The Reckoning: The Day Australia Fell (Unforseen Book 1)

I recently finished reading the electronic copy of "The Reckoning: The Day Australia Fell" by Keith McArdle.

The story is about the Indonesian invasion of Australia, and the activities of various groups of Aussies that resist the occupation.

" Australia has been invaded. While the outnumbered Australian Defence Force fights on the ground, in the air and at sea, this quickly becomes a war involving ordinary people. Ben, an IT consultant has never fought a day in his life. Will he survive? Grant, a security guard at Sydney's International Airport, finds himself captured and living in the filth and squalor of one of the concentration camps dotted around Australia. Knowing death awaits him if he stays, he plans a daring escape. This is a dark day in Australia's history. This is terror, loneliness, starvation and adrenaline all mixed together in a sour cocktail. This is the day Australia fell."

The book was a great read - I finished it in a day, which is something very rare for me these days. It was action packed and fast paced reading, and a whole lot of fun.

I did feel the ending was a bit rushed, but I won't go in to that here in case someone is wanting to read the book themselves.

Given the ending to the story, I was surprised to see that this is book one in a series, so I will be waiting for the new book with anticipation. According to Mr McArdle's web site, he has written 36% of the second book, as at the time I have made this blog post.

I think part of what makes the story so good is that Keith McArdle is ex Australian Military - from what I can tell via a search on the web he was a Rifleman in the Australian army before transferring to  the RAAF. He is currently a paramedic in Queensland.

This gives him a bit on an insight to base the characters on, as well as his own background to draw upon, including having served in Afghanistan.

I liked the book enough that I am tempted to buy a physical copy to go with my electronic copy, as I do prefer actual books to ones stored on a device.. besides, they look better on the book shelf.

Anyone wanted to visit Keith McArdle's web site can do so here: http://www.keithmcardle.com/

Those wanting the book can buy it from Amazon (paper back and kindle) if they can't find it anywhere else: http://www.amazon.com/the Reckoning


 *                                              *                                              *

Interestingly enough, I planned to do a wargame about ten years ago for Australia vs Indonesia, but the lack of miniatures put an end to it.  At the time I was able to get 28mm Australians, but no one makes Indonesians.
Eureka, who makes the Aussies, makes "Musorians", but they look more like African rebels than Indonesians.

 Reading this novel has sparked up the interest again.

With the demise of the Eureka 100/300 clubs I can no longer submit miniature requests to try and get some made, but I could always look at other countries to invade Australia to play out this war.

  I could use China as the enemy (Rebel Miniatures make some, as do QRF) but at this stage no one seems to make command figures for them.

Given that Mr Putin recently came to Australia with some of the Russian Navy in tow in case he was 'shirt fronted', I could feasibly use Russia as the invading nation. Eureka makes enough Modern Russians to play out this scenario.

It is something worth thinking about, especially as Khurasan doesn't look like adding to their North Korean range due to lack of sales. Maybe if they made some command figures they would sell more?

QRF 15mm Vehicles

I made up the QRF vehicles a few weeks ago, and didn't get around to posting the photos until now.

The vehicles are all unpainted, and the minis look taller than they should against them, but that is probably due to the 2mm thick bases they are on.

Since taking these photos I have almost finished painting the BTR-60 and under coated the tanks, as well as having only the bases to finish on my North Korean support weapons.

Finished 15mm Modern Aussies

I finished off my Eureka Miniatures 15mm Modern Australians today:

These figures make up a complete Infantry platoon, with the following:

Rear Rank: Manoeuvre support section, made up of three Manoeuvre Support Teams, each of four diggers.

Middle Rank: Three Rifle sections, each of two four man fire teams

Front Rank:
                  Left: Explosive Detection Dog with Handler, EOD/IEDD - one disposal operative, and one with a mine detector. A sniper team in is front of them.
                  Centre: Platoon HQ
                  Right: Joint Fires Team (forward observers) of six men

The structure of the platoon allows for flexibility of using four sections, or three sections with additional fire power.

The JFT can be broken down in to three two-man teams, with two embedded in sections and one two-man team (the Officer & a sig) being attached to the Platoon HQ. Or I can just have a large FO party doing their own thing if needed.

The EDD/EOD/IEDD will be used for scenarios/mission background, and the sniper is an additional bit of support as needed.

I have an M1A1 Abrams on order from QRF, which I will (hopefully) paint up in the Australian army colours:

I intend to order two more M1s at a later date, and live in hope that someone will make the ASLAV-25 that I can use. 

 I could use the LAV-25, but there are enough differences between the two that I don't want to use the LAV-25 itself.

 I will work on getting myself from Bushmasters from Eureka Miniatures for transport for my infantry. Given the size of the platoon, I will need about five of them.

But all of that is in the future, as I need to paint my North Koreans, and then paint the QRF vehicles I have on order: the M1, a T-55 and a BRT-60.

 The BTR-60 should arrive any day, with the M1 & T-55 a few weeks behind, as I ordered them separately after QFR had a 15% discount sale that I took advantage of.

For the NKs I have two squads and some heavy weapons on the paint desk, so depending on real life, I might have them ready in a few weeks.

15mm Aussies 2

I have finished painting the first section of two fire teams, as well as the sniper & spotter.

 My apologies for the really dodgy photo. When my Mrs returns from Japan, I will borrow her camera and try to get a better photo.

I now have enough Aussies and North Koreans painted up for a "clash of clearing patrols" for want of a better term.

 I have the second section well on the way to being finished, with the third section being prepared.

 
 Depending on how time goes this coming week I will try to kick off my 'No End In Sight" campaign with a section vs squad game if the forests of  "Primorsky" after the North Koreans invaded the former Russian area following the departure of Primorshy Krai from Russian control*.


* see my previous post for more information on the back ground idea for this campaign:
http://shelldrakewargames.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/no-end-in-sight-modern-campaign.html 

15mm Eureka Miniatures Modern Australian infantry

Yesterday I visited Eureka Miniatures and purchased some 15mm Aussies for my 'No End In Sight' campaign that I am planning.

 I purchased a whole platoon, plus some extras, like a sniper team, an IED disposal team and a six man Joint Fires Team (Forward Observer party).

The platoon TO&E is based on up to date lines: three sections of two four-man fire teams, and three four-man manoeuvre support teams (MST).  This allows for flexible deployment, and I can either have three heavy sections of three fire-teams, or a platoon of four sections, one of which had three four-man fire-teams with heavy weapons.

Each normal section has a Team leader with rifle, a Grenadier with Rifle/GLA, a LSW Gunner and a Marksman, although I gave the marksman a SRAAW for extra fire power.

Each MST has a Team leader, a GMPG gunner, a Sharpshooter and a "Grenadier" with a 84mm Carl Gustav.

If Eureka made a figure manning an automatic grenade launcher, I would have purchased three of them for the MST - the idea being the grenadier can exchange the 84mm with the AGL depending on what the mission is.

I would love to have some mortars with crew and a few other bits and pieces too.

I want to get three or four Bushmasters from Eureka as well; I intended to get them, but my budget wasn't able to cater for them as well on the day.

 Above is my Platoon HQ: Left to right, rear to front are: Platoon Commander, Sig, Medic and Platoon SGT.

 I am very happy with the way they have come out, and they are surprisingly easy to paint. The platoon HQ is waiting for a few coats of varnish, and I will post more photos when they have been completely finished.