Middle Earth Skirmish

I had a chance this week to entertain an old friend and his son in the dungeon so I rolled out my LoTR collection almost always a favourite with less regular gamers. A simple scenario sees the forces of Mordor fighting Gondor across a river. The armies were equal sized and I allowed the players to set up as they saw fit.

The forces of evil were more spread out while the Gondorians remained mainly focussed at one end of the table, we had agreed that all troops could cross the river at the three fords but only trolls could Wade in other areas.

Some initial flanking movement to right 

One of the enemy trolls repeatedly charged across the river eventually wiping out the Gondorian cavalry

Next the Wrgs were sent over to join the track but were picked off by ranged attacks

After plenty of fun and a battle which swung both ways, the Gondorians are surrounded, but somehow they cling on and eventually with the Black rider killed by Eomer the evil forces are wiped out. A fun battle and both players went away happy 👍

A bit more painting I finished off the last Greek Medium Mortar

A second unit of Highland warriors for the ECW

…and despite some wet and cold weather I managed to get out on my bike

Thanks as always for checking in, two more games planned this week so likely some more posting at the weekend

Matt ❤️

WW2 Greco-Italian war

Those who follow George’s blog will have seen his post of this battle already but so I can remember what I have played I’ll post it too. Postponed slightly I had promised George another run out with my Greek/Italian WW2 stuff. As he had played the Italians last time I wanted to give him a go with the Greeks but to give them a  fighting chance on the attack I needed a couple more units painted up.

I had already purchased these from Great Escape Games. Excellent range of Greeks in 28mm if anybody is interested. These are two regular Infantry units supporting the rest of the Evzone Mountain force. Really hard not to have all the figures look identical, which whilst historically correct is a bit boring so I altered the shade of their uniforms, assuming they were perhaps newly issued ? I also left the grass off their bases to aid identifying them on the tabletop.

Our scenario has a small force of Albanian troops defending an Italian supply base, the Greeks will be seeking to capture the depot and the goodies contained.

Italian reserves start rushing onto the table, the scenario allowed the Greeks deployment on both flanks but  they chose instead a frontal assault !

And here they come ! Support fire from Mortar and Light Mountain Howitzer but they have little immediate effect

The Italians prepare to defend their supplies to the death ! Fortunately (unfortunately) George reminded me that the last time we played I had reduced the Italian leadership so it only seemed fair to do so for this battle 🙁

The Italians only have one tankette and in a rare event this is taken out by a Greek antitank Rifle !

Not surprisingly as the objective for both sides is the depot it becomes the scene for very fierce hand to hand fighting, it changes hand several times during the battle

This is around turns five the Greeks are closing in again but the Italians have numbers

The elite Greek mountain troops are back in control but surrounded

The Greeks throw everything into the final 2 turns. Putting pins on the Italians infantry closing in, with their reduced leadership they fail to obey their officers orders to charge in and the Greeks win the day. A fine battle, Bolt Action Version One as often happens giving a fun and close battle right up to the end.

It was of course fun to get the Greeks on the table again and as I was packing up I thought an army Parade would be nice. Here they are I do have one more mortar nearly finished, Greeks orthodox priests and a mule supply chain to finish things. The force is very workable BA army now with a little variation depending on whether they are attacking or defending. I might try and add an armoured car or a captured Italian tankette sometime, any thoughts on expansion would be welcome ?

Another Scottish regiment has also rolled off the production line this weekend, these a slightly different shade and technically Royalists.

That’s it for now, the weather is diabolical at the moment as storm Boleo rolls through so I won’t be going out. Some more painting and wargame stuff expected this afternoon.

Thanks as always Matt 🍺

Italian wars and some painting

Back from what seems like a whole series of holidays and I be managed a couple of games and some painting. Two Italian Wars games, the first against George which he has blogged up already so just some pictures here to remind me.

A lovely collection on the table as always

A battle that swung both ways , my French cavalry pushed back the Venetian right wing. Then things started to fall apart on my right as the Swiss Mercenaries I had hired started to falter.

In the end though things turned around, some low activation rolling by the Venetians gave the french the advantage who claimed the win just !

Next up a game over with Martin, I had suggested following my holiday we try the battle of Pavia using his 10mm Italian wars collection. He juggled the OB around a bit so we could have a reasonable representation.

Star agency I ended up playing the french again ? On the left.

Italian wars in 10mm

Both sides close, although my right flank holds back to maximise the damage long range shooting has on the advancing pike blocks. The french are outnumbered !

A very close battle, we almost finished then needed to play two extra turns to get a more decisive result. The french heavy cavalry did well but were eventually shot to pieces. My pike blocks were eventually worn down and crushed. The imperial forces did at least lose All their cavalry so I venture that the King was able to escape on this occasion.

Some painting completed in the last couple of days.

These African American Union troops had languished in the painting queue for a while , Perry miniatures with their alternate head swops.

I have also cracked on with some ECW scottish units

In fact two have been completed, hard to spot the differences although as the painter I know they are there 🙂 I have a mind to complete enough to get some of the Scottish battles in the ECW played sometime.

Whilst down in London I was discussing various books with my son who recommended this and hey presto it turned up in the charity shop when I got back to Penrith.

A very busy trip to London, most of which ‘cultural’ rather than hobby stuff. I did visit an excellent art exhibition currently on at the Wallace Museum of Winston Churchills paintings, highly recommended as there is naturally quite a bit of history in evidence in the context of the paintings. Apparently though this is the only painting he completed during WW2 given as a gift to Roosevelt after the Casablanca conference, soft diplomacy at work.

I also popped into the maritime museum.

Have been thinking about this for the future ?

Visited the British library where they have a small exhibition related to the 250 Independence celebrations included this original map of the Yorktown battle

Finally a cannon in Greenwich captured from the Ottomans

Currently no more trips planned away although that may change and we are planning for next year. Hopefully some action in the dungeon this week and some more painting.

Many thanks as always

Matt ❤️

Diversion at Glass Mill : Chickamauga 1863

A second game this week in the dungeon so a quick turn around. Looking for something we could play in an evening I dipped into Brad Butkovich’s Chickamauga scenario book. This is a what if scenario as historically it was only an artillery duel before the Confederates chose to pull back. But what if Breckinridge had pushed into a full assault to try and drive away the Union 2nd Division under James S Negley. The scenario is a good size three brigades a piece with supporting artillery.

I shrunk the table down a bit so we would get into action quickly. The woods are light so give cover but don’t reduce visibility, I also ignored any movement penalty for crossing fences to get things moving. Helm’s brigade can be seen already across the Chickamauga Creek. For the Union Beatty is deployed around the farm and off in the distance Stanley’s Brigade. We would be using V&F which allows pretty quick and flexible movement.

We were straight into the action with Adam’s Brigade marching on immediately.

Beatty’s brigade around the farm house and orchard

The confederates have a numerical advantage on the table at the start so it is upto them to get stuck in before the Union reserves arrive. Their artillery opens up as well

The confederates quickly negotiate the fields and woods to get into range of the Union defenders.

Initial skirmishing as the two lines pull closer together

Unfortunately in the distance the Union 3rd Brigade under Sirwell has already arrived !

It’s now going to be a tough one but the Confederates have the numbers still, they ride their luck and charge in ?

Around the farm the battle is descending into a shooting contest, both sides firing volleys at full pace, both sides are taking casualties but not yet decisive

Across the road Stanley’s brigade is so close to breaking, but they manage to pull back behind their reserves just in time. This leaves the confederates facing a fresher Brigade and being hit from more than one direction…..the inevitable happens 

The Confederates break, Adam’s Brigade first who have taken the brunt of the fighting along the road. Helm’s brigade although technically still on the table is being cut to pieces by the Farm and only had two Regiments still fighting. The assault is over and Breckinridge concedes the day. A Union victory which will please some I’m sure. A fun battle it was close for a while but with hindsight…….The forces are too balanced for a frontal assault, should we play this again I will delay the Union reserves longer to put them under more pressure , just a bit too easy for them to sit back and wait.

No more holiday photos this time, although I have plenty !

Thanks as always for checking in on our dungeon activity.

I’m off to London next weekend so won’t be at the other Partizan. I’m sure it will be fun for those who do go…enjoy 👍

Matt ❤️

The Battle of Cheriton 1644

Friday saw a return to Face to Face gaming in the dungeon. I had earmarked the Battle of Cheriton as one to play when an opportunity came up, so we jumped in with both feet.

There are lots of different maps and descriptions of the battle, none agree on the numbers of troops and there appears some debate exactly which ridges the armies drew up on. The key features are the Cheriton wood which saw fierce skirmishing, the higher ground disrupted by hedges and at some point both armies are on opposing ridges.

Cheriton in our setup. The Royalists on the left under Hopton and the Parliamentary forces on the right under his friend Waller. The standard history has a numerical advantage to Waller, and it seems Hopton didn’t really intend to fight until his infantry foolishly marched off their ridge. At this point Waller seeing his chance swooped and a more general engagement ensued much of the Royalist infantry being badly cut up by Parliamentary cavalry.  I felt I needed to provide for the potential for the Royalists to move off their ridge otherwise it would be an almost impossible battle. In fact without this i doubt a battle would have taken place, the Royalist would just have moved away.

My royalist infantry had to roll at the start to see if they were impetuous enough to move forward , two regiments duly failed their tests and marched off into the valley ! My rule required them to keep moving until fired upon or attacked.

As happened historically I couldn’t just leave the infantry to be wiped out so the Royalist cavalry moves forward to support 

The Parliamentary cannons open fire in the centre

The woods at the time seem to have been fairly light so this would reduce movement and and cavalry bonuses for charging etc….unfortunately the cavalry on my right flank gets drawn into the woods where nobody can really get an advantage 

On the other wing there is a stand off , but seeing a lone cavalry unit in the centre I throw my cavalry forward, high risk but exciting and unpredictable 

Cavalry continue to skirmish in the woods unfortunately the parliamentary forces have a regiment of Cuirassiers who in the woods prove very hard to kill !

Somehow my Royalist cavalry fail to break through and the gamble doesn’t pay off a swirling cavalry battle ensues in the centre whoch can really only go one way 🙁

In for a penny the Royalist infantry in now pushing across the valley to get to grips with the rebels

Unfortunately it is too late and the Royalist cavalry is broken, with my right flank now completely exposed Hopton has no option but to concede the day and salvage as many troops as possible for another day. An entertaining battle, I didn’t roll very well at all failing on one turn to score any hits at all. The Royalists really should have stayed on their ridge but then I don’t think we would have had a battle as the Parliamentary forces probably aren’t strong enough for a frontal assault. Great to get back gaming in the dungeon.

Don’t think I had posted this but Jonathon invited me to play through his Salem Church Battle, we had a lot of fun Sedgwick did a bit better than I had expected !

Finally some nice shots from my holiday 

The Medieval gates into Verdun

Dukes of Burgundy Palace in Dijon 

Armour collection in Turin

Cittadella Viscontea di Piacenza home of the Farnese family for a while and now a series of museums

Castello di San Giorgio, part of the Ducal palace and now also a series of museums

The Sforza Castle in Milan, guess what a series of museums

Arco della Pace in Milan, started by Napoleon when he conquered Italy, but not completed by him so the inscriptions etc are dedicated to the Congress of Vienna after Napoleons downfall.

Amiens Cathederal and a beer 

That’s it for now another game on the table so another game to post in the next few days.

Thanks as always for popping by

Matt ❤️