Copyright © 2026, Philip Robinson. All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced, in whole or in part without prior permission of the creator

Wednesday, 4 June 2014

El Puente En San Byklos

A recent Spanish Civil War game at OHQ using Bolt Action rules, figures and vehicles by Empress Miniatures, buildings by Empress Miniatures and Grand Manner, walls, hedges and trees Last Valley.

The Scenario

Holding the bridge is a unit of the Legion supported by an anti-tank gun and a mortar. Support is expected from two units of Carlist requettes.
Attacking are two units of Anarchist militia, supported by an armoured truck. Support, consisting of two units of Internationals are en route.
The attached military adviser has persuaded the Anarchists to launch an attack on the bridge whilst the defenders are outnumbered rather than wait for the International Brigade to arrive.
The arrival of the supporting units was to be determined by adding a red die to the order dice in the bag at the start of turn four, each time this was drawn each player would roll a D6 with the highest scorer getting an additional order dice put in the bag, when the player wanted to bring the unit on it would have to pass an order test. Even if one side had its two supports on there would still be a dice off with the opposing player having to win to bring on supports.
The attacking player would have to have control of the bridge by turn 12 or it would be deemed that the defenders had further supporting troops arriving in numbers.

The Field Of Battle



The Game

The first three turns saw the Republican forces advancing into position, the armoured car bravely took on the Legion anti-tank gun coming a far from close second, this was to be the Nationalists only success of the game. Turn four and the red was dice was added, the Republicans won the dice off and a unit of International Brigades succeeded in entering the fray, whilst the militia continued to get into position using some fine move and fire techniques, they had obviously listened to their adviser. Turn five, and again the Nationalist lost out with the Republicans getting their second unit on, the Legion now sorely pressed were quite unable to take the fight to the enemy. The light mortar team tried to get into a firing position on the bridge and immediately came under fire, should they go down? No, long range, small target, hard cover, you had got to fancy their chances of survival, need I continue! Turn six again saw the Nationalists unable to get their supports, the Legion by now was in real poor shape, when in turn six the first Carlist unit arrived so was unable to give them any effective covering fire. The Carlists however bravely took up position on the bridge and repaid the Republicans in kind, but by now the Republicans were getting around the flank and the remnants of the Legion were destroyed. The second Carlist unit arrived but by then their only hope was to take cover in the church were their fire was not really effective, being Carlists they refused to surrender but there was no way they could hold indefinitely against such overwhelming odds. A well deserved Republican victory by El David Bykla.
Some pictures of the game follow
 





La Legion Take Up Position

Anarchist Militia Advance

First Blood To La Legion

Anarchist Militia Give Covering Fire

Internationals Supported By Their Anarchist Comrades Storm Forward

The Remnants Hold The Bridge, Support Arrives Too Little Too Late
The Yellow Markers Signify The Loss Of The NCO!

The Victorious Republicans Rush The Bridge




Monday, 2 June 2014

Tenting Tonight

Or Partizan in the Park. I must admit to being a tad sceptical of the alternative arrangements, but excited at the same time and determined to go, given Laurence and Richards sterling efforts to keep the show on the road, it would have been so much easier for them to cancel, well done guys. Not sure about the parking situation we set off earlier than we normally would getting there around 9.20, we took advantage of being earlier to get a drink and a very passable bacon bap from the pavilion and sat down in the sun chatting and watching the queue form until it reached our table, this shortened rapidly once the event opened. A brilliant day out and I for one would have enjoyed it just as much if it had been p'ing down, I think, anyway it didn't, a case of fortune favours the brave?

 The biggest plus in my book was been able to see the rather splendid games in the light, it did get a tad close at times but I think that can also be said of the hall when the weather is as warm as yesterdays.
Roll on September and back to the gloom of the hall ;-) Anyway below are some rather poorly composed pics of the games, which were a lot better than my pics might give the impression of.

Too Fat Lardies - Verdun 1916



Very British Parlour Forum - Very British Civil War 1938

Perry Miniatures - WWII Western Desert


James Morris - WWII Keren




Steve Jones - American War of Independance

League of Augsberg - Neerwinden 1693


Derby Wargames Society - 1914


South East Scotland Wargames Club - Gran-Chaco War


League of Gentleman Anti-Alchemists - Race to the Sea 1914


North Star - Alan Quartermain and the Lost City

Like A Stonewall - Zulu War

Westbury Wargamers - Retreat from Moscow 1812

Simon Millar - Cremona 68BC


Apologies to the other fine purveyors of the games that I did not have chance to photograph#

TTFN

Saturday, 31 May 2014

The Iron Pig

A days gaming had been arranged, with our old chum John yesterday. It was Dave's birthday the following day so I took along a little birthday gift, an old HLBSC FT17, duly repainted to represent Lord Emsworth latest addition to the Blandings arsenal, to protect his precious pig  castle. To celebrate this the planned ECW game became an impromptu VBCW game. A full report will appear on Dave's blog, TalesFromGHQ in due course, meanwhile here are some pics of the action from Lord Ems prospective.

The Blanding's Militia Castle Company 

The Blanding's Militia Empress Company, all veterans of the Great War

The Empress Of Blandings II, affectionately known as the Iron Pig

The Empress Company under heavy attack from MG and Mortar fire

The Iron Pig is immobilised by the Royalist 2pdr ATG 

Col. "Tubby" Bykleigh Retd. bolsters the Empress Company morale
The Iron Pig is destroyed!!!

Royalist LDV outflank the garrison
The Shropshire Light Infantry push back Lord Ems house guests.
The Colonel rallies the house staff for a last ditch defence.

TTFN

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

More ECW Pike Pics

Someone over on the Lead Adventure Forum requested more shots of the ECW pikemen, so I took three more quick shots prior to packing and posting off to the customer earlier today.
Thought that I would add them to the blog too.



TTFN

Sunday, 25 May 2014

Some Painting Etc.

Thought I had better put something up, my last post was on my other blog that follows goings on in our fictional region of Rhanzlistan, True To The East, further details of our last outing here can be found on Dave's blog Tales From Rhanzlistan

Anyway the painting, first up is Col. John Flaston MC (Ret'd)

This is an Empress Miniatures figure for a Melanoma charity, kindly sculpted by Paul Hicks and cast up by Griffin. These are still available should you wish to support this worthy cause,  http://www.empressminiatures.com/userimages/procart97.htm

Next up are some Bicorne English Civil War figures painted for an ongoing commission

This weeks game will again take place at GHQ as our old chum John is popping up from Cheltenham for a days gaming, I will take my camera and post a report on the days events. Also attending a wedding on Saturday, then Partizan Sunday so doubt I will post until early next week though.

TTFN