Over the past few weeks, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking and writing about late nineteenth and early twentieth century naval history and naval wargaming.
At the age of sixteen it was my ambition to join the Royal Navy and train to be a naval officer … but during a careers interview I was made aware that my eyesight wasn’t good enough to become anything other than an engineer, and I wanted the possibility that I could end up commanding a ship. (During the 1960s engineering officers could not proceed up the career ladder to command a warship. I understand that this situation has not changed.)
I then decided to look at joining the Army, but my scoliosis proved a bar to this career choice. In the end I went into private banking when I left school and eventually, I trained to be a teacher, a career I followed for forty years.
Despite all of these setbacks, I retained my interest in all things naval, and looking at my bookshelves, I have as much space devoted to naval topics as I do to almost everything else. Over the years I’ve taken part in wargames played using Fred Jane’s Naval War Game rules (and created my own set of equipment to fight battles using them) and Fletcher Pratt’s Naval War Game rules. I’ve also written a book of gridded naval wargames and built numerous model wargame ships.
My latest naval research project has involved looking at the various tactics and technologies developed and used by both sides during the Battle of the Atlantic … and I have a suspicion that this might well lead to the development in a game based on my research.
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Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteI can only admire your range of wargaming interests.
I have only once ventured outside the Napoleonic period. It was way back in the 1970s, and I painted up an Airfix Roman and Ancient Briton army (at that time I considered it was ok to give the Ancient Britons elephants!!). Having spent months painting up the two armies I was inspired I (think by an article in Wargamers Newsletter) to pin the Roman shields to their body, as opposed to leaving their body unprotected which is how they came in the box). This involved considerable repainting of the Roman army. I then played about half a dozen games, when the Romans always seemed to use Napoleonic tactics, before I abandoned the project.
On a serious note I guess a change of period or even type of project, is a good way to maintain interest in the hobby. And I am always impressed that you usually return to your various projects over a period of time.
How boring it would be if we were all the same
regards
Paul
Paul Leniston (Paul),
DeleteThere have been times over the past year when the only things that have kept me sane are Sue and wargaming. Even just thinking and planning possible or potential wargames occupied my mind when I was in hospital and confined to bed.
In some ways my eclectic tastes have been both an advantage and a disadvantage. There have been times when I wish that I had been able to concentrate more on a single period … but for some reason I’ve never done so.
As you write in your comment, it would be boring if we were all the same.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
ReplyDeleteI have a similar story- I did want to join the Navy at 16 - though my school results were good enough to continue to 6th Form after which I was awarded a State Education Scholarship for Industrial Arts - thence I went to Sydney Teachers College and eventually became a High School Teacher. I taught Engineering Science, Mechanics and Tech Drawing. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteIt’s amazing how much in parallel our lives seem to have been!
During my career, I taught in Secondary and Tertiary education establishments. I began teaching Humanities (History, Geography, and Religious Education), before moving on to Economics and Business Studies, which led to teaching ICT. I ended up teaching Travel and Tourism to 16+ students in a Sixth Form College.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
DeleteYes, we have similar Histories. I taught for twenty years then went back into Heavy Industry as a Machine Operator for the next twenty years of my working life. Interesting it is to try and think how life would have panned out if I'd joined the Navy at 16. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI was never tempted to return to the world of commerce or business … although I did run my own supply teacher agency for nearly ten years.
If I’d joined the RN, I’d probably have ended up becoming a pink-gin-drinking crusty old buffer who bores people to death in his local seaside pub about how the modern world is not a patch on how the world was when he was young.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
ReplyDeletePlenty of variety to be had with a North Atlantic campaign! Does what you have in mind involve the whole campaign, or scenarios episodic within the broader context?
Like you, I long ago diversified from the American Civil War and Napoleonics I began with, into all sorts of periods and interests. At that there are several areas I'd like to get into and haven't dared because I have too many projects already.
Some, such as the tiny navies I've been working on lately, have been inspired partly from a home made 'Axis and Allies' type of game (from before there was an Axis and Allies game), and partly by this Jono character and his imaginary world, Sideon IV. My earliest warships were crude elongated pentagons with a box superstructure and the number of funnels defining one of three types of surface vessel, the carriers having a flat top (as you'd expect). Jono's World seemed to call for playing pieces a little more refined than that. So: another rabbit hole down which I dived...
Mind you, other naval project never got far. I have but the one Byzantine dromon (home made), the cogs I made for someone else, and I didn't even get beyond shaping the hulls for Greek galley warfare. They are still kicking around somewhere...
Much as I would like to 'do' Napoleonic naval - I never ever got started on such a project. Oh well ...
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteI am intending to make a presentation at COW2025 about the technological, tactical, and intelligence aspects of the Battle of the Atlantic. This will be followed by a discussion and - hopefully - a convoy wargame based on one developed by the BBC.
My wargaming interests have mainly been concentrated on the period between 1860 and 1950. Lots of interesting technological developments that changed the face of warfare.
I love your model warships, and judging by the feedback I’ve read, I’m not alone in thinking how good they are. Your latest naval wargame is outstanding and I would love to be able to emulate it.
It would be great to see you add some ship models to supplement your Byzantine project, and knowing your modelling skill, I'm sure that they’d look very impressive.
Although I’m a great lover of the Hornblower and Bolitho books, I’ve never tried Napoleonic naval wargaming … and I think that it’s probably a bit late to start.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
DeleteThinking about your North Atlantic project, it occurred to me that perhaps my wee navies might be of some help, if you need it, for play testing. Just a thought, but I'd be happy to do it!
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteThanks very much for your kind offer. The session I am putting on is a joint one, with me doing the presentation and leading the discussion whilst another wargamer is staging the wargame part of the session. He is basing it on the one produced by the BBC. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/launch_gms_battle_atlantic.shtml)
All the best,
Bob