Problems with Blogger?

I seem to be experiencing a few minor but irritating problems with Blogger.

I can write blog posts and respond to comments on my PC, but my iPad will only allow me to do the former at present. As I tend to write blog posts on my PC and respond to comments using my iPad, this situation is a bit of a nuisance. I think that this might be due to the latest ‘update’ to the iPad operating system … but I cannot verify that, and none of the settings seem to have changed.

Is anyone else experiencing this, or is it just me?

Fletcher Pratt Naval War Game

This morning I am off to central London to take part in a naval battle that is being put on by members of the Jockey's Fields Irregulars. The rules that are going to be used are a version of Fletcher Pratt's Naval Wargame rules, and my role will be to act as the admiral commanding one of the opposing fleets. I have even bought a suitable hat for the occasion!

When I was younger and fitter, I used to enjoy being one of the active participants in a Fletcher Pratt's Naval Wargame, but age and infirmity (mainly arthritis) mean that although I can get down without any problems, getting back up is somewhat difficult ... and I cannot spend the entire day crawling about on the floor!

I was first read about Fletcher Pratt's Naval Wargame in Donald Featherstone's book NAVAL WAR GAMES but never used the rules until I took part in Eric Knowles's Madasahatta Campaign. During one of the battles we fought during that campaign, I commanded the Imperial Japanese battleship Fuso ... with deadly results for the combined German/Turkish squadron opposing me!

I have been to ... the Naval Museum, Cartagena

It is some years since I last visited the Naval Museum in Cartagena, and when the opportunity arose during our recent cruise to do so again, I jumped at it!

The museum is housed on the ground floor of an eighteenth century building that was originally used to house prisoners and slaves. After the Spanish Civil War it became the Marine Instruction Barracks, and in 2005 it was remodelled for use as part of the campus of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena and to provide a home for the Naval Museum.

In 2013, the former Calderería del Arsenal (the Arsenal boiler works) was added to the museum as the Isaac Peral Hall. The submarine that he designed was then moved from its former location on the seafront to the new hall.

The entrance to the museum.

The museum is divided into a number of thematic areas:

Naval construction (which contains a large collection of superb ship models)

A model of one of my favourite classes of battleships ... the España-class.

Navigation

Naval artillery and portable weapons

The gun and carriage used for the funeral of Alphonso XIII.

Examples of an Oerlikon and a Hispano-Suiza 20mm automatic cannons.

Naval Health

Flags and uniforms

Marine infantry

Diving

Underwater weapons

A Schwartzkopff torpedo. It was made of bronze and manufactured in German by Eisengießerei und Maschinen-Fabrik von L. Schwartzkopff, later known as Berliner Maschinenbau.

A Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar or projector. It fired a pattern of twenty-four anti-submarine mortar bombs ahead of the ship carrying it.

The museum is free to enter, but they do request a 'voluntary' 3 Euro contribution to the cost of its upkeep, and it is good value for the money. The museum also has a small shop which carries quite a varied stock, and I left with three excellent unframed prints.

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For a far more detailed look at the museum's exhibits, pay a visit to my blog posts of 2014 here, here, and here.

In 2018 also featured examples of some of the artwork on display, and this blog post can be viewed here.

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Spanish warships in Cartagena

Cartagena is one of the Spanish Navy's main naval bases, and during our recent cruise to Iberia, I had the opportunity to photograph several of the warships that are based there.

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Reina Ysabel (A-06): Suardiaz Galicia-class Transport ship

Originally built for and operated by the Suardiaz shipping company as the Galicia, this ship was purchased second-hand in 2020 to replace two older transport ships, the El Camino Español (A-05) and Martín Posadillo (A-04). She was refitted for her new role in Vigo and was commissioned into the Spanish Navy on 2nd June 2021.

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Meteoro (P-41): Meteoro-class Patrol ship

The current six ships of the Meteoro-class are in service as patrol ships. They were designed by Navantia as Buque de Acción Marítima (BAM), a modular design of warship that can be adapted to perform other roles. A second batch of six is planned, four of which will be patrol boats and the other two will be an oceanographic research ship and a submarine rescue ship.

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Neptuno (A-20): Amatista Mod-class Submarine rescue ship

The Neptuno will remain in service until a specially adapted ship from the as yet to be constructed second batch of the Meteoro-class is built to replace her.

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Sella (M-32) and Duero (M-35): Segura-class Mine countermeasure vessels

The design of the six Segura-class vessels is based upon the Royal Navy's Sandown-class Minehunters.

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Galerna (S-71): Galerna-class Submarine

One of the two remaining submarines of the four Galena-class submarines built in the early 1980s. The design was based on that of the French Agosta-class submarine. Galena is currently being refitted for further service, and will remain in commission until the S-80 Plus submarines come into service.

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Isaac Peral (S-81): Isaac Peral/S-80 Plus-class Submarine

One of four submarines being built to replace the earlier Galena-class submarines. The design is based on that of the French S-80 submarine.

Nugget 340

For the second issue running, the printers did an excellent job and turned around the printing of THE NUGGET in a couple of days. I will collect it from them later today and will get it out in the post to members tomorrow. In the meantime, members can read this issue online.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this is the fourth issue of THE NUGGET to be published for the 2021-2022 subscription year. If you have not yet re-subscribed, a reminder was sent to you some time ago. If you wish to re-subscribe using the PayPal option on the relevant page of the website, you can use the existing buttons as the subscription cost has not changed.

Fire support for my Army Kepi Rouge

I have now added some machine gun and artillery units to what was my FUNNY LITTLE WARS/PORTABLE WARGAME ARMY KEPI ROUGE ... or as it is now know, the Army of Burgundy!

All that remains is to paint and base the army's cavalry and mounted generals ... and then it will be finished ... for the time being!

Other people's Portable Wargame battle reports: A bit of a catch-up

I had not realised that I had not done a quick review of what other people were doing with the PORTABLE WARGAME since the middle of October ... so this blog post is an attempt to catch-up with recent developments.

Over on the PORTLAND LITTLE WARS blog, Spencer CF has fought a number of wargames using the rules, some set during La Belle Époque ...

... and some during the Ancient period.

Furthermore, they have come up with a very interesting Belle Époque Battle Maker, which I recommend to anyone looking for a means of generating forces and scenarios.

Barry Carter pitched some Late 15th century Swiss against a number of French Ecourcheurs in a sort of Big Battle version of the PORTABLE WARGAME with 3 or 6 base units fighting over a 4-inch grid on a 3 foot table. The figures are made by WoFun and en mass the results are stunning.

He has also fought a number of battles twice, one using DBA and one using the PORTABLE WARGAME rules and comparing the result.

Stephen Smith has been painting up a large number of 1/72nd Napoleonic figures ...

... and has so far created the French 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Corps as they were in 1813.

Paul David Leeson has been running an English Civil War campaign set in Spring 1645.

Nick Nascati has been preparing forces for an Anglo-Zulu War clash.

Lee Gramson has been working on some terrain to go with his 6mm Crimean War figures. He has attempted to try to 'hide' the grid as mush as possible, and looking at what he has so far produced, he seems to have been very successful!

The rules got a lot of exposure when Mike Lewis and company ran a game at SALUTE2021 using 54mm figures.

The scenario was 'Relief of Fort Pippin' ... a place that some of you might well know from a famous BBC children's TV series!

Martin Smith has been fighting a number of battles in the Sudan ...

... and Mark Cordone has been preparing for a campaign set in an imagi-world version of North America.

Wow! What a lot has happened during those weeks between mid October and the end of November, and one wonders what new innovations and ideas users will come up with and what battles that would have fought by the next time a do a review of other people's PORTABLE WARGAME battle reports!

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Please note that the photographs featured above are © Spencer CF, Barry Carter, Stephen Smith, Paul David Leeson, Nick Nascati, Lee Gramson, Mike Lewis, Martin Smith, and Mark Cordone.