HMGS / Pacific Southwest

Hello fellow gamers. Here is a link to the Battlebook Facebook page that has been set up to show the many battles being fought using the Fire & Maneuver game mechanic.

https://www.facebook.com/battlebook

On this site, you’ll see the pics of the great Khartoum siege put on in front of hundreds of people at the Anaheim Muzeo during their recent Victorian Era exhibit.

Also, you’ll see some of the pics from the battle of Tarawa that was done to commemorate the Pacific war.

Most recently, you’ll see the pics of a battle “somewhere in Poland in 1944″ where the Russians attempted to take a critical rail junction from the Germans before their reinforcements arrive.

If you appreciate the pics and love to follow more of St, Crispin’s and Battlebook’s activities, feel free to like the page so you can see further content as it becomes available.

Under the direction and excellent organization of Adam H., another Aero hobbies (Santa Monica CA) game day has come and gone. With several events planned, even the rainy day didn’t prevent active gamers from their appointed dice rolling.  Reported by WR from Wargamerabbit.

Game presentations: WR’s 25mm /28mm Napoleonic game representing a 1805 Elchingen like action, a 28mm WAB Siege and Conquest game (storming the old french castle), and a 15mm FOW desert battle. Three different game write ups given below.

WR’s Napoleonic game was a scenario loosely based upon the battle of Elchingen 1805. Dan brought his early Imperial French so WR rostered up a 1805 Austrian force for tabletop action.

French Lannes V corps: Two French divisions of line and legere regiments (9-10 battalions). One battery of 8lb artillery for each division. Attached light cavalry brigade of three regiments (2x hussar, 1x chasseur a cheval) and 4lb horse battery. Small reserve artillery command of 2x 12lb positional batteries.

Austrian Column under FML Riesch: 8 line regiments (8×3 btns.), small hussar half regiment, my 1790′s carabinier regt for favor, 2x 6lb positional artillery, 1x cavalry batteries.

Table overview with Austrian forces deployed on the hillside (Abbey of Elchingen) and along the right side of photo.

Austrian deployment at start

Austrian plan….hold the hillside with the abbey position, then push the French right flank with strong Austrian force.Even an Austrian can follow those orders.

Austrian massed forces on Austrian left flank await the french appearance

French arrive. Their deployment was one command per turn….so the order of appearance was…French infantry division, French light cavalry brigade, French infantry division, reserve artillery (2x 12lb) if required. First French division arrives below. Two legere and two-line regiments with their 8lb battery.

First French division arrives...

Seeing the approaching French, the Austrian plan is placed in motion.

Austrian left flank advances....with light forces leading. Austrians on hill retain their positions

French expand their deployment and their light cavalry arrive to support their infantry.

French expand their deployment with light cavalry brigade arriving...

Austrians, in parade formations, advance to engage the French legere. Looking good with their SYW tactics. A few supporting battalions in square, seeing the advancing French cavalry.

With stately dressed lines, the Austrians first clashes with the approaching French infantry...

The second French division arrives and advances towards the abbey of Elchingen on the hill. Austrian freikorp skirmishers engage their counterparts as French columns push them back.

French 8lb artillery engage the advancing Austrian close order line.

Austrian lines take losses from French artillery...

French light cavalry call a charge. Some Austrian line battalion retire in confusion or disorder (shaken) before the charge. The second line Austrian squares and their grenadier support stand firm. (game note: Pre-formed squares don’t check morale from declared charges)

After some French cavalry regiments charge, the Austrian line weaken...squares are formed in second line...

Austrian senior command arrives to rally the Austrian lines….

Austrian FML Riesch rides up to steady his troops...squares are formed

Overview of the Austrian left flank action....

Austrian counter-play….Austrian heavy cavalry (using my Austrian 1790′s carabinier regiment for this battle…they never see the tabletop)...position for calling a charge. French are surprised and fall into disorder (shaken). (note the reversed miniature in battalion formation)

Meanwhile, the Austrian right ride up their cavalry to charge the started French infantry...

Charge effects….French infantry routed away, soon the horse battery will be overrun by the battered Austrian carabinier regiment.

French infantry running away after some hard close action, the venerable French horse battery was next to the disordered Austrian cavalry...

French become active on Austrian left flank. Massed columns, artillery firing and cavalry positioned to charge home on the Austrian infantry.

Left flank again, French columns crash into the shaken Austrian lines, French cavalry sound their trumpeters for charge...

Thundering hoofs, the French light cavalry hussars ride over the Austrian infantry line. Sabers carve a bloody path (ride though).

Austrian lovers...don't look...French cavalry ride over the Austrian infantry...pass the heinz...

French right flank view of the preceding...

Re-organizing themselves, the French resume their advance. Austrians on hillside watch the French advance.

French laft flank sorting themselves out after the sudden Austrian cavalry charge...

French sorted out, back in marching formations, they press forward...

French general Dan has the true measure of the Austrians….

French general Dan has"the measure" of the Austrians....Austrians on hill still look down on the advancing French infantry...

With the Austrian left command shattered, the Austrian plan in pieces….time to think about plan B for Austrians….battlefield retirement.

With Austrian left command totally scattered (40%+ loss), the French look unstoppable...

Final overview as the Austrian weakened left disengages and the Austrian position on the hill act as rearguard.

Austrians pull the plug...time to retire for another day.

Good game Dan. Austrians had their moment in time…but your steady pressure with the veteran French infantry won the day along with well timed French light cavalry charges.

Next time…..Always the next time with Austrians.

WR 

Battle of Elchingen 1805: Link for a little background material.

WarHammer Ancient Battles Game (WAB) with Siege and Conquest

From the words of Adam H., the game master and event organizer….the french castle action report:

Mark, Greg, and I were assaulting a French castle with an Army of Normans at arms in the 12th century.  French lords fighting French lords for stinky cheese, hairy women, and red wine.  The defenders were Larry and Marc.  The attacking force outnumbered the defenders and were able to collapse the main wall and pummel through the gate.  The defender’s crossbows proved lethal, as was well as their motivation to halt the Norman onslaught.  The defenders managed to carry the day, while sustained heavy casualties.

A local monk, positioned in the castle chapel, and fast paint brush work, captured the action for history. Photo and commentary below. Additional photos at: Monk Link photos taken by Monk Larry.

Initial set up....Besiegers ready to advance

Defenders on the crumbling walls

While assault is readied, defenders give he besiegers the old VO5 boiling water treatment

After some sustained door knocking, the hinges give way, and the rush is on...

Meanwhile, with some hand of god's assistance, the besiegers swarm the walls, pushing back the defending crossbowmen....

Overview of the melee besides the castle gate. Seems traffic is heavy going both ways on the same lane....crash!

More brawling under the gate...knights push their way in...

With their militia garrison scattering, two brave but foolish heroes try to stem the tide...knights are thinking speed bumps...

The crafy garrison knights seal the gateway, sealing in the besiegers knights, who are chasing down the fleeing garrison militia.

With gateway blocked and secured, all other besiegers defeated, the rallied crossbowmen go hunting knights quest...fish in a barrel.

Castle siege game (background) and WR's Napoleonic game (foreground) at Aero.

WR’s words of wisdom….castles have one way in….and only one way out. Control the toll booth. WR enjoyed watching the miniature medieval action beside his game. Thanks Adam, Mark, Greg, Larry and Marc for the free show.

Flames of War Desert Game

Now some public announcement words from Christian S. and the 15mm FOW game group.

“Since opposition was a no-show, Panzerregiment 8 held a training exercise using the new mission the Tommies seem to like: “Dust Up”.

      

On Sunday October 23, seven members of the St. Crispin’s Irregulars showed up at the Muzeo in Anaheim for The Queen’s Gallery Exhibit to showcase the Siege of Khartoum using the incredibly colorful and extensive 25mm collection owned by Rod Galati, supplemented by the talented craftsmanship of Frank Patterson and RJ Galati who both developed and built the terrain, boats and many of the buildings. Rod’s amazingly well-painted figures were the talk of the museum as people came through and admired the exhibit set up in the museum theater. The thoroughness of the St. Crispin’s Irregulars in setting up a miniatures tabletop war game display worthy of an H.G. Wells campaign as described in his book “Little Wars”. Her Majesty Queen Victoria herself was awestruck at the fine display of her forces in action against the enemies of her Empire. This may have been an actress playing the part of the Queen, but with a Time Machine on display nearby in the Steampunk: History Beyond Imagination exhibit nearby we could not be sure.

Hundreds of people came through the room throughout the day and spoke positively about the attention to detail and realistic appearance of the layout. Yet Khartoum wasn’t just a tabletop display, it was a full game ready to play. When told it was a game; many of the younger crowd were eager to jump in and start playing. Due to the enthusiastic attention that the Khartoum tabletop was receiving, the battle didn’t get to start until later when the crowds thinned out a bit.

Once they did, four young men followed in the footsteps of many a Victorian-era gentleman by taking command of the elements of both sides to see if History would be repeated…. or changed.

The battle started out well with Her Majesty’s troops gaining the initiative. They manned the walls of Khartoum, watching as the Dervish came into view. Meanwhile, orders went out to the Red Sea Force to move in, and the Nile River Force to start down river. You can see here the troops and their supplies starting on the southern voyage to try and relieve the beleaguered city.

From Rod Galati’s fine 28mm Sudan collection (painted by himself). Steamboats crafted and constructed by the gifted Frank “Bama” Patterson. The British River Force departs from camp at Korti and begins its 400 mile journey – negotiating treacherous cataracts on its way up the Nile to rescue Gordon trapped in Khartoum. The advance guard of the River Force under General Earle, is led by a 9 pounder artillery piece on the bow and a Gatling machine gun on the top deck. The 42nd Highlanders (The Black Watch) man the decks and are in tow.
The Steamboat at Meddina also made steam as she headed out to help evacuate the civilians from the city before the Mahdi’s forces arrived. meanwhile, far across the desert sands, the British Camel Corps were venturing out into the Sahara on their way to the Oasis in an attempt to get some forces to Khartoum as soon as possible.

The Camel Corps, desperate to quench their thirst, makes a determined push for the Wells at Abu Klea driving off a Dervish scouting party. The Camel Corps, led by Gen. Stewart, was an ad hoc formation of hand picked troops from each of the best regiments in the British Army. Their mission was to cut across the desert and make for Metemmeh, along the Nile and board Gordon’s pre-positioned steamboats and make the last hundred mile dash to rescue the city.
The Mahdi meanwhile was doing everything he could to stop the British from thwarting his attempts to make his way to Jerusalem via Khartoum. He sent some of his Dervish across the desert and down the Nile in little skiffs to try and delay the British.

The Hadendowa tribe (Fuzzy Wuzzies of Kipling’s poem) led by the Turco-Sudanese Slave trader, Osman Digna, makes a ferocious attack upon the Red Sea Force as the Brits try and force there way through the rugged mountain passes to gain access to the Nile and then on to relieve Gordon of Khartoum. General Graham in Scarlet tunic upon a white horse leads men of the Naval brigade (Royal Marines & sailors) Scots Guards and Bengal (India) Infantry.

Things were not looking good for the British as the enemy Dervish swept across the barren sands on their way to the walls of Khartoum. The rabble force stretched across the horizon as they swarmed onwards toward the defenders of the city.
Fierce fighting broke out as Her Majesty’s troops engaged the oncoming enemy. Meanwhile, behind them, the Red Sea Force was able to wipe out one of the Mahdi’s units, causing the rest to cower in the sands as the Red Sea Force pushed onwards. In the east, the Camel Corps fought through a number of ambushing Dervish to gain the oasis where they rested and prepared to move on into Meddina to gain more transport upriver.

Alas, it was too late for Her Majesty’s defenders on the walls. The Dervish managed to breach the walls and flooded into the city, causing the remaining British troops and their Egyptian allies to fall back to their internal fortress where General Gordon tried to hold out.

Eventually though, General Gordon managed to fight his way through to the steamboat at the docks to escort the civilians to safety while the city burned behind him. As the sun set on that day’s engagements, Her Majesty’s troops started a slow pullback while the Mahdi’s forces continued their rampage in the abandoned city of Khartoum.
There were so many people at the Muzeo who wanted to see this display again; most of them were just as eager to see the game played through. Special thanks goes out to Rod Galati once again for his generosity and support of this endeavor through the use of his extensive collection of miniatures. Maybe soon another opportunity to replay the History of Khartoum will come to the Muzeo again. The Kabel Gallery is available for the HMGS/PSW to exhibit games in until the end of the year. Please contact VP Harmon Ward for information. If you don’t have an army or know the era very well, please volunteer anyway. We always need a lot of members available to speak to the public about historical miniature gaming.