I should not read other people's blog posts ...

I am waiting for the delivery of my final order from Irregular Miniatures before I can add a Russian-style nineteenth army to my Belle Époque project. In the interim, it was my intention to playtest the latest draft of my PORTABLE BELLE ÉPOQUE WARGAME rules with a Sahel Hadendowi vs. Oblele battle ... and then I read Tradgardmastare's THE DUCHY OF TRADGARDLAND blog.

The particular blog posts that engaged my attention were WONDERLAND OR THE JOY OF MODEL SHOPS, THE ARMY OF TRANSILVANIA, and OPPOSITION. These were about his recent purchase of a box of Strelets-R ROMANIAN INFANTRY figures ...

© Alan Gruber (AKA Tradgardmastare)

... and a box of their ITALIAN ARMY IN WINTER DRESS (STALINGRAD) figures.

© Alan Gruber (AKA Tradgardmastare)

He has painted up the former to be soldiers in the army of Transilvania – his early twentieth century imagi-nation – and the latter will be their opponents, the army of the Duchy of Volare Cantare.

Now, I have loads of painted 20mm World War II figures sitting in boxes in my toy/wargames room, I have a suitable set of simple rules already written, and I have enough Hexon II terrain to hand to fight a battle or two ... so why don't I use them?

It would be stupid not to ... wouldn't it?

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I finished writing this blog post and had uploaded it for publication before I went looking for the figures I was going to use. It was at this point that I found a box of painted 15mm figures that Carl Luxford gave me back in October 2022.

Inside the box were a number of Askaris and European officers, native and Arab troops (including cavalry), and native bearers.

I got the figures out ... and immediately realised that I had to assimilate them into my Belle Époque collection tout suite!

As a result, I have put my plans to fight a battle with my 20mm figures on hold for the time being.

It would be stupid not to ... wouldn't it?

Tempting, very tempting ...

I bought this month's copy of WARGAMES ILLUSTRATED on Monday so that I had something to read whilst waiting for my hospital appointment ... and I really ought not to have done!

Besides a free copy of a simple set of Napoleonic wargame rules by Jervis Johnson, Alan Perry, and Michael Perry entitled 'Valour & Fortitude', ...

... there was an article written by Mark Copplestone about his latest range of 30mm imagi-nation interbellum figures.

Now, I am currently looking at downsizing my figure collection, and have promised my wife that I will not buy any more until I have got rid of some of the ones I already own. I need to downsize because we are looking to move to a bungalow somewhere as neither of us is getting any younger, and since my colostomy and my worsening arthritis, I am finding it increasingly difficult to climb stairs ... and our current house has lots of them! The problem is that Mark's new figures are so tempting, and I really, really want to buy some!

He describes them as being 'pseudo-nostalgic', and the poses and the lack of minute detail means that they are very reminiscent of earlier ranges of figures that I cut my wargaming teeth on. They are also generic enough to represent pretty well any interbellum imagi-nation I could want to portray ... and there is a promise of more to come!

I can easily rationalise a purchase of these figures as allowing me to take my existing Belle Époque project thirty or so years forward ... but in a different scale. And hereby lies the madness that could easily come upon me. Can I justify ANOTHER collection? NO! Do I want to buy these figures? YES!

I am not asking for suggestions as to what to do ... but if over the next few months you see the occasional post about some 30mm imagi-nation figures I've been working on, you'll know that I have given in to temptation.

Spanish Civil War wargames rules: For Whom The Dice Rolls

First, a caveat. I have known the author of theses rules for many years, and we have wargamed together on many occasions. When he first became interested in the Spanish Civil War, I encouraged him to pursue this interest, and even gave him some of the relevant books in my collection when I downsized it some time ago. I will therefore own up to a degree of conscious and unconscious bias in the following review. However, it must be said that the rules he has written are all his own work, and owe nothing to my input other than encouragement.

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FOR WHOM THE DICE ROLLS are intended for players who want to fight brigade or divisional-level action of a tabletop. They were designed to be used with 15mm figures and models, but will easily be used with larger or smaller scale figures with little or no adjustment.

The rule book is split into a number of sections and subsections. These include:

• Introduction
• The Basics
• What you will need
• Playing area
• Troop Classifications
• Training
• Motivation
• Troop type
• Will to Combat
• Army Effectiveness
• Weaponry
• Infantry Weapons
• Artillery
• Armoured Vehicles
• Aircraft
• Figures, Scales & Formations
• Basing Figures and Vehicles
• Aircraft
• Scales
• Unit Sizes
• Higher Level Formations
• Table Top Formations
• Command and Control
• Command Cards
• Turn Sequence
• Movement
• Unit Movement
• Movement Increments
• Multiple Moves
• Wheeling & Facing
• Troops in Vehicles
• Close Assault
• Interpenetration
• Terrain
• Ranged Combat
• Bombardment
• Armour Combat
• Combined Infantry and Armour Attacks
• Close Assaults
• Close Assault Procedure
• Resolving Close Assaults
• Close Combat Example
• Morale
• Off Table Assets
• Determining Off Table Assets
• Playing Off Table Assets
• Ani-Aircraft Fire
• Unit Organisations
• Peninsula Army
• Infantry Regiment
• Cavalry Regiment
• Artillery Regiment(Light or Heavy)
• Army of Africa
• Foreign Legion Infantry Tercio
• Moroccan Infantry (Regulares) Grupo
• Artillery Brigade
• Police
• Civil Guard Tercio
• Assault Guard Group
• Political Party and Trade Union Forces and Militias
• Pro-Republic/Anti-Fascist
• Militia
• Anarchist Militia
• Pro-Nationalist/Anti-Communist
• Carlist Requetes
• Falange
• Nationalist Regular Army
• Infantry Brigade
• Cavalry Regiment
• Artillery Regiment (Light or Heavy)
• Republican People's Army/Popular Army
• Infantry Mixed Brigade
• Cavalry Regiment
• International Brigade
• Armour Formations
• Popular Army Armoured Battalion
• Regular Army Armoured Battalion
• Legion Armoured Bandera
• Corpo Truppo Voluntarie (CTV)
• Infantry Regiment
• Artillery Regiment
• Tank Battalion
• Euzko Gudarostea (Basque Army)
• Infantry Battalion
• Higher Level Organisation
• Legion Column - November 1936
• Nationalist Column - Summer/Autumn 1936
• Republican Column - Summer/Autumn 1936
• Republican Militia Columns - Summer/Autumn 1936
• Republican Mixed Brigade - October 1936 onwards
• Nationalist Division - Late 1936 onwards
• Nationalist Brigade - Basque Campaign Spring 1937
• CTV Littorio Division - Guadalajara March 1937
• Resources
• Bibliography
• Figures
• Alphabet Soup
• And Finally

The back cover of the rule book has a QRS (Quick Reference Sheet) for the rules, ...

... and the book is illustrated with very useful and informative colour photographs.

Some notes about the rules:

1. The ability of troops to perform the tasks they are ordered to undertake depends upon their classification and effectiveness. For example, experienced and fanatical troops such as the Foreign Legion will have a higher Will to Combat than committed but untrained Socialist Militia.
2. An army's effectiveness depends the units it comprises, and this will influence whether or not it has the initiative at the beginning of a turn, how many Command Cards it receives, and how may cards it may play before passing play over to its opponent.
3. The ground scale is approximately 1:2400 (6" represents about 400 yards) and a pair of figure bases represent an Infantry Company or Cavalry Squadron. A single base represents two Artillery Platoons or an Armoured Squadron.
4. The Command and Control rules use a full deck of conventional playing cards (fifty-two cards divided into four suits [Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, and Spades] plus two Jokers) and these are used to activate units. Interestingly, it is possible to get a more Spanish 'flavour' by using a set of Spanish playing cards (forty-eight cards divided into four suits [Swords, Cups, Coins, and Clubs]).
5. The rules reflect the fact that the fighting during the Spanish Civil War was very much a contest between opposing armies whose fighting strength was based around the quality and quantity of the Infantry and Artillery that were available. Armoured troops and aircraft played their part, sometimes decisively, but they did not dominate the fighting. Tanks often outran their accompanying infantry, and air attacks were regularly less effective than hoped due to inaccuracy and poor communication.

I thoroughly recommend these rules to anyone who already fights Spanish Civil War brigade and division-level tabletop battles or who is thinking of doing so. They are not a 'World War II-lite' set of rules nor an adaption of an existing set of rules to suit them for the Spanish Civil War; they have been written from scratch with the type of fighting that took place during the war at the forefront of their design.

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FOR WHOM THE DICE ROLLS was written by Graham Evans (AKA Trebian) and published in 2020 by Wargaming for Grown Ups Publications (ISBN 979 8 566468 72 3). It is available from Amazon for £14.99.

I have done a lot of reading since the beginning of the month.

Whilst I was in hospital, my only recreation was reading. As a result, I ‘consumed’ quite a few books that were already on my Kindle. These included:

• PIETR THE LATVIAN by George Simenon
• THE HANGED MAN OF SAINT PHOLIEN by George Simenon
• THE SHIP by C S Forester
• THE GENERAL by C S Forester
• THE CAPTAIN FROM CONNECTICUT by C S Forester
• DEATH TO THE FRENCH by C S Forester
• THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER by Tom Clancy
• SPAIN IN ARMS by E Hooton

Since coming out, I’ve been able to read quite a few printed books, including:

• THE PAULISTA WAR: THE LAST CIVIL WAR IN BRAZIL: PART 1 by Javier G de Gabiola (published in 2020 by Helion and Company ([ISBN 978 1 9128 6638 0])

• WARSAW 1920: THE WAR FOR THE EASTERN BORDERLAND written by Steve Zaloga and illustrated by Steve Noon (Published in 2020 by Osprey Publishing (ISBN 978 1 4728 3729 5])

• ARMIES OF THE ITALIAN-TURKISH WAR: CONQUEST OF LIBYA, 1911-1912 written by Gabriele Esposito and illustrated by Giuseppe Rava (Published in 2020 by Osprey Publishing [ISBN 978 1 4728 3942 8])

• WARSHIPS AFTER LONDON: THE END OF THE TREATY ERA IN THE FIVE MAJOR FLEETS 1930-1936 by John Jordon (Published in 2020 by the Naval Institute Press [ISBN 978 1 6824 7610 9])

I hope to add more books to this list over the Christmas break, especially as I have to remain in isolation until my wound has fully healed and I have recovered from my recent operation.

The assault on Fortine Olivaro: An incident from a Tintin war

Back when I was a child (so it was a very long time ago), I used to enjoy reading Hergé's Tintin books. Amongst my favourites were KING OTTOKAR’S SCEPTRE and THE BROKEN EAR. The latter was mainly set in the South American country of San Theodoros, which was in an almost constant state of revolution and/or incipient war with the neighbouring country of Nuevo Rico.

At one point war breaks out between the two countries for control of the Gran Chapo and its oil fields ... mainly due to the influence of the international arms dealer Basil Bazarov, whose Korrupt Arms Company is working as a sales agency of the Viking Arms Company. Bazarov sells arms to both sides, and encourages both of them to claim the Gran Chapo.

This is the backstory to the following battle report, which sees a Nuevo Rican attack on Fortine Olivaro, a San Theodoran outpost on the Rio Pirana.

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A note about the rules used

The rules were basically the Early and Mid Twentieth Century rules from DEVELOPING THE PORTABLE WARGAME with a few minor changes. These were:

• The Pinning and Unpinning rules were not used.
• All artillery (including mortars) was deemed to be capable of Indirect and Direct Fire.
• The number of times artillery units could fire was limited to reflect the limited ammunition supply situation.
• Machine Gun units that has armoured-piercing ammunition could destroy Light Tanks during the Fire Phase but the amount of such ammunition was limited.
• All hits on units normally cause the loss of Strength Points (SPs). In other words, the RESOLVING HITS ON UNITS table did not include the retreat option. (This is what I have termed in my Eastern Front/Great Patriotic War rules, the 'not one step back' rule.) However, the rules pertaining to commanders who are co-located with units that have been hit were used.

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The battlefield

The fortine (fortified camp) is occupied by San Theodoran troops, and is located on the banks of the Rio Pirana. It comprises a series of trenches whose landward side is protected by a series of barbed wire entanglements.

Opposing them are several lines of trenches that are occupied by Nuevo Rican troops.

The opposing forces

The San Theodoran defenders are drawn from the regular 1st Division, which is one of the main formations of the army. It is led by Colonel Juanitos and comprises:

• 1st Division
• 1st Infantry Regiment (Average, 4 SPs)
• 2nd Infantry Regiment (Average, 4 SPs)
• 3rd Infantry Regiment (Average, 4 SPs)
• 1st Machine Gun Company (Average, 2 SPs) [Has one belt of special armoured piercing bullets that will pierce the armour on light tanks]
• 1st Mortar Company (Average, 2 SPs)
• 1st Artillery Regiment (Average, 2 SPs) [Has enough ammunition to fire six times]
• Colonel Juanitos (Average, 6 SPs)
• Total = 24 SPs; Exhaustion Point = 8 SPs

The attacking Nuevo Rican troops are members of the 1st and 2nd Divisions, who have been reinforced by additional troops. It is led by General Diaz, and they comprise:

• 1st Division
• 1st Infantry Regiment (Average, 4 SPs)
• 2nd Infantry Regiment (Average, 4 SPs)
• 3rd Infantry Regiments (Average, 4 SPs)
• 1st Machine Gun Company (Average, 2 SPs)
• 1st Artillery Regiment (Average, 2 SPs) [Has enough ammunition to fire six times]
• 2nd Division
• 4th Infantry Regiment (Average, 4 SPs)
• 5th Infantry Regiment (Average, 4 SPs)
• 6th Infantry Regiment (Average, 4 SPs)
• 2nd Machine Gun Company (Average, 2 SPs)
• 2nd Artillery Regiment (Average, 2 SPs) [Has enough ammunition to fire six times]
• Additional Troops
• 1st Tank Company (Average, 3 SPs)
• General Diaz (Average, 6 SPs)
• Total = 41 SPs; Exhaustion Point = 14 SPs

The initial positions

The Nuevo Rican troops can be seen occupying the trenches on the left, whilst the San Theodorans are in those on the right.

The battle

Turns 1 to 4

The first four turns of the battle saw the Nuevo Rican 1st and 2nd Artillery Regiments fire a continuous artillery barrage at the frontline San Theodoran trenches.

The Nuevo Rican 2nd Machine Gun Company also took part in this barrage, sweeping the parapet of the opposing trenches.

As a result, both the San Theodoran 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments were reduced to 50% of their original strength.

(San Theodorans had lost 4 SPs; the Nuevo Ricans has lost none.)

Turn 5

The Nuevo Ricans moved first this turn.

As soon as the guns fell silent, the sound of cheers could be heard from the Nuevo Rican trenches as the 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments of the 1st Division and the 4th and 5th Infantry Regiments of the 2nd Division climbed out of their trenches and - accompanied by the Nuevo Rican 1st Tank Company - began their charge across the no-mans-land between the two lines of trenches.

In response, the San Theodoran 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments, the 1st Machine Gun Company, and the 1st Mortar Company opened fire on the attackers.

This inflicted casualties on the Nuevo Rican 1st, 4th, and 5th Infantry Regiments.

(Both sides had lost 4 SPs.)

Turn 6

The Nuevo Rican and San Theodoran artillery opened fire. The Nuevo Rican 1st and 2nd Artillery Regiments tried to knock out the San Theodoran 1st Machine Gun Company, ...

... and the San Theodoran 1st Artillery Regiment concentrated its fire on the Nuevo Rican 2nd Infantry Regiment (which lost 1 SP).

(The San Theodoran 1st Machine Gun Company should have suffered the loss of 1 SP, but because Colonel Juanitos was co-located with the unit, a D6 die was thrown to see if he was killed. He survived, and the loss was negated.)

The San Theodoran moved first this turn.

The San Theodoran 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments, the 1st Machine Gun Company, and the 1st Mortar Company again fired on the attackers, with varying results. Because the Nuevo Rican 1st Tank Company was within range, the 1st Machine Gun Company used its single belt of armoured-piercing ammunition ... and inflicted the loss of 2 SPs on the tank unit! The San Theodoran 1st Infantry Regiment's rifle fire inflicted the loss of 1 SP on the Nuevo Rican 4th Infantry Regiment, but the 2nd Infantry Regiment's fire proved ineffective. The same was not true for the 1st Mortar Company, which reduced the strength of the opposing Nuevo Rican 1st Infantry Regiment by 1 SP.

Cheering and firing wildly as they advanced, the Nuevo Rican infantry reached the barbed wire entanglements in front of the San Theodoran trenches. The 1st Tank Company crashed through the wire, and began to attack the San Theodoran 1st Machine Gun Company. The San Theodorans lost a total of 3 SPs to the fire of the Nuevo Rican infantry and the 1st Tank Company's guns, and although Colonel Juanitos was still with the San Theodoran 1st Machine Gun Company, he escaped death for a second time.

The close combat between the Nuevo Rican 1st Tank Company and the San Theodoran 1st Machine Gun Company proved indecisive, and both units ended up facing each other across the parapet of the San Theodoran trenches.

(By this stage in the battle, the San Theodorans had lost 7 SPs and the Nuevo Ricans has suffered the loss of 9 SPs.)

Turn 7

In the hope that their fire might help their infantry to break through the San Theodoran defences, the Nuevo Rican 1st and 2nd Artillery Regiments fired at the San Theodoran trenches. In reply, the San Theodoran 1st Artillery Regiment fired at the Nuevo Rican 1st Tank Company.

As a result of this artillery fire, the San Theodoran 1st Infantry Regiment was destroyed ... as was the Nuevo Rican 1st Tank Company!

The result of the battle was now on a knife edge. The San Theodorans had reached their Exhaustion Point (the loss of 8 SPs), but the Nuevo Ricans were only 4 SPs from theirs. Both sides threw a D6 dice, and the side with the highest score would move first. The Nuevo Ricans threw a D6 die score of 4 ... and the San Theodorans threw a D6 die score of 6! The San Theodorans moved first this turn.

The San Theodoran 3rd Infantry Regiment moved into the position formerly occupied by the 1st Infantry Regiment, and opened fire on the Nuevo Rican 2nd Infantry Regiment, inflicting a loss of 1 SP. At the same time, the San Theodoran 1st Machine Gun Company poured its fire into the same target, destroying the Nuevo Rican 2nd Infantry Regiment in the process. The San Theodoran 1st Mortar Company failed to inflict any casualties on the Nuevo Rican 1st Infantry Regiment, but the San Theodoran 1st Infantry Regiment was luckier, and caused the Nuevo Rican 4th Infantry Regiment to lose a further 1 SP, destroying it.

At this point both sides had reached their Exhaustion Points (the San Theodorans had lost 8 SPs and the Nuevo Ricans had lost 14 SPs), and the battle ground to a halt. The Nuevo Rican attack had almost succeeded, but the initial artillery bombardment had not weakened the San Theodorans sufficiently, and the barbed wire had stopped them reaching the San Theodoran trenches. As night fell, the Nuevo Ricans withdrew to their trenches to restock their ammunition supplies and to await reinforcements. Whilst they did so, they could hear the sound of the San Theodorans repairing the damage their trenches had suffered during the fighting.

The fighting near Fortine Olivaro was now in a state of stalemate, but who could tell what might happen next?

Forgotten Tank and Guns of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s

I ordered a number of books from Amazon at the same time, and as they have become available, they have been delivered. The latest is David Lister's FORGOTTEN TANKS AND GUNS OF THE 1920s, 1930s AND 1940s.

The book feels like a collection of separate articles, and therefore lends itself more to being something one dips into rather than reads from cover to cover. That is not to say that it is not an interesting book to read; it is ... but it does not feel as if it has a narrative running though it.

The book is split into twelve chapters:

• Chapter 1: Lurking in the Jungle ... which looks at the Japanese heavy tanks that were designed or that never went into series production.
• Chapter 2: Battle Wing ... which looks at the Carden-Baynes airborne light tank/glider and how British tanks were eventually delivered to the battlefield by glider.
• Chapter 3: From the Sea, through the Blood to the Green fields beyond ... which looks at various British amphibious armoured vehicle designs, including the AT-1, which to my untutored eye looked very like a Crusader tank turret atop the hull of a Buffalo amphibious tracked vehicle.
• Chapter 4: You Disston my Tank? ... which looks at various armoured tractors, including the Disston tanks supplied to Afghanistan.
• Chapter 5: The Smoking Gun ... which looks at the development of the British 'close support' tank concept.
• Chapter 6: Hail Hydran! ... which looks at the work of Lewis Motley, the chief designer of Motley products, who designed a tank destroyer based on a Universal Carrier chassis that was armed with four(!) 6-pounder gun barrels that were pre-loaded and discared after being fired AND the Motley rocket gun!
• Chapter 7: The Cambridge Camal ... which looks at the development of the Cambridge Projectile, a lightweight shell designed to be used in the Camal (Cambridge Aluminium) infantry gun.
• Chapter 8: Schwimmpanzer 36
• Chapter 9: Recoil Control ... which looks at development of the the Galliot muzzle break, which was trialled in 1941 on 6-pounder anti-tank guns mounted on a Renault UE armoured carrier and a Lorraine 37L armoured carrier, and later fitted to a 32-pounder gun mounted in the nose of a de Havilland Mosquito FB XVIII (Tsetse) fighter-bomber!
• Chapter 10: The Soldierless Tank ... which looks at various British attempts to produce a radio-controlled tank.
  
• Chapter 11: The Secret Life of the Infantry Tank ... which looks at the various one-man tankettes designed and built by Giffard le Quesne Martel and the A11 Infantry Tank (Matilda Mk.1).
• Chapter 12: The Tanks without a War... which looks at the fail postwar bureaucratic attempt to write a history of British tank development up to 1939. It includes an attempt to explain how the 'cruiser' tank concept came about, and the muddled thinking that led to some tanks being referred to as 'battlecruisers', 'heavy cruisers', 'cruisers', and 'light cruisers' ... sometimes simultaneously! It also covers the background to the A6, A7, A8, A14, and A16 tanks designs, the attempts to find a suitable tank engine and air-cooled tank machine gun, a visit by British officers to Russia to observe tank exercises, and a hilarious (and failed) German project to help their soldiers understand British humour!

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FORGOTTEN TANKS AND GUNS OF THE 1920s, 1930s AND 1940s was written by David Lister, edited by Paul Charlton, and published in 2018 by Pen & Sword Military (ISBN 978 1 52671 453 4).

Enemy At The Gates: Panic Fighters of the Second World War

I have hardly finished writing yesterday's blog entry about the 'jockey' fighter concept, when an Amazon courier delivered a copy of ENEMY AT THE GATES: PANIC FIGHTERS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

Despite the confusing name which it shares with the 2001 film that tells a highly fictionalised version of the life of Russian sniper Vasily Zaitsev during the Battle for Stalingrad, this book is a detailed survey of the fighter aircraft in service or under development at the outbreak of the various conflicts that we group together under the name 'the Second World War'. The main coverage done country by country, and includes

• Germany
• Czechoslovakia
• Poland
• Denmark
• Norway
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• France
• Great Britain
• Switzerland
• Romania
• Hungary
• Yugoslavia
• Greece
• Russia
• Finland
• Lithuanai
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Sweden
• Japan
• China
• Thailand
• Dutch East Indies
• Australia

The book finishes with a chapter that looks at the aircraft the were captured by the various belligerents and reused by them as front line aircraft or for research purposes.

This is certainly a book for anyone interested in some of the more technical aspects of the aircraft used (and planned to be used) during the Second World War. It will also be of interest to those wargamers who enjoy looking at 'what if ...' scenarios and ORBATs as well as those who want some thing a little exotic in the way of aircraft to grace their tabletops during the later interwar period.

The designs that I found fascinating included:

• The Danish Orlogs Vaerftet OV-J-1, which was designed by the naval shipyard just in case the imported aircraft that Denmark had ordered from overseas were not delivered in time.
• The French Roussel R.30, which was a 'jockey' fighter similar in concept to the designs proposed for use by the RAF.

• The French Payen fighters, which used a canard-delta, tandem-wing design. One of these is featured on the cover of the book!

• The French CAPRA R.300, which was an adapted version of a small racer aircraft designed to complete in the 1939 Coupe Deutsch.
• The British Miles M.20/1 'Munich Fighter' and its later development, the M.20/2. These wre both designed for rapid production if the need for a massive expansion of the RAF's fight force was required.

• The British 'Ramming' Spitfire, which was designed (but never built).
• The Chinese Chu (AFAMF) XP-0, which was built using the tail surfaces of a Curtiss Hawk 75, the centre section and landing gear of a North American NA-6, the tail wheel of a Seversky P-43, the engine and cockpit of a Vultee P-66, and newly-designed plywood wings. A real mongrel aircraft, if ever there was one!

• The Australian Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-12 Boomerang, which was a 'panic fighter' that was designed to use components from the licenced-built North American T-6 trainer aircraft. This proved to be a rugged design, and it did great service supporting the Australian Army during the fighting in Borneo.

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ENEMY AT THE GATES: PANIC FIGHTERS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR was written by Justo Miranda and published in 2019 and published by Fonthill Media (ISBN 978 1 78155 766 2).

The 'jockey' fighter concept

Until the advent of an adequate early-warning system, most air forces had to rely on standing air patrols to intercept enemy aircraft. As the bombers became faster and capable of flying higher, designers and air strategists looked for alternatives, and one approach was the development of the 'jockey' fighter.

The 'jockey' fighter was intended to be a point-defence weapon, and was designed to be light-weight and fast so that it could be rapidly deployed to deal with waves of attacking enemy bombers. To meet this need, the Air Ministry issued specification F.20/27. This did not stipulate the design's configuration (i.e. biplane or monoplane designs were acceptable) or the power unit to be used.

In response, Vickers submitted the Type 151 Jockey. This was an experimental low-wing monoplane interceptor fighter powered by a Bristol Mercury IIA nine-cylinder radial engine. During flight testing, the design exhibited vibration towards the tail, but this was cured by the redesign of the rear bracing by Vickers' famous aircraft designer, Barnes Wallis.

Subsequently, the aircraft was re-engined with the Bristol Jupiter VIIF and re designated Type 171 Jockey II.

This was a more streamlined design (the engine was enclosed in a Townend Ring and the wheels were enclosed in spats), and proved to be a promising design. The prototype was lost when it crashed in July 1932, but Vickers were suitable impressed by its performance, and it formed the basis of the Vickers Type 279 Venom.

This was a low-wing monoplane single-seat, single-engined, eight-gun fighter, which proved to be fast and manoeuvrable ... but by the time it came onto the scene, the Air Ministry favoured Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered designs such as the Hurricane and Spitfire. Along with its competitors, the Bristol Type 146, ...

... Gloster F.5/34, ...

... and Martin-Baker MB 2, ...

... the Vickers Venom was rejected and never went into production, even though it was certainly as manoeuvrable as the much higher-powered Spitfire and Hurricane.

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The light-weight fighter concept has been re-visited many times since the interwar period, and the Northrop F-5 is probably the best-known and most successful of these. It first came into service in 1959, and is still being flown in newer versions.

A monitor/coastal battleship for the Reichsmarine?

During the early 1920s, the Reichsmarine began thinking about the ships they might build when the time came to replace their fleet's old pre-dreadnought battleships. Design work began in 1923, but stopped when the German economy collapsed in 1924. Admiral Hans Zenker, the commander in chief of the Reichsmarine, ordered work to recommence at the earliest opportunity, and in 1925 three new proposed designs were added to the two that had been prepared in 1923.

The 1923 designs were designated I/10 (which was a 32-knot cruiser armed with eight 20.5cm/8-inch guns) and II/10 (which was a 22-knot, heavily armored ship armed with four 38cm/15-inch guns). The 1925 designs were designated II/30, IV/30, and V/30 and were all armed with six 30cm/12-inch guns. The later designs were differentiated from each other by their top speed and level of armour protection. What became known as the Deutschland-class Panzerschiffe or 'pocket battleship' evolved from the 1925 designs, although the main armament was reduced in calibre to 11-inch guns in order to avoid provoking an adverse reaction from the allies. (The Versailles Treaty did not stipulate any limit on the calibre of the main armament carried by the new ships, but it was felt that it was advisable to keep to the calibre carried by the pre-dreadnoughts that were being replaced.)

So what would the II/10 monitor/coastal battleship have looked alike?

The design was very similar that of the Sverige-class Swedish coastal defence battleships ...

The Sverige-class coastal defence battleships as originally designed.

The Sverige-class coastal defence battleship Gustav V as modernised during the late 1920s.

... and of the Danish Niels Juel as originally designed.

The coastal defence battleship Niels Juel as originally designed. She was completed as a training cruiser to a heavily revised design.

Warships of the Reichsmarine: The Minesweepers

M28 and M50
Although nominally built as ships from different classes, this pair of ships were almost identical.

The minesweepers M28 and M50 were very similar in appearance.

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 480 tons (M28)/486 tons (M50)
• Dimensions:
• Length: 191ft 6in (58.4m)
• Beam: 24ft (7.3m)
• Draught: 7ft 3in (2.25m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 16.5 knots
• Complement: 40 officers and enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) (M28)/3 x 3.5in (88mm) (3 x 1) guns (M50)

Service histories
M28 was renamed Pelican in 1929 when she served as an experimental mine vessel with the Barrage Research Command. She was renamed M528 in October 1940. Ceded to the USA in 1945, she was used in various capacities by the US forces, including as a barrack ship at Seebeck. She then passed into the control of the US Army in early 1949, but was stricken and broken up during the 1950s.

M50 renamed Brommy in 1937 when she became depot ship for R-boats. She was renamed M550 in 1940, and was bombed and sunk at Boulogne by RAF aircraft on 15th June 1944.

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M57-class

The M57-class, M71-class, M89, and M97-class minesweepers were all built to the same basic design .

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 500 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 194ft 6in (59.8m)
• Beam: 24ft 6in (7.5m)
• Draught: 7ft 3in (2.25m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 16.5 knots
• Complement: 40 officers and enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1)

Service histories
M60 was renamed Hecht in 1938 when she became an experimental ship and tender. Renamed M560 in 1940, and converted into an escort ship for R-boats in 1942. Renamed Hille in 1943, and ceded to Russia in 1945.

M61 she was used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1938 onwards. Sunk by a mine on 26th July 1940 of the Hook of Holland.

M66 was renamed Störtebeker in 1937 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed M566 in 1940 whilst she was attached to the Communications Research Command. Ceded to the USA in 1945, she was used in various capacities by the US forces before being passed into the control of the US Army in early 1949. She was stricken and broken up during the 1950s.

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M71-class
When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 515 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 194ft 6in (59.8m)
• Beam: 24ft 6in (7.5m)
• Draught: 7ft 3in (2.25m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 16.5 knots
• Complement: 40 officers and enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 3.5in (88mm) (2 x 1) (M72 and M85)/3 x 3.5in (88mm) (3 x 1) (M75 to M84)

Service histories
M72 was renamed M572 in 1940. Acted as a barrage training ship from 1942 onward. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as police barrack ship in Bremen. Scrapped in Belgium in 1953.

M75 was renamed M575 in 1940. She sank on 2nd March 1945.

M81 was renamed Nautilus in 1929 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed M581 in 1940 after which she was converted into a torpedo recovery ship. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as a barrack ship. Transferred to the US Army in 1949 and scrapped in Bremerhaven during the 1950s.

M82 was renamed Jagd in 1929 when she became a tender. Renamed M582 in 1940. In 1941 she became a torpedo recovery ship. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as a barrack ship. She was sold in 1954 and scrapped in Bremerhaven in 1955.

M84 was renamed M584 in 1940. In 1942 she was being used as a torpedo recovery ship. She sank on 30th November 1944 after hitting a mine in the Kattegat.

M85 sank on 1st October 1939 after hitting a mine off Heisternest.

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M89 and M97-class
The M89 was the sole survivor of the M87-class to be retained by the Reichsmarine. The M97-class was almost identical to the M87-class.

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 590 tons to 610 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 194ft 6in (59.8m)
• Beam: 24ft 6in (7.5m)
• Draught: 7ft 3in (2.25m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 16 knots
• Complement: 40 officers and enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1)

Service histories
M89 sank on 26th July 1940 of the Dutch coast after hitting a mine.

M98 was renamed M598 in 1940, and used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as a police barracks ship in Bremen until 1948. She was scrapped in 1949.

M102 was renamed M502 in 1940, and used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 and then a leader boat for barrage training. She was ceded to the USA in 1945, and scrapped in Ghent in 1949.

M104 was renamed M504 in 1940. She was bombed and sunk at Kiel on 9th April 1945.

M107 was renamed Von der Groben in 1939 when she became a depot ship for R-boats. She was renamed M507 in 1940 and damaged by a mine off Boulogne in the same year. She was repaired and returned to service, but was bombed and sunk on 15th June 1944 near Boulogne.

M108 was renamed Delphin in 1928 when she became a gunnery training ship. Renamed M508 in 1940. She was ceded to Russian in 1945.

M109 was renamed Johann Wittenborg in 1938 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed Sundevall in 1939 and M509 in 1940. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and used as a barracks ship until 1949, when she was handed over the US Army. She was scrapped in 1950.

M110 was renamed M510 in 1940. She was used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward, and ceded to the USA in 1945. After being used as a barracks ship, she was handed over to the US Army in 1949 and scrapped in Ghent in 1950.

M111 was renamed M511 in 1940. She was used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward, and sank on 3rd November 1941 off Kolberg after hitting a mine.

M113 was renamed Acheron in 1936 when she became a submarine tender. Renamed M513 in 1940. She was ceded to the USA in 1945.

M115 was renamed Arkona in 1935 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed M515 in 1940, she was used as a barrage training ship from 1942 onward. She sank on 22nd May 1944 near Fehmarn after hitting a mine.

M117 was renamed M517 in 1940, and used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward. She was ceded to the USA in 1945.

M122 was used as an S-boat escort from 1938 onward. Renamed M522 in 1940, and used as a torpedo recovery ship from 1941 onward. She was bombed and sunk at Kiel on 20th March 1945. She was subsequently raised and scuttled in the Skagerrak in 1946.

M126 was renamed Alders in 1935 when she became a depot ship for R-boats. Renamed M526 in 1940. She was ceded to the USA in 1945.

M129 was renamed Otto Braun in 1938 when she became an experimental ship. Renamed M529 in 1940. She sank on 2nd December 1941 off Kolberg after hitting a mine.

M130 was renamed Fuchs in 1928 when she became an anti-aircraft training ship. Renamed M530 in 1940 and M3800 in 1944. She was ceded to Russian in 1945.

M133 was renamed Wacht in 1928 when she became a tender. Renamed Raule in 1939 when she became an R-boast escort ship, and M533 in 1940. She was sunk on 9th May 1942 after a collision with R45 off the coast near Boulogne.

M134 was renamed Frauenlob in 1928 when she became a tender. Renamed M534 in 1940, she was bombed and sunk in April 1941 in Bergen. She was subsequently raised, repaired, and then recommissioned and renamed Jungingen when she became an escort ship for R-boats. She was ceded to the USA in 1945.

M135 was renamed Hela in 1923 when she became a fleet tender. Renamed Gazelle in 1938 and M353 in 1940. She was ceded to Russian in 1945, where she was renamed Densa in 1946 and Venta in 1951. Scrapped during the 1960s.

M136 was renamed Havel in 1939 when she became a submarine tender. At some point she was renamed M89. She sank on 26th July 1940 of the Dutch coast after hitting a mine.

M138 was renamed Zieten when she became a fishery protection ship in 1928. She became a station tender in 1932 and an escort ship for R-boats in 1936. She was renamed Nettlebeck in 1939 when she became a depot ship for R-boats and M538 in 1940. She was bombed and badly damaged on 21st June 1944 near Vyborg and towed to Konisgberg, where she was repaired. She was subsequently scuttled by her crew or stranded near Hela as a result of a storm.

M145 was renamed M545 in 1940 and used as a barrage training ship from 1942 onward. She was ceded to the USA in 1945 and sold in 1948 for use as a barrack ship in Hamburg. She was wrecked in 1949, and subsequently broken up.

M146 was renamed Taku in 1933 when she became a fleet tender. Renamed M146 in 1935 and M546 in 1940. In 1941 she was renamed Von der Lippe when she became an escort ship for R-boats. She was bombed and sunk on 15th June 1944 near Boulogne.

Warships of the Reichsmarine: The Destroyers and Torpedo Boats

T139 to T196 (S138-class)
Although built under different annual building programmes, these ships were all but identical. They are sometimes collectively referred to as the S138-class.

The S138-class as built. There were minor variations between individual ships, as shown below.

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 525 tons to 689 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 231ft 11in to 243ft 5in (70.7m to 74.2m)
• Beam: 26ft (7.9m)
• Draught: 9ft to 10ft (2.75m to 3.06m)
• Propulsion:
  • T139 to T158: 2 triple-expansion steam engines, both of which drove a propeller
  • T168 to T196: 2 steam turbines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 30 to 32 knots
• Complement: 3 officers and 77 to 81 enlisted men
• Armament:
• T139 to T149: 1 x 3.5in (88mm) SK L/35 gun (1 x 1); 3 x 2in (50mm) SK L/40 guns (3 x 1); and 3 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (3 x 1)
• T151 to T155: 2 x 3.5in (88mm) SK L/35 guns (2 x 1) and 3 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (3 x 1)
• T156 to T196: 1 x 3.5in (88mm) SK L/35 gun (1 x 1); 2 x 2in (50mm) SK L/40 guns (2 x 1); and 3 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (3 x 1)

Service histories
T139 was stricken in 1927, renamed Pfeil and converted into a control ship for a radio-controlled target ship. Taken out of service in 1937, during the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour.

T141 was stricken in 1927, renamed Blitz and converted into a control ship for a radio-controlled target ship. She was scrapped in Wilhelmshaven in 1933.

T143 was stricken in 1927, and scrapped in Hamburg in 1930.

T144 was stricken in 1927, and scrapped in Essen in 1930.

T146 was stricken in 1928, and scrapped in Essen in 1929.

T148 was stricken in 1928, and scrapped in Wilhelmshaven in 1935.

T149 was stricken in 1927, and scrapped.

T151 was converted into a fast tug in 1937 and renamed Komet. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. Ceded to the USA in 1945, and scrapped in Holland in 1949.

T152 was stricken in 1931, and scrapped in 1935.

T153 was renamed Edouard Jungman in 1938 when she became a gunnery school tender. Ceded to the USA in 1945, and scrapped in Holland in 1949.

T154 was stricken in 1928, and scrapped in 1935.

T155 served as a tender from 1936 onward. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. She was bombed and sunk of 22nd April 1945 at Swinemunde.

T156 was converted into a submarine tender in 1934. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. Renamed Bremse in 1944. She was scuttled in Kiel on 3rd May 1945, and broken up.

T157 was converted into a submarine tender in 1934. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. She was mined and sunk in the Baltic on 22nd October 1943.

T158 was converted into a submarine tender in 1934. During the Second World War she served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour. Ceded to Russia in 1945, and renamed Prozorlivyy.

T168 was stricken in 1927, and scrapped in Hamburg.

T175 was stricken in 1926, and scrapped in Hamburg.

T185 was rearmed in 1920 at Wilhelmshaven with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 3 x 17.9in (450mm) torpedo tubes. Stricken in 1932, renamed Blitz and converted into a fast tug and control ship for a radio-controlled target ship. Ceded to Russia in 1945, and renamed Vystrel.

T190 was renamed Claus von Bevern in 1938 when she became an experimental ship. She was ceded to the USA in 1945, and scuttled in the Skagerrak in 1946.

T196 served as the Flagship of the Minesweeping Command from 1938 onward. Ceded to Russia in 1945, and renamed Pronzitelnyy.

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V1-class
Although built under different programmes, these ships were all but identical.

The V1-class as built.

When built, their characteristics were:

• Displacement: 570 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 230ft 3in (70.2m)
• Beam: 24ft 9in (7.6m)
• Draught: 10ft 2in (3.1m)
• Propulsion: 2 steam turbines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 32 knots
• Complement: 3 officers and 71 enlisted men
• Armament: 2 x 3.5in (88mm) SK L/35 guns and 4 × 19.7in (500mm) torpedo tubes (4 x 1)

Service histories
V1 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1939, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven.

V2 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1929, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven in 1930.

V3 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1929, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven in 1930.

V5 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1929, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven in 1930.

V6 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She was stricken in 1929, and scrapped at Wilhelmshaven in 1930.

G7 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She served as a training ship from 1936 onwards. Renamed T107 in 1939, by which time her armament comprised 1 x 4.1in (105mm) (1 x 1) guns, 2 x 20mm AA guns (2 x 1), and 3 x 19.7in (500mm) (1 x 1 and 1 x 2) torpedo tubes. She was ceded to Russia in 1945 and renamed Porazaiuskyy. Probably scrapped in 1950.

G8 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She served as a training ship form 1936 onwards. Renamed T108 in 1939, by which time her armament comprised 1 x 4.1in (105mm) (1 x 1) guns, 2 x 20mm AA guns (2 x 1), and 3 x 19.7in (500mm) (1 x 1 and 1 x 2) torpedo tubes. She was ceded to the UK in 1945 and scrapped in 1946.

G10 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She served as a training ship form 1936 onwards. Renamed T110 in 1939, by which time her armament comprised 1 x 4.1in (105mm) (1 x 1) guns, 2 x 20mm AA guns (2 x 1), and 3 x 19.7in (500mm) (1 x 1 and 1 x 2) torpedo tubes. She was scuttled at Trave on 5th May 1945.

G11 was rearmed in 1921 with 2 x 4.1in (105mm) (2 x 1) guns and 2 x 19.7in (500mm) (2 x 1) torpedo tubes. She served as a training ship form 1936 onwards. Renamed T111 in 1939, by which time her armament comprised 1 x 4.1in (105mm) (1 x 1) guns, 2 x 20mm AA guns (2 x 1), and 3 x 19.7in (500mm) (1 x 1 and 1 x 2) torpedo tubes. She was bombed and sunk in Kiel on 3rd April 1945.

S18 was stricken in 1931 and scrapped in Wilhelmshaven in 1935.

S19 was stricken in 1931 and scrapped in Kiel in 1935.

S23 was renamed T23 in 1932. Renamed T123 in 1939 when she became a training ship. Renamed again in 1939 (Komet) when she became a control ship for the radio-controlled target ship Hessen. She also served as an Auxiliary Torpedo Boat, escorting U-boats into and out of harbour, and was ceded to Russian in 1945.

Warships of the Reichsmarine: The Light Cruisers

Gazelle-class
The surviving six ships of the Gazelle-class were retained by the Reichsmarine.

The Gazelle-class as built.

When built, the Gazelle-class’s characteristics were:

• Displacement: 2,706 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 344ft 6in (105m)
• Beam: 40ft 8in (12.4m)
• Draught: 17ft 6in (5.38m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple-expansion steam engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 21.5 knots
• Range: 4,400 nautical miles
• Complement: 14 officers and 256 enlisted men
• Armament: 10 x 4.1in (105mm) SK L/40 guns (10 x 1) and 2 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (2 x 1)
• Armor: Deck: 0.8in to 1in (20mm to 25mm)

Service histories
Arcona had been converted into was a minelayer capable of carrying 200 mines in 1911/12, and was acting as a coastal defence ship when the First World War ended. She served with the fleet from 1921 to 1923, and after a period laid up, she was stricken in 1931 and used as an accommodation ship at Wilhelmshaven, Swinemunde, and Kiel. In 1942 she was converted into a floating AA battery (Flak ship), and was armed with 5 x 4.1in (105mm) AA guns, 2 x 37mm AA guns, and 4 x 20mm AA guns. (This armament was later increased.) She was scuttled on 3rd May 1945 and finally scrapped between finally scrapped in 1948/49.

Medusa had had her armament reduced to 6 x 4.1in (105mm) guns in 1916 whilst she acted as a tender to SMS Konig Wilhem. She served with the fleet from 1920 to 1924, and after a period laid up, she was stricken in 1927 and used as an accommodation ship at Wilehlmshaven. In 1942 she was converted into a floating AA battery (Flak ship), and was armed with 5 x 4.1in (105mm) AA guns, 2 x 37mm AA guns, and 4 x 20mm AA guns. (This armament was later increased.) She was scuttled on 3rd May 1945 and finally scrapped between 1948 and 1950.

Arcona and Medusa as rebuilt for service as Flak ships.

Amazone had been disarmed in 1916, and served as an accommodation ship in Kiel until she was rearmed and refitted in 1921/23 at Wilhelmshaven for service with the fleet. Her ram bow was replaced by raked bow, which improved and modernised her appearance. She was stricken in 1931, and became an accommodation ship in Kiel. After the war she was used to house displaced persons. She was finally scrapped in Hamburg in 1954.

Thetis had been rearmed with more modern guns in 1917 to serve as a gunnery training ship. She was stricken in 1929 and scrapped in Hamburg in 1930.

Nymphe had been disarmed by 1916 and was serving as an accommodation and drill ship in Kiel. She was rearmed and refitted in 1923/24 at Wilhelmshaven for service with the fleet. Like Amazone, her former ram bow was replaced by a raked bow. She was stricken in 1931 and scrapped in Hamburg in 1932.

Niobe had been disarmed by 1916 and was serving as an accommodation and headquarters ship at Wilhelmshaven. In 1925 she was stricken, and sold to Yugoslavia. She was rebuilt, rearmed, and renamed Dalmacija, and served with the Yugoslav Navy until she was captured by the Italians. She was renamed Cattaro, but when Italy capitulated, she was taken over by the Kriegsmarine and renamed Niobe. On 22nd December 1943 she was torpedoed in the Adriatic by Royal Navy MTBs, and subsequently sank.

Dalmacija (the former German Niobe) was extensively rebuilt so that she could be used as a training cruiser by the Yugoslav Navy. She was captured by the Italians after the invasion of Yugoslavia, and renamed Cattaro (the Italian name for Kotor). When the Italians capitulated, she was seized by the Germans ... who renamed her Niobe.

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Bremen-class
Two of the surviving ships of the Bremen-class were retained by the Reichsmarine.

The Bremen-class as built.

When built, the Bremen-class’s characteristics were:

• Displacement: 3,737 tons
• Dimensions:
• Length: 364ft 6in (111.1m)
• Beam: 43ft 8in (13.3m)
• Draught: 18ft 2in (5.53m)
• Propulsion: 2 triple-expansion steam engines, both of which drove a propeller
• Speed: 22 knots
• Range: 4,270 nautical miles
• Complement: 14 officers and 274 enlisted men
• Armament: 10 x 4.1in (105mm) SK L/40 guns (10 x 1) and 2 × 17.7in (450mm) torpedo tubes (2 x 1)
• Armor: Deck: 3.1in (80mm)

Service histories
Hamburg served as an accommodation ship in Wilhelmshaven for the Flag Officer, Submarines until the end of the First World War. In 1925 – after being laid up since the end of the war – she was refitted and rearmed with 8 x 4.1in (105mm) (8 x 1) and 2 × 21in (533mm) torpedo tubes (2 x 1) for fleet service. She served as a training cruiser from 1926 to 1927 before being stricken in 1931. She again became an accommodation ship for submarine crews, this time in Kiel. In 1944 she moved to Hamburg, where she was bombed and sunk. She was later raised and scrapped in 1956.

Berlin served at Jutland but 1917 she has been reassigned to duty as a coastal defence ship. In 1921/23 – after being laid up since the end of the war – she was rebuilt at Wilhelmshaven with a new raked bow in place of her original ram bow, refitted, and rearmed with 8 x 4.1in (105mm) (8 x 1) and 2 × 19.7in (500mm) torpedo tubes (2 x 1) for fleet service. She served as a training cruiser from 1923 to 1927 before being stricken in 1935. She then served as an accommodation ship at Kiel until the end of the Second World War, and in 1947 she was loaded was loaded with chemical weapons and scuttled in the Skagerrak.