I watched this movie over the weekend- based on the Edwardian novel of the same name, it potrays a scanario circa 1901/02 when Germany plans to invade eastern England via a fleet of barges being covertly constructed in the Fresian Islands. Essentially pre Field Green Germans (in Prussion Blue) without Maxim guns.
It occured to me that the respective battle groups could be put together from Pendraken existing lists. The game dynamics would not be far removed from the South African war of 1900. Only this time, with the new ethos on musketry, the British would be the marksmen. Boer war artillery pieces would do well, and an Airship or two would add a very interesting dimension. N gauge British houses, so no probs with scenery. If you play VBCW, it will already be on the shelf.
Has anyone gamed this scenario?
Sunray out
Done a couple in 2mm with Land Ironclads. It should really be the other way round, RN would stop any crossing of North Sea dead in 1900. Very nice idea though.
IanS
But a great book!
Ian
Its a counter factual scanario - Lets see, the RN get hit with a premptive strike by German torpedo boats or the Germans lay a sneaky minefield ?
In the book, the plan was to slip over in small barges.
The potential of the game is that has it some modern elements, but the killing ground is not dominated by HMGs. And ....its England an Operation Sealion
circa 1902. The prospect of a squadron of Uhlans advancing on Norwich !
I have looked at the Franco- Prussian lists - lots of figure potential. Anyone know the best rules for Boer war era games ?
Sunray out
Depends on the level yopu want - Land Ironclads would be one choice, also "Elan" might work - it's WWI.
You could try Black Poweder as well.
I suspect most Boer War stuff is skirmish, and you might be better with early WWI stuff. BKC could be adapted perhappes ?
ianS
Thnaks Ian, WW1rules minus HMGs might work- which means high mobility . MT will also be in issue Sir John French got his first staff car in 1902 and motor cycles, and lorries were available. I am not ruling out Boer war rules, as - lets face it - most of our 10mm battlegroups are skirmish forces, so I have put a thread out in the 19th century blog.
Sunray out
Ok, a little secondary source research [ Waterloo to Mons, (Michael Glover, 1980) pp.222-223] The time widow for this scenario is 1900-early1902. By late 1902 the British Army has the SMLE, the Maxim (2 per Battalion) and the 18pdr. Its the same kit as the BEF. By 1903 the Germans have the Maxim. You would be gaming Mons.
A good 1900 scanario would be German/Dutch displeasure at British treatment of the Boers. - and a war of movement before firepower killed offensive action .
Sunray Out
You could try using the early war variant of my WW1 rules (emphasis on rifle fire and some direct field artillery support), the're available from this site or I can email you a slightly more up to date version.
Quote from: mad lemmey on 01 December 2011, 09:50:11 AM
But a great book!
Aye, a fine book indeed. Cold weather sailing has never been treated better by any author. And a great movie with Michael York, too. Beautifully done. I was a yachting instructor around the time the movie came out, I knew the Frisians, and I used to regard Carruther's yawl
Dulcibella as the holy grail. What a breathtakingly beautiful ship.
Aaaanyway, back to tin soldiers :ar!
Cheers,
Aart
Would you believe I scratch built a yawl for my VBCW games, and the idea of a demo game in my head with a race (dice throws) to England 'before the barges reach hit the beaches' ? If Carruthers wins, the Brits have more time to organise - otherwise its just yeomanry between the Uhlans and Sandringham !
In terms of rules, the British Army of 1900/01 was not the elite BEF of 1914, (they must rank up there along with the 1982 Task Force, as the best trained and professional battle group we ever sent into action) but nevertheless, the vets of the South Africa war would have an advantage over any continental army in terms of battle skills, field craft and shooting (Bisley has its first revamp in 1903 and again in 1910 to accomodate the new interest in marksmanship).
So not sure if 1914 rules reflect the era, but hey - happy to try !
Sunray out
Quote from: Sunray on 01 December 2011, 07:28:33 PM
Would you believe I scratch built a yawl for my VBCW games, and the idea of a demo game in my head with a race (dice throws) to England 'before the barges reach hit the beaches' ? If Carruthers wins, the Brits have more time to organise - otherwise its just yeomanry between the Uhlans and Sandringham !
Brilliant! ;D =D>
Cheers,
Aart
I would say more like early WW1 than Boer War
With HMGs available even in small numbers their usefulness would have been immediately spotted by the combatants as they were in Manchuria in 1904.
However Military Observers from other powers wouldn't have noticed a thing :)
Two things here; First, the availability of modern weapons. There is no doubt that the Maxim HMG - not to mention Q/F guns -were available and in the case of the Maxim, on issue in 1901. The British have already deployed it in quelling the Shona rebellion, the North West Frontier and no doubt to a limited extent in South Africa. The second key question must be- did the general staff really appreciate the tactical potential of the weapon ? You may well have maxim guns in your store, but if not issued and your gunners not trained - you can't de facto field the weapon.
It is possible to argue that the sheer dominance of the HMG was not appreciated until the battle of Morhange (14 Aug 1914) when well placed German Maxims cut down the French by battalions at a time. (total French losses for the battle 300,000 !)
What we can say is (i) Pre -1914 only the British had an appreciation of modern firepower. (ii) It is 1902 before each Infantry Battalion gets two Maxims , the SMLE gets issued, and Warminster School of Infantry starts to shape the tactical doctrine of what we seen in the BEF and (iii) We need to appreciate the Edwardian mindset; Was the HMG seen as something that was not cricket ? You may laugh at this but, I kid you not, in the 1900s The Times complained that the new gun shield fitted to the 18prd to protect the crew from rifle fire was " not in the best traditions of the Royal Artillery'! (iv) Finally the key point - well made by Lentulus - High Command did not appreciate 40 years of technical development and what the Maxim was capable of.
This all makes for an interesting game, as the rules must reflect the 1900's mindset.
Many thanks to all on their forum for their wisdom and comments.
Sunray out