Holding Action

A couple of weekends ago, The Old Berks (myself, Steve G, Andy M, and John K) gathered here for a catch up, a bit of show n tell, and a game.

We shared latest projects, and chewed the wargaming fat for quite some time before settling at the table for a small game I had prepared. I wanted to trial my 18th Century rules using the 1704 Wars of the Vaubarian Succession (WVS) armies and decided to create a 2 player v 1 player game based on one of Charles S Grant's 'teaser-style' scenarios (Holding Action).

I called the battle Hugellucke as the Vaubarian force (under the command of Steve) were to defend a hill line and the pass against the two columns of Astrovians (John and Andy).

There was also a bit of random Hussar arrival, and a few other little surprises thrown in. The benefit of having an umpire allowed some of the defenders to be concealed behind the ridgeline and in woods too.

It was a good game, and the Vaubarians held out in the end, despite a spirited and intense attack. 

I won't give a blow-by-blow account, but will let the pictures tell a bit of a story....

For those who like to know a bit more detail of the set up, the forces were as follows:

Vaubarians (commanded by Etienne Graf von gill)

• 4 infantry battalions (Liebgarde, Dremel, Breitner, Ratzinga)
• dismounted dragoons
• Podolski Hussars (began the game off table... random arrival time and place determined by dice throw)
• 2 field guns.

Astrovians

column 1 commanded by Herzog Johann von Kerplunk

• 3 infantry battalions (Frankl, Schrodinger, Mahler Grenadiers)
• 1 cavalry regt (Klammer Kuirassiers)
• 1 Field Gun

column 2 commanded by Brigadier Andreas von Tielemans

• 3 infantry battalions (Wittgenstein, Klimt, Schindler)
• Karavani Croats
• Czardas Hussars (began the game off table... random arrival time and place determined by dice throw)
• 1 Field Gun

It was a most enjoyable and close encounter. The rules seemed to work well, and those unfamiliar with wargaming the period soon got into the swing of them which was very gratifying.

Meantime, there's all sorts of fresh things afoot here... more of which soon.