Friday 29 December 2017

The Battle of Tchorgoun 1854 - A Crimean War batrep



The weekend before last some of the Rejects got together for our last game of the year, but as you may have already seen on BigLee's blog, we had a very special guest. the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challange's resident stats geek Miles Reidy


Miles, Lee and Ian picked out the Russians, while Surj, Richard and myself would play the 
Brits and allies.
Setup
It is the 26th September 1854, the Battle of Alma was fought six days before and won by the British, French & Turkish allies. The beaten Russian army retreated back to Sevastopol to reorganise but has departed for fear of the main army in the area being trapped inside the town. Prince Menshikov has led his men to the open plains North East Sevastopol. 

Heading slowly south to invest Sevastopol the combined armies make what was known as the 'Flank March' to avoid the towns big guns, spending the night of 25th September in their encampment at Machenzies Farm and around the Traktir Bridge. The British, French and Turkish forces have decamped and are heading south to invest Sevastopol in a bid to secure the vital supply  ports of Balaclava and Kamiesh. 

The game is a 'What if' scenario; What if the Russian Army under Prince Menshikov had decided to threaten or attack the Allies on their Flank March. Scouts have spotted Russian troops gathering on the heights near the village of Tchorgoun not far from the Traktir Bridge. Lord Raglan being informed of the situation does not wish to be caught with his troops in march order, so orders those units which are close by to engage the Russian forces that are now in his rear and flank, while the rest of the army continues on its way. Mist hugs the battlefield and neither side can be completely sure where the enemy troops are at the start of the game...indeed some of their own units have become a little lost on the mist.

Order of Battle
Russians -  C/O Prince Menschikov (Overall Commander Miles)
  16th Div  c/o Lt Gen Kvetzinski (Miles)
     1st Battalion Vladimir (4), Susdal (4)
     2nd Battalion Uglutz (4), Kazan (4)
     2x Heavy Guns, 2x Light Guns
  17th Div c/o Lt Gen Kiriakov (Lee)
     3rd Battalion Moscow (4), Butirsk (4)
     Attached 6th Schutzen Battalion 
     1x Heavy Gun, 3x Light Guns
  6th Cavalry Div c/o Lt-Gen Ryzhov (Ian)
     6th Battalion  11th,12th Hussars
     6th Battalion 11th Uhlans (4Sqn), 53rd Don Cossacks
     2x Horse Artillery Light Guns
  Reserve 14th Geavy Gun & 14th Light Gun
(660 Infantry Figures, 78 Cavalry Figures & 12 Guns)

British - C/O Lord Raglan
  1st Div  c/o HRH The Duke of Cambridge
     1st Battalion Grenadier, Coldstream and Scots Fusilier Guards
     2nd Battalion 42nd, 79th & 93rd Highlanders
     2x Medium Gun
  2nd Division  c/o Sir George Lacy Evans
     1st Battalion  41st, 47th & 49th Line
     2nd Battalion  30th, 55th & 95th Line
     2x Medium Guns
  Light Cavalry Division c/o Lord Lucan / Brigade c/o Earl of Cardigan
     Cavalry Battalion 8, 11th Hussars, 4th & 13th Light Dragoons, 17th Lancers
     1x Horse Artillery Light Gun
French - c/o Marshal St Arnoud
  1st Div c/o Canrobert
     1st Chasseurs a Pied, 1st Zouaves(2), 7th Line (3)
     1x Heavy Gun
  2nd Div c/o Basquet
     2nd Battalion 3rd Zouaves (2), Algerian Turcos (2)
     Light Cavalry Brigade   1st, 4th Chasseurs d'Afrique
     Heavy Cavalry Brigade  6th Curassiers, 6th Dragoons
     2x Medium Guns
Turkish c/o Suleiman Pasha
  1st Division c/o Selim Pasha
     1st Battalion  Line Battalions (6)
     2x Medium Guns
(426 Infantry Figures, 86 Cavalry Figures & 11 Guns)


I was placed on our right flank with the British line on a very nice looking hill.


Surj was in our centre with the French 


It was pretty foggy, so we couldn't see all the way across the table, were the other
 Russian troops hidden across the field?


Mile went in for the kill straight away and started to move the Russian
coloums down hill.


Me and Surj thought it'd be a good idea to move towards the Russian's as we could only 
fire at medium range.


Two units of French Chasseur d'Afrique


The Russians cross the river...


The Brits get a little help from the French Chassuers a Pied


On the left flank me and Ian jostled for the best position with our cavalry. (Richard wasn't there for the start!)


The Russian Hussars faced off with the French Cuirassiers and Dragoons


Could the Brits hold the hill?


A view from the left down the table.


Miles gets closer..
I lost my artillery on the left and a few figures from the piece on the right.


Lee concentrated his Russians on Surj's Zouves


Only 3 Russian coloumns came forward


But there were plenty more behind????


The cavalry move into charge range.


The fog clears to reveal loads more troops hidden in the mist.
More French infantry, the Turks and hoards of Russains!!


The British first fire caused havoc on the Russian columns.
Surly the wouldn't stand ??


One of the columns turns tail and runs!


A clash of steel!


The 55th line also turn tail and run as two columns charge in, straight through the
 Grenadier Guards, disordering both units.


A tad blurry I know?
The French are also pushed back in disorder.


uh oh!
The Russian second line charge home...gulp!


Oh gawd!!!
Its a bloody disaster, two more units of the thin red line are smashed by
Miles dice rolling!!
Both are thrown back in route!!
Yes ROUTE!


But its ok, I've still got the creme de la creme of the British army.
The Guards and Highlander division.


The clash of steel on the hill mostly went in the Allies favour.
Richard arrived and threw great dice, Ian had to leave early and was replaced by that famous
Cavalry commander BigLee!


The Ruskies were sent packing!


I'm still holding my own .......just!


More Russians cross the river


BigLee and Miles are looking rather pleased with themselves.


The French push up the Turco's


In an absolutely disastrous turn, throwing a 3, then a 1 on a D20. I lost both 2nd Division  c/o Sir George de Lacy Evans and Brigadier Pennefeather 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division.
This would cost us dear.


Oh the humiliation!!
The Grenadier Guards not only lost the next melee but also their colours!!
All is lost!!!
We threw in the towl disgusted with ourselves!!


The Motley crew of Rejects
Miles, Me , Surj, Lee, Postie and Richard


The Rejects newest honourary member
Sir Miles of the Lake


And of course he left with a figure to commemorate the day.
I'm sure Miles enjoyed his day at Reject HQ, and will be back one day for more!



Sunday 24 December 2017

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2017


Just a quick message to wish all the readers and followers of Don't Throw a 1
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!


Friday 24 November 2017

The Eighth Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge


Its that time of year again.........
But its a little different this year?

Please say hello to Minion Ray, he will be in charge on a Wednesday.
So gawd help any of you who get Wednesday's

Just blame Curt!



Curt's baffled me once again with his choices for the bonus rounds?
I have been buying a few odd figures here and there over the year hoping that I could fit them in somewhere in the bonus rounds, but he's surpassed his self this year!
The only easy one is the Musician??

'Flight' (January 6th submission / displayed January 7th / voting results January 14th)

'BFG: Big Freakin' Gun' (January 20st submission / displayed January 21st / voting results January 28th)

'Music/Musician' (February 3rd submission / displayed February 4th / voting results February 11th)

'Childhood' (February 17th submission / displayed February 18th / voting results February 25th)

'Monstrous' (March 3rd submission / displayed March 4th / voting results March 11th)

It's great that Curt's include terrain for the first time in a Challenge. I wonder how long it took Curt to come up with the points structure for these!?!?
I know its gonna give me a headache trying to work it all out!

I just want to wish everyone good luck and I'll apologise now to all you poor sods who get me on a Wednesday!

Friday 10 November 2017

New Books


I've been adding a few books to my collection recently, all based in and around my favorite period of history.

The first Marlborough's Other Army, was bought at Broadside back in June, I gave it to my wife as it was going to be used as my Father's Day pressie from the kids. Unfortunately we both forgot about the book. I found it again a few weeks ago, still in the bag from when I bought it.
Its a little late in time period for me, but you rarely see anything from these battles on the warganing table. The last time I saw this being played was a great looking game from Southend Wargames Group a few years back.
Steve Ede-Borrett's The Army of James II was an absolute must for anyone with even the slightest interest in the period.
Edwin at Diplomatist books had the next book up for sale, The Siege of Londonderry 1689. I thought this'd be a great addition to my collection. Cheers Edwin
Lastly on a trip to Rochester I picked up the last book, Monmouth's Rebels by Peter Earle.

Now I've only had a quick flick through all the books and shall look forward to giving them a read..........one day!


Saturday 28 October 2017

SELWG 2017


Better late than never
Here's my take on SELWG 2017......
I've always loved SELWG, ever since getting into the daft hobby of ours many moons ago. I'm sorry to say that the show seemed to have slipped in the past few years IMHO, but this year I'm extremely happy to say it was back to its very best!
Yes there were a few traders and games missing, but it was still a crackin' show!
The standard of games were excellent and most were historical for a change!!!


Well that was a first... me and Postie were the first to arrive!
Tickets numbers 1 & 2!
And Postie still managed to push in!


My favourite game of the show went to Gravesend Wargames Club's  WWII game, Taking the Pissoir











Is that you?


South London Warlords - Invasion of the  Dalaks!!




Anti-Alchemists - Texas War of Independence 1835




Essex Warriors - Siege of Maldon 917AD





Me and Postie bumped into that famous wargaming dame, Tamsin.
No I'm not that tall, they're just both very very short!
(Pinched from BigLee's blog)


Crawley Wargames Club - Landsnecht!



I want one!!!!






Deal Wargmes Club - 7TP v the Panzers
Prudka River 4th Sept 1939
The Ugly Little Monster Burned like a Torch






Maidstone Wargames - Fenris



 Granville & Arkwright
or
BigLee and Clint


Friday Night Fire Fight 




Simon Miller - To the Strongest
The Battle of Ruspina







Not sure who - Looks like Napoleonics?




Or is that you?


Peter Pig - Spanish Civil War





Eastbourne Wargames Club - ACW
Using Trevor from Redoubt Minis collection







Loughton Strike Force - General de Armee





Upstairs near the Bring & Buy


Gravesend Gamers Guild - Panzer Vor



GLC Games Club - Mission: The Red Badge of Courage


Society of Ancients - Sentinum 295BC



Newbury & Reading Wargames Society - Stoke Field 1487






The games are in full swing


Streatham & Tooting - WotR or Condottieri?





Shepway Wargamers - Brittania 417AD









Bring & Buy


Tunbridge Wells Wargames Society - Sand & Salami
WWII El Ghiblets Nov 1940






The Headless Man on a Spit boys!!