First Imperial troops are mobilized

I recently made a small purchase of some metal Spencer Smith figures from the Austrian Succession range. The figures are just like the plastic ones I had in the 70s. Well I have managed to paint up my first unit of Infantry. As my Imperialist army is based on the Austrian it is no surprise that these are wearing nice clean white uniforms. This company is the first of the Kinski Infantry regiment and is named after the Empresses Joanna young daughter - the princess Emma Kins

I have matt varnished these figures and will be using them unbased. Although I may need to reconsider this once the collection grows.

I will have to place a further order to get the next 2 companies but until then I am painting a squadron of Electoral Dragoons who look like the Montmort Dragoons from Charge. These will see service in the Elector Max Josephs army.

Next units to be painted will be an Electoral Light Infantry/Frei Korps and some artillery.

My next old school game will be the first teaser from the Chiraz book using my 28mm SYW collection. I suspect the Kinskys will have a role to play as the Chiraz garrision of the arsenal.

The Annexation of Chiraz

I purchased this excellent book by messrs Olley and Grant at the York show on Sunday. This is an excellent addition to any Old School library. There are 5 scenarios that can be fought separately or as part of a linked campaign. The book is well illustrated with maps and gorgeous colour pictures to wet any wargamers juices.

This book has inspired me even more to get some Old School gaming started sooner than later. The quick way is to use my current SYW collection based on units of 16 and combine them into either 32 or 48 man combined regiments. I am now seriously thinking of re organizing my collection and creating 36 man units for infantry and 18 man cavalry/light infantry units. I think that this organization would work for both Charge or the War Game although I will have to mark officer casualties for the War Game on Roster sheets.

I thought I would provide and update on my Old School project plans.

I intend to base the armies on the War of the Austrian Succession and the period will loosely be set sometime between 1745 and 1750.

On one side will be the Electoral Council. The electors, or Kurfürsten, will each be expected to contribute detachment for service in the electoral army. The army will consist of units based on historical armies from such as counties such as Bavaria , France , Spain , Saxony , Prussia and Russia as well as smaller minor states and Freistadtes.

The Imperial army will represent the Austrian, British and Savoyard armies

I will be basing my units on actual units and uniforms of the WAS. I will however be providing some units with new inhabers and renaming formations. If I like a particular uniform for instance I may change the unit type. For instance a Croat unit in brown and light blue may become a line regiment or a Saxon electoral artillery unit will be dressed in red coats with yellow trousers of the Leib guard.

The other point of interested is the different figures ranges/sizes I am going to use.

40mm Prince August flats.
28mm Mainly Foundry, Front Rank, Old Glory and Dixons
30mm Old school ranges– Spencer Smith (small shipment due this week) and Jackdaw (artillery bought at York show) plus some Minot Prussian (early Napoleonic?) which I started 35 years. I only finished 8 in that time so it’s about time the other 16 got done.

I may try using the 30mm Old Schoolers with my 28mm collection- but then again maybe not.

The rules I intend to use will depend on the mood I am in – Charge (elementary and advanced), The War Game and perhaps Don Featherstone’s Horse and Musket rules.

More anon

Anyway here a few shots of some of my and James 28mm SYW during a game at Triples a few years ago.

The Battle of Blasthof Bridge - the action

The Comte De Metringham spurs forward the Bechemal Hussars and secures Blasthof Berg. the high ground. The electoral infantry send the Livarot forward while the Royal Boursin ford the Blast.



Kornberg sends the Dolcelatte Dragoons across the blast and advances the Sbrinz and artillery to secure the bridge.



The Comte De Metringham seeing the dragoons advancing decides to launch a charge before the his enemy has the time to reform into a single formation. Risking his 9 troopers against 11 dragoons seemed better odds than facing all 15. In the melee that followed the Hussars hold the own but are pushed back to the Berg. The Dragoons reorder their lines and with the greater numbers catch the Hussars in melee. With only 6 troopers facing 11 Dragoons the melee is decisive. A single Hussar escapes to tell the tale.




Meanwhile the Infantry of both sides advance. The Sbrinz secure the bridge while the electoral infantry advance.





The 1st company of the Royal Boursin crosses the muddy field while the 2nd company moves directly to the bridge. The Livarot however are ordered to about face as the Dolcelatte threaten the electoral rear.




An Infantry firefight erupts along the line. By the bridge each side trades blows with neither gaining an advantage. The 1st company of the Royal Bousrin suffer casualties from the Sbrinz as they slowly advance across the field. Despite the mud in their boots they steady the line and reform their ranks before letting loose a deadly volley. There are 16 men which results in 2 dice. Soubise rolls the dice and gleefully sees a double 6 come up. The Sbrinz are under pressure as the Imperialist losses mount.




The determined ranks of the Sbrinz display fortitude in the face of withering fire.



The Dolcelatte Dragons spurned forward melee the last Hussar with 2 troopers facing 1 they are confident of victory. They roll a 2 which is doubled to 4 - the Hussar rolls a 6 and wins. With this casualty the Imperial army reaches 50% losses. The Imperialists are beaten. Kornberg is heard muttering that with his cavalry poised to strike a decisive blow he has had victory grasped from his hands.


The Imperialist artillery cover the armies withdrawal.



Soubise leads the victory by crossing the bridge.

Battle of Blasthof Bridge

The Battle of Blasthof Bridge was one of my first wargames I played. I thought it would be nice to replay the game over 40 years later using my small collection of Prince August 40mm armies. We will be using the Elementary rules from Charge to play the game.

I have been casting and painting on and off for some 9 months and finally have enough figures for a game. Although the numbers are not the same as in Charge I have kept the ratios the same. All the figures are self cast using Prince August moulds except the Imperial artillery which is from Nurnberger Meisterzinn.

The pictures show the initial set up of forces.

The Electoral army under General Soubise consists:-

1 company of the Livarot regiment
2 companies of the Royal Boursin regiment
1 squadron of the Bechemal Hussars
A battery of guns

To oppose these the Imperialist forces under the debonair Count von Kronberg consists of:-

2 companies of the Sbrinz regiment
2 squadrons of the Dolcelatte Dragoons
A battery of guns

Introduction

Greetings to my new blog for recording my ramblings and sharing of info on my old school projects.

I have been wargaming since 1969 ever since my father got me a copy of Charge or How to play wargames by Brigadier Young and Col Lawford from the local library. It was this book and my collection of Airfix ACW figures that I first started on a hobby which I find as rewarding as I did all those years ago.

I was later to buy the book for 55 shillings from Tradition in Piccadilly and I still own the book today. The battles of Blasthof Bridge and Sittingbad have become as famous in the hobby as many a real engagement.

This book is written in a charming style and with a good deal of humour. The rules an elementary and advanced rules. It was with the simple elementary set that my younger brother and I fought out many a battle on the living room floor. He was the Union while I took command of Robert E Lees Army of North Virginia. The ACW was my first period and one I still enjoy today - although the unpainted plastic figures have been replaced by 800 painted 28mm metal figures