Stollenwitz - Opening moves

Managed to play the opening moves of the Battle of Stollenwitz. My son Max took command of the Electoral army and like Frederick it was his first game in an independent role commanding an army of this size in a Wargame.

The game opened with the Calvadorian winning the Initiative and launching their cavalry on their left wing into the flank of the massed Electoral cavalry.

The Electoral cavalry although caught in the flank are able to stem the initial attack routing one of Calvadorian units. More Calvadorian Cavalry join the swirling Melee. 

On the other flank Max pushes cavalry forward to cover the Infantry flank. The melee is joined and will be fought at our next session.

Meanwhile the Electrina Emma watches the battle unfold from the balcony of a local hostelerie famed for its Strudel Stollen mit Kirsch Wasser. 

In the centre the Furstenburg - Lederhosen march forward in perfect timing. No doubt wanted to uses his superior infantry numbers to drive the Calvadorian infantry from the field before the enemy more numerous cavalry would be able to overcome the Electoral Cavalry and threaten the flanks of the Electoral infantry.

The rules we are using are a free one page set available from Jim Purky.

http://fifeanddrum-minis.com/rules--articles.html

So far the rules are working well. 

Tomorrow we are play testing our Plancenoit demo game for Triples. We are using a portable sand table for the game. I will post some pictures tomorrow.

Birthday Battle

This weekend my son Max had 3 friends over for a small birthday celebration and for a spot of tea and wargaming.

I set up a small game up using the scenario - 'Action' from Charles Grants classic The War Game.

The 2 sides were equally balanced and consisted of the following.

The Electors army had

Liebgarden Infantry regiment

Hock Infantry regiment

Schuch Jäger Korps

Electors Garde Cuirassier

Artillery 

The Duchy of Calvados (the Imperialists) fielded

Brie Infantry regiment

Royal Bourssin regiment

Grenz de Moules

Rochefort Dragoons

Artillery

Infantry units had 24 figures plus 2 officers. Light infantry 9 figures and the cavalry 12. Artillery consisted of a single gun and 5 crew. Each army had a commander and Aide de Camp.

The rules used were the basic ones from Charge with a few amendments.

1. Rather than have an army quit the field  when it reached 50% I used the advance rules and units infantry and artillery retire when they reached 50% and Cavalry and Light units on reaching 33%.

2. I added Light Infantry and allowed them to move 9" in all terrain. They fired as skirmishes needing 6 to hit at range 6-9 inches. 5 or 6 at 3-6 inch range and 4,5, or 6 at 0-3 inch range.

3. Infantry and Light infantry who moved 3inches, or less, of their full move could fire. Moving a full move would mean a unit could not fire.

The Electoral army arrayed ready for the battle.

The Electoral Garde Cuirassier deployed on the left and the gun and light infantry on the right.

The Imperialists deployed their army as a mirror of their opponents.  This means that both sides cavalry faced their opponents light infantry and artillery.

The Infantry faced each other on the centre.

A close up of the Royal Boursson deployed for action. 

The game started with both sides advancing. The Imperialists drop their artillery first and halted their Infantry line.

The Imperialists opened up on the Electoral Garde Cuirassier causing the first casualty.

The Electoral army won't the dice toss at the start of the next turn and asked the Imperialists to move first, 

The Grenz de Moules quickly moved through the wood and occupied a small walled enclosure. This flanked the Electoral Garde Cuirassier who faced with either pulling back or advancing on the Imperial gun.  

They choose to advance.

Inspite of taking artillery roundshot and canister fire they charged home putting he gunners to the sword.

Meanwhile the Infantry clash had started with both sides trading volleys . 

Meanwhile the Rochfort Dragoons held back keeping the Schuch Jäger Korps in check but at a cost of casualties from the  Electoral artillery.

The Grenz de Moules, with no cavalry facing them, nimbly nipped across the low walls of the enclosure and moving 6  inches were able to flank the LiebGarden. 

The fire of the Grenz plus that of the Brie proves too much for the LiebGarden who reach 50% and are forced to retire. The Hock now find themselves outnumbered and although they get the better of the Royal Bourssin the end is quick. Next turn they too reach 50% loses. 

With both of his Infantry units in retreat and the Electoral Garde Cuirassier badly mauled the Elector Maximilian decides that he has seen enough and orders his remaing troops to retire.

The youngsters enjoyed themselves and there was interest in having another game this time with Tanks.  

Looks like my old western desert tanks, some dating from the early 70s, might see some action. Rapid Fire might be good choice of rules for the next game.

Reinforcements

One of my gaming friends job means that they have to clear houses contents before they are put up for sale.

Last night I was given a rather interesting find from a house clearance.  A display case made of 1cm thick Perspex and rather heavy. Inside was a diorama of unpainted figures on basic sand terrain. A strange idea for a diorama

The figures are undoutably Nurnberger

Meisterzinn and although slightly larger than Prince August will nicely complement my existing armies. 

These will form the basis of a new Grenadier Battalion, of 24 figures plus 5 command figures, for the Electorate Furstenburg-lederhosen.

So what do I paint them as - the Erbprinz from Charge or perhaps the Saxon Lieb Garde in red and yellow. 

Blasthof Bridge

Today we ventured over to Vapnartak at York. This years we put on a participation game - Blasthof Bridge - one of the all time classic scenarios from Charge or How to play Wargames by Messrs Young and Lawford.

The scenario and rules are a great introduction to Horse and Musket gaming and indeed where the rules I first used back in the late 60s with Airfix ACW figures.

The game was well received and we run the it 3 times during the course of the day.  In all we had 4 adults and 8 children joining in. My son Max also played all 3 games and helped with running the game. 

We had a very enjoyable day out at what is probably the best show up North.

I used Prince August 40mm home cast figures and green painted MDF boards. 

I think the game looked - what do you think ?

The Action in the Plattville Valley -1753

The Grand Duchy of Calvados and the Electorate of Furstenburg-Lederhosen have had an uneasy truce during the cold winter of 1752.  With spring approaching and the improvement in the weather both sides start planning their summer campaigns  They turn their gaze to the small principality of Malbec situated on the borders of the two sparring nations. 

The Principlaity of Malbec would not normally attract such attention other than it is is Europe's main source of  Schnupftabak (snuff) - 'Chevalier pour Homme' - a much sort after after dinner indulgence for gentlemen of society and which attracts a high price on the International Snuff Market.

A gentlemen indulges in some after dinner Chevalier pour Homme  

The prime area for cultivation is centred on the Plattville Valley and the Elector and Duke are determined to seize the area to control distribution and the price of this annual snuff crop. 

Each side send a small force consisting of  6 infantry battalions, 3 cavalry squadrons, 2 Light Infantry companies and one battery of artillery (2 guns). 

The only map available of the area available to both sides was obtained from the Schnupftabak Newsletter published in Southampton. 

  

The game will feature at the forth coming war game show in Sheffield over the weekend of May 18-19th and will feature my old school 40mm Prince August figures and will use the Horse and Musket rules from Donald Featherstone's book - War Games - Battles and manoeuvres with model soldiers with minor modifications. 

Unit sizes are planned to be:-

Infantry 20 figures plus 2 Officers

Cavalry 10 figures plus 1 Officer

Light Infantry 10 figures plus 1 Officer   

Rule modifications identified 

1. Infantry can fire in two ranks rather than single ranks

2. Artillery only use a single dice for ranges over 18" and two dice for under 18"

3. The musket ranges to be reduced to represent smoothbores rather than the rifled muskets in the original rules. New range bands will be 0 - 6" (deduct 1), 6 - 12" (deduct 2) 12 -18" (deduct 3) 

4. Cavalry and Light Infantry test for officer casualties using one coloured dice in 3 rather than the standard 1 in 5 used by infantry.  

  As a  prequel to the Plattville Valley action I have set up a small game for the Ilkley Old Schoolers to have a go at these classic rules.  

I will post after action reports and photos shortly..... 

Reinforcements arrive

I received a small parcel over the weekend - a kind gift from Jim Duncan 

The parcel contained some moulds, a few infantry figures, as well as 9 Mounted Cuirassier   

These gentlemen will form a new squadron in the Electors army.   

Fontenoy

It has been a while since I posted anything on the blog so here is an update on my demo game I put on at the York Show (Vapnartak).  It was a very busy show but I did get time to get a copy of the Wolfenbbuttel War by Charles S Grant. 

The game featured  my Prince August 40mm armies with traditional Old School terrain. For rules I used a set published last year - Maurice by San Mustafa - so it was a case of Old School look and feel new School rules.     

The game went down well and as with previous outings I received many complementary comments about the Old School set up as well as plenty of question about Maurice which are a pretty good fun set of rules.  

Here a few pictures of the game

Return to Petreville

We played the second Petreville scenario from the Annexation of Chriaz using the Charge Rules.  This is a hard game for the relief force as not only are the numbers evenly matched by their attack is constrained by the narrow terrain 

General D'Euan pushes the bulk of the Duchy of Calvados forces forward but decides to advance on both sides of the River Cressay and use the South Bridge to re unite his forces for the final assault. 

The action hots up on both sides of the river. The Sbrinz are able to drive back the Calvadorian skirmishers but are unable to stop the Livarot Regiment as they are driven off with 50% loses. 

In the centre the Royal Boussin trade volleys with the Leibgarden.

'Advance' cries Colonel Roux as he leads forward the Bechemel Hussars to the attack

The Hock Regiment forms up ready for the Hussars attack 

However the Dolcelatte Dragoons counter charge and after 2 furious rounds of melee drive the Hussars back.  

In the final action of the battle the Livarot cross South Bridge form up and advance against the factory only to be blown away by a tremendous volley from the combined grenadiers companies garrisoning the works. 

General D'Euan decides to pull back his battered forces and call it a day. 

Blasthof Bridge

Having finished the second Petreville game on Friday (report to follow) my son Max was keen to play a  game. I decided to reach for the classics as being the right way to introduce him to Horse and Musket gaming. So we set up Blasthof Bridge, from Charge, and again used the elementary Charge rules as with our previous game.  

Max took command of the Imperial army and the role of Kornberg the dashing, impetuous, cavalryman.  The Imperial army deployed as per the book.  

I took command of the Electoral army and took on the demeanour and countance of this much maligned warrior - Soubise. 

For this game I offered very little advise to the young pretender but he showed a sound judgement. He  moved all his cavalry across the River Blast to form, in his words, 'one big unit of cavalry so he could beat mine'    

With movement stick in hand he moved his troops around with a the air of a pro. The stick was marked in 6 inch bands. None of those new fangled metric measurements as they teach them at school.  

His initial artillery shots were all misses (he threw three ones in a row). But on his fourth shot he hit. He rolled for effect - a six. One of my guns is bowled over.  

With one of my guns out of action Max now attacks with his cavalry. The melee is decisive with my cavalry losing heavily. 

My situation was not good - so I pushed my infantry across the river to join their comrades I had already moved across in an earlier turn. 

United my Infantry advance hoping to sweep away his outnumbered infantry on to victory. My advance commenced....

...only for his infantry to retire unveiling his re positioned artillery.  With no choice I gritted my teeth and continued my advance hoping that he would roll low for his musketry and cannister.   

He did not ......The Electoral Infantry fell where they stood.  With my loses now totalling over 50% the game was up and I conceded defeat.   

A couple of Maxs' friends are interested in having a go at this Wargaming lark - so perhaps it time for so more Ilkley Young School games.