Wargaming Roots (Part 1).

Before I started the SYW in 40mm home casts I originally did it first in 30mm using Spencer Smith and Grant's rules from 'The Wargame' . I was sorting some boxes out today and came across them and decided to give the rules a go . The Austrian force under General Karl Gruntze march to capture a bridge held by the Prussians - they have 12 moves to accomplish this. 

The Prussian General Pieter Junge and 'travelling companion' Tootsie .

The Prussian force deployed to defend the bridge.

The Prussian battery supported by a unit of Fuzillers (will count as poor this game).

The Hungarian regiments - Haller and Esterhazy .

The Prussians open fire - the 'Bounce Stick  of Death' is deployed .

And overshoots the Austrian Pandours - the only figure under the 'hit sleeve' is the Hungarian Brigadier ! Oh dear ! .

He is hit and fails his saving throw - dead ! . This was his first battle and he didn't even have a name (all my General and Regimental Officers have names recorded on their bases)  so history does not even recall his demise .  Too be continued ..... 

P.S. I realise that I have not finished off the 40mm  game that I was playing - but I had to take down the battle to set up another when 'S' came around for a game . I will be able to set it up again using the photos I took and restart it . 

New Generals .

I've been aware for a while the lack of suitable General Officers for my light cavalry units , so I decided to cast up a couple of  Hussar figures to remedy this.The problem was that the French Hussars are a bit boring mainly dressed in blue and red , so I thought I'd be a bit different and use a officer from the Swedish Hussars that were allies to the French . The Allied General is a Prussian Hussar . Surfing through the various regiments I came up with the above figures , on the left General Wartenburg and his faithful hound Moritiz from the Hussar Regt. Puttkamer (The White Hussars) and on the right General Baron Georg Gustaf Wrangel of the Gula Hussars (The Yellow Hussars).

I converted the Swedish figure by adding a Busby from 'Green Stuff'. The faithful hound is from a Prince August mould .

I have also re-based some of the figures I was kindly given , they are the first two companies for the French Regiment Orleans , I will be casting up some more to complement them .

In Memoria.

I was contacted by Graham Cummings from the 'A Military Gentleman' Forum asking me if I would like some 40mm Prince August SYW figures that belonged to his friend Lee Maxwell who had sadly died , I was overwhelmed by this kind offer and said that I would be honoured to accept these figures and give them a good home .

They arrived today , the figures are beautifully painted in a 'toy soldier' style . With these figures there are enough unpainted figures to form 2 new regiments to enhance my collection.

I would like to thank Graham and pass on my condolences to Lee Maxwell's family and hope I can do these figures justice in future games . I will be re-basing the figures and painting the rest up in a similar style to match them , the first unit will be the French Regiment Orleans and I will post reports on my progress .

A Surprise Attack (Parte 2)

The French force comes under fire from the Allied gun as they move forward to attack.

The French Chasseurs open a lively fire against the gun crew .

Major Shandy organises the defence .

The 18th open fire on the French Hussars , as the French Chasseurs take cover behind the earthworks .

The French Hussars try to charge but suffer heavy casualties and rout from the melee. (lesson learnt - don't charge formed infantry frontally !)

The Chasseurs drive off the gunners !.

And then move forward to capture the gun !

They capture it ! , but the 18th charge them ! ( colour problems on this photo - due to sunshine streaming through the window !).

The Saxon LiebGrenadierGarde deploy ready to attack in support .

The infantry forces exchange volleys , and the French deployment becomes somewhat jumbled as the cavalry seeks to move around the flank .

The Irish drive off the Chasseurs and recapture the gun !.

Then reinforcements start to arrive ! . Too be continued .....

A Surprise Attack ! (Parte 1)

Have decided to play another game using B.A.R. rules - having re-read them and decided what bits I want to use or alter slightly.

The Allies are besieging the French held town of  Dendermont and early one morning Major Shandy, his faithful dog 'Charlie' and his batman Corporal Trim are taking an early morning stroll near the Allied right flank - then ! 

The French having found a secret ford over the river that was meant to protect the siege lines are marching to take the thinly held flank and raise the siege .

Charlie dashes to the Allied Head Quarters to warn them of the impending attack .

Major Shandy alerts the commander of  the Artillery.

The  French force made up of  the Saxon LiebGrenadierGarde , the Saxon Hussar squadron Von Schill , French Hussars Bercheny and the Chasseurs De Sombreuil  move onto the table .

The extreme right of the Allied lines held at the moment by 1 artillery piece and 2 companies of the yet untried 18th Foote (Royal Irish) . Can Uncle Toby Shandy organise the defences till help comes ? ........ Too be Continued

'Charlie' - The Prince August home cast dog  is of course based on our own dog 'Charlie' 

Breaking News !

Just had a Email from Prince August to say they are issuing some new SYW  moulds , above the infantryman mould with choice of heads .

The NCO and Drummer mould.

The Officer and Standard Bearer. These look very good for the home-caster and are more sensible than some of their recent moulds.

http://shop.princeaugust.ie/recent-releases/

B.A.R. Test Game (Part 2).

This is the position we find units in at the start of the next move , the Regt. D Roi has deployed as has the Allied gun its all down to who gets to fire first !

The tension is almost unbearable ! - you can almost feel the Hessian Grenadier Sergeant wincing on their nearest flank 

And the French get to fire first - they score high plus first fire at close-ish range and the Hessian's make some rubbish saving throws and it's disaster time for the Allies ! . To add insult to injury the French draw the next card as well and the Swiss fire more or less finishing off the Grenadiers . Well this more or less finished off the game, the Allied gun fired causing light casualties and the commander thought it wise to limber up and retire , the British Grenadiers got a volley off at the French Hussars perched in front of them (I'd forgotten all about them !) and they broke . This allowed the Allies to retire unharmed , a French victory !. Well what are my impressions of B.A.R. ? , I like the card drawing system which adds uncertainty to who moves and shoots, the moral system doesn't really kick in till units reach 50% casualties (similar to 'Charge') , ranges are greater - the saving throws keep casualties down . Not being based on company bases I did not use their manoeuvre system and I get the feeling they are aimed at set piece battles (although after only one playing this may not be true), they are slightly more complicated than 'Charge' - but not much so as to make them hard to use . Will I use them again - Hmm not sure ?! - I may use the card system for 'Charge' though!.

I 've got the Starlux Hussar figure repaired , his sword is a flattened pin bent and a hole drilled into the hand and glued in place. I drilled another hole in his Busby inserted another pin glued it in place and built up the plume with 'green stuff' , the scabbard is a piece of scrap spear cut to size and glued into position . The flag is a download (not very good one) which needs tarting up a bit , think he is ready after a final clean up for a undercoat and then re-painting . Watch this space ......