Sunday, June 21, 2015

CWC Waterloo Refight.

This last weekend was spent in a very enjoyable 28mm Waterloo Refight at the Christchurch Wargaming club. Organized by Basil and Mike it attracted around 15 players and their combined Napoleonic collections.

It was the first time my entire French army has taken the field (as Reille's Corps) and the game also saw Archduke Piccolo's forces form Lobau's Corps, Chasseur's French as D'Erlon and a good hodge-podge of others collections. I must mention Napoleon (Our very own Archduke Piccilo) was not there on the days until late as he was ill with a virus so Chasseur truly took over in his role of Ney. Chris Packer was also an excellent help with the finer rule details that we had not encountered in our practice games.

Below - from Belle Alliance to Hougoumont Reille's Corps are deployed.



And in a strange circumstance I ended up commanding the entire Corp while on the other flank one Corp had 4 Divisional commanders. I guess Hougoumont scared them and they would have also been attracted by all the Pretty Cavalry on the other flank.  In the end I even took control over Lobau as he arrived as no one seemed to want to take over - So at the end I was controlling 2 French Corps which was very enjoyable and also challenging.

My task was to ignore Hougoumont and attack the British between that stronghold and Le Haye Sainte  which I did with gusto. I recommended to Ney that he ignore this flank and send the Guard and Lobau to the right of Le Haye Sainte which did occur though some delay was encountered getting them on the table.

Due to an oversight in the OOB's (Unit strength was reduced by 50% except for guns which seem to have been overlooked) I had to attack in the face of 7 batteries of 4 guns. The overstatement of artillery and smaller units simple meant barely any French could get close. The artillery rules also seemed failry generous to the firer as you could simply point all 7 batteries at one battalion and ping pong around the table doing that.

However this did stop the Reille ! Below the troops brave the cannonade and  surge forwards - the table was far too wide and my back is killing me now !.



Into the Foot Guards surged the 61st Line and the Foot Guards ran for the hills,



The Archduke's forces surge onto the Field as Lobau. They did not see any serious action but they did look the part.
 

Some of my Prussians even managed to sneak onto the field. (Excuse the bases as I did them the night before !). Next to them are Chasseur's Prustrians !



Time ran out here. We could really have played another days worth of moves which I think we have shown the French to be triumphant. It was a good (but long) few days and I am tried and sore - and its Monday tomorrow so not rest for me !.



















Thursday, June 18, 2015

Ready for Waterloo

Its 10.57pm and I have just finished packing up my figures for the Waterloo refight at the CWC.

100 odd British, 100 odd Prussians and around 900 French are now ready and waiting for setup tomorrow. The climax of a long 6 months painting\basing\fixing is now here and I can enjoy the game and then sit on my backside not painting a damn thing for a few weeks !.

It shall be pics galore tomorrow !


Thursday, June 11, 2015

1st Foot and the UK


For the Waterloo re-fight I am providing 3 Allied units as well as Prussians and the French horde. The 1st, 33rd Foot and a Nassau contingent and for the 1st Foot I dragged out my Front Rank originals (purchased in 1994 I think) that were sitting in a box needing some attention. Below are the results - I have not painted British in a very long time !


I've also noticed I forgot a few things back in the day so will tidy them up before basing.I am behind on my Waterloo stuff due to a cold and being away (again). I am just finishing the last french and artillery then I need to spend all week basing something like 500 figures - EEK !



Luckily in October and November I have scored a work trip back to the UK and will take a holiday before hand to pop over to Dublin to see my family and then the Essex massif. A potential side trip to Wolverhampton has also be sounded for a few nice pints and catch up with friends. So very exciting news and has made my year - I guess working like a dog does pay off sometimes !

So given this opportunity I will need to plan getting some figures\wargames supplies while I am there - Take advantage of some postage free deals within the UK or have the cheek to turn up at actual war game suppliers shops (Which could prove to be financial suicide).