After last month's basing exercise, we finally got to grips with a relatively small V&B game (it still took 4 hours though), based on the Allied / French battle of 1760 during the 7yw, near Wesel.
Again, the elegance of V&B shines through, and we had many reversals and nail-biting finishes to melees.
Some refresh and ref to the rules was necessary during play, of course.
French units line the river, but there not enough of them to avoid leaving a gap for Allied units to exploit.
The Allied/British centre
There would be a cavalry flank action on the French left.
Advantage for the French, as they adopt stationary positions on the bank - doubling fire dice
"ze thing about ze small buildings, is zat I can not fit inside when ze shooting starts..."
The French right, which would see a stalemate until near the end, when French units were urgently required at centre
The cavalry action does not go well for the French
British troops ford the marshy stream and start to hit the open French flank
...even shooting off some cavalry
The main event happens, as fronts change, in the centre
Things were looking to go the way of the Allies as we finished, though they still had a number of brigades to rally. All in all, a great game.
I also saw the beauty of the fire-counterfire system at work, in line with turn sequence. Said sequence does mean that there is a lot happening in these rules as the units numbers increase - although getting used to things again does make things go remarkably smoothly.
While most bloggers are using the first post of 2023 to display their early year paint jobs, I instead rebased my 15mm Seven Years War stuff for Volley and Bayonet.
Now, I don't have a lot of 15mm, but I remember buying the earliest figures here (Matchlock Miniatures) in the 1990s when 'Last of the Mohicans' came out, with a view to French & Indian War action.
Matchlock miniatures from the 90s (Green Howards of course)
More Matchlock French
To that end, they were only ever used for a Quebec 1763 game with WRG rules in mind but Canadian Wargames Group rules played.
There are also some Lancashire Games and Frei Korps figures in there for good measure, but here's the rub...
These figures were originally based in the nineties - on single and collective 3/8" per figure cardboard;
then rebased for Volley & Bayonet around 2010
then rebased on 30x30s to fit the groups' scheme around 2017
now rebased once more for Volley and Bayonet...(on 3"x1.5" and 3"x3")
What the hell am I doing? ...
Well, as the kidz say this days, 'I like the aesthetic' of the chunky V&B base for one, and I'm trying to get back into it as a multi-player, multi-period standard when Field of Battle will not do. Granted, having a lot of 3mm MDF which I got cut to various sizes many years ago, most certainly helps too.
And dammit...I have to say, aside from task of leveraging PVA stuck figures off their old bases, without a risk assessment, and the chance of slicing a finger off or losing an eye - I actually enjoy rebasing?!?! The new flock always looks good, for a while...
The problem of course remains now, with regard to differentiating between attack column and line for cavalry...but I don't care, if a marker will suffice. Previously, with 3 bases, the frontage only differed by 30mm, or a third of base width, if using three bases, so mehh.
In other news, I recently sold this 1989 boardgame on boardgamegeek:
I bought this in 1989, and despite still being a fan of WW3 wargaming, I have never even punched the counters out (and the scenarios are a bit crap anyway). Then of course, complex rules seemed to be the best way to (1) simulate modern combat, (2) impress your friends. Of course, now that I can't be bothered, there are invariably better ways to (1) simulate both the quasi-realities AND required 'gamey' elements of modern warfare, as we're all a lot smarter now and (2) I scarcely read rules which require heavy investment, and have little interest in them.
Hence a renewed interest in systems like GDW's 'First Battle', which does the same thing as MBT in my view, and even more renewed interest in attributing operation points to systems like this (which Steve is doing with PanzerBlitzHack).
My youngest daughter has been playing this video game (Valkyria Chronicles below) over Christmas (it was about 4 quid on Steam), which incredibly uses a similar operational system - the video game element involves moving characters and/or tanks under restricted action points - but the map element reminds you of 'ops points' for unit actions and 'action points' for individuals as they move and how they might be used. You can move an element 2 or 3 points, but your command/ops points thereby dwindle for doing other things.
Yes, it's an Anime ww2 crossover (fictional Europa vs the Russian Empire; based on the Russo Finnish war I think - with mad manga) but even video game designers have been 'thinking outside the turn sequence'. Don't laugh, but this game has every single modern wargaming turn sequence mutation, that we have felt so proud about in recent years, and it came out in 2008. Granted, most of these companies have designers who are wargamers on staff, so it all works.
(There was now to follow the video for 'it's all about the Bass' (see what I did there?) This 'pastiche' version of the original song has been chosen as it is more 'aesthetically pleasing' (trust me...no really, trust me). I hope I'm proud of myself)...
As a roundup for the end of year, I present some pics (from the hundreds that I have taken) from a few road-trips during the latter part of the period. Now these are related to sites (existing and speculative) related to the Williamite Wars in Ireland 1689-91 (War of the Three Kings - Uncle Jimmy 'n' Billy 'n' that French guy Louie); so in some cases you might see a field, with some commentary, but it's all good.
There may be some truth to the rumour that there might be a battlefield touring company emerging off the back of these reconnaissance trips...
Original accounts of the Siege of Derry in the Cathedral
We got to see the business end of the tools, up close
Walking the walls
You may see a random street, but this is the point where defenders at Derry took a shot at King James from the walls, after he advanced in apparent ignorance of Richard Hamilton's previously made deal of no Jacobite advances upon the city ...at least until the defenders had had had a think about surrendering. After this, 'no surrender' became a thing, and still is. (You can also see the old gaol in the distance).
Near Culmore Fort and not far from the position of the Jacobite boom across the river
Moving to Athlone, and the castle in very good state of repair. We had a great reception here.
Now this is a field at Aughrim - granted - but very hard to get to this position without a gracious farmer's permission. What you are actually looking at is Ginkel's view from Urraghy Hill across to the Jacobite lines on the ridge in front. He would have to cross that bog, under cannon fire, and then assault the Jacobite positions,,,
One of the maps at the Aughrim site
Now to the Battle of the Boyne - the crossing point used by Dutch Guards at the start of the battle. The River has changed subtly and there has been some drainage in the area in the succeeding years, but still not an easy proposition...
Crossing point further downstream - Hugenots and Northern Irish would have crossed around here
A helpful map
Again - it looks like a field - but this is the centre of the Jacobite cavalry assaults, and not actually a focus for the local museum (but it should be). Jacobite cavalry attacked from here, down that hill toward Williamite positions for most of the day, repulsed again and again, using this area as a rallying point. The Duke of Berwick (later at Almanza during the WSS) and Richard Hamilton (later a mentor for the old Pretender) both in action and leading cavalry here.
Crossing the Nanny River - French battalions sat on this hill and prevented Williamite cavalry running down the retreating Jacobites - and yes, that's all they did. Damned if Louis was going to allow French troops to get shot up - the very thought of it :O
Now this one requires a lot more investigation. This is the Bloody Pass near the Battle ofNewtownbutler. The water level was ten feet higher in 1689. A lot more to come on this one. A large mass grave is just off to the left.
Inishfendra Island looking north to Crom Castle. Galmoy sat here in March 1689 - then Mountcashel in July, and there is some evidence to suggest that a garrison was left here during the battle and the myth of the Bloody Pass is thereby related. More of that investigation to come.
Inishfendra was also used as barracks for elements of the US 8th Infantry Division during the Second World War- stationed at Crom Castleand vicinity from December 43 to June 44, when they were deployed for D-Day (this photo taken in front of the 'new'Crom Castle- probably in 1944). There is some evidence of trenchworks on Inishfendra, probably used for training, and in good condition. (The condition and design would suggest these works are not related to earlier C17th engagements).
A few more trips are planned, and it looks like, with business trips now ended, Le Duc can now focus on that proper history stuff...
Another Christmas bash with the guys, and a dusting off of the modern Sabre Squadron rules.
These were published a few years ago, have some echoes of WRG 80s sensibilities - combined with modern D10 systems, and still give a good game.
The scenario, prepped by Stephen, was roughly based on a Command Decision scenario for the Battle of Chinese Farm (which we've covered before), then bath-tubbed to the 1;1 armour scale of Sabre Squadron.
Some excellent terrain from Steve - as the sun goes down across the sands...
Another great game, and with superb 12mm models and kit from the guys' collections.
Israeli units on the start-line - a company of infantry and a company of armour
Lovely M48s
Egyptian units defend the ridgeline to the left of pic, the river represents the irrigation ditches at Chinese Farm; Israeli units will attack across the open ground, albeit with some cover for infantry due to folds in the ground.
...some lovely terrain on show for the BUA
T55s - in hull down position - not something we see a lot of...
Egptian units in the wadi/irrigation ditch
Though not particularly dangerous looking, these 4x Egyptian Sagger ATGW units would create absolute carnage. Lessons learned re. blinding them with smoke and/or suppressing them with MGs...
I mentioned the Sagger carnage, right?
T55s, at the ridgeline, will not last long - facing accurate Israeli long range fire
Infantry in the ditch - remember - these are 12mm scale
Israeli units take a lot of damage from the T55s however, before countering strongly
On the Egyptian left, Israeli units are being stymied by Sagger fire, while making some inroads on the right
The Israeli left - where a concerted attack goes in, but Recoiless Rifle fire, and surviving T55s firing at long range - with the addition of re-routed artillery missions, make a massive hole.
A lott of brewed up T55s
Though by the same token, Centurions are not faring well either, and now dismounted Israeli infantry comes under fierce artillery barrage, pining them for several desperate turns...
...will the same thing happen on the Israeli left?
30mm AA gun takes out infantry in the open...
Some Egyptian reserves, having a cigarette...it was 1973, it's allowed...
The attack on the Israeli right halted...
...and on the left, supressed harshly with artillery and RR fire
By game end, the Israeli attack had run out of steam, with some units stuck, and others withdrawing - though the Egyptians had also lost 75% of their tank force. Saggers had made a massive difference.
A very good scenario, and Sabre-Squadron gives a good game. It doesn't have the glitz perhaps of '7 days' but certainly covers all the bases that a modern set needs.
(I have been looking for an excuse to get 'Rock the Casbah' on a blog post for so long now...)
