Zulu War: Rorke's Drift 22- 23 January 1879, Turn 1 - 6.

 Turn 1 - 2

On seeing the approach of the Zulus, the Stores building is quickly occupied by Daniels, Sgt Mabin and the Chaplain on the left, with the centre room occupied by the 3 Commissariat men. Along with the hospital orderlies on the right they prepare to fire through loopholes made in the wall.

A ripple of musketry erupts from Shiyane Hill inflicting a casualty on the unprotected troops manning the front wall. As soon as the Zulu warriors move into range several of them fall to the rifle fire from the back wall, who have now been reinforced by a section from the front wall, and the hospital.

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Zulu War: Rorke's Drift 22- 23 January 1879 - Introduction

4'6" x 3'9" table.

As a young boy I saw the film 'Zulu' when it was released in the cinema. It fired my imagination and played a major role in kickstarting my interest in wargaming. It remains my favourite war film and I promised myself that one day I will wargame the battle. The problem I had was space. How was I going to play it through using a 1:1 figure ratio?

I naturally looked at scaling it back but felt it was never going to do it adequate justice. Then came 6mm! There were still hurdles to overcome. Primarily basing and not making it too fiddly, particularly with regard to the room to room action.

Zulus were less of a problem. I remained close to my standard basing but with a 6mm frontage per figure rather than 5mm. This gave base sizes of 18mm x 18mm each with 5 figures. The British also have an 18mm frontage but with a depth of 9mm and containing 3 figures. 

The original intention was to use rules that cater for figure removal and I have a number of figures based singly to allow for that. I have since reconsidered and have decided to use Black Powder with amendments recommended in the Zulu supplement and also my own.

One of the most notable changes are to unit sizes. A standard Zulu unit consists of 20 figures on 4 bases with a 2 base frontage. The British equivalent will be 6 figures on 2 bases with the same frontage. In circumstances where smaller units come into play, particularly within buildings, I have introduced stats for British 4, 3, 2 and single figure units (the latter being Tiny, the rest versions of Small).  For the Zulus, 2 bases is a small unit, 1 base a very small unit (basically adjusted stats), and less then 1 base (4 figs or less) a Tiny unit. 

I have less than 1,400 Zulus painted and with therefore recycle units up to the estimated 4,500 present at the battle. 

Another problem surfaced, that of the Rorke's Drift model. I originally purchased that produced by Leven Miniatures but it was clear that the footprint was far too small when playing 1:1. I have therefore opted for a 10mm model by Old Glory. Bearing in mind that Baccus figures are closer to 8mm the difference in scale is not too obvious. It has the additional benefit of removeable rooves with individual rooms represented. Ideal for action within the hospital. 

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AWI: White Plains/Chatterton's Hill, 28th October 1776 - The Game

 Turn 1

McDougall was the only American commander to successfully activate his troops enabling him to move the entire brigade onto Chatterton's Hill.

Rall successfully rolls for 3 activations allowing him to get his Hessian brigade across the ford making good progress along the road.

Elsewhere, the 12pdr section fires its first round at Haslet's brigade but fails to score any hits. 

Maitland has failed his roll to arrive on the table the next turn.

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AWI: White Plains/Chatterton's Hill, 28th October 1776 - Introduction

This scenario is taken from the British Grenadier! AWI Scenarios book 1. A brief background to the battle:

In the summer of 1776 an Anglo-German army under the command of General Sir William Howe attacked the Americans on Long Island commanded by Lt General George Washington. He made a demonstration against Washington's strong defences while sending a powerful force to turn his flank. Howe managed to wrong-foot Washington several times but failed to destroy his army.

By the third week of October, Washington's troops had been forced to concede New York and began to prepare a defensive position to the north of Manhattan island. Washington chose ground at White Plains and prepared earthworks in the hope of defeating the redcoats. Howe had no intention of storming the earthworks and instead identified Chatterton's Hill, wooded high ground to the right of Washington's position, as a target for turning it. 

Washington, belatedly realising the weakness of his deployments, rushed reinforcements to Chatterton's Hill. Command of the attack force was given to the Hessian Lt General Philip von Heister. Upon reaching the Bronx river his Germans started building a bridge. Maj General Leslie decided this was too slow and discovered a barely useable ford to the German brigade's left. He drove his men threw it and attacked the American position.

Table Size - 4'6" x 3'9"

Figures - Baccus 6mm

Rules - Black Powder

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Market Garden: Battle in the Woods turns 7 - Conclusion

 Turn 7

The 10th Para suffers a setback on their HQ replacement. The good news being that they retained their previous command value of 9 but they failed to activate meaning that it will be at least 2 more turns before they are able to resume command.  

The first casualty of their command problem is the second 6pdr AT gun. Having used their initiative to unlimber it gains no further activations and is promptly knocked out by the 75mm. 

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Market Garden: Battle in the Woods turns 1 - 6

 Turn 1

156th Para battalion quickly moves up to the hedgerow scanning for any signs of the enemy.

The CO and FAO begins to take up position.

The two 6pdrs are towed along the road behind the infantry advance.

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Market Garden: Battle in the Woods Introduction

 Working through the Rapid Fire scenario book 'Operation Market Garden' the next action is scenario 3, 'Battle in the Woods'. 

Having arrived as part of the second lift, 2 battalions of the 4th Parachute Brigade began its advance to take the high ground north of Arnhem on the evening of 18th September.

The 10th and 156th Parachute battalions were ordered to make the attack, initially meeting little resistance until they encountered Germans in the woods to the north of Oosterbeek. This is the setting for the scenario.

As previously in this series, Rapid Fire orders of battle have been converted for Blitzkrieg Commander IV.

Game details:

Table Size 4'6" x 3'

Figures - Heroics & Ros

Vehicles - Heroics & Ros, GHQ.

Rules - Blitzkrieg Commander IV

The Germans have deployed in depth with many already dug in.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Campaign Conclusion

 

The final objectives chart. Japan just one short of victory in the time allowed.

Objectives translated onto the campaign map.

During the course of the campaign, Victory Points (VP's) were accumulated by each side which will affect the level of victory. I will deal with that next.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 6, 1st - 15th March, 1942. Anglo/Dutch Sweep intercepts WAF Invasion Convoy

Doorman successfully intercepts the WAF Invasion Convoy heading for Batavia having evaded aircraft and sea patrols. The scene is set for the final surface action of the campaign. 

The weather is a force 5 'Fresh' with squalls. Visibility is a limited 19,000 yards.

The allied CenGroup consists of the Dutch light cruiser Von Heemskerck, destroyers Van Ghent, Piet Hein, Witte de With and Isaac Sweers. They are joined by the Royal Navy 'S' class destroyers, Stronghold, Tenedos and Thanet together with the Australian V&W class destroyer Vampire.

The Japanese escorts for the invasion convoy consists of the heavy cruiser Mogami, light cruiser Sendai, floatplane carriers Kamikawa Maru and Sanyo Maru, and Fubuki class destroyers Hatsuyuki, Fubuki, Shirayuki and Asagiri. 

The convoy transports consist of 2 x large, 8 x medium and 2 x small transports. The invasion is cancelled if they lose at least 4 transports.

Overview at the start with CenGroup in the foreground heading north west. The WAF convoy in the distance is heading due east. For the purpose of this game due north is to the right. A single rain squall is being pushed north by a 20 knot southerly wind.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 6, 1st - 15th March, 1942. Japanese Patrol intercepts US Sweep

 The rules used throughout the campaign is General Quarters 3 (GQ3).

The remnants of the Japanese Distant Cover Group newly transferred from the WAF, mount a patrol tasked with intercepting any allied forces attempting to attack one of the invasion convoys. Despite the poor weather, a Force 7 near gale with visibility limited to 19,000 yards, they spot the allied East Group steaming north.

The small Japanese force consisting of the heavy cruiser Atago and destroyers Oshio and Ikazuchi, move to intercept the allies.

East Group lead by the light cruisers USS Boise and HMNZS Leander escorted by 8 Clemson class destroyers, Stewart, Edwards, Alden, Whipple, John D Ford, Pope, Peary and Pilsbury, are steaming north when they spot enemy ships approaching from the north west.

The poor weather will adversely affect the accuracy of gunnery and torpedoes and speed is limited to 25 knots on both sides.

The first sighting of the enemy!

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