As part of our on-going campaign,Brian and I fought our second battle,situated around the town of Tamai. I set my troops up first and allowed Brian to see me in all my glory,he then set up his troops(Egyptian and British) and away we went!!
This is a rough sketch of the initial positions,we were just about to start the game,when our old mate,Charlie Wesencraft,"popped in" to watch.
Here's Charlie weighing up the chances of the Anglo-Egyptians against the masses of Haddendowah and Dervish infantry,Camels and cavalry!!
My first wave is beginning to advance,Charlie looks pleased,Brian looks sick,why? well it had something to do with his gatling gun jamming!!!
Brian has got over his sickness,and looks rather pleased with the way things are going-his fire-power was taking a dreadful toll on my first line,and has stopped my right flank attack,however my Haddendowah are undeterred and are keeping up a steady pace towards the British lines-hurrah!!
Is Brian looking for more troops in the town?-he's going to need them!!-My far left flank,consisting of rifles and a gun battery,has been wiped out,and Brian could now win the game if his right flank troops(camels and rifles) can swing round and take me in the flank-it's all about timing you know!!
This shot shows my central units advancing to contact,I was fairly lucky here,because Brian had placed an Egyptian unit in among his British,and these gave way,leaving a gaping hole for me to pour through-hurrah!!
My second line is advancing to take advantage of the disaray in the British lines,with Brian's centre in all kinds of trouble,it looked like the end for the Anglo/Brits!!-double hurrah!!
The final shot-Haddendowah victorious!!-So that's one game each,Brian has to loose a unit-he'll probably choose an Egyptian one I guess!
This was a great game-very tense,colourful and exciting.We'll be playing tonight,probably an Ancients game,vs Paul.
We attended Carronade this year,as a club (Michael,Dave,Paul,Brian and I),and,as last year spent the whole weekend up in Falkirk,and an absolutely splendid time was had by all!!
The show itself was a packed and full house,consisting of a whole array of traders and games-the traders i talked to were all doing well,and the gamers seemed to be enjoying themselves too-what more could you want from a show? I was impressed with the toilet facilities,and the catering,the halls were well indicated,and all Falkirk club members were helpful and willing to talk to us.
Our game was a Napoleonic game,with alot of the figures supplied by Michael,and alot of the French from Dave too.The game itself attracted alot of attention,and although we played the game to its conclusion,we seemed to spend alot of time talking and explaining our simple but effective rules to all concerened-Congratulations to Kenny and all his "crew" for a pleasant show-roll on next year!!
This is Saturday morning,and we're just setting up the figures(we had set up the terrain on Friday afternoon)-The attacking French are on the left,commanded by Dave and Paul,whilst on the right Michael and Brian commanded a combined British and Portuguese force.
The battle is in full swing in this shot-however,where is everybody???
One of the highlights of Michael's day was getting C.S. Grant to sign a few books that he had bought-C.S.(as we call him,'cos he's our new "bessie mate") came over to our table and marvelled at the "artillery bounce stick" that we use-it was his father that invented it you know!!-he proved a good sport,and chatted about modern rules being too complicated etc.and of course we couldn't agree more!!-Hurrah!!
This photo shows Brian's flank under all kinds of trouble towards the end of the game,however it must be pointed out,that,on the Friday, night a beer-fuelled discussion took place involving us all,about how many shots both Brian's and Michael's Rocket batteries could have!! This went on for a long time,and we eventually decided on 4 shots per battery-HOWEVER,on the day,both rocket batteries blew up on the first shot,due to two horrendous dice throws!!-Hurrah again!!!
This is the final shot of the game,with Michael falling back and both Dave and Paul advancing in grand style,to capture the town and drive the Allies away-hurrah,hurrah!!
This was,as usual,an exciting game,and all parties played well,and enjoyed the whole thing-well done lads!!
Brian and I will be playing on Thursday-a campaign game-Sudanese against British.
Last night we had,almost a full house,and a great game,pitting British and Portuguese against French,and for a change the French were defending a ridge and farmhouse,whilst the Allies attacked.
The "usual suspects" line up for a "crime watch photo-shoot"-Dave,Brian and I were the French commanders and Michael,Paul and Graham were the Allies-Michael had "popped" down from Aberdeen to have a game,and to finalise the details for next weekend's Falkirk game and trip,now that shows keenness!!
The first real action of the game-Dave has charged his light cavalry brigade down the hill into Graham's light cavalry-unfortunately Dave's cavalry had been weakened by a very lucky shot from Graham's Rocket battery(before it spectacularly blew up!!) and he was beaten in the ensuing melee,and forced to retire-a portent of what was to become??
Michael's Portugueses troops are giving my Guard a hard time in this shot-the guard finally gave way,letting Michael take the flank(but not until I had given him a bloody nose!!)-Note the Scot's Greys approaching!!
After some great Artillery shots from Paul,one of Brian's regiments fled the field,letting the "Greys" run riot over his position,however I managed to get a regiment of Dragoons up to stop him,but the rot had set in,and we were all on the back foot!!
Paul is launching his infantry against Brian's centre in this shot,and Graham is threatening his flank with his light cavalry,forcing him into square-war is hell!!
Brian has counter attacked here,slowing Graham down a bit(but not much!!) Dave has attacked Paul's infantry with his remaining cavalry,cutting up one regiment and forcing the other into square-hurrah!!-Graham looks glum!!
A combination of Paul and Michael's troops have completely shattered my flank,and they are moving against Brian's troops now-all is lost!!
A final shot as the sun sets on Napoleon's Empire-however,as Dave said "I still have possession of my position!!"-well as long as you're safe in your little farmhouse!!
This was a good game,we all played our parts well,and no one was disgraced(!!!!!) it was good to see Michael,and we will be seeing him again next weekend at Falkirk.
Last night Paul,Brian and I had a "Gee Whiz,Aw Shucks" kinda A.C.W. game...........
The top photo shows the scenario,the bottom photo shows the troop positions before the game started,Paul was in charge of the Confederate troops,whilst Brian and I split the Union command,Brian taking the right,and me taking the left.
My left hand column marched towards the trees,and was audaciously attacked by Paul's troops defending that flank-this resulted in a tremendous tussle,which I eventually won,but not before I had been given a bloody nose for my efforts!!
Brian's column has reached the alligator-infested swamp,and he has decided to reinforce the column with two brigades of infantry!!-This move not only deprived his main attack on Paul's centre,of half the designated troops,but it subjected the troops moving into the swamp to half movement,and attacks from alligators,mosquitoes and leeches!!-I asked Brian for a full report of all the flora and fauna he found in the swamp,and he told me (splutter,splutter!!) to go and do something physically impossible involving my head and my arse!!-This was just too much,so I hastily convened a Courts Martial,found him guilty,and shot him!!
This is the spot where I threw his body!!
Brian's column is slowly moving through the swamp,and Paul has positioned his cavalry to give him a "hot reception" when he moves over the bridge!-This was not looking too good-the "swamp people" can just be seen entering the mess in the immediate foreground.
This shows Brian's ill-fated attack on the "Reb" centre-he is being beset by three brigades and a gun battery,and the result was inevitable-his troops ran away-oh for another two brigades to back them up!!
This gives a good overall view of the table,with my left hand troops driving the Confederates away from the woods,and Brian's troops battling hard on the far right and centre.Brian managed to win the cavalry melee,and was pouring troops into the fray which was developing on that flank-Paul was sending his infantry over there to stem the Union advance,which gave me the chance to attack the Mill area.
My Zouaves, supported by an under strength brigade,are attacking the Mill,Paul defended this area well,and although I managed to drive him away from the wall,I was so shot to bits,that I had to retire back to the trees!!-War is Hell!!-At least my "flanking" troops are making headway on the left, and driving Paul's infantry and cavalry back behind the Mill.
Brian has eventually extricated himself from the swamp! and is putting Paul's centre under tremendous pressure-this really was the beginning of the end for the Confederates-they were being squeezed from both flanks,and Brian's attack in the centre would eventually prove too much-hurrah!!
This was a great game,played in a great spirit,lots of laughs and banter-surely what the hobby is all about.
Well,on Sunday Michael is coming down from Scotland to see us and have a game,and a chat about the Falkirk game(he is providing most of the figures) which is next weekend,so we'll probably have a full house,minus Richard,who is recovering from an operation on his shoulder-get well soon!!
This morning Brian and I had a good old fashioned A.C.W. "set to",he commanded the Confederate forces defending the town of Kidglove,and I was the attacking Union Forces commander.
The above photo's show the scenario and initial figure positions-Brian was in a good defensive position,but when we threw dice for the status of our troops,he got quite a lot of "raw" types,which should have given me an advantage-but,as usual, this was not to be!!
This is my left flank attacking,veteran brigades,who had been ordered to storm and capture Brian's right flank,consisting of a wooded hill and walled area.
My initial attack has been successful and I have captured the wooded hill,and driven Brian's gun battery away-hurrah!! However my attack on the wall section did not go as planned,and two brigades were beaten back by the "Rebs"-In the centre I have launched two brigades against the Hedges,being stoutly defended by a lone brigade,who were eventually beaten back,but Brian had wisely backed them up with a supporting brigade,who "ejected" me unceremoniously from the position!!
On my right flank,I have ordered the two brigades,supported by cavalry and a gun battery,to advance and drive the Confederate troops out of the woods-this would have been a good move,but my troops were "raw" and Brian's weren't!!-result inevitable!!-I was driven back,and flank lost!!!!
However in the centre and left my troops were rallying,and another assault was about to go in.
My cavalry are charging Brian's guns in this shot,they were successful and destroyed the battery-another hurrah!! On the far left my remaining troops are being devastated by a combined two brigade attack,they too had to retire!!
The defeat of my right flank put the whole of my line in jeopardy,and although I was putting up a good fight elsewhere,Brian and his Confederates were declared the winners,of this close run thing.
This was an interesting battle,for two reasons,first this was a period which we don't fight that often,second,using 15mm figures(all from Warrior miniatures A.C.W. range) was strange compared with 25mm. figs-however the whole game was great-we'll probably play this tonight when Paul comes along.
I will blog tonight's game along with an update of what we are all doing in the club tomorrow morning.
This morning,Brian,Allan and I had an absolutely thrilling Ancients game,of Spanish vs Romans.
Allan and I commanded the Romans and Brian commanded the Spanish.
This is the scenario and basic troop dispositions,the marsh areas halved movement and caused disorder to any troops venturing into them.
This is the board before any movement,we had catapults,and decided to knock the walls of the barrier down before the Romans attacked "en testudo" We had also decided to reinforce both flanks with cohorts from the Roman second line to give us a bit of "clout"
Allan's attack is under way,and the catapults are doing their job-it must be pointed out at this stage,my artillerymen made a grave error of judgement and happened to hit one of the testodos!!
They have now been crucified!
You can see in the background,Allan's troops moving forward to the marsh,with two cohorts in close support-as it happens,they were needed badly,as Brian's troops made a damned good show of it in this sector!!
My left flank auxilliaries are moving to attack Brian's Spanish,and I am just about to instigate a cavalry melee,behind the "mountain"-Brian was very strong on this flank,and he used his skirmish troops(mounted in the tower) to good effect,hitting the flank of my leading cohorts,causing them to take casualties and stopping them from moving forward on morale!!
Despite being "clattered" by their own catapults(!!) the cohorts have reached the walls and in the ensuing melees,pushed the defenders back-however Brian had some well-placed heavy infantry to plug the gaps.On both flanks melees were in full swing,and the game was evenly balanced to the point that either side could have won.
This shows my troops making heavy weather of getting through the marsh,however my cavalry have won the melee and are pushing the Spanish back-hurrah!!
Allan has broken through in the centre,and is winning on his right flank,if only I can win on my flank,the victory would be complete(if only!!)
Brian's troops are holding their own,and keeping me from victory,however with the centre and left flank gone,Brian had no alternative but to capitulate!!-hurrah again!
This was a great game,played in a good spirit,plenty of laughs,groans and good old fashioned banter-roll on tonight,Paul will be making an appearance,probably commanding the Spanish,whilst Brian and I will command the Romans in a refight of this morning's game!!
Yesterday saw Brian and I having a game in the morning,and Paul,Brian and I having a game at night-with a "passing" Dave observing!!
The first game was a Roman republican army against Pyrrhus-this proved a formidable game pitting Pila against Pike-not for the faint hearted!!After a good and exciting game,Pyrrhus(Brian) beat the Romans(Me),but the game itself brought up some good questions as how to work out who would have the advantage after the Pila had been thrown,and the long Sarrisa had come into play-this was great stuff,and to me,what wargaming is all about.
At night Paul was in charge of a Carthaginian ambush force (some of them hidden in some woods) trying to stop a column of Roman reinforcements,from reaching an occupied camp-Brian was in charge of the camp,I was in charge of the column.
This shows my column advancing towards the camp,with Paul's Elephants,cavalry and Spanish infantry advancing towards the column!!-surely Brian will leave the comfort of the fortified camp and help me(??!!)
Paul's advance has just begun in this shot,his Numidian cavalry are going to give me hell(he thinks!!)-The central force was the real worry-a good mix of troops-Paul's plan was to get around the front of the column and cut me off from the camp,and if (if only!!) Brian was to come out of the camp to help me(if only!!) he would spring the ambush from the woods in the foreground(the troops in the woods were Gauls and Celts-thousands of 'em!!)
This is my left flank-I have given the Numidian cavalry and Spanish light infantry a "bloody nose" using hit and run tactics,and am now retiring to my main line,however the pesky Numidians kept up a barrage of javelins,and eventually forced me to retire further than I wanted to!!-ie off the board!!
My main line is under attack from Paul's centre troops-the elephants have made contact with my leading troops,and his cavalry(I was outnumbered two to one!) are gradually getting around my flank-oh if only (if only!) Brian would come to help me-he's sitting in the bloody camp with 4 units of Princepes and 4 units of Triarii-HELP!!
Oh look,it's move six and still the camp people are not moving-has the man no shame??-obviously not!!
This is move number 8 or 9,and Brian has been shamed into leaving his camp,and has walked straight into the Ambush!!-It's all over now-I am fighting with last of my troops on my left and in the centre,and Paul has managed to cut me off from the camp-Brian is doing an "eightsome reel" with his troops-infamy,infamy-they've all got it in for me!!!
My left flank is lost,so is my centre-Brian is being cut to pieces,so we decided to ask for a draw-well, shy bairns get nowt!!Paul graciously told us to go and poke our swords up our Togas,and he was declared the winner!
Another good game,frustrating,but good.
Dave and I have been painting figures-
WOW!! this is half the unit he bought at Middlesbrough show,the other half will be completed shortly.
I have been waiting for almost three years(yes three years!!) for Paul to finish his Austrian Seven Years War army,so in frustration,I have decided to paint a Russian army to face my Prussians.
I have decided that I will only very crudely(and for me that's par for the course) paint the figures,without any "embellishments", and that included such incidentals as belts,cartridge boxes,buttons etc. in other words just basic colours to identify them as Russians-green and red!!
The above photo's show one hell of a contrast between Dave's approach to painting and mine.
I have finished a whole brigade(three regiments) and will be starting the second brigade next week.
