The Battle of Grossenfartz - part 4

We return to the action just as the Vulgarian train rolls to a halt in Grossenfartz.  I had been quietly hoping that someone might switch the points or that Martin would forget that he needed to begin slowing down the previous turn, but as it turned out the train arrived safely....

...and a load of Vulgarian infantry leapt out - causing a degree of concern among the Commodore's staff group!

Having broken through the Anglophobian front line the enemy soon encountered the reserves.

The defenders were soon hard-pressed - not even the armoured train could hold off the waves of pointy-helmeted automatons.

There was some good news though - the staff had fought off the Vulgarian train troopers!  This proves conclusively that bendy plastic bayonets are no match for wire flagpoles....

 In the end, however, HMAT Thomas and the Motor Patrol's car carried the survivors off to safety while the Vulgarians did their best to reduce stocks of the brewery's product.

 

The final words I will leave to the ever self effacing Commodore M-C: 

But the vulgar Vulgarians were not to have everything their own way and as the train containing half a battalion of troops slowed to a halt in the brewery yard and disgorged them like the filling from a foul Vulgarian bierwurst the headquarters section led by the valiant Commordore Mountjoy-Carruthers cut them down like so much wheat.

Despite fighting with courage and elan, the weight of the Vulgarian advance forced the Commodore to think of the welfare of his men. Deciding that no more Anglophobian blood would be spilled to secure what was arguably second rate grog the stiut hearted Commodore ordered his men to retire in good order having given the Kaiser a bloody nose, that he would remember every time he placed a stein to his twisted moustachioed lip.

The battle of Grossenfartz - part 3

As the battle continued, the Vulgarian train trundled relentlessly onwards, running over some of their own men in the process!  The train is an old Hornby 'O' Gauge toy which may be deserving of it's own post soon.

The brave chaps of the Motor Patrol leapt from their motor car to fight off the lancers.  The survivors soon fled!

Meanwhile back at the front, Vulgarian infantry and the naval gun crew were locked in a deadly struggle!

There were still rather a lot of Vulgarians!

Just as the rear areas had been cleared of the enemy....

The Vulgarian train chuffed into town!

Soon HMAT Thomas was heading for the front - it's gunners soon rose

 to the challenge and made a few holes on the enemy formations...

...but there were still - you've guessed it - loads of 'em left!

A daunting view of the battle from the Anglophobian lines.

After a bitter and bloody struggle the Vulgarians cleared the Anglophobian front line.

More Vulgarian cavalry in action - they rode down most of a naval battalion.

By this time things were starting to look a bit sticky for the Navy!



Once again I will leave the last words to Commodore Mountjoy-Carruthers, courtesy of Mark H:
Alas, the tide was about to turn as the detachment from Implausible to the left of the line, was urged by it's officer (Lt. Manley-Buttockes) to leave the protection of their field works and assault the enemy artillery positions to their front. This would have no doubt ended in a resounding victory had the Vulgarian commander not unleashed his mounted reserve, backed by a battalion of their odious infantry brethren. Caught in the open and without the hope of quarter, Lt. Manley-Buttockes and his men sold themselves dearly (if somewhat quickly) and slowed down the Vulgarian steam roller for a precious 12.5 seconds.
Meanwhile to the right of the line, despite inflicting horrendous casualties on the foe, the detachment from HMS Unfeasible were overrun in a deadly exchange of steal in pluck in the trenches.

The Battle of Grossenfartz - part 2

We return to Grossenfartz as the Vulgarian attack is taking shape.  Above we see Anglophobian gunners preparing to unleash a hail of matchsticks at the enemy.

The brewery - and a tanker full of it's product ready to roll.

There did seem to be rather a lot of Vulgarians.

Some Vulgarians were due to arrive by train - a whole infantry battalion...

...and (just visible at the foot of the photo), a gun battery.

 

Some nasty Vulgarian lancers emerged from behind the Anglophobian lines and soon dealt with the crew of the 4.7!

HMAT Thomas soon has the lancers in it's sights.

Anglophobian reserves were soon on the move.

The lead wagon of the Vulgarian train soon took a hit from a light gun but it's

unimaginative passengers continued their advance.

 

And (courtesy of Mark H), more from the memoirs of  Commodore Mountjoy-Carruthers:

As expected, the Vulgarians attacked from the south and were met with a withering fire and some ineffectual artillery rounds.
 HMAT Thomas and the Provisional Motor Patrol arrived in a timely manner and deployed to the rear of the brigade.
 Alas, a squadron of Vulgarian lances, no doubt on a scouting sortie had managed to outflank the brigade dispositions and, following the smoke and dust from the train and PMP appeared to the rear of the fieldworks, charging headlong into the unprotected heavy artillery position, the brave gunners of which were cut down in the cowardly manner so beloved of the vulgar Vulgarians.
 To add to the surging tide of stunted, and deformed Vulgarian conscripts, a train was spotted steaming full ahead for the Anglophobian lines and the brewery beyond. Well placed rounds from the light artillery destroyed a wagon and scattered the occupants from within, a number of whom were hit by the train as sped past to it's ultimate destination.
The Vulgarian field artillery caused light casualties to the left flank of the Anglophobian lines, and in return the stout Tars of the brigade sent the Kaiser a bill for funeral expense in the form of several deadly accurate rounds of rifle fire finding their mark.
 The initial luck of the marauding Vulgarian lancers was cut short, by the steadfast men of the PMP who held and then dispersed them in bloody hand to hand combat.
 Once again blistering and well place artillery fire from the guns of the Anglophobians deprived many Vulgarian mother from welcoming her son home to her sausage-fed bosom.

The Battle of Grossenfartz - part 1

This battle followed on from the Anglophobian landing in Vulgaria previously reported: Link.

Vulgarian briefing

Following the enemy's successful landing at a quiet spot on the Vulgarian coast, His have pushed inland to a distance of some 8km.  After the Anglophobians brought to bear overwhelming force, our local defence forces were eventually overcome and a small port secured.  The assembly of additional forces has resulted in the capture of Grossenfartz - the home of the famous Gashaltig Bierbrauerei AG - where the notoriously windy Vulgarian beer is produced.  Grossenfartz is also the current northern terminus of our glorious and highly advanced standard gauge railway network (further north there is of course, only the narrow gauge line). This gives us two strong reasons for wishing to recapture the town, and an attack in divisional strength is to be launched

Objectives:

You must capture the town at all costs, as the railway line must be denied to the enemy.
The railway and brewery must be captured intact!
The narrow gauge line must be cut, or its use otherwise denied to the enemy.

Forces:

elements, 7th Division
HQ
4th Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
5th Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
1st Cavalry brigade (2 regiments)
3 Field or Heavy artillery batteries
Train operated by engineer detachment - may carry 1 inf btl and 1 art bty - enters on turn D6.
All others enter from the southern edge of the table, except that one cavalry regiment may attempt a flank march, entering on turn D6.

Anglophobian briefing

Following our successful landing at a quiet spot on the Vulgarian coast, His Majesty's forces have pushed inland to a distance of some five miles.  Local defence forces were quickly overcome and a small port secured.  The assembly of additional forces has resulted in the capture of Grossenfartz - the home of the famous Gashaltig Bierbrauerei AG ('Gassy Beer Brewery Ltd') - where the notoriously windy Vulgarian beer is produced.  Grossenfartz is also the current northern terminus of the rather backward standard gauge railway network (further north there is of course, only the narrow gauge line used with such success by H.M.A.T. Thomas). This gives the enemy two strong reasons for wishing to recapture the town, and an attack in divisional strength is expected. 

Objectives:
You must hold the town at all costs, as the railway line will be essential for the next stage of the campaign.
The narrow gauge line must remain in our hands, as engineers will soon begin converting it to standard gauge.
If you can capture an enemy locomotive this will greatly assist our cause!

Forces:

HMS Dreadful Naval Brigade (OC is Commodore Cuthbert Mountjoy-Carruthers)
HMS Implausible Battalion (10)
HMS Unfeasible Battalion
HMS Unthinkable Battalion
Light artillery battery
Heavy artillery battery
All the above begin anywhere on table.  2 battalions and 1 battery may be dug in.
HMAT Thomas - enteres on NG line on turn D6/2
Provisional Naval Motor Patrol (5 men, 1 motor car) - enters from north on turn D6

Terrain notes:

It's Vulgaria, so quite flat and boring.  Buildings tend to be rather stout stone affairs.
The Gashaltig Bierbrauerei AG was relocated to this remote location from the capital a few years ago, following a series of explosions which caused great damage to property and loss of life.  Given the volatility of the beer indiscriminate artillery fire should be avoided!

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For the game, Martin commanded his Vulgarians and Mark made his FLW debut at the helm, as it were, of my Anglophobian Naval Brigade.  Mark subsequently uncovered a rare copy of Mountjoy-Carruthers's memoirs and it is to this that we now turn for our narrative:

Following the successful capture of the Geshaltig Bierbrauerei, Anglophobian forces under the command of the recently promoted Commodore Cuthbert Mountjoy-Carruthers had dug in around the brewery itself and associated railhead, to await the expected counter attack from the south by Vulgarian forces intent on retaking one of the sources of their national pride and income.

Accordingly, the detachments from HMS Implausible and HMS Unfeasible were entrenched along the expected line of approach, supported by a light artillery piece ready to give Johnny Vulgar a good thrashing!

The detachment from HMS Unthinkable formed up to the North of the brewery to offer support  to their comrades and give protection to the heavy artillery, whilst close by Commodore Mountjoy-Carruthers and his staff directed proceeding and awaited the promised armoured train HMAT Thomas and the men of the Provisional Motor Patrol.

The field of battle - the total area was around 5x7.5 feet.  North is to the left.

 

Coming soon - the Vulgarians show up!

They will.....surrender.... (Invasion of Vulgaria part 4)

After a rifle salvo from the Navy chaps in the village the vulgarian local defence battalion was reduced to only two figures!

Soon the train gunners halved that number.

Beset by enemies on all sides, the stout chaps in the village had a few sticky moments.

The view from the (non-existent) tethered balloon.

Happily the brave Anglophobians saw off the vast horde of pointy heads - hooray!

All that remained was to agree terms.  Here we see Captain Jowett Javelin of the Royal Anglophobian Navy 'negotiating' with his Vulgarian opposite number.  Actually it was going to be a duel, but the paperwork-obsessed Vulgarian went for the wrong pouch and pulled out a sheaf of orders instead...

As the Anglophobians land more stores and artillery, it is rumoured that a large Vulgarian force has been assembled and is close at hand.....so we'll have to play another game!

They will fight us in the towns....(Invasion of Vulgaria part 3)

A third Naval Battalion landed just in time to mow down most of the surviving Vulgarian cavalry.

The lone trooper posed rather less of a threat to my Brigade HQ than he had when accompanied by three of his chums!

As the sailors took up position in the village the train appeared again to have a pot shot at some distant Vulgarians. 

Those enemy troops on the hill look a bit close though!

The train wisely trundled off, leaving the defenders of the village to face three enemy units.  Oh no!

Would the village holdout?  Have we seen the last of the train?  All will be revealed in the forthcoming final episode!

Train of thought

The recent debut of my Anglophobian armoured train created quite a bit of interest, so I thought a post showcasing it was in order.  Above can be seen the complete mighty ensemble. 

The train began life as a Hornby Thomas the Tank Engine set bought in a sale.  It had occurred to me that while trains in a scale closer to that of the toy soldiers are hideously expensive, it would be possible to adapt an HO gauge train to look like a narrow gauge affair.  To adapt the loco above I built up the cab with foamboard sides and a new balsa roof.  A new taller funnel was cut from plastic tube.  I managed (only just!) to resist leaving on the smiley face and replaced it instead with a rather more sober front end.  I left the wheels bright blue to cause annoyance in certain quarters.

The gun (what's the point of an armoured train without one?) is a battered Britains WOMBAT.

The crew are converted Armies in Plastic figures

The open wagon carries a dismountable infantry company

The two wagons are based on the train set's originals.  The superstructures were removed and replaced by new work in balsa.

After a bit of fiddling about the gun was fixed in place

Given the overhangs and the top heavy nature of (particularly) the gun wagon anything other than straight track needs treating with care - and very low speeds!

They will fight us on the railway lines.... (Invasion of Vulgaria - part 2)

The gunners on the armoured train continued shelling the Vulgarian infantry until they fled out of sight behind a hill.  The cads!

The riflemen from the train had by now taken up position in the ruins.  This was intended to prevent a sneaky Vulgarian flanking move.

Meanwhile the first Naval Battalion was getting stuck into the enemy gunners.

Not even a late salvo from the gun could deter the stout chaps of the Anglophobian fleet.

Cold steel was applied and the gunners soon perished.

A dismayed Vulgarian staff officer looks on.  From a safe distance.  The Vulgarian cavalry in the background could be bad news....

We allowed the gunboats a chance of joining in.  A dice was rolled for each gunboat each turn.  A '6' meant it could fire.  The first (and as it turned out only) round fired was a daring high angle shot which more by luck than judgement landed amid this battalion of Vulgarian reinforcements.  They weren't happy.

The Vulgarian cavalry soon pounced on my victors of the fight for the gun position and rapidly saw them off.  Luckily the second Naval Battalion had by now reached the outskirts of the village.

In the hope of a shot at the cavalry the train reversed down the other railway spur.

This then was the situation halfway through the battle.  The first Naval battalion had spiked the gun before being overrun by the cavalry.  The second battalion had taken up position in the village.  Vulgarian reinforcements were on the way while the original defenders continued to skulk behind their hill.  A disturbing appearance was that of the giant hand-shaped thing (top right).