Saturday, March 16, 2024

HAVOC, recent and soon to come!

     If anyone is wondering why things have been a bit quiet here the past week or more, it has been a combination of returning form a vacation, major upheavals at my work place, and then a hard drive failure on my home computer. Fortunately, I was planning on replacing the aging computer soon anyway, but unfortunately, many files were lost in the process, especially including the many Rawkins uniform e-books and other wargames related files. The new computer should be set up by this evening, and I'll have to see if anything can be done about file recovery. 


That's the bad havoc; the good HAVOC is the upcoming Battle Group Boston convention, which will be held Friday April 5th through Sunday April 7th, 2024, at the Best Western in Marlborough, Massachusetts. This is the same site as last year, and I felt it was a big improvement. Being onsite at a hotel is a big plus for a GM (it is roughly a 2.5 hour drive from my home), and the convention rate is quite reasonable; I will be staying over on Saturday night. Doing so also helps keep the cost of the event down for the organizers (they need certain number of nights for discounted use of the facilities). I will be running three games this year (see events listing below), and am in the process of getting it all organized and packed up well in advance. On line registration ends in just a week, on March 23, but registration "at the door" is also allowed. 

I'll be running three games there this year (cleverly highlighted with blue text), and my friend Mark T will be running two games (highlighted with red text). 





Havoc Events

Time Slot: Friday, 7:30pm-11:30pm

Event #TableMax PlayersRules SystemScaleEraGM(s)Mask Required?
101 Wars of Ozz Battle - Learn to Play Wars of Ozz
 Wars of Ozz 28mm Black Powder Fantasy Mark A. Morin  
Description:Take part in this big battle set in the horse & musket/black powder fantasy world of Ozz. This is definitely not Kansas anymore. Various factions, including Munchkins, Winkies, Gillikins, Impkins, Quadlings and others will fight for victory in this fast-paced and easy-to-learn fun game. Beginners as well as experienced players are both very welcome. Rules will be taught. Players are invited to bring their own 25-point brigades of official Wars of Ozz figures if they have them or they can use one of the several brigades that we will have available for play. Players under 13 only with a playing adult. 
102 Pouppeville
 Fireball Forward  15mm WW2 Peter Lowitt  
Description:Control the exit from Utah Beach. Elements of the 101st versus 919 grenadier regiment of the 709Infantry Division. Learn the rules and enjoy the card activation system.  
103 Battle of Kolin, 18th June 1757
 Twilight of The Soldier Kings 15mm Seven Years War Christopher Parker  
Description:An Austrian relief force under the Austrian commander Daun as marching on the Prussian siege of Prague. Frederick the Great moves to black the Austrians from raising the siege. 
104 Probe at Ste Hellene
 Chain of Command 20mm World War 2 James Harms  
Description:The Canadians are advancing to seize the hamlet of Ste. Hellene to press their advantage to expand their foothold on the Normandy coast in late June 1944, A KG from the 232 ID is trying to race to prevent it.  
105 Terrain Navy Push, The Battle of Liawak Station
 Starfire n/a Future space combat Gregg Belevick  
Description:The Terrain Navy has broken through the Khante Navy's lines and are heading to the system stronghold of Liawak. If the station there should fall to the Terrain Navy, the Khante forces will lose their supply base in that sector. If that happens the insult to the Khan's navy would be to great to bear and may have to sue for peace with the talking monkeys.
Starfire is one of the oldest board/minis games ever printed being able to trace its beginning to the 1970s. it was written as a space battle game for fast easy to learn simple space battles. Rules are easily taught under 10 minutes. 

Time Slot: Saturday, All Day 9:00am-11:30pm

Event #TableMax PlayersRules SystemScaleEraGM(s)Mask Required?
201 ADLG Open Tournament
 12 L'Art de la Guerre 15mm Ancients and Medievals Tucker Saglio  
Description:L'Art de la Guerre is a popular ruleset for ancient and medieval battles. This is an open-period tournament (all armies allowed) for 15mm-scale, 200-AP armies. There will be three 3-hour rounds and a lunch break, running from 9 AM to 7 PM. Beginners welcome. Loaner armies will be available. 

Time Slot: Saturday, 9:00am-1:00pm

Event #TableMax PlayersRules SystemScaleEraGM(s)Mask Required?
202 Cheatham's Hill
 Fire and Fury - Regimental version 15mm ACW Jim Makuc  
Description:Cheatham's Hill July 1th 1864. The Union is advancing on Atlanta, but the Confederates keeping falling back and entrenching. Can the Union Army get past the Kennesaw Mountain defenses by assualting Cheatam's Hill? General Thomas and The Union commanders must press the attack at all cost, but can they take the Dead Angle? 
203 Wars of Ozz Battle - Learn to Play Wars of Ozz
 Wars of Ozz 28mm Black Powder Fantasy Mark A. Morin  
Description:Take part in this big battle set in the horse & musket/black powder fantasy world of Ozz. This is definitely not Kansas anymore. Various factions, including Munchkins, Winkies, Gillikins, Impkins, Quadlings and others will fight for victory in this fast-paced and easy-to-learn fun game. Beginners as well as experienced players are both very welcome. Rules will be taught. Players are invited to bring their own 25-point brigades of official Wars of Ozz figures if they have them or they can use one of the several brigades that we will have available for play. Players under 13 only with a playing adult. 
204 Battle of Five Armies
 Battle Masters Advanced Epic Lord of The Rings Christopher Parker  
Description:Battle between the forces and evil from the book "The Hobbit". Elves, Men, Dwarves, Orcs and who knows who else. Rules are modified. 
205 STALINGRAD Deluxe, One table, two battles.
 Fireball Forward 1/72,20mm  WW2  Mike Sammarco, Joe Celia; Chris Bonni   
Description:STALINGRAD Deluxe, One table, two battles.
Date: 21 September 1942, 1300 hours;

THE NAIL FACTORY: Location: Central Stalingrad, east of Railroad Station #1
Lt. Dragan, and the shattered remnants of the 1st Battalion crossed the Station’s plaza to a block of buildings containing a nail factory. Organizing a defensive position, Dragan settled in to continue resisting the fascist’s advance.

UNIVERMAG: Location: Central Stalingrad, Red Square
Lt. Dragan’s 1st Battalion of the 42nd Regiment fought desperately to hold on to the Nail Factory. Not a block away across Red Square the Battalion’s Headquarters occupied the Univermag Department Store. The Germans pushed towards Red Square.

Both battles will be run using one card deck, players can chose which battle they want to fight in depended on the number of payers to sign up. Player are encouraged to join us of two gaming sessions and try each battle.
 
206 VSF: Clash of Flesh & Steel
 Damned Human Race 28mm Victorian Science Fiction Gabriel Landowski  
Description:The race to claim the various moons of Saturn is on! Join the battle to claim and hold the various natural and native resources of the moon Titan before your opponents steal it all! 
207 Moby-Dick; or, the Whale game
 John Rigley’s Moby-Dick 15mm 1840s Thomas Ballou  
Description:“Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee.” Cried Ahab, fouled in a running line vanishes beneath the waves. You my brave Nantucket whalers must avenge him! 
208 Valley ambush
 Sword and the flame 28 mm colonial Thomas Anderson  
Description:a patrol of french foreign legion and allied tribesmen are escorting an archeologist through a valley when they are ambushed by native tribes. The legion mist defend the archeologist at all costs. 
209 Kaliningrad Cobra
 Threat Micro-Armor 1:285 Very near future Tim Allen  
Description:Putin attacked Poland so Poland counter-attacked the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The Russian force, armed with T-80s and BMP-3s, goes against a Polish force, armed with USA M-1s and M-2s purchased via Foreign Military Sales. The Poles have prepared the battlefield for a rapid break-through, but the Russians have mobile reserves looking to stop the flow. Both forces have recon and target acquisition capabilities to peer into enemy camouflage and deception, but speed is needed because time is of the essence.
 
210 Advancing Thru The Fog Near Hill 325
 To The Last Man (modified) 28mm World War 1 Mark T.  
Description:Germany has invaded Belgium to attack France in 1914. It is the day after Lt. Irwin Rommel's 1st recon mission. The French are west of Hill 325 as Rommel's platoon advances on Bleid. Morning fog restricts a figure's visibility, and players have hidden placement as well. (Rules taught, 12 & under ok w/parent, sign up only 1 person.) 

Time Slot: Saturday, 2:00pm-6:00pm

Event #TableMax PlayersRules SystemScaleEraGM(s)Mask Required?
301 An historical Seven Years War Battle.
 Cammand & Colors SYW Variant with Miniatures 15mm Horse and Musket William Greenwald  
Description:C&C is a hex map wargame played with miniatures, using a SYW varient the host wrote, but based off the C&C Napoleonics rules. Additions are; Reaction tests, Battalion Guns, CnC play actions with out cards (Unit activation & Rally), and Bounce through,  
302 Battle of Nancy - WWII
 D-Day to Berlin 12mm WWII Christopher Parker  
Description:Seventh Corps has begun its attempt to capture Nancy. It had only recently recovered from a severe fuel shortage which had caused it to halt on the Meuse River for five days. Kelly's Heroes is alleged to be the recon company from CCA of 4th Armored Armored Division :) 
303 From the Rhine (Confederation) to the Danube, 1809
 Battle Command 28 mm Napoleonic Peter Anderson  
Description:This fictional engagement imagines that, in the aftermath of the Battle of Eckmuhl, the Emperor creates an ad hoc Corps composed of troops from Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Baden, and Hessen-Darmstadt, and places his German speaking ADC, General Jean Rapp, in command, with orders to defeat Austrian General Hiller. Rules taught, can email me for advance copy of QRS Gonsalvo AT aol DOT com. 
304 Heavy Meeting Engagement – Wars of Ozz
 Wars of Ozz 28mm Black Powder Fantasy Mark A. Morin  
Description:Several allied brigades from the sides of good and evil are coming to blows of the open plains of the world of Ozz! Of course, who is good and who is evil is in the eye of the beholder! Both side’s forces are equal in strength, but are their commanders? That’s up to the players! This battle will be a fast-paced one using the easy-to-learn fun game of Wars of Ozz. Various factions, including Munchkins, Winkies, Gillikins, Impkins, Quadlings and others will fight for victory and glory. Beginners are very welcome. Rules will be taught. All miniatures/brigades will be provided for play. Players under 13 only with a playing adult. 
305 Get your hands off my cattle!
 Dead Man's Hand 25mm Old west James Harms  
Description:This town "isn't big enough for the two of us" declared Col. Barnes. His associates aim to drive out the homesteader association of New Jerusalem. Who will prevail.  
306 STALINGRAD Deluxe, One table, two battles.
 Fireball Forward 1/72,20mm  WW2  Mike Sammarco, Joe Celia; Chris Bonni   
Description:STALINGRAD Deluxe, One table, two battles.
Date: 21 September 1942, 1300 hours;

THE NAIL FACTORY: Location: Central Stalingrad, east of Railroad Station #1
Lt. Dragan, and the shattered remnants of the 1st Battalion crossed the Station’s plaza to a block of buildings containing a nail factory. Organizing a defensive position, Dragan settled in to continue resisting the fascist’s advance.

UNIVERMAG: Location: Central Stalingrad, Red Square
Lt. Dragan’s 1st Battalion of the 42nd Regiment fought desperately to hold on to the Nail Factory. Not a block away across Red Square the Battalion’s Headquarters occupied the Univermag Department Store. The Germans pushed towards Red Square.

Both battles will be run using one card deck, players can chose which battle they want to fight in depended on the number of payers to sign up. Player are encouraged to join us of two gaming sessions and try each battle.
 
307 The Great Swamp Fight 1675
 Wicked Modified Gaslight 28mm King Philip’s War 1675 David Soucy  
Description:It’s December 1675 and the United Colonies (Massachusetts, Connecticut and Plimouth have issued an ultimatum to the Narragansett’s: join us or you will be our enemy. Neutrality is no longer an option. The United Colonies along with some native allies trudge through snow and darkness to arrive at a fort the Narragansett had built in the midst of a cedar “swamp”. English colonist find the fort well constructed with a palisade, block houses and lots of traps. Lead the English as a militia captain or a professional like Captain Mosely or Benjamin Church. Or defend your homes and families as braves and sachems. Rules are a “wicked modified” version of the excellent Gaslight rules. Easy, quick and bloody.  
308 Trilaterum Multiplayer Game
 Trilaterum Miniatures 15mm SCIFI Timothy Colonna  
Description:Take command of a Trilaterum army to lay siege to the trenchworks and take control of the research lab.

A wide selection of painted 15mm armies from the Trilaterum range will be available for players to use. 
309 VSF: ConfedeRats on the Rise!
 Damned Human Race 28mm Victorian Science Fiction Gabriel Landowski  
Description:The Terran CSA Rebels have taken to the stars and made an unholy alliance with the rat men of Jupiter! Now both set out to take what they can by right of might! Can a fledgling alliance of Terran European powers and a motley collection of local natives turn the tide? 
310 Army Navy Game
 Check Your 6! 1:300 WWII Guadalcanal  Thomas Anderson  
Description:After delivering valuable maintenance personnel and equipment to the Cactus Air Force the USS William Ward Barrows runs aground off Tulagi. John Smith leads his F4Fs in a CAP mission to protect Barrows until it can be refloated. Until then it is a sitting duck. Pursuit Squadron 61 adds its P-400s to the mission. Then a large formation of Zeros screams in on a fighter sweep. 
311 Kaliningrad Cobra
 Threat Micro-Armor 1:285 Very near future Tim Allen  
Description:Putin attacked Poland so Poland counter-attacked the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The Russian force, armed with T-80s and BMP-3s, goes against a Polish force, armed with USA M-1s and M-2s purchased via Foreign Military Sales. The Poles have prepared the battlefield for a rapid break-through, but the Russians have mobile reserves looking to stop the flow. Both forces have recon and target acquisition capabilities to peer into enemy camouflage and deception, but speed is needed because time is of the essence.
 

Time Slot: Saturday, 7:30pm-11:30pm

Event #TableMax PlayersRules SystemScaleEraGM(s)Mask Required?
401 Autodualing in Aakron
 20 Car Wars  Future Bob Yates  
Description:The Aakron autoduel arena is one of the most well-known locations for epic autodueling action. A large multi-level arena, it has something for every style of driver. Newly added turntables and rollers add to the excitement. Come and show off your driving and shooting skills!

The arena and cars were created by the late Jeff Lyczak, this event continues to be run in his honor. 
402 Galley Ho!
 Galleys and Galleons (modified) by Ganesha games 15 mm ships Renaissance Naval Peter Anderson  
Description:Two squadrons of Galleys, one Venetian and one Ottoman, clash in the Adriatic Sea circa 1500. Canon fire, small arms fire, boarding actions, and ramming all come into play. Rules are easily learned.  
403 Heavy Meeting Engagement – Wars of Ozz
 Wars of Ozz 28mm Black Powder Fantasy Mark A. Morin  
Description:Several allied brigades from the sides of good and evil are coming to blows of the open plains of the world of Ozz! Of course, who is good and who is evil is in the eye of the beholder! Both side’s forces are equal in strength, but are their commanders? That’s up to the players! This battle will be a fast-paced one using the easy-to-learn fun game of Wars of Ozz. Various factions, including Munchkins, Winkies, Gillikins, Impkins, Quadlings and others will fight for victory and glory. Beginners are very welcome. Rules will be taught. All miniatures/brigades will be provided for play. Players under 13 only with a playing adult. 
404 Arctic Convoy
 Axis & Allies - War at Sea 1:1800 WWII Daniel Eustace  
Description:1942 - the Allies attempt to push a convoy of Lend Lease materiel through the frigid waters of the Barents Sea to the northern Russian ports of Archangel & Murmansk. The convoy and their escorts are opposed by both the Luftwaffe and the U-boats and surface raiders of the Kriegsmarine. 
405 Battle of Cape Esperasnce
 Nimitz or Battle stations 1/2400 WW2 John Magnifico  
Description:October 11, 1942
Patrolling the entrance to iron Bottom sound. Rear Admiral Norman Scott unexpectedly found an Enemy fleet to the north east of his position.  
406 Horrifird
 Horrified board game 28mm classic movie monsters Rodney Fernald  
Description:Can you defeat Dracula, Frankenstein? )don/t even mention his Bride, gets him mad). Classic movie monsters run amok, players take spots of movie characters and co-operate to beat the monsters.  
407 Bare Bones Western
 High Noon 25mm American Wild West Leo A Walsh  
Description:A crazy un-natural Western game. A memorial game for Maurice Holmes, coauthor of High Noon. Easy to learn fast playing game. 
408 A Surprise At Mussey-La-Ville
 To The Last Man (modified) 28mm World War 1 Mark T.  
Description:Soon after pushing past Hill 325, Lt. Irwin Rommel rapidly advances with his scouting group, reaching Mussey-La-Ville ahead of his platoon. The fog limits vision, and the French are caught relaxing. Can the Germans attack fast enough, before the French stop them in their boots? (Rules taught, 12 & under ok with parent, sign up only 1 person.) 
409 Kaliningrad Reprise
 Threat Micro-Armor 1:285 Very near future Tim Allen  
Description:The day after Kaliningrad Cobra, the Russian forces throw everything they have at the Polish spearhead. It's the ultimate in a "target=rich environment."  

Time Slot: Sunday, 10:00am-4:00pm

Event #TableMax PlayersRules SystemScaleEraGM(s)Mask Required?
501 Battle of Tewkesbury, May the 4th, 1471
 Test of Resolve: Wars of the Roses 28 mm Wars of the Roses Peter Anderson  
Description:Yorkist King Edward IV faces a Lancastrian invasion spearheaded by Queen Margaret and her son, Prince Edward. Rules are very period specific, and easily learned. Game should conclude in 3 hours or less.  
502 The Battle for Toto (Wars of Ozz)
 Wars of Ozz 28mm Black Powder Fantasy Mark A. Morin  
Description:The 2 Wicked Witches know that Toto is in a town. Both witches believe that having Toto will bring power & leverage over their enemies. Each witch has 2 brigades each to attack the town & are converging. Will the witches put aside their differences & join forces, or will sibling & tribal rivalries win the day? Will Toto be safe? 
503 The Battle of Proctor's Creek/Drewry's Bluff/Fort Darling
 Altar of Freedom 6mm ACW David Susco  
Description:The beginning of the end of the Bermuda Hundred campaign. Can Butler and the Army of the James rewrite history and threaten Richmond from the east, or will Beauregard bottle him up with the help of the young and old of Richmond. 
504 The Greatest Tank Battle of All Time
 Axis & Allies Miniatures 15mm WWII Daniel Eustace  
Description:12 July 1943 - the Battle of Kursk rages on the eastern front. On the fields outside the Soviet village of Prokhorovka two massive armor forces meet head on. German Tigers & Panzers clash with T-34s of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army in the largest tank battle in history.  
505 What is Narn for Payback?
 A Call to Arms Star ship Babylon 5 James Okeefe  
Description:The Narns join the fight at Coriana VI seeking payback for their defeat at Gorash. With the Army of Light at their back, they know the Shadows don't stand a chance. The Shadows have other plans. 
506 The Last Dogfight
 Fame or Flames 1/700 WW II Air Combat Gregg Belevick  
Description:September 2, 1945: The morning airstrike against airfields around Tokyo receives word of the Japanese surrender and are ordered to return to their carriers immediately. A group of Japanese die-hards who refuse to accept the surrender order attacks them on their way back. This was the final aerial combat of WW II. 




Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Set up for the Battle of Tewkesbury, May 4, 1471

After defeating the Lancastrians (and killing Warwick) at the battle of Barnet, (April 15, 1471), Edward IV had little time to rest or regroup; a fresh landing on England's shores was lead by Quenn Margaret and her son, confusingly also named Edward, the Prince of Wales. King Edward pursued the Lancastrian forces, but they managed to deceive him as to their route. Margaret needed to cross the river Severn to escape (and also rally support in Wales)., but was refused entry into the city of Gloucester, and thus proceeded on the Tewkesbury, where there was a bridge. Before the Lancastrians could effect passage, King Edward and the Yorkists caught up with them, setting the stage for the battle the following morning. 


Hawk's eye view of the Battlefield; near are the Yorkists; in center is Edward IV's battle, with Gloucester's battle ready to move up behind him; to the far right is Hastings battle, , and to the far left is the detachment of 200 "scurriers" hidden in the woods. Opposite are the Lancastrians, with Somerset's flank march hidden by the low ridge, then the figurehead commander, Prince Edward with his small bodyguard, then Wenlocks' battle, and finally that of Devon.  , 


View from the Yorkist right.

View from the Lancastrian left.

Abother view; with my table being a bit larger than the prescribed 6 by 4 feet, I added the river Severn for effect. The enclosed fields have no effect on play in game terms.

View from the opposite side of the field. 



Rules and scenario are by my friends in the UK, Tim Couper and David Knight. 


Additional background from the Osprey, given to me a year or two ago by our book and history loving friends; turned out to be quite prescient!

I plan a test game to refresh myself on the rules;  I will be running this game at HAVOC in Massachusetts the first weekend in April, and probably at Historicon as well. 


Sunday, March 3, 2024

Württemberg Command and casualty figures

Returning to the Kingdom of Württemberg for a bit, here we have  a command base featuring Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm.


The base has his dog, a Wurttemberg infantryman, and a mounted officer of the Royal Footguards,

The Prince commanded Wurttemberg troops in 1809, 1812, 1813, 1814, and 1815.

He became the second King pf Wurttemberg in 1816 as Wilhelm I, upon the death of  his father, the King, with whom he had often been at odds.

Two more Wurttemberg command bases.

The base on the left has a regimental officer and a private.

The other base has a staff officer and two wounded soldiers assisting one another. 

As with most of my recent Napoleonic figures, these are from Lucas Luber and Piano wargames.

Two mounted officers, previously seen but now with their basing finished; one from Gardes du Corps and the other the Mounted Grenadiers.

The casualty figure is from the Light Infantry.

Great sculpts by Lucas, as always!

Three more casualty figures.

A line infantrymen, a light infantryman, and a Jager. 

 
General Dominique Joseph René Vandamme commanded the Wurttemberg Corps in 1809.

He was a talented soldier, and being born in Alsace, fluent in German as well. 

However, he was famously irascible, and this probably prevented him from becoming a Marshal of France. Napoleon famously said of Vandamme, "If I had two of them, I would have had to order one to hang the other!"

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Bavarian Commanders

 

The uniform of Bavarian Generals is pretty immediately recognizable. It was instituted in 1799 to replace the much disliked earlier Rumsford uniform designs.


The coats were conflower blue with red facings on the cuffs, collar, lapels, and turnbacks. White pants were worn, although later in the era, some officers adopted cornflower blue pants instead, especially for field wear. 


The collars, cuffs, and lapels were all heavily decorated with silver lace in a palm leaf pattern. As with all Bavarian officers, a sash of silver mixed with cornflower blue was worn about the waist. 


The officers shabraques were red with heavy silver lace borders. These are once again Piano Wargames figures by Lucas Luber; the figure on the left is meant to represent General Bernhard Erasmus von Deroy, and on the right we have General Carl Philpp von Wrede, accompanied by an infantry officer. 



Monday, February 26, 2024

Bavarian "Horse Artillery" and Train

 

"Bavarian Horse Artillery" is somewhat of a misnomer. The first thing approaching this was a 2 gun section composed of the of Reitende Artillerie Kompanie in 1800. The horse battery was separated from the Artillerie-Regiment in May 1801, and the following year was reformed as an independent, 8 gun company. In March of 1804, the Horse company was disbanded and incorporated in to the Foot Artillery battalions. 


    From W. J. Rawkins, The Army of The Kingdom of Bavaria, 1792 – 1814  "Following the French occupation of Vienna Napoleon invited Maximillian Josef to accompany him to the Vienna Arsenal and presented him with Austrian guns, limbers, caissons and ancillary wagons and harnesses to fully equip two complete 6pdr horse artillery companies (Artillerie zu Pferd). This equipment with ‘wurst seats’ fitted to the gun trails was issued to two of the existing foot artillery battery converting them to horse artillery. The gunners rode on the wurst seats and the limber and the non-commissioned-officers were mounted on horse obtained fully trained from the cavalry who also provided to trained trumpeters for each company. 

    These new companies were initially organized in the same manner as the Austrian ‘wurst artillery’ but this was found unsatisfactory to Manson (the chief of the Bavarian Artillery arm), who disliked the weight that the wurst seat added to the light 6 pdr field guns which prevented the gun being laid by a single gunner. In 1806 the horse batteries were re-organised and began to be issued with new equipment specially designed by Manson and the companies ceased to be known as Artillerie zu
Pferd and were styled as ‘Leichte-Artillerie’, or ‘Mobile-Artillerie’.  

    The wurst seats were removed from the cannon trails in 1807 and replaced with Manson’s design for ammunition and tool caissons with a wurst seat on which the light artillery crews could ride. This system remained in use with the light companies until 1817."


The uniforms of these troops were the same as the foot artillery, except with a white plume on the Raupenhelm in place of the red of the Foot Artillery. 


Gunner's shabraques were dark blue with a deep yellow border, piped red. Officers shabraques were red with a broad gold border, piped red. A spare Bavarian Dragoon figure has been pressed into service as a mounted artillerist. These figures are all by Lucas Luber and Piano Wargames.  


In September 1806 the Bavsrian Artillery Train came under full military control as the ‘Führwesen-Bataillon’’. The new battalion was composed of eight companies, each divided into two "half-companies,  with one such assigned to each of the field artillery companies.


The limber and crew are by Lancashire Games, one of the few manufacturers I know of who do Bavarian limbers and train figures. I have no idea if the unusual seat atop the limber is correct; I am inclined to doubt it! 


As of 1806, the train uniform was a light grey jacket with cornflower blue collar, cuffs, and lapels, and grey facings piped light blue. White metal buttons and shoulder scales were worn. The breeches were light grey.  An artillery Raupenhelm was worn without a plume. 


As with the artillery carriages, the Bavarian limbers, caissons, and wagons were painted light blue with the metal fittings painted black. 

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Battle of Stromschnellen Crossing, April 1809

 Two weeks ago, Czar Barry drove all the way down from Maine for the game. We played Battle Command, and it reminded me again just how much I like those rules (and the closely related Field of Battle, too... of course! I took the Austrians as FML Hiller, and Barry played the role of  Imperial ADC, General Jean Rapp. To keep everything simple, all the commanders were rated as LD 10.


Starting Deployment; the Austrian defenders hope to use the defensive terrain around the town of Sitzmark to but time for their wagon train to cross over the bridge, and their sappers to set the charges to blow the bridge thereafter, whilst exiting as many of their troops over the Stromschellen river before that. A Bavarian Division with supporting troops from the Wurttemburg Royal Guard enters from the left, a combined Baden and Hessian Division enters in the center, and a Wurttemburg Divisuion enters from the right. 

Confederation of the Rhine, 

General de Division Jean Rapp  LD10


Bavarian Division,  Crown Prince Ludwig  LD10

Bavarian Brigade  von Zandt

1 Jager DD6 CD 12

4 Line  DD6, CD 10

1 Bavarian Dragoon DD6 CD 12

6# FA Battery DD6 CD 12


Reserve Brigade  von Kornhold  LD 10

Wurttemberg Garde zu Fuss  DD 8, CD 12

Wurttemberg Gardes du Corps  DD8, CD 12

Wurttemberg Leibjager Garde  DD 8, CD 12

Wurttemberg 6# Horse Battery DD6 CD 12


Wurttemberg Division, Prince Wilhelm

1st Brigade  von Scharfstein  LD 10

2nd Light Infantry DD6 CD 12

3rd, 5th, and 6th Line  DD6, CD 10

6# Foot Battery DD6 CD 12


2nd Brigade  von Neubronn  LD 10

1st Fussjager DD6 CD 12

1st, 2nd, and 4th Line  DD6, CD 10

6# Foot Battery DD6 CD 12


Cavalry Brigade  von Wollwarth  LD 10

Wurttemberg Chevaulegers #2 "Leib" DD6 CD 12

Jager zu Pferd #3 Herzog Louis  DD6, CD 10



Baden and Hessen-Darmstadt Division Prinz Karl von Baden  L:D 10

Baden Brigade  Kister LD10

1 Jager DD6 CD 12

4 Line  DD6, CD 10

6# Foot Battery DD6 CD 12


Hessen-Darmstadt Brigade  Prince Emil  LD 10

3 Line Infantry  DD6, CD 10

6# Foot Artillery DD6 CD 12


VI Corps, FML von Hiller  LD 10

Saper Company  DD 8, CD10   (2 UI)


Advance Guard Division, GM von Nordmann  LD 10

Jager Battalion  DD8, CD12  Rifles

Grenz Battalion  DD6, CD 10

1st Erzherzog Karl Legion  DD6, CD 8

1st Vienna Volunteers  DD 6, CD 8

6# Cavalry Battery  DD6 CD 12


1st Division, FML von Kuttulinsky  LD 10

4 Austrian Line  DD6, CD 10

6# Foot Battery DD6 CD 12


Light Cavalry Brigade Weissenwolf  LD 10

1 Hussar  DD 8, CD 10

1 Uhlan DD6 CD 12


2nd Division, FML von Vincent  LD 10

4 Austrian/Hungarian Line  DD6, CD 10

6# Battery DD6 CD 12


Reserve Division, GM Rohan  LD 10

1 Grenadier DD8, CD 12+1

12# Foot Battery  DD6, CD 12+1


Cuirassier Brigade  von Schneller  LD 10

2 Austrian Cuirassier DD 8, CD 12+1


Wagon Train, Oberst Langsam  LD 8

4 Wagons  DD 4, CD 6

(2 UI)



Close up of the defender's position


The Wurttemberg Division advances swiftly, taking some casualties from the Austrian artillery.


The Baden Brigade advances on the Erdbeerenfeld farm, backed up by the Hessians.


The Wurttemberg Light Infantry takes the bulk of the casualties covering the advance of the columns.


Baden Jagers are in the farm complex already, and not a wagon has retreated over the river as yet!


Not to be outdone, the Bavarians press the attack as well, taking some point blank fire in the process. 


A Bavarian column supported by some Dragoons charge the crack Austrian Jagers; effective rifle fire drops many of the Bayern!


The Bavarian attack columns are repulsed in the center as well!


Oberst Von Langsam gets anxious as not a single wagon from his train has yet to cross the bridge!


Two Austrian Cuirassier regiments charge the Wurttemburg Dragoons!


Austrian Grenz charge the Bavarian Light infantry in the Hasenhüpferwald!


Austrian Jagers form square, with a regiment of Bavarian Dragoons in charge range! Two of the 4 wagons have finally crossed the river!

General Rapp receives a string of messages from the Emperor urging him to make haste, and thus a Wurttemberg Infantry brigade prepares to charge the Kaiserlick guns on the Harschberg. 


Bavarian artillery fire has blown a large hole in the Austrian left center; routers crowd the wagons seeking the relative safety of the far side of the river!!


Eagle's eye view of the field; the Bavarian Division has suffered heavy losses (upper left corner). 


View from the Confederation lines. 


Volley and counter-volley, charge and counter charge on the Harschberg!


The Wurttemberg Royal Guard Cavalry and Infantry charge into the previously opened gap in the Austrian defensive line!!


The Royal Footguards are routed, as the whitecoats begin to pull back, constricting their perimeter! All of the wagons have now crossed, but the bridge is not yet ready for demolition!


Wurttemberg infantry presses the attack!


Exit stage left, even!


The Footguards have rallied!


More Austrians pass over the bridge, as their sappers work furiously to prepare the last of the charges!


Austrian Cuirassiers chase off the Wurttemberg Dragoons and Jagers zu Pferd. 


The Austrians are out of Morale points, and constrict their perimeter further. The Sapper captain reports that the bridge is mined and ready to blow on the orders of FML Hiller. 


Wurttemberg Light Infantry makes a clever move to shoot the Austrian Cuirassiers in the flank. Evidently they had too much beer with lunch, as their fire is utterly ineffective!!


The Wurttemberg line infantry columns continue to press onward.


Austrian Uhlans charge the Wurttemberg Guards du Corps, as the Bad4rs advance through the Erdbeerenfeld farm complex. 


Situation in the center at the end of the game. The wagons have escaped, and the bridge is ready to blow on the next Event card, but the Austrians have taken heavy losses and will doubtless have to sacrifice more than a few of their units in Sitzmark town and beyond to allow for the destruction of the bridge; a minor victory at least to General Rapp!