Battle of Haale, 17 October 1806

Ruleset: Shako II

Here are some pictures of my 6mm early Prussian army in action in a recent game of Shako II, the Battle of Haale during the War of the Fourth Coalition.

Initial deployments.

This was the second time I've commanded my Prussians and my second game overall in Shako II. I lost the battle, but it was at least a challenge for my opponent, as I understood the rules much better than in my first game, and paid much more attention to time-and-space considerations to manoeuvre the brigades and cover the ground better and use effective formations.

Treskow's brigade (all minis are Baccus except where indicated).

Hussar Regiment No 7.

The scenario was very interesting and involved the Prussian army attempting to exit units (including four valuable supply wagons moving automatically along the road) where the roads led off the board, and the French having to move across a pair of bridges and through a city to head them off. I attempted to pen the French in the town but they got out too quickly, while my cavalry wasted time on the wrong flank of the action.

Prussian army advancing to the intersection.

The French moving through the city (these are my opponent's minis and buildings - some of these minis might be Adler, some are 3D prints and the buildings I think are TimeCast).

The brigades fought hard to hold the road open but ultimately failed. My right flank brigade gave as good as it got against a French blocking force but after heavy losses on both sides the Prussian formation failed it's morale test whereas the French passed. At the same time the centre brigade simply lost it's combats and broke up.

The right flank battles the French blocking force while a French cavalry unit, which had just broken a musketeer battalion, is itself surrounded and destroyed.

The Prussian centre crumbles while a single musketeer battalion alone does what it can to hold up the French.

After that there were some desperate actions by disorganised Prussian units trying to protect the baggage train but the fight was over at that point. It was a fun game though and I learned a lot from it.

The Prussian Aide de Camp rides forward with new orders for a brigade commander, only to fall moments later to a stray musket ball, his vital message undelivered.

About the Shako II rules (as a comparison to Blucher).

Shako II is very much about overcoming issues of manoeuvring (especially for non-French forces organised according to the old relatively ponderous linear principles and having a much inferior command and control system) and having flank and rear support. Melee (and sometimes even musketry) is extremely decisive and units are broken and destroyed/routed from the table more often than not in a single turn and with a single turn of the die.

If your battalions are caught out with awkward facing and not neatly lined up when close to the enemy then expect to get a severe beating!

I find this is quite different from Blucher which is more attritional. Despite both combat systems deciding a melee in one turn (i.e. with losers thrown into retreat or destroyed rather than spending turns in contact) and both using a 'difference in scores' mechanic to determine casualties, Shako II units are more fragile and there are more powerful modifiers. It also uses a single opposed D6 roll whereas Blucher uses a handful of D6s, which (without having checked the maths) seem to me generate potentially greater score differences and therefore heavier casualties for the loser. Also, offensives can really steamroll weaker opponents because winners in combat generally do not take losses or become disordered and cavalry can get follow-on charges.

I'll be playing a bit more Shako II in future, so will compose some more posts on the topic.

The Constitutional Republic of Syrda

Background: Many years ago, I joined a few guys in embarking upon an Imagi-Nations campaign set in Africa using the Fistful of TOWs 3 (FFT3) rules with 1:1 representation (i.e. 1 tank model = a single tank rather than a platoon). Unfortunately the project stalled early on. However, it still produced a couple of games and got me very interested in FFT3 as an alternative ruleset to Team Yankee for modern-era company-level games. FFT3 has advantages over Team Yankee as it includes opportunity fire, single-team/stand suppression and more realistic artillery and air support. It also has interesting shooting mechanics handling specialised armour types versus shaped-charge warheads, guided missiles and incredible open-architecture points and unit creation systems.

The campaign also produced the following noble and tragic Imagi-Nation, that I think deserves to be included here on my blog. Perhaps one day it's armed forces will be re-mobilised for FFT3 or another appropriate wargame.

The flag of Syrda, including in the canton the emblem of Aghar Bar Bar. This emblem, of medieval origin, shows four palm branches around a scene depicting the legendary hero of Syrda, Aghar Bar Bar, beheading a rival king whose hands are held up in a gesture of cowardice/surrender. 

Air Force and Army national marking

History of a Country and an Inspiring Leader

The territory of the Constitutional Republic stretches from the shores of the Mediterranean where its capital Syrda, is located; through the sometimes-green hinterland; south further across the Azlayan Mountains and over the Azlayan Rift valley, and out into the desert expanse; ending in the distant reaches of the barren Anezruf region. The area north of the Rift is referred to by the government in Syrda as 'Metropolitan Syrda.’ This is not because it has a plethora of cities, although the majority of the population there do reside in a few coastal cities and a number of smaller towns. Rather it is because this region is the core of Syrdan culture, civilisation and economy. The Anezruf desert beyond the Rift is sparsely populated by nomadic or semi-nomadic tribal groups.

War of National Independence

The people of the Azlayan Mountains, the Rift and Syrda gained true independence on the 33rd of March 1963 after a decade-long struggle against a hated puppet monarch and his colonialist string-pullers. At this time the country was poor and desperately short of reliable calendars, fresh water and technological know-how.

Abey Kaber el-Bad of the el-Bad tribe, most esteemed among the revolutionary leaders, was elected the country's first president by the free and democratic vote of the overwhelming majority of the armed men present in the capital at the end of the fighting.

Captain el-Bad Takes The Helm

In 1984, Father of the Nation President Abey Kaber el-Bad ascended to Heaven at the age of somewhere between 90 and 110. He had presided over a period of growing prosperity and his wise and extremely stern guidance had raised the small country from dusty feudal backwardness to dusty semi-feudal developing-nation status.

Captain Alim el-Bad bin Abey bin Kaber

In accordance with what his father's dying wish may well have been, the President’s son, Army Captain Alim el-Bad reluctantly agreed to take the helm of transitional national leadership while elections could be arranged. However, the country was still troubled by foreign interference, corruption and widespread mass grief over the loss of its beloved President. There were also several rebellions of irresponsible political dissidents and assorted greedy, squabbling tribal elements to be dealt with. Simply put: elections would have to wait. At this historic moment, Captain el-Bad saw what the nation needed and sternly took up the weighty responsibility of shepherding the people safely through to a free, prosperous and realistically democratic future.

Captain el-Bad united the factions within the military and established the Constitution for the Republic of Syrda. Possessed of an intense love for the people, and superhuman energy, insight, foresight, hindsight, oversight, and secret police black sites, Captain el-Bad set about his mission of economic reform, military strength, ejection of parasitic elements, and re-moralisation the masses.

By 1994 Captain el-Bad had used the reformed military and his own tactical genius to defeat the rebellions and was awarded his country’s highest civilian honour: a decoration of his own design called the Medal of National Appreciation, as well as the Ghazi Medal for Heroism with Palm Leaf Clusters. Throughout the fighting, though he had earned the status and pay grade of a Field Marshal 1,000 times over, Captain el-Bad always humbly declined promotion to higher ranks regardless of the imploring of his grateful and devoted officers.

"Many poles must hold up the tent. If there is only one pole, all men cannot stand in it."

- old Azlayan peasant proverb

Even one of extraordinary strength cannot make all the important decisions by himself – a nation’s success depends on the contributions of all patriots. Captain Alim reformed his country's administration on a strict meritocratic basis, uprooting the incompetent and the unreliable and appointing to positions of power only his most qualified and trusted brothers, brothers-in-law, cousins, and old friends.

El-Bad: Practical Theorist and Intellectual

Captain el-Bad knew he needed to chart his nation's course between the all-devouring Borg-like monster of capitalism and the whirlpool of communism. During the 1980s, Captain el-Bad laid out his political, economic, religious and social theories, lessons from his personal life story and comprehensive plan for the nation in his 1,000 word treatise 'El-Bad Book,' which is required annual reading for every Syrdan, from schoolchildren to the highest military or political official (fortunately, unlike the political writings of more verbose historical figures, El-Bad Book can be easily polished off in an afternoon by anyone who is a product of Syrda’s progressive literacy programs).

Captain el-Bad has been oft been lauded as a genius of post-colonial literature for his academic papers, novellas depicting the lives of his ordinary countrymen and his flawless personal editing of the country's newspaper articles (mostly to correct typographical errors, as it is now exceedingly rare for any journalist to err in matters of politics or ideology).

"Karim saw he was completely alone in that eternity of sand. He knew he must keep walking, drink water in sensible amounts, and maintain a determined attitude as he went."

 - The Journey of Karim, novel by Alim el-Bad.

In recent decades, Syrda has been increasingly persecuted by international villains such as the disingenuous United States and the bully cohorts of the UN and EU. To offer a few egregious examples: the imperialists complain of Syrda’s refusal to disengage from it’s legitimate regional interests or to hold elections (which are truly impossible with the current fragile internal security and political situation).

Most of Syrda's international allies have deserted her like cowards or have been toppled like so many Saddams in an American bowling alley. Yet truly the strength of Syrda’s defenders – the members of it’s military and security apparatus - that keep the Constitutional Republic free: tanks roll, riflemen train, lab techs labour scientifically, centrifuges spin patriotically day and night, and the rocket artillery troops practice with the delivery systems.

The Anezruf War: The present day intervention by Syrda in the Zumbanda conflict

Strife in neighbouring Zumbanda has presented Syrda with a duty and a risk. The tribal lands of the Sama people straddle the Syrda-Zumbanda border: with the majority of Sama cruelly divided from their brothers by an artificial, colonially-demarcated line and denied the benefits of Syrdan citizenship. With war and chaos in Zumbanda it is unreasonable to expect Syrda to ignore the threat this presents nor the opportunities to spread freedom and progress. Syrda must act to bring those unfortunate Sama, and their valuable aquifers, under stable leadership and protection.

The risks are great. Syrda is regrettably plagued by social media-fuelled ingratitude and an economy tied down by sanctions and foreign financial trickery. A serious military setback could permit the Constitutional Republic's enemies to use their stacks or money and propagandistic media power to tip the scales against the legitimate government. Furthermore, interference from other regional and international powers, and even non-state actors, could prove a major problem during any external expedition.

The military forces of the Constitutional Republic of Syrda

(The following was drawn from a leaked western intelligence report and open source information).

The core military strength of the Republic is found in its Army ground forces, which are doctrinally prepared to fight conventionally, in counter-insurgencies, and even as insurgents themselves should the need arise. This force is divided into four Area Armies, based on the idea that locally recruited and based forces and officers will have natural familiarity with local terrain which may be critical in defensive battles. The ground forces are comprised of highly-trained and better-equipped Metropolitan units, recruited from and stationed in the more populous and developed regions north of the Rift, and local militia forces in less critical and more remote regions.

The main operational unit of the ground forces is the Brigade. Like a cobra, the Syrdan military must make itself look bigger than it really is, and then strike with outsized fatal decisiveness. Brigades are therefore smaller units than equivalently-named formations in other armies, comprising no more than two battalions and sometimes even just a single company. The numbering of army formations is non-sequential in order to confuse enemy intelligence gathering. Some brigades and sub-units are given inspiring names that reference the people and events of the Syrdan struggle for independence and freedom from tyranny. Some brigades are named for the ferocious wildlife local to Syrda including venomous reptiles and arachnids, swooping birds, unexpectedly violent goats and smaller mammals that, while rarely a threat to humans, are still rather crafty or nippy.

The Air Force is Syrda’s second most important arm and is focused primarily on close air support and secondarily on interception - an increasingly difficult task considering the growing obsolescence of their aircraft relative to expect threats such as the US Navy, with it’s “arrogantly code-named pilots.” The Syrdan air defence system relies increasingly on SAM and AAA units and a variety of improvised solutions of dubious effectiveness. The mainstay of the Syrdan airborne component is the MiG-21, although the force is also known to possess small numbers of MiG-25s, Su-24s and other older aircraft of Soviet or European design. The Air Force also includes ground combat units, which are needed for base defence and to ensure the Air Force is 'balanced' against the Army and the National Police - wouldn't want all of one type of vital asset entirely under the command of a single clique of generals now would we?

Syrda long ago ceded the Mediterranean to larger and better-funded rivals but still has a navy which maintains coastal patrol and assault speedboat units. Efforts have been made to develop a submarine capability but so far there is little evidence this has borne results.

4th Area Army: Syrdan Forces In Theatre

The initial challenge to the Syrdan army will be in developing offensive momentum with the limited means currently deployed opposite the border while most of the Metropolitan Forces are still mobilising.

114th Infantry Brigade "Stinging Scorpions"

Immediately on-hand is the 114th Brigade. Recruited from locals in the Anezruf and equipped largely from weapon stockpiles left over from World War 2, the 114th Brigade is under strength and unconventionally attired. They are led by maverick Cuban-Canadian Colonel Geroux, an aspiring boxing champion, oriental dance enthusiast and master of deception and costume known for his ability to blend seamlessly into any cultural context.

The 114th Infantry Brigade is lucky to get BTR-152s, technicals and ISU-152s 

that are recently out of mothballs. (Heroics & Ros BTR-152s and technicals, CinC for the ISU-152s and GHQ Sikhs for the infantry).

ISU-152 and border guard Vickers MMG.

84th Mechanised Brigade "Comrade Agdun Asad"

Usually deployed around Thurga in the Azlayan Mountains, the 84th Brigade of the Metropolitan Forces is in the region on manoeuvres. The 84th Brigade includes a battalion of 'T-74s' (the brochure for this particular T-72M export model was misprinted) and infantry mounted in BTR-70s.

84th Mechanised Brigade moves along the state-of-the-art national highway south as war becomes inevitable. (T-74s from GHQ; ZSU-23/4s, Zis and GAZ trucks, and BTR-70s from CinC; Civilian vehicles and BTR-152s from Heroics & Ros. Paper roads from Wargame Print via Wargames Vault).

The convoy passes a broken-down T-74.

BTR-70s, and a BTR-152 from the 114th Infantry Brigade.

9th Airborne Detachment, the "Feathers of Death"

Based at El-Goumri in the far south of the country are the paratroopers of the 9th Airborne Detachment: a company-strength unit of the elite Parachute Brigade of the Metropolitan Forces. These loyal and fearless men are supported by AMX-13 light tanks and Austrian-made Saurer 4K4FA IFVs.

(AMX-13s from GHQ, Zis truck from CinC, Saurer 4K4FAs from Heroics & Rois, infantry from GHQ).

80th Fighter Squadron "Dust Falcons"

Also based at El-Goumri and flying the mainstay of the Syrdan Air Force, the MiG-21, the 80^th Squadron is providing air cover for the operation. The Squadron also operate a number of other aircraft types for specific missions, such as An-2 Colt light transports and a handful of the old Yakovlev fighters for close support strafing (the feared "Yak-attack" plane!)

The underestimated "Yak Attack" plane (Heroics & Ros). I really need better lighting to photograph this one.

80th Fighter Squadron MiG-21s on patrol (Scotia Grendel miniatures).

Reinforcements from the Metropolitan Forces

The 4th Area Army commander can expect to receive additional support as the military mobilises.

333rd Guards Brigade (the "33rd of March Guards Brigade")

The 333rd Guards Brigade is comprised of elite units with the latest tanks, AFVs and infantry weapons acquired in Central and Eastern Europe through the usual intermediaries.

78th Hunter-Killer Helicopter Squadron "War Fennecs"

The best rotary wing pilots in all of Syrda, Azlayan and the Rift join the "War Fennecs" to fly the state-of-the-art Kamov Ka-50 in battle against the enemies of the Constitutional Republic (if the mechanics can be found to get the things operational. In the meantime, the 78^th may need to use the venerable Mil Mi-2 helicopters already on-hand).

Mil Mi-2s preparing to ferry out to equip the 78th Squadron "War Fennecs" while an An-12 warms up for takeoff. (Mi-2 from Heroics & Ros; GAZ-66 from CinC; An-12 from Armaments In Miniature; paper roads and hangars from WarGame Print).

Syrda II Air Force Base.

147th Auxiliary Infantry Brigade "Iberrani" - Syrda's 'Foreign Legion'

Recruited from elsewhere on the continent through a relatively modest outlay of funds, these auxiliary troops will help boost Syrdan manpower. The bravest may be willing to risk jumping into combat in the 104^th Volunteer Parachute Battalion for the right to wear brightly coloured berets.

Some have already put their hands up for the 104th Volunteer Parachute Battalion (GHQ Miniatures).

Some Old, Badly Staged Photos of Little Planes, Ships, Tanks and Infantry

While I take some time to think up a more interesting subject, organise my existing miniatures and start a new project to document, here are some pictures taken a long time ago of various things I've painted. There are also some pictures of battles I've fought with some of them.

First, something completely unrelated to 6mm: A 15mm British Para and a fighter in civilian clothing that I painted for fun.

An early 20th Century Insurgent (Eureka Miniatures).

WW2 British Paratrooper (Old Glory miniatures).

Some of my 6mm stuff when I had it on display.

And now for some water craft:

A 1:1200 French 74 in progress (Navwar miniatures)

Finished: The French 74 (3rd Rate Ship of the Line) 'Le Superbe' now completed, including paper flags, cotton thread and flywire rigging (Navwar miniatures).

A 1:3000 Royal Navy frigate (Navwar miniatures) initially intended for a Cold War era game in the North Atlantic. The transparent base is cut from a plastic takeaway food container and the wake is simply Selleys pasted on and shaped with a toothpick.

I really enjoyed making these 1:1200 Spartan Triremes, and was pretty happy with my hand-painted sail symbols - the Lambda and the Gorgon (Navwar miniatures).

Team Yankee looks pretty good in 6mm. Here, the National Volksarmee takes on the Czech army (due to some Cold War backstabbing):

A Motor Schutzen Battalion advances (GHQ miniatures, CinC miniatures).

Motor Schutzen Company holds off the Czechs (GHQ miniatures, CinC miniatures).

East German T-72Ms enter a town in 1985 (GHQ miniatures).

A Norman Church. The graveyard headstones and low wall are just carved-up matchsticks (Scotia Grendel miniatures):

Some 6mm aircraft of various makes:

Messerschmitt Bf 110C night fighter (Heroics & Ros).

CAC Boomerang. My dad painted this one: he had never painted a miniature before (Scotia Grendel miniatures).

Fireforce! Rhodesian units, including Hawker Hunter (Scotia Grendel), Alouette III (Heroics & Ros) and Rhodesian Light Infantry (GHQ Afrika Korps riflemen), individually based as an experiment on whether skirmish-level games can be played at 6mm.

Various things prepared for undercoating (Baccus 6mm figures, and aircraft from various manufacturers including Scotia Grendel, Heroics & Ros, Raiden).

Stripping paint from plastic and metal miniatures

[A post I wrote a long time ago and never published. I'm publishing it now because it can serve as a reminder for a hobby technique I find useful.]

Some miniatures are painted terribly. Some miniatures aren’t painted so good. Sometimes a basecoat sprays on way too thick. I wished there was a way to fix these errors – to reclaim the pristine miniature. 

Well, there is a way:

http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-Paint-from-Metal-and-Plastic-Models-with-Dettol

http://realmofchaos80s.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/how-to-use-dettol-to-best-clean-up.html

Following advice from the above websites, I decided to give it a go with Dettol, a toothbrush, a pin and some dish-washing detergent. My first test was on one of the ‘Emperor’s Rejects’ – a plastic Space Marine sold for $1 at a gaming convention.

The Basic Technique

I left the miniatures in the Dettol at least 24 hours, up to 48 hours and let them soak a couple of days in water with a very good proportion of dish-washing detergent after cleaning off the dissolving paint with a toothbrush and a pin (for picking the paint out of the recesses).

I have since used this technique with success on numerous other miniatures both plastic and metal, in scales ranging from 6mm to 28mm. I've also left plastic and metal miniatures in the Dettol for literally months without any problems (although I wouldn't recommend it - who knows what might go wrong).

The Results

The Marine recovered fully from the stripping and cleaning operation without any damage to the plastic surface and all, or almost all,  The black spray undercoat adhered without any problems, as did all the Vallejo paints applied atop it.

Here are the results:

Documenting All The Miniatures

Painted miniatures spend a lot more time in storage or sitting, un-looked-at, on shelves than they do on the gaming table or in some crystal display case in a public area for all to appreciate.

If a miniature is painted and based in a little room and then sits in a box where nobody can see it, was it really painted and based?

Is it fun to look at other people's painted miniatures on the internet when looking for ideas for one's own hobbying? (Yes it is).

Therefore, I thought I'd photograph all the miniatures I've painted and commit them to the internet, so they may be shared with any who wish to look upon them.

Also gaming is fun, so I'll do a lot more of that this year, so there will be pictures of that, hopefully: