Which Rules For an Imagi-Nation ?

Creating an Imagi-nation is one thing, making it fit with a set of historical wargame rules is another matter. However Volley & Bayonet makes this fairly easy because it is such a high level game. The tabletop unit is the regiment or brigade of 1-2000 men, so national quirks are not part of the game system.

Kolanhomm has five 2 battalion infantry regiments plus a battalion of grenadiers. In V&B terms this is 1 x 3SP Lieb (Grenadier) regiment, plus 4 x 2SP Infantry regiments. The infantry can have their battalion guns (or not as the secenario dictates).

The cavalry form up as 1 x 2SP Regiment of Horse, and 1 of Dragoons. The Hussars and Friekorps are the eyes of the army so are represented as a small unit (1SP)  of cavalry and one of infantry.

The Ducal Army

As the time for war grows close, His Highness the Duke has asked me to set down how our army is organised and will be deployed in time of battle.

The army of our Duchy comprises of 4 regiments of Foot, 4 of Cavalry and the Artillery regiment. In time of extreme danger there is also the Loyal Militia. In order of seniority the regiments of Foot are -

Lieb
Von Schmetterling
Markgraf Hussen
Platzach
Danzach

The Lieb regiment has 600 bayonets in 6 companies, while the regular infantry have 1200 bayonets in 10 musketeer and 2 grenadier companies. When on campaign, the 8 grenadier companies are usually merged to create two grenadier battlions. These are brigaded with the Lieb regiment to form the Lieb Brigade.

Each Foot regiment includes two 3pdr guns commanded by the junior lieutenant. Each gun has two NCO's appointed by the Artillery regiment, and the balance of the gun crew is drawn from the regiment itself.

The Cavalry comprise -

Lieb Ryttar - 8 squadrons
Klinkerhof Dragoons - 4 squadrons
Munchplitz Dragoons - 4 squadrons
Mantrow Hussars - 4 squadrons

The Ryttar wear black cuirasses and are the senior regiment in the army. Each cavalry squadron is comprised of two companies.
The artillery regiment comprises five companies -
No 1 company 4 x 18 pdr - Garrison Artillery at Grafstein
No 2 company 4 x 18 pdr - Garrison Artillery at Kaubenstein
No 3 company 6 x 12 pdr - Army reserve battery
No 4 Company 4 x 6 pdr - Army Field battery
No 5 Company is responsible for training and assigning NCO's to the regimental gun batteries. It also provides technical support and tests new guns before they are sent to regular units.

In time of war the Duke usually authorises that a unit of Friekorps be raised to support the army.

Finally there are the Loyal Militia regiments. Each comprises 4 fusileer companies based on a local town or group of parishes.

Battlefield West Middlesex - The Background

During the course of late 1937, the UK fragmented into competing factions. The battle for the East End and the Docks is told here -

http://gwargamesp.18.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=3344

and for many this was the event which made them realise that Civil War was a reality and both sides now realised the importance of maintaining communications up and down the country.

Because of the influence of the trades unions, many GPO workers chose to fight against the forces of the right as epitomised by the BUF and Moseley’s government realised that this could compromise any use of the telephone system, so they began to make extensive use of motorcycle despatch riders and aircraft.

West Middlesex and it's four airfields, the RAF base at Northolt, and three civil aerodromes at Heston, Hanworth and Harmondsworth (also known as the Great West Aerodrome) were an important part of this plan.

Heston only had small aircraft manufacturing facilities, but was a important airport in its own right, second only to Croydon. Hanworth was the home of GAL who during 1936 had built Hawker Fury II fighters, and was actively managing another large contract for the RAF while Harmondsworth was the flying base for the Fairey Aviation factory in Hayes, and was the place where the new Fleet Air Arm strike aircraft – the Swordfish – was assembled and test flown.

Northolt, an active RAF station, remained loyal to the crown from the outset, but as unrest spread throughout late 1937, security of Hanworth and Heston aerodromes passed quietly into the care of the local police, some of who were armed. Before a similar operation could take place at Harmondworth the airfield was occupied by the Middlesex Volunteers LDF. Taking their lead from Lord Richardson of Sipson, their plan was to return the airfield to its former owners and then to agricultural use.  Over Christmas they were joined by factory workers from newly formed the West Middlesex Workers Militia and having declared the whole hundred a fascist-free zone, began planning to turn part of the airfield into a communal market garden for the use of the workers.

Soon after Christmas newly raised Police auxiliaries from Hounslow attempted to take possession of the aerodrome at Harmondsworth. They pulled up short however, when they came to a roadblock at Heath Row Hall. They made one half-hearted attempt to dismantle the barricade and press on, but were driven off when they were stoned by a mob.

The following Saturday the local BUF organised a march from Hayes to Feltham in support of the government. In reality this was a thinly veiled attempt to oust the workers at Harmondsworth and by the time the march reached Heathrow Hall the BUF were looking for trouble. The confrontation quickly degenerated into a running brawl across the airfield. Apart from the inevitable sticks and stones, this time three marchers and two workers militia were killed and a dozen injured by shotgun blasts.

Harmondsworth was deemed too valuable to leave in the hands of the mob, not least because there were a number of brand-new Swordfish at the airfield waiting to be delivered to the Fleet Air Arm. At dawn on the 20^th the Hounslow Battalion of the BUF, supported by an armoured car detachment from Hounslow Barracks and another of armed mounted police were sent to take control of the aerodrome.

First Figures

I finally finished my first batch of figures. 20 BUF militia in 2 squads of 10. Each with an LMG and an officer figure. Next up, the first of the LDV.

Very British Civil War

I finally decided to start gaming the VBCW. I don't remember when it was exactly, but now is the time to set some of my progress to the blogsphere.

Initially I'll set down my version of the events in West London and the outer boroughs, and then lead into the battles for control of West Middlesex and the extended Thames Valley to Reading.

New Year, New Plan

To start the new year, I've added a list to the right showing the projects I want to get through this year.

The three letter code next to the project shows my progress

X X X = Not Started
S X X = Started
S P X = Painted
S P F = Finished

Here's hoping !

December PAWS Competition

I have to say Saturday was a lot of fun. I even got to Portsmouth in time to have a pint with a couple of the locals before going to the centre for the competition.

There were 16 entries for the DBA competition, organised into 2 groups of 8. Each player played 4 games against others in their group, with the two group winners plus the next two best scores going through to the semi finals.

My first game was a bit of a blur. My lack of experience showed mightily and I was crushed in very short order. I lost 2 elements plus my camp, and inflicted none. No photos, it was all over too quickly ...

By my second game I was back into the swing a bit

more. The photo below shows the table just after

what proved to be the decisive moment. My 3

elements on the far left have just killed their 3

opponents who they caught coming out of bad

going. I only lost one element in total. 5-0 to me.

My third game was against a Tupi army - all

warband and bows. I went for a risky oblique

attack which eventually all hinged on my blade

holding off his warband for three or four attacks until

I got onto the flank of his general. I only killed 2

elements, but I lost none and since one of his was

his general I won. Another 5-0 to me.

My fourth game was against more Hwaiians, and here my home terrain almost did for me. With the coast to my back my opponant landed 4 elements behind the right hand end of my line. Several turns of nail-biting action ensued while I turned part of my army to face him. Poor pip throws and a failure to move his general a bit closer eventually did for him however. This picture shows the table at the end of the game. He's finally got his army across the table, but my 4 elements are chasing the last of his landing force (out of shot) while my pike and general kill a couple of skirmishers to seal the win.

With 3 wins I had 15 points, but I qualified in 4th place because I killed a general more than the guy in 5th. My scoresheet - of which I'm quite proud ...

My semi final went wrong, and I was chewed up on bad going I put in place. The final position is shownon the right.

I don't seem to have any photos of my 3rd/4th place game, but I did win it to come a very creditable 3rd in my first DBA competition ever ! I also got given one of the local club dice with a 'Paw' on the 6 spot, so many thanks lads  I'm looking forward to more comps in 2011 and I will be back to Pompey for the next one.