I really didn't expect to branch out from the Kriegsmarine in Cruel Seas but having just acquired a Soviet Starter Set I suppose I'd better make the most of it! In fact, this makes a lot of sense as the club is currently swamped with Schnellboote, as most of the Cruel Seas players have chosen German flotillas. The Soviet models are also really nice, especially the G5's with their stern launched torpedoes, as copied from the CMB's used by the RN in the Baltic in 1919.
The other handy thing about the Soviets is that I can make use of the surplus S-38 class S Boats that I have spare, having set aside the S-100 models and a couple of converted S-38's for the 5th S Boat Flotilla. The earlier unarmoured S38's are perfect for either the Baltic in 1941-42 or the Black Sea, where they were used for most of the war alongside various early war types. I can kill two birds with one stone and set up some solo games of my own at home with the Soviets against the Germans.
I will start on this at some point next month, when I'm back home and when I have time to sit down and assemble the G5's. I'll start with these as I really like the models and they are small enough to not take too much time to both build and paint. The 5th S Boat Flotilla will have to wait a little longer, as the Soviets are now going to be my main thrust for the Cruel Seas project. I may even get another set of four G5's, as they aren't exactly packed with much punch!
I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with this project. Do you have any good books/resources for the Soviets in the Baltic/Black Sea?
ReplyDeleteI've been looking at focusing my Cruel Seas efforts on the Black Sea too. I do wish that Warlord would come out with some Soviet MO type gunboats too. They would be a lot more useful than the Bronekaters that come in the fleet box.
There's good coverage of the German coastal forces activity in the Black Sea but not so much for the Soviets.
ReplyDeleteHeroics and Its do a 1/300 scale BMO class subchapter but I don't know what it's like.
http://www.heroicsandros.co.uk/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=prodshow&ref=NLC074&sid=5765520k78pake67ij22g472x1z32je3
The Baltic is a better option for coastal forces action, at least in 1941-42. It's a shame you can't get Finnish boats though (I have a very obscure book in Finnish all about this!)
ReplyDeleteFound your blog rather late, but i would like to comment nevertheless. I just started to convert some of the soviet boats for cruel seas to represent captured units used by finnish navy. There are some good pictures in the finnish military archive (viewable online). Add some MAS Boats and you are good to go.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan :0)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome. By the way, whats the name of the finnish book you mentioned. I am always interested to find new sources (and of course to share them).
ReplyDeleteIt's a little photocopied booklet I found in a second hand book shop. It's titled 'Leijonalipu Merella' which I think means 'Finnish Navy' by Visa Auvinen.
DeleteIt's really good if you can find a copy, as it had loads of photos, line drawings and technical details, although all in Finnish
Great, thank you. I found a copy in an online store, but with roundabout 300 pages. Same title, same author.
DeleteLuckyly my mother is finnish, so i learned it as a kid. If you need a quick translation, i could help.
I found some pictures with finnish G5 MTBs in an russian publication, but i struggle a bit with the text.