3mm Royal Marines Light Infantry Regiment

Here is the RMLI Regiment which together with a battery or two will serve as the Naval Brigade to my colonial forces.

More 3mm Colonial Sudan War Elements

Yesterday I painted up another British infantry regiment and another Madhi warband. This time I gave the British red coats. I really like how they came out. The temptation to go with red from here out will be strong, especially since these soldiers will one day serve the Queen on Mars.

First 3mm Mahdists Warband Unit

Along with the British soldiers from my previous post I also painted up these ruffians.

 I hope you can see the green Mahdi flag with the white circle near the center.

These fuzzy's are led by the chieftan with the red turban and sword.

First 3mm Colonial British Units

Forced myself to sit down paint tonight and I am glad I did. While painting I listened and occasionally watched a documentary on the Yom-Kippur War. I painted 34 soldiers total with the mounted officers counting as one each. I am happy with the result.

 

I painted the British with khaki uniforms. I will use red for the next regiment to see which I prefer. I don't mind using red or khaki as these troops will see multiple actions.

Note the officers. Aren't they splendid. A gentleman should look smart in front of the men. Wouldn't you agree? Yes I love ZULU!

Note the white equipment belts and satchels.

First 3mm Models for Colonial British Brigade/Division

Micro-scale wargaming continues to draw me in. Here are the first units for a British Colonial Army Brigade. Like the 3mm ACW regiment in my previous post these models too will see double service. On Earth and Mars. These particular models are WW1 French Infantry & WW2 Polish Cavalry. These models too will be primed and painted up either Saturday or Sunday evening. These soldiers are based on a 40mm x 30mm base.

First Game of RISK

Today I played the classic boardgame RISK for the first time. It was a blast! My son, a RISK strategist, came to visit me for Father's Day. We setup with him taking gray and I took red. Divided up the globe between us and a green neutral.

Then the mayhem commenced. He focused his early attacks on Australia and Asia. I already controlled most of Europe so I set about to conquer Africa and South America. Within a few turns both continents were under RED control. He took Australia and almost completed a sweep of Asia but we (the royal we) couldn't allow that. So I ordered the RED General Staff to take the Middle East. We did, and we lost it the next go. However we quickly took it back and promptly lost it again. This seesaw in the Middle East began to look like Armageddon. Eventually RED triumphed as was our destiny and we finished that by sweeping up the rest of Europe. After that the frontlines of the war switched to the new world in North America.

Finally with the world painted RED with only Japan and Australia left to him, Lord Gray surrendered. He was allowed to swear fealty as our vassal and awarded Australia as his dominion to provide for his income and oathbound to provide military arms to assist the RED Crown when called upon.

It was at this time that I knew we had lost the war, Alexsandr Gevs, Gray General.

Anglo-Zulu War - Battle of Kafrudum - British Army Suffers Horrible Loss

What a beautiful day today. I wanted to go for a ride on my goldwing but I had to watch my granddaughter this morning. So while she frolicked and played in the backyard I set up a small scale colonial battle on the patio. 

For this battle I used One Hour Wargame rules modified as I deem the Anglo-Zulu War should go. I gave the Zulus a +2 in melee combat. The British +2 in shooting but a 0 in melee. I reduced the hits a unit can suffer from 15 to 10. I use white beads to indicate single hits and a red bead to indicate 5 hits. I used movement in base depth vice inches or paces. Also I wanted to adhere to my wargaming advise that I have posted on the left side of the blog so the armies are based on 1" squares and are small. However in my mind there were 3 Zulu regiments vs. a British column under a colonel; in this case Colonel Reynauld Chester Higginsworth. 

The hill of Kafrudum with it's Zulu Kraal on top.

Colonel Higginsworth's plan was to use his artillery to either force the Zulus out of their kraal or soften them up enough for his cavalry troop under Captain Wortheall to capture the hill.

The artillery bombards the kraal.

The artillery battery continues to pound the hill.

Two Zulu regiments swiftly close the gap on the red line.

British rifle & maxim fire inflict severe losses on the Zulu.

Finally hitting the British line the Zulu regiments make quick work of their enemy. 

A bugle cry brings the cavalry back around but can they make it in time?

One lone British unit withstood attacks from their front
and rear long enough to destroy their frontal enemy contact.
 They received the Victoria Cross posthumously. 

Seeing that all hope is lost Captain Wortheall and his men flee the field.

Overall I am satisfied with how fast the battle played. I like the suspense/thrill of watching the hits mount up on each unit. Though small in appearance this was the largest battle of OHW I have fought so far with 16 units (British 6, Zulus 10) on the battlefield. I'm firmly in the camp of OHW now. These are the best ease of use rules for a solo-wargamer that I've encountered thus far. The bases were bare because I'm not sure if I will continue with the 1" basing or move to a larger base to allow diorama style basing. Cheers from Northwest Arkansas.

Anglo-Zulu War: Test Battle for New Home Rules

I had the day off today so I decided to get stuck in with a couple of good playtests for some new home rules I've been working on. Well one playtest is worth at least a hundred opinions and thoughts of how a system should work. So far my combat mechanics are not satisfying to me. I suppose that One Hour Wargames has me spoiled now. The good news is that I am completely satisfied with unit movement and firing ranges. Back to the drawing board to work on combat as well as command and control.