Back on Line - CD Test of Battle Game Report

Man! Does time fly! I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. I haven't been doing much gaming. Last weekend I had a chance to play in a Command Decision - Test of Battle game at a friends house. The rules are really interesting and the figures we used were great, however, the scenario needs some work. It was a British vs. Italian Western Desert game. I played on the British side and we got our heads handed to us. The Italians were dug in and the Brits had basically just tanks to attack with. The rules really favor dug in defenses because they are so difficult to spot and return fire on. I think the rules have some promise, however, I think they are a bit involved unless you play them often. I think at this point in my life I want to play a simpler set of rules. that I can be away from and come back to easily. I'll let you know if I play the rules again.

Modern SPEARHEAD Game

Had a great game of Modern SPEARHEAD this afternoon. I was a Russian Tank Regiment commander with reinforcements of an additional BMP armed MRB and the Independent Tank Battalion (ITB). We attacked (well, attempted to attack) a well placed French battle-group of one armor battalion and one mech battalion. The French units were reinforced with an engineer company and a divisional ATGM company. The French tanks were LeClerc's, APC's were AMX-10P. The Russian tanks were T-80U's with the MRB's equipped with BMP-2's. The ITB was equipped with T-72'sBM's. We were pulling out the rules after several months since we last played so we did not use many of the advanced rules and we did not include any aircraft in the game. The bottom line is my good friend Andrew playing the French rolled lights out and had a great battle plan. He halted my entire attack within four turns destroying an entire MRB and tanks equal to at least half of a Tank Battalion. My attack plan stunk and his defense plan couldn't have worked better. I learned that one must play the game just like the Russians planned to attack. Lots and Lots of artillery, close air support, move quickly and get in close before NATO takes out too much stuff. The rules came back to us very quickly and we are going to add some of the advanced rules and aircraft with the next game. We were doing this game to make sure we are ready to start our campaign. I hope we will have the campaign started within the next couple or three weeks.

The 1st Regiment of Foot

This is the senior regiment in the British Army. Also known as the "Royal Scots" the 1st Foot had the blue facings of a royal regiment. This unit has three stands because of the relatively large number of troops in this battalion. Note that the command stand on the far left includes a pioneer or sapper. These men were equipped with an axe and tasked with duties of clearing the route of march through the forest. Also, note that there are several different colors of pants. In the field, and especially in North America at the end of a very long supply line, troops wore whatever they could procure. Finally, note the sergeant on the stand on the right has a musket instead of a pike just like the sergeant in the 100th Foot posted earlier. All of these figures are from the Foundry Napoleonic British Range.

British Rocket Detachments

These two detachments represent Royal Artillery heavy rockets (L) and Royal Marines light rockets (R). All of the figures come from the Old Glory Rockets and Crews pack in their 25mm Napoleonics range. I converted the Marines by removing the heads from the figures provided in the pack and replacing them with Marine heads from the Napoleonic Marines pack. Although not 100% historical, I think the Marines look good. I needed to make the Marine rocket detachment to complete my British Order of Battle for Lundy's Lane. Overall I think that every Napoleonic British force should have a rocket unit to provide a little "color".

The 19th Light Dragoons and Canadian Light Dragoons

The 19th Light Dragoons were the only regular British cavalry regiment to serve in Canada during the War of 1812. The uniform is completely regulation with shako and all lace. I think the expressions on these figures is excellent as they yell and urge their mounts into the charge! Didn't happen much in Canada, but that is something we can overlook. The Canadian Light Dragoons that I have painted are not totally accurate. The historical unit wore a felt round hat with black bearskin crest. I didn't have the ability to correct the hat on these Foundry figures so I used the early Napoleonic light dragoons with Tarleton helmet as presented. I really like the officer figure with his oil cloth covered bicorne. These are the only two cavalry units in my British force at this time. What I really want is some dismounted figures for these units to use as skirmishers. Redoubt makes excellent dismounted hussars, I am hopeful that they will someday do at least two or three dismounted light dragoons.

The 100th Regiment of Foot

The 100th Regiment of Foot received the title of "HRH The Prince Regent's County of Dublin Regiment" in 1812. They were with the Royal Scots (1st Regiment of Foot) at the Battle of Chippewa. Their commander, George Hay, the Marquis of Tweeddale, was the commander who stated that he would easily dispose of the grey coated "Buffalo Militia" of the American brigade under the command of General Winfield Scott. As the Americans advanced, the British soon learned that, "those are Regulars, By God!" During the Battle of Chippewa the 100th Foot suffered 204 casualties out of 450 engaged - a casualty rate of 45%! This unit is dressed in regular British uniforms including the 'Belgic' shako which was issued to the regiment in 1813. The unit includes a sergeant armed with a musket. In Canada most sergeants turned in their spontoons and took up firearms, especially in the Niagara region, due to the close nature of the terrain. I converted the sergeant by removing the spontoon and gluing in a musket. He retains his sword and red sash as badges of rank. Given the unit's ability to take casualties and keep on fighting, I have included a wounded officer and private. All of the figures are Front Rank.

The 2nd Glengarrys

This unit actually existed. I have used a little artistic license and combined uniforms described by Charles Glenn & Stephen Manley in "The War of 1812, A Wargamer's Guide - Part II, The King's Army" for the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the historical Glengarry's. This unit includes six privates and one officer. The officer wears a shako with diced border. The privates all wear a forage cap with diced border as well as trews. Along with the green coats with red facings they have a very 'regular' appearance. I think the color combination really works for these guys and they are one of my favorite units in the army. Although they look very military in bearing they are still militia. I think they hope that Americans seeing them on the field of battle would give them a wide berth mistaking them for true highlanders!