The Crimean War tabletop action underway!

Having spent what seems like half a lifetime painting and rebasing figures for my Crimean War project it seemed like the new year would be a good opportunity to get the toys out on the tabletop battlefield and give them a run out. The battlefield gives a nod to The Alma, vaguely of course, with Black Powder 2 as the initial choice of rules to drive the game. 'Grand Duke Biklovic' commanded the Roosians, 'Lord Rawnsley' (aka Phil) the British - Lord Raglan being 'indisposed' as they say. You will recall I'm confident that the figures are a mix of the venerable Foundry range, painted in the early 1990's, and the more recent Great War Miniatures range.

The tabletop battlefield at the onset of hostilities.

The Grand Artillery Redoubt.

The Lesser Artillery Redoubt.

The Naval Artillery Redoubt.

The Roosian infantry defending the three redoubts.

The gallant British infantry prepare to assault the Roosian bear in his lair! Victoria's Heroes one and all!

Lord Rawnsley can be seen in the encampment with the Light Brigade drawn up in the fields beyond.

The Highland Brigade, the Guards Brigade and the Light Division with Royal Artillery support.

Lord Rawnsley issues his orders, now it's largely out of his hands...As is my wont an annotated photomontage of the action follows to hopefully give a sense of the unfolding battle.

Turn 1: the Jaeger battalion advances towards the river as a first line of defence to disrupt the British attack.

The Rifle battalion has deployed two companies to  defend the Grand Artillery Redoubt.

The Light Brigade are held in reserve early in the game awaiting their opportunity for glory!

The initial British advance is sluggish. The Highland Brigade is finding the going harder than expected.

The Royal Horse Artillery has galloped forward and deployed swiftly. They open fire to signal the start of the battle!

The Roosian artillery opens up all along the front. Their aim was somewhat amiss or their powder was defective as they totaled one casualty inflicted on the advancing British!

The Roosian Jaegers and one company of the Rifle Battalion have reached the river and open fire on the British, further disrupting the attack developing.

At last the British commanders get their men into action. The Rifle Brigade's fire Disorders the Roosian Rifle Battalion while the Royal Scots trade fire with the Jaegers. The battery of Royal Artillery 12lbers comes into action in support 

The Roosians are contesting the river crossing all along the front. Grand Duke Biklovic's plan was for defence in depth, weakening the British resolve before they could reach the main lines and the Redoubts. Did I say plan...?

The Roosian 12lb battery in the Grand Artillery Redoubt continues to support the troops contesting the river crossing. Of course it would have helped if they had actually hit anything!

Biklovic orders forward two battalions of infantry to support the buckling defence of the river crossing. A Cossack light artillery piece adds it's weight to the defence on his extreme right flank. Pressure is mounting on the Roosian position.

On the Roosian left flank the Duke of Wellington's regiment have forced a crossing via the stone bridge. Their attack is met by a determined Roosian infantry battalion supported by some Greek volunteers! Elsewhere a third company of the Rifle Battalion is fairing poorly, Disordered and Shaken by enemy fire.

The leading Guards battalion is across the river as the Rifle Company falls back. The centre of Biklovic's forward defence has buckled but not yet broken.

Someone has Blundered! At a vital moment a Blinder sees the Roosian infantry fall back and leave the table! They have further weakened the centre of Biklovic's line!

Things go from bad to worse as the Roosian infantry defending the bridge crossing are unable to damage the Duke of Wellington's regiment. This melee is destined to be drawn out...

In the centre a sharp volley from the Guards breaks the morale of the Rifle Battalion company and they flee. The centre of Biklovic's forward defence is broken open!

While the melee at the Bridge carries on the morale of the third Rifle Battalion company breaks. More British infantry can be seen crossing the river unopposed now.

The Royal Scots charge home against the Jaegers despite the closing volley! Already Shaken the Jaegers are close to the limit of their endurance.

They break after the subsequent melee while the lead infantry battalion hurrying to their aid is Disordered by fire into its flank from some Rifle Brigade elements. The Roosian right is in grave peril now!

At the very moment of their triumph the Morale of the Royal Scots breaks when they are hit by fire from the artillery redoubts. All is not lost it seems for Biklovic's defence.

Not so! The right flank has Broken as the cumulative losses in Broken and Shaken units means it's will to fight has evaporated. The supporting cavalry, perhaps sensing disaster, decline to advance!

On the left and in the centre events have firmly turned in favour of the British! The Duke of Wellington's regiment have beaten off the defending Roosians with the support of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 

It's all up for Biklovic's army in Turn 8. It's Morale is shattered and it's will to continue the fight is irretrievably broken. He quits the field to Lord Rawnsley. 

A tremendously enjoyable game we both felt. As usual Black Powder delivered in spades as the initiative swung back and forth. Lessons have been learned by both commanders I think, so look out for a second encounter sometime next month when hopefully the forces will have expanded somewhat. Speaking of which still no sign of my Great War Miniatures order being despatched by North Star. Their sale must be very successful as their service is usually brisk and top notch.