Wargames Illustrated 290

WI290 Cover:Layout 1 18/10/11 14:33 Page 1
T h e W O R L D ’ S P R E M I E R TA B L E T O P G A M I N G M A G A Z I N E
AND
ON THE
EASTERN FRONT
THE MAKING
OF PAVIA
Issue 290 - december 2011

£4.50 • €6.50
US $8.50 • Aus $12.00
ISSN 0957-6444
12
clad in iron the battle of marengo wargaming 1866

American Civil War naval action A General de Brigade refight The Austro-Prussian War
9 770957 644121
p l u s : t h e f l a m e s o f wa r e u r o g t, c o l o u r s 2 0 1 1 A N D m u c h M O R E !
FEATURED wargames illustrated issue wi290, december 2011
THIS MONTH
From the editor

We’re heading off to Russia for this month’s theme content and I asked the man behind
much of the content, Battlefront writer Wayne Turner, to tell us a bit about our four
theme articles -
“This month’s theme focuses on the Eastern Front of WWII, in particular 1944. This
coincides with the release of two new Flames Of War compilations. Red Bear and Grey
TIGERS IN THE MUD ......... 10 Wolf contain all the forces from our Eastern Front books plus a load of new forces and
forces previously only available as PDFs.
Soon after finishing the books, I started thinking about German Tiger ace Otto Carius, who
I hadn’t thought to include in Grey Wolf. My fellow writer, Mike Haught, is a keen fan of
Otto Carius, so we naturally thought he’d make a great addition to this issue. As well as
Carius’s history and Warrior rules for Flames Of War, Mike and Victor Pesch recreate one
of his famous encounters, and we bring you a blow-by-blow account of that game.
Finally I take a look at one of the more unusual Soviet forces to serve on the Eastern
Front, the Machine-gun Artillery Battalion. These lightly manned, but heavily armed, units
garrisoned field fortifications in the Red Army lines, where they could pump out volumes
of firepower equal that of a much larger rifle unit.”
As well as the theme articles there’s lots more to enjoy in this issue, including action from
Wargaming 1866, The the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, American Civil War naval carnage in Clad in Iron, and
Austro-Prussian War 40 adventures on the Comanche warpath with a study of the Plains Indians by Chris Peers.
Dan Faulconbridge
UK Editor
This month’s cover illustration (seen again below) is by Vincent Wai, and is taken from the
new Flames Of War book Grey Wolf.
FEW MEN,
MANY WEAPONS! ............ 50
THE BATTLE
OF SYRACUSE .................... 56
Produced in the United Kingdom, Casey Davies, Sean Goodison, Mark
New Zealand and the United States Hazell, Michael Haught, Kyran Henry,
of America Victor Pesch, Chris Townley, Wayne
Turner and Phil Yates.
The Wargames Illustrated team:
Daniel Faulconbridge, Dave Taylor, Managing Editor: John-Paul Brisigotti.
Unit 26 Ian Bennett, Robert Townsend,
Whitemoor Court Industrial Estate Matt Parkes. Printed in the U.K. by: Warners PLC.
Nottingham. NG8 5BY
United Kingdom The Battlefront Miniatures Studio team: Marketing by: Comag Magazine
Copyright © Wargames Illustrated 2010 Tim Adcock, Evan Allen, Blake Coster, Marketing www.comag.co.uk
WI290 Contents.indd 1 18/10/11 10:46:58

FEATURED
THIS MONTH
contents tabletop musings:

This month’s theme content is movement, cover,
shown in blue. and ability ............................... 70
This article begins a new ‘Tabletop
tigers in the mud ................. 10 Musings’ series, in which gamers take a
Mike Haught kicks off our theme coverage side-ways look at anything and everything
with some background information and relating to our hobby.
Flames Of War characteristics for Otto
Carius - Tiger Ace and adventurer on the the flames of war
2011 european grand flames of war 2011 euro
Eastern Front, 1942 - 44. grand tournament .... 74
tournament ........................... 74
marengo, 1800 ........................ 16 September 2011 saw the very first FOW
General de Brigade author Dave Brown European GT. Our coverage of the event
presents a scenario and battle report for features stories from several competitors,
one of Napoleon’s seminal victories. along with lots of photos of the ‘armies
on parade’ and Iron Cross Painting
THE CARIUS AND KERSCHER Competition winners.
STAMPEDE .................................... 26
The Battle of Malinava 1944 makes for an the comanches
excellent wargaming action with plenty of revisited .................................... 84
opportunities to turn the tables on history. Chris Peers presents us with an interesting
So that’s exactly what the Battlefront take on the Comanche Indians of the
Studio team did. Read all about it here. Southern Plains of the US. Through his
extensive research he has reached a few the comanches
Wargaming 1866, The conclusions that might surprise you on how revisited ............................. 84
Austro-Prussian War ........ 40 this Native American tribe should behave
Somewhat obsessed with what looks like on the tabletop.
a very small war (on the surface), Gerry
Henry presents the case for wargaming the clad in iron ............................ 92
battles of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. After seeing this wonderfully impressive
This article also acts as an introduction to game at Salute earlier this year, we
some interesting articles in future issues. knew we had to learn more about its
development. Dr Howard J. Fuller provides
few men, many weapons! 50 us with the story behind this ACW Naval
As part of our theme coverage Wayne ‘what if?’ game.
Turner takes a close look at the WWII
Soviet Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon COLOURS 2011 ........................... 98
- that’s easy for him to say! WI reporter Paul Davies takes a look at
some of the best games from this year’s
Colours 2011 .................... 98
the battle of syracuse ..... 56 Colours show in Newbury, England.
Following on from last month’s
Peloponnesian War theme we return to pavia in 28mm
Greece and present a sceanrio for re- walls and all ....................... 104
fighting one of the great actions of the war. The ‘Like a Stonewall’ Wargames Group
have a reputation for their impressively
back in the east .................... 62 large show circuit demo games, and
This month’s theme content celebrates the their Battle of Pavia, 1525 game was no
launch of two new Flames Of War Late- exception. Nick Buxey (LASW Project
war Eastern Front books: Red Bear and Manager) tells the tale of the game from
Grey Wolf. In this article co-author Wayne conception to demonstration.
Turner flicks through the pages of the
books and tells us what’s inside.
pavia in 28mm,
walls and all ................. 104
contacts
Customer Service & Subscriptions Letters
[email protected] [email protected]
Tel (UK): 0044 (0)115 929 5563 Distribution
Contributors USA
PRODUCT CODE
[email protected] EUROPE
Advertisments AUSTRALASIA
WI290 Contents.indd 2 18/10/11 10:47:29

FLAMES OF WAR NEWS
WHAT’S NEW ON
www.FlamesOfWar.com
NEW RELEASES FOR DECEMBER?
It is easy to sum up this month on the Flames Of War website as it is all about
• 3 December Red Bear, Grey Wolf, and Raiding Aces:
FW303A Desert Raiding • Wayne expands upon the article in this issue with some more information
Campaign Pack regarding Red Bear and Grey Wolf.
IBX10 Autosahariana Platoon • Raiding Aces hits the shelves and the Studio team are showing off their forces.
(AS37) (x5)
• Mike takes a look how you can field normal FOW forces as Raiding Forces.
IBX11 Autosahariana Platoon
(AS42) (x5) • John-Paul takes a look at what is in the works for Flames Of War in 2012.
GE512 SS Pak38 Platoon (3 guns) • And last, but not least, both Radio Free Battlefront and our You Tube channel
GE557 SS 15cm sIG33 Platoon have plenty of new content.
• 10 December
GBX54 SS Kradschutzen Platoon
(with Panzer Meyer)
GBX59 Gebirgsjäger Infantry
Company
GE504 Gebirgsjäger Pak36
Platoon (2 guns)
GE835 Gebirgsjäger Mortar
Platoon
GE893 Unterscharführer Michael
Wittmann (with StuG A)
• 17 December
FW110 Grey Wolf (264p H/back)
FW111 Red Bear (216p H/back)
Raiding Aces!
December continues our Burning Empires
releases, with a focus on raiding forces as
groups of heavily-armed men dash across
the sands of the Sahara in Raiding Aces.
We also follow up on the new SS releases
from November with some great support
options including Kurt “Panzer” Meyer
and an SS Kradschutzen Platoon. We also
have Unterscharführer Michael Wittmann
and his StuG A Assault Gun joining the
fight for Greece.
During the second half of the month
we turn some of our attention to the
Eastern Front with our new Late War
Compilations: Grey Wolf and Red Bear.
For more information on these
two new books check out
page 62 for Wayne’s preview
of what you can expect
to see in them.
WI290 News Final.indd 2 18/10/11 11:39:36

What’s Online for Wargames IllustrateD?
Plenty of new and Archive content this month for you to • COLOURS SHOW REPORT - BONUS PHOTOS
peruse. As often happens with trips to various wargaming Paul Davies also snapped a load of extra shots at this year’s
shows, we have a lot of additional photos for you to look at! Colours show, held in Newbury, UK.
• SMS (6mm) SHOW REPORT • WHAT’S ON MATT PARKES’ WORKBENCH?
Our roving reporter recently visited the only “exclusively Another great look onto the workbench of our resident
6mm” wargaming show, in south-west England. Not only did super-painter, Matt Parkes.
he get photos of the show, he also sat down for a chat with a • ARTICLES FROM THE ARCHIVE
skilled (and dedicated) 6mm converter and painter. - The Battle of Narva - As this issue’s theme content covers
• THE BATTLE OF PROKHOROVKA the WWII Eastern Front battles around Narva, we thought
Earlier this year a group of wargamers got together for a you might be interested in this article we’ve pulled from the
memorial game re-fight in remembrance of their friend Andy archive which focuses on a battle in the same area some 140
Townsend. We present their report on this WWII tank battle. years earlier. (from WI47).
• REVIEWS
Our regular monthly serving of Reviews. www.wargamesillustrated.net
Osprey Publishing
Picks of the month
COLD WAR GONE HOT
- World War III 1986
By Ambush Alley Games
“My fellow Americans, I’m pleased
to tell you today that I’ve signed
legislation that will outlaw Russia
THE SPANISH ARMY IN NORTH TORA! TORA! TORA!
forever. We begin bombing in
AMERICA 1700–1793 – Pearl Harbor 1941
five minutes.”
By René Chartrand By Mark Stille – Ronald Reagan, 1984.
Long before England established a In the early hours of December 7, 1941, With these words, spoken as a sound
serious presence in the New World, the Japanese First Air Fleet launched a check to a radio broadcast, President
Spain had already established an massive air-strike against the American Reagan came dangerously close to
overseas Empire. In North America, Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor igniting the long-simmering Cold
this included vast tracts of territory in Hawaii. Supported by a group of War. Although Soviet forces were
including most of what today comprises midget submarines, the attack gutted placed on alert following reports of
the states of Florida, Arizona, Nevada, the American battleship fleet but, owing this comment, the full-scale conflict
New Mexico, Texas, Alabama, Illinois to a lack of intelligence, the American between the West and the Soviet Bloc
and California. In later years, as the aircraft carriers they hoped to destroy did not break out. Cold War Gone Hot,
British and the French came to expand were not present. In this new study of the latest companion volume for Force
their claims, they often came into the raid, Mark Stille reexamines the on Force, looks at the 44-year history
conflict with the Spanish. The Spanish political context of the attack and the of the Cold War and asks: “what if?”
also played a significant part during the intelligence operations of both sides, With the orders of battle, vehicle stats
American Revolution, fighting against and gives a detailed analysis of all the and missions included in this volume,
the British and drawing off forces major events during the battle. Backed Force on Force players can simulate the
needed to fight the Americans. This with numerous photographs, diagrams, advance of Soviet tanks across Western
book covers all of the North American maps, and artwork, this book is a Europe, a thrust into Alaska, or any
Spanish forces that fought in the complete study of the Japanese attack number of other plausible scenarios
campaigns of the 18th Century. that awoke ‘the sleeping giant’. where history took a different path.
www.ospreypublishing.com
If you have any news regarding releases, conventions, or other goings on, please send it through (along with some photos or a logo) to news@wargamesillustrated .net
5

WARGAMING NEWS
Wargaming Events
of Note - December Zulus from Warlord Games
Warlord Games, in conjunction with Empress Miniatures, have just announced
2-3 WINTERCON their first plastic foray into the Anglo-Zulu War with four different box sets being
metrodetroitgamers. released this month for both sides in the conflict. A trio of samples photos from the
wordpress.com unmarried Zulu box set can be seen below.
Rochester, MI, USA
www.warlordgames.com
3 RECON
www.wow-gamers.org.uk
Leeds, UK
Wargaming Events
of Note - January
8 WINTER OFFENSIVE
suncastskirmishers.com
Temple Terrace, FL, USA
13-15 SNOWCON
www.snowconmaine.com
Orono, ME, USA
21-22 GODENDAG 2012
www.byzant.demon.co.uk/
godendag.htm
Usk, UK
27-29 CANCON 2012
www.cgs.asn.au
Canberra, Australia
27-29 WINTER WAR 39
www.winterwar.org
Champaign, IL, USA Osprey
28 CRUSADE 2012 canvas art
www.penarthwargames.org
Penarth, UK Osprey Publishing has teamed up with art production company Vivarti to offer our
customers the chance to purchase your favourite battlescenes and aviation artwork
from our most popular artists, including Angus McBride, Peter Dennis, and
PENINSULAR WAR Graham Turner. You can choose from over 100 images from their books, including
WEEKENDER Spartacus, Tudor Warships and the 79th Highlanders at Waterloo. You can have
10-11 December 2011, Republic to them printed to your specifications, including the size and the canvas type.
Empire Peninsular Weekender. Still
a few places left if you want to join www.ospreypublishing.com
a game using R2E and a top drawer
collection of figures. The weekend
is a fully residential event hosted at
the Lundin Links Hotel, Leven, Fife, Submit Articles
Scotland by Barry Hilton. You get
to push around lots of nice toys and in Spanish
some fantastic terrain. This is the first
Wargames Illustrated quiere invitaros
outing in Spain and will feature lots of
a contribuir con vuestros artículos en
new troops. Details on the League of
castellano. Si eres hispano parlante y te
Augsburg website
gustaría participar en nuestra revista con
www.leagueofaugsburg.com
un artículo sobre wargaming o un reportaje
sobre algún evento que se haya desarrollado
Event News: If you are an event
en tu comunidad, no dudes en contactar
organizer, we invite you to send your
con nosotros en la siguiente dirección para
event information to:
contarnos tus ideas o preguntanos
[email protected] cualquier duda -
Remember to send it in at least THREE [email protected]
MONTHS in advance of your event.

AROUND THE GLOBE
Celebrate the launch of Warbus Tours

Warbus Tours offers a genuinely unique approach to touring THE GREAT CAMPAIGNS TOUR
the battlefields of Britain and Europe. We set off from the UK SCHEDULE FOR MARCH 2012.
– generally starting from and returning to London. Pick-ups
12/03/12 Leaving London on the evening of 12th to pass
may be available in Newcastle, York, or elsewhere depending
through Nijmegen circa 0700 and Arnhem at 0900.
on demand.
13/03/12 Arrive at Arnhem circa 0900,
Warbus parties travel in the comfortable, custom-built sleeper
leaving Arnhem circa 2100 for Leipzig.
coaches generally used for high-status concert tours. The
bunks are two metres long and a light breakfast of cereals, 14/03/12 Arrive at Leipzig battlefield circa 0800,
fruit juice, toast, tea and coffee will be available in the lounge leaving Leipzig circa 2100 for Sedan.
every morning.
15/03/12 Arrive at Sedan circa 0800,
Warbus parties spend each day at a different location, making leaving Sedan circa 2100 for Mons.
a tour of the battlefield and, where appropriate, a dedicated
16/03/12 Arrive at Mons, circa 0800,
visitor centre or military museum. Each day starts with a
local transport to Waterloo and back to Mons.
briefing on the armies, the tactical practices and the battle
and concludes with a discussion of the day’s activities led 17/03/12 Overnight in Mons at the Mercure Hotel,
by an experienced and highly-qualified specialist military leaving Mons circa 2100 for Bayeux
history lecturer. and the Normandy Landings.
Warbus parties arrive at each location early in the morning 18/03/12 Arrive at Bayeux circa 0800,
before the site becomes cluttered with tourists and there will leaving for Agincourt.
never be more than fifteen in your party. You will have time to
yourself afterwards to explore the area or just go for a drink or 19/03/12 Arrive at Agincourt circa 0800,
a meal before getting back on the bus for the next leg local transport to Crecy circa 1300,
of the journey. leaving Crecy approx. 2100 for London.
Contact us at www.warbus.co.uk for details of our March 2012 The price of the tour is £1350 and includes all road tolls, ferry
trip, or to arrange a bespoke tour of the places you want to fares, entry to all the sites of the tour and in-transit insurance.
visit on the dates you want to visit them. AND, Warbus Tours is offering a 10% discount for this tour to
Wargames Illustrated readers. Just mentuion this news article
when you book your trip!
www.warbus.co.uk

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290 OSPREY.indd 1 14/10/11 15:10:20

TIGERS IN THE MUD
Otto Carius on the Eastern Front, 1942-1944 By Mike Haught
Otto Carius was born in 1922 in Carius was hit in the face, losing several Tiger. Nevertheless, Carius went to work
Southwest Germany. In May 1940, teeth in the process. He recovered at an and met Hauptmann Schober, commander
Carius volunteered to join the 104th aid station and hitchhiked his way back of the 2nd Company. Carius kept him
Infantry Placement Battalion. He to the front. well supplied with French vermouth
received training in the infantry before and Schober saw to it that Carius
In early August 1941, Carius was
being assigned to the 21st Panzer was reassigned to his company. Soon
promoted to Unteroffizier and received
Regiment, of the 20th Panzer Division. thereafter the battalion was renamed the
orders to report to the 25th Panzer
He saw his first combat action in June 502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion, and Carius
Replacement Battalion to begin officer
1941, during Operation Barbarossa, was given command of a Tiger from the
training. In February 1942, Carius failed
the invasion of the Soviet Union. 2nd Heavy Panzer Company.
to meet the qualifications for officer
and was returned to the 21st Panzer After a short stay in France, where the
ON THE LENINGRAD FRONT, Regiment. He was given command of a crews became acquainted with their new
1941-42 Panzer platoon, but the regiment only had tanks, the company was dispatched to
The 21st Panzer Regiment was equipped enough tanks to equip a company, so his the Leningrad sector on the East Front.
with the Czech-made Panzer 38(t). Otto platoon had to fight as infantry until they Carius and the rest of the company first
Carius served as the tank’s loader in the received new Panzer 38(t) tanks. Carius saw action in July 1943 and fought for
10th Panzer Company. When Carius and and the rest of the 10th Panzer Company eight straight weeks.
the rest of his crew received their first finally received replacement tanks and
In November 1943, the company
Panzer 38(t) tanks they were excited. joined the fight once again.
was moved to counter the Russian
The tank was fast and manoeuvrable During the fighting in the early summer of breakthrough near Vitebsk and fought
and they felt the armour would protect 1942, the regiment received its first Panzer to hold open the important highway to
them from anything the enemy could III and IV tanks, which helped even the Newel. Here, Carius commanded several
throw at them. However, as Carius playing field against the tough new Soviet attacks with his platoon of Tiger tanks
noted, ‘We were enthusiastic about the T-34 tanks. For his combat experience and added several more tank kills to his
armour protection and didn’t realize until and leadership Carius was promoted to already impressive tally.
later that it would only serve as moral Leutnant and served as the commander of
During the fighting Carius’ gunner had
protection for us. If necessary, it would the battalion’s pioneer platoon.
an amazing stroke of luck. Carius wrote,
stop small arms fire’. ‘My gunner, Unteroffizeier Kramer, can
Only a month into the Russian campaign, CARIUS AND HIS TIGER take credit for a deed that was probably
Carius’ tank was hit and the crew had to In January 1943, Carius was transferred unparalleled on the Eastern Front. That is,
bail out for the first time. A disillusioned to the 500th Replacement Battalion. he succeeded in shooting down a Russian
Carius wrote, ‘We cursed the brittle When he arrived, he discovered that the fighter with a tank cannon ... Kramer,
and inelastic Czech steel that gave the battalion was formed exclusively from upset by the unrelenting nuisance of
Russian gun so little trouble. The pieces Eastern Front Panzer veterans to train on these guys, elevated his cannon along the
of our own armour plating and assembly the new Panzer VI Tiger heavy tank. approach route. I talked him in. He took
bolts caused considerably more damage His excitement was somewhat curbed a chance and pulled the trigger. On the
than the shrapnel of the round itself’. when he was assigned to run the officer’s second attempt, he hit one of the ‘bees’ in
club instead of taking command of a its wing. The Russian crashed behind us’.
10
Carrius.indd 1 14/10/11 12:30:34

NARVA
The 2nd Company, 502nd Heavy Panzer
Battalion was then ordered to reinforce
the front with the 11th ‘Nordland’ SS-
Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division at
Narva. Carius fought hard and as a result
won the Knight’s Cross in recognition of
his efforts on 4 May 1944.
In Narva, Carius had assumed default
command of the company. Oberleutnant
von Schiller was officially in command
but lacked the respect of the rest of the
company. Von Schiller often shrugged off
operations onto Carius who picked up the
slack and commanded the company in
his stead.
DÜNABURG
In June 1944, Carius and the 2nd Heavy
Panzer Company were transferred to
Dünaburg to fend off the Soviet offensive
against Army Group North. The Soviets
managed to outflank the German
defensive lines further south during
Operation Bagration aimed at destroying
Army Group Centre. The renewed Soviet
assault in the north intended to take the
port city of Riga.
On 22 July 1944, Leutnant Carius
with his company of eight Tigers
advanced towards the village of
Malinava, north of Dunaburg, to halt
the Soviet advance. Carius and Leutnant
Albert Kerscher took a Kübelwagen
to recon the village. They found the
Soviets had arrived in the village. Carius
knew that the force in the village was leading into the village and attacking At that moment, Kerscher fired and
only the vanguard, waiting for the rest with the entire company would create knocked them out.
of the Soviet force to arrive. He knew a dangerous bottleneck. Carius led the
that this was the critical time to attack Then Carius noticed a strange tank ahead
attack in his Tiger and Kerscher’s Tiger
and recapture the village before the of him and for a second he thought he was
followed close behind.
reinforcements arrived. facing a captured King Tiger. However, he
Surprise and speed were critical to quickly reidentified the target as one of the
Carius attacked the village using two Carius’ plan. When Carius’ Tiger was new Soviet IS-2 heavy tanks. He opened
Tigers and kept the six remaining Tigers about to enter the village, two T-34/85 fire, hitting the heavy tank in the flank. The
in reserve. There was only one road tanks were observed rotating their turrets. Soviet tank exploded in a ball of flames.
Otto Carius’ original Tiger, number 217.
11
Carrius.indd 2 14/10/11 12:31:27

The two Tigers went on to cause havoc the bleeding from his leg using Carius’ poor manoeuvrability, and used a weak
within the village, knocking out 17 Soviet elastic suspenders. They put him on the transmission. Since it was an assault gun,
tanks in 20 minutes. Carius received back of one of the Tigers and Carius Carius also lamented the loss of a turret.
Oak Leaves for his Knights Cross for his clung to the turret for dear life. Overall, Carius was not impressed.
involvement in and around Dünaburg.
Suddenly, the Russians opened fire again. The company was called into action
Carius stood up on his good leg and in March 1945, without finishing its
A BRUSH WITH DEATH yelled at the tank commander, telling training. Carius fought in the Ruhr
On 24 July 1944, Carius dashed ahead of him were the fire was coming from. Pocket, before surrendering to the US
his tanks in a motorcycle and sidecar on However, as the turret turned, Carius’ Army on 15 April 1945.
a reconnaissance, as he often did prior to foot was jammed in between the turret
a mission. No sooner had he got out of After the war, Otto Carius became the
and the hull.
his motorcyle than he and his driver were owner of a pharmacy called the Tiger
ambushed by Soviet troops, suffering Now completely exhausted and with only Apotheke. He remains the highest scoring
shots through the leg and arm, as well as one functional limb, Carius was taken to tank ace alive today, with well over 150
four bullets in the back. a field hospital where he was treated and kills to his credit.
made a full recovery after cheating death.
Carius tried to draw his weapon with his
one healthy arm, but was stopped by a
OTTO CARIUS IN
Russian officer who was aiming his pistol
OTTO’S FINALE FLAMES OF WAR
In August 1944, Carius was transferred to The following Warrior represents Otto
at Carius’ head. Just as the Russian pulled
the newly created 512th Heavy Tank-hunter Carius during 1944 when he was fighting
the trigger, Carius turned his head and the
Battalion where he received the command in his Tiger I E heavy tank supporting
shot went into his neck.
of the 2nd company, newly equipped with Army Group Narva.
As Carius faced death, the Tiger tanks the powerful new Jagdtigers.
from Carius’ company stormed onto the Otto Carius, Tiger Ace is a Late-war
This 72-ton tank hunter was armed with a Warrior and may join a Schwere Panzer
scene in a sort of Hollywood-style rescue
128mm Pak44 L/55 gun. Despite its size Platoon from Page 71 of Grey Wolf.
operation. The Russians were scared
and powerful gun, Carius hated it. He
off and Tigers stopped to help Carius.
didn’t like that it was extremely slow, had
They bandaged him up and stopped
Otto Carius (left) and Oberfeldwebel Zwetti (right) in front of Zwetti’s Tiger tank.
12
Carrius.indd 3 18/10/11 10:50:10

OTTO CARIUS, TIGER ACE CHARACTERISTICS
Otto Carius, Tiger Ace is a Warrior, rated Confident Veteran. WHAT A BUNCH OF HEROES!
Carius replaces the Command Tiger I E tank in a Schwere As a young Feldwebel, Carius learned a valuable lesson when he
Panzer Platoon (see Grey Wolf, page 71) for +100 points. made the hasty decision to pull out of a fire fight. The infantry he
When rolling for Tiger Ace skills, Carius’ Schwere Panzer was supposed to support narrowly managed to keep the Soviets
Platoon does not roll for Tiger Ace skills because he has his own at bay and they made sure Carius knew their disappointment.
special rules below. Otto remembered this lesson and never let it happen again.
HERO OF THE FATHERLAND Carius’ Schwere Panzer Platoon may re-roll any failed
Carius became something of a legend. He was approached by Motivation Tests to Counterattack in assaults.
Himmler who tried to get Carius to join the Waffen-SS—an offer
he refused. Even the Soviets had placed a bounty on his head.
EVERY SHOT COUNTS!
Carius and his gunner, Kramer, destroyed an impressive amount
If Carius is Destroyed during a game the morale of the entire of Soviet tanks in 1944, earning a total of over 150 kills!
German war effort takes a heavy blow, despite any other gains,
and the German player loses one Victory Point and their
opponent gains one Victory Point at the end of the battle. Tiger tanks in Carius’ platoon re-roll any failed To Hit rolls
when they shoot.
OTTO’S KÜBELWAGEN
Carius scouted in his Kübelwagon before each battle. SETTING UP THE SHOT
Carius was a genius at spotting targets and setting up excellent
shots in order to inflict the maximum damage on enemy tanks.
Otto Carius may be either deployed as normal in his Tiger
I E tank at the start of the game, or begin the game as a
Kübelwagen Transport team. Enemy teams do not benefit from Concealment when shot at by
Carius. Furthermore, Carius ignores the normal +1 modifier
While mounted in the Kübelwagen, Carius is a Recce team. If when shooting at teams greater than 16''/40cm away.
mounted in his Kübelwagen, Carius’ Schwere Panzer Platoon
must be held off-table at the beginning of the game.
At the start of any of your turns, you may deploy Carius’
FELDWEBEL ALBERT KERSCHER
Feldwebel Albert Kerscher was Carius’s right-hand man.
Schwere Panzer Platoon held off-table so that all of the
Together they accumulated nearly 260 kills during their careers.
platoon’s tanks are:
• Concealed and more than 16''/40cm away from all enemy You may nominate one Tiger I E tank in Carius’s Schwere
teams, or are entirely out of Line of Sight of the enemy, and Panzer platoon to be commanded by Feldwebel Albert
• within 6''/15cm of Carius’ Kübelwagen. Kerscher for +50 points.
Once deployed, Carius remounts his Tiger I E tank and In addition, while Kerscher is within Command Distance of
fights as normal. Remove Carius’ Kübelwagen. The Tigers Carius, Kerscher may use the Setting up the Shot special rule.
placed on the table in this way can move and fight as
normal during the turn they appear.
If Carius is Destroyed while mounted in his Kübelwagen,
his Schwere Panzer Platoon is immediately placed in
Reserve. Carius’ Tiger becomes a normal Command
Tiger I E tank that still uses the Every Shot Counts special
rule, even though Carius has been Destroyed.
CARIUS TAKES COMMAND

While not the official company commander, Carius took over a
lot of the responsibilities, leading the company into combat and
keeping his men steady in the face of battle.
Carius may take Company Morale Checks as if he were the

Company Command team if the Company Command team
is Destroyed.
While Carius commands his platoon, he may re-roll any
failed Platoon Morale Checks.
13
Carrius.indd 4 14/10/11 12:32:36

WI290 NorthStar:Layout 1 19/10/11 09:40 Page 1
NORTHSTAR
UK SHOW AGENT: DAVE THOMAS.
USA IMPORTER: BRIGADE GAMES.
New Science Fiction game and

miniatures from Mantic Games.
Available to mail order customers

and retail shops from North Star.
MOD001 Legion Command I 4 figures £5.40 March or Die!

Brand new range of French
Foreign Legion 1890-1914
Designed for the classic Beau Geste period, these figures
can be used for all FFL campaigns in the period. The range
will also include native Auxiliaries and opponents.
The figures come 4 to a pack for £5.40.
MOD003 Legion in Greatcoat advancing I 4 figures £5.40
COMING
SOON!
MOD004 Legion in Greatcoat advancing II 4 figures £5.40
www.northstarfigures.com
WI290 NorthStar:Layout 1 19/10/11 10:36 Page 2
North Star Military Figures Ltd, Unit W37, Lenton Business Centre,
Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 2BY, UK
Tel: +44 0 115 978 6656 Fax: 0115 9552 108
Please address all faxes to North Star Unit W37
Email: [email protected] Web: www.northstarfigures.com
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Cheques payable to North Star. We accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.
North Star and Artizan Design figures are 28mm sized, made of metal and
1866 supplied unpainted. They are not suitable for children under 14 years of age.
The Austro-Prussian War of 1866

Our range of Prussians and Austrians for
the War of 1866 has an extensive choice of
packs for the Prussian Infantry, Prussian
Uhlans, Austro-Hungarian Infantry and
Austrian Hussars. We have added Prussian
Artillery and Austrian gun crews, and we
are working on for release soon:
- German Austrian Infantry

- Austrian Jagers
- Prussian Jagers
- Prussian Dragoons
- Prussian Hussars
- Austrian Dragoons
- Austrian Lancers
A n n o u n c e m e n t
We are very pleased to
announce that we now own the
Glory of the Sun figure range
by Mark Copplestone,
previously sold by Copplestone
Casting. The Glory of the Sun
covers Louis XIVs wars of 1665-
1680. We are working on new
packs to expand this line right
now. Please visit our website for
more details, look for the new
name North Star 1672
KEEP UPTO DATE WITH ALL NORTHSTAR NEWS AT: http://twitter.com/nicknorthstar

ALSO FIND US ON
MARENGO, 1800
A GENERAL DE BRIGADE BATTLE NARRATIVE. By David Brown
The Battle of Marengo was fought on 14 June 1800 between French their cavalry or infantry either in line or
forces under General Napoleon Bonaparte and the Austrian army column, there may not be a mixture of the
under General der Kavallerie von Melas, near the city of Alessandria two formations within the same brigade.
in northern Italy. This battle saw a desperate and lucky Bonaparte Also Austrian generals’ command radius
eventually bring about the destruction of the main Austrian field force. is more limited than that of the French.
The French, under the Consulate, are a
The build up to Marengo began with forces time to regroup. As the French mixed force of seasoned professionals
Bonaparte’s Army of Italy debouching infantrymen held their line, Bonaparte
and new recruits, commanded by
from the alpine passes to concentrate issued new orders recalling marching
generals as varied as Bessieres, Lannes
in the plains of northern Italy, thereby divisions and feeding his troops
and Murat (all of whom would become
threatening the Austrian lines of into battle.
famous French Marshals under the
communication. After securing an early
victory over the defending Austrians at Our General de Brigade refight begins Napoleonic Empire) to such men as
the battle of Montebello, Bonaparte grew at this point, with the French desperately Chambharlac who quit his command
somewhat overconfident. Anticipating holding the line of the Fontanone stream and fled the battlefield at the start of the
that the Austrians would be on the back against the massed ranks of the advancing first Austrian attack! The French army
foot he was surprised when his enemy Austrians, whilst French reinforcements was nonetheless a well lead and a highly
rapidly concluded the siege of Genoa and race to the battlefield. flexible force - and it would need to
struck back at Bonaparte’s army. The clash at Marengo provides an be, as the combat at Marengo severely
interesting opportunity to field two tested its mettle. Under the rules, French
The Battle of Marengo began with the
quite different armies. With General flexibility is represented by an increased
Austrians launching a surprise attack
de Brigade the Austrian army is a command radius for French generals, an
from their fortress at Alessandria. The
Austrian force drove in the French trained and professional force, but ability to adopt any formation within the
outposts and soon found themselves does sometimes suffer from indifferent same brigade, thus formations such as
opposing the enemy’s main defensive line commanders and slow and limited order mixte (where two battalion columns
stationed just over the Fontanone stream. tactical ability. To reflect this under the rest on the flanks of a battalion deployed
The French defence of this swampy and rules the Austrians were required to in line) are permissible, along with open
uneven watercourse was to prove critical follow the Historical Brigade Formation order tactics available to all troops types
as it slowed the Austrian advance and and Linear Tactics rulings. This restricts regardless of whether they are designated
permitted the more scattered French early Allied brigades to deploying all as line infantry or light infantry.
16
WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 2 14/10/11 12:33:47

8) 1230: Kaim & Bellegarde make
a third assault, supported
by Latterman.
Napoleonic Wars
9) 1245: Hardegg’s pioneers build a
new crossing. IR63 moves between
Lannes and Rivaud. Lannes moves a
1803-1815
battery up to counter the Austrians.
1250: Two Grenadier batts cross
with two squadrons of 1. Dragoons.
Bellegarde’s troops cross to
engage 22eme.
10) 1300: Rivaud leads up Victor’s
last two batts against the grenadiers.
11) 1330: Watrin’s Brigade breaks
up. Four Austrian squadrons engage
Champeaux and 40eme to the rear of
Marengo. 1345: Lannes’ reordered
troops attack again, pushing the
Austrians back to the Fontanone.
12) 1400-1430: O’Reilly pushes
Dampierre back to Casina Bianca.
Schustekh and a grenzer battalion
force the French to surrender, as the
rest of O’Reilly’s force head
for Frugarolo.
13a) 1415: Nobili’s Dragoons
charge over the bridge with cavalry
guns in support to clear
French infantry.
13b) Kellerman counters to drive
Nobili back as 96eme cover
Gardanne’s withdrawal
towards Spinetta.
14) 1430: Ott sends Schellenberg
through Castel Ceriolo to
support Gottesheim.
15) 1430: Latterman and IR63
cross the Fontanone again. Lannes
withdraws Watrin as Rivaud
evacuates Marengo, except 400 men
1) Gottesheim clears 6eme Legere 4) 2nd Batt 43eme committed to
in the farm. New French line established
outposts from Castel Ceriolo. Two Marengo as Kaim’s attack pulls back.
amongst the vines.
squadrons chase most of them up the
5) 1200-1230: O’Reilly’s Grenzers
Sale road. 1230: This cavalry is sent 16) 1430: Melas leads two Dragoon
engage 24eme Legere. Pilatti’s cavalry
further up the road. squadrons down the road to capture
cross the Fontanone. They drive off
Marengo. The Austrians cross in
2a) 1220: Gottesheim attacks 8eme Dragoons, but are scattered by
force. Austrian guns pound the entire
Lannes’ right. Kellerman’s cavalry.
French line.
2b) Four squadrons move into 6) Weidenfeld’s Grenadiers moved to
17a) 1500: Bonaparte arrives with
open ground. cover Pilatti’s withdrawal.
his Guard.
3) 1230: Lannes moves a battalion of 7) 1230 onwards: Ott’s two squadrons
17b) Monnier’s Division heads for the
22eme to form a right flank. 28eme form fight running skirmishes with J. Rivaud’s
French right and Castel Ceriolo
a single square. 40eme fill in to the rear. hussar outposts.
Above: Map from CAMPAIGN 70 - Marengo 1800, © Osprey Publishing Ltd. www.ospreypublishing.com
ARMIES AND INTENTIONS TERRAIN a Formation Test to see if they cross

in good order or lose their formation.
Given the finely balanced nature of the All villages can contain up to 50 figures
Cavalry and artillery may only cross at
Battle of Marengo we maintained the and are classed as buildings.
the crossing points.
historical set up to keep the ebb and
• The hamlet of La Barbotta may hold up
flow of this famous combat as much • Fontanone Crossing Points: a) Bridge in
to 25 figures and is classed as cover.
as possible. front of Marengo. b) Pontoon bridge near
• The Fontanone stream is crossable to La Barbotta and c) Bridge at
infantry at half speed. They must take Castel Ceriolo.
17

AUSTRIAN FORCES FRENCH FORCES
The Austrian players decided upon a fairly historical plan to The French objective was simply to hold the line of the
secure their objectives, that of taking and holding Marengo or Fontanone stream and the vital crossing point at Marengo farm
securing both road exits off the French table edge. The Austrian for as long as possible, to prevent the Austrian attacks securing
central commands would cross the stream, engaging French their objectives and gain enough time for Bonaparte’s reserves to
forces to their front, push them back and seize Marengo and enter the field to support their beleaguered colleagues.
the road behind. All other Austrian commands were to support
FRENCH ORDER OF BATTLE
this movement whilst pinning and engaging any French forces
to their front. The role of the Austrian reinforcements was to C-in-C: Turns 1-6 General VICTOR (Average)
attempt to outflank an already heavily engaged French position.
C-in-C: Turn 7+. General BONAPARTE (Excellent)
AUSTRIAN ORDER OF BATTLE (+ 1 x ADC - Murat) arrives on Turn 5
C-in-C: General von Melas, (+ 1 x ADC - von Kaim) BRIGADE UNIT STRENGTH GRADE
BRIGADE UNIT STRENGTH GRADE Gardanne 44th Demi-Brigade (part) 3 x 30 figures Line
101st Demi-Brigade 2 x 30 figures Line
O’Reilly 8th Nauendorff Hussars 18 figures Line
Skirmishers 12 figures Line
4th Banat Grenz 30 figures 2nd Line
Skirmishers 8 figures 2nd Line Dampierre 44th Demi-Brigade (part) 1 x 30 figures Line
21st Chasseurs a cheval 12 figures Line
Bellegarde 52nd Anton Regt 2 x 32 figures 2nd Line
4pdr Horse Battery 1 gun Line
53rd Jellacic Regt 2 x 32 figures 2nd Line
3pdr Foot Artillery 4 guns Line Dohl 24th Demi-Brigade Leger 3 x 30 figures Veteran
Marseille 63rd Joseph Regt. 2 x 32 figures 2nd Line Rivaud 43rd Demi-Brigade 2 x 30 figures Line
Skirmishers 8 figures Line 43rd Demi-Brigade 1 x 30 figures 2nd Line
3pdr Regt. Artillery 2 guns Line 96th Demi-Brigade 1 x 30 figures Line
96th Demi-Brigade 1 x 30 figures 2nd Line
Knesvich 23rd Toscana Regt 3 x 32 figures Line
Skirmishers 12 figures 2nd Line
3pdr Regt. Artillery 2 guns Line
4pdr Foot Artillery 3 guns Line
Briey 47th Kinsky Regt 2 x 32 figures Line
Kellerman 2nd Heavy Cavalry 12 figures Line
20th Heavy Cavalry 12 figures Line
21st Heavy Cavalry 12 figures Line
Nobili 3rd Light Dragoons 3 x 12 figures Line
Milet 1st Dragoons 12 figures Line*
9th Light Dragoons 3 x 12 figures Line
8th Dragoons 18 figures Line*
Austrian players have the option to maintain their regimental 9th Dragoons 18 figures Line*
artillery with the respective regiments, (one gun per battalion)
* - The Dragoons of Milet’s Brigade have inferior mounts
or group them into brigade batteries.
Gency 6th Demi-Brigade Leger 2 x 30 figures Line
AUSTRIAN RESERVE FORCES
Latterman Grenadier Battalions 4 x 30 figures Veteran
FRENCH RESERVE FORCES
3pdr Foot Battery 4 guns Line
C-in-C: General LANNES (Average)
Frimont 3rd Light Battalion 12 figures Line
4th Light Battalion 16 figures Line Saint Cyr 19th Demi-Brigade Leger 2 x 30 figures Line
1st Light Dragoons 16 figures Line 4pdr Horse Battery 2 guns Line
Bussy Light Horse 10 figures Veteran
Schilt 70th Demi-Brigade 2 x 30 figures Line
6pdr Cavalry Artillery 3 guns Line
C-in-C: General Ott (Average)
Soules Consular Guard 40 figures Elite
Gottesheim Jagers - skirmishers 12 figures Line 4pdr Guard Horse Battery 2 guns Guard
10th Light Dragoons 12 figures Line
Bessieres Grenadiers a cheval 10 figures Elite
28th Frohlich Regt 32 figures Line
Chasseurs a cheval 10 figures Elite
6pdr Cavalry Battery 3 guns Line
Monnier 72nd Demi-Brigade 2 x 30 figures 2nd Line
Sticker 57th Colloredo Regt 3 x 32 figures 2nd Line
Mahler 22nd Demi-Brigade 2 x 30 figures Line
Retz 28th Frohlic Regt 2 x 32 figures Line
40th Mittrowsky Regt 32 figures 2nd Line
Skirmishers 8 figures Line ARRIVAL OF RESERVES
• Lannes troops enter on Turns 5 and 6 anywhere along the
ARRIVAL OF RESERVES French table edge to the right of the Marengo road.
• Latterman and Frimont will enter on Turns 5 and 6 along the • The Consular Guard cavalry must accompany Bonaparte onto
Marengo road on the Austrian table edge. the battlefield. Thereafter they may be given an independent role
under Bessieres.
• Ott’s Column will enter on Turn 6 along the Castel Ceriolo
road on the Austrian board edge. • Mahler arrives on Turn 7 on the French table edge anywhere
to the right of the main road from Marengo. It should enter with
order to “Move” towards Castel Ceriolo and will go onto “Hold”
orders as soon as it reaches its objective or is stopped from
doing so.
18

TO BATTLE!
Opening Moves - Turns 1-4

General de Brigade Rivaud personally laid
the guns of his artillery to face the Austrians
approaching the pontoon bridge over the
stream in front of Marengo. As expected the
Austrians launched a bold charged with their
cavalry over the pontoon bridge towards the
guns. The Austrian cavalry, hindered by the
restriction of crossing the bridge, were swept
away by French cannister.
19

Cavalry Breakthrough - Turn 5
The 3rd Squadron of the 9th Light Dragoons
now charged across the bridge into the French
gun battery and despite losing a third of their
numbers as casualties, their high morale
(aided by rolling 10!) carried them home
into the gunners. The battery was overrun
and the superb Austrian cavalry maintained
its formation, forcing the remaining French
infantry into square.
Meanwhile, further to the left, the Austrian
52nd Infantry Regiment - under Bellegarde
- crossed over the stream and successfully
charged the 3rd/24th French Leger, forcing the
French light infantrymen out of their woods.
General Bonaparte and Lannes’ Division
arrived with desperately needed reinforcements.
Bonaparte immediately despatched his
Consular Guard, supported by St Cyr, to shore
up the exposed French right flank.
Austrian Foothold - Turn 6

The gallant Austrian 3rd/9th Light Dragoons were
counter-charged by the reserve French heavy cavalry,
(21st Regt), but despite their earlier success they were
no match for the French heavy cavalry and were driven
from the field. Nonetheless, the heroic sacrifice of the
Austrian mounted arm had permitted the infantry of
the Austrian column to cross the pontoon bridge and
establish a foothold opposite Marengo itself.
The turn also saw Ott’s column make an appearance
on the battlefield on the Austrian left, causing some
consternation amongst the French ranks. With their
heavy cavalry committed to defending the centre, they
had very few forces on their right to oppose this new
Austrian threat.
20

Austrian Assault - Turns 7-9
The Austrians launched their attack
proper upon Marengo but a steady
defence by French infantry, supported by
Kellerman’s heavy cavalry, meant that
the Austrian formation were hemmed in.
They were unable to deploy to exploit
their superior numbers. As such, their
localised attacks were driven back with
heavy casualties at each turn.
French reinforcements - Mahler’s
Brigade - finally arrived and headed off
with all speed in the direction of Castel
Ceriolo in order to plug the yawning gulf
on the French right.
Staunch French Defence - Turn 10

On the French left, superior revolutionary musketry and skirmish fire disrupted the Austrian firing line and supporting guns. This
staunch French defence stifled any attempt by the Austrian right to cross the Fontanone stream. The local Austrian commander
was content to simply hold his ground whilst permitting the superior forces on his left to make the much needed breakthrough.
21

A Constant Struggle - Turn 11.
The Austrians under Bellegarde who had crossed
the Fontanone stream to the left of Marengo,
finally managed to bring order to their formations
and launched an attack from the cover of the
woods lining the stream. This attack met with
disaster as it was charged by French dragoons.
Each subsequent attack was either driven back
into the woods or simply ridden down.
The Austrian attack in the centre was now on the
back foot with only a tentative grip on the French
side of the stream. The only Austrian success was
by Sticker’s Brigade as it stormed Castel Ceriolo
and pushed out Mahler’s forward light
infantry screen.
In order to maintain the Austrian momentum,
von Melas ordered Retz’s Brigade - from
Ott’s column - to remain on the far side of the
Fonataone stream and close up on the Austrian
centre. Here, Retz’s battalions would defeat the
remnants of Dohl’s light infantry brigade and
affect the much needed breakthrough.
22

Mounting Pressure - Turns 12-14.
More cavalry battles ensued as the Austrians fed across their remaining cavalry (3rd Light Dragoons) to oppose the French
heavies. Each side experienced localised success, but eventually the French heavy cavalry gained the upper hand and brought
about the defeat of the Austrian mounted arm, including the death of Austrian commander Nobili.
The only real Austrian success was again had by Sticker’s command which, despite heavy casualties, pushed back and pursued
both St Cyr’s and Mahler’s Brigades to the high ground beyond Castel Ceriolo. However, this was to be the high watermark of
the Austrian advance.
Bonaparte, using the time gained by his heavy cavalry, deployed the remainder of Lannes’ command as a second line, while the
Consular Guard were moved up to oppose the advancing Austrians under Retz. The deployment allowed the French line to flank
Retz’s advance (which was hemmed in by the angle of the Fontanone stream) and drive back his foremost battalions.
The Final Act - Turns 15-16

With the shadow of defeat slowly falling over the Austrian lines, von Melas launched his last reserves of massed Austrian
Grenadiers across the Fontanone to finally smash the resistance of these revolutionary Frenchmen and secure victory!
Alas, the serried ranks of Austrian bearskins were thrown into disorder by the last charge of Milet’s dragoons, who rode down
the grenadiers’ supporting battery and continued headlong into the Austrian infantry ranks! Although the Austrian veterans
withstood this cavalry charge they were severely disordered and with Lannes’ French battalions - supported by the Consular
Guard - gaining battlefield ascendency, von Melas was forced to admit his chance to gain glory for the Austrian forces at
Marengo had failed.
23

TRENT MINIATURES
28mm LATER FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY WARS
“The Granite Redoubt”: The Consular Guard Grenadiers at Marengo. (Flags by Flagdude: www.flagdude.com)
FCG 02
Consular Garde
FCG 01 Grenadiers (8) [B]
FCG 02 Command (4) [E]
One of the heroes of Marengo was Grenadier Brabant

who, when the battalion was in square and running
low on ammo, stepped out of the ranks, took over an
abandoned 4 pounder cannon and operated it single-
handedly for half an hour. We don’t (yet) do a Brabant
personality figure, but as you can see a quick de-
musketing with a craft knife and a few twists of a pin
vice to insert a portfire and you can do one in less
than five minutes. We can however provide a nice 4
pounder at an inexpensive price...
ARTILLERY
FA 01 Foot Artillery Crew (6) [C]
FA 02 Horse Artillery Crew (6) [C]
FA 03 Gribeauval 12 pdr (1) [D]
FA 05 Gribeauval howitzer (1) [D]
FA 06 Gribeauval Limber (1) [A]
PRICE CODES [C] £6.00

[A] £3.00 [D] £3.50
[B] £8.00 [E] £4.50
WI290 Trent.indd 1 17/10/11 14:40:25

French Line Infantry battalion (Figures from packs FLi 01/02/04/05/07 & some as yet unreleased figures)
FRENCH LIGNE
FLi 01 Marching/Advancing I (8) [B]
FLi 02 Marching/Advancing II (8) [B]
FLi 03 Firing Line (8) [B]
FLi 04 “Scruffy” (8) [B]
FLi 05 Command I (4) [E]
FLi 07 Elites, Bearskin, Marching/Advancing [E]
FLi 08 Elites, Bearskin, Firing Line [E]
FLi 09 Elites, Plumed Bicorne, Marching/Advancing [E]
FLi 10 Elites, Plumed Bicornes, Firing Line [E]
FLi 11 Command bis (4) [E]
The two figures on our flanks have painted examples in the

battalion above. We haven’t yet officially released them; but
we have quite a few castings off the master mold. Anyone
ordering any pack of French infantry through North Star
Military Figures or Arcane Scenery and Model before 31
December 2011 can have a free figure; anyone ordering two
or more packs can have both figures free.
Trent’s Later French Revolutionary Wars ARCANE SCENERY & MODEL EBAY SHOP & WEBSITE:
range - including figures for the Irish Uprising of http://stores.ebay.co.uk/arcane-scenery-and-models
1798 and the Haitian Revolution are available from: www.arcanesceneryandmodels.co.uk
NORTH STAR: IN THE USA, RECREATIONAL CONFLICT:

www.northstarfigures.com www.recreationalconflict.lusagi.com
ALSO AT U.K. SHOWS WITH WARLORD GAMES
NB: Flag Dude does flags for our Irish Uprising & Lombardy Legion: www.flagdude.com
WI290 Trent.indd 2 17/10/11 15:49:24

THE CARIUS AND
KERSCHER STAMPEDE
By Mike Haught Victor Pesch and Wayne Turner
In mid-1944, the Soviet war machine was slowly crushing its way west. Then suddenly, in June, the Red Army
launched Operation Bagration, destroying Germany’s Army Group Centre. Further south, Soviet forces pushed
into Romania and not only knocked the minor Axis power out of the war, but also forced them to turn on their
former allies, the Germans and Hungarians.
Meanwhile, in the north, the Germans were slowly pushed back from Narva to the small town of Dünaburg in
southern Latvia. Here the Germans once again made a stand against the Soviet army in late July 1944.
FROM THE TANNENBERG and the 1st and 2nd companies of 502. Malinava. From there the battalion could
Schwere Panzerabteilung across the Düna counterattack any place that the Soviets
LINE TO DÜNABURG (Dvina) River from the south to the north broke through.
Between January and July, 50,000 men
bank to support the 290. Infanteriedivision
of German Army Detachment Narva On 22 July, Carius’ 2. Kompanie
(290th Infantry Division) against a Soviet
staunchly held up 200,000 Soviets on the (2nd Company) received reports of the
armoured thrust.
Narva line. Sometimes referred to as the Soviet breakthrough. German troops were
‘Battle of the European SS’, the Battle panicking and fleeing toward Dünaburg
of Narva saw combatants from Germany, THE BATTLE OF MALINAVA ahead of the Soviet attack. Without wasting
Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, On 22 July, the Soviets launched another a moment, Carius and his right-hand man,
and Estonia fighting against the Red major attack and broke through the Feldwebel Albert Kerscher, sped out in
Army. During this time the 502. Schwere German lines northeast of Dünaburg. They a Kübelwagen against the tide of fleeing
Panzerabteilung supported various Heer sent the 48th Guards Tank Regiment and German troops to scope out the situation.
and SS units during the fighting. the 41st Tank Brigade through to exploit
the gap and drive deep behind enemy They reached a hill just to the south of
In April, Otto Carius and his company of lines. A forward detachment of IS-2 heavy Malinava and approached the crest on
the 502. Schwere Panzerabteilung (502nd tanks and some T-34/85 medium tanks foot. The two passed a set of binoculars
Heavy Tank Battalion) moved by train with infantry riding on their backs led between them. Carius noted that the
to Pskov, south of Lake Pskov, and spent the way. Soviets had occupied the town and
the next two months operating in the area were busy looting and milling about
between the lake and the Düna (Dvina) The Soviet tanks drove into the small outside their tanks. The Soviet forward
River supporting a number of German village of Malinava, 12 miles (20km) detachment had stopped to await the
and Latvian infantry formations. northeast of Dünaburg. Flush with their rest of the tank brigade to catch up with
successful advance, the Soviet tank crews its advance.
By July, Carius’ company had been jumped out of their tanks and took a break.
moved south and were positioned near Unbeknownst to them, however, they were Carius knew that time was of the essence
the town of Dünaburg (Daugavpils) in being watched from a nearby hill through and that the detachment would have to
southern Latvia. With the initial success a pair of binoculars belonging to none be destroyed before the rest of the Soviet
of Operation Bagration, Red Army other than Otto himself… tank brigade arrived to cement their hold.
forces were now pouring westwards out The main challenge that faced Carius
of Byelorussia into Lithuania and were Otto Carius and the 502. Schwere was the approach. He recognised that
threatening to cut off Army Group North Panzerabteilung had taken up a he could not storm the village en masse,
in Estonia and Latvia. On 22 July Carius defensive position just to the south of so he elected to keep six of his Tigers
26
Narva Battlereport.indd 1 18/10/11 11:00:04

Buivisi
Cukurene Soviet Front Line
22 July 1944
Kalupe
Dubna Graveri
Samagals
Spogi
Soviet Armoured Attack
Krivani 24 July 1944 Reginski
Ambeli
Dviete I Viski Skeltova
2 502
Vabole (Carius) Soviet Armoured Attack
N
22 July 1944
Malinava
Bikernieki
Pilskalne Soviet Armoured Attack
Izvalta
25 July 1944
Ilukste Lipinski
I
Mazkokini
I
2 502 I
3 502
(Carius) 1 502
I Zidina
3 502
Naujene
0 Miles 10
Svente Dünaburg
0 KM 10 20 Kaplava
in reserve behind the hill, while he and quickly enough as each tank came the remaining tanks of the Soviet brigade
Kerscher charged into the village, using under the sights of Otto Carius and were scheduled to relieve the ones Carius
complete surprise to their advantage. Albert Kerscher. and his company had just destroyed.
The remaining tanks were to stop any Armed with this information, Carius
Suddenly a massive tank loomed in
reinforcements and mop up any Soviet prepared an ambush for them.
front of Carius, who at first thought
stragglers. With the plan firmed up,
it was a King Tiger that the Russians Carius and his eight Tiger tanks moved
Carius put Leutnant Nienstedt, a recent
had captured and put into use. Carius 6 miles (10km) to the east of Malinava
arrival to the company, in command of
quickly recognised the running gear and set up their ambush. Sure enough a
the remaining six Tigers. Kerscher and
of the tank as Russian and fired on it. column of tanks, trucks, and tank-riding
Carius moved out onto the road.
The Soviet IS-2 heavy tank burst into infantry appeared into their sights. In
Carius and Kerscher poured on the gas flames. In 20 minutes of mad shooting a short and sharp fight Carius and his
and charged head-long into Malinava. and explosions, Carius and Kerscher had men left 28 tanks and dozens of trucks
The Soviets were taken completely by destroyed 17 IS-2 and five T-34 tanks. destroyed and smouldering.
surprise. The 8.8cm guns of the Tigers Meanwhile, Leutnant Nienstedt moved
Carius and his men did not lose a single
ripped into the unsuspecting T-34 tanks, up and mopped up the Soviet tanks trying
Tiger in the battles around Malinava, but
which exploded left, right, and centre. to escape Carius’ rampage.
had destroyed over 50 enemy armoured
Slowly the Soviet crews reacted, but not
As the dust settled, a map was discovered vehicles. The Soviet exploitation had not
amongst the carnage that revealed that only been stopped, it had been destroyed.
27

THE BATTLE OF MALINAVA SCENARIO
The Battle of Malinava is an excellent for a possible German counterattack? possibly avoided the subsequent ambush
battle to recreate as a scenario for They certainly had plenty of heavy tanks of the rest of the 41st Tank Brigade and
wargaming. While seemingly one-sided, that were more than a match for Carius’ detected Carius’ approach.
there were plenty of opportunities for Tigers. Some accounts place 17 IS-2
These sorts of chances are what make
the Soviets to turn the tide of battle in heavy tanks in the village of Malinava
wargaming so much fun, as players strive
their favour. As it was, the boldness of when Carius arrived. If this was true,
to change history!
Carius and Kerscher, combined with the a concerted effort to focus firepower
dangerously relaxed attitude of the Soviet would have seen Carius’ attack off, with The Battle of Malinava Scenario lets
tankers, tipped the balance of power in minimal casualties. you try just that. Take command of Otto
favour of the Germans. Carius and his Tigers and see if you can
Furthermore, had the Soviets made use
match or exceed his results on that day,
But what if the Soviet tankers had paid of reconnaissance in the more traditional
or take up the red banner and try to take
more attention and made preparations sense of the term, they could have
Carius out of the war, once and for all!
FORCES AT MALINAVA
GERMAN FORCE SOVIET FORCE

502. SCHWERE PANZERABTEILUNG 41ST TANK BRIGADE
Schwere Panzerkompanie Tankovy Batalon
CONFIDENT VETERAN CONFIDENT TRAINED
Schwere Panzerkompanie HQ: (430 points) Batalon HQ: (80 points)

with 1x CiC Command Tiger I E and 1x T-34/85 tank
1x 2iC Command Tiger I E tanks 1st Tankovy Company: (600 points)
Schwere Panzer Platoon: (430 points) with 5x T-34/85, 5x T-34 obr 1942 tanks
with Otto Carius’ and 2nd Tankovy Company: (600 points)
Albert Kerscher’s Tiger I E tanks (+150 points) with 5x T-34/85, 5x T-34 obr 1942 tanks
Schwere Panzer Platoon: (430 points) Tank-Rider Company: (305 points)
with 2x Tiger I E tanks with 19x SMG teams
Total: 1440 points (riding on tanks from 2nd Tankovy Company)
You might notice that the two forces’ point-totals are not equal. 48TH GUARDS HEAVY TANK REGIMENT
This is because in the scenario, the Soviet tanks begin the game
FEARLESS TRAINED
with their vulnerable side armour exposed to Carius’ Tigers in
addition to beginning the game bailed out. Once the Germans
Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Company: (405 points)
have inflicted all of their damage after their first turn, the points
with 3x IS-2 obr 1943 tanks
should even out a bit.
Total: 1990 points
28

THE BATTLE OF MALINAVA
Objective German
Deployment Area Objective
12”/60CM
Soviet Tanks in
Village begin the
game Bailed Out.
Objective
Objective
Otto Carius, one of Germany’s top Tiger Aces, has located the BEGINNING THE BATTLE
lead elements of the Soviet 48th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment 1. The Soviet player’s Tank teams in the village start the game
and 41st Tank Brigades in the small village of Malinava. Bailed Out.
2. The German player takes the first turn.
YOUR ORDERS
German ENDING THE BATTLE
You must utterly destroy the Soviet spearhead to stop the Soviet The battle ends when:
offensive against Dünaburg.
• either player takes an objective,
Soviet • no German Tiger tanks remain on the table.
Your forward detachment has arrived in Malinava. Your
orders are to await the arrival of the rest of your forces before DECIDING WHO WON
proceeding to Dünaburg. The German player wins if he takes the objective, thereby
breaking the Soviet hold on Malinava and crushing the Red
PREPARING FOR BATTLE. Army’s spearhead.
1. Set up the table as shown above. The table is 6' x 4' (180cm
The Soviet player wins if he takes an objective, thereby turning
x 120cm).
the tables on the 502. Schwere Panzerabteilung and pushing
2. The Soviet Player now deploys his force as shown on the through to Dünaburg.
map above.
3. The German player now deploys his force anywhere in the
area marked on the map above.
4. The German player now rolls for his Tiger Ace skills.
29

Victor and I played the Battle of Malinava scenario. I took command of the ill-fated Soviet spearhead, while Victor took on the role
of the famous Otto Carius and his company of Tiger I E heavy tanks.
VICTOR’S INTIAL THOUGHTS MIKE’S INITIAL THOUGHTS

Seeing the number of Soviet tanks I would be facing, I knew While setting up I couldn’t help but wonder how many tanks
I’d have to get as many shots on them as I could each turn. I’d have left at the end of the first turn. But I figured that all I
I planned to make use of my full rate of fire by using my needed to do was put Carius out of action to save my fellow
Stormtrooper moves to advance Carius and Kerscher towards Soviet comrades from his seemingly endless rampage!
the village, but otherwise remaining still in my positions.
TURN 1
True to history, Victor used Otto Carius’ special rule, Otto’s Kübelwagen, to deploy Carius’ and Kerscher’s Tigers in front of the
village. Victor immediately identified the IS-2 heavy tanks as the single greatest threat, so Carius’ and Kerscher’s special rules would
be critical for knocking them out as quickly as possible before they could fire back.
The remaining Tiger platoon and the Command Tiger I E tank took up excellent positions in a small wood overlooking Mike’s
reinforcement Tankovy and tank-riding infantry. Victor placed his 2iC Tiger I E in the middle the two groups to cover the space between.
TIGER ACES CiC Command Tiger (receives 2 Tiger Ace skills):

Tiger tank formations were filled with only the most For the Fatherland (Passes Motivation Tests on a 2+)
experienced tank commanders and crews in the German army. and Rapid Fire (Rate of Fire is increased from 2 to 3).
As such, Tiger tanks were incredibly well-experienced and had 2iC Command Tiger:
more than just a few tricks up their sleeves! In Flames Of War Rapid Fire
this is represented by Tiger Ace skills. A player rolls a dice and
checks a chart that has a collection of special rules. The result Carius’ Schwere Panzer Platoon:
of the dice gives each Schwere Panzer Platoon one or more Uses own Special Rules (see page 13).
special rules to use in the game. Schwere Panzer Platoon:
Victor was incredibly lucky rolling for his Tiger Ace skills and Rapid Fire
got exactly what he needed for the scenario!
30

GERMAN TURN 1
A hail of 8.8cm shells signalled the Both found their targets and knocked one first Tankovy in the village, rapidly
beginning of the game. Victor elected not out each. knocking out three T-34 tanks.
to move, allowing him to use his Rapid The second Schwere Panzer Platoon After their opening volley, Carius and
Fire skills to their fullest potential. and the CiC Tiger I E opened up with Kerscher used the Stormtroopers special
Leading the charge was, of course, Otto’s twelve shots and smashed Mike’s second rule (a German rule that allows them to
and Albert’s tanks. The pair opened Tankovy company, destroying five tanks move an additional 4''/10cm at the end of
fire on the Soviet tanks in the village, along with six of their tank riders. The the turn) to move closer to the village.
focusing on the dangerous IS-2 tanks. 2iC Tiger fired into the rear of Mike’s
OTTO CARIUS’ KILLS ALBERT KERSCHER’S KILLS
1 1
SOVIET TURN 1
Mike’s Tankovy were a little worse for Meanwhile, the T-34s poured off the Mike’s tanks stuck in the village
wear, but still had plenty of fighting spirit road, took cover in the nearby field, attempted to remount their tanks. A
left in them. The infantry riding atop the and engaged the Tigers in the woods. few succeeded, but several, including
second Tankovy dismounted and made a However, the clumsy nature of Soviet the remaining IS-2 heavy tank, did not.
dash at the double toward the enemy. tactics meant that none of the shots could Those that rallied attempted to return fire
find their mark. Still, they were in a on Carius and Kerscher, but had no effect
better position than previously! against the thick hides of the Tiger tanks.
HEN AND CHICKS

Soviet tank crews received only the minimum training necessary before heading into battle. This was due to heavy casualties and
the need to make up the numbers to meet German attacks. Therefore armoured tactics were straightforward and simple so the
crews could comply.
In Flames Of War, Soviet tanks work best doing one thing at a time. The more you try to squeeze out of your poorly trained
tankers, the harder it becomes! The Hen and Chicks special rule basically says that if a Platoon Command team in a tank platoon
moves, then all vehicles in the platoon count as moving, whether they actually move or not. Furthermore, no tank can move if
their commander doesn’t move himself!
If Soviet tanks do move, they incur a +1 penalty to hit their target when shooting, reflecting the ‘complex’ tactic of fire and
manoeuvre. Basically, as a Soviet tank player, it’s not really worth trying to do something as tricky as moving and shooting in the
same turn. You’re better off just doing one or the other, and not mucking about trying something clever!
Soviet Guards tanks, like the IS-2 heavy tanks in this mission, are made up of experienced crews, and therefore ignore the Hen
and Chicks special rule.
31

TURN 2
GERMAN TURN 2
Victor’s tanks kept up their deadly On the other flank, Carius opened fire As in the previous turn, Victor used
barrage. The CiC tank and the second on the T-34s in the village. The Soviets the Stormtroopers special rule with
Schwere Panzer Platoon only managed couldn’t hide as Carius’ special rules let Carius and Kerscher to advance toward
to knock out a single T-34 in the field. him ignore Concealment when shooting the village and line up some shots for
The 2iC Tiger had better luck firing its at his targets! Carius quickly knocked out next turn.
machine-guns at the Soviet tank-riders a pair or T-34s while Kerscher finished
that had moved at the double, destroying off the last IS-2 heavy tank.
three infantry teams.
3 2
SOVIET TURN 2
Mike’s T-34s are dwindling and the push into the centre of the table, coldly force Kerscher to bail out.
last of the IS-2s have been knocked ignoring the casualties they took in the
The second Tankovy company opened
out without firing a shot! Still, the previous turn.
fire on the Tigers in the woods and
only option is keep the pressure on the
The tanks in the village return fire against knocked out a Tiger and bailed a
Germans and try for that lucky shot! To
Carius and Kerscher and managed to second one.
that end, Mike’s tank riders continue to
32

TURN 3
GERMAN TURN 3
Without hesitating, all of Victor’s tanks impressive four more tanks in the village. Now well below half strength, all of Mike’s
remounted after being bailed out by Mike’s Meanwhile, the second Schwere Panzer platoons show their resolve by passing their
shooting. Carius and Kerscher carried Platoon opened fire and knocked out a pair morale checks and fighting on!
on with their rampage, knocking out an of T-34s in the field.
5 4
SOVIET TURN 3
Mike’s T-34s are fighting to stay Victor’s 2iC Tiger stood in the way and On Mike’s right flank, his T-34s pushed
alive long enough to take out one of needed to be removed. forward to try and score some side
Germany’s best aces. The infantry were shots against the Tigers. One tank
The last two T-34/85 tanks remaining in
well on their way to putting pressure managed to get into the side of a Tiger,
the village opened fire on the 2iC Tiger
on their objective. Another few turns, while the other engaged the CiC tank
tank. Their combined effort saw the Tiger
and Carius would be forced to pull back from the front. The shooting bailed the
tank explode into a ball of flames. The
out of the village to defend against the remaining tank from the second Schwere
infantry were now free to press home
Soviet counterattack. But Mike knew that Panzer Platoon.
their attack!
33

TURN 4
GERMAN TURN 4
Victor failed to convince the crew from flank, so he moved the Tiger out into a Meanwhile Carius and Kerscher carried
the bailed out Tiger tank to remount, much better position. He settled the Tiger on causing havoc in the village. Carius
despite having his company commander in such a way that Mike would have to located and destroyed Mike’s Battalion
there to help. The desperate fight between move one of his T-34s to get a side shot. commander, and bailed out the last
the two T-34s and the two Tigers was If Mike moved, Victor could rely on remaining T-34 obr 1942 tanks left the
suddenly becoming more even! Victor Hen and Chicks to make it very difficult village. Kerscher knocked out one more
put together a clever plan. for the T-34s to hit the Tigers! Once in T-34/85.
position, the CiC Tiger fired, but missed
The empty hulk of the bailed out Tiger All that remained of the Tankovy in the
its target. Still, it maintained a tactical
prevented Victor’s Company Commander village was a pair of T-34s, which refused
advantage over the Soviets.
from being able to shoot at the T-34 in the to quit the field, despite the terrible losses!
6 5
SOVIET TURN 4
Mike had only a toe-hold in the village As the fight in the village came to a head, into the side of the bailed-out Tiger and
with only two T-34s, one being a 76mm Mike’s infantry stormed the objective, two into the front of the CIC Tiger. One of
tank and the other being an 85mm tank. At moving at the double to get there. the T-34s destroyed the bailed-out Tiger,
this point, Mike needed to buy a few turns scoring Mike a much-needed victory
On the right flank, Mike’s remaining two
for his infantry to snatch their objective. point! The other shots hit the CiC Tiger,
T-34/85 tanks had to make a decision: play
So the T-34s tried to shoot up Carius and but failed to penetrate its armour.
into Victor’s cunning plan and move, or
Kerscher, but both tanks missed!
stay put and divide their fire. In the end, With that, all Mike could do was hope Victor
Mike chose to stay put and put two shots failed to clean out his remaining T-34s!
34

TURN 5
GERMAN TURN 5
While the battle seemed to heavily favour tanks on the table, he could force Mike Meanwhile Victor’s CiC Tiger exacted
Victor, he found himself in a precarious to take a Company Morale Check, which its revenge on Mike’s second Tankovy,
situation. The Soviet infantry were now he would ultimately fail because his finally causing the platoon to evaporate!
contesting the objective on the road. His Company Command team had
Carius and Kerscher used their
own objectives in the village were within been destroyed.
Stormtroopers movement to move
grasp; he just needed to move Carius
With that, Carius opened fire and onto the objective and consolidate
closer to secure it. On the other hand, if
wiped out the last two tanks in the their victory.
he could eliminate the last four Soviet
village without even breaking a sweat!
8 5
35

CONCLUSION
With only one platoon out of three Our battle took longer to play (just under At the end of the day Carius had
left on the table, I was forced to take a an hour) than it took Carius and Kerscher scored eight kills and Kerscher six. I
Company Morale Check. However, with to knock out the 17 IS-2 and five T-34 reckon, even with another 600 points
my company commander a smouldering tanks in Malinava (about 20 minutes)! of Tankovy, I’d still have a hard time
wreck in the village, I automatically failed Still the result was the same, leaving bringing down the unstoppable team of
the check and my Soviet force crumbled! my poor Soviet tanks in a pile of Carius and Kerscher!
smouldering metal, and adding to
Victor’s Tiger Aces’ totals!
TANK PROFILES
Armament Top
Armour
TIGER I E
8.8cm KwK36 gun, Co-ax MG, Hull MG Weight: 55 tonnes (63 tons)
2
Crew: 5
Armour: 120 mm (5'')
Armament: 1× 8.8cm KwK 36 L/56
2× machine-guns
Speed: 38 km/h (24 mph)
Number
Produced: 1,347
Front Side
Armour Movement Armour Weapon Range ROF AT FP Notes
9 Slow tank, Wide tracks 8 8.8cm KwK36 gun 40''/100cm 2 13 3+ Slow traverse.
Armament Top IS-2 OBR 1943

Armour
122mm D-25T gun, Co-ax MG, Turret-rear MG Weight: 46 tonnes (51 tons)
2
Crew: 4
Armor: 160mm (6'')
Armament: 1x D-25T 122mm gun
2× machine guns
Number
Produced: 3,854
Front Side
10 Slow tank 8 122mm D-25T gun 32''/80cm 1 15 2+ Breakthrough gun.
36

RESULT: 5-2
German Major Victory!
Armament Top
Armour
T-34/85 OBR 1943
85mm D-5T gun, Co-ax MG, Hull MG Weight: 32 tonnes (35 tons)
1
Crew: 5
Front Armour: 75mm (3'')
Armament: 1× 85mm D-25T gun
2× machine-guns
Number
Produced: 29,430
Front Side
7 Standard Tank 5 85mm D-5T gun 32''/80cm 2 12 3+ Limited vision.
Armament Top T-34 OBR 1942

Armour
76mm F-34 gun, Co-ax MG, Hull MG Weight: 28.5 tonnes (31 tons)
1
Crew: 4
Front Armour: 60mm (2.3'')
Armament: 1× 76mm F-34 gun
2× machine-guns
Number
Produced: 35,119
Front Side
6 Fast tank, Wide tracks 5 76mm F-34 gun 32''/80cm 2 9 3+ Limited vision.
37

Raiding Aces is an escalation campaign that focuses on the special forces that fought in the Sahara from 1941-1943. It is
all about the bold raids, sabotage missions, and convoy ‘bash ups’ fought in North Africa. During the campaign you will
write the story of your squadron as you fight through the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert and wadis of the Mediterranean
coastline. Your small force will grow and develop into an elite force ready for the final decisive battles in North Africa.
Raider’s Planning Map x1

Out
SOO
n
naMe
Me / list Side
(Circle one)
one)
alexandria / /
ToBruK
objectives
bjectives destroyed:
Tripoli
Cairo / /
objectives
/ /
objectives destroyed:
/ /
/ /
/ /
objectives
/ /
objectives
20” objectives destroyed:

/ /
/ /
Bardai / /
raiDing aceS campaign regionS
abilities Quick reference

murzuK Kufra
important dates
Deep Sahara
Axis Axis
500 poinTS
Brains Brawn Balls

Turn 1
Allied Allied Keep Your Fire up! cunning liKe a Fox cuStom riDe we lucKY Few DeSert explorer gave me thiS Scar Satchel chargeS Flat-o
out how’D You get on Turn one: Turn two:
A Combat platoon led by Your Ace may be held Your Ace is mounted in Before the game begins, Your Ace and any Your Ace receives +1 XP Instead of assaulting, While mounted in a If your Ace or 2iC team
your Ace that is Pinned off-table and placed a custom vehicle armed your Ace may roll up platoon he has joined al- if he Destroys opponent’s your Ace may place a vehicle, your Ace receives demolish an objective,
Turn Turn Turn
Down may still fire at near one of your pla- with two AA MGs and a to nine Motivation ways pass Skill Checks to Ace in this game. Op- single Satchel Charge an extra 4”/10cm to his the other team may re-
1 their full ROF during
their Shooting Step.
toons. On a 4+ your Ace
can return to being held
Twin AA MG . Your Ace
uses all of the Motorcycle
1 Tests. For each success-
ful result, add one Rifle
free Bogged Down teams
in your Starting Step.
ponent must allocate all
hits from your Ace on
1 token. Your Ace may det-
onate a Satchel Charge
movement while moving
across Cross Country
roll a failed attempt to
demolish an objective in
off-table. Reconniassance special team to a new Partisan their Ace, even if it is token within 16”/40cm terrain in your Move- the same turn.
Hon Jalo siwa rules. Platoon. attached to a platoon. and Line Of Sight. ment Step.
(500 poinTs) (700 poinTs)
Split up DiverSion heavY Firepower SpreaD the worD Sun compaSS bitter hatreD collateral Damage pit Stop one up
Turn three: smash & grab:
WeSTern DeSerT
Before the game begins, Once per game, at the You may upgrade up Your Ace may add an Teams from your HQ One of your Combat If a Satchel Charge Instead of Shooting, If your Ace or 2iC team
Axis Axis Axis you may split up to one beginning of your op- to one vehicle in each additional three dice Combat, and Weapons Platoons re-roll misses demolishes an Objective, Your Ace and any Hits in Assault Combat,
700 poinTS
Turn Turn Turn

of your Combat Pla- ponent’s turn, select one Combat Platoon with a to your We Lucky Few Platoons treat Difficult during the Shooting roll a die. On a result Combat Platoon he has the other team may re-
Turn 2
2 toons into two separate

platoons.
of your Combat platoons
to create a Diversion.
heavy machine-gun.
2 dice roll, for a total of
12 dice.
Going as Cross Country,
and Very Difficult Going
Step when shooting at a
chosen enemy Combat
2 of 5+ another with in
12”/30cm is demolished,
joined may attempt to
dismount after they have
roll a failed To Hit roll
during Assault Combat
Allied Allied Allied as Difficult Going platoons. keep rolling for Collat
Collat- moved on a successful in the same turn.
eral Damage on a 5+. Skill Check.
combineD Strength boobY trapS improviSeD StabiliSerS our ranKS grow Sting oF the Scorpion See thiS through Special iSSue FiniSh line anYthing You can (900 poinTs) (500/700/900 poinTs)
Via BalBia
Combat platoon Com- Your force may use up to All vehicles in your Com- Your Ace may add an Your unarmoured Your Combat and Weap- exploSiveS Vehicles from your Do...
900 poinTS
mand Teams that are five Booby Traps during bat Platoons are equipped additional three dice teams from Combat and ons Platoons may re-roll Charges are Anti-tank 5 Combat and Headquar- For every Hit scored by
Turn Turn Turn
ToTal Campaign poinTs seCured in Turn 3 Destroyed survive on a the game. with Stabilisers for their to your We Lucky Few Weapons platoons may failed Motivation Tests and Firepower 2+. ters platoons may escape your Ace or 2iC team
3 3 3
Turn 3
roll of 3+. main guns. dice roll, for a total of ignore a Hit in Assault if to Counterattack against Enemy teams within in the same turn that during the Shooting
Axis Allied 15 dice. they roll a 6 (or 5+ while your opponent’s Combat 2”/5cm of a detonated they have moved At the Step, the other team may
under the effects of a and Weapons Platoons. Satchel Charge fail their Double on a result of 5+, re-roll a failed To Hit
Khamseen). saves. otherwise are Destroyed. roll in the same turn.
VICTORY
GOES TO SquaDron oF tricKSter quartermaSter private armY we are the Storm twiSteD FocuS Saboteur granD prix rivalrY
ivalrY
heroeS You may place one of Vehicles from your HQ Your Ace may recruit At the beginning the Teams from HQ, All command teams of Vehicles from your When your Ace and
When your Ace earns your Combat Platoons and Combat platoons do either two Partisan Pla- game you may place a Combat, and Weap- your Combat Platoons Combat or HQ Platoons 2iC teams join separate
this Ability, each Com- off-table with your Ace. not have their normal toons (using Our Ranks 24” wide Khamseen ons Platoons Hit your are equipped with the may move an additional Combat Platoons, the
mand Team of your You Ace may take a save. Instead, if they are Grow) or one large anywhere on the table. opponent’s teams on a Turn 1 Satchel Charges 6”/15cm on a roll of 2+. Rivalry Abilities also ap-
ap
Combat Platoons may platoon with him when Hit your opponent must Partisan Platoon. Your troops ignore the 2+ in assault, but Hit Ability. You may re- However, if you roll a 1 ply to those platoons.
choose a level one Ace he is removed from the make a Firepower Test effects of the storm. teams from other forces roll failed Collateral they crash and become
ability. table. to Destroy them. on a 5+. Damage rolls Bogged Down.
www.FlamesOfWar.com
© Copyright Battlefront Miniatures Ltd., 2010. All Rights Reserved.
30”
Raiding Ace Medal Pin x10 Black Wet-erasable Pen x1
A selection of raiding forces can be found in the Flames of War book:
To find your local stockist, or order any of our ranges on-line, please visit us at
www.FlamesOfWar.com
Desert Boxes.indd 1 18/10/11 14:07:00

287 NAW.indd 1 14/10/11 15:12:45
WARGAMING 1866
THE AUSTROPRUSSIAN WAR
A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF ONE MAN’S OBSESSION By Gerry Henry
In his introduction to The Road to Sedan, Richard Holmes described the Austria as Germany’s supreme arbiter
origins of his fascination with the Franco-Prussian War thus: and this could only be achieved
through war.
“It may well be that there are no right reasons for becoming fascinated
with a war; certainly I was attracted by the Franco-Prussian War for all The peace negotiations that followed
the Second Schleswig War of 1864
the wrong ones. Dusty eagles in the then unmodernised Musee de l’Armee,
(in which Austria and Prussia made
the vigorous canvasses of Edouard Detaille and Alphonse de Neuville and common cause against Denmark)
the rather florid monuments which litter the fields around Mars la Tour provided the ideal opportunity. Obtuse
and St-Privat, all exercised an irresistible appeal to a small boy on his first and provocative, Bismarck’s endless
trips to France”. demands on Austria became so excessive
that they would have amounted to
Now it would be gratifying if I could independent states, the Deutscher Bund Prussia’s virtual annexation of the
demonstrate a connection (however or German Confederation, ranging in size recently ‘liberated’ territories. Insulted by
tenuous) between myself and the late from big fish like Austria and Prussia Prussia’s unreasonable behaviour, Austria
Professor Holmes and cite a similar set of with populations numbered in the tens withdrew from the negotiations and by
influences to explain my own infatuation of millions, to minnows like the Grand mid-May both sides began to mobilise
with the War of 1866. Childhood holidays Duchy of Mecklenburg with a population in earnest.
in Bohemia perhaps, quaint Jäger hats of 267,000.
The situation was further complicated
with their faded capercaillie plumes in Under the presidency of the Emperor of for Austria by the involvement of Italy.
Vienna’s Heeresgeschichtliches Museum Austria, this relic of the Holy Roman Like Germany, Italy in the 19th Century
or drawers filled with cigarette cards Empire with its endless squabbling and was little more than a collection of minor
illustrated by Richard Knötel or Rudolph petty jealousies ensured - was designed states and petty kingdoms and it too had
von Ottenfeld … but alas. to ensure - that Germany would forever been swept by a popular movement for
Truth to tell I was first introduced to the remain divided and weak. unification. Between 1859 and 1861, with
Austro-Prussian War through playing the assistance of the French, most of Italy
Opposing the whole idea of a
a computer wargame, Age of Rifles. I’d had been brought under the rule of the
confederated Germany were the
never encountered the period before House of Savoy, leaving Austria clinging
Nationalists, whose romantic and
but I thought I’d give it a bash and tenaciously to her remaining two Italian
essentially liberal vision of a united
since playing Prussia was (then as now) possessions, Venetia and the southern
Germany was exploited by Prussia’s ’Iron
unthinkable, Austria it would have to be Tyrol. It was to wrest control of these
Chancellor’, the able and unscrupulous
...but more of that anon. territories that Italy signed a military pact
Count Otto von Bismarck. Neither liberal
with Prussia in April 1866, committing
A BIT OF BACKGROUND nor romantic, Bismarck saw a united
her to attack Austria if and when Prussia
Germany as a potential economic and
opened hostilities.
It’s probably worth reminding ourselves military superpower to be forged, in his
that in 1866 there was no single political own memorable phrase, through “Iron Thus, even before the first shot had been
entity called Germany. Instead there and Blood”. To realise his ambition fired, Austria found herself contemplating
was a loose confederation of thirty nine however, Prussia would have to replace a war on two fronts.
Artillery batteries support the advance of 10mm

Austrian infantry from the collection of Gerry Henry.
40
Wargaming 1866 COMPLETE.indd 2 14/10/11 12:49:08

C 19th
Wars
nineteenth
century
1803-1815
Napoleonic
Advancing 28mm Prussians from
North Star’s 1866 range.
THE OPPOSING FORCES If the disparity between the opposing discount this theory, they realised that it
forces was simply one of numbers then was a real possibility and in their training
Although her population was significantly
there would be little to recommend this emphasised range finding, marksmanship
smaller than Austria’s, thanks to the army
period over any other, but there was more and fire disclipine, accomplishments
reforms of the late 1850’s Prussia was
to it than that. In 1842 Prussia became which would stand them in good stead in
able to mobilise almost 300,000 front line the first major power to equip its infantry the encounters of 1866.
troops as opposed to Austria’s 400,000. with a breech-loading rifle, the famed
However, Prussia wasn’t only fighting Austria, on the other hand, had
Zündnadelgewehr. Initially restricted
Austria, she was fighting most abandoned her brief experiment with fire
to the Fusilier battalions of the regular
of the German Confederation as well, tactics after the army’s poor showing
infantry, by 1866 the needle gun had
which could (on paper at least) field against the French in 1859. Equipped
been issued to all branches of the regular
120,000 men. with a conventional muzzle-loading
infantry and some of the Landwehr too.
Minie-type rifle, the Lorenz Precision
In Austria’s case, the secondary threat In retrospect, the decision of the major Musket, poor Austrian marksmanship led
was principally Italy (though she was powers not to follow Prussia’s lead in them to conclude, erroneously, that the
forced to divert significant numbers of its choice of infantry weapon seems future lay with Stosstaktik, impetuous
troops to man her many fortresses and perverse, however at that time the attacks delivered in dense formations and
to ‘observe’ neutral Russia). Thus, at the majority of informed opinion was against carried at the point of the bayonet. In fact
outbreak of hostilities, after both sides the breech-loader. Ordinary soldiers, the the Lorenz, a muzzle loader and therefore
had made the necessary contingencies, experts reasoned, particularly conscripts, slower to load and fire than the needle
an Austrian army of 245,000 combatants couldn’t be trusted not to fire off all gun, was considerably more accurate.
would face three Prussian armies their ammunition at the beginning of Effective against individual targets at 400
(Elbe Army, First Army and Second the battle, leaving their pouches empty metres and against formations at 800, in
Army), totalling a slightly more when the conflict entered its second, the hands of trained men, like Jägers, the
numerous 254,000. decisive phase. The Prussians didn’t Lorenz was a formidable weapon.
Above: 6mm Prussians assault a Saxon held forest in Bruce Weigle’s “Problus, 1866” game. Look for more photos of this table next month.
41

Above: 10mm Austrians advance on Gerry Henry’s Battle of Skalitz refight. Miniatures are by Pendraken.
Although leading the way in infantry By way of contrast, Austria’s artillery didn’t consider losing a gun as any
armarment and tactics, for many years in 1866 was probably the best in the kind of disgrace, on the contrary it was
Prussia’s artillereurs had not kept pace world. Outgunned by the French 1859, regarded as proof positive that the crew
with modern developments. By 1866, Austria had divested herself of all her had done their duty to the end.
the old school were mostly dead or smoothbores and re-equipped with rifled
pensioned off, but more than a third of 4pdr and 8pdr bronze muzzle-loaders (the And finally to the cavalry, where the
her guns were still smoothbore and the poundage of the gun refers to the size general concensus seems to be that
rest, rifled steel breech-loaders from of roundshot it would be theoretically here again the Austrians had the upper
the Krupp works in Essen, were so new capable of firing; in fact these guns hand. William Howard Russell of the
that their their crews were insufficiently fired coned cylindrical projectiles, (London) Times (he of the famous “Thin
practiced in their use. The description usually shrapnel or common shell, of Red Streak” despatch) wrote, “The horse
breech-loader in this context should approximately double the weight of the seemed to me the finest cavalry by many
not be misunderstood. These were not stated poundage). In addition to their degrees I ever saw”. Praise indeed from
the quick firing recoilless guns of 1914, technical superiority, the Austrians had a man who‘d seen the 11th Hussars at
the rate of fire was no different to a a more aggressive artillery doctrine that Balaklava. The Austrian horse comprised
well served muzzle-loader and, like the favoured siting the guns forward in large Light and Reserve cavalry. The Lights -
muzzle-loaders, they had to be re-layed batteries with a relatively small reserve. hussars and dragoons - were divided into
after every shot. In contrast to the Prussians, the Austrians two divisions.
42

Napoleonic Wars
1803-1815
Above: 28mm Prussian artillery from North Star’s ‘1866’ range.
The 1st Division was commanded by on the march and inadequate training, and space do not permit us to discuss
one of the great characters of the war, together with unenterprising, lackluster the subsidiary theatres in detail, suffice
Baron Leopold von Edelsheim-Gyulai. leadership, relegated them to an to day that Archduke Albrecht trounced
A keen student of the American Civil entirely subordinate role throughout the the Italians at Custozza, and the
War, Edlesheim understood that the campaign. Prussia’s cavalry comprised Prussians trounced the Federals
role of modern cavalry would be one dragoons, hussars and ulhans, mostly everywhere else, after suffering a
of scouting and skirmishing and to that attached to the infantry as divisional token defeat at Langensalza.
end armed his men at his own expense, reconaissance, and cuirassiers, who -
It was in Bohemia that the conflict was
with the excellent Werndl breech-loading unlike their Austrian counterparts - still decided and it is to Bohemia that we must
carbine. Attached to the Iser army retained their body armour. now turn.
(Austrian 1st Corps plus the Royal Saxon
Army), this extraordinary soldier gave an If the fighting arms represent the bone If you have access to Google Earth©,
object lesson on how to handle modern and sinew of an army, then the staff, select the “satellite view” and go to
cavalry and horse artillery in a combined in theory at least, should represent the the Czech Republic. Position Prague at
operation. For me, one of the war’s brain. Led by the wily old lizard himself, the bottom of the screen and Dresden
great ‘what ifs’ is what might he have Helmuth von Moltke, Prussia’s Großer at the top and turn off as many of the
achieved if given command of the Iser Generalstab was to prove a model of distractions as you can. You are now
army with a ‘delay and harry’ brief - efficiency, providing clear and decisive looking at the old Austrian Crownland
but I digress. leadership throughout the campaign. of Bohemia. To the north, running
Austria’s staff, by comparison, was continuously from west to east in a great
The Reserve, or Heavy, cavalry appalling. Chief of Staff Henikstein arc, are the Riesen mountains. Pierced in
comprised cuirassiers (divested of the (a dilettante) and Operations Chief only a few places, their ‘wizard solitudes
breastplate in 1862) and lancers, two Krismanic (a pedant) both proved so and highland wastes’ stand between
cuirassier regiments and one lancer bad that they were replaced during the Bohemia and Germany like a vast natural
regiment per brigade, two brigades to campaign - Henikstein on the very eve rampart. It was along this rampart that
a division. The cuirassiers were still of Königgratz. von Moltke arranged his armies: Elbe
trained for shock and charged in tight
THE CAMPAIGN and First Armies to the west, with Second
wedges rather than lines, a tactic
Army far away to the east. The plan
developed many years before during The War of 1866 can be divided was to invade Bohemia simultaneously
their wars with the Turks; armed with
into three separate theatres: Western from three directions and converge on
the long palach or straight sword and
Germany - where Prussia confronted the town on Jicin (significant for no
superbly mounted, Austria’s cuirassiers
the Federal (German Confederation) reason other than its central location).
were redoubtable opponents.
forces; Italy - where Austria’s Southern As his armies converged, reasoned
The Prussian cavalry, though by no Army faced the more numerous Italian von Moltke, they would at some stage
means second rate, was simply not a army, and Bohemia (the modern day encounter the Austrians and while one
match for the Austrians. A combination Czech Republic) - where the decisive army pinned the Austrian front, the other
of inferior bloodstock, poor husbandry engagements of the war took place. Time two would find their flank and rear. In
43

accordance with his general philosophy wrongheaded as always, insisted he Herwarth’s First and Elbe Armies before
(plans never survive contact with the accept the post. turning its attention to Friedrich Wilhelm.
enemy), von Moltke avoided issuing So far so good, but unfortunately the
Benedek’s strategy, if indeed there ever
detailed instructions to his subordinates, Prussians had other ideas. Second Army,
was one, is hard to discern. Having
preferring broad directives instead, now safely through the mountain passes,
concentrated centrally behind the
which allowed considerable latitude for had inflicted several major defeats on
fortifications of Olmutz and having all
initiative. This could be dangerous; with the Austrian corps sent to ‘screen’ it and
the advantages of interior lines, he sat
his armies spread over 350 kilometers (a was hard on the heels of Benedek’s main
and did nothing until, goaded by a series
hugely controversial decision at the time) force. Only Field Marshall Gablenz’s
of irate telegrams from Vienna, he began
von Moltke’s great scheme depended on X Austrian corps had achieved any
his desultory march westwards. Of the
the three army commanders - Herwarth success against it and that at huge cost
many bad decisions Benedek made
von Bittenfeld (Elbe Army), Prince for no strategic gain as the position they
throughout the campaign, this is one of
Friedrich Karl (First Army) and Prince captured (Trautenau), was soon flanked
the most difficult to understand. First
Friedrich Wilhelm (Second Army) - fully and had to be vacated the following day.
and Elbe Armies were three or four days
understanding the need for speed and march away (west) but Second Army was On 26 June, Iser Army (Austrian 1st
coordinated action. This was not always poised on his doorstep. Furthermore to Corps, 1st Light Cavalry Division and
the case. Herwarth was slow and timid, enter Bohemia it had to squeeze through their Royal Saxon allies) stood loyally at
Friedrich Karl was dilatory or impulsive three separate mountain passes, leaving Jicin and gave battle in the expectation
by turns, compromising von Moltke’s it desperately vulnerable to attack and of being reinforced by the main body. It
strategy twice to garner personal laurels defeat in detail. Poor intelligence cannot wasn’t until late afternoon, after a day of
(at Munchengratz and Koniggratz), while be cited in his defense; if the Austrian hard and generally successful fighting,
Friedrich Wilhelm was reliable Staff lacked ability the same cannot that the battle was broken off upon the
but unenterprising. be said of the Evidenz Bureau (Secret belated receipt of Benedek’s catastrophic
If von Moltke was audacious, the Service) which supplied him with first order to withdraw. The withdrawal
same could not be said of the Austrian class intelligence, including wire taps, degenerated into a virtual rout and
commander, Feldzeugmeister Ludwig throughout the campaign. One can only Austrian morale, already shaken by their
von Benedek. A good fighting soldier, conclude that he simply lacked the huge losses, plummeted further.
imagination (ditto his Chief of Staff,
von Benedek’s handling of the campaign By now there had been several
ditto his Operations Chief) to grasp the
proved conclusively that he was respectable battles and the arguments
opportunity presented by von Moltke’s
completely out of his depth as C-in-C concerning breech-loaders and fire tactics
unorthodox (reckless?) dispositions.
of an army. In his defence we should versus Stosstaktik had been decisively
mention that he wasn’t unaware of his Now Krismanic’s ‘master plan’ was resolved. In every engagement Austrian
own shortcomings and that he begged unveiled. The main force would move losses were approximately four times
on several occasions to be excused towards Jicin, where it would unite with greater than those of the Prussians.
high command. Emperor Franz Joseph, Iser Army to defeat Friedrich Karl and Austrian storm columns charged valiantly
Dark clouds gather over the southern section of the

Battle of Königgratz, Problus. This fantastic table
will feature in a “battle narrative” in our next issue.
44

at Prussian riflemen who mowed them
down in their thousands. It was, as Field
Marshall von Schlieffen observed in his
later years, “a battle of open order against
closed, of lines against columns, of
Napoleonic Wars
breech-loaders against muzzle-loaders, of
marksmen against targets.”
1803-1815
Haemorrhaging badly, defeated
everywhere, and retreating on all fronts,
Northern Army took up a defensive
posture on the heights above the Bistritz
stream, close to the fortified town of
Königgratz and waited for the end. On 3
July 1866, the end would come.
FIGHTING THE CAMPAIGN
There are many rules for fighting
campaigns, but I still prefer to get mine Above: 10mm Austrian infantry battalions advance. Miniatures are by Pendraken, from the
‘off the shelf’. In 1994 Strategy & Tactics collection of Gerry Henry.
produced a board game called The Austro
Prussian War of 1866. The game covers THE BATTLES of smaller actions at Podol and
the northern theatre with numerous Huhnerwasser, neither of which were
‘what ifs’ thrown in. If you don’t want Although refighting the campaign
of any great significance other than
to use the combat resolution mechanism provides considerable intellectual
to formally establish the futility of
then why not let the game resolve the stimulation, it’s the battles that will
Stosstaktik. Edelsheim’s fighting retreat
strategic issues and fight the resultant always capture the wargamer’s
from Reichenberg would make an
imagination. The battles of the Bohemian
battles using miniatures, with Google excellent series of scenarios for the
theatre can be divided into the west -
Earth© to help recreate the terrain. On TOOFATLARDIES’ large skirmish rules
where Iser Army faced Prussia’s First
the subject of board games, Command when they finally get round to doing
and Elbe Armies, and the east - where
produced a tactical refight of Königgratz 1866 (that’s a hint, Richard). Iser Army’s
Benedek’s main body ‘advanced away’
called Slaughter at Hradec Kralove and day of glory was at Jicin (Gitchin) on 26
from Friedrich Wilhelm’s Prussian
Mike Bennighof’s Avalanche Games June. Jicin is a respectably sized battle,
Second Army.
are shortly to release Battles of 1866- pitting a large Austrian corps (1st Corps
Frontier Battles, and Battles of In the opening stages of the campaign, had five brigades instead of the usual
1866 - Königgratz. Iser Army was involved in a number four), a division of elite light cavalry and
45

the entire Royal Saxon Corps, against
two Prussian divisions converging from
west and north. The ground is unusual in
that it is divided by a huge massif which
effectively splits it into two separate,
though linked, battles (defeat of either
wing spells disaster for the Austrians).
Jicin is eminently winnable by either side
with the advantage probably going to the
Austrians due to their superior numbers
and strong defensive positions. Having
been shredded by the needle gun at
Huhnerwasser and Podol, Iser Army had
now learned the value of the Lorenz rifle.
Ringlesheim’s Brigade (closely supported
by its brigade artillery) stood off von
Werder’s 3rd Division with long range
fire for most of the afternoon until thrown
into disarray by Benedek’s untimely
order to withdraw. On the other flank, at
Brada, even more extraordinary things
were happening. Brigadier Ferdinand
von Poschacher deployed the Jäger
battalion in front of his brigade with a
regiment of line infantry close behind.
While the Jägers dropped the Prussians
at 600 metres, the infantry behind loaded
and passed rifles forward as fast as they
could push a ramrod. For the first time
the Prussians were confronted by rapid,
accurate, long range fire through which
the men of von Tumpling’s 5th Division
declined to advance.
On the eastern front there were no such Above: 28mm Austrians (left) prepare to receive a charge from a Prussian regiment.
tactical innovations, as Austrian shock Miniatures are from the ‘1866’ range from North Star.
columns threw themselves against the
needle gun with predictable results. The
Karl’s First Army into the ground (returns First, in accordance with lessons learnt, I
main battles were at Trautenau, (a costly
indicate that some batteries fired as many strengthened my gun line at the expense
Austrian victory against the Prussian 1st
as 2,400 rounds during the course of the of the reserve, then extended and
Corps, commanded by the timorous and
battle, that’s 300 rounds per gun, that’s strengthened the field works - which I
inept General Bonin) and the two-day
one round every minute for five hours!) packed with infantry. Finally, I hunkered
linked battle of Wyskow-Skalitz. Again
and Elbe Army’s cautious advance still down to await the storm. I didn’t have
these are eminently refightable battles,
left the bulk of its troops on the wrong long to wait. Almost immediately waves
with the advantage at Trautenau going to
side of the Bistritz. of pickelhaubed-infantry sprang out of
a good Prussian player, and at Wyskow-
the ground like Orcs and began to throw
Skalitz to an enterprising Austrian. “Now!” said Mollinary, Ramming themselves at my position. To and fro the
And so to 3 July. It’s hard not to and Gablenz, Northern Army’s hard battle raged, a breakthrough here (pushed
disagree with those writers who charging corps commanders, “Now is the back by local counter attacks), a key
describe Benedek’s choice of ground at moment to attack!” As usual, Benedek point captured there, by early afternoon
Königgratz (with his back to the Elbe) did nothing, and continued to do nothing it was looking good; actually, it was
in terms of a wounded animal turning at until at around 1400hrs, when Prussia’s looking very good.
bay, it was simply a bad position. The Second Army appeared on his flank and
rolled him up. I can’t remember exactly when I
left flank was hanging in the air (see
first noticed that Prussian units were
Bruce Weigle’s article on Problus in the WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO... beginning to appear on my right flank but
next issue of Wargames Illustrated) and they were, and soon the trickle became
a vital bridge over the Bistritz was left And what of the computer game where
a flood. Frantically I tried to realign
intact. On the right flank things were little it all began? Well the learning curve was
my front to meet this new threat, but
better. The original deployment hadn’t steep. The Austrians didn’t shoot too
to no avail. In desperation I unleashed
included the strategically vital forest well (with the exception of their Jägers),
the reserve cavalry and brought up my
of the Swiepwald, nor the commanding but they seemed to have more and better
one remaining corps of infantry, but the
heights around Maslowed. As the battle artillery. The Prussian infantry with
needlegun at 300 metres reduced them
began, Austrian commanders on the right their breech-loading needle guns were
both to a bloody shambles.
wing took matters into their own hands deadly at close range and best avoided,
and embarked on a bloody, day-long the cavalry on both sides seemed fairly Collapse of flank - Collapse of army
struggle to seize these vital assets. Even evenly matched. Gradually a strategy - Control/Alt/Delete.
so, by late morning things were looking evolved and, having replayed the
Sound familiar?
surprisingly good for Austria. In the frontier battles until I’d got them pretty
centre, a grand battery that eventually much off pat, I embarked on the big
totalled 160 guns had pounded Friedrich one, Königgratz.
46

Napoleonic Wars
1803-1815
A selection of the rule sets
available for refighting the
battles of 1866. To the right
are a handful of cards from
Field of Battle.
RULES
I’ve refought the battles of 1866 using Bruce
Weigle’s Grand Tactical 1866 rules as well as
Brent Oman’s Field of Battle. Both sets are quite
different, Field of Battle being card driven, but
both give a flavour of the Rock, Scissors, Dynamite
nature of this conflict (Rock, Scissors, Dynamite –
a child’s game based on the relative strengths and
weaknesses of different materials). On the subject
of Bruce Weigle’s 1866, though I’m generally
not one to dogmatize, possession of this excellent
publication is de rigeur for anyone even vaguely
contemplating this period. Whether you intend to
use Bruce’s rules or not, 1866 contains a wealth
of well presented information, detailed OOBs and
superb scenario maps which, together with the most
comprehensive bibliography on the War of 1866
I’ve ever seen, make it an absolute must.
Other rule sets (although, unfortunately I have no
personal experience of these) include Bob Jones’
Zouave and Zouave II, Real Time Wargames’
Trapped Like a Fox, Warlord Games’ Black
Powder, and Crusader Publishing’s Rank and File.
47

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290 General De Brigade.indd 1 14/10/11 15:42:27

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290 NS Single.indd 1 14/10/11 15:44:11

FEW MEN,
MANY WEAPONS!
Soviet Machine-gun Artillery Battalions By Wayne Turner
The Soviet Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon (Machine-gun Artillery Battalion) seems like a strange and
unusual unit when you first stumble across them in any books or websites covering Soviet forces during the
Great Patriotic War (WWII). Their parent unit, the Fortified Region, often seems stranger. However, when you
look into the theory and purpose behind these units it begins to make a lot more sense.
FORTIFIED REGION attacks. A Fortified Region of around crew, with just four men per Maksim
The Fortified Region (Ukreplennye 2,000 men could cover the frontage machine-gun and two men per DP light
Raiony), despite its geographical name, usually occupied by a Rifle Division of machine-gun. The machine-guns were
is actually a regiment to brigade sized about 10,000 men. organised into four machine-gun platoons
unit, made up of a number of Machine- consisting of two Maksims, two DPs
gun Artillery Battalions. The Fortified MACHINE-GUN ARTILLERY and an officer, meaning the machine-gun
Regions formed between 1928 and 1941 platoons had just 13 men. However, due
were designed to hold the purpose built
BATTALION to casualties, some platoons operated
The building block of the Fortified with as little as eight men. The other
fortifications like those in key border
Region was the Pulyemyetno- weapons in the anti-tank rifle, mortar and
regions and other strategic locations, such
artillyeriyskiy Batalon (Machine-gun anti-tank platoons were equally lightly
as the Stalin Line. By 1944, the role of
Artillery Battalion). The Pulyemyetno- crewed. The total full-strength manpower
the Fortified Region had changed. They
artillyeriyskiy Batalon had only a small of a machine-gun artillery company was
remained defensive units, but instead
number of men manning a significant just 105 men to man 45 heavy weapons!
manned field fortifications in sectors of
amount of firepower. Each battalion However, on defence this was ideal.
the front line where the Red Army did not
consisted of four machine-gun artillery Often combined with the use of deception
intend to attack, rather than in purpose
companies and an artillery group. The to cloud the identity of the defending
build concrete and steel fortifications.
machine-gun artillery companies were unit, the firepower produced by a
A Fortified Region held parts of the
made up of Maksim machine-guns, DP Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon was
line where mobility wasn’t required and
light machine-guns, light and medium indistinguishable to an attacking German
where their economy of men to weapons
mortars, anti-tank rifles and 45mm anti- commander from that produced by a
was ideal for holding the front against
tank guns. Each weapon had very few much larger Red Army rifle unit.
50
Russian Fortified.indd 1 18/10/11 11:17:15

ARTILLERY GROUP SUPPORT had very little in the way
Each Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon In addition to the Machine-gun Artillery of transport. There was no means
has its own Artillery Group of twelve Battalions, infantry battalions, sappers, of quick escape. 38ya ‘Puskino’
76mm ZIS-3 field guns. They were artillery, and assault guns could also Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon
either allocated out to the Pulyemyetno- support each Fortified Region. This veteran Lieutenant Fedor Bachin
artillyeriyskiy Company positions, or depended on the situation on the front explains, ‘When the infantry advanced
grouped together to provide fire support. and whether an attack was expected. we followed them. When the offensive
They were also lightly crewed with the spirit was lost, we then took up the
minimum of command and no specialist defence and the rifle units went to the
TRAINING AND MORALE rear for replacements. We had the right
fire-control staff. Instead they usually The men of the Pulyemyetno-
relied on direct fire or bombardments laid to advance, but if we wanted to retreat
artillyeriyskiy Batalon were often some – sorry, we would stand or die.’ Bachin
in by the crew based on the battalion’s of the best trained troops available and
positions. These guns were also effective himself was hand picked after basic
had a high proportion of officers and training in the Far East, followed by
against German medium tanks, and if NCOs. They also had an added incentive
positioned well, could take advantage of officer and machine-gun schools.
to stay put in their positions, the battalion
the weaker side-armour of some of the
heavier German models.
51

FORTIFICATIONS positions, usually organised in two lines
The men of the Pulyemyetno- with linking communications trenches.
artillyeriyskiy Batalon were not Barbed wire protected the front and
usually expected to construct their sides of the strongpoint and anti-tank
own fortifications. They would usually ditches or obstacles were positioned to
occupy positions constructed for them by the strongpoint’s front. Gaps between
sappers or take over positions previously the strongpoint company positions were
occupied by Rifle units. This being usually mined to channel the enemy into
the case, the fortifications used by a the company’s fields of fire.
Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon For an excellent investigation of Soviet
followed the principles for field positions field fortifications see Osprey Fortress
used by all Red Army units as set out in 62, Soviet Field Fortifications 1941-45
various field manuals. by Gordon L Rottman.
In principle Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy
companies would take up company
52

IN FLAMES OF WAR and vegetation. If the entrenched troops
The Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon don’t shoot, the enemy can’t see them
is a force you can take in Red Bear, until they are within 16''/40cm.
which along with Grey Wolf is one of The second special rule is called No
our new Late-war Eastern Front books. Retreat, No Surrender and represents
This is a fortified force with its own the stubbornness of these units. Instead
entrenchments, gun pits and obstacles of Quality of Quantity, a Pulyemyetno-
and is organised as explained above. artillyeriyskiy Company gets to re-roll
It has two interesting special rules to failed Motivation Tests to counterattack
capture the flavour of these units. The in Assaults.
first of these is Camouflaged Positions, This force offers something very different
which mimics the Red Army practice of to the Soviet player, a defensive force that
concealing their fortifications with earth will offer a number of tactical challenges
for the player and his opponent alike.
53

SPECIAL
GREAT WARGAMES
OUT
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GT Cover FINAL.indd 1 27/9/11 14:45:14
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month. Great Wargames is special issue of the magazine
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The best miniature battlefields from the pages of wargames illustrated
WI290 GW.indd 1 19/10/11 09:53:24

290 Perry.indd 1 14/10/11 15:13:19
ATHENIAN FOLLY:
THE BATTLE OF
SYRACUSE, 415 BC
THE PELOPONNESEIAN WAR IN SICILY
By Neil Smith and Jim Graham
In the last issue of Wargames

The Archidamian War exhausted Athens and Sparta and their respective
Illustrated we brought you four articles allies. The Peace of Nicias came (in 421 BC), therefore, as a blessed relief
on our theme of The Peloponnesian to all. Not only did the Peace promise the restoration of the Greek world to
War. We’re following up on that theme its pre-war condition, it (in theory) guaranteed fifty years without bloody
content here with more Peloponnesian
action in the form of the background
conflict. In reality it did neither. Within months of it coming into effect
and a scenario from the pivotal Battle of weary hoplites had to don their panoplies once again and set off for battle.
Syracuse on Sciily in 415 BC. It was not until six years later, however, when Athens interfered forcefully
in Sicilian affairs, that Sparta and Athens relaunched their full-scale war.
AGGRO IN ARGOS meantime, a young upstart in Athens Argos and a resurgent Sparta followed,
named Alcibiades proposed an Athenian leaving Athens out in the cold. The
The small but significant state of Argos alliance with Argos. That was concluded whole Argive episode, however, and an
in the eastern Peloponnese was the in 420 with the Argives, Mantineans, and angry Alcibiades burning with desire for
perennial thorn in Sparta’s side. Sparta Eleans all on board. Alcibiades took a revenge, only brought the greater war
had tried and failed before to squash the more active role by leading a small army between Sparta and Athens closer.
Argives but as long as they remained to assist Argos with its growing list of
neutral in the wider war with Athens THE APPEAL OF SICILY
engagements in the Peloponnese. The
then Sparta could screen them out Peloponnesian pot boiled through the Sicily was already the great melting pot
through treaty. In 421, that treaty was next two summers with bouts of fighting of the Mediterranean by the time of the
coming to an end. Argos suspected a and diplomacy bubbling up then fading Peloponnesian War, but by 415 the city
Spartan attack and cast about for allies. back. When the Argives threatened the of Syracuse was the dominant force on
Mantinea came forward because they town of Tegea in 418, the pot boiled the island. That was bad news for Athens
too feared Sparta, then Corinth joined, over. The Spartans, far from being on because Sparta and Syracuse shared an
and finally the Chalkidians. All of this the wane as some of her allies suspected ethnic heritage, and the Syracusans held
alarmed the Spartans who now took a in 421, crushed the Argive alliance, open the back door to the Peloponnese,
renewed interest in their security. In the including the Athenian contingent, at rendering Athenian naval blockades
the resultant battle of Mantinea, the ineffective. So when envoys from
Below: The Syracusian hoplite move forward. largest battle of the Peloponnesian War. the Sicilian town of Egesta arrived in
Figures by Curteys Miniatures. A treaty between the suddenly terrified Athens asking for help, they gave the
Athenians the pretext they needed to
56
WI289- Syracuse.indd 2 18/10/11 14:02:44

take out Syracuse. The Athenians began
laying plans for the invasion, but, to SICILY AT THE TIME OF THE
paraphrase Burns, even the best laid
plans often go awry. ATHENIAN INVASION
The first problems hit at the planning
3000BC-500AD
stage. The two main questions were who
was going to command and how large
Ancients
an expedition should they take. The
Athenians appointed three commanders,
Lamachus, Alcibiades, and Nicias.
THE LONG ROAD TO SYRACUSE
Three commanders produced three
strategies. Nicias wanted to deal with
the local conflict in Syracuse into which
they had been invited then sail round
Sicily in a show of strength; Alcibiades
wanted to win allies on Sicily through
diplomacy before attacking Syracuse;
Lymachus wanted to go straight for the
Syracusan jugular and get it over with.
Alcibiades won.
Above: Map from CAM195 Syracuse, © Osprey Publishing Ltd. www.ospreypublishing.com
The fleet sailed to Corcyra to pick up
allies then along the south Italian coast half mustered in an eight rank deep Lymachus was killed in one operation
to the ‘toe’ of Italy, and finally to Catania square to the rear to act as a reserve and leaving Nicias to continue alone in
on Sicily’s east coast which the Athenians as protection for the non-combatants. command. In the meantime, Alcibiades
intended to use as a base of operations. The Syracusans eschewed the idea of a had persuaded Sparta to get involved in
To their surprise, an Athenian ship waited reserve and drew up sixteen ranks deep Sicily and a Spartan army under Gylippus
for them, its mission to arrest Alcibiades all along the line, their reasoning being duly arrived along with a Corinthian
for religious crimes in Athens. Alcibiades that the greater depth would offset the fleet. An ailing Nicias responded by
agreed to go, but jumped ship in Italy Athenian advantage in quality of troops. asking for Athens to withdraw or send
and made his way to Sparta where he The all-important Syracusan cavalry reinforcements; they sent more men.
turned coat against Athens. The Sicilian moved out on to the right flank along Back in Attica, as predicted by Nicias,
expedition continued under the remaining with the Syracusan psiloi. the Spartans moved quickly to occupy
two commanders; interfering in affairs a permanent fort at Decelea from which
After exhorting his troops for the coming
along the coast occupied the rest of they could slowly strangle Athens
struggle, Nicias ordered the advance.
their summer. When winter arrived, the without having to leave for winter.
The light troops ran on ahead, engaging
Athenians prepared to attack Syracuse,
their Syracusan counterparts with slings Outside Syracuse, the fighting
but by now the Syracusans had become
and arrows. The blare of trumpets soon continued. Demosthenes arrived from
emboldened and were spoiling for a fight.
blasted out, sounding the charge of the Athens with 5,000 hoplites and launched
Using skillful sleight of hand, the hoplites, and on came the Athenian a massive night attack, but it failed,
Athenians misdirected the Syracusan heavy infantry to smash into into the leaving the Athenians with their backs
army into marching out to Catana while steadfast Syracusan hoplites. The two to the sea in an overcrowded camp
they boarded their ships and sailed sides met with an almighty crash, echoed right next to a marsh and its abundant
directly into Syracuse harbour. The by thunder and lightning in the skies malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Nicias and
reason for the deception was that the above, and quickly the heavens opened, Demosthenes concurred that it was time
Syracusans greatly outnumbered the dropping a deluge of rain onto the frantic to cut Athenian losses and head back to
Athenians in cavalry, meaning any land- battle below. The Syracusans held their Attica, but on the advice of their priests
based march on Syracuse was out of the ground desperately, but their lines frayed they agreed to wait another twenty-
question. The Athenians disembarked then broke, first on the left against the seven days; it was a fateful and terrible
and got busy preparing defences safe in Argives, then in the centre against the decision. Soon after, the Syracusan navy
the knowledge that the Syracusans had to rampant Athenians. Broken in two, the sailed in and crushed the Athenian fleet,
turn round and come back and thus could Syracusan infantry fled, but any prospect leaving the Athenian army in a desperate
not stop the construction. The Athenians Athens had of a decisive victory was situation. On 9 September 413, the
also chose their ground to favour their curtailed by the Syracusan cavalry who Athenians attempted to break out by
infantry and deter the Syracusan cavalry, held the Athenian infantry at bay long sea but they failed again. By land and
and built between cliffs on one side and enough for the battered army to escape sea, the noose slowly tightened around
a marsh and village on the other. When relatively intact. The battle was over, but the collapsing Athenian expedition.
the Syracusan army finally arrived, the thanks to the intervention of the cavalry Finally, the Athenians attempted to
Athenians and their allies were ready. the war was just beginning. break out by land, but the Spartans and
Syracusans dismembered the Athenian
THE BATTLE OF SYRACUSE AFTERMATH
army then destroyed it. All that was left
Both sides drew up their battle lines Athenian siege operations began almost for the Athenians was to surrender and
the next day. Nicias placed his Argive immediately in the wake of the first throw themselves on the mercy of the
and Mantinean allies on his right with battle of Syracuse. They also sent for Syracusans. They received little, those
the Athenians in the centre, other allied reinforcements. Inside the city, the that did not die were enslaved and few
contingents filled in the gaps. In addition, Syracusans reorganized and sent for help. returned to Athens to tell the sad tale of
Nicias deployed half his army in front The siege consisted of attack and counter- the utterly disastrous Sicilian expedition.
in an eight deep phalanx while the other attack with little strategic effect, although
57
WI289- Syracuse.indd 3 18/10/11 14:03:02

WARGAMING THE FORCES Athens
1 unit of 20 Athenian hoplites
Athens
BATTLE OF SYRACUSE Command: Nicias
1 unit of 16 Argive & Mantinean hoplites
2 units of 24 Allied hoplites
The Syracuse expedition offers a number 1500 Athenian Hoplites (high quality) 1 unit of 6 Cretan Archers
of opportunities for wargame campaigns 500 Argive Hoplites (this unit is oversized due to the
and battles. The first battle of Syracuse, 250 Mantinean Hoplites efficiency and mystique of the Cretans).
however, sets up nicely for a balanced 2500 Allied Hoplites 1 unit of 8 allied Archers
wargame with a couple of interesting 80 Cretan Archers (elite) 1 unit of 12 Rhodian slingers
tactical and historical twists. The two 400 Allied Archers
armies on paper were equally balanced; 700 Rhodian Slingers (high quality) Syracuse
the Syracusans had the cavalry advantage 1 unit of 8 Syracusan cavalry
Syracuse
while the Athenians had better quality 2 units of 8 Campanian cavalry
Command: Ekphantos
troops. How the Syracusan commander 2 units of 24 Syracusan hoplites
uses his cavalry may well determine 5000 Hoplites (varying quality) 2 units of 24 Mercenary hoplites
the outcome of the battle. In addition, 1200 Cavalry 1 unit of 6 Syracusan archers
weather played an important role in this 500 Light infantry 1 unit of 6 Syracusan slingers
battle: the thunder and lightning spooked
Converting this to Fields of Glory rules
the Syracusans, reducing their morale, Below: A 16 rank deep Syracusan phalanx!
and using a 1:50 figure scale we get: Figures by Curteys Miniatures.
and the rain made the fight more difficult.
Who fights best in the conditions might
also be the telling factor.
58
WI289- Syracuse.indd 4 18/10/11 14:03:20

ATHENS TERRAIN AND DEPLOYMENT
Type Armour Quality Training Shooting

Close The wargame is fought on a flat 6x4 feet
combat table with each side occupying one of the
Athenian Offensive long edges. There are no impediments
Heavy foot Protected Superior Drilled -
hoplites spearmen to movement on the Syracuse half but a
Allied Offensive village and marsh constrict the Athenian
Heavy foot Protected Average Drilled - left to around 12-18 inches, and the right
hoplites spearmen
flank is bordered by cliffs that may or
Cretan
archers
Light foot Unprotected Superior Drilled Bow - may not be displayed, depending on the
scale you use for the scenario. The marsh
Rhodian is placed in front of the village facing
Light foot Unprotected Average Undrilled Sling -
slingers
the Syracusans – it is impassable to
Archers Light foot Unprotected Average Undrilled Bow - cavalry. The rest of the table is clear,
though some bushes and perhaps a
narrow beach front for the Athenians
SYRACUSE will add to the aesthetics.
Close Both sides deploy within 12 inches

Type Armour Quality Training Shooting
combat of their respective edges. All of the
Syracusan Light spear Syracusan army must deploy, while
Cavalry Armoured Superior Drilled - Athens may choose to leave half its army
cavalry swordsman
off-table to come on as reinforcements.
Campanian Light spear
Cavalry Armoured Superior Drilled - Reinforcements must arrive from behind
cavalry swordsman
the Athenian lines.
Syracusan Average/ Offensive
Heavy foot Protected Drilled - VICTORY CONDITIONS
hoplites poor spearmen
Mercenary
Heavy foot Protected Average Drilled -
Offensive Both sides must attempt to drive the other
hoplites spearmen off the table, preferably in complete rout.
Syracusan VARIABLES
Light foot Unprotected Average Undrilled Bow -
Archers
Syracusan The most obvious variable in this
Light foot Unprotected Average Undrilled Sling - scenario is the weather and its effects.
slingers
Feel free to fight out the battle in
driving rain, showers, or with no rain
When first in combat the Syracusan futher D5 is thrown, on a 2 the rain starts or
at all. Lightning and thunder may be
hoplites roll a D6, on a 1 or 2 they are continues, a 5 brings a thunderstorm unless
randomized as can their effects on the
classed as poor, 3 - 6 they are average. one has already arrived.
superstitious Syracusan infantry.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING Thunderstorm test:
A second variable lies in how the
The weather starts off dry, on the second Roll a D6 for each unit, on a 1 an infantry Athenian reserve moves into action if
turn a D5 is thrown, on a 2 the rain unit will test as one morale class lower called upon. Rain will affect visibility and
starts, on a 5 a thunderstorm rolls in. A for the game, on a 1 or 2 cavalry will test movement, but even in dry weather orders
thunderstorm causes all units to test. There as one class lower. might not get through or be acted on as
can only be one thunderstorm per game and desired. An umpire with a bad attitude
Archers fire at –1 for each turn of rain. might make all the difference here!
it lasts one turn. Each subsequent turn a
59
WI289- Syracuse.indd 5 18/10/11 14:03:54

Skytrex Ltd. Unit 1, Charnwood Business Park,
North Road. Loughborough
LE11 1LE United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)1509 213789

Email: [email protected]
POSTAGE: UK £4.00, Europe £7.00, Rest of the World £10.00
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w w w. s k y t r e x . c o m
WI290 Skytrex.indd 1 14/10/11 15:39:41
289 Offensive.indd 1 14/10/11 15:40:35
BACK TO THE EAST!
What you can expect from Grey Wolf and Red Bear. By Wayne
Turner
Following on from our Normandy compilations, Turning Tide and Earth & Steel, we’ve been most recently
working on two compilations of our Late-war Eastern Front books. Red Bear and Grey Wolf contain all the forces
you will be familiar with from Stalin’s Onslaught, Hammer and Sickle, River of Heroes and Stalin’s Europe. We’ve
also added our most popular PDF Intelligence Briefings as well as some new Briefings.
We have also expanded the time frame fall of Budapest in February 1945. This Kaments-Podulsky, and the Soviet attacks
the two books encompass from our now includes the fighting in the north on Romania.
original focus on Operation Bagration through Estonia, Finland and Latvia, in
Both books are well over 200 pages and
and the attack on Hungary. We have now the Ukraine, and into Romania. We cover
are packed full of forces, something for
also included forces and background for the famous battles on the Narva River,
every Eastern Front enthusiast.
the fighting from January 1944 until the the epic pocket battles of Korsun and
WHAT’S IN GREY WOLF

Grey Wolf is our Axis volume. It contains the Germans, Hungarians and Finns. The German forces cover everything from infantry to
tank forces, with forces representing the Heer (army), Waffen-SS and the Luftwaffe (air force).
62
What_s in Eastern Front.indd 1 14/10/11 14:25:18

GERMAN NEW STUFF
One of the first new forces you will In the second half of 1944 the Hetzer Feldherrnhalle and Hungarian troops
discover is the Kampfgruppe Bäke tank-hunter began to be issued to tank- they were involved in savage street
briefing. This force represents the hunter and assault-gun units in infantry fighting through December 1944, January
heavy tank regiment formed under divisions. These effective vehicles and February 1945. They can take street
Oberstleutnant Dr. Franz Bäke. His unit were often pressed into combat as units fortifications to help them hold the streets
contained one battalion each of Tiger I E when tanks or StuGs were not available from Soviet Shturmovye groups and
and Panther tanks. Bäke’s regiment play to counterattack. Romanian infantry, as well as supporting
a crucial role in the battles for the Korsun assault guns and security tanks.
The SS cavalry of 8. SS-
and Kaments-Podulsky Pockets. The
Kavalleriedivision Florian Geyer and 22. As well as the forces featured above Grey
briefing also includes Warrior rules for
SS-Freiwilligen-Kavalleriedivision Maria Wolf also includes a number of Pioneer
Oberstleutnant Dr. Franz Bäke himself.
Theresia fought in the battle for Hungary, forces and the Panzerspähkompanie
The next new briefing covers the and played their part in the defence of previously featured on the Flames Of War
foreign SS forces that fought in Estonia Budapest. Fighting dismounted alongside website as PDFs.
on the Narva River. These Dutch
and Scandinavian volunteers fought
alongside Heer and Luftwaffe troops to
GERMAN BRIEFINGS IN GREY WOLF
hold the Soviet advance. The two units Kampfgruppe Bäke (Battle Group Bäke)
were often supported by the Tiger I E Grenadierkompanie (Infantry Company)
tanks of Otto Carius and 502. Schwere Fallschirmjägerkompanie (Parachute Infantry Company)
Panzerabteilung. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadierkompanie (SS Volunteer Motorised Infantry Company)
Sturmkompanie (Storm Company)
We have also added the
Sicherungskompanie, or Security StuG Batterie (Assault Gun Battery)
Company. This force is a great opponent Pionierkompanie (Engineer Company)
for the Partisans and Poles in Red Bear. Schwere Panzerkompanie (Heavy Tank Company)
They also found themselves in the Panzerkompanie (Tank Company)
thick of the fighting during Operation Gepanzerte Panzergrenadierkompanie (Armoured Infantry Company)
Bagration as the Red Army encroached Panzergrenadierkompanie (Motorised Infantry Company)
into the rear areas. Gepanzerte Panzerpionierkompanie (Armoured Engineer Company)
The Sicherungs were often given support Panzerpionierkompanie (Motorised Engineer Company)
by armoured trains. Two new armoured Panzerspähkompanie (Armoured Car Company)
train platoons are available to support Sperrverband (Blocking Force)
a variety of forces. The first represents Ersatz Pionierkompanie (Reserve Engineer Company)
the captured Polish trains the Germans SS-Panzerkampfgruppe (SS Armoured Battle Group)
put into service, while the second option
SS-Panzergrenadierkampfgruppe (SS Mechanised Infantry Battle Group)
covers the German designed BP44
Armoured Train. Both trains feature Sicherungskompanie (Security Company)
Panzer 38(t) tanks and Panzer IV turret Feldherrnhalle Panzerkampfgruppe (Feldherrnhalle Armoured Battle Group)
tank-hunter cars. Grey Wolf also contains Feldherrnhalle Panzergrenadierkompanie (Feldherrnhalle Motorised Infantry Company)
full armoured train rules for introducing Panzerjägerkompanie (Tank-hunter Company)
these armoured beasts to the Late-war. SS-Kavallerieschwadron (SS Cavalry Squadron)
63

HUNGARIAN NEW STUFF
In addition to the Hungarian briefings experienced divisions and Confident Önkéntes Puskás Század (Volunteer Rifle
from Stalin’s Europe, we also have the Trained to represent the more recently Company). The Puskás Század represents
Gépkocsizó Lövész Század (Motorised raised divisions. Both options come with the bulk of the Hungarian infantry
Infantry Company), the infantry of a wider variety support and weapons fighting outside Budapest.
the armoured divisions. This company options than the volunteers of the
gets plenty of armoured support as
well as it own weapons platoons
featuring machine-guns, mortars, HUNGARIAN BRIEFINGS IN GREY WOLF
and anti-tank guns. Harckocsizó Század (Tank Company)
The second new Hungarian company Gépkocsizó Lövész Század (Motorised Infantry Company)
is the Puskás Század (Rifle Company) Rohamágyús Üteg (Assault Gun Battery)
from the infantry divisions. This comes Puskás Század (Rifle Company)
with two Motivation and Skill options, Önkéntes Puskás Század (Volunteer Rifle Company)
Confident Veteran to represent the
FINNISH NEW STUFF

All the Finnish forces in Grey Wolf are Two different infantry companies (Infantry Company), the tough infantry
new to print, but have been featured in available, the Jääkärikomppania who were the Finns main line of
PDF form on the Flames Of War website. (Light Infantry Company), who fought defence. Finally the Finns also have a
The Finnish Panssarikomppania (Tank with the tanks and Sturmi assault Pioneerikomppania (Engineer Company),
Company) was equipped with a variety guns, and Jalkaväkikomppania ideal for assaulting fortifications.
of captured Soviet tanks, the bulk of
which were the old T-26 tank, but some
companies included heavier T-28, KV-1 FINNISH BRIEFINGS IN GREY WOLF
and T-34 tanks. Panssarikomppania (Tank Company)
The Sturmikomppania (Assault Gun Sturmikomppania (Assault Gun Company)
Company) contains the Sturmi, which Jääkärikomppania (Light Infantry Company)
is a StuG G assault gun supplied by Jalkaväkikomppania (Infantry Company)
the Germans. Pioneerikomppania (Engineer Company)
OTHER FEATURES OF GREY WOLF

Like our Normandy books, Grey Wolf has It also includes fortification placement Dr. Franz Bäke and Finn Toivo Ilomäki,
also undergone a thorough points review rules to be used in conjunction with while some you may remember from our
resulting in a number of reductions in the fortifications rules in Das Book. older books. Some have undergone review
the area of gun platoons and infantry We introduced strongpoint-based and have had new rules introduced.
platoons containing MG teams. fortifications, reflecting the practice on the
At the back of Grey Wolf you will find
Eastern Front, where the vast spaces didn’t
Grey Wolf also includes German, painting guides for the Germans, Hungarians
always allow for continuous fortified lines.
Hungarian and Finnish special rules. and Finns. All throughout the book there are
These have been updated and revised In Grey Wolf you will find a selection of also many inspirational colour photographs
as required. Warriors. Some are new, like Oberstleutnant of Flames Of War models.
64

WHAT’S IN RED BEAR
Red Bear is our Allied volume. It contains the Soviets, Poles and Romanians. The Soviet forces cover everything from infantry to
tank forces, with forces representing the regular Red Army troops as well as Guards forces.
The backgrounds allow you to follow the success of the Red Army as it pushes the Germans and their minions back towards the
Reich, reclaiming their territory, and liberating Eastern Europe.
65

SOVIET NEW STUFF
As well as the familiar forces from mortars, machine-guns and anti-tank In Red Bear you will find a selection of
Stalin’s Onslaught, Hammer and Sickle, guns. They can also field Cossack Warrior Warriors, some of which have undergone
River of Heroes, Stalin’s Europe and Podpolkovnik Pavel Kamnev. This is a a review and have had new rules
Fortress Europe, Red Bear contains a fast and aggressive infantry force! introduced.
number of new forces, or forces that were
We have also added Legkiy
previously available on the Flames Of HEN AND CHICKS
Samokhodno-artillyeriyskiy Polk (Light
War website as PDFs. We have also introduced a new version
Self-propelled Artillery Regiment). This
The first of these new forces is the allows the Soviet player to field SU-76M of the Hen and Chicks Special Rule.
Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon or SU-122 assault howitzers en masse. The new rule reflects the actual tactics
(Machine-gun Artillery Battalion). This This makes an interesting alternative of Soviet armoured formations more
is a Soviet fortified company made of to the Tyazhelyy Samokhodno- smoothly. The new rule allows them to
many weapons and few men designed artillyeriyskiy Polk (Heavy Self- fire on the move, but they now get an
for static defensive positions. Its Combat propelled Artillery Regiment) with its addition +1 to the score required to hit.
Companies are made up of MG teams, heavy ISU assault guns. However, there is no such restriction to
Maksim HMGs, anti-tank guns, anti-tank the tanks’ machine-guns. If the whole
Another of the new forces in Red Bear platoon (Soviet Company) remains
rifles and mortars with their own trenches
is the Partizanskiy Brigada (Partisan stationary they fire as normal. The new
and gun pits. They come with their own
Brigade). This force allows you to Hen and Chicks rule gives them a little
Artillery Group of 76mm ZIS-3 guns
field Partisan guerrillas against German more firepower overall, so we have
and can take obstacles to further hinder
security forces. You can even have increased the points of Soviet tanks with
the enemy. They also have rifle division
armoured and motorised support as ROF 2 or more. However, we have also
infantry, artillery and assault gun support
the success of Operation Bagration recognised the penalty the new rule has
for the counterattack.
breaks through on to the partisans’ area on ROF1 vehicles and they have come
The Peredovoye Otryad (Forward of operations. down in points.
Detachment) represents the ad hoc units
put together to lead a Soviet advance.
By forming a mixed all-arms formation
the commander of a Peredovoye Otryad
SOVIET BRIEFINGS IN RED BEAR
Tankovy Batalon (Tank Battalion)
was able deal with whatever enemy he
encountered, whether to break through Strelkovy Batalon (Rifle Battalion)
the line and lead the rest of the parent Pulyemyetno-artillyeriyskiy Batalon (Machine-gun Artillery Battalion)
unit forward, or to go around a strong Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk (Guards Heavy Tank Regiment)
enemy and lead the attack in a new 8ya Otdyelnaya Shtrafnoy Batalon (8th Independent Penal Battalion)
direction. The force’s combat companies Udarny Strelkovy Batalion (Shock Rifle Battalion)
consist of one tank company and one Gvardeyskiy Tankovy Batalon (Guards Tank Battalion)
infantry company. Additional tanks, Motostrelkovy Batalon (Motor Rifle Battalion)
infantry and artillery can be added to
Peredovoye Otryad (Forward Detachment)
customize the forces to your needs.
Rota Razvedki (Reconnaissance Company)
Despite its seemingly archaic origins Gvardeyskiy Kazachiy Polk (Guard Cossack Regiment)
the Gvardeyskiy Kazachiy Polk (Guard Tyazhelyy Samokhodno-artillyeriyskiy Polk
Cossack Regiment) proved an important (Heavy Self-propelled Artillery Regiment)
element in the success of the Red
Legkiy Tyazhelyy Samokhodno-artillyeriyskiy Polk
Army in 1944. Alongside the Tank and
Mechanised Corps, the Cavalry Corps (Light Self-propelled Artillery Regiment)
led the way in the breakthrough and Inzhenerno-saperniy Batalon (Engineer Sapper Battalion)
exploitation operations after the shock Partizanskiy Brigada (Partisan Brigade)
troops had busted through the Axis lines. Inomarochnikiy Tankovy Batalon (Lend-lease Tank Battalion)
The Gvardeyskiy Kazachiy Polk includes Shturmovye Batalon (Assault Battalion)
mounted and dismounted cavalry troops
with their own supporting tanks, artillery,
66

POLISH NEW STUFF
Red Bear also includes the Polish forces Polish Warsaw underground. Using
of the Warsaw Uprising. The Batalon home-made and captured weapons they POLISH BRIEFING
Armii Krajowej (Home Army Battalion) stood up against oppressive German
consists of the irregular forces of the forces in a bid for freedom. IN RED BEAR
Batalon Armii Krajowej
(Home Army Battalion)
ROMANIAN NEW STUFF

The Romanians in Red Bear are unusual G) assault guns by the Germans and on attack or stubborn on defence the
in that they can be taken as Allied, continued to use these after their defection cavalry are the elite arm of the
fighting on the side of the Soviets, or to the Allies. Both tank companies are Romanian army.
Axis, fighting alongside the Germans. supported by motorised or armoured
The Batalion Puscasi (Rifle Battalion)
Up until August 1944 they fought in the infantry and TACAM tank-hunters.
can now be fielded fighting in Hungary,
Crimea, Southern Ukraine and Romania
The Companie Vanatori Motorizata allied to the Soviets, or defending
with the Germans against the Soviets. On
(Motorised Infantry Company) represents their homeland, allied to the Germans.
their defeat they were forced to change
the motorised cavalry and the infantry of Depending on the option you select you
sides and fought the remainder of the war
the armoured division. They are mounted have support options from either nation.
against the Germans. In addition to the
in trucks to keep pace with the tanks and Whatever you choose you can have the
Batalion Puscasi (Rifle Battalion) first
are supported by the full might of support of excellent Romanian troops
featured in Stalin’s Europe, you can now
the division. such as the TAC 43 Resita 75mm gun,
also field two tanks, a motorised infantry
one of the better anti-tank guns produced
and a cavalry company. Romanian Companie de Cavalerie
during the war.
(Cavalry Company) fought mounted
In the Companie Tancuri (Tank Company)
or dismounted and you can field the Also included is a new Warrior to go with
you can field Romania’s older light tanks
company as either or a mix of both. Fast you Romanian pioneer platoons.
like the R-2 and T-38. The R-35 Vanatorul
de Care (R-35 tank-hunter) introduces
a new variation on the French R-35. To
improve the performance of this old tank ROMANIAN BRIEFINGS IN RED BEAR
the Romanians fitted a captured Soviet Companie Tancuri (Tank Company)
45mm gun. The Companie Tancuri Companie Tancuri Medii (Medium Tank Company)
Medii (Medium Tank Company) offers Companie Vanatori Motorizata (Motorised Infantry Company)
more options in improved firepower and Companie de Cavalerie (Cavalry Company)
armour. The Romanians were supplied Batalion Puscasi (Rifle Battalion)
T-4 (Panzer IV H) tanks and TA (StuG
OTHER FEATURES OF RED BEAR

As with the Normandy books, Red It also includes fortification placement includes a model guide and other
Bear has also undergone a thorough rules to be used in conjunction with the modelling suggestions. All throughout the
points review resulting in a number of fortifications rules in Das Book. As in book there are many inspirational colour
reductions in the area of gun platoons and Grey Wolf we introduce strongpoint- photographs of Flames Of War models.
infantry platoons containing MG teams. based fortifications.
Red Bear also includes Soviet, Polish and At the back of Red Bear you will find
Romanian special rules. These have been painting guides for the Soviets, Polish
updated and revised as required. and Romanians. The Polish section
67

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290 Warlord.indd 1 17/10/11 16:06:54
TABLETOP MUSINGS
Movement, Cover, and Ability

By Jim Graham
In this article, the first of our Tabetop Musings, we take a peek inside the edging their way down the adjacent
relaxed thoughts of Jim Grahame as he ponders miniature movement, street. If our soldier is a recent recruit
cover, and ability over a glass or two of sangria. fresh from across the Volga he rests his
elbow on the windowsill, leans out and
SO, HERE’S THE PROBLEM… but that would be my choice based on fires; if a veteran of 1941 he stays back
a number of factors. Under most rules, but with the barrel sticking out; while a
Sitting happily on a Spanish beach last trained sniper stands even further back
however, soldiers don’t have that choice
summer, my thoughts naturally turned to
and are given a uniform movement in the shadows and the hapless Germans
a problem I have encountered with my
rate through urban terrain. You see the have no chance of seeing from where the
own “in-development” Spanish Civil War
problem: years of training and experience fatal shot came. In our example, the same
wargames rules. In particular, why does
count for nothing on wargames tables cover is available but not every soldier
terrain, and especially cover, seemingly
when positioning defences or knowing has the knowledge or training to use it to
affect all classes of miniature soldiers
how to use cover when moving, but they its best effect – the same problem exists
the same way? Why is it that my elite
could, and probably should. for the patrolling Germans who might be
panzergrenadiers get the same cover
ambling down the middle of the street or
bonuses as the unenthusiastic Ukrainian The subsidiary problem to my siesta-
slinking from door to door expecting a
conscripts next to them? Or, is a garden induced musings was one of groundscale.
shot to ring out at any moment.
shed hard or soft cover for everyone in As wargamers, we have to remember that
my units – is my lovingly painted hero our terrain is representative and figures Sticking to the Eastern Front in World
standing at the window of the shed, cover more physical area on the table War II for our examples, there were
relying on mere shiplap planking to than that which they represent. In my a number of occasions where better
stop MG bullets, or is he underneath the rules, I intend to use 16 figure battalions quality troops attacked defending units
shed with the fire passing harmlessly mounted on four 40mm x 30mm bases without ever being visible due to their
overhead? And why is it that my units to with a 5cm:100m groundscale. In most effective use of cover, and overran
grind to a halt every time they encounter historical cases, positioning a unit or badly sited trenches with few casualties
a town? I can run along my street as fast machine-gun team even five metres – think of “top of the range” German
as I could across a field, or I could take a from their optimum position can greatly Panzergrenadiers at the start of Operation
couple of hours and creep from cover to affect the ability of the enemy to see Barbarossa in 1941. Under most sets of
cover presenting a much smaller target, it, yet such a difference on the table is rules recreating the nuances of historical
hardly discernible at all. How can units examples is impossible to recreate.
be positioned with any accuracy on-table, As wargamers, moreover, we can’t
Tabletop musings therefore, while using a representative micromanage everything our troops do;
This article kicks off our new groundscale? just as we rely on them to pass morale
‘Tabletop Musings’ series, in which tests we have to rely on them to know
I HAVE EVIDENCE…
gamers take a side-ways look at where to be and how to use cover to the
anything and everything relating You might not be familiar with the best of their ability.
to our hobby. We welcome more Spanish Civil War, so let us take a
WITH THE AID OF SANGRIA…
‘musings’ from any readers out there common scene from the siege of
who have something constructive, Stalingrad in 1942 – this would be a A straightforward way to reconcile our
debatable and/or interesting to good time to break out your Enemy at cover problem is to represent training
contribute to the series. Please write the Gates DVD! A Soviet soldier is in and experience on the table while adding
to [email protected] an upstairs room of a partially destroyed another level of realism to our games.
factory, firing into a patrol of Germans What I suggest is not that we all become
70
WI290-MusingsMovement COMPLETE.indd 2 19/10/11 14:49:26

Leaping quickly from their context: a nationalist militia battalion
halftrack, these Bolt Action with effectiveness 3 has a number of
Panzergrenadiers know the options to cross a scrub area with a
importance of getting low. terrain value of 3. They can move 24cm,
their full movement allowance in my
hobby
rules, by running across the ground
talk
making no use of cover, they can move
16cm and gain one cover bonus as they
try to use the terrain, or they can move
8cm and gain two bonuses by doing their
best to advance by rushes from cover to
cover. They can only gain the maximum
terrain benefit if they are stationary.
A higher rated infantry battalion of
effectiveness 4 can use the maximum
cover and still move 6cm etc.
The concept works in more modern wars
too. Let us be charitable and assume
Argentine conscripts in the Falklands are
effectiveness rating 3, while the Gurkhas
the troops building them. For example,
attacking Mount Tumbledown are 5s. The
poor quality troops are more likely to
terrain they are contesting is rated 3. The
put trenches in the “wrong” place or be
Argentines get a cover bonus of 3 against
overlooked altogether, but even if the
experts in all aspects of warfare, but that Ghurka fire, a net -2. The Gurkhas can
defences are correctly sited and well
we devolve responsibility for tactics to use 3 cover points and take no casualties
built, poor troops don’t always know to
our figures. We can do this by making the keep their heads down. The cover rating because the Argentine fire factor is a
use of cover a quantifiable factor in the therefore might be level 4, but troops net 0. The diminutive British soldiers
same manner as establishing morale or with a 3 rating cannot use the cover can still move 10cms, however, so they
the effectiveness of firepower. We already effectively and only gain a bonus of 3. can either advance to contact or remain
quantify cover, hard, soft, total, whatever, stationary while winning the firefight.
so why not quantify troops’ ability to spot At the other end of the scale, troops with The better troops are able to use cover in
it and use it properly? a 5 rating for effectiveness can use the a realistic, historical fashion rather than
maximum cover available, say 3, and still in a simplistic, unrealistic way.
Historically, the better the troops, the have some movement or firing options
more effectively they could use cover and left. Moreover, the defending troops of SO, AS THE SUN GOES DOWN
the faster they crossed difficult terrain. effectiveness 3 firing at the effectiveness OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN…
Using cover is a skill, therefore, just as 5 rated troops from prepared trenches The use of cover is a function of training
much as using a rifle, and we should not may get the same cover benefits as their and experience in much the same way
expect all troops to be equally adept. attackers but have to remain stationary as firing weapons or remaining calm in
The solution I have devised for my own because their trenches may not be ideally battle. The principles I have developed
rules is a trade-off between protection sited, or they may not understand the apply equally to any level of battle above
and movement, with better troops having optimum way to use them. The rationale a skirmish fought on a groundscale that
a noticeable advantage even if equally for this is that the better trained and more
matches the figure scale. I have found
armed and in identical cover. experienced soldiers spot cover quicker,
that using the principles I have outlined
and are more familiar with dead ground
In my rules, troops and cover are rated here means incorporating another layer
etc. so can utilise it with fewer delays.
on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest of accuracy in my wargames without
level. For fixed defences the maximum Let’s put the cover and terrain factors into affecting the speed of the game or the
cover value is set by the effectiveness of a broader Spanish Civil War wargame flow of movement.
24cm
71
WI290-MusingsMovement COMPLETE.indd 3 14/10/11 13:30:32

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290 Ex Force.indd 1 14/10/11 15:37:21

290 Renegade.indd 1 14/10/11 15:38:03
AN NATIONALS
2011 EUROPE
cked off in
m en t! Th e inaugural event ki
rand To ur na tingham,
n of fi ci al Flames Of War G N ot tin gh am University) in Not
Europe finally ha
s its ow ntre (A K A exciting new
e Ea st M id la nds Conference ce nn in g of w ha t promises to be an
September 2011 at
th the be gi l Late War
nd To ur na ment (GT) marks T w as an ‘open’ in which al
England. This firs
t G ra lst this 20 11 G ers who have
W to ur na m en ts in Europe, whi w ill be th e fi na l showdown for play
series of official FO nd, next year the
GT
es pl ay er s w er e welcome to atte
Flam ers.
ral regional qualifi
qualified via seve
m GT being the first
With the Nottingha
pe the organisers,
of its kind in Euro
atu res Europe, were
Battlefront Mini
e to see both how
a little apprehensiv
t would be received
well the tournamen
ms elves would cope
and how they the
ent. As it turned
with running the ev d
event were snappe
out tickets for the be fo re lon g
rat e an d
up at an alarming ke ts
had their tic
102 FOW players
d we re pa cking their bags
in hand an
for Nottingham.
gan arriving at the
As competitors be
y night Flames Of
venue on the Frida y
an appeal was clearl
War’s pan-Europe erg ed on
d co nv
evident; players ha
tti ng ha m fro m Sweden, Portugal,
No
ance, Spain and
Finland, Latvia, Fr
but a few of the
Germany to name
ted, many wearing
countries represen
lou r or slogans on
their national co
their shirts.
d
d over the weeken
Games were playe ng thi ng s
h’ ge tti
with ‘Breakthroug
ing on Sa tur da y morning, followed
go
and ‘Fighting
by ‘Hasty Assault’
nday battle
Withdrawal’. On Su
auldron’ and
commenced with ‘C
a ‘F ree -for-all’. In
concluded with ies
re were opportunit
between times the pin g an d
, sh op
for eating, drinking
th the chance to
sleeping, along wi
ttlefront sculptors,
study one of the Ba
tty-pushing action.
Tim Adcock, in pu
gaming action,
Complementing the
Cr oss Painting
the European Iron
wa s als o being staged
Competition
er the next few
at the event, and ov
a closer look at
pages you can take
rk of the winners who
some of the wo
the first Euro Iron
walked away from
award in one of
Cross comp with an
the six categories .
74
WI290 Euro FOW Nationals 2011_COMPLETE.indd 2 18/10/11 13:54:34

whilst their
o the inf antry on that flank
der and had tw assault position
Pete was the defen tankos moved to an
on tab le an d e main infantry
platoons of infantry through terrain. Th
ry
A winner’s sto
. W he n the d by the other
event report
bu sh
By John Hopwoo
d the Panthers in am force then got pinne
d the y mo ve d to n and stayed that way
Panthers appeare German platoo
by WI to giv e an and kil led on e t of the game until
I have been asked ing hit the flame tanks d for most of the res
ey tow ard wi nn Th e KV ’s mo ve gh casualties to
account of my journ John and bailed another. they had taken enou
GT . M y na me is of ‘li ne of sig ht’ ec k, which they
the first European fo rward, but out force a morale ch
a Strelka ho lic . hind a ho us e, the d ran off. By this
Hopwood, and I am of the Panthers be promptly failed an
an y mo vin g up sault guns had done
relkovy from bigger infantry comp time though the as
My force was a St Th e IS U’ s an d nal assault took
d co ns ist ed of an wi th them in supp or t.
the ir job and with a fi
Fortress Eu ro pe an the other fl an k to e which Barkmann
th 5 sa pp ers , a tw o platoon SU’s moved down tiv e. Th e that flank’s objectiv
HQ wi t objec out.
toon company, put pressure on tha could do nothing ab
company, a one pla t gr ee dy and tried to finish
scout pla too n, 4 Pa nth ers go n, due to some
an under-strength rv er, a KV pla too n, but only hit with Game Two: 5 - 2 wi
with ob se of f the from Pete.
x 120mm mortars es , 2 sh ot (destroying a KV)
leaving poor reserve rolls
an ti tan k rifl on e
single platoon of ge of the flame
x Kv8s flame two Panthers in ran GAME THREE
x flamethrowers, 5 3 the oth er Panther within
th tan ko s an d tan ks an d d final one of the
tanks, 4 x SU122 wi s. inf antry. They failed
the The third game (an
ca ls an d tan ko 10 '' of the ting Withdrawal’
x ISU 122’s with .50 oper roll and got toa
sted and first day) was ‘Figh
of the fi ve ga me s being sto rm tro On ce Do nehue, again from
With four out d de cid ed to bug out. against Lauren
I thoug ht I ha d a as sa ult ed an ldherrnhalle PzGr
defensive battles, an k the assault guns
got to the UK, using a Fe
good chance of de
fen din g ov er the the oth er fl 0 and 3 x Hetzers.
fi rep ow er to thi n 16 '' and started work
ing over with 4 x Pz IV L7
ll ha d the wi
weekend, but sti
cessary.
force an attack if ne
GAME ONE
s ‘Breakthrough’
The first game wa
artinson from
against Andreas M
ing 12th SS PzGr
Sweden. He was us
ns an d Barkmann.
with fortificatio
and decided to
I was the attacker
wi th the larger infantry
flank march
122’s. With
company and the SU
his PAK’s to his
Andreas attaching
ns an d Ba rkmann
infantry platoo
SU were safer
’s
hanging around, the
res t of my force
off the board. The
its wa y toward the
started to work
naged to take
two objectives. I ma
ea t away with few
most of the PAK thr
An dr ea s moved his
casualties while
trenches towards
infantry along his
nd turn 4 with
the objectives. Arou
erv es, I tried to
no sign of my res
8’s tow ard the nearest
force my KV
ught up fighting al (Top 10) Stan
dings
objective but got ca nationals Fin
ks . Turn 5 and 2011 European
some panzerschrec
ca me on just as Andreas Army Total Score
both reserves Army Sports
light infantry gun Game
had moved his two Name Nationality 28.13
ion. The SU’s and 0.03
platoons into posit Soviet 23.1 5
took out the John Hopwood
27.25
some of the infantry 4.8 0.05
ns wh ile the rest of the German 22.4
26.53
infantry gu Steve Charlton 0.03
to the far objective. 21.7 4.8
infantry moved on German 25.13
everything he had Tommy Brown 0.03
Andreas then threw 20.3 4.8
bitter fight he was Rafal Anusiak
German 24.95
at them but after a 4.6 0.05
20.3
the objective. German
forced away from
24.63
Peter Entwistle 5 0.03
Soviet 19.6
n. Karl Benisch 24.43
Game One: 6 -1 wi 19.6 4.8 0.03
American 23.94
Marcin Nowicki 0.04
GAME TWO German 18.9 5
23.94
was ‘Hasty Matt Haywood 5 0.04
The second game German 18.9
23.74
te Entwistle Primoz Pirs 0.04
Assault’ against Pe 18.9 4.8
Gr with three British
using a 10th SS Pz Frank Roenspiess articles on:
Ba rk ma nn (that guy u can check out the
Panthers and great photos, yo
ults, and even more
r.com
www.FlamesOfWa
sure gets around!). For full res
75

e t i tor’s s tories
comp t the large assault
in the weekend I los
th his StuGs and
Joao ambushed wi platoon.
- continued... We tration of troops
A Winner ’s Story attacked this concen A win, but it could
mi ne who would tak e the flame tanks Game Five: 5 - 2.
dic ed of f to de ter at once to try and y.
first and only time me well-placed have gone either wa
defend and for the with the help of so
s to be me . Th e n’t go well for for the prizegiving
that weekend it wa Panzershrecks. It did I waited anxiously
few wo od s on it, s po ured through this old foe (but good ma
te) Steve
board had quite a him and my troop s as my
n, so I stuck the d to take his troop similar score to
ideal ambush terrai U’ opening and starte
s in thi n Charlton was on a
flame tanks in ambu
sh an d the IS
apart whilst the IS
U’s mo ve d to wi d out Best Allied/
st s me and as they rea
a central position ab
le to sh oo t at mo
16'' to blast away at
the du g in tro op r names came up so
Axis neither of ou
bu t co nc ea led at two, but didn’t
avenues of attac k, in front of them.
the I fi gured we we topre
s. Lauren ce ha d nk I won by one
the edges of wood due to some know the order. I thi
(w ith mo st of the Game Four: 6 - 1,
L70’s on one flank ym ent rolls. point in the end.
tzers deployed on fortunate de plo
infantry) and the He tion was great as
that objective. For me the competi
the other to threaten GAME FIVE eat games against
le rolls I had five really gr
s all ab ou t ter rib wa s on the top tab le pla yers with tough
This game wa The last game d some very good
ence ad va nc ed iak fro m Po lan d an blue and I played
on both sides. Laur ht fl an k and against Rafal Anus tha t les s armies, no blue-on- gal, Sweden
rig d
some infantry down
the
IS U’ s we ha d just been infor me
es pe op le from the UK, Portu
o range of my the top sc or yed in the US
the L70’s came int . tha n a point separated an d Poland. I have pla
(the one that they
could se e at lea st) ns). n’t mind travelling
(without modificatio and Europe and do
up the ad va nc ing it would be good to
On my turn I shot ing a Fallschrimjae
ger to competitions, so
thr ee hit s wi th Ra fal wa s us so me sort of World
infantry, getting ve s, ssi no (so wo uld only fail se e Battlefront do
g all thr ee sa force fro m Ca st people you
Laurence then failin nc e on a one), he had 3 x GT, as playing again
effectively halting
the inf an try ad va mo tiv ati on tes ts before and are not
isse Tank hunters hid
den have never played
Al lie d Ho rn what made this
on that flank. ntr e rig ht wi th a full platoon lik ely to play again is
on the ce .
nerated into the ’s, and 3 x FJ Mard
ers on the competition special
The game then dege oo t up of FJ
trying to sh ll
Hetzers and L70’s
ur hits on the left with another fu
In tot al I go t fo ree PA K
the ISU’s. platoon. Th
ence saved two and
L70’s of which Laur tes ts 40 nests were sprea
d
for firepower ba ck
I rolled snake eyes of which I ev en ly ac ro ss the
t eig ht hit s on me ak ne sts on
while he go with two Fl
thr ee an d he ro lle d five 1’s or 2’s an d an HM G
saved e the lef t
starting to sound lik
(apologies if this is ina bil ity to nest in the centre.
!). This
Rimmers Risk Diary
r combined with the My heavy armour
neutralize my armou
am bu sh fl am e tan ks was on the left with
threat of the still in ng
attack and tur n 8 the SU122’s holdi
stalled Laurence’s th the KV 8’s e an d the big
ly wi the ce ntr
rolled by pretty quick co mp an y on
y. inf an try
still waiting to deplo ickly
the right. Rafal qu
Th ree : 6 - 1 wi n. an d red ep loy ed
Game dug in
y I wa s on 17 Ho rn iss e tow ard s
rst da his
At the end of the fi I ha d ou r
position, but my heavy arm
points and in a good
co up le of pe op le were on 18 attack whilst trying
heard that a
ard to so me tou gh to slow them down
so was looking forw
Th e pu b be ck on ed . with the Marders.
games the next day.
My infantry attack
ht
DAY TW O got stalled on the rig Above: John checks
iss ar having to shoot
GAME FOUR with my Komm or de r wa s his line of sight in his
before
gan with a game of a number of people final game against
The second day be rat a fro m t (b ec au se no on e was left in pistol
ain st Jo ao Ba los (tw o Rafal Anusiak.
‘Cauldron’ ag ge!) and they even
tually fled
l wh o wa s us ing an auto defend ran
Portuga
th 7 x barbed wire. passes, third fail).
Sturmkompanie wi
my flame tanks
ba rb ed wire in a On the left though,
Joao se t up his guns (along with the
ace to squeeze a and heavy assault
ring with enough sp re causing havoc
d had three platoo
ns heavy mortars) we
Goliath through an ’s inf antry, and nebs
in ins ide. He held his amongst Rafal
of inf an try du g were peppering the
diate ambush. I whilst the mortars
three StuGs in imme so that he had to
ent and planned to Hornisses, so much
rolled for deploym tes ts for all three in one
on ly wood on the take motivation
attack thr ou gh the ee. Bad luck! My
wh ich was in sector turn: he failed all thr
bo ard if I co uld , the objective and
platoon rolled a 4 flame tanks were on
4. I got lucky - one ha d to make a suicide
) an d the ISU’s were in Rafal’s Marders
(the SU 12 2’s them out, but it
r, but the flame tanks run to try and take
the op po sit e se cto r the second time
try platoon got 5’s was not to be. So fo
and the larger infan
ctor 4 too.
76 so they set up in se

al’s story
team portug
By Jose Martins
g Flames Of War
We have been playin
04, with our first
in Portugal since 20
ing held in Lisbon
LSG tournament be
. In December of that
in February 2005 e
ur other Portugues
year, myself and fo ou r fi rst
ain fo r
players went to Sp
ern ati on al FO W experience. Since
int
r looked back, and
then we have neve
international
have attended many
mo stly in Spain, but
events since then,
also in Italy.
ople have always
The Portuguese pe
ir adventures and
been known for the defending – the on
ly
love to meet I started Day Two
explorations, and we ing do ub ts, bu t a ve ry go od Br iti sh
d cultures. Go was starting to have time I did – against
different people an tua lly just su pp orted me and so ro du ced himself as ‘Hi,
y FO W is ac my tea mm ate s pla ye r wh o int
abroad to pla ch built Finnish Hammy”. It was,
an excuse… I submitted my scrat everyone calls me
allenging and best
ment ISU ARV. by far, the most ch
A FOW Eu ro pe an To ur na
es…. I had in the tou rnament, and I
ea m fo r mo st ga me s the ms elv ga me
has always been a
dr Now to the rape a win.
ent players. This ired just managed to sc
European tournam I was very luc ky an d wa s pa
und out that our
eam came true – versaries. At lunch time we fo
year, finally, the dr st fi ve ex ce lle nt ad
his opponent would
t, I HAD, to attend again
th a match against guy lost, but since
there was no doub nt. Da y On e sta rte d wi
ropean Champion,
pean Tourname ish player on Table
One go on to be the Eu
the first ever Euro ne , I a go od Sw ed the pain.
to go alo everyone that helped ease
Since I didn’t want a lit tle , an d - the Ar nhem table, where
bo at’ a blast playin g we went over
started to ‘rock the fri en ds wa nted to play! I had To drown our sorrows
managed to conv inc e my s tight, bu t in the some things… and
B, to join me, there. The game wa to the store to buy s
Sousa, Xime ne s an d JA time to lun ch ! great time at Tim´
Po rtu ga l was born. end I lost. Oh well, ended up having a e BF ga ve
s Te am su rp ris
and thu again, this time workshop, the best
family Game 2, and I lost
Usually I ne ed to ‘tr ick ’ my
st a British playe r pla yin g us all weekend!!!
ab ro ad , ag ain
to be able to play FO
W
itish Paratroopers. played against
sn ’t an y dif fer en t. Br On the last game I
and this time wa th an FSSF
ho liday ter because we ran ou
t a Finnish player wi
So, I plann ed a tw o- we ek I fel t a lit tle bit had had a great
in London, t tha t’s the way it Army. Neither of us
for the wh ole fam ily of tim e, bu ing wise), so we
ne at times. tournament (scor
wi th a we ek en d alo go es so me ax ed ga me , with the
ly to vis it played a rel
Nottingham, os ten sib various wi nn ers throughout.
o liv es the re (and That afternoon the n we re conversation flowing
my broth er, wh mp eti tio
of the Iron Cross Co er the award and
works for Battlefron
t!). my surprise they End of the day, aft
announced, and to s time for a final
, I took the me! I was amazed
, was prize giving, it wa
So, on Fr ida y mo rn ing ca lle d my na fam iliar faces, such
t the res t s an d I had won the farewell to some
train to Notting ha m, sp en it true? W ell , it wa Belgian guys, and
rin g the cit y on foot, os s Be st Ob jective Award. as the Spanish and
of the day ex plo Iro n Cr
guys arrived time to pack up.
until the other three ou t From tha t mo me nt on , I didn’t
gal gave a hand to
and we went All of Team Portu
late in the evening te of re ab ou t an ything else in the cking things
to dinner. We had
our first tas ca
ery thi ng was great, the Battlefront gu pa ys
m Friday night.... Tourname nt - Ev also organize FOW
what is a Nottingha a be au tiful place, and away because we t
hat happens in the W or ld wa s lves, and know tha
let’s just say that “w bu t co mp let ely rewarded…. tournaments ourse thi ng s go
in Notting ha m” , I fel t by all ,
Nottingham stays if the work is split
nd it! !!! ck y, be ca us e I pr oceeded to be ea sie r fo r ev ery on e.
I recom me Lu
xt round by
y One of the beaten 2-5 in the ne on a great note,
The next mo rn ing wa s Da
very friendly Swed
ish player. We ended our trip
ur na me nt. an oth er rtu gu es e Team ending up
FOW European To with the Po
One my br oth er r, where we had
s that there At the end of Day at Hooters for dinne
rst im pr es sio n wa rtu ga l to a gr ea t ce more, “What
My fi
tif ul arm ies ou t too k all of Team Po ab ou t. a gr eat time, but on
were a lot of beau Nottingham restau
rant he knew happens in Notting
ham stays
delling side of . One of
there! I love the mo Between bit es , we too k sto ck
in Notti ng ha m” .
n the gaming, and ll and I had
the game more tha I wa s us wa s in 4th postion overa journey, and a
I’m proud of my arm
y, bu t
aw ard, so we all ag ree d That’s the end of the
of some of the my Iro n Cr os s all the Battlefront
awed with the level day for the Portugu
ese grateful thanks to
ls inv olv ed in it wa s a go od ed a wonderful first
beautifully painted
mode
n ma de the mistake gu ys who organiz
Team. W e the and Tournament.
the GT. ce ag ain go ing out at night. I European FOW Gr
of on
mpete in the Iron s - Nottingham’s d again next
I had wanted to co just want to say thi ne We promise to atten e
mpetition, but no w I fast an d fu ll! No ling the Portugues
Cross Painting Co Saturday nights are nig ht. year, at least doub
ep tha t
of us had much sle representation!
77

r ade
Ar mies on pa
Left: Ian Crosby -

Buffalo Soldiers Division.
Right: Andreas Martinson -

25th Panzergrenadierregiment,
12th SS-Panzerdivision Hitler Jugend
Left and above: Sam Street -

5th SS Viking Panzer Grenadiers
78

Above: Piotr Miakoto -
Panzer pioneer Company
Left: Kevin Perry -

Cossack Gvardeyskiy Kazachiy Polk
Right: Primoz Pirs -

StuG Battery
Right: Thomas Berneving -

British Armoured Squadron.
79

ope a n I ro n Cross
2011 eur tition
n t i ng Co m pe
Pai
Left: Although it
didn’t actually win,
we thought this V2
vignette was definitely
worthy of a photo!
Best Gun Team

Gary Martin
Best Objective
Jose Martins
Best Hero
Frank Keast
Best Platoon
Jakub Charmo
80

Best Infantry Team
Tony Weston
Best Tank Team
and best overall
Best tank team 4) Dry brushed several times with

and Best overall Vallejo German Cammo Orange
By Peter Entwhistle Ochre 824, each time adding a small
quantity of Vallejo Iraqi Sand 819.
The main inspiration for painting 5) For the camouflage Vallejo
the Jagdpanthers was an article in German Cammo Dark Green 979
Wargames Illustrated 261 ‘Prowling and Lifecolour Rotbraun RAL 8012
Panthers’ which was a short were used. These were applied as
history and army list for Schwere several very weak coats, with each
Panzerjäger Abteilung . application covering a smaller area.
The vehicles are all part of the 6) Tracks and exhausts were painted
3rd Kompanie which consisted of Vallejo Hull Red 985, washed with
fourteen Jagdpanthers, so far I have Badab Black, dry brushed with
painted nine out of a total of fourteen, Cavalry Brown 982, then washed
I have three more part-assembled with Lifecolour Rust 2 and Rust 1.
awaiting painting. Also painted is the
unit commander, Hauptmann Karl- 7) Tools and tow cables were painted
Heinz Noak in his Panther A. I have Vallejo Black 950, and then details
then to paint the supporting units. picked out with Dark Grey 994 and
Each vehicle has been individually Gamecolour Cold Grey 050 and
altered and painted with battle Stonewall Grey 049, tool handles
damage and modeled with stowage Beige Brown 875, then a thinned
etc to give it a used look. mix of Beige Brown and
Iraqi Sand was applied
Here’s a quick guide to how I went along the spade/pick handles.
about painting the models:
8)The tyres on the road wheels are
1) Undercoated with Army Painter painted Dark Grey 994.
spray aerosol base primer matt black.
9)The whole vehicle was very lightly
2) Several thinned coats of Vallejo dry brushed with Iraqi Sand.
German Cammo Orange Ochre 824.
3) A wash consisting of
three parts Winsor &
Newton Peat Brown,
two parts distilled
water, one part
clear floor polish.
81

WI289 Noble Knight.indd 1 14/10/11 15:39:03
WI290 H.indd 1 14/10/11 14:51:19
THE COMANCHES
REVISITED
ANOTHER LOOK AT SOME
OF THE MOST FAMED
Illustration by Jonathon Smith from Comanche 1800-74 , © Osprey Publishing Ltd. www.ospreypublishing.com
NATIVE AMERICANS
By Chris Peers
Comanches! Lords of the Southern Plains! In any discussion of Native their rise to power remain mysterious.
American warriors, or even of tribal warriors in history generally, the Historians have frequently taken this
Comanches will invariably crop up among the top three or four all time cultural poverty at face value, portraying
favourites, famed for their mobility, weapon skills, and sheer ferocity. the people as the archetypal Stone
Age savages, motivated by a primitive
attachment to their traditional ways and
They have even been compared to Many popular writers seem to see
lacking any real political leadership.
Chinggis Khan’s Mongols, and are the Comanches as being outside the
Recent research, however, has given
popularly credited with wrecking the mainstream “Plains Indian Wars” theme,
us a very different picture. It has
Spanish Empire in North America and and several recent books on the subject
revealed the role of prominent chiefs
holding back the Anglo-American virtually ignore them or even perpetuate
in making peace and war, and even
conquest of the south-west for several basic errors about their origins. We are
detected a coherent strategy behind
decades. And yet their appearances on informed, for instance, that they had
Comanche raiding.
the wargames table are much rarer than migrated onto the plains in the 18th
we might expect. There seem to be Century from further east, where they Certainly their warlike reputation is
several reasons for this. Against white had been farmers. This was true of the justified. Comanches campaigned far
men at least the Comanches tended to Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahos and others, and wide against other Indian tribes,
rely on hit-and-run tactics, and were but not of the Comanches. They had and were one of the very few to initiate
more reluctant than the northern tribes come from the north-west, where they hostilities with the Anglo-Americans
to fight pitched battles. What is more, and their Shoshone relatives had lived before the latter actually threatened their
the southern warriors were on the whole as hunter-gatherers in the barren interior homelands, but scholars like Kavanagh
less showy than the Sioux, Crows or basin of the Rocky Mountains. Before and Hamalainen (see Further Reading,
Cheyennes, with fewer war bonnets, they got hold of horses at the beginning below) portray them as just as keen
decorated shirts and society insignia. of the 18th Century, they had been on trade as on fighting. According to
Another problem is that most of the among the poorest of the poor, and they this view, they clashed so disastrously
early Comanche wars were fought had no interest in recalling their former with the whites mainly because of a
against the Mexicans, and the Spanish in life. So their history before their contact mutual interest in the livestock business.
New Mexico and Texas, so that a lot of with the whites is almost entirely Of course the young warriors sought
the original sources are in Spanish. unknown, and the influences behind opportunities to gain status through feats
84
WI290-Commanches COMPLETE.indd 2 14/10/11 14:38:25

of arms, and a well earned reputation across the plains to Santa Fe when it seems to be based on one instance, in
for bravery was almost literally the became lost. He rode off to search for which the victim had just surprised a
Comanche equivalent of money in the water, and instead ran into a party of warrior after he had thought the fighting
bank. Ernest Wallace recounts how Comanche braves. Perhaps upset at not was over, and fatally wounded him.
even during the reservation period having been given a better reference It was never definitely established
a dispute over land was resolved by they collected his scalp, making up whether he had still been alive when
comparing the war records of the two their score to eleven. Later in the he was burned, although the reluctance
parties, and giving the land to the man century, however, the tribe did develop of the perpetrators to talk about it led
colonial
conflict
who had performed the bravest deeds. a longstanding hatred of “Tejanos”, the whites to suspect as much. Oh, and
But - like everyone else - what the as they called the Texans who had the people who did it were actually not
Comanches also wanted was to get dispossessed them of most of their best Comanches at all, but Kiowas.
rich, impress the girls and have an easy land. As late as 1878, when the tribe
I am not suggesting that Comanches
life. The best way to do this was by was supposed to have been pacified,
never tortured anybody, but there is
acquiring horses, which were useful as the Texan rancher Charles Goodnight
no reason to suppose that they were
currency, for transport, and of course suspected that Quanah Parker’s band
as bad as some of their neighbours.
for providing food directly by hunting would have killed him if he had not
There was an extensive 19th Century
buffalo. Eventually they obtained so claimed to be from Colorado.
“Comanche atrocity” literature which
many horses that they had more than all
Nevertheless Comanches were some historians continue to recycle
the other Plains tribes put together, and
frequently described as treacherous uncritically, though others have pointed
ended up looking less like hunters on
and cruel. It seems to have been the out that many of these tales are at best
horseback than herdsmen who did a bit
practice - especially among the Texans unproven. In fact the various Comanche
of buffalo hunting on the side.
- to blame them for everything, and bands came to rely heavily on
Before the 1860s it seems that they to some extent the habit continues captives taken in war, for employment
seldom killed white strangers in their to this day. Fehrenbach’s book is as domestic slaves, as a source of
territory, except when an attempt at extremely well written and entertaining revenue via trade or ransoming, and
horse rustling went wrong. In 1831 and has been enormously influential. for straightforward adoption to replace
Jedediah Smith, one of North America’s But although it is remarkably fair in their losses to warfare and disease. By
greatest explorers, produced a report many ways, it is written from a Texan the mid 19th Century a quarter of the
on Indian attacks on whites over the perspective, and essentially portrays tribe’s numbers might have been made
previous fifteen years. Out of more the people as warlike savages. Some up of prisoners, taken mostly as children
than 200 incidents, he claimed, only more recent writers have followed the but also including a sizeable proportion
ten were due to the Comanches. The same tradition, but with less fairness. of adult men as well as women. This
worst offenders were the Osages, who One states flatly that, having captured at least suggests that the notorious
were implicated in 43. There is an ironic a wagon train, Comanches would tie massacres of the innocent were much
postscript to this, though. Later the same the teamsters to the wagon wheels and rarer than contemporary writers would
year Smith was guiding a wagon train burn them alive. In fact this allegation have us believe.
Warriors from a Comanche war party chase

off the remnants of a US Cavalry patrol.
85

fired a volley which drove back the
Comanche territory Comanches long enough to enable them
in the 1600s to mount up. But as they galloped away
a trooper named Gregg fell behind, and
Quanah swooped down to pick him
off. Gregg’s comrades tried to give
covering fire, but the chief skilfully kept
his victim between himself and the rest
Comanche territory of the cavalrymen, so that they had to
in the early 1700s cease fire for fear of hitting their own
man. Gregg tried to use his carbine, but
finding it unloaded went for his revolver
instead. Quanah beat him to the draw,
coolly shot him down with his own
pistol at point blank range, then turned
Comanche territory and rode off into the gully, followed by
in the 1800s the rest of the Comanches. The dust of
the approaching cavalry column could
now be seen in the distance, and the
Indians preferred to quit while they were
ahead. In 1910 a now “pacified” Quanah
Comanche arrive in
recalled for an audience in Dallas a
Texas Hill country
similar ambush which he had led soon
as early as 1740
after this fight:
COMANCHE MIGRATION, 1600S-1800S “Next morning they come up my
trail... I tell my men stand up behind
hill, holler, shoot and run. I run to
“HOLLER, SHOOT AND RUN”: was the First Battle of Adobe Walls one side and use this knife. I came up
COMANCHES IN BATTLE. in 1864, when Kit Carson’s men were right side and killed man sergeant and
surrounded and harassed by superior scalp. You see how bad man I was at
The Comanche preference for raids that time?”
numbers of Comanches and their Kiowa
and surprise attacks over close allies, but managed to fight their way
quarters fighting has already been That the Comanches had developed
out thanks to covering fire from a couple new tactics to deal with new threats is
mentioned. The siege of Adobe Walls of howitzers. Comanches did charge en
in 1874 was a partial exception, but less unlikely than it might seem. Far
masse against other Indians, often using from being the backward primitives
this was a last desperate effort led by long lances, and Herman Lehmann, for
an outstanding chief, the half-Texan of myth, they were usually among the
example, describes a vicious hand- first to adopt any of the white man’s
Quanah Parker, and inspired by the to-hand fight against a Tonkawa war
optimistic prophecies of a charismatic ideas that looked useful. The most
party. This suggests that long range
medicine man. There were no Fetterman obvious example is the horse and its
skirmishing tactics were a deliberate
Massacres or Little Big Horns on the associated kit, which they took to
response to the white men’s firepower,
Southern Plains. The nearest equivalent with such enthusiasm that they soon
understandable from a tribe which had
became known as the best riders on the
longer experience of fighting the whites
Plains. This is something that all our
than any other on the plains.
sources agree on, but it probably had
An incident from the Cañon Blanco more to do with the horses themselves
campaign of 1871 (based mainly on than with any innate ability among the
the account in Neeley) will give an Comanches. The animals thrived better
idea of the typical Comanche way in the relatively warm and dry south-
of fighting. A detachment of Colonel west than they did further north, so the
Ranald Mackenzie’s 4th Cavalry was tribe could breed them on a large scale
in pursuit of some stolen horses when and select for qualities like speed and
they realised that they had been led into endurance. They also had more horses
a trap. As they emerged from a gully a per head than their neighbours, so each
horde of warriors led by Quanah swept warrior could afford to take three or four
down on them from a nearby bluff, and on campaign, riding the ordinary hacks
Captain Heyl and Lieutenant Carter on the march and keeping his best pony
with twelve troopers dismounted and fresh for battle. Like many other tribes
opened fire with their carbines. Carter the Comanches especially favoured
described how the Comanches hesitated parti-coloured or “war bonnet” ponies,
in the face of this fire and began “to which were believed to enjoy magical
commence their curious custom of protection in battle, but - as you would
circling”, waving scalp poles and yelling expect from the greatest horse-thieves
to intimidate the cavalrymen. Heyl in the West - many of their mounts were
and his seven untried recruits suddenly big Spanish or Texan horses rather than
ran for their horses and rode off in the the usual scraggy Indian ponies. In the
direction of the main column, leaving 1870s Quanah often rode an American
Carter and five veterans to cover their grey which had belonged to his arch-
Above: A contemporary photograph retreat. Carter’s men retired slowly to enemy Mackenzie - until one night when
of Comanche chief Quanah Parker the gully where their horses were, then the cavalry sentries got careless.
86

These Comanches are seeking
new horses with a raid on a ranch.
Comanches were also among the first organisation, which paints a very But a lot of this must have been in
Plains Indians to use guns, which they different picture. He does dismiss the the eye of the beholder, because more
often acquired from unscrupulous idea of a unified Comanche “nation”, sympathetic witnesses gave very
whites in exchange for horses stolen but emphasises that individual bands different descriptions. A Colonel
from other settlements. They are could be effectively controlled by men Stiff, who was writing only two years
sometimes described as fighting from like Green Horn, Buffalo Hump and later, would seem to be describing
behind earthworks and barricades in Quanah, who might mobilise war parties a completely different people, and
an almost European style. While most several hundred strong. According to his conclusions about their military
Plains peoples came together for the Robert Neighbors, an Indian agent in the effectiveness were just as different too:
hunting and raiding season in summer 1840s and 50s, “the position of a chief is
“...uncommon fine looking men and
and autumn and then dispersed during not hereditary, but the result of his own women; some of them exhibiting
the winter, Comanches and their Kiowa superior cunning, knowledge, or success the most perfect symmetry united
allies often did the opposite. Between in war”. This is a very different thing with a muscular and athletic frame;
November and April they congregated from claiming that there were no formal the countenances strongly marked;
in the river valleys where shelter and chiefs, and in fact men selected on this indicative of intelligence and
firewood were available, settling in basis might have had more authority generosity... mostly honest in their
tented villages which could stretch rather than less, because of the respect intercourse with the whites, and
for miles and house thousands of in which they were held as individuals. would scorn an act of perfidy...Were
warriors. Those of us accustomed to the this tribe provoked to hostilities, or
WHAT DID THEY LOOK LIKE?
usual image of fast moving mounted induced to believe that peace was
raiders may be surprised to read of The bad press which the Comanches not for their interest and honor, the
camps protected by moats and wooden have enjoyed has even extended to their present population of Texas would be
palisades, but these are described by appearance, and often-quoted sources exterminated...”
several 18th and early 19th Century describe them as small, squat, ugly,
sources. The famous war leader Cuerno ungainly on foot, and usually dirty into So, fine upstanding chaps or squalid
Verde (or Green Horn), who was trapped the bargain. Here, for example, is a savages? Take your pick. But however
and killed by New Mexican forces under report from the “Houston Telegraph” of you see them the Comanches did
Juan Bautista de Anza in 1779, made 1838: not quite conform to the normal
his last stand on foot, surrounded by his Plains Indian stereotype, and there is
“We had heard much of the nobility plenty of scope for some imaginative
bodyguard and firing his musket from
of this race, and expected to meet the figure conversions. We lack detailed
the cover of his horse.
noble savages in all the pride and descriptions of their appearance
De Anza recorded that Green Horn even lofty bearing which we had heard from the period before 1840, but the
had an aide to load his gun for him, imputed to them by travellers from preference of leading warriors for
which hints at the extent of his authority the far west. Judge our astonishment buffalo horn headdresses rather than
over the supposedly individualistic when we found the village of the feather war bonnets is well known. It
Comanches. I had previously accepted Principal Chief to be filled with half- is not true, as sometimes stated, that
the theory that they lacked any political starved savages... infinitely inferior to they did not wear war bonnets until
organisation and fought as a horde of any other nation of Indians which has the reservation period - Quanah had a
individuals, almost without direction or come within our knowledge... From spectacular one which almost reached
discipline. But Kavanagh has written an this race of Indians, Texas has nothing the ground when he was on horseback -
entire book on Comanche political to fear...” but they were less common than among
87

Illustration by Richard Hook from MAA163 The American Plains Indians, © Osprey Publishing Ltd. www.ospreypublishing.com
88

the Sioux and other northern tribes.
Less well known is that some bands
had been supplied over the years with
large quantities of European clothing,
either in trade or as part of the common
Mexican policy of buying off raiders.
Spanish records from the first decade of
the 19th century mention gifts of scarlet
cloaks, “long red coats with blue collars
and cuffs”, blue coats with red collars,
three-cornered hats, and sombreros. A
near-contemporary Spanish painting of
the massacre at the San Saba Mission
in 1758 also shows the Comanche
leader wearing a red coat. This might be
propaganda, the idea being to cast the
Indians in the role of agents of a hostile
European power, in this case the French.
But the chiefs of a Yamparika band
who parleyed with Francisco Amangual
in 1808:
“...wore very unusual clothes: long
red coats with blue collars and cuffs,
white buttons, yellow braid; one was Comanche warriors launch
dressed in ancient Spanish style: a a lightning raid on these ill-
short red coat, blue trousers, white prepared Cavalry troopers.
stockings, English spurs, an ordinary
cornered hat worn cocked, a cane
with a silver handle... Others wore red
neckties; they wore sashes made out
of otter skin, adorned with beads
and shells.”
Some of this gear was still being worn
many years later. In 1838 a French
witness described the leader of a
Comanche deputation on its way to
Houston in these words:
“He wore a narrow red belt around
the waist, a blue uniform with a red
collar, the remains of epaulets and
metal buttons, the sort of uniform independent, various versions of the in jewelery, ribbons, calico or similar
worn by our National Guard or our Lone Star flag were also handed out to goods “that other Indians are fond of”,
infantry soldier, and a hat covered potential Indian allies. “Mexican” flags but they did appreciate red and blue
with oil-cloth like our postillions... are occasionally mentioned by Anglo- strouding, blankets (preferably red),
This hat was a Mexican’s, whom he American writers, though before Mexico blue beads, and vermilion paint. On the
had killed a short time previously achieved independence in 1821 this other hand, later in the century Robert
during a skirmish in the Rio would presumably have meant Spanish. Neighbors mentioned their many silver
Grande valley.” All of these (as well as plain white flags) ornaments, which included the “hair
were raised from time to time as signs of plates”, silver discs attached to a long
Important chiefs also received flags, peace, but I do not know if any of them pigtail, often associated with the Kiowas
which served as insignia of rank as well were ever actually carried into battle. and other southern tribes. Accounts of
as symbols of political allegiance. The Nevertheless my own war party carries the Linnville Raid of 1840 show that
Spanish regarded the acceptance of one a Burgundian cross flag from the Carlist warriors returning from a successful
of their flags as a sign that the chief War range manufactured by Adolfo attack on the white settlements might
had agreed to become a loyal subject Ramos, which I obtained from North
of the King of Spain. It is unlikely that deck themselves and their horses out in
Star Military Figures. all sorts of colourful plunder, including
the Comanches saw it quite that way,
although they were aware of the value of Although chiefs and eminent warriors bolts of red cloth, parasols and silk hats.
a flag as a sign of temporary friendship could be decked out in all sorts of We are usually told that the Comanches
with a particular group of whites. From exotic outfits, most of the rank and file wore “moccasins” which resembled
1785 the flag of Spain was similar to the went to war in just a breech clout and a sort of tall riding boot extending as
one in use today - yellow with narrow moccasins, with a few feathers in their far as the thigh, but some authorities
red stripes at top and bottom. In Texas hair. Comanches generally painted believe that these were not adopted
at least, small flags - about three feet their faces black for war, though other until the 1860s under the influence of
square - bearing Burgundian crosses colours might also be used to embellish more northern tribes. Certainly earlier
were often provided instead. These were both men and horses. As for other artists like George Catlin, who painted
probably in various shades of red on a clothing and ornaments, John Sibley, Comanches in the 1830s, show a much
white ground, like 18th Century Spanish who encountered Comanches in 1807, shorter style of boot, with a rolled top
infantry colours. After Texas became reported that they showed no interest just below the knee.
89

As already mentioned, another unusual newcomers were not on friendly allowing Comanches to use the
feature was the number of people among terms with the established Plains Terrifying Charge rule, and perhaps
the Comanches who were not natives tribes, who accused them of poaching to count as Bloodthirsty when fighting
of the tribe at all. Boys captured in on their hunting grounds. other Indians. Against whites, though,
Mexico were often adopted into the they should not use the Bloodthirsty
COMANCHES AND
band which took them, and soon came or Ferocious Charge rules, or any
WARGAMING RULES
to look and dress like any other warrior. others which might encourage them
This admixture may account for the fact The Comanches’ dislike of pitched to try their luck at close quarters. For
that many of them were said to have battles makes it hard for most “big the same reason they should probably
more facial hair than other Indians. Even battle” rule sets to represent them not count as Lancers, even though a
adult captives might be adopted. At the realistically. My own rules, Too Few proportion of them could carry lances.
great gathering at Bent’s Fort in 1840, To Fight, Too Many To Die, attempt One suggestion which might seem to be
at which the Comanches and Cheyennes to treat the North American Indian against the letter of the rules would be
made peace, a young Comanche brave Wars as a normal gaming subject, to class Comanches as Superbly Drilled,
turned up at the Fort and introduced and include some ideas for the sort which entitles them to a free move even
himself to the astonished whites under of trickery and psychological warfare if they fail to respond to an order. This,
the un-Indian name of Jim Hobbs. which Indians often used to even the however, should only apply while they
Hobbs and a companion had vanished odds and minimise their own losses. are mounted. Obviously by regular
four years earlier while on a buffalo In the army lists attached to the rules I military standards they were not drilled
hunt and had been presumed killed. In have also included a few suggestions at all, but they were well practiced in
fact they had been forcibly recruited for customising the Plains Indian list to manoeuvres on horseback, and were
into the household of a chief called Old cover individual tribes. The Comanches, unlikely to sit around not knowing what
Wolf, and Hobbs had even married a for example, are classed as “agile” when to do if temporarily deprived of orders.
Comanche woman. In the same year mounted, which boosts their mobility. On the down side I treat Comanches as
a Mexican woman was astonished to However, being notoriously reluctant Wavering, which obliges them to take a
encounter a warrior who turned out to sustain casualties, they miss out Break Test for every casualty suffered.
to be “a Christian, blond, slim, thick on the option to upgrade members
As far as skirmish gaming is concerned,
beard”. He informed her that most of of warrior societies to hard-charging
I have recently been enjoying Foundry’s
his own party “were gentlemen, but as “gallant” types.
Old West set, The Rules With No Name.
a whole the Indians were barbarians”.
Another possibility is to use Warlord They recommend using the wide
Two American soldiers captured after
Games’ Black Powder to refight the selection of personal skills available to
the Civil War by Quanah Parker (whose
Plains Indian Wars, and again there are customise your war parties, but offer
own mother was a white captive) were
a number of “advanced rules” which no specific ideas for what attributes to
not tortured as they had expected, but
we can use to represent Comanches. allocate to which tribe. I think that the
instead were told that they were now
All Plains tribes should, of course, be suggested method of allocating skills
Comanche braves, and would only be
Irregular, with skirmish order as their to Indians is a bit too generous (such as
killed if they tried to escape. One of the
default formation. They should also earning a new skill every time you count
men was determined to get away, so
count as Marauders, which enables a coup) and can lead to unrealistically
Quanah offered him a deal. Two lines
them to operate effectively at a greater deadly bands of super-heroes. So
were formed facing each other, each
distance from their chief. I recommend instead I allow all Comanches to count
consisting of about thirty warriors armed
with a bow and a single arrow each. If
the prisoner could run between these
two lines and survive, he was free to go.
Not surprisingly he did not make it, but
his companion escaped some time later,
having gained his captors’ trust
by pretending to become an
enthusiastic Indian.
So the occasional fair-haired, pale-
skinned and even-bearded warrior would
be not be out of place in a Comanche
war party, and would make another
distinctive figure conversion. Other
Indian tribes, and even the inhabitants
of Mexican villages, might also make
common cause with the Comanches and
accompany their raiding parties. The
Indians would mostly be other plains
types like Kiowas and Arapahos, but in
the late 18th and early 19th Centuries
Wichitas (who were otherwise known as
“Pawnee Picts” because they resembled
tattooed Pawnees) and Tonkawas might
also tag along. Later in the 19th Century
a few displaced Eastern Indians allied
themselves with Comanche bands Whilst not renowned for direct attacks on homesteaders, there
- including on at least one occasion is plenty of anecdotal evidence of raids for horses and supplies.
Seminoles - but on the whole these
90

Above: Conquest Miniatures have mounted and dismounted versions of each Comanche warrior.
as Great Horsemen, but a Warrior (the COMANCHE FIGURES to depict tribesmen from the early to
next category up from a Young Blood or mid 19th Century, though a couple of
It is quite easy to create a Comanche
novice) gets only one extra skill to start them carry repeaters which obviously
with, chosen at random, and a Mighty warband from any of the Plains Indian makes them more suitable for the 1870s.
Warrior can have two of his own choice. figure ranges on the market, with Despite Conquest Miniatures’ mounted
Any additional abilities must be earned the help of a few conversions where Comanches being unavailable for some
on the battlefield, and are only awarded necessary. There are, however, a couple time, I have been assured that these
by an umpire for exceptional feats of of specific ranges which deserve a wonderful figures are available again
courage, luck or fighting prowess. I mention. HLBS make a small selection from conquestminiatures.com, in both
reflect the aversion to casualties by in their 1/48 scale Old West range, their mounted and dismounted forms.
requiring each tribesman to test for which is full of character and deserves With any luck we’ll see them available
Nerve every time a comrade is killed, to be more popular than it is. In 28mm from UK distributors soon too.
rather than just when half his friends are Conquest Miniatures have some
down as in the standard rules. Comanches which are intended mainly
A Guide to
Special Thanks to... Further Reading
Eric Roof of Conquest Miniatures - conquestminiatures.com - for providing T. R. Fehrenbach, Comanches - the
the Comanches (painted by Eric, Rich Dixon, and Orlando Munoz), and Destruction of a People, Allen &
Merle Dellinger for providing the US Cavalry figures (by Foundry), Unwin, 1974.
from his own collection.
P. Hamalainen, The Comanche
Empire, Yale University, 2008
- A modern view, the Comanches
are neither bloodthirsty barbarians
nor innocent victims, but cunning
strategists who controlled a huge
informal empire and made the
whites dance to their tune until the
very end.
T. W. Kavanagh, The Comanches -
A History, 1706 - 1875, University
of Nebraska Press, 1996 -
Another sympathetic treatment,
concentrating on political
organisation as documented by
Spanish and Anglo-American
writers, also includes some useful
detail on dress, equipment etc.
T. E. Mails, The Mystic Warriors
of the Plains, Aurum Press, 1995
- The place to go for detailed
reconstructions of the appearance
of Plains warriors and their gear.
B. Neeley, The Last Comanche
Chief - the Life and Times of
Quanah Parker, John Wiley &
Sons, 1995.
91

A TABLETOP ACW COUNTERFACTUAL
By Dr. Howard J. Fuller (University of Wolverhampton)
Photos by Al Derby, Andrew Southall, Phillip Hodgkiss, and others.
After one glimpse as the Clad In Iron game at Salute earlier this year, we this. Clad in Iron ran at conventions in
just knew we’d have to hear more about it in the pages of WI. We asked the U.S. for a couple of years, places
Dr. Howard J. Fuller, author of Clad in Iron: The American Civil War like HISTORICON or Cold Wars. But
and the Challenge of British Naval Power, to tell us all about it. wargame design (and I had other plans
in the works) was not about making real
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS money; a revealing conversation with
and Rebel men-of-war since I was about
12; combat during this conflict was a John Hill of Squad Leader-fame at one
Perhaps this is unique, but Clad in Iron convention ultimately convinced me of
frenzied mix of ships versus forts, sail
is a game-of-the-book-of-the-game. I that…
and steam-power, paddle and screw-
developed the original set of rules whilst
propulsion, rifled and smoothbore guns, BACK TO SCHOOL
I was a history undergraduate at the Ohio ironclads and rams, mines, submarines,
State University in the early 1990s. This fleet battles and one-on-one duels. By the end of the decade I was back in
ACW naval was to be the first in a series Building my own game allowed me to school - though over in the U.K - doing
of games called ‘OCTA-WARS’, which literally play out and explore aspects the M.A. in War Studies at King’s
utilised an octagonal playing grid (‘for of warfare during this era which my College, London. This evolved into a
eight fields of fire and movement rather ongoing studies could only describe to Ph.D. there, and by then my interests
than six’), and combined miniatures with me in the past tense. drifted back to naval warfare of the mid-
counters into tactical and strategic levels 19th Century. My exposure to the British
of play - with boardgame simplicity. It never sold. side of things, however, opened me up
Although I was able to make use of an A trimmed down, strictly tactical version to a comparative study of Union and
early Apple-MAC computer, most of the interested Excalibur Games (who had British ironclad-building programmes.
work (mapboards, playing cards, etc.) bought up the rights to the old Yaquinto This had never been done before; James
was hand-crafted; epoxy-resin miniatures Ironclads), but we eventually fell out Baxter looked through American, British
were cast from scratch; and of course the over the issue of miniatures; I refused and French archives when compiling The
entire project was self-funded (when I to churn out yet another counter game. Introduction of the Ironclad Warship, in
should have been buying more books, or To me, a good wargaming experience the early 1930s, but his analysis ended
at least pints…) At the time, Clad in Iron had to be as graphic, or at least three- with the Battle of Hampton Roads
was also one of only a handful of rule dimensional, as possible. Games had (March 1862). Mine explored how
systems which focused on the naval side to evoke imagination by presenting a Anglo-American tensions throughout the
of the American Civil War. I had been spectacle. A simple four-colour map Civil War, and especially during the Trent
fascinated by the wild variety of Yankee with some chits was the opposite of Affair, influenced policy-making on both
92
WI290-CladInIron COMPLETE.indd 2 14/10/11 14:42:22

sides of the Atlantic, from shipbuilding
engineers to cabinet ministers. That
doctoral dissertation was titled Clad
in Iron, and was published later in
American Civil War

hardback by Greenwood Press/Praeger
International and then in paperback by
U.S. Naval Institute Press.
1861-1865
Did my gaming experiences from years
before inform the book? Not exactly.
But the often meticulous research and
attention to detail involved in game
design, rule-making and game-testing
prepared me, I believe, for archival work
and a useful form of critical historical
analysis. Both projects, at any rate,
concerned ‘what-if?’ scenarios in one
way or another.
Thanks to the book, it wasn’t long
before I went back to Clad in Iron the
game. An academic study can only infer
counterfactual points and should never
attempt to draw conclusions. Wargames,
on the other hand, allow you to go all the
way - they’re just never ‘real’…
By the beginning of 2005 I was teaching
as a Senior Lecturer of War Studies at
the University of Wolverhampton, in
the West Midlands. The idea of digging
up the old game system and tweaking
it to include European ironclads was a
natural one, and Skytrex had just come
out with 1:1200 scale miniatures of
British and French steam-warships and
armoured-frigates - which would look
great next to Rod Langton’s range of Above: The original “Clad In Iron” demonstration game, circa 1992.
Below: The most recent demo version of “Clad In Iron” as presented at Salute 2011.
93

exquisite ACW naval minis. Going over
the Skytrex range, and drawing upon my
‘professional’ knowledge of the period
now, I made out a large order of what I
felt would be a likely British ironclad
fleet, in a likely ACW intervention
combat scenario.
I sat on this force for years before I
finally found time to assemble and paint
it. That was OK, as it took me years of
spare change at spare conventions around
the U.K. to assemble a respectable
collection of Langton ships and forts
as well. Last summer, with my desk
cleared for gaming, I painted everything
in one go and outlined my ‘Mark III’-
prototype for the new Clad in Iron:
England’s ‘Black Battlefleet’ was going
to pile-drive into New York Harbor,
circa ‘October 1864’. I did some play-
testing with my regular gaming mates,
made some changes, and was ready to
build the much bigger, fancier ‘Mark
IV’ for demonstrations. Coincidentally,
SALUTE in April was to be themed the
American Civil War because of the 2011
sesquicentennial. Perfect.
The new playing surface was a 15'
section of weathered blue vinyl, from a
bolt 6' wide. This was then dry-brushed
over several times with a flat-white
washable acrylic for wave-caps and then
merged over in places with a damp cloth.
Shallow water areas were indicated by
dry-erase marking blended over. The
octagonal grid was hand-drawn with a
silver paint-pen using a single acetate
template which I had cut out from a
paper printout. Size was determined by
the length of the longest playing unit: the
Warrior (in real life 418' long). Drawing
a grid by hand over 90 square feet is
tedious indeed, and I had to readjust
my lines several times to avoid drifting
which made octs increasingly wonky.
Each playing unit had its own ‘Battle
Card’: a feature of the original game.
Devising the new British units was a
challenge because the early ironclads
experimented with a variety of partial
armour-schemes in different thicknesses.
Still, being able to revise Rule Sheets and
the Cards on a graphic-charged PC made
the work infinitely less time-consuming,
more artful and more precise than my
efforts some twenty years ago (!) All I
had to do then was print them off in full-
colour and stain them with wet tea bags
and instant coffee for the classic
‘19th-Century weathering’.
Top: The British ironclad squadron forcing the Narrows of New York Harbor, ‘circa October
1864’. The chain barrier has been disabled, while the powerful forts on Staten Island are By ‘pro’ gamer standards my work is
under bombardment from the nearby 13-inch mortar flotilla. A seacoast mortar battery admittedly amateurish, even crude.
south of Fort Tompkins on the bluff offers counter-battery fire… Terrain is very basic, even with a more
colourful autumn foliage. The tip of
Centre: The British 13-inch mortar flotilla, duly protected by the steam-powered, screw- Manhattan, New York City’s Battery
propelled wooden battleship Victoria. Park up to Wall Street and the financial
Bottom: ‘Bedloe Island’ in the lower right corner; you might recognise the fort as the base of district, was done with Legos. Even my
what may—or may not—become the Statue of Liberty in 1886… 1:1200-scale ships omitted the intricate
94

rigging-work of real miniatures craftsmen Above: Monitor vs. Warrior - wonderful digital art by Radojavor. If you enjoy marvelling
in favour of ‘steam smoke’- cotton at the fantastic play of light in this piece, you can find more of Rado’s art at:
(which I rationalised at least gives a radojavor.deviantart.com/gallery/
better sense of motion…) Below: Dr Fuller’s ‘Battle Cards’, updated
The scenario I chose which would bring from his original game almost 20 years ago,
H.M.S. Warrior against the Monitor reprinted, and then aged the old-
(or at least a monitor, as the original fashioned way, with teabags
and coffe grounds.
prototype was lost in a gale at the end
of 1862) centred more on the crisis over
the Laird Rams in the latter half of 1863.
Coupled with a counterfactual political
assassination, this crisis degenerates into
an open Anglo-American conflict; while
the game itself is one of the last great
actions, ‘a year later’. An 1864 game
allows for most of the first and second
generation British ironclads to be brought
into play, from Warrior to the Royal Oak,
as well as the turret-ship Prince Albert
(pushed into completion early). Central-
battery ironclads like the Bellerophon
are still on the virtual stocks; England
suffers from not being under war-time
mobilisation for years, unlike the Northern
States. At New York City the Yankees
have been hardening their combined
defences by 1864, from new and improved
coastal fortifications to minefields and
obstructions. They also have a variety
of key warships to draw upon, from the
broadside-ironclad U.S.S. New Ironsides
to double-turreted monitors to double-
ender paddle-steamers. The magnificent
steam-frigate U.S.S. Minnesota (which had
escaped destruction by the C.S.S. Virginia
at Hampton Roads in 1862) also makes
an appearance.
A notable component of the British
attack force is a 13-inch mortar flotilla,
duly protected by the powerful wooden
screw-battleship Victoria. Mortars would
95

pound forts from a safe distance of St. Petersburg in 1856. A December 1861 Whether or not New York City actually
3,000 yards or so, enough for gunboats confidential report by the Royal Navy does surrender on the approach of
to close in to deliver more precise fire, Hydrographer, Captain John Washington, British ironclads in 1864 depends on a
and perhaps distract attention away from specified New York as the primary target variety of factors in this scenario. New
an accompanying assault by marines - for any coastal strike; “the commercial Orleans surrendered to a similar threat
the whole flotilla protected by sloops, capital of the United States” with “a offered by Union flag officer David G.
frigates and battleships which generally population of 600,000”: Farragut in April 1862 - but the citizens
commanded the sea. In this scenario, of Charleston, South Carolina seemed
“But, supposing a powerful squadron
the British mortar flotilla concentrates willing to let their city burn rather than
to have overcome all obstacles and to
its fire upon the strong granite walls and submit to Yankees, had they blasted their
have anchored in Hudson’s River off
embrasures of Fort Richmond on Staten way past Fort Sumter in April 1863.
New York, what further steps could
Island, in an attempt to help suppress the New York was notorious for divided
be taken. To go up the East River
deadly crossfire whilst the main attack loyalties throughout the Civil War. There
and burn the Navy Yard and the few
squadron forces the Narrows. was talk of making it an ‘open city’
U.S. ships of war, which, probably
during the Secession Crisis of 1860-1
Putting New York City itself under their would have taken refuge there, would
and of course there were the Draft Riots
guns is the British players’ objective. be impracticable, the channel is too
of July 1863. But New York State also
This too is fairly unique in tabletop intricate to attempt it unless with
sent many regiments south; Secretary of
gaming. The presence of civilians in the best local pilots and every gun
State William H. Seward was a former
wargames leads to ‘muddled situations’ silenced. All that could be done then,
governor. Many Wall Street business
as H. G. Wells euphemistically wrote in would be to hold out the threat of
interests flourished as a result of the war.
Little Wars (1913), but the whole point bombarding the city unless the ships
of the Baltic coastal assault flotilla was of war were surrendered and the Navy I give the British players an important
to directly threaten the Russian capital of yard destroyed.” opening break by having ‘certain
On show at the show
96

disaffected Gang members of New the experience of the monitors before 1864. The other presentational marquis
York’, colluding with the enemy, blow Charleston, for example). Likewise, the describes the “what if?” scenario
up a section of the giant chain barrier British 68-pounders and 110-pounder itself, a blurb on the original Clad in
across the Narrows in the early morning Armstrongs effect very little against Iron prototype, and extracts from the
hours… All the invading ships have to monitor turrets. Conversely, 15-inch confidential British plan for attacking
do is run the gauntlet, survive the fire Rodman (fort) and Dahlgren (monitor) New York mentioned above.
of the various outer and inner harbour guns generally penetrate the confidence
All-in-all, tabletop wargaming has
forts, avoid hidden ‘infernal machines’, of British players and force them to react
allowed us to play out in reasonable
and brush aside the Union’s defensive quickly. It’s often best in this scenario for
detail (if not perfect ‘accuracy’) one of
squadron. It’s never easy, and even in them to keep moving, hard and fast, and
the great “what ifs?” of the American
1861 the operation was “by no means not get dragged into a fire-fight.
Civil War, and military and naval history
recommended” except that it “might have
Finally, I try to bolster players’ gaming in general. At Wolverhampton I teach,
the effect of putting an end to the war,
experiences with a little show-and-tell among other modules, one titled Virtual
and if so might be worth the risk.”
display. I have a nice radio-controlled Warriors: The Evolution of Wargaming,
There are usually lots of nasty shocks 1:92 scale model of the double-turreted and it features a fieldtrip to WARFARE,
on both sides. The Union players find monitor U.S.S. Miantonomoh, which in Reading, every November. There is
that most of the guns in most of their figures in the game, with a cutaway always a trade-off between playability
forts are inadequate against the 4½-inch illustration with stats of the Warrior and realism, I tell them, in game
thick iron plating of the English ships. in the background. A 15" bouncy-ball design—a factor which many of them,
That goes for many of their guns afloat (painted flat black) effectively simulates weaned on PlayStation and PC-games,
as well. Damage from 9-inch Dahlgrens a cannonball, along with an actual shell rarely consider seriously.
or 10-inch Columbiads tends to be fragment of a cored-shot fired by the
more cumulative upon armour (this was U.S.S. Onondaga on the James River in
Clockwise from Right:

• Bow of the Minotaur-class super-
broadside ironclad H.M.S. Northumberland
• a 15-inch Rodman gun
• A mighty player hoists a monitor’s
‘450-pound solid shot’
• Cutaway of the Warrior, with model of the
Miantonomoh in the foreground. At the left
is a shell fragment from a 15-inch cored-
shot most likely fired by the double-turreted
monitor U.S.S. Onondaga, and recovered
from the banks of the James River, VA
• Informational marquis, with
leaflets promoting the University of
Wolverhampton’s Honours BA in War
Studies, MA in Conflict Studies and
the new, fully-online MA in Military
History-programmes.
97

COLOURS 2011 Words & Pictures
by Paul Davies
Colours weekend (10-11 September), held

again at Newbury Racecourse. The show,
certainly on the Saturday, seemed even more
popular than in previous years, and was one of
the busiest shows that I’ve visited recently.
The show venue is generally light and airy, and with
games, competitions and trade stands, was spread
out over three packed floors. With so much to look
at, and unfortunately for the credit card, so much on
which to spend my money, I’m afraid that by the end FEET WET - FEET DRY
of Saturday both my wallet and myself, felt equally Portraying US Air Operations during the Vietnam War, this game
‘hammered’, but in a good way... at least until the was created by Simon Tyler, a member of the 1/600th Air Combat
next credit card statement arrives! Anyway, best not to Yahoo Group. Aircraft were by Tumbling Dice and the SAM
missile sites were by C-in-C Miniatures from their 1/285th range.
worry about that now, let’s take a look at a selection Terrain comprised a Hotz terrain mat with various terrain hexes
of the games. added. The aircraft miniatures were truly superb and featured
markings by Doms Decals as well as some impressive decals
created by Simon himself and printed onto inkjet decal paper.
Rules were based upon Downton by GMT Games and various
scenario books.
98
WI290 Colours 2011.indd 2 14/10/11 14:44:38

AMPHIPOLIS 422BC
Presented by Rob Broom of Scarab Miniatures,

and featuring 28mm figures from Scarab, 1st
Corps and Foundry with city walls by Grand
Manner. Scarab is intending to release an
extensive range of ancient figures, starting with
SHow report
Greeks, and Spartans, followed by New Kingdom
Egyptians, Hittites and Mycenaeans. The rules
used were War and Conquest which are due to be
published in October 2011.
ISANDLWANA
Team Zulu presented a truly awesome display of this famous battle. Just how
awesome you may well ask...? Well, the terrain was 36' x 6' and dwarfed at one end
by the rocky hill that gave the battle its name. And if that’s not awesome enough
for you, the 28mm figures were at a 1:1 ratio! This display was clearly a massive
undertaking in many respects and so is unlikely to be seen at any other shows, so
if you couldn’t make it to Colours then I’m afraid you’ll just have to feast your
eyes on the photographs. But don’t worry, if these photographs have whetted your
appetite for more, Wargames Illustrated will be publishing and in-depth article on
the battle next year by no less an expert than Ian Knight, who was also present at
the show signing copies of his books. With Ian Knight and Bill Cainan, curator of
the Royal Regiment of Wales Museum, as members of Team Zulu, visitors could
be more than satisfied as to the historical authenticity of the display and with the
opportunity to talk to, and ask questions of, both these experts on the subject, they
certainly ‘added value’ to an already memorable display.
99
WI290 Colours 2011.indd 3 18/10/11 12:19:14

AMBRIDGE
As a general rule I try not to photograph games
that have featured in previous show reports,
which admittedly becomes more difficult as we
approach the end of the show calendar. However
there are some games that are continually
evolving and one such is the Battle of Ambridge
presented by the group of wargamers known as
Edward VIII Cocktail Bar and set in the alternate
history of A Very British Civil War. Again, I make
no apology for including a few more photographs
of their inspiring ‘eye candy’.
best
demo
game
100
WI290 Colours 2011.indd 4 14/10/11 14:45:30

EL CID
This 54mm game by the Skirmish Wargamers

recreated a battle between the forces of El Cid
and a Moslem one somewhere in Al Andalus, the
southern area of the Iberian peninsula. Figures
came from a multitude of sources including
Del Prado. Rules used were Hail Caesar. The
Skirmish Wargames Group always seem able to
source or convert 54mm figures for almost any
historical period and I’m always intrigued to see
their next offering as they never disappoint.
GANGS OF NEW YORK
Maidenhead & District Wargames always seem

to serve up something original when it comes to
participation games and this year’s game certainly
continued the trend. Based on the 2002 Martin
Scorsese film of the same name, the excellently
painted 28mm figures were mainly Perry
Miniatures supported by Foundry. Buildings were
scratchbuilt and the rules were ‘homegrown’.
101
WI290 Colours 2011.indd 5 14/10/11 14:45:55

BIOCCA 1522
The Thames Valley Wargamers chose

Bicocca from the Great Italian Wars as
their demonstration game. Figures came
from the 28mm ranges of a variety of
manufacturers including Old Glory, Perry
Miniatures, TAG, Eureka, Foundry and
Redoubt. The battle was fought using
Black Powder rules.
NEWBURY
10-11 SEPTEMBER 1863
This 15mm game centred round a

fictional battle during the American
Civil War and was presented by
the Wednesday Night Warriors
(WNW). Figures used were a mix
of Essex Miniatures, Peter Pig and
Stonewall. The buildings were by
Hovels and Peter Pig and the rules
used were Fire and Fury.
102
WI290 Colours 2011.indd 6 14/10/11 14:46:25

NEY’S CAVALRY CHARGE AT WATERLOO
There’s no doubt that the sight of squadrons of well-painted

Napoleonic cavalry thundering across the battlefield is always
impressive. Loughton Strike Force’s game featured masses of
28mm figures from Perry Miniatures, Elite and Front Rank
and I could have spent all day studying and photographing
it. The building of Hougoumont was “a ‘cut-down’ Hovels
model modified to create a smaller footprint”, and very nice it
looked too! Rules used were General de Brigade.
OVERVIEW: I confess that I became quite Next year’s event is scheduled for
frustrated at the difficulties I had prior 8th and 9th September at the same
So that’s it then: an excellent day out;
to the show, in accessing the show venue, so make a note in your diary.
plenty to see and ‘drool’ over; a broad
website, but I understand that this is Newbury and Reading Wargames
spectrum of traders from whom to
because the website is designed to Society’s Open Day, is scheduled for
buy; ok priced food... at least if you’re
work with Internet Explorer, but not the 11th February 20112, at Theale
accustomed to London prices; and
Mozilla Firefox, which I use. But Green School, Reading. For more
free parking. What more can anyone
that’s a relatively minor criticism information regarding Colours 2012,
really ask from a wargame show? Any
of what is a very popular show, and and the NWS Open Day, keep an eye
negatives? Well, I understand that
after Salute, is probably the largest on their website:
from a traders’ point of view, space
wargame show in the south and which
was decidedly limited, and as for the
I’m sure was attended in even greater www.colours.org.uk, or contact
Bring and Buy... I gave up trying to
numbers this year. [email protected]
fight my way through the crowds!
103
WI290 Colours 2011.indd 7 18/10/11 12:20:31

Illustration by Graham Turner from CAM 44 Pavia 1525, © Osprey Publishing Ltd. www.ospreypublishing.com
PAVIA IN 28MM,
WALLS AND ALL...
By Nick Buxey, in conjunction with Nick Gilmore.
The Battle of Pavia, 1525, is both well known and very widely wargamed, so this article will not
attempt to be a narrative of the history, but is rather about the passion and enthusiasm that history can
conjure up in the breast of a wargamer and how that excitement can lead on to re-living that history in
miniature. After all, isn’t that what wargaming is really all about? That... and having fun too!
104
Pavia COMPLETE.indd 2 18/10/11 12:25:37

RENaissance
1490-1600
Tim Whitworth’s Black Band prepare
to sell their lives dearly.
THE CONTEXT OF THE GAME

My good friend Nick Gilmore really
had ownership of this game and I have
drawn extensively on his perspective
of it. He and I are part of the ‘Like a
Stonewall’ wargames group, based in
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK. I’m a
relative newcomer to the group, which
was conceived some 15 years ago and has
regularly won awards for its ambitiously
large and painstakingly researched
demonstration games.
Each year, at the group’s AGM decisions
are taken jointly on which battles will be Imperialist columns
focused upon as demonstration games in march towards Pavia
the forthcoming wargames season. I’m
sure this is a familiar exercise with many
wargame clubs, societies and groups in
the UK and around the globe. With firm
decisions taken on the games/battles to be
shown, a Project Manager and assistants
are established. Naturally, this is usually
based on individuals’ strengths regarding
their skills, interest in the particular
period being gamed and whether, maybe,
they already have a nucleus of figures
for the game. It’s all pretty democratic
really! Every member of the group has
his particular contribution to make;
for instance, Barry Foster is a human
painting machine and can turn out
divisions when I’m still grappling with
regiments! LASW, like many groups,
have an excellent pool of scenery boards,
which has been constructed by the group
and accumulated over many years. Our
method of construction is tried and tested
and has inspired many other wargamers
since 1997, but we hope we never stop Imperialsts reach the Mirabello
learning from others too. We have long
105

since felt that if you stand still for long, agreed upon as a demonstration game Above and opposite page: French and
you go stale, so we’re always trying to for Partizan, he wanted to be part of it. Imperialist Gendarmes about to collide.
push the boundaries a bit. However, the Italian Wars were new
ground to him. Swiss and Landsknechts other members of the group drifted away
Why am I saying all this? Well, because were already available in some profusion from the Italian Wars, his involvement
it helps to tell the story of this particular within the collections of other members increased and the outrageously colourful
game and because I think it will strike a of the group. Instead, he settled for Swiss, Landsknechts and French
chord with other gamers. the relatively poor quality French and Gendarmes could be resisted no longer.
Back to Nick Gilmore: How many Italian crossbowmen. Not as glamorous, Recollections of the late, great Peter
wargamers have sometimes been ‘on to be sure. However, he was well and Gilder’s Renaissance collection, that
the outside looking in, as it were? truly bitten by the Renaissance warfare Nick had drooled over so many years
That is, been on the periphery of the bug. I tend to believe that wargamers before, came flooding back to him, firing
hobby, wishing that they could be really often fall into two camps: Those who his enthusiasm even more.
involved in the production of some of are largely ‘gamers’ and those who
It’s not only the obvious aesthetic appeal
those magnificent looking games that would confess to being more ‘painters
of colourful costumes and banners that
can be seen around the shows? I know and modellers’. A few are those rare
draws Nick to the period, but also its
I was there for over 20 years, before I souls who manage to achieve a good
uniqueness as a watershed of ideas
happily relocated to the ‘world centre combination of both skills and wow us
and development in warfare, as well
of wargames’, the East Midlands. Nick with their efforts. Nick Gilmore’s one
as in every other aspect of life: A true
Gilmore was there too in the 1990’s. of those. He paints well and possesses a
transition period. It combines elements
Seeing what was being achieved by keen awareness of the aesthetic, yet he
of the mediaeval period with those of
Tim Whitworth, Barry Foster and is also an enthusiastic and competitive
the Horse and Musket yet to come. A
others in their ambitious demo games opponent on the wargames table. I know,
commander can have reasonable quality
of Gettysburg, Arsouf, Lake Peipus, because I’m often on the receiving end!
shot units, which are steadily proving
etc (LASW has enjoyed six ‘Best Yes, I love gaming, but I’m not much of
a match for the vaunted and heavily-
of Show wins’ at the Derby World a gamer. I’m definitely in the ‘painter/
armoured gendarmes. There is the
Championships), he felt that he had much modeller’ camp and that’s fine with me.
classical hark-back the pike phalanxes
he could contribute to such games in the Therefore, although I do not possess any
of the Macedonians, whilst armies -
future. Accordingly, he was welcomed Renaissance figures myself, I can fully
particularly the French - have fabulous
into the group and has been a very active understand why he now has thousands
artillery trains. Entrenchments make
member ever since. in his collection. They look magnificent
more of an appearance, the Spanish, in
en masse on the wargames table!
When, some years later, the scenario of particular, making use of ditches to break
Following the Bicocca game, Fornova
the Battle of Bicocca from the Italian up pike formations.
gave Nick the excuse to add gendarmes
Wars of the 15th and 16th Centuries, was and more Italians to his forces. When
106

WHY PAVIA? benefits from being gamed by people who
are keen to share their enthusiasm with
A few years on from Bicocca and
Fornova, spurred on by his fascination
others and who do not treat enquirers as CONDOTTIERI
an annoying distraction. What’s the point
with the period, Nick found himself
of a demonstration game otherwise? By the time of the Battle of Pavia,
with massive and beautiful Renaissance
it is fair to say that the great age of
armies and wanted to showcase them. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
the Condottieri was on the wane,
Pavia is arguably the most famous of
Although I want to avoid a history but a better understanding of the
the battles of the Italian Wars, but to forces involved in the battle can be
Nick’s knowledge, he had never seen it lesson, it is impossible to explain Pavia
as a demonstration game without some appreciated by a brief examination
wargamed in its proper context. He felt it of the development of the
was a good opportunity to propose it as brief reference to the historical context,
Condottieri system.
a major demonstration game and be the so here goes...
driving force of the project. The word Condottieri (plural for
We have the town of Pavia besieged in
Condottiere) derived from the Italian
A ‘vision’, is pretty essential to the 1525 by the French armies of Francis I. for ‘contract’ and this can be directly
success of a demonstration game. A good This is the latest set-piece confrontation translated to ‘Mercenary’ in English.
demonstration game should be the result of many like it, which have been raging However, in contemporary Italian it
of a number of factors, I think. It should across Italy since 1494. Most of the city also came to mean ‘military leader’.
certainly be aesthetically pleasing with states of Italy were involved (no unified
Italy in those days). Likewise, the Papal Mercenary soldiers, Condottieri,
regards to figures and scenery and any developed from the 1300s and
accompanying visual/written display. It States, as well as most of the major
were mainly foreigners fighting
should also be informative to the observer states of Western Europe were involved.
for pay for the various Italian City
and be as much of a true reflection of The latter included France, Spain, the States, such as Milan, Florence, etc.
history as possible. To achieve the latter Germanic Holy Roman Empire and Independent companies of soldiers
is not easy, as it inevitably requires England. Originally the wars erupted were formed under a strong leader
a measure of compromise. After because of dynastic disputes over the who would negotiate a deal with those
all, ground scales cannot always be Duchy of Milan and the Kingdom of that would pay the highest wage.
practically accommodated and historical Naples, but they soon degenerated into Notable Condottieri included Sir John
demonstration, or not, it’s a wargame a power-struggle among the various Hawkwood and his ‘White Company’.
and needs to be playable too. One thing I participants and were punctuated Other companies included the ‘Little
am convinced of: a demonstration game with incredible intrigue, alliances and Hat Company’, and the ‘Company of
really benefits from attention to detail. betrayals. After all, this was the era of St. George’. Many appeared under
the Borgias and Machiavelli, who are Italian leaders such as Niccolo De
It’s very apparent, from being involved
synonymous with deceit and skulduggery. Tolentino and Ambrogio Visconti.
with a number of such games, that
These condottieri companies became
onlookers just love the little asides and There was not a consistent line-up of
responsible for the development of
vignettes that help to place a battle in its opponents, as the changing political
tactics throughout the Renaissance and
historical context. These details entice the situation saw alliances come and go and grew to considerable influence and
observer into the scenario, which makes various states changing sides. Readers power, gaining a military monopoly.
it somehow more accessible to them. who are unfamiliar with this period can Condottieri leaders became politically
Huge tables simply filled with warring find oodles of information about the powerful, as well as militarily.
opponents are impressive in themselves, history of the Italian Wars quite easily
but can somehow leave the onlooker if they wish to gain a far more detailed From the 15th Century, most
condottieri were landless Italian nobles
‘cold’. The devil’s in the detail. And, oh, appreciation. Some suggested reading
and even princes, who fought for a
yes, a good demonstration game really may be found at the end of this article.
living. They took the form of heavy
armoured cavalry, although, by the
time of Pavia, they were no match for
the French gendarmerie. Late 15th
Century condottieri leaders included
Ferrante Gonzaga and Gian Giacomo
Trivulzio, who left Milanese service to
enter French service. Condottieri bands
could be highly unreliable at times,
seeking wealth and self-advancement
over loyalty.
107

To simplify, though, the opposing sides threatened by the French, withdrew again. account, of course: Please refer to the
at the time of Pavia, in 1525, consisted However, Charles left a strong garrison at bibliography at the end of the article)
of the Pope’s coalition of Italian States the city of Pavia with the aim of slowing DEVELOPMENT OF THE GAME
and Spain (which now had the resources down the French. Securing the Duchy
of the Holy Roman Empire) on the of Milan from the Imperialists, Francis So, that is the gist of the scenario for
one hand, and the French, with Swiss marched the French army to attack their the battle and consequent demonstration
mercenaries, on the other. remaining forces in Pavia. A siege ensued, game. Nick had never seen it gamed with
which was to last a number of months. all the elements in place, - the ones which
By the time of Pavia France had a new explained why the battle took the form it
The time gained by the Imperialists
and dynamic king in the person of Francis did. He resolved to show the relationship
enabled them to consolidate a new army,
I. He had ambitions to become the next of the city of Pavia to the French siege
stiffened by around 12,000 German
Holy Roman Emperor after the death of lines and the deer park and deer park
landsknecht mercenaries. Thus, Charles
Maximillian of Austria. However, Charles wall, just as he had seen in numerous
resolved to raise the siege of Pavia
I of Spain also vied for the crown and contemporary drawings and prints. For
and under the command of Charles De
conflict was renewed when he became once the opposing sides would be seen
Lannoy, Viceroy of Naples, his refreshed
Charles V of Germany, gained with in the wider context of the strategic
army marched to its aid. On arrival at
Spanish funding. What’s more, he also situation. Also - and just as important
Pavia, it was clear that any direct assault
controlled Burgundy. England was an for the demonstration game - it would be
on the French siege lines would meet with
unfriendly neighbour across the English visually stunning!
disaster. Lannoy sought a more subtle
Channel. Fearing encirclement, Francis The thousands of 28mm figures required
way to attack the French and force them
took the offensive. France had developed for the game were not going to be a major
out of their entrenchments and into open
into a mighty power with a large and problem. Nick’s forces were extensive
battle. A way presented itself by making a
fearsome army and was ambitious for and whatever deficits there were could
detour to launch a flanking attack through
more Italian territory. It possessed the be ably made up from Tim Whitworth’s
a huge deer park called the Mirabello.
finest artillery in the world at that time. massive collection. The rules were no
This deer park, though, was surrounded
Even so, its invasion of Italy met with problem. Tim Whitworth’s tried and
by a high stone wall, which would have to
ignominious defeat at Bicocca in 1522, tested This War Without an Enemy rules
be breached and, what’s more, breached
when, allied with the Venetians, it was (with a supplement for the Italian Wars
as secretly as possible to achieve the
trounced by a combined Spanish/Imperial of the Renaissance) were just the job.
element of surprise. The deer park also
and Papal army. A counter-invasion by The big challenge was representing the
featured a large fortification, known as the
Habsburg Charles V’s armies met with city of Pavia and, on a lesser scale, the
Castle of Mirabello, which held a vantage
as similar disaster when it attempted to deer park wall. Nick had had his eye
point. This, clearly, would be a desirable
besiege Marseilles. This gave Francis the on the superb Hudson and Allen castle
objective for the Imperialists.
opportunity to follow up the resulting for some time and knew it would be
Spanish/Imperialist retreat with another (There are many sources of information ideal for representing Pavia’s city wall.
invasion into Italy. The Imperial army about the campaign and battle for the LASW has enjoyed a long and mutually
had retreated into the Duchy of Milan, but reader who wishes a far more detailed beneficial relationship with wargame
The arena of battle - from the Deer

Park walls to the city of Pavia.
108

Above: Imperialists march through the breeches in the Deer Park walls.
manufacturer Old Glory for many years rest. The gate house was converted from HOW DID THE GAME PLAY?
now. Andy Copestake’s sponsorship and Hovels’ La Haye Sainte gateway. Nick French forces were already in position
the group’s massive figure requirements used an anaglypta wallpaper to represent
on the table top, as they would have been
have been invaluable in realising the the cobbled streets within the city walls
besieging Pavia. The Imperial forces
games that we have been able to put and various Italian buildings - Grand
were placed outside the deer park wall,
on. The vast majority of the figures Manner and scratch-builds - created
by the breaches and ready to march
for Pavia were Old Glory, and what an the complex inside. Grand Manner’s
in to threaten the French flank. The
excellent range Old Glory’s Renaissance campanile, from its large convent
Imperialists were given a head-start in
range is. Painted by Nick in all their complex, towered above the walls and
movement to simulate surprise, although
colourful pageantry and topped off with buildings making a really majestic feature
the French had excellent morale and
John Hutchinson’s stunning cloth flags - (Dave Bodley’s skills had served us well
recovered quickly. A dice was thrown for
(seventy in all!) - they certainly filled the by providing the convent for Bussaco,
visibility for up to six moves, as the dawn
bill on the table top. Why so many flags? LASW’s eponymous award-winning
proved to be very misty on the actual
Because every unit needed them; the demonstration game at Derby a few
day and added to the confusion. Thus,
various Swiss Cantons, the gendarmes, years ago) Little details, such as potted
an umpire could preside over troops
the Landsknechts, the Spanish infantry... conifers, wagons, civilians, etc, gave it
blundering into each other on the table
and they really do set off a table top. a further dimension. These are the little
top. A certain Mr. Perry, with tongue in
It’s great to have beautifully painted human touches that draw in the spectator
cheek, did ask why we had not dressed
figures, but, as wise old wargamer once and give the game ‘life’.
all the Spanish in white shirts, as Pescara
said, “have great bases, great flags and
Although the group possesses a huge had done at the time. I don’t recall the
great scenery and that’s what makes
catalogue of scenery boards, it is reply, but I think it was about balancing
the immediate impact on the eye”
quite impossible to provide for every accuracy and cost!
(paraphrase!) Old Glory, at that time
eventuality and nearly every new game
stocked the Hudson and Allen castle, so Spanish and Italian light cavalry
requires the making of at least a few fresh
Nick splashed out. As the accompanying blundered into French light cavalry
boards to accurately represent the battle
photographs show, he wasn’t to be and sharp fights ensued. Meanwhile,
in question. Nick found that he required
disappointed. I offered to make the deer Landsknecht pike blocks, shielded by
a ditch in front of Pavia’s walls, as well
park walling and achieved this with screens of the notoriously good Spanish
as new boards to accommodate the city
MDF of varing lengths, for flexibility. arquebusiers thrust up the centre of the
itself. The Mirabello castle required a
The fiddly bit was cutting and chiselling moat around it and, thus, a purpose-made table towards the Mirabello castle. This
the crenulations. The stonework was board too. The castle itself was another movement actually created a wedge
created by gluing appropriately textures Hudson and Allen model: the keep from between the main French army , entering
anaglypta wallpaper to both sides of the large castle set. the table on the Spanish right flank and
the MDF. Two walls were made with the French army’s Swiss mercenary
‘breaches’ made in them and ‘rubble’ The size of the table to accommodate this pike blocks, joining battle from the left
made from a cocktail of small stones scenario was 20' x 6', with an extension flank (from the direction of where their
tossed in PVA. Careful painting did the table on one side. encampment would have been).
109

In the actual battle, the powerful
French artillery had moved to catch the
advancing Imperialists with devastating
diagonal blasts, stemming the attack and
causing hesitation. Strange to relate, in
our wargame, the French artillery hardly
got a look in, as it was far down the table,
near to the city. Instead, the impetuous
French gendarmes made their charges on
the Imperialist infantry and horse - well,
almost anything that moved really. Also,
unlike the real battle, they were pretty
successful. They had no artillery from
their own side to block and the Spanish
arquebusiers didn’t make mincemeat of
them. Tim Whitworth is terrible to behold
when commanding gendarmes! At least, I
tend to keep clear of him when the joy of
command overtakes him...
I, on the other hand, commanded the
Swiss pike: you know, those chaps who
never rout and who are more than a
match for the Imperialist landsknechts?
Well, when I command them, they aren’t
a match and they do run away. That
twelve-sided dice inevitably throws low
when it comes to morale, especially for
charging home. Arrgh! To be fair, the
Top: Action around the Mirabello.
Left and below: Imperialists sortie

from the city of Pavia.
110

Swiss did rally and had some partial CONCLUSIONS prints. At times, the sheer chaos of battle
success, but more to hold the Imperialist was well represented. The addition of
forces, rather than break through their Perhaps the most overriding conclusion an extra table at each side of the main
ranks. The Imperialists did make strong for Nick was that the game was fought table block, to create a cruciform shape
headway towards Pavia and then, later in on too cramped an area for the number would provide more room for the French
the game, the garrison did begin a sortie of figures involved, if it was to reflect and Swiss forces to manoeuvre too and
from the city. Tim’s Landsknecht ‘Black an outcome more true to history. the Swiss camp could also be shown.
Band’, in French pay and alienated from The Mirabello deer park was a very Lengthening the entire table by another
their brothers-in-arms on the Imperialist large area. Nick observed that the two feet would be desirable, too and
side, looked as though they might Spanish should have had more room might enable the French to use their
become gobbled-up as a ‘landsknecht to manoeuvre. It is true that the battle artillery properly. After the game, Nick
sandwich’ between the garrison troops felt a bit cramped when all the troops looked at me and, paraphrasing Roy
and those advancing from the deer park were on the table, although, it should be Schneider in Jaws, said “We’re going to
wall. In which case, they might have died said, the massed pikes took on a very need a bigger table!”
to a man as their historical counterparts authentic look - just like contemporary
did. As it was, the strong French attack
at the Imperialist centre prevented BIBLIOGRAPHY
further advance. Like so many big scale
games, a decisive outcome was difficult Pavia 1525 (The Climax of the Italian Wars). By Angus Konstam.
to achieve, especially during a one-day Osprey Campaign series #44, 2005
show. Besides which, much time was The Art of Renaissance Warfare: From the fall of Constantinople to the Thirty Years War
spent interacting with the public, and that By Stephen Turnbull. Greenhill Books 2006
is the essence of demonstration games.
Renaissance France at War: Armies, Culture and Society C1480-1560 (Warfare in History)
Hopefully, they showcase and promote By David Potter. Boydell Press 2008
the hobby. Overall, though the weight of
French heavy cavalry in the centre had Weapons and Warfare in Renaissance Europe: Gunpowder, Technology and Tactics.
By Bert S. Hall. The Johns Hopkins University Press 2001
made deep inroads into the Imperialist
centre and was being exploited by the The Art of War in Italy 1494-1529 (Classic Reprint) By F. L. Taylor. Forgotten Books 2009
supporting infantry. The Spanish did
Mercenaries and their Masters: Warfare in Renaissance Italy. By Michael Mallett and
not have room to manoeuvre and were William Caferro. Pen and Sword 2009
disrupted by the wooded areas of the
deer park. Their vanguard was in danger The Landsknechts. By Douglas Miller. Osprey Men-at-Arms series
of being cut-off, even with help from Landsknecht Soldier 1486-1560. By John Richards. Osprey Warrior series
Pavia’s garrison. It definitely looked like
The Swiss at War 1300-1500. By Douglas Miller. Osprey Men-at-Arms series
Francis 1st’s dream of an Italian empire
would be fulfilled in 2009! Condottiere: Infamous Mediaeval Mercenaries 1300-1500.
By David Murphy. Osprey Warrior series
Below: The splendour of Renaissance warfare, Italian Mediaeval Armies 1300-1500. By David Nicolle. Osprey Men-at-Arms series
- why we wargame it!
111

GCN
SPOTLIGHT!
By Anthony Barnes - GCN President • To set a unified standard of excellence.
All our clubs have to meet minimum
standards to be a member of the GCN
network. However, many clubs go
WHAT IS THE GCN?
even further than this.
• To enhance the gaming community
The GCN is a network of gaming clubs
and to bring together the member
located throughout England, Scotland,
clubs at various events, shows,
Wales and Northern Ireland. As well as
tournaments and campaign weekends.
having member clubs throughout the
UK, we now also have associate member What are the benefits of joining the GCN:
clubs located in other parts of the world.
The first of these affiliate GCN clubs are • Free CRB (Criminal Bureau Record)
based in the Philippines, and looking checks. CRB checks are required if
even further into the future, we are your club has members under the age
• Opportunities to work alongside
hoping to expand the network and have of 18.
some of the world’s largest
more associate clubs in other EU and non • Extremely competitive PLI (Public miniatures companies.
EU countries and also in the USA as well. Liability Insurance) rates.
• Exclusive promotions with numerous
The aim of the GCN is to bring together • Your club advertised in the ‘Club companies and manufacturers.
both clubs and gamers: Listings’ on the GCN and Games
In partnership with Wargames Illustrated
• For all our member clubs to provide Workshop web sites.
the GCN hope to expand the network
a safe and friendly environment for • Your club regularly advertised in even further by encouraging more and
people of any age and ability to attend Wargames Illustrated and other more historical gaming clubs and groups
and play tabletop games. wargames publications. to look at joining our network.
VISIT THE ONLINE AT WWW.GCNM.ORG.UK

AVON Redcar Ironbeards Rygas Roughnecks LANCASHIRE
Coatham Memorial Hall Whipton Institute Social Club
Portbury Knights [email protected] [email protected] Coppull and Chorley Knights
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St Mary’s Centre The Three Daws
112
282 GCN.indd 1 14/10/11 14:50:24

SPOTLIGHT
GCN Club
The GCN is currently working with various
companies as ‘partners’. Being partners with
companies and manufacturers brings benefits to both
GCN member clubs and the respective companies.
The GCN is able to promote new products, events
and tournaments and game systems directly into the
networks member clubs. We have also on occasion
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All in all the future is looking good for the GCN.
Why not contact us for more information and look to
become a part in its success?
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SURREY WILTSHIRE Kirriemuir Wargames Club

Guide Hall, Roods
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Warhammer World Park Barn Centre Moredon Community Centre
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Botley Baptist Church Hall Newtown Sports and Social Club Dene Park Community Centre
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King and Queen Pub Laserquest
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The Terminus, 153 Terminus Road, Eastbourne Unit 2, Grimston St, Hull, HU13HG Quuens University, University rd. BT7 1NF
Gatekeepers Wargames Club [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
The Gateway Education Centre
[email protected] Gambit Games Leeds Nightowls Gaming Club PHILIPPINES
St Leonards Church Headingley Community Centre
STAGS [email protected] [email protected] Galleria Basterds
Hadley Scout Hut Neutral Grounds , 2nd Floor, West Wing,
[email protected] Outpost 47 Leeds Games Club Robinson’s Galleria Mall, Mandaluyong City,
Seven Sisters Pub Headingley Community Centre [email protected]
STAFFORDSHIRE [email protected] [email protected]
Tamworth Gaming Club Walberton Wargamers York Garrison Wargaming Club Eye of Terror Gaming Club
Central Methodist Church Pavillion, Warburton Playing Field Burton Stone Community Centre Alabang Town Center. Neutral Grounds Store,
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa
[email protected]
SOMERSET TYNE & WEAR SCOTLAND
Rolling Hills Gaming Club
OL Grumblers The Gamers Outpost Gaming Kingdom 202 E. Rodriguez Avenue, Rom 307
The Wagon and Horses, Bath Rd 4a Beaconsfield Road, Gateshead NE9 5EU The meeting place RAF Lechars Elco Building, Quezon City 1112
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
SUFFOLK WARWICKSHIRE Dunfermline Wargaming & Roleplaying Fellowship Warmachine/Hordes

Del Farquharson Community Centre See website for gaming venues and contact details
Newmarket Knights Nuneaton Model and Gaming Club [email protected] www. wmhphilippines.blogspot.com
Stud Lands Park Community Centre The Cube, Edward Street
113
282 GCN.indd 2 14/10/11 14:50:42

00 14/9/11 12:38 Page 1
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WI290 C.indd 1 14/10/11 14:55:15

WI290 D.indd 1 14/10/11 14:55:44
WI290 E:Layout 1 14/10/11 15:00 Page 1
25mm and 28mm

Quality Figures
Upcoming Shows:
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Other available WW1 vehicles
WW1V01 Rolls Royce armoured car £22
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WI290 B:Layout 1 14/10/11 14:54 Page 1
PENARTH & DISTRICT WARGAMERS

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Turn your Lead to Gold!

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WI289 Next Issue page:Layout 1 19/10/11 09:56 Page 1
T h e W O R L D ’ S P R E M I E R TA B L E T O P G A M I N G M A G A Z I N E
“I must confess to you, Sir, that during these

A ZINE
commotions in North America, I have never
M AG
M ING been more at a loss how to act.”
P GA
AB LETO
IER T
’S PREM
W ORLD
The Lieutenant General the Honourable
Thomas Gage
The American War of Independence was,

as they say, a long time coming. Despite a
great deal of modern romantic mythology
TO about the Revolution, it would seem that
ROAD ON
LUTI both the American colonists and the
REVO
British government were none too keen
to enter into war.
In WI291's theme articles, we'll take
you from the early days of 1765
s of through to the Siege of Boston in
y battle
The earl can War 1775, with a few wargaming stops
m e ri
the A
endence
of Indep along the way. Learn a bit more about
protagonists like Paul Revere and
Thomas Gage, throw some tea in a
harbor, convert your own New
England Farmhouse, and enjoy the
first steps toward the forging of a
new nation.
’S
KELLY As ever there will be plenty
O E S
HER more to enjoy, with articles
covering a range of
y 2011
different periods.
nuar
291 - ja €6.50 enoit e
Issue 0 • planc
Waterlo
gam
o
£4.5
US $8.5
0 • Au
s $12.0
0
les zo
uaves ch army
Massive
WI291 hits the stores
e Fren
of th E!
MOR
6444 ry lions”
0957-
ISSN 01
SIKH W
ARS
an army
The “ang
AND
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h just before Christmas,
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Death of
PO NAN
YO U
R OP order your copy today,
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subjec
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Cover
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WI290 Cover:Layout 1 18/10/11 14:33 Page 1

Issue 290 - december 2011

clad in iron the battle of marengo wargaming 1866

From the editor

WI290 Contents.indd 1 18/10/11 10:46:58

contents tabletop musings:

WI290 Contents.indd 2 18/10/11 10:47:29

WI290 News Final.indd 2 18/10/11 11:39:36

WI290 News Final.indd 3 18/10/11 11:49:07

WI290 News Final.indd 4 18/10/11 11:48:22

Celebrate the launch of Warbus Tours

WI290 News Final.indd 5 18/10/11 11:48:46

UK 96 Europe 144 US $192 AUS/NZ $288 Wargames Illustrated,

Whitemoor Court Industrial Estate

Newark, DE 19702, USA

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Address................................................................................................................ Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Card number: Expiry date:

TO SUBSCRIBE ON-LINE VISIT

WI289 Subs Page.indd 1 16/9/11 11:56:45

FOF 3: AMBUSH ALLEY

290 OSPREY.indd 1 14/10/11 15:10:20

Carrius.indd 1 14/10/11 12:30:34

Otto Carius’ original Tiger, number 217.

Carrius.indd 2 14/10/11 12:31:27

Carrius.indd 3 18/10/11 10:50:10

CARIUS TAKES COMMAND

Carius may take Company Morale Checks as if he were the

Carrius.indd 4 14/10/11 12:32:36

New Science Fiction game and

Available to mail order customers

MOD001 Legion Command I 4 figures £5.40 March or Die!

MOD003 Legion in Greatcoat advancing I 4 figures £5.40

The Austro-Prussian War of 1866

- German Austrian Infantry

KEEP UPTO DATE WITH ALL NORTHSTAR NEWS AT: http://twitter.com/nicknorthstar

WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 2 14/10/11 12:33:47

ARMIES AND INTENTIONS TERRAIN a Formation Test to see if they cross

WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 3 18/10/11 10:55:51

WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 4 14/10/11 12:34:28

Opening Moves - Turns 1-4

WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 5 14/10/11 12:35:01

Austrian Foothold - Turn 6

WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 6 14/10/11 12:35:23

Staunch French Defence - Turn 10

WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 7 14/10/11 12:35:51

WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 8 14/10/11 12:36:22

The Final Act - Turns 15-16

WI289-Marengo_COMPLETE.indd 9 14/10/11 12:36:43

One of the heroes of Marengo was Grenadier Brabant

PRICE CODES [C] £6.00

WI290 Trent.indd 1 17/10/11 14:40:25

The two ﬁgures on our ﬂanks have painted examples in the

NORTH STAR: IN THE USA, RECREATIONAL CONFLICT:

ALSO AT U.K. SHOWS WITH WARLORD GAMES

WI290 Trent.indd 2 17/10/11 15:49:24

Narva Battlereport.indd 1 18/10/11 11:00:04

Narva Battlereport.indd 2 18/10/11 11:00:35

GERMAN FORCE SOVIET FORCE

CONFIDENT VETERAN CONFIDENT TRAINED

MOD001 Legion Command I 4 figures £5.40 March or Die!

MOD003 Legion in Greatcoat advancing I 4 figures £5.40