An ECW Test Game

 For many a year I have wanted to have a go at English Civil War wargaming, but have been frustrated by the various sets of rules that I have tried.  A year or so ago, Bob Black gave me his massive 28mm ECW collection and I felt that it was time to put some figures on the table.  

A couple of weeks ago Will came over and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try out some ECW rules.  I have had a copy of Bob Cordery's book, 'The Portable Pike and Shot Wargame'.  It is not really a rule book but more a collection of ideas.  Within the book is a set of rules by Alan Saunders, which adapt his own rules to match a gridded playing area.  We decided to give these a go.

Will commanded a Scottish army and I the English.

Two similar armies were laid out on an open table, with a single road and a few low hills:

We worked our way through the rules.  The game begins by both sides rolling for initiative.  If both players roll the same number a random event is introduced from a list within the rules.

As in many ECW encounters our game began with a cavalry engagement on the flank.  This would last most of the game.

Both sides exchanged artillery fire:

The cavalry action went back and forth with a slow accumulation of casualties.  

Infantry units began to close

Will attempted a flank attack on one of my units using another of his cavalry regiments, but that did not go well and they were beaten off.

An English cavalry counter charge occurs against Will's horsemen that have pulled back:

Battle is joined between the two cavalry units as some pikemen try to turn the cavalry flank.

At the same time, I launch my infantry

Battle is joined in the Scottish centre:

Finally on the left Will's cavalry collaps and this allows my cavalry to run riot amongst Will's guns and infantry

The high point of the battle as the Scots are forced back.

Finally the Scots break and the English claim victory.

After a slow start we got the hang of the rules.  They provided a fast moving and really enjoyable game.  We plan to give them another go when we next meet.

ECW by Norman

 Norman recently sent me some more pictures from his vast collection of 1/32 scale figures.  In this case we have a force of Royalist troops forming a last ditch defence against a Parliamentary assault.  I think the figures are mostly from the 'A Call to Arms' range. Very fine they look too:

Parliamentary troops advance towards the town:

Royalist pikemen

Royalist cavalry emerge from the town gate:

Battle is joined:

The Rape of Piddlington - an AWI scenario

 Phil popped over for a couple of days, allowing us the opportunity to put some figures on the table and to play a game:

The peace and quiet of the tiny hamlet of Piddlington is shattered by the fateful cry, "The British are coming".  Unfortunately for Piddlington it has been chosen as an American weapons and ammunition storage site, that has come to the attention of the British commander.  He has ordered a small force to go and destroy the facility.  Word of the plan has reached the Americans and the local Piddlington militia has deployed and a request has been sent for reinforcements.

Soon the red coats of British grenadiers can be seen approaching down the long road leading to the settlement:

Aware of the experience of others of being ambushed in the wild country, the British commander deployed a couple of battalions on each flank to protect the main force, consisting of the commander, a field battery, the grenadiers and a second line battalion.

A Hessian battalion works its way along the left flank:

Meanwhile, the Piddlington town guard has deployed onto a rocky mound adjacent to the road, hoping they can delay the British until reinforcements arrive:

In the settlement itself is a battalion from the county militia and a light gun:

Seeing little opposition ahead, the British send the grenadiers forward to clear the mound, supported by the gun and the line battalion.  A brisk fight enshews and although the town guard take casualties they cling on and deny the grenadiers from taking the little hill.  The county militia move down the road to meet the threat, but suffer casualties from British volleys. After another turn, the county militia break and run from the field:

With nothing to stop them the two right hand British battalions continue to work their way around the right flank.

More American reinforcements arrive and the village is now quite strongly defended:

On the British left the Hessians and British battalion close on the outskirts of Piddlington.

The fighting on the approaches to Piddlington intensifies, with the Town Guard still managing to hold off the British grenadiers.  Two American battalions storm down the road and rout the British line battalion there, but lose one of their own in the process:

With the road clear the Americans charge down the British battery, but run into a hail of grapeshot and are shattered.

The Town Guard numbers fall every turn and having put up a heroic fight they crumble:

The battered British Grenadiers gain the mound, but come under fire from the village.

The British grenadiers decide to pull back from the summit of the mound and await reinforcements.

The Hessians arrive and the British gun moves up with the commander. Also on the British right the two battalions begin to engage the American left.

Although the Hessians are forced back by the American artillery, the other British battlion begins to engage the American gunners.

The British battalion on the left attacks and destroys the American gun.  The American left collapses as two British battalions attack the now thin defences.  Suddenly it is all over, as the American left disintegrates their exhaustion point is reached and the remaining American units pull out of the village.  

The British set about destroying the stores and set fire to the buildings.  The battle became known locally as 'The rape of Piddlington'.

For rules we use Command & Colors Tricorne, and the figures are mostly Airfix plastics, with some other brands thrown in. This proved to be a very enjoyable game.