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History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by Staggerwing on Today at 12:03:47 PM »Quote
1945. Two of the most prominent world leaders in World War II were known among the Navajo as "Mustache Smeller" and "Gourd Chin," that is, Hitler and Mussolini.
I still find it remarkable that the Germans and Japanese were not able to scour their universities for someone who could understand Navaho, or at least find some language guides. The Code Talkers must have used codes and random word substitutions in addition to their native language.
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History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on Yesterday at 10:33:47 PM »567 BC King Servius Tullius of Rome celebrated a triumph for his victory over the Etruscans
1690 one adult Frenchman in ten was in the army, as were one in three "gentlemen."
1768. James Cook promoted to Lieutenant and given command of the bark, HMS Endeavour
1889 Gunther Lutjens, German admiral, kia 1941 in the 'Bismarck'
1913 Afred Redl, Austian staff officer and traitor, suicide at 49 -Austro-Hungarian officer, by 1901 he headed the army’s espionage and counter-espionage office, and uncovered several foreign agents. In 1907, needing money, Redl began selling mobilization plans, details about new weapons, plans of frontier defenses, and so forth to Russian intelligence. He continued to do so after his promotion to colonel and transfer to duty as chief-of-staff of the VIII Army Corps in Prague. The corps was part of the Austro-Hungarian strategic reserve, and thus Redl had access to plans for war with Serbia or Russia or both. In 1913 German intelligence uncovered his activities and passed the information on to their allies. Amazingly, rather than interrogate Redl, the arresting officers permitted him to commit suicide. Although Chief-of-the-General Staff Franz Conrad von Hotzendorf expressed outrage over this, he apparently was not displeased, perhaps because his own son had been among the many officers who – unwittingly or not – had supplied Redl with useful information. One of the most financially successful spies in history, Redl, a colonel with an annual salary of 14,000 kronen, left an estate worth about 75,000 kronen, more than Conrad’s assets, and today equal to perhaps as $7,500,000. This included a house in Vienna, a luxury three bedroom apartment in Prague, three horses, and a Daimler limo (itself costing kr 19,000), as well as “. . . wardrobes . . . stuffed with uniforms and the softest batiste shirts, ninety-five of them . . . sixty-two pairs of gloves”, not to mention jewelry, objects d’arte, and more. He also had about kr 30,000 in debts. Redl seems to have inspired the roguish “Colonel Count Alfred Renard”, played by Maurice Chevalier in the 1929 Paramount romantic comedy The Love Parade.
1914 Marshal of France Jean Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny (1889-1952), who commanded the Free French First Army during World War II, was severely injured in a mounted skirmish with some German cavalrymen, becoming thereby probably the last person of note in the twentieth century who had the experience of having been wounded by a sword.
1945. Two of the most prominent world leaders in World War II were known among the Navajo as "Mustache Smeller" and "Gourd Chin," that is, Hitler and Mussolini.
1690 one adult Frenchman in ten was in the army, as were one in three "gentlemen."
1768. James Cook promoted to Lieutenant and given command of the bark, HMS Endeavour
1889 Gunther Lutjens, German admiral, kia 1941 in the 'Bismarck'
1913 Afred Redl, Austian staff officer and traitor, suicide at 49 -Austro-Hungarian officer, by 1901 he headed the army’s espionage and counter-espionage office, and uncovered several foreign agents. In 1907, needing money, Redl began selling mobilization plans, details about new weapons, plans of frontier defenses, and so forth to Russian intelligence. He continued to do so after his promotion to colonel and transfer to duty as chief-of-staff of the VIII Army Corps in Prague. The corps was part of the Austro-Hungarian strategic reserve, and thus Redl had access to plans for war with Serbia or Russia or both. In 1913 German intelligence uncovered his activities and passed the information on to their allies. Amazingly, rather than interrogate Redl, the arresting officers permitted him to commit suicide. Although Chief-of-the-General Staff Franz Conrad von Hotzendorf expressed outrage over this, he apparently was not displeased, perhaps because his own son had been among the many officers who – unwittingly or not – had supplied Redl with useful information. One of the most financially successful spies in history, Redl, a colonel with an annual salary of 14,000 kronen, left an estate worth about 75,000 kronen, more than Conrad’s assets, and today equal to perhaps as $7,500,000. This included a house in Vienna, a luxury three bedroom apartment in Prague, three horses, and a Daimler limo (itself costing kr 19,000), as well as “. . . wardrobes . . . stuffed with uniforms and the softest batiste shirts, ninety-five of them . . . sixty-two pairs of gloves”, not to mention jewelry, objects d’arte, and more. He also had about kr 30,000 in debts. Redl seems to have inspired the roguish “Colonel Count Alfred Renard”, played by Maurice Chevalier in the 1929 Paramount romantic comedy The Love Parade.
1914 Marshal of France Jean Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny (1889-1952), who commanded the Free French First Army during World War II, was severely injured in a mounted skirmish with some German cavalrymen, becoming thereby probably the last person of note in the twentieth century who had the experience of having been wounded by a sword.
1945. Two of the most prominent world leaders in World War II were known among the Navajo as "Mustache Smeller" and "Gourd Chin," that is, Hitler and Mussolini.
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History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on May 24, 2024, 09:14:33 PM »1689. Parliament guarantees freedom of religion, for Protestants
1701. Don José Sarmiento y Valladares, who served as the Vice-Roy of New Spain from 1696 to 1701, was the husband of María Jerónima Moctezuma y Jofre de Loaiza, the third Countess de Moctezuma, a several times great-granddaughter of the Aztec Emperor Motecuhzoma II Xocoyotzin.
1779. Black Prince, owned by Irish and French smugglers, is commissed as an American privateer through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin.
1861. Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, 11th NY, having pulled down a Confederate flag, was murdered in Alexandria, Va., at 24, by irate Rebel James W. Jackson, who was promptly shot & bayonetted at c. 38 by irate Yank Francis E. Brownell
1939. When the Royal Navy took the Canadian liner Montcalm into service as an armed merchant cruiser they renamed her HMS Wolfe, thus commemorating the general who defeated Montcalm on the. Plains of Abraham.
1939. The McCann Momsen Rescue Chamber saves 33 sailors from the sunken 'Squalus' (SS-192), the only time the device has ever been used
1941 HMS 'Hood' was sunk by the KMS 'Bismarck' in the Battle of the Denmark Straits, 1,416 killed, 3 survivors.
1701. Don José Sarmiento y Valladares, who served as the Vice-Roy of New Spain from 1696 to 1701, was the husband of María Jerónima Moctezuma y Jofre de Loaiza, the third Countess de Moctezuma, a several times great-granddaughter of the Aztec Emperor Motecuhzoma II Xocoyotzin.
1779. Black Prince, owned by Irish and French smugglers, is commissed as an American privateer through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin.
1861. Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, 11th NY, having pulled down a Confederate flag, was murdered in Alexandria, Va., at 24, by irate Rebel James W. Jackson, who was promptly shot & bayonetted at c. 38 by irate Yank Francis E. Brownell
1939. When the Royal Navy took the Canadian liner Montcalm into service as an armed merchant cruiser they renamed her HMS Wolfe, thus commemorating the general who defeated Montcalm on the. Plains of Abraham.
1939. The McCann Momsen Rescue Chamber saves 33 sailors from the sunken 'Squalus' (SS-192), the only time the device has ever been used
1941 HMS 'Hood' was sunk by the KMS 'Bismarck' in the Battle of the Denmark Straits, 1,416 killed, 3 survivors.
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The Modern World / Re: Last Hundred Yards V5
« Last post by bob48 on May 24, 2024, 06:16:56 PM »This is an incredible series. To say I'm enthusiastic about it is somewhat of an understatement.
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RPGs & Adventure Gaming / Ruins of Symbaroum
« Last post by bayonetbrant on May 24, 2024, 04:44:39 PM »Ruins of Symbaroum the Free League 5e way
For those who are tired of all the corporate shenanigans from Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro these days there are fortunately alternative publishers who care about players and their games. April 30 saw the release of two new products for the Ruins of Symbaroum 5e setting from Free League Publishing.
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/symbaroum5e/
For those who are tired of all the corporate shenanigans from Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro these days there are fortunately alternative publishers who care about players and their games. April 30 saw the release of two new products for the Ruins of Symbaroum 5e setting from Free League Publishing.
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/symbaroum5e/
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Intel Dump / Re: Consolidated Games-on-Sale Thread
« Last post by bayonetbrant on May 24, 2024, 03:31:59 PM »crazy Talisman sale here, all add-ons to the free based game through Steam
https://www.humblebundle.com/games/talisman-complete-collection-returns?partner=tabletopbellhop
https://www.humblebundle.com/games/talisman-complete-collection-returns?partner=tabletopbellhop
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Intel Dump / Re: Wargame Design Studio News Thread + Latest Sale Titles
« Last post by rahamy on May 24, 2024, 09:36:28 AM »Today's post brings you updates to the Modern Campaigns Asian titles as well as the three Panzer Campaigns Asian titles. This round brings these five games up to the 4.04 standard.
https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/asia-week-modern-campaigns-panzer-campaigns-4-04-updates
https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/asia-week-modern-campaigns-panzer-campaigns-4-04-updates
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History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on May 23, 2024, 11:09:56 PM »878 Battle of Edington: King Alfred the Great of Wessex defeats the Danes, imposing peace
1430. The Burgundians capture Joan of Arc, for the English
1792. George Rodney died
1896 the daily ration for a common soldier in the Argentine Army included 3.3 pounds of fresh beef and 1.8 pounds of other comestibles, plus 4.4 pounds of firewood, with which the troops were presumably supposed to barbecue all that beef.
1934 Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (23) and Clyde Barrow (24), ambushed by police after a three year killing spree
1939. USS Squalus (SS 192) suffers a catastrophic main induction valve failure during a test dive off the New Hampshire coast and is partially flooded, killing 26 crew members.
1944. USS England (DE 635) sinks a Japanese submarine near New Ireland, sinking five submarines in a week
1945. During World War II the prostitute population of Fayetteville, North Carolina, site of Fort Bragg, rose from a “normal” level of about 200 to occasional peaks of some 5,000, as the number of troops stationed there rose and fell.
Although the Soviet Union had 289 submarines in commission during World War II, they were only able to sink only 128 enemy vessels, in the process losing 110 of their number, perhaps the worst loss-to-kill ratio in the history of submarine warfare
1430. The Burgundians capture Joan of Arc, for the English
1792. George Rodney died
1896 the daily ration for a common soldier in the Argentine Army included 3.3 pounds of fresh beef and 1.8 pounds of other comestibles, plus 4.4 pounds of firewood, with which the troops were presumably supposed to barbecue all that beef.
1934 Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (23) and Clyde Barrow (24), ambushed by police after a three year killing spree
1939. USS Squalus (SS 192) suffers a catastrophic main induction valve failure during a test dive off the New Hampshire coast and is partially flooded, killing 26 crew members.
1944. USS England (DE 635) sinks a Japanese submarine near New Ireland, sinking five submarines in a week
1945. During World War II the prostitute population of Fayetteville, North Carolina, site of Fort Bragg, rose from a “normal” level of about 200 to occasional peaks of some 5,000, as the number of troops stationed there rose and fell.
Although the Soviet Union had 289 submarines in commission during World War II, they were only able to sink only 128 enemy vessels, in the process losing 110 of their number, perhaps the worst loss-to-kill ratio in the history of submarine warfare
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Intel Dump / Re: New Column - #TBT / Throwback Thursday!
« Last post by bayonetbrant on May 23, 2024, 10:38:05 AM »#TBT ~ The Gamemaster Series
No, the 1980s saw something of a rebirth, a spark if you will, that lit off a keg of potential that would influence not just wargames but the board gaming hobby as a whole, arguably: the Milton Bradley Gamemaster Series.
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/tbt/tbt-gmseries/
No, the 1980s saw something of a rebirth, a spark if you will, that lit off a keg of potential that would influence not just wargames but the board gaming hobby as a whole, arguably: the Milton Bradley Gamemaster Series.
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/tbt/tbt-gmseries/
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Organizations, Vehicles, Equipment / Re: Ships!
« Last post by bayonetbrant on May 23, 2024, 09:41:26 AM »thread starts here
https://twitter.com/garius/status/1631635077057708033
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1631635077057708033.html
https://twitter.com/garius/status/1631635077057708033
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1631635077057708033.html
Quote
As the last of her crew passes away, it is time to tell the story of ORP Piorun again.
The Free Polish Navy destroyer that faced down the Bismarck, ran supplies to Malta, and fought the Luftwaffe over Clydebank during the Clydebank Blitz. /1 The N-Class destroyer ORP Piorun, moored up.
After the fall of Poland, many Polish sailors escape. some with their ships in frankly incredible acts of bravery, but not all.
So in May 1940, the British navy give the Free Poles HMS Nerissa. An N-Class destroyer, small and lightly armoured, with a focus on speed and torpedoes
The Free Polish navy rechristen her 'ORP Piorun' and give command to Eugeniusz Pławski. Pławski commanded destroyers in the Imperial Russian Navy in WW1, then immediately joined the Polish navy when they got independence.
He was a highly experienced officer and a fierce patriot. Pławski on the deck of his ship, in uniform, with a camera.
On 13th March 1941, Piorun and her all-Polish crew are laid up for repairs at John Browns in Clydebank.
That night, the Luftwaffe launch a devastating attack on the area, home to vital industry and oil supplies.
Thus begins the Clydebank Blitz. It will almost destroy the town. wrecked buildings and a tram during the clydebank blitz
For two nights bombs rain down on Clydebank. Over a thousand die, but the Clydebankers fight the fires and battle to help survivors.
And alongside them, blazing away at the Luftwaffe prone in her berth, despite the attention it draws and the target it makes her, is the Piorun.
"No one who lived through the Blitz in Clydebank seems likely to forget the terrific barrage on the first night from Ack-Ack guns on a Polish destroyer which happened to be in John Brown’s dock for repairs at that time." - Dr MacPhail, Clydebank blitz survivor
The impact of Piorun's fire was minimal, but to those on the ground it was a defiant answer. A sign that Clydebank was not alone and punching back.
Over two terrible nights, Piorun emptied her magazines in defence of her temporary home. Today she is permanently remembered there. commemorative stone to Piorun in Clydebank
After refit, Piorun joins the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, alongside four Tribals.
They're escorting a convoy near the Bay of Biscay late on 25 May 1941 when word is received:
Bismarck is escaping. Hunt is on. Stay with your convoy
NARRATOR: The 4th do not stay with their convoy bismarck looking very big and very battleshippy
The 4th Flotilla is led by Philip Vian. One of the finest Flotilla commanders EVER and entirely capable of reading a chart.
He knows Bismarck is fast. The only chance the British have to kill her is if they can find her quick. philip vian looking clean shaven and stern
Vian is in the right place. Maybe the only flotilla that is. He has 4 Tribals (the most batshit aggressive destroyers in the Navy) and the crazy brave Piorun under Pławski.
He ignores the order and unleashes his pack of sea wolves, ordering them to fan out and find. That. Ship.
On the night of the 26th, in heaving seas, ORP Piorun sights an unknown big ship. She attempts to establish its identity. It answers with gunfire.
Bismarck.
Pławski signals Vian. Vian orders the Flotilla to converge and alerts the Admiralty.
But everyone else is an hour away.
Pławski now faces a choice. One solid hit from Bismarck will disable or destroy Piorun. But if he backs off, they'll lose contact before the Tribals arrive to help.
So he orders a single message sent to the giant battleship unencoded:
"I AM A POLE!"
And then Piorun charges her Pławski wrapped up warm on the bridge, smoking a cigarette
For almost an hour, ORP Piorun harries Bismarck alone, her smaller guns blazing, while the bigger ship tries to swat her.
Finally, Vian and the rest of the Flotilla arrive and join in. Together they box her, wearing her down until the British big guns can reach them at daylight.
Indeed knowing Piorun is lower on fuel than the Tribals, Vian (perhaps also feeling the Poles had done enough and were pushing their luck) orders her to withdraw. They don't.
"Radio problem" Pławski later tells Vian.
Vian (who can't really throw stones at that glass house) is:
Piorun's war isn't over. She runs supplies to Malta (notably as part of Operation Halberd) and takes part in the invasion of Sicily. But it's against Bismarck that she claims her place in history.
As it was politely put:
"Piorun did well under difficult conditions."
😆 official memo praising piorun for her actions
In late 1944 Pławski becomes Chief of Staff for the Free Polish Navy. At war's end, like many Poles, he refuses to return to a Poland abandoned by the allies to the Soviets.
In a quiet act of defiance he hands the Free Navy's flag to the Sikorski institute. He moves to Canada. Pławski as a senior officer, inspecting a ship.
Pławski dies, still in exile, in Vancover in 1973.
But he would eventually make it back home.
In 2004, watched by his son, he was reinterred in the Polish naval cemetery at Gdynia.
It is an honour he thoroughly deserves.
Many of Piorun's crew (including one Richard Polanski) move to Scotland, and Clydebank. The area that had been their home in wartime, now a home in exile.
Often forced to watch as their own country, and their adopted one, largely wrote them out of history. They were inconvenient photo of ship's crew
In 1960, "Sink the Bismarck!" is released to great acclaim, telling the story of the hunt and destruction of the Bismarck.
Piorun does not feature in it. Instead, the sighting of Bismarck is shown as being made by Vian
(Something the real-life Vian was furious about) film poster for Sink the Bismarck!
This thread is dedicated to Pławski, the crew of Piorun and all who served in the Free Polish Navy.
In particular to Richard Polanski, who died on 17th December 2022, the last of Piorun's crew.
There can be no greater honour than to say:
He was a Pole.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this little diversion into a little piece of Polish naval history, which really deserves to be much better known.