Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => General Discussion => Topic started by: mollinary on 30 March 2025, 09:14:52 PM

Title: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: mollinary on 30 March 2025, 09:14:52 PM
I am in shock. Just watched an amazing programme describing the activities of a wargaming group of Wrens, who prepared naval escort commanders to deal with U Boats via wargames. Quite astonishing. How have I gone so many years, including many looking at the war in the North Atlantic, without ever hearing of this. wow!
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: sultanbev on 30 March 2025, 09:50:18 PM
I only heard of it a year or two ago.
Just goes to show, there are always aspects of WW2 that are still yet uncovered.
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: Gwydion on 30 March 2025, 10:45:01 PM
I was lucky enough to be born in an era when public libraries had books in them.
In one local library I found:  Mark Williams, Captain Gilbert Roberts R. N. and the Anti-U-Boat School (Cassell, 1979).
Still worth a read.
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: Last Hussar on 30 March 2025, 11:13:21 PM
If this is what I think it is, there is a youtube video about it. Is is where the RN commanders could onkt look at the plot though brown gauze, which hid the chalk marks of the Umpires?
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: Last Hussar on 30 March 2025, 11:14:42 PM
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: Ithoriel on 31 March 2025, 06:13:05 AM
I learned about "Operation Raspberry" from a distant relative back in the late 70's. He was in the Royal Navy in WW2 and, learning that I was a keen wargamer, he regaled me with the story of his being sent on one of the training courses. He turned up convinced it was all nonsense and left a firm believer.

I'll second Gwydion's endorsement of the Mark Williams book.
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: Orcs on 31 March 2025, 08:32:52 AM
Watched  "U-Boat wargamers" on TV last autumn. Not sure what channel. It was very good.
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: fsn on 31 March 2025, 04:59:18 PM
I work in Walker House. Very conscious of the history. We had a fire alarm this morning, and I spent it telling a visitor of the history.

Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: paulr on 01 April 2025, 06:58:01 AM
Well done Nobby, has the visitor recovered yet  ;)
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: fsn on 01 April 2025, 07:24:42 AM
Errr ... I sort of spent the rest of the day peppering him with random history facts.

He was an auditor. Deserved everything he got. :)
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: Last Hussar on 01 April 2025, 12:01:52 PM
I was feeling sympathy, until you said he was an auditor.
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: Deedles on 01 April 2025, 09:28:09 PM
Yes , and it had a set u0 and display at the Western Approached museum in Liverpool. Worth a visit

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPO_uv9AI3Ffw0SMwwBpCTqK06jYUHcvz48g4Jkx_av6dW3V8D3mWoWBN_PB8KObfQ7qvHphOxQgLVCFRE6PROe9LAKYrzcQqnmXEEdLXFxSXweGQ6ZidxLEWPUBXrzwbBshsYOSvCIiylhZrRZNMb-zTi0wxy_5VxOAAihdgmeBbrLBIByeIR4cG4WE/s4032/IMG_5162.jpeg)
Title: Re: Documentary on BLAZE, has anyone ever heard of WATU?
Post by: paulr on 02 April 2025, 05:58:46 AM
QuoteErrr ... I sort of spent the rest of the day peppering him with random history facts.

He was an auditor. Deserved everything he got. :)

QuoteI was feeling sympathy, until you said he was an auditor.

I agree with both Nobby & Last Hussar :o  :o  X_X