TERRAIN - Arctic Cathedral Tromso

With the first of this years Cold War Commanders Weekend Events planned for the last weekend in May I have made a start on some of the new terrain pieces I have planned. As the first weekends theme is Arctic Strike - Norway 1985 I decided to have a go at the iconic Arctic Cathedral in Tromso.

So armed with a couple of boxes i'd saved (Corn Flakes and Bakers Complete) I set to work. Now I was never planning on buildings an accurate scale model, for one thing that probably would have resulted in the model being too big for the tabletop. I did struggle initially with the height of the Cathedral as there are numerous different heights stated on the internet so as the model had to fit on a 125mm x 100mm base I decided to go with what looked right for 6mm (1/300th) games. 

Construction was fairly easy using the box card to build up the different layers to the roof over a initial full length main building. The sections were then added one by one on top of the central core with smaller sections added to create the effect of the roof.

Overall I'm very happy with the completed model and will be adding some additional surrounding sections to allow the model to fit nicely with my existing terrain.

As always thanks for looking. Part Two will follow shortly once I have completed the additional sections that will eventually surround this model.

SOVIET DPP-40 AMPHIBIOUS PONTOON SYSTEM - Part Four

After finding two tins of matt varnish that I had completely forgotten about I was able to complete the units. So I now have four complete bridging units to support my Cold War VDV forces.

RETURN TO DENMARK - CWC Weekend 2025 (Part Four)

Mike M's continue their advance towards the E20

A view from the NATO side of the table showing Mike M's Russians as they advance from cover to assault the E20

Meanwhile on Fyn Danish troops are still holding on despite increasing casualties

Some support for Nick G's beleaguered Danes in the shape of two RAF Harriers

The Harriers are needed as VDV reinforcements begin to push inland to support the Russian Naval forces

Russian Naval move into the cover of the woods as they continue their advance across Fyn (Great little crater terrain pieces by Neil M to show areas that have been under artillery fire)

Martin K's Russians begin their assault into Kolding against Mark W's Danish. The bus station was to see some heavy fighting on Day Two

Mark W's Danish troops desperately defend Kolding

East German air support attack British positions

Martin K's Russian move into the centre of Kolding

Mike M's Russians come under intense fire as they advance towards the E20 road junction

Russian AA units on the look out for NATO aircraft as in the distance Martin K's Russians continue their relentless assault on Kolding

More RAF Harriers try and stem the tide

Hinds prowl the sky in support of the Russian attacks

The HAWK Battery eventually falls to Russian Naval and VDV forces

Kolding falls to the Martin K's Russian MRR and cuts off the western end of the bridge stranding Nick G's on Fyn 

By this point it was after 3.00pm on Sunday and after a quick overview of both tables we decided to call time on the weekend. So after two days gaming the Russians had made considerable progress towards their objectives. On the western edge of the main table the USMC were still in control of the airfield but they had taken heavy casualties from Gerard's Russians and if they weren't relieved soon they would break. Moving eastward Ian W's East Germans had cut the E20 and were beginning to outflank the US Airborne defending. Mike M's Russians were close to breaking through as were Stewart L's and at the eastern end of the table Martin K's Russian MRR had driven the Danish defenders from Kolding and held the western end of the bridge. 

WARSAW PACT VICTORY - NATO will now have to retreat northwards and hope for further reinforcements if Denmark is to be held (Maybe we'll revisit this scenario again in the future?)

Next year we already have two events planned. See the homepage for details in the sidebar. If you are interesting in attending any of the events please get in touch. E-mail also in the sidebar.

Thanks to everyone who came along and made it a great weekends gaming. We had some new attendees this year which was great to see and they are already planning forces for next year.

Looking forward to 2026!

RETURN TO DENMARK - CWC Weekend 2025 (Part Three)

So now the action begins. 

Although any of you who have organised and run a wargames event with multiple players will know it's very difficult to keep track of everything happening as there are many other things to keep you busy. Organising air support, answering rule queries and terrain queries, sorting out food for 13 hungry wargamers and most importantly keeping the kettle topped up! So what follows is more of an overview of the event and a load of photos. Where possible I will provide some more information on each of the photos and I will provide links to some of the players excellent write ups which will give a more detailed account of the action on their sections of the table.

Danish forces on the Island of Fyn occupy a BUA in preparation for the WP assault

Outskirts of Odense on Fyn with Danish troops digging in

Russian Naval forces move inland past the lighthouse from their landing beach on the west coast of Fyn 

Danish armour and APC's on the Jutland Peninsula north of Kolding 

Elements of Stewart L's Russian Tank Regiment take up position against a railway embankment before their push towards the E20

More of Stewart L's Tank Regiment move north towards the E20

Mike M's Russian TR moves north towards the caravan site while artillery unlimbers in front of the hop fields

Nick G's Danish troops occupy Odense and it's surrounding fields

The right flank of Nick G's Danish forces take up position in woods near Odense. Engineers have laid minefields to the left of the woods

Nick G's Danish forces keep watch near the HAWK Battery

Andy M's USMC ready to defend the airfield

Mike M's BTR mounted infantry prepare to leave the cornfields and move north

A pair of Frogfoots (or Frogfeet :-)) come in low to attack NATO armour

More of Mike M's troops occupy woods south of the E20 just visible at the top of the picture

WP troops disembark from their BTR transports and prepare to assault the town

Martin K's Russians approach the outskirts of Kolding

Russian Naval troops approach Odense. The town saw heavy fighting with PT-76's and Danish armour going head to head

Joe H's British take up positions in old WW2 defensive works

More of Joe H's British take up positions along the E20

Mark W's Danish troops occupy Kolding. This was to see some heavy infantry hand to hand fighting through the streets of the town

Russian Landing craft (A bit modern for the game but they look nice!)

YAK 38 comes in low to attack the Danes on Fyn

I'll post more ASAP. After Day One it was clear that NATO would have their work cut out defending the E20 stop line meanwhile on Fyn Nick G's Danish troops were proving a hard nut to crack but the Russian Naval forces had been reinforced by a large VDV force which was moving inland from the beaches to support the assault. Russian forces were nearing the HAWK battery and NATO were in danger of losing that position. On the main table the majority of the Russian forces had moved into positions that would see them in striking distance of the E20. A large force of Russian armour commanded by Gerard had begun to advance on the airfield on the western end of table. On the eastern end, around Kolding, Martin K had advanced his MRR to the outskirts of the town and both he and Mark W prepared for some heavy fighting on Day Two. In the centre Ian W, Mike M and Stewart L continued to advance on NATO positions along the E20.