"It was a desperate business!"

Last Thursday Paul and I finally managed to meet up in GHQ for our monthly game, having been unable to find a mutually convenient date for a couple of months. We decided on an ACW game using Black Powder rules and some ideas from the Glory Hallelujah supplement. I set up a fairly sparse tabletop battlefield and sorted out two fairly balanced forces. We would dice off for who would be the attacker, then for the initiative in Turn 1. The game would last 12 Turns and the Broken Brigade rule was to be ignored. Paul became the attacker with the Rebs, while I won the initiative with the Union. I began to plan a defence with my four brigades ~

Leaving Paul to shape his attack with his five Brigades of Rebs. The Rebs had a CinC with a command rating of 9, the Union a command rating of 8. Paul's opening moves were hesitant while my efforts to organise a defence proved mixed to say the least, but eventually both armies got into the swing of things. As you've come to expect by now, a photomontage to carry you right into the action ~

The Union army moves out of camp to meet the as yet distant Reb threat.

On the Union right New York regiments supported by a battery of rifled Whitworths have already formed a defensive position along a fence line.

Union progress is slow but thankfully not as hesitant as that of the Rebs!

As you can see, the Rebs have made little progress by Turn 2's ending.

The Union regiments take full advantage of the hesitancy, here you see the Iron Brigade's lead regiment moving forward.

Somehow the boys on the Reb rear right seemed to lack the expected elan of a Rebel army...fence lines seem to offer comfort and prevoke a reluctance to march into the waiting storm of shot and shell.

In the centre, once Paul got to grips with his brief as the attacker, the Reb Brigades advanced with determination on the nervously waiting Union troops.

Encouraged by the bold advance on their flank the hesitant Rebs on their right flank cross the road in an attempt to turn the weaker Union right.

In the Union centre the Iron Brigade steels itself for the coming assault. Muskets loaded and resting along the fence railings.

The leading Reb regiment rushes forward on the Union right, the Rebel Yell rents the air while the boys in blue pour it on in an attempt to repel the assault.

More Rebs pour forward supporting the attack on the centre of the Union defensive line.

"Forward boys! Give 'em the cold steel!" Union troops respond with crashing volleys at close range in an attempt to stem the onrushing tide of butternut and gray. 

Despite losses the Rebs succeed in breaking the line on the Union left. One regiment flees and others are confused and Disordered by losses. 

The boys from South Carolina have broken through on the Union right. Not even the dose of cannister at point blank range can halt their onward trajectory. 

More Rebs burst through the Union disintegrating lines on their right sending other regimants streaming to the safety of the rear.

Two Reb Brigades converge on the weakened Union right. It's looking grim for the Union position with both flanks being threatened and the centre under ever strengthening pressure.

The Union right flank has collapsed and the victorious Rebs turn inward to flank the hard pressed Union centre.

Assaulted on their front and pressured from their flank the Union centre must surely buckle and break.

But the Iron Brigade show their steel once more. Despite being Shaken and Disordered by losses they are holding their line and keeping the Rebs at bay.

But even they are mere flesh and blood - alright, pewter and paint if you will - and they eventually break under relentless Reb pressure. It's all up for ol' Useless S Bykleigh once more.

An image captured by Mr Brady behind the Reb lines perhaps just at the onset of hostilities? 

A grand gaming going to ten of the planned twelve Turns before it became obvious that the Union position was untenable and ol' Useless ordered a general withdrawal leaving the Rebs victorious but too exhausted to exploit their victory. Ol' Useless lives to fight another day...

"A crown, or else a glorious tomb!"

Real life has been somewhat interfering with my hobby time these last several days, so while awaiting a window of opportunity for my schedule to coincide with Phil's schedule and receive the first of the painted horses I decided to tackle the figures for the Lancastrian army command base. The figures are a mixture of Perry Miniatures and Eureka Miniatures  for this base. I got the idea for the composition while browsing another gamer's blog, 'This 28mm Life'. Henry VI's Standard is from Pete's Flags of course and the 80x90mm base from Warbases, my ever reliable supplier. I'm a little embarrassed by the Royal heraldry I've 'suggested' on the mounted Herald and two musicians but it really is the best my eyes and hand could manage, so I hope dear reader that you will cut this 75 year old some slack and not be too scathing in your comments. Steel yourselves now and take a look if you dare ~

I have a different look in mind for the Yorkist Army command base featuring Edward IV and his household, but that is not underway at the moment while I await a small package from Perry Miniatures and Eureka Miniatures, both dependant on the many and various vagaries of Royal Mail in Wolverhampton, not to mention their indifferent mail order services...

BOOOOOM!!!!!

When I bought the first Perry Miniatures for this project from Dave Thomas at WMMS this year I misread my list (teachers' handwriting second only to Drs'!) As Phil bagged the boxes and blisters for me I never noticed my error at the time. Back from WMMS and gloating over my haul I was somewhat taken aback when the gun and crew I thought I had selected turned out to be the large Bombard set!!! I'd no plan for it obviously so it went into the Lead Pimple to be conveniently forgotten. Fast forward to August and I'd finally run out of any other foot figures to paint, Phil has the horse at present for the Knights/MAA, so I was forced into cleaning and spray undercoating the parts and figures.

I have to say right off that contrary to my previous experiences with Perry Minitures' kits needing assembly it went together really well. I decided to fix the Bombard and mantlet to a Perry base for ease of painting only to discover I had no 3mm base large enough. The solution was to have the business part of the gun and mantlet on the longest base I had and the wooden blocking pieces on a smaller separate base. For my money it seems to have worked out fine.

The set was missing a figure I discovered, but no issue as it was not one of the three necessary action poses. I've added the Eureka Miniatures 'Master Gunner' to give the set a more distinctive appearance. Enough blathering on anyway, see what you make of it ~

Next in line are the few mounted Knights and MAA, for which Phil is painting the horses and yours truly the figures. There are also the two Army Command bases, which I'm still undecided about in terms of figures and composition for the Yorkist faction, though that of Henry VI is decided and already underway.

🎼🎶"Non nobis Domine..."🎵

As many of you will know my son Matthew is a very talented figure sculptor. He's also been a keen wargamer since his early teens and is a member of the Brecon Wargames Club. He's a far, far better painter than me, as you'd surely expect for a professional artist after all. At last year's Partizan he carried off the prize for the outstanding vignette. It's a really inspiring piece, so I thought I'd have a go at one of my own in the Wars of the Roses setting. First, Matt's winning vignette ~

I have zero chance of emulating work of this standard, featuring many figures which have been exquisitely adapted by Matt, but nevertheless it has inspired me to add a vignette of my own ~

My very modest effort makes use of Perry Miniatures in the main, from their European Armies range and the Wars of the Roses casualty pack, supplemented by a medieval Bishop from Grenadier. Two closer pictures now, if you can bear it ~

Followed by two photographs taken from different viewpoints  ~

Well, there you have it, an episcopal blessing before the battle...I can only hope those 'dice gods' were taking more note than of late! Next up for those interested should be the very substantial Bombard set, which I acquired accidentally you might say...

Handgonnes! Big ones too!

While I was searching via Ebay for another Light Artillery piece and crew I came across a number of other period figures or sets which I now know are by Grenadier, sculpted by Mark Copplestone. One set which took my fancy and was added to my purchase were a pair of figures servicing a hand cannon. So I ordered two sets to add to the firepower of one faction or the other. I must admit the size of the handgonnes strikes me as a bit on the fantastical side, but then they are just toys in a game, useful in an anti-infantry role supporting archers or manning field defences. Whatever which way they are a fun addition, a pair of handgonnes ~

I added the pavaise for interest as I had the transfers and pavaise, both metals and plaaaaastic, the latter courtesy of Phil.

Next in the project list should be a vignette, inspired by Matt's winning vignette at Partizan in The Bodkins' 100 Years War game. Of course it will be nowhere near the quality of his work but it will add to the look of the game here in GHQ.  Then it's on to the mounted knights, MAA, and the Army Command Stands and we're done, just like that! Oh, not forgetting the large Bombard and crew...

"Beeilt euch, schnell, die Tommys sind da!"

Tuesday this week was the last chance in the school summer holidays for William to join Phil and me for a game here in GHQ, so as a treat for him I laid on a WWII game set for D-Day, 6th June 1944...

The dawn of D-Day... the Allies first wave approaches Dagger Beach (fictional of course). The objectives are :-

1. Clear the beach and establish a beach head, for a (very) minor victory.

2. Clear the Germans from the most forward ruins along the 'Rue de la Plage', for a clear minor victory.

3. Drive inland and clear the town of  'Pendeux', for a major victory; "La Libération est proche! Peut-être, Peut-être pas?"

Starting position for the Allied landings on Dagger Beach  prior to the initial offshore bombardment. Phil and William took command of the Allied landing force leaving me to take charge of the German defence forces. I should say at this juncture that I can't recall ever winning a game set around D-Day as the Germans...perhaps this time? Shall we see how things turned out?

Supported by a second surviving Sherman DD and a Sherman Flail Tank Major P.J.Robinson sends his men forward to neutralise the central German anti-tank gun emplaced at the end of the sea wall. German fire is heavy but ineffective!

Supported by the Sherman DD which survived to reach the beach troops of the South Staffords under LtCol W.D.'Lucky'Watkiss rush forward to seize their initial objective. Once more German fire proves ineffective. 

On the Allied left the cunningly camouflaged anti-tank casement is struck by the 'Flying Dustbin' fired from the Churchill AVRE and knocked out without firing a shot!

The German troops manning the sea wall defences and serving the emplaced anti-tank gun at the sea wall's end are not the best and must have been stunned by the initial Naval bombardment as they fail repeatedly to register any hits! You may be seeing a pattern emerging here? 🎲

Back on the Allied right the surviving Sherman DD knocks out the second casement enfilading the beach head. In the centre troops hurry to attempt to neutralise the Tobruk and clear a way through the surrounding wire, all the time under enemy fire from all around. Men fall but their comrades press forward.

Having knocked out the anti-tank gun in the left casement the Churchill AVRE makes short work of the sea wall. The South Staffords surge forward to engage the stunned survivors before they can recover!

The Sherman Flail Tank breaches the wire, taking advantage of the very poor performance by the anti-tank gun crew! Heavy Allied fire is beginning to take its toll on the defenders.

The South Staffords decide to bypass the stubborn Tobruk defenders, leaving it to the Royal Engineers and their Flamethrower team! The last remaining strongpoint along the beach head falls as survivors surrender!

Having neutralised one Casemate the Sherman DD makes light work of the open anti-tank  gun emplacement. The wire is breached and despite their losses the first troops in this sector are off the beach!

The survivors from the sea wall fall back beyond Rue de la Plage and take up positions in a once Grande Maison now reduced to rubble. It's not all over yet despite early Allied successes.

All is not going smoothly though for the Allies on their left as the ruins of  Raunslie-les-Bains, another hamlet along the coast road, are occupied by dug in troops of a higher quality. Hastily they try to contact their supporting inland artillery. Sadly the local Maquis have destroyed the phone lines in the area! 🎲

German reserves make slow progress towards the front. Conflicting reports from the beach area are confusing as to where the break out is most severe! It would seem that Bikelbürger is being found wanting!

At German HQ confusion reigns with communications disrupted and refugees beginning to block vital roads. The early Allied success in establishing their beach head has put the Germans on the wrong foot.

Congestion in and around Pendeux is not aiding the German command in managing its response to the ongoing fighting at the front. Morale is crumbling first around the Grande Maison ruins and then at Raunslie-les-bains.

Casualties streaming from the front line to casualty clearing stations add to the disruption faced by the Germans in responding to unfolding developments. It seems that the Allies have established a viable beach head [a very minor victory remember] and are driving inland to clear the built-up areas along Rue de la Plage [a clear minor victory]. If German Morale collapses widely then Pendeux may be liberated!

The 120mm mortar battery proved ineffectual when communication was finally established from the hard pressed defenders...

While the 150mm battery was never called into action despite repeated efforts to establish contact... 🎲🎲🎲

Well, there you have it, another German defeat. I found it hard to throw anything above a 3 right through the game while Phil and Will were more successful with the dice! Especially failing to inflict significant initial losses and later to contact artillery supports made the fight for the infantry doubly difficult. The rules were Rapid Fire Reloaded which William got to grips with under Phil's patient guidance! We all enjoyed the game I think, though William probably the most in besting Grandad, again...