Swamp Fox - Game 11

Situation

After the encounter with Cornet Merrit, the Queen’s Rangers retired on Georgetown where they met a mounted group of Loyalist militia under the command of Major Micajah Gainey. These forces now combined and rode off in pursuit of Horry and his men. On the Black River Ferry Road encountered Horry and his men at their camp. The Crown force attacked immediately.

The British win the game if they can burn down the plantation house where the Rebels are staying. The Rebels win if they break the Crown Force Morale.

The Crown forces deployed first, with the militia heading straight down the road and the cavalry moving across the countryside.

However, the Rebels also managed to deploy all of their forces in the first turn. The Crown forces weren't looking too happy about their ability to burn some buildings.

The rebels advanced north to hopefully prevent the cavalry from outflanking them.

The cavalry cantered through the woods and over the fence.

Unfortunately, the officer's horse pulled up almost throwing the rider. The Crown militia deployed into two groups and poured fire into the rebels, causing casualties. 

With the cavalry rapidly advancing towards the rebels

The rebels advanced their best troops towards the fence line and hoped to hold off the cavalry. Unfortunately, the cavalry failed to close to contact.

A devastating volley by the Rebels forced the cavalry to retire.

With both of their leaders knocked out, things weren't going well for the Crown militia.

A unit of the Crown cavalry were soon brought under control and were heading to outflank the rebels, hoping to charge them in the rear. Unfortunately, the Crown militia were falling back due to the Rebel firepower.

At this point the Crown morale was such that they retired from the field, whats left of them that is. Leaving the Rebels victorious.

Chain of Command 2 – Entering St. Lambert, Take 2

This was our second trial game of Chain of Command 2, so we wanted to up the ante slightly. We also wanted to have a direct comparison with the original Chain of Command. Fortunately, not long ago, we had played Scenario 2, from the “Closing the Gap” PSC. This scenario had a standard Canadian platoon, supported by a Sherman tank, attempted to cross the river and enter the outskirts of St Lambert.

The town of St Lambert was defended by a standard German platoon, supported by a Panzer IVH. The Canadians also had 9 points of support (electing to take a 4^th infantry section and a 6lb A/Tank gun) and the Germans had 5 points (electing to take Pak38 and a 2^nd Senior Leader).

The Canadians were played by Dave & Mal and the Germans played by Rob & Steve.

Under CofC2, the rulebook scenario 4: “A Delaying Action” introduces an Objective around the centre of the table (in the red box). The German patrol markers also start quite well forward, so this was going to be a short Patrol Phase!! The Canadians gained one free move, but ended up a point down on Force Morale (FM), so really gained no benefit. However, they did secure Jump Off Points (JoP) out toward the woods on their left and a threatening JoP in the woods to the South.

The Germans managed to establish a JoP in the orchard to the North-East and one further back in the village, overlooking the river, to the South of the bridge. The Germans then elected to place their Objective JoP in the ruined house, just to the North-East of the bridge.

The Canadians opened strong, pushing the Sherman forward, to laydown suppressive fire on the central German JoP/Objective, while Red & Blue sections pushed through the woods in the North, toward the river. The Germans responded by deploying Red section in the orchard, while the Panzer IV moved up, to try to get a firing position on the Canadian infantry.

After an initial misplaced smoke round, the Canadians laid an effective smoke screen on the far bank of the river and pressed Red section across. However, just as Blue section was about to enter the water, the wind suddenly picked-up blowing away the smoke (The Canadians rolled a triple 6!).

Fortunately, the Canadians soon rolled a couple of double 6s and managed to scrabble Blue section over the river and into the woods. The Canadian Red & Blue sections then started to infiltrate through the North side of the woods. The Germans, realising that the Canadians were attempting to out-flank them, pivoted Red section round to overlook the likely line-of-advance of the Canadians, while deploying Blue section, to guard Red section’s left flank.

Another double 6 allowed the Canadians to change axis and move South to the edge of the woods. Red section, spying the exposed flank of the German Red section, fixed bayonets and rushed forward. Spotting the Canadians coming out of the woods, the German Blue section moved to support (being within 4” of the melee). The Canadians still had a ‘3’ in hand, so moved their Blue section up to support Red section and fortunately got a decent move roll, turning the melee into a one-on-one, section-on-section fight (this is another V2 change). However, the bigger V2 change is the melee result rolls. Now a 5 just causes Shock and a 6 causes a kill. Melees are far less deadly now, to both sides!

The net result of both melees was that both Canadian sections were both thrown back.

Back in the centre, the Germans deployed their Pak38 into the Objective ruined house, missing the Sherman with it’s first round. As the Sherman had been laying down effective fire on the German Blue section in the orchard, driving them back, the Panzer IV edged around the corner of the building, to get a shot at the Sherman. However, the Sherman struck first, severely shaking the Panzer crew, but, in turn the Pak38 then immobilised the Sherman! Realising 2 vs 1 was not good odds, the Canadians deployed their 6 pounder. Boom! One ex Panzer IV!?

In amongst all this excitement, the Germans had used their Chain of Command dice to end the second turn, thereby starting the “Final Countdown” (sneaky Rob!). This put the time pressure firmly on the Canadians!

The Canadian Blue section, led by Sgt Buchannan, saw their chance. Realising that the Germans, who had just defeated them in hand-to-hand combat, were now retreating further back into the orchard, the Canadian Blue section raced toward the objective (another double 6!), surprising the Pak38 crew and driving them out of the objective house. The Germans had felt safe, as they had deployed Yellow section, on the Eastern bridge approach, alongside the objective. These guys would normally have been able to quickly reinforce the Pak38 crew. However, the same double 6, that allowed Sgt Buchannan to storm the Objective, had allowed Lt Bowe to lead the Canadian Yellow section, over the hedge, onto the road and then a full 15” down the road, before finally charging over the bridge, into the startled German Yellow section!

The Germans briefly attempted to recapture the objective, using the depleted Blue section, but Sgt Buchannan’s men were having none of it, kicking them back out of the house, before rolling a double 6, on the first phase of the “Ticking Clock” to end the game!? Close run stuff!!

This was our second outing with CofC2. We wanted to try AFVs and were pleased with the results. AFVs are no longer hopeless white elephants, waiting for a spare 3! We hadn’t planned to exercise Close Combat, but ended up with 6 fights! Under V2, Close Combat is no longer the Section man killer it was. It is still decisive, with plenty ‘back & forth’, so a good improvement. I really liked the introduction of Objectives and the Final Countdown & Ticking Clock introduce some real cinematic jeopardy!? All-in-all, I like CofC2.

 

The final game in our Wars of the Roses campaign was Towton.

The Battle of Towton took place on 29 March 1461, near Towton North Yorkshire, and has the dubious distinction of being the largest and bloodiest battle fought on English soil.  The opposing armies may have totalled up to 80,000 men which was around 2% of the population at the time.  Casualties are estimated to have been up to 28000.

The night before the battle was cold and wet, nevertheless both armies were under arms by 9 am.  Following protracted negotiations the battle started at 11am when the Yorkists delivered telling volleys of arrows into the Lancastrian ranks.  The Lancastrians returned fire only to have their arrows, opposed by the wind, fall short.

Stung into action, the numerically superior Lancastrian army advanced to engage the Yorkists. An ambush launched from Castle Hill woods piled pressure onto the left of the Yorkist line.  Outnumbered as they were the Yorkist flanks began to give ground.  Things were looking grim for the Yorkists until the timely arrival of the Duke of Norfolk marching up the Scarthingwell Road.  Norfolk attacked the Lancastrian left causing troops to panic and flee northwards.  Disquiet began to spread throughout the Lancastrian ranks as more and more men fell back towards Towton and the River Cock.  Finally the Lancastrian army broke and multitudes were slaughtered as they fled the field across the Cock Beck.  Edward was subsequently recognised as the one true king and reigned for 22 years despite being required to defend his throne several times.

Remember this game is not intended as an historical replay. The aim is simply to kill as many of the enemy as possible.  This is our third historical “grudge” match and each unit destroyed will attract an additional campaign victory point. 

Both generals stuck with their previous armies. The Lancastrians (Adrian) raised a balanced force of archers and billmen including Welsh and Irish mercenaries.  The Yorkist army (David) featured a preponderance of missile troops including the new fangled bombards and handguns.

 

It was a battlefield of two halves. The Eastern half was very open and the Western half was characterised by low rolling hills on both sides of the battlefield flanked by Castle Hill wood.

 

The scouting battle was closely fought with both sides matching each other blow for blow (they both drew 10 chits!).  The small Lancastrian advantage in light cavalry therefore made the difference and the Yorkists deployed first.

 

The Yorkists (David) started the set up by deploying their static artillery under the command of Baron Fauconberg in a defensive position protecting the first of their camp.  The Lancastrians (Adrian) responded by deploying their right flank in Castle Hill woods.  This force was under the command of the Earl of Devon (Reg) and Owen Tudor

 

The Yorkists then occupied the hills in their right centre.   It was here that Edward Plantagenet (David) raised his standard, daring the Lancastrians to come against them. The Lancastrians countered this defiance by deploying a strong centre in the shelter of low rolling hills and under the personal command of Henry VI (Adrian).

 

The Yorkists (David) then refused their left wing.  This command consisted of two units of bills deployed on the Northern edge of the battlefield.  These troops and the adjacent missiles (artillery and longbows) were under command of Baron Bonville (Tony).

The Lancastrians (Adrian) opposed Bonvilles bills with his cavalry supported by longbows and bills. Jasper Tudor (Doug) and Andrew Trollope were in command.

 

Finally David deployed his right wing made up of longbowmen supported by bills and his handgunners. This flank was under the command of Baron Scrope (Paul) and Lancelot Threlkeld.

 

All however was not as it appeared.  The Lancastrians (Adrian) had hatched a plan to seize a forward position in Castle Wood.   The Earl of Devon (Reg) and Owen Tudor smartly moved their front line forward to the Northern edge of Castle Hill wood.

Not to be outdone the Yorkists also planned a surprise for their enemies.  Unknown to the Lancastrians a unit of cavalry under the command of Sir John Middleton was despatched on a flank march to threaten the Lancastrian left.

With the set up complete it looked like the decisive battle would be fought on the Western, side of the battlefield.

As battle commenced the Lancastrian left charged forward out of Castle Hill woods and engaged the leading line of Yorkist troops. 

The Earl of Devon’s (Reg) knights swept all before them destroying two Yorkist longbow units and forcing their second line to withdraw.  On their right the Yorkist billmen stood their ground disordering the Lancastrians as they charged to contact. Meanwhile on the Western side of Castle Hill wood Lancastrian longbowmen moved to a firing position in support of the main attack. Baron Scrope (Paul) was concerned.

Elsewhere on the battlefield the Lancastrian right wing, under command of Jasper Tudor (Doug), moved to their left closing up with their centre.  In the centre of the battlefield Henry VI (Adrian) ordered his troops to move forward with a view of engaging the main Yorkist line in a long range fire fight.

The Yorkists responded by counter attacking the Earl of Devon’s (Reg’s) leading units. 

Baron Scrope’s (Paul) troops threw the Earl’s knights into disorder with their ferocious firepower. While his billmen scattered their Lancastrian opposite numbers who had sallied forth from Castle Hill woods. 

Freed from the threat to their front Scrope’s longbowmen now turned to engage the rampaging Lancastrian knights destroying the Earl of Devon’s (Reg) personal bodyguard.

As the Earl of March (David) and his bodyguard fell back into their camp the rest of the Yorkist centre held their defensive positions awaiting the inevitable archery duel.  Their cannons opened fire on the Lancastrian right to little effect.

Under strict orders to fight a defensive battle the Yorkist left wing under Baron Bonville (Tony) fell back within the Yorkist defences

Henry (Adrian) now advanced his centre into longbow range of the Yorkists line beginning a lengthy but largely ineffective exchange of fire, and covering the withdrawal of the Earl of Devon (Reg) who had become dangerously overextended.  Jasper Tudor (Doug) continued to move to the left attempting to avoid the Yorkist cannon fire

Baron Bonville (Tony) continued to march in support of his centre.

The longbow duel was now beginning to spread disorder through the leading units of the Lancastrian centre as it came under fire from the Yorkist centre and right.

At this moment The Yorkists sprang their ambush and Sir John Middleton’s cavalry arrived deep in the Earl of Devon‘s (Reg) rear.

The Lancastrian right wing now forming a strong reserve behind Henry’s centre moved against the threatening Yorkist cavalry.  Archers in the Lancastrian centre also turned to face the emerging threat from behind.

With disorder spreading through both armies Yorkist handgunners moved into the northern end of Castle Hill woods

The Kerns valiantly dashed forward to harry the Yorkist line.  In view of the volume of fire now directed against them the lead Lancastrian archers fell back to their start line.

Baron Bonville (Tony) continued to march West taking up his new position in support of the Yorkist firing line.

Concentrated Yorkist missile fire from the flank and front shattered Henry’s bills who had moved in support of The Earl of Devon’s (Reg) knights. 

Forced to take cover in the face of overwhelming odds Sir John’s flank marching cavalry came under determined attack from Jasper Tudor’s (Doug) cavalry.

In a last throw of the dice, Edward Earl of March (David) charged his knights against the Earl of Devon’s (Reg) knights but failed to achieve sufficient impetus.  

 

As the last rays of sunshine sank beneath the horizon Yorkist pressure was being applied against the increasingly disordered Lancastrian front but Sir John and his gallant outflanking force was under severe pressure.

The  Lancastrians had lost two units of billmen (6), and  their bodyguard knights (2).  

Yorkist losses were two longbow units (6).

A singularly indecisive game.  The outcome was declared a draw.

At the conclusion of the campaign standings are

Rick  +39

Tony  +34

Paul +30

David +28

Doug/Reg +17

Adrian +16

The Yorkists won six battles and the Lancastrians only two.  Despite losing the war our Kingmaker is the Lancastrian Duke of Somerset (Rick). Whose brutal style showed him to be a formidable opponent in battle.

The Duke of Somerset (Rick) will now follow his king into exile mayhap to return under the banners of Queen Margaret, Prince Edward or even the Tudors…..

Huzzah!