MEDIEVAL WARGAME (Moors versus Crusaders)

                                                                      SCENARIO

This wargame was set in Spain in about 1250AD. A Moorish Taifa army had been raised by their Hajib, or local ruler. His forces numbered about one hundred figures. However, about thirty were unarmored civic militia and could not be considered reliable. But he did have two small units of household cavalry, and also his palace foot guards. These were equal to knights in their resolve. And the forty or so mercenaries and ghazi volunteers were equal to men at arms. And not forgetting, his state artificers had time to construct a powerful trebuchet. The Hajib was determined to hold this key river crossing.

The Christian opposition was commanded by a lesser member of the French Royal Family (Chris). His army also mustered about one hundred figures, including twelve mounted knights. The others were all retinue/men at arms. To aid his assault, the prince had decided to experiment with a blackpowder light bombard/cannon...... well the noise might scare the Moors. Honour now required him to secure this river crossing. The game would conclude at the end of move twelve.

                                                 THE CRUSADERS COME INTO VIEW

Sorry folks, this was a fun game but due to the nature of melees, a detailed blow by blow account was  just unpractical. But we did take a number of photos which, hopefully, will still be of interest. It really was a bloody affair as both of us eagerly looked on to see what fate awaited our military units. 

Chris resolutely advanced his army towards the bridge.

Sword and Scimitar clashed.

The mounted knights began to cross over the river....

Nine Moorish archers on the edge of the woods almost wiped out the mounted knights in two moves! It required two moves to cross the river. Under my rules, archers shooting at close range targets (8"), that are also closely packed, only require a 4,5,6 per dice, although plate armour or shield can claim a saving throw, 5 or 6.

The assault across the bridge was a push, and counter push..

A unit of Moorish cavalry crossed the river upstream and hit the Crusaders flank. This caused several units to rout. Although some of these later rallied, and the Moorish horse were sacrificed, it severely delayed the Crusader main attack. 

The action took down so many in a small area, we just had to clear some of the casualties!

On MOVE ELEVEN I offered terms, allowing a handful of retinue to make their escape. With no hope of the Crusaders making a second crossing, GAME OVER

This really was a fun wargame, which we both enjoyed playing.

Moorish casualties were about twenty, the Crusaders suffered about thirty. The price of attacking? 

I really did not trust my three bands of civic spearmen, and purposely kept them to the rear as a potential threat, or final fling.

I'm unsure if it is an age thing, but Medieval games seem more fun with 54mm!

NEW PAINTS

I was recently in Exeter and visited a shop selling Warhammer and other similar products. I actually popped in to purchase a few paints. I wanted a standard red, and also a warm brown, the latter to be suitable for firearm stocks, leather belts, etc. A member of staff kindly assisted me but confirmed he was out of suitable Citadel colours. He then went on to say that he uses Scalecolour. Not only are they less expensive (£2.99), but they have a working nozzle, totally full, and with a thick acrylic paint which can be diluted with water. Just confirming, they are excellent!

BARGAIN ARTILLERY

Could not resist this BUY NOW pair of W. Britains artillery pieces. OK, I will need to repair the missing rear button/knob/cascabel on the ACW barrel, but that's easy enough. But I have been wanting a Britains-made Napoleonic naval piece for some time, but did not wish to spend £10+....... these two pieces were only £14.48 including delivery. And they came with some ramrods, a bucket, and original ammunition too!

ps. In about 1972 I picked up a Britains naval cannon in a junior school bring and buy, it cost 50p. I subsequently removed the spring and loaded it with 'banger' black powder. It held my attention for a brief spell, then I moved away from London and my childhood toys disappeared.................... well, I've put that right now........ IT'S BACK AGAIN!

MGB

REPLYING TO FRIENDS COMMENTING BELOW

Cheers Donnie, the Scalecolour company produce several ranges, with particular characteristics. I have only used their WW2 range. These are solid colours, and their titles are more useful than fantasy labels. I also like the price.

Hello Spearhead. I had a small collection of 54mm in my childhood, 1970s. Then raised a large collection of medievals in 28mm during the 1990s. Still have Spanish and Portuguese. But I far prefer wargaming the period in 54mm. On the positive side, it is still possible to start a collection in this scale thanks to Ebay. The prices are still very fair, and sometimes you see some great bargains. I adopted this scale helping a young relative start his collection of toy soldiers in about 2010, now I am hooked!

Cheers Brad, it was a fun change to have the Medievals on the gaming table..... surprised my tactics actually worked, as Chris typically wins! Yes, hoping the pair of guns arrive ok. To the horror of some, I intend to paint the ACW gun a shade of green, to complete a battery. I just don't like plain wood guns, this is done in museums to confirm that part of the artillery piece is a modern replacement. All, or practically all wooden gun carriages 'sent' on expeditions, from Medievals onwards, would need to be fully oiled (and adding a colour to the oil was easy and attractive....... painted).

That's very kind, Roger, thank you. The Britains Deetail Saracens/Turks were never planned. While raising armies of Guelph (Papal) and Ghibelline (Emperor) armies for Medieval Italy, I occasionally picked up a Deetail Saracen figure, or two. I really liked them, and so this collection started to increase..... their armour detail is really fun to bring out with paintwork.

Cheers MJT. Chris and I enjoyed the game, but it is time to contemplate what next to put on the gaming table. I'm tempted to stage a Dominion game, but I haven't used my Grand Budapest Hotel collection, nor the Chinese 1930s army.......... ???

Thanks Quinn. Mad keen to stage another wargame, possibly this weekend. Just spent an hour working on repairing a Britains ACW gun, and I'm pleased with the result. Have formed a battery with another such gun, and with their green carriages, they are suitable for American, Danish, French, or Ruritanian armies!

WARGAMING 1st SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN WAR (and New Additions)

                    A DANISH GARRISON IS ATTACKED BY A LARGE GERMAN FORCE 

For my Saturday game, the table was laid out for an 1848 Schleswig Holstein action. I distributed the armies and terrain in what I thought was interesting and photogenic. No bias here, I only look at the visual impact, and always allow any guest players to view and choose who they wish to command.

SCENARIO

A Danish brigade was encamped in a small coastal town. In the harbour was a naval gunboat with a heavy gun. The garrison comprised a cavalry squadron, two infantry battalions, a detachment of hunters, two field guns with crew. In addition, the local town furnished a small battalion of militia, and a company of militia hunters. The Danish commander was granted permission to request reinforcements, three dice would determine on which move they would arrive. It would comprise either an infantry battalion, or another gunboat.

Approaching the town were three battalions of German infantry (from various States), three companies of Jaeger, a squadron of cavalry, and a howitzer with crew. There was also a Hamburg naval crew manning a heavy gun. Supporting these regulars were three battalions of Schleswig volunteers, and one volunteer artillery crew with a field gun, all rated as militia for morale purposes. 

THE ATTACK BEGINS

MOVE ONE The Germans made an appearance on the table. MOVE TWO The Germans continued to advance, while the Danish signal cannon warned the garrison. MOVE THREE Both sides advanced, the Danes seeking to occupy the modest hill and windmill. The Ship gun opened up..... amazing, a D6 followed by a D6, knocked out the volunteer gun. The volunteer crew scattered. The Hamburg gunners fired back with their naval gun, hitting the Danish militia hunters, they now declined to advance further.

MOVE FOUR The general advance continued. The Danish militia rallied their Hunter company, who now agreed to advance. Both naval guns missed their targets. MOVE FIVE The Germans occupied a prominent farmhouse. Both naval guns inflicted a casualty, the Danish militia hunters fell to half strength and scattered. But the militia infantry nearby stood firm. 

MOVE SIX saw the Danish field guns open up. But the small arms were largely ineffectual. MOVE SEVEN The Hanoverians charged the woods held by Danish hunters. Initially they held and fired, but in the following melee the skirmishers suffered, their morale broke, and it spread to a neighbouring battalion of infantry! Elsewhere, some Hessian jaeger began to snipe at the Danish gunboat, no hits, but disturbing nonetheless. MOVE EIGHT saw small arms and guns bring down many on both sides, but none were broken in their resolve. Indeed, a member of the Danish royal family rallied a routing infantry regiment.

CASUALTIES

MOVE EIGHT Danish: 8, Germans:10.

MOVE NINE was bloody for both sides, but the Danes were able to rally their routing hunters. And the Danish militia holding the windmill more than held their own. MOVE TEN took the Saxon Guards below 50%, and their morale broke, with the nearby volunteer battalion behind them also going. The Danish cavalry charged the Jaeger, they barely held on. The Mecklenburgers charged the windmill but, amazingly, the Danish militia stood firm. 

CASUALTIES

MOVE TEN Danish: 13. Germans: 21.

MOVE ELEVEN witnessed the Danish cavalry continue their melee with the jaeger skirmishers, it concluded with the latter surrendering! While at the windmill, the Mecklenburgers tried again to enter but were unable. As loser in the melee, and under half strength, they now routed. The Hessian hussars witnessed the jaeger surrendering, and they declined to move forward. MOVE TWELVE the Danish cavalry declared a willingness to charge the Hessian hussars. AND, another battalion of Danish infantry began to appear near the town. The German commander sent word that he was willing to depart the field, this was accepted by the Danish commander. GAME OVER

TOTAL LOSSES

The Danish lost Seventeen (Infantry 5, Artillery 4, Navy 1, Militia 6, plus 1 deserter). The German Regulars lost forty one. (Infantry 25, plus 6 captured and another 10 routing). To this number we must add the Schleswig Volunteers. Only one casualty, but an additional 28 scarpered.

German prisoners are escorted away.

The best games rely on an interesting and believable scenario! But I did forget to grant a bonus to small arms firing from recognised marksmen, German jaeger and Danish hunters. Oh well, it was still a success, and enjoyable. 

                             

NEW ADDITIONS

                                                         NAPOLEONIC and MEDIEVAL

Spotted these on eBay, buy it now for £5 including postage. A few extra archers are always welcome, I will convert these into Saracens. Had a box of Airfix British Napoleonic Infantry in the 1970s..... fun to see them again. Still to decide how I will actually use them.

Couldn't resist working on the two Saracen archers!

This gives me nine archers, and eight javelin men.

WORKING ON MY W. BRITAINS JEEP

Went to work paint stripping this die-cast jeep, removed any residue, primed, painted, and then varnished. Decided to attach the model to my WW2 British Paras. It made sense, had already constructed a Para trailer out of plastic card in February, so it completes an interesting table piece. Also of interest, the Paras camouflaged their jeeps with black patches.

Still to add some unit markings, will be easier now the basic paintwork is safe to handle.

Primed and ready

Superb Quality Restoration/Reconstruction

Original Photo

PARA CREW FOR THE PARA JEEP

Picked up three Airfix para figures in the collectables shop for £1. A bit of a project, one of these needed to be converted into a seated driver. The standing officer now has a steel pin drilled into his foot and into the jeep footwell... nice and secure. 

A REPAINT JOB

Participating in the above wargame was a reconstituted unit of cavalry. I had decided to reduce one of my Spanish Cazadores cavalry units, and to convert them into Hessian Hussars. All went well!

Previously.......

AND ANOTHER JEEP ARRIVES!

I think this will be the last jeep for my collection. The Collectables trader kindly sold it for £6, and will be drafted into my American army. Just need to complete the spare tyre, and paint over any scratches. It was made by Dinky.

MGB

REPLIES TO FRIENDS COMMENTING BELOW

Thanks MJT. It was fun to fight something more colourful, and a little less modern! My next game will be Medieval, perhaps using my Saracens too........... Well, Chris has four days off work and has said we should fight another game. Likely Tues. or Wed.

Cheers Brad. I didn't want to undertake a 'major' conflict in the 19th century, nor did I want to invest too much time and resources in raising a collection. The Schleswig wars suit my situation, and I have enjoyed my three excursions into the conflict. Unfortunately, August, and now September have been humid, and often raining, so garden games were not viable. Oh well, an English summer! Yes, pleased with the restored jeep, completes my unit of Paras. About to distribute the Medieval armies on the table!

Thank you, Donnie. It seemed daft having six squadrons of Spanish cavalry when the collection is really a garrison force. Luckily, it only required a change of heads and some slight overpainting and I could have a Hessian unit. I'm tempted to repeat this process, to raise a hussar unit for the Danish. 

Hello Roger. The game started with a likely victory for the Germans, and then it all went wrong. Lucky dice kept the Danish in the windmill, and it stifled the German advance. And then the Danish cavalry did their job, and panic began to spread. 

Yes, one article mentioned the 'Mickey Mouse' rounded camouflage, although some examples are more like sharks teeth, lol. Amazed to see the Dinky jeep transfers were still ok.

Hi Quinn, my instincts also told me the Germans would win...... so I got that wrong! The big surprise was the Danish militia holding the windmill. Yes, they had a bonus in their morale because it is a 'declared position', but being charged made it likely they would panic. And that is what broke the entire German attack!

United States NAVY SEABEES (Brummagem part 3, and New Additions)

                                            MY SEABEES ARE READY FOR SERVICE

Seabees were American battalions of artisans, and also dockworkers, recruited during WW2. Originally civilian contractors, they were later attached to the US Navy so as to grant them full prisoner of war status if captured. 

Many of these battalions were recruited for service in the Pacific. Some of these would participate in island landings, with the intension that they would hurriedly construct aircraft runways. Worth noting, they not only received small arms training, but on occasions participated in frontline action.

On a recent visit to my local collectables shop, I spotted a damaged Dinky 1960s fork lift truck. Thought it would make a useful addition to my Seabees battalion. With a paint strip/repaint, replacement tyres, and a converted plastic farm worker, it is now ready for service. This project cost only £2!

A 1942 photo. OK, slightly different, my model is a 1948 design, but fine for my wargames.....

Change of Job, ZOO KEEPER TO CHAUFFEUR 

Picked up this 1970s plastic Britains Zoo Keeper in the collectables shop for 50p. Missing most of its paintwork, decided to respect the original coat colour of green, but employ the figure as a chauffeur. 

Oh dear, wonder if he can get it to start?

Original condition

MORE WW2 DUTCH

I just wasn't happy with the mule and two attendants recently purchased. The paintwork was just shoddy, and the heads were badly moulded. I decided to paint strip and replace the heads with some home-cast. And having done that, drafted the two soldiers into my Dutch army.

For purposes of education.....

Original state

A NICE DAY OUT!

Went out on August 21 for a brisk walk into town. Picked up a bag of dates, a tub of ice cream......... and then popped into the collectables shop. Left the premises with six Airfix Australians (£3), to serve with my recently completed Australian Army jeep. And picked up another W. Britains jeep for £5. The trader is a kind fellow and offered some discount as a regular customer. I declined, he had just furnished me some suitable tyres from his spares box.

I will need to paint strip the jeep.....

DR WHO ARRIVES

Spotted a bag of Dr Who figures in a charity shop, one of which was 54mm in scale. Offered £1.50 for the figure, which they accepted. I watched Tom Baker play the Doctor in the late 1970s. I think Genesis of the Daleks is the best storyline in the Dr Who franchise, which has now gone down the plughole of contemporary BBC television. 

Update..... the figure is part of a 2004 anniversary set produced by Corgi Toys

THE BRIDGE AT BRUMMAGEM (Part Three)

MOVE SEVENTEEN commenced with an American airstrike, which resulted in the church being hit again, and this time it caught alight. The German Marines were forced to vacate the next move. More useful, the US artillery fired on the machine gun position, and blew it to smithereens (D6, followed by a D6, three casualties). MOVE EIGHTEEN saw the HMG in the windmill open up on the AA Gun position. Down to half strength, the surviving gunners fled. The Germans in the fortified house were also suffering casualties, but held on. MOVE NINETEEN saw the Americans reach the river, and they began crossing over. German fire had been largely silenced, only small arms from the SS battalion, and a mortar team were still fully operational and Chris's dice scores were unusually poor! MOVE TWENTY, the Americans continued to move across the river (it takes three moves and no firing) with little opposition! Unfortunately, American HQ now sent word that the loss of the bridge had made any crossing unnecessary! GAME OVER. One more move would have seen an American victory!!!!!!! (We had agreed to a twenty move game.)

FINAL PHOTOS

The gun position is deserted.

An American tank is crossing the river, one move more!

American artillery open fire

The LMG position is silenced.

The fortified house is about to fall.

American infantry begin to cross over, they just needed another two moves!

German command receives word, the Americans are pulling back?

State of the Table

CASUALTIES

SS Battn. 1, Empire Workers 5, Engineers 1, AA Gunners 2, Marines 2, PAK crew 2, Aircrew 1, 

LMG post 2, LMG post 3, Civilians 1.

US Engineers 7, M3 crew 3, Jeep crew 3, Tank crew 1, Infantry 8.

GERMAN VICTORY

MGB

REPLYING TO COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS

Thanks Brad. Both Chris and I very much enjoyed the game. My move-and-fire tactics turned out to be a mistake, should have used full moves, to reach the river. But then my casualties would have been heavier, for sure! Yes, it is always fun to have a browse in the collectables shop, his main trade is in collectable cards, lego, sci-fi products. Vintage die-cast is his private hobby, but happy to carry some toy soldiers too.

Same here, MJT. For many years I preferred Pertwee, still love Day of the Daleks, the Daemons, and also the Sea Devils. But a friend encouraged me to view again Baker's 'Genesis', and I had to admit it is an excellent story, with some powerful acting. 

Thank you, Donnie. When researching modern armies, you can't help discovering a load of auxiliary units are involved in any strategic action. And they often end up involved in the frontline fighting too. These units can add so much to any scenario. In the wargame above, the German Empire Workers played a key role in the game. Cheers.

Hello Roger. I made some enquiries into the cost of posting a model jeep to Norway. It is rather expensive. Actually, it is absolutely ridiculous, £15, or more, and there may be customs duty. That would be by Royal Mail. 

Thanks Quinn. Have just laid out the figures and terrain for the next game, back to 1848 with the Germans versus Danish armies, a lot more colourful!