Summer Plans - 08!

1st of all I fully intend to get as much of my current stuff based and painted as possible - that means Napoleonics and CWC, as well as my few 1/72 WW2 stuff. However my next major project is almost definitely going to be 10mm WW2 for use with BKC. Money is an issue so i'm going to take my time - get the stuff I want and paint it up to a good standard. At the moment its looking strongly likely a mid war German Panzer Division is on the cards for the Eastern front. If I get anything done before I get back to Durham it will be a miracle but if I can get an infantry battalion done along with a Pz111 battalion that would be a good start.

This weekend I'm going to the Hornby military fair with my old school club - the LRGS Armchair Generals. Should be fun - Ill try to get some pics up.

Also I should hopefully be taking part in the LancasterWargamesClub multi-day Kursk game as a German player looking forward to it.

Finally, I will be looking further into organising TO&Es for commission and seeing how that would work - Ive always found this very interesting.

Battle of Vimeiro - Republique Style

Me and Tim decided to take a break from revision to delve into the free napoleonic rules from Republique. They seememd simple and also appeared to be able to get a result in a short period of time.

So as to keep the battle size down the Battle of Vimeiro was decided.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimeiro

I converted the orbats to Republique and we were going.

French

Junot

Delaborde

2nd Legere - 4 Veteran Light Infantry

70th Ligne - 4 Veteran Line Infantry

86th Ligne - 4 Veteran line Infantry

Loison

12th Legere - 3 Veteran Light Infantry

58th Legere - 3 Veteran Light Infantry

82nd Ligne - 4 Veteran Line Infantry

Kellermann

1st Reserve Grenadiers - 5 Veteran Grenadiers

2nd Reserve Grenadiers - 5 Veteran Grenadiers

Margaron

1st Prov. Dragoons - 3 Average Dragoons

3rd Prov. Dragoons - 2 Green Dragoons

4th Prov. Dragoons - 2 Green Dragoons

5th Prov. Dragoons - 2 Green Dragoons

4 Medium Foot Veteran Batteries

Anglo-Portuguese
Wellesley

Spencer

Acland's Brigade - 2 Bases Average Line, 1 Base Elite Riflemen

Bowes' Brigade - 3 Bases Average Line

Hill

Hill's Brigade - 4 Bases Average Line

Fane's Brigade - 1 Base Veteran Lights, 2 Bases Elite Riflemen

Fergusson

Fergusson's Bgde - 3 Bases Veteran Highlanders

Craufurd's Bgde - 3 Bases Average Line

Anstruther's Bgde - 4 Bases Veteran Light

Nightingall

Nightingall's Bgde - 3 Bases Average Line

Porto Cacadores - 3 Bases Green Light

20th Light Dragoons - 2 Bases Average Light Dragoons

Trant

12th Port. Infantry - 4 Bases Green Line

21st Port. Line - 4 Bases Green Line

24th Port. Line - 4 Bases Green Line

Del Ruiz's Dragoons - 4 Bases Green Dragoons

4 Average Medium Foot Batteries

The English deployed along the ridge line with Fane's Bgde in the woods to their left front and Nightingall's Command in Vimeiro itself. The Highlanders were placed in reserve. Trant's command were given responsibility of holding the hill on the right.

The french deployed with one division heading straight at the hill whilst the other attacked the British left along with the majority of the cavalry - Kellermann was deployed in reserve.

Del Ruiz quickly destroyed the french cavalry on that flank and for a moment threatened the whole force from the rear - but quick work from the 2nd Legere send them off the battle in panic. Meanwhile the rest of the division took the hill and sent the rest of the portuguese packing - the troop quality really taking its toll on the green troops. This move pretty much decided the battle - the British constantly had to send forces to protect their flank and this weakened their centre. Kellermann's Grenadiers quickly went in and took the ridge despite taking casualties. Hill's force on the left did counterattack but once the lines had reformed, it was the French who looked strongly in command.

These rules worked well for the assault phases but the morale and panic factors are confusing. The results of these tests decide the battle and they didn't seem to work as well as the overall outlook of the rules. However it was fun to get the Napoleonics back out and by October when we return to Uni I intend to have bought the napoleonic rules off English Computer Wargames which I have played before and work for a whole variety of battles.

I should also have a lot more French and Prussian troop making it possible to do slightly larger battles - I think Sabugal may be the place to start from or maybe Maida.