Recently the frigate HMS TARTAR and Royal Marine Commandos from 45 Commando Group, Arbroath, took part in a routine joint-Service anti-terrorist exercise in the Shell/Esso Indefatigable Field on board a gas platform in the Southern North Sea. The Commandos had been flown from nearby RAF Coltishall by Wessex Mk. 5 helicopters from 846 Squadron, normally based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. The exercise was carried out with the full co-operation of the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA). There seems to be a great deal of scope here for a really interesting combined air-sea-commando operation wargame, along highly topical lines. It could be fought either as an Individual Skirmish or an ordinary wargame to specifically designed rules. The figures exist for the Commando's, both in 25mm and 54mm, but the terrorists would require conversion from some existing figures. A certain ingenuity would be required to make the gas-platform (or oil-rig if you like) although the table-top could represent the surrounding sea with a square of hardboard laid on to act as the area of the gas platform that forms the combat arena. (Photographs kindly provided by the Public Relations Department, Ministry of Defence PR6). Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 163 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1975 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com