Saturday 16 February 2008

DBA Polish vs Cossack

Finally we've got round to a big game using our Cossacks! What a game it turned put to be with double sized armies. I played the Polish, while Jack & Amy took the Cossacks.

DBA 1500-1900 Listings:

 54b Polish, 1576-1670.
1x3Kn, 2x3Cv, 1x2LH or 3Dr, 2x2LH or WWg, 1x2LH or Art, 2x4Sh or 1x3Kn + 1x3Cv, 1x4Sh or 4Pk, 1x4Pk/4Sh or 2Ps, 1x4Bd or 4Pk.
http://mrfarrow2udba.blogspot.com/2008/01/dba-1500-1900-54b-polish-1576-1670.html


58 Cossack, 1550-1700.
4x2LH, 2x3Cv or 2LH, 2x2LH or WWg, 2x2LH or 3Sh or 4Sh/4Pk, 1x2LH or 4Bd or 3Dr, 1x2LH or 4Pk.
http://mrfarrow2udba.blogspot.com/2008/01/dba-1500-1900-58cossack-1550-1700.html


For the Polish I split the commands as follows....

1xPk(Gen), 2x3Dr, 2xWwg, 2xArt, 4x4Sh, 3x4Pk

1x3Kn(Gen), 2x3Kn, 5x3Cv, 2x2Lh


Jack & Amys Cossack choices...
1x3Cv(Gen), 4x4Wwg, 4x4Sh, 2x4Pk, 2x4Bd (Amys Cossack foot) 1x3Cv(Gen), 8x2Lh,
2x3Cv (Jacks Cossack & Tartar Cavalry)


Initial Setup & direction of attacks


The Foot advance to meet each other. With two Artillery elements
I was confident of blasting away those War Wagons.


Whoops what's this? The horrors have a very weak flank, off goes the
Polish Light Horse followed by the Cavalry & Winged Hussars!


Jacks Tartars advance rapidly. Facing them is only two elements of
Polish Dragoons.


Both the lines close


The Cossack line wheels to meet the Polish Cavalry attack.


The Polish Winged Hussars (Knights) attack!


The Polish Dragoons put up a good fight.


Amy sends a War Wagon to help out on the flank.
Only three are left in the centre...


The Cossack Hetman General even has too get involved.


It's looking good for the Poles, no problems at this stage.


Slooooowly the Polish Cavalry line up.


Poor Pips & it takes an eternity for the Polish Cavalry to attack.
Meanwhile the Cossack War Wagon turns into the 'A-Team Van'
& gets into position to plug the gap. In the middle the Polish infantry
take out a War Wagon... The centre is open!!


Surely the Poles can't lose this one. In go the Winged Hussars!
While elsewhere the Cossack Hetman General holds off the
Cavalry attack in the centre.


Jacks quick to act & his Tartars speed to the rescue.


Pips desert me again & the Poles attack begins to falter.


Wow... Make sense of this shot then!


The Cossack Hetman is threatened.


Losses are heavy on both sides, I withdraw the Polish Cavalry ready
for a new attack.


Polish Infantry manage to get the better of the Cossack Lads,
but both Foot commands are close to breaking.


Do I sit back & let the Polish Artillery blast the War Wagons?
NO ! Death or Glory... With the ditty from 'With Fire & Sword'
running through my head I send in the Polish Hussars again...


AAaarghh! 2 recoils & 1 Killed Knight later...
The Polish Knights & Cavalry have failed utterly in the face of
Cossack Pike, Shot & Blade.


To make matters worse the Polish Foot have broken & leg it back to Krakow!!


Final positions


Final view of the cowardly Poles running away!!!!


Casualties 8 for the Polish, 6 for the Cossacks


A very good game, it's took a long time to get these armies ready.
Bare lead & Dodgy Paint jobs right through to the finished product.
It was well worth the wait.

Where did it all go wrong? I gave the Horrors two easy kills by putting
out the Dragoons on their own. However I was very impressed with how
they performed. The Cavalry was my downfall, I put too much faith in
them against the Pike & Shot. The Horrors don't care, but this time there's
no loud noises, just smug looks on their faces!

Sunday 10 February 2008

DBA 15-19K 109.French in North America(1745-1763, 1778-1783)

A French Army to fight in the French Indian Wars or help the
Rebels in the AWI.

109. French in North America. 1745-1763, 1778-1783. 5-9x4Ms, 0-3x4Ms/2Jg,
0-4x3Aux/2Jg (Indians/coureurs de bois), 0-1xCn.

The French




The French Line (Muskets)


Indian Allies (Jaegers)


French Artillery


The Dandy French General

Wednesday 6 February 2008

DBA Royalist vs New Model Army

Back to the English Civil War & a clash between double sized
Royalists & the New Model Army. I was eager to avenge my defeat
by Jack in our last ECW encounter....

34 English Royalist, 1620-1660. (x2)
1x3Kn or 4Sh, 3x3Kn or 3Cv, 1x3Kn or 3xCv or 4Pk, 1x3Cv or 3Dr or 4Sh, 3x4Pk, 2x4Sh or 2Ps, 1xArt.


36 New Model Army, 1644-1660. (x2)
3x4Kn, 2x4Kn or 4Pi or 3Cv or 3Dr or 2Sh, 3x4Pk,
2x4Sh, 1x4Sh or 2Ps, 1xArt.

I took the Royalists & Jack the New Model Army.
My plan was to have a big wing of Cavalry (mainly Knights) & swing around the flank.  Simple enough... yea right. I deployed first & for once Jack matched my deployment instead of doing his thing.

'New' Overhead view with troop type labelled


The New Model Army


Royalist Lines


They're off! Race for control of the hill, Royalist Knights.


Royalist Foot Troops in the centre advance.


Jacks Roundheads advance


New Model Army Pike & Shot


Good Pips for both of us & the battle is on.
I sense an easy 'Kill' of his Artillery & my General is straight in. But in my eagerness for the 'Kill' I advance my Pike to close to the General. Jack smiles with glee, both Artillery pieces combine for one big volley & my General 'Recoils'.....back into the Pike.

D'oh! One General skewered on his own troops Pike.....


Mega clash of Horse...advantage to Jack he has the high ground


With one of my Generals gone, I'm rolling PIPS to just to hold the
the left & centre together.


He's done it again, his Cavalry are winning.


The Royalist foot stuggle to hold it together & some fall back.


Like a pack of wolves, Jacks Foot are quick to pursue.


The Roundheads force the Cavaliers back.


The far left, Jacks Dragoons hold the flank.
"Ere, Bert..there's nowt much goin on round here.."


Oh no.. it's another disaster!


Only the Kings Lifeguard hold it together.


It's over, another ECW Major Defeat. Overhead view of the final positions


Final view from behind the New Model Army.



Whooped again! A major moment of madness on my part by
charging in my General & why did I move my Pike in so close??
Jack doesn't care, another victory for him again.