Bankanista AK47 Campaign

 Herts Volunteers have started an AK47 campaign involving a number of club members and I signed up.

Better than that, I got in touch with Fraser, my first opponent and made sure we got the first game in before the other "Africans" woke up !

As we are complete novices, we were greatly relieved that an accomplished AK47 player in the shape of Del was able to come along and guide us through the game processes. The rules being used are the original AK47 which still have a strong following.

Fraser had opted to spend more points on Political manoeuvring, got some upgrades to professional status and had the initiative as the attacker. Three areas were notified as his objectives but I had no way of knowing which was his main one.

Here's the table laid out. My Chosen People's Levy (CPL) army was split between the shanty town nearest the camera and the hotel area out beyond my Russian tanks. Other units are yet to put in an appearance !

Fraser's forces start to arrive far end of the table

Here's the rather up market hotel which is on his wish list !

My War Lord is still supping beer with his foot soldiers

Although some troops near the hotel are more alert

My tanks had started to move towards the enemy but got hit by some "incoming" and we lost a tank in no time. Not a good start.

Then the troops on the hotel template received enemy attention - white smoke denotes pinned.

Now we can see the threat posed by the evil President of the Republic - armour and trucks full of infantry

My tanks decide to engage them - but lose the fire fight. Another tank "brewed" and the third one pinned.

 

Did I say pinned ? He's now blown up too. And this was my best unit !

The enemy de-buss troops and they advance into the palm forest. One of their targets secured. 

I manage to get some Panhard armoured cars on but they are immediately engaged. Fraser now has units close to the hotel so I can no longer claim this as secure.

Belatedly, my War Lord decides to try and occupy the hill which we know the enemy want to take as part of their mission. This attracts a load of mortar fire and three groups are killed and another pinned out in the open

The clock had been ticking whilst all this was going on and time was now up. Del counted up victory points and I had definitely made his job easy as my Chosen People's Levy had hardly laid a glove on the President's forces !!!

Fraser was declared the victor and his President and totally corrupt government was safe for now.

But the C.P.L. will return again as God is on our side - and more importantly, McDonalds who wish to build a fast food restaurant near our palm forest ! 

I've only played AK47 once yonks ago and hadn"t appreciated what a neat little rule set this is - Del and Fraser have reignited my interest - roll on the next game !

Battle of Lutzen : Prussian Charge, 2nd May 1813

 First game back at Goldhanger after lock down !  This was taken from one of Dave Brown's Napoleonic scenario booklets and adapted for Black Powder by Steve C.

The Prussian mission is to capture the village of Kaja, in the French lines and as many of the other villages too.

Here's the battlefield viewed from the heights to be occupied by the heavy French guns.

Steve won the toss and chose the French defenders. He had six brigades of infantry (each of 4 battalions) plus a battery of 12 pounders up on the high ground and a 6 pounder battery attached to one of the infantry brigades. This plus a light cavalry brigade (10th Hussars and Baden Light Dragoons).

The advanced French units can be seen behind Gross-Gorschen (nearest to the Prussian lines right of the picture) and across to Klein-Gorschen in the distance.

Here we can see the 12 pounder battery positioned on the heights to the right of the village of Rahna. Kaja is at the centre of the French base line (left)

The Prussians have six infantry brigades, including some elite Grenadier regiments, backed up by 3 cavalry brigades (one light, two heavy) plus 3 artillery batteries (12 pounder and 9 pounder foot and one 6 pounder horse). Here we see their advance on the right towards Klein-Gorschen

Early on, Jagow's infantry brigade is sent in to attack and capture Gross-Gorschen

Left of this, Anhalt's infantry face two enemy brigades in line (the Neumark Dragoons are to the left of Anhalt's force)

Gross-Gorschen has fallen !  Prussian flags fly from the rooftops but this village alone will not be enough.

The French cavalry have moved quickly across to their right flank - as the Silesian Cuirassiers have arrived to support the Neumark Dragoons on the Prussian left flank

The French infantry continue to doggedly hold their lines either side of Gross-Gorschen but inevitably casualties are mounting

On the right, apart from cavalry threats from the Silesian Hussars and Uhlans, the Prussians have contented themselves with artillery fire to reduce the French lines before attacking with the infantry

Some French infantry are having to retire due to losses so gaps appear

but Blucher is getting impatient and ADCs scurry around with fresh orders

On the Prussian left, the French cavalry have taken the initiative and charged forcing back the Neumark Dragoons and following on with a charge against the Silesian Cuirassiers

but it was a step too far and the French cavalry break - but they have done enough damage to force the Prussian cavalry off too !

Prussian troops now attack on the right of the line, near to Klein-Gorschen

and over on the left, the French have retreated

the big Russian guns have kept up a continual fire at long range

French reinforcements have arrived on the heights by Rahna but are reluctant to advance

the Prussian columns receive closing fire from the French lines

and the attack goes in with some disorder

more Prussians have advanced beyond Gross-Gorschen and the French are forced back - except for their guns !

a French counter attack is attempted, left of the guns

and the Prussians on the left flank have also charged forwards, breaking the opposing French brigade

an almighty tussle is taking place in the centre with Prussian columns crashing into French lines

desperately, the French try and hold on but brigade after brigade falters

 The game ends with the French in retreat. Fresh forces failed to make any impact and the Prussian strength means Kaja will fall as the Prussian columns pursue the French across the board.

Only one blunder this time - Natzmer's elite grenadiers managed to retreat two moves just as they arrived on the table but they did return to beat the French by Klein-Gorschen !!!

An interesting scenario which provided a hard fought game.

Albuera

 Another Black Powder game with Mike. This was last week

Marshal Beresford (Me) with a combined force of British, Portuguese and Spanish troops are trying to prevent Soult (Mike) getting through to Badajoz. Beresford is on the left, holding Albuera but Blake's Spanish have left their rank flank "hanging" which Soult is quick to exploit.

Latour-Maubourg's cavalry division quickly turn the flank as the French infantry and guns keep the Allies occupied on their front.

British heavy dragoons move up having heard about the enemy cavalry incursion

Portuguese light cavalry line the river bank watched by French cavalry and infantry as the artillery open proceedings

Beresford also sends a British infantry brigade across to stiffen the right flank

French infantry pour across the river and attack the Spanish infantry

The French cavalry's initially enthusiasm has stalled (due to failed command throws !)

The Spanish defence crumbles and gaps appear as regiments run

French infantry have caught up with the cavalry and are no doubt asking what's the delay !

At last, they move ! The infantry swarm over the high ground too towards a sole Spanish regiment at the pass

The British heavy cavalry has turned to attack French infantry which has formed a disorganised square, expecting an easy win. Wrong ! They are thrown back with losses.

The lone Spanish battalion has thrown a blunder and recklessly charged the massed French ranks

and it gets worse, a British brigade in march column also throws a blunder and heads for the enemy cavalry - the French dragoons are only too happy to oblige

although the British manage to hold the first round of melee and turn into line, they have taken a lot of casualties

They disintegrate on the second round of combat an the Dragoons crash into the next column

The Allies have lost the high ground that pinned their right flank and heavy French forces head that way

With the collapse of the blundering British infantry brigade and the Spanish gone, Beresford's position is untenable and a full retreat ordered to try and save whats left before the French completely roll up the Allied army.

Never had that before - a whole British brigade in march column blunders and charges an enemy cavalry division - suicide ! Pretty much ruined the game.

That said, I managed to throw six blunders in this game, all of them bad. One best consigned to the bin I think !