To Ur is Human, 6mm, Egypt vs Hittite and Syrian allies chariots

Hi!
A return to Ur with a solely chariot battle.
 Perhaps on the flank of some titanic struggle, the chariots of two great nations clash.

I have opted to use the rules mainly as written and have two elements per unit as stated in them.
Truthfully, I am not in favour of stating unit sizes as per number of elements. If you can keep score of casualties one element is sufficient.
The rule exceptions are that chariots can shoot on the move if not going into contact. On this occasion, both armies are allowed to shoot.
Also, I restricted the moves to 3'' including the charge into contact
(a) I wanted the battle to have some movement. A charge from the base lines would not give that feeling of advance to contact.
(b) It gave the units a chance to shoot their bows if they wished as they started roughly 12'' apart.
(c) As both armies were advancing to contact they were both classified as charging.
(d) Charges did occur when the opposing unit was stationary as happened a few times when a victorious unit didn't follow up.

I didn't use a grid as I wanted a 'free' running battle.

Egypt has 7 units and 1 Lugal
Hittite and allies 8 units
Both armies are in two lines, This worked out quite well for replenishing units doing a tactical withdrawal.

Egyptian are mainly Irregular Miniatures (Irregular Miniatures) with some Heroics and Ros (heroicsandros)
Hittites I'm not sure of the manufacturer, they could be Baccus Miniatures (baccus6mm) or Rapier Miniatures (whose website seems to be in a state of flux. Facebook page says it should be working by the end of February 2020 and it is, of course, now April). The Syrians, possibly including Hebrews and such like, are also Irregular Miniatures.

Egyptians on the left as you view

First bow casualties on the Egyptians

Egyptian Lugal in the front line

Push backs and follow up by both sides

Some combats were static affairs, no casualties

1st unit to lose a base

Then the Egyptian Lugal and unit

Egyptian Lugal's tactical withdrawal. Pharaoh Dunnarunna!

Intervention in the middle as the Egyptian 2nd line advance to attack

1st Syrian casualty

Followed by the 2nd!

Broader view of the battle line. Only the Hittite left wing is out of view

This mini-battle on the Egyptian left-wing went on for several turns but eventually the Hittites won

But suffered when the Egyptian 2nd line charged in

Another Hittite loss

Time for a sharp exit!

Egyptians still have a fighting chance with 3 units left

The retreat is sounded when they lose another unit

The rules gave a good flow to the game I thought. The shooting had some impact. It gave an initial advantage to the Hittites. It also helped the Egyptian second line when they were called upon, though the Hittites units targeted had already gained casualties by this point.

I remembered the extra dice for the follow up unit and the Lugal, though in his case it didn't help much. Two or three times I didn't follow up towards fresh units especially when the casualties on the unit were at 3. This may have been a mistake tactically. Perhaps they could have rallied back giving them time to divest themselves of a casualty point. Perhaps I'll try that next time.

Surprisingly, nearly all the fear tests were past, only one failing. This may be due to their elite status and the fact the rules allow units to break off when losing a base which I did take advantage of. Both these rules worked well in this game I felt.

I think this showed the rules, in general, can work in the later period of chariot warfare without excessive changes. It may need additional rules as discussed previously when chariots are facing infantry and cavalry.

I hope you liked the game.
Thank you for dropping by.

OHW. 6mm, Poles vs Cossacks

Hi!
A return to OHW, pike and shot, renaissance rules with a scenario from the Bun Shop renaissance scenarios book.
I chose this one as it had a renaissance theme. I tried it with DBR but found it dissatisfying and went, again, with OHW.

The Pole's Tax.
The victory conditions were as follows:-
(1) Count normal casualties.
(2)Poles gain 200 points for looting the village. (One unit spends one turn in it not in melee or firing)
(3) Poles gain 25 points for burning each haystack. (To burn 1 figure must spend one turn at it, not moving or firing or in melee)
Obviously these are slightly at odds with the usual OHW victory conditions as is the number of units fielded.  I dropped the 'last 2 units rule' as I wanted what I think is a more likely outcome. Losing 3 units, 1/3 of the force was deemed sufficient for the army to retreat. This worked well in these two games so I hope to remember to retain this rule!

I did add the following rules:-
(a) Morale check on first casualties. If rolling a 6 on a 6 sided die retreat, as if flinching from shock, by 6''
(b) When reaching 8 casualties another morale check with the same effect if a 6 rolled.
(c) Roll each movement phase in the army turn to rally for ability to resume in the engagement. Rolling a 6 as above.

I deliberately kept it simple in the spirit of the rules.
The scenario had the Polish raiding a Cossack village to collect extra taxes. likely they refused to pay the extra burden.

The forces were:-
Polish
1 x General
3 x Medium cavalry
3 x Medium cavalry
2 x Light cavalry
2 x Light infantry (treated as skirmish)
I made a change in the army composition, giving the Poles 2 extra  medium cavalry.

Cossacks
1 x General
5 x Light cavalry
2 x Light infantry muskets (treated as skirmish)
1 Light infantry muskets/axe (treated as skirmish)
1 x wagon with light gun (there are no rules in the Pike and Shot rules in OHW. I used the usual firing/melee for infantry as it was a wagon)
Again, another change. I gave muskets to the 2 units of light infantry which in the scenario were improvised weapons. With the generally poor shooting I don't think it made a lot of difference to the outcome.

All the figures are from the Polish army I have.

The games (I fought two) were a lot more pleasant to game.
As you will note by the pictures, the Cossacks in the first game were trying to hold the enclosures from which the infantry could shoot and have some defence.
The cavalry were on the back foot due to the speed of the Polish advance.
It didn't help the Poles much! Although the Pole's did burn one of the haystacks.They suffered their first defeat after having 3 units  reach 15 points.

In the second game I tried to defend the haystacks better with the cossacks. It worked to their advantage, creating  a more defensible area. I wasn't really conscious of that when doing it! Again, they caused 3 Polish units to reach 15 points so won the game. I carried on with the game until the 4th unit succumbed. Three units seemed to be the right level of casualties.

The shooting throughout was nothing to write home about. The Cossacks and Poles are lousy shots!

The morale rule also worked well in both games. In the first game the Poles had 2 units retreat, one on 50% the second, slightly later on first casualties. In the second the Cossacks had 1 unit retreat on first casualties. So, not over done. The Poles couldn't reactivate their units to get them back into the fight. One unit was followed up and was routed/killed.
In the Cossack's case, one unit was followed up so didn't need to rally.
Which leaves the question:-
Should I make another rule?
In which a unit forced to retreat fights at reduced effect?

Game 1

Poles at the top

Polish force

A better view of the battlefield. First Polish casualties form musketry

Polish left. Cossacks in the enclosure. Wagon defending the town

Polish casualties with white die. Infantry reach the haystack ready to set it on fire. Polish horse engage the Cossacks in the enclosure

Minimal damage

View across the filed of battle. Cossack right wing light horse about to make their contribution

Polish general under rear attack. Ouch!

Double casualties!

The Poles suffering all along the line. Polish left wing flanked

After a flank and rear attack

The unit reached  over 8 casualties and broke off.

Polish general's demise

The Polish retreat

Game 2

New battle line for the Cossacks. Polish at the top

First retreat for the Cossacks on first casualties

 The Cossack general rides to the rescue. Rear attack double casualties

Polish infantry advance down the flank

Sweeping round firing at the Cossack infantry

Polish infantry sweeping round the right wing.  Firing high, wide and handsome!

The Cossack general charges again! The Cossack horse looking to outflank the Polish left wing

The battle in the centre, Polish general in the rear  waiting for a break through

On the Polish right wing. Casualties from musketry mounting, slowly

Cossack general's unit sustains casualties.

View of the continuing battle. Polish casualties mounting. Polish light cavalry try to put pressure on their right wing

Polish centre crumbling

Crumbles some more

Three Polish units gone and Cossacks holding firm. Polish infantry flanked and soon succumbed, being the 4th unit to go.

Two great games

I always expect the Poles to win battles. I will have to rethink that mindset!One of the reasons I think the Cossacks did well is the lack of difference in the status of the cavalry. Maybe the tactics of the cavalry prevented the heavier Polish units from fulfilling their steady advance, driving the light cavalry away?
I used the round huts of the Ancient British which looked very close to a haystack! Did you notice?

The Wargames Annual

Hi!
Despite the lock-down in the UK the postal service is still operational. The doorbell rang, and on opening the postman was hiding behind the hedge, at a safe distance of course!
And looked what was left on the doorstep:-

Somewhat late in buying this but I now have most of the Wargames Annuals. They are a super read. And who doesn't need some good wargames literature when you are imprisoned at home?

I spent around an hour working on the British for the French and Indian Wars this morning. Just the belt and straps.
Maybe I'll work on them again later.

Happy reading and wargaming

On the paint table

Hi!
During the last few weeks I've been painting on and off. Mostly off. Painting for 30 minutes or so every now and then. Painting can be a slow affair sometimes. I have, though, started the British for the French and Indian Wars. It doesn't mean I've finished the French and Indians, I haven't.
I also bought, quite cheaply, some Garrison (?) Persian Infantry.

Here are a few pictures of where I'm at:-

I like the look of these figures. I will have to replace the mdf shields for white metal ones. You can't fight effectively with an mdf shield though I suppose it is no less effective than a wicker one!