single Storey Ruin

1 x Cafe / Shop

1 x M/G Bunker

2 x Sandbagged M/G / Mortar Pit

Purchase of this set also entitles UK customers to FREE DELIVERY.

All items supplied unpainted.

Battlescale Wargame Buildings

10mm Fantasy Native American Indians from Magister Militum

On the Western shores, the 10mm Native American Indians have been roused and are on the warpath!!

Fantasy Native American Indians

FAI601 Plains Indian Centaurs with Bow

FAI402 Mounted American Indians on Buffalo x9

Magister Militum

The Wasteland Companion

The Wasteland Companion is an expansion for This Is Not a Test, a 28mm wargame set in a post-apocalyptic United States where warbands fight for survival, power, and greed.

This expansion rulebook features:

New Background Material – Further explore the Tri-State Wasteland. Learn all about the locations, history, and factions that call the Tri-State Wasteland home.

New Skills, Mutations, and Special Rules – Two new skills for each skill set, 30+ new mutations, and even random skill tables for that old school feel! There is also a new way to buy off negative traits like Soft-belly and Ragtag.

New Warbands – Two new warbands have arrived; the Settlers and the Renegade Reclaimers. The Settlers are far from the most deadly combatants, but they have numbers and access to healthcare, technical expertise, and the enigmatic Mysterious Stranger. The Renegade Reclaimers are all about the recovery of old world relics no matter the cost. Though always out-numbered, they make up for this buy having more access to more power armor than any other warband.

Warband Variants – The Totem Tribals, a variant of the tribal warband, revere certain wasteland creatures. Players with a tribal totem can take wasteland creatures such as waste wolves or a juvenile Land Snapper into battle and gain access to special skills. Be careful though, this comes at the cost of rejecting technology even more than their tribal kin.

New Specialists – From the explosive Fire Bug for the Raiders to the Peacekeeper Blood Hound, who never lets a bounty go unclaimed, each warband gains new specialist options.

New Wasteland Deck – A whole new deck for your adventuring pleasure. Match wits with the rambling trader, raid a giant ant hill, duel with tribals, and even put on a play worthy of Shakespeare.

Warband Ranks – Gain new abilities that gives the warband unique skills and options.  Want to add a rule to a model that it could not access before? Want your leader to have a cool mutant pet? Now you can. There are even options for adding more elite models to your warband and increasing the total amount of relics your warband can carry.

Buying Off Penalties – Tired of your models stuck being poor or cowardly?  Now you can buy off general abilities like Soft Belly or Rag-Tag instead of taking advancements.

Healing Your Warband – Injuries got you down?  Now you can take your warband to the local saw bones for a bit of a tender care.  Of course, this is not cheap and there’s a chance they could always make things worse.

Two New Scenarios – Just ‘Cause uses random mission requirements to allow for quick campaign or club play; while Ashes to Ashes challenges your warband to keep together while battling both the elements and your opponent.

All this and more can be found inside!

Author:  Joseph McGuire

102 Pages

Wargame Vault

10mm Fantasy Lizardmen from Magister Militum

Into the 10mm fray hop the amphibians and lizardmen. Slippery customers these troops but might be just what you need.

Fantasy Lizardmen

FLA104 Infantry from the Depths

FLA101 Lizardmen Infantry with Swords

FLA201 Lizardmen on Pterosaurs x3

Magister Militum

Airlines at War: British Civil Aviation 1939 - 1944

The brave efforts of the pilots and crew of the RAF during the Second World War are well-known but there was another body of aviators that played a significant role in the conflict the men and women of the civilian airlines.

The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was formed shortly after the outbreak of war in November 1939 by the amalgamation of Imperial Airways and British Airways. During the war BOAC operated as directed by the Secretary of State for Air, initially as the transport service for the RAF and with no requirement to act commercially. The inaugural BOAC had eighty-two aircraft, a large proportion of which were seaplanes and flying boats. With 54,000 miles of air routes over many parts of the world, ranging from the Arctic to South Africa, from the Atlantic coast of America to the eastern coast of India, the aircraft of the BOAC kept wartime Britain connected with its colonies and the free world, often under enemy fire. Over these routes, carrying mail, cargo and personnel, the men and machines of BOAC flew in the region of 19,000,000 miles a year.

There can rarely have been a moment, throughout the war, when aircraft of the British merchant air service were not flying somewhere along the routes, despite losses from enemy action. This book explores much of their war history between 1939 and 1944 (the year that marked the 25th anniversary of British commercial aviation), something of their lives and their achievements in linking up the battlefronts at times cut off from any direct land or sea contacts with the Home Front and in transporting supplies through the new, dangerous and often uncharted regions of the air.

With the Speedbird symbol or the Union Flag emblazoned on its aircraft the BOAC really did fly the flag for Britain throughout the wartime world.

Kalt Krieg Ohne Hass

Kalt Krieg Ohne Hass, Fast play wargame rules for Brigade/Regimental level battles of the Cold War era, using 15mm through to 2mm miniatures.

A grid based battlefield regulates all firing and movement eliminating any micro-measurement. No record keeping is required.

Vehicle scale is one base of miniatures to about 10 vehicles or about 100 men, with a grid square being one square kilometre.

Command and control is central to the system without being complicated but having a significant impact upon operations. Included are special rules for air support, minefields, counter battery fire, Electronic warfare and chemical warfare.

A Brigade level game can easily be fought through in three hours.

Wargame Vault