The battle of Bagradas, 253BC

Previous 'ancient' period battle reports on this blog have generally used Phil Sabin's excellent Strategos II rules.  While I am still a big fan of the good professor's work I was recently introduced (by John Drewienkiewicz) to GMT's 'Command & Colours' game.  This game used the core mechanisms from such games as Memoir '44 and Battle Cry with which I had a passing acquaintance.

The photo below shows some of the contents of the box - rules, scenario book (15 scenarios), dice and cards.  The game also includes a hex gridded board and hundreds of wooden blocks as playing pieces.  What really appealed to me was that John's game used 15mm toys on Hexon boards.  It looked pretty good.  Regular readers will be aware that I am no stranger to Hexon and that my ancient armies are in 6mm.  Smaller than 15mm so they should fit in the hexes - right?  Some experimenting revealed that it should indeed work and my order for the game was placed.

To give C&C a try out, I prepared the Bagradas scenario.  This was an encounter between a Roman army under Regulus and the Carthaginians led by the Greek Xanthippus.  I had a reasonable representation of the armies available as the result of a series of recent 'accidents' on ebay....  In the game Martin Rapier played the canny Xanthippus (6 order cards) while I took the role of the overconfident and bungling Regulus (only 4).

As usual all photos are taken from my (the Roman) point of view.

Regulus is seen here leading a unit of medium infantry.  More mediums are to the right, heavies behind and elephant fodder in front. Most figures are by Baccus.

The core of the Carthaginian line - heavy infantry (there were 4 such units) and elephants (3).  The red counter was there to mark the line between the central and right (from my point of view) sectors of the table.

The very aggressively handled Carthaginian light horse get stuck into their opposite numbers on my left flank.

The Roman right  - skirmishers exchange volleys of pointy sticks.

More skirmishing, this time on the left.  Note the cheeky Punic cavalry on the left.  Regulus's subordinate is in the centre.

The Roman left continues to disintegrate - the medium cavalry unit at the bottom of the frame already has 2 hits (3 kills it) and is about to run off.

More skirmishing on the right - now minus the Roman light cavalry.

The Roman left surges forward and sees off Martin's skirmish line.

The Roman 2ic seizes his chance for glory.

The elephants rumble forward - sadly the Roman light infantry were unable to stem this tide (that's their job) so Nelly and friends were able to attack one of my medium infantry units.  Not good.  It died horribly.

Endgame - the surviving elephant (centre left) squares up to the Roman 2ic.  In a pretty historical outcome both of my flanks have taken a bashing and the centre is still on the starting blocks.

Quite a jolly evening's entertainment - from start to finish in less than 2 hours - including several instances of looking things up in the main rules.  The next scenario (possibly in 2 weeks) is Ticinus River in 218BC - Scipio versus Hannibal.

Red sky at night

More toys from the Megablitz shelves now.  This time it's the turn of the Soviet Air Force or VVS.  Until relatively recently there were no models available of Soviet aircraft types, so my early efforts were confined to 'Lend-Lease' machines.  Happily we now have a modest range available from True North (now owned by Old Glory in the USA), Reviresco and F-Toys.

I'll start us off with the I-153 - the oldest type I have.  This is a True North metal kit and was assembled and painted by Wg Cdr Luddite - my standby when it comes to building bi-planes.

Another I-153, this time in improvised winter camo.  The I-153 was developed from the earlier I-15, from which it differs by having a new-fangled retractable undercarriage.  It'll never catch on.

Another True North model - this time an I-16.  Conveniently this is supplied as a one-piece casting.

My original Soviet air support - a Lend-Lease Hurricane.  This is a Revell plastic kit which certainly looks as it it's had a hard time at the front.

More Lend-Lease from Revell - this time a P-39 Aircobra.  Another very basic kit but it does the job nicely.

A Yak-9 from a largely pre-built Japanese (F-Toys I think) kit - at last my Russians can look Bf-109 pilots in the eye and not blink first!

So much for fighters - on now to bombers.  Once again I was forced to start off with Lend-Lease models.  Here is one of my pair of B-25 Mitchells hastily completed for a series of games at shows a few years ago.  Kit by Academy.

One of my (very) dodgy conversions now - an IL-4 built from a plastic kit of a Japanese bomber.  My guiding principle here is - if it's green with big red stars on the wings it must be Russian.

Another of my conversions - this time an SB-2.  Based on the same kit as the IL-4 but with the rear fuselage and tail hacked about a bit and the nose and engine nacelles cut down.  Needless to say this monstrosity was finished only a few months before Reviresco launched their metal SB-2...

You knew they were lurking somewhere - IL-2 Sturmoviks.  More from F-Toys.  First a VVS aircraft on the ground....

...and finally a Polish IL-2 in flight.

There will be more Soviet aircraft to follow as and when they are painted (so don't hold your breath) including Mig-3 and Pe-2.  If anyone knows of other suitable models or sources thereof I'd be glad to hear from them.

Remembrance Day

In common with (I hope) anyone reading this, I observed the 2 minutes silence at 11am this morning.  This was easily accomplished as I was by myself in the office and did not therefore have to get annoyed as I have in previous years about some of my former colleagues carrying on working or chatting.

I think that it is important to remember that without those who have been soldiering for real and paid the ultimate price, that we wouldn't have the freedom to fool around with toys as we do.  Thanks guys.

More 20mm Soviets!

I finally got round to finishing off a small batch of Russian kit.  I had assembled, based and primed these models several months ago and was in need of a quick and easy project so I could say to myself (and to you, gentle reader) that I had finished something.

First there are 3 T-26 model 33 light tanks.  These were built from resin kits (four parts each) by Frontline.  Although basic, these make up into very presentable models and can easily be fielded with the Skytrex metal model.

Can you ever have enough T-26 models?  This trio brings my total to nine!  The painting process is as follows:
1. Spray paint matt black
2. Drybrush main colour(s) - Humbrol Dark Green in this case
3. Detail paint - silver for headlights, gunmetal for tracks and exhaust etc
4. Paint and apply markings
5. Rough drybrush of brown (for mud) on running gear and the lower parts of the vehicle
6. Light drybrush of sand colour (for dusty effect) all over
7. Flock base - painted brown and flocked while still wet
8. Edge base in black
9. Spray with matt varnish
10. Take photos to prove I paint stuff!

A 76mm model 1939 Divisional gun (well, a Regiment actually).  A Skytrex metal kit with crew by (I think) SHQ.

The '76 again.

ZIS-5 trucks.  More Frontline models.