Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Batreps => Topic started by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 16 September 2011, 08:47:15 PM

Title: First AWI Battle
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 16 September 2011, 08:47:15 PM
Hi Guys.
Black Powder AWI - Americans straight from the book, French were large units vs GoingAViking with two of our other gamers in the club.

Finally got our AWI on the table unfortunately it ended up as Franco-American vs. Americans as the British player has only got a company of Light Infantry painted thus far...  :D
So, the French never lost the FIW, and this was the Americans first attempt at independence...  ;)
French were GoingAVikings with my spare Americans, my forces were my unbased figures that have been in the painting diary!  :)
Franco-Americans slightly out numbered the Yanks, but it didn't help that the French commander rolled 3 blunders, including 2 retreats and a march right...  ;D

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_0091.jpg)
Initial dispositions.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_001.jpg)
American line, and jelly babies  8)

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_008.jpg)
Close up of the Franco-American centre, the two Militia units on the right held out vs an entire division of Americans.

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_005.jpg)
And Franco-American Militia holding the line and the cavalry waiting to be unleashed at the American flank.

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_0071.jpg)
The French centre, the caption is 'and this is artillery!'

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_002.jpg)
First French blunder!

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_006.jpg)
Franco-Americans advancing through the maize fields.

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_013.jpg)
This American Unit (4th New York) and the two guns accounted for three French units (didn't help the French commander rolled a gazillion 4s for moral).

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_0111.jpg)
The American left, with advancing French, who decided to try to avoid the cornfields, but ran off right (Blunder!)!

(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc94/madlemmey/AWI/IMG20110915_0101.jpg)
The crux of the battle, the field complex on the right (actually the centre of table) saw the hottest fighting as the 2nd Connecticut Militia traded blows with the 1st Rhode Islanders in a bloody fight that went to hand to hand! Eventually the Rhode Islanders won, splitting the two halves of the American forces, and forcing the end of the American's assault to the right.

Game ended with a loss for the Americans in the end as the right wing collapsed!

Title: Re: First AWI Battle
Post by: Blaker on 16 September 2011, 11:39:22 PM
Thanks for the report.  What are the circle bases with one figure on them with the white spaces that have writing in them?
Title: Re: First AWI Battle
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 17 September 2011, 07:31:30 AM
Thanks.
As you ask, those discs are my cunning damage trackers for Black Powder.
Each base has the units name (in number and initials), and a personalised injured figure, you just turn them to show how many points of damage taken. The unfinished ones just had the numbers written on on the night! They look all right when finished, honest!
The French just had tiddly-winks as damage markers!
Title: Re: First AWI Battle
Post by: Arsenus on 17 September 2011, 07:52:32 AM
Good BatRep! Very impressive!

(No, Arsenus! Dont think to buy some AWI...)
Title: Re: First AWI Battle
Post by: nikharwood on 17 September 2011, 11:27:44 PM
Luvvit mate - that's a nice looking battle (now go get your bases finished etc  ;) ;D)
Title: Re: First AWI Battle
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 18 September 2011, 09:17:43 AM
Got sand on them, but after an 11 mile bimble and Dr Who yesterday I didn't get them inked - maybe tonight after three hours planning and ironing!  ;)
Title: Re: First AWI Battle
Post by: going a-viking on 19 September 2011, 12:20:37 PM
Still not sure of the best way to represent the French. We have two 6cm x 3cm bases represents an infantry battalion or a cavalry regiment, and a single base, end on, represents an artillery battery. The problem is that even if I expand my French so that there are four bases in each regiment, representing the two battalions, they will still have to be classified as 'large' in Blackpowder because French battalions were 400-500 men whereas the British and Americans battalions had 200-300 men.

Plus I have no evidence that the French could manouver and fight in woods in the same way that the British and Americans could.


P.S. the French CIC had no trouble commanding the American half of his command. What is it about the French and leadership?