1799 Suvorov in Italy - Austrian Grenadiers

The painting desk sees a return of activity following a two week hiatus.  Mustering off the table this time are two combined grenadier battalions for the 1799 Suvarov in Italy project.  The figures are all from fine AB Miniatures' 1798-1815 range.  I purchased these grenadiers before the release of the Austrian FRW range grenadiers but uniform changes appear minimal to me.  Besides, by 1799, perhaps the grenadiers had been issued new uniforms?  I know, if the Austrians were already serving in Italy, they likely would not have seen the 1798 uniform changes in the field until later.

The two converged grenadier battalions consist of the grenadier companies from IR14, IR45, IR59 in one and IR1, IR29, and IR38 in the other.    Since both of these battalions contain "German only" infantry regiments, I will need to field one converged grenadier battalion having Hungarians.  With the addition of these two formations the Austrian line up will receive a bit more punch.  

Mail Bag

In the post this week, not one but two issues of the Society of Ancients' journal, Slingshot arrived.  Each issue is loaded with interesting articles, the arrival of which is always highly anticipated.  Being a relative newcomer to the journal and a subscription for my first year drawing to a close, I wonder how I missed such an excellent magazine for so long.  I definitely will be resubscribing.

Upon subscribing, I ordered the 45 years of Slingshot on DVD and promptly loaded this opus onto my tablet.  What a joy to be able to pass the long flights to Europe reading these works electronically from the (dis)comfort of my airline seat!  Articles and writing are first rate and I really enjoy the comparative game BatReps featured in the regularly featured Battle Day exposes.  Highly recommended!

The second item in this weeks' post was a package from Edwin at Thoughts of a Depressive Diplomatist blog.  Great title, no?  To promote his 50,000 blog view, a contest was held.  To cut to the chase, I won the Airfix tin containing two decks of cards, dice and a booklet of rules in a nifty tin decorated with WWII artwork.  Can you believe my luck?  I won a contest and was awarded my first choice!  What a terrific gift!  Edwin, I thank you for your generosity.

Finally, Jake and Kevin are stopping by on Sunday to fight the first tabletop battle of my solo Montcalm & Wolfe campaign as described here.  The battle with be a relatively small affair for control of the building site for the future Fort Carillon along the shores of Lake Champlain.  With winter approaching this fight could have important consequences in the campaign.  If the French can win, Fort Carillon will be completed and in French hands thus preventing the French from having to roll on the deadly Forage Table.  If the British are victorious, then the fort will not be finished until the French can reoccupy the ground.  Even if victorious in battle, the British will be forced to forage.  With winter approaching, survivors will likely be forced to make a hasty retreat back to the comfort of the soon to be completed Fort William-Henry.  

Roman Holiday

Yes, blog activity has been quiet for a fortnight but for good reason.  I have been on a Roman holiday in Italy.

My wife and I began the vacation in Rome tackling the biggies of the early Etruscans and Romans; 

Colosseum

Forum

moved into the medieval and renaissance periods in Florence, Lucca, and Pisa; 

Florence

Lucca

Pisa

three days of tranquility in the Cinque Terre; 

Vernazza

and finally, a couple of days to prepare for the journey back to the states in the comfort of Milano. 

Duomo in Milano

I have a number of interesting photos showing items in the various museums visited as well as city scapes and important buildings in many of the cities.  Over time, I will add an occasional posting detailing these travels and, hopefully, tie these photo journals into an historical context that might be of interest to wargamers or readers interested in ancient and renaissance Italy.

In the meantime, I return to the painting desk and wargame table.  I have a good chance of participating in at least one game this upcoming weekend and figures await the brush.

That is all for now...

State of the Painting Desk

On Saturday, the desire and opportunity to descend into the game room for a lengthy painting session materialized.  With some spring yard work done, 35 miles on the bike in my legs, and weather turning dismal, I sat down to the desk for a leisurely afternoon.

After the session, I had made progress on three different projects.  First, the two Austrian grenadier battalions for the 1799 project were nearing completion.  I have been working a little on these figures in short bursts the last couple of nights.  After a few more hours, the AB Austrians were ready for the dip.

AB Austrian grenadiers

After the the Austrians, I pulled out one battalion of Blue Moon AWI Hessians to be painted as SYW Prussian musketeers.  By late afternoon, the finishing touches were being placed on these figures.

Blue Moon SYW Prussians

Finally, with still a bit more painting energy remaining, I pulled 22 28mm  Brigade Games' French gendamerie from the primered pile.  Work just started on the faces before I quit for the day.  Originally, I considered painting and fielding these French as Consular Guards but the uniforms of the Gendarmerie have convinced me to paint them as sculpted.

Brigade Games' French gendamerie

Still much work on the French remains.  Both the Austrian grenadiers and Prussian musketeers will get a spray of Dullcote on Monday and then move onto the basing phase.

1799 Russian Jagers

After pushing out the 24 Indian Mutiny British infantry over last weekend, I found it difficult to make it down into the game room.  Not much more than a couple of token, evening painting sessions during the work week.  I did manage to complete a unit of 15 Russian jagers for the 1799 project, though.  These Blue Moon figures are actually Hessian jagers from Blue Moon's AWI range.  As mentioned in an earlier post, the uniform cut of the Prussian SYW jager, Hessian AWI jager, and Russian 1799 jager all look interchangeable to me.  

A number of figures are primered and ready for the brush.  Currently on the painting desk are 26 18mm AB Austrian grenadiers.  These grenadiers will be fielded in two combined grenadier battalions for the 1799 project.  

Montcalm & Wolfe Campaign SEP1755

September 1755:
In an attempt to stabilize the quickly deteriorating situation, Britain risks rolling on the Activation Table rather than taking the assured, one activation.  The Activation die roll allows the British three activations.  They needed that!

After Braddock's disastrous expedition into the wilds of the Monongahela, he retreats back to the safety of Fort Cumberland with the remnants of his force.  Shirley, with one ranger and two militia strike out for Fort Carillon to deny the French player use of the fort when it becomes available later in September.  Using bateaux, Shirley's force hugs the shore and disembarks on the construction site of Fort Carillon presumably scattering the engineers and halting work.  Johnson finally convinces the Cayuga to ally with the British.  The Cayuga warband sets off to bolster the Fort Stanwix garrison.

With Shirley stealing a march on the French to reach Fort Carillon before it could either be completed or garrisoned, the British gain the strategic upper hand on Lake Champlain.  Since the lake is the main conduit in this theatre, Shirley's ploy may represent a major mistake for the French.  A better play would have been to place Rigaud and his force at Isle aux Noix on Reserve status.  That way, after Shirley moves into the Fort Carillon hex, Rigaud could make his reserve move and slip into the hex before combat.  Rigaud would be considered the defender and receive the woods benefit.  Hopefully, an oversight to which the French will not regret.

A question on the game concerns the status of Forts William-Henry and Carillon.  Both begin the game under construction.  Both forts become active "during the September 1755" turn."  At which point "during" the turn do these become active?  That timing is unclear.  For this campaign, I will rule at the end of the September turn both forts will exist.

The French opt to take only the guaranteed one activation and activate Rigaud.  Rigaud sets off by bateaux with two regulars and one militia to Fort Carillon in an attempt to intercept and thwart Shirley's strike.  Rigaud will be considered the attacker in the first major engagement of the war.   

With three regimental equivalents per side, I plan to resolve this action on the gaming table.  Three maneuver units (MUs) per side may not be enough to make much of a game so my plan is to double (or even triple) the number of MUs.  While the French will have a qualitative advantage, the British will be holding favorable ground.

Indian Mutiny British Infantry

As a change of pace, 24 Wargames Foundry British hit the painting desk.  After participating in one of Kevin's mid-19th century colonial games (Pasha in Egypt), I figured it might be a fun distraction to paint a unit or two for this era.  While these figures are listed in the Wargames Foundry catalog as Indian Mutiny British, seeing action during the 1st Afghan War would not be out of reason.  Decision on flag to carry is still undetermined but it will be one of the Royal regiments with blue facings.  Hopefully, these lads will see action in one of Kevin's upcoming colonial games.