Blenheim to Berlin

AWI BLACK POWDER - BATTLE OF ORISKANY 1777

2012-02-25T23:21:00.001Z

This weeks 28mm AWI game that I arranged at the SESWC was based on the Battle of Oriskany on Wednesday, August 06, 1777 using Black Powder Rules. The game was a test of a display that I am putting on for the SESWC at Albanich the Dumfries wargames show. One of my early posts was of a fictional 2nd battle of Oriskany this game was based on the real battle.

Royal NY Regiment - their fire proved deadly

Some History
The Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777, was one of the bloodiest battles in the North American theater of the American Revolutionary War and a significant engagement of the Saratoga campaign. Early in the siege of Fort Stanwix, an American relief force from the Mohawk Valley under General Nicholas Herkimer, numbering around 800 men of the Tryon County militia and a party of Oneida Indians, approached in an attempt to raise the siege. The British commander Barry St. Leger authorized Sir John Johnson to intercept them with a force consisting of his own King's Royal Regiment of New York, a Hanau jäger detachment, Indian allies from the Six Nations and Indian Department Rangers totalling at least 450 men.
The Loyalist and Indian force ambushed Herkimer's force in a small valley about six miles (10 km) east of Fort Stanwix, near the present-day village of Oriskany, New York. During the battle, Herkimer was mortally wounded. The battle cost the Patriots approximately 450 casualties, while the Loyalists and Indians lost approximately 150 dead and wounded. The result of the battle remains ambiguous to this day because the advantage of the Loyalist victory was countered when a party sortied from Fort Stanwix and sacked their camp, spoiling morale among the Indians. The battle is featured in the film Guns Along the Mowhawk but none of the action is shown.

The Setup
The game was fought down a 8ft by 6ft table. We used the standard movement and ranges given in the rules. The terrain was assumed to be wooded except for an area of open ground around two hamlets that was by fences. The 24 figure units were classed as standard units, the 10 to 12 figure units as small units. I made all the commanders 8s for this game as the Patriots are already. handicapped by the their militia being Unreliable. To make them more effective I allowed the Indians to charge any troops in the flank or rear and to charge any shaken formed troops frontally. The formed militia units were Untested and had to dice when requred to check their stamina on a 1 their stamina was 1, on a 2 to4 their stamina was 2 and on 6 it was 3. Colin Jack and Bart Zynda commanded the British Army. Olivier Lepreux and I commanded the Patriots.

1st Brigade presses forward towards the Rangers

PATRIOT BRIEFING
Brigadier General Nicholas Herkemer chairman of the Tryon County Safety Committee
A British force commanded by Col St Leger comprising regulars, tories and indians have advanced from Oswego into the Mohawk valley and are besieging Fort Stanwyx. It is apparent that their intention is to overrun the valley and move southeast to link up with Burgoyne’s main army advancing on Albany from Ticonderoga. You have called out the Tryon County Militia on pain of hanging and 4 companies have rallied to the colours. You have also been joined by a war party of Oneida Indians who’s tribe have split from the rest of the 6 Nations and declared for the revolution. You have split your command into 2 brigades. Your force is 6 miles from Fort Stanwyx and other than sighting scouting parties your column has not encountered any opposition. You force is just about to enter a ravine leading towards the fort.

OB The Tryon County Militia
CinC Brig Gen Nicholas Herkimer
1st Brigade Colonel Ebenezer Cox
Canajoharie coy Colonel Ebenezer Cox 24 figs
Palatine coy Jacob Klock 24 figs
Oneida Indians 10 figs
2nd Brigade Colonel Frederick Visscher
Mohawk coy Colonel Frederick Visscher 24 figs
German Flats coy Col Peter Bellinger 24 figs
Kinglands Militia Rifle Skirmishers 10 figs

BRITISH BRIEFING
Acting Brigadier General Barry St Leger Colonel of the 34th Foot

Your force commanded comprising regulars, loyalists, Canadians, Hessian jaegers and Indians have advanced from Oswego into the Mohawk valley and has laid siege to Fort Stanwyx. Your objective is to overrun the valley and move southeast to link up with Burgoyne’s main army advancing on Albany from Ticonderoga. The garrison of Fort Stanwyx have refused your summons to surrender and you have settled down to a regular siege. Your scouts have reported that a strong rebel force are advancing to relieve the fort. This force mainly consists of the local militia of Tryon County. You have despatched Sir John Johnson with a brigade under John Butler and another under Joseph Brant chief of the Mohawks with the bulk of his six nations warriors to meet this threat. A demonstrable victory over the relief column could well convince the commander of Fort Stanwyx to surrender.

OB CinC Col Sir John Johnson
1st Brigade Col John Butler
Johnsons Royal NY Regt 24 figs
Hanau Jaegers 12 figs
Butlers Rangers 12 figs
2nd Brigade Joseph Brant
Six Nations Skirmishers 12 figs
Six Nations Skirmishers 12 figs
Six Nations Skirmishers 10 figs
Six Nations Skirmishers 10 figs

Struck in flank by the Iroquois - do not roll a 3!

HOW THE GAME PLAYED
The British army deployed in a defensive line midway across the table facing the 2 open areas. Butlers Brigade commanded by Colin was on the right with the skirmishers flanking the Royal NY Regt with the Indians commanded by Bart on the left with 2 of their units held of table in reserve.

The Patriots had their 1st brigade on their left commanded by Olivier and I commanded and the 2nd Brigade on the right.
The battle opened with the British taking the initiative and advancing to the edge of the open ground whilst their Indians moved into the woods on their left. The Patriot advance was hampered by my poor command rolls and so Oliviers brigade advanced more rapidly into contact. His indian unit skirmished with the opposing Iroquois who eventually charged and drove them back. His two militia units had come under fire from the rangers who repeatedly disordered the leading unit forcing the supporting unit to leapfrog through them. With the their right flank exposed by the defeat of their Indian allies each unit was charged in turn by an Iroquois warband whose initial bloodthirsty charge broke the first unit and then they forced the second unit to retire 2 moves!

On the other flank my militia units came up in turn to their side of the open ground and both were broken by the amazing shooting of the Royal NY regiment. My riflemen skirmished with the Jaegers who eventually gained an upper hand and charged them. With the Patriots having only 1 formed militia unit and 2 skirmishing units still on the field it was an obvious British victory.

Mohawk company - disordered, shaken and excess hits!

RULE CHANGES
1. MODIFIED TURN SEQUENCE
INITIATIVE PHASE
Declare and undertake initiative movement – there is no change to the basic rules for this. All moving units to be marked as having moved this turn. (They cannot move again in Command Phase).
Any units charged may deliver ‘Closing Fire’ at the end of initiative.
FIRING PHASE
Moving player carries out firing as per the rules.
All firing units to be marked as having fired this turn (for modified Command
Penalties).
COMMAND PHASE
Give orders and move as per the Command phase of the rules.
There is an additional command penalty:
"-1 if fired this turn"
Any units charged may deliver ‘Closing Fire’ if they have not fired before in this turn.
MELEE PHASE
Conduct Melees as per rules
FURTHER NOTES
Any unit that fired in the Firing Phase suffers -1 to its command. If it is part of a group of units that have been ordered (i.e. a brigade order) then the entire group suffers the penalty. Note that this is NOT cumulative for each unit that has been fired.
2. TERRAIN EFFECTS
Formed troops advance at half speed thru woods. Formed troops are not an ‘unclear target’ in woods. Troops in woods get the morale modifier for cover except when charging to contact or in hand to hand combat.
3. INDIANS
Indians are allowed to charge skirmishers and shaken formed troops frontally and all troops in the flank or rear.
4. INTERPENETRATION
Units can interpenetrate except where one of them is charging.
　
　

WESTERN DESERT 1941: OPERATION BATTLEAXE

2012-02-18T10:08:00.001Z

This weeks game at the SESWC was a 20mm World War II action using the Rapidfire rules. This fictional scenario was based on Operation Battleaxe in the Western Desert 1941. A British force of 2 infantry battalions supported by cruiser tanks, artillery and armoured cars attacked an Italian infantry regiment of 2 battalions with limited tank support defending 2 settlements. Both sides had off-table reserves and air support that was controlled by chance. The game was played on a 6ft by 4ft table.

Crusdaer squadron sweeps forward.....

This was actually a last hurrah for my Western Desert collection as I have decided to dispose of them on Ebay. I only use them occasionally at the club as all my terrain at home is for Western Europe or the Eastern Front.

Link to Flickr photoset with all the photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157629368109651/

How the game played
Bart Zynda and I commanded the British whilst Colin Jack and Oliver Lepreux commanded the Axis. We decided to split the forces fairly equally and Bart with 1 battalion supported by the A13 squadron and the armoured cars attacked on the right whilst I attacked with the other infantry battalion supported by the Crusaders and HQ on the left.

Barts infantry await the go sign

My attack stalled at once when in the first turn opportunity fire from an Italian AT gun knocked out one of my Crusaders and the others retired to cover. On his flank Barts tanks swept forward and engaged the Italian line with their machine guns as their 2pdr guns could not fire high explosive. The Italians facing Bart concentrated their fire on his supporting infantry.

A13s close on the village...supporting artillery fire hits oasis

Our supporting artillery proved a disappointment repeatedly failing to be contacted and missing - however eventually it did not knock out the Italian field gun. We did get the RAF to intervene and a strafing Hurricane appeared. It proved singularly ineffective failing to spot its first target and being driven of twice by the Italian 20mm AA guns.

Desert airforce in action...completely ineffective

I attacked again with my Crusaders to counter an advance from Oliviers pair of M13/40s and knocked out one and heavily damaged the other - the surviving crew bailed out and retired for 2 turns.

Heavily damaged A13

The axis players received reinforcements more M13/40s reached Oliver and 3 German tanks joined Colin appeared facing Bart. I lost another Crusader to the remanned M13/40 and my surviving Crusader retired from the field. With their first fire the German tanks damaged 2 armoured cars and an A13. Barts infantry now tested a second time for their losses and rolled a 1 - disaster - those who had reached the Italian position surrendered whilst their heavy support fled the field. Our first reinforcement a squadron of Matildas had just arrived but it was a clear Italian victory.

Matildas - Queens of the battlefied - but arrived late.....

Here is the order of battle for the game.

ITALIAN
XIth Infantry Regiment

1st Infantry Battalion (Test on 20)
HQ: CO + 5 Figures
Coy: 8 Figures
Coy: 8 Figures
Coy: 8 Figures
Supp Coy: 81mm Mtr, 45mm Mtr, MG, ATR, 47mm ATG, 13 crew

2nd Infantry Battalion (Test on 20) as 1st

Regimental Support
Art Bty: 75mm Field Gun, 4 crew
AA/AT Coy: 47mm ATG, 2 20mm AA, 10 crew

RESERVES

1/32nd Tank Btn
HQ: M13/40 Command Tank
1st Coy: 2 M13/40
2nd Coy: 2 M13/40
3rd Coy: 2 M13/40

GERMAN
Tank Coy: 2 PZIIIH, PZIVF1

BRITISH
Elements of 7th Armoured Division

22nd Armoured Brigade Hq: Co + 5 Figs, CS9 AC

3rd C.L.Y. Tank Regt
Hq: RR AC, MKVIa Lt Tk
1st Sqd: 3 Crusader I
2nd Sqd: 3 A13 Mk II

Motor Btn
HQ: CO + 7 figures, ATR, 2" Mtr
3 Rifle Coys: 8 figures each
Carrier Pltn: 8 figures, 2 bren carriers
Support Coy: Vickers MG, 3" Mtr, 6 figures
Trucks for above

Attached from the Support Group
Infantry Btn as motor battalion

Art Bty: 2 25 Pdr, tow & 3 crew, FOO + truck
AC Sqd: 3 RR AC

RESERVE
RTR Sqd: 3 Valentines or Matilda IIs
AT Bty: 2 or 3 2 Pdr Portee ea 3 crew

Malayan Emergency 1952: Attack on the Longniddry Plantation

2012-02-11T17:36:00.000Z

This weeks game at the SESWC was something different as we tried skirmish game set in the Malayan Emergency. Angus Konstam and Colin Jack have been collecting the figures and terrain for this period and we decided to give them a try with the Force on Force rules.

One problem was that none of us had played a game using Force on Force for quite a while, and most of us had not re-read the rules before the game. Luckily a couple of Force on Force grognards were on hand to keep us right, but there was still a lot of rules-fumbling for a skirmish action that in real terms was probably fought out in less than ten minutes.

CTs plan attack on the bungalow

The scenario was a simple besieged garrison one, with a plantation owner and his wife holed up in their bungalow, supported by four Malay police, while out there in the jungle lurked a fierce band of Malay Communist Terrorists (CTs). They were split into 2 squads - one was busy attacking the bungalow, while the other group waited in ambush for the relief column - a squad of inexperienced British National Servicemen, and a squad of crack Ghurkhas.

The game began well for the CTs as they quickly got the better of the gunfight with the defenders of the bungalow. In two turns all of the defenders were incapacitated, for the loss of one CT who was slightly wounded. The shooting dice Angus threw playing as the CTs were quite amazing!

Overall view - relief force to arrive at top of table

One of the features of Force on Force is the need for other troops to check the status of casualties. They could be lightly wounded, seriously wounded or killed, but without troops on hand to check the fallen, then they just lay there. It made sense for the CTs to move into the bungalow and kill or capture the casualties, but events on the far side of the table intervened.

The relief column appeared, and immediately split into two groups. The inexperienced British squad - guided by an Iban tracker - managed to detect the ambush, and a firefight soon developed between them and the CTs hiding out on the edge of the rubber plantation. Meanwhile the Gurkas ran hell-for-leather towards the bungalow, giving the CT ambushers as wide a berth as they could. In theory the CTs attacking the bungalow should have fired on them as they approached, but for some reason they couldn't - or didn't - and the Gurkas reached the safety of the brick-built building. Once there they checked the casualties. The plantation owner and his wife had been killed, along with one of the policemen, while the other three Malay police had a variety of light or serious wounds.

The bungalow - scene of so much carnage....

Back on the far side of the rubber plantation the British were faring badly - taking three casualties in the firefight with the ambushing CT force. They pulled back to the cover of a cluster of native workers' huts on the far edge of the table, leaving the CTs in possession of the battlefield. Back in the bungalow the Ghurkhas and the CTs engaged in their own brisk firefight, and again thanks to some terrible dice thrown by Colin the Ghurkhas had the worst of the exchange, losing three casualties for the loss of one CT. Unfortunately for the CTs the Ghurkhas passed their ensuing morale test with flying colours, while the CTs were pinned and went to ground. This allowed the Ghurkhas to slip away, carrying the bodies of the two British civilians, and their own dead and wounded. Only the body of one Malay policeman was left behind, as there wasn't an unwounded Ghurka left to carry him.

So the game ended in something of a minor Communist victory. They'd achieved their objective of killing the plantation owner and his wife, and had caused more casualties on the Ghurkhas and the British than they'd received. A complete CT victory was only averted by the bravery of the Ghurkhas, who at least managed to take the casualties away with them.

CTs wait to ambush the National Servicemen...

Force on Force is a good little set of rules, but it has a lot of subtle caveats to remember, and if you don't play them regularly then it can be a little daunting to remember everything you need to do. We decided that next time we play a Malaya game, we might try Triumph & Tragedy, a set of rules we’ve used successfully for earlier periods.

All the figures in the game came from Britannia Miniatures, who also made the bungalow, while the fine looking trees covering most of the 6x4' table were supplied by Realistic Modelling Services.

1812 RUSSIA - WARFARE IN THE AGE OF NAPOLEON TEST GAME

2012-02-04T12:58:00.002Z

In this weeks game at the SESWC we were trying out a new set of rules, Warfare in the Age of Napoleon written by Tod Kershner, whose previous rules are Warfare in the Age of Reason. They are a slim softback - the rules are only 26 pages with a further 6 pages with troop ratings for 1815 and 2 scenarios - which makes a pleasant change from many other recent sets of Napoleonic rules.

Dave Imrie supplied the Russians and Dougie Trail supplied the French. You can see from the photos that they both have excellently painted collections. I helped Dave with the Russians and Angus Konstam supported Dougie.

Dave Imrie's impessive Russian Grenadiers

The loose premise behind the game was that during the Grand Armees approach to Smolensk, Neverovskys 27th (Grenadier) Division was operating on the south bank of the River Dniepr, and it clashed with elements of Neys III Corps somewhere near the town of Krasnyi. As Dave's Russian troops were all grenadiers, we based it around that clash in August 1812. The Russians started with one brigade which I commanded deployed astride a crossroads. The French (with two infantry brigades and two cavalry ones) had to seize the road junction and drive the Russians back. The rest of the Russians under Dave - a second infantry brigade, a regiment of cuirassiers and another two gun batteries would also march onto the table after the battle got underway.

French Hussars sweep forward on left flank

The Russian secret weapon was a position battery of 12-pounders. In these rules large gun batteries are particularly effective, and sure enough when the leading French brigade appeared the battery set to work shredding its front units. Both sides reinforced the fight, the French sending a brigade of light cavalry backed by horse artillery off on their left flank, while the Russians fed more infantry into the growing fight, deploying them on their own left flank. As soon as the cavalry got into position they launched a charge. Dougie had no sooner finishing telling everyone how his brown-coated 2nd Hussars had never lost a combat when they were forced to retire in disorder, having come off worst in a clash with my battalion of Russian grenadiers. It was all luck - my paltry 3 dice scored more hits than Dougie’s 14 dice. His other hussars were a little more successful, and soon another Russian battalion were pinned in square, as the French horse artillery deployed and began pounding away at them from effective range.

Infantry lines slug it out.....

The Russians, of course, were made of stern stuff, and after re-deploying into line the battalion who thwarted the 2nd Hussars advanced towards the guns, and began firing at them in an attempt to drive the gunners off. This unusual exchange continued for the next few turns, as both sides took casualties, but refused to give ground. Meanwhile, over on the French right the French infantry had deployed from column into line, and soon a brisk musketry exchange had developed, with both sides pounding away at each other at close range. The rules rather discourage charging in using attack columns, so the French relied on their superior firepower instead. Having outflanked the Russian heavy guns they blasted away at it. That spurred Dave to launch his second brigade of grenadiers in a counter-attack, and they charged home in column. The result was discouraging, as despite outnumbering the French battalion in front of him by two to one, his units were forced to retire in disorder. Lesson learned. Line good - column bad.

2nd Hussars charge home on Russian line - who won!

Elsewhere the Russians were holding their ground, despite the heavy casualties they were taking, and the profusion of French units. As a last resort Dougie brought on his dragoon brigade, but it was still deploying for a charge when the time came to pack the toys away.
The game was fast-paced, even though we kept on stopping to check the rules as only 2 of the 4 players had read them briefly beforehand. We agreed that we will play WAON again once we have studied these promising rules more and taken into account the clarifications which are in the Army Supplement.

Russian Cuirassiers - heavy heavy cavlry - advance in support

One of the strange things about WAON is the inverted nature of firing and morale. Normally, a high score is good, but here the aim is to score low - a 1 or a 2 is ideal on a D6. While this turned out to be a very sensible and well thought out system, it took a little getting used to. It suited me with my usual low dice scoring!

VBCW - BATTLE OF WIGTON GAP

2012-01-30T16:48:00.001Z

This weeks gaming has been dominated by the VBCW. On Thursday night at the SESWC we tried out a game of Brigadier 38 as a preparation for a big VBCW game that Simon from Solway Miniatures had arranged for the Saturday/Sunday at Carlisle. Four of us from the SESC went to the Saturday of the big game.

This game was a follow up to his big game of last year which saw a massive Albertine invasion fleetfrom Canada landing on the Solway coast of Cumberland. In that game my plucky West Cumberland Royalists held the beaches and art deco cinema at Siloth for a few moves before being driven inland to defend the approaches to Carlisle.

WEST CUMBERLAND BATTERY IN ACTION...

Here is Simon's scene setting for the latest game.....
In the pitch dark the slow, steady mechanical chatter of an army on the move can be heard in the facility of Wigton. Dawn tomorrow is likely to bring an accelerated tempo of activity as forces go about their preperations for an inevitable clash.
The Royalists of Cumberland and Westmoreland have been reinforced from both the east and south, accents from Yorkshire and even the Black Country mix with geordies and cumbrians
Carlisle has been threatened, supplies from the south periodically disrupted, and still the entrance of the solway is in rebel hands. As shortages take a grip the Royalist commanders decide bold action is required before things get completely out of hand.
Beyond Wigton are the camps of the Albertine and allied brigades. They too know a battle is coming. With the sea at their back they have been able to bring in reinforcements from Cheshire and volunteers from Scotland. Periodicaly they have ranged through the royalist lines cutting their communication , building steady pressure on the county capital. There is a rising confidence, that this is their time, a clear victory tomorrow could put Carlisle in their grasp

MY MASSED ARMOUR EXPLODING...

On the Saturday we had 11 players plus Simon acting as the umpire. We had 4 tables representing north to south Abbey Town, Wigton, the A595 and Calbeck. The Albertines deployed one brigade in Wigton and one in Calbeck and awaited support. We the Royalists committed a brigade to attack on each of the tables whilst also hoping for reinforcements from Northumberland.

My Royalist Brigade attacking the bridges at Calbeck were annihilated very quickly. I expected an encounter action but found the Albertine's deployed in all the housesof Calbeck - I lost 12 figures in the first turn to their priority fire! After much struggle all of 3 figures got to the first bridge but with no ammo.

MY LUCKY SAVING THROW - 5 ONES

A reinforcing battalion of BUF provided by Simon lasted 3 turns before they broke. Abysmal dicing - 5 saving throws needing 4,5,6 - threw 5 ones. Next 5 saving throws - 3 ones and 2 twos! Photo of my saving dice for troops behind the wall.
Final ignominy - artillery fire on my BUF battery misses and blows up my brigade supply truck.

MORE FORTUNE - AMMO TRUCK EXPLODES

The BUF Brigade advancing to take the road junctions on the A595 also met with defeat when they were assailed by 2 mixed Albertine Anglican Brigades including gamekeepers, postmen and AA recovery men. Only at Wigton did we have nay success were our initial Brigade supported by the reinforcemnt sfrom Northumberland were close to securing Wigton at the close of the day.

BUF BRIGADE COMMAND WATCHING UNFOLDING DISASTER AT A595

The game continued on the Sunday at a reduced level with 6 players and the Royalists had some success in finally securing Wigton.

My thanks to Simon for organising everything and to the other players who made it a great day.......despite my appalling luck!

Link to FlickR photoset with more photos and descriptions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157629079541571//

REVIEW OF LASALLE PAGE ADDED

2012-01-27T09:55:00.000Z

Following our test game of Lasalle last week at the SESWC I have now added a specific page with a full review of Lasalle.

My summarised conclusion. Some players may find there are issues with there being no command/order or morale systems in the rules. They are simple and easy to play. They are a really well written set of rules.

With the clear text, numerous diagrams and examples - this to me is a perfect example of how a set of Wargames rules should be written.

Bill

28MM NAPOLEONIC PENINSULAR WAR LASALLE TEST GAME

2012-01-21T00:02:00.000Z

This weeks game at the SESWC was something new for us. A 28mm Peninsular war game using the Lasalle rules by Sam Mustapha. Dave Paterson who is an inveterate buyer of new rules has had a copy of Lasalle for over a year and had never tried a game so we decided to give the rules a test outing.

Dragoons charge home on Lt Dragoons - RHA prepare canister

I put together a scenario using the army builder section of the rules to give a French Division attacking a British Division with each side supported by a cavalry brigade of 2 regiments and a HA battery. I gave the attacking French a Dragoon regiment and a Hussar regiment which are superior to the British Light Dragoons.

The objective for the French was to take an enclosure in the British deployment area. The French deployed with cavalry on their left the Swiss veteran infantry in the centre and the French conscripts on their right. The British who deployed second faced the French cavalry with their own, the centre of their line being held by the elite battalion and the HA battery supported by a line battalion in reserve, while 3 line units held the enclosure and extended their left flank. We diced as per the rules for the vigour of the subcommanders. The British cavalry subcommander was poor and the infantry subcommander was good. The French veterans had a good subcommander and the conscripts a poor one.

Here is a link to the Flickr set with all the photos and descriptions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157628954118129/

On the French left the Dragoons charged the British light dragoons who met them supported by the fire of the RHA battery. They drove back the dragoons and in their next turn followed up with a charge which the Dragoons in turn drove back. The French HA battery peppered the 2nd British Light Dragoons and steadily disrupted them. The poor British cavalry commander supported by the CinC completely failed to remove any of the disruptions on the Light Dragoons. The French Dragoons charged their opposing Light dragoons a 2nd time and were driven back by a drawn melee. The French Hussars stayed near their HA and took no real part in the action. At the end of the battle the other 3 cavalry units were all exhausted and could no longer charge - they all had 3 disruptions.

British CinC calmly watches Swiss close on his elites

In the centre two of the Swiss veteran columns closed and charged the elite British unit - they had already taken disruptions from musketry as they advanced and they both bounced of the British line with one of the columns breaking and fleeing. The British followed up by charging the recoiled Swiss unit which managed to drive back the large British unit! The 3rd Swiss battalion moving up to support was broken by the fire of the HA battery.

Swiss meet cold British steel and falter

The French conscripts attacked the British line holding the enclosure with 2 battalion columns whilst their other 2 battalions supported by the divisional battery engaged the 2 flank British Battalions. The battalion holding the enclosure drove back both its attackers and their comrades on the flank shot up the other conscripts. The superior quality of the British units, their better skirmish ratings and their subcommander meant that they out shot the French and recovered their few disruptions whilst the poor conscripts led by a poor subcommander just became more and more disrupted and unable to continue the attack.

Battered conscripts in front of the enclosure

One notable feature of the game was that no attacker ever won a close combat. They were all won either by the defender or were draws which also count as defender wins. This meant the hand to hand combats were relatively indecisive as only an attacker winning decisively automatically breaks an opponent.

The rules worked well - we both enjoyed the game. The game mechanisms are relatively simple and very well explained in the rules. Every section of the 4 page QRS refers to the relevant page number in the rules. The command mechanisms are every simple. The quality of the troops and their ability to recover from disruption is the key to the game. One of my next projects it to write a review of Lasalle and try to compare it with Black powder which I use a lot.

Here is the OB for the game
PENINSULA 1810
BRITISH ARMY DEFENDING

COMMANDER directly commanding
1 ELITE INFANTRY BATTALION a LARGE UNIT
1 INFANTRY BATTALION
1 RA BTY

SUB COM +1
3 INFANTRY BATTALIONS
2 SKIRMISH BASES these were added to 2 of the line units skirmish screen

SUB COM -1
2 LT DRAGOON REGTS
1 RHA BTY

BRITISH UNIT RATINGS
INFANTRY - REL/EXP/SK2
ELITE INFANTRY - VAL/EXP/SK 3
LT DRG - REL/EXP/PURSUIT

FRENCH ARMY ATTACKING

COMMANDER

SUB COM +1
3 VETERAN BATTALIONS

SUB COM -1
4 CONSCRIPT INFANTRY BATTALIONS
1 DIV BTY

SUB COM 0
DRAGOON REGT
HUSSAR REGT
HA BTY

FRENCH UNIT RATINGS
VET INFANTRY - REL/EXP/SK2
CONS INFANTRY - REL/AM/SK 1
DRAGOONS - REL/EXP/PURSUIT/SHOCK
HUSSARS - VAL/EXP/PURSUIT

WWII Reinforcements

2012-01-13T22:48:00.003Z

As I said before I had 2 main projects in 2011 - continuing to add units to my AWI collection and building up my Russian and French forces for the 200th Anniversary of the battle of Borodino in 2012. I have largely finished my collection for Borodino and I have already taken part in my first Borodino refight at RAF Leuchars. I am still collecting extra troops for the AWI and I have ordered some of the excellent Perry Miniatures. The other major part of my collection to which I continue to make additions is my 20mm WWII collection. Here are some new reinforcements.

T35 LAND DREADNOUGHT.....

In a previous post I put up photos of some models that my stepson that Alex brought me from Moscow. The models are ready built 1/72 models from the Russian Tank magazine collection which is sold in Russia. At that time I had not decided what to do with the most impressive of the models - a pair of T35 land dreadnoughts. Approximately 50 of these giants were built in the 1930s for the Red Army. They were great in parades in Red Square but most were lost broken down in the first days of the German invasion. I have now dry brushed the models with sandstone and mounted them on bases made from oilpaint board.

IS-2 - GREAT FOR DRIVING THRU BUILDINGS IN BERLIN

In addition I have been painting up models for a projected Battle of Berlin 1945 game which Colin Jack, Hugh Wilson and I have been planning to put on as a display this year. It was our plan to get it ready for last year but we made no progress. These are all Red Army tank models from Pegasus Hobbies. Modelzone have been selling some of these kits - IS2, ISU-122/ISU152, SU152 and KV-1S - in their New Year sale. The ISU-122/152 box comes with the mountings and guns for both versions. They are relatively easy build kits except that they have more parts to their suspensions than the Armourfast and Italeri easy build kits. I have mounted them on the pill shaped mdf bases from Warbases.

ISU-122 - YES A VERY LONG MODEL WHEN YOU ADD IN THE GUN

Excellent Russian book on big SUs - Sverboi Tiger Killers

Pharaoh's Tomb adventure game

2012-01-06T20:07:00.000Z

This year our New Years game was held at Hugh Wilson's house and it was a game of his Pharaoh's Tomb adventure game. Hugh took this game to the last Partizan show at Newark where it was much admired.

Tomb - surface view with with top still on

Here is a link to the full FlickR photo set with descriptions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157628719487231/

Since our play tests last year Hugh has radically simplified the combat system and this has considerably speeded up play. We had 8 players this time with 4 teams of 2 players entering the tomb at each corner with the objective of reaching the Pharaohs sarcophagus in the centre of the tomb and then exiting via the opposite corner. Along the way you find treasure, scrolls, combat monsters, secret passages and get beset by all sorts of other random events. The important factors for the players are how many of their 6 lives are left and how quickly their torches burn down.

Tomb partly open showing treasure and superb wall art

Ian Carter won the game by getting to the sarcophagus and exiting the tomb. Ian's last 6 moves were unbelievably lucky finding not a single monster barring his way to the exit. Colin Jack won the wooden spoon as his unlucky adventurer did not even get half way to the centre before she was cut down.

Famous last words - it is very unlikely that I will meet another of those terrible giant spider in this tomb......

Yes - it is another giant spider!

My thanks to Susanne for proving the excellent catering on the day - Moroccan lamb tagine and Nile mud pie cake!

Napoleonics - Big Borodino and Club game

2011-12-30T11:21:00.000Z

This has been a week for Napoleonics.

On Wednesday a few of us from the Edinburgh club were invited to take part in a refight of Borodino, laid on by the Leuchars Wargames Club. Leuchars is about 50 miles north of Edinburgh, close to the university town of St. Andrews.

The players at Leuchars grand Borodino game

I'd already lent my Russian army for the game plus a good force of French and allies. For domestic reasons - my wife is from Moscow - naturally when the two dozen players chose sides, I opted to join the Russian team. I was given VIII Corps to command, and also given the role of Bagration, commanding the Russian 2nd Army of the West. This army held the Russian centre, with its defences concentrated on the 3 Bagration fleches.

The 32 foot long table used green baize mats and minimal terrain apart from an excellent Grand Redoubt and the Bagration fleches. However, it was positively groaning under the weight of the lead. The rules we used were General de Brigade (2nd edition), slightly modified to encourage faster play in large-scale battles. I had only read these briefly before the game but the Leuchars club produced an expanded 7 page QRS which worked well.

Fleche A - ineffective canister fire at charging cavalry....

It was a good massive game. My dice rolling for command was good but for combat and morale it was truly appalling. Both batteries defending the fleches rolled double 1s and ran low on ammo in the first 2 turns and the first 3 infantry battalions I tested to stand to cavalry charges all retreated or routed!!! My poor dice rolling infected the commanders of the reserves who came on either side of VIII corps and they both faired badly.

A fuller desription of the battle with more photos is on Angus Konstams Edinburgh Wargames site.
http://www.edinburghwargames.com/Journal%2065.htm

On Thursday at the SESWC we threw together a 7 player Black Powder Napoleonic game based on the troops that everyone had brought along. It became a Peninsular War action with an Anglo-Portuguese-Spanish force defending a line of hills and the villages and enclosures in front of them. The attackers were a division of French supported by a division of Bavarians.

French and Swiss charge Rifles holding walled enclosure

I commanded the Bavarian centre which was to break thru the Portugese holding the gap between the hills. This did not quite happen as the French commanders on my left blundered 3 times in the first 3 moves and repeatedly retired. The Bavarian right were held up by the appalling command rolls for their supporting cavalry and hardly got into action. My 2 brigades were stopped by heavy musketry fire from the Portuguese supported by the British and Spanish and the low point was when a Bavarian column broke against a Spanish Irish line. I was not making any progress and the French on the left after taking a walled enclosure were stopped by effective British musketry. A good game for a club night - especially as it was a quick improvised scenario.

Irish Spanish battalion breaks charging Bavarian column...

Bavarian Chasseurs suffer heavy casualties from allied musketry

We used 66% scale for movement and ranges. The British and French commanders were rated 8 while the Spanish and Bavarians were rated at 7. The French infantry were Reliable in attack colums and the British had First Fire. The Spanish line infantry were poor shots (-1 on shooting) and were reduced to 5 hand to hand dice.

WWII - Battle of the Bulge game

2011-12-22T00:10:00.000Z

Due to family commitments last week I did not managed a game at SESWC on Thursday. However on Tuesday this week we played a 20mm World War II action using the Rapidfire rules at Hugh Wilson‘s House. Hugh provided the basic terrain, Colin Jack provided trees and buildings and I provided the troops. Thanks to Susanne Wilson for providing the vital food supplies. The set-up of the game was based on the Tigers in the Snow scenario by Steve Ord which I found on the Internet. It was a good excuse to get my King Tigers out again.

This fictional scenario is based on the efforts of the Sixth Panzer Army as it carried out the main effort along the Northern flank of the German push into the Ardennes. The action takes place just to the North of Malmedy and is deemed to be a ‘stalling’ action for the Americans as they try to hold off the might of the SS Panzers. The US forces are composed of troops from the 2nd Infantry Division a veteran unit from V Corps. Attached to the infantry are elements of the 102nd Cavalry and the 9th Armoured Division. Elements of the 12th SS Hitler Jugend Panzer Division make up the German forces.

Here is the map we used based on the original by Steve Ord

How the game played
Colin Jack commanded German Battlegroup A and Hugh Wilson Battlegroup B. Mr Ray Neal of Connecticut and Dave Paterson commanded the American defenders. Ray deployed the infantry battalion and M4 Shermans to defend the southern route and the village whilst Dave deployed the recon battalion and M18 tank destroyer company in ambush positions on the northern route.
Given their time constraint both German battle groups raced their infantry units forward. Battlegroup A motorised infantry suffered losses from the M18s and the recon troops and were forced to deploy on the northern road to await their armoured support.

Concealed M4 about to spring trap on battlegroup B

The armoured infantry on the southern route came under fire from Shermans but advanced on towards their village. Their armoured support came onto the table in a coherent mass and quickly joined in the action against the Shermans and the infantry battalion. Once the fog cleared the US artillery began to intervene and indirect fire knocked out a Stug and a PZIV. An effort by the armoured infantry simply to drive down the main route led to disaster as 3 SD251s were lost on the hidden minefield that the Americans had deployed at the road junction. Hugh decided then to launch his remaining armour cross country around the village but more vehicles were lost to M4 and bazooka fire.

The flank attack - more columns of smoke rise from Battlegroup B vehicles

On the northern route the King Tiger company got into action but as the rounded the bend leading to the village the leading King Tiger was destroyed by a single shot by a M18. This caused the remainder of the company to retire 2 moves blocking the road for the rest of the armour of Battlegroup A who were late arriving. The German armour renewed their advance and once again the leading King Tiger was destroyed by a M18!

M18 giant killer - the leading King Tiger explodes

With German confidence ebbing away the remaining King Tigers moved cross country and managed to destroy 2 of the M18s. This rare success on turn 10 was negated by the Hitler Youth Panzer Grenadiers being defeated when assaulting the remnants of a US infantry company. We all agreed that it was clearly a US victory…largely based on amazing dice rolling - 6 after 6 after 6 - and as Ray and Dave claimed good tactics!

Here is link to FlickR photoset with descriptions of all the actions photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157628510107833

Here are the orders of battle and the player briefings

German Order of Battle
German Battlegroup A
Mot Pz Gren Btn
HQ CO + 5 Panzerfaust 1 x Horch carrier
Rifle Company 7 figures Panzerfaust 1 x Truck
Rifle Company 7 figures Panzerfaust 1 x Truck
Rifle Company 7 figures Panzerfaust 1 x Bus
Support Company 6 figures 1 x MG42 MMG 81mm Mortar 1 x Maultier
Tank Btn
HQ 1xTiger II, 1 x Wirbelwind Quad 20mm AA
Coy 3 x Tiger II
Coy 1 x Pz III

German Battlegroup B
Armd Pz Gren Btn
HQ CO + 5 figures Panzerfaust 1 x 251/1
Rifle Company 7 figures Panzerfaust 1 x 251/1
Rifle Company 7 figures Panzerfaust 1 x 251/11
Rifle Company 7 figures Panzerfaust 1 x 251/1
Support Company 6 figures 1 x MG42 MMG 81mm Mortar 1 x 251/1
Tank btn
HQ 1x Pz IV
3 x Pz IV
2 x Stug III

US Order of Battle
Infantry Btn
HQ CO + 5 + FOO 60mm Mortar Dug In
Rifle Company 9 figures Bazooka Dug In
Rifle Company 9 figures Bazooka Dug In
Rifle Company 9 figures Bazooka Dug In
Support Company 12 figures HMG, MMG, 81mm Mortar, 57mm A/T Gun Dug In

Recce Btn
HQ CO + 5 figures 60mm Mortar 1 x M3 HT
Rifle Company 6 figures Bazooka 1 x M3 HT
Rifle Company 6 figures Bazooka 1 x M3 HT
Engineer Platoon 4 figures 1 x Flamethrower 1 x M3 HT

Tank Btn
HQ 1 x M4 Sherman75mm, 1 x M4 Sherman 105mm
Coy 3 x M4 Sherman 75mm
Coy 3 x M10 TD

German Objectives and Set up
You have 12 turns to smash through the Americans who are trying to buy time and to allow their reserves to arrive and counterattack.
The Germans must smash through the American defences and exit at least 50% of their force of the road in terrain square A2 otherwise they have failed.
The Germans are split into two Battlegroups, A and B, with their infantry arriving first in an effort to create a clear path for their armour to pass on towards the Meuse.
On turn 1 the motorised infantry of Battlegroup A arrives on the road in terrain square E3. On turn 2 the armoured infantry of Battle group B arrives on the road in terrain square E1. The German armour could possibly start arriving from turn 4 onwards.
Each German armoured company, including any HQ unit, must roll 3+ on a D6 to move onto the table. If they fail the unit can try again at the start of the following turn. The armour of Battlegroup A will arrive on the road in terrain square E3 and the armour of Battlegroup B on the road in terrain square E1.

American Objective and Set up
You have 12 turns to defend against the Germans, holding them up for as long as possible in order to allow your reserves to arrive and counter attack. The American forces can be ‘dug-in’ and should be difficult to spot until the enemy are very close.
The American forces can deploy anywhere to the West of the line indicated on the scenario map. The exception to this being the Infantry HQ which must deploy in the farmhouse.
From the turn following the improvement in visibility (see the special scenario rules) the American FOO can call for artillery. Artillery should be limited to 2 105mm Howitzer Batteries This may be limited due to the speed of the German assault and the demands on artillery from multiple sectors.

Special Scenario Rules
The game begins early in the morning and a heavy mist has fallen over the snowy terrain. As a result visibility is limited at the start of the game. Visibility should be halved for the first 3 + D3 turns.
Any vehicle moving into the bog indicated on the scenario map will become stuck and must be abandoned on the following turn. Note that the bog is not impassable to infantry. The area of rough ground between the two approach roads is impassable to all types of unit.
The dense hedges along the roadside offer cover for Anti-Tank guns and infantry but not vehicles. Tracked vehicles can move over these hedges at no penalty, troops and wheeled vehicles must subtract D6 inches from their movement to cross them.
The walls of the various houses are stone and offer hard cover to troops. The wooded areas will block line of sight. In this scenario destroyed vehicles blocking the road can be moved D6 inches off the road by any vehicle of a similar size or larger.

The American player can place one 4 inch square mixed minefield in any location West of the Initial American deployment zone as indicated on the scenario map. This should be marked on the American players map before play begins.

Japan 1614 - Battle of the Bridge at Konaga

2011-12-05T23:01:00.001Z

This game was a fictional action set in Japan in 1614 played using the Gleaming Katanas samurai of the variant Black Powder Rules.
Hugh Wilson and Colin Jack commanded the Toyotomi faction whilst Olivier Lepreux and myself commanded the Tokugawa faction. Donald Adamson came up with the scenario which was a combination of 2 of CS Grants Table Top Teasers and also acted as the non playing umpire. Hugh Wilson provided most of the terrain with some of the buildings coming from the collection of Colin Jack. Hugh, Donald, Olivier and Colin provided the figures - for once I was a freeloader! My thanks to olivier for both playing and also cooking us an excellent chicken Marengo....an idea for another game.

The bold but doomed advance of the Tokugawa into the forest of shinzo

The game was played with the 66% version of the BP rules - reducing movement and firing ranges but we kept command, proximity and support distances to their norms.

It was a fun game but both Tokugawa forces failed to take their objectives - Olivier was stopped by the heroic reaguard of Hugh's troops at the bridge whilst my command moving thru the forest lost more than half its strength and never got beyond the woodcutters hut. The Ashigaru shot troops and their Portugese allies proved deadly in the forest fighting!

Here is the link to FlickR photoset with descriptions of the photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157628281133973/

Terrain
The game was fought across a 9ft by 6ft table. This size and the design of the scenario allowed the game to be played comfortably by 2 players a side. The main feature of the terrain was the river with the vital bridge and ford which had to be held by the Toyotoni faction. The other main feature was the forest of Shinzo thru which the right wing Tokugawa force had to pass to reach the ford. The sketch map is below.

Sketch map of the battlefield

The briefing notes for the 4 players which Donald prepared are included below.

The Bridge at Konaga - Tokugawa Iestu
The year is 1614, and you command a force of 14 units
Situation - You have been at Tumbo Mountain since early this morning. Your force has been sent ahead of the main Tokugawa army with orders to seize the bridge and crossing of the River Koneso at Konaga. You are supported by a force to the East, commanded by Tokugawa Ifan, which is seeking to seize a ford over the Koneso.
Mission - Your mission is to seize the bridge crossing at Konaga, and thus allow the Tokugawa army, which follows, to turn Hideyori’s flank, and proceed with the march on Osaka.
Limitations - The Bridge must be taken intact – there is no bridging capability nearer than a week away. Reinforcements will not reach you for one day, and thus you must be able to hold the bridge, after taking it, against a possible major counter attack.
Forces - These should be kept secret. These comprise 14 units of mixed samurai and ashigaru.
You ordered forward a scouting party onto Tumbo Mountain last evening. They reported seeing the following troops – a mounted unit of samurai on the low, long hill opposite Tumbo mountain, at least one infantry unit in front of the bridge, and activity on and around the bridge.
Your troops have arrived under cover of darkness, and are ready to march on in column along the track entering the board on the south-west corner.
Bridge Preparation
Men appear to be preparing the bridge for demolition. Time is of the essence if your objective is to be achieved.

The Ford at Konaga - Tokugawa Hywil
The year is 1614, and you command a force of 12 units.
Situation - You are approaching the southern edge of the Forest of Shinzo. Your force has been sent ahead of the main army with orders to seize the ford and then hold the crossing of the River Koneso at Konaga. Reinforcements will not reach you until two days time. Your brother, Tokugawa Iestu, has a force attacking the bridge to your west.
Mission - Your mission is to seize the ford crossing at Konaga.
Forces - These should be kept secret. These comprise 12 units
You arrive on the southern edge of the table in line of march on a track. This track makes its way through the forest, but troops can move at half pace through all parts of the forest, and thus the track may not be the best route.
The Portuguese Friar - Your men have captured a Portuguese Friar, and under torture he has revealed that a force of at least your size is hidden within the woods, along the line of the track.
The Forest of Shinzo - The forest is open, and can be penetrated by both foot and cavalry at half pace. Normal visibility within the forest is 16 ins, but your scouts believe that hidden troops cannot be seen outside 3ins, provided they do not move or fire.

The Bridge at Konaga – Toyotomi Poraig
The year is 1614, and you command a force of 7 units.
Situation - You have been at Konaga since yesterday. Your force has been sent ahead of the main army with orders to prevent the Tokugawa forces seizing the bridge and crossing the River Koneso at Konaga. Reinforcements will not reach you until two days time. Holding the line of the river is vital in the defence of Osaka, and you are charged to do this by your liege lord and cousin, Toyotomi Hideyori.
Mission - Your mission is to hold the bridge crossing at Konigen, and thus prevent the Tokugawa seizing it, and using it as a crossing for their army.
Limitations - The Bridge must not fall into enemy hands. It would be preferable to keep it intact but it may be destroyed to achieve the mission. You may not deploy south of the low long hill, south of the bridge.
Forces - These should be kept secret. These comprise 7 units and 1 party of engineers with Portuguese advisors.
An advance party of troops arrived last evening, and these comprised one unit of samurai infantry which took up defensive positions to the south of the bridge, a party of engineers which immediately began to inspect the bridge for possible demolition, and a unit of samurai cavalry which rode forward as far as the crest of the low, long hill.
They saw a scouting party of Tokugawa across the valley on the major hill to the west (Tumbo Mountain) last evening. You expect the Tokugawa to arrive from this direction this morning.
Your other troops arrived under cover of darkness, and can be placed anywhere on the board north of the low, long hill. Any troops in dead ground behind a hill, or in woods, or in Konaga do not have to be placed on the Board, but are indicated to the Umpire on a map.
Bridge Preparation - Consult the Umpire for the mechanics of how to prepare the bridge for demolition. N.B. only you as the general figure can give the order to blow the bridge, and you have to be at the bridge to do so (or within 6 inches).

The Ford at Konaga – Toyotomi Shaymo
The year is 1614, and you command a force of 8 units.
Situation - You have been at Konaga since yesterday. Your force has been sent ahead of the main army with orders to prevent the Tokugawa forces seizing the ford and crossing the River Koneso at Konaga. Reinforcements will not reach you until two days time. Holding the line of the river is vital in the defence of Osaka, and you are charged to do this by your liege lord and cousin, Toyotomi Hideyori. Your brother, Toyotomi Poraig has a force defending the bridge to your west.
Mission - Your mission is to hold the ford crossing at Konaga, and thus prevent the Tokugawa seizing it, and using it as a crossing for their army.
Forces - These should be kept secret. These comprise 6 units of Japanese and 2 units of Portuguese troops, led by Fernando Pinto.
You may set up in cover, and hidden until you move, any of your eight units within the great forest of Shinzo, which lies south of the ford. A track makes its way through the forest, but troops can move at half pace though all parts of the forest, and thus the track may not be the route taken by the enemy. There is a large area of bog by the river, and between the ford and the bridge. You know that this is in fact an area of quick-sand and totally impenetrable.
The Portuguese gambit - Your spies have told you that the Tokugawa will come from the south, and probably along the line of the track. Pinto has offered to take his men by ship and land behind the enemy. They can then arrive on the southern edge of the map in 2x D6 moves. You do not have to accept his offer, and can deploy them hidden with your troops if you wish.
The Forest of Shinzo - The forest is open, and can be penetrated by both foot and cavalry at half pace. Normal visibility within the forest is 16 ins, but your men have prepared hides cunningly and cannot be seen outside 3ins, provided they do not move or fire.

Post WWI - Silesia 1920

2011-12-02T20:03:00.000Z

This weeks game at the SESWC was a 28mm post WWI game set in Silesia in 1920. Colin Jack and I have built up a collection of late WWI German figures which can be used for WWI or for later actions involving Freikorps units. Colin came up with a fictional scenario of a Freikorps attack on a Polish hell village in Upper Silisia in 1920.

Russ-Balt gun truck - core of the Polish defence

Upper Silesia was a mixed ethnic area whose fate after WWI was to be decided by a plebiscite to see whether it should become part of the new Poland or remain part of Germany. In the period running up to the plebiscite and afterwards there was considerable ethnic violence from both sides attempting to doctor the result. Following the plebiscite which voted in favour of Germany the region was split between Poland and Germany with half the population and the main industrial centres being granted to Poland.

Freikorps move fordward on the village

The game was fought along a 8ft by 6ft table. Colin and I deployed 5 battalions of heavily armed of Freikorps facing the Poles with 3 battalions of lightly armed irregulars but with the support of a Russo-Balt gun truck. The German Freikorps commanded by Colin and I attacked across the width of the table to take the village held by the Polish irregulars under Bart Zynda. My Germans adanced on foot and struggled forward under MG fire and very accurate shelling from the Russo-Balt. Colin's 2 battalions arrived by bus and drive down the main rode before debussing and attacking the village across a field and a cemetery. Eventually my MGs knocked out the Russo-Balt and we both made headway against the Polish troops in the village. My minenwerfer which had been manhandled almost to the village fired only 1 shot but destroyed the Polish Mg.

Colin's Freikorps debuss - literally!!!

We decided that given the imbalance in the equipment on each side that the game was actually a Polish victory given the time it had taken the Freikorps to get to just the edge of the village. The German figures are by Renegade and the Polish irregulars from many sources. The German stormtroopers are some of the best figures that Renegade mak. We used the Contemptible Little Armies rules for the game. The basic terrain was faux fur and the bulk of the buildings are by PMC Games.

Kreikorps take shelter in a copse before attack on the village

The slow moving but highly accurate minenwerfer - 1 shot hero!

This week - Review of LAOK and some new troops

2011-11-26T15:24:00.001Z

I did not get to any games this week so I have added a new page with a review of The Last Argument of Kings from Warlord games. This is the first official supplement to Black Powder.

In addition I have completed basing up more troops that I had painted by Reinforcements By Post in Bangladesh. There are some reinforcements for the upcoming 1812 Russian Campaign anniversary and the first elements of a long term project for a Prussian Army to help out in the 1813-14 anniversaries. Bases are MDF from Warbases, Silflor tufts from Mutineer Miniatures, flags by GMB and Maverick. Here are some photos:

Frontrank Polish Lancers of the Guard

Steve Barber Dismounted Russian Pskov Dragoons

Steve Barber Cossack horse artillery crew

Calpe Prussian 5th Dragoons Brandenburg

Calpe Prussian 2nd Dragoons West Prussia

Calpe Prussian Foot Artillery

Belgium August 1914

2011-11-18T22:59:00.000Z

This weeks game at the SESWC was a 28mm WWI game. Colin Jack and I have built up a collection of early war figures for Germany, Britain, France and Belgium so we decided to try out the Contemptible Little Armies rules for that period. The figures are by Renegade except for the pluckly Belgians who are by Brigade. Colin came up with a fictional scenario of a Franco-Belgian counter-attack in August 1914.

German infantry at edge of village. MG in building on left.

The Setup
The game was fought across a 8ft by 6ft table. The Belgians commanded by Colin attacked on the left flank to take 2 low hills held by the Germans under Bart Zynda whilst I with the French attacked a village held by Germans commanded by Hugh Wilson.

Belgian grenadiers take the walled field

How the game played
On the left wing 4 units of Belgian infantry made good progress against the Germans who decided to advance to meet them head-on with their 2 battalions. The arival of a Minerva armoured car proved decisive and the Belgians pushed the initial Germans back, taking the 2 low hills and wiping out them and their supporting Mg and artillery. They then held their ground against a counterattack by 2 fresh German battalions.

French close on the village - just seconds from disaster

On the right I was not so successful. My French who were rated as Ferocious in attack suffered heavy casualties and 2 battalions were destroyed by mg and rifle fire trying to reach the village. One of the battalions of 18 figures was wiped out in single turn without ever causing any casualties. The situation was saved by the charges of the French Chasseurs D'Afrique and the Belgian Guides who broke a German battalion. Two fresh French battalions then advanced to renew the attack on the village. An attack by german cavalry was held of but with heavy losses. We concluded that the game was an allied victory....but at heavy cost.

Chasseurs D'Afrique charge home...sabre vs picklehaube

The Rules
They work okay if you like removing massive numbers of casualties. However you can always recycle the troops back onto the table as we did in this game..

TARGE 2011

2011-11-13T19:39:00.001Z

This Saturday I went to the Kirriemuir Wargames Club's show Targe 2011.

Colin Jack, Hugh Wilson and I put together a 28mm display of the action by the Canadian forces at St Lambert Sur Dives part of the Battle of the Falaise Pocket. The inspiration for this game came from Colin buying a Corgi M3 halftrack which turned out to be Canadian. Further research into the unit it was from led Colin to produce the display. Colin provided the scenario and all the troops whilst Hugh and I supplied some of the missing terrain items. We actually played out the display using the Rules of Engagement - with late arriving support it proved to be a Canadian vistory.

Canadians in St Lambert

Here is a link to my flickr photoset from the show.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157628119552296/

My highlights from the show were the Border Reivers Dublin game set in the Irish Civil War 1922, the League of Augsburgs demo of the latter part of the Battle of the Boyne, The Iron Brigades ECW game and the Buchan Wargames Group very snowy game of Crossing the Berezina 1812.

Dublin 1922 - Free State troopers in action

The show had certainly grown this year - with a further room being used for displays. I got some bargains at the Bring and Buy and stocked up on some necessities for the long winter months as Targe is my last show of the year.

My thanks to Dale Smith for all the effort he and his fellow club members put into it's organisation..

LOA - Williamite troops including the Dutch Guards

Link to the Targe website
http://www.kirriemuirwargames.co.uk/Targe.shtml

Refight of Brandywine 11 September 1777

2011-11-05T23:49:00.003Z

This Saturday we refought Brandywine 1777.

Patriot militia engage the Hessians

I have added a specific page with a full description of the scenario, ob, rules used etc to the list of Pages.

My thanks to Hugh Wilson for providing the venue and building the vast bulk of the terrain we used.

My special thanks to Suzanne Wilson for providing the game specific etnic cuisine. It was really great - boston bean stew, cornbread, sour dough bread and pumpkin pie. Very tasy and much appreciated by the mob of 9 hungry wargamers.

Here also is the link to FlickR photoset with descriptions of the photos.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157628061558768/

Hessian Grenadiers break the Massachusetts who carry away George Washington...

Bill

Continuation War - Karelia 1941 near Viipuri

2011-10-28T23:00:00.003+01:00

This weeks game that I played at the SESWC on Thursday evening was a 20mm World War II action using the Rapidfire rules. Colin Jack and I provided the troops. I worked out a fictional scenario set in the Continuation War so that Colin could use his Finnish troops. Here is the player briefing and OB.

Soviet command watches the impressive T28s roll forward

Northern column with the less impressive T26s

Background
On 27 August as part of their offensive in Karelia Finish troops had cut the road and rail links between the city of Viipuri and Leningrad trapping 3 Soviet divisions in Viipuri. The Finish high command did not want to undertake a major struggle for Viipuri and diverted troops to move south towards the 1939 frontier. Sensing that the ring around Viipuri had been weakened on 29 August Leningrad Front launched a major counterattack to free the units units trapped in Viipuri.

Finish Objective is to prevent Soviet units exiting the table to the north.

Soviet Objective is to break thru the Finish defences and exit motorised units to Viipuri.

Finish OB
2 infantry battalions (veteran) on table deployed each:
HQ: 5 figures incl ATR
Coy: 8 figures
Coy: 8 figures
Coy: 8 figures
Supp: Mg, Mtr & 6 crew
AT coy: ATG & 3 crew

Tank battalion (regular) in reserve comprising
Coy: T28, T26, 6 Tonner
Coy: 3 T26

Finns have complete air superiority

Map of terrain and Soviet deployment - table was 8ft by 6ft

SOVIET OB
314^th Motor Rifle Regt
3 Lorried Btns (regular) ea of:
HQ: 5 figures
Coy: 8 figures
Coy: 8 figures
Coy: 8 figures
Supp: Mg, Mtr & 6 crew

Plus regt support
Art coy: 76mm inf gun, 3 crew & tow
AT coy: 45mm at gun, 3 crew & tow
AA Coy: Qd AAMG truck

56^th Provisional Tank Regt (poor)
Btn: 2 T28, T34
Btn: 3 T26B, BA10
Btn: 3 T37/38

Baltic Red Banner air fleet has promised to support this effort.

Notes
In the swampy terrain of Karelia all the vehicles are road bound except the Soviet’s T34 and T37/T38 amphibians. In addition the T37/38s could cross the swampy terrain as bad going. The T34 had to dice for breakdown each time it moved - on a 1 it would break down and be abandoned.

How the game played
In the game Colin Jack and Bart Zynda commanded the defending Finns whilst Hugh Wilson and Dougie Trail commanded the Soviet attackers. I umpired and acted as war photographer.

Main Soviet effort - first T28 suffers light damage

The Soviets advanced with their T28/T34 Btn and an infantry battalion down the southern route with the T26 coy on the northern route each supported by a dismounted infantry battalion. The T37/T38s advanced in the swampy terrain on the far southern flank.

Unexpected - amphibious tanks take to the swamps

They Soviets came under fire from the hidden Finnish AT guns engaging them as they slowly moved forward. The Finns then committed their armour reserve - all the tanks in the Finnish Army - down both routes. Thus the game developed into a tank duel.

The Finnish T26 coy was quickly reduced to 1 runner under the fire of the T28s and T34. The T28s helped their supporting infantry unit occupy a small hamlet.

On the other flank the Finns bested the soviet T26s knocking out 3 of them but the unit held. In addition the Soviet infantry then came under strafing attack from a Finnish Brewster Buffalo. It caused casualties on the Soviet infantry but eventually it was driven of by the lorry mounted quad AA mg. The Red Banner Baltic Fleet airforce did not put in an appearance as I had left them at home.

Finnish airpower - below T26s burn on the highway

Captured T28 explodes

The T34 was moving to support the T26s when its gearbox failed and it had to be abandoned.

However the T28s knocked out the captured T28 and it’s loss caused that Finnish tank company to flee. With the T28s and their infantry doing well and the reserve motor battalion moving up in support it looked like a Soviet victory.

An enjoyable game.

Link to flickr photoset

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157627999638362/

Busy week - Gitschin 1866, AWI and SKELP 2011...

2011-10-07T22:51:00.004+01:00

This week has been a busy time for games.

Patriot Continentals open fire...

On Tuesday I played an 28mm Black Powder AWI game at home. The game was basically a reduced version of Camden played to introduce the rules to Dave Paterson and Mark Taylor. The British commanded by Dave had a regular brigade, loyalist brigade and a cavalry brigade of 2 small units of British legion cavalry. The Patriots commanded by Mark had a continental brigade, a militia brigade and small mixed brigade of riflemen and cavalry.

British regulars brek their opponents thru volley fire...

The Patriots took the offensive with their continentals and the mixed brigade but were worsted in a long struggle by the regulars and the legion cavalry. All 3 units of the continentals broke. However the militia defending a fence line got the better of the laylists breaking 1 unit and forcing the other to retire. At the end of the game only 2 of the surviving patriot units were not shaken. It was a rare British victory. As it was a starter game for Dave and mark we played the rules using the standard sequence of play not the revised one from & Blenheim I have used in recent games.

Austrian centre...

On Thursday at Hugh Wilson's I took part in a test game of Gerry Henry's latest large scale 1866 game. It was a refight of the Seven Weeks War Battle of Gitschin (or Jicin) with 10mm fgures played over a 10ft by 5 ft table. Gerry had once again produced very detailed contoured terrain. All the trees were individually inserted into the terrain so it took a lot of effort from Gerry to set up in advance. We were again testing the 1866 version of the Piquet rules. With the card driven initiative and order system you can get very variable levels of activity for each side. The Austrians got the run of the cards at the beginning and pounded the Prussians (mainly my command) with very effective fire. Later on we got the run of the cards and Colin Jack commanding the Prussian flank march made good use of the Schnellfeuer card! An enjoyable game and it looked great. My thanks to Gerry.

Prussian flank march unfolds...

Here is the link to Gitschin photos on my FlickR site

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157627716290169/

At last my command reaches the ridge..

Update - Photos from SKELP 2011 held this weekend in Forfar staged by Angus Wargames Club. Our Canadian Arctic 1944 game won best PP game and Best game with a Naval combined Ops theme!

Our Arctic PP game - crashed Nazi disk at this end...

Poster says it all......

RAF Leuchars Great Escape PP Game - with music....

Independent Wargamers Chinese Siege - great buildings..

Highest score of Penguins inspected by leader!!!!!

My last post for 2 weeks - my own great escape on vacation....

Canadian Arctic 1944......

2011-09-30T23:19:00.001+01:00

This week I did not go to the SESWC as Colin Jack was again stuck at home so Hugh Wilson and I visited Colin for a game and a meal.
Colin put together a test of his PP game for the upcoming Skelp show in Forfar next weekend.

Heroic Mountie with his faithful dog or is it a wolf...

Link to Skelp info is here
http://anguswargamesclub.com/index.php?p=1_9_Skelp-2011

The game is set in the Canadian Arctic in 1944 and involves 2 teams of German saboteurs crossing the arctic wates to blow up a crash landed experimental German flying saucer! On the way they have to contend with the local inuit people, canadian hunters, special events and a single mountie with a dog. Why would you ever need more than 1 mountie!

We played the game thru twice and simplified and revised the already simple rules. Some photos from the test are below - I will add in more from Skelp and will publish the rules then.

German submariners land from Das Boot...

Canadian trappers looking for a moose...

Vyazma 1812 - 2nd attempt

2011-09-24T22:49:00.064+01:00

This weeks big game was held on Saturday. It was a variant of my previous Black Powder Vyazma 1812 game this time played down a bigger table with more time available.

Organising the game
The game was fought at my house on a 12ft by 6ft table using my terrain. I provided the scenario and all of the figures. There were 4 players and I umpired. John Glass played Marshal Davout supported by Hugh Wilson. John Perkin played General Miloradovich supported by Brian Phillips. I have added a special Vyazma 1812 page which gives more complete information on the game setup, rules used, the player briefings, arrival schedules and order of battle.

Franco-Bavarian light cavalry toast their upcoming success - prematurely!

Setup
The French army deployed with 2 infantry brigades (Friant and Gerard) on the table with their further 2 cavalry brigades and 3 brigades of infantry in reserve of table. The Russians deployed with an infantry brigade and their light cavalry and dragoon brigades on the table with the bulk of their troops flank marching of table. The initial Russian force formed their line centred on the hamlet of Maximovka held by the infantry with the Dragoons on the left flank near the forests and the light cavalry supporting the artillery massed on the heights to the south.

View from Vyazma - Russians move to Maximovka - French in distance

The photos are on my flickr site at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157627743328192/

How the game played
The Russian plan was defensive - to disrupt and slow the French advance with their artillery and then musketry whilst waiting for their reserves.
The French decided on a policy of a steady advance waiting for their reserves to arrive on table before seriously contesting the Russian line. To the left of the highway John commanded 3 infantry brigades and the heavy cavalry while to the right of the highway Hugh commanded 2 infantry brigades and the light cavalry. The light cavalry took many turns to arrive on table and then refused to move. Hugh’s Irish Legion once they were on table also were very tardy in advancing. Given the delays on their right the main French assault went in on the left.

French heavy cavalry move to strike the first blow

The French heavy cavalry brigade moved quickly to the left threatening the Russian artillery on the heights. The Russians countered by throwing forward their hussars. They charged the dragoons who forced them to retire. The dragoons made a sweeping advance and hit the supporting regiment of hussars but this action ended as a draw and both sides retired to recover.

Morand's Swiss advance with expected precision on Maximovka

The advance on Maximovka was led by Friant and Desaix’s brigades. They found it slow going and became bogged down with disorders and shaken units as the Russian artillery and infantry proved effective shooters. Eventually to reach Maximovka both brigadiers used Follow Me orders to lead single battalions into combat with the Russian battalion holding the fenced track linking Maximovka to the highway. Despite this heroic leadership the Russian defenders from the Perm Regiment held them back. The Joseph Napoleon battalion was ordered to support this attack but blundered and retired a move. Eventually John had to commit Morand’s Swiss brigade against Maximovka and the fence line. At a heavy cost they forced their way over the obstacles and drove one Russian battalion out of Maximovka.

Grim struggle for Maximovka - Swiss enter the fray

After a long period of inactivity due to planning or was it simply bad command rolls the French heavy cavalry once again ascended the heights to engage the hussars. This time led by the carabiniers they broke the Grodno hussars and seeing this the supporting Elisavetgrad hussars broke and followed their comrades from the field. Whilst this action had been going on 3 brigades of Russian infantry had arrived from the south. The first moved to reinforce Maximovka the second moved to reinforce the centre and the third remained on the heights. The French heavy cavalry now faced a mass of Russians on the heights.

The French carabiniers - colourful and victorious

The advance on the French right was very slow given the appalling command rolls on that side. By lunchtime Marshal Davout (John) was seriously considering relieving his subordinate on that flank. Their advance was also disrupted by Russian troops appearing from the north. First a sotna of cossacks arrived but they were quickly broken by a combination of horse artillery fire and charging hussars.

Hussars charge home on standing disordered cossacks

Then an infantry brigade arrived and driving them back absorbed most of the troops from Compan‘s and Gerard‘s brigades supported by the hussars. Only the Neuchatel battalion and the Bavarian chevalueger regiment engaged the main Russian line. The chevaluegers forced a Russian battalion into square and it was then charged by the Neuchatelers. This became an epic fight as the square stood against the attack column for at least 6 rounds of melee losing every round but passing its morale tests until they eventually broke. After this the Russians finally committed their dragoons on their left flank. The Moscow dragoons drove back the chevaluegers and swept forward striking the end battalion of Morand’s Swiss in the flank. The Swiss stood and turned to face their attackers but then broke - this was the last action.

Engaged at Maximovka french infantry face flank threat from dragoons

At this point our time was up and the French commanders were despondent. The French right was scattered and in disarray, the French left was embattled on the Maximovka line having lost heavily and was now threatened with being rolled up from the right by the rampant Russian dragoons. In addition they could see 10 fresh unengaged Russian battalions between the heights and the highway with more artillery. The Russians still had a regiment of Cossacks that could appear to the northeast of the French. In addition Uvarov’s Cuirassier brigade was approaching from the south but I did not allow them to appear due to the congestion on the heights and the fact that things were going so well for the Russians.

Overall a fun big game with some truly appalling command rolls from the French side and some equally amazing morale rolls from the Russians.

WWII Ardennes - but not 1944

2011-09-23T21:37:00.000+01:00

This week I did not go to the SESWC. Colin Jack was stuck at home so Dave O'Brien and I visited Colin for a game and a meal. Colin put together a 28mm WWII game using Rules of Engagement - set in the Ardennes - but not in 1944 - this was an early war game pitting Belgian troops against a German column of 7th Panzer Division advancing to the Meuse.

Vive la Belgique - Sd222 explodes under 25mm fire

The Setup
The game was fought along a 8ft by 5ft table. The German column commanded by Erwin Rommel (Colin and Dave) had to traverse the length of the table and exit from the other side. The terrain was a single narrow road flanked by heavily wooded hills. In this type of terrain the vehicles could not operate of the road. Any vehicle that broke down or was knocked out had to be pushed of the road. The Germans had 3 PZ38T tanks, a lorried infantry platoon, a Sd222 armoured car and a Kfz13 command vehicle. The Belgians had an understrength infantry platoon and their heavy equipment comprised a 25mm ATG, a hotchkiss MMG, a mortar and a T15 tank!

German column backed up behind burning SD222

How the game played
The Germans drove down the single road lead by their Sd222 armoured car. As it rounded a bend it was destroyed by a well placed shot from the 25mm ATG. This was the high point for the Belgians. As the first German infantry deployed from their truck they came under very ineffective fire from a section of Chasseurs Ardenais. Heavy fire from the surprised Germans forced the shaken Chasseurs to flee deeper into the forest.

Chasseurs surprise German infantry....

A PZ38T pushed the Sd222 of the road and engaged by the 25mm ATG in a duel. It was joined by a 2nd PZ38T and they and Rommel in his command car overwhelmed the ATG and its supporting MG with a hail of MG fire. The 2nd Belgian infantry squad had now ambushed more German infantry who charged and wiped out the Belgians. The road to the Meuse now seemed open to the Germans but as they rounded a final bend they came under fire from the Belgian T15 tank. Armed with a HMG the T15 could only damage the tracks of the the PZ38Ts but it put up a galant fight - the crew bailed out and then remounted their tank - only for them to be forced to bail out again. At this point a PZ38T pushed the unmanned T15 into the ditch! I commanded the Belgians and my dicing for shooting was remarkably poor - the mortar proved completely ineffective.

Massed German armour closes on the vital ATG

Now that we have worked out how the hiding rules work and are doing firing correctly the game play works better. I like ROE but I am still not completely sure about the artillery rules.

Galant T15 engages the German might

This week - WWII Reinforcements

2011-09-17T20:30:00.000+01:00

I did not get to the SESWC this week so there is no new game to report. My stepson Alex came to visit us from Moscow for the first time in 5 years so it was a busy week at home.
As I said before I have 2 main projects at the moment - continuing to add units to my AWI collection and building up my Russian and French forces for the 200th Anniversary of the battle of Borodino in 2012. The other major part of my collection to which I continue to occasionally make additions is my 20mm WWII collection. Here are some new additions.

The first 2 photos are of models that Alex brought me from Moscow. There are a pair of Katyusha rocket launchers and a SU122 SPG. They are ready built 1/72 models from the Russian Tank magazine collection which is sold in Russia. I have dry brushed the models with sandstone and mounted them on the new smart pill (cartouche) shaped MDF bases from Warbases

The other photo is of a German Wirbelwind Quad 20mm AA SPG which I bought painted on Ebay with some other vehicles. I have been looking for a Wirbelwind for quite some time so bought the lot to get the wirbelwind. The others I have resold on Ebay. I have finished this the same as the new Russian Tank models.

Alex also brought me 3 of the very impressive T35 models from the Russian Tank Collection - I am still thinking about how to base those dreadnoughts.

More AWI - based on Cowpens 1781

2011-09-09T23:54:00.006+01:00

Rash advance of the British 1st Brigade.....

This weeks 28mm AWI game that I arranged at the SESWC was roughly based on the Battle of Cowpens 1781 using Black Powder Rules. The Battle of Cowpens was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on January 17, 1781. The actual battle was a crushing victory for the Patriot's with the British force being annihilated with only the cavalry escaping in any numbers. Here is link to flickr photo set

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157627640141316/

The Setup

The game was fought across a 8ft by 6ft table. We used full scale movement and ranges. The 24 figure infantry units were classed as standard units, the 12 to 16 figure infantry units as small units. The 12 figure cavalry were a standard unit and 6-8 figure units were small. The figures used are mainly Front Rank with Old Glory British Legion. Dougie Trail and Bart the Pole commanded the British Army with Hugh Wilson and Tim commanding the Patriots. I umpired. I used the OB below based on the strengths calculated by Lawrence E. Babits in his A Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens.

Patriot Force Morgan 8

Continental infantry 24 figures

States Infantry 16 figures
Virginia Militia 16 figures
North Carolina Militia 16 figures
Virginia Riflemen 12 figures skirmishers

South Carolina Militia Brigade under Colonel Andrew Pickens
1st Spartan Militia 24 figures
Little River Militia 24 figures
Fair Forest Militia 24 figures
Skirmishers 12 figures

Reserve
Cont Dragoons 6 figures
State dragoons 6 figures

Fusiliers in a bad state.....

British force Tarleton 8
British Legion cavalry 12 figures
British Legion cavalry 8 figures
British Legion infantry 24 figures
7th Royal Fusiliers Regiment 16 figures
71st Highlanders Regiment 24 figures
Combined Light infantry 12 figures skirmishers
Royal Artillery with a 3-pounder cannon

How the Game Played
We actually played out this game twice in a club night

In the first game I allowed the Patriots a free deployment so they deployed in a single long line with the cavalry on both flanks. The first British Brigade - Legion Infantry and 7th Fusiliers - screened by the skirmishers rushed forward with a 3 move turn up to the Patriot line. The Patriot militia the charged the skirmishers who evaded and the militia then fired at close range into the 2 British units. The British Legion infantry then charged the militia facing them who made them shaken by closing fire. The Legion had to test and retired and then broke uder musket fire. This left the 7th Fusiliers engaged by 3 units. To their right the Highlanders charged home on the state troops and after 2 rounds of combat they were forced to retire. They were then charged in the flank by a militia units. This ended the game as a contest after only 3 turns taking 75 minutes with 2 of the players not knowing the rules. The legion cavalry did nothing in the 3 turns and the British shooting was very ineffective.

Militia crash home on flank of highlanders...ending game 1

For the 2nd game I revised the Patriot OB by reducing the South Carolina Militia Brigade to -
1st Spartan Militia 16 figures
Little River Militia 16 figures
Skirmishers 12 figures

In addition I got the Patriots to deploy more historically with the skirmishers thrown forward, then a line of militia and behind them the Continentals and State troops with the 2 small cavalry units in reserve behind the hill.

Patriot left wing held back to face the Legion cavalry..

This time the British took a more cautious approach manoeuvring to mass their 3 infantry units together as a firing line facing the Patriot right whilst threatening the Patriot left with their cavalry. However the Patriots did not stand on the defensive and advanced on the cautious British - once again they deployed effectively into one long line. The battle on the British left developed into a long range musketry duel which did little major damage. On The British right Bart decided to throw both his cavalry units into the Patriot riflemen intending to break them and then exploit with a sweeping advance onto the militia behind hem. A bold move - but it failed entirely. The Skirmishers with 4 dice drew with the 10 dice of the Legion cavalry both units of which then had to rally back. They then came under fire from the militia and their resulting disorders prevented them doing anything else. Hugh remembering the poor performance of the Legion infantry in the first game decided to throw both his small cavalry units into the Legion infantry. This time they stood their ground - drawing with the Patriots and forcing both the cavalry units to rally back. At this point we had to pack up - but it still looked to be a long hard desperate fight for the British.

Patriot cavalry charge into the Legion foot...

Rule changes
We used the amended turn sequence in this game and my revised rules for moving in forests. In addition we decided that it was more realistic not to allow units to interpenetrate as part of a charge move. The British Regulars units - the 7th Fusiliers and the Highlanders - were both Terrifying when charging militia - only problem was that they never charged militia during the game.

Aqaba 1917

2011-09-05T00:08:00.000+01:00

This week’s big game was held on Saturday at RAF Leuchars. It was organised by Jed Harbride-Rose of the RAF Wargames club who is obviously a fan of the 1962 David Lean film Lawrence of Arabia.

Lawrence struts his stuff...

The day was a 28mm series of actions leading up to and including the Arab cavalry attack on Aqaba. It was an opportunity for people to field all their troops and terrain for this period.

Aqaba town - in distance the fort and railway

The three actions were:
Firstly an attack on a Turkish armoured train on the Hezaz railway by Arab insurgents. Stopped by a demolition on the track and then attacked by 3 units of Arab foot the Turkish unit manning the train soon abandoned the train and fled up the track back to Medina. This allowed Lawrence of Arabia to strut his stuff on the roof of the train.

Turkish airpower slows the column

Secondly an attack on the fort guarding Aqaba undertaken by Anzac and Arab forces. The imperial motorised force had to approach the fort in a long single column and came under air attack by the Turkish airforce. Despite this and a major action between each sides armoured cars the Anzacs assaulted the fort but were driven back by the garrison. However MG fire from the imperial armoured cars was sufficient to break the garrison and allowed the Hezaz regulars to raise the Union flag above the fort.

Anzacs scale the walls of the fort

Finally the massed Arab cavalry and camelry charge into Aqaba town supported by Royal Navy gunnery from offshore. The RN engaged and suppressed the heavy Turkish coastal guns which as per the film only looked out to sea.

Arab cavalry and camelry begin the great charge

Heavy Turkish gun - tragically only looking out to see

The Arab charge largely ignored the initial landward defenders and raced into the narrow streets of Aqaba. They quickly captured the Governor’s palace and the pompous governor and swept on to take one of the two coastal gun positions. At this point the Turkish players decided that all was lost and agreed a surrender with Lawrence.

Arab forces enter the narrow streets of Aqaba

In the twilight Arab forces storm the governor's palace

　 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157627585824790/

Link to Flickr photoset of the game

There were 5 players myself, Hugh Wilson, Jimmy Conquer, Brian Cunniffe, Chas Richards with Jed umpiring. The table was approx 20 feet long, 6 feet wide all down the narrow bit, and then 9 feet wide at both ends. The Royal Navy was on another table! We used Jed’s Home for Christmas rules. It was fun and it looked great! Many thanks Jed!

This week - Vyazma 1812

2011-08-27T11:54:00.001+01:00

This weeks game at the SESWC was a 28mm Napoleonic game based on the Battle of Vyazma 3 November 1812. Hugh Wilson, Colin Jack, Angus Konstam and Bart commanded the Russian Army with Dougie Trail, Dave Marks and Ian Gale commanding the French. I designed the scenario whilst Angus, Ian, Dougie and myself provided the figures.

Russian Cuirassiers prepare to charge home...

Scenario/Setup
The game of this Retreat from Moscow action was fought across a 8ft by 6ft table using the Black Powder rules.
A French force initially of 2 infantry brigades rising to a total force of 5 infantry brigades and 2 cavalry brigades had to break through a Russian detachment to join the rest of the retreating Grand Army at Vyazma. The French could try to order 2 additional brigades onto the table each turn from turn 2.
The Russians initially had an infantry brigade and 2 cavalry brigades on the table with a further 3 infantry brigades approaching from the southern flank with a force of 2 Cossack brigades and an infantry brigade approaching from the north. The southern force of Wurtemburg/Ostermann Tolstoy could try to bring a brigade onto the table each turn starting from turn 4 whilst Platov’s Cossacks could bring a unit on each turn from turn 2 but their last brigade could not appear until after the last French unit had appeared on the table.
We used the 66% scale version of Black Powder with the alternate turn sequence proposed in Blenheim Palace.

Having beaten the Dragoons they sweeping advance into their French counterparts

How the Game played
The Russians started with their infantry split by the road with 2 battalions deployed to defend a redoubt on their left centre and 2 others committed across the road covering the small hamlet of Seleevo. The Cuirassier brigade was deployed on the Russian left flank with the Hussars deployed to the right of Seleevo.
The French started with 2 infantry brigades on the table. Their largest unit the 4 battalion 1st Brigade they committed against the troops covering Seleevo whilst the 2nd Brigade based on the Irish Legion occupied the hamlet of Podelki and covered the area to towards the road. The French committed their first 2 arriving units the 3rd Brigade and the Heavy Cavalry Brigade on their centre and right. The Heavy Cavalry Brigade had just emerged around Podelki when their dragoons were charged by the Russian cuirassiers who broke them at once. The cuirassiers then exploited this success by charging the French cuirassiers who could not respond to the sweeping advance. The impetuous cuirassiers were forced to retire by the French cuirassiers who became shaken. They were then charged by the other cuiarssier regiment and in subsequent turns by 2 arriving units of Cossacks all of whom they forced to retire. A third Cossack unit were finally successful in forcing the cuirassiers to retire but they had by then done their job by absorbing the attention of 3 Russian cavalry brigades. They were the French heroes of the day!

Rapid advance of 1st French Brigade - note supplies in background!

On the French left the 1st Brigade advanced rapidly, put their left flank battalion into square to contain the very inactive Russian hussars whilst the other 3 battalions charged the 2 Russian battalions and a gun in front of Seelevo. Their charge fell short - one battalion was broken by close range artillery fire and the other 2 battalions broke in hand to hand combat with the 2 Russian battalions who charged them. In their first 3 break tests the 1st brigade did not throw more than 4 with 2 D6s! The Russians swept on and were forcing back the 4th French Brigade who had advanced in support of the 1st.
In the centre the 2nd French Brigade simply refused to obey orders and advance. The French commanders leapfrogged them with the 3rd and 5th Brigades and advanced on the Russian redoubt. They suffered heavy casualties and were not making much headway when the game ended. In the last 2 turns the Russians had got 2 Brigades onto the table from the south threatening the already seriously weakened French left flank.

Pretty but cautious the Mariupol Hussars...

We concluded that the result was a Russian victory. An enjoyable game with 3 visiting players 2 of whom had never played Black Powder.
Below is the full background, briefing and order of battle for the 2 sides.

French Background
The French departed Moscow on 18 October, and after having a southern route to Smolensk denied them as a result of the Battle of Maloyaroslavets 24 October, they were compelled to backtrack and retreat along the same road used in their earlier advance on Moscow. Because the territory alongside this road had been ravaged by earlier campaigning, the retreat imposed on the Grande Armée extreme conditions of privation and attrition. Lack of foodstuffs soon led to demoralization and disorder in the French ranks.
By 2 November the retreating Grande Armée was stretched out in a column 60 miles long. The front of the column, Junot's VIII Corps, was at Dorogobuzh, with Davout's I Corps, serving as the army's rearguard, located east of Vyazma. The French retreat at this point was harassed by Cossack attacks at every juncture, Davout's rearguard in particular being beleaguered by Russian attacks.
A gap had developed between Davout's troops camped to the east at Fedorovskoye, and the troops of Eugene and Poniatowski, located just outside of Vyazma. Recognizing an opportunity to isolate and destroy Davout's corps, the aggressive Russians decided to attack early the next morning.
This game is based on that action starting at 8:00AM.

Russian column charges with the bayonet....scattering the French..

Wurtemburgs infantry finally arrives..delayed by Vodka stops..

French Briefing
The Russian forces have setup a roadblock on the Fedorovskoye to Vyazma road. They also have control of a nearby redoubt that was built to cover the approaches to Vyazma. Your objective is to break thru to join the French troops at Vyazma remembering always that the dangerous Cossacks and other Russian troops are operating to your flanks and rear.

French OB
1ST Corps DAVOUT 7

1ST Inf Brigade MORAND
4 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
1 Ft gun

2ND Inf Brigade FRIANT
3 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
1 Ft gun

3RD Inf Brigade GERARD
3 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
1 Ft gun

4TH Inf Brigade DESAIX
3 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
1 Ft gun

5th Inf Brigade COMPANS
3 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
1 Ft gun

Lt Cav Brigade
Hussar regiment of 12 figures
Chasseur regiment of 12 figures
1 HA gun

Hvy Cav Brigade
Dragoon regiment of 12 figures
Cuirassier Regt of 12 figures
1 HA gun

Russian Background
The French departed Moscow on 18 October, and after having a southern route to Smolensk denied them as a result of the Battle of Maloyaroslavets 24 October, they were compelled to backtrack and retreat along the same road used in their earlier advance on Moscow. Because the territory alongside this road had been ravaged by earlier campaigning, the retreat imposed on the Grande Armée extreme conditions of privation and attrition. Lack of foodstuffs soon led to demoralization and disorder in the French ranks.
By 2 November the retreating Grande Armée was stretched out in a column 60 miles long. The front of the column, Junot's VIII Corps, was at Dorogobuzh, with Davout's I Corps, serving as the army's rearguard, located at Fedorovskoyejust east of Vyazma. The French retreat at this point was harassed by Cossack attacks at every juncture, Davout's rearguard in particular being beleaguered by Russian attacks.
The Russians organized themselves into three groups while pursuing the French. First, following Davout closely were 5,000 Cossacks commanded by Ataman Platov. This group was supported by General Paskevich's 26th Division, with 4,000 troops. Marching slightly to the south was General Miloradovich with the II and IV Infantry Corps, some 14,000 troops in all, and the II and III Cavalry Corps, which amounted to 3,500 soldiers. Miloradovich coordinated the activity of all of these troops, including those of Platov and Paskevich. The main Russian army led by Kutuzov, some 70,000 troops in all, marched further to the south.
On the evening of November 2, while conducting reconnaissance south of the Smolensk-Moscow road, Miloradovich, together with his cavalry commanders General Korff and General Sievers, noticed a gap between Davout's troops, situated to the east at Fedorovskoye, and the troops of Eugene and Poniatowski, located to the west just outside of Vyazma. Recognizing an opportunity to isolate and destroy Davout's corps, the aggressive Miloradovich decided to attack early the next morning.
This game is based on that action starting at 8:00AM.

Russian Briefing
The troops of the II and IV Cavalry Corps have setup a roadblock on the Fedorovskoye to Vyazma road. They also have control of a redoubt that was built by the French to cover the approaches to Vyazma.
Only the II and IV Cav Corps are available at 8:am on the field. The Troops of the II and IV Corps are approaching from the south but may not be here until 10:00AM. Platov’s command will cooperate at once and can appear from the North and/or the East.
Your objective is to destroy Davout’s Corp or at the very least prevent them joining with the other French troops in Vyazma.

The Little Russia grenadiers defend the redoubt...

Russian OB
CinC MA MILORADOVICH 7

II & IV Cav Corps Korff and Sievers
Hussar Brigade
2 Hussar Regts ea 12 figures
HA gun

Cuirassier Brigade
2 Cuirassier Regts ea 12 figures
HA gun

27th Infantry Brigade
4 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
2 Ft guns

II & IV Corps Wurtemburg/Ostermann Tolstoy
4th Infantry Brigade
4 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
2 Ft guns

11th Infantry Brigade
4 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
2 Ft gun

17th Infantry Brigade
4 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
2 Ft guns

Sotna of 1st Cossack Brigade charges cuirassiers....

Platov’s Command
1st Cossack brigade
2 Cossack Regts ea 12 figures

2nd Cossack brigade
2 Cossack Regts ea 12 figures
HA gun

23rd Infantry Brigade
4 Infantry Battalions ea 24 figures
2 Ft guns

This week 1866 and some Napoleonic Reinforcements...

2011-08-21T22:10:00.001+01:00

This weeks game at the SESWC was something different. Gerry Henry is working on another refight of an 1866-70 battle. Last year he produced a refight of Worth 1870 with detailed contoured terrain and this year’s project is Nachod 1866. Gerry is testing out new rules and we tried a practice game of the Piquet rules using 10mm Prussian and Austrian figures. Gerry provided all the figures and worked as the hard pressed umpire. As this was a trial game our normal scenery was dispensed with and we used very basic scenery.

Massed Austrian infantry advance on thin Prussian left flank

A full report of the game is on Angus Konstam’s Edinburgh Wargames site see link below.

http://www.edinburghwargames.com/Journal%2061.htm

The rules worked but some obvious issues came up with the card based initiative - order system. As an example the Austrian side in the last 5 turns of the game never got an opportunity to unlimber their guns or change their formations. Hence my infantry were easily ridden down by the Prussian cavalry.

This week I have completed some more new units for my Napoleonic collection. A regiment of the British 1^st Kings Dragoon Guards and 2 battalions of the Chasseurs a Pied of the French Imperial Guard. The Chasseurs may well be appearing in next weeks 1812 Russian campaign game.

Chasseurs a Pied of the Guard - Foundry Figures

1st Kings Dragoon Guards - Front Rank figures

Falaise Mini-Campaign Part 2.......German counter-attack

2011-08-14T23:09:00.000+01:00

This weeks game at the SESWC was a 28mm WWII game of an action in Normandy in 1944. This was the second game of a mini campaign that we are playing adapted by Colin from the Falaise Campaign available on the Flames of War website complete with excellent maps. Colin Jack supplied all the figures for this game. I supplied some of the terrain. Once again the terrain mat we used for this game was a large sheet of faux (teddy bear) fur which gives the look of sunny wheat fields.

Out of control MK IV crushes truck...

Background and Player Briefing

FALAISE CAMPAIGN
Allied Briefing
On 16 August, Montgomery insistently demanded that First Canadian Army drive south and east to close the Falaise Gap and link up with the Americans moving north. Closing the gap would allow the destruction in detail or force the surrender of the remaining German forces in Normandy, and weaken the formation of a new defensive line further east in the direction of the river Seine. The American drive led by the 90th Infantry Division has been stopped at Argentan by confused orders and a change of command.　
From 17-20 August, the Canadians and Poles have little additional support despite the local availability of British armoured divisions, and they are the only forces actively driving a wedge into the retreating stream of Germans. The Canadians’ goal is to cut off the German retreat by seizing and holding the line of the D13 highway behind the river Dives towards Chambois, and particularly to secure the bridges at St. Lambert-sur-Dives. Second, to establish a blocking position along this line to contain the German retreat until sufficient forces arrive to annihilate the pocket.
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada successfully held on to Moissy village and now anticipate a German counter-attack towards the D13 highway. They have support from an armoured troop from the South Alberta Regiment.

Marder supported by Pz Grenadiers presses on...

Allied Forces
Platoon HQ (upgraded with one Sniper and Piat section)
3 Rifle Sections (3 man bren group + 7 man rifle group)
all with M3 half tracks
1 Mortar Section
1 Machine-gun Section
1 Armoured Troop (with 3 Sherman V tanks + 1 Firefly each with .50" AA MG)

German Briefing
While Rommel’s goal of containing the Allies in their beach-heads and destroying them before they could break out has failed, a layered defensive position leading back to the river Seine is still in place, strongly held by German forces including the 12. SS-Panzer Division and the Tigers of the 101. SS-Heavy Tank Battalion.　
Amid the retreat from Normandy, continuous Allied armoured attacks, artillery bombardment, and air attacks from fighters and bombers have shattered unit cohesion, but individual officers are still able to enforce discipline amid the developing rout, reassembling some effective units on the kampfgruppe model, with infantry forces of platoon-size supported by the surviving tanks and assault guns.　
Having failed to drive back the Canadians with infantry alone you have now been given some significant armour support to try to recapture the D13 highway.

Firefly burns - actually an M4A3E8 in disguise

German Forces

Panzer HQ (with one Panzer IV + one Marder II)
1 Panzer platoon (with one Panther + one Tiger tanks)
1 Falschirmjager platoon (with two sections + HQ)
1 Motorised Panzergrenadier platoon (with two sections in 3-ton trucks, HQ, HMG section, Panzerfaust section)

Terrain
The road between St. Lambert-sur-Dives and Argentan winds southwest-northeast across the table. The road is lined with hedges, walls and small copses of trees.

Flanking German heavy armour moves cross country

Setup
This Platoon level action was played across a 8ft by 6ft table using the Rules of Engagement rules. Hugh Wilson and Colin Jack commanded the Germans whilst Dougie Trail and I commanded the Canadian forces. The Canadians set up with their infantry holding Moissy village and its approaches with a section of 2 Shermans in ambush behind a hill to the flank with the Firefly and the other Sherman and a M3 halftrack with a section of infantry in reserve of table down the D13 highway.

How the game played
The German paras struck across country towards Moissy but came under fire from the Vickers Mg in the end house. The Panzer IV and Marder led the main German assault down the D13. They came under fire from the Firefly which was committed from reserve. The Firefly scored an early success stunning the driver of the Mk IV which veered of the road and crushed the leading german truck! The tank duel continued as the Mk IV and Marder came on down the road. The firefly managed to stun both the enemy drivers but was then blown up by the first German hit.
The paras tried to rush Moissy but were cut down by the hidden Canadian infantry. The MK IV and the Marder then came under fire from PIATS. To the left of the main German advance the Panther and Tiger moved cross country to bring Moissy under fire. I then sprung the trap with the 2 Shermans emerging from cover over the hill on their flank. In 3 rounds of shooting neither side scored a hit. In the last round the Shermans needed anything but a 1 to hit and both rolled 1s!!!!
At this note the game ended being declared a major allied victory.

Shermans move up from cover...

Once again Rules of Engagement seem to work well for this scale of action. We discovered that we had missed an entire section of the small arms shooting rules in the first game so that the casualties in that game had been much higher than they should have been. I am now reading the rules from cover to cover.

Shermans keep missing flank of jerry armour...

Claymore 2011.....and Life on Mars

2011-08-07T18:38:00.069+01:00

Claymore the highlight of the Scottish wargaming calendar has come and gone again. As usual I spent most of the day working on the bring and buy but had time to go round and look at the show. Telford College is further from the centre of Edinburgh but is a far better venue than old Meadowbank. Modern building, good facilities and free car parking for all. The 2 main halls seemed busy but at times the bring and buy was quiet compared with previous years. The theme of the B&B this year seemd to be plastic takeaway food containers filled with unpainted figures! Not that many big armies for sale and those did not go. Sold some troops on the B&B but spent more than I made on Silflor tufts, scenery from Last Valley and unpainted Napoleonic cavalry.

Enjoyed talking with all the usual visitors. I have added some photos on my FlickR site see the link above.

Great ship and quayside from the VBCW Vickers works raid game

There are loads more good photos at this site as well

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46755253@N00/sets/72157627246275615/

Last weeks game at the SESWC was something different a 28mm 19th century science fiction game. Ray Neal suggested to Colin Jack that it was a long time since we had played one of our 19th century science fiction games and as it was Ray’s last game at the SESWC before he returns to New Haven Connecticut Colin agreed to put it on. Colin supplied the scenario - given below, the scenery and all the figures from his extensive collection.

SetupThis was played across down a 8ft by 6ft table using an adapted version of the Darkest Africa rules by Chris Pears. Hugh Wilson and I commanded the brave Martian forces and their alien overlords whilst Ray and Colin commanded the earthling invaders and their Martian allies. The terrain mat we used for this game was a large sheet of red Martian felt.

Weapon of Mars Destruction powers up.....

How the game playedPlaying the part of the alien overlord I took command of the good alien equipment and their trusty Martian allies whilst letting Hugh lead the Martian levies in a wild charge on the earth base. Though taking heavy losses Hugh’s levies backed up by more who steadily came onto table managed to destroy the 1st Martian infantry and most of one unit of the earthmen.
On my side the Tripods and heat rays duelled with the Belgian steam tanks and destroyed both of them but at the loss of one of the tripods. The most effective unit was the flying US Rocketeers armed with mini gatling guns who wiped out the Canal Priest regulars and the crews of the heat rays. The Martian rocket launcher and the earthmen weapons of mars destruction proved completely ineffective throughout the game.
Here is the complete background notes and player briefings for what proved to be a fun game.

WAR OF THE WORLDS - MISSION TO MARS
BACKGROUND
The Martians came to Earth, saw and conquered. Then at the eleventh hour mankind was saved by an unlikely ally, a virus, a simple disease of humanity for which the invaders had no immunity.
After giving due thanks to God for their deliverance, the humans set about planning revenge in the form of a counter invasion of Mars. Unless the Martians could be defeated on their own ground, it would only be a matter of time before they invaded Earth again, equipped perhaps with some biological defences.
In truth the invaders were not natives of Mars but were usurpers from a more distant planet who had enslaved the Martians. These usurpers were known as the Overlords. During their first (and indeed only) visit to Mars many, many months ago, the international mission from Earth met with native Martians who assured them that there was a well organised resistance movement on the planet. Any invasion would certainly meet with a considerable amount of support. When the mission left again it took one Martian scientist back to Earth and left a Belgian diplomat behind in exchange.

What has been happening since then?Construction yards on every continent on Earth have been working around the clock to construct the planetary transport ships to carry the invasion force. Scientists have been working on the design of new weapons based upon their studies of captured or abandoned Overlord technology.
On Mars itself, the Belgian diplomat, left behind by the first mission has been helping to train native Martians using the few rifles left behind with him. He has also been working with some of the resistance leaders to select suitable landing sites, to learn the ways of the Overlords and to carry out selective acts of sabotage.

Overlord minitripods.......

What are the chances of success?The actual numbers of Overlords and their distribution are not precisely known and. Scientists cannot guarantee that the new technology, which the invasion force is taking with it, will be adequate to deal with the formidable Overlord fighting machines.
It is quite possible that many native Martians may be no happier about invaders from Earth than they are about the Overlords. The invaders have no way of knowing how many allies they can expect.
The Allied force has landed near what appears to be an abandoned temple complex and a supply base has been set up inside a convenient crater. They have set up their prototype “Weapons of Mars Destruction” and are patiently waiting for a target to test them out on. While the Belgians and their new Martian recruits defend the landing site the German and American components of this initial force have gone off scouting in opposite directions.

The Opposing Forces
Belgians and Female Martians by Foundry, Germans by Pulp and Eureka, Americans by Pulp, “Weapons” by Scheltrum, Tanks by Ground Zero, Battlesuit and Friendly Martians by Parroom Station. Martians by Parroom Station, RAFM, Marauder. Buildings by Hovels, Monolith, Grendel.

Earth Invaders Player Briefing 1You command one of the primary invasion forces which has landed successfully and has set up its “Weapons of Mars Destruction” near an apparently disused temple complex. While the new US and German rocketeers of the force have set off to see if they can locate the nearest Martians, friendly or otherwise, the US Regulars and their new Martian recruits are remaining behind to protect the “Weapons” and the supply dump. You are hopeful that you may get reinforcements from the local Martian resistance movements.
So far everything is quiet, but it does seem rather a long time since either of the reconnaissance parties left. A lookout reports an approaching dust cloud. Perhaps the Germans or Americans are returning.
OB
C in C     White Man + Gun bearer + staff
USA Roughriders   8 Regulars
USA Marine Infantry  8 Regulars
1st Martian Infantry   20 Soldiers
German Aetherkorps  10 Regulars
2 Weapons of Mars Destruction (as Artillery, +1 to hit, test others within 3”)
Prototype Fighting Machine (1d6 move, fire as MG)
2 Belgian Steam Tanks

Boiler of steam tank explodes.....

Earth Invaders Player Briefing 2A multi-national invasion force has made a successful landing on Mars. Two scouting parties have been sent out by the invasion force commander, one American and one German. The landing site is being secured by the Belgians.
OB
a) American Rocket Corps 9 Regulars (movement 5xd6 minus d6 for landing or taking off)
b) German Luftjagers 9 Regulars

These troops are armed with new mini-gatlings. These have a range of 12” with 3xd6 but get no shooting bonus and suffer –1 if flying.
The two nationalities have scouted in different directions and may now be alerted by flares fired by the Belgians at the landing site. Dice for your reaction:-
1 You have come across a band of hostile Martians with whom you are skirmishing. Your return will be hampered by wounded and by damaged equipment. Return to table on turn 6. d6= no of wounded.
2 You have scouted a long way out and will return on turn 4.
3 You don’t see the first flares at all. Re-roll next turn.
4 Seen and understood. Return on turn 3.
5 Seen and understood. Return on turn 3.
6 You have come across a band of friendly Martians. Return on turn 2 with your new friends arriving on turn 4.
Artillery is either Large, Medium or Small, causing 1, 2 or 3 damage points against vehicles. Vehicles have a Damage rating which can be reduced to zero by artillery hits.

The powerful Overlord Quadrapod...

OVERLORDS BRIEFING
You command a small Overlord garrison which has recently witnessed the arrival of an invasion force, presumably from the planet Earth. This has been anticipated but is earlier than expected. You have kept the landing site under discreet observation while trying to raise militia from the surrounding areas. The only troops that you can really count on apart from your own soldiers are the priests of the Canal Cult. The militia will have to be inspired by fear - they must fear you more than the enemy.
The invaders have sent out scouting parties so this must be the moment to attack the landing site when the defenders are at their weakest.
OB
2 Mini Tripods (as mountain artillery but with +1 to hit & test others within 1” only)
3 Mobile Heat Rays (Do.)
6 Soldiers (count as regulars)
2 Advisers (unarmed, may encourage Martians, any unit they are with may ignore its first morale test)
10 Canal Priest Fanatics Warriors
20 Canal Priest Regulars Askaris
1 Rocket Batter (count as artillery but roll artillery and scatter dice for impact)
Native Martian Militia - 3 units on turn 1 from following table. 0/1/2 units on every subsequent turn.

Rocketeers to the rescue - Old Glory over Mars...

NATIVE MARTIANS
2 Overlord Quadrapod 1 (count as artillery, +1 to hit and test others within 3”)
3 Regulars with muskets 20 Askaris
4 Shooter/cutter unit 16 Musketeers/Spearmen(+2 in CC)
5 Shooter/cutter unit 16 Musketeers/Spearmen(+2 in CC)
6 Shooter/cutter unit 12 Musketeers/Spearmen(+2 in CC)
7 Militia    20 Archers/Spearmen
8 Militia   20 Archers/Spearmen
9 Militia   12 Warriors
10 Armoured musketeers 10 Askaris
11 Artillery    Warrior crew
12 Air Ship    1 Gun (count as mountain artillery)
If there are no units in the category left you get no unit.
If any of these units (apart from the tripod) fail their morale they may decide to change sides. On an even d6 roll they will change sides with full morale. On an odd d6 roll the failed morale will stand. Militia units with an Overlord adviser will not have to make this test.

Rocketeers engage last of the heat rays

This week - Action in Normandy.....

2011-08-02T10:12:00.000+01:00

This weeks game at the SESWC was a 28mm WWII game of an action in Normandy in 1944. My WWII collection is now entirely 20mm so all the figures for this game were supplied by Colin Jack. Colin and I supplied the terrain. The scenario was adapted by Colin from the Falaise Campaign available on the Flames of War website complete with excellent maps.

Canadian M3 halftrack - an excellent Corgi model

Background and Player Briefing
Allied Briefing
On 16 August, Montgomery insistently demanded that First Canadian Army drive south and east to close the Falaise Gap and link up with the Americans moving north. Closing the gap would allow the destruction in detail or force the surrender of the remaining German forces in Normandy, and weaken the formation of a new defensive line further east in the direction of the river Seine. The American drive led by the 90th Infantry Division has been stopped at Argentan by confused orders and a change of command.
From 17-20 August, the Canadians and Poles have little additional support despite the local availability of British armoured divisions, and they are the only forces actively driving a wedge into the retreating stream of Germans. The Canadians’ goal is to cut off the German retreat by seizing and holding the line of the D13 highway behind the river Dives towards Chambois, and particularly to secure the bridges at St. Lambert-sur-Dives. Second, to establish a blocking position along this line to contain the German retreat until sufficient forces arrive to annihilate the pocket.

Allied Forces
Platoon HQ from C Company, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada 3 Sections each of 3man bren group + 6 man rifle group Mortar section and Piat section all in M3 half tracks
Limited air support may be available.

Argyle and Sutherland squad cautiously move into Moissy

German Briefing
While Rommel’s goal of containing the Allies in their beach-heads and destroying them before they could break out has failed, a layered defensive position leading back to the river Seine is still in place, strongly held by German forces including the 12. SS-Panzer Division and the Tigers of the 101. SS-Heavy Tank Battalion.
Amid the retreat from Normandy, continuous Allied armoured attacks, artillery bombardment, and air attacks from fighters and bombers have shattered unit cohesion, but individual officers are still able to enforce discipline amid the developing rout, reassembling some effective units on the kampfgruppe model, with infantry forces of platoon-size supported by the surviving tanks and assault guns.

German Forces
Platoon HQ 2 Grenadier Sections each of 3 man MG34 group + 6 man rifle group Machine Gun Section and Mortar Section
Infantry gun

Grenadiers make their fatal run towards Moissy thru the faux fur

Terrain
The D13 highway runs quite straight from the northwest of the map to exit at the southeast. The highway is lined with hedges, walls and small copses of trees. The river Dives winds north-south down the west edge of the map, lined unevenly with trees on both banks. There is one ford at the hamlet of Moissy near the north edge of the map, but otherwise the river is Very Difficult Going for all teams. Troops may not stop in the water. Troops in contact with either bank are considered Concealed. The surrounding countryside is dotted with scattered farms, standing crops and orchards separated by low walls and hedges.

SetupThis Platoon level action was played across a 8ft by 6ft table using the Rules of Engagement rules. Hugh Wilson and Ray Neal commanded the Germans whilst Colin Jack and I commanded the Canadian forces. The terrain mat we used for this game was a large sheet of faux (teddy bear) fur which gives the look of sunny wheat fields.

M3 under mortar fire - in background remains of a Canadian squad

How the game playedOn the allied side I commanded 2 rifle sections whilst Colin commanded the HQ section and the 3^rd rifle section. I faced Ray whilst Colin faced Hugh. The game developed as expected into a struggle for the buildings in the hamlets.
The allies quickly won a success on their left driving back a German section making for the one of the houses in Moissy which allowed the Canadians to occupy Moissy unopposed. However the Germans in the centre heavily hit Colin’s rifle section forcing them to fall back. It then became a battle of attrition to see if the Canadians with their mortar support and limited artillery support could knock out the German tripod MG and infantry gun before they eliminated all the allied Canadian infantry. The Canadians used their M3 halftracks as decoys to attract the German fire and this then allowed them to disable the crew of both the key German weapons. Once these were gone the Germans called it a day and withdrew from the game.

This game was the first of a mini campaign that we will be playing and we will be playing and reporting on the follow up actions in the coming months. We learned 2 basic lessons in this first game:
1 - Tripod mounted MG42s are deadly!
2 - Moving across open ground is more deadly!

Rules of Engagement seem to work well for this scale of action but I think it would be better if we had more than 1 set of the rules between us. I plan to get a set at Claymore 2011 this coming Saturday.

Price of victory - a burning M3 - it went Foom!

Shoot out at Longo Niddrales....

2011-07-27T11:29:00.000+01:00

This Monday evening we played out an extra game a Wild West gunfight game using the Warhammer Historical Legends of the West rules.

1880s baggage handlers....

Colin Jack provided the venue in his converted garage, the terrain and most of the figures. I supplied my own posse of lawmen. Colin was also on the side of law and order with his posse of Texas Rangers. Ray Neal selected an outlaw gang and young Isaac Neal selected a Mexican bandido gang.

Doc greets some of his favourite patients....

The rules are simple and enjoyable. We played out 2 rounds of 2 player games. In the first round Colin’s Texas Rangers took on Ray’s outlaws while my took lawmen took on Isaac’s bandidos.

Colin and Ray fought out their action around the train station, the claims office and the saloon. Ray’s outlaws suffered from the repeater fire of the Rangers and headed for the hills when they lost 4 of their side. In my game with Isaac we fought out a gunfight across main street interrupted by the stagecoach rushing past. I got more figures into action and the poor shooting of his peons meant that I had hit 3 of his gang whilst losing 2 of my posse when the other game ended.

Rangers take up post in the saloon

We used the useful campaign system to promote our figures in between games and in the trading I bought shotguns for all of my lawmen. Isaac sold of his peons 6 guns and equipped them all with machetes and in addition bought 3 more machete armed peons.

In the 2nd pair of games I took on Ray at the railway station end of town and Colin played Isaac’s bandidos in main street.

Rev Smithers prays for peace in Main Street

The action in my game took place around the train and the saloon. I had the advantage and numbers and the shotguns proved their worth blasting the saloon. Ray lost 5 of his 8 figures and headed for the hills after eliminating 3 of my upright citizens.

At the other end of town Isaac launched a peon machete mob from the cover of the Chinese farm against 3 of Colin’s figures. One of the peon’s fell over a pig and was delayed and most of the others were mown down by skilful (lucky) shooting from Colin. The Peons that got into hand to hand combat were outfought by the Rangers. The rest of Isaac’s gang fought on across main street passing multiple head for the hills tests. That game only ending when Ray headed for the hills.

Upright citizens search the train for outlaws...

A good looking game, simple and fun rules and enjoyed by all. The impressive train is an On3 scale model - O gauge sized train running on HO scale track - by Bachmann.

This week - White Eagle Vs Red Bear 1920....

2011-07-22T23:57:00.000+01:00

This weeks game at the SESWC was a 20mm Game of a fictional action from the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-21. All the figures used are from the B and B Miniatures range.

Red Army artillery and Kronstadt sailors await the attack

Background April 1920
In early 1920 the government of the Ukrainian People's Republic had lost control over most of Ukraine. The city of Kiev had undergone numerous recent changes of government. The Ukrainian People's Republic was established in 1917; a Bolshevik uprising was suppressed in January 1918. The Red Army took it in February 1918, followed by the Army of the German Empire in March; Ukrainian forces retook the city in December. During February 1919 the Red Army regained control; in August it was taken first by Symon Petlura's men and then by Denikin's army. The Soviets regained control in December 1919.

The forces of the exiled Ukrainian nationalist leader Petlura, head of the Ukrainian People's Republic, controlled only a small sliver of land near the Polish border. Petlura accepted Pilsudski's offer to join an alliance with Poland and on April 21, 1920 they signed the Treaty of Warsaw. In exchange for agreeing to a border along the Zbruch River, recognizing the recent Polish territorial gains in western Ukraine, Petlura was promised military help in regaining the Soviet-controlled territories with Kiev, where he would again assume the authority of the Ukrainian People's Republic.

Pilsudski struck on April 25, and captured Zhytomyr the following day. Within a week, the Soviet 12th army was largely destroyed. In the south, the Polish 6th Army and Petliura's forces pushed the Soviet 14th army out of central Ukraine as they quickly marched eastward towards Kiev. The 14th Army has turned to make a stand at the important rail junction and regional centre of Vinnitsa 160 Miles west of Kiev.

The Polish train Smialy closes on Red village No 1....

Setup
The game of this delaying action was fought down a 8ft by 6ft table using the Contemptible Little Armies rules. Hugh Wilson and Colin Jack commanded the Polish Army with Joe Reilly commanding the allied Ukrainian Army. Ray Neal and I commanded the Soviet forces. I designed the scenario whilst Colin Jack provided the Polish and Ukrainian forces and I provided the Soviet forces.

Orders of Battle
6th Polish Army
Infantry Brigade Morale 3
3 x 14 Polish infantry
1 HMG
1 Gun
Armoured Train Smialy

Motorised Brigade Morale 3 Lorried
3 x 14 Polish infantry
1 HMG

Cavalry Brigade Morale 4
10 Polish Uhlans
2 x 10 Polish lancers
　
Ukrainian People’s Republic Army morale 2
3 x 14 Ukrainian infantry
1 HMG
1 Gun
2 x 10 Cossacks
1 tachanka

Smialy under hail of ineffective Red artillery fire....

RED 14th Army Morale 3
1st Infantry Brigade
3 x 16 Red Infantry
1 HMG
1 Gun
Armoured Train Ilya Mourometz

2nd Infantry Brigade
3 x 16 Red Infantry
1 HMG
1 Gun

Cavalry Brigade
3 x 10 Red cavalry
2 tachanka

How the Game Played
The red players deployed their infantry in a defensive line based on 3 farms with the armoured train and the cavalry brigade in reserve. The Polish players decided to attack with their 2 infantry brigades and the armoured train and all the Ukrainians whilst leaving their cavalry brigade in reserve for the advance on Kiev. They gained an early success knocking one of the Soviet field guns. The Polish infantry then advanced and got bogged down in an long and for them damaging action with the Red Infantry.

Polish artillery ranging in on Red battery

The armoured trains engaged each other and the Polish Train Smialy succeeded in destroying the gun carriage on the Red train Ilya Mourometz. Other than these hits scored by the Polish guns and a single Polish truck destroyed by the Red train the artillery on both sides proved very ineffective.

The stricken Ilya Mourometz

Eventually to break through, the Poles and Ukrainians committed all their 5 units of cavalry to a mass advance on their left. Their charges destroyed a Red Mg, the last Red field gun and 2 infantry units. Their reduced strength cavalry were then brought to a halt by the Soviet cavalry which had to be committed en masse to stop them.

Polish cavalry about to make their final desperate charges

The game ended at this point with the Polish players agreeing that they would not be able to break through towards Kiev. The Ukrainians met their secret objective which was to preserve their army and let the Poles do most of the fighting. This will be the figures last outing as I am currently selling my 20mm Reds on Ebay as we are now concentrating on 28mm figures for RCW and BOB.

Big BOB Multiplayer game.....

2011-07-18T23:30:00.002+01:00

This weekend we played out a large scale Back of Beyond game set in 1920 in Manchuria, Mongolia and the short lived Far East Republic in eastern Siberia.
This was a Colin Jack special with multiple players, hidden objectives, special events and lots of back stabbing.

Dai-Li Sun newsreel crew - bringing us Dave O'Briens view of the news...

Setup
There were 8 factions in the game as follows.
Red 1 - Bill Gilchrist (Mikhail Frunze). Objective establish Soviet power in the Far East.
Red 2 - Hugh Wilson ( Alexander Krasnoshchyokov). Objective to establish a Far Eastern Republic - his empire actually shrank!
White 1 - Martin Gibson (Semenov). Objective to amass as much money as possible.
White 2 - Dave Paterson (Mad Baron Ungern-Sternberg). Objective to establish a new Mongol empire.
Chinese - Dave O’Brien (Chiang Tso-Lin). Objective to re-capture Urga from Mongols.
Czech - Kevan Gunn (Jan Syrovy). Objective to control all stations and exit troops via Vladivostok.
Anglo-American - Ray and Isaac Neal (Gen W Graves). Objective assist Czechs to reach Vladivostok.
Japanese - Colin Jack (Gen Mitsue). Objective control as many resources as possible.

Chita - base of the eventual White 1 winners

Most factions had 3 units and 1 support weapon. Czechs had 2 units and 2 support weapons.
All started in a town which comprised 2 buildings and railway station. Anglo-American & Japanese shared Vladivostock which had 4 buildings and station.
Every 5 turns was a game day and revenue was collected from buildings and stations currently held and Resources held (mines, docks, farms). Revenue could be held or spent on reinforcements.
Czechs had no start town but held the Imperial Gold Reserve which gave them same income as a town.

Final victory assessed on basis of control of buildings, value of unused cash, and 2 specials - control of Tsar & family; control of Gold Reserve.

The tactical part of the game was played using Chris Peers’ Contemptible Little Armies rules. Simple and enjoyable rules - but as I discovered you can use units very quickly.

Mad baron rides down Chinese bandits - a crafty special event

How the game played
On the western side of the table in the area of Irkutsk and Chita my Red forces met disaster at the hands of both White players supported by the Czechs who reduced them down to a single holdout in Irkutsk. They were saved by support from Moscow - my thanks to the umpire - and by the Mad baron becoming engaged in a full scale war with the Chinese.
The Czechs only took one building in the game the church in Irkutsk and discovered the Tsar and his family hiding in the loft. Strangely they had been missed by the entire Red Army! The Czechs did have one bit of bad luck when they were attacked by 2 Yetis - who’s hides the Czechs sold to the Smithsonian collection

Dave Paterson - The Mad Baron - ponders his strategy...

On the east side of the table the Japanese and Anglo- Americans came to an agreement to divide Vladivostock and fought the Reds of the Far East Republic. An apparently limitless stream of US and UK units were thrown into a long campaign around the coal mine which eventually fell to them.

The Chinese after flirting with action against the Reds moved to attack the Mongols and even had the support of the only aircraft to appear over the table as a special event. It was eventually driven to the ground by a sandstorm! The Chinese did at the end of the game get to attack the yurts of Urga but were held back by the Mongolian militia. The Japanese in the last day of the campaign tried a coup in Vladivostosk but were fought to a stalemate by the Anglo-Americans and agreed an armistice.

Chinese airpower swoops on the Mongol hordes

The Czechs did get to all the way Vladivostock with the Tsar and his treasure but that was not enough to swing the result to them. The game was won decisively by Martin Gibson as White 1 based in Chita who played a quiet game except for attacking the Reds in Irkutsk and shooting a few Chinese and steadily secretly collected a huge amount of money. The least successful players were the 2 Reds. With extra support from Moscow I came in last just holding 2 buildings in Irkutsk. Hugh Wilson as Red 2 based in Khabarovsk was worn down by the constant attacks from Vladivostock whilst also engaging in a war with the Whites of Chita and the Chinese.

Despite my disasters it was fun! Here is the link to the Flickr photostream with all the photos from the game.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/

This weeks game.....VBCW Stirling Bridge

2011-07-17T09:53:00.001+01:00

This weeks game at the SESWC was a VBCW game - a refight of Stirling Bridge 1297 shifted to 1938. It was a follow up to a previous game we played which was a VBCW refight of Sheriffmuir 1715.

The game is part of a project by Colin Jack to refight historic Scottish battles in the VBCW era. The concept here and at Sheriffmuir is that these battles are part of a very late Jacobite rebellion led by the then 1930’s Jacobite pretender Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria.

Setup
The game was fought down a 8ft by 6ft table using the Triumph and Tragedy rules. The Jacobite army was advancing into the loop of land formed by the River Forth leading to the road and rail bridges across the river at Stirling. This is the reverse of the direction of the English attack in 1297.

Ray Neal, Hugh Wilson and Colin Jack commanded the Jacobite army. Dale Smith from Kirriemuir Wargames Club and I commanded the Government forces. I designed the scenario whilst Colin and Dale provided the troops.

View towards Stirling

GOVERNMENT BRIEFING - Brigadier Rex Arthur
Following the draw at Sheriffmuir you have withdrawn south to take up defensive positions south of the Forth at your main depot at Stirling. You have been joined by a TA engineer unit. Your plan is to use your local knowledge of the terrain and newly operational artillery from the RA barracks to destroy the enemy. The rebel force comprises Highland and Bavarian militia with some BUF cavalry. In total their force is you know larger than yours but mostly untrained. Regrettably Colonel Bartram of the Scottish Horse based at Dunkeld has thrown in his unit's lot with the rebels.

OB
Regular Infantry (10) Elite
Regular Infantry (10) Elite
Regular Cavalry (10) Elite
Regular HMG (5) Elite
Territorial Infantry (10) Trained
Territorial Engineers(10) Trained
Regular Cavalry (10) Trained
Territorial HMG (5) Trained
Regular Artillery (5) Elite

DEPLOYMENT
Units are deployed to the south of the river. They can be dug-in if they wish. The also have observers on the high ground to the south (off table) and can see any troops moving in the open to the north of the river.

Mg and artillery units can be deployed dug-in in concealed of the east and west sides of the table north of where the river crosses the table i.e. they are on the southern bank of the loop of land. Assume they are 12” from the edge of the table.

The bridges have been mined for controlled demolition by the TA engineers. These can be attempted to be exploded at any point even after the enemy has been crossing the bridges.

The Scottish Horse heavily reduced by artillery and Mg fire

REBEL BRIEFING - Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria
You landed at Inverness from a small coastal freighter but were disappointed that the highland rebellion was on such a small scale, far less than you had been led to expect. Nevertheless, Inverness and Perth were taken without resistance and no government troops attempted to engage your forces before the action of the Muir. Your army has gradually increased in size as volunteers have joined the rebellion but unfortunately most remain of poor quality. The only reliable troops are your own Bavarian bodyguard, a unit of BUF cavalry raised in the north-east and the Scottish Horse under Col Bartram who joined after your success at the Muir. The Scots militia while numerous have only enthusiasm and a certain élan to disguise their rawness. Your objective is to cross the Forth at Stirling and to gain control of the central belt.

OB
Bavarian Bodyguard (10) Trained
Clanranald's Militia (16) Raw +1 in close combat
Glengarry's Militia (16) Raw +1 in close combat
Seaforth's Militia (16) Raw +1 in close combat
Atholl's Militia (16) Raw +1 in close combat
Fraser's Militia (16) Raw +1 in close combat
McLeod's Militia (16) Raw +1 in close combat
Lowland Militia (16) Raw
Gordon's Horse (10) Raw
BUF Cavalry (9) Trained
The Scottish Horse (10) Trained

Deployment
All units enter along either road A or B from turn ONE. Two units can enter per road per turn in an order determined by the players. Troops enter in column so each stand after the first has it move reduced by the length of the column.

Government advantage - artillery!

How the game played
The government side deployed their troops in the houses of Stirling south of the river with one machine gun deployed of table on the right covering the railway track. They held back an infantry unit and both cavalry units as a reserve in cover in the town.

Prince Rupprecht in his command vehicle - Jacobites only heavy equipment

The Jacobites were forced to advance on in columns and came under long range artillery and MG fire which stopped their initial units. Several units fled early on but they eventually got their forces deployed into line and advanced steadily on the bridges and did bring the Government forces under rifle fire. Their high point was when one unit of cavalry managed to cross the railway bridge - they were then charged by a government cavalry unit and both broke in the melee. Other than this their brave advance had little effect - their rifle fire only caused 2 casualties on the Government side whilst their troops withered under the heavy fire. The main disappointment on the Government side was with their engineers who’s repeated attempts to blow the bridges all failed.

Rebels reach the road bridge

It was never going to be an easy task for the Jacobites - they had numerous raw units who easily fell victim to the MG and artillery fire of the government side. If we were to play this game again I would add some armoured support and artillery into the Jacobite forces.

New page - Black Powder House Rules

2011-07-13T11:27:00.000+01:00

I have added a new page setting out the house rules that we have used or considered at the SESWC for our Black Powder games. Next week I will add some more clarifications and a suggested revised approach to Broken Brigades - the rules for which we have so far simply ignored.

234th ANNVERSARY OF A BATTLE.....

2011-07-09T00:34:00.001+01:00

Francis' Brigade on the Patriot right flnk...

This weeks 28mm AWI game that I arranged at the SESWC was based on the Battle of Hubbardton 7 July 1777 using Black Powder Rules. We used it as a further test of an amended turn sequence which has been proposed in the "& Blenheim" rule modifications by Ian Hopping available on the Yahoo BP Forum.

Some History
The Battle of Hubbardton was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on July 7, 1777. Hubbardton is a community in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Thomas Hubbard, a landholder. It is still a quiet rural area as the population was 752 at the 2000 census.

A Patriot force of 1,200 men, primarily composed of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont Continentals acting as a rearguard covered the retreat of the Patriot army retiring from Ticonderoga. They were attacked by a pursuing force of approximately 1,000 British, loyalist and German troops commanded by Simon Fraser and Friedrich Riedesel.

The Setup
The game was fought across a 6ft by 4ft table. Given the table size we used the 66% version of the movement and ranges but left proximity and command radius at the standard 12 inches. The terrain was assumed to be wooded except for an area of open ground in the centre of the table. The 24 figure units were classed as standard units, the 12 to 16 figure units as small units. The figures are mainly Front Rank, with Foundry Jaegers and Old Glory British Light infantry. Colin Jack commanded the British Army with Hugh Wilson leading the German reinforcements. Mr Ray Neal of New Haven, Connecticut commanded the Patriots.

Background and Patriot Briefing
In June of 1777 British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne's forces pressed southward from Canada on Lake Champlain, as part of Burgoyne's plan to split off New England from the rest of the American colonies.

As they closed in on Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence in Orwell, Vermont, American Major General Arthur St. Clair made the difficult decision to withdraw from these forts and save his troops for a future encounter. General St Clairs troops left Fort Ticonderoga on 6th July 1777 hastening to put as much ground between themselves and the pursuing army of General Burgoyne in their retreat to the south. The weather was hot and the march, along the rudimentary track through the forest, was heavy going. After 26 miles the Americans reached Hubbardton, a minute hamlet. St Clair marched on, leaving Colonel Seth Warner and his Green Mountain Boys to await the rearguard of Colonel Francis’ 11th Massachusetts and Hale’s 2nd New Hampshire Regiments.

Once the rearguard reached Hubbardton, Francis and Hale decided to camp overnight in the hamlet to allow their men to recover from the rigours of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and the long march. They assumed they had outstripped the British and German troops and put out no proper picquet line.

Now at 5:00am as your camp is stirring for breakfast you hear musket shots from the north and the picquet rushes in to say that the British are upon you. You have to hold this position as long as possible to prevent them closing up on the main army.

PATRIOT OB
CinC Col Seth Warner 7

Col Ebenezer Francis
11th Massachusetts 24 figures
New York Militia 24 figures

Col Nathan Hale
2nd New Hampshire 24 figures
Green Mountain Men 24 figures
Riflemen 12 figures skirmishersskirmishers

Col Livingston (to south in direction of the main army)
Albany Militia 16 figures
Newark Militia 16 figures

Militia initially hald the British Line....

Background and British Briefing
In June of 1777 British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne's forces pressed southward from Canada on Lake Champlain, as part of Burgoyne's plan to split off New England from the rest of the American colonies.

As they closed in on Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence in Orwell, Vermont, American Major General Arthur St. Clair made the difficult decision to withdraw from these forts and save his troops for a future encounter. General St Clair’s troops left Fort Ticonderoga on 6th July 1777 hastening to put as much ground between themselves and the pursuing army of General Burgoyne in their retreat to the south. The weather was hot and the march, along the rudimentary track through the forest, was heavy going. After 26 miles the Americans reached Hubbardton, a minute hamlet.

Brigadier Simon Fraser has pressed the pursuit and that night camped near to Hubbardton knowing the Freiher Riedesel and his Germans were camped 3 miles further north.

Your Indian scouts report that at least the rearguard of the rebel army has decided to camp overnight in the hamlet of Hubbardton to allow their men to recover from the rigours of the evacuation of Ticonderoga and the long march. The scouts report that the rebels have put out no proper picquet line.

Your force resumed the advance at 3am based upon an understanding with Riedesel that he will march at the same time to your support. At 5pm you have upon the Americans as they are breakfasting, and promptly order the attack.

BRITISH OB
CinC Gen Simon Fraser 8

Major Robert Grant
24th Regiment 24 figures
Combined grenadiers 16 figures
Combined light infantry 16 figures
Loyalists 12 figures skirmishers

Maj Gen Friedrich Adolf Riedesel - Freiher zu Eisenbach
Breymann’s Grenadiers 16 figures’s Grenadiers 16 figures
Brunswick Jaegers 12 figures skirmishers

Grenadiers move into the clearing....

How the game played
The action opened with the British left advancing rapidly to engage the Patriot left who they mistook to be all militia. It was a Patriot trick of dressing a unit of Continentals in buckskin! The British right advanced slowly closing up on the clearing.

The 24th Line closed to short range of the militia who disordered them with their first volley. The British replied using their First Fire and did not score a single hit. Appalling shooting! Eventually the 24th charged home on the militia and broke them which caused the supporting 11th Massachusetts to retire. Then the 24th and the Light infantry scored 4 unsaved shooting hits on the 11th Massachusetts who broke and fled as well.

On the British right the Grenadiers supported by the Loyalists had become engaged in a fire fight with the riflemen and the Green Mountain Boys. At this point the German (actually Brunswick) reinforcement column under Riedesel arrived and moved to support the Grenadiers.

Grenadiers stalled in front of the Green Mountain Boys...

The Green Mountain boys advanced into the clearing to engage the Grenadiers while the New Hampshire unit swung round on the Patriot left to envelope the Loyalists. The New Hampshire men blundered and retired back to their starting point. The Green Mountain Boys were more than holding their own against the British and Brunswick grenadiers but were undone when the British left wing unit’s - the 24th Line and the Light infantry moved against them. The Lights charged and meleed with the riflemen while the 24th hit the Green Mountain Boys in the flank and after 2 rounds of hand to hand combat broke them. It was obvious by this point that Livingston's column was not going to arrive - there was a very low chance that they would - historically the troops he tried to march to the action refused and continued to retreat.

The game ended at this point which was clearly a British victory with 3 Patriot units broken and the British army intact. Heroes of the day were the British 24th line, the Patriot Riflemen who held of the Light infantry for 2 rounds of melee and the Green Mountain Boys who did well until weight of numbers overcame them.

Victorious British left wing swings into the centre...

This is the first time in any of our AWI BP games that the British Army has won! This was despite the British shooting, which except for 1 turn, was truly appalling - a barrage of 1s and 2s. Possibly because the game was played on 7th July the date of the actual battle.

Rule changes
We used the amended turn sequence in this game and my revised rules for moving in forests. In addition we decided that it was more realistic not to allow units to interpenetrate as part of a charge move.

Patriot Riflemen hold British Light infantry....

What happened historically
The Americans formed a line stretching through wooded country, with hills on each flank. Fraser sent his grenadiers to climb the hill to the American left and outflank them. The hill was steep and the encircling move took longer than expected. In the meantime Colonel Francis attacked advanced around Fraser’s left flank, reinforced by some of Hale’s regiment who were returning to the battlefield. Fraser, whose force was inferior in numbers to the Americans, found himself in some difficulty. Eventually the Grenadiers crossed the difficult terrain to engage the American left flank whilst the German troops under Riedesel arrived and attacked the American right. Under this attack the Americans finally gave way with Col Francis being mortally wounded.

Casualties:
British and German casualties were 14 officers and 195 soldiers. American casualties were 12 officers and 300 soldiers. As the British held the field the American wounded were mostly captured.

Follow-up:
The American retreat to the South continued with the British failing to pursue. The casualties were high in this battle for the number of troops involved, reflecting the determination of the American Continental Regiments.

Engaged

Approx 1,000 to 1,200 Americans, 850 British and 180 Germans.

70 Years to the Day Almost.....

2011-07-01T22:02:00.002+01:00

T28s retreat - sorry comrades redeploy to meet the enemy

This weeks game that I played at the SESWC on Thursday evening was a 20mm World War II action using the Rapidfire rules.

Colin Jack and I provided the troops. The game was played on an 8ft by 6ft table. I adapted the scenario for Rapid Fire and for our available troops from the Breakout from The Niemen scenario on Bob McKenzie’s excellent web site on WWII 20mm and 1/300 Wargaming.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bob_mackenzie/index.html

A motorised German force is advancing from the recently taken bridges over the Niemen near Olita on the afternoon of the first day of Operation Barbarossa with their objective being to expand their bridgehead.

Germans advance with Teutonic efficiency...

The German force consists of a tank battalion, with supporting infantry, engineers, artillery and motorcycle troops. Initially the Soviet defenders have part of a motorised rifle battalion, the remains of a T28 battalion that is retreating in front of the Germans and a battalion of T34/76s.

The Germans are constrained by the capacity of the bridges so that their forces are fed piecemeal into the action. Only 2 companies a turn can appear on the table from turn 2 to turn 4 but from turn 5 they can deploy an extra company on the northern approaches.

FOR THE USSR strikes at the invaders

The Soviet’s have their own problems in that all their tanks are rated as poor for morale purposes and test morale by battalion. Importantly the players also have to dice to see if the impressive numbers of Soviet tanks on their OB are still actually running or have fallen out on the way to the action.

In the game Hugh Wilson, Ray Neal and Colin Jack commanded the attacking Germans whilst Iain Holt, Colin Smith and Bob Freeland (visiting from Canada) commanded the Soviet defenders.

First of many - a 38T explodes under fire from T34s

The Germans attacked with their best initial tank company advancing straight down the road onto the table. The Soviet players countered by advancing with the 2 T28s which survived the retreat and 3 of their T76s. The Germans gained an early success knocking out a T28 and forcing the other to retire 2 moves. The fire from the T28s and the T34s however wiped out the German tank company. More German units were fed on and chewed up by the Soviet armour.

To add to their misery the German column then came under air attack from a Soviet I-16 fighter which severely hit the pioneer company. A superior ME109F put in an appearance but was driven of by the heroic I-16 FOR THE USSR! A company of Panzer 4s then joined the action on the main the road but also suffered from the Soviet fire and having lost a tank retired to cover. The ME109F reappeared and went down in flames to AA Hmg fire.

FOR THE USSR gets the fascist in his sights

The soviets then received their reinforcements - most importantly in the 2 tank units 5 BT7 and 5 T26 got to the table. A German Stuka appeared and made 2 impressively bad bombing runs! Finally a unit of PZIIIs and PZIIs with artillery support got onto the table from the northern route and managed to rout the survivor of the 1st section of T34s and the entire BT7 battalion. They then came under heavy fire from the surviving section of T34s. On the main route the surviving T28 and the newly arrived T26s ruled the day.

Main German drive crumbles into smoke and flames

To late and to little - ineffective Stuka bombing run

An enjoyable game. Until turn 6 the Germans had not got far onto the table and they had not gained much more ground when we ended on turn 10. We agreed that this is a very hard game for the German players as long at the Soviets keep rolling good morale dice for their tank units.

Panzer IIIs make some headway - in front an abandoned BT7

German OB - elements of 7th Panzer Division
II Abt 25 Panzer Regt Stab
PzBefWg-PZ1 Command

5 Panzer Kompanie
2 PzKfw-38t, PzKfw II

6 Panzer Kompanie
1 PzKfw-38t

8 Panzer Kompanie
2 PzKfw-IV

6 Kp 6 Schützen Regiment (attached)
Coy: 6 figures, truck
Mg Coy: Mg & 3 figures

3 Kp 58 Pioneer Bataillon (attached)
Eng Coy: 6 figures, truck

2 Bttr 78 Artillerie Regt – Reinforcement turn 6
SdKfz-250 FO (on table)
105mm leFH-18 (off table)

7 Panzer Kompanie – Reinforcement turn 7
2 PzKfw III, PzKfw II

37 Aufklärungs Abteilung Stabs Kompanie – Reinforcement turn 8
Recce PzSpWg “Panhard”

3 Kradschützen Kompanie – Reinforcement turn 8
Mc Coy: 9 Figs on McC
AT Coy: 37mm ATG & 3 crew, truck
Art Coy: 75mm IG & 3 crew, truck

2 Kp 58 Pioneer Bataillon (attached) – Reinforcement turn 10
Eng Coy: 9 figures, truck

Stragglers– Reinforcement turn 8,9,10
PzKfw-38t, 2 PzKfw II

Soviet OB - elements of 5th Tank Division
Elements 2nd Company Divisional Recce Battalion
Recce BA-10

2nd Tank Battalion
0-7 T34/76 present on a D6 score of 3,4,5,6 each

2nd Battalion 5th Motorised Rifle Regiment
HQ: 6 figures, car
Coy: 6 figures, truck
Att: AA HMG & 3 crew

HQ Company – Reinforcement turn 1
Command BA-FAI

1st Tank Battalion - Reinforcement turn 1
0-3 T-28 arrive on a D6 score of 4,5,6 each

Divisional Staff – Reinforcement turn 6
Command BA-20

3rd Tank Battalion – Reinforcement turn 6
0-7 BT7 arrive on a D6 score of 3,4,5,6 each

4th Tank Battalion – Reinforcement turn 8
0-7 T26 arrive on a D6 score of 3,4,5,6 each

2nd Battalion 5th Motorised Rifle Regiment rest - Reinforcement turn 8
2 Coy: 6 figures each, truck,
Supp Coy: 45mm ATG, truck

BP Peninsular War...Battle of the Gebora 1811

2011-06-19T11:50:00.010+01:00

This weeks 28mm Napoleonic game AWI game that I arranged at the SESWC was based on the Peninsula War Battle of the Gebora fought on 19 February 1811. The game was a further test of an amended turn sequence which has been proposed in the & Blenheim rule modifications by Ian Hopping available on the Yahoo BP Forum.

Militant priest blesses the Spanish line

The Setup
The game was fought across an 8ft by 6ft table. We used the standard movement and ranges given in the rules not the 66% version that we have used in many of our previous games. The terrain was assumed to be generally open but dominated by a long ridge on which the Spanish army deployed

I made the French command 8 for this game whilst the Spanish were initially 6 rising to 7 after the first turn. John Glass supported by Hugh Wilson commanded the Spanish Army bulked out by a Portugese Brigade provided by Angus Konstam. Dougie Trail supported by myself and Brian Philips commanded the French. The French and Portuguese were rated as per the standard BP Napoleonic troop ratings, the Spanish were all rated as unreliable, their infantry and cavalry had reduced hand to hand and morale values and in addition their cavalry had reduced stamina.

French engage Spanish and Portuguese skirmishers

Historical Background
In a bid to help extricate Marshal André Masséna's army from its position in Portugal—mired in front of Lisbon's defensive Lines of Torres Vedras—Marshal Jean Soult led part of the French Armée du Midi (Army of the South) from Andalusia into the neighbouring Spanish region of Extremadura and laid siege to the important fortress town of Badajoz. Viscount Wellington and the Spanish Captain-General Pedro Caro de La Romana sent a large Spanish army to raise the siege. La Romana, however, died before the army could depart, and command fell to General Gabriel Mendizabal. Supported by a small force of Portuguese cavalry, the Spaniards reached the town in early February 1811.

Having reinforced Badajoz, leaving behind a 7,000-strong garrison, Mendizabal’s field army's 9,000 infantry settled on the heights of San Cristóbal while the 3,000 horse encamped behind them on the plains of the Caya.

Soult, however, largely ignored the Spanish army for the next few days, concentrating instead on building up his siege lines and battering Badajoz. Heavy rains also flooded both the Guadiana and Gebora rivers, rendering them impassable, so that between 11–18 February, the French were only able to shell the southern end of the Spanish line, pushing the Spaniards further away from Badajoz and the protection of the San Cristóbal fort.

2nd Hussars restore their reputation

French Briefing

By the afternoon of 18 February, the rains had abated, and lower water levels made the Gebora river fordable again. That evening, Soult sent a force under Marshal Mortier's command to the north bank of the Guadiana river across a flying bridge. Joined by more cavalry regiments under Latour-Maubourg, the French were now ready to ford the Gebora to attack the Spanish lines at dawn on 19 February.
There is heavy fog on the morning of the 19th as Mortier orders the attack to begin. A cavalry brigade can be committed to a flank march on the French right flank.

French Army of the South

Infantry brigade
3 battalions of Infantry and 1 gun

Infantry brigade
3 battalions of Infantry and 1 gun

Infantry brigade
3 battalions of Infantry and 1 gun

Light Cavalry brigade
2 Lt Cavalry Regiments and 1 horse gun

Cavalry brigade
2 Dragoon Regiments and 1 horse gun

Spanish Briefing

The army is deployed defensively along the heights of San Cristóbal with the cavalry brigade deployed in reserve behind them on the plains of the Caya. There is heavy fog on the morning of the 19th as men of the infantry outposts along the Gebora run back into the camp reporting that massed French troops are crossing the river. Arriba Espana!

Army of Estremadura

Spanish brigade
4 battalions of Infantry and 1 gun

Spanish brigade
3 battalions of Infantry and 1 gun

1 detachment of Guerillos Small Sk

Portuguese brigade
4 battalions of infantry and 1 gun
1 detachment of Lusatian Legion Small Sk

Cavalry Brigade
2 regiments of Spanish cavalry classed as light

How the game played

The Spanish deployed as directed in a line along the ridge with their cavalry in reserve on the road to Portugal. The French committed their infantry in the centre and right - banking on a flank march by the Dragoon brigade to unhinge the Spanish line. The light cavalry brigade was deployed to cover their open left flank.

Dragoons ride to the rescue

The French attacked with their centre and right infantry brigades with the left brigade slightly echeloned in reserve. The attack was not a success and they quickly lost 4 battalions to the determined Spanish resistance. The flank march of the Dragoons was diced for and they would not arrive until the 5th turn. On The French left flank their light cavalry brigade charged the Spanish cavalry - the outmatched Spanish Dragoons forced the Chasseurs a Cheval to retire and swept forward into the 2nd Hussars. The melee was drawn and both units became shaken. The Dragoons retired back and the Hussars held. Next turn the Spanish lancers charged the halted shaken 2nd Hussars who amazingly broke them at once!

Dragoons strike home on surprised Spanish left wing

Eventually the flank marching dragoons arrived behind the Spanish left flank and their attack and a renewed attack by the French infantry broke 6 Spanish units in two turns. Amazingly poor Spanish break test dice rolls saved the day for the French and turned what looked like a near disaster into a notable victory.

The game played well and everyone agreed that the revised turn sequence was a promising development.

Northern ridge swept free of Spanish troops

This week....Bennington return match

2011-06-11T22:38:00.000+01:00

This weeks 28mm AWI game that I arranged at the SESWC was a repeat of last week’s game based on the Battle of Bennington August 16, 1777 using Black Powder Rules. I had hoped that USA friends Ray Neal or Dave Cooper would be at the club but neither could get there. The game was a further test of an amended turn sequence which has been proposed in the “& Blenheim” rule modifications by Ian Hopping available on the Yahoo BP Forum. Though intended for the WSS I am more than convinced that they might be suitable for the AWI.

The Setup
The game was fought down a 8ft by 6ft table. We used the standard movement and ranges given in the rules not the 66% version that we have used in many of our previous games. The terrain was assumed to be wooded except for an area of open ground in front of the farm and the Hessian redoubt. The 24 figure units were classed as standard units, the 12 to 16 figure units as small units and the 6 figure unit as a tiny unit. I amended the British army OB from the last week’s game replacing the skirmishing Canadian unit with a formed Loyalist unit. I made all the commanders 8s for this game whilst last week they had been 7s.

Hugh Wilson commanded the British Army. Colin Smith and I commanded the Patriots. Iain Holt spectated and provided morale support.

How the game played
The British army deployed in a defensive line midway across the table facing the open area. Hugh deployed their 5 units from right to left - the Loyalists across the track from Bennington, the dragoons holding the nearby homestead, the Hessian musketeers in line, then the Jaegers holding a hilltop redoubt and finally the Indians in the woods on the left.
The Patriots had the New Hampshire & Vermont Brigade commanded by Colin on table on their left flank intending to advance down the track to attack the dragoons and the Hessians. Their attached riflemen were deployed on the far right facing the Indians in the woods. The Massachusetts Brigade which I commanded was of table at the start of the game.
The battle opened with the 2 formed units of the New Hampshire & Vermont Brigade making a rapid advance down the track towards the loyalists and Hessian who they engaged in a firefight. On the far right the riflemen became engaged in a hand to hand combat with the Indians who had advanced to hold the forest homestead.
The Massachusetts Brigade came onto the table in the first turn and rapidly advanced through the forest onto the open ground and advanced on the Hessians and the Jaegers.

Massachusetts doomed charge on the Hessians

The Indians forced the Vermont rifles to retire from the hand to hand combat but then were engaged in a firefight with both the militia rifle units who eventually forced them in turn to retire back from the homestead.
Hugh decided that the Hessians being heavily outnumbered should charge the left hand unit of the Massachusetts Brigade. They scored 6 unsaved hits in the hand to hand combat and the militia dissolved. They were then charged by the Green Mountain Boys and whilst engaged by them they were then charged in the flank by a Massachusetts unit and broke. The Massachusetts unit then sweeping advanced into the homestead and broke the defending Dragoons.

Green Mountain Boys charge home

The Loyalists slowly fell back along the track engaged by the New Hampshire militia They broke the over confident Massachusetts unit which attempted to charge them but were then broken in turn by the fire of the New Hampshire men and the Green Mountain Boys.

Loyalists and New Hampshire men engaged

Throughout the action Hugh had been attempting to bring on his reinforcing column and had never succeeded. With his force reduced to the Jaegers holding the redoubt and the Indians he decided to retire from the field.
The whole game took just over 90 minutes to play. Compared with the previous weeks playing of this game this one was characterised by amazingly good command dice rolling by the Patriot players. Once again we thought that the modified turn sequence worked in this game.

Rule changes

1. TERRAIN EFFECTS
Formed troops advance at half speed thru woods. Formed troops are not an ‘unclear target’ in woods. Troops in woods get the morale modifier for cover except when charging to contact or in hand to hand combat.

2. INDIANS
Indians are allowed to charge shaken formed troops.

3. MODIFIED TURN SEQUENCE
INITIATIVE PHASE
Declare and undertake initiative movement – there is no change to the basic rules for this. All moving units to be marked as having moved this turn. (They cannot move again in Command Phase).
Any units charged may deliver ‘Closing Fire’ at the end of initiative.

FIRING PHASE
Moving player carries out firing as per the rules.
All firing units to be marked as having fired this turn (for modified Command Penalties).

COMMAND PHASE
Give orders and move as per the Command phase of the rules.
There is an additional command penalty:
“-1 if fired this turn”
Any units charged may deliver ‘Closing Fire’ if they have not fired before in this turn.

MELEE PHASE
Conduct Melees as per rules

This week.......another AWI game

2011-06-04T00:07:00.000+01:00

This weeks 28mm AWI game that I arranged at the SESWC was based on the battle of Bennington August 16, 1777 using Black Powder Rules. We used it as a test of an amended turn sequence which has been proposed in the “& Blenheim” rule modifications by Ian Hopping available on the Yahoo BP Forum. Though intended for the WSS I thought that they might be suitable for the AWI as well. My thanks to Jim Wallace of the Dumfries Wargames club who pointed these out to me at Carronade, the Falkirk wargames show.

Some History

The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles from it’s namesake Bennington, Vermont. A rebel force of 2,000 men, primarily composed of New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by General John Stark, and reinforced by men led by Colonel Seth Warner and members of the Green Mountain Boys, decisively defeated a detachment of General John Burgoyne's army led by Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum, and supported by additional men under Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich von Breymann.

Baum's detachment was a mixed force of 700 composed of dismounted Brunswick dragoons, Canadians, Loyalists, and Indians. He was sent by Burgoyne to raid Bennington in the disputed New Hampshire Grants area for horses, draft animals, and other supplies.

The Setup

The game was fought down a 8ft by 6ft table. We used the standard movement and ranges given in the rules not the 66% version that we have used in many of our previous games. The terrain was assumed to be wooded except for an area of open ground in front of the farm and the Hessian redoubt. The 24 figure units were classed as standard units, the 12 to 16 figure units as small units and the 6 figure unit as a tiny unit. The figures are mainly Front Rank, with Foundry Jaegers and Dragoons and Old Glory Hessians.

Colin Jack commanded the British Army. Hugh Wilson and Dave O’Brien commanding the Patriots.

Hessian Infantry, Jaegers and the redoubt await the attack

Player Briefing and OBs

Lt Colonel Baum

You have been ordered by General Burgoyne to take an independent command and to raid Bennington in the disputed New Hampshire Grants area for horses, draft animals, and other supplies. This will also disrupt the preparations of rebel forces threatening the LOC of the British army.

You arrived at the hamlet 2 days ago and began collecting supplies. It was apparent at once that rebel forces were in the area of Bennington. Your force is encumbered by the supplies that have already been collected and cannot move quickly. Accordingly you put your command into a defensive posture and sent a courier to Burgoyne requesting orders and support.

Bad weather has hampered operations so far but it now looks likely that the rebels will attack in the morning.

An Indian courier has just arrived from Burgoyne stating that a reinforcement force under your compatriot Von Breymann has been despatched to join your command and should be with you tomorrow. Given this news you have decided to stand your ground and await the relief column.

Raiding force brigade of Lt Col Friedrich Baum

Grenadier battalion 24 figures

Jaeger detachment 12 figures

Canadian detachment 12 figures

Indian detachment 12 figures

Dragoon squadron 6 figures (on foot!)

Reinforcement column brigade of Lt Col Heinrich von Breymann

Fusilier battalion 24 figures

Grenadier battalion 24 figures

Artillery Gun & crew

Advance of the Massachusetts Brigade

General John Stark

You have been raising troops in New Hampshire to threaten the supply lines of General Burgoyne’s army advancing on Albany.

A detachment from the British Army has moved east into the New Hampshire Grants area. They arrived at Bennington 2 days ago and began collecting supplies. You at once have brought your troops forward from Manchester to confront them. The British force which seems to largely comprise German troops has taken up a defensive position west of Bennington. Heavy rain has delayed any action so far.

You have been awakened by the arrival of Parson Thomas Allen and a band of Massachusetts militiamen from nearby Berkshire County who insist on joining your force. In response to the minister's fiery threat that his men would never come out again if they were not allowed to participate, you said, "Would you go now on this dark and rainy night? Go back to your people and tell them to get some rest if they can, and if the Lord gives us sunshine to-morrow and I do not give you fighting enough, I will never call on you to come again”

So your force is now committed to attack in the morning.

New Hampshire and Vermont Republic brigade Col Seth Warner

Green Mountain boys 24 figures

Militia battalion 24 figures

Rifle detachment 12 figures

Massachusetts Berkshire County brigade Parson Thomas Allen

Militia detachment 16 figures

Rifle detachment 12 figures

Advance of the New Hampshire and Vermont Brigade

How the game played

The British army deployed in a defensive line midway across the table facing the open area. Colin deployed from right to left the dragoons holding a farm on the track from Bennington, the Hessian grenadiers in cover in an enclosed field, then the Jaegers, the Canadians holding a hilltop redoubt and finally the Indians in the woods on the left.

The Patriots had the Massachusetts Brigade commanded by Hugh on table on their right flank with the New Hampshire Vermont Brigade commanded by Dave of table intending to advance down the track to attack the dragoons and the Hessians.

The battle opened with the Massachusetts Brigade advancing with their rifles occupying a homestead in front of the Indians. The Indians charged into the rifles and after 2 turns of combat forced them to retire out of the homestead. The Indians then withdrew back towards their own lines.

The rest of the Massachusetts Brigade got into the open ground and then due to appalling command rolls halted for many moves under long range rifle fire from the Jaegers.

On the Patriot left due to equally appalling command rolls the advance by the New Hampshire Brigade down the track was painfully slow. The lowpoint of the advance was when the Green Mountain Boys (the best Patriot unit) blundered and retired 2 moves to the back of the column.

Canadians defend the redoubt

Eventually Dave got the New Hampshire brigade into a firefight with the Dragoons and the Hessians. His riflemen proved very effective in disordering the Hessians with almost every turn of fire. the Hessians held their fire saving their First Fire for a better target. The Green Mountain Boys were slowly advancing on the farmhouse held by the dragoons and to counter this the Hessians wheeled to bring them under fire. They gave them their First Fire and missed completely! This move revealed their flank to unit of the Massachusetts militia who finally passed a command test and charged into the Hessians flank. The Hessians broke in the combat and fled. They had proved to be completely ineffective throughout the game not causing a single casualty by shooting or in the final combat. Next turn the Massachusetts militia charged again and forced the dragoons to evade back from the farm.

Disaster strikes the Hessian Grenadiers

At this point the Hessian reinforcement column under Von Breymann arrived and advanced down the track to face the New Hampshire Brigade and the victorious Massachusetts militia at the farm.

The reminder of the Massachusetts Brigade moved against the redoubt . The leading unit was hit by 5 shots out of 5 from the Jaegers, Canadians and Indians and broke. The remaining militia unit boldly charged the redoubt unsupported and broke in the close combat with it’s Canadian defenders.

Hessian Reinforcement column arrives

The game ended at this point which I would classify as a draw. Amazingly good and bad dice rolling was a feature of the game from all the players.

End of game situation on the British right

Rule changes

Having played the game I think we agreed that the amended turn sequence suggested by Ian Hopping produced a better feel to the game. It stopped the apparent problem of units making long moves to close to short range and shooting after movement. However the ability to shoot and then decide to charge having seen the results of the shooting gives an advantage to the attacker. We thought this allowed units to better exploit success in a firefight. You can now actually charge a disordered opponent. We will certainly try this amended sequence in future games.

Here is my slightly rewritten version of the altered turn sequence.

Amended Turn Sequence

The sequence given in the rules is modified as follows:

INITIATIVE PHASE

Declare and undertake initiative movement – there is no change to the basic rules for this. All moving units to be marked as having moved this turn. (They cannot move again in Command Phase).

Any units charged may deliver ‘Closing Fire’ at the end of initiative.

FIRING PHASE

Moving player carries out firing as per the rules.

All firing units to be marked as having fired this turn (for modified Command Penalties).

COMMAND PHASE

Give orders and move as per the Command phase of the rules.

There is an additional command penalty:

“-1 if fired this turn”

Any units charged may deliver ‘Closing Fire’ if they have not fired before in this turn.

MELEE PHASE

Conduct Melees as per rules

FURTHER NOTES

If using Brigade Morale because the Fire Phase is now before Command Phase, units that must retire due to being part of a Broken Brigade, now do so during INITIATIVE, not during the Command Phase.

Any unit that fired in the Firing Phase suffers -1 to its command. If it is part of a group of units that have been ordered (i.e. a brigade order) then the entire group suffers the penalty. Note that this is NOT cumulative for each unit that has been fired.

This week's update...a new page...

2011-05-27T23:00:00.000+01:00

I did not get to the SESWC this week so I have added a general page about my Napoleonic wargaming. This will be expanded over the coming weeks.

This weeks game....something out of period!

2011-05-22T13:00:00.000+01:00

This weeks game at the SESWC was a 28mm play test of the Force On Force (FOF) modern warfare rules by Ambush Alley Games published by Osprey.

The game was out with the normal historical scope of my blog as it was a variant of the Vietnam War scenario ‘Of the Birds and the Bees’ from the rulebook. We used the same forces as per the scenario – 6 US fire teams defending a firebase being attacked by initially 5 NVA fire teams who receive reinforcements each turn. The scenario as set out in FOF is to be played on a 2ft by 2ft table – we expanded that to 4ft by 4ft with eventually disastrous results for the NVA. We needed a bigger table as we had 6 members playing the game plus another 3 helping (!) make sense of the rules.

US fire team surprised

The game opens with the NVA automatically having the initiative for the first 3 turns with their objective being to overrun the base and eliminate all the US troops. The NVA quickly knocked out one US fire team and also ransacked the unoccupied US HQ but were held in check by a long continuing firefight with 2 of the other US fire teams. On turn 4 the NVA still held the initiative but the US players where then able to employ the 155mm guns in the firebase firing beehive shells – i.e. canister -directly at the NVA troops. This proved devastating as they hit 5 of the NVA fire teams effectively eliminating 3 of them. The game ended at that point – so the US were not able to deploy their gunship helicopter due on turn 5.

US Firing line - M47 substituting for 155mm Howizter

The first move of the game took over an hour to play as we all tried to understand the rules in particular the key action – reaction mechanism of the rules but the subsequent 3 moves were played in approx 20 minutes each. The game and the rules were enough of a success that I think we will be trying the rules again.

A fuller review of the rules will be published on Angus Konstam’s Edinburgh Wargames blog.

http://www.edinburghwargames.com/Journal%2058.htm

Notes on Beehive rounds Beehive is an anti-personnel round fired from an artillery gun. The round is packed with metal flechettes which are ejected from the shell during flight by a mechanical time fuze. It is so called because of the 'buzzing' sound the darts make when flying through the air. It is intended for use in direct fire against enemy troops.
The first round actually termed "beehive" was first fired in combat in 1966 and was thereafter used extensively in the Vietnam War, though the later development of the Killer Junior air burst technique provided an alternative to beehive in some situations. The primary beehive round for this purpose was the M546 anti-personnel tracer (APERS-T) shell which projected 8000 flechettes and was direct fired from a near horizontally levelled 105 mm howitzer. Beehive rounds were also created for 155mm Howitzers, recoilless anti-tank weapons including 90 mm, 106 mm, Ontoses and M48 tanks.
Beehive rounds were extensively used in the Vietnam War, for defence of firebase perimeters against massed enemy attacks, and because it could penetrate the thick canopy of the jungle and "pad" it out.

Latest game and more additions....

2011-05-17T22:32:00.025+01:00

Last week’s game that I played at the SESWC on Thursday evening was a 1/1200 naval game set about 1908. Our resident naval expert Angus Konstam devised the scenario. I commanded the Russian naval squadron and all was going well until both my battleships, the Tsesarevich and the Slava, blew up in a single turn due to suffering direct magazine hits from HMS Venerable. My most powerful ship the Slava was very unfortunate as it was the first hit that she had suffered.

Disaster strikes the Russian squadron

A full report is on Angus’ website:

http://www.edinburghwargames.com/Journal%2058.htm

As I said before I have 2 main projects at the moment - continuing to add units to my AWI collection and building up my Russian and French forces for the 200th Anniversary of the battle of Borodino in 2012. Here are this months additions -

First is a new unit of militia that I have added to my Patriot forces for the AWI. I bought these 16 painted Front Rank figures on eBay and I have matt varnished them and rebased them to match my other units. The MDF bases are from Warbases and the Silflor tufts were supplied by Mutineer Miniatures.

Secondly here is the latest force to be added to my Russian Army. A Brigade of Mounted Jaegers consisting of 2 units of 16 Mounted Jaegers - representing the 1^st Arsamas Regiment and the 4^th Nezhinsk regiment. Yes I know that Mounted Jaegers were only added to the Russian Army in 1813 - but they look good.

The figures are by Foundry and were painted by the team at Reinforcements by Post. They were based by myself - the MDF bases are from Warbases and the Silflor tufts were supplied by Mutineer Miniatures.

1st Arsamas Regiment

4th Nezhinsk Regiment

New Foundry early Russian command

The Battle of El Burrito, 22nd July 1812......

2011-05-11T22:13:00.001+01:00

This 28mm Peninsula War game was played at the SESWC club night the day before our big refight of Polotsk. The scenario was devised by John Glass. It was a hypothetical alternative action – The Battle of El Burrito, 22nd July 1812 - based on the Battle of Salamanca. John’s very thorough briefing note is given at the end of this article.

John Perkin supplied the British forces with John Glass supplying their Spanish allies. I supplied the French forces. Dave Cooper took the French overall command with myself supporting him.

John Perkin's British painted by PioneerPainting

The game involved the French division of General Foy crossing a river and whilst partly across realising that they faced a superior Anglo-Spanish force on the far bank with a further British force coming up pursuing them. Total forces involved were 3 British infantry brigades, 2 Spanish infantry brigades, and 2 British cavalry brigades against the French with 3 infantry brigades and 2 cavalry brigades.

French infantry in the bridgehead

The French side decided to push forward to break thru the British facing them whilst one of their brigades secured the flanking village of La Pocilga .

There were 2 highlights of the game. Firstly the complete failure of my newly based French Line Lancer brigade who acting as vanguard of the French attack were swept from the field by John Perkins’ British Dragoons. Secondly the defence of the village of La Pocilga by John Glass’ Spanish battalion that broke 3 of the 4 battalions of the French brigade who tried to storm the village.

Lancer brigade advancing to disaster

Another attack goes in on La Pocilga

Given these failures and the approaching British pursuit the French side called it a day and ordered their troops to disperse to avoid capture.

Lessons from the game:
Capturing built up areas in Black Powder can be very difficult so limit the number of areas assigned that status
Remember that in Black Powder infantry do support cavalry in HtoH actions

Spanish guerillas sniping at the French attack columns

The Player Briefing - The Battle of El Burrito, 22nd July 1812

Following the capture by the British and Portuguese of Badajoz and Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellington marches his army into Spain. Marshal Marmont’s “Army of Portugal” lies across his path between Toros and Tordesillas, to the east of Salamanca. The armies are of much the same size. Marmont, under pressure from Joseph Napoleon, is set to attack Wellington.

On 15th July Marmont starts his offensive against Wellington’s right. Wellington, caught off guard, falls back on Salamanca. On 16th July Wellington intercepts a letter from Joseph to Marmont stating that he will be marching to join Marmont with 13,000 men. Cafferelli, another French general, with a force of cavalry and guns, is also due to join Marmont.

The two opposing armies march on Salamanca, crossing the River Tormes on 21st July. Wellington is resolved to avoid any action other than under the most advantageous of circumstances. Marmont is anxious not to engage in full battle, but is constrained to fight ‘some sort’ of engagement.

On 22nd July Marmont thinks he has the right opportunity. Dust clouds beyond the hills to the south of Salamanca suggest that Wellington is retreating. British troops can be seen in the hills opposite the French positions: Marmont assumes this is a rearguard.

Marmont sees his opportunity: he can engage a small force and achieve success, thereby satisfying the demands of his commander, King Joseph.

Although Wellington has sent his heavy baggage on the road to Ciudad Rodrigo, not a rear guard but his entire army still lies concealed in the hills before the French.

French troops advance and fighting commences around the chapel of Nostra Señora de la Peña. Assuming that two divisions is all he faces, Marmont resolves to engage these troops while his army marches off to the left and comes in behind the British, cutting them off from the rest of Wellington’s army, which he takes to be retreating in the distant dust clouds.

Marmont now compounds his mistake: he sends Foy with a reinforced infantry division, plus a cavalry division, back north to cross the Rio Algabete to outflank the British left, with further orders to assault Salamanca itself.

During the course of the day, Wellington moves his hidden divisions into positions facing south. By 2pm Wellington has spotted the nature of Marmont’s moves around his flanks. The French divisions are marching along the Allied front, dangerously strung out and exposing their flanks.

A messenger from Francisco Espoz y Mina, a Guerrilla leader based in the nearby pueblo of La Pocilga, arrives in Wellington’s camp and informs him of Foy’s movements. Wellington is quick to react and sends an under-strength Spanish and British infantry division and a cavalry division ‘pruned’ from his army to intercept him.

With half his troops over the Algabete, Foy receives a dispatch: the battle to the south is not going well, and there are British troops pursuing him: he soon realises he’s caught in a trap.

Late in the afternoon the two forces clash under the walls of the pueblos of La Pocilga and El Burrito …

Carronade Falkirk show SESWC display - GCH......

2011-05-07T23:37:00.000+01:00

The SESWC for its demonstartion game at Carronade put on my game of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse 1781.

Grenadiers stopped short of fence by militia firepower

We used the Ob and troop ratings set out in my GCH page.

Link to Flickr photoset of the game
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157626669295674

The British in this refight were actually less successful than in the games played at my house. They still had not broken thru the American 1st line when we finished the display. Good militia shooting, poor British shooting and great American morale throws were the main factor...

It was a good game - and a good looking demonstration. My thanks to Colin Jack, Hugh Wilson, Dave Pearson and Dave O'Brien for providing scenery and backup material, moving the troops and to everyone that showed an interest and took so many photos. I spent a lot of the day speaking to so many enthusiasts about the battle, game, scenery, rules and figures.

Carronade was a good show wth lots of displays and traders - well worth attending. I stocked on Silflor tufts. Our next show where we are putting on a display will be Partizan at the end of May..

Big Napoleonic Game....1st Battle of Polotsk 1812

2011-05-01T01:42:00.007+01:00

　
This weeks big game was held on Friday as a special Escape the Royal Wedding event. It was a 28mm refight of the 1st Battle of Polotsk 16-18 August, 1812 played using Black Powder Rules.

Organising the game
The game was fought at Hugh Wilson’s house on a 14ft by 5ft table that Hugh had built for the game. I provided the scenario and most of the figures. Donald Adamson provided a French Brigade, Ian Carter the Franco-Portuguese skirmisher detachments and Dave O’Brien loaned me his Jaegers to use as the Russian skirmisher detachments. My thanks to Susanne for providing the Russian and French style lunch.
Their were 8 players and I umpired. Hugh Wilson, Ian Carter, Colin Jack and Kevan Gunn were the Russian players. Dave Cooper, Martin Gibson, Donald Adamson and Jimmy Conquer were the French players.
I have added a special Polotsk page which gives more complete information on the game setup, rules used, the player briefings and order of battles.

Setup
The forces were not deployed historically at the start of game. The French army deployed with 3 infantry brigades and a light cavalry brigade on the table with the heavy cavalry brigade and the 3 brigades of Bavarians in reserve of table. The Russians deployed with 5 infantry brigades and their light cavalry brigade on the table with the dragoon brigade and the grenadier brigade in reserve.
With the table effectively split into 2 sections by a stream running across it before the game started the 2 sides had to decide on which flank of their armies their reserves would be committed. The French command decided to commit all their reserves on their right flank whilst holding on their left-centre. The Russian command decided to commit the reserve dragoon brigade on their left and the grenadier brigade in the centre-right making that their main point of attack.
These decisions left the Russian left with 2 infantry brigades and the dragoon brigade facing a French force of 4 infantry brigades and the heavy cavalry brigade. The Russian centre-right with 4 infantry Brigades and a light cavalry brigade facing 2 infantry brigades supported by a light cavalry brigade. Both side committed their reserve heavy guns to their attack sectors.
Link to Flickr photoset of the game
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157626491091197/

How the game played
So both sides had decided to effectively attack on their right flanks.On the French right the Bavarian reserves came onto the table fairly quickly and steadily advanced thru the woods on their right flank. The Russians facing them committed one infantry brigade to facing the Bavarians and their other to facing the French infantry and heavy cavalry. Though heavily outnumbered the Russian infantry seemed to be holding their own partly as the French took a long time to get their artillery into action.
The Russian dragoon brigade eventually arrived on the table and started making a bold advance - however this did not last long. The carabineer regiment of the French heavy cavalry brigade charged a Russian infantry unit which was already engaged with a French column. The Russian infantry broke and the carabineers made a sweeping advance into the dragoon brigades cossack sotna who could not counter charge and broke and in turn the 2 dragoon regiments which were supporting the Cossacks retired! The carabineers then rallied back virtually unscathed.

Carabiniers strike home...

As the Russian infantry were being worn down by the masses of the Franco-Bavarian infantry the cuirassier regiment of the French heavy cavalry brigade decided to emulate the carabineers. The cuirassiers charged one of the Russian dragoon regiments who counter charged but they were forced to retreat. the cuirassiers then made a sweeping advance into a Russian infantry unit who had to stand in line and were ridden down. At the end of the action the Russian left was down to 2 infantry battalions and 2 dragoon regiments, Remarkably they still had all their artillery.

Cuirassiers sweep on - no time to to react...

The Russian command made their effort on their centre-right. In their centre they were held up by some poor command rolls so that their advance was slow to get going. Eventually the 2 brigades they committed wore down the French brigade facing them and by the end of the game their attack columns were threatening the suburbs of Polotsk.
On their right the Russians with 2 infantry brigades and a light cavalry brigade faced a Swiss infantry brigade and a light cavalry brigade. The Swiss held their own for a long time but at the end they were being pressed back into Polotsk. The Russian cavalry on this flank proved as ineffective as their fellows on the left. In turn the hussar regiment and then the cossacks failed to break the skirmishing detachment from the Portuguese Legion. The Russian cavalry commander on 5 successive turns failed to rally any hits from the Hussar regiment. Truly appalling. I blame the Cossack vodka! The Russian heroes on this flank were an infantry regiment who facing a charge by chasseurs a cheval deployed into a disorganised square and for 6 turns always disorganised withstood the chasseurs and then a Swiss column before breaking.
It was agreed at the end of the game that the Franco-Bavarian success on their right flank more than negated the Russian success in the centre-right and the result was determined to be at least a French winning draw.

Hussars engaged with the plucky skirmishers

This week - WWII action

2011-04-22T17:41:00.002+01:00

This weeks game that I played at the SESWC on Thursday evening was a 20mm World War II action using the Rapidfire rules.

Recce troops sweeping forward

Colin Jack and I provided the troops. Colin devised the scenario - a fictional action set in the early days of Operation White. A motorised German force advancing to cut the Polish corridor having to take a small Polish town. The German force consisted of an advance guard of a motorcycle battalion supported by 2 companies of armoured cars and a main body of a tank battalion with a motorised infantry battalion. The Polish defenders had an infantry battalion, 2 squadrons of cavalry, armoured support comprised a company of TKS tankettes and a company of 7TP tanks.

In the game Hugh Wilson and I commanded the attacking Germans whilst Colin Jack and Dave Pearson commanded the Polish defenders.The German objective was to clear the town and cut the Polish corridor.

The surprisingly resilient Polsi tankettes

The Germans attacked with their MC troops advancing straight down the road to the town led by their armoured cars. They gained an early success driving the Polish tankettes from their flanking position. Unfortunately the armoured cars then suffered return hits from the Polish defenders and both units retired to cover.

PZIIs and MC troops move to outflank the defences

The German then developed an armoured attack with a company of Panzer IIs and a company of PZ 38Ts. They engaged the 7TPs with a marked lack of success the Panzer II unit routing after 2 vehicles suffered heavy damage and the PZ 38Ts also failed their morale and retired to cover. A surprise charge by the Polish cavalry on a deployed AT gun was beaten off - another rare German success.

PZ 38Ts advance past burning armoured cars

To add to their misery the German column then came under air attack from a Polish reconnaissance aircaft. Due to logistical problems the Luftwaffe did not put in an appearance. A company of Panzer IVs then drove down the road but also suffered from the Polish fire and retired to cover. With this latest morale failure - the German armour having tested 6 times and failing 5 of the tests - the German players called it a day and withdrew.

Bold Polish air attack on confused German column

This week's game....

2011-04-15T23:13:00.002+01:00

This weeks game that I played at the SESWC on Thursday evening was a 20mm Spanish Civil War action using Chris Peers Contemptible Little Armies rules. Apologies as I forgot to take my camera to the game.

Colin Jack and I provided the troops. I devised the scenario based on an action at the Somosierra Pass in the Sierra de Guadarrama on July 25, 1936. To spice up the game I added some more equipment to the forces giving the Nationalists armoured cars and the Republicans supporting FT17 tanks.

This important pass to the north of Madrid had changed hands several times already in the first days of the civil war. On July 21st, Republican troops had retaken the pass in a wild charge, throwing back a Nationalist counterattack with heavy losses. Frustrated in his attempt to capture Guadalajara, the Nationalist Colonel Garcia-Escámez was rerouted to the pass and ordered to lead his regular army troops, bolstered by Navarese Carlist Requetés and Falange volunteers to retake it from the Republic. If the pass could be taken, the stalemate at the pass of Alto de León would be broken and Madrid might fall.

In the game Hugh Wilson and Dave Cooper commanded the attacking Nationalists (rebels) whilst Colin Jack and I commanded the troops of the Republic (loyalists). The Nationalist objective was to clear the pass.

Anarchist poster

The Nationalists attacked with their regulars advancing in the centre supported by the armoured cars, their best troops the Carlists advancing on the right wing supported by the artillery battery moving onto the heights and the Falangists assaulting the major heights facing them on the right. The Republicans deployed with 4 companies in the front line supported closely by Mgs and their one artillery piece.

The Carlist attack faltered very quickly under effective mg fire but they managed to get the artillery battery into action on the heights were it inflicted heavy casualties on the militia facing them.

In the centre the Nationalist regulars became bogged own in a fight with the 5^th Regt company holding a village. Even the republican airforce put in an appearance by straffing the regulars. Their supporting armoured cars advanced beyond the village but were quickly despatched by the republican FT17s which had crawled into the fight.

FT-17s in the SCW including without unditching tail

Only on their right did the Nationalists break through. There the Falangists scaled the heights
destroying the 5^th Regt company guarding them and then swept on outflanking and overrunning the Republican artillery and Mg on the heights.

That success probably made the game a draw as everywhere else the Nationalists had suffered sufficient losses that we could bring on an additional 3 companies of reserves by recycling their casualties. Fun game with lots of moves but I think the game showed that we need to tailor the rules more for the SCW by adding some specific SCW factors into the morale system e.g. the morale effect on militia of being under artillery fire.

Republican poster

The order of battle is given belowNationalist Forces:Elements of the 6^th División comprising:
Regular battalion of the 12^th Brigada Montaña
3 coys of 16 figures
MMG & 3 crew

Battalion of Regimiento de América (Carlist Requetés) FEROCIOUS
2 coys of 16 figures
MG coy: MMG & 3 crew

Falangists battalion (POOR)
2 coys of 16 figures

Art Btn: 2 75mm FG ea 4 crew and limber
Armoured support: 2 armoured cars

Republican forces:Battalion of 5^th Regiment
3 coys of 16 figures
MMG & 3 crew

Milicianos de Madrid (POOR)
6 coys of 18 figures
MMG & 3 crewSupport
artillery coy: 75mm FG
armour: 3 FT-17 Mg armed
air cover : chance of a D501 fighter.

Footnote

The Somosierra Pass was also the scene of a battle in November 1808 in the Peninsular War, when a French army under Napoleon I forced a passage through the Sierra de Guadarrama shielding Madrid. It is famous for the charge of the Polish Light Horse against the Spanish artillery batteries.

This week.....something different

2011-04-08T22:23:00.001+01:00

This week’s game at the SESWC was something different. Pirates!

The game was a follow up to last week at the club which I missed being on holiday in Spain Colin Jack provided the models and we used Angus Konstam’s sea mat on the table. The rules were the Legends of the High Seas by Tim Kulinski and Rick Priestley.

Closing on the island with fearsome crew

Dave Cooper and I played the rescue the prisoner scenario. My band of 13 pirates – 3 male heroes leading 10 female pirates – had to rescue a prisoner from Dave’s huge band of 19 pirates. Luckily Dave was forced to split his band in 2 locations with the prisoner hidden at one of them. My band sailed to the central island and landed unopposed by Dave’s 9 pirates. We then engaged in a desperate swordfight were I cut down 8 of Dave’s crew – the survivor swimming to the village on the next island under a hail of pistol shots. I found to my chagrin that the prisoner on the island was a decoy and sailed in pursuit to the village. As I came close the boat came under heavy musket and pistol fire from the village. After several exchanges and some lucky dicing I dealt with 2 of the ambushers and Dave’s band broke and fled…the true prisoner was rescued. I had lost 6 of my band including my mate and an unsung hero. My captain was left commanding a crew of 6 women.

Olivier's Xebec at anchor

On the other half of the table Colin Jack and Olivier Lepreux played out the steal a ship scenario. A lack of muskets forced Colin’s cutting out party to storm the ship along a narrow wharf defended by Olivier with muskets, blunderbuss and pistols. It proved a disaster for Colin who lost in a very one sided struggle….

I am not convinced that the rules which are derived from the Legends of the West gun fighting rules really work for Pirates who are largely hand to hand fighters. But I enjoyed the game.

Next week - 20mm SCW - still working on the scenario...