WAR DEPARTMENT - PRESS RELEASE THE BIG BATTLE LEAGUE HAS BEGUN! In late October at New Malden, Surrey, the first ever Big Battle League game was played in a present day scenario, representing the start of a new interest in ultramodern wargaming! Under the scrutiny of Umpire-in-Chief Terry Wise, the massed armour and air forces of the New Malden-based War Department Modern Miniature Warfare Group invaded a hostile 48ft coastline. Yes 48ft! For the 2-day Game was played on a 1000 sq. ft. floor representing an actual area in South Wales with over 100 buildings, 200ft of roads and rivers, especially constructed cliffs and hills, and 100ft HO/00 railway system! The fictitious land, Arcadia, was defended by elements from most of the major London wargames clubs, including: North London Wargames Society; South London and Whitehall Warlords; Hampton Wargames Club and Wandsworth Wargames Club. It is estimated that some 4000 infantry, 700 AVFs and 200 aircraft, including Phantoms, Eagles and Harriers, and helicopter gunships clashed in the truly ferocious battle when over 40 landing craft and missile patrol boats took part in the landings. Amongst the superbly scratch-built items of special interest were the MiG 25s and artillery missile systems of Steve Tulk (N. London) and the Anti-mine Sleds and Rapier Missile Systems of the War Department. Eventually defeat was conceded by the War Department, on the very brink of tactical nuclear confrontation, but enthusiasm from the exhausted players was such that an entire new World Game Campaign is to be played, starting early in the New Year. The War Department wishes to make it known that there are countries "available" in the brave new mini-world for interested clubs and individuals in the Greater London area and Home Counties. The University of Surrey Club and the South London Warlords have already joined. The War Department itself welcomes new recruits from the Surrey and S.W.London area, and welcomes interest from anyone within the 'U.K. (Terry Mutlow: 01-949-2100). Revised Big Battle League Rules are under preparation and enquiries with S.A.E. should be made to: War Department, 17 Charter Court, Linden Grove, New Malden, Surrey. THE NATIONAL WARGAMES CHAMPIONSHIPS will be organised in 1976 by the Humberside Military Society (Secretary, Mrs. S. Lazenby, 109 The Parkway, Willerby, Hull, N. Humberside) on Saturday/Sunday 2/3rd October 1976, at the Royal Station Hotel, Hull, Entry forms are available (send S.A.E.). Periods are Ancient; Mediaeval; Renaissance; Napoleonic; American Civil War and World War II. In the October, 1975, Wargamer's Newsletter, in the section entitled LOOKING AROUND, you mentioned "The Journal of the Club Francaise de la Figurine Historique", what is the address of this magazine? Club Francaise de la Figurine Historique, c/o Segom 50, Boulevard Malesherbes, Paris 8e, France. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 167 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1976 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com