Book Review - The Camouflage & Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943-45

Be forewarned, I am enamored with this title....

The Camouflage & Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943-45, written by Ferdinand D'Amico and Gabriele Valentini. Oversized hardback, 224 pages, color planforms and profiles, black and white photographs. Crecy Publishing, 2005. 

As mentioned in a recent post, I had this unique title on its way to me as I decided to expand my knowledge and perhaps add some ANR aircraft to the Check Your 6! collection. I am very glad I was able to pick up this title, gently used, for around $30.00. The book is heavily illustrated with numerous black and white photographs, along with color planforms and profiles, presenting the aircraft of the ANR in great detail, from a camouflage and marking perspective. The book is broken down by unit, starting with the fighter groups, but also includes details on the torpedo and transport groups, as well as the utility aircraft used by the ANR. There is a history of the ANR's creation, the takeover of Italian aircraft by the Luftwaffe, and then the creation of each group. Within each group are details as to how the group was equipped, and then numerous details as to how the aircraft were marked. For example, sixty-two pages are dedicated to the 1° Gruppo Caccia (1st Fighter Group). Within those sixty-pages are 127 black and white photographs, twenty color planforms, and twelve color profiles, to go along with squadron and other types of markings. While the 1° Gruppo Caccia has the most coverage due to its length of service and amount of activity, this impressive amount of information and visualization is carried throughout this title. The authors have done a magnificent job on detailing the various aspects of the schemes used as they did vary - moving from German markings on Italian camo, then to ANR markings, then ANR markings on German RLM 74/75/76 painted planes, to finally German and Italian marking used on German schemes. Each step is thoroughly covered.

Pictures and profiles abound

Squadron and national insignia example

One does have to find this book via aftermarket booksellers, but the title is available for somewhat reasonable prices. While may may find this amount of detail overkill, when it comes to the aircraft paint schemes and markings for the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana this is the one book to have on the bookshelf. The ANR is often overlooked but earned a favorable reputation among their German allies as well as their opponents during its year and a half existence, defending Italy from bomber raids. While this book does not offer ideas for scenarios, it is the definitive account of how the planes used by the ANR looked. Highly recommended.

Planform examples

New Facebook Check Your 6! Group Launched

For years the Check Your 6! Gaming in Dayton Facebook page has been in place, but it really has not been used much since the demise of OxleyCon. It also had a ton of followers that were not gamers, or not gamers anywhere near Dayton. To that end I asked Tom, he of OxleyCon (CY6 Game Day) fame, if we could shut down the page an start a group instead, which would give us more control over members as well as other sorts of admin features. With his approval we now have the Check Your 6! Gaming - Southwestern Ohio group in place. It is for gamers in Dayton, Cincinnati, and the region (say an hour's drive from either of those locales). We'll be putting files, photos, and events there, plus keeping the "membership" to those in our area who are gamers - no Nigerian Oil Ministers! 

If you fall into a "local" gamer in the Dayton-Cincinnati corridor, come join us!

French Surprise After Action Report

After the first turn, two Vichy taking off while another pair come in to assist

For some time I have been wanting to do this small introductory scenario found within the Check your 6! rules. Today three of us were able to put the scenario on the table. It was a fun game, although my buddy Bill had to run four planes (I usually try to keep my games at two planes per player). It was not a good day to be Vichy French.

My skilled and green pilots coming in from the west

The setup required a five hex airfield, which I only have a two hex version, so we used five anti-aircraft markers instead. Due to previous attacks on the airfield there was smoke that covered the five hexes up to TAL 3 (the scenario takes place at Surface Low CAB).

A pair of Wildcats have just completed a strafing run, while two D.520s are just taking off. Another pair of Vichy French planes are coming into the action, as are pair of Wildcats coming down from high cover.

Let the dancing begin

Robustness rolls seemed to be the main issue early in this game, as the French kept failing to save, and started taking damage. Their veteran pilot suffered an airframe hit, and next turn tried to pull off an extreme maneuver - and one failed aircrew check later caused the destruction of the Frenchie. Another D.520 took a hit, then another, causing another French loss. In the meantime I had taken an airframe hit with my of my Wildcats, but was able to successfully extricate that damaged Grumman off of a friendly edge. The last D.520 took an airframe hit but has a chance to build speed an exit. 

I had miscalculated the number of hexes the French could move, which resulted in the sole American damage

By the time Bill was hitting, especially with that cannon in the D.520, the Americans started making their robustness rolls. Final score was 16 to 1 in favor of the Americans...let's call it a torching of the Vichy!

Scott's Wildcats coming in over the airfield, with my skilled pilot lining up his best shot

This was a fun little scenario to host and play in. I hope to pull off several more Operation Torch scenarios in the future as I am putting together a little scenario "booklet" on the American portion of the campaign.

Planes - Raiden Miniatures

Mat - Hotz Mats