Mick was an extremely funny, eccentric and likable guy who always regaled you with tales of missed opportunities, fickle dice, and sneaky tactics on the part of his opponent. Mick didn’t win many games but this didn’t seem to deter him as next week he fronted up with a brand new “sure-fire” tactic.

Mick is best known for his daring cavalry tactics, mostly unsuccessful, his taste for the unusual, especially if it was big, and his disdain for political correctness.

In honour of these traits this year we played three simultaneous games, each of one hour duration. At the end of each hour players swapped games until they had a chance to play all three.

The Charge:

In memory of Mick’s cavalry tactics we re-fought the charge of the light brigade in 54mm. Lines from Tennyson’s poem were used to initiate all movement and firing.

We played two games both with British victories ,which was unusual, as the Russian guns were over-run albeit on one occasion with only half a squadron remaining. The Cossacks appeared in both games but did little damage.

Munch, Munch, Munch:

As I have said already Mick had a taste for the large and unusual and  in this game we re-wrote Jurassic history…. what could be bigger or more unusual.

The large and lumbering Sauropods were the battlefield winners with the Carnosaurs the real Dinosaurs of the day!

Tara! Tara! Tara!

The HMS Tara was torpedoed by U-35 in Sollum Bay, Mediterranean Sea on 5 November 1915. Twelve crew members, mostly from the Engine Room, were lost during the ships sinking. The remaining 92 survivors took to the lifeboats which were then towed to Port Bardia by the U-Boat and handed over to Senussi tribesmen as prisoners. They were marched deep into the Libyan dessert and held under very desperate circumstances for over 4 months until rescued by the Duke of Westminster’s Armoured Car Column.

We re-fought the rescue of the survivors of the Tara, albeit in a politically incorrect, “Boys Own” manner that was considered in 1915 fitting response to the treatment meted out to the crew.

With throttle to the floor players  drove their section of the Duke of Westminster’s armoured car squadron into the fray, racing to be the first to charge through the “Senussi” to rescue the survivors. Much mayhem and havoc was cause on the way and that was only to the players..

The contemporary print that inspired the game:

 

A great day was had by all. Vale Mick!!!

Thanks to Andrew W for the battle report on last Wednesdays games in my absence.

Three rounds were played.

The armies are Marian Roman and Early (Batavian) German.

Game 1 Romans win.

Marian Roman played by David

Early Germans played by Andrew.

Game 2 Romans win.

Marian Roman played by Andrew.

Early Germans played by David.

Game 3 Romans win (again).

Marian Roman played by David

Early Germans played by Andrew.

The Romans kept wining, So much for the quick kill.

David loved to experiment with the Terrain. This resulted in 3 good games.

See Below.

Game 1

Game 1 Start.

The initial positions of the armies at the start of the game. Note the BUA is empty.

Game 1-2.

Close up of the German start position.

Game 1-3.

Close up of the Roman start position.

Game 1-4.

The armies get close.

Game 1-5.

The Roman light foot make a dash for the BUA.

Game 1-6

The first rank of the Legionnaires have smashed a hole in the middle of the German line. The Roman Light Foot has taken the BUA.

Game 1-7.

The second rank of the Legionnaires have advanced into the fight but one unit has been lost to the German Warband.

But, in the process the Germans lose their fourth unit and thus the game.

Game 2

Game 2 Start

The starting positions of the armies from the Roman side.

The right side of the board is covered by a Waterway which is connected to a river running across the middle between the armies.

Game 2-2

Whats this!!!!! The Germans have landed a force of Warband on the Roman side of the river. (See the rules on deployment.)

Game 2-3

The Romans deploy the meet the landing force while the rest of the Germans advance toward the river.

Game 2-4.

The Germans ford the river. The river is found to be Paltry (3) slowing the advance and giving an advantage to forces defending the river bank.

Game 2-5 and Game 2-6.

The right wing of the Roman army engages the German landing force while the left wing rushes forward to protect the river bank.

Game 2-7 and Game 2-8.

The German landing force takes a loss while those in the river attack the Roman centre.

Game 2-9 and Game 2-10.

The battle continues with the Germans knocking a hole in the middle of the Roman line killing two units and getting out of the river but lose another unit from their landing force.

Game 2-11.

The Germans leave the river and engage the Roman right flank. The German General (Cav) charges the unit of Legionnaires guarding the river bank in the centre.

Game 2-12.

The German General is killed (centre) and in the process the German army breaks giving victory to the Romans.

Game 3.

Game 3 Start and Game 3-1.

A unit of Roman Auxilia occupy the BUA and a view of the starting positions from the German side.

Game 3-2 and Game 3-3.

The armies approach each other.

Game 3-4, Game 3-5 and Game 3-6.

As they approach the German right wing rushes through the Boggy ground to try to get the Roman’s baggage. The German left expands out to meet the threat of the Roman Cavalry which includes the Roman General.

Game 3-7.

The Roman cavalry which includes their General crashes into the German line on the left and in two quick battles both with 6/1 results wipes out two German units.

Game 3-8 and Game 3-9.

The sudden turn around force the Germans to go to a defensive posture. On the German right wing two Legionnaires rush to protect the baggage.Three Legionnaires have moved through the City, back gate to front gate (See special rule), and engaged the German General (Cav). They have lost one of their number and recoiled.

Game 3-10 and Game 3-11.

The Legionnaires now crash into the German centre killing more Warband and breaking the German army.

Game 3-12.

The German raiding force never got to the Roman camp. They were intercepted by the Legionnaires.