Christian Crossbowmen for Reconquista

The 28mm Reconquista project has seen regular activity at the painting desk in 2017.  With the exception of March, the other five months of the year tally one unit each for the project.  June may see one more unit for the project later in the month. 

Following two successive units of Arab archers, today a unit of crossbowmen for the opposition is fielded.  Attired in quilted coats, these nine Black Tree Design crossbowmen will add welcome firepower to the project's growing Christian/Spanish contingent.

As I often mention, the BTD sculpts are excellent and a real pleasure to paint.  Enough similar crossbowmen remain in The Lead Pile to call up one more Impetvs 'T' type missile BMU.  With utilitarian dress and drab, earthy colors, these fine crossbowmen can be called to service quickly.  Perhaps the last group ought to be herded into the painting queue to strike while the iron is hot?  

Not so fast!  The next unit for the project to trot off the painting desk will be a five figure unit of heavy cavalry.  Before the heavy horse are called up, a number of units for the Assyrian Wars project are readying themselves for a march off the painting desk.  At present, the painting desk is full of figures.

Cycling the Palouse

Spokane River and Falls

With life returning towards normalcy following 10 days in Switzerland, good weather on the Palouse led to increased outdoor cycling.  From the calendar below, miles in the legs have increased to near 200 miles over each of the last two weeks.  Still had a few days confined to the stationary bike but the move to more outdoor cycling is most welcome.  As weather improves, eliminating the indoor sessions is likely.  Two hundred miles per week is at the upper end of the range for me unless mileage on the weekends increases.  Twenty-five to thirty miles during the workweek is about all I can muster given the constraints of time.  Mileage beyond that must be picked up on the weekend.   

On Memorial Day, Nancy and I loaded up the bikes and set off for the Trail of the Coeur d' Alenes' trail head in Plummer, Idaho.  We both enjoy cycling along Lake Coeur d' Alene in the summer especially since the old railway bridge allows a crossing of the lake on bike.  

Lake Coeur d'Alene from trestle bridge

View of Lake CDA from Harrison

View of Lake CDA enroute to Harrison

The climb back up from the marina to the trail head is a long, constant eight mile grade.  Given that, Nancy usually drops me off at the trail head and I ride the eight miles down to the marina to meet up with her.  From the marina, we set off together for the small town of Harrison on the east side of the lake, eight miles away.  The ride along the lake is relatively flat making for an enjoyable and not too strenuous exercise for Nancy.  

Plummer to Harrison Round Trip

Plummer to Harrison RT Profile

After reaching Harrison, we often stop for refreshments and sometimes lunch.  Water, nuts, and energy bars were our limited refreshments this trip.  After riding back to the marina, Nancy's bike is loaded onto the car.  I then set off in time-trial mode to see if I can beat Nancy (in car) back to the trail head eight miles away and all uphill.  Did I beat the car, this time?  No, but it was close.

View dropping into Hangman Valley

Twice this past week, one of my typical weekday rides was extended by about six miles in order to cross over to the north bank of the Spokane River and tackle Doomsday Hill and the climb up the South hill via Southeast Boulevard.

Spokane 30 Mile Loop

Spokane 30 Mile Loop Profile

On the Thursday, extended ride, I stopped for a few photos of Spokane Falls from one of the many bridges criss-crossing the river.  Even though the water levels have decreased since the heavy runoff in early Spring, a lot of water is still pouring through the center of the city. 

One of the Spokane Falls

Lastly, I new tool was introduced into my cycling repertoire this week.  Nancy gave me a GoPro camera for Christmas that I had yet to use.  Needed  to make the device operational were working through the instructions and finding a mounting bracket.  Both tasks were accomplished this week with a small bracket arriving from Western Bike Works and a quick read of the Quick Start Guide.

Dirt road under High Bridge
GoPro

More Riding on Dirt in High Bridge Park
GoPro

The camera was not a vanity play to capture my wanderings on bike. Nancy's motive for the purchase was meant as an insurance artifact for use when I am found along the road.  With frequent announcements of death and injury to cyclists, she is convinced that sooner or later, I will become one of those statistics.  To that end, I took the camera out on two rides this week.  

Approaching Monroe Street Bridge
GoPro

The GoPro camera takes surprisingly good photos with no detectable motion or jiggling in the photo.  Mounted just under the left handlebar, the camera is out of the way and does not interfere with changing to multiple hand positions.  Even rough roads and riding out of the saddle did not diminish the photo quality.

Monroe Street Bridge from Centennial Trail
GoPro

With a photo snapped automatically every few seconds, I arrive home with thousands of snapshots.  Most are quite boring but some are worth saving.  A few of the GoPro photos are included as examples (noted as "GoPro" in caption).

Spokane Clock Tower in Riverfront Park
GoPro

Lots of stuff in work on the painting desk and thousands of Switzerland photos to curate.  A BatRep for the 1800 Battle of Montebello remains unstarted as does a solo replay of Montebello.  

Elephants!

While P.T. Barnum & Bailey may have shown their last elephant, I have not!

Off the painting desk is a lovely Aventine Miniatures' elephant and crew with three Libyan runners from Renegade Miniatures for the 28mm Punic Wars project.

The Carthaginian contingent can now field two such WMDs when next seen on the battlefield.

Based on a 120mm frontage as all mounted troops in Impetvs, each elephant will command the attention and battle line of its foes.  Adding the runners alongside the beast not only reduces the need for mounting two elephants on one stand but also adds interest to the dioramic concept. 

When will the Punic Wars project next see action on the gaming table?  Good question!  In the intervening years (yes, years.  A little more than two years by my count.) from the last game (see: Punic Wars BatRep: Impetvs), most of the force build has been on the Carthaginian side of the ledger.  The Romans would likely enjoy some new recruits.  Enough Roman infantry remain in The Lead Pile to field, perhaps, two units of foot.  Unfortunately, they have not made it into the painting queue.  C'est la guerre.  

Moorish Archers for Reconquista

Following up on a recent mustering of a stand of Muslim archers for the Reconquista project (see Moorish Archers), another stand of troops departs the painting desk.

These nine figures make up an Impetvs 'T' stand that can see service either independently or attached to a heavy infantry or "FP' unit.  Figures are 28mm by Black Tree Design.

With six such bow stands in the project's arsenal, enough archers can now be fielded to support six heavy infantry stands.  Six stands should be enough to fulfill any needs for Moorish archers.  With two archers left in The Lead Pile, perhaps the remaining two stragglers will work themselves into an amalgamated unit at some point?

What might be next in the painting queue for this project?  One stand of Spanish crossbowmen are nearing completion with a unit of heavy cavalry deep in the painting queue.  Enough figures to field two units of Spanish heavy foot from Casting Room Miniatures' Norman range are catching my eye too.  Wonderful sculpts that are begging for attention.

A Battle South of the Border

Last weekend, I enjoyed gaming on two consecutive days.  Quite an unusual occurrence for me although my gaming frequency has picked up dramatically in 2017.  One of my 2017 goals was to increase the number of games played.  Oh wait.  I never actually published my 2017 goals.  You will have to believe me on this point.

Mexican casualty markers from Eureka

In anticipation of a Mexican-American War game, a half-dozen Mexican casualty markers rolled off the painting desk.  These six markers were presented to Terry for his 25mm Mexican-American War collection.  While his collection is comprised of "true" 25mm Scruby figures, these 18mm markers will fit in nicely, nonetheless.  Each of the six markers is painted in the uniform of one of the Mexican regiments in the collection.  I left the markers unflocked so they can be matched to the existing collection.  Six more American casualty markers linger in the painting queue.  With positive feedback on the the Mexican markers, I will forge on with the Americans.

For Saturday's game, Terry set up the Mexican Army in a good defensible position on high ground dominating the surrounding landscape.  Even in a strong defensive situation, I find the Mexicans are really no match for the American Army.  Using an amended version of Regimental Fire and Fury specifically for the Mexican-American War, all advantage lies with the Americans.  In many games played, I have yet to see the Mexicans beat the Americans in a stand up fight.  This game may provide the exception.

With no foresight into the game being presented, I joined the game with no preconceptions of troop dispositions, deployments or strategies.  After a brief battle overview from Terry, the Americans attacked.

Mexicans hold the high ground as the Americans prepare to attack

Mexican cavalry deployed forward of the line,
 charge into the oncoming Americans.
One American battalion is sent reeling to the rear.

With depth, Americans advance against the Mexican left.

Americans attack the left in overwhelming numbers

While the American right consolidates,
the center attacks the heights

Mexican right takes a pounding as the brittle,
 Mexican battalions withdraw to the rear.

Counterattack in the center!

Americans repulsed on the right!

Mexican cavalry find a gap and charge in!

Mex. cavalry charge home driving the Americans back

Situation when game called.

The game was forced to a premature conclusion due to time constraints but the Mexican position was still viable.  The American right and center were feeling significant pressure and their left had been halted.  Likely the Americans would regroup and charge in again.  With a much weakened Mexican right, could they hold out a second time?  Guns were being redeployed from the Mexican left to the right to lend support for the crumbling right flank.  This might have been the battle where the Mexicans actually pull off a victory.  Could it be? 

While these Mexican-American War games are often lopsided, it is always a pleasure to see Terry's Old School collection on the gaming table.  Especially pleasurable since two of the Mexican battalions present on the field were painted by me in the Old School style.  To see those earlier works visit posts, 10th Line Regiment and  San Blas Militia.

Austrian Grenz Liccaner, 1859

During the recently completed long series of Montebello 1859, I discovered a shortage of Austrian Grenz in the collection.  To help remedy that shortfall, off the painting desk is the second battalion of the Austrian Grenz Regiment, Liccaner.  

In 1859, the kittel of Liccaner was identified by two yellow tabs on the collar.  No cuff facing in the more informal and loose fitting kittel.  Unlike the line regiments, the grenz regiments maintained black webbing vs white for the line. 

Figures are Old Glory sculpts produced and sold through 19th Century Miniatures.  While the Old Glory figures from their Franco-Austrian War range, are nicely sculpted, the figures have a tendency towards weak neck joins and under-poured swords.  Fortunately, neither situation was an issue for these light infantry.  No one lost his head during fielding and with luck, no one will.

In line at the painting desk are a number of 28mm units including an elephant stand for the Punic Wars project, two crossbow stands for the Reconquista project, and four stands of Assyrian missile troops.  With weather getting very pleasant, more time has been spent out on the bike (yes!) and in the yard performing routine maintenance (meh).  Will the good weather slow painting?  Perhaps a little.  

Serbia and the Balkan Front, 1914

Having recently been motivated to give the early years of WWI some study with the purchase of GMT's 1914: Serbien Muss Sterbien,

I ordered James Lyon's 2015 book on the heretofore little covered 1914 Serbian campaign to help provide historical context to the boardgame.  Did Lyon's book provide the historical context I sought towards enhancing my understanding of the situation and campaign?  Did reading Lyon increase my anticipation of cracking open the game?  Yes, on both counts !  James weaves a well-told story providing background leading up to the campaign, its prosecution, and eventual outcome.

From the back page of the book, a summary of the work is provided hinting to the importance of the campaign in the grand scheme of WWI.

Winner of the 2015 Norman B. Tomlinson, Jr. Book Prize

Serbia and the Balkan Front, 1914 is the first history of the Great War to address in-depth the crucial events of 1914 as they played out on the Balkan Front. James Lyon demonstrates how blame for the war's outbreak can be placed squarely on Austria-Hungary's expansionist plans and internal political tensions, Serbian nationalism, South Slav aspirations, the unresolved Eastern Question, and a political assassination sponsored by renegade elements within Serbia's security services. In doing so, he portrays the background and events of the Sarajevo Assassination and the subsequent military campaigns and diplomacy on the Balkan Front during 1914.

The book details the first battle of the First World War, the first Allied victory and the massive military humiliations Austria-Hungary suffered at the hands of tiny Serbia, while discussing the oversized strategic role Serbia played for the Allies during 1914. Lyon challenges existing historiography that contends the Habsburg Army was ill-prepared for war and shows that the Dual Monarchy was in fact superior in manpower and technology to the Serbian Army, thus laying blame on Austria-Hungary's military leadership rather than on its state of readiness.

Based on archival sources from Belgrade, Sarajevo and Vienna and using never-before-seen material to discuss secret negotiations between Turkey and Belgrade to carve up Albania, Serbia's desertion epidemic, its near-surrender to Austria-Hungary in November 1914, and how Serbia became the first belligerent to openly proclaim its war aims, Serbia and the Balkan Front, 1914 enriches our understanding of the outbreak of the war and Serbia's role in modern Europe. It is of great importance to students and scholars of the history of the First World War as well as military, diplomatic and modern European history.

What I did not realize before reading Lyon was just how important this campaign was for providing the Triple Entente its first victories of the war and for drawing needed Austrian resources away from the Eastern Front. 

Lyon begins by laying the historical foundation for the cause of the conflict's eruption in the Balkans in 1914.  In many respects, 1914 was a continuation of previous Balkan Wars as prior conflicts had not released existing pressures in the region.  From the assassinations of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie in Sarajevo in 1914 through the conclusion of the Balkan 1914 campaign, Lyon recounts important events during the early stages of WWI.

Lyon smoothly moves from the strategic to the operational to the tactical level of the Serbian conflict providing details on the thinking and decision making at all levels of command.  Fascinating study of the motivating factors from both sides of the conflict.

This is really a story of David (Serbia) vs Goliath (the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary) and how Serbia overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to defeat the powerful Dual Monarchy.  Time and time again, the under supplied Serbian Army came back from near defeat against unfavorable odds to stop the aggressions of the mighty A-H Empire.  Without proper food, clothing, weapons, and ammunition, the Serbian Armies struck back to thwart Austrian attacks time after time.  

How could this result happen?  Lyon presents a number of arguments for Austria-Hungary's defeat.  Poor strategic planning coupled with poor A-H generalship allowed the Serbs to hang on and then turn the tables on the Dual Monarchy.  On a tactical level, the Dual Monarchy failed as well.  Its artillery advantage was rarely fully employed and infantry attacks repeatedly went in without proper artillery support.  Artillery was seldom concerted and A-H infantry often used massed formations on the attack.  In an age of machine guns, this tactic was a recipe for mass casualties for little gain.  Finally, when the Dual Monarchy was successful on the battlefield and had wrong-footed the Serbian forces, the Dual Monarchy was slow to pursue.

To counter these Dual Monarchy shortcomings, the Serbs relied on battle tested commanders and troops motivated by the cause to defend their homelands.  Throughout the campaign the Serbs exhibited terrific initiative  and staying power that the Dual Monarchy troops could not match.  While the Serbian Army might suffer demoralization due to losses or lack of supplies, as soon as supplies began to flow to the front line troops, over to the offensive they went.  Hardy souls, no doubt.       

Not being that familiar with Balkan geography, I found myself flipping back to find the few maps included to pinpoint the villages, towns, and geographic features described in the text.  More maps would have aided my understanding and enjoyment of the well-written battle accounts.  Overall, I highly recommend Lyon's work on this often overlooked start to the First World War conflict.