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!