Part 1 - Operation Pilchard (Setting the Scene)

It appears that the Kriegsmarine have transported Prince Phillip and Sir Douglas D’Emfore (see ‘On the Day, Went the Eagle’s Landing Well?’) to a secret location, ready to hand over to Field Marshal Wilhelm Josef Franz Ritter von Leeb. The second landing of Operation Sealion is underway with Leeb’s Army Group C landing at Lyme Regis, as we speak. Auxiliary Units (Captain Peter Fleming) report that the two captives have been taken into the depths of Great-Snoring Forest and lodged under guard at the Pilchard Inn. Before the war the Pilchard Inn was an exclusive hideaway for the rich and famous. Vivien Leigh once stayed there with an unnamed male companion (rumoured to be a member of the local aristocracy) and the Inn’s most prized possession is a signed photograph of her, posing in the garden. The Inn is still running with a skeleton staff and is the hideout for some very wealthy people who are trying to avoid the war.

Winnie has summoned Hector McSnapcase to a secret briefing in the War Rooms under Downing Street. Having taken a wee dram of the old Glen Goolie, McSnapcase (his sinews stiffened) sets out for Downing Street.

“It’s got to be done Hector, I want Prince Phillip rescued and that other johnny, what’s ‘is name, the MP fellow!” barked Winston.

Hector had been offered brandy and cigars and a chance to commit his newly formed Snapforce commandos into action. Calls were coming into the War Rooms from local informants and the germ of an idea was forming in Hector’s brain.

“Well, get those ruffians of yours down to Great-Snoring and sort it, man. Don’t sit there day-dreaming!”

All is quiet in Great Snoring, no signs of life on a sleepy Sunday afternoon in September 1940. Bees are humming, birds are twittering and the majestic Pilchard Inn reposes in the late autumn sunshine. Kingfishers dart over the Much-Piddling to Market Snodsbury Canal and a solitary bulldog lies snoring by the main gate.

An innocent-looking chimney sweep is whistling ‘God Save the King’ and walking down the road towards the Pilchard Inn.

The Inn’s 5-Star Michelin chef, Michel le Roux is preparing something rather tasty for tonight’s guests.

The Commissionaire, Fred Hitch is manning the door of the Inn as usual. But what’s this, a German officer also guarding the door with his rather nasty looking canine friend. This must mean something is up, Jerries have taken over the Inn.

Another sentry and another dog!

…and round the back passage, yet another sentry and dog. This one doesn’t quite seem to be on the ball though! Finger completely absent from pulse (the sentry that is, not the dog)!

Bugger me, canvas canoes are coming up the Much-Piddling to Market Snodsbury Canal. It can only mean trouble!

A very well camouflaged sniper has been observing the German guards movements and assessing numbers for several hours now.

To be continued...

Yaru Koto De Chīsai Beru Owari Mura

Chīsai Beru Owari village in Ōku Hainyou province is looking very peaceful and sleepy.

Kimyō ni Kasshoku (left), the head Samurai of the village is talking to Edi Fukigen-sō na (right) about the latest rice crop the peasants are bringing in. Would it be enough to please their Lord this season?

But what's this? Two groups of Minami Miru ninja moving through the lengthening late afternoon shadows like ghosts. The ninja from Minami Miru use Panjī-Ryu ninjutsu and are led by their Sensei, Misutā Ocha no Jikan.

So, it's the usual crowd down the yado late Friday afternoon in Chīsai Beru Owari. The Murasakino Doragon is doing good business with some important Samurai staying over on a tour of the province. The boys are swapping war stories and comparing the lengths of their katanas.

The Murasakino Doragon

L to R: Kēnō Bārō, Tōsuto Rakku, Furui In'nō, Lord Sunappu Baai

Lord Sunappu Baai is the Daimyo of Ōku Hainyou province and Furui In'nō is his chief counsellor. Kēnō and Tōsuto are local Samurai and are much impressed by drinking Sake-bombs with the Daimyo. Maybe their village is on the up.

Four of the younger Samurai are returning to the village after ensuring all is well in the rice fields.

The ninja in the southern half of the village creep unnoticed up to the very walls of the Murasakino Doragon where Lord Sunappu Baai is disporting himself.

One ninja is close enough to throw a shuriken through the window at Lord Sunappu Baai. Luckily, Sunappu is wearing armour and the deadly missile glances off his helmet causing no damage. The Samurai are alerted now.

The ninja to the north move out of the old ruin where they were hiding.

A bow-armed ninja chances a shot at Kimyō ni Kasshoku. The arrow strikes true but does not penetrate the samurai’s ornately lacquered armour. Shouts of alarm now echo through the village as the attack is discovered.

Kimyō ni Kasshoku and Edi Fukigen-sō na charge the ninja immediately with a loud kiai. The ninja with a bow has time to loose another arrow but again it glances off the lacquered armour. The other four samurai rush to help.

Taking a light wound, Kimyō ni Kasshoku dispatches his opponent with a cut from neck to waist and Edi Fukigen-sō decapitates his opponent. The ninja need dark and stealth in their light armour whilst the heavily armoured Samurai are fighting at an advantage.

Over at the Murasakino Doragon, things are hotting up. With shurikens flying through the windows Lord Sunappu makes his way outside to wield his nodachi more effectively. Kēnō Bārō accompanies him, seeing a chance to impress his Lord.

Shurikens fly through both windows. One hits Furui In'nō in the face but the mask of his helmet protects him and no damage is done. Tōsuto Rakku, on the other hand is not wearing his helmet and the shuriken causes him a grievous wound.

A fight develops through the windows and although Tōsuto is badly wounded, he manages to defend himself and is only stunned in this exchange. Furui In'nō runs his katana straight through his opponent who falls to the ground, fatally wounded.

Ninjas circle the Murasakino Doragon from both directions. Sunappu climbs over the stable wall to confront one. With his opponent at the window dead, Furui In'nō emerges to support his Lord. Kēnō Bārō turns to face another ninja as a badly wounded clings to the window and continues to fight.

Sunappu wields his nodachi and the last thing the ninja sees is a great glittering arc before his head leaves his body. Kēnō inflicts a light wound on his opponent and miraculously Tōsuto is still alive.

Meanwhile, the ruthless master of the ninja, Misutā Ocha no Jikan leaves his ninja to fight as he runs behind the smallholder’s cottage. He is out of sight of the four Samurai running across the village and in the confusion no one knows where he is.

Kuro Kasan-ki, Furasshu Shinzō, Bōrudorikku and Kowai Supaisu run to help but It looks like it might all be over before they get there. Kowai Supaisu pauses to touch the bell for good luck.

Edi Fukigen-sō kills the ninja on the path and suffers a light wound. Kimyō ni Kasshoku stuns the ninja on the grassy knoll. Alone now, this ninja's resolve starts to waver.

As the Samurai gather on the grassy knoll, the remaining ninja heads for the hills.

Down at the inn, the fight continues. Furui In'nō joins Sunappu in the stable yard to confront a ninja. Kēnō continues the fight and Tōsuto literally hangs on for grim death.

The situation at the Murasakino Doragon resolves itself. Two ninjas dead in the stable yard, Kēnō finishes off a third and the fourth makes a run for it, much to the relief of Tōsuto Rakku.

Misutā Ocha no Jikan circles behind the statue of the Buddha using every shred of his ninja stealth to avoid detection. Victory is distracting the Samurai and no one sees him.

In triumph, Misutā Ocha no Jikan steals the priceless artefact which has been hidden in the village for many years; Uchide-no-Kozuchi, the magic wishing hammer.

It transpires that the ninja had a double purpose in the attack on Chīsai Beru Owari village. They had been commissioned to assassinate Lord Sunappu Baai and Lord Daun Hiza, the head of the Minami Miru school had long desired the Uchide-no-Kozuchi. They decided to kill two birds with one stone. For the loss of seven ninja, Misutā Ocha no Jikan was successful in one half of the mission. The other half of the mission, the assassination of Sunappu was an abject failure. As the old proverb has it, saru mo ki kara ochiru (even experts make mistakes).

Kēnō Bārō

Kēnō Bārō arrives in Ōku Hainyou province with a mysterious past. He’s from Taikanshiki Tōri Province. He grew up in the Rōbā Modoru Yado.

em4 Pre-Painted Miniatures

I have taken delivery today of some pre-painted Samurai from em4. They are rather spiffing and I intend to use them in a game this coming weekend. I wonder how they will fare up against the Ninja of the Minami Miru Ryu, the Asashin Girudo?

Panjī-Ryu Ninjas

Hidden high up in the mountains in Ōku Hainyou province is a secret school of ninjutsu. They practice a style called Panjī-Ryu. The Grand-Master is Master Daun Hiza and his head Sensei is Misutā Ocha no Jikan. Their clandestine assassination services are available but at a very high cost. They currently have a spy working in the Pinku Perikan Ochaya, collecting information and gossip about the activities of Lord Sunappu Baai and his samurai.

Bored of Commandos?

I didn't fancy painting Commandos this morning. I started repainting my Ninja, got bored with 'Paint It Black' and decided to do a Samurai. This is a Samurai who owes his allegiance to Lord Sunappu Baai, the Daimyō of Ōku Hainyou province.

The territory or han of Ōku Hainyou is assessed at 10,300 koku of rice and is therefore a very important han in the Shogunate. It has been suggested that Lord Sunappu Baai is somewhat insane but it is advisable not to mention this in his hearing!

'Meat Pot'

Pete Mott, Chairman of the Glenbogle Rangers Supporters Club idolises Nick Smith and the other players at Rangers. Hence, he has followed them into joining the Commandos. On arrival at Snapforce, they gave him the PIAT to carry and nicknamed him 'Meat Pot'.

More Recruits for Snapforce

Four more figures painted for Snapforce. A mixture of truth and fiction here! Doug em4 put me on to Druce. One of those cases where real life is stranger than fiction.

L to R: Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny, Captain Henry Carey Druce, Ronnie Biggs, ‘Buster’ Edwards.

Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is on attachment to Snapforce to learn about Combined Operations. Captain Druce is famous for heading into battle wearing a black silk top hat. He specialises in sneaking through enemy lines dressed as a French peasant. On one occasion at Deelen, the troop was in a café awaiting the arrival of the Canadians before liberating the airport when a German motorcyclist arrived. In his saddle-bags was a ham that he had stolen from Arnhem. Druce, still in his top hat, ordered the man to get off his bike and, when he did not respond, seized the ham and knocked him off the machine with it. Biggs was born in Stockwell, Lambeth, London. Facing a dishonourable discharge for desertion he volunteered for the Commandos. His old school friend ‘Buster’ Edwards was born in Lambeth, the son of a barman. After leaving school, he worked in a sausage factory, before joining the Commandos.

'Wild' Bill Coleman

Bill Coleman is an Austro-Hungarian Australian from Sydney. He ran away to sea and joined the Royal Australian Navy. By the time war broke out, Bill was a Petty Officer and was seconded to the Royal Navy for special duties. He volunteered for 30 Assault Unit created by Commander Ian Fleming. He was snaffled from 30 AU by Ian Fleming’s older brother Peter who is already a commando in Snapforce. ‘Wild’ Bill is now a member of the hard-bitten rogues who form Snapforce. After the war, he will go to Russia as part of a propaganda mission and meet Stalin who will try to drink him under the table with Kremlin vodka! Returning home, he becomes a policeman and will then play international Rugby Union for his country before becoming a selector. A real-life hero.

Commando Signaller

My signaller joins Snapforce. Wackford Squeers, despite his unfortunate name is a first class signaller. He can get a bleep out of a tin can and some string. Seen here with Matt Braddock calling in air support.

Hector McSnapcase, the Laird of Glencairn

Originally, I had planned to use this figure as the Laird. I think he will now become Captain Peter Fleming, the man who blew up Montgomery's flower beds!

However, when I saw this Warlord figure I had to have him as the Laird. The epitome of eccentricity!

Cockleshell Heroes

So, the canoeist version of these figures are now complete. Two of the foot versions are complete (Smith and Tabbs). Herewith, Nick Smith, Arnold Tabbs, Wally Brand and 'Limp Along' Leslie Tomson. At one time, all four of these brave lads played for Glenbogle Rangers together. Once again we have Doug to thank for the football legends who have joined Snapforce.

Commando WIP

A group shot of the completed figures so far.

Back Row, L to R: McAuslan, Talaiasi Labalaba, Jon Pertwee, Nick Smith, Alf Tupper, Stavros the Greek

Front Row, L to R: Karamjeet Singh Judge, Seth Starkadder, Hector McSnapcase, Shughie McFee, Matt Braddock, Arnold Tabbs, 'Tickle' McScrotum

A Recruit from the Punjab

The Laird of Glencairn spent some time on the North West frontier between the wars and quickly came to recognise the fighting qualities of the warriors who inhabit that area. Wishing to take the war to the enemy, Karamjeet Singh Judge, a Sikh obtained a Lieutenant's commission and volunteered for service in the commandos.