Joy of Six 2022 preparation
Joy of Six is back again for 2022. Here is the set-up plan for the combined Sari Bair and Suvla Bay scenarios:
HMT River Clyde
His Majesty’s Troopship (HMT) River Clyde was a collier converted into a Landing Craft Infantry (LCI). It was used to land British infantry during the amphibious landings a ‘V’ Beach, off Cape Helles at the southern end of the Gallipoli peninsula. Here is a 3D digital version that I have created using CAD software. Two machine gun emplacements, which were made of steel on the original, can be seen near the bow. The openings in the hull can also be seen, whereby troops were able to debouch along specially built unloading ramps:
HMS Scorpion after undercoating
This is the Combrig 1:700 scale Beagle- or G-Class destroyer with a coat of light grey Tamiya primer:
British 18 pounders
The British forces are building up in preparation for next year’s Joy of Six show. The goal is to demonstrate the Suvla Bay and Sari Bair battles on a single very large table. More 18 pounder field guns are needed. I set to with the CAD software and 3D printer. First results below: a 1/300 scale version on the left; and a 120% larger version that is consistent with the field guns from Baccus. Still a work-in-progress but I am happy with the results so far:
Temporary Pier
Here is a close-up view of the 3D printed pier. There is an infantry brigade HQ and an engineer company nearby, plus the Beetle approaching the shore:
Suvla Bay
The Sari Bair games have been very interesting (see here, here and here) but time to move on to the Suvla Bay landings. The amphibious operation was launched in cooperation with the assault on Sari Bair ridge. Here is a photo of the table, with Salt Lake visible in the distance. The 4’x6’ table, which represents 4x6 km, covers the southern part of the Suvla Bay area. The layers of Hexon terrain represent 20m contours:
This next photo is a composite, showing Sari Bair ridge in the foreground and the new Suvla Bay South table next to it. The plan is to recreate both tables plus the area still further north on a third table. The combined set-up will be demonstrated at Joy of Six 2021 show in Sheffield and, hopefully, SELWG:
The landings were supported by purpose-built infantry landing craft, known as Beetles because of their colour and shape. Here are two PT-Dockyards models of Beetles inbound to the shore with supplies. A temporary pier has been built. This is a 3D resin print on an integrated 30 x 60mm base:
Another view of the pier:
And an original photo of a pier at Suvla Bay, which I used as the inspiration for the 3D model:
Ottoman Jandarma
The Ottoman Jandarma was an internal security force formed after the abolition of the Janissary corps. In WW1, Jandarma units served in the fight to defend Gallipoli. Battalions were involved in the defence against the Suvla Bay landings for example. Here are Baccus figures from the Colonial Egytian range (CEG02) painted as Jandarma. Each stand represents a company:
Sedd el Bahr Fort in 3D
Using the process known as photogrammetry, it has been possible to turn 42 iPhone images of my model of Sedd el Bahr Fort into a 3D image. This is a screenshot from the software that turns the photos, all taken from different angles, into a colourised replica:
And here is what the 3D model looks like when ready to print:
Here is a photo of the final result. The base measures the standard 3” x 3”, as used for forts and BUAs in Great War Spearhead:
Sari Bair playtesting
Shawn and I are working on a Gallipoli scenario book. My long-time interest has been the Battle of Sari Bair. Here is the table set up for play testing. The trenches and dried river beds are from TimeCast. The figures are mostly from Baccus; the Australians with green bases are Irregular Miniatures. The Right and Left Covering Forces can be seen along the shoreline in the middle-left of the picture:
The next photo shows the battle underway. It shows the New Zealand Brigade snaking up Rhododendrum Ridge towards Chunuk Bair. The lead infantry company has reached the Apex. Further down, New Zealand Mounted Rifles have occupied the Table Top and Bauchop’s Hill positions:
More photos and a detailed AAR will be posted soon.
HMS Talbot
HMS Talbot was an Eclipse-class armoured cruiser that provided naval gunfire support for the Suvla Bay landings in August 1915. This is a 3D printed model from The War Times Journal (see the store here):
Here she is, plying her trade on the day:
