Just for fun

 These figures were first painted in the 1980s by me and have been working their way around our extended family until they were finally given back to me four decades on!

A bit of touching up was needed but they still look rather nice:

Battle Report - The Battle of Borodino 7 September 1812

The creation of a new wargames room in a spare bedroom and the acquisition of an 8 x 4 foot playing surface allowed me to consider some larger scale Napoleonic battles.  I was also keen to give my recently painted Russian army a try out.  I decided it would be fun to try out the Battle of Borodino and with will coming over for the day it was an opportunity not to be missed.

I based the battle on the Command and Colors scenario, but suitably enlarged to allow a greater number of troops and a more expansive battlefield. I played the Russians and Will the French.

This is a general view of the area of action looking from the French side.  The two Russian redoubts are visible in the centre, and with Borodino village with the bridge on the left:

From one side looking along the French lines:

The opposite view.  The stream is fordable but the boggy area acts as a hinderance for troops trying to cross. There are fords for cavalry and artillery to cross:

A view from the Russian Grand Redoubt looking out towards Borodino village:

The action kicks off with a French demonstration against Borodino village, which is held by Russian Light Infantry:

Supported by artillery French light troops storm the village:

After a brisk battle the French take Borodino, but decide not to occupy it due to the threat of Russian artillery in the redoubts overlooking the village.

This ended the action in this area for a while and attention shifted to the other flank, as Poniatowski's French Corps begins to move towards the Russian left. The action begins with some infantry, supported by Lancers and Chasseurs a Cheval moving forward to clear the Russian skirmishers from the woods.  The French cavalry are chased off and pursued by some Cossacks:

A fierce firefight follows around the central wood with the Russian light supported by artillery

However, weight of numbers and artillery fire eventually overcomes the Russian light and the central wood is cleared by the French:

With Poniatowski's Corps advancing, the Russians observe the ominous sight of a mass of Cuirassiers moving up in support:

The Cossacks pursue the Chasseurs but are then chased off by Cuirassiers

The French now pour huge numbers of cavalry into the Russian flank and a major action unfolds:

A great melee between French cavalry and Russian infantry and Cossacks ensues. One of the Cuirassier regiments is forced back.

Russian Grenadiers in square formation beat off the French light cavalry

Suddenly it is all quiet on the Russian left flank.  Having suffered heavily the Russian infantry have held off against the cavalry attack, although the Cossacks have been destroyed and the cohesion of units has been lost. In the distance large columns of French infantry can be seen advancing.

The Russians attempt to consolidate before the inevitable infantry attack.

French light and Russian Jaegers battle it out in the left hand woods.  The Russians would be overwhelmed.

The situation for the Russians on their left flank is becoming critical.  Despite fending off numerous attacks, Russian numbers are dwindling.  Some heroic charges give temporary respite but each time the Russians lose more men and the French continue to advance.

The Russians attempt to consolidate their position on the left, continually threatened by cavalry and bombarded by artillery.  The Russian guns on the left have now been silenced.

In an attempt to relieve pressure on his left flank, the Russian commander decides to demonstrate on the right.  Several regiments of cavalry and infantry begin to cross the stream, instantly attracting the attention of the French.

This gives the left flank a breather and the Russian infantry pull back towards the centre.

Russian infantry move across the bridge towards Borodino village.

In order to regain the initiative and to counter the move on the Russian right the battalions of French Imperial Guard and Grenadiers a Cheval advance.

The Russian left has been restored.

French guard cavalry led by no less than Napoleon himself crash into the Russian infantry on the bridge, but they are driven off by a counter charge by Russian Curassiers.

Almost at the same time the lead French Guard battalions, again with Napoleon urging them on, attack the Grand Redoubt.  The Russian guns fire cannister into the French ranks

A counter attack by Russian infantry destroys one of the depleted Guard battalions and the other is forced into square by the Russian Curassiers.

One of the Russian guns in the redoubt is destroyed but is quickly replaced by infantry who charge into the Guard battalion, destroying it.  Napoleon is seen being carried off to the rear, badly wounded.

The Russian Cuirassiers follow up and smash into a French battalion in the river bed

Now the Young Guard arrive and cause further Russian casualties, but they are chased off by Russian dragoons. The Russian artillery is now seriously depleted but fights on.

However, the Russian commander looks over to his left and can see the remnants of his left flank retreating to the rear.  Despite success around the redoubt, overall Russian losses mean that the day is lost. 

The Russian withdraw back towards Moscow and to lick their wounds.

This was an excellent game which used a mix of old Minifig and Warrior figures, while the French also had Ros infantry. The rules used were our in house version of Command and Colors, used without the cards.

The final score was 15 - 13 to the French, quite a close result.

It took me a while to understand how best to use the Russians.  Their musketry is terrible but they are very resilient and do well in close combat.  The solution was to engage the French close up, which was costly but gave results.

Ros Napoleonics

 I have had some Ros 25mm figures sitting on the work bench for a while just awaiting some final touches and basing.  Yesterday I finally completed them.

The first batch, just for a change, are some French Imperial Guards, painted as the Dutch 3rd Regiment of Grenadiers:

I have also finished another British line battalion:

I have added these to two other battalions painted a month or so ago to form a new brigade:

I still have some fusiliers and a light infantry battalion to finish.

And some Tommies........

 Also from Irregular Miniatures, I have just finished painting a British infantry company for my WW1 trench war project.  Again, nice figures and fun to paint:

A New Project - WW1 Trench Warfare

For some time I have been contemplating some games based on later WW1 battles but finding a trench system has proved a challenge.  Recently I was lucky enough to get hold of a big box of Amara vacuformed plastic trenches; enough to cover both sides of a 6 x 4 table.  I spent several days painting them.

I was hoping to play these games in 15 -20mm scale but my recent acquisition is really for 28mm figures. So I decided to buy a British and german force from Irregular Miniatures and have been having fun painting the figures.  First off the production line are group of Germans:

A similar size British force is nearing completion.  I plan to steadily work through the figures over the coming weeks.

Risk Fantasy Figures

 I have had a game of Lord of the Rings Risk hanging around unused for years.  I doubt I will ever use it but the little figures have some gaming potential.  They are about 10 -12 mm scale and consist of several foot and mounted types.  For me, they were just a painting opportunity waiting to happen.

For someone wishing to start up a fantasy game or campaign the figures can be found easily and acquired cheaply.  Yhis is what I have done so far:

Some elephant and troll types:

A Nazgul and Black Riders:

A host of Orcs or Goblins:

Some Rohan riders:

And Elf archers:

A squadron of Eagles:

I have no idea what I will do with them, but they look much better now!

Ancient Ancients

 I have been keen to try out Command & Colors Ancient battles, having had some success with the Medieval set of rules.  I also wanted to get my ancinet figures on the table, that I have been steadily basing for the last couple of years.  A visit by Bob Black seemed the perfect opportunity to give it a go.

I set up two fictional armies; a Greek based army, The Aegeans, that was a a mix of greeks and Persians and the Adriatics, a Roman, North African mix.

The two armies faced each other off across a flat plain with just a couple of palm wooded areas. The Aegeans are nearest the camera:

With a large number of heavy infantry, supported by some light skirmishers, light and medium cavalry and some elephants:

The Adriatic army has a heavy infantry centre, supported by skirmishers, African medium infantry and two units of medium cavalry.

The Aegean Commander riding ahead of the elephants.

The African component consisting of spear and shield medium infantry and some skirmishers with javelins.

The Adriatics made the first move with some archers coming forward to attack the Aegean skirmishers.  This was ineffective.

The Aegean light responded and the Adriatic skirmishers were driven off with some casualties.

The Aegeans then made a bold move on the right flank, with blocks of heavy infantry moving towards the Adriatic left:

Despite a vigorous defence by the Adriatic heavy infantry, the Aegeans pushed forwards.

Over on the Aegean right flank some Adriatic cavalry and skirmishers advanced to take hold of the small palm wood.  The Aegeans countered with some light cavalry and heavy infantry.  The Aegean cavalry suffered heavy losses, but the remorseless Agean infantry destroy the skirmishers an drive out the remaing enemy cavalry.

In an attenmpt to take off the pressure on his crumbling left flank the Adriatic commander orders forward his African regiments, consisting of light and medium infantry:

However, it is too late.  The Aegean infantry, having suffered some casualties, continue to press into the Adriatic left and the left wing collapses.  This pushes the Adriatics beyond their exhaustion point towards a crushing defeat.

This was a great game and understanding the rules was greatly helped by our recent foray into Command & Colors Medieval games.  Troop classes are reflected by the little coloured dots on the bases.  The figures are a mix of early Minifigs, Garrison and some Hinchliffe elephants.  I am keen to beter organise my troops so that some more historical actions may take place.