Beach Musings

I am on vacation at the beach and have been thinking about how I came to this point in the wargaming hobby.

I started with miniatures when I was about seven or so. I had some sets of 40mm or so German and US figures...the "green army men" that many are familiar with. I soon graduated to 20mm Airfix and others and even found two boys from friends of the family to play with. We mostly used unpainted figures with a few haphazard attempts at getting some color on the figures. We made up our own rules and started in on vehicles as well (these we painted in all kinds of cammp). Most figures were WW II but we were happy to incude other periods. I remember having a force of Vietnam era US troops allied to my Afrika Korps Germans. I also remember having a STUG I painted and a German halftrack with rockets on the side plus several German armored cars. STUGs and ACs are still my favorites.



While writing this I vaguely remembered the older boy trying us out with some AWI horse and musket figures. We played our games on a sandtable my dad built in my basement (8'x4'). Lots of figures, lots of fun.



I graduated to computer wargames (played with the same guys) and figures fell by the wayside. I had a brief resurgence in my teens when I picked up some Napoleonic figures after reading Chandler's Campaigns of Napoleon. I made my first "imagi'nation" with Austrian infantry, Russian guns, and some French Cavalry.



Sadly all these figures are now gone (I have searched my parents basement several times) but the board from the sandtable is still there.



I refound miniatures while working on a computer game. I wanted to design and publish (have someone else program) a Napoleonic tactical wargame. It did not turn out how I expected, but I did get linked up with Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and through tme I have been a part of publishing several games. I recommend our relaunched version of Horse and Musket. While researching my game design, I found The Miniatures Page and bough many sets of rules.



The final straw was broken when I purchased a mass of plastic Napoleonic figures just before I went to Iraq in 2008. I had them all boxed up ready to be shipped my way when I found lots of 15mmm metal figures online. I made the switch and have been at it for almost three years.



The first unit I painted was Austrian infantry in helmet (in imagi-nation colors) just like I did 20 plus years ago with the plastics.



I listed to View From The Veranda podcast on the beach this week. Always a pleasure along with the Meeples and Miniatures podcast. I am also reading old issues of Miniature Wargaming, MWAN, and Wargames Digest that I picked up for $1 each at Historicon. Great fun.

Counter-attack at Furthing

30 November: Poo-Bochen forces launched a dawn counter-attack against the Katzian division led by MG Grumm. The atatckers advanced from two directions along the riverbank to storm the town of Furthing Ford.

The Katzian forces are well deployed with strong reserves.

But the town is garrisoned by second line troops.

They manage to see off one attack.

But the defenders are sent fleeing by cannon fire and a rapid charge by a battalion of Jager using the riverbank as cover.

Unexpected reinforcements arrive.

Von Finklestein's brigade counter-attacks to regain the town.

As Poo-Boochen troops rush to cross the ford.

And win the race.

Von Finklestein's white coats suffer heavy casualties.

While Prinz Noah leads his remaining battalion in the attack.

The town is recaptured for a time.

The enemy first brigade retires in the face of cavalry pressure.

As the Dutter Dragoons clear the streets.

The battle hangs in the balance as the Poo-Boochen forces mass for a second attack.

Capturing the town for the second time.

MG Grumm orders his forces to retire in good order with a strong rear guard.

The enemy is content to occupy the town and declines to pursue.

A hard fought battle sees the better led Poo-Boochen forces take revenge for the defeat earlier in the month. MG Grumm's failure to post defenders on the North bank of the river proves to be pivitol.

The Katzian forces retreat through the day as snow begins to fall. Pausing for the night at a small village to care for the wounded, Grumm orders the retreat to continue in the morning.

LTG Von Stroodel meets the division when it arrives at the main camp. While the units are generally in good order, the heavy losses of the twin battles at Furthing Ford are evident especially in the ranks of Prinz Noah's ad hoc brigade.

MG Grumm's fate will have to wait until Spring as the Army of Katzenstein enters winter quarters.

Battle of Furthing Ford

06 November---Suprised to find an enemy force deploying rapidly in front of his division, MG Grumm ordered the light cavalry brigade to delay the large opposing cavalry force in order to give his brigades to deploy on either side of the road with Prinz Noah's brigade in reserve.

The Katzian force advances unaware of the enemy force approaching from the West.

The open ground on the right would see a see-saw cavalry clash.

Poo-Bochen troops advance rapidly to seize the near hills and array their cavalry for battle on the left wing.

Two Katzian light cavalry regiments charge the three enemy regiments counting on quality making up for quantity.

The Valing Valley Chassuers would scatter the lancers after a fierce melee.

The Zook's Zouaves see off the first charge of the enemy Chasseurs.

A mix up in orders sees Colonel Von Finklestein's white coated brigade withdraw behind Prinz Noah's reserves.

Zook's Zouaves are routed and suffer severe losses to renewed enemy cavalry charges.

After sorting out the mixed up orders, Von Finklestein's brigade advances under heavy fire supported by a battery of guns.

The Vailing Valley Chasseurs retire to reform.

The Poo-Boochen center holds.

But the right wing collapses unexpectedly.

Prinz Noah leads his brigade against the weakened flank.

With their lines of communications under threat, the Poo-Boochen forces prepare to retire.

Heavy musket fire sees off the Poo-Boochen rear guard cavalry.

MG Grumm snatched victory from the jaws of defeat due to some superb work by the 6lb battery on the left flank and the bold advances by Colonel Von Finklestein and Prinz Noah. Each side suffered heavy cavalry losses and significant infantry casualties but each force also still had an unengaged brigade on the field.

The Poo-Boochen forces withdrew a few miles to regroup while MG Grumm ordered the Ooblek Sappers and Miners to begin fortifying the town by the ford.

It is reported that LTG Von Stroodel flew into a fit of rage when he found out Grumm had failed to push an advanced guard ahead of his division and almost suffered a major defeat. LTG Von Stroodel calmed down long enough to send a polite note to Colonel-Bishop Von Finklestein and another private message to Prinz Noah.

Mercenaries

A force of mercenaries/contractors guarding a VIP. More figures for the Krasnovian Campaign.

Masked Gunmen

Group of masked gunmen...good for several uses. Rebels, insurgents, terrorists...you name it.

African Militia

A large force of African militia. Armed with RPGs and AK47s.

Weasels

A new batch of figures for Song of the Splintered Lands. Weasels in action.