R.A.F. Air Sea Rescue Launch »Whaleback«

Recensione del Modello Airfix in Scala 1:72

Commando britannici landing from an R.A.F. crash boat. The vessel has been converted to a waterline model which can be used in harbour dioramas e simulations of coastal warfare. I Commando e Kübelwagen are available from Airfix, ESCI made the Opel Blitz.

The sea shall not have them

During seconda guerra mondiale the Royal Air Force operated a fleet of high-speed, very reliable e seaworthy motor launches to rescue pilots ed aircrew who ditched their damaged planes o bailed out over water. It was vital that downed airmen be picked up quickly, to protect them from exposure e – equally important – to prevent their capture by enemy E-boats. Interestingly, because the crash boats were operated by the R.A.F. Air Sea Rescue Service, their captains held Air Force ranks of Flying Officer o Flight Lieutenant.

On the night of 23rd/24th giugno 1940, the newly created No. 11 Commando borrowed six crash boats from the Air Ministry to launch the first ever Commando raid. Each boat carried 30 Commandos e their equipaggiamento, landing the men near Boulogne e Le Touquet in occupied Francia. The raid itself was uneventful, but it marked the beginning of combined operations ed it did much to improve morale nella Gran Bretagna. Until specialized assault landing craft became available later in the war, a variety of naval vessels like destroyers, Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB), Steam Gun Boats, RAF crash boats, motor launches, Eureka boats, dories e canoes were used to ferry Commandos across the channel e land them on the costa francese. RAF crash boats were involved in the raid against the island of Guernsey, 14th/15th giugno 1940, where it proved difficult to land e later evacuate the troops from the rugged coastline.

Raids against St. Nazaire e Dieppe in 1942 showed the deficiencies of motor launches e similarly unarmoured naval vessels used in amphibious operations. Many of the boats were badly shot up as they approached positions mitragliatrice nemici defending the intended landing sites. As a result, RAF crash boats had anti-shrapnel padding fitted around the forward cabin e they were equipped con additional mitragliatrici ed a 20 mm Oerlikon on the rear deck.

Contenuto

British Power Boat Company Type Two 63ft HSL
Lunghezza: 63ft (19.20 m)
Velocità: 36 knots
Autonomia: 800 km
Armamentoo: due mitragliatrici .303 Vickers in torretta. In late 1942, additional twin mitragliatrici were mounted on either side of the pilot house ed a 20 mm Oerlikon on the rear deck.
Equipaggio: Captain, medical orderly e 7 sailors.

Valutazione

Scale model con excellent detail.
Perfect choice of subject, the model may be used in amphibious operations involving fanteria, landing craft ed other small naval vessels.
Choice of early war version con black/yellow colour scheme o late war vessel con subdued colours, additional armi ed anti-shrapnel padding.
Decalcomanie for tre boats are included.
Intermediate level of difficulty. Many parts, e some equipaggiamento choices need to be made. Some parts require painting before assembly.
High quality kit. Parts fit very well e there is minimal flash.
Assembly instructions are easy to follow.
Very nice soldatini dell’equipaggio, depicting the captain, due mitraglieri ed a man about to throw a life-preserver to someone in the water.
Compatibile con torpedoboats, Motor Torpedo Boats e destroyers produced by Airfix, Revell e Tamiya.

Crew soldatini for the mitragliatrice torrette are not included.
Decalcomanie will not fit over raised detail on the bow, they need to be cut out precisely.

Utilizzo Storico

R.A.F. Air Sea Rescue Service, 1940-1945
- HSL 130, 1941-1942
- HSL 127, Flt. Lt. D. Jones, 1942-1944
- HSL 156 (Seagull 70), Flying Officer G. Lockwood, 1943-1944
Combined Operations, 1940-1944

Conversione

Sinking ship created from offcuts of the waterline model pictured above

The rescue launch shown here has been converted to a waterline model by cutting the hull apart e mounting the vessel in a wargame display. The offcuts were used to create the impression of an inverted e sinking naval vessel. Waterline models can be displayed in very attractive harbour scenes involving buildings, soldatini e veicoli. The rubber dinghy ed its crew of due men are from Revell’s set of German engineers.

The R.A.F. rescue launch is an excellent model, it deserves to be mounted in a naval diorama. The Airfix kit is dated 1978, but it does not show its age at all. Parts fit perfectly, most of the work can be completed in an evening ed it will be surprisingly familiar terrain for armour enthusiasts. Standard modeling e painting techniques apply, drybrushing e weathering will bring out all the raised detail e turn this kit into a superb showpiece. A welcome change of pace from 1:72 scale armour e fanteria models. The Whaleback really is a delight to build.

Airfix Modellismo

Domande più frequenti

Per ulteriori informazioni, per favore contatta la redazione di Rivista Military Miniatures nel Miniatures Forum.

Soldatini Britannici della Seconda Guerra Mondiale

– Pubblicato: 1996 – Aggiornato: 10.09.2002
© 1996-2012 by IDL Software GmbH, Darmstadt, Germania. Tutti diritti reservati.