Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Battle for the Burg

Along the river the gently moving waters did little to indicate the carnage that was coming.

USS Essex, Cairo and Neosha patrolling.

CSS Richmond, Albermarle and Neuse steam to attack.

Both sides steer clear of the shallows.

Not much effective firing at long range.

The town readies itself for potential bombardment.

Several ramming attempts, usually glancing off harmlessly.

The view from a fearful shore.

Rebel guns are being knocked out and a friendly "ram" results in flooding.

A small fire breaks out as they disengage.

Damage is mounting on the Union ships though.

Funnels shredded the Reb ships slow but keep pounding.

Always closing on the town.  A few shots are directed at buildings.

One Yankee ship sinks.  Now three to two odds.

Another Yankee sinks.  The third slips away leaving the town to their fate.

The Rebel squadron was under orders to bring fire onto the Union-controlled town.  After six shots they would begin to earn victory points.  Balancing it was the value of the ships.  Some thirty-five Union guns faced eight Confederate.  Superior speed from on the Union side faced superior rams on the Rebel ships.  As it turned out ramming played little part in the game.  Many ramming attempts were made and one "torpedo" attack, but they were very ineffective.  What mattered was lucky shot placement that beat holes in the Union armor and then continued to hit the now vulnerable spot.

Rules are Steam and Black Powder by Neil Stokes.  Ship models are 1/600 Thoroughbred Miniatures.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Battle of Hamelburg

As the Seven Years War ramps up (again) we find ourselves transported to Westphalia to find the French confronting the British and their allies.  You may read a full retelling of the battle on the host's blog http://campaignsingermania.blogspot.com/.  So as a cavalry brigadier I will limit myself to remarks about the part of the battle I could see or influence.  Rules are Batailles des Ancien Regimes, figure ration is 10:1 and we had the center table with a back table in play on both sides.  Click to enlarge pictures.

My command of valiant cavaliers.

What we could see of the enemy center.

The crossroads with a gathering of glitterati.

The enemy cavalry, outnumbered, yields the field to us.

As we form line of battle, they ride away.  Most curious.

Now there must be a story here...

Sweeping forward the enemy is pinned against the town.

New reinforcements appear but they lack room to deploy.

Our army presses against the hinge we have created.


Our numbers begin to tell.  Artillery trophies are taken.
At this point both sides have received reinforcements from all quarters of the table.  While the sides are relatively even, the French had lost the center position on the ridge and were in danger of getting crushed against the town, which greatly hindered their deployment.  Meanwhile our heavy cavalry was arriving and racing up behind may lights.  Thus far my brigade had not taken a casualty.  We had not engaged in melee but were instrumental in maneuvering the enemy into a bad position.



Looking down the center table from my vantage point.

Everywhere we pressed them and everywhere they slowly withdrew.  Although one over-zealous battalion of ours was routed off the French risked being cut off.  So they withdrew from the field with honors to their colors.