Sunday 3 January 2021

Battle of Vimiero 1808 : Command and Colors

Managed to get one more game of Command and Colors before my son headed back to London. The battle of Vimiero is a slightly larger scenario, the British in a defensive position around the hills and town of Vimiero, the French under Junot on the attack this time.

The set up at the start, strong French fight flank under Solignac, the main french assault aiming at the hills around Vimiero itself. The victory conditions are 6 banners.
The french have the unlikely option of two victory banners if they reach and take the town itself.
, through all that British infantry !
It felt right with two close victories under their belt the french should be aggressive so Junot openned with his historical approach a strong push down the right towards the village of Ventosa and a direct assault down the centre. The flank attack progressed nicely but the initial direct assault was easily repulsed with one of the two french attacking columns wiped out !
The village of Ventosa taken by french light infantry with strong support.
The second column has made it to the hill but is also wiped out, one of the challenges and the fun of the system is trying to bring enough force in one specific location to make a decisive break through.
The french assault has cost them and the British have taken an early lead with 4 to 2 victory points, but the defence on the hill has been weakened and fearful of smaller units being picked off the British pull back slightly off the crest.
We have skipped several turns here, the french have finally concentrated enough combined arms on the right to hold Ventosa but the British are counter attacking but isolated. The main battle is definitely in the centre, the french have regrouped and pushed forward a column of Grenadiers, despite withering fire from the 95th they are in a commanding position. The balance has been turned slightly with the British at 5 to 4 needing only one more banner.
The British are worried the Grenadiers can outflank the hills and they have little strength to hold them back. They choose a high risk strategy sending their Portuguese light cavalry out to snatch one more banner. So brave those British (with their allies) but so foolhardy, they are unlucky with their dice, are held and then the French open up with devastating grape shot, wiping out the both the unit and their commanding officer.
The French have snatched victory from defeat, Ventosa has been taken, the French advanced column of grenadiers has pretty much broken through. Again a very close battle which could so easily have gone to the British. Wellesley was slightly despondent as he felt he had let a victory slip away. We now need to see if we can play C&C remotely much to be said for these simple but rewarding games. 
We have have some really cold but nice weather so managed some walks, this particular day was the pick of them ! The inversion holding cloud down in the valley
About minus 5 on the tops

The house is now quite so I can hopefully get on with some painting, my AWI grenadiers are coming on nicely but I have been sidetracked by the Third Anglo-Afghan war ! Another new project for 2021.....more to come. ๐Ÿ˜€


23 comments:

  1. looks an interesting game. 3rd Anglo Afghan war, luckily we have loads of troops for that already - well i do:).

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    1. We have certainly enjoyed the games we have played and whilst hugely simplified it gives the fell of a Historical wargame. Are yes you have loads of troops for most things ๐Ÿ˜€ you have encouraged me to get my woodbine figures out and am creating a small British colonial force. I’m planning something on the scale of my RCW in fact I only need a few more bits for the British some gun crews as I picked up a couple of small mountain guns ages ago and already have a larger artillery piece from VBCW collection. I have several vehicles, and a couple more to convert. Then I am pondering the current plastic Afghans available but giving them some slightly better guns. All of these will combine nicely with your current Dunsterforce project. ๐Ÿ‘for a larger game when the world calms down !

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    2. Yes I do. Old glory pathans are great figures and cheap, MINE ARE OLD glory

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  2. Good to see you got some games in with your son over the holidays. CCN is a smoothy operating system and one in which victory often hangs in the balance. A French victory at Vimeiro is impressive.

    Looking forward to your new project and your AWI grenadiers.

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    1. Thanks Jonathan we are looking at how it might work remotely. The victory was really a bit lucky, the British were rash at just the wrong time and very unlucky when I killed both the cavalry and the attached officer. I have been slightly sidetracked but will get back on course soon ๐Ÿ‘

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    2. This is a hobby, we are expected to be sidetracked! Beautiful landscapes too.

      As for remote CCN, give VASSAL gaming engine a look.

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  3. You seem pleased by the game, a good recommendation for it I'd think. As ever, the scenic views are marvelously uplifting!

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    1. Yes the game for its simplicity is fun a rewarding to play. ๐Ÿ˜€

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  4. Another great looking game of CCN, with the action seeming historically plausible, which is always good. Have you tried playing it solo? Nice pics of the countryside too, with a few wals here (nice views to the Black Mountains covered in snow one day) but too icy for bike rides, but managed a quick one round the neighbourhood this morning on the treated roads.

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    1. Thanks Steve yes a good game which despite the french win felt very plausible. I do plan to run the game solo and have found several options to make this work. Lovely part of the world the Black Mtns ๐Ÿ‘ I have stayed on my indoor bike as the roads are far too icy up here !

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  5. You certainly seem to have taken to Command and Colours Matt...three games and three victories, very impressive! I agree with MartinC by the way..I have some OG Pathans and they are good figures and very cost effective!

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    1. Yep been looking at the OG figures and yes good value. Am also looking at the newer plastic options available which are very cost effective ๐Ÿค”

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  6. Fun gaming again, Matt. And the scenery is awesome - a true walk in the clouds. Reminds me a bit of Haleakalฤ on Maui.

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    1. Yep the game is working well but I may need to try it solo. We get these inversions under certain cold weather conditions and it always feels special ๐Ÿ˜€

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  7. C and C sounds a good alternative to Napoleonic figure games, splendid outdoor photos.

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    1. Enjoying the game, it is very tempting to think about figure games as I am a miniature gamer at heart ๐Ÿค”

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    2. 6 mm Napoleonics seems a really interesting idea ?

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  8. A great looking game (nice system!) and two splendid pictures...What a post Matt!

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    1. Thanks Phil, the game is fun and rewarding but I am a figure gamer at heart.

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  9. Another fun sounding game! Yes Afghans are tempting, wargames Atlantic or Perry or both?!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain a box of Perry are on their way as we speak ๐Ÿ˜€

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