On the Workbench: Punic Wars

Some decent headway has been made this year on the Trebia project. Plenty yet to paint but these are the latest on the painting table:

Republican Romans

These will be representing 2 legions for the game but in future games can be one or part of a legion.

Baccus do not provide separate models for the Principes lumping them together with the Hastati without chainmail armour. I merely painted armour on the figures and although not ideal, in this scale it is not too obvious unless you look very closely. It makes it easier to differentiate them from behind.

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On the Workbench: Busaco - French Allies

 Another project completed and ready to play is the Peninsular War Battle of Busaco. 

Originally I intended to include the entire battlefield but after a re-appraisal I thought 'why' when all the action was confined to no more than 2/3 of it. Concentrating on the main action has reduced the number of Portuguese in particular that need to be painted so saving a little time.

With the Anglo/Portuguese forces completed it just left several battalions of French allies:

I apologise for the quality of the photos, which includes the other posts of this batch of "On the Workbench". I do not have the luxury of lighting from all angles and have to rely on a strip of 5 adjustable lights mounted on a strip on the ceiling of the garage. I made some adjustments including with the camera and it was only when I had transferred the photos to the screen that I realised all had not gone to plan! 

On to the details of what has been painted:

Legion du Midi.

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On the Workbench: US Airborne

 The US Airborne for the 505 PIR is now complete and is the subject of the next game.

All figures are of the new Heroics & Ros range and the orders of battle are taken from the Rapid Fire 'Market Garden' supplement. This represents the full regiment of 3 battalions.

I have covered this in previous blogs but a reminder here on converting RF orbats to BKC. It is relatively straight forward with each stand representing one platoon. With regard to the number of figures it is roughly RF + 50%. Or a ratio of 1:10. For vehicles the ratio is 3 in BKC for every 2 in RF. No change for artillery.

On the Workbench: Rorkes Drift

The start of a short series of "On the Workbench" covering painting and modelling undertaken over the past few months.

I will begin with completion of Rorkes Drift which signals the end of the preparation phase of this project and the action is now ready to be played.

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Gettysburg: Turns 25 - 26

 The Round Tops

The Union have now formed 2 clear lines to defend the Union southern flank. The single heroic battery in the upper middle of the photo suffered heavy casualties from rifle fire but once again pumped a round of canister into another Confederate brigade, this time that of Wright from Anderson's Division. The casualties it inflicted took the brigade past the 50% dispersal morale check point which it failed and dispersed from the field.  

In the foreground, the rallied Graham's Brigade, and the only survivor of Birney's Division, stood its lonely ground and fired into the advancing Confederates.

The loss of Wright's Brigade generated a divisional morale check for Anderson's Division which it failed. The division will retire broken in the next turn which is bad news indeed for the Confederates. This consists of troops in the upper middle and right of the photo which were to have provided the main thrust towards Cemetery Ridge.

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Gettysburg: Turns 19 - 24

 The Round Tops

Turn 19. The Confederate brigade of Kershaw supported by Barksdale's Brigade, charges the brigades of Tilton and Burbank (middle left of photo). Burbank has recoiled prior to impact but the small brigade of Tilton (just 12 surviving figures) receives the charge. In the ensuing melee Tilton is destroyed but has prevented Kershaw from inflicting more damage for the time being at least.

Elsewhere, fire is exchanged with troops on Little Round Top. 

Newton's Division continues to snake their way to the front.

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Gettysburg: Turns 13 - 18

 The Round Tops

Hood's and McLaws Divisions begin to cross Plum Run capitalising on the collapsing Union morale. 

On Big Round Top (bottom right), a charge by Benning's Brigade is enough to unsettle Graham's Brigade already battered from the fighting in and around the Peach Orchard. It retreats before contact and in so doing brings it into contact with the large Ward's Brigade who had been defending Little Round Top. Ward failed his morale test and they too retreated. Fortunately for them, Birney managed to rally the Brigade but Graham will continue retreating.

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Gettysburg: Turns 7 - 12

 The Round Tops

The final collapse of the Union defence of the Peach Orchard arrives when the pursuing Wofford's Brigade utterly mauls the retreating Burling's Union Brigade causing them to rout with heavy loss.

Humphrey's Brigade continues to survive, but only just, to the north of the Trostle farmhouse. The routing Burling's Brigade unsettles Carr's Brigade (nearest the camera) who fail their rally test and rout. Humphrey himself rallies Brewster's Brigade to the rear and again passes a Divisional morale test.

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Gettysburg: Turns 1 - 6

Examining the initial deployments gives an appreciation how difficult this is going to be for Lee. His initial intention of delivering a right hook turning the Union's left flank appears to be the most obvious route at this stage. Sickles Corps is exposed in advance of the main Union army running in a line from Devil's Den, across The Wheatfield and Peach Orchard, and anchoring its right flank near the Codori farm.

Longstreet's Corps (minus Pickett's Division who has yet to arrive) reinforced by Anderson's Division are tasked with delivering this outcome.

Ewell's Corps will demonstrate against Cemetery Hill and Culps Hill with Johnson's Division making the main assault on Culps Hill from the east.

A.P. Hill's Corps are to be held in reserve.

Peach Orchard and The Wheatfield

The opening move sees Longstreet's Corps move off Seminary Ridge with Hood's Division in the bottom left. An artillery barrage opens fire from the ridge.

In turn 2 at The Wheatfield, Trobriand's Brigade (middle of photo) suffers from an effective volley from the advancing Kershaw's Brigade (upper left), but even more importantly a double '6' rolled by an artillery battery. The result causes Birney to suffer a light wound and will be out of action for a turn, and Trobriand's Brigade loses a total of 11 figures. His brigade "goes to ground".

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Gettysburg: Introduction

This is the Day 2 scenario deployment taken from the original Fire & Fury rulebook. All the orders of battle are a direct transfer to Guns at Gettysburg rules. I had originally based my 6mm ACW for F&F but with 6 infantry figures to a base rather than 3 x 15mm and the base frontage reduced to 15mm. A simple matter therefore of retaining the number of bases exactly but using figure numbers rather than bases for casualties etc.

With figure bases being 60% of the 15mm size I reduced the table size by a similar amount allowing for my 9" square terrain bases. This provided for an 8'3" x 3'9" size widening to 4'6" east of Culps Hill. Some slight adjustments have been made to cater for my terrain but otherwise a direct copy of that provided in the rulebook.

I agonised for some time whether to play from day 1 but decided to fall back on my long term ambition of playing the large action as depicted in the rules. Given the speed in which I play through a large game, to play day 1 as well would take me eons to complete the entire thing! 

Day 2 fired my imagination on acquiring F&F in the 90's but at the time my collection was almost universally 15mm. A 14' long table was never going to be an option in that scale. 6mm though opened up this up as a real possibility, and hence the long awaited game will now be played.

I will not be playing day 2 as a standalone game as in the book, but will continue into day 3 if not concluded. Start and finish times will remain, these being 1300 - 2000 on day 2, and 1100 - 1700 on day 3. Orbats for day 3 will be whatever survives from day 2.

In F&F each move is 30 minutes. GaG use slightly slower movement speeds and given the differences in the way they play, I have fallen back on the same timescale I use in General de Brigade. i.e. 15 minutes per turn. This equates to 28 turns for day 2 and 24 turns for day 3. This also improves the possibility of a conclusive outcome.

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Britannia Campaign: Turn 8 - 2nd Legion v The Dobunni

 

Focussing on the south west, the 2nd Legion deals with a rebellion by the Dobunni tribe and is the setting for the next game.

I will be using the L'Art De La Guerre rules again but on this occasion I have balanced the points at around 270 to give a more even game.

The initial setup with the Britons on the left having rolled as the attackers once again. Terrain was determined using the Age of Hannibal rule system modified to reflect the type of terrain to be found in this part of the country. The table size has been reduced to 4'6" x 3' reflecting the smaller size of armies deployed.

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Britannia Campaign: Turn 7 - 9th Legion v The Cornovii

 

This action focuses on the 9th Legion's advance on Mona. The Cornovii tribe had previously indicated a willingness to be allies to Rome. As the 9th Legion marched through their territory they had a change of heart and rebelled. 

For this game I shall be using L'Art De La Guerre (ADLG) rules for the first time. The orders of battle will remain largely unchanged - more of this later.

Initial dispositions. The Cornovii are the attackers on the left. They have a normal camp and the Romans on the right have a fortified camp.

I retained the 'Age of Hannibal' method of terrain placement which, I felt, was more suited to solo play. All terrain cards were placed face down by each side with just minor adjustments when revealed. 

The river is impassable apart from the ford. At the top of the photo, the stream is classed as difficult terrain. Both woods are also difficult. 

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Britannia Campaign: Turn 6 - 16th Legion v The Iceni

 

The 16th Legion have retraced their steps to deal with the Iceni rebellion which is the setting of the next battle, again using the Age of Hannibal rules.

The Iceni have the initiative and will be the attackers. Only skirmishers can pass through marshes and the lake is impassable. 

The Iceni have a particularly high proportion of light units (skirmishers and light horse) along with chariots. Their lieutenant is placed in command of the light horse, chariots and medium horse on the left. They are tasked with pinning the Roman legionary cohorts while the warbands under the direct command of the chieftain seek to punch through the Roman left, a mix of legionaries and auxiliaries.

Good news for the Romans, their lieutenant has arrived sober!

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Britannia Campaign: Turn 5 - 16th Legion v The Catuvellauni

 I will start with an overview of the campaign situation:

Turn 5: 20th Legion returns to Londinium having pacified the Cantii. In the west. the 2nd Legion moves on the Dobunni tribe who immediately declare themselves as allies of Rome.

In the midlands, the 16th Legion seeks to clear the way for the 9th Legion who are tasked with capturing Mona. The Catuvellauni tribe are expected to be allies and it therefore comes as some surprise to the 16th when they find the warbands arrayed for battle.

The Romans on the left anchor their flanks on a small pond (top of photo) which is impassable to all, and a marsh which is only passable by skirmishers.

The Catuvellauni tribe on the right have their warbands and chariots positioned in the centre with cavalry and some skirmishers on their flanks.

Most terrain is clear and all woods are passable.

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Britannia Campaign: Turn 4 - 20th Legion v The Cantii

 

The situation in turn 4. The Cantii have rebelled necessitating the 20th Legion, held in reserve around Londinium, to be despatched for lessons to be administered.

This is the setting for the next game of the campaign:

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WW2 Operation Compass: South of Nibeiwa

My N.Africa campaign continues. 

A reminder of the situation:

It is now 11th December 1940 and the Italian advance has halted with most of their units settling down into fortified camps.

The British counter-attack has begun and the setting for this action is in the south of the map. The 7th Armoured Division has begin its 'left hook' and comes into contact with the Italian 63rd Cirene Division south of Nibeiwa. 

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On The Workbench: WW2 Late War German Infantry + Wargaming Update

Firstly the latest painting progress. A long overdue attention to the Market Garden project - Groesbeek Heights.

Almost complete prior to basing.

The finished figures. Laid out in their battalion formations suitable for BKCIV and Rapid Fire Reloaded. The only complete battalion is in the centre. That on the left is awaiting its HQ base, on the right the HQ and support company. The top right is the beginnings of a 4th battalion and on the left a Divisional CO and FAO. All battalions will be brought up to strength on completion of the next batch.

Figures are a mix of Heroics & Ros and 2D6.

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On The Workbench: Pony Wars Terrain

More terrain pieces have been completed for Pony Wars. My first use of cork bark was used to make rocky terrain pieces which will also form rocky passes.

My terrain modelling skills are basic to put it mildly and much of this was trial and error together with guidance from various Youtube videos.

One side is sheer rock face with the rear sloped to allow access for the ambushers!

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On The Workbench: Pony Wars

A few weeks ago, prior to my splurge on painting ships, I completed all the figures for Pony Wars with the exception of 4 cannon and crew awaiting a new Baccus order. In the meantime I will use artillery from my ACW collection to plug the gap. There are a total of 1,150 figures in the collection.

What follows covers the entire figure collection:

Mounted Braves. 480 have been completed, 120 short of the number recommended in the rules. 

Mounted Braves

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On the Workbench: WW2 Aircraft Carriers Part 3

 The final batch of ships before returning to figure painting is now complete.

Two Essex class carriers and the lead ship of the Bogue class escort carrier. All Davco.
Back left to right: Intrepid, Bogue
Front: Essex

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On the Workbench: WW2 Aircraft Carriers Part 2

 The latest on the carrier progress - a quick update:

I have for the most part worked in batches of 3 ships and here is from top to bottom, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Junyo. All Navwar.

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On the Workbench: WW2 Aircraft Carriers

With the blog having switched to a nautical theme over recent weeks, I post here an update on naval painting, in particular aircraft carriers. I have purchased some flight deck decals from "Flight Deck Decals" (link on the right) which really are superb. They do require some trimming to fit as closely as possible the Navwar models and many are also suitable for Davco. The current naval painting bug has inspired me to crack on with aircraft carriers in particular to utilise these decals.

Royal Navy carriers (all Navwar) from left to right:
Top row; Hermes, Ark Royal, Glorious
Middle row; Ameer, Victorious, Furious
Bottom row: Biter; Indomitable, Eagle

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 2, 1st - 15th January 1942, Japanese EAF Patrol v EasGroup (USN) Sweep

The second Japanese patrol was also successful intercepting the USN EasGroup which is the subject of the next game.

The heavy cruiser Nachi with 4 Shiratsuyu class destroyers are on a reciprocal course with the US sweep which it sights at a distance of 23,000 yards (115cm). The US force consists of the cruisers Houston and Boise escorted by 9 Clemson class 4-stacker destroyers.

An overview at the start.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 2, 1st - 15th January 1942, Japanese WAF Patrol v WesGroup Sweep

In this phase the Japanese have sent out two patrols with the intention of intervening any allied sweeps before they interfere with any invasion or supply convoys.

The first action sees WesGroup out of Singapore intercepted by the WAF patrol:

HMS Exeter continues its northerly route having lost HMS Dragon crippled by an air attack and now returning to Singapore. The remaining two 'D' class light cruisers and 7 destroyers plough through the force 7 sea state with reduced visibility.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 2, 1st - 15th January 1942, LBA Attacks

Two Japanese Land Based Air attacks were launched. One each from the Western Attack Force and the Eastern Attack Force.

Turning first to the WAF:

A force of Betty and Nell bombers, equipped with medium bombs and escorted by Zero fighters, successfully located the Royal Navy WestGroup who had been heading north to target the Malayan bound supply convoys.

The 4 British cruisers were in line astern lead by the Danae, followed by the flagship Exeter, Durban and Dragon. The cruisers were escorted by 7 destroyers.

9 flights of Nell bombers are in the first wave. One was damaged by AA fire with the remaining 8 dropping their payloads. 

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