Wednesday 19 October 2022

H.G. Wells Little Wars Game

 It occurred to me that next year is the 110th anniversary of the publication of Little Wars, marking the birth of our hobby, and that I had never played the game. I have been diligently collecting the Britains 4.7 inch Naval Guns and I finally own eight, enough for a four player game. I pulled out my metal, mostly Britains, figures and I was able to provide both sides (Army Red and Army Blue) with 120 foot and 38 mounted figures. So I invited three close friend over to share in the fun. I even dressed as close as I could to an Edwardian gentlemen.


 The rules are refreshingly simple, foot move 12 inches, mounted move 24 inches, guns can either move or fire. Only the guns fire, there is no infantry fire. Infantry and cavalry are only there for melee. I used cotton swabs with the cotton tips cut off for the projectiles. As all my figures were mounted on wooden bases attention had to be paid to see which figures were hit. They generally gave off a satisfying "ping" when they were hit but did not fall down. Here's a photo of the 7 1/2 by 6 foot table before the battle began.

I was advised to provide lots of cover to limit the killing zones. Melees are bloody. If the sides are equal, both sides lose all their figures. Depending on whether the forces are isolated, i.e. no friendly figures within 6 inches, or supported, the winning side takes prisoners, who are counted as victory points. At the start of the game both sides sent their cavalry around the right flank of their enemy.Army Red was defeated in its attack, but Army Blue succeeded in taking possession of an Army Red two gun battery.

The center of the table was defended by all four of the Army Blue's artillery. Even with all the cover, it became a killing zone, reminiscent of the Great War.


The Army Red attack on the center finally petered out, unable to take the gazebo. 


We called the game then in Army Blue's favor and retired to a lunch of bangers and mash. I think H.G. would have been proud.



Saturday 1 October 2022

Battle of Heraclea 280 BC in 54mm

The Battle of Heraclea took place in 280 BC between a Roman Republican army  commanded  by consul Publius Valerius Laevinus, aginst the Greeks from Epirus, supported by Greek cities of the Italian peninsula : Tarentum, Thurii, Metapontum, and Heraclea. 
The Greeks were commanded by the king of Epirus: Pyrrhus. 

The Battle of Heraclea was battle where Greek Phalanxes and Roman legionairs faced each other, but certainly the first time Romans fought in a battle against elephants. 

Historically, the battle was a victory for the Greeks with less casualties than the Romans, but they had lost many veteran soldiers that would be hard to replace on foreign soil.  The key element in the battle were the elephants, A second battle took place in Asculum  in 279 BC. With again a victory for the Greeks, but so costly for his army Pyrrhus did no longer dare to continue to Rome and returend South to face the Carthagenians in Sicily.








On the Roman right Kristof took command of the cavalry 5 units of medium cavalry, 4 of heavy allied infantry. Direct opponent was Patrick with 2 light infantry, 2 cavalry and 3 heavy hoplite infantry.

Center right Ronny, with 6 units of veteran heavy infantry (hastati and principes: they receive an extra 2 dice in their first round of contact) facing me  (Dirk) as Pyrrhus with 3 units of veteran phalangist infantry (heavy pike infantry) supported by 3 units of  hypaspists ( heavy infantry elite hoplites) and 4 battle elephants.

Roman center left : Steven with 6  units of veteran heavy infantry (hastati and principes) and 3 units of triarii (elite heavy infantry). facing Siegfried with 6 units of  veteran phalangist infantry.
Roman right novice player Bart with 2 units of heavy allied infantry, 2 light infantry and 2 medium cavalry, against also novice player Peter with 3 heavy hoplite infantry , 2 light infantry unts and 2 of medium cavalry.




The battle started with the Greeks advancing.

On the Roman right ,the Roman and ally cavalry attacked the Greek light troops, who didn't manage to escape the attack.

Against all odds the light troops were able to stop the advance but with great costs. In their turn, they received help from the cavalry and one unit of hoplites.





In the center,on the Roman left the heavy infantry units collided with heavy losses on both sides.


On the left flank the Romans skirmish lines first retreated behind the cavalry but later on again advanced.


On the Greek left, the elephants were send to support the cavalry as one unit of light troops was destroyed and one fel back behind the hoplites. Also the Romans allied infantry advanced. The far most phalangist unit countered the advance successfully.  Receiving assistance from the hoplites, the Roman allied units came under pressure. A gap formed in the lines and two of the elephants were directed to it.


Bad dice throwing of Kristof resulted in almost all  his cavalry destroyed. His command was suddenly on breaking point. The one phalangist continued and destroyed in the end 2 enemy units but had advanced  to far and ended up surrouned by enemy units. 





The elephants charged, but the targeted principes unit was able to stop the charge, the elephants going out of controle and started stampeding.


One elephant turend 180° and run continued of  table. The other kept fighting the principes, destroying them. By then, Kristof command had broken, the remaining Greek cavalry, the hoplites and 2 elephants turning the flank. The Greek center left now also came forward, Ronny's command in great peril, admitted defeat. The battle was over.


 Conclusion: Kristof had not been unlucky in his dicing, but received not much assitance from the Roman center, being reluctant to advance agaist the pikes;. The Roman center had most of his units not even commited, and so, not had taken advantage of its numerical superiority. Also on the Roman left flak, fighting had been limited.

Figures From Steven(Romans, Roman Allies  and  elephants) Dirk (Greeks and part of the Roman cavalry)

Thanks to Steven, Patrick