Espana 1836

This week saw a return to the First Carlist War when we trialed the Black Powder revised turn sequence when firing comes first, see HERE

It certainly changes the game dynamic, I think we both tentatively gave it a thumbs up. We shall revisit it on Dave's bigger table and forces when we return from our respective breaks in June.

The game itself developed into an impasse by the designated usual twelve turns neither side having a clear advantage. 

Whether this is the effect of the sequence change or the fact neither side did a lot for the first three turns remains to be seen.

Here are the usual photos with comments where applicable.

Valencian volunteers take up position among the vines on the Carlist right.

Carlist artillery and a battalion of fresh volunteers anchor the right flank behind their revetment.

While their left is protected by an orange grove occupied by skirmishers.

A blunder sends one of the Carlist battalions charging forward routing the Isabelinos in the process.

They are subsequently charged by the Isabelino heavy cavalry but with their dander up they repulse the attack.

After a couple of dud rockets the next one explodes in the tube!

Having driven off the Carlist skirmishers the two right flank Isabelino battalions form square and keep the cavalry on the Carlist left at bay.

Thats all until next month in the meantime take care and KBO.

Secure The San Marco Pass

The San Marco Pass is a gateway through the local mountainous region vital for both sides of the conflict.

The Carlists fuelled by local knowledge have the initiative, however communication of orders have been an issue (queue failed order rolls). The Isabelinos force also making for the pass has suffered similar problems but were nearer to start with which negated their surprise and resulting chaotic response that a Carlist force was nearer to reaching it than thought.

By the time the Carlist force arrived the Isabelinos were already deployed across the entrance to the pass and ready to repel any Carlist attack. The Carlist commander decided that the fervour of the troops under his command would carry the the day pressed on to attack.

The Carlists advance on the deployed Isabelino infantry.

Acurate fire from the Royal Marine rocket battery causes disorder among the Carlist cavalry.

The British Auxiliary Legion advance against the Carlist right flank.

Continued fire from the rocket battery breaks the will of the Carlist cavalry to continue the fight.

The Isabelino infantry form a defensive line around the entrance to the pass 

The right flank defensive infantry line anchored on the rough terrain continues to disorder the advancing Carlist forces. While on their flank the unopposed cavalry threaten any advance from the Carlist forces onto their left.

Isabelino skirmishers harry the Carlist left flank.

The Carlists finally break one of the Isabelino battalions.

Things are not going well on the Carlist right, a battalion of volunteers is surprised and broken by the Auxiliary Legion lancers so the division on the left cannot expect any support from that quarter.

As dusk falls the Isabelinos hold the entrance to the pass, battered by poor coordination and the constant disordering fire from Isabelino musketry the Carlists withdraw into the shadows of the sierra.

Until next time may all your dice roll high where needed and of course KBO.

Short, Sharp, Shocking.

Short - a little over an hour. Sharp - it was. Shocking - my break tests dice rolls.

Dave came for our bi-weekly game here in OHQ for the planned War of the Triple Alliance game using Black Powder.

The Paraguayan force was holding a fortified position situated in a gap between impenetrable jungle with boggy ground to its front which would hinder any assault.

They had two gun batteries with the support of a small group of horseless cavalry.

The allied forces saw this has a soft target that would be overcome and they could turn the Paraguayan army flank.

Little did they know that the Paraguayan general had wind of this and had despatched a small division to counter the threat. 

The going is slow for the advancing allies allowing the Paraguayan division to get into a favourable position.

The Paraguayan front line is in position.

Throwing caution to the wind (eventually🎲) the Allies push forward on the Paraguayan left.

Paraguayan cavalry move forward to take advantage of any gap created by the infantry.

The Paraguayan infantry launch a charge on the approaching Argentine infantry. I had given the Paraguayan infantry the Terrifying Charge rule, which meant they had to take a break test.

Which they duly failed and retreated behind the Brazilian cavalry. The Paraguayan infantry were held up by the boggy ground saving the cavalry from being hit in the flank.

The adjacent Argentine infantry charge the Paraguayan infantry, they are disordered and shaken by closing fire, yes you guessed it they failed the break test and routed.

At the same time the sole Uraguayan battalion had also charged.

Yes, of course they came second and failed the break test🙄

On the Brazilian left a battalion is shaken and disordered with excess casualties. Anyone with knowledge of Black Powder rules will know what that score means.

In this game rather than a brigade automatically becoming broken when the threshold in the rules is reached I introduced them taking a break test to see if they held firm. Err no!

With just one battalion and gun battery together with the two cavalry squadrons remaining it's all up for the Alliance. I should note that in this game the Alliance cavalry could only charge infantry in the flank or rear unless they are disordered or shaken.

The Paraguayans celebrate there first success here in OHQ. For the record, break tests taken seven break tests passed two! New dice!😂

Until next time happy gaming and KBO.

¿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