Return of the Sri Lanka missing troops

 

 Hot off the press

Newly arrived from Fernando Painting Services of Sri Lanka. Dave and myself send the latest order off pre Covid and they've just returned!

Can't recommend them enough with excellent service. 

Prior to completing any particular unit 

they send back photos to ensure the customer is happy with the colours and their standard of work.

Here are the well parcelled returned figures.

 

Look at the beautiful writing added onto the illustrations for the painters 

Of course the basing started asap.. that's another blog though

 

"Ambush" preview 15mm.

As indicated in my last blog,my next 15mm battle,as part of my Gallic campaign,will be an Ambush situation,so I thought I would post a few photographs of the scenario,terrain and troop deployment -I hope to fight this battle tomorrow,but we'll see!

Top photo is the scenario,bottom is the terrain map,showing where I intended to place the troops.

Top photo shows the Roman troops,the Legion formed up to face the threat,whilst the rest of the troops,Cavalry,Baggage and Auxiliaries are still in column-bottom photo is the detail of the Legion-10 cohorts against 8 warbands!

The column,trudging its weary way forward,not a care in the world-until...................

Oh dear-where did they come from?

I'm really looking forward to this one!

One last photo,taken in my local post office-is that really me peering out from the card stand???

Or is it the dreaded Corona Madness?-keep safe.

New Recruits-15mm.

My 15mm Gallic campaign seems to be getting out of hand!-I decided that one legion c/w auxiliaries and some cavalry was enough to take on my Gallic army-but,of course,being a typical wargamer,I now need(want?) more figures as the Romans wander all over Gaul,and maybe even Germany!!

I ordered another Roman army from Warrior Miniatures(arrived in super quick time,as usual) and loads of Germans from Lancashire games(arrived when Alan said they would!)-Now I already had three "spare" cohorts of Romans,and with a bit of "jiggling" with the command groups,I have managed to make another full Legion,plus 3 units of cavalry and 5 cohorts of Auxiliaries!

New Legion from Warrior-fine looking fellows!

Detail of left and right flanks,showing Aux. infantry and Cavalry.

Top photo is the Legate,in charge of the Legion,bottom photo is the first of many Germans-I am actually looking forward to painting these-the OPC cavalry  are a particularly nice figure(I hope I can do them justice!)

My next battle with my Romans is an "Ambush-type " scenario,but I don't have any waggons to act as baggage! So what to do???-well you know what I'm going to come up with don't you?-Yes I had to make some-very basic,using just some pieces of wood trim,cocktail sticks,matchsticks and some round "shields" plus a few spare 15mm horses that I just happened to have in my "rumble box"

Not too bad!

Well,I now have to go and explain to the cat next door which "TIER" I'm in-or is it the other way round-he'll explain to me!!!!!!

Lift the Gloom with a Legume!

In these times of death, destruction and gloom,it's important not to lose one's sense of humour , so I defy anyone not to laugh/snigger/snort at the following purile ,schoolboy, Esther Rantzan-type photo.

Come on,admit it,you laughed-I nearly wet myself !!-THE WIFE thinks I've finally "flipped"

Keep laughing and keep safe.

Battle of Genabum,15mm campaign.

As part of my 15mm Gallic campaign,the Romans have developed a two-pronged attack on the Carnutes capital,Genabum-Crustinuts is sailing up the Loire,whilst his Spanish Auxiliary commander,Arsolius marches over-land.

These photo's are taken from my "Campaign Diary" which,if published will make me world famous,generate millions of pounds and get me awarded the Booker Prize!!

These photo's show the board before any troops are put on it,and the anticipated moves-the solitary ship represents the fleet!!-the fort is an imposition on the Carnutes(which they hate!!)

Top shows the Aux. troops moving into position,bottom the Legion advancing through the town(which they also burned!

Top shows the "Fort Troops" marching into position-they actually saved the day for the Romans.Bottom photo shows Crustinuts,keeping well out of the way of any action,although in his mind's eye,this is how he sees himself.........................

In the thick of the fighting,leading his troops to victory!!!!!!!

On with the game........................

The warbands from the gap,immediately charged the "Fort Troops",who shot at them on the way in from archers and two ballista,these casualties counted for alot when the melee took place,and the warbands were "sent packing"-hurrah!-just as well,because had they won,their orders were to attack the Aux. in the flank-phew!!

Top photo shows the Legion "ambling" up the hill,with Crustinuts shouting encouragement from the rear!-bottom photo shows the Aux. cavalry and the Gallic cavalry getting stuck in,whilst a slow advance from the infantry continues.

The legion and the aux. charge into contact,however the pila and long spears were negated by the momentum of the Gallic down-hill charge-this is going to be very tight!-The Aux. cavalry are doing well,and eventually drove the Carnutes' cavalry away!!

Top photo shows the Aux. infantry in a right old mess-luckily the cavalry can support them and the "Fort Troops" are on their way to help too! Bottom photo shows the Legion being "roughly handled"(can't touch you for it!) but slowly making progress up the hill (no sign of Crustinuts!)

The Legion has eventually broken the warbands on hill"A" and the Auxiliaries,although still being "hammered" have support on both flanks and the "Fort Troops" are pushing in too(on the far left of the picture)-so both hills taken and another Roman victory-hurrah!

The "SEMONES", under their king HORLIX(The Horrible), came to see the "fun" and possibly to join in if the Carnutes had been successful,now decide to retire(it's good being retired!)-HOWEVER,the Romans have spotted them,and,as another threat to Roman domination,they will be the next target!!!

This was yet another thrilling game,and the future games should be just as good!

 

Third(fourth?) battle,15mm.

Crustinuts has broken with tradition and has marched into the Arverni territory in the middle of winter,hoping to defeat Litelmix,and end the Gallic revolution quickly.

Top photo shows the terrain map,and the moves hoping to be done by the auxiliary troops,who are looking for a bridge that deserters from Litelmix,has informed them of.Bottom photo shows board before any movement.

The battle for the bridge is about to begin!!

Both sides ordered their flank cavalry to engage,supported by infantry,whilst the main troops stood and watched,awaiting the outcome of the Bridge battle!

The aux. troops eventually won the battle and drove the warbands off the board-the smoke signal was lit,and the main bodies moved into contact-but what of the flanks?

Well,both flanks saw the aux. infantry wiped out,but also the Gallic cavalry were wiped out!What a tussle! This left the Roman cavalry free to threaten any forward movement by the Gauls!!

Top photo shows the main lines advancing onto each other,bottom photo shows the Roman threat,which was taking place on both flanks.Litelmix has sent his third line of "Youths" (of very little fighting ability) to hold up the Aux. troops under Arsolius,who are now threatening the Gallic rear.

Top shows the "Youths" getting "knocked about" by the Aux. troops-bottom shows the first lines engaged,with the Gallic second line being slaughtered by the flanking troops!!-this is brilliant stuff(I think!)

In the top photo the Gauls have been "pila'd"(is that a word?) and are now being treat to the "Gladius shuffle" which they did not like!!-bottom photo shows the warbands being dispersed by the Roman cavalry-this was the end of the battle!

About to be surrounded,the Arverni army ceased to exist!But.......................

Litelmix managed to escape and fled Northwards to seek the protection of his distant relative,the king of the CARNUTES tribe,Pickenmix(they don't get any better do they?)

However Crustinuts and Arsolius went into winter quarters to plan the next campaign which would have to be against the Carnutes tribe in Northern Gaul.