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.

Father and Son Gaming

Flames of War gaming with my son.

He destroyed my STUGs on their first outing.

A shirt he got me from the Phili Zoo.

A Memoir '44 game he is playing with a friend. Recruiting a new gamer!

More M'44 stuff in the game room.

Mid Year Review-2011

Half the year has gone by and painting progress has been right on schedule.
J-72
F-196
M-111
A-85
M-89
J- 98

Total So Far:  671 points 
I completed the Starmada project and the Katzenstein project. These join the completed Flames of War Project.

I am working through the Krasnovia project now and making progress on the Splintered Lands animals.

When these two are done this year, I will start on 3 other projects for 2012:
Ancients
Sci-Fi 15mm skirmish for Tomorrow's War and Flying Lead
Pirates

I have kept purchases generally undercontrol except for one large restock on bases from Litko. This included the bases for the Ancients project and magnetic bottoms for all my figures. I am planning to improve all my basing in 2012 and arrange better storage by placing the figures on steel sheet in the trays. Also bought some 15mm Sci Fi figures from Khurasan when I got some other figs. Saved on shipping this way.

Historicon is coming up on 8 July. I have some planned purchases but not too many figures. I will have significantly reduced my unpainted lead this year.

I have played a few games this year and the 2nd Imagi-nation campaign is moving along well. Need to get more games in. Rome:Total War and the new Memoir '44 Online have been major distractions from my gaming.