Action at Twin Farms - by Charles Grant

Over Christmas my wife and I headed for the sun, which is the reason that I have not posted for a bit; however, as part of my reading list I took two of my favourite books - "Battle" by Charles Grant and "Operation Warboard" by Gavin and Bernard Lyall. Now, whilst I have had these books for decades and thumbed through on countless occasions, I had never actually read them from cover to cover.

I was taken by the introductory scenario in "Battle", the Action at Twin Farms and was inspired to have a go. I did not use the rules in the book, chosing to use my own, for two reasons. First I am not keen on the machine gun and artillery grid system and second, I wanted to introduce the idea of suppression, suppressing fire and the effect this has on command.  This allows some fire and manouvre.

Also, I changed the forces from Russians versus German to British versus German. I  gave the British a carrier platoon as a substitute for the third half track. The Germans have a platoon plus, while the British have three platoons, including a light mortar. Here is the scenario from the book:

This is how the battlefield looks when laid out on my 6 x 4 table:

The table is 180 degrees different to the map. North is to the left and I have called the top farm' East Farm and the bottom farm, West Farm.  The German dispositions are also shown; on the far top left is the anti tank team supported by a machine gun in the copse to their rear. Around West Farm are the remaining Germans, with a second machine gun by the gate covering the road. British forces are off the table.

I decided to start the scenario as Grant did, with the first (1 Platoon) half track coming into range of the German anti-tank team:

The action kicks off with the Germans firing the panzerschreck, which misses and a burst of machine gun fire, which hits one of the British infantry in the half track. They throw for suppression but they are OK.

The British cry, "ambush left" and debus from the half track fearing another anti tank round and the vehicle machine gun pours fire into the anti tank team eliminating the loader.

A second half track comes onto the board.

In round two the remaining German anti-tank gunner decides to make a run for it and is cut down by rifle fire and the half track pours fire into the corner of the copse taking out the machine gun and loader, but not before they cut down two further members of 1 platoon. The German ambush is eliminated. The 2 platoon half track continues to move around the east flank and the first vehicle of the carrier platoon arrives:

On move three the German commander is concerned about his exposed east flank and orders additional infantry to reinforce East Farm. At the same time the second German machine gun, forward of West Farm, opens up on the now debussed 1 Platoon, causing a further casualty and suppressing 1 Platoon.

The British dismount 2 Platoon, while the german machine gun continues to take its toll, eliminating another rifleman in 1 Platoon.

British command falters and for a while they are halted by the heavy fire coming from West Farm. Meanwhile the Germans pull back some forward infantry on their left flank and continue to reinforce East Farm as infantry dash across the road:

On move 5 the german machine cuts down another member of 1 platoon, which remains trapped on the edge of the field next to their vehicle. The British commander, again with a weak command throw, decides to try to out flank the Germans to the east by deploying the carrier platoon.

Also 2 Platoon pushes forward and engages the Germans in East farm causing one casualty:

In move six, the german reinforcment from West Farm arrives in East Farm and the machine gun causes another two casualties in 1 Platoon, which breaks and pulls back out of range.

On move seven, the German commander decides to redeploy some of his forces in West farm, including the machine gun, so that they can engage 2 Platoon. Meanwhile 2 Platoon accounts for one German in East Farm.

This creates a slight lull for the British, who despite the loss of 1 Platoon reorganise and push forward, with the carriers sweeping around the flank and a 2" morter is deployed, which engages the german machine gun, but the rounds fall short:

On move 8 number 2 Platoon is swept by fire from the newly deployed machine gun and lose 3 men, including their officer, meanwhile the British pour fire from the carriers and the 2 Platoon bren gun into East farm to little effect. This exchange of fire continues and 2 Platoon lose another man, and they too pull back. The British carriers open up on the Germans in East farm causing two casualties and the defence of the farm begins to collapse as the Germans are suppressed.

On move nine the German commander decides to withdraw as British mortar fire takes out the remaining machine gun and the carriers eliminate the defenders in East Farm.

The British carrier platoon dismounts to sweep through the farm while the Germans escape off the to the southwest.

Having lost over half of his troops the British commander decides to advance no further and consolidates around East Farm. The battle ends. While the British have control of the field the German commander has done well to halt the enemy advance and inflict heavy casualties. A thoroughly enjoyable scenario.

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: