I have gotten most of my 28mm British Guards Napoleonic Army painted, the last few units will get painted in the next month or so.

The army is (at the moment) Guards with Brunswick support for the 100 days, representing the 2nd Guards Brigade, the 5th British Brigade and some of the 1st Hanoverian Brigade.

http://warpooch.blogspot.com/

My full Brunswick Corps got it's first official outing as a complete entity a few weeks ago against Cam's French - it was an all action nail biter for most of the game and you can read about it on my blog. I hope someone finds it interesting and/or enjoyable and/or inspiring...

P.S. Apologies in advance for any typos or grammar or similar errors - it turned into a bit of a novel and I haven't had time to do a second thorough end to end proof read yet!

John
Wargaming.info

Hi All,

I posted this to TMP but thought I’d toss it up here to see if anyone has any thoughts – with ‘Maurice’ announced as mentioned previously I am finally inspired to do my long hoped for WSS armies. John Churchill has always been a bit of a hero to me (and to a lesser extent Eugene of Savoy as well) – although my knowledge of the WSS and the battles is at a fairly general (or higher) level if you will. As such to help with designing and organising my new wargames armies (I have a large number of 28mm WF plastic figs, and plan on probably getting Front Rank personalities, guns, generals, etc, to round them out) I would appreciate any help, advice, pointers, for the following:

1. Orders of Battle
Is there a good source somewhere for fairly detailed OOBs from the main battles? I am planning to build both an Anglo-Austrian Army and a French (possibly with Bavarian allies) Army – I am not going to try and do an exact Historical OOB of a specific battle, but a kind of generic Quasi-Imagi-Nation (aka Old School style) representative force of historical units – so want to try and identify which Regiments and such for each nation were present at the main battles/campaigns so I can pick out which units I want to model. As the standard armies (in Maurice) will only be about 7-9 Foot Units and 3-5 Cavalry I want to be able to try and pick a good variety to get a representative feel of unit types and uniforms & nationalities for each side (I may of course eventually add extra units in future to expand them). So if there is an especially good source or ‘one-stop-shop’ for OOB info I’d be grateful for a heads up (I have ordered C. S. Grant’s 2 books on Wargaming WSS, and I do have the Ospreys on Blenheim & Marlborough’s Army plus 2-3 general works on Marlborough & his campaigns & WSS, and am planning to order specific books on the battles/campaigns of Marlborough, Ramillies, Malplaquet, et al – e.g. Neil Litten on Ramillies) but I assume there may be some other recommended good OOB sources).

2. Artillery
Could someone please give me a quick pointer on artillery – what was the typical common artillery present with British/Austrian and French armies during the WSS (ignoring early Battalion Guns – I’m talking the army level artillery). I want to order some Front Rank or similar Guns to do an artillery battery for each side and not sure what size ordnance would be the most common or usual for each army? I’m assuming probably 3pdr or 6pdr guns? Also were the army batteries all one calibre or a mix (e.g. could you model a battery of 4 model guns as, for example, 3 x 3pdr models and 1 x 6pdr or 12pdr and it’d be a roughly historical representation/ratio)? Also how were Howitzers used at this time – dispersed amongst the other guns or in a separate ‘battery’? As I understand the army level artillery tended to be just be grouped into a few 'ad-hoc' large 'batteries' for each battle usually...

3. Grenadiers
Could someone clarify if all Nations did the converged Grenadiers (into composite battalions) thing at this stage, or was that something that originated later in the WAS/SYW period?

4. Wargames Factory vs. Front Rank
Has anyone compared the WF Plastics with FR for size/compatibility? Are there any other alternative WSS manufacturers that might go well with WF other than FR that can be recommended?

Greatly appreciate any & all feedback,

John
Wargaming.info

For those who may not have previously seen it:
http://wargaming.info/2011/wonderful-28mm-chateau-hougoumont/

I've read on some of the posts references to the Brits having to use linear tactics but I don't see anything in the rules. Do they, or do they not, have to use Linear Tactics? Thanks.

Cam and My last game (at the end of July) where we tried out the Scenario proposed for the CTA Touranment (Call To Arms in Wellington, NZ, in late August). I'm a bit late getting it up but here's an account of things and a few images:
http://wargaming.info/2011/lasalle-the-trouble-with-tribbles/

Hopefully of some interest...

Also for people who may not have seen them some of our other AARs here:
The Crossroads
http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/forum/topic/the-crossroads-a-lasalle-big-battle
Picton Holds On The Chaussée de Charleroi (100-Days)
http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/forum/topic/picton-holds-on-the-chaussee-de-charleroi-100-days
The Hundred Days Continues...
http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/forum/topic/the-hundred-days-continues
Hundred Days Game Report
http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/forum/topic/hundred-days-game-report
A Little 1809 Lasalle Affair [Game Report]
http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/forum/topic/a-little-1809-lasalle-affair-game-report

...And the relevant 2011 CTA Threads:
A Call To Arms: Wellington August 20 - 21, New Zealand
http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/forum/topic/a-call-to-call-to-arms-wellington-august-20-21-new-zealand
Call To Arms: Wellington August 20 & 21st
http://www.sammustafa.com/honour/forum/topic/call-to-arms-wellington-august-20-21st

I have yet to actually be able to play a game but I have been following the forums and have read through the rulebook a few times. I am currently painting up a 100 Days British army and I have seen a lot of posts about how the Brits struggle to win a lot of the time. Why is this? Have I already handicapped myself by choosing an army with design flaws?

The biggest issues that I see are the smaller artillery units and the lack of availability of good cavalry.

At the weekend Cam and I played our first 'big' Lasalle game - and used a simple scenario to make it a little more than just a big AB encounter style game. I haven't had time yet to 'write up' a summary of the action, but I have posted up the Scenario details, OOB, and a good selection of photos of the game here: http://wargaming.info/2011/the-crossroads/

I'll update it further later in the week once I've had time to do the write up.

:-)

Cam and I continued our series of "100-Days" games at the weekend - for this one we used Paul from Wellington, NZ's, suggested British stats of Valiant/Experienced/Linear/Rifles/SK3 for the 95th Rifles (and equivalents) and Valiant/Experienced/Linear/SK1 for all other British (non-Light) Infantry Regiments.

The battle was a somewhat dour affair, but still had some interesting moments - read the report and see the images here: http://wargaming.info/2011/picton-holds-on-the-chaussee-de-charleroi/

:-)

As promised the AAR report of Cam & my latest game, with 100-Days AB lists:
http://wargaming.info/2011/the-hundred-days-continues/

See Cam & my latest 28mm Lasalle game photos and account on my blog at:
http://wargaming.info/2011/lasalle-in-the-hundred-days/

:-)

Hi All
I have just been looking again at the British peninsular list and can’t help thinking there is too much Cavalry available to them. When you look at most battles they had very little to no cavalry. Now I know I could just pick a core with infantry reserve to so this but then I thought this is a little dull at times. So what do people think to using the Brunswick allied support unit options 1 Good infantry 2 Normal Inf and 1 Hussar Cay, But using British models. All their infantry are comparable with the British equivalents, the only problem being that British Hussars are rated as Reliable and Brunswick is rated as Valiant.

So what do people think?

Thanks JP

Hi Folks,

I'm pulling togetehr a few forces for Lasalle, and am having trouble figuring out how best to paint my Heavy Dragoons. None of my books have decent color plates, and I've had limited success searching the internet. Can anyone point me in the right direction, either to good color plates on line, or can yuo suggest a book that would have nice images?

Thanks!
GMB

Howdy folks,

I was wondering, how similar were the unforms worn by the british during the penninsular campaign to those worn in the Americas during the war of 1812? Were the American uniforms slightly anachronistic?

Thanks,
GMB

i use bruswich option when i play Guard or Light Division.
I´m satisfied with this, that i think it´s a more defensive option because use only one cavalry.
what option use you?
thx.

Hi All

Just wondering how people are getting on with the British Guard army?

I must admit I'm struggling with them at the moment; I think it stands at Won 0 Drawn 1 lost 3.

All games against the French so far.

Thanks

JP

Excuse the question if it is clear in the rules. I have them on order through my local retail but they haven't shown up yet. I would like to fill out the holes in a pair of armies I purchased earlier this summer in anticipation of "Napoleon". I would prefer not to wait for the book before I make my order (assuming it isnt enormous) so that we will be ready to play when the rules show up.

What would my options for an allied brigade be for a 1815 British army from the army list? I would like to use some Brunswick infantry and cavalry that I already own.

Currently, I have 1 leib and one line infantry unit and a unit of hussars. What would I be short? Could I use Nassau troops or British line to fill the missing?

Would 10 British line Infantry and 1x4 8lb foot battery be enough forces for the base force?

So I had my first game of Lasalle last night. Because we didn't get started until after 7, and had to spend most of our time noodling through the rules, we didn't come to anything like a conclusion, but I think it's safe to say that the game has rekindled my interest in miniature gaming.

SETUP

I played my French infantry division against a Peninsular British force - Jack borrowed John's counters for this occasion. We both chose to defend, which means a dice-off, and Brits get a bonus to that roll, so they ended up defending. The game has an interesting table setup sequence: you roll one die for odds/evens and another for the straight number, and reference the result to a chart of standard battlefields, which are then modified by additional terrain of the players' choosing. First the defender chooses to add a piece of terrain, then the attacker, then the defender again. No piece can be more than about a foot across.

Then the defender decides whether to pick his starting edge and set up, or let the attacker pick the edge and set up first. Jack chose to set up first, so he could use his hill, and deployed his troops in a thin red line, interspersing attack columns with units in line. His one small battery of guns was on the hill, angled towards the center of the board, along with a couple of battalions as flank security. His heavy cavalry was in reserve, waiting for the right time to turn the tide of battle.

Then I deployed - eight battalions of regular infantry, backed up by artillery, with an organic brigade of four units of light cavalry, with their own artillery as well! I don't know whether it's because I had most of my figures (most of us are using counters for now), or the fact that I start with cavalry on-board instead of reserve, but it looked like a TON of guys, and several people commented to that effect.

My plan was to make an emphatic attack left-of center to the left of the objective, while my artillery massed right of center to wear down his pivot units and discourage reinforcements. I sent my small (2-battalion) infantry brigade to demonstrate on the right, to discourage any attempt at my artillery and to hopefully pin down a couple of battalions there. My thinking was to turn an 8 to 6 advantage in infantry into a 6 to 4 advantage at the point of attack. My cavalry units deployed among and alongside the main force, which was arrayed in attack columns three abreast and two deep. This turned out to be a mistake, as there just isn't enough time to cross the board unless you're in march order.

THE BATTLE

As a result, the first few turns were pretty uneventful. My artillery deployed about 1/3 of the way from the center line, in plenty of range to the Brits, and opened fire on his lynchpin unit, a large elite infantry battalion. Over time, my fire began to wear this unit down. His artillery, meanwhile, messed around with counterbattery fire and then tried to shoot up some cavalry, with little effect.

I was just about to deploy my attack on the left when his reinforcements arrived: two large units of heavy cavalry, one behind the other, bearing down on the front of my left flank! Fortunately I had judged my spacing correctly and was able to deploy my center unit in line, while the corner battalion stayed in attack column, ready to form square should they be charged. I retreated with a flanking unit of hussars, circling around near a wooded copse to threaten the flank of the British cavalry, while a second unit of my light cavalry moved up to protect the corner battalion.

Jack's charge nevertheless took me somewhat by surprise, as I had thought that the front unit was masking the rear one. However since movement is sequential by unit, his first unit charged my infantry, opening up room for his second to charge my hapless light cavalry! Because of the turn sequence, charges aren't resolved until the opposing player's turn, giving me an opportunity to react. I formed square with my threatened infantry unit, requiring a discipline (morale) check for proximity to the enemy, then fired with the neighboring unit in line, felling some horsemen but hardly blunting the charge. Further left, my light cavalry didn't have space to shake out into a wide line, so just took it on the chin. My reactions complete, we resolved the combat: cavalry have a hard time attacking infantry in square, so they bounced off, but the heavy cavalry rode right over my chasseurs a cheval, rolling twice as many hits as I did so breaking them instantly. The British dragoons' momentum carried them forward, past the corner infantry battalion and in the face of a second-line unit that I'd thrown out further on the flank the turn before.

Meanwhile on the right, my demonstrating brigade was past the marsh and shaken out into line and into attack position. It looked like my feint was about to become the main line of attack! Having anticipated this, I sent a third cavalry unit round the marsh to threaten a flanking attack: a combined-arms infantry-cavalry charge is Very Bad News for a defending infantry unit (they either halve their dice from being attacked by infantry while they are in square, or by cavalry for not being in square). My artillery was still bisecting the battlefield, and rattling the big unit of elite infantry to their front - while you can recover from disruptions, they only come off at most one per turn, and I'd had a couple of lucky rounds of shooting so they were at 4 DISR by the end of the game. When a unit reaches a DISR number equal to its number of stands, it routs. I was ready to smash into them with yet another light cavalry unit (turns out it's great to have lots of onboard cavalry!), supported by a wodge of infantry.

Unfortunately it was not to be. While we were able to resolve a second charge by the British Dragoons (less successful than the first thanks to a timely countercharge to their rear by my valiant Hussars, who had finally gotten turned around), no further units were lost, and we ran out of time. Things were looking pretty bad for the Brits, with three units wavering and a flank hanging in the breeze, but anything can happen in a dice game so the result remained indecisive.

THE RESULT

I'm pretty confident that we can finish a battle in 3 hours. The small number of turns (usually around 9 for each player with a random ending turn) feels rushed to me, but that just encourages decisive action rather than dinking around. I thought the rules were pretty easy to understand, and the quick reference sheets (4 of them) well laid out. With any luck I'll have my book soon and the few figures I need to finish my army. I can't wait for next week! :)