The Battle of Fort Ann July 1777 : American War Independence

After far too long the weekend saw us return to our AWI campaign. We are now in July 1777 and the small battle of Fort Ann. During the early part of the Saratoga campaign the British had forced the Americans out of fort Ticonderoga, but the pursuit was slightly disorganised. As a column of the 9th Foot marched towards Fort Ann under the command of General John Hill the Americans under Pierse Long sought to catch them in ambush.

The location of Fort Ann

The ‘official’ map of the battlefield, historically the Americans sent the Albany Militia across the river to get behind the British whilst the New Hampshire troops moved to block the road.

A small encounter perfect for Rebels and Patriots. The whole area is wooded and will be difficult to move through and provide cover unless units are on the road.

The 9th Regiment of Foot marching along the road, they have some Native American warriors in support but they may not arrive in time ?

The Albany Militia get behind the column

But the British quickly form into line and give them a volley. Unfortunately the militia prove much tougher than expected

Some of the Albany militia are attacking from across the creek. These woodsmen are better than the average shots !

The British are facing enemy all around

With the regular New Hampshire continentals arriving in force to block the road

The British who are classed as veterans try to face in all directions

They have some success pushing the woodsmen back from the river out of range

But despite heavy volleys the Albany militia won’t break, the British had hoped to finish them off quickly and then face the larger force

Gradually the British are being whittled down their superior morale keeps them in the battle but eventually they will break 

After three failed activations the native contingent finally arrives through the woods but is it too late 

The British force is dwindling quickly and are in danger of being overrun

From bad to worse the Americans roll a double six activation and get another FREE unit yet more Albany militia arrive just when I thought they had been finished off

After another couple of frustrating failed activations the natives finally get into the action,  whilst they are poor at shooting they are ferocious fighters. They catch the unit which includes the American officer, they sweep through the whole unit. Long is killed and the rest of the unit flees back to the fort.

The Americans take a collective morale check but pass, the British are continuing to fight the newly arrived militia 

ThenNative contingent activates again next turn and despite being shot at charge into the second unit of New Hampshire boys who are similarly scalped and despatched, suddenly the battle has turned, by virtue of the majority of the British regulars still being on the table they are now close to pulling of a memorable victory.

The last New Hampshire regiment are also forced to pull back by musket fire form on the hill , all that remains is for the natives to do their stuff, they activate !!!!!! Arghhhh a double 1 blunder failing their charge they choose instead to flee the field. By now both sides are pretty exhausted and with the loss of the natives the British sue for a draw which is granted. Technically the British are slightly ahead but all of their units are well below half strength. So a draw seemed a fair result.

A really fun return to the AWI and shows how well the rules work at this skirmish scale. The forces were unbalanced but technically the same points, but rather than an attack defend as some of our previous battles both  sides were straight into the combat. The British struggled to get rid of the militia and the natives arrived a bit late, given this and the fact that the Americans manage to get reinforcements the British did pretty well. 

And to finish some more sunny shots of the Lake District 

That’s is for now I will be attending CLAYMORE wargame show this weekend so if anybody who follows is attending and wants to say hello let me know would be great to catch up. I will be easily recognisable as I’ll hopefully be carrying lots of loot 🙂

Thanks as always , hopefully some more Naples photos next time

Matt

Weekly painting update 🙂

A busy week being retired this week. But I have managed to complete some figures.

While tidying up I discovered I had a few extra mixed Union troops in the plastic pile, these were part painted a while ago but it has been nice to get them finished off, I think I have one other African American regiment to paint and possibly some Zouave’s. Then I think a confederate unit which has been languishing for ages. This may well be enough ACW forces unless something interesting comes along.

After our last 15mm battle I also remembered that I had some part painted and based American Paratroopers. Again I have rattled these through the painting process. But it means for our late war battles in 15mm I can field a force of Paratroopers.

I visited George’s again yesterday  the second in our Konigsberg campaign. If he hasn’t already I’m sure George will produce a more detailed report. After our very close first battle it was inevitable that Chain of Command would throw us a curve ball.

The scenario has the Germans flank attacking a small school. With some very lucky deployment dice (repeatedly rolling double turns) the Germans were fully on the table with everything zoomed in on the school. It would have been pretty suicidal for the Russians to arrive so they didn’t.

The Germans waiting patiently for the enemy to show their heads. It became obvious we had reached an impass. I could only see one option to advance towards the school with another double tour I was close to capturing the far house which by some twist would have meant the end of the battle without the Russians deploying a single unit. Not the way I would want to win a battle ! George had only one card to play ambushing the advancing unit with an entrenched machine gun, they were thrown back, but the germans  then focussed all their fire on the russian machine gun knocking it out. We were back to square one with literally no Russians on the table and nothing for the Germans to do. 

The school looking pretty empty again ?

The only option was to throw another German unit into the open to draw the Russians out. Which they did not surprisingly cutting the Germans to pieces a couple of bad morale tests and the Germans really had no option but to withdraw. I guess this is just one of those example where CoC can throw up a ‘funny’ game. Fun to play and we had an entertaining morning but both sides left slightly frustrated with the scenario .

Another shot from a couple of days walking earlier in the week , this looking down Ennerdale.

Finally some planning is needed as I’m intending to visit the Ardennes later in the year. If anybody has been I would welcome advice all told we will probably have two or three days in the Ardennes itself as we also plan on some other locations including Sedan perhaps.

Thanks as always hopefully some more painting this weekend

KBO

Matt 😀

A Bridge too far ? Sicily 1943 WW2 Action

A bit like buses games are coming fairly frequently at the moment. The dungeon saw another all day wargame this weekend. With Martin house move transit I would be providing both forces and this gave me a chance to get my Sicily collection out for a big game. Quite a lot of new figures which have been painted earlier this year would be taking place in the battle. US paratroopers, additional US armour and German Fallschirmjager. This was not a historical battle but certainly represents many actions which took place on Sicily.

The Americans will be attacking from this end and looking to capture the 2 bridges (these are recently completed new terrain) and the cross roads to the East. They have three units of paratroopers to be dropped at the start although there is of course some randomness as to their location. The German force made up the 1st Fallschirmjager have already deployed an advance force to each objective. Vehicles can only cross the river at the bridges but infantry can wade across. The Americans have some off table artillery support controlled by an on table observer. First edition Bolt Action for the rules 🙂

A machine gun dug in at the nearest bridge, as the Americans advanced these lead units were actually hidden

A unit of infantry at the second bridge

The third unit is in the church 

German reserves of infantry advance from the West, supported by some attached armour

Bum…..the American paratroopers land right behind the second bridge !

More infantry and support weapons head through the fields behind the village.

US infantry push North towards the first objective with a Sherman leading the way and a 57mm AT gun

The Americans deploy a number of support weapons and the Artillery observer onto the rocky hill in their centre 

The main American infantry force advances towards the village

Germans deploy defensively in the village, but quickly have to redeploy their 75mm when it is attacked by American tanks coming down the road

The paratroopers behind their lines cause the Germans all sorts of problems and become a real distraction, they assault the German Stug although fail just to knock it out

PzIV risks the 57mm AT gun to advance towards the bridge, in the distance more paratroopers arrive but luckily they are dropped short of the objectives

Boom a ‘ lucky’ early shot from the Panzer (rolling a 6 followed by a 5 followed by a 6) brews up the Sherman this severely dents the American move towards the first bridge

The American paratroopers deploy on foot and the AT gun takes repeated shots at the Pz on the road

Having occupied the smaller building by the cross roads as well as the church the unit is forced out when the building is hit hard by Mortar fire

Still holding the second bridge 

Weight of fire from the attackers starts to drive the defenders by the first bridge back

And the Panzer IV is forced to pull back as artillery fire is called in from off table

Mortar fire also nearly wipes out the defenders by the second bridge 

Still not eliminated the paratroopers are at least less effective and pinned down, but they are still drawing forces away from protecting the first bridge

The bridge is starting to be outflanked by more infantry

Heavy German mortar fire has limited the US firepower from the rocky hill

The 57mm is taking fire now and the crew pinned down

Two American tanks have been stalked by Fallschirmjager with a Panzerschrek and now the AT gun has been moved forward as well, the Germans take the opportunity to assault American infantry in the far building and they are pushed out of the village

Boom again but this time the Panzer is caught in the flank by the Sherman 

Artillery was a key feature in US doctrine in Sicily but is wasn’t expecting the off table artillery to be so effective an entire German unit heading for the first bridge is knocked out in one strike (a double 6 !)

But now it is clear the village has been secured by the Germans and the tanks driven away

Finally the paratroopers have been killed or captured by the second bridge

But the Americans have taken the first bridge and are moving forward past the burning PzIV

Phew….a really fun day gaming swinging both ways and lots of moments of fun (and despair) for both sides. The Germans held in the end and can claim a victory but are now pretty thin on the ground and with almost limitless reserves the Americans will be able to push through eventually. Really great to get the Fallschirmjager out in force and the entire American force into one battle which was fairly well balanced.

More stuff for Sicily in the future with some additional forces ? Think the Americans need an M7 

Thanks as always for checking in, hopefully next back to CoC with George and then a return to the AWI

Matt 🙂