Contemporary Crusades

[John Howling Mouse]

I'll be doing a sampling of "Knights Templar" combat aircraft c/w great big red crosses top and bottom.  Some fighters but some transports too, I hope.

The concept: First and Second 20th Century Crusades to The Holy Land.  Now, what shall the home-team boys fly...?

 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

You have to ask?  It would have to be Crusaders of course!

[Sisko]

I was going to do a Knights Templar spaceship!

[nev]

Hmm, we've got the Crusader tank, and the Saracen & Saladin armoured cars.....anything else crusade related military wise?

Don't forget the other Crusader orders - Knights of Santiago, Knights Hospitallier (order of St. John of Jerusalem)

I'm sure Radish has already built an entire fleet of this stuff....  B)  

[gooberliberation]

How about the Teutonic knights? WWI German insignia perhaps, oversized to distinguish from luftwaffe(if the luftwaffe exists in this universe)

[Radish]

I'd got the Teutonic Knights and Knights Templar as part of the Imperial Roman Forces.
Both semi-independent, but serving as "elite" forces.

The Knights Templar have Portuguese-type insignia, and the Teutonic Knights the Maltese "Iron Cross" of the German WW1 insignia.

Lots of fun available with these.....don't forget the Papal Air Force, flown, of course, by Swiss Air Guardsmen.


The early 20th Century Crusade could be biplane based...lots of Camels, Fokkers and SE5s. What about Fokker Triplanes?

I think the opposition might need a fair amount of scratch-building and modification, to make it sympathetic to the image portrayed.
Much needs to be done with colour, decorations, camouflage, etc., and possibly the nature of the aircraft types.

For example, the "heavy knights" of Richard Ist, etc., might be represented by Knight aircraft of a heavy nature.....SPADS, and so on.
The lighter Saracen cavalry might have Nieuports?

Just an idea.

Whatever, as Supertom advises, we need to be "sympathetic" to both sides.
I'm not for making statements as this isn't the place.
I'm just "updating" a past conflict, in the same way that various film makers/stage directors update Shakespeare....witness Ian McKellen's "Richard III".  

[GeorgeC]

The Islamic states of the C11th and C12th were probably the most advanced civilisations in the World, particularly in science and technology, and that the Western Renaissance was built upon Greek and Roman material which had been saved in Grenada, Syria and Egypt.  Islamic armies emphasised manoeuvre and firepower over the brute force of a cavalry charge.  

Consequently, the 'moors' air force should fly multi-purpose, agile, high-technology aircraft (F/A18 and F/A22(sic)) while the crusaders fly less sophisticated but powerful interceptors and strike types such as the F4, F105, Mig 25 and Buccaneers.  

In the earlier Crusade, the 'franks' could fly the last generation of propeller aircraft, (Sea Fury, B50, Hornet, Wyvern, Skyraider and any big, ugly turbo prop) against 1st generation jets (P80, Meteor, Ouragon, Canberra).    

Regards

George Cowie  

[nev]

The Islamic states of the C11th and C12th were probably the most advanced civilisations in the World, particularly in science and technology, and that the Western Renaissance was built upon Greek and Roman material which had been saved in Grenada, Syria and Egypt.

Just as important was scholars driven from Byzantium to Italy by Ottoman expansion, taking their Greek & Roman learning with them.

But the seeds of the Renaissance had also been planted by the rise of the Merchant class across western Europe during the late middle ages.  As they grew in wealth, so they grew in power and challenged the established order (the landed classes and the church)

[Radish]

Now we don't want too much bloody history here, we want bloody hardware  

[nev]

are British planes based at RAF Krak de Chevaliers?  B)  

[John Howling Mouse]

Hey, I just think the concept modernizes the whole past affair.  What If it happens now, in our own time?

No politics nor religion actually involved, if you think about it.  It all boils down to simple but absolutely harsh economics.

The only "Underground Stream" truly being sought in this fictional "Crusade" is the black blood of the Earth: oil.  What makes the Holy Land 'holy' in this speculative instance is the location of said oil.

Once the global taps even show hints that the end of the finite supply is nearing, whatever symbolism supports the economic solution will be employed.

[GeorgeC]

Now we don't want too much bloody history here, we want bloody hardware

Trumpeter 1/32nd F105 in natural metal finish with BIG Tutonic Knight Rittercross (sp?) markings - heavy enough?

Regards

GeorgeC  

[Radish]

Cool baby.
The natural metal needs to be heavily stained after constant action, big bombs and missiles and some damned attractive trim and nose art.
Sounds a winner.        

[GTX]

combat aircraft c/w great big red crosses top and bottom

Somebody beat you to it - the Swiss Air Force!!!  




Regards,

Greg

[Aircav]

Nice green camo A-10 with black fins and a big red cross would look good