"Form Line of Battle" : Napoleonic Naval Small Squadron Action

A small Royal Navy squadron of HMS Thunderer (74) and HMS Canopus (80) spots a suspicious pair of sails on the distant horizon (see below):

The sails turn out to be a small French squadron of two ships Le Franklin (74) and the Commerce de Marseilles (120) obviously intent on conducting a secret mission for the Emperor (see below):

Despite being out gunned the Royal Navy commander decides on a aggressive strategy of cutting the enemy (French) line, so the fittingly named HMS Thunderer leads the charge. HMS Canopus and the Commerce de Marseilles have exchanged fire resulting in "sail and mast" damage to both. As HMS Thunderer blocks HMS Canopus' line of sight to the French flagship Canopus turns her attention to the Le Franklin (see below, British squadron at top of photograph, French bottom):

The ambitious "breaking the line" manoeuvre goes somewhat awry as the captain of HMS Thunderer miscalculates the relative speeds of the two ships and impales herself on a ship twice her size (a crew of over a thousand Frenchmen compared to under five hundred British sailors). This meant interested reading and re-reading of the collision rules (see below):

As a wargame the battle had to be left unfinished, in rather a shambolic state, with the French flagship being entangled with the small British 74 (HMS Thundered). HMS Canopus and Le Franklin meanwhile continued their exchanges of broadside upon broadside, leaving both in a state of mutual "de-sailing and de-masting" (see below):

Chances are the Le Franklin will succumb to the continued attention of HMS Canopus as both ships become static floating fortresses, the rate of fire from the British being better. However if HMS Thunderer cannot untangle herself from the French flagship ultimately the battle will be lost to the French.

A 60:40 probability to the French methinks ;)

PSC Russian AT "Chain of Command" Supports

Further to the Italeri offerings the PSC have a nice duel option kit with the 57mm and 76mm AT guns being available as alternative variants. The number of guns in the pack are nice too, as in four (see below):

The Zis 3 76mm AT Gun and servants (see below):

The Zis 2 57mm AT Gun and servants (see below):

I must confess I was slightly taken aback with the length of the 57mm AT (Zis 2) Gun's barrel. It must have had a heck of a mussel velocity but just did not pack the punch to trouble a Panther or Tiger, so it was replaced by the Zis 3 76mm gun.

Correction: Please read comments for the "real" reason ;)

PSC American Heavy Weapons Set

This is an interesting little release from the Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) to complement the US Infantry with the miscellaneous variations on heavy weapons (mortars and machine guns) that the US Infantry hand in the Second World War (see below):

These include three each of the following (crewed):

• M1917 Machine Gun
• M1919 Machine Gun
• HMG M2 Browning
• 81mm Mortar
• 4.2 inch 'Chemical' Mortar
• 60mm Mortar

Interesting and "wacky" stuff, especially the 'Chemical Mortar' thing? What's that then?

Soviet 20mm WWII "Chain of Command" Supports: Zis 3 76mm AT Gun

Alongside the Esci/Italeri basic Russian Infantry Rifle Platoon (now complete), the Chain of Command "supports" section lists those "must haves" for any Soviet Platoon Commander. In 1944/45 you need a decent anti-tank deterrent to knock out Pz IV's and at least a Cat (Panther or Tiger). Enter stage left the Zis 3 (76mm) anti tank gun from Italeri (see below):

Even better when you see that you get 'two' to the pack (see below):

It is an absolute hassle free construction and is a perfectly molded kit and superb crew figures. The only thing to note is that the hard plastic gun components beckons super glue rather than poly cement.

Next Stage: A bit of paint ;)

Spectator Sport: Romans v Seleucid "Grim Reaper" (2) End Game

The clash of cavalry goes the way of the Romans. As seems to be the way with DBMM, DBM and DBA rules sets, an initial +1 overlap tends to ripple across the battle line to deadly effect. By a subtle selection of where to start fighting the Romans skillfully edge the cavalry battle, with a little help from an adventurous Auxilla overlapping the Seleucid cavalry wing. The Seleucid General is left looking very exposed and is about to be surrounded (see below):

Meanwhile the Seleucid left wing of Pike and Horse is finally (after two additional turns of movement) almost getting to grips with the Roman extreme right of infantry (ie the foot troops unable to march away quick enough). An opportunistic Roman Fast Knight took the opportunity to slay a Seleucid Auxilla (how could he resist from trampling underfoot weak infantry) but now finds itself contesting the centre with a bigger Seleucid General to its front and a Seleucid Pike Block to its flank (see below):

The Roman Fast Knight dies but in so doing offers the Romans a fleeting opportunity to "bag" a Seleucid General. The victorious General being himself a knight is obliged to follow up and thus exposes himself to a second line of Roman Fast Knights. The Romans get their man (see below):

That about does it for the Seleucids as "player morale" broke just ahead of the Army morale. An old wargaming friend and Grognard once said of Ancient wargames, "Fight with your best and don't fight where you don't have to!" The Seleucid Pike Blocks and columns of Fast Seleucid Knights roamed the battlefield, searching in vain for a combat. Whereas the Seleucid Warband and Auxillia found more than the bargained for. The complete reverse of my old friends axiom. The Seleucid Army Morale broke as these latter forces were decimated by the deadly Legionnaires (see below):

In summary this was an impressive Roman performance and left me with many, many questions regarding how to fight this versatile Middle Imperial Roman Army with my chosen Ancient Chinese (Army 63 from Book 2: Three Kingdoms and Western Ts'In 189AD-316AD). 

Any helpful thoughts and hints greatly appreciated ;)

Spectator Sport: Duelling the Middle Imperial Romans DBMM Style (1)

A wargaming friend has recently completed a spectacular "wargaming project" in 25/28mm, painting a small/medium sized Middle Imperial Romans DBMM army.

The results was quite simply glorious and quite rightly he wanted to play with it as soon and as much as possible. Hence he devised a quick round-robin competition to fight all comers "against a valid time span army" (ie DBMM Army Book 2), though not necessarily an historical opponent. First to beat the Roman Army twice wins or the Romans can claim victory. The flexibility of the Romans versus the cunning nature of the Barbarians. A classic match-up.

Knowing that "Deadly Dennis" the Roman would have done as meticulous a job at  "army spotting" (the troops v opponent killer 'rock, scissor or stone' combinations of DBMM) as his brilliant paint work, I took the opportunity to sit back and watch his Roman war machine at work against the Seleucids. Intelligence wins wars as much as muscle after all.

Note: Both armies were smallish at 200 points with the idea of getting things over with in a night.

The Romans deployed first so suffered from the fact the Seleucid could "line up against his weaknesses" as per the Seleucid troop type (DBMM 'rock, scissors and stone' again) but took it in stoic fashion. The Roman's 'inferior' organic Roman Cavalry [Left] wing is set-up in column presumably for added flexibility, followed by a line of Auxillia, backed with Legion, along to the strange "club-men" (murderous against Knights apparently) [Centre] to the far wing of elite Fast Knights (allies, not organic Roman), Light Horse and Auxilla/Skirmish Psilio [Left] (see below, left wing at the bottom of picture):

The Seleucid effectively nuetralised the Roman Right by placing his elite Pike and wedged Fast Knights against them (two thirds of his Cavalry hitting power) [on the Seleucid Left/Roman Right], a weak Auxillia Warband, Auxillia infantry block[Centre] and a made-do Cavalry [on the Selucid Right/Roman Left] designed as more of a holding force (see below):

Both armies seem to have bulked up with cheaper infantry options (with only 200 points to play with this is as expected) and only two commanders, so command and control could well turn out to be a problem. The Seleucid wants to win on his left so the Roman Commander cleverly realises that his only chance is to refuse that fight and try win on his left (even though it is with his poorer cavalry). So all depends on the balance of the secondary Cavalry wings of both armies. The Roman happily sees the Seleucid come to him as he sees the chance of perhaps using his Auxillia in support, he therefore also sallies forth (see below):

The Seleucid is somewhat irked at seeing the Roman retreating away from where he wanted to it fight (a good sign methinks of the Roman astuteness), as the Roman calculated that the troop match-ups were a "no-brainer win for the Seleucid" do he should form column and "get out of dodge" with what he can save (see below):

The Seleucid's problem now is that he is trying to catch horse with Pike (four legs good and two legs bad in this race). The Seleucid faster elements being drawn up on the outer left of his army (with the intention of outflanking the enemy that has suddenly bolted). The Seleucid has a lot of ground, too much perhaps, to make up. Cleverly the Roman lights and Auxillia seek cover in rough and watch the powerful formations that once formed the backbone of Alexander the Great's Army harmlessly match by bypassing them.

Next: The Fighting Tooth and Claw

Liebster Award (2014)

To use a name that I always associate with "Black Adder II" and  "Black Adder Goes Forth" I must pay my thanks to "Bob" for nominating this humble blog for a Leibster award :)

I am honoured, for praise from Bob is indeed high praise indeed.



Questions and Answers: 

Why did you start blogging?

• Born out of frustration really, I was surrounded by the unadulterated clutter of the bric-a-brac and toys of my wargaming hobby. I never seemed to achieve anything or make sense of what I was doing despite poiring seemingly hundreds of hours and pounds (an underestimate here methinks) into the hobby. I decided therefore I needed a form of visual diary of the "pretty things" I had painted and a "potted history" of the games played. This perhaps would help me in some small way to organize or at least understand (and also inspire new) my thoughts by "brain dumping" all of  my crazy projects into the "blog sphere" for comments. 

If you could change one thing about the wargaming hobby, what would it be?

• Rule lawyers, those that have turned to the "dark side" of the force, it is in us all and there is always the acute danger that we too can be turned to it (or even worse we are already there and don't yet realize it)

What is best in life?

• Generally the "free bits" we underrate and take for granted, like "fresh air" and soppy stuff like "love" (careful I am getting all "tearful and chokey")

Fame or fortune?

• "Infamy, infamy they've all got it in for me!" Sorry I could not resist it. I would say fame, or rather acknowledgement and respect of my peers and perhaps a contribution to the good of the wider world. Naturally I hope my wife will not be reading this bit ... somehow fortune and wargaming don't seem to go hand-in-hand.

What miniatures are you most proud of having painted?

• Generally speaking, the last ones that have passed across the painting table, which I think is a healthy and good thing. Currently this is some traditional Russian World War II Esci/Italeri "plastic infantry" not in the least bit flash but very satisfying to get painted to a decent standard. I hope my best is yet to come :)

How do you deal with burn out?

• I "potter and paint" in my hobby mode or if I am too shattered I try to "sleep" lots

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

• OK, I started thinking about it, but could only come up with "But they are not alike?" felt so, so stupid, so I Googled for it and saw the references to Edgar Alan Poe and Lewis Carroll's 'Mad Hatter's Tea Party'. I also note that there are far, far more cleverer (and far less literal) people in the world than me and hence I want to move on quickly moving onto the next question

Star Wars or Star Trek?

• Oh, depends on my mood. Currently it's Star Wars but I think that is because it is far easier for my kids to follow and hence for me to watch with them. I have a feeling they will drift into Star Trek more as they get older (when in their teens?)

If you could only buy from one miniatures company from now on, which one would it be?

• Plastic Soldier Company (PSC), but I would have to ask them to expand the diversity of what they produce to cover the ancient period in 15mm, WWII in 1/200 and 1/300 as well, naval in 1/3000 (WWI, WWII and modern), naval in 1/1200 (Napoleonic and WWII), could they also produce the Airfix back-catalog and consider doing some Sci-Fi ... I think I missed the point of the question or the answer is perhaps I could not live with buying from one miniatures company (I don't think I mentioned 1/144 WWI, WWII and modern planes or 2mm Napoleonics either)

What is your favourite takeaway?

• Chinese Egg Fried Rice with Chicken in Capitol Sauce,. There that was really easy!

My nominated Blogs that may be NEW to people: 

If you have not already tried these yet then may I suggest you give them a go :)

Tomorrow, When The Revolution Begins
Impetus News
Kit Noob
China Defense Blog
World War 20mm
Naval Gazing
Monty's Wargaming
MadAxeMan's Wargame Blog

Blog on!