Copenhagen - Kastellet

After two nights at Sonderborg the next stop was Copenhagen. After crossing the Alssund on the motorway bridge seen in the previous post and driving the few miles across the island of Als, we made the rather choppy ferry crossing of the Little Belt from Fynshav to Bodjen on the island of Funen. After driving across Funen, the next major water crossing was the spectacular Great Belt Bridge to - all 11 miles of it!  We were staying at the northern end of Copenhagen - more about that site in a future post.  On our first full day there we got the train (well, two trains) into the city and visited the Kastellet.

This well-preserved star-shaped fortress dates from the 17th century and is still in use by the Danish military.

The fort is home to a monument to Denmark's international activities after 1948.   The inscription reads "a time a place a person".

The other side of the wall names the fallen.

In one of the fort buildings is a museum commemorating Denmark's international involvement.  Cyprus features quite prominently.

There are considerable numbers of field and fortress cannon in the fort and on the ramparts.

 

The battle of Dybbol, 1864

The main reason we parked for a couple of nights was to visit the Dybbol battlefield.  The nearby town of Sonderborg spans both sides of the Alssund. We weer on the western bank.  In the distance is the bridge which carries motorway 8 from the mainland to the island of Als.

In the centre of Sonderborg, "this memorial stone was erected as a thank you to all those sent on international missions for Denmark since 1948."

The coastal walk into Sonderborg was dotted with these memorials to Danish soldiers protecting the evacuation of their fellows to Als after the Dybbol defences were overcome.

The eastern side of the Alssund - Sonderborg has expanded a bit to the north in the past century!

The Dybbol battlefield is still largely unspoiled and included a visitor centre in one of the redoubts.  Always good to see a fortress gun.

This crane was for changing gun barrels.

This chap was spotted trying to cram the field gun into a rucksack.

A brief cycle ride away is another even larger redoubt!

Across the road from the redoubt is Dybbol Mill and this memorial.  Sadly while we were visiting the mill the weather closed in so my photos of it are awful.  But fear not, as an er, scale model of the mill features in a forthcoming post.

And the weather picked up soon afterwards.  It was one of those days where we had four seasons, not just in one day but in a couple of hours!

European Road Trip 2025

 It’s been rather quiet here of late - not least because I was away for three weeks in Europe.  A three week  1,600 mile trip in the new ‘command bus’ saw us traverse Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, as far east as Copenhagen.  Four countries (including this one), four ferries, a huge causeway (twice), an 11-mile bridge (twice) and innumerable bridges and tunnels.

Highlights of particular interest to blog readers included a nineteenth century battlefield, staying in a fort and a previously unknown (to me) tank museum!

More will follow in the coming weeks. 

My route. Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam. Stays in Harlingen (NL), Grosswisch (D), Sonderborg, Copenhagen, Kirkerup, Middelfart, Billund (all DK), Hausbruch (D), Harlingen, Sneek and Brielle (all NL).  Ferry back to Hull.

Nebelwerfers

 

Among the toys making their combat debut at the recent Ardennes game was this pair of Nebelwerfers.  These are 3d prints, with crew figures sourced from what came to hand.  They're Tamiya figures, mostly from the 88mm gun set.  

The Twin Villages - Ardennes 1944

 

This game was played a couple of weeks ago using my draft WW2 rules, 1/32 figures and 1/50 AFVs.  It was based on the December 1944 German attack on the 'twin villages' of Krinkelt and Rocherath in Belgium.  The table was about 5x8 feet.  The US players were Russell and Simon, the Germans were John, Martin and Pete.  The photos are in no particular order but I hope they will give an impression of the game.  Photos by me, Pete, Martin and Russell.  My thanks to all players for making this such an enjoyable day.

Above - the biggest problem the Germans faced was traffic congestion!  Luckily the weather was grim so no allied air cover!  Additionally, thick mist covered the area for the first few turns, halving visibility.

In this game and infantry company is represented by six figures and each AFV represents around 10 vehicles, though a few are 'platoon-sized' stands representing half as many.

The Germans make progress but come under fire.

To prepare for the game I laid out the units on large sheets of paper.  At the last minute I chucked them in the car to assist me - and the players - on the day.  And yes, there are five Panthers!

US AT guns fire on the distant enemy.

Panthers clatter westwards.

In the villages the US Rgt HQ took up residence and chanelled reinforcements forward.

US infantry and armour (or 'armor?') shulking in fields.

Another view of the German setup.  This was the debut outing for my (Solido) Bergepanzer IV.

A company of Pz IV having a tough time.

A Panzergrenadier btl with panzer support.

One American gunner clearly wasn't feeling the cold!

Shermans take on Pz IVs

The US HQ included a Military Police detachment.

The German forces

Another toy making it's combat debut was this 'Grille' - a self propelled 15cm infantry gun battery.  It's (pre-painted) camo was very effective!

Having struggles to get off the starting line, the Germans made insufficiently swift progress to put the Yanks under real pressure.  A bit like the real battle then!

Yorkshire Wartime 2025

This was a military show held on a farm near Doncaster last weekend.  As well as many military vehicles, there were also re-enactment groups.  The static displays were joined periodically by drive-pasts and skirmishes.  Oh, and trade stands selling everything from hot dogs to WW2 uniforms.

Above; Austin Champ - ultimately this lost out to the simpler, lighter and cheaper LandRover.

M8 Greyhound.

US halftrack

Daimler scout car

and again!

another halftrack

Universal Carrier

M18 Hellcat

M29 Weasel.  Someone once tried to sell me one of these.

M3 scout car

Stug III - or is it?  It's actually a very good replica on am FV432 chassis.

WW2 German road signs

Swiss(!) Panzer 68

ex-Israeli M50 Super Sherman

Kubelwagen

Happily I didn't need the first aid tent...

Bogward PKW.  I understand this is a fully restored vehicle - even the engine is origina.

Bedford QL

Sdkfz-7 leading a Matador.  It was like watching the Airfix catalogue driving past.
 

More Austin Champs

Bedford RL

Sdkfz-7 again

Austin K-2 Ambulance.  Ice Cold in Doncaster?

Leyland Hippo

Jeep with 37mm AT gun

Soviet motorcyclists

Matador again