Category: Military

A Whole New Old World

For the past few months, I’ve been on a big First World War kick. While I can credit the Gothic horror miniature game “Trench Crusade” with that initial spark, it certainly didn’t end there. After completing a handful of game miniatures, I ventured away from the (still very compelling) fictional game aesthetic. I was looking online at images of trench systems and the differences between those used early vs. later in the war, and why they changed as the conflict wore on. 

It led me down a rabbit hole that branched into a couple of different directions. I began studying the US involvement (1917-18) in World War One (also known as “The Great War,” “War to End All Wars”, and “WWI”). I read several of the resource books I have collected over the years. My main area of interest has always been the Second World War. As it turns out, I have a surprising amount of previously unexplored material on the prequel.

In addition to finding an excuse to read every piece of material I own on The Great War, I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube content as well. Many feature quality, historical information, while a handful are rife with inaccurate data and even misleading, altered or entirely AI-falsified photos. It also brought to my attention how many of the Facebook stories passed around about, “This day in military history,” are absolute fiction. Learning how to sort through the nonsense has been an interesting part of the study.

ICM’s 1/35 scale US Soldiers in Gas Masks
Although the ICM kit depicts a British machine gun, a version of the Vickers was used by the US forces – they had not yet developed their own

I also started building a few figure kits representing various combatants. They are pretty straightforward, construction-wise. I also gave in to temptation and bought a more detailed kit – a WWI tank model. While I’ve built tanks before, I haven’t taken on significantly more complex ones, for example, kits that employ individual linked tracks or photo etched brass details. This kit also has a detailed interior – another stretch out of my comfort zone. I’m hoping this endeavor is a step towards a new level of skill.

My first venture into the complex…

Growing up, I heard that my paternal great uncle Frans was drafted into WWI. My grandfather was a few years younger; and as a result, his number did not come up. Frans was exposed to poisonous gas (likely mustard gas at that point in the conflict) and had breathing difficulties for the rest of his life. I found several pieces of documentation in my search: his original draft registration, some US census records, and a photo of his military headstone at the Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery. The first online photo I found was blurry, making it difficult to see some of the details. However, with a little more searching, I learned that he served as a private in the 139th Field Artillery. I also found an old, colorized postcard of the unit from that era.

The last few months have been a pretty cool experience. In fact, it’s been a 3-pronged journey. First: a study of the fascinating political climate of the turn of the century and resultant conflict that shaped the next hundred-plus years. Second: an opportunity to take my modeling skills in an unexpected direction – pushing my comfort zone and challenging myself to grow. And finally: a peek into the lives of ancestors who are becoming more than vague names and dates on yellowed paper in cardboard boxes. They were, in fact, real people who were born, lived entire lives, and died. They no longer need to stay forgotten. And all this discovery out of a single project – that’s pretty cool.

My great uncle’s WWI dog tag

-Toph

P.S. – Drop me a note about your own forays into the past. I truly enjoy the emails I get, from old friends as well as new ones.

Until next time – cheers!

Make for Periscope Depth

There is a certain mystique about the sea bottom and the metal boats that make journey into the abyss possible.

“I like sub commanders. They have no time for bullshit, and neither do I.”  -John Voight, as FDR in the 2001 movie Pearl Harbor. 

I wholeheartedly concur.

Jules Verne introduced the world to Capt. Nemo in his 1870 novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. His work has served as inspiration for Steampunk enthusiasts since the late 1980s, when the genre was created. I really like the 1954 Disney live-action movie version, starring Kirk Douglas. Although the special effects don’t really stand up to the sophisticated CGI tastes of audiences today, fighting the giant squid remains one of my favorite movie scenes of all time.

And submarines have continued to be popular for years.

As a kid, I walked through the U-505 German U-boat at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. It’s the only German submarine in the US, and it has been a visitor favorite since 1954.

My kids and I spent the night on the WWII submarine USS Cobia when they were in Scouts. It’s docked at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowok Wisconsin, and offers excellent educational overnights. If you ever get the opportunity, don’t miss it!

 

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, you may remember the kid exclaiming “You Sank My Battleship!” from the commercial for the eponymous Milton Bradley naval combat game.

“You sank my Battleship!”

As much as I liked that game, it was its lesser-known spin off that really took things to the next level. (Next THREE levels, that is.)

Sub Search was similar to Battleship; it played out on a grid patterned game board, used white and red pegs with holes in the tops of the ships, and involved a “cat and mouse” guessing style of play by opposing participants. But instead of playing on just a flat ocean, it features 3D warfare – on the surface, AND 100, 200, and 300 meters below the sea. Surface ships drop depth charges on enemy submarines hidden below them, while the subs return fire with torpedo shots. Similar action also takes place on the opposite side of the board, with roles reversed. Play continues back and forth until either player finds all of his opponent’s submarines or loses all of his surface ships. About the only thing not to like about the game is setting it up. Setup and take down of the 4 level structure takes about as long as the games themselves, and because of how much room it occupies, leaving it erect between gaming sessions isn’t really an option. Tedious assembly notwithstanding, it is a very cool game. Despite extensive research (like, 2 or 3 minutes on Google,) I wasn’t able to find exact dates, but it appears to have ceased production sometime in the late 70s or early 80s. I’m surprised it hasn’t been re-released at least once since then, with electronic score keeping or some other superficial gimmick riddled upgrade. I was able to get a complete one in great shape on Ebay several years ago.

From the author’s private collection. (Sounds much more prestigious than “One of my old toys,” so we’ll go with that.)

Until next time, Run silent. Run deep, my friends.

-Toph