Four Brigs for Arofan

Arofan has most generous to me providing a great number of ships form his 3D printer "Shipyard." So when some Frigates I picked up come with some additional Brigs I saw an opportunity to if not quite repay my debt to at least provide a down payment.

I did two of the ships as American Ships. One has the Black and White of the US Navy the other could be a Warship, Privateer or Armed Merchant. 

The Two Royal Navy ships are near twins. I used damaged sales for one to make it easier to tell them apart and you could even use one as a damaged version of the other if you wanted too.

Maurice Meat Grider Part One

 

Saturday night I ste up a little techical problem for three friend.  Nick, Frank and Pat commanded a Austrian-Allied force attempting to break through a French blocking force to relieve a besigned town in the Austrian Neatherlands.  

On the left an advanced force of French light troops screan the main line. 

On the right a line of flags can be seen rising over the vinyard and sunken road ahead. 

In the center the french have fortefied the old Chatuea and the hill across the road. I was inspired by my reading about some defensive positions prepared by Maurice de Saxe in the War of Austrian Succession hence the senario name. 

My foes wisely decided to avoid the fortefied center of the French line and begand to move agaist both wings.  

The Austrian light corps and Cavaly move up on the French Screen the Austrian Dragoons spot a corps of Swiss troops and Grenadiers de France.  A small Austrian Dragoon unit fell to a charge by the French hussars. 

The French Light infantry managed some extrodinary shooting driving off a Austrian Hussar unit. 

They sold thier lives dearly but vell to  a three pronged attack by Nicks light units. 

This reavealed the French Cavely as brigade of Dragoons and some Household and/or line Cavalry.

Hanovarian hussars charge thier French hounter parts and thier heavy cavalry move up to suport them. They eliminate one unit and send the other one running.  They are charged and riven off by the French dragoons. 

Those fleeing hussars are too tempting a target for the French Household cavalry who charge and eliminate both of them but then stop cheer and shake hands rather than hitting the light troops and cavalry behind those hussars (that would have been useful).  Nick mounted a chage on the Swiss and grenadiers He got hurt but did damage to the front line. 

Left side of the attacking line is well engaged several Austian and Allied units are hurt (a few badly) but they are still able in very good shape.  A big cavarly fight is shapping up here.

On the Allied rigth the guns are into position and have started to lob ranging shots. I've moved the Irish brigade up in suport.  The fight hasn't started here yet but it will soon and the Allied forces have a significant advantage in troops 21 batalions to 12 and 5 batteries to 3. 

We hope to get back to this game some time this week or next weekend. 

A pair of East Indiamen

  More goodies from Arofan's shipyard:Generic East Indiaman

These will make fine Large Merchants for Black Seas. I haven't flagged them yet and may not since as merchants are usually targets in Naval games.

I used some extra stern pieces from my Black Seas Frigates to dress them up a bit as these details weren't very crisp.  On ship uses the Black Seas ratlines while the other uses some that are 3d prints.

Black Seas "Pirate encounter" For the Lets Roll remote convention

I was Pleased to be joined by three great players Saturday night for my pirate encounter game for the Let’s Roll remote convention.  Chris had the USS Congress, Andrew had the USS Boston, on the French side Ted took command of the Thetis while Robert was in command of the Surveillante. 

The two fleets closed quickly long-range shots on the merchant of limited and the Congress suffered only minor damage.  

The Boston hit the Thetis hard with its first broad side but the Surveillante got a lucky critical hit with its bow chaser that brought down the Boston's format (this is the 3^rd game Boston has taken such a hit).  Congress turned an fired into the Thetis's port quarter hitting her hard, a Gun Deck and a Quarter Deck Critical. 

The merchant seeing it is cut off took its own shot but missed.  The Boston fired into the Thetis again causing additional damage as the Congress wears around off screen to turn and get back into the fight. 

Both French fire on the merchant and Thetis moves to intercept. 

The Thetis misses its grapple and the merchant collides with it both ships are mauled... The Boston has tacked through the wind and fires a long range. 

The following turn the Thetis successfully grapples but the Serveillante is unable to come alongside safety and collides with the merchant... 

The Thetis secures the merchant in savage hand to hand fighting as the Surveillante moves off board.  The Congress and Boston are both steering to save the merchant ship. 

The Serveillante returns to the board only to have her bow smashed in by a devastating point-blank broadside from the Congress.   The Serveillante sinks beneath the waves.

The Congress grapples the Merchant and quickly subdues the French prize crew.  The Thetis is badly battered but with a a badly damaged merchant and the damaged Boston to look after the Congress is unable to catch her as she makes full sails and races away with the wind behind her.  The result is a clear victory for the fledgling US Navy 

Challenge X Entry #22 Sanders Sand Dunes Irish Piquettes (72 points)

Just in time (or perhaps a little late) for Saint Patrick’s Day the Irish Piquet’s arrive at Sanders’ Sand Dune. In 1745 the French king send a force of troops from the Irish brigade to aid the Bonnie Prince Charles. Rather than risk any full regiment on this endeavor a selection of volunteers from each regiment to form a single force (each regiment sending the equivalent of a company). These volunteers were known as Piquets and was typical French approach to providing troops for risky operations. All of the Irish Regiments provided volunteers but only three made it to Scotland in the initial wave.

Regiment Dillon

Regiment Lally

Regiment Rooth.

The extra flags help indicate it’s a mix of units it’s a little bigger then works but will in most cases probably operate as three small units.

Points should be 36 for the figures at 2 points per 15mm man the three units come to 18 figures. There might possibly be some additional points for the hand painted flags Sanders Sand Dunes adds another 30 Points for 66 points.

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Loving the flags Adam, worth a bonus I think

Martin

Challenge X: Entry #19 Bromley's Butte Scotish Hussars

So, I had a plan for this challenge to finally get my Scottish Army finished so I could do games set in the Jacobite rising. This plan has not survived contact with Black Seas for a lot of reason but now that my ships are mostly done, you'll get to see a little of that project 

Contemporary scetch of a Scotch Hussar

Brumley’s Butte is all about those troops that handle scouting and reconnaissance duties and in the 18th century this was one of the chief rolls of light cavalry. 

For Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 Scotch Hussars: A single troop of 50 men raised in Edinburgh by John Murray of Broughton and officered by a group of Lothian gentry. It is unclear why they were designated as hussars, a role until then unknown in Britain; their clothing included a fur-trimmed hussar cap of obsolete French pattern.[85] As Murray of Broughton served on Charles' staff, the Hussars were led by Captain George Hamilton of Redhouse until his capture at Clifton, and then by an Irish professional, Major John Bagot of the French Regiment Roth. Bagot recognized that the unit would be ineffective in open battle and instead trained them to operate as light cavalry in the continental manner.[90]

It says something for military fashion that the Scottish had troops they call Hussars a troop type that originated in Hungary. Maybe it was the French influence.

Originally, I had gone a more muted brown and yellow plaid for their jackets but it just looked brown so the yellow became red which gives you a better view of the pattern. 15mm Mounted figures are 4 points each this formation had 4 figures so 16 points. 

Bromley's Butte contributes another 30 to the pile taking me safely past my goal for this challenge. As to the Jacobite project you will see a little more but maybe that will be for my showcase for challenge XI. 

The '45 certainly had its share of odd units, especially on the side of the Rightful Prince of Wales. As for the name Hussards were all the rage on the Continent and expect Charlie just wanted to keep up with the styles. Using them as scouts was certainly the way to go, although at times I think that any clod on a nag could see off Hanoverian Dragoons.

Nice work on the subtle plaids in 15mm Adam and yet another Island Location checked off. You may be in the running for first around the Island.

PeterD

Carnage and Glory AWI Play test for HAVOC

 I was very pleased to get invited to help Rich Wallace play test his game for the up coming HAVOC convention (I almost never make it to this convention as its the same weekend as my wife's birthday) He had created a scenario where Rebels (I commanded a brigade of militia)

 My command started on the picket fence and advanced into the lane to take advantage of the stone wall (or at least deny that advantage to the loyalist infantry that was rushing up at us.

I was just thinking we were in a good position when I got a bad feeling and a Hessian brigade supported by Lt. Dragoons came marching out of the woods.

The Brigade be hind me is scrambling to respond and I have all I can do dealing with the Loyalist and highlanders to my front

The British camp is awake now and is marching out and attacking our line on the left.

While the rear militia brigade was able to forestall the Hessian's nearest the woods the Lt. Dragoons and a battalion of Grenadiers did make it out on to the field.

The dragoons caught a battalion of continental rifle men in column and quickly scattered them coming up in the rear of my right flank unit.

It wasn't all bad news as my militia men are fighting like heroes trading volleys with redcoats are short range and even seding the highlanders packing.

But then the sustained fire fight becomes too much for my left side battalion and it fall back.

The British Press us on the right as well and they charge the artillery pieces in the center as well.

We now have big hole in the center of our line.

and my right most battalion is struck form behind by the 16th Lt. Dragoons and is quickly scattered.

We manage to establish a ragged line of defense.

The continentals on the left make a brave effort to stem the tide but it fall short as the militia units on the right have been battered too badly with 4 units and one battery routed from the field our our army moral breaks.  We had some 40% of our army put out of action adjusted to 25% by the second day when those scatted by the cavalry charges return to their units.  It was a fun scenario and think Rich has learned what he needed to balance the scenario better for the Convention.