"British Desert Force 1941" Topic

link

youtu.be/QetIfmoQnUc

My name is Ken and I am a Gamer, it's been 4 days since I last bought any figures.

This project is a warning to you all, this was supposed to be a box of Perrys Miniatures and a couple of Tanks, it got out of hand.

I've done a video of the collection on the Utubes and if you don't do videos there are are loads of photos on the blog post.

It's a downhill slope, don't let it be you.

Regards Ken
The Yarkshire Gamer

Nicely done – Whats next…

How you have to do the German/Italian forces.

Seeing your addiction, I mean collection, makes me feel a whole lot better about myself. ;-)

Fantastic work, Ken, and many thanks for sharing.

Once lockdown is over do you fancy getting some of that collection onto my Mediterranean table? I've got a whole load of Afrika Korps just spoiling for a battle.

Here's the latest blog about progress: link I need to post a progress update because it has moved on a bit over the course of the last week.

Most impressive! Love that Caunter camouflage.

Many thanks all,

Disaster Gamer – next for the Desert are some Germans
Walkabout – my Italian Foprce is only a touch smaller

Regards Ken
The Yarkshire Gamer

That's glorious, well done Yarkshire!

I would love to do desert war Italians. especially those cool purpose built vehicles like the Camioneta. Unfortunately my WW2 stuff is all individually based 15mm stuff and apart from the long obsolete Flames of War models no one seems to do them.

I am very impressed

With those Matildas I am afraid your Italians don't stand much of a chance

Amazing collection Ken, and a swanning good show!

Yarkshire,
If you saw my Africa Korp you would not feel bad in the least :D Excellent work on your part,by the way. :)

Frederick, The Italians don't stand much of a chance against angry school kids armed with slingshots! LOL

But…they sure do look nice, again excellent work on display there.

This is why I warn people not to bring a bag of lead home unless they're prepared to fill a table. But you appear to have exceeded even my expectations.

Nice looking bunch, though.

So much Caunter, it's luverly!

Dumb question (because I really have no business visiting this site, even though I do so on a daily basis). Does this magnificent collection represent the evolution of the 8th Army, by showing some of the earliest AFVs against later (not latest I admit, no M3s or M4s)?

I guess because I see Crusaders and early Stuarts lined up with A10s, A12s and 13s and light tanks from 1940/1-ish? Were they contemporary? I fully accept they may have been mind you!

Many thanks everyone, answering the questions,

deadhead – this collection is to cover our Op Compass Campaign and our future Op Crusader Campaign so it covers a time span of Dec 1940 to Dec 1941. So it runs A9, A10, A13, Crusader, Honey.

Fredrick – they are tough cookies but if you have a look at our refights on the Yarkshire Gamer blog they don't always have their own way.

Regards Ken
The Yarkshire Gamer

Hi, Ken.

Nice stuff!

Any chance you get that many tanks on the table a one time?

Ooo, lovely. Terrain must be a challenge though. How do you make it interesting?

Cheers,

Northern Front – one day hopefully but they cover Dec 1940 to Dec 1941 so there is some overlap.

4th Cuirass- a good game mat helps a lot, I can only defer to the regular Game reports on Yarkshire Gamer we've spent a bit on things like rocky outcrops and scrub areas, I think we do alright.

Regards Ken
The Yarkshire Gamer

Good question, but the German A/T guns of DAK had no trouble making it "interesting". Does not take much of a ridgeline to influence a WWII armoured battle. But you are right, no buildings, no trees, no roads…..maybe the odd camel.

So clever to marry up the very early hopeless British armour (OK no the Matilda II) with the later stuff.

My stuff also covers 1940/41. It is amazing quite how much of the old junk was still in action (particularly in 7th Armoured Brigade) in Operation Crusader, alongside those shiny new Honeys and Crusaders.

Beautifully done! Love that Caunter!

I love British early war tanks, especially the Cruiser series the Mk III/IV is a beauty, as is the Crusader.

But I suspect you would not want to serve in one, whether an A 9, 10 etc. They were thinly armoured, with tracks that came off too easily. Other than the Matilda II, they were hopeless and designed for speed (when not needed, as irrelevant) and not defence (however you spell that) against A/T weaponry used by the Hun.

I fully agree they make great models. I once had them all, largely scratchbuilt back them, based on Valentine suspensions.

I'd be quite happy in an A9 or A10 when my opponent is in a L3 Tankette, it's all relative to what the enemy has.

Regards Ken
The Yarkshire Gamer

WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👍👍!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely awesome stuff. Your blog helped me switch to 28mm and your collection is something to aim for!

@Deadhead. I believe de-tracking is an issue with most high speed tracked vehicles (I own a tracklayer and they are quite capable of doing so at low speeds too!). The early Cruiser was fit for purpose by 1930s standards and was up armoured and equipped with a better gun when it evolved into the Crusader.