French Grenadier Guards

These figures are another of my ebay finds.  I have done little to them apart from painting their bases and mounting them on new stands. I think that they are actually Franco Prussian War types, but look OK serving in the Crimea.

The command stand figures are all painted by me and wear bearskins rather than the undress hat worn by the others.

Algerian Reinforcements

Joining my French forces is this unit of Minifigs S Range Algerians. I cannot claim any credit for the painting as this is how they came when bought on line, apart from my painting of the bases and mounting them on MDF rectangles. I did, however, paint the standard bearer and I have noticed an odd yellow streak on the red part of the flag, which I will have to rectify.

Crimean War Sardinian Line Infantry

Another offering from Old John are these Minifigs S Range conversions - Sardinian Line Infantry. This group represents a Brigade and, along with two Regiments of Bersagleri, an artillery battery and some cavalry, will form my Sardinian contingent. This in turn will become part of my French army:

Playing around with hexagons

I continue to look at ways to represent the scenic elements of my Battle Cry and Command and Colors playing areas. Most of my Napoleonic troops have been rebased and organised to fit on a four inch hex gridded table. They are mounted on four stands each 40 x 20mm. Here is an example, a British unit:

Which comfortably sits on a four inch hex:

However, when it comes to buildings it does become a little tight. I have been experimenting and came up with this solution - this is a rough trial example:

A unit can fit easily into the courtyard to represent a defended built up area:

Unfortunately there are those figures that are moulded with rifles and bayonets thrusting out at a low angle. To avoid the bayonets being pushed into the ranks in front I mount these figures on 40 x 25mm bases, such as these Warrior Spanish:

However, joy of joys, these figures also fit into my walled farm hex, albeit with little room to spare:

I am going to take this idea forward with some other designs.

Some new offerings from Old John

I have to admit that I have had these figures hanging around in my must get these done tray for longer than I would like - but at last they are finished. They are a group of Crimean figures produced by Old John converted from Minifigs S Range moulds, and designed to fill some of the gaps in available 25mm figures.

First up is a British command group in 'pork pie' hats:

I have a battlion of infantry that need a command group, so these will fit in nicely.

Next up is a mounted guards officer:

Followed by a mounted higland officer:

Finally we have a Sardinian cavalry trooper:

Project Battle Cry - Trial Run

Having painted sufficient troops for the first scenario, I thought I would set it up to see what it looks like. Unfortunately, my hills hexes which I ordered have arrived, but they are the wrong size. My fault. I did not notice that the company that makes them uses a different measuring point than that used by Warbase; they are too small by about half an inch - doh! I have ordered some more.

In the meantime I set up the first scenario in Battle Cry, which is First Bull Run, using a four inch hex mat.  I already had the hills and woods hexes from an earlier Napoleonic game and put these to good use. The units just about fit a four inch hex, but will look much better and a bit les crowded when I get to use a full five inches. Here are some images:

Project Battle Cry - More Scenery and Buildings

Continuing the construction of the battlefield I have completed the painting of some roads:

This is what they look like joined up with a unit on them. It also gives a feel of what units will look like on the table in relation to the hexagon size:

This is a ford hex:

It is important to note that a crossing needs to be made on a curved section of river, otherwise the road cannot cross at right angles. The ford can also double as a bridge (scratch built from a Peco N scale tunnel kit):

As mentioned before I plan to use 15mm scale buildings and this is how I think I will configure them on the table:

The same building occupied by a unit, which just fits the hex nicely:

I have also picked up some Lilliput Lane items very cheaply on eBay, this one cost 99 pence, plus postage. I added a little paint to the base to help it blend in (not really ACW, but looking ahead to Command and Colors!!!!):

Now all I need is for the hills to arrive. I need to think about trees for woods. These will likely be mounted on bases and free stand within a marked hex on the mat.

Project Battle Cry - Making Scenery

Painting of the ACW troops continues and good progress is being made; I have almost finished the Union forces and artillery limbers. As the paint dries I have turned my attention to the scenery. Having purchased a cloth mat from Hotz Artworks, I now needed to think about hills and rivers etc. After considerble deliberation I have decided to go for MDF hexagons and the very nice people at 'Warbase' up in Dunfermline quickly produced some 5 inch diameter hexes to fit the mat.

I followed the pattern of the terrain hexes in the board game using a simple paint design as follows:

In all I painted around 30. As long as the painting matches the edges of the hex they fit together quite well; here are some of them:

For fields I have used some Astroturf, picked up cheaply as a door mat from the local garden centre, as areas of crops:

For buildings I plan to use 15mm scale structures as these will fit in the hex and leave space for the troops to fit in the hex.


I am considering making some road hexes, which are not used in the boardgame, but, I think, would add to the scenery.

Russian Naval infantry

Further to my quest to confirm whether or not Russian naval infantry had colours this somewhat dramatic picture, which appears to show a mix of army, naval infantry and sailors, does include the Russian navy ensign. But is that for the sailors or the naval infantry?

Help needed - Russian Naval Infantry Flag

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone has a definitive source that can confirm details of Russian naval infantry. In particular I am trying to confirm whether naval infantry carried colours and if they did, what they might look like. I have scoured my books and the internet with no conclusive evidence. Many images show Russian naval infantry carrying the naval ensign, which is a blue St Andrews cross on a white background:

But, is this correct. One source shows some war-game figures with this flag, but with a Regimental number in gold in the centre. There is also a painting of naval infantry and artillery defending Sebastopol and this flag flies behind them. If anyone know of a source that confirms the design of naval infantry colours (if indeed they actually carried them) and could let me know I would be most grateful.

Project Battle Cry - Airfix ACW, Confederates

I have now finished the last batch of infantry that were on the work bench, which completes the CSA forces infantry. I just need to paint a few more cavalry figures to finish the CSA army. Here are the new troops:

Here is the CSA Army as completed so far:

Battle Report - The Battle of Inkerman 5th November 1854

Battle Report – The Battle of Inkerman 5 November 1854

Whilst project Battle Cry gets underway, up in the spare room the Inkerman wargame has been played out over the last four nights. Just to set the scene here is the map of the battlefield and the Russian plan of attack:

The action starts at 6am as General Soimonov and some 6000 troops begin their slog up the Careenage Ravine, which is masked by a dense mist. The plan calls for an attack to be coordinated with Gen Paulov, who will strike up the Quarry Ravine and sweep around the Sandbag Battery. In the real battle Paulov is delayed crossing the Tchernaya River. Using random dice he is awarded a one and a quarter hour delay; Soimonov is unaware of this. The British pickets on the heights above initially do not detect the movement (again random dice, with likelihood increased each roll).

At 6:30am, the British Guards picket at the head of the Careenage Ravine spots movement and open fire. Figures can be seen tumbling amongst the Russian ranks and the dense column falters for a few minutes. The Guards picket continues to pour fire into the tight packed ranks.

By 7am, alerted by the firing, the 2^nd Division forms up under Brigadier Pennefeather, who tries to assess the situation.

At 07:30am the 2^nd Division begins to deploy towards the firing and the pickets near the barrier. By this time the Russian artillery has established itself on Shell Hill and begins to target the 2^nd Division camp.

The British pickets on Victoria Ridge join the fray pouring volleys into the flank of the Russian columns. By now nearly two hundred Russians lie dead on the field.

On the other side of the field, General Paulov’s forces begin their assault up the Quarry Ravine.

Lord Raglan arrives on the field from his headquarters and he immediately orders an 18pdr battery to move forward to home ridge.

The Guards picket begins to sustain losses from Russian skirmishers; however on that flank, troops from the Light Division start to arrive on the field.

At 8:00 am, Lord Raglan receives word from the French that they will support the British and are on their way. At the same time some troops from the 4^th Division under General Cathcart begin to arrive. Around the Barrier the 2^nd Division are now fully engaged with the advancing Russian. Their commander Brigadier Pennefeather is shot from his horse seriously wounded.

A Russian column advancing from the Tchernaya valley assaults the Sandbag Battery, but is held off by the weakened pickets. Help is on the way as Cathcart and his 4^th Division hurry towards this fight.

The British Guards Brigade arrives on the field.

At 08:15am, the Light Division work around to the flank of the advancing columns coming out of the Careenage Ravine and pour volley after volley into their flank. The nearest column loses 25% of its strength, stutters and then falls back. A second column also staggers back under the heavy fire. Soimonov’s right has collapsed.

In the centre the Scots Fusilier Guards (SFG) arrive in the area of the 2^nd Division camp and come under heavy fire from the Russian guns on Shell Hill (the first shots miss). 

Meanwhile the British 18pdr battery unlimbers on Home Ridge and immediately engages the Russian artillery.

On the Russian left, Paulov’s columns storm out of the Quarry Ravine onto the ridge. With virtually nothing in front of them they are in reach of Home Ridge, as the Barrier is taken by the Russians.

The pressure on the remaining pickets at the Sandbag Battery is too great and they fall back. The Russians capture the Sandbag Battery.

 

By 08:30am Paulov’s columns are relentlessly pushing onto Home Ridge. The remnants of 2^nd Division are reduced to isolated companies that buckle under the pressure.

Seeing the danger around the Sandbag Battery, Cathcart orders his 4^th Division to block Paulov’s advance, as the remainder of the Guards Brigade move up behind him in support.

At 08:45am, in the centre, two huge Russian columns move around the Barrier and reach Home Ridge and crash into the remaining 2^nd Division companies. Caught by a volley, General Soimonov is wounded and carried to the rear. Much to his relief, Lord Raglan spots French troops coming up behind the Guards, as a Regiment of Light Infantry march into view.

The Scots Fusilier Guards wheel left away from the Guards Brigade to support 2^nd Division, but continue to receive heavy fire from the Russian guns, losing around 100 men in 15 minutes.

At 9am the Russians capture Home Ridge and the 18pdr battery is overrun, but not before it destroys one of the Russian batteries. The 4^th Division is assaulted by a massive Russian column and is carved up by bayonets and is pushed back away from the Sandbag Battery.

The Russians are now in control of the key positions; the Barrier, the Sandbag Battery and Home Ridge, They decide to launch their reserves to take advantage of the successful assault. A huge block of fresh infantry moves forward.

By 09:30 both the British 2^nd and 4^th Divisions have broken as the relentless push of the dense Russian columns continues. Russian skirmishers harry the Scots Fusilier Guards as they position themselves to block the onslaught.

On the Russian right the British have some success as the light Division pour intense fire into the Rusians causing one column to disintegrate. The allied left is now secured, but the main threat is to their centre and right.

At 09:45, the Russian commander spots the threat developing from the French and orders a Regiment of Grenadiers to reinforce in the area of the Sandbag Battery. The French, however, do not hesitate and the light infantry assault the Russian Grenadiers.

At 10am, Russian infantry are now descending off Home Ridge into the 2^nd Division camp area, slowly forcing the British Guards brigade back. The Scots Fusilier Guards have lost around one third of their number.

On the Russian left, the French light infantry recapture the Sandbag Battery, and are joined by a regiment of Zouaves and another line infantry regiment.

By 10:15 am the French attack checks the Russian advance on their left, although two fresh Russian Regiments are about to join the fray.

Meanwhile, in the area of the 2^nd Division camp the Guards cling on under increasing pressure. A Russian surge forward sees the Colonel of the Scots Fusilier Guards fall and their colours are lost too. The Russian guns can no longer see targets around Home Ridge, so they turn their attention towards the French. The French light infantry in the Sandbag Battery begin to suffer heavily.

At 10:30am, the British Guards finally collapse as the Russian sweep around them. The Coldstreams and Grenadiers fall back. At the same time Russian reinforcements and heavy artillery fire blunt the French attack.

 

By 10:45 the Russians sweep the remaining British Guards from the field. The Russian reserve assaults the French and once more captures the sandbag Battery; the light infantry break and fresh Russian troops slam into the Zouaves forcing them back too. The French attack crumbles.

At 11am the fighting dies down. The Russians are in possession of all of the key terrain features of the Inkerman position. The allies would now need to organise a major assault with fresh troops to dislodge the Russians.

The battle is declared a Russian victory. I thought that this would be a dull game and as we saw during the Alma and Balaclava games the Russians would be swept aside by the superior fire of the British; however; to my surprise the dogged columns stormed onto the ridge and after a bitter struggle were victorious. The pickets fought well and the game mechanisms worked fine. Inkerman provided an interesting and exciting battle.