Monday Night

The Bosch overran some Tommies defending a village somewhere in Flanders on Monday.
Mark & I pooled our Germans and found John and his tommies putting up a stout resitance in the village.
One company of Tommies in particular had bullets and shrapnel flying around them and yet finding themselves unscathed - at one point they received sixteen hits in one turn for the loss of just two men.
I had the right flank and was faced with crossing a lot of open ground, wire entanglements and shell holes before reaching the village. The british had a field gun firing over the lead companies into the reserves before a concealed vickers opened up and halted the forward companies in their tracks. The second wave pushed through and eventually overran the outer building and field gun but stalled against the second building. It was only when Mark's Strumtruppen advanced down the main street and threatened to cut off the British line of retreat that the tommies evacuated the village and left it in German hands, no doubt with a pre-arranged artillery barrage waiting to come down on the victors.
My figures are all Great war miniatures, Marks are Renegade as are John's British I believe.

Also on monday night Andy & Steve put on a naval game from the Dutch Wars. As we've come to expect from these two gentlemen the models involved are spectacular. click on the images for close ups you won't be disappointed.

Robin Hood

The BBC series returns for it's third outing and the verict based on the first episode?
Switch it off.
I've got past the use of the compound bow rather than the longbow. I've got past the SM gear worn by the baddie.
What I can't get past is the continued bowing down to political correctness. We have to have a coloured actor so let's make it a position of power and command to let people know how we respect those of non-white origin. Except that in the medieval period where religion had a controlling influence all the black people were of a heretical religion. They were fighting against Christ not for him. This distortion can only influence children on how they interpret history and not make it clear how far we have come from those days of bigotry and intolerance.
If anyone can give me a black man of power and note in England during the reign of Good King Richard please feel free to correct me.

Plus the latest episode has some of the worse continuity editing I've ever seen. For example Robin throws down his weapons and challenges Guy. Only the next time you see him his quiver is on his back and then later his bow and sword turn up with him.
But the worst was the eclipse. The moon eclipses the sun and causes the dramatic highlight for the episode. Except that when Robin appears with the sun behind him for his rousing speech, the moon is quite clearly seen in another quarter of the sky and then only half of it is there.

Enough is enough.

Painting for March

A very busy month.
So the Swedes are all done with another 43 finished. Okay I have six more to pick up at Triples but all the figures I bought last year are complete.
I also completed my 15mm Austrian Dragoons. They've been a squadron apiece understrength for a long time now so that's another 18 figures. I also took the opportunity to repaint the headgear, faces and shabraques of all the other squadrons and rebase the entire brigade to my new and preferred format. So for the Austrians I'm claiming 36 points for the newly raised squadrons and 90 points for the rest.
At the same time and as a diversion I painted a Mongol naccara drummer from Ebob. No reason other than it's a lovely sculpt.

So points for the month - 169
Points for the year so far - 294.

The Rise of the French

The army of Louis XIV took the field against the combined forces of the Imperial army and Piedmont. Twenty four battalions and forty one squadrons of horse clashed on the table with victory going to the French.
Both of the armies massed their horse on either wing, the Maison du Roi being on the left with the four regiments of French horse on the right facing the best of the enemy horse. In the center it was an all infantry affair.
The French plan was to attack with both wings of horse and pin the enemy back whilst grinding them down with the foot and artillery.
The intial artillery salvoes were less than inspiring but the French gunners began to find their mark although the effect was unremarkable.
The right wing of French horse faired well with a mixed bag of results. Initially routing the enemy dragoons and causing a number of casualties on the other regiments, before breaking off to recover. On the left the Maison du Roi rode over the enemy cuirassers and pursued them to the edge of the field. Here they were bounced by a couple of squadrons of Imperial dragoons before both sides decided to retire and reform. Once they had recovered the Maison du Roi rode into the fray again and destroyed the impertinent enemy. At the same time the French horse had recovered and now rode back into the fray and this time finished the job routing all the enemy horse from the field.
This allowed both flanks to pin the enemy back and allow the foot to take advantage of their now superior numbers.
The French lines had advanced in echelon with the right wing takin the lead.
Led by Germans in French service they engaged the Piedmont lines in a series of bloody fire fights. Eventually the first line of the enemy ran and the battered Germans advanced against the second line whilst the French in the center took on the enemy lines opposite. The first Imperial battalion ran after a single volley but did reform at the rear. The second line wavered but stood firm against the advancing French. The grenadiers faced the new commisioned Baden regiment and found them to be of better material. Standing toe to toe the twol ines exchanged several volleys before the grenadiers were forced to retire, allowing the French guard their chance.
As the French guard advanced the two regiments of dragoons saw their chance and trotted through a gap in the line. Desperately the Austrian commander tried to reform his third line and then as the drgoons charged forward they recovered and stopped the French.
However the damage was done. with both flanks being forced back and their center facing now superior numbers the enemy began to cede the ground before retiring from the field.

So my thanks go to my fellow French commander, an Englishman on any other day, but somehow he manages to roll better dice for me then against me! I should also like to thank the two Andy's for the game, the first time where there have been no English in a large game.

Thinking About the Dark Continent

I've just finished reading a history of the Great war in German East Africa and it's really fuelled the imagination.

Which other conflict could provide you with such variety in a small and limited engagement.
On the allied side there are native regiments raised in British East Africa, Nigerians (who used a machete rather than a bayonet much to the dismay of the German Askari), Indians, South Africans, Rhodesians, the Cape Mounted Rifles, British (the Lancashire Fusiliers) and the marvellous 25th Fusiliers (Frontiersmen). This latter unit was a volunteer force and included big game hunters, American service men, jugglers, acrobats, and millionaires.
Fighting for the Germans there are the native Askari (including one company brandishing the huge Kriegsmarine ensign from the Konigsberg), German infantry, German sailors (in white uniforms from the Konigsberg) and a host of native carriers, women and children tagging along.
With regard to artillery the British used naval guns from the Sudan war, mountain howitzers and standard field artillery (albeit prewar vintage). The germans meanwhile had trench mortars, the guns from the Konigsberg (which they hauled over mountains and through jungle on a regular basis) plus a "dynamite gun" improvised by the local engineers - not very successful but a great idea.
Uniforms are as varied as the troops with both sides wearing the same kit. The German troops frequently captured British supplies and had only two shipments from the Fatherland all through the war.
Add in a Zepplin supply mission sent over Turkey and a few old aircraft dropping bombs by hand. Trains mounting naval guns with cars and trucks converted to use the railway line makes it even more attractive.

The conflict was fought in thick jungle largely unexplored by white men, indeed few of the natives knew the lay of the land during the long march of the Germans. Through plains of grass taller than a man where visibility was a few yards if you were lucky. Across crocodile infested rivers, with a few river crossings defeated by rampaging hippo! Up the slopes of mountains and across ravines so deep that when men fell of the single file track they disappeared from sight. To plantations laid out with European neatness and in towns and villages of European design (one village was built in a Norwegian style of all things).
Camps at night were attacked by lion and leopard. Telephone wires disrupted by giraffes. Marches halted for stampeding elephants.

Fantastic stuff.

Austria defeats France again

Only this time I was commanding the Austrians.
15mm Napoleonic this week for a change. An Austrian division with advance guard of a regiment of uhlans and a grenadier brigade facing two divisions of French, including a brigade of guard.
The terrain favoured an attack through the center with both flanks covered by a series of low ridges and a large wood on my left. So the advance guard took post on the left to refuse that flank and turnback any French aggression. A Hussar brigade protected my right beyond the hills so that the Austrian foot division of eight battalions could attack.
The day started off in typical fashion where the superior numbers of austrian artillery failed to register any damage on the French for a couple of turns. By this time the right hand brigade were closing with the enemy and with no sign of artillery support were nervous. Then it began raining and this seemed to spur the Austrians into action.
the artillery began to find their mark and create gaps in the enemy formations. Just as the infantry closed to action. In a series of close fire melees the Austrians completly overthrew their opponents and created a large gap in the center of the enemy lines.
Whilst this was happening the Austrian Uhlans had tried a couple of futile charges against the two infantry brigades threatening their position. Both had been unsuccessful in that no enemy had fled but it resulted in the two brigades being pinned into position. allowing the artillery to play over them and weken the enemy. However, the Austrian grenadiers refused to advance to take advantage of this.
Turning to widen the gap the Austrian infantry now attacked the guard and the remaining French on the right. The guard repulsed the initial attack but as more Austrians moved forward the guard eventually broke and fled.
The hussars were done and unable to exploit the rout. The opposing French dragoons and their supporting horse artillery had completely destroyed the hussar brigade without compromising the dragoon brigade to any great extent. This meant that whatever pursuit the Austrians were going to mount would be hampered by the roving French dragoons.
Still it was a complete victory on the field for the Austrians and one to savour.


For those interested about random events, such as the rain showers, we have a series of event cards which are drawn by both players every other turn. These include the ability to reroll morales, increase fire effectiveness, reduce troop capability and of course introduce weather events. some have to be played immediately others can be kept and played when required. All of them have some histroical supporting evidence.
The rain persisted for two turns reducing all firing by one factor and once the rain had stopped artillery could not be man handled for the rest of the game.

Buyer beware

More of a heads up really.

I recently saw on Ebay a seller advertising a CD rom with flags for a variety of conflicts and periods, including the WSS. At a cost of £4 (plus £2 for p&p) and being able to use them over and over again I duly ordered the CD from Oblivion Wargame Services.

However, when I opened the files I found them to be nothing new and even worse they appear to be exactly the same as those freely availble on Warflag. Indeed the seller hasn't changed the fonts on the names or reaized them to a uniform standard. They appear to have lifted straight from said website.

I have sent an email to the seller because the name on the CD does not match the seller.

Eureka Saxon

I was given this sample figure by a fellow Grimsby gamer who collects 15mm SYW.
Painted as per the illustration in the Blandford "Uniforms of the Seven Years War" ( a standard reference work for us all I suspect).
Overall the figure was a pleasure to paint. No flash, no visible mould lines and little clutter to get in the way. Size wise it's smaller than Front Rank but comparable with Foundry and others. If I was to start the SYW then eureka would certainly be well worth considering.

Monday Night was Malburian Night

Once again the army of the Sun King took the field on Monday against the English. Just a small game with only 1,000 figures or so on the table.
The French fielded eleven battalions with twenty seven squadrons of horse whilst the English had nine battalions and fifteen squadrons. Both armies faced each other across a flood plain bordered by two rivers with rising ground to the north.

Initially refusing my left flank except for the two regiments of dragoons who advanced to try and slow down the advancing enemy infantry, the French attack focused on the right wing. Here seven battalions advanced to take the enemy. The German and French infantry parted slightly in order to allow the massed Bavarian Kuirsssiers to tackle the enemy horse opposite. In a series of bloody melees the Bavarians held their own before being overwhelmed and driven from the field by the superior numbers of the enemy.
At the same time the Germans were taking a beating from the Hanovarian line and the field gun on the high ground. Eventually they too fled the field and disrupted the French advance. Nearer the centre the French regiments were having a better time. de la Marine eventually broke the English line facing them and advanced into a withering hail of fire from the English second line. Bretagne bravely took on the enemy dragoons who had secured the fortified farm but to no effect ultimately.
The Bavarian lines watched the English foot guards and their support advance almost unmolested across the entire field. They waited for the massed French horse to charge and prevent them from closing. Cosse Brissac leading, the column set off and closed with the guards. Even though the enemy fired too early the effect was too much for the French horse who reined in and refused to close to contact. Retiring from the front line they returned to their original position. here they were met by a newly appointed French noble who hoped to lead them to glory and gain favour with the King.
Giving a rousing speech on the glories awaiting them he turned in his saddle and cried forward. Looking behind him he saw the massed French horse sitting still in their saddles unwilling to face the guards again.
This left the smaller Bavarian line to hold the enemy and despite inflicting heavy casualties on the guards they could not prevent being overrun.
fortunately the light was failing and niether side had gained an advantage anywhere on the field. both sides had lost their first lines but had the second line intact. Both sides had lost most of their horse and could not make the advantage of numbers on either flank tell. As such the commanders agreed to fall back and retire from the field.

The game was unusual in that the French continued to inflict heavy casualties but could not break the enemy. the English in turn had a similar lack of success with me rolling some spectacularly high morale results - until it came to the horse of course where having rolled 11's & 12's suddenly rolled a total of 3 & then 3 again!
One does wonder what would have happened had the horse charged home. But then again that is the point of playing the game isn't it? Pitting yourself against an opponent and trying to win the game by using troops in an historical manner without having to resort to using the rules to win.

Another good game played in a friendly atmosphere and light hearted manner.

A Monster of the Midway passes away

George McAfee, one of the greatest Bears player of all time, has passed away aged 90.
A hall of famer and with his no. 5 shirt retired, George played offense as running back, defense in the secondary and a return specialist for both punts and kick offs. Joining the Bears in 1940 he played eight seasons with them, including three championships, and help create the name of the "Monsters of the Midway". In 1941 he established a league high 12 touchdowns rushing, receiving, interceptions and returns. All this depsite interrupting his career to join the navy during the Second World War.
He still holds the NFL all time punt return rceord with a 12.78 average.
He is survived by two daughters, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A Bears legend immortal.

Battle for "Le Moulin Gris" In The Grand Manner

It's been along time since my 1809 French took the field but monday saw them battling against the Austrians across a fairly featureless field.
The French consisted of two infantry brigades with supporting artillery and volitgeurs and an attached Chasseur brigade and horse artillery. Facing them were two Austrian brigades with an accompanying brigade of dragoons and hussars.
With the windmill in the center of the table it seemed the most likely objective and was quickly occupied by two companies of French volitigeurs with a supporting battalion waiting in reserve. This was my first mistake - the rules (and here we're talking the second edition of In The Grand Manner) don't allow for skirmishers to occupy and hold villages. So as four battalions of austrians rushed the village the French left and the supporting infantry pushed in. This effectively denied me the defensive value of the buildings. So despite me pouring in my reserves and tying down an entire brigade of French the village was lost and the French routed.
Meanwhile on my left my chasseurs valiantly held on against the superior numbers of Austrian horse. The artillery played on them all night causing some damage, and on a couple of occasions forcing the Austrian horse back.
On my right it was a different story.
Having placed a medium artillery battery adjacent to the village in order to support the infantry inside, it did mean that it made it difficult to support the village from this flank with infantry. thus the second brigade was forced to attack the refused flank of the Austrians in an attempt to draw some of the center away. However, walking into a battery is difficult, and when that battery is covered by two lines of stationary foot the task is almost impossible. Still the French did force one of the two lines back before the attack stalled and then quickly turned into a foot race to the rear.
In the center by this time the French had rallied and once again chargedinto the village. this time the Austrians were removed from ther position. however, having gained possesion it was clear to the French brigade commander that it was going to be impossible to hold. His three battered battalions, one at just over half strength the others at two thirds, faced three almost fresh Austrians and with the numbers on the side of the Austrians decided to withdraw.

A good and throughly enjoyable game. I like ITGM for this size of figure and whilst it may involve a bit of numbercrunching working out figures involved, I find that it generally flows very well. We try and maintain some structure to the game- thus infantry are organised in brigades with supports and we generally don't allow single squadrons of horse to be dotted around the field.
All the Austrians were Hinchliffe figures, painted by the talented Steve Mercer and belong to Mark Alcock. The French are from elite with the following exceptions - the gun models, limbers and caissons are from Bicorne, the shako clad voltigeurs are from foundry and the medium artillery gun crews from Dixons Napoleon in Egypt range.
In both cases the figures have been in our collections for over twenty years.