Napoleonic Command Bases

My collection of 1815 Allied troops is progressing nicely to completion. 

The Netherland Cavalry were the only mounted unit of the Allied army to be in a division.

These represent the Heavy Brigade - 3 No Carabinier squadrons

The 1st Light Brigade - 3 Hussar and 3 No Lt Dragoon squadrons

They have to have the command structure reflected on the table, so ...

Heavy and 1st Light Brigadiers 

Note the Perry figure being a tad smaller than Front Rank heavies .. the lad needs a hand up !

Not forgetting a Divisional Commander

I'm now waiting for a few more Elite and Front Rank figures to complete the rest of the Allied commands. Uxbridge, Hill and Clinton await their ADCs

Seven Years War figures

These Austrian dragoons have been waiting for a while to get a coat of paint or two

These figures are Saxon Karabiniergarde who fought with the Austrians during the war    

A few more touches and then basing !

Finally my remaining stash of Austrian battalions are finally getting a brush too !

This will bring the Austrians up to 12 battalions 

El Cid-1098,Spain.

Last night we had a 100% turnout for a cracking El Cid game-it is a pity that,as my knowledge of technology,is so crap, I deleted most of the photographs taken,instead of photo's of the storm damage on the estate where I live ,but never mind I saved a few!

This is not El Cid,but El Tree which fell and blocked the only road in and out of our estate!

Top photo is the scenario and terrain map,bottom shows the table before any movement,Brian,Paul and Graham were the Spanish commanders,whilst Malcom,Myself and Dave were the Moorish commanders.

Graham is defending El Cid's camp-Dave is attacking with a considerable force-the open flank was looking very attractive to both sides!

Brian is looking on as Paul and I clash in the centre with all of our considerable cavalry-Malcom,in charge of the Black guard(defending the Moorish camp) is advancing,about to take on the Spanish heavy infantry,commanded by Brian.

Graham is laughing-but Dave's vigorous assault on his position wiped the smile from his face!!-the melee's were great to see,and both sides were hard pressed,until eventually Dave won the flank,and the game.I was severely slaughtered in the centre,by Paul's cavalry,and Malcom managed to keep hold of the Moorish camp-so we(the Moors) were declared the winners!This was a very colourful game,very fast moving,and actually went right down to the wire!-We won't be playing as a club next week,as Dave,Graham and Paul are going to York_Malcom,Brian and I may have a quiet game between us to get Malcom up to speed with our rules etc-it all depends on if I am up to it,as I haven't been too well for the past few days-Diverticulitus is a real pain(ha,ha did you see what I did there?)-Good luck to everyone who is venturing to York.

Baptism of Fire-Sudan.

 Last night we had a "typical" Colonial game-fast and furious,and good fun!

This was the table lay-out,Dervish/Haddendowah on the left,British and Egyptians on the right.The objective of the game was for the Dervish types to capture the two strongpoints and smash the Anglo/Egyptian forces-simple!!!

Top photo shows the British line,bottom shows the Egyptian square,with supporting cavalry.

Malcom can be seen in the top shot,attacking the strongpoint,manned by seamen of the Naval Brigade,bottom shot shows Paul's attack on my Egyptians-bloody stuff!!

As Brian hangs his head in shame at not attacking,Malcom's Haddendowah warriors charge at Graham's thin British line-bottom photo shows just how close they came to breaking it!!!

The Dervishers are getting too close for comfort now,but note that I am maintaining my square formation-well,at least for now!

These two shots show Malcom's victorious attack on the central position-he threw some magnificent dice to drive the Naval troops out of the position,gaining the only victory the Dervish/Haddendowah troops had the whole night!!

Brian,or "Tardy" as we now call him,at last decided to employ the best troops on the board,in a grand out-flanking move,only to be met by the Bengal Lancers and thwarted in the attempt-oh dear,how sad,never mind!!

British line intact,and Haddendowah retiring(it's good being retired!) so an emphatic Anglo/Egyptian win-hurrah!!

Another good game in an important week-end-Saturday(22nd)  was the anniversary of Rorke's Drift/Isandlhwana,and of course today(Monday) is the 24th,which means that it is only 11 months until Christmas Eve!!!

New solo situations!

THE WIFE keeps asking why I am constantly carrying boxes upstairs to my new wargames room .

I suppose I could tell her that I am expanding my range of solo games,but,being a woman, she wouldn't understand!! So what is in the said boxes?

Well,Sailing ships and WW2 aircraft that's what-and I have had a few excellent games,whilst trying out some very simple rules....................

You just couldn't get simpler than this!! but they produced great games........

English and French fleets in top photo,bottom showing the turning circle being used.

Action!! and sunken ships(orange card markers)

Must brush up on my seamanship skills-too many sunken vessels!!!

Now to the WW2 aircraft.................

Brian and I staged this Participation game at the last show run by Tom and Dave at Stockton-it was a great success,so why change a winning formula(which is very similar to the sailing ships method!)

Corsairs and P40's in top photo c/w Carrier,and Zero's in bottom photo.

Start of game and action(smoke indicates plane is firing!)

Anti-aircraft fire from Carrier,and Zero taken lots of casualties,indicated by "smoke" streaming from tail!!

Top photo shows a Zero being shot up the "chuff"(technical flying term!) and bottom shows the end of the game-Americans won the day!These rules will not be to everyone's liking but for a fast and enjoyable afternoon/night they are ideal.