Against Spain - update time !

 I received an email from Graham at Crann Tara yesterday with some good news. The first of the figures to accompany "Against Spain", the sequel to Wargaming the Sugar Islands have been sculpted by Andy Stadden.

These Indian labourers will be able to serve the British as labourers, "lascars", without whom no European army in India could operate. But with the addition of muskets they'll become early Sepoys, "peons" as they were known, who were only just becoming more regimented and equipped with uniforms in the 1750's. The Madras residency were to supply trained soldiers to serve in Drapers expedition to Manila, but instead he was given fresh recruits and men straight of the streets. Many disappeared in the the countryside once in the Philippines, some turned their coat and fought for the Spanish. Some settled and built a new life and their descendants are still there to this day. 

A versatile set of figures, excellently sculpted by Andy, soon to be joined by a more steadfast force....the Cuban Militia. Watch this space for more info!

The book itself is almost complete. The last couple of sections have to be written, summarising the end of the campaign on both islands and of the conclusion of the war. The maps for the scenarios are done and but the notes for the scenarios have to written, but everything else is in place.

Wargaming the Sugar Islands is still available, from myself using the link on the left, from Crann Tara, and Caliver Books here in the UK or On Military Matters in North America . 

 

There's a review here if you want to know a little bit more

A busy week of Wargames goodies

It's been a very busy week of goodies for the Wargames table and bookshelf.

A couple of eBay purchases turned up. Some lovely Crann Tara British in campaign dress which will be prefect for Cuba or elsewhere.

Some of the British, (and dog).

Then another eBay purchase, this time 19thC. Highlanders for the Crimea. I'd always wanted to have Crimean War figures and this project is turning into a labour of love. I can't wait for Great War to restock so I can get my mitts on some Rifle Brigade. Then I need to flesh out the Russians with some skirmishers and add the Cossack artillery I'm painting.

A trip to Ballater on Saturday meant a visit to Deeside books. And I seldom if ever leave without something under my arm. This time it was Hellion's book on the battle of Sheriffmuir - "Crucible of the Jacobite '15" by Jonathan Oates, half price no less. Check them out online do...they have an excellent history section and also some rarities.

I did some painting too, making a start on the rowers for my landing boats for Havana and Manila as I now have oars supplied by Graham H's printer. I plan on mounting the oarsmen on small plastic "seats" made of square plasticard tube. This will allow a stand of troops to fit alongside them in the boat. For a mock up I have used some 6mm dice, which are roughly the size needed, and it seems to work out well. The book is moving along and I'm am ready to start drafting the first scenarios.



Lastly I must mention another book I received this weekend. I'm not really a modern history fan nor do I know much about the modern "troubles" in Northern Ireland other than what I remember from tv as a kid. However I had the good fortune to work with the author a few years ago and a very fine chap he is indeed. The book in question is "A Winter in Belfast" by David Ellis. It is his diary of a tour spent there during 76-77 whilst he was in the Parachute Regiment. It is very clearly written and both forthright and frank and I'm finding it  an excellent read.

Spanish Dragoons and Militia

For my next project (and book), I need some Spanish dragoons and Militia.

These figures represent the Edimburgo Dragoons which were stationed on Cuba and took part in the defence of Havana. Their yellow coats and blue facings really contrast with the plain white of Spanish line infantry and are the reverse of the Havana garrison uniform so make a flash of bright colour on the field.

(The regimental name is correct, in English they would be the Edinburgh Dragoons).

The infantry figure is a test paint for the Havana Blancos, a local militia unit. The Havana militias were all reorganised when city was returned to Spain after the SYW and all the illustrations, including the one this figure is based on, date from that later period. Prior to that it's not clear exactly what was worn and what was carried. It's likely that only officers and some men wore uniform and carried full equipment as large numbers had to be equipped with pikes and were not committed to any offensive action against the British. However I've chosen to paint a few spare figures which I have in the later uniform.

There were three militia units, the Blancos, Pardos and Morenos. 

The Blancos were European citizens whilst the Pardos were men of mixed parentage. The Morenos (lit. "moors") were freed slaves. Again this information is post siege so in reality there may have just been a "Militia" which free men could join. This being greatly expanded when the English arrived and then reorganised into these distinct and more formal units later.

Below is a illustration of a soldier from the Havana Morenos wearing his post siege uniform. Hopefully castings of these will see the light of day at some point.

Encounter with the Maroons - Scenario

Here is a copy of the scenario I used for the Encounter with the Maroons.

Link - An Encounter With The Maroons Scenario

Please feel free to download it and share. Use any rule set which you prefer. I used Rebels and Patriots because I like them. Muskets and Tomahawks, Sharp Practice or any other skirmish set should suit.

There is a list of suitable Crann Tara figures included too.

Copies of the scenario book and guide to the battles on Martinique and Guadeloupe - "Wargaming the Sugar Islands Campaign" are still available. You can pick it up at shows or when ordering from Crann Tara or directly from me. Please use the contact box on the right hand side of the blog to drop me a line for details.

Sugar Islands - An Encounter with The Maroons

On Guadeloupe the British and French patrols have bumped into each other and between them lies a Maroon village.  As each side advances to engage the enemy, the question is what will the Maroons do?

The British. 

The French.

The Maroons.

The British moved off quickest, with the Highlanders leading the way. Two units moved to to the right, to flank the village. The French Marines and the Swiss of Rgt Hallwyl advanced directly whilst the militia moved round the village to engage the flanking British. 

However it was the Highlanders who got to the Maroons first. Quite what a man from Assynt, Skye or even Ulster thousands of miles away, with had little or no English, had to say to the man from West Africa equally far off  and equally linguistically challenged is sadly lost, but whatever was discussed the Maroons decided the British were more friendly and joined them opening up on the Swiss and Marines as they moved up. 

Not everything went the British way though. The seasoned men of the 38th didn't like the odds and recoiled, their wheezy Officer needing a tot of rum before he ordered his men forward. The Scots too seemed reluctant to move off and several turns were wasted before they were able to engage.  However the volleys of the British, supplemented by the sniping Maroons began to slow the French down. First the militia on the flank were halted and took heavy casualties from the 38th and 63rd.  Then the marines were also hit hard and had to retire. 

Hallwyl was now on the outskirts of the Maroon village and the latter decided the enough was enough, fleeing through the scrub, back through British lines. The Redcoats let them pass, they sensed victory was at hand. 

Another crashing volley on the flank scattered the worn militia and the Highlanders began skirmishing with the Swiss in the village. The Marines were now down to half numbers and the 64th were fresh and advancing with bayonets fixed. It was time to head back to Fort St Pierre.

This was a great game to play solo. I diced to see who got to move first and after a few fits and starts it was the Brits who got to the Maroons first. After dicing to see their reaction the joined them, but it could have gone the other way or they could had made a fighting retreat for the opposite corner of the table. This Highlanders didn't do much, the 38th nearly ran off the table when I rolled a double 1, and the militia advanced and then as quickly recoiled and broke. The effect of the Maroons was to take a couple of casualties off one militia unit and the marines and to hold up the Swiss. But the small skirmishing Maroon unit's quickly wore down and fled. All in all I was quite pleased with how it worked out and equally pleased it fitted on the kitchen table and as a solo game.....handy given the circumstances where most Wargamers are away from big tables at the moment. 

I will proof read the scenario and make it available to download or mail out on Monday. Get in touch if you want a copy using the contact box at the top right of the Blog.

Sugar Islands - Against the Maroons

This weekends game will be a test of a special scenario I have written for the Sugar Islands inspired by Crann Tara's excellent Maroon figures.

The scenario will be available as a download once I have tested it.

I finally managed to get round to painting the ones I have, and the huts I bought so now can try something that's been kicking about for a few months.

The Maroons were escaped slaves who took to isolated locations and set up their own villages and camps, raiding and living off the land and eventually establishing their own culture. There were several Maroon uprisings across the Caribbean too.

The figures are the typical clean Crann Tara sculpts, open handed to receive various weapons. I have equipped mine with machetes and other plantation tools and some traditional weapons such as bows and spears as well as a smattering of firearms - the latter gleaned from Marlburian and AWI plastic sprues from Warlord games. A simple paint job, mahogany, with plain coloured clothing and a soft tone wash finishes the figures off.




The huts are an eBay purchase.

For previous games I have used Jim Purky's excellent F&I skirmish rules from Fife and Drum. However this scale of game is much smaller than the usual few battalions, so instead I'll be using Rebels and Patriots which I really like. However Sharp Practice, Muskets and Tomahawks, or any other skirmish set would work well too.

Crew...and Maroons

When your wife is working in the study on her thesis, you get a lot of painting done.

I've been told I'm on too long a leash, but it's working for me. I managed to get most of the crew for my little ship done today and finished the first batch of Maroons for a scenario I am writing which will be available as a download. 

The crew are from Crann Tara and I have based them on clear perspex so that they can fit on board, in the longboats I have, or onshore without looking odd. This necessitates some careful snipping and filing but it's worth it. They will serve in the Caribbean against France and against Spain.

The Maroons are also from Crann Tara. I have armed two with muskets from plastic sprue spares, two with bows and two with machetes. More of these will follow. 

The Sugar Islands......nearly there!

I haven't forgotten this project and indeed have made a lot of progress as my mojo seems to have returned despite being busier at work and home than for several years!

Only the scenarios for Guadeloupe and the campaign rules need adding. I have been editing as I go along but once finished it will need proof read and then it will be ready to print.





On the figures front I finally got round to painting Madame Ducharmey. I decided that she wouldn't be in her best dress, being a practical and no nonsense type a more simple pattern would do. The female gunner from the AWI artillery set was given a new hand and musket and her right hand trimmed. She now looks like she's shaking her fist in rage at the advancing British whilst defending her plantation.

One sneaky peak inside?




Oh go on then!


I will be running a scenario from the book at the Kirriemuir show in November along with Oldmeldrum Wargames Group.

Sugar Islands Test Scenario 2 - The Advance on Port Royal

The arrival of my final batches of British for this project have meant that I can crack on and try out my ideas for scenarios. In this one the British have to March from one side of the table to another, representing their march from the beaches to what they hoped would be a position overlooking Port Royal.

I wanted to try a grid type system of the table with it divided up into 12in squares, each of which would contain a random terrain type and a possible event. Obviously an ambush by French forces, militia or slaves but potentially a water halt, damaged axle or similar just imposing a delay. 

Having made up the tables in my draft version of the book I was keen to give them a go and ran a couple of games this week at Oldmeldrum Wargames Group.  In the first game the British managed to sweep across the table with a mild diversion and a halt for water and it wasn't til they got to the last    square that they ran into trouble. A detachment of Swiss from Rgt Hallwyl managed to hold them up for three turns before they were forced aside and the advance continued.

In the second game things went badly wrong. The redcoats were hit early on by French marines and despite trying to drive them off a volley and bayonet charge the advance was compromised and the. British forced to halt and form if not quite a square, then something pretty close.

Matters worsened when the Grenadiers rou....I mean retired back to the ships and the poor 38th got pretty shot up. The French militia and more men from Hallwyl put a stop to any advance and the Brits got completely stuck. Only steady volley fire and a quick charge kept them safe until nightfall and the game ended.

Some Piccies!

The latter game, despite heavier casualties is a decent representation of the trouble Hopson's men faced. He thought casualties had been heavier than they really were and in the face of a water shortage, difficult terrain and a French foe who just wouldn't play ball, decided to call off the attack and march back to the ships and depart.

Overall I'm pleased with the result, the look of the terrain and figures. One more scenario to test and then on to Guadeloupe!!

French Gun crew painted.....and a new building.

Finished the gun crew. I've painted them as some Cannonier-Bombardiers in their red waistcoats and a couple of civilian supports. The Bombardiers were the colonial artillery deployed alongside the Compagnie Franches. On Guadeloupe they were assisted by numbers of Corsairs, so the figure in the baggy breeches could be one of these chaps.




The building is a new purchase from EBay. Perfect for the islands and for the AWI.

The single figure is from the same pack of labourers, but I have armed him with a musket from the WF/Warlord WSS cavalry. He looks quite a young chap, but everyone turned out to see off the enemy,

French Gun Crew and armed farm workers

Some civilians in military service for Martinique and Guadeloupe.

First some gun Crew - these will be mixed in with the actual French crew I will be ordering from Crann Tara later. A French officer lends encouragement.

The cannon is a model boat piece from Billings, a lovely bit of turned brass, bored out too. I shall be having a couple more of these!

Now some farmhands or townsfolk.. Again Crann Tara labourers, this time with the addition of some Wargames factory/Warlord WSS muskets.



I hope to have these ready for my planned game next tues.

Sugar Islands British

Slowly but surely my Sugar Islands campaign moves forward. Here's a pic of the British inf I have had painted up by Stuart Foley alongside the lovely command stand I received as a gift from Jim Purky of Minden & Fife and Drum mini's.

 

Stuart currently has another British line regiment and some British Grenadiers as well as French militia which he is painting up. For the latter I have used Fife and Drum AWI figs, purchased from Crann Tara. I'm away on business at the moment (this post comes to you from the departure lounge of distant Almaty airport!), but I hope to have them when I get back from my trip. I have some time off coming up and will use that to base the units which are complete so far and then try out some scenario ideas.

The unit to the front is the 38th Foot which had been posted to the Windward islands for some time. As such it's uniforms mush have made some concessions to local conditions and supply. Linen or cotton would have replaced wool and straw hats may have been worn by more practical officers rather than a felted tricorn. I have used CT's British Line in Campaign dress for these and have a few more with floppy tricorns to add. I asked Stuart to paint a few in different gaiters to add to the irregular look of this unit. 

GNW Russian Gun... and IPod and some Sugar Island Garrison!

Just finished painting some rather nice Casting Room Miniatures, (i.e. Foundry). These are from the Marlburian range but are a nice little set.

 

I'm really not sure what the officer is looking at....it's a strange looking book....more like iPod ! He must be googling battalion gun ranges !!

Looks like I forgot some buttons on the gunner with the ball...grrrr!

Also managed to base my Crann Tara Regiment Hallwyl and Compagnie Franches figures. The latter are some new figures Graham has been working on and are part of a small range which he is putting together which will compliment my Sugar Islands project perfectly. 

 

 

Back to the 18thC

Last week I received a package from Graham at Crann Tara Miniatures with some new figures he has been working on - Compagne Franches de la Marine in "summer" uniform.

These chaps are commonly referred to as French Marines, but they are not. Although they may have served on ships the "Marine" part of their title refers to the section of the french government which dealt with overseas colonies. These troops were raised to provide garrisons for these colonies and to support any local militia. I'd prefer calling them Colonial troops, but this is confusing too as it suggests "foreign" regiments to a British audience!

Anyway, now we know what we're talking about. The summer uniform is simply the troops discarding their uniform coat and wearing their long sleeved waistcoat. Although we think of waistcoats as being unsleeved, in this period they could be either.

These figures are wearing the soft fatigue cap with its long, tasseled, tail and front peak with a yellow band of tape and french cross. Equipment is light too, just a musket and pouch. Travelling light in the summer heat of Canada, or in the case of these troops intended posting - the Caribbean, is essential.

So what of the figures themselves.

 

Well these are just samples and amongst the first castings produced but they are what you'd expect from Crann Tara. Nice clean well proportioned castings. Simple and easy to paint whatever your style. The poses are perfect for skirmish games - advancing, standing firing , kneeling firing and reloading. There is an NCO whom I will be using as a standard bearer but could equally be pointing while grounding his musket and pointing. Finally there is a very useful officer who could serve in a variety of nations.

Crann Tara figures are realistically proportioned and come in about 1/56 scale. This makes the, slimmer than 28's. However these and Minden are probably the finest 18th century figures out there. These new figs are very nice too. At first I thought the heads seemed a little small but once undercoated and painted they looked right - the soft cap instead of the tricorn probably made the difference more apparent than real.

I had a crack at one of them on Sunday. Painted up with a black undercoat, Prussian blue and then royal blue with a blue ink wash. Actually I think a white undercoat would suit these best. I mocked up a flag and popped it on and overall I am happy with the finish.

 

Graham tells me that troops in tricorns should be next - brilliant! They'll make a good mix for the unit and add some irregularity.

They also make pretty good Russians in Summer dress too!

On the painting table.

A quiet-ish weekend and a chance to sort out the painting table. 

I've been a,amending the rules set I use for my Bier wars games to give some better results for smaller battles. Skirmishing cavalry may play a bigger role in these battles so I wanted to represent a cloud of Cossacks or Hussars rather than a regular formation. I'd already based some napoleonic hussars on an old DVD, but I wanted to be able to take the figures off and use them in other ways. 

I got in touch with the folk at Warbases as they had done my slot type bases for my Pyrrhic army and told them what I wanted. The results dropped thru the letter box today.

Two round bases with a cross shaped slot cut to take 25x50 bases as Modelled here by some Freikorp cavalry who happen to be on individual bases anyway. Once textured and tufted they'll look great I think. 

Also on the table waiting to have their bases done are my two regiments of Neapolitan cavalry - Naples and La Reine, actually cunningly disguised French Cavalry from Crann Tara.

Lurking in the background of the top pic are some Minden labourers who have ahead a few artillery tools added to make them generic gun crew, a Hoegaarden colonial unit from the HSBC awaiting dry brush and flock, pack mules, Ingo's Russians and some Eagle Jaeger who will form the other half of the Carabinier unit I painted the other week. 

Plenty to keep me occupied!