Ambush at Glasson : VBCW

The alarm had now been raised that the Scottish Republicans were invading along the coast between Port Carlisle and Drumburgh. The Albertine Forces of West Cumberland have been hurriedly called to the Area to push back the invaders. As Major Montgomery galloped back towards Glasson he couldn’t understand why the Scots would choose to invade here, and then it dawned on him “the railway” damn it they were looking to cut the railway as this was the closest point it ran to the coast, they must have gotten wind that Colonel Barnaby Thrasington used the railway each morning to travel from his HQ to inspect the front line defences. This wasn’t an invasion but an attempt to kidnap the Colonel, who before the war was a close personal friend of Prince Albert. Who knew what concessions the Prince would have to give up to get his friend back. Shouting out his orders the Major galloped on “get to the railway....protect the Colonel”

(The scene set, due to bad weather our original plan was reduced somewhat, an a different opponent  stepped in, with slightly smaller forces the Scots would seek to cut the railway, the train would arrive randomly but we didn’t know from which direction, it would be forced to stop and take one turn for the side who stopped it to capture or rescue the Colonel, getting him back to safety or the boats. The Scots did have an offshore mortar which could target anywhere on the table)

Scottish Regular troops used to spearhead the assault

Supported by rough (is there any other sort) Scottish coal miners, they have managed to drag a heavy gun with them through the mud from the coast

The Albertine are initially only militia and local defence forces, they need to hold the line until regular troops arrive from other bases

The major looks on worried, he isn’t sure he has enough forces concentrated to defend the railway and he doesn’t know where the train will come from ?

Luckily the West Cumberland Constabulary have arrived in force including a mortar team who open up on the invaders

Units of Police and the Wigtown Local Defence Volunteers running down the Main Street of Glasson towards the road bridge which crosses the railway

The Scottish Rebulicans have also managed to bring wit them or capture an old armoured car which immediately drives up the road towards the bridge

Private Jackson with the WLDV await the enemy

Having come under fire they charge in armed with homemade but effect grenades unfortunately they bounce back unable to inflict any damage

But having brought it to a stop the Constabulary also charge in and miraculously one of their Molotov cocktails hits the open top blowing the car to pieces hoorah !!!!

Turn two and the Albertine Regulars arrive by BUS!

Slow progress from the Scots, the worry for both sides is if the train arrives they’ll miss it

The Scots surge forward, taking the pillbox by the first crossing

The major urges his forces forward but the Constabulary come under intense fire and are heavily pinned

Long range exchange of fire across the railway line

Finally B company of the St Andrews Regiment cuts the railway, but in the distance a unit of well armed ladies from the local ammunition factory in Silloth have also jumped onto the tracks and are coming this way !

Still no sign of the train so the Scots dig in, they are clear on their objective to capture the Colonel

The Silloth Ladies have been spotted by D Company who are looking to cut them off

The Constabulary held as long as they could but have been wiped out, Albertine Forces around the bridge are looking very thin

and some of the Scottish miners are charging over the bridge 

With callous disregard of any of the normal rules of engagement D Company open fire on the Silloth Ladies in the open on the railway

Meanwhile hand to hand fighting has broken out further down the track, the Albertines get the better of it whilst

C Company waste a turn being effected by one of our random rules which had them pinned down reading letters from home!😀

It hasn’t had much effect but some Fishermen have been firing mortars all game

With greater numbers the Scots have also made it onto the railway close to the bridge when suddenly a crash is heard from the other side of the village

The train has arrived from Drumburgh and been derailed, but the final Scottish unit looks isolated and may struggle to get away with the Colonel 

He is quickly man-handled off the train but it may be too late ?

Fraternising with the enemy, I don’t think so, a brutal combat sees the fine Ladies from Silloth wiped out to a Lady😢

But this is just the vengeful throw of the last dice by a beaten foe, as the Scottish unit holding the Colonel isolated and unprepared are charged and either killed or captured, “the Colonel is safe.......hooorah”

Now on the bridge Private Jackson has survived the day’s events and with his unit takes pot shots at the retreating Scots as they pull back to their boats.

Oh what a fun game (sorry Martin ☹️) thanks to Steve for stepping in. The Scots put in a tough attack and if it hadn’t been for a random event pinned a unit at a critical time they might have made it. There will be a reckoning as the brutal treatment of the Womenfolk of Silloth has caused shock amongst the West Cumberland population.

Prussian Cuirassier Regiment : SYW

With the nasty weather at the weekend I spent some time painting up my first SYW Prussian Cavalry Regiment. The 1st Cuirassier Regiment. These were again quite fun and fairly quick to paint.

The lighter colours work well, I experimented with different horse colours

Like the infantry the figures would take more detail but I am not really sure they need it

A closer shot

Here are my three test units, very happy with the effect, one of the key things was getting the figures to stand out not the bases so I think I will keep the bases simple

I’ll crack on with a few more more infantry units for the Prussians and then try some Austrians. I also have some different standards to try next as well.

Iron Brigade 2nd Wisconsin : ACW

In the background between games and other stuff I have been working through my second Iron Brigade Regiment  the 2nd Wisconsin. A really rubbish photo, these have more traditional light blue trousers rather than the dark ones from the previous Regiment, just gives a little variety on the table.

Apart from a possible Zouave unit this is pretty much is all my (cheap plastic😜) Union infantry painted up. I think another full army photo is required at some stage. I have come up with the idea to paint some mounted Regimental Officers on square bases to fit into units to give variety. The standards are split on two bases so I can have either two large units or split them into three smaller Regiments. I now need some more confederates as they are falling behind in numbers.

Cold War on the Edge of Europe : Cold War Commander

We have had a small European Cold War project running in the background and managed to get two small forces on the battlefield last weekend. Early days so not part of a larger campaign or with any specific historical context. But a small Soviet strike force has broken across the border, a strong British tank force has been sent to counter this aggressive action.

 A squad of Soviet T62’s push across into the security zone

With them are Soviet mobile artillery 2s1’s

In the distance BMP’s carry infantry towards the small village and more T62’s fan our on the right flank

But the advance has not gone unnoticed and British Centurions have already gained the high ground

It seems too easy for them to pick of the Russian tanks which appear slightly outdated !

Worse still for the Soviet commander on the ground a cloud of dust heralds the arrival of a Squadron of Chieftain Mk5’s whilst they come under fire they seem impervious to the Soviet tanks !!

Using the town as cover the Soviets on the right flank push forward towards the copse on the small hill

Following up the Chieftains are British infantry but they are foolishly out in the open and the Soviets call in an artillery strike

Out in the open the infantry are decimated in front of their commanders eyes 😱

Overview of the battlefield, smoke can be seen rising from isolated Soviet tanks which are burning 

Centurions in the Wood continue to exchange fire with the Soviet tanks in the fields below them

Period shot

The Soviets have now made it to the edge of the woods

But they are soon picked off by the Chieftains now in the village

The remaining T62’s duel with British AT rocket launchers but generally get the worst of it

Having been pinned down the Soviet infantry rushes forward into the village

Whilst Soviet long range Spandrel ATGW takes on the centurions at long range

The BMP’s redeploy to support the tanks assaulting through the woods.

At this point the British failed a rally test, due to the lucky strike form their artillery they had already reached their break point. It was pretty much a draw  as the Soviets didn’t have an answer to the british heavy tanks. This was pretty much a test game as we haven’t played much Cold War Commander we got a few things wrong and didn’t really utilise the long range forces correctly, the challenge seems to be using long range weapons but this is tough when line of sight is blocked. I have ordered a few more bits to supplement this little Soviet force and I will then have enough to take on my Americans !