That's the Reading Sorted Then

 

I've been scouring my bookshelves both digital and dusty for reference material that might be useful when developing my ideas for X Craft Command. As you can see, it's not a bad starting point, as I've read a couple of these before and have only added one new title to the library, The Sea Devils by Mark Felton, as this covers the operations of XE Craft in the Far East which I'm not familiar with. I'll hopefully get a better idea if this is a feasible project and be able to flesh out some initial thoughts about how it might actually work, that won't just fit on the back of the proverbial fag packet.

X Craft Command

I had an idea out of the blue today. Could the Night Fighter Command system be adapted to wargame the X or XE Craft midget submarine missions against the Tirpitz and the Japanese heavy cruiser Takao in 1943-45? This sounds daft but I think it might work, if you adapt the search and attack mechanisms to the avoidance of underwater navigation hazards, torpedo nets, mines and enemy patrol boats, the objective being to plant explosive charges or limpet mines under the target then try to get away. The crew would have suitable skill ratings and would have to use these to pass skills tests for piloting / navigation, stealthy use of the periscope, management of buoyancy and mechanical problems, and underwater frogman tasks. There would be mission route maps for the fjords of Norway and Singapore Harbour. I need to give this some more thought and do some research but I reckon it's got potential?