German Pak 40 from BTD

With nothing but 18mm figures parading across the painting desk for three months, time to interject something different.  Something different I found.

Out from The Lead Pile is a Black Tree Design 28mm German Pak 40 with three crew.  I picked this piece up on a BTD sale awhile back along with a couple other pieces of ordnance.  Finally, I decided to put the gun together to give the Germans some punch in the next Chain of Command (CoC) game.  I gave this gun a weathered and beat up look.  Hopefully, not too beat up.       

While the last CoC game is but a faint memory, work on this project is an even more distant memory.  Looking at the Painting Log, the last figures to see action at the painting desk were a German sniper and spotter team almost two years ago.  My, how time flies!

Following the Zorndorf game (I need to tap out a BatRep for that), activity at the painting desk returns to fielding more 18mm troops.  In the queue are more units for the 1799 project.  Included in the batch working through the production line are another pair of Austrian guns, Austrian infantry, French legere, and dismounted Russian Cossacks.  Just enough to keep me busy.

Austrian Guns for 1799 Project

While Saturday was spent battling on the fields of Zorndorf, Sunday evening's painting session produced two 18mm guns and crew for the 1799 project.  Not a lot of progress but progress nonetheless.  Figures are from AB Miniatures' FRW range of Austrians. 

As always, terrific sculpts from AB and a pleasure to paint.  Two more guns for the Austrian cause are making their way through the painting queue.  This next pair of Austrian guns will be crewed by Grenz artillerymen.  Austrian artillerymen in casquet are splendid!

One shortfall that needs to be addressed for the 18mm SYW project is that I have yet to field any Prussian or Austrian howitzers.  Zorndorf needed two howitzer batteries and I was forced to field 6lb guns instead.  I am nearing the tipping point for a Eureka order and when I do, Prussian and Austrian howitzers and crew will be in the mix.  

Also, with Jake's massive Russian army fielding limbers for all of his guns, the pressure is mounting to field limbers for my artillery park.  Oh, how I hate painting limbers...  

Zorndorf: The Scenario

Zorndorf.  The raison principale for Jake to tackle the mustering of a Russian Army for the Seven Years War in 2018.  It is done!  Now, it is on to the battle for a refight on the 260th anniversary of the actual engagement. 

With troops deployed for battle, attention turns toward the scenario and rules of engagement.  The battlefield and troops are positioned.  What will be the objectives and constraints governing the battle?

First, the battlefield and deployments,

Battlefield overview

Zorndorf with initial deployments

then the Order of Battle.

Scenario Details:

Rules: Honours of War

Start: 0900 End: 1900

Prussia Considered the attacker

Army Break Point: Prussia:24 Russia:24

Terrain:

   Grunds not passable where vegetation exists. Rough otherwise.

   All woods are dense.

   Zorndorf is burning.

   Units take one hit if forced to pass through Zorndorf.

   Units defending from attacks across a grund are uphill and no charge  bonus. 

Special Situations:

• Moritz is second in command and General of Infantry.  He may act as CiC for any infantry formation in the same manner in which Frederick acts.
• Prussian Musketeers and Fusiliers move as Austrian for flank/rear/form change.  These are not the same troops as began the war.
• Prussian Brummers may pivot but may not prolong nor limber.
• After third Russian unit broken and every unit broken thereafter, Fermor rolls Command Test.  (-1) for each broken unit.  If he fails (Poor or worse), he must leave the field and Saltykov takes over.  Saltykov command taken over by DEPENDABLE replacement.  Each turn Fermor rolls to see if he returns to battle.
• Russian Observation Corps are rated as Standard due to their steadiness in this battle but fire as Inferior.
• Russian Cossacks to south of Quartschen did not participate in the battle but if the Prussians attempt something untoward in that quarter, they may join the battle.

Army Break Points:

• -1 point for each unit Done For.  Points are doubled if Russian unit is Done For and retreats/routs into woods behind Russian Second Line or if Prussian unit is Done For and retreats/routs beyond Zorndorf.
• -1 point for Russian loss of Zicher
• -2 points for Russian loss of baggage train 
• -3 points for Russian loss of Quartschen
• -1 point for Prussian loss of Wilkersdorf
• -3 points for Prussian loss of Zorndorf 

This scenario summary should provide just enough information from which commanders may formulate a plan of battle.

Zorndorf: Finishing the Prussian OB

The final laggards to the Prussian Zorndorf OB fall into the ranks just in time for the upcoming game.

The first unit off the painting desk is the 4th Hussar Regiment mustering two squadrons of a half dozen figures each.  Although the stated paper strength of two squadrons is a dozen figures, in the Zorndorf game, these dozen figures of the 4th will represent about five squadrons of cavalry.  The white and medium blue uniform of the 4th will make a colorful contrast against the masses of dark blue coated Prussian infantry and the white coated cuirassiers.

Also off the painting desk is one more command stand for the Prussians.  During the drafting of the Prussian OB, I discovered a need for one more command stand to provide the cavalry reserve under Marchall an on-field commander.

While these two figures were in work, the Prussian OB underwent a slight consolidation in independent commands.  This consolidation freed up one existing command stand that could be used for Marchall.  Nevertheless, I finished this pair off and it will represent Marchall as originally planned. 

Having all Prussian figures accounted for the battle, attention now turns to OB finalization and scenario design.  Making unit labels, rechecking the QRS,  and qualifying special rules are all in work.  With four players confirmed for the game, each player will have plenty of troops under his command.  Figures from Eureka Miniatures.

Chaeronea, To the Strongest! Style

Scott's beautiful 15mm hand-painted shields

Scott hosted an inaugural To the Strongest! (TtS!) game using his finally painted 15mm ancients' armies.  On the slate for this day's battle was the 338 BCE battle of Chaeronea between the Macedonians and Greeks.  While I bought a copy of TtS! when first published, no opportunity arose to give them a try.  Until now.  Perhaps not having a ready-made grid mat at hand caused my procrastination?  Perhaps.

The long Greek battle line

When Scott scheduled the game and announced an ancients battle, I figured we would be using his fine 28mm collection.  I was surprised to see 15mm armies arrayed upon the gridded gaming mat when we walked downstairs and entered his game room.  Pleasant surprise, for sure.

Greeks pinning a yellow-shield phalanx

Being absolute newcomers to TtS!, Kevin and I would face off while Scott adjudicated and kept the game moving along.  With Kevin taking up station on the side of the table behind the Macedonians, the Greeks were left for me to command. 

The lone Greek cavalry

Greek Center under Lysicles

The battle began with the Greeks advancing all across the battle line maintaining a close cohesion.  The Macedonians had trouble coordinating their movements due to a number of inopportune aces being drawn from the deck.  In TtS!, an ace stops most activations dead in their tracks.

Greeks advance

While the Macedonians wait

Alexander's left wing cavalry came on boldly into the Greek Hoplites on the Greek right but a sudden repulse made the Macedonian cavalry much more timid.  Fortunately for the Macedonians, both Alexander and Phillip act as Greek Gods in this game each having three rerolls per turn.  Even with Greek success in disordering the Macedonian cavalry, Alexander calmly withdrew, reordered his cavalry wing and waited for the Greeks to come on again.

Greek right

Alexander's cavalry disordered and driven back

Come on again, the Greeks did too.  By now Kevin realized the power and invincibility of his cavalry arm and used a combination of first strikes, multiple activations, and rerolls to thwart any Greek thoughts of making a breakthrough on the Macedonian left.  After destroying a unit of Hoplites, Alexander turned the right flank of the Greek army and began to roll up the Greek line. 

Piles of cards signifies action on the right

With the Greek right crumbling, Greek attention shifted to their center and left.  After much bashing of spears and shields, the entire line was in chaos with pockets of opposing units in deadly clashes.  All semblance to ordered lines had vanished.  Finally, the Greeks accepted the likely outcome of battle and withdrew from the field.  A victory for the Macedonians!

Clash on the Greek left

What are my first impressions of TtS!?  Well, it is a fast-paced game with much tension, drama, and a fair bit of luck.  It was both fun and frustrating.  More fun than frustrating, by a wide margin.  The game mechanisms are quite simple and after a few turns we rarely looked at the QRS.  Movement and combat resolution were rapid with the grid and deck of cards.  Everything seemed intuitive and straightforward.  An elegant system that moves along very quickly.  Since not every unit may act in a turn, force management is important.  I could see tactics developing after having experienced a few games.  I already have a number of thoughts in mind for the next battle.  We completed two Chaeronea battles in under three hours.  That is a huge accomplishment.

TtS! is a fun and challenging game that I want to try again soon.  The game motivates me to put 28mm ancients into the painting queue and build myself a gridded mat.  I think I could defeat the Macedonians next time...    

Hiking the Palouse

Lake Pend Oreille

With friends and family in town recently, we needed an activity to interest our more adventurous visitors.  To enjoy the fine summer weather and beautiful scenery, Nancy suggested a short hike to Lake Pend Oreille.  While, not technically on the Palouse, Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho is only about a 60 mile drive to the northeast of Spokane.  Rather than the rolling hills of the Palouse, a visitor is treated to the timbered forests and stunning lakes of North Idaho. 

Marching single file along the wooded trail

From the trailhead, a path leads down the steep, windy, and rugged trail to Lake Pend Oreille.  The switchbacked trail drops to the lake shore about 1,300 vertical feet below.  The trail, itself, is about one and three quarter miles in length. 

Once departing the trailhead, a hiker must go up before going down to the lake.  Once the bluff is crested, a partial view of the lake is visible.  A stunning view it is too!

First glimpse of Lake Pend Oreille

Continuing on down the trail on the descent, the views of the lake from high on the bluff are even more spectacular.  While the views of the lake are often screened by trees along the path down, many breathtaking views of the blue water and mountains present themselves for a quick snapshot.   

After many a switch back and an hour later, we arrive at the serene waters of the lake.  Beautiful 180 degree views showing the calm lake waters and surrounding mountains are present with every turn.

The hike down was hot so after reaching the lake we found a suitable stretch of graveled beach to rest.  After a light lunch, cold drinks, several photo ops, and a quick wade into the cool lake waters, we gathered our belongings and headed back up the steep trail to return to our vehicle.   

The day's hikers

While indoor activities of our hobby frequently beckon, when the weather is pleasant and friends and family are willing, enjoy these opportunities to connect to both family and nature.   

Montcalm & Wolfe: Capitulation!

Battle of Oswegatchie from Gridded Wargames

With the severe mauling of the French at the battle of Oswegatchie and the death of Rigaud from wounds suffered during the battle, the remnants of Rigaud's force retreat into the woods.  Unfortunately, the militia having sustained heavy casualties have had enough and disband.  For details on this hot engagement, please visit Peter's Gridded Wargames, FIW Campaign Game 20. 

Still reeling from the heavy losses at Oswegatchie, the French choose to roll on the Command Table to set their forces into motion.  The result?  No French activations!  A band of Algonquin join the French cause and move to join the retreating Regulars from Oswegatchie but no French forces respond.  The loss of Rigaud and Oswegatchie must have been a hard blow for the French.  A hasty retreat back to Montreal seems the only option for the defeated survivors of Rigaud's force.  

Heavy French losses at Oswegatchie

June 1759

The loss of any French activations provides the British with a chance to take a double move.  The British could play it safely and opt for a guaranteed single activation or choose to roll on the Command Table.  The British choose the latter and roll three activations for June.

British maneuvers in June

With those three activations, Monckton, Abercrombie, and two Regular regiments depart Fort Carillon and march on Fort Isle aux Noix; one Regular regiment marches to Fort Presque Isle to join Braddock; and Loudoun and his victorious force embark in bateaux and travel upriver to Montreal.  Loudoun finds Montreal without a significant military garrison and Montreal surrenders without much resistance.  The French are in trouble!

With Braddock threatening Fort Niagara in the west, Amherst blocking any attempts to gain access to the Mohawk Valley at Fort Stanwix, Fort Isle aux Noix under threat, and both Quebec and Montreal under British control, the French government sees the writing on the wall and seeks terms of surrender.  Of course, the British accept.  The war is over.

Well!  This campaign game has yielded much more enjoyment and many more interesting battles than I imagined when first conceived back in February.  In February, I never expected the campaign to command six months activity.  In that time, Peter has fought 20 battles on his gridded gaming table while the operational situations were conjured up by me using Rob Markham's DTP game, Montcalm & Wolfe.  While I became very familiar with Markham's operational design, Peter honed his own gridded, tactical rules.  I enjoyed seeing Peter's rules evolve over the course of the campaign.  Seeing his troops battle it out on the table was always a joy.   

What began as a response to Peter's desire for campaign context for his gridded battles, this Montcalm & Wolfe campaign blossomed to develop an interesting and captivating narrative punctuated by Peter's tabletop battles.  While the campaign would draw up the forces and location for each battle, Peter crafted the terrain and tactical situation to reflect the context of the campaign.  Sometimes the battle outcome was expected; sometimes it was not.

Montcalm & Wolfe presents difficult challenges for the campaigner.  Due the nature of the terrain and harsh attrition rules, movement is channeled through only a few corridors protected by forts within one month's march.  Those few corridors such as the Mohawk and Hudson Valley drainages saw much action during the campaign.  How many times were battles fought over Forts William-Henry, Stanwix, or Oswego?  Many!  Those landscapes became quite familiar territory to the follower of this campaign as the reader was treated to Peter's tabletop renditions of the terrain. 

The French have a difficult time in Montcalm & Wolfe.  A war of attrition cannot be won with the uneven reinforcement schedule.  To do well, the French must strike early and often before British troops begin pouring into America.  When the balance of power changes, the French must adapt quickly.  Having played through one complete campaign game, I have a very good feel for the play and design of Markham's game.  Perhaps a review and thoughts on the game, itself, will follow at a later time?  

Until then, tremendous thanks go out to Peter for diligently tackling every battle thrown up against him.  His battle resolution gave an extra dimension to the game and added tension as I awaited publication of each battle's outcome.  Twenty games played out on the table for a campaign is a feat not easily duplicated.  Peter, I hope you enjoyed this experiment as much as I.  Chapeau to you!     

French Horse Artillery - The Early Years

Still spending much of my summer painting sessions alternating between SYW and 1799 projects in 18mm.  As I look down the painting queue, that trend will continue as Austrian artillery for the 1799 project and SYW cuirassiers and hussars await their turn at the brush.

Today is no different!  Off the painting desk today are three French horse artillery stands destined to take their place on the 1799 roster.  The French fielded several horse artillery batteries at Rivoli.  If Rivoli gets the nod as the next First/Second Coalition battle to see action on the table then the French will need a few horse guns.  Figures are AB Miniatures. Excellent sculpts!

Like many other places in the Northern Hemisphere, the Pacific Northwest USA has been experiencing hot temperatures.  This week forecasts for Spokane show highs of 107F Thursday and 105F Friday.  With skies choked with smoke from numerous wildfires, cycling outdoors in the afternoon heat and smoke has been challenging.  What am I leading into here?  Well, getting off the bike after the late afternoon, post-work ride is leaving me more fatigued than usual.  The combination of high temperatures and smoke is taking a toll.  I am not feeling much urge in sitting at the painting desk for even a short painting session.  Most of my hobby time of late has been taken up by planning the Zorndorf scenario.  Something I can do with a cool drink in my hand.

Finally, this weekend I get a chance to try Simon Miller's To The Strongest (TtS) ancients rules.  TtS has been in my possession since it was first released but I have yet to give it a try.  That gap of knowledge and experience will be filled on Saturday as Scott hosts Chaeronea.  Should be fun!    

Zorndorf: First Peek

Prussian form up in front of the burning Zorndorf

The Zorndorf project, in which the Russians have been mustering for eight months, nears realization.  With the 260th battle anniversary approaching on 25 August, the project is ahead of schedule with only a few troops remaining to paint. 

The purpose of this battle pictorial is to set the visual scene and whet an appetite for the upcoming clash between Frederick and Fermor on the fields of Zorndorf.  Zorndorf represents a big battle with about 1,500 figures on the table.  

Battle Deployments

Jake, having a free Friday evening in Spokane, stopped in for a bite to eat, a long chat, and the deploying of troops onto the gaming table.  Before he arrived, the table was readied with the battlefield terrain.  The Zorndorf battlefield consumed the full 12 x 6 foot table.

Battle lines are drawn
Prussians (left) Russians (right)

Friday night's session had three goals:

• Pull troops from their storage boxes and verify that the historical dispositions would actually fit into the confines of the tabletop battlefield.  They did!
• Focus on hammering out details of scenario design with an emphasis on troop strengths and ratings and leader ratings.  That "rough-in" was accomplished too!  
• Verify that all troops needed were present and accounted for.  For the Prussians, I discovered that one more command stand and a few more hussars are needed to complete the OB.  For the Russians, a handful of Observation Corps infantry are all that remains.

Russian First Line

Prussians arrayed for battle

In the background, a view of the long Russian lines

Manteuffel, Kanitz, and Marschall on Prussian left

At Zorndorf, Frederick enjoyed an advantage in cavalry and artillery while Fermor held the advantage in infantry.  Should be an interesting and challenging fight for both.  With the 25 August 260th anniversary falling on a Saturday, the plan is to refight this important battle on the anniversary date.  Of course, having invested in this effort, Zorndorf will likely be seen on the gaming table a number of times.

Montcalm & Wolfe: French Gain a Major Victory

Battle for Fort Oswego

As set up in the last Montcalm & Wolfe post, Contrecoeur and Drucour converge upon Fort Oswego in an attempt to wrest control of this key outpost from British hands.  To follow the action of this Major Battle, please visit Peter's Grid Based Wargaming.  In the action, Contrecoeur was wounded and carried from the field.  In the end, the French persevered but it was a near run thing.  The French Irregulars were destroyed but the fort fell.  Defeated in battle, Amherst's militia had enough and disbanded.  With the Cayuga eliminated in battle, only Amherst and one regiment of Regulars escape.  With a French Major Victory, the Political Track shifts two spaces to the left in favor of the French.  With winter approaching, all Natives disband and return to their settlements.  

Winter 1 1758
With snow blanketing the ground, campaigning slows to prevent severe deprivations.  Britain rolls on the Command Table receiving one CP.  Amherst and his one regiment of Regulars slips past the French at Fort Oswego and returns to the lightly garrisoned Fort Stanwix.  Overpowering the garrison, Amherst prepares for winter within the safety of the fort.  The French move Drucour and one regiment of Regulars back to Fort Niagara before Braddock can respond.

Winter 2 1758
In the second winter turn, the British roll on the Command Table and the French get to interrupt with one activation.  With that, the militia in Fort Frontenac travels by bateaux to Oswegatchie to join Rigaud.

Rolling on the Command Table a second time, the British receive four activations.  With four activations, one Regular regiment moves from Albany to Fort Stanwix to join Amherst, Johnson moves to Fort William-Henry, one Regular regiment moves from Fort Edward to Fort William-Henry, and finally, the lone regiment of Regulars stationed at Fort Cumberland for most of the war marches to Baltimore.  The French remain inactive. 

Strategic Phase
Winter is mild and neither attritional losses nor militia disbandments are seen.  French receive one militia as a reinforcement and Contrecoeur returns to the field.  Both make their way to Fort Oswego.  The British receive one militia and Abercromby.  Both of these reinforcements march to Fort Carillon.

May 1759
With the end of winter, fresh reinforcement arrive.  One more colonial militia marches to Fort Stanwix to bolster Amherst.  The French receive two regiments of Regulars; one marches to Trois Rivieres to augment Montcalm's garrison while the other arrives at Fort Oswego.  Contrecoeur is amassing a sizable force on the banks of Lake Ontario.

To begin the campaign year, the British choose to roll on the Command Table.  Three CPs are received.  One Regular regiment marches from Fort Duquesne to Fort Le Boeuf; the Regular regiment in Baltimore is shipped to Quebec; and Loudoun and two regiments of Regulars converge upon Oswegatchie to attack Rigaud.  The British strike north in an attempt to isolate Montreal!

The Battle at Oswegatchie
OB:
British: Loudoun (A0D1), 2 x 5-6 Regulars
French: Rigaud (A0D1), 1 x 5-6 Regular, 1 x 3-5 Militia

With a river to his back, Rigaud must defend the settlement of Oswegatchie from Loudoun's bold attack out of the wilderness.  A British victory here could threaten Montreal from a second front.