English Civil War Campaign. Battle report 3, Parliamentarians attack East Anglia

 Game 3, Parliamentarians attack East Anglia

The Parliamentarians had the strategic initiative and lead by Sir Cooper the army moved into East Anglia to link up forces on the East Coast and strengthen the position around London. The Parliamentarian army had the little known Oliver Cromwell leading one of their cavalry wings, he brought extra cavalry to the battle but this was off set by a unit of cavalry been sent to repel a raid. The Royalist where more fortunate with their troop supply as Royalist Gentlemen flocked to the cause bring an extra unit of horse. The Parliamentarians being outnumbered put them on the tactical defence.

The battlefield was fairly open with the Parliamentarians choosing to deny the enemy the farmstead and the Royalist occuping a small enclosure. The armies deployed in usual manner with the infantry in the center and the cavalry on the wings.

John Hurry's lack of principals lead to his demise as before the battle the Royalist summeraly executed him for treachery. His daring deeds will missed on the battlefield. 

Parliamentarians on the left.

The battle began with the Royalist infantry on their right advancing in line with the left of this formation anchored on the enclosure, their cavalry advanced behind, not exposing themselves to musket fire. On the Royalist left the cavalry waited. The Parliamentarians opening move saw a general advance by the infantry to get into musket range. This was hindered in the center as the units manoeuvred around the farmstead. On their left a rather complex cavalry supported by musketeers and dragoons formation was attempted but this was dogged through out the battle by blunders.

The opening manoeuvres.  

The middle of the battle saw musketeers exchanging lead across the battlefield with both sides feeling the effect with units shaken on both sides. At one point two Parliamentarian musket units quit the field leading to a gap that needed filling by the cavalry. The cavalry on both sides manoeuvred cautiously looking for an advantage but not engaging.

The Royalist held their line as the one of the Parliamentary infantry battalia cleared the farmstead and pushed forward, exposed in the middle of the field they took casualties. A daring charge by one of parliments cavalry units on the Royalist left took out some commanded shot.

Despite it been a summer battle with it's long day, time was running out for the parliamentary army to claim the field and secure East Anglia for Parliament. As such General Sir Cooper launched a cavalry charge on his right flank, breaking two of the Royalist cavalry units but leaving his cavalry shacken and the battalia close to collapse. Through ralling the battalia was brought back to a fighting force but the danger for them was not over yet.

The Parliamentarian musketeers blunder into a charge on the enclosure.  

Whether enthused by the success of their cavalry or bloody mindedness the Parliamentarian musketeers blundered their orders and charged head long into the Royalist cannon and infantry holding the enclosure. All thought that this action would be disastrous for Parliament forces. As it happened the musketeers survived the closing fire of the cannon and beat the defenders back from the hedges. At the same time Parliamentarians pikemen got stuck in around the enclosure with two pike blocks charging a Royalish hedgehog.

Parliamentarian pike get stuck in.

The Royalist line started to show the strain with Parliamentarians in their faces across the line. There was a Royalist success on their left with the Parliamentarian cavalry battalia opposite circuming to the attrition of battle. On the right a Royalist cavalry charge with what was left of that battalia charged the commanded shot and dragoons supporting the enemies cavalry. The outcome was not as dramatic as hoped and the infantry held their ground and broke the Royalist cavalry battalia.

The battle ended with neither side knowing the outcome, it had been bloody with many shaken units just holding on and many fled the field broken. Both sides had lost a cavalry battalia. The final tally showed more Royalist units had broken and left the field meaning the Parliamentarians had won a narrow victory, their first!

Parliment has had it first success and taken East Anglia. The Royalist still dominate central and western England.

Note: there were not many photos as the photographer got too involved in the game.

English civil war campaign, concolidation 1642

 Consolidation of regions at the end of 1642

At the end of the campaigning season of 1642 the unoccupied regions of England must declare for one side or the other. This was decided with a simple roll of the dice. The highest score on a D6 modified by +1 for each adjacent region control deturmined who won the region. The Roylist came out well with them occupying the most regions. The Parliamentarians have a great challenge.

The order of who has the strategic initiative and the generals who will command has been decided for the future battles.

English Civil War campaign. Battle report 2, The Royalist attack West Midlands

 Game 2. The Royalist attack on West Midlands

The Roylist army under the command of Sir Ellerby had the strategic initiative and decided to move on the West Midlands. A good strategic decision as the Royalist forces could expect support from Oxford and forces in East Midlands and left the Parliamentarian defenders isolated. As it happened no extra Royalist forces arrived to support. The wylie Royalist general had some control over the battlefield but this still left the Parliamentarians confident of their defencive position anchored around two large enclosures and rough ground on their right. This battle been fought in the winter of 1642 ment that the day would be short and the Royalist attackers would need to be rapid in their aggression. 

The armies deployed in regulation order with the infantry flanked on both sides by cavalry. The Royalists on the right of this image.

The confident Parliamentarians had set their head quarters very close to the front and were still in council of war as the Royalist took to the field.

Who is this leading the Royalist left wing of cavalry? John Hurry a brave commander but lax in political principles. He defected to the Royalist after the last battle and will play a vital role in today's hot work.

The Royalists opened the battle with a bold advance on their left with their cavalry and forced the Parliamentarian blue regiment into hedgehog. In the center there was a general advance by the infantry to get into musket range.

On the Parliamentarians right their infantry occupied the enclosure. The Royalist cavalry opposite them did not fancy the prospect of attacking this defencive position and held their ground outside of musket range. Fire from this position did disrupt the Royalist infantry advance in the center.

In the woods on the Parliamentarians right a skirmish between the dragoons was inconclusive with neither side gaining the upper hand.

The decisive action of the battle had arrived. A Royalist cavalry charge lead by John Hurry circumvented the Parliamentarian hedgehog and charging over rough ground smashed into the Parliamentarian cavalry sending two of the three cavalry units on this flank fleeing the field.

Seeing Royalist cavalry so close to the Parliamentarians head quarters spooked the commander and lead to the believe that this flank be lost.  The lead Royalist horse was shaken after it's efforts.

Seeing the defeat on their right, the Parliamentarian general sent in the left wing cavalry lead by their cuirassiers to try even up the score. This was not the success hoped for! A poor out come in the combat was compounded by a powder explosion in the ranks of the cuirassier sending what was left of this unit fleeing the field broken.

The battle fizzled out with Royalist infantry backing off to prevent more casualties and an abysmal round of shooting by the Parliamentarians, not one hit.  

Despite the Royalists success over the Parliamentarian cavalry it was not a decisive victory for the Royalist, their infantry had taken casualties from musketeers in the enclosures.

The Parliamentarian command believing the loss on their right worse than it was conceded the field to the Royalist and lost control of the West Midlands. 

Another victory for the Royalists! 

A letter from the Committee for the Lords and Commons of Parliament was found amongst the lost baggage.

An ordinance for the better securing of peace of the midlands published by the Lords and Commons of Parliament 

It is perceived that the Midlands is in great danger speedily to be invaded by forces raised against the Authority of Parliament.  To abait this mischief  Sir Ash Cooper has been appointed General of Parliament's army to fortify the county and with said force to fight, kill and slay, any that shall invade without the authority of Parliament. The army campaigning far from the base of London, there is little chance of reinforcement. You are advised to prosecute your command with caution and preserve your offencive power. This not a fight you must win, just hold the field and blunt this rail against this Ordinance of Parliament. If you can hold your ground the offenders will be unable to establish their illegitimate hold on the county.

Committee for the Lords and Commons of Parliment

English Civil War campaign. Battle report 1, the Parliamentarian's attack East Midlands

At our wargames club we have entered into an ECW campaign. We are using Steven Thomas campaign system and can be found here https://balagan.info/download-populous-rich-and-rebellious-english-civil-war-campaign

The Campaign has been written to be played with Steven Thomas own rules but we are playing with Warlord Games, Pike and Shotte rules.

To keep the campaign manageable we have decided to play two games for each year in the campaign 1642 to 1646, so ten in all.

Game 1 The Parliamentarian’s attack on East Midlands 

The Campaigners have chosen their sides, Steve and Andy for the King, Ash and Phil for Parliament. The Parliamentarians took the strategic initiative and decided to attack the East Midlands with the hope of strengthening their position around London. Both sides drew campaign cards with the effect of both sides loosing a pike and shot regiment from their order of battle due to forces been diverted to put down Clubman risings and trouble in Ireland. The Royalist did gain the advantage of one unit of horse ignoring the effects of shooting and Parliament gained the dubious advantage of John Hurry a brave commander but lax in political principles.

With the armies been even in size the Parliamentarians were the tactical attackers. The Royalist been the defenders got some say over the battle field terrain and chose to place a steep hill in the center of their sides to aid their defence. 

The battle opened with a swift advance by the Parliamentarians on their right with the hope of delivering a knock out blow before the Royalist had time to react. The Parliamentarian’s cavalry did hit the Royalist commanded shot but did not break them. The Royalist did take the hill and manoeuvred some pike and dragoons to check the cavalry attack. With the Royalist pike diverted the Parliamentarian foot thought they had the advantage and attacked with shot and pike but while they did drive the Royalist off the hill they where unable to break the stalwart defence and in turn where broken themselves.  

On the Royalist right where they had positioned all their cavalry in good open terrain a cavalry action took place headed by both sides cuirassier heavy cavalry. The Parliamentarians cuirassier lead by John Hurry put up a good fight but were caught in a clever flanking maneuver and broke. What happened to John Hurry? He did not return to the Parliamentarian lines. I expect we will see him on the Royalist side in the next clash.

The Parliamentarian foot on this side of the field blundered back but recovered to deliver what they hoped to be a devastating salvo upon the Royalist cuirassier only to be dumbfounded by them been impervious to shot! The Royalist cavalry's job been done they retired behind their foot.

 With the Parliamentarian center devoid of foot and the cavalry shaken the field was conceded to the Royalist. 

With the Royalist glorious victory the area of East Midlands has fallen under their control leaving London looking rather isolated.

Pennine raiders wargames club https://www.facebook.com/groups/19242019057/ 

World War One, German 21cm Schwere Morser, heavy artillery 28mm

 WW1 28 mm German 21cm Schwere Morser

With the release and purchase of Zero Hour, World War One / Early 20th C. wargames rules I dug out my WW1 miniatures to organise them for a game. Glancing through the rules I noticed it was suggested that you had some heavy artillery model to represent the off table artillery support. Missing from my collection!

So as any enthusiastic wargames collector would, I got on the Internet and searched for suitable models. There is a dearth of optitions as traditional manufacturers do not cover heavy artillery. But the advent of 3D printing has opened up access to a whole range of obscure models. 

I found this 28mm, 21cm Schwere Morser on Ebay and have been happy with the quality of printing and the final result.

The 21cm Schwere Morser is quite well represented in photos from the time and using these I came up with a suitable base for this model. Quite pleased with the result.

I have already got a British 9.2 inch Howitzer ordered from http://butlersprintedmodels.co.uk/A

Napoleonic Prussian 10th Reserve Infantry Regiment 28mm

 I have recently finished three battalions of Prussian reserve infantry using the Wargames  Atlantic Prussian Reserve plastic set. This set is described as an 'army builder' and with 60 figures in the box it does that at a resalable price. I used Front Rank for the command figures.

There are six different figures per sprue with various equipment. 

I picked the 10th regiment as their uniform differed between the battalions, the normal grey for the 1st battalion, dark blue for the 2nd and dark grey for the 3rd.

They painted up quite quickly and the results look good on the table top.

Napoleonic Prussian infantry brigade

This is my second flurry into Napoleonic armies in 28mm. This first group representing a brigade of infantry.

The brigade is made up of the 7th Line Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Landwehr of Westphalie Regiment with supporting elements of the Landwehr Cavalry of Westphalie and the Brandebourg foot artillery.

The 7th Line Infantry Regiment is made up of two musketeers battalions and one fusilier battalion.

The 3rd Landwehr Infantry of Westphalie is made up of two battalions. There should be one more and maybe there will be.

Cavalry support comes from the Landwehr lancers also from Westphalie  and artillery support from the Brandebourg battery of foot artillery.

The brigade commander and his adjutant ready to take these lads out onto the wargaming table of honour playing Warlord games Black Powder. There is another brigade in the pipe line and a couple of cavalry Regiments.

Figures are a mixture of Perry's, Front Rank and HAT Miniatures.