September 1st this year marks the 75th Anniversary to the start of the Second World War.

I’d like to commemorate that day with a campaign for the Battle of the Atlantic. This first U-boat sinking was also on September 1st when the U-30 torpedoed the liner Athenia just hours after England declared war on Germany. 

The campaign build will cover the dark early years of the Second World War's longest running campaign. 

Any subject of ship, aircraft, figures or diorama of any scale that reflect the years of 1939, 1940 and 1941. 

I'll have the campaign start on September 1st this year and go until April 30th 2015. 

I’ll have a satellite link posted in the Aeroscale forum to seek out the interest of aircraft builders. 

How about it? 

Hi Michael.

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous campaign
of WWII 1939-1945.

You also want to bring in aircraft....I agree but why limit it
to 1939,1940 and 1941?

Many important events took place in later years in the following areas:

Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, Irish Sea, Labrador Sea, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Banks, Arctic Ocean.

I am particularly interested in Operation Drumbeat 1942 and
the Gulf St.Lawrence sinkings...1942 and beyond.

Also many aircraft and new technologies were developed beyond
1941, to fight the u boats.

And of course the famous capture of U 505 in 1944, of which
Revell just released a model of this U boat.

So I personally like the idea of the campaign but it should
cover the whole of the Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1945.

Just my opinion.

I will be in, no matter what you decide.

Cheers,
Joe

I'm in with a 1/700 build - RN E-class DD conversion to minelayer, ca A.D. 1940.

Ideally I was hoping to do a yearly event, marking each year of the campaign -a bit too much in pushing a theme?

I'm old enough to remember the war's 50th anniversary and there seemed to be a much bigger lead up to interest that there is for the 75th.

But if it attracts more builders, I'd be open to doing until 1945. I imagine there'd be some builds for Revell's 1/72 Type IXC used.

Any other thoughts from others regarding the time frame.

Hi Michael, I am in.

Not sure on the subject yet, but have a few likely early war subjects in my stash.

Si

Great! Three so far!

I've been thinking of the Admiral Scheer. Just did some reading about her in the last couple of days and am surprised there's been no dedicated 1/350 kit for her, considering she's cited as the most successful surface commercial raider of the Kriegsmarine.

Her sister ship, the Graf Spee, seems to outshine her in history, I guess because of her we publicized demise.

Add me to the list in either form of the campaign (39-41, then another one 42-45 Or 39-45)

Not sure what to build yet, but have many choices for sure.

Hello All,
The campaign will be in 3 parts. The early years 1939-1941
The "Happy Times" 1942 -1943 and Fighting a Losing Battle 1944-1945.
this way you can model the tech changes that the war showed through the years: wooden subchasers, hedgehogs, perxiode submarine motors, Rader equit subs/ships/planes, etc.
It is hard to show everything in a 6 month campaign. By spliting it into 3 campaigns, you can make differant types of subs/planes by differant years.
Also dio's are allowed so you can make a dio of a Milch Cow resupplying a sub in the middle of the ocean or a Anti-Sub plane diving on a sub firing rockets/droping bombs/depth charges.
It is up to you on how to make or break this campaign.



Campaign has been approved, So go sign up.

Cheers,
Bruce

Thanks Bruce!

It is all clear now and I just signed up.

Cheers,
Joe

That sounds like a good breakdown. Bruce is really good at partitioning huge campaigns in to more manageable and enjoyable campaign series, so this should be good

I agree on all accounts.

I've modified the rules in the campaign description accordingly.

Sounds good to me, I shall be in for all three.

Si

Hello All,
Glad to have you all. If you have any friends over at Aeroscale tell them about the campaign and get them to sign up. the more the meerier.
Cheers,
Bruce

Well, I can cover part of the 42-43 range with an Academy 1/72 F4F Wildcat in Atlantic markings.. Might go along nicely with this:

Right, Have finally got round to enlisting.

Still not sure on exact subject, but got time yet.

Si

Leaning forward in the saddle here and acquiring research data on an E-class DD conversion for an early war campaign build. Does someone have a link or a reference to how HMS Esk was decked out as minelayer conversion? Got the reference data on the A&Y turrets being landed, as well as the torpedo tubes. Near as I can determine, AA capability was stripped as well?

Looking for how the mines were configured on deck, as well as how they were placed in the water during mining.

I have confusing references on the type mine(s) employed by Esk-most specifically at the time of her sinking 31Aug1940. 60 Mk XIV is what one reference gives me. Mk XVI also appear in my reference(s). Typographic error? They were similar, excepting shell thickness. So, either/or as far as 1/700 physical realism goes? I have two (2) packages of Admiralty mines for my kit as a guide.

Closest I could find was this basic illustration of the concept for an E-Class done as a mine layer.

http://gb-navy-ww2.narod.ru/HTM-DD-E.html

Hi, one Aeroscaler signed up, don't know what to build, the stash has nothing suitable in it. Could fancy an Avro Anson but time to look yet

Welcome aboard, Andrew.

An Anson build would be great to have in this build.

Thank you for the useful link, Michael. Helps me better visualize the E-class as a minelayer.

hello All,
sorry i have not been around much. I had my 5th Heart Attack last week and I an still alittle slow.

We need someone to design a ribbon for the campaign, any takers.
I am glad to see some Aeroscale people here for the campaign. i think that we need to check the other sites Historicus forum. model Geek RR Modeling and Auto Modeler and see if you want to join in, just a thought.
Cheers,
XO signing off

Egads, Bruce! What kind of life have you been living to have 5 heart attacks?! Please rest up!

I've got a preliminary ribbon I made up and asked HARV if he'd be interested in making one since he did a few before.

I'll put posts in the other forums with a link to the campaign.

For my self for this build, I just purchased a 1/400 Mirage kit of the ORP Grom in her 1940 look and plan to build her as the ORP Blyskawica, considered the first allied ship to have engaged a German U-boat.

$15.95 off ebay -pretty good, I thought.

If I get this done in a reasonable amount of time I'd also like to take a shot at a Coastal Command Liberator. I love the look of a B-24 done up in Coastal Command Colors.