This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Napoleonic game using Column, Line and Square, Version 2. The scenario was an Allied attack on the French near Probstheyda, south of Leipzig, on 18 October 1813.
The French are on the left (north). On the right, from top to bottom, are the Prussians, Russians and Austrians.
The French right (western) flank with the Austrians in the distance.
The French left deployed on rising ground.
The Allies advance.
The Emperor and his band.
Additional troops arrive on both sides.
The cavalry clash in the center.
Austrian infantry formations advance.
Austrian lights wipe out the crew of a French battery.
More cavalry clash in the center.
The assault on the French left.
After 4 turns, and the end of the game.
The Allied objective was to take both villages. The French objective was to drive the Allies from the field. When the game was ended due to time, neither side had achieved their objectives.
This weekend the local HMGS-South group played an ACW game at the Dogs of War shop using the Fire and Fury rules. It was a test game to learn the rules in preparation for a campaign. Each side had three players, two commanding infantry divisions and one commanding a cavalry division. Each division had three brigades of randomly determined size. Each side also had four artillery units.
Troops enter the field. Both commanders have deployed their cavalry on their own right.
Confederate infantry advances in the center.
Union infantry advances in double line.
Confederate cavalry attempts to move around the Union left.
A Union charge drives back a Confederate infantry brigade. To the left a firefight starts which will last several turns.
A Confederate infantry charge forces the Union brigade back where it is exposed to a flank attack by cavalry.
Confederate cavalry in a mounted charge into the flank of a disordered Union brigade is so successful that the cavalry is required to continue into a battery. The battery is captured, but the cavalry is left exposed to overwhelming Union fire.
The Confederate cavalry gets a ‘Tardy’ command result (halving movement) and charges the Union unit to the front. The move choice is irrelevant since Union defensive fire destroys it in its initial location.
Another Confederate charge forces back a Union brigade. Dismounted Union cavalry advances on the far left.
The battle was still about even when we ran out of time.
This weekend (November 23, 2013) the local HMGS-South group played a 1879 Zulu War game at the Dogs of War shop using The Sword and the Flame colonial rules, Revision 1.
Date: June 1879, second invasion of Zululand
Location: Near Fort Newdigate, guarding the supply line of the main army advancing on Ulundi.
Situation: Supply columns had been attacked by Zulu raiding parties based in hilly terrain overlooking the track to Ulundi. A force was organized from the garrison of Fort Newdigate and ordered to clear the hills of Zulu. This force consisted of three platoons of infantry, one platoon of Naval Brigade rifles, a detachment of the 17th Lancers and one Gatling gun.
The Zulu force consisted of six units (mixed rifle and spear) hidden in rough terrain. Other Zulu units would arrive when firing could be heard from the battle.
The British advance. Zulu hidden positions are in the distance.
A couple of Zulu units break cover and advance.
The British form firing lines while the remaining Zulu leave their hidden positions in the hills and advance.
The right end of the British line is charged from all sides.
The right end of the British line is overwhelmed.
Zulu reinforcements. Most would not be needed.
The British fall back to face threats from several directions as Zulu arrive on the field behind them.
Significant casualties on both sides in the final clashes. An odd blue box appears to mark a 50th anniversary.
