Principals of War : Napoleonic Game

Les laid on this game at the club today - Russians (Me) v French (Richard). All troops and terrain courtesy of Les bar the house which is a club one as he forgot to bring a Russian one ! Les acted as umpire too and mentored me as a PoW novice.

The objective for the Russians is to capture the bridge and the house - which is currently occupied by the French advance guard and they have a regiment of hussars over the river too.

My first Russian brigade is advancing across the corn fields (right to left) where the hussars are positioned

The French have infantry in the house and orchard

Richard's hussars charge the lead Russian battalion

which manages to adopt square formation just in time

The rest of the brigade ignored this action and swept past towards the river - the hussars withdrew as soon as they were able having failed to break the square

A second Russian brigade arrives and heads for the house

the hussars have returned to have another go at the Russian infantry

but again they are forced back - you can see behind this the second Russian brigade is attacking the house

and the orchard too

the first Russian brigade has changed into line before continuing their advance to the river

although the river may be fordable, rumours of more French approaching are received

and its true ! Cavalry and infantry appear over the hill to the right of the orchard

and on the left, where they have got to the river

a fire fight develops across the river

and the Russian cavalry arrive just in time to tackle the French cavalry which has crossed the river

The cavalry melee takes several bounds  

and now the Russian infantry have charged across the river

but they suffer set backs right from the off

One French cavalry unit has retreated

Repeated attempts to take the house and orchards are repulsed

With casualties mounting across the battlefield and the French now firmly in position right across the line, I concede that we will not be able to take the bridge or the house and call it a day.

I have to say I struggled with the mechanisms of Principals of War, being more used to Black Powder.  Lots of morale throws and I am not a fan of average dice and D20s, I must confess.

At least it was another excuse to push lots of Napoleonic troops around the table !

Thanks Les for letting me have a go. 

Bag The Hun : A first for Essex Warriors

Ian R brought along his new aerial mat and planes for Bag The Hun, so a few of us wanted to try this out for ourselves.

Thos Too Fat Lardies rule book has been around for a while now but none of us have got around to playing it - until last Sunday !

Mike was given the Luftwaffe who are trying to bomb Dover whilst the rest of us shared out the Spitfires and Hurricanes tasked with beating them away.

Here Ian is explaining some of the rules to Mike, Steve N and Alan D

The south coast is being patrolled by the RAF as we have been warned of a raid coming in

These were the three Spits I had, one Regular pilot leading with two "Sprogs" tagging along

We each had a QRS to try and work out movement, firing etc 

The first Jerry bombers are spotted off the coast

These are the stats for my aircraft, Blue Section

RAF units are being scrambled to intercept

Here comes Blue Section !

An early rule check is underway - even Ian has only played this once at a Lardy Day !

Here come the bombers

My aircraft are hoping Steve N's section from our squadron are coming to help before I get stuck in

For some reason, the German fighter cover is late arriving

Can we hit the bombers before they can offer some protection ?

We are struggling to manoeuvre into position to attack

Got to make sure you are on the same altitude as the enemy in order to fire at them

E and F sections are now formed up and at their top height

descending for the run in at the bombers

Whilst we are trying to attack from the flank and rear, Alan is trying to protect Dover from the front

Tally Ho !

The Germans have managed to keep in formation

Can we cause some mayhem ?

but first we have to deal with the Messerchmitts

There are so many bombers, it seems we are unable to prevent them getting to Dover

My section has managed to get on the tail of the enemy fighters - the leader causes some damage to the middle plane but one of my Sprogs gets a "kill" the enemy plane actually blows up in mid air !

More of our boys are on the tail of the bombers

but they are tough planes and they are shrugging off the damage so far

but the fighters are unable to help them

Our planes are whirling around trying to break up the bomber formations

but the front flight is over Dover and the bombs are dropping

Too many of our aircraft have got embroiled with the enemy fighters

can any one down a bomber ?

Their bombing run over , the first flight heads for home

The fighters are still at it !

Three Germans have managed to trap a Spit

a second flight gets over Dover and drops their bombs

a Hurrican has been hit and smoke coming from the cockpit

This damaged Messerschmitt is heading for home too

Our fighters now belatedly realise that the bombers got through !

they won't be able to stop them now

but perhaps we can stop them getting away

Pick a target !

All good fun but I had to leave early so left my flight with Steve N to control.

Hope we Bagged the Hun !