WWI solo game.

Last night I had another very enjoyable game,using my WWI armies,whilst "perfecting" my solo rules.

The scenario revolved around an attack by British and French troops against a well dug in German force.I mixed things up a bit by introducing a couple of planes,one British and one German,The British planes had to "find" the German defences,whilst the German plane had to prevent any such observations!

The "dog-fight" that followed was awsome!!-the German plane took too many hits and had to retire(its good being retired!) but the British plane also had to return to base to report its findings..............

The German positions are as the map-A joint war council was held and the plan of attacks is shown on the map-all was set for a great game.

Forward gun position and defensive line-this will be a hard nut to crack!!

After an initial bombardment,the troops advance.It must be said that the German artillery was much more accurate than the Allied guns!

As the British "plod" towards their objective,the French are nearing their goal,as are the British troops attacking the German left flank-casualties were mounting on the French,and I wondered if they could make it.

"Plodding" onwards,but taking horrendous casualties.

A quick fire-fight,then the order to charge was given...............................

At 'em boys(allez!)-this was a real tussle,and although the Germans had the advantage of the defences,the French dice throwing was superb(moi!) and the defences were breached-hurrah!

The Germans have been forced back(I refuse to say retired!) and the centre has been won-on the right flank the British have also won and are in a position to out-flank the town!

Come on the "Tommies"

The plan worked out well for the French and right flank British troops,the left had to keep going and it would be just a matter of time before the Germans facing them would have to retire(oh no not again!!)

I enjoyed the planning of this game,as well as the playing-more to come,but not WWI for a while.

La Grande Armee gets "blooded"

 My WW1 French army took on a well placed German army guarding the HQ of General Kluck-it was bloody!!

The table set-up.French plan was to advance slowly frontally whilst the flanks would be attacked by swiftly moving columns of infantry,supported by artillery fire-what could possibly go wrong??

The German HQ,c/w defenders-artillery,machine guns and infantry.

French advance,columns outstripping the central force-all is going to plan.

The French attack begins(excuse "smoke" it is just to indicate which units are firing!)-both sides suffered casualties but not enough to deter the French-hurrah!

The order to charge is just about to be given-oh dear!!

Contact!!-go on boys(garcons?) give 'em the bayonet(they do not like it up 'em!)

The defences have been breached,but only in this one place-all along the rest of the line,the French were beaten!!

The French have been thrown out and forced to retire(its good being retired!)

Kluck is gloating-however he is in for a nasty shock-the British are on their way to support the French complete with a new fangled contraption in the way of a flying machine!!

Another interesting game-I'm getting into this period!

Battle of Mons 1914(World War John)

 Having finished my WW1 Germans and British,and "knocked" together some very basic rules,I thought I would have a game based very loosely on the Battle of Mons  1914.

The Germans had to cross the Mons-Conde canal,being held by the British,via two bridges,the resulting game was another solo "hit".

The German attack begins,in column,as if on a parade ground!

With the combinesd firepower of the British rifles and machine guns,plus a little pounding from artillery,it became quite clear that the Germans stood very little chance of crossing the canal!

The Germans still in column,as per orders,get to the bridges,whilst their colleagues line the bank of the canal and open fire on the British.

A heavy exchange of rifle fire ,but with the British under cover(actually "dug-in") the Germans are suffering!

Doomed to fail-a German column advances to be met with two machine guns and concentrated rifle fire-they were knocked to bits and had to retire(its good being retired!)

The failed attempt!! What was the German cinc(Kluck!) thinking of?

Final shots! Historically this went very well,so well in fact that I'm going to refight it again!

Following on from that game,it became apparent that I needed some French troops,if I was going to refight some of the early battles involving the British and French......................

Eh,voila!!! a French army painted in double quick time-lets see how they perform.

It ain't half hot mum game.

 I played this game as a solo effort,and once again a great time was had by all(me!!)

The battle begins,rotten fire from the British guns did little damage to the quickly advancing hordes-my cavalry advances to stop the Dervish and Haddendowah camels and horse,big mistake!!

The "hordes" are getting closer,the British rifle fire is taking its toll,but there's thousands of 'em!

Contact has been made-my (British) cavalry have been trounced and the hordes are attacking the square-however my men are made of stern stuff(and lead!) and will not give way-hurrah!

Both squares are being attacked,and successfully holding their own(steady!)-it looks like the Dervishers have had it....................

One bit of success for the Dervish cavalry and camels-surrounding my last cavalry-lost to a man!

These solo games are always interesting and problems arrive which have to be solved-after a couple of hours I decided that the best thing the Dervish could do was to regroup,and fight again another day!

French WW1 15mm army.

 Yesterday my French WW1 army arrived from Lancashire Games(in record time!)-lovely figures with exceptional detail(which I will,unfortunately, have to ignore(poor eyes-poor excuse!).

A large pile of lead!

Undercoated and ready to go when dry.

A couple of "test" figures,quickly painted so I know where to apply the paint and which brush to use,also what detail to ignore!!!-I will start the first batch tomorrow-with my speed painting technique,the whole lot shouldn't take me long(when I say speed painting I just mean slosh the paint on and hope for the best!)

It ain't half hot mum!

 Next Wednesday,if Paul is available,we will be playing a Colonial Sudanese game.

Table setup,and Dervish hordes leaving the town,possibly to attack the British squares.

Grand old British squares-they'll beat anything thrown against them(?)

Like ants out of a disturbed nest!!

Some are even riding camels!!

Some "sad" Egyptians who have had to retire(it's good being retired!) to a nearby fort to escape the wrath of the Dervishers-point of the scenario!!

Looking forward to this one.