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Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Chile Con Carnage

In this week's remote battle, Graham sent us back to South America and the War of the Pacific.  Rules in play would be It's Getting a Bit Chile.  The two Chilean commands are tasked with taking both a hill and an Officia on the Peruvian/Bolivian baseline while the allies have orders to take a hill on the Chilean baseline.  So, both sides need to attack across the table and seize far-flung objective(s).  The Chileans need to take two; the Allies only one.  I command the Chilean left.  Steve the Chilean right.  Ian and Phil command the Allies.  I will be facing Ian's Peruvians as I march upon the hill.

How did the battle pan out?  Being heavily engaged upon the Chilean left, events concerning the attack upon the Officia on the the right are fuzzy.  Therefore, this action focuses on the attack upon the Peruvian front and the hill.

The Chilean guns under my command are brought up and unlimber.  Unfortunately, the guns unlimber such that they are deployed unable to bring the enemy immediately to bear.  Rats!  One turn is wasted to pivot the guns.  One hazard of remote play is that one cannot always see what one is doing!  The remainder of my command moves toward the enemy occupied hill with the cavalry pushing out to the left.
Having adjusted the guns, they begin concentrating fire upon the Peruvians positioned on the slopes of the hill nearest the railroad.
The artillery keeps up its bombardment as the Chileans advance.
As the range closes, the battlefield erupts in violence.  The firefight is fierce but commanders are nearby to rally the troops.
The cavalry on the left press on to the foot of the hill in an attempt to outflank the Peruvians.  The Chilean right descends upon the enemy held Officia.  Bolivian reinforcements reach the battlefield in strength.
With the sight of enemy cavalry approaching a flank, Peruvian infantry holding the end of the Peruvian line forms square.
While pressure is maintained against the Peruvian infantry and Gatling gun on the lower slopes of the hill, two Chilean battalions rush to the foot of the hill and let loose volleys into the square.  The tightly packed square suffers greatly.
The square suffered so much damage in the fusillades that it retreats back down the reverse slope of the hill.  In the continuing firefight on the lower slopes, casualties are mounting as both sides are suffering much disorder.
Against the Bolivian held Officia, the stalwart Chileans continue pressing on and short range firefights erupt.
As the Chileans bring up the cavalry, the Peruvian general makes a most crucial decision.  Rather than continue to rally the infantry and guns on the left of his command as the two armies pound each other in the center, he rides over to the right to rally the square before the enemy cavalry arrive.  The Chileans continue to pour a withering fire into the square.  In the commotion, the Peruvian general is wounded and flees the field.  The Peruvians have been abandoned!
From the Officia attacks, reports are arriving that the fighting is heavy.  Assaults are going in against the complex.  Casualties are high but the Chileans fight on. 
Several Chilean battalions are repulsed but hope is not lost.  Bring up the artillery!
The Peruvian flank has been turned!  On the ridgeline, Chileans are enfilading the Peruvians as a cavalry charge is prepared.   
The rightmost Peruvian battalion on the ridge turns to face its foe just in time to see the square below it wavering...
and just in time to find itself the target of the cavalry charge.
The square, below, dissolves and flees to the rear as the cavalry hits its target on the ridge.  Holding the advantage, the cavalry forces the Peruvians off the hill in disarray.  On the opposite end of the hill, casualties mount quickly.  With no general to rally the weakened and badly disordered troops, the Peruvians are forced to retreat. 
The Peruvian Army has broken!
The battle has not been won, however.  The Bolivians hold the Officia and are beginning to push back their Chilean attackers.  As night falls, the outcome is declared a draw.
This contest was an enjoyable action, perfectly suited for four players.  Had the battle lasted a few more turns, I wager that the Chilean left could have turned toward the Bolivians and the Officia and given them a little indigestion in attempting to hold this objective.  But, we will never know.

Having only played It's Getting a Bit Chile three times now, much is still fuzzy in my mind.  I am starting to get the hang of the various mechanisms, though, and learning more with each game.  Tactics are beginning to formulate in my mind and plans of action becoming more obvious.  We probably need to get this into a more regular gaming rotation so that my play improves. 

Thanks to Graham and my field-general compadres for a fun gaming session!

32 comments:

  1. Terrific account of the battle, and you are ahead of me on this one too! It would be good to get these out and play them more often, to improve my recollection of what I wrote at the time!

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    1. Thank you! I figured I ought to crack on to this BatRep while still fresh in mind and before it falls onto the heap of BatReps unwritten. I have dozens of games stacking up in that corner.

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  2. Judging from the lively AAR Jon, I dont think you have too much to be concerned about re your grasp of the rules and tactics - you seem to have had a pretty successful outing!

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    1. Still much to learn, Keith. Fortunately, I have a copy of the rules to thumb through when activity is elsewhere on the table and I am in search of an answer.

      As for a successful outing, I won the cavalry charge even with my opponent rolling my dice!

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  3. Sounds like you had fun, and it's a period about which I know absolutely nothing, so it'll be interesting following these games.

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    1. I had fun, for sure, Markus. Of course, gaming with friends is always fun. I am in the same camp as you in that I am learning about the period too.

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    2. @firemonkeyboy: The rule book contains all you need to know, with a potted history, org charts and a painting guide.

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  4. Great BATREP. Am almost tempted to get into the period!
    Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you! I am sure Graham would be happy to recommend a set of rules for this period.

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    2. Me? Would I? Well, "It's getting a Bit Chile", available from Amazon in either sort cover or hardback, is certainly worth a look. It's not just a set of rules, but a full guide to the period, as one reviewer remarked.

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  5. Lively battle from the accounts. Troops are very colorful,....no, must resist a new period!

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    1. Troops are very colorful and the action was lively. Why resist this temptation? Indulge yourself.

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    2. I'd agree. The armies aren't enormous, and Pendraken have a really nice range in 10mm, which make it really affordable (my figures are 15mm from Outpost).

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  6. Nice report, with plenty of room to play. The narrative of the Peruvian commander’s mishap was a nice touch.

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    1. Thank you, Norm. That fateful decision by the Peruvian commander compromised the entire Peruvian position.

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  7. Unusual and beautiful battle, nice report Jonathan!

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  8. Another good looking battle and pleasant report to read too.

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  9. That came across as a tense and see-sawing affair Jonathan so I wasn't surprised to see it end in a draw. Exciting stuff.

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    1. Lawrence, the action was tense and seesawing especially against the Bolivians. Very exciting stuff indeed!

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  10. For a wild moment I thought I was reading 'Chile Con Carnage' - one of those 'Quel massacre...' moments that bedevils campaigns... It does read like a pretty ferocious sort of battle!

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    1. That is a much better title than mine! The battle was ferocious, for sure.

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  11. Excellent battle report, and for quite a different period 👍

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    1. Thank you! It is a period off from the regularly beaten path, for sure.

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    2. "Wargaming off the beaten path" was the other choice for the publishing imprint, but I stuck with Wargaming for Grown ups, because of the blog.

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  12. Great looking terrain with lots of action going on, Jonathan! Quite an interesting scenario and
    very inspiring.

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    1. Graham sets a handsome table and provides an interesting contest.

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  13. Great sounding game,fair result and it looks ace!
    Best Iain

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