venerdì 25 ottobre 2013

My British Army - Part 1 Infantry

Logical consequence of my decision to paint a Napoleonic French Army is to prepare a British Army. Also in this case my Army is composed by around 250 miniatures. The English are painted with uniforms and shakos   typically of 1814-15 period.

The British infantry during Napoleonic wars was formed by Guard, Foot, Light, Highland and Rifle regiments.  A regiment was generally composed by two or three  battalions. A battalion was ten companies with, at least, one company of grenadiers and another one of light.

I started with two large highlander battalions because to reproduce kilt colors schemes was as a kind of defiance for me.
My highlanders are: 42nd  the Black Watch and 92nd the Gordon



The 42nd was enlisted in 1743 and fought in many English campaigns: Ireland (battle of Culloden); French Indian wars (second battle of Ticonderoga), Egypt (battle of Alexandria), peninsular and 100 days.
As part of 9th Brigade commanded by General Pack they were involved in the chaotic struggles as Quatre Bras and Waterloo.



Another famous highland regiment was the Gordon. On June, 16 1815 they defended the disputed crossroads of Quatre Bras and two days later the 92nd charged French columns in Waterloo battle.


Thanks to Cornwell’s books,  I became to keen on Green Jacket history and I discovered that their creation and their tactics were  … specials. They was formed by an idea of Colonel Manningham in 1800 and named “Experimental Corps”. They were the first British unit with a kind of mimetic uniform … obviously green … and armed with Baker rifle that included a 21 inch sword bayonet. Their combat tactics were not very orthodox for the time as well as their training.  The riflemen were trained to work in open order and to operate in pairs ahead of the main infantry, which were bunched in close formations. They were taught to make best use of natural cover and to harass the enemy with aimed shots.
I painted the 95th and the 60th.
The  95th  is organized in eight bases but I prepared both 95th and 60th as single miniatures too. Some miniatures are Perry other-ones Victrix gunner conversions.

The soldier in the center is Albion Triumphant vol 2 special miniatures … an Ezio’s gift … I hope I painted it well
Some 95th battalions went onto fight at the Quatre Bras and Waterloo battle. Unfortunately in June 1815 the 60th was already come back to America for garrison duties.

Other regiments I prepared are: the 33rd, the 67th and the 29th Foot. All these military units fought at Waterloo. 



A special mention for the 33rd Foot: it was formed in 1702 and was the first regiments that a young Arthur Wesley commanded in 1794.



Using Victrix artillery boxes I painted a two gun batteries. 



venerdì 18 ottobre 2013

My French Army - Part 1 Infantry

An year ago I started to paint Napoleonic miniatures. 
For me it was a very challenging task. Before I painted medieval and late roman period but 19th period is a different song. Napoleonic uniforms have  a lot of details and changed in few years:  revolutionary French uniforms were very different respect  the same-one of Empire period. It is necessary to read up more specialist books and, differently from other period, it is not possible to chance colors uniforms or other details if you want to do a good work.

Actually I have about a 250 miniatures French army and I’m sure they are sufficient for a little struggle. 
Miniatures I painted are generally Victrix, Warlords and Perry. Mixing heads, arms and other parts it is possible to create good results.

My first brigades was a grenadier guard unit ... but I think that it is usually the first step for the majority of wargamers 


I painted them as 1st and 2nd Old Guard Grenadiers. In the history Old Guard were elite soldiers, generally they were at least 1.85 metres tall and high trained. They fought in many Napoleonic battles (Ligny, Dresden and in Waterloo too) and they were known as "le Grognards". Nickname due to their privilege to express their discontent freely.
During 100 days campaign they were recalled by the Emperor and while, the 2nd Old Guard Grenadier was involved into the defense of Placenoit town against Prussians,  the 1st regiment protected Napoleon position.


Another unit I prepared was a brigade of Polish Vistula legion. Miniatures are Warlord.


Vistula were formed in Feb 1807. I projected my French army for 1815 campaign but these pieces are fine detailed miniatures and I cannot resist to buy a box. 
Unfortunately, after Napoleon's abdication  in 1814, the survivors of the Legion returned to their home but they participated in 1808 Spain invasion  and in other Napoleon campaigns (ie Russia). 
That unit includes two drummers and more Grenadier than in the reality but they are intentional mistakes. I designed the unit to be "large" (six bases) with two Grenadier bases, so I can separate the Grenadier and joint them to other two bases obtaining two brigades (1 regular Vistula unit and 1 combined Grenadier).


Using some Warlord and Vitrix miniatures I painted another Allies French unit: the Swiss. These troops in French service wore the traditional red uniforms which differentiated them from the rest of Napoleon's army.


They fought during Peninsular and Russian campaign and their moment of glory was the cross of Berenzina. 

After Napoleon abdication, Louis XVII hired some Swiss troops for his Royal Guard that were a symbol during Ancient Regime. With Napoleon return, the Swiss Diet cancelled the contract and asked his troops to abandon France but, around 600 men, decided to form the 2nd Foreign Swiss Regiment and, attached to Grouchy Corps, fought in the battle of Wavre.


French army recruited whole regiments of light infantry. Their uniforms were completely blue (including slacks)


Light infantries were elite units. They required great initiative and skill. Their duty on the filed  was to engage the enemy in small group ahead of the other regular units  but they were trained to fight in formation too. Many light brigades were present in Waterloo campaign: 9th, 13th, 15th and other.



giovedì 10 ottobre 2013

Albuera battle report

ALBUERA
[June, 1 2013]


Introduction
On May 16, 1811 a mixed Spanish, British and Portuguese force engaged the French Army of the South at 20 kilometers of the Spanish frontier. The battle was fought close to a small village: Albuera.

The idea was not to refight exactly Albuera battle but only a part of this struggle …

Game system: Black Powder

House rules:
1) The French infantry will be reliable only when it is in attack column formation. No other bonus are applied in the order phase
2) The interpenetrated troops from retreating units, as a result of a losing hand to hand combat, must make a morale check: if they fail they suffer 1 hit.
3) To interpenetrate a friendly unit movement costs half move.
4) You can fire only if the unit moves once.
5) The Brigades are to be considered shaken when more than half of the units are shaken  or eliminated (ie: 2 or 3 units >> 2 units shaken/eliminated, 4 or 5 units >>> 3 units shaken/eliminated and so on)
6) Similarly both armies fall back when more than half of the formations (Divisions and Brigades) become shaken;

Battle set up
Turns limit: 8

Deployment
Allies troops deploy for first as reported into the map.
Initially French troops deploy as reported into the map. The French player will move for first

Armies objectives:
French army:                       
to occupy the central hill (zone C) with at least one unit not shaken or to break Allies army
               
Anglo-Spanish army:         
to avoid the occupation of the central hill (zone C) with at least one unit not shaken or to break French army


Draw if both conditions are met

Miniatures scale: 15 mm

Battle report

Initial deployment

French commanders move their units directly against the objective: the hill. But their advance is slow because a unit of combined grenadiers that failed for twice his activation. 


On the left the outflank movement is slow. English batteries keep French cavalry far from the hill.

On the final phases Soult force Anglo-Spanish troop to fall back on the right but  Ballesteros reinforcements permit English forces to keep the line. 



End: draw


Entry order

Hour
Turn
Anglo-Spanish forces
Zone
French forces
Zone
prima delle 08.00
-
Blake & Army Artillery
3rd Division Ballesteros
4th Division Zayas
Castanos & Army Artillery
Infantry Brigade, de Espana
See map
Soult & Army Heavy Artillery
5th Corps / 1st Division, Girad
See map
08.00
2nd Div., Colborne's (British) Brig.
C


09.00
Cavalry Division, Penne Villemur
D
5th Corps / 2nd Division, Gazan
B
5th Corps / Cavalry Division Latour-M.
A
09.30




10.00
2nd Div., Houghton's (British) Brig.
& Lefebvres D/Troop/RHA
C
4th Corps / Brigade Werle
Converged Grenadiers
E
10.30
2nd Div., Abercrombie's (British) Brig.
& Hawker's 4° Bn/RFA
C


11.00
4th Div., Myer's (British) Brig.
& Cleeves' 2nd Co/KGL FA
D


11.30
4th Div., Harvey's (Portuguese) Brig.
& Sympher's 4th Co/KGL FA
D


12.00






Allies army list


Rif.
Unit
Num miniatures
Type
Armament
HtH
Shoot
Morale
Stamina
Special rules
ALL
Armata Alleata                            5/3
Beresford
Comando
9
2
2nd British Division                    4/3
Stewart
Comando
8
2a
Colborne's (British) Brigade
1°/3° Rgt & 2°/31° Rgt, 2 bts
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Steady line
First Fire
2b
Colborne's (British) Brigade
2°/48° Rgt & 2°/66° Rgt, 2 bts
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Steady line
First Fire
2c
Houghton's (British) Brigade
29°Rgt,1°/48°Rgt & 1°/57°Rgt, 3 bts
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Steady line
First Fire
2d
Abercrombie's (British) Brigade
2°/28°R, 2°/31°R & 2°/39°R, 3 bts
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Steady line
First Fire
2e
5° Bn/60° Rifles, 3 cmp.s
1 x 5
Tiny
Regular Infantry
Rifled musket
2
2
4+
1
Skirmish,Élite4+
Sharpshooters
2f
Hawker's (British) 4° Bn/RFA
1 cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
Reliable
2g
Lefebvres (British) D/Troop/RHA
1 cannone
Horse
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
1
Reliable,
Marauders
4
4th British Division                     4/3
Cole
Comando
8
4a
Myer's (British) Brigade
1°/7°R, 2°/7°R & 1°/23° R, 3 bts
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Steady line
First Fire
4b
Harvey's (10th Portuguese) Brigade 11° Line, 2 bts
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Steady line
4c
Harvey's (10th Portuguese) Brigade 23° Line, 2 bts
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Steady line
4d
Harvey's (10th Portuguese) Brigade Loyal Lusitanian Legion, 1 Light btg
1 x 9
Small
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
4
2
4+
2
Steady line
Skirmish,Sharps.
4e
2°/27° R, 1°/40° R & 97° R
3 Light cmp.s
1 x 5
Tiny
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
1
1
4+
1
Skirmish
Sharpshooters
4f
Cleeves' 2nd Co/KGL FA
1 cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
Reliable
4g
Sympher's 4th Co/KGL FA
1 cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
Reliable
BL
Blake’s Spanish Army
Blake
Comando
8
BLa
Artillery Battery 8 pdr
1 cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
A la Muerte
2
3rd Division                                 3/2
Ballesteros
Comando
8
2a
1st Catalonian Light Infantry Bn.,  Barbastro Light Infantry Bn.
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
2
5+
3
Unreliable
Skirmish,Sharps.
2b
Pravia Regt. 1 btg, Lena Regt. 1 btg., Castropol Regt. 1 btg.
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
3
5+
4
Unreliable
2c
Cangas de Tineo Regt. 1 btg,
Infiesto Regt. 1 btg.
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
2
5+
3
Unreliable
4
4th Division                                  5/3
Zayas
Comando
8
4a
2° & 4° Bns/Spanish Guards, 2 bts
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Elite 5+
4b
4th Bn Walloon Guards 1 btg.,
Patria Inf. Regt. 1 btg.
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
2
5+
3
Unreliable
4c
Irlanda Infantry Regt. 2 btg.s
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
-
4d
Toledo Infantry Regt, 2 btg.s
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
2
5+
3
Unreliable
4e
Legion Extranjera Inf. Regt. 1 btg.,
Ciudad Real. Inf. Regt. 1 btg.
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
2
5+
3
Unreliable
CA
Castanos’ Spanish Army
Castanos
Comando
8
CAa
Artillery Battery 8 pdr
1 cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
A la Muerte
CAb
Cavalry Division, Penne Villemur
(sqd.s from 6 Rgt.s)
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Cavalry
Sabre
7
-
4+
3
HC/D1, Maraud.
Unreliable
E
Infantry Brigade, de Espana      3/2
de Espana
Comando
8
Ea
Rey Infantry Regt. 2 btg.s
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
2
5+
3
Unreliable
Eb
Zamora Infantry Regt. 2 btg.s
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
2
5+
3
Unreliable
Ec
Voluntarios de Navarra Light Inf. Bn
1 x 9
Small
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
4
1
5+
2
Unreliable
Skirmish,Sharps.


French Army list

Rif.
Unit
Num miniatures
Type
Armament
HtH
Shoot
Morale
Stamina
Special rules
V
5th Corps / Army                   4/3
Soult
Comando
9
Va
Converged Grenadiers, 11 cmp.s from 1st Corps 45°, 63°, 95° Line
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
7
3
4+
3
Elite 5+
Pas de Charge
Vb
Army Heavy Artillery
1cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore heavy artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
-
5
5th Corps / 1st Division          4/3
Girard
Comando
8
5a
34th Line, 2 btg.s
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Pas de Charge
5b
40th Line, 2 btg.s
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Pas de Charge
5c
64th Line, 3 btg.s  
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Pas de Charge
5d
88th Line, 2 btg.s  
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Pas de Charge
5e
Division Artillery
1cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
-
2
5th Corps / 2nd Division         4/3
Gazan
Comando
8
2a
21st Leger, 2 btg.s
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Pas de Charge Skirmish
2b
28th Leger, 3 btg.s
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Pas de Charge Skirmish
2c
100th Line, 2 btg.s
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
6
3
4+
3
Pas de Charge
2d
103rd Line, 3 btg.s
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Pas de Charge
2e
Division Artillery
1cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
-
5C
5th Corps / Cavalry Division  2/2
Latour-Maubourgc
Comando
8
5Ca
2nd Hus
1 x 8
Small
Regular Cavalry
Sabre
4
-
4+
2
Marauder
5Cb
1st Polish Vistula Lancers
1 x 12
Standard
Regular Cavalry
Lance
8
-
4+
3
Reliable, Lancer
Marauder
W
4th Corps / Brigade Werle     3/2
Werle
Comando
8
Wa
12th Leger, 3 btg.s
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Pas de Charge Skirmish
Wb
55th Line, 3 btg.s
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Pas de Charge
Wc
58th Line, 3 btg.s  
1 x 18
Large
Regular Infantry
Smoothbore musket
8
4
4+
4
Pas de Charge
Wd
Division Artillery
1cannone
Artillery
Smoothbore artillery
1
3-2-1
4+
2
-