"Cruel Seas Higgins Boats" Topic

Hi Guys,

Here's a few pics of some Warlord PT Boats painted up as those from USN MTB Squadron 15 (RON15), modeled after the most veteran PT boat squadron that operated in the Mediterranean during WWII. I've built the models stock, with their early torpedo launch tubes attached (rather than as later retrofitted with roll-off racks), which limited the paint scheme to ones from the 1943 to early 1944 period. The scheme chosen was Measure 13, and the air recognition colors fore and aft have also been applied.

RON15 PTs had a distinctive forward flag on the bow, which I debated on doing, but decided not to, because its mounted would have been precarious and susceptible to breaking off during gaming, and these will get played with a lot I'm hoping.

This USN squadron often operated with British MTBs, and the relationship was mutually beneficial – the US boats had excellent radar, while the British boats better torpedoes (initially). Discovering that the USN and RN MTBs operated closely together in the Med., sealed the deal for me to get these Higgins boats painted up, so I could use them with my British Vospers and Dog Boats together in combined flotilla scenarios!

It was fun – and sometimes frustrating – researching the various paint scheme used by squadrons in this theater of operations, but Measure 13 was the scheme I finally settled on. I like their look…..but if not for the air recognition flashes, they might have become fairly inconspicuous looking models on the waves of our game mat -

They look great.

Excellant!

Nice work.

Where did you find the information on the air recognition flashes?

Thanks guys!

Dave, that came about from comparing photos (some in color) of RON15 boats, and cross-referencing them with the work done for the recent restoration of PT-305 of RON22.

A great photo resource here, for endeavoring to research a particular squadron -

link

Interesting link.

Great looking boats!