Chain of Command: Canal line Battles Attack and Defend at Essars

I was sad to miss Partizan at the weekend, so as a consolation I got Chain of Command out and played an Attack and Defend scenario depicting the Royal Irish Fusiliers defending the outskirts of Essars from elements of the 7th Panzer Division. As part of the Canal Line Campaign which is based on the exploits of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers during the retreat to Dunkirk in May 1940.

This game represents a engagement when the Germans get a foothold over the Basee Canal and are consolidating to sweep up to Dunkirk. As an ‘Attack and Defend’ scenario in the new rules there was an objective set, the country shop two thirds up the table.

The Germans made a confident start pushing up with armour & infantry forward in an effort to establish themselves before the defenders could respond.

The British not wanting to show their hand too early kept their power dry and waited for the Germans to advance and offer a flank. At that point a 25mm AntiTank gun deployed in the woods. They opened up hitting the Panzer II but failing to penetrate until the 3rd shot which brewed it up.

The return fire from the Germans killed the Junior Leader in the Gun Crew resulting in the necessity to deploy a Senior Leader to keep the gun in operation.

Keen not to be slow down by the loss of their German kept the pressure up with Fire and manoeuvre. Nevertheless as they secured the cross road a British Mortar Barrage landed on a Double Six!! Meaning it arrived immediately. Catching two Sections in it. While it was devastating to one team killing them the choke was successfully rolled off the other three units who didn’t suffer many casualties and following the barrage were in action again quickly.

They maintained pressure on the defensive positions with fire from the first section supported by a 75mm field gun. This fire was taking its toll on the deployed on the defending British. section. Has the Senior leader rushed from the 25mm Anti Tank gun to organise his section he was hit by a piece of shrapnel Killing him immediately.

With this and the deployed Sections facing a resurgent German Assault, it was decided to withdraw to the next Map since it was a campaign game.

Sharp Practice : The Bridge at Dorflingen, 1809

This week it was great to get a game of Sharp Practice, it’s a game I really enjoy. To date most of my experience of is in the French & Indian conflict in North America as part the Seven Years War.

Geoff, the game’s host used Chat GPT to suggest a scenario for three players. After a bit of tweaking of the terrain and the force rosters we ended up in 1809 at the Bridge at Dorfingen. This was an engagement between the Austrians and French during the Napoleonic Wars. This was my first experience of fighting a Napoleonic game of Sharp Practice. I was allocated the French. In my extremely limited knowledge of the Napoleonic period, I understand the French were famed for attacking in columns. So in my haste I thought well let’s give that a go then. Because I was playing against two opponents Geoff and Dave, I was very aware I had to mitigate against an early flank march so while my Voltigeurs covered the right from the wood I simply charged down the road in column hoping to crash into the Austrian line before they could unleash their opening volleys.

It didn’t end well for my column. The Austrian commander card came out first the next round, followed by some flags for a bout of Sharp Practice, visiting more than pIan on the French column. The withering volleys brought them to a standstill, and they were obliged to withdraw.

Following the game I asked the wargaming futurity on Bluesky their experience of commanding French Columns in the Lardy tradition of “playing the period and not the rules”. Fellow wargamers sharing their thoughts, experiences and suggestions on using the Napoleonic French Attack column. Getting all these responses was great, and hearing all the different perspectives on commanding a French attack column. It was an inspiring and invigorating to get so many thoughtful responses. What a great community we have.

Nevertheless, despite the catastrophic attack column pushing forward while its artillery support got mired in the mud. The picture on the right flank was a bit brighter. I had successes as my Voltigeurs skirmished back and forth with Jägers until I could bring my Chasseurs à Cheval to bear and drive the Austrians off before my Force Morale collapsed.

I will claim some consolation points for elan and sending the Jägers and the Austrian Grenadiers packing on the right flank.

Good old Sharp Practice always supplies an entertaining game. Next time I will try to be a bit more measured and methodical in my approach rather than changing in like a lunatic.

 

Chain of Command: Many Rivers to Cross Campaign Game One

After a couple of dry runs playing Chain of Command. At the weekend we started “Many Rivers to Cross” campaign from the 2018 Lardy Special. The first game, fought on Map Two: The Village, of the Ladder campaign saw a German First Wave platoon in the vanguard of the assault. 

The German’s made good progress attacking in the wake of a Stuka bombardment not really being effected by French counter battery fire. As a result the made it to the village before any real French intervention. 

Has the Germans closed on one of their objectives near the Great War Memorial the end of turn and the end bombardment, allowing the French to deploy and defend the objectives.

By focusing on one of the German section and although the Germans were very close to capturing an objective, the French successfully eroded their Force Morale to zero theeby winning the game.

Carnevale: Guild Civil War

The set up for the latest game of Carnevale: The game was a Guild civil war. The King Thieves has charged 'King for the Day' and his Pulcinella to pay the House of Virtue a visit and collect the outstanding taxes. He didn't want to go himself, so to distance himself from the events and not to slurry relations with the Madame.

The House of Virtue fought hard to defend their hard earned monies from "King or the Day" & his Pulcininellas tax collectors. Racing over roof tops to cut them off before they located the treasure. The King for the Day did a fantastic job smash and grab raid to secure the prize.

It was followed by a frantic battle to get the "King of Thieves" taxes back to him which ultimately cost him his life when the Madame caught up with him. Nevertheless, the ostrich rider was standing by to ride off with their prize. A great game with loads of laughs an a brilliant result for the Pulcininellas.

Early War French Dragons Portee / Motorcycle Reconnissance Troops

The ongoing Early War French project continues with this set of 3D printed Dragons Portee/ Motorcycle Reconnaissance troops. While my preference is for metal miniatures I have been really impressed by the high quality of recent 3D sculpts. To be honest these guys look better than their 3D renders.

Some of the main things I look in a figure range are an animation and character and these lads have both in spades. I am very grateful to Jason at Danger Close Studio for rescaling them to 20mm so they fit in with my existing mix from the Early War and CheckPoint Miniatures ranges. 

It is great to have a mix of uniforms and  poses to represent an ad-hoc unit or even  a Group Franc force to provide great level of versatility to my Early War French. These figures can fit in to a British Expeditionary Force force as an (un)reliable ally also. 

Because they have been scaled down form 28mm my only concern is the strength of the resin on the extremities such as rifle barrels and waving hands &c. Although they survived the painting table okay. This has not always been the case even with metals. 

I look forward to getting them on the table next month in the first game of the 'Many Rivers to Cross' Campaign. 

Sharp Practice : French & Indian War Escort

One of the appealing things about playing Sharp Practice in the Sharp Practice in the French &Indian War is the diversity the units available to use. We fielded the following troop types. regulars, skirmishers, irregular skirmishes, light infantry and tribes. 

With such a mixture of troop types you get the prospect of an interesting asymmetrical  encounter where you’re constantly attempting to make the most of your troops attributes while not falling foul of your opponent’s strategy.

In this engagement were a War party of Native Americans  accompanied by their French Allies attempted to intercept a force of Provincials escorting the Colonel’s mistress to this latest posting. 

The first few rounds were so dominated by British chits that I checked the bag to ensure I’d actually added the French ones. Once they did eventually come out the Couriers de Bois made an immediate impact with some great shooting to pin the Provincial settlers in to  their hard cover. 

Despite this no other French or Native American unit cared to appear. During this time the Chastity and her entourage made excellent progress along the road. 

At long last the blue chits began to appear but the French deployed  in a poor position mainly due to trying to avoid getting caught out in front of the  Provincial Regulars and thus were unable to to intercept Chastity and her party. 

Nevertheless, despite this unfavourable deployment the option it was still possible to grab a pyrrhic victory by eroding the morale of the two militia units acting as rearguard. This was working well but alas Chastity even with her sprained ankle crossed the table swiftly. She was clearly keen to get to her beau.