The Saxon cavalry was some of the best in Napoleonic Europe with Van Zastrow’s Curassiers being responsible for storming the Rajewski redoubt at the battle of Borodino.
The impractical old cavalry bicorn was replaced in 1810 by the much more impressive brass helemt shown in the above pictures.
Officers wore a wreath of gilt oak leaves around the balck fur turban.
The blackened cuiurass was worn on the front only.
This is one of those self indulgent posts (aren’t they all?), more to keep me focused than anything else.
I still have a lot of old school (and old paint job) Napoleonic figures to touch up and re-base that is likely to take me through to mid May. These do not take a lot of work and I get them done while I am continuing to paint the projects on my to do list.
As you can see the PVA glue has almost used up and I am using gravity to help me eek out the last few drops! I have another lot almost done and I can see the finish line, albeit in the distance. There are three Bavarian foot units to do for Sharp Practice and then about four plastic boxes full of metal Prussian Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. This will then see the end of this lot.
It is good after a few decades to finally see these on the shelves.
As I said these were done in between my “real” hobby painting projects. I tend to batch paint and have a number of things on the go at the same time. I am currently working on:
An Infinity Nomad faction is also slowly being worked on but this will not be finished until later in the year. A pity because I really want to give this system a go.
I am pleased that all of these are on my original New Year’s resolution list and hopefully, with the exception of the Nomads, they will be all finished in about 3 to 4 weeks time. The 40k figures are all “old school” GW rather than that plastic “ship” you see now. I have to say I have enjoyed painting them – well except for the bone on the wraithguard which I have already re-done a few times.
At the end of April I will provide you with a full report.
I am indebted to Chris, John and Blake from G.G.G (Greensborough Guild of Gamers – just named that by me then) for most of the information and a number of photos.
Flak over the USS Enterprise
The rules that were used are John G’s Flat top rules which use some very unique but effective mechanisms.
Although played on the tabletop the position of the ships in relation to each other is irrelevant as the game is representing daytime attacks on opposing carriers out of sight of each other. What is important is the attacks by waves of planes on the enemies carriers.
1/1200th scale ships and planes were used for the refight, although the models may not be representative of the actual ships. The objective is to try and provide a simulation of naval action in the Pacific.
What the historians tell us happened
The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands was fought 25–27 October 1942 in the waters northwest of the Santa Cruz Islands by forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s (IJN) Combined Fleet and the United States Navy’s (USN) Pacific Fleet. The battle resulted from a major Japanese offensive with the goal to drive the US forces from Guadalcanal.
The damaged flight deck of the Hornet.
The battle can be viewed as a tactical Japanese victory as they sank the American aircraft carrier Hornet and badly damaged the Enterprise (probably because its warp engines and photon torpedoes were not yet installed!), while suffering heavy damage to their own carriers Shokaku and Zuiho. In reality, the Japanese failed in their strategic objective to destroy American forces on and around Guadalcanal and suffered significant losses of experienced air crew.
The sinking Hornet.
Forces engaged.
Japanese forces:
Combat ships: 3 fleet carriers (Shokaku, Zuikaku, Juno), 1 light carrier (Zuiho) , 2 battle ships (Kirishima,Hiei), 4 battle cruisers (Atago, Takao, Myoko, Maya), 8 cruisers (Izuzu, Kongo, Haruna, Kumano, Suzuya, Tine, Chikumu, Nagara) , 25 destroyers Aircraft: 199
American forces:
Combat ships: 2 fleet carriers (Enterprise and Hornet), 1 fast battleship (South Dakota), 5 cruisers (Portland, San Juan, Port Hampton, Pensacola, San Diego, Juneau) , 14 destroyers Aircraft: 136
Losses Ships: IJN – none, USN – 1 fleet carrier, 1 destroyer Aircraft: IJN – 99, USN – 81
From the words of John G (AKA Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondo!!!)
The Japanese began another unsuccessful major attack on Henderson Field on Guadalcanal on 24 October, drawing in the carriers from both sides. Offshore, Enterprise (Steve) had only 64 aircraft (31 fighters, 23 dive bombers and 10 torpedo bombers) available for Santa Cruz. Hornet (Chris) added another 73 aircraft (33 fighters, 24 dive bombers and 16 torpedo bombers) for a total of 137. The four Imperial Japanese Navycarriers had 194 aircraft; Shokaku (Geoff) 63; Zuikaku (Blake) 61; Junyo (Guru AKA – Okada Tametsugu) 46; and Zuiho (John) 24.
IJN Junyo
Captain of the Junyo Okada Tametsugu
First strikes were launched early in the morning, some from 7.30am. The IJN managed far more coordinated strikes and as luck would have it the great bulk of them went after Hornet.
Santa Cruz – Hornet launching aircraft
Hornet was very heavily attacked by strike waves from all four IJN carriers. Despite heroic efforts from her outnumbered CAP pilots and her task force’s AA guns she was repeatedly hit and reduced to a still floating wreck by the end of the engagement. Her own bomber squadrons failed to have an impact.
Santa Cruz – Hornet smashed by dive bombers
Not all of the attacking planes hit the Hornet (but mine did….Go Guru!!). Shokaku’s torpedo bombers could only find her protecting destroyers. Despite them manoeuvering madly Geoff managed to sink the two.
The Destroyers meet their end.
Santa Cruz – Hornet wrecked by dive bombers, with destroyer sinking in the distance
Torpedo bombers prepare to attack the Hornet with the “Hand of Guru” readying to record the damage
The torpedoes are released (attack point cannot be placed within one inch of each other).
Three of the five hit their target after rolling a scatter die.
Enterprise then took up the mantle and launched all the aircraft she could, even managing a third strike though its bombers completely failed to find the enemy in a sudden squall. As had happened historically, the US again were unable to fully coordinate their airstrikes.
For all her trouble Enterprise was heavily damaged by the IJN third wave. Still afloat at the end of the day, she was likely to have been torpedoed and finished off the next morning.
Of the IJN carriers only the Junyo was hit, once, and she remained operational. No other IJN ships were hit. Of their aircraft Shokaku lost 31 of 63; Zuikaku 37 of 61; Junyo 25 of 46; and Zuiho 4 of 24.
Zuiho wasn’t attacked and failed to launch a second strike as her arrester gear had been damaged.
The US had lost Hornet wrecked and finished, 2 destroyers sunk, and Enterprise doomed as well. Of their 137 aircraft, Hornet probably lost 53 with 20 or so managing to get to Enterprise. She lost 32 of 64 aircraft. Despite the loss of their carriers many of the US survivors could have flown to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, so most of the remaining 50 or so might have been saved.
The IJN won the battle more convincingly than in the real action, but like it, their aircraft losses had been so heavy (97 vs 99 in the actual battle) that their carriers would have been unlikely to intervene again at Guadalcanal.
The rules worked extremely well. Carrier captains had less decisions to make than normal as we were trying to represent the actual battle as close as possible. Normal decisions such as how many fighters to send to protect your own bombers versus how many to protect your carriers makes for an interesting decision.
Attacking planes don’t always arrive – it may arrive earlier or later than expected, often meaning fighters are too early or too late to protect your bombers, or attacks are uncoordinated, or on a different target ( the torpedo bombers attacking destroyers rather than the Hornet for example – I am sure they reported sinking two capital battleships!!!).
After getting through enemy fighters the remainder have to survive the anti-aircraft attacks and only then do they get to dive on their target, which they may still miss.
Excellent game system that does what it intends to do very well. It also demonstrates the need for rules writers to be very clear on what they are trying to achieve and not being diverted by superflous “fluff”.
Well done John, and thank the Commissariat for the sustenance.
The Gendarmes delite de la Garde imperiale was a gendarmerie unit formed in 1801 by Napoleon as part of the Consular Guard which became the Imperial Guard in 1804.
The Horse Grenadiers was the senior cavalry regiment of the Guard, and originated from the Consular Guard. Classed as heavy cavalry, the regiment did not wear a cuirass, but was known for its distinctive ceremonial bearskin head-dress.
I do not think I have ever seen a wargaming unit of the Gendarmes d’élite without their bearskins, so this one is a pleasant diversion as it depicts the unit in it’s more normal every day dress with bicorne instead.
A squadron of Gendarmes d’élite was raised in 1801 and integrated into the Consular Guard. In 1804, the unit comprised two cavalry squadrons and two companies of infantry which were now part of the Imperial Guard. At full strength they were 632 men, but the infantry companies were disbanded in 1806 and only 456 cavalrymen remained in the unit. The men should be at least 1.76 metres (5 ft 9 in) tall in order to enter the unit.
In time of peace, their role was to protect official residences and palaces and to provide security to important political figures. In 1804 the Gendarmes d’élite escorted Napoleon in the street of Paris for his coronation. In time of war, their role was to protect the Imperial headquarters, to escort prisoners and occasionally to enforce the law and limit civil disorder in conquered cities. The unit was renamed Gendarmes des chasses du roi during the First Bourbon Restoration but was disbanded in 1815 during the Second Restoration.
The Gendarmes d’élite were nicknamed “The Immortals” because, as a military police, they were less engaged in combat than other units and had less personnel killed in action. However, when committed into combat they fought bravely and earned several battle honours.
The Gendarmes d’élite wore a blue coat with red lapels, cuffs and turnbacks. The collar and cuff flaps were blue piped red. They wore buff breeches, waistcoat and gloves. They had white aiguillettes and clover-shaped epaulettes. Belting was buff with white edges.
The unit was well known for its large impressive black horses. The trumpeter wore the same uniform but with reversed colours. They rode grey horses.
In 1815, crested helmets with black manes (red for trumpeters) were introduced but not completed, so the Gendarmes d’élite fought their last campaign at Waterloo with mixed headgears.
Yep on the chain gang again, but instead of breaking rocks I’m making rocks!
Inspired by Eric’s exploits with molding I just happened to be in the hobby shop ( yeah right!) to pick up some scenics, which they didn’t have, when I came across a lot of the Woodland Scenics’ molds. Some of you might remember when I was modelling a Japanese Garden that I used a lot of purchased rocks which looked great but cost a fortune. So I decided to give this a try. The mold cost AU$21.95 which was less than what I had paid for all of the rocks I had purchased.
While not totally foreign to plaster molding, as I had used the old Bellona 20mm plastic molded terrain as molds to make my own bridges and walls, it has been a long time.
The process was quick and easy, and within an hour I had gone from mixing plaster to “popping out” rocks.
This is what you get from one pour of the mold.
The excess flashing was easily removed with a modelling knife, and then glued to round “coaster size” mdf bases. They were then undercoated with with a Matt black spray can ready for painting.
After a quick dry brushing of light grey, white, and ochre the bases needed to painted with a sand colour and dark brown on the edge. This stops the black “bleed through” when basing.
The scenics were then added to the base.
I had a lot of “rocks” left over and then the Guru had a thought (it does happen, not often, but it does happen) and came up with this:
The left over rocks were quickly painted, and as you can see they work very well for large 6mm rock features for my Zulu Wars gaming.
Five pours of the mold made enough for thirteen round coaster size rock bases, with enough left over for the 6mm terrain and a few small ones for adding to figure bases.
I have had these figures unpainted for a long time and seeing I was working through touching up and basing all of my old French cavalry units I thought it was about time I finished them. I am not sure who is the manufacturer, but they look like either Perry or Dixon Miniatures.
I normally use mdf bases but after trying 40mm rounds and the 50mm rounds I was forced to use some 50mm metal “mudguard” washers to provide the stability required to prevent them from toppling over.
The Dromedary Regiment was established by Bonaparte on January 9 , 1799 during the Egyptian Campaign upon hi arrival in Egypt. The Regiment consisted of two squadrons, each containing four companies of of three officers, a trumpeter and 59 men. These soldiers were hand-selected mounted infantrymen which fought on foot to protect the French supply columns against Arab marauding horsemen. The camels were only used for rapid deployment on foot.
From the beginning Napoleon wanted two dromedary riders on each camel, both armed with lances, however the French did not have enough riding skills to use the weapons effectively whilst mounted and they were transformed into mounted infantry
All of the French commanders liked the Regiment and each of them made changes on the Dromedary Regiment’s uniform, hence the varied depictions of them. Napoleon ordered his Chief Quartermaster Francois Bernoyer to make an “unusual and attractive” uniform for this regiment. General Kléber added some more aesthetics and weakened Arab motives. After the death of General Kléber, new commander General de Menou mnade further modifications.
This uniform is based on the sample brought from Egypt in 1802 and now is in the House of Invalides.
Dromedaries participated in the battle of Heliopolis. After the surrender of Alexandria dromedaries were sent to Toulon and Marseilles by sea. Part of dromedaries turned to gendarmes and others became chasseurs of the Consular Guard.
The civilians are from the Eureka Miniatures civilian ranges:
The Regiment on “Sightseeing” duties:
I found another beat up 1/72 scale Valentine that was beyond salvaging so it turned out to be a case of “vendicarsi dà soddisfazione” (revenge is sweet)!!!
I am not as happy with this”wreck” as the others, because the original paint was very thick and there was nothing I could do could do toovercome the loss of detail, but at the end of the day it is just a wreck (in more ways than one!).
At least it has been saved from the rubbish bin.
The 2nd Chevaulegere Lanciers were created in 1811, from the 3e Regiment de Dragons.
For me this is a unique figure as it is the only one I have in my collection that has the “Eagle”: wrapped up in its oilskin cover. The full side view can be seen in the top photograph.
Only one Colonel of the Regiment was promoted to General-de-Brigade. Pierre, Marie-Auguste Berruyer. He was born 19 November 1780 became Colonel 1 January 1812 and was promoted to General de Brigase in January 1814. He was Mortally wounded and Ligny on 16 June 1815.
I have to say that I even doubt that this unit existed.
The Principality of Neufchatel in Switzerland was ceded to Napoleon by the King of Prussia as part of the treaty of 1805, and was later given to Napoleon’s chief of staff Marshal Berthier in March 1806.
The exploits and history of the Prince of Neufchatel Battalion are well know thanks to their inclusion in the Imperial Guard to provide protection for the French headquarters in 1809, and the strong connection with Marshall Berthier. As a result I would expect the existence of a Cuirassier Regiment would also be well documented. This is not the case.
The closest information I can find to any Cuirassier component is the mention of Carabiniers which are depicted on a number of prints. as they were wearing the traditional Bearskin headgear they are more likely to be the grenadier companies of the infantry battalion rather than a regiment of Cuirassiers. There are also mention of Garde Neufchatel troops in both the Prussian and Saxon armies but only infantry units.
Despite this the figures came to me marked as Garde Kurrassiers de Neufchatel and are depicted in the distinctive yellow uniform of the principality.
Cuirassier armour, musee d’Art et d’Histoire de Neuchatel.
Fictional or not the figures look cool and are now dusted off, touched up, re-based and are now taking pride of place on my figure shelves.
If anyone can shed more light on this I would be glad to hear.
The village of Holmkelsa:
The Viking warband:
The Viking Warband
Warband Leader Unn Galtisson and his trusted companion (hero) Volg Maksson
Housecarl Toki Ingermarsson and Berserker Grim Liefsson
Bondi (1) and (2) – who cares what their names are!
“No Name” Bondi Archers (1) and (2)
Viking Skald Bragi Boddason
Sorry no pictures of the Norman warband which consisted of the Duke, 5 Norman knights, 3 with sword and two with lance, a dismounted Sergeant and a Seer.
Turn One began with the Norman Duke gaining the initiative and asked the Vikings to move first.
The Duke, a mounted hero, a dismounted Sergeant and the Norman Seer deploy on the left flank.
Two Norman knights with lance and two with swords deploy on the centre cross roads.
Unn Galtisson and his trusted companion Volg Maksson with an archer, a spearman, and the Berserker, Grim Liefsson, deploy on the Viking centre.
The Skald, a bowman and a spearman deploy on the centre road. The Housecarl, Toki Ingermarsson move to secure one of the Norman objectives to prevent them from seizing it.
The Norman cavalry advance along the road to the church and the Norman Duke moves to assist them.
Unn Galtisson and a Bondi spearmen move through the ancient tunnels towards the centre crossroad.
The first turn ended with no side obtaining any victory points (objectives controlled or any enemy destroyed).
Turn two began with the Viking Skald moving through the tunnels and emerging to unleash a spell from his Grimoire. A the start of the game the Norman Seer and the Viking Skald dice to determine randomly what single use three spells they had for the game:
The Viking rolled a 6,a 3, and a 1 and the Norman a 5, a 2, and a 1.
With the Norman cavalry near the church bunched up Bragi Boddarson unleashed the exploding fireball as he emerged from the tunnel, taking down one cavalryman and wounding another.
A Norman cavalryman charges the Bondi spearman and cuts him down, but is subsequently destroyed by the Viking Leader.
A second Norman knight charges the Viking leader and using the reach of his lance attacks without being able to be harmed himself. The Viking shrugged of the attack swearing vengeance against the use of such an unchivalrous attack.
Meanwhile the Berserker is tempted foward by a Norman cavalry advance as the Berserker must be moved if he has not already done so towards the nearest enemy in charge reach. The move back-fired on the Norman as the crazed Viking warrior almost cut him down for the loss of two wounds on himself. The Norman Duke decided to finish of the Berserker but found the Berserker, Grim Liefsson, a fierce warrior and suffered two wounds for daring to attack him.
The situation in the centre of the village.
A Viking archer moves through a tunnel but is unable to move on to the objective until next turn.
A Bondi spearman seizes the Apothecaries healing potions which counts as both an objective but also has the capacity to remove one wound on any Viking warrior at the end of the turn.
A brave Viking archer shoots at the Norman Sergeant but misses. The action also meant the Norman objective was contested and would not count as victory points for the turn.
At the end of the turn with three Norman cavalryman down to one Viking spearmen, and the Vikings holding one objective to nil the Victory points were massively in favour of the Vikings seventeen to two.
At the end of turn two the Apothecaries potion was used to remove on of the two wounds from the Beserker.
The Normans again won the initiative and decide to finish off the Berserker with the Duke. The fight showed what a seasoned warrior could do to a lord softened by a lavious lifestyle full of indulgences. A massive nine victory points were won by the Berserker.
With the Viking turn the berseker was required to attack the nearest enemy in charge reach which was the hapless Norman knight with two wounds already. Having already dispatched the Duke, the Norman knight was no match for Grim Liefsson, and yet more Norman noble blood was shed.
The Viking leader also quickly despatched another Norman knight.
The Norman Sergeant attacked the Viking archer inflicting a wound. The Viking Hero came to his aid causing a wound on the Norman. The skald unleashed the “inexperienced” spell on the Norman Sergeant and charged into the fray. With the Norman now only rolling one attack dice (minus 2 for being outnumbered twice and one for the spell) the result was never in doubt and the Sergeant was slain by the skalds staff.
At this stage with only the Norman seer left we decided to call it quits, saving Dave K the embarrassment of adding up the Victory points..
I would like to say that it was the Vikings (Nick) superior skill and tactics, but in all honesty I cannot. I have never, ever, ever, ever seen such magnificent dice rolling in fifty years of gaming. The one saving grace was that it was Dave K and not myself on the end of it.
Nick, I am willing to sell the dice, but because of their recent performance severe inflation has now increased their price to that of a Harley ……….. each, and I am not talking about Dr Quin here either!