¿Pólvora negra, en serio?

Readers may recall I mentioned tweaking the RCW amendments used at the recent game at WMMS to use in a Spanish Civil War setting. After making only slight changes we set too yesterday. I fielded three battalions of three or four companies each, some of which had attached LMG or 50mm mortars. They had additional support of either anti-tank or field guns and a tank, armoured car or truck.

I can't make a coherent blow by blow account of the action in pictures but below are some shots  followed by our thoughts.

The peace of the Hermitage is about to be shattered.

The Republican Brigade commander, the flag bearer is a runner who could be sent to a battalion commander and allow a failed order roll.

Air support could arrive if the enemy rolled a blunder followed by a roll of four.

The Nationalist brigade command with runner.

The Anarchist battalion "rushes" towards the Hermitage.

The other battalions of Internationals converge on the farm complex.

The battalion of Regulares also "rush" towards the Hermitage.

The Anarchists "rushed" a little quicker.

A company of La Legion head to take cover in the station building.

The Republicans deploy a French 75 to make sure the Nationalists do not get too comfortable in the station.

The Hermitage becomes the key focus of the action.

Meanwhile the Internationals hunker down and trade shots with La Legion taking cover on the slight railway embankment.

A blunder ( a FUBAR in our game) by the Nationalists brings a staffing run from a "Chato"

The Nationalists get no further than the railway coming under heavy Republican fire from the farm constantly disordering (pinning) them.

By turn ten of twelve the Republicans were holding onto the Hermitage and getting the better of the Regulares and with the Legion pinned at the railway we decided that the Nationalists would withdraw, if we had used the Black Powder broken brigade rule they would have been doing so anyway.

We thought the rules worked pretty well a little more fine tuning is in order but our next SCW outing will be another go with Rapid Fire Reload, last used in May 2022! Tempus Fugit.

Until next time.

KBO

Away Day

Yesterday saw my First Carlist War forces make the trip over to GHQ. Dave set up a suitable table, for a change Dave took control of the Carlists while William and myself took the Isabellinos. The Isabellinos consisted of two divisions the British Auxiliary Legion division was commanded by William while I commanded the second, Spanish division. Dave split his Carlists into three smaller divisions.

Dave will post his customary report over on his blog sometime tomorrow LINK be sure to pop over to read all about it. In the meantime here are some photos to tempt you further.

Cavalry Clash

The Carlists Arrive In Town

This Is Going To End Badly Chaps

Contact

Carlist Cavalry Threaten The Flank

It looks All Up For The Carlists Or Is It?

Until next time................

Toddle pip & KBO

Way On Down South

Today saw us revisiting the War of the Triple Alliance again using Black Powder rules 

The Brazilian forces are marching to join up with their Argentine and Uruguan allies, the Paraguayan force as been tasked with heading off the Brazilian advance brigade before it can join up with it's allies thus splitting them in two. 

The game was set at our now standard twelve turns, there is an advanced Brazilian guard of two battalions and an attached mountain gun battery covering the possible advance of any Paraguayan incursion. The rest of the brigade will be required to pass an order test to join them after turn two, the allies will test to appear in turn five.

Time is obviously of the essence for the Paraguayans, unfortunately this does not seem to have been passed down to the brigade commanders or the ground is tough going. It is turn three before they get near to contact, which doesn't succeed to well both infantry and cavalry assaults are repulsed in swift order by determined Brazilian resistance. By turn eight the allies had arrived in force and one of the Paraguayan brigades was broken, the attack was called off.

Although Dave had a sound plan the dice gods yet again deserted him this day.

TTFN & KBO

Alliance Ascendent

The first game using my Triple Alliance collection took place here at OHQ yesterday.

A straightforward encounter game to start with to get a feel of both forces and influence the next additions.

The Alliance forces left flank brigade, two Argentinian battalions and the small Uruguayan Libertad battalion.

The Paraguayans had two brigades of three battalions, the right supported with a 12pdr smoothbore battery and the left three battalions supported by a cavalry squadron.

The Brazilian contingent consisted of, in the centre a brigade of three battalions and on the right a brigade consisting of an infantry battalion, a cavalry squadron and a 4pdr mountain gun battery.

The Alliance forces won the initiative and advanced along the entire front to form a line between the two areas of boggy ground.

The Paraguayans advanced along their front also but sent their cavalry around the boggy ground the threaten the Alliance right flank.

Has can be seen above the Paraguayan advance became a little strung out. The little smoke puffs denote that the unit as yet to first fire, which gives them an added fire dice when first doing so.

The Brazilian cavalry in the bottom corner have been sent to counter the Paraguayans cavalry attempt to turn the flank.

The Paraguayan cavalry duly charged, they had been given the terrifying charge rule, this means the charged unit must take a break test, I realised on reading it's description for the blog that I had tested the Brazilian cavalry before contact when it should have been done on contact which may have had a different outcome on the game. The Brazilian cavalry retired and the Paraguayans decided not to follow up and risk the passing fire from the Brazilian gun battery. Then again it sounds odd has the Brazilians being cavalry could have counter charged before taking test🤔

Meanwhile in the centre the lead Paraguayan battalion was taking heavy fire and failed their resulting break test, the Paraguayans had the stubborn rule which with the addition of one to their usual stamina of three makes them very resilient, which they were, they did not give way easily. However on this occasion the re-roll was exactly the same score as the first!

The left Paraguayan brigade also came under heavy fire first one and then another becoming shaken. This resulted in both brigades being broken and retiring from the field.

A most enjoyable first outing lasting five turns and just under two hours of play.

The following were given to the Paraguayans to reflect their historical nuance's as used by Alan Perry for their games.

Stamina of four.

Terrifying charge.

Stubborn

Tough Fighters 

Terrain wise crossing the marshy areas we deducted a D6 from any movement as we had already halved the movement rates due to 5x4 table being used. We also adopted the one move and fire rule from the Glory Hallelujah ACW supplement.

There are now army sheets for the War for Valour and Fortitude so we may give them a run out next month. Until next time..........

TTFN & KBO