Friday Night Games: Spanish Civil War

On Friday 24th May, Phil staged a 15mm SCW game at Mike N's place to play test his new WW1-WW2 rules, using his own 15mm figure collection.

Opening Nationalist positions from their right flank

Nigel, Steve and Rupert took command of the defending Nationalist forces, whilst Mike N took overall command of the attacking Republicans.

Another view of the Nationalist lines

Under Mikey, was John commanding a Communist Brigade and Mat commanding an Anarchist Brigade.

View from the Republican side, entrenchments to the left and urban area to the right

John was assisted by Dave and they were positioned on the left flank and Mike W assisted Mat on the right flank.

Focus on the left and centre of the Nationalist lines

An initial Republican bombardment had some effect, inflicting a few casualties on the entrenched Nationalists but the biggest impact was on a windmill, within the Nationalist lined, which was totally destroyed!

Central village leading on to the Nationalist held urban area

The Republican plan of attack was simple, a massed assault along the length of the line, each battalion being given a staged route across the table top to hit the Natioanlost defenses.

Republican Artillery taking aim on Nationalist lines

The Anarchista on the Republican right, seemed to have more cover and were facing an urban area, whilst the Communists on the left had less cover and were facing entrenched positions.

Republican 1st & 2nd Anarchist battalions line up ready to attack

Week one of the game saw the Republican attack cross the tabletop, for resolution in week two. Anarchist casualties were relatively light, loosing just one company whilst the Communists last 2 or 3.

3rd Anarchist Battalion and supporting field artillery ready to set-off

The Nationalists did not have it all their own way, loosing a couple of companies of Carlists to heavy shelling. As week one closed, Mike N unleashed the Republican Tank units in the centre of the line, T26s, their impact to be seen next week....

Anarchists pass through central village area with Heavy Artillery in support
and Communist Brigade to their left flank (top of picture)

Anarchist Brigade set-off on attack

Advance continues

Further Advances

Anarchists on right, Communists on left, half way to Nationalist lines

Another shot

Republican Tanks join the attack, late on week one.

1st Anarchists battalion pass through village area and enter woods
just in front of Nationalist lines, largely unscathed. Communists to their left!

End of Week One, Anarchist 2nd & 3rd Battalions approach and engage
Nationalist defenders of the urban area.

Friday Night Games: Formosa Campaign - Battle of Heng Chun

Friday 17th May saw the fighting of another battle in Mat's Formosan Campaign. The game was hosted at Rupert's and 6mn figures and rules supplied by Mat. Mike W & Phil played the Japanese whilst Steve, Rupert, Mike N & Dave commanded the Formosan

Elements of the Japanesr Imperial Guard lended some 10km north of  Heng Chung and marched south to conduct a raid in strength to take out the defensive batteries some 3km north of the City.

An initial strong bombardment of the fortifications knocked out one of the two defensive batteries and the second battery wss neutralised relatively quickly there after.

Port facilities near Heng Chung,
were quickly apprpriated by the Japanese forces

Nearby Temple at Heng Chung

Coastal Battery at Heng Chung,
with elements of the Japanaese Navy offshore

A view of the battlefield,
with the walled city of Heng Chung uin the disatnce

As assaults on the now defined battery were being prepared, a Formosan relief column arrive from the north, presumeably originating from eth ecntral city of Tai-Pai, consisting of fanatical 'Black Flag' units.

As they marched on to the table, much to the surprise of the Japanese, the were in turn quickly surprised by one of the assault columns taking cover on the woods to the Formosan's immediate right.

In the ensuing firefight, the lead Firmosan unit broke and ran, but a second fuselage from ghe Japanese failed to score any hits and allowed the Formosans to slowly turn and engage their enemy on the flank

The resulting struggle carried on throughout the rest of the game, despite domd Japanese successes, weight of numbers told and gge Japanese where gradually pushed back go the beaches north of the fort and fge safety of the Jaosbese fleet that controlled the area.

Close up of the city of Heng Chung,
with rice fields in the foreground

Japanese Imperial Guards deployed at start of the game

and from another angle

Japanese command and field artillery deployed on a hill
overlooking the Heng Chung coastal batteries

Close-up of the Japanes forces

Meanwhile the second Japanese assault column executed their orders effectively, reaching the fort and assaulting the wall.

After a bit of a struggle the Japanese took the fort, after ghe hilarious sacrifice of the assault columns commander who fell on reaching the top of the walls.

The defending Formosan battalion was captured and upon leaving the fort the Japanese forces blew the forts magazine.

Action unfolds - Formosan Back Flag units advance south (right to left)  down either side of the road.
Japanese forces deployed in the treeline, at top of photo have fired on the Formosan flank, breaking one unit, other units start to deploy against them.
At bottom of photo can be seen Formosan units advancing through rocks and trees towards the Temple complex.

Formosan units finally burst out of the city to advance along the road to attack Japanese troops

Other Imperisl Guards units had a struggle to escape the table as a Formosan column burst forth from the city at unexpected speed, nor displayed by any other unit earlier in the game.

Despite Phil's command shooting out the head of this column the wangled a dice roll to save their morale, enabling them to press further forwards.

As the umpire called a day on the fighting  a number of Japanese units were in danger of capture.

A strategic success for the Formosans it was a costly tactical success for the Japanese yo eliminate the fort.

The bigger picture of the Formosan counter attack emerging from Heng Chung

Formosans push the Japanese artillery and ciommand units off their hill

Japanes forces pinned by Formosan units emerging from Heng Chung and Mike N's
Black Flag units arriving form the north.

The 'meat-grinder' of the battle raged most of the eveneing with the Japanese gradually giving ground as they slipped west to the landing beaches

Japanese Assault Column No.2, successfully takes the Heng Chung Battery,
capturing the entire garrison

Japanese Imperial Guard command, successfully leads the break out units heading for the Heng Chung beach head.

Even at this 6mm scale we can see the embarrassment on the commander's face!

Dave's 2mm Romans

Dave brought along his first stand of 2mm Romans, designed for use with the 'Stength & Honour' rule set, these figures are by Antonine Minustures.

The 120 x 80mm base represents a full Roman legion and thus the games will be on a truly epic scale, with multiple legions facing hordes of enemies.

Friday Night Games - Formosan Campaign, the Relief of Ke Lang

Photos by Steve, Words by Mat, with additioanl material from Mike W.

Friday 9th May saw the playing out of a battle in Mat Toy's ongoing Formosa Campaign. An Imperial Japanese force of combined infantry & cavalry were marching on Ke Lang to relieve a seige that was being enforced by a largely mounted rebel Formosan force.

The Japanese relief force marching to Ke Lang engaged with a major Formosan cavalry army on the relatively open undulating land to the west of the besieged City.

Marching in column the three battalions of Japanese Imperial Guard foot were guarded professionally by 7 squadrons of cavalry to the front, flanks and rear. As the column advanced towards a small town nestled between low hills two of the lead cavalry squadrons dismounted to provide fire cover to flanks as lead squadron advanced on the town, this revealed Formosan Heavy horse in large numbers on both flanks obscured by the topography.

The Formosan commander ordered a full attack and 2000 mixed heavy and light horse converged on the lead Japanese elements who were caught mainly on foot. Luckily for the Japanese the bulk of the Formosan horse was cautious to advance too quickly and stout musketry by dismounted squadron on the left flank kept the chargers at bay. However more bold elements of the Chinese horse caught the advanced squadron of Jap horse in the rear as they tried to retreat back to the protection of the infantry. A rolling melee developed to the front and right flank where Formosan numbers started to tell and the Japanese were pushed back.

On the left, where good carbine fire had held off the initial charge, the Japanese mounted up just in time to be hit by a second charge. Stiff fighting held the line for a few minutes before again the Japanese horse were outnumbered and collapsed.

The delay caused to the Formosans by the outnumbered Jap cavalry and the Chinese initial caution allowed the Jap infantry to form lines and start a steady rifle fire on the sweeping ranks of Formosan horse. Japanese reserve squadrons were thrown into the melees as Formosan militia foot appeared on high ground to the right flank and exchanged long range fire with the Japanese .

By now the Japanese horse was in full flight. Two squadrons annihilated and three others routing. Seeing a well formed infantry defence the Formosans disengaged, taking steady rifle fire as they rode from the scene.

The Chinese undoubtedly had the better of the cavalry fight and left many dead Japanese on the field. But, the Japanese relief column remained in the field and can continue its advance to Ke Lang.

Overall, enough for both sides to claim some sort of victory!