Classic wargaming: Back in from the cold!

Friday, 4 June 2010

Back in from the cold!

Seems a while since The Classic Wargaming part of my overall collection was centre stage, and yet it’s the one part I do return to as a sort of relaxation from more earnest efforts with display projects like the Thirty Years War and so on.

Joe Morschauser once wrote:
“You say you have been war-gaming for years and you are bored! You say you may give it all up because you have tried everything! ... What you need is some fresh air to clear your head, some sunshine and a return to fundamentals –of war gaming that is.”
The War Game Digest, March 1961.

There’s certainly something in that…
And the sun is shining here. So, I’ve been getting the Staddens dusted off again, and a new battalion is on the painting stocks.

I’ve also done some minor tidying up on the blog appearance, and added a Followers gadget for those who like such things (it has taken a while for the penny to drop - with apologies to all you experienced bloggers who must have been rolling your eyes!!!).

Anyway, suffice to say there’ll be more developments on this blog over the coming weeks. Meantime, here’s just a quick photo from my archives …

The Pils Holstein regiment. My first full regiment of Staddens painted for the Sittangbad demo game 4 years ago! What? Four years? Really...

Tempus Fugit, as they say...

7 comments:

Bluebear Jeff said...: Welcome back to the 18th century, sir.

And your regiment looks like it is full of good brave soldiers . . . their only want is an enemy.

-- Jeff; 4 June 2010 at 11:59
WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...: I never tire of gazing at this particular regiment, Phil. I'll have to acquire some Stadden's myself one day soon.

Best Regards,

Stokes; 4 June 2010 at 14:43
Capt Bill said...: When will we see a follow on campaign book?; 5 June 2010 at 02:12
Phil said...: Thank you Jeff, Stokes and Capt Bill.
As for a campaign book...
well, Wargaming in History 2 has literally just been finished and is with publishers; then we've an Annual to work on; and then a follow up to St Michel/ Chiraz.
That's the plan anyway... Watch this space.
Phil; 7 June 2010 at 08:31
Mark Dudley said...: Hi Phil

Glad to see you back in the Old School saddle.

BTW I like the light green of your table and that is it a lighter shade than your green figure basing.

Mark; 7 June 2010 at 22:01
Anonymous said...: Glad you're back in the C18th Phil and even happier to hear that there will be another annual, campaign book and vol2 of wargaming in history - I'm currently re-reading vol 1 - great stuff.

all the best

Ian; 8 June 2010 at 13:14
Phil said...: Thanks Mark and Ian. Glad you are enjoying the books Ian. They are certainly fun to do.
Phil; 9 June 2010 at 16:24

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Charge! The Cast of Characters

The Emperor

The Elector, Petrus I

General Soubise – commanding Electoral forces at Blasthof Bridge

Count von Kornberg – commanding Imperial forces at Blasthof Bridge, and later playing a significant role at Sittangbad

Dr J Evans Mudd – noted military historian who commented on conduct of both generals at Blasthof Heath, and subsequently "thought it wise to study the natural beauties of neutral Switzerland."

Princess Catherine of Hesse-Damall – kidnapped by the Elector thereby igniting the campaign that led up to Sittangbad

Archduke Guitar – commander of the Imperialist field army sent to seize the Electoral capital. His army was defeated and he, relieved of its command, returned over the Weser before the Battle of Sittangbad.

General Lentulus – replaced Guitar and was Imperial commander at Sittangbad

Lt Col Fuchs – Lentulus’ chief of staff

General Sapt- commander of the contingent billeted in Sittangbad; Lancers de saxe, Pandour regt, and B battery field artillery.

The Herzog Johann – commander of Electoral army at Sittangbad.von Luckner - Electoral cavalry commander at Sittangbad

Brigadier Lord Hyndford – Lentulus second-in-command at Sittangbad, a “British volunteer”. He was left to command the rearguard as the rest of the Imperial army retired over the Weser.

General Gabler - mentioned only in the Tail Piece notes

General Krump – mentioned only in the Tail Piece notes

Graf von Grunt – mentioned in the Tail Piece, this was Brigadier Peter Young’s on table persona.

Units in "Charge!"

These units are named / photographed. Other units do appear in photographs and their identity can be gleaned from the text, but all is not always as it seems!

To illustrate line infantry organisation and formations:
-Erbprinz regt

Used as example illustrations accompanying the text. Whether they were simply names devised for that purpose or these units did in fact exist is not made clear:
-1st Fieldboot Battalion
-2nd Sharpshooters
-3rd Whisky Mac regt

Used for the section illustrating combat, with Smith and Jones as the players:
-The Pultava Guards (appear to be The Erbprinz in another guise!)
-B Battery, Royal Thracian Artillery
-Douro Grenadiers – the unit appears in the photos of Sittangbad, and must be acting under a different name
-Musselburgh Fusiliers - ditto

On the sample order sheet. Again, perhaps simply named for the purpose of illustrating the sheet, although some do appear to have been real on-table units, appearing in Sittangbad:
-Kornberg’s Cuirassiers
-Von Bock’s Dragoons
-Lanciers de Saxe
-5 Jaeger
-6 Jaeger
-Pandour Grenadiers
-Isembourg Regt
-7th Regt
-2nd Engineers Regt

And then of course there’s the units for the battle of Sittangbad:
-Imperial Forces
Lancers de Saxe (light cavalry)
Kornberg’s Cuirassiers (heavy cavalry)
Kleist Frei Corps (light infantry regt)
Isembourg Regt (a line infantry regt)
Coy Waldeck (an independent company)
Pandour Regt (a line infantry regt)
B Battery Field Artillery
3rd Engineer Bn

-Electoral Forces
1st Uhlan Regt (light cavalry)
Dragoons of Montmort (heavy cavalry)
Gendarmerie (heavy cavalry)
Garde Jaeger (light infantry regt)
Erbprinz regt (line infantry regt)
Steinzeit Regt (line infantry regt)
Electoral Footguards( line infantry regt)
Gentlemen Pensioners regt (line infantry regt)
3 Batteries of Field Artillery
Engineer bn

Additional units are mentioned in The Wargames Companion. Thanks to Charles S Grant for documenting these in that wonderful accompaniment to his father’s work, The Wargame. The chapter dealing with Peter Young is littered with wonderful stories about the man, and lists more of his figures. Amongst these are such enticing names as the Schnurrband Infantry, theUhlans Brittaniques and the Montmirail militia.

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Friday, 4 June 2010

Back in from the cold!

7 comments: