battlewagondriver
@battlewagondriver.bsky.social
Wargamer, Star Trek Nerd, Navy Veteran, Naval Historian, Wiccan and Smartass Extraordinaire. Also collect old airline timetables.
If you don't have a bio in your profile, don't expect a follow.
If you don't have a bio in your profile, don't expect a follow.
This is where we are, folks. Fascism isn't coming, it's here...
September 21, 2025 at 11:53 PM
This is where we are, folks. Fascism isn't coming, it's here...
I'll see your Oerlikon, and raise you a quad Bofors, Sir.
August 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I'll see your Oerlikon, and raise you a quad Bofors, Sir.
Monday's Retro Timetable -
Braniff International Airways, Effective July 1, 1963.
HIghlights:
4 "Super Jets" (Boeing 707) between IDL and DAL
2 between IAD and DAL. First offering of Jet "Night Coach" service.
Other a/c - Convair, Electra II, DC-6/7C
1/
Braniff International Airways, Effective July 1, 1963.
HIghlights:
4 "Super Jets" (Boeing 707) between IDL and DAL
2 between IAD and DAL. First offering of Jet "Night Coach" service.
Other a/c - Convair, Electra II, DC-6/7C
1/
August 4, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Monday's Retro Timetable -
Braniff International Airways, Effective July 1, 1963.
HIghlights:
4 "Super Jets" (Boeing 707) between IDL and DAL
2 between IAD and DAL. First offering of Jet "Night Coach" service.
Other a/c - Convair, Electra II, DC-6/7C
1/
Braniff International Airways, Effective July 1, 1963.
HIghlights:
4 "Super Jets" (Boeing 707) between IDL and DAL
2 between IAD and DAL. First offering of Jet "Night Coach" service.
Other a/c - Convair, Electra II, DC-6/7C
1/
In the days before computer sims really became a thing, this is how we fought battles in "The Slot."
Command at Sea (Metagaming) was played at 1/4800 scale, using counters, turn gauges, and tape measures - on the floor.
#NavalWargaming
1/
Command at Sea (Metagaming) was played at 1/4800 scale, using counters, turn gauges, and tape measures - on the floor.
#NavalWargaming
1/
May 23, 2025 at 2:43 AM
In the days before computer sims really became a thing, this is how we fought battles in "The Slot."
Command at Sea (Metagaming) was played at 1/4800 scale, using counters, turn gauges, and tape measures - on the floor.
#NavalWargaming
1/
Command at Sea (Metagaming) was played at 1/4800 scale, using counters, turn gauges, and tape measures - on the floor.
#NavalWargaming
1/
Here's another prime example of not planning your uptakes very well. This is HMS Princess Royal. The forward searchlight platform is level with the top of The forward uptake, and the spotting top is about 25-30 feet above that.
Coal smoke for everyone.
Coal smoke for everyone.
April 29, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Here's another prime example of not planning your uptakes very well. This is HMS Princess Royal. The forward searchlight platform is level with the top of The forward uptake, and the spotting top is about 25-30 feet above that.
Coal smoke for everyone.
Coal smoke for everyone.
Well, since Trump is talking about running for a third term, why not this one - BTW, this hat is for sale on the Obama Foundation website.
April 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Well, since Trump is talking about running for a third term, why not this one - BTW, this hat is for sale on the Obama Foundation website.
My First shipboard assignment in the Navy - USS Belknap (CG26, ex DLG26). Went aboard in February of 1984, and left her just prior to her taking up station as COMSIXTHFLT at Gaeta, Italy in December of 1985.
#NavalHistory #USNavy #Cruisers
#NavalHistory #USNavy #Cruisers
March 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
My First shipboard assignment in the Navy - USS Belknap (CG26, ex DLG26). Went aboard in February of 1984, and left her just prior to her taking up station as COMSIXTHFLT at Gaeta, Italy in December of 1985.
#NavalHistory #USNavy #Cruisers
#NavalHistory #USNavy #Cruisers
Timeline cleanse:
USS Atlanta (CL-51), running trials off of Rockland, Maine. Photo taken 26 November, 1941, roughly 1 year before her loss at Guadalcanal on 13 November, 1942.
Source: Navsource photo#19-N-27299-A
#NavalHistory
USS Atlanta (CL-51), running trials off of Rockland, Maine. Photo taken 26 November, 1941, roughly 1 year before her loss at Guadalcanal on 13 November, 1942.
Source: Navsource photo#19-N-27299-A
#NavalHistory
March 5, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Timeline cleanse:
USS Atlanta (CL-51), running trials off of Rockland, Maine. Photo taken 26 November, 1941, roughly 1 year before her loss at Guadalcanal on 13 November, 1942.
Source: Navsource photo#19-N-27299-A
#NavalHistory
USS Atlanta (CL-51), running trials off of Rockland, Maine. Photo taken 26 November, 1941, roughly 1 year before her loss at Guadalcanal on 13 November, 1942.
Source: Navsource photo#19-N-27299-A
#NavalHistory
Google maps just now - is that surrender I smell??
February 16, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Google maps just now - is that surrender I smell??
LeninCat approves this message.
February 11, 2025 at 5:40 PM
LeninCat approves this message.
Wolverines!
January 21, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Wolverines!
N7275, landing at DAL as Braniff Flight 109 from MEM. Aircraft is shown here in what was originally called "Girard Dark Blue" (although the color is sometimes called "Periwinkle Blue", due to the purplish coloring of the paint.) This color was only applied to one other aircraft in the fleet.
January 7, 2025 at 11:36 PM
N7275, landing at DAL as Braniff Flight 109 from MEM. Aircraft is shown here in what was originally called "Girard Dark Blue" (although the color is sometimes called "Periwinkle Blue", due to the purplish coloring of the paint.) This color was only applied to one other aircraft in the fleet.
Back a number of years ago, I used to do FlightSim (mainly 2004, where I would replicate old airline schedules. I also managed to get some great screen grabs while doing so.
They just don't paint them like this anymore...
#BraniffInternational #FlyingColors #ThreeHolers
They just don't paint them like this anymore...
#BraniffInternational #FlyingColors #ThreeHolers
January 7, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Back a number of years ago, I used to do FlightSim (mainly 2004, where I would replicate old airline schedules. I also managed to get some great screen grabs while doing so.
They just don't paint them like this anymore...
#BraniffInternational #FlyingColors #ThreeHolers
They just don't paint them like this anymore...
#BraniffInternational #FlyingColors #ThreeHolers
USS Pringle (DD477) was one of only 5 Fletcher class DDs to carry an aircraft catapult in place of Mount 53. Used operationally for the first (and only) time with Convoy ON154 in January 1943, the equipment was removed afterwards, and Mount 53 and the aft tubes were reinstalled. #NavalHistory
December 11, 2024 at 3:23 PM
USS Pringle (DD477) was one of only 5 Fletcher class DDs to carry an aircraft catapult in place of Mount 53. Used operationally for the first (and only) time with Convoy ON154 in January 1943, the equipment was removed afterwards, and Mount 53 and the aft tubes were reinstalled. #NavalHistory
My followers count is officially demonic now...
December 1, 2024 at 3:47 AM
My followers count is officially demonic now...
For my naval wargaming history, I start off with the first one I ever played (actually, ONE of the first ones). This is Command at Sea, put out by Metagaming in 1981. 1/4800 scale tabletop ship cards, centered on the engagements around Guadalcanal.
#NavalHistory
#NavalHistory
November 19, 2024 at 12:09 AM
For my naval wargaming history, I start off with the first one I ever played (actually, ONE of the first ones). This is Command at Sea, put out by Metagaming in 1981. 1/4800 scale tabletop ship cards, centered on the engagements around Guadalcanal.
#NavalHistory
#NavalHistory
And somewhere in here is a French Light Cruiser.
Absolutely love this scheme. It's listed in US Navy records as Measure 33 Design 4Ab (specific to Gloire). Just the level of complexity meant that not a lot of large ships were painted to this standard.
Absolutely love this scheme. It's listed in US Navy records as Measure 33 Design 4Ab (specific to Gloire). Just the level of complexity meant that not a lot of large ships were painted to this standard.
November 18, 2024 at 7:50 AM
And somewhere in here is a French Light Cruiser.
Absolutely love this scheme. It's listed in US Navy records as Measure 33 Design 4Ab (specific to Gloire). Just the level of complexity meant that not a lot of large ships were painted to this standard.
Absolutely love this scheme. It's listed in US Navy records as Measure 33 Design 4Ab (specific to Gloire). Just the level of complexity meant that not a lot of large ships were painted to this standard.
This is the Japanese Battleship Yamato. At just over 71,000 tons fully loaded, she was the largest warship built by any nation (until surpassed by the USS Forrestal, at 81,000 tons, in 1959.)
Each one of her turrets weighed 2,730 tons - more than a WWII destroyer.
Each one of her turrets weighed 2,730 tons - more than a WWII destroyer.
November 18, 2024 at 6:59 AM
This is the Japanese Battleship Yamato. At just over 71,000 tons fully loaded, she was the largest warship built by any nation (until surpassed by the USS Forrestal, at 81,000 tons, in 1959.)
Each one of her turrets weighed 2,730 tons - more than a WWII destroyer.
Each one of her turrets weighed 2,730 tons - more than a WWII destroyer.
All information for Random Spitfire Wednesdays comes from this book. It is a brick. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Spit, plus some stuff that you probably didn't.
November 13, 2024 at 10:33 AM
All information for Random Spitfire Wednesdays comes from this book. It is a brick. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Spit, plus some stuff that you probably didn't.