"I should like to tell you something about the state of wargaming in Italy. I know only six wargames clubs and generally the hobby is unknown in its essence; only one book on Napoleonic period (in Italian language) is on sale but English rules are still the best. We have founded a Club, the Gruppo Studio Wargame and I would like to ask you to accept honorary membership, the support of such a well-known wargamer as yourself would boost our morale very much. I have read in the March issue of Wargamer's Newsletter "An Antidote to the Big Battalions" 1/300 World War Tl games by A.Grainger, and I would express my own thought on it. I find the scale indicates from Mr. Grainger 1"= 100 yds or 10mm = 50 m) is excellent for 1/300. I would notice that tanks in this scale are 20 x 10 mm, and the engaged space corresponds in reality 5000 square metres (each 1600 sq.m.), so I have resolved a scale of 1 model tank = 3 real tanks and 1 Heroic figure on a base of 10 x 10 mm., it corresponds to 20 or 30 men. It is possible to so reproduce units like coys and also regiments. I have a table of 2000 x 1240 mm (79 x 49 inches) and I have played many games in this scale and can assure you that also in massive set-pieces assault with difficult battles are dominated by infantry. Unfortunately I have little knowledge of the English language and cannot go deeply into other subject but I include one sheet with some sketch ideas. From "Tank Battles in Miniature - Western Desert" - October 1940: British Armoured Division (1 tank = 3 real tanks, 1 fig = 20 real). Tanks 122 (Bde 61, Btn 20, Infantry 30 Heroics soldiers) A/T 12, 25 pdr Guns. Wargame Research Group Adaptable chapters, (June '73 ed.). Conversion from normal dice to percentage dice: 2 normal dice: 2 = 9%; 3 = 18%; 27%; 5 = 36%; 6 = 45%; 7 = 54%; 8 = 64%; 9 = 73%; 10 = 82%; 11 = 91% and 12 100%. 1 normal dice: 1 = 17%; 2 = 35%; 3 = 50%; 4 = 67%; 5 = 83% and 6 = 100% Poor training = less military efficiency.a) to penalise fire effects (b) increase of mechani- cal breakdown (e.g. Strategy and Tactics No.29 page 1(c) "Each conversation, telephone call or signal takes a complete bound" (from page 11 W.R.G., General) one die : 1, 2, 5 = 3 complete bounds, 4, 5 = 6 complete bounds, 6 = 10 complete bounds. For infantry fire you throw five times; (from page 15 W.R.G.) "Single riflemen or group of 4 men with rifles or S.M.G." 4 men x five throwings = 20 men firing. Scales adopted from Gruppo Studio Wargame:- 10mm = 1m max. level squad (54mm soldiers) "Skirmish Wargaming". 10mm = 1m max level platoon (40mm soldiers); 10mm = 10m max. level companies (20mm soldiers); 10mm = 50m. max. level battalions (6mm soldiers)." --G. de Domenica of Rome, Italy "I have just read R.G.Cordery's letter in the June 1976 issue of the Newsletter and I would like to add my voice to his. I have only been a wargamer fora relatively short length of time but, until I resorted to solo-wargaming, I was well acquainted withthose "wargamers" who play only to win. Although I obviously like to win, I prefer campaigns wherebattles play only a limited role in deciding the victor. Needless to say, solo campaigns are not themost straightforward facet of wargaming, and prejudices are difficult to nullify. However, I would also like to say that wargaming to me is more than just battles with model soldiers: I think that the preliminaries i.e. the research in organisation, uniforms, tactics and so on, the construction of realistic terrain and accurate painting of armies are some very relaxing and absorbing parts of the hobby. Those who field strength at the cost of historical accuracy and balance in the game can only reduce the enjoyment of others. I tend to field understrength conscript battalions and I find more variability in the outcome when either side could retreat or charge at the drop of a hat, necessitating support in depth across the board and the use of the actual period tactics. In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Mr. Featherstone and Mr. Gilder on the presentation of the Battle of Freeman's Farm at the recent "America's Military Heritage" assembly. I think there is a great future for such demonstrations." --N. Turp of Grays, Essex "Although there are numerous reference books on the market for Armoured Fighting Vehicles, I wonder if readers know of this title which seems to fill a gap most usefully? Italian Tanks and Fighting Vehicles of WWII by Ralph Riecio - Pique Publications 1975, £ 1.75P. There are 96 pages, and the book is profusely illustrated. Pique Publications is from Kristall Productions, North Lea House, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire." --Barry J. Carter of Headington, Oxford "Many thanks for your very kind comments in the June issue of the Newsletter, which are much appreciated. You will be interested to know that as a result of our advertising we have been surprised to receive a number of overseas enquiries from the U.S.A., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Germany and Puerto Rico (U.S.A.). And of course many parts of the U.K. It is quite astonishing really as we are only a relatively small company, and it is certainly indicative of the splendid coverage provided by the Newsletter which must be the best advertising value-for-money in the busines Of course, we always do our best to satisfy enquiries and "if we haven't got it, get it for them" as promised. Furthermore I find the Newsletter compulsive reading and look forward to every issue. You may not believe this but whilst in my time I have had my share of the real thing, as far as wargames are concerned I am as thick as the proverbial brush. Have never attempted to play a wargame, and would not know where to start. I hate figures and calculations, even when they show a profit. Yet I read the Newsletter from cover to cover and find it completely fascinating, despite the fact that in general the various dissertations and disputes about rules completely baffle me! For which reason I gave three heartfelt cheers for your editorial on over-complication which MUST slow up the entire proceedings and take a lot of enjoyment out of the blood-stirring re-enactment of deeds of glory and days of valour. I am sure that there must be many, like myself, who have enviously studied wargames in progress and decided that in such a maze of rules and calculations they could never even get to "square one". Anyway, many thanks to you for giving us a magazine which even non-wargamers can thoroughly enjo for doing so much to give so many so much pleasure, and I hope that they will continue to give the Newsletter the support it deserves." --George Erik of Tunbridge Wells "Incidentally - just to stir the pot on Napoleonics - how many wargames are fought by troops in Campaign Dress? The problem of flags assumes a new importance when you realise that troops in oilskin-covered shakos, grey great coats/blue coats, and white canvas trousers could very well be engage in killing each other (or troops in green coats, red coats, or white coats, if it comes to that) simply because of minor differences in badges, buttons, buckles, etc., and (possibly) language diffei ences; forces on the wargames table might very well be identified only by their flags - and we might be reminded that real war is fought by scruffy, dirty, and generally anonymous men for causes identified with picturesque flags or badges." --John Miller of Chasetown, Walsall "Having just read the June issue of the Newsletter I thought I must write in appreciation of Southern Militaire. It was really well organised and I thoroughly enjoyed myself but the price was steep for hotel bills and train fare. As this was the first two day Convention I had ever attended it was all new to me especially the high class Post House hotel. The main reason I attended this event was the attraction of the Skirmish Wargames event (in which I had entered) and visiting Minifigs who had been a great help in a project I had to do for college and of course seeing the "capital" of wargaming, Southampton. Going back to the Skirmish Wargames event, you will remember my efforts from the report by Mike Blake and Ian Colwill. In both games I made serious mistakes mainly in the initial orders and was lucky to get through to the semi-final. In the quarter-final, I sent two of my three men through an alley which they could not get through on horse. back so they spent the whole game running round the board which left my personal figure to take on the three men, luckily I managed a lucky shot and downed one of them which made me the winner. In the semi-final, I was stuffed full of lager and hot dogs but who wasn't, my orders called for my persona figure to move in front of the bank and he got what He deserved by being shot to bits. My accident of shooting one of my own men was a gamble which did not pay off, (I still do not know how a kneeling figure firing a scattergun could blow away someone's legs then the pellets swerve upwards and kill a mounted man!) All in all it was a most enjoyable event, the lads handled it very well and Mike love my Geordie accent (Michael observe the spelling of Geordie.) Whilst I am writing I would like to mention Tradition, I was short of the Newsletter on two occasions and both times they sent them out immediately even using a separate envelope. Also when I sent my yearly sub they sent a very nice letter in acknowledgement saying they had forwarded my lett on to you. There are some people and firms in this hobby who have no time for the personal attitude like that and I think when it does happen it is much appreciated by the customers." --Ray Gale of Jarrow, Tyne and Wear "Immediately prior to World War I was a curious period, falling between the Russo-Japanese War 2 of 1904-5 and the Great War. Therefore this, like the Italian-Turkish War, seems to have been largely overlooked by battle historians. I think I must try to find what has been written on the period. I have vague memories of the times, but I was then only nine or ten years old. There were, I think, two separate Wars. First the Italians took Tripoli - and I believe the first war in which aeroplanes were used - then came the Balkan Wars - my memory is that the Bulgarians were on top at the start, after Lule Burgas, but then the Allies quarrelled among themselves, and I think the Turks made some recovery. At any rate it is an interesting period, between two major wars, and may be worth exploring. The S.F. writer, Michael Mooreock, has edited the first volume of a proposed series "Before Armageddon" - pre 1914 stories. The first volume contains among other items Chesney?s "Battle of Dorking", the first of the imaginary war tales, written during or just after, the Franco-Prussian War This is the book that created much interest and some alarm at British unpreparedness at the time, and badly upset Gladstone! It also contains an extract from one of William Le Quarfs "invasion" stories - not the famous/or notorious "Invasion of 1910" but an earlier one written around 1898." --W. T. Thurbon of Cambridge "I refer to your editorial in the May copy of the Newsletter appealing for reasons concerning the lack of support for the recent American Military Heritage Convention in London. My interest in American Military history is confined to their Civil War, possibly being fired by the fact that one of my distant forebears was engaged in this struggle, although only of lowly status, being an N.C.O. in a cavalry regiment. I am British and extremely proud of it which does not lead me to take overmuch interest in a period of history where, unfortunately, we were ultimately the losers. We British , in my opinion, have a far longer and much more varied and interesting military heritage than anything the Americans can offer. From the points of view of cost and time, both debar me from taking a day out to London which, as far as I am concerned, is too expensive and involves too much travelling to reach. Whatever might be said about the ties between ourselves and America it is still a foreign country and if a similar function had been organised say, for example, about the French or the Russians, don't you think it would have met with the same response? Maybe the organisers might have backed a more certain winner if they had flourished our own banners, sounded our own drums and trumpets and tried instead a convention about our own British military heritage, in which case even I might have been tempted to go to London." --R.W.B.Elwen of Leeds "Thank you very much for your kind review of my game CITADEL. As you say, the price is not mentioned on tne printed product, so I would like to inform you that it is $4.00. My publishers have been paying the postage on mail orders within the States and absorbing the cost of sending the game to Britain at book rates. They inform me that this takes about four weeks and that impatient gamers should add $1.80 to cover air mail postage. Negotiations are apparently under way for a British distributor. Incidentally, I feel that your comments about the mysterious nature of the game were misleading. No doubt it is unfamiliar to you because CITADEL is a specific and rather simple game, not a set of rules for conducting a variety of battles. The publisher is Fantasy Games Unlimited, P.O. Box 182, Roslyn, New York, U.S.A. 11576. Thank you again. I very much enjoyed the copy of Wargamer's Newsletter, which I have not been reading." --Roy S. Goodman of New York, USA Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 173 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