Song of Drums and Shakos Solo - Part 1

Annotation: What follows is just a short description of what has happened as far as the "story" is concerned. I do not decribe game mechanics in detail now, but will summarize my impressions of the rules in a seperate blogpost.

The Setup - viewed from the Prussian side of the table

The Austrians move out of the woods, fire a volley and one of the bridge guards falls to the ground

The Prussian miserably fail their first activation attempt and play immediately passes to the Austrians again!

The Grenzers rush towards the bridge, muskets still loaded

One Grenzer finishes off the fallen Prussian with his bayonet. The Prussian standing next to the rock still hasn't got his pants up again ...

One Grenzer knocks another Prussian of his feet. The Croat NCO (partly behind the tree) rushes towards the Prussian Feldwebel Kunkel ...

... and BANG! Aimed shot - Instant kill. The Croat NCO is dead! A serious loss for the Austrian side. The Prussians Officer finally gets his act together and leads his men towards the bridge. One of them finally has his pants up again

Hand-to-hand fighting on the Bridge. Prussians begin to form a firing line

The Prussian NCO wounds another Grenzer with his Kurzgewehr. The second rank of the firing line and Hauptman Beskow are in position

Himmel! What is this?! Feldwebel Kunkel blocks the firing line! Does he think he is a reincarnation of Horatius Cocles*

* = In 508 B.C., when Rome was under attack from the Etruscan King Porsena and about to be conquered, one man, Horatius Cocles ("the one eyed") stood on a small bridge leading into the city centre, all alone. He defended it against the whole army of the enemy until his comrades cut off the bridge behind him. He fell into the Tiber in full armour, but managed to reach the roman river bank (according to Titu Livius; according to Polybios he drowned!).

To be continued ...

Song of Drums and Shakos Solo - The Setup

The Austrian Officer (Major Waldheim), captured while spying during the King's birthday parade of IR 41 von Wied, is held captive in a ruined cottage. The Austrians immediately launch a rescue operation. Six picked men from Regiment Nr. 14 Salm-Salm are joined by group of five Carlstädter Likaner. The Croats are to act as guides to enable the force to secretly infiltrate the Prussian lines which they had carefully reconnoitred during the last two days. The detachment is commanded by Hauptmann Kreisky of Salm-Salm.

Rules: Song of Drums and Shakos [SDS]from Ganesha Games
Scenario: Number 3 from the rulebook ("Assault at the farm")

Defenders (Prussians of IR 41, 402 points):
1 x Officer (Hauptman Beskow)
1 x NCO (Feldwebel Kunkel)
11 x Füsiliere ("Line Musketeer" in SDS)
1 x Captive (Austrian Major Waldheim)

Attackers (Austrians, 518 points)
1 x Officer (Hauptman Kreisky)
1 x NCO (Feldwebel Hölzel)
6 x Line Infantryman
1 x Grenzer NCO (Unteroffizier Laducic)
4 x Grenzer/Carlstädter Likaner

Special Rules: SDS assigns two special rules to the Grenzers/Carlstädter Likaner. "Light" - they move quicker through difficult terrain (woods). "Marksman" - their shooting is deadlier up to medium range (120mm).

Here's the Setup (click on pictures to enlarge):

The Austrians approach, Salm-Salm on the right, Carlstädter Likaner on the left. Five Prussian, including the NCO and four men guard the bridge. Wait! There are only four of them on the bridge ... Where's number five? Ah, over on the left, between the rocks. A human want has caused his absence ...

The captive held in the cottage. He still has his Sponton. Men of honour, obvoiusly.

Hauptman Kreisky's tactical approach:

He divides his force in two groups: Group 1 ,Salm-Salm, with the seven soldiers and himself move out of the wood and fire a volley at the bridge guards. At the same time, Group 2, the five Carlstädter Likaner run towards the bridge to engage in close range musket fire and hand-to-hand combat. Group 1 follows immediately.

Let's see, how this turns out ...

Freikorps WIP - Dixon Miniatures Size Comparison

I'm currently working on my Prussian Freikorps Le Noble again. The Dixon Miniatures figures I include in what will basicly be a skirmishing party, later to be upgraded to a Bataillon, are worth a look, I think. (Please click on the pictures to enlarge them).

Freikorps Le Noble WIP (Dixon P6, P21; Foundry SYWP25, SYWP22)

The figures on the picture above are, from left to right:

Dixon Miniatures P6 Infantry kneeling firing
Dixon Miniatures P21 Charging - fixed bayonet
Foundry Miniatures SYWP25 Freikorps Musketeers Advancing
Foundry Miniatures SYWP25 Freikorps Musketeers Firing - Lapels

Comparison of Firing Pose (Dixon P6, Front Rank SYP29, Foundry SYWP22)

As can be seen (I hope) on the photos above, the Dixon Miniatures figures for the SYW range are obviously slimmer and a bit shorter than Front Rank or Foundry figures. In my oppinion, they mix well, especially if seen from further away. They definetly add variety to a skirmish force.

The one-page flyer from Dixon Miniatures, shown below, presents only a part of the available figures of their SYW range, the British and French among them.

A part of Dixon Miniatures Prussian SYW range

Song of Drums and Shakos

Last weekend, the SDS skirmish rules were tested by six players in three linked one-on-one games. This napoleonic set was used for the SYW without any major modifications. As "Standards" under the SDS rules, the Carlstädter Likaner received a Tokajer drum and the Cossacks relied on the Priest they had with them!

The following skirmish parties saw action (click the pictures to enlarge them):

Württemberger, Garde zu Fuß and Gorcy Hussars

Austrians, Regiment Moltke and Carlstädter Likaner

Prussian Freibataillon von Wunsch


Prussian Feldjäger-Korps zu Fuß

(the Jäger firing from behind the tent couldn't save his kneeling
comrade from "horrible death" at the points of five (!) bayonets)

Cossacks were also present. Thanks to DonVoss for preparing these colourfull scenarios.

Schwerer Brummer

I just love this gun model (click the picture to enlarge). It depicts a 12-pdr.-Gun, manufactured in 1720. From the battle of Leuthen onwards it carried the nickname "Schwerer Brummer" or "Heavy Growler".
You can see that the wheels of the gun are at shoulder-height compared to the 28mm figures (Gunners and Officer Foundry) standing next to it. The gun really looks heavy.

I purchased the model here in Berlin from the well-known shop Berliner Zinnfiguren. Go to their website and search for "Brummer". It is actually a 30mm model, completely assembeled, and is available for € 28,- plus p&p. A lot of money! But as they say: He who can afford Foundry figures might as well buy expensive guns.

Many thanks to "Der Alte Fritz" for making me aware of this fine models. Have I mentioned that the shop also offers a pontoon wagon and even a field forge?! Excellent stuff.

Rules for Skirmish Games

Trooper Dragoner-Regiment von Normann [Nr. 1] (Front Rank)

The Berlin SYW 28mm Project is picking up speed. As of today, eleven gamers plan to built skirmish forces. Time to take a look at some rulesets that could be used:

Black Powder (Two Hour Wargames)
Song of Drums and Shakos (Ganesha Games)
Sharp Practice (Too Fat Lardies)
Triumph and Tragedy
Legends of the Old West
The Sword and the Flame variant "The Sword in the Forest"
This Very Ground
Legends of the High Seas [Thanks to Sir Godefroy]
Gloire/Among the Warparties [Thanks to Sir Godefroy]

Further suggestions and comments are very much appreciated.

Württemberger

Hussar, Regiment Gorcy, raised 1757 (Front Rank miniature)

Our friend Jan decided to add a Württemberg detachment to our skirmish forces. Here's what he has to say about it (click the pictures to enlarge them):

"In the first years of the SYW the German Reicharmee didn't have a clear and established light infantry/skirmishing doctrine (or even troops trained for this kind of warfare). Therefore skirmishing units were drawn together from several different regiments e.g. Line Infantry, Cavalry and even some German non-army Jäger were recruited.

The 1. Light Infantry unit of the Württemberg Army you see on the pictures constists of:

• Officer and Musketeer from the "Württemberg Garde zu Fuss" (raised 1757)
• Two supporting Gorcy Hussars (raised 1757)
• Two Grenadiers (in 1757 still part of the "Württemberger Garde")
• Two recruited Jäger from the Swabian population
  

I chose a Württemberg army because I was born in Swabia and therefore got interested in how they fared in the SYW. As I discovered the story behind the Württemberg army, it was very interesting and fascinating to read and the beautiful uniforms sealed the deal for me. Next one more Jäger, one more infantryman and hopefully some dragoons."

From left to right: Officer and Musketeer from the "Württemberg Garde zu Fuss", two Grenadiers (in 1757 still part of the "Württemberger Garde") and a Jäger (recruited from the Swabian population). All miniatures Front Rank.

Musketeer and Grenadier of the "Württemberg Garde zu Fuss"