ThE BFST RULFS, ThE BFST 8.EFERENCFS, FOR ThE BFST GAMES. RULES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS ART! Annat; -A/lCiem Rules 0\11 of I'rrilll

ART2 Adv, Annali $19.99

ARB Tactica - Ancient Rules $19.99

ART4 Tactic:a Supplement $1 \.99

ARTS Toctica Medi~val $19.99 ART6 Shako Nap. Rules & Lists $22.95

ARTI Fields of Glory· Shako Seenarios 519.99

ART9 Gn:al W/I1 Spearhead-WWI $24.99

ARTlO Spearhead WWIl $24.99

ARTll Spearhead Eastern Front Scenarios $\9.99

ARTIZ Spearhead Desert Scenarios $19.99

ART!3 Spearhead AmericllI1 Scenarios $\9.99

ART14 Modem Spcwhcad $24.99

ARTIS Crossfue . Low Level WWII 519.99

ARTJ6 Crossfire Scenarios • Hit the Dirt $1 9.99

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Olli' Patriou &: loyali~lS - American Revolution

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(ITH. Fin: and Fury

OTH7 Fire and Fury Wcscern Scenarios

OTH8 Fire aud Fury Eastern Seen.

0lli9 ACW Scenarios for any rules

0lli1O Mr. Lincoln's War

Ollill Brother Against Brottll.-r-ACW Skirmish

OTH12 Johnny Reb III

0lli13 Battles for Empire - Colonial

oml4 Di~on Gunfighter

0lli15 Megablil1. - Fast rules play for WWIl

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NEW FROM WARGAMES QUICK REACTION FORCE ESSEX lSMM

Q.R.F~ 15MM SAMURAI We are now stocking the following ranges. SAMI Sam. Bow, Assorted poses $3.69

Dinosaurs SAM3 Lower class Sam., w/sword & Naginata $3 .69 American Civil War Fortress Guns

World War I SAM5 Followers with Naginata $3.69

Chinese Civil War SAM6 Followers with Bow $3.69

Spanish Civil War SAM7 Mounted Samurai, bow armed $3.69

World War II SAM' Mounted Samurai, mixed poses $3 .69 Korea SAM9 Samurai foot standard bearer $3.69 Vietnam SAM 10 Lower Class foot stdard bearer $3.69 Modem SAMll General, seated wlbodyguard $3.69 Arab-Israeli Wars

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SCW? Republican Infantry $3.69 VIK 6 Viking thrusting with (a) spear (b) axe - $1.69 NEW!

SCW7a Republican Militia $3.69 VKVl Raiding party with goose! - $9.99

SCW8 Republican Command $3.69 VKV2 Woman and 3 children - $9.99

SCW9 Republican Artillery crew $3.69 VKV3 Viking with 2 captive children - $5.99 NEW!

SCWIO Rep. Machine Guns w/crew x 2 $3.69 VKV4 Viking carrying treasure chest - $5.99 NEW!

SCWll 'Police Force' Infantry TBA VKV5 Viking mounted with female captive - $5.99 NEW!

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World War II Hungarians (304) 547-0000 http://www.speartorlfle.com

Coming Soon email : wargames@stratuswave.net

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EDITIONS BROKAW provides 15mm figures and related publications for the wars of Marlborough, Charles XII , and Frederick the Great. Shown above, Battle of Ramilles at RECON 02

From June to October 8 South Somerset Ave Crisfield, MD 21817 condrayp@dmv.com

Pat Condray From October to May 2225 S. Gulfwater PI. Crystal River, FL 34429 pcondray@xtalwind.net

For EB and HPC listings send SASE or IRC to the addresses above.

Historical Products Company HISTORICAL PRODUCTS COMPANY provides one stop shopping for the most recent Spanish Civil War (1936-39) from ru les to figures. Shown below: Guadalahara Game at Origins '02

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/roll Clads

Africall Warlord·1l1

Operatioll Mot/Iller

• e ouner

ARTICLES IRONCLADS: Their Development and Use During the Civil War BRENT NOSWORTHY with information in addition to hi s latest book ...... 5

AFRICAN WARLORD IAN CROXALL presents part 111... .... .. .......... ... ..... .. ... .. ... .... .... .... .... .... .. .. . ... 13

OPERATION MODULER ANDREW LA ING with a Modem Spearhead Scenario ........................ ....... .... 21

IMPRESSIONISTIC WARGAMING SAM SCOTT describes hi s Mega-Game Operation Market Garden .. ..... ... 29

5 BUILDING AN EARLY NORMAN ARMY

/3

TERRY GORE with an arm y for hi s Medeival Warfare rules . ... .. .. .... ...... ..41

THE POSSIBILITIES OF COMMAND DA V1D COMMERFORD discusses more of his ideas for the tabletop ... .52

CRYSTAL SKULLS OF ATLANTIS MA7T FRI7Z. E:T ALL repon on a fun g<lme at Historicon '03 . ..... .... .... .. ... .... .... .... 55

DEPARTMENTS

SAPPER'S REPORT 'kitbashing' a panzer turm, MIKE REESE .. .... .. ... 32

THE REVIEWING STAND .. ... ... ... .. .... ... .... .... .. .... .... ....... .... .. ... .... .. .. .... .. . 33 Figures, Books,Rules and Accessories with GREG RICE

THE COURIER DISPATCH News of the hobby .................................... 45

DISPATCHES FROM THE FIELD:]etters to (or at) the editor ............. 60

VOLLEY FIRE Your opinions of The Courier. ... ... ... ... .... ........................ 60

Cover: Riverine nction in the ACW. The Union ship is a Eads class gu nboat such as the Cai ro. The Confederate ship is the CSS Richmond an iron clad. Both mod­els built and painted by Orv Banasik who also took the photo. Orv wrote an arli-

21 cle for MWAN on how to build these boats. It was issue #100. July/A ugu ust 1999.

3

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The Courier NORTIIAlfERlC-%'S fOR£IIO~T.\fI,\M.n'RJ r..t \11\'G IIAGAZlSE

l\ IAN,\ C ING EBITOR: Richard L. Bryant

IIU5IN}:SS MANAGER:Lro Cronin

A RT DIRECTOR: Joseph Miceli

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CONTRIllUTING El)ITORS Jim AmQld; Ken Bunger: Ro~n BeaUle: Jim Birdseye:

John Boehm: Barry FQx: Terry Gore: Jay Hadley: Robert Hamper. Ston Holder. Paul Koch; Bob Marshall: BllIee Milli£~n. GrcS Rice:

Bill RUlhenord. 51(1'( Winter

STAn' CARTOONIST Jose Niera

STArr I> HOTOG RA l' lln~s

Bill Key:;<:" Pat Con<.lmy

THE COURIER DISPATCH: Greg Ri~

STAFF ILLUSTRATORS Alan Archambault, Patrick Crusiau. AI Kar.lsa ,

Greg Rice. Joe Mauhcws. Terry Manion. Mike Tyson.

I'RINTING: Commercial Printing ServiC<.'.1

TilE COURIER I'UnUSIIING COM I',\ NY, INC. Richard L. Bryant. Plel'idcnl

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1I,\ C K ISSUES Cum:nl l'sue{unlil nc~1 issue is out) i~ $6.50 USA; Back i>sues are

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No responsibility is as.sumed fur SlalClllcnts of fact or opinion Ul~dc by the aulbors.

No Il:sponsibilily is a.'sumed for unsolicited manu<cripIS. bUI al l submis,ion. are welcome. no query ncressary. All mailed submi"ions should cOnlain a SC:lf-addressed STAMPED en"elope large enough 10 relurn tr.c submission. Set Ihe AUTHOR'S GUIDELI NES m our Web Slie hllp:llwww.1hcrouriermagazine.com

This M~l!azi"" and other publications of The Courier Publi>lling Company = !'Old wilh the undellilantling lhal c"cry reasonable ~lIcmpt. is made to lieli"er lhem safdy IhrouJ;h the mails. The Courier Publishing Comp:my is IIQI. fC_']lOOsible for ilems 1051 in the malb. Replacements will j,., provided allheir usual cost.

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ALL DOMESTIC DEALER INQUIRIES. ADVERTIS ING COPY. AND tNQUIRIES, SUBSCRtPTIONS (e~""pt lIS tlICnlioned above) AND ARTICL.ES to THE COURIER. PO Bo~ 1878, Brocklon. MA 02303. or E-mail"-' above.

NO.8': J;lIli re Contents 2003 b)" The Courirr Publishing Company, Inc.

ARTICLES From time to lime. editors have to ask for art icles - I am no exception. The Courier especially needs "how-IO" anicles. Tricks you have leamed for making great terrain, or making a set-up look especially great are of panicular interest. Also modeling of particular pieces of tenllin, etc. Of course we can always use

articles about vmious periods. go to our website at www.thecouriermagazine.com and check oUi the

Authors Link on the left of the page for more info. We have been getting some article from far afield­witness this issue's article. "Operation Moduler" by Andrew L1ing - Andrew lives in South Africa!

VOLLEY FIRE The economies of the hobby at this momenl in time require that we reduce costs and one way is to do away with the mailing cover. This was used

in the past for Volley Fire, renewals. comments. address changes, etc. All of these will now have to

be handled at our web site or by direct mail. Frankly I have been somewhat disappointed by the response we

have had to Volley Fire over the Website. About 112 of you are connected, yet. don't use Ihis impoltant resource. I hope that you will use it for Volley fire as the feed back we get from it is invaluable in helping us choose articles to print and those not to. We have been running Volley Fire since we started this incamation of The Courier back in 1979 and a week doesn't go by in which I don't consult past Volley fi res in deciding the cOl1lel1l of the maga­zine.

OPINIONS I am told that. 011 occasion, I should mel1lion that opinions stated elsewhere in TIle Courier other than on this editorial page, do not necessarily reflect the opin­ion of TIle Courier Magazine, its stafT or its advertisers. Of course we say this in every issue in the side bar to the left. but who reads the small plint?

GROWING THE HOBBY As readers of this column know, one of my pet hobby-horses is the growing of the hobby. The photo below, laken as Historicon 03 of a youngster at the Oys­tal Skulls game, shows the enthusiasm this hobby can generate in the young -look at the expression on this young face! I only know him as "young Michael" from the photo title - but I am willing to bet that the seeds planted in this young fellow at Historicon will take root and generate a new, avid gamer in the futu re. And yet there are still many who would not have anyone in their games unless they were of dlinking age! a pity!

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t.---- THE COURIER

111IIE MC)NI1IOR.1\ND 11IIE MERRlMAC­TIIOROUGIIBRED MOOElS

The first examples of wooden ships protected by iron can be found in the lale ISOOs - early 1600s. To defend Antwerp against Duke of PamlU, in 1585 the Dutch built on the Scheidt River a large

O:u bottOIll ship with heavy iron plalcson its sides., The Korean admi­rot Yi Sung Sin had a "tor1oise ship" constructed in 15922, While exploring Japan in 1613, William Adam noticed il huge Noah's ark·like monstrosity a on his way \0 Osaka. The homely 800-10001011 annored vessel was used \0 quash any would be insurrections on the outlying Japanese islandsl , 1l1ese iron-protected vessels. however, were (100111-alies and failed to establish any intellectual precedent.

In [810. Captain Jacques Momgery proposed French men-or-war covered with 4-inch iron plates. but disillusioned with his navy after the catastrophe at Trnfalgar. Napoleon vetoed the plan.4 Thus. Col. Henri Paixhans and the Stevens family of Hoboken. New Jerrey. were the first to systematically experiment with the iron protected wooden ships. Col. John Stevens. who had built the first ocean goi ng steamship in 1808. in 1812 proposed a saucer-shaped. propeller-driven "harbor-defensc" vessel. The propellers allowed the ship to quickly change direction and its relatively low profile meant it would be hard 10 hit. On March 17 1814. Thomas Gregg was issued a patent for an iron-protected ship that Scientific American later described as an "almost exact model of the Me,.,.imac." Its sides angled at 18 degrees were covered with iron plate and its sharp. iron prow was to serve as a mms.

TIle 1820s saw more limited experimentation with proto-iron­clads. The Stevens continued their experiments. but the United States government saw little need for such vessels and rejected all of John Stevens' proposals'. In Frnnce. Colonel Paixhans·. the inventor of the shell gun. tumed his allention to iron-protected warships. which he described in his NO!lI"Idk Force Mllr;t;me (182 1.) 1lle French Com;tl COIl5ldtati! de III Marine carefully considered the famed artillery engi­neer's proposal hut concluded that although it was possible to cover a large man-of-war with iron plate, because of the weight it could cmry only a few guns. a completel y unacceptable condition'. Although in 1827 the British naval commander Charles Napier urged the Duke of Clarence to protect the boilers and engine." of the steamship Dee with iron plates and in the US a dC(ade later Captain Matthew Perry advanced the same argument for the Fulton 1[8, interest in iron annor

5

appears to have subsided for a few years. TIle Navy's reluctance to consider the Stevens' innovations (by

this point. the family' s design initiatives had been laken over John Stevens' two sons. Robert and Edwin) softened in the e:lrly 1840s as a perceived European threat intensified. A French fleet captured San Juan d'Ulloa castle in 1838 and the construction ofa British naval base in Bennuda seemed 10 presage war in 1841-42. The Department of lhe Navy looked for means to prevent a foreign fleet from altacking American coastal cities. [I was genernlly accepted that fixed defenses could not resist a large enemy fleel indefinitely. Wide harbo~ in par­ticular had to be bolstered by moveable batteries. In theory. these could be small. mobile gunboats. with one or two guns apiece. These, like fleas on a dog. could pester the enemy men-at-war whi le shore baner­ies inflicted more serious damage. Unfortunately. these small gunboats could not operate in stonny weather since they were easily scallered. "FloMing batteries" protected by massive wooden bulwarks cou ld be placed at critical points in the harbor. but those strong enough to with­stand heavy shol were necessarily clumsy and easily outmaneuvered. Even worre. the explosive shells hurled by the new Paixhans shell guns would soon ignite the wood'.

The Stevens had continued their long string of experiments and finally managed to impress President Tyler's administration and on January 13. 1842 Congress authorized a $600.000 COntract to complete the project. lO By 1842. the Committee of Naval Affai~ concluded that a steam powered. iron protected floating battery was the best solution and awarded Stevens a contract in February the next year. The 9(X).. horsepower vessel was to be 250-foot long with a 4O-beam (the width at the wide.~t point) and all surfaces above the water were to be pro­tecled by 4.5-inch iron plates sloped at a 45-degree angle to deflect shOt

BRENT NOSWORTHY is an independent scholar whose two previous books on military history. The Anatomy of Victory; Bailie Tactics 1689-1763 and With Musket. Sword and Curmon: Battle Tactics of Napoleon and His Enemies. lire widely considered classics in their field.His latest book, "THE 8WODY CRUCIBLE OF COURAGE - Fighling Melhods alld COlli/Xli £rpuience oflhe GMI lVar" is now in prim see. TIle Courier review in the Reviewing Stand of this issue for availnblilY. - ED

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