August Game Night

 

Since I was up north for my talk on Saturday I was able to attend the club game night.  Here us a rundown if the games on Friday night.

Phil Hammond - Battle of Jericho Mill

Union v Confederates - what more could you ask for?

15mm Fire and Fury

Mike Bailey - Battle of Trafalgar

The Battle of Trafalgar was fought 220 years ago this coming October. In commemoration, I will be running a partial refight of the battle using the “Sails of Glory” rules. The British will be organized into Lee and Weather columns, lead by Admiral Nelson in the HMS Victory, sailing east to attack the combined Spanish and French fleet, which will be sailing north.

Charles Galemmo  Somewhere in France 1944

With the success of D-day came Operation Dragoon, the invasion into southern France. Patrols of the 3rd Infantry Division were pushing north when they came upon a German force defending a manor house near a vital crossroads. The American squads deploy and move to eliminate the enemy threat.

Rules: Fist full of lead   28mm 

Battle of Bunker Hill: A Tactical View

Saturday August 16, 1:00 PM

Join us at the Fort Devens Museum as we welcome back Mark Nichipor.

The Battle of Bunker's Hill is a milestone in American history; but also a terribly misunderstood battle. Far too often folklore and myth have replaced fact so that today most narratives are confused and misleading. Why didn't the British out flank the Americans on Charlestown neck? Were there really three frontal assaults? Did the British outnumber the Americans? And did the Americans really only lose the battle when they ran out of ammunition?

This presentation will look at why the leaders made the decisions they did based on facts at the time. Rather than British arrogance and American inexperience, most decisions were based on sound reasoning at the moment.

Mark Nichipor is a local historian interested in the Colonial and Revolutionary History of New England. He was a National Park Service Ranger at Revolutionary War sites until retiring after nearly thirty years. He served as an instructor in the NPS Historic Weapons Safety Program and ran The Staff Ride Programs for military visiting Minute Man and Bunker Hill parks. He has a number of published articles on Revolutionary War history.

The Fort Devens Museum is located on the 3rd floor of 94 Jackson Road, Devens, MA with universal accessibility. The museum is open 10 to 3 on August 16th.

Admission to the museum and the program is free with donations appreciated

Fire and Movement Rates 1809

 

  The following experiments were held in the early 19th century America and were concerning rates of fire and movement under combat conditions.  The experiments are summarized here from data in the book "The American Military Library" (Philadelphia, 1809) by William Duane. The book was written in response to the "Chesapeake Affair" of 1807 and the possibly of war with Great Britain. Duane wrote up his "library" to familiarize United States Militia Officers with current European developments.  

Experiment 1

"To try in how short a time a man could fire thirty six rounds of ball cartridge."

Conditions: 36 rounds in pouch; 18 in block, 18 below. A veteran infantryman loading and firing at will at a target 125 yards away.

Results: 3 rounds in 1 minute;  18 rounds in 6 1/2 minutes; 36 rounds in 13 minutes (deducting time to transfer cartridges, which a man needed help in doing). Out if 36 balls, 15 hit the target. (Note: the target is not described, but man sized targets elsewhere are discussed.)

Experiment 2

"Charge of Light Calvary on Artillery"

Conditions:  A Light Horseman placed 600 yards (maximum effective give range) from a light 6 pounder.

Result: The first 200 yards at a walk in 95 seconds.  The next 150 yards at a trot in 28 seconds.  The next 170 yards at a gallop in 13 seconds.  The final 80 yards to the gun at the charge in 8 seconds.  In this 2 minutes and 24 seconds, the gun was fired once every 11 seconds, for a total of 13 times.

Experiment 3

"Infantry attacking Artillery"

Conditions: A soldier placed 250 yards from the gun (Normal charge distance).

Result: The first 170 yards at the march, the last 80  at the charge.  He reached the gun in 102 seconds, during which the gun fired once every 8 seconds for a total of 13 times.

Experiment 4

"Light Cavalry attacking Infantry"

Conditions: Light Horseman placed 400 yards from Infantryman.

Result: Horseman trotted 200 yards, galloped 170  and charged 80 yards.  He reached the Infantryman in 49 seconds, during which the Infantryman fired 3 times.

Experiment 5

"Infantry attacking Infantry"

Conditions: Infantryman placed 250 yards from defending Infantryman.

Result: Infantry marched 170 yards in 70 seconds, and charged 80 yards in 20 seconds.  During this 90 seconds the defending Infantryman fired 5 times.

Experiment 6

"Infantry line attacking Infantry over uneven ground"

Conditions: The attacking party was required to keep their dress while advancing over rough ground covered with bushes for 250 yards.

Results: The attacker marched 170 yards in 100 seconds, and charged 80 yards in 45 seconds.  During this 145 seconds, the defending Infantry fired 7 times.

Experiment 7

"Infantry line attacking Artillery"

Conditions: An Infantry company, formed 3 deep, at 250 yards from the gun.

Result: Infantry marched 170 yards in 100 seconds, and charged 80 yards in 17 seconds.  During this 117 seconds the gun fired once every 8 seconds, for a total of 14 times.

Final Results:

The infantry fired a total of 15 times in a total of 284 seconds, for an average of once every 18.9 seconds.

The Artillery fired a total of 40 tines in 334 seconds, for a average of once every 8 seconds. 

Romans, Come Out To Play-Yay!!!!!

"A gang of Roman soldiers (" The Heroes ") are accused of murdering Cato, the great gang leader of all the gangs in the city of Roman.  A large reward has been placed on the capture or killing of this gang.

  Our heroes must make their way to safety, but every gang in the city is out to get them.

  The Furies, The Lizzies, The Wolf Men, The Celtic Riffs, and the Wing Men among others are on the hunt for the Romans.

  Can You Dig It????"

  Brilliant skirmish game by Jim based on the 1979 movie, The Warriors.  This movie is believe it or not is an adaption of  Xenophon's Anabasis but set in modern New York City and with street gangs.  The game featured excellent terrain, beautiful 54mm plastic figures and a fun simple set of rules.  Each player was given a bag of money which could be used to bribe the police or other gangs.    The entire purpose of the game was for the Heroes to make it out of the city and back to the Roman camp.  For the other gangs it was to get as much loot/money as possible and kill,capture the Romans and make sure they didn't get home.

First off, its a long way from the Roman camp to the city...

A careful glance at the buildings in the city illustrates Jim's sense of humor...

Game starts with Cato accessing the gangs.  He is killed, the Romans are blamed and the fight starts....

Bribes are paid, fights break out and the Romans battle their way out of the city....

The Lizzies , who joined forces with the Romans, and the Celtic Riffs battle it out.  The Furies just attack anything they see.   The Romans march on....

The Wolf Men emerge from the Woods!  (this was my command). They are attacked by the Furies and lose a figure.  At thus point I survive we can throw spears.  And they don't run out.  So, while everyone else is kung Furies fighting I stand off and throw spears.  After seeing me eliminate the Furies the Celtic Riffs line up to attack.  I mow them down and capture two figures.  Reasoning together the Gifts ransom the captives back and then pay me to not fight them for two turns.  The Romans also pay me to not fight them for two turns.  My bag of money grows....

The Romans cannot get a break.  First they run into a traffic jam caused by a bunch of sheep....  

Then some other Romans marching out of the camp run into a familiar looking holy man who delays them for two turns....

Treachery!   Romans pay another gang to not attack them.  The player (Alice)  takes the bribe and then starts to cut down trees to drop on the road and at least one Romans head.  Hey!  I said I would not attack you I said nothing about delaying you or dropping things on you!

Finally, within sight of the Roman camp....

But too late!  The leader of the heroes is killed just before they get to safety.  A sad ending to a long journey.

Thank you Jim for putting in a most excellent game.  I greatly enjoyed it and had a ball.

And thank you to my followed players.  I could not gave asked for a mire friendly and fun group to play with.  

Hannibal! The War Game

 

  I took part in Jim's massive 54mm battle between Republican Romans and Hannibal's army.  Spread out over two sets of tables it was a massive affair and a feast for the eyes.  The terrain was magnificent and included a Roman town.  The figures were outstanding and beautifully painted. Simple rules which kept the game moving quickly.  What more could you ask for!

The game is set up on two very long tables with a gap between them.  This facilitate the movement of players and being able to move the large commands.  

On one end of the table is a beautiful Roman city.  There are lots of buildings, and many civilians going about there business.

On the other end is a magnificent Roman camp.  All built by Jim.

The Republican Roman army is mostly heavy type infantry with a small cavalry force guarding the left flank.

The Carthiginians of course are much more diverse.  You get heavy infantry, light infantry slingers, Celtics, lots of cavalry of all types and of course elephants!

And so the two armies line up and march forward....

On the Roman left, a massive cavalry battle.  Although out numbered the Romans held there own.  It went back and forth for the game.  But in the end the Romans (barley) held on.

In the center elephants attacked but were destroyed by Roman spears.

I was on the right of the Roman line., with three legions.   Opposite me I could make out light Cavalry, Celtics and infantry with spears.   And they we're all marching g towards me!

The Celtics had an interesting attack.  On the first charge they got a +2 for their fury.  After that they were regular no modifiers.

Here they come!  Steady boys and hold on to your spears!

We managed to see off the light Cavalry.  That was more to my good dice rolling and Kevin's poor dice rolling.  But at least my line was not turned.  Then it was a slug feast with both sides losing figures.  Pretty bloody battle.  In the end my morale just held while their morale didn't and off they went.

About this time Jim called the game.  It was bloody and both sides had lost a lot of troops but the Roman line held;  just.  Jim called it a tie and I would go with that since I am not sure many of our commands would have passed any more morale tests. 

  None of us realised over three hours had passed!  The rules were simple and got the job done in an efficient manner.  By the second turn we understood them and could concentrate on playing and not figuring things out.  Just what you want for a convention or game night.  Actually in my old age just what I want in any game!

Thank you Jim for an great game.  Its fun playing with 54mm figures and you really put a lot into thus game.  Thank you to Steve and Kevin who I played against.  They both were excellent players, very funny great Players and just the people you want in a game.  All in all an outstanding game and excellent day.

Historicon 2025

 

Just got back home from the convention.  I had planned to post after each day but my Kindle Fire gave up the ghost and stopped working.  So now that its fixed I will give a recap of the events and a separate post on the two big games I played in.

Not sure about the game but a zeppelin is always going to grab your attention.   I think it was some science fiction game in a alternative universe.  No matter the airship is pretty cool.

American Revolution game, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse with 15mm Wofun miniatures.   Simple but very nice looking game.  These look like great travel type figures when on the go and you don't want to lug around the painted lead.  I like these very much.

Wings of War air plane game.  Fighting over the skies of France.

The War of the Worlds Martian invasion.  Based on the books by Scott Washington the Martians invade the world again.

Attack on Roman fortifications.  Really nice looking game with excellent terrain.  

Old School style Napoleonic game.  This was great!  Reminded me of when I got started with miniature games in the 1970's.  Simple terrain and basic painted figures.   Big beefy battalions that look the part.  Not sure of the figures, might be minifigs.

Ice Station Zebra?   Very clever terrain for fighting in the Arctic.  Great looking submarine popping up through the ice.

Hunting Moby Dick the great white whale.  Or is the whale hunting you?

Interesting part of Wargames history. This is from the US Army and was one of there tables for gaming out situations in Europe in the 1980's.  The table is made of pressed tin.  Its most interesting.

Really interesting WW1 game on a hex type table for movement.

The Battle of Chelsea Creak 27-28 May 1775.  During the siege of Boston both sides sent troops to gather hay, livestock and food from the islands of Boston Harbour.  One one of these raids British Marines landed from tge Royal Navy Schooner Diana and the sloop Britannia coached with Americans under John Stark.  When the ships entered Chelsea creek the Diana ran aground and had to be abandoned.  Outstanding looking game 

Battle of Bunker Hill 17 June 1775.  Great terrain!  Especially the ships in the harbour and Charlestown.   They definitely put a lot of work into this one. 

  A favorite of the convention;  the Alamo in 15mm.  Always a popular game this one fills up fast and I have not been able to play it.  But everyone always looks like they are having fun and there are crowds around it.  Outstanding!  The Alamo is scratch built and follows the latest research rather then the John Wayne movie.

More eye candy in my next post....