1870 - Mars macht mobil, bei Arbeit, Sport und Spiel!

Aah, I had this a long time coming! I always wanted a new project for 2016, with more gallant, but useless cavalry charges, splendid uniforms, grandeur scenarios, but still black powder era somehow ... so I inspired (or better infected), some club mates with the idea of 10mm 1870 - Franco Prussian War!

Now I know that this is a bit like lottery, the chances that all have their little armies ready at the same time, but then this is more of a longer personal project. Always wanted to paint Pickelhauben! Soon many chimed in and trumpeted which army/corps they are going to paint (just like on a farmers cow market) ordering lead in in the kilos. 

I decided not to hurry and to go for the Prussian Cavalry. A beauty to look at, and what better division to go for that the 5th Rheinbaben – the Death ride chaps!

Its still not finished, the famous Brunswicker Skull Hussars and the big man himself v. Rheinbaben, the cornflower blue Dragoons and the Artillery limber are missing/in the making. 

Maybe I‘ll go for the complete 2nd Army, that way I get to paint the Garde division. I don't care if they didn't fight in their parade uniforms, if their is a chance to field beautiful uniforms, one has to grab it! ....

I have not a clue what French counterpart / army I should take on as well ...

Any suggestions?

1 stand, Gen. Leut. Baron v. Rheinbaben 5^th Div: – still to be done!

Gen. Major v. Barby, 11^th Cav Brig:

2 stands, Westphalian Cuirassier Reg, N^o 4 – Done!

2 stands, 1^st Hanoverian Uhlan Reg, N^o 13 – Done!

2 stands, Oldenburg Dragoon Reg, N^o 19 – still to be done!

Gen. Major v. Bredow, 12^th Cav Brig :

2 stands, Magdeburg Cuirassier Reg, N^o 7 – Done!

2 stands, Altmark Uhlan Reg, N^o 16 – Done!

2 stands, Schleswig-Holstein Dragoon Reg, N^o 13 – still to be done!

Gen. Major v. Redern, 13^th Cav Brig:

2 stands, Magdeburg Hussar Reg, N^o 10 – Done!

2 stands, 2^nd Westphalian Hussar Reg,  N^o 11 – Done!

2 stands, Brunswick Hussar Reg,  N^o 17 – still to be done!

2 stands, Attached Horse Artillery, 5^th Div – WIP!

P.S. sorry for the static grass mess, they are all fresh from the paint block!

The Prussian Reverse around 1759 the beginning of Carnival

We agreed to play Seven Years War with the help of Honours of War, as the first game of the year!

Angus and Donald kindly provided (and played) some Rhineland soldiers fighting for  the Archbishop and some Bavarians and Austrians and all sort of Kleinstaat-Kluterei. Dave Imrie bailed out because of a man flue and so I had to bring just gabbions as the Reichsarmee needed a bit of a bolster against all those Prussians, provided and played by Jack, Bill and Brian.

We were still "learning" the rules as the overaged Prussian command seem to drag along with the movement. I had a little fun with the left flank, but soon the superior Prussian guns pounded TWO regiments away (in one round!!!).

In the Centre the advance was steady but just got halted by our fierce "inferior" gun fighting. On the right flank, I didn't pay attention, what Derek took so long, but he thwarted the Prussian attack there the main thing. Then towards the end Jack tried his version of cavalry warfare, tip toeing next to the woods and then getting counter charged and beaten. And it was just due to my superior strategic delay tactics and that I rolled better than him with my inferior cavalry (In the Rhineland we usually eat horses nevermind riding them!) against his Prussian Death Hussars. Hah! Take that!

Every Prussian should know, never mess with the Rhinelanders, or else we invent carnival or cavalcade you to death.

In the end the Prussians couldn't really find their footing and proceeded their single and uncoordinated attacks, which we dealt with each individually. The initial development wasn't inspiring and the whole conduct of the opposite generals was very un-prussian and non-frederizian.
Hey, but thats how we Rhinelanders can manage to win and proceed with the drinking! ;)

The enemy line

Cavalry attack and counter charge

The initial deployment (more or less)

The Reichsarmee gun battery.

... even turns later in my sector the enemy did not avdance very quickly

Jack sents his Cavalry in

the Attack of the mid-field is in full swing

The clash of the Horse!

Finally the Prussians are coming!

The Mainzer Battery

...what was left of the Prussian Cavalry attack

The rest!