Battle of the Mountains: Esper 2261.

 Log entry of Lieutenant Smith:

The Board of Enquiry took place during the Winter months. Both of the Guardship Captains, in their mitigation, stated that Solar flares and atmospheric conditions had a negative effect on the scanning equipment.

The Staff on duty could not get a proper fix on the object moving erratically and wether it was a meteor.The Duty Officer did not not deem the siting serious enough to send an alert message.

After Abukkin, the Aliens disappeared into the mountains. Some weeks later reports came in of sporadic attacks against the mountain communities.

The different social groups of Esperans do not communicate or socialize readily. News travels very slowly. Therefore we have only recently learnt of a crash site in the mountain region to the North.

The Colonel reckons we are low on aviation fuel until the next ship comes from Earth. The fuel for the APC,s is local and synthed from plants. It also takes the pressure off the use of electric motors. It’s going to be a long trip by truck.

We have also been able to recruit some local civilians who know the mountains.

That took some negotiating. The locals agreed to do the job on condition we would supply them with weapons to replace their bows.

God help us if we fall out with the Esperans. They are getting good with replicating some of our kit. The Guardships have now recalibrated the scanners and have broadened the bandwidth.

The question is: If an alien ship has crashed, was it just an isolated situation or was it a Scoutship?

Now we have to to find the ET’s that are here before they cause more damage——————-.

THE EARTHFORCE:           

4 stands of Armoured Cars:  Defence: 4 pts.    Attack:  5 pts. = 9pts x 4 = 36 points.

4 stands of Squad APC Hovercraft ( “blowers”):  Defence: 4pts.  Attack: 5pts. = 9pts x 4 = 36 points.

4 stands of Regular Infantry = 1 x Command stand: Defence:  3pts. Attack:  4pts.  = 7 points.

  1 x Heavy Weapons stand: Defence: 3pts.  Attack:  4pts. = 7 point

2 x Regular Infantry stands:  Defence: 3pts. Attack: 3pts. = 6pts x 2=12pts

4 stands of Half-Track Lorries: Defence: 3pts.  Attack:  3pts ( Light Guns).= 6pts x 4 = 24pts.

( The Half-Track Lorries carry 1 stand of infantry or civilians).

4 stands of  armed Civilians:  Defence: 1pt.  Attack:  2pts.  ( side arms and Rifles) = 3pts x 4 = 12 points.

Points Total= 134 pts.

THE ALIENS:

15 stands of Warrior Infantry:  Defence: 3pts.  Attack:  3pts. = 6pts x 15 = 90pts.

5 stands of Infantry Heavy Weapons: Defence: 3pts.  Attack: 4pts = 7pts x 5 = 35pts.

2 stands of Heavy Tanks:  Defence: 5pts.  Attack: 5pts = 10pts. x 2 = 20pts.

4 Heavy tracked Armoured Personnel Carriers: Defence: 5pts.  Attack: 4pts = 9pts x 4 = 36pts. ( 2 squads)

2 stands of Light Anti-Air Tanks: Defence 4pts.  Attack: 4pts = 8pts x 2= 16pts ( can fire at ground targets.)

1 Command Tank: Defence: 4 points.

2 Command Stands: Defence: 3pts. Attack: 4pts = 7pts x 2 = 14 points.

TOTAL: 215 points..

Gamer Notes:

This is a tough scenario for both sides because of the restrictive terrain, as mountains would be. The stands cannot be moved into or through a hill square where the square is partly containing a terrain piece. Here is an example

Hills can be moved over if they are stepped. Hills cannot be moved over if two levels are  “ stacked”.

Vehicles cannot move over or through a square containing another vehicle friendly or otherwise.

. (See the Additional Instructions blog for extra rules I’ve added since playing this battle)

* The battle is played for 8 Game-Turns OR until one side suffers a collapse in Morale.

Credits:

The Alien figures are from Ground Zero Games Kra’vak range The Regular troops( not shown but riding in the blowers) are Brigade Miniatures as are the civilian Militia. The Blowers are also Brigade Games and together with the Infantry come as a”Mercenary Company”.

The Terran Half Track vehicles are from the Bradley Range of Alternative Armies. The Alien Heavy tanks ( a conversion) and the Heavy APC’s are Knight Orbital vehicles on Etsey.

The Alien static Artillery were scratchbuilt from buttons. cardboard, plastic tubing and paper clips ( oh! and bra fasteners from Tescos!).

The Light Tanks are from Scourge Minatures ,again on Etsey. I converted them to Light Tanks, using bra fasteners, paper clip and plastic tubing from paint brushes.

The Brown shelters were painted containers from my Grandson’s Pokémon figures that were discarded.

The Crashed Ship were made up of odds and ends from the scrap box!. The mountainous scenery, I’ve made from packing pieces. 

Some if the squares hill pieces were made by Brian of Essex Miniature. The rest were made from sections of cork tiling. One large mountain piece was made from a block of styrene.

The blaze markers are from Litko.

The stands are 40mm square picture framing cardboard. The 40mm mdf round stands are from Minibits.

FIRE MARKERS.

This is something I’ve been experimenting with. Most modern weapons use smokeless ammunition. These are made from 40mm x 10mm strips of acetate with markings applied with a permanent marker.

As before, the battle was played out on a 3 foot x 2 foot ( 90cm x 60cm ) board of 2 inch ( 50mm ) squares.

The Battle of Bassignana 27th September 1745.

 This article is my personal interpretation of this battle. Any mistakes are my own.

By the early part of 1745 the war in Italy had not been going well for either the Spanish or French Monarchies. These countries were allies along with familial ties, however each had differing war aims which were hampering operations in the field.

Genoa had become the central headquarters for the “Gallispan Army”, and it was here that a strategy was devised to cut off the Piedmontese from their Austrian Allies. Also, instead of invading the Kingdom from the west ( a move which had already failed once), the attack would start from the south-east. The French General Jean-Baptiste Francois des Marets, Marquis de Maillebois and his Spanish counterpart, Jean Thierry du Mont, Compte de Gages vied for command.

.The French King, Louis 15th yielded to to his Spanish uncle King Philip 5th, giving Gages overall command.

This decision bought a measure of cohesion in military planning with De Gages and Maillebois working as a team. In part they were aided by the movements of the Austrian forces. The Austrian General Schulenburg had moved his forces westward to support the Piedmontese leaving some towns in north central Italy uncovered.

In the early part of 1745, the Franco-Spanish army of 58,000 men started its march north-west toward Piedmontese territory. 8000 men were sent out north and north-east to capture the towns of Parma and Piacenza which capitulated without a fight. These actions also caused the Austrians to move their forces north across the Po to cover Milan and north-east to protect their communications with Austria.

Charles Emmanuel the King of Piedmont became alarmed that the Austrians were moving away from his troops. Even Schulenburg moved his force north, across the Po so that he could move east if required. Despite his pleas to the Austrians to stay, Charles Emmanuel and his Generals realised that they would have face the French and Spanish alone.

The Piedmontese army was a finite force. The King had reached the limits of recruitment and could only rely on the civilian population to support the regulars. Against the French and Spanish, the Piedmontese mustered 30,000 which included battalions of militia. Field entrenchments were relied upon to offset the numerical disparity with the enemy.

The river Tanaro marked the eastern line of the Piedmontese defence. At the northern end where the Tanaro entered the Po, the village of Bassignana was fortified. At the Southern end, Montecastello was also strengthened with defence works. Riverone,at the centre of the Line was a fall back position for troops positioned near the river bank. In the event that these positions were overwhelmed, the  troops were ordered to move west toward either Alessandria or Valenza.

In the days leading up to the battle, Gallispan detachments had been sent across the Tanaro to spy out the land. By persuing them the Piedmontese inadvertently revealed the fords across the river. Plans were now made for the attack, which would be made in  six columns. On the morning of the 27th as the sun rose, trumpets and drums sounded the advance. The Battle for the Kingdom’s survival had begun ————-.

 

THE FRENCH ARMY; 25,500 = 25.5pts x 2 = 51pts.

21,500 Infantry ( inc Generals) = 21.5pts x 2 = 43pts.

4,000 Cavalry = 4pts x 2 = 8 points.

8 Guns each with 50 gunners = 400 = 0.400pts x 2 = 0.800 pts or 1pt r/u.

1 General ( Maillebois )  @ 2points.

1 General Senneterre @ 1 point.

1 General Grammont  @ 1 point.

1 General Montal  @ 1 point.

2 stands of Grenadier Infantry @ 4pts = 8 points.

9 stands of Line Infantry  @ 3pts = 27 points.

1 stand of Light Infantry  @ 2pts.

4 stands of Line Cavalry  @ 2pts = 8 points.

1 stand of Light Artillery  @ 1 point.

THE SPANISH ARMY 24,500 = 24.5pts x 2 = 49 points.

21,000 Infantry ( inc Generals ) = 21pts x 2 = 44 points.

2,000 Cavalry = 2pts x 2 = 4 points.

7 Guns each with 50 gunners = 350 gunners = 0.350pts x 2 = 0.700 or 1 point r/u.

1 General  and C-in-C ( De Gages )  @ 2 points.

1 General ( Aremburu )  @  1 point.

2 stands of Guard Infantry @ 4pts = 8 points.

7 stands of Line Infantry @ 3pts = 21 points.

2 stands of Genoese Line Infantry @ 2pts = 4 points.

2 stands of Modena Line Infantry @ 2pts = 4 points.

2 stands of Light Infantry @ 2pts = 4 points.

2 stands of Line Cavalry @ 2pts = 4 points.

1 stand of Light Artillery @ 1 point.

PIEDMONTESE ARMY; 30,000 = 30 points x 2 = 60 points.

26,000 Infantry ( inc Generals ) = 26pts x 2 = 52 points.

3,000 Cavalry = 3 points x 2 = 6pts.

20 Guns each with 50 gunners = 1,000 gunners = 1pt x 2 = 2points..

1 General ( C-in-C ) Charles Emmanuel @ 3 points.

1 General  ( Castagnole )  @ 1 point.

2 stands of Grenadier Infantry @ 4pts = 8 points.

10 stands of Line Infantry @ 3pts = 30 points.

2 stands of Vaudois Militia Infantry @ 2pts = 4 points.

3 stands of Civilian Infantry  @ 2pts = 6 points..

3 stands of Line Cavalry @ 2pts = 6 points.

2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1pt = 2 points.

THE AUSTRIANS;

I have not attached any numbers to this little group of stands. Schulenburg’s efforts at support were reduced to erratic and ineffective Artillery fire from the north side of  the Po. The few stands just represent a presence. Each stand can fire but cannot move forward.

The Austrians:

General Schulenburg  @ 1pt.

1 stand of Cavalry  @ 2pts.

1 stand of Line Infantry  @ 3pts.

1 stand of Light Artillery  @ 1pt.

PLAYING RULES:

* The Piedmontese retain the Initiative Point for the entire battle. All the troops of both sides were seasoned. However the Piedmontese were fighting for their homeland.

* The Piedmontese win any tied results.

* The Tanaro was waist deep. Stands being moved into the river must halt. Their move can be continued on the next Game-Turn.

* Stands cannot fire while they are within the river.

* The river Po cannot be crossed except by bridge or boat.

* The French and Spanish Army moves first on the first Game-Turn. From Game-Turns 2 to 8 both sides have dice rolled to determine which side moves and fires first.

* The Game will be played for eight Game-Turns. 

VICTORY.

The Piedmontese must stay on the field for eight Game-Turns in order to get a draw.

The French and Spanish win if they drive the Piedmontese from all three villages after eight Game-Turns.

Note: apart from the overall numbers, I don’t know exactly how they were split between France and Spain so it’s a bit of a guesstimation my part.

In regard to the Piedmontese, I set the army at 30,000  with militia making up the total. Four years of fighting, had certainly worn the army down in numbers but not it’s fighting spirit nor it’s loyalty to the Monarch.

The French and Spanish continually suffered from a paucity of artillery, even going so far as to borrow guns from the Vatican!. The Piedmontese only had a small train of rather elderly guns, but the crews were very professional and well trained.

* In one description of the battle the Franco Spanish army is described as being in three groups of two Columns . Whereas a diagram says five. I think Aramburu’s column was large enough to be mistaken for two columns. so I’ve settled for five columns in all.

CREDITS:

The figures are a mix of Miniature Figurines, Peter Pig and Essex. The work parties are Hallmark figures still available from Magister Militum. The stands are of picture-framing cardboard. The round 40mm mdf bases are from Minibits.

All the buildings are scratch built. The defenseworks are a mix of ; Last Man Last Bullet and Fire And Sword. The roads and rivers are made from thin card. The bridges are also scratch built. Some of the hedge sections are from Pendraken Miniatures.

The board is 3 feet ( 90cm ) x 2 feet ( 60cm ).

 JAMES “JIM” MITCHELL.

I could not finish my article without mentioning Jim Mitchell. I never met this gentlemen, however, he ran the Seven Years War Association from America. This was a loose association of members worldwide and I came late to the party.

Jim was an avid and enthusiasic researcher of the 18th Century, particularly of the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War. I was very lucky to gain a fair amount of information by being a member. I have a book, ( Campaigns Of The King) that was translated by Jim from which I gained a lot of knowledge about the above battle.

Sadly, Jim passed away in his 40th year not long after his marriage, a loss not only for his Wife but for the hobby at large. May he Rest In Peace.