Salute 2023 – World at War

Kicking off the World War I and II coverage is a pseudo-historical game in Mark Copplestone’s ‘Little Soldiers’ inter-war setting, staged by the Cornwall Wargames Association. If I understood/remembered correctly, the rules used were an adaptation of the Memoir ’44 boardgame.

Moving on to the ‘real’ war, 1/72 Wargames recreated a section of the Kaiserschlacht 1918 with the 36th Ulster division under German attack.

The Zagory Rebellion by Cornwall Wargames Association

The Zagory Rebellion by Cornwall Wargames Association

Kaiserschlacht 1918 by 1/72 Wargames

Hugo’s Heroes created scenarios during World War II inspired by classic Airfix model sets from the 1960s, and brought some of the original plastics along as well.

Getting my Airfix by Hugo’s Heroes

Getting my Airfix by Hugo’s Heroes

Getting my Airfix by Hugo’s Heroes

The Retired Wargamers Reloaded had constructed a massive and beautiful board for a 15mm scale battle around Carentan 1944 using Rapid Fire rules.

Eagles and Lions at Carentan by Retired Wargamers Reloaded

Eagles and Lions at Carentan by Retired Wargamers Reloaded

The Lard Zone had its debut at Salute this year, and WWII was well represented by games of Chain of Command.

Saint Côme du Mont 1944 by Joe Bilton

Saint Côme du Mont 1944 by Joe Bilton

Holding Oosterbeek 1944 by Nick Skinner and Rich Clark

Salute 2018 – World War 1

The theme for Salute 2018 was World War 1 and there were a number of tables recreating events from its history.

Maidstone Wargames Society built the cruiser Vindictive and the mole for the raid on Zeebrugge in 1918.

The Storming of Zeebrugge by Maidstone Wargames Society

The Storming of Zeebrugge by Maidstone Wargames Society

The Storming of Zeebrugge by Maidstone Wargames Society

Meanwhile, the Naval Wargames Society used a smaller scale to capture the ship action leading up to the landing.

The Zeebrugge Raid by The Naval Wargames Society

Scarab Miniatures also set their scenario during the final year of the war, with the French and British engaging in a push against the German lines.

1918 Zero Hour by Scarab Miniatures

1918 Zero Hour by Scarab Miniatures

1914 was the year of Great Escape Games’ battle between brigade sized forces on the plains of Holland (I assume, due to the windmill).

1914 by Great Escape Games

1914 by Great Escape Games

Southbourne Tabletop and Boardgamers (I believe, the records are sketchy) took the fighting to East Africa in 1914.

East Africa 1914 by Southbourne Tabletop and Boardgamers

East Africa 1914 by Southbourne Tabletop and Boardgamers

Lake Tanganika was the setting for several simultaneous naval battles fought out by Peterborough Wargames Society.

Battles for Lake Tanganika by Peterborough Wargames Society

Wings of Glory Aerodrome UK meanwhile took to the skies with dogfights both in the WW1 and WW2 eras.

Wings of Glory Aerodrome UK

And finally, there was also a life sized World War 1 tank on display in the hall. I can’t tell the marks apart, so I shall just leave this here.

World War 1 tank

Interior of World War 1 tank

Salute 2014 – World War 1

With the centenary of the outbreak of World War 1 this year many of the clubs at Salute 2014 had chosen it as their theme.

South East Essex Military Society brought a large gaming table and a selection of background materials for their Race for the Sea.

Ypres was the setting for the Wigmore Warriors as they recreated World War 1 – From Start to Finish on two tables showing the same location, one lush green countryside in 1914, the other a bombed out wasteland in 1918.

The Maidstone Wargames Society built a town Somewhere in Belgium for a clash at a bridge during the early part of the war.

The 10mm scale Action at Longlier by Oxford Wargames Society took the fight to brigade and division level.

Tin Soldiers of Antwerp had brought a wonderfully detailed board for A Noble Affair.

A trench raid at night was the topic for Hornchurch Wargames Club.

Salute 2013 – Napoleonic, ACW & Mexican-American Wars

My knowledge and interest in the Napoleonic era usually extends only as far as watching episodes of Sharpe. I do however like the sheer spectacle of massed colourful infantry, charging cavalry and smoking cannons that a good Napoleonic display can provide.

And they don’t come much more spectacular than Waterloo 1815 by the Essex Gamesters Robert Browning and Ron Ringrose (of Corunna 1809 fame) at Salute 2013.

Wargames Illustrated presented the wonderfully naturalistic Battle of Little Big Top American Civil War display.

This early WW1 game based on the Miracle of the Marne 1914 was played using the Crush the Kaiser set of rules.

Unfortunately I don’t have details for the tables below, other that they are set during conflicts between the United States and Mexico. Hope you enjoy the pictures nonetheless.