Cold Wars 2019

Steve Umbrell and I drove down to Lancaster, PA for our last visit to the former Lancaster Host Hotel, now the Lancaster Wyndham Resort. I ran the Battle of Craney Island on Friday morning using Carnage and Glory 2 computer assisted rules, and Steve ran the Battle of Obarschima 1812 in Russia also using Carnage and Glory 2 rules (I ran the computer for this one as well).    I will start with a few pictures of Craney's Island, follow with a battle report from Sacile 1809 (another C&G2 game) and finish with assorted photos from other games.

Craney's Island

We had three British players and three US forces holding Craney's Island, the rear gateway to the Portsmouth, Virginia Naval base where a the superfrigate the US President was undergoing repairs.  Admiral Cockburn wanted to put an end to this threat to Britain's dominion over the high seas and launched a combined arms naval and land assault upon the island fort.  I added a brigade of DC militia which were not present for play balance (they arrive on turn 4).  The British had to roll a D6 each turn to determine whether or not they would ground on shoals and be stuck for a turn or not.  The end result was a historical one, a US victory, although a minor one.  100 British sailors and marines made one of the most glorious charges I have seen using the C&G2 rules.  They attack a disorder DC rifle unit of 200 men.  186 surrendered and the rest fled, allowing the attacker to continue.  The 14 remaining riflemen ran through there supports, the 4th VA militia.  They, in turn, also retreated rather than stand and face charging British sailors and marines, even though they out numbered them 600 to 100.  They fell back on the DC militia to there rear, disordering them.  The British continued there mad dash and smacked into the DC militia, whom they meleed.  The British won the melee, and the DC militia retreated, ending a most glorious charge. 

 

 

Americans on the right, British players on the left.

The British naval landing party advances

A shot of the game prior to commencement of action.

The British arrive on board.

The landing forces move forward toward Craney Island.

Almost in charge distance, taking punishing fire from the naval batteries the British persist in the advance.

Coordinating with the land forces in preparation for the combined assault.

The initial British advance

The combatants with the gamemaster and his computer.

 

 

 

 

  Sacile 1809

I commanded the Austrian left, guarding the pass to the mountains.  I had four units of infantry and a light 3 pound battery.  The French had to advance up the hillside, taking on a lot of fatigue.  They then sought to make a disjointed attack on my fresh infantry units in line.  I sent them packing and repositioned my troops to better hold the pass.  We ended the game with a minor Austrian victory. 

 

Tom Garnett always has gorgeous terrain and this was no exception.  Shot prior to set up. 

Austrian center  2 battalions and a 12 pounder and right wing (horse heavy)

The Austrian right wing, horse and a grenzer unit.

My command guarding the pass, one unit deployed in town, one in support to its rear and one to the fore with the last in support.

The French arrive and the Austrian wait.

 

 

 

My unit 519 has sent two French assaulters packing (note the red marker) and my unit on the right prepares to deal with another assault in a similar manner.

My 3 pounder battery is dealing with the French to their front , supporting their infantry.

The French advance more cautiously as we continue to inflict damage with canister.

The French assault our center battalions as the game ends with us in firm control of the pass. Minor Austrian Victory.

 

Other games I photographed

A Bolt Action game set in Crete

Another shot of the Crete terrain

This one is for Mike Paine. 

This one too.

1848 Hungarians versus Austrians and Russians

A close up of some hussars

Hungarians awaiting action.

 



Bunker Hill part II

The British flanking march was successful.  Bill's riflemen put up a 3 to for turn fight to hold a barn on the flank while the howitzer and 12 pounder whittled away at the colonists holding the redoubt and barricades.  Mark advanced along the British right flank, slowing bringing his 6 pounders in to canister range.  Steve shifted to the center and advanced toward the redoubt.  While I swung my troops swung round to make a colonial sandwich and hit the redoubt from multiple sides.

The fences go down as Steve and my troops advance on the redoubt along with Pete's grenadiers. 

The hard fought battle of the barn where Mark's rifles held up Pete's flanking maneuverer for 3 to four turns. 

Pete's grenadiers assault the redoubt while Steve and I bring ours forward to assault the redoubt.  Our guns have caused one unit to route and Mark is moving forward on the right.  Bill took the rebels from the fletches and moved forward to cover the barn and the colonist's right flank.  Note his unit in the lower left taking pot shots at the second British flanking battalion.

Pete finally chased the rifles out of the barn. Bill continues his efforts to stabilize the Yankee right.

Pete's grenadiers are down to one figure when Steve piles on.  My lights advance on the lower side of the redoubt. 

Steve's artillery kill the second gun (the one with two caps on it) while my lights clamber over the walls.  I think we may have not done this part correctly as I don't recall receiving fire from the artillery. 

Game's end with the colonials on their right gone, Pete's unit in retreat and the second holding the barn.  We have taken the redoubt.  Our game master declared this a British victory.  It being the first time the British had achieved this result without multiple assaults.

Our decision to burn Charleston and make a flank march proved to be very effective.  It forced the Yankee's to shift their troops and created opportunities for Mark and Steve to advance on our right and center. While Pete's grenadier's ended up killed to a man, it enabled Steve and I to get into the redoubt and take the hill.  A fun game, great terrain and well fought. 

Bunker Hill Game

The Niantic Game Club put on the Battle of Bunker Hill at Fall In last year and won multiple awards for the terrain and the game itself.  When I saw they were putting on Bunker Hill as part of the Dick Bryant Courier tribute event last Saturday, I made sure to sign up.  Having read up on Major Pitcairn recently, I decided I would join the Brits for this event and was lucky enough to secure Pitcairn's command.  Mark M., Steve U., Pete E., and myself were the British. 

Initial disposition.  Charleston is in the lower left, Breed's Hill with the redoubt (unnamed in 1776 and later mistakenly called Bunker hill), the Brick kiln on the right.  Pitcairn commands the two battalions on the British left.  I also was given the British Light unit in the   second row center column. 

Colonist center position showing redoubt and fletches.

Game Title

A close up of the British left flank from within rife range of Charleston.  The first turn my Marines were hit by rifle fire, anything but snake-eyes and they would be fine.  Naturally......

We ordered the shelling and burning of Charleston.  Early urban renewal at its best.

My troops all dropped their back.  You can see my routed marines cowering on the beach after Bill's riflemen greeted them a bit too warmly on turn 1.

Our respected colonial foes, Dave, Warren and Bill watch as the fires engulf Charleston and Pete E's troops march off on a flanking maneuver

Many of the fenced in areas had high grass which slowed down our advance and caused fatigue.  Pennies were used to show fatigue.  The 6 pounders were found to have 12 pound shot and thus rendered unfit for service unless moved into canister range. 



 

Taking down fences accrues fatigue which can be recovered by sitting still for a turn.  At the redoubt our 12 pounder and howitzer haven gotten the range after

moving forward.  Two casualties a turn begins to wear down the colonists.

Wellington's Ridge Courier Game Day Best Western Haverhill

Our wargaming friends from Maine ventured south over the border in Massachusetts to hold a game day in honor of Dick Bryant, founder of the Courier Magazine which so ably represented our hobby for over 20 years.  They arranged for a conference room at the Best Western in Haverhill last Saturday and Steve Umbrell and I attended, as our wives were both out of town.  In the morning we played a game named Wellington's Ridge.  It appeared to be Quatre Bras order of battle transposed to the Waterloo terrain with Reille's II Corps versus Perponcher et al, attempting to reserve the field for Wellington to contest the French advance on Brussels.

Sequence of Play

Waterloo terrain, note Hougamont and La Haye Sainte toward the top of the screen.

Our cunning plan was to sweep to the right and roll up the ridge.  The game began with each side being able to deploy one stick (see orange and black item) length from their opening positions as seen ablove.

Steve advances in the center to pin the Allies as I swing around and  down the ridge.

The Dutch Belgians react to our move.  I have two batteries and two divisions, Bacheleau and Girard up on the ridge.  The Allies won the race to La Haye Sainte and Hougamont.  Steve assaults La Hay. 

Girard's Division shakes out into line while sending two battalions to continue  their sweep around the Allies flank.

Advance up the ridge

View from the British lines.  Tom Desmond has taken Hougamont and his troops hold the Allied right.  His cavalry hold ours in check in the center (to the right of La Haye Sainte.

Two battery's hammer the Dutch Belgian left and Girard out flanks them with one battalion while the other on the far right of this picture prepares for a new Allied division. 

The British hop out of Hougamont only to be sent fleeing back in after Steve launches a cavalry unit against them.

Steve advance in the center after taking La Haye Sainte, in order to pin the Dutch Belgians while I roll their flank.

A close up of the bloody angle. Note the red -4and rout markers on the Allied units.

Two Allied regiments have surrendered and a third is on the way .  Steve has taken some punishment but remains relatively intact.  The British cavalry are riding to try to rescue the situation as their new division deploys, delayed by my battalion.

Another view of the action in center and toward Hougamont

Final dispositions and a French victory!