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Operation Halberd - 1/700 Diorama

By: Chris Drage


During 24th-28th September 1941, Operation 'Halberd' sailed from Gibraltar with nine transports bound for Malta. Force H (Adm Somerville), reinforced from the Home Fleet, includes "Nelson", "Rodney" and "Prince of Wales" and the usual air cover from "Ark Royal". Included are the cruiser elements from Force H and the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. Only one transport was lost during this operation.

The diorama features HMSs Edinburgh, Kenya and Sheffield in line of bearing as shown in an I.W.M. Archive photograph taken during the convoy passage.

HMS Sheffield (Town Class) and HMS Edinburgh (Town class 3rd Group) are each W.E.M. kits HMS Kenya (Colony Class) is a Skytrex white metal kit.

Each model needed increased AA armament which each ship had during the latter stages of 1941. The camouflage variation couldn't be more diverse with Edinburgh in overall AP507b, Kenya in Mountbattern Pink and Sheffield sporting a disruptive scheme which continued from the sides over the deck! Alan Raven's Warship Perspectives Series proved a godsend here. All ships were detailed with WEM PE brass and resin parts.

Modeller's liberty was taken with regard to the two Walrus spotter planes which are being prepared and launched from Sheffield and Edinburgh respectively. It adds interest to the otherwise bare deck and it is quite likely that reconnaissance flights would have been made with the Italian fleet posing such a threat.

Copyright © SMML 2005