Our Cup runneth over.

I couldn't let last night's (football) game go by unmentioned. And to be fair, I did warn you that this blog will have "occasional forays into obscure Nordic music and opinionated 'dribble' [sic] on Grimsby Town Football Club."

Last night was FA Cup, 4th round replays night, and whilst the national media's attention was fixed obsessively on "Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham" at Sheffield United, steaming silently under the radar was little old Grimsby Town. 1st round, Plymouth (then top of League 1) were despatched 5-1. Then in the 2nd round League 1 Cambridge were beaten at their home (just 2-1 this time). The third round is when the big clubs enter the competition, but Grimsby got Burton Albion. Not a 'sexy draw' but a winnable game. And they were duly beaten 1-0 too. Round 4 entailed a trip to Luton. In a way, the worst of all ties from our point of view - Luton going great guns in the Championship were heavy favourites, but it wasn't like playing against one of the big clubs. i.e. a good chance of being beaten but not in front of a big crowd. Unkind souls noted it was a contest between two 'shit towns'. Nevertheless a Good Day was had. Friends old a new were met along the way. Other acquaintances were chatted to in the pub. Songs were sung. And the Mariners came away with a well deserved draw. (I made good use of the previously  Freedom Pass and only had to pay for the last leg of the journey from outer-London). 

So on to the replay. Not being motivated enough to make the 400 mile round trip 'home', I settled in to listen on line. Commentary courtesy of the BBC Radio Humberside team. Speculation, chat and 'bantz' passing across t'internet via WhatsApp. This felt like, well, something good. It sounded like the ground* was rocking. * Blundell Park somehow doesn't qualify as a 'stadium'. On the way to collect the Eldest of the Youngest, I listened to the commentary. I must have looked a right loon shaking my fist and yelling when Harry 'one of our own' Clifton scored on 10 minutes. I hadn't been back long when the marvellously coiffeured, and too good looking for division 4 football, Danilo Orsi scored. Luton were obviously shocked and were not on their front foot, but they are a good team and worked their way back in to the game. Pressure, pressure. I messaged 'the lads' that "we need another". And it arrived direct from a free kick right before the half time whistle. 3 shots. 3 goals. Clinical.

Tweets of the goals were in circulation. Including one of the third, filmed by someone amongst the Luton fans behind their goal. As the free kick was lined up, you could hear one of their fans (let's call him LF1) shouting "the far post. Post. The far post." Then another voice (LF2) as the ball was hit. "It's going straight out". Then "THWACK" as the ball hit the far post and rebounded into the net. Should have listened to LF1. That thwack is a most satisfying noise. There's another clip of the same goal from a similar angle showing one of the Luton players stood near the far post after the goal was scored, looking totally confused by the whole thing. Looking up and down, trying to figure out what had just happened. Marvellous!

3-0 up. Half the game to go. Decades of disappointment kept my feet on the ground and stopped me thinking we've got this wrapped up. Any sane person would have thought, with good reason, we have got this wrapped up.  Listening on the radio, there is always that extra moment of doubt before you find out what had actually happened. Especially with that particular BBC Radio Humberside commentator, who, let's put it this way, is renowned for causing heart attacks amongst the listening faithful**. Luton switched it around and dominated possession in the second half. To be honest, they wasted some of it too. And I think 2 or 3 good saves were made. The clock wound down. 30 minutes. They could easily turn the game round. 20 minutes - it's still possible for Luton to get one, then two, then who knows. Clearly they have the better footballers. Much better. Individually. But hardwork, and spirit and teamwork count for a lot. And add in a bit of intelligence to the mix. Substitutes were made by the Grimsby manager. Why am I, 200 miles way, with one-way communications, applauding a player leaving the field that I couldn't even see?! 15, 10, 5 minutes. OK we can dream now. Only 3 minutes time added on. Right breath. Peep! Pandemonium. Lovely stuff.

I'll save my moans about the FA switching all 5th round ties to midweek. In any case I think I would break the profanity checker.

** we still love him though. Here his (John Tondeur) radio commentary is superimposed on brief video highlights

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/64497395

And one for the purists. Extended highlights (7+ mins) with commentary from local legend John Moore. What a voice! 😊

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuHj6SSRo0w

Zooming in on benefits

Things have been a bit hit and miss blogwise of late. The last month has been disrupted by being various degrees 'under the weather'.  January saw me catch the Mother of All Colds, and then a few days after recovering from that I was even further 'under the weather' and required a visit to the GP. No sooner had I got over the last ailment than I was afflicted with 'hay fever' so I'm now popping antihistamines.

Now the particular day when I saw said medic was a bit of a revelation. Firstly, with all of the bad publicity about how the NHS was crumbling with lack of resources I had low expectations of speaking to a medical professional, let alone seeing one, this side of Easter. My last brush with primary care involved a wait so long that what was ailing me had gone. Things were different this time. The practice website had a lengthy questionnaire to complete as part of the 'book a call/visit' process. On completion the 'we will contact you within 48 hours' acknowledgement message did not fill me with hope. I duly went back to bed feeling sorry for myself. An hour later the phone rang, 'Dr Soandso from the Thingame Medical Centre here. ......Are you able to come in at 11:00?' Blimey. Of course. After the brief consultation and examination I was told that my prescription would be waiting for me at my local pharmacy. In the pharmacy I went to pay and was informed I only had to pay for the Fishermans's Friends I picked up on impulse. "But what about the prescription?" says I. "You don't pay for that," says the attendant. "I do." says I (not being on benefits or having one of the designated chronic conditions). "You don't any more because you turned 60 recently". Result, thinks I. I'll have to get ill more often. I genuinely thought this free prescription thing didn't kick in until much later. Nice to get something back for my tax (January being tax return month, that was in my mind). That big round number was probably part of why I got a call back from the GP so quickly. And also why I received a testing kit for bowel cancer as a routine thing for all people over 60. So a big round of applause for the NHS. Long may it continue to be a free at the point of use service. I honestly don't mind paying the tax.

Last month I was also delighted to receive my 'Freedom Pass' Oyster Card from Transport for London. As a resident of a London borough, over 60s are also entitled to free travel (on buses, underground, trains and trams) off peak. A case might be made that this should be means tested, but that would be costly in terms of admin, and be counter-productive in the drive to get people out of cars. And it works. I leave the car behind a lot more now. Excellent. Thank you Ken (Livingstone) who introduced it many years ago. Anyway, it seems I am on benefits after all!

Now as you might know, I've run a few remote games recently too with friends from the Blogosphere. So far 3 AWI games with one more planned. The first was a totally made-up scenario and the rest were the Hubbardton scenario written by Steve of the Disgruntled Fusilier blog. So far it's 1-all on Hubbardton, with the Jolly Broom Man as the Americans beating me, and Steve W, as the British, beating Jonathan Freitag (Palouse Wargames Journal) and David (the Ragged Soldier) as the Americans. The decider will be run next week between JBM and David.

I have to say that all participants have been good sports and good guests (shoes off in the entrance hall, no coffee cup stains on the table). Very civilised. And it's been good to spend a bit more time getting to know fellow wargamers albeit remotely.

Below are a few shots of the last game. Rules used were Loose Files and American Scramble again.

Early on. Brits to the left. The Green Mountain Boys (rifle armed skirmishers) have 'bravely' gone forward to take potshots at the British grenadiers. 

The grenadiers showed them the cold steel. And as we know, 'they do not like it up em. They do not like it.' Here are the GMB running off. Loose Files is particularly harsh on skirmishers in this situation. Lesson learned.

This opened up the American left, and the grenadiers advanced into the gap and started to roll-up the American line.

British lights in open order engaged in a long range fire fight with the New Hampshire infantry. 24th foot bottom left face off against the 11 Massachusetts.

Warners Continentals have been bounced by the grenadiers and there's no way back for the Americans.

If you'd like to take part in a game, drop me a comment. I won't publish any contact details. I'm toying with the idea of ECW and SYW next.

A courier arrives at Burgoyne's HQ

Lieutenant Walter Carey of the 24th arrives bearing a despatch from Brigadier General Fraser giving a brief relation of an action his advance guard has had with the rebels at a place called Hubbardton.

"Please convey my respects to General Burgoyne and have him know that my brigade has driven off the rebel rearguard at Hubbardton. My forces have suffered some losses as a downpayment on this victory and we must remain in situ to reorganise and await replenishment. I regret to inform the General that His Majesty's Hessian auxiliaries arrived too late and they have been requested to follow up the rebel retreat."

In reality, this brief message rather glossed over the fact that the Americans under Colonel Seth Warner  had swept away the combined grenadier battalion and 24th foot from the Pittsford Ridge in some disarray and with great losses.

So this evening I ran my second AWI remote game. This time against ex-pat wit and raconteur, the Jolly Broom Man. JBM took the Americans and I took the British. We ran the Live Free or Die scenario for Hubbardton, produced by the Wargames TV guys. The rules used were actually the vintage Loose Files and American Scramble as I'd used them before and as JBM hadn't yet used either we went with those. A couple of slight tweaks to the scenario were reducing the width from 5 to 4 feet (losing the action round the Sucker Brook) and to increase the number of bases in each unit as the space looked too big otherwise.

In a successful move to tempt me forward into a general action, JBM advanced his right hand unit (3rd rate, 2nd New Hampshire Regt). The Lights advanced forward (at rather a 'Hessian' rate) and drove back the New Hampshire boys. 

Further along the line the Americans retired over the fence line to await the Brits. First to engage were the 24th foot with the 11 Massachusetts Regt. An ineffectual volley failed to bother the 24th who dashed forward and pushed the Americans back up the ridge. In more bad news for the Americans, Colonel Francis took a ball to the shoulder whilst cheering on the New Englanders, and had to retire from the field. The consequent loss of Command Points was to limit JBM's options from here on in. It was looking good for the Brits. 

Top: the Lights have to halt a turn after driving off the New Hants Regt. Below that the 24th have advanced to the fence line and chased off the 11th Mass.

11th Mass from the British point of view.

Same stage as photo 1, but from behind the British.

After a brief pause the 24th advanced again, bayonets levelled menacingly. On the British right the combined grenadier battalion mannered towards the fence where they came up against Warner's Continentals and the rifles of the Green Mountain Boys.

The British have crossed the fence in the centre  and prepare to 'go again'.

The high watermark for the British. The beads are to represent  Disorder Points, with the Americans now with a slight edge.

Things then began to go wrong for the me and the British. The 11th Mass fought the 24th, first to a standstill, and then right back off the ridge and over the fence line. To their right the grenadiers were whittled down over a number of moves. The 24th lost 6 of 8 bases and the grenadiers 5 of 8. American losses totalled only 5 bases (2 for the New Hants regiment and  3 for the Mass.) More pertinently, JBM was able to retire these two regiments off the board whilst maintaining control of the Castleton Road. A Major Victory in the scenario.

Hits, first in the form of DPs and then in the form of Casualties (base removal) begin to mount up on the grenadiers. An initial round of effective firing from the two American units gave me the choice of either stopping to rally off the DPs or advancing to the charge at the risk of crossing bayonets already disordered. Guess I chose wrong!

An ominous sight for Fraser. The American line at the fence is in tact, whilst two regiments have already retired over the ridge. Game over and victory for JBM.

So massive kudos and congratulations to JBM on the win, especially as it was his first outing with the rules. A big fat raspberry to me - losing is looking like a habit! Also, massive thanks for Mark for turning up, being a good sport and for regaling me with his (mis)adventures in deepest France. No names, no pack drill, but I'm sure he's now on a watch list with the Deuxième Bureau.

Friday will see a return of the scenario, this time with Jon F versus Steve W, with me as GM. what do the Brits need to do to win?

We have ways of making you wargame

For those of you who do not listen religiously to Al Murray and James Holland’s WWII history podcast, “We have ways of making you talk”, the latest episode was devoted to wargaming. Specifically WWII wargaming, but the guest, Nick Skinner of Two Fat Lardies, gives an overview of the whole hobby. Bear in mind neither Murray nor Holland appear to know anything about the hobby (though Murray is a modeller) the explanation is necessarily simple. It makes you think how you would explain it to a complete novice.

Anyway, we’ll worth a listen, because Mr Skinner is an engaging speaker and he talks about some very interesting games. 

More ECW archaeology on the telly

I came across this article in the Guardian online (yes I’m a tofu knitter). There’s a programme which covers it on BBC2 on Sunday 22nd (today) at 8PM GMT.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/21/coleshill-towers-remains-history-english-civil-war?utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=discover&utm_campaign=CCwQ6oK1wrOip4kqGM-RgsLGlP3WswEqJwgwEMeB3Z3ftYXAHBj__6mv7dXGq5QBKg4IACoGCAowl6p7MN-zCQ&utm_content=bullets

Post Script

Whilst the Guardian article manages to avoid that inaccurate trope of the Civil War (“between Charles I and Cromwell”) it adds a new one. Between “forces loyal to Charles I and Parliamentarians trying to topple him”. Agh!!

Poor Maria-Theresa! - AWS Campaign Concludes.

I played through 1745 today. It started well for the Austrians, beating a Prussian field army away from Olmütz, allowing a siege to go ahead. Before the city could be taken the Prussians had concentrated a larger force and beat the Austrians, drove them off and beat them decisively on the plains north of Vienna. Despite Saxony swapping sides (bribed with the promise of compensation at the expense of Bavaria), the odds were too great.

In Italy the Bourbons besieged Florence but still hadn't taken it when Austria sued for peace.

Over in France, an invigorated Cumberland struck down to Strassburg, putting it under siege. The French field army attacked and broke the siege.

One piece of good news for the supporters of the Pragmatic Sanction was that the Jacobite incursion was unsuccessful (needed a 3-6 on a D6), meaning that the Pragmatic Army didn't need to send troops to Britain.

In the peace negotiations the following year the following trades were made:

• Maximilian Joseph and Charles Emanuelle are returned to their thrones in Munich and Turin respectively.
• Prussia retains Silesia (including Breslau), but under Russian pressure are forced to relinquish Prague and Olmütz.* 
• France agrees to the Dutch having garrisons in the border fortresses of the Austrian Netherlands.
• Britain, France and Spain conduct some horse trading in their colonies.

*Russia are not in the game but historically they marched through Europe (paid by the British) to threaten the French towards the end of the war. In my rationale the Russians don't want a too powerful enemy challenging their attempt to dominate Poland. The Prussian King, ever watchful of the cost, decides to cash in his winnings and consolidate his hold over Silesia.

Post Game Thoughts

The biggest criticism I will make is that the Prussians are too powerful vis a vis Austria.  I have a few ideas on how to temper this, one of which is to introduce some kind of kleinekrieg that interdicts Prussia's supply lines. The boardgames Maria has a fairly simple mechanism for this. I'll see if it is easy to adapt.

The battle rules need a revision as too many battles are foregone conclusions, and once one side gets a clear advantage the other side can end up losing more and more in successive combats. This bit will take a lot of thought.

I will make the campaign season shorter. The sides can achieve too much in any given year. Campaigns rarely started as early as April as the grass wasn't long enough, so I'll trim that end. I might also impose attrition on any forces who are not in Winter Quarters in November.

Overall, however, I'm pleased it worked as well as it did. The obvious thing with this is that it doesn't need to be played on a table. I need to work out how I can play it on the computer. This then opens up the possibility that it could be a multi-player play by e-mail game if there's enough interest.

AWS Campaign Update

Apologies, this has turned into a long post. In case you don't read it all, I'll wish you a Happy New Year now. All the best for 2023 dear readers.

This is going a lot more smoothly than I expected. I got in another two hours early this evening (so four in total) and I have reached the Spring of 1745.

Battle rules are based on the 'combat value' of the respective sides plus a D3. Each base has a CV of 5, less any 'hits'. A base , remember, represents about 20,000 troops. One downside of this is that if the gap is more than two there is no hope of the weaker side winning. I might change the dice roll to a D6 or average dice. For the time being, there is no difference in the CV of respective armies.

One of the things that have gone well with the rules is that battle is risky if the sides are evenly matched. At times, thinking from the point of view of the 'active player', I have held back even at the risk that a friendly fortress would be lost. Doubtless I've made some mistakes in the decisions too. But overall, this is playing out reasonably historically - a French army and the Pragmatic Army spent several months dancing around each other, not daring to risk a battle until the end of campaign season approached when there was a chance to recover losses.

The siege aspects are coming along nicely, but still have scope for improvement. The siege section has grown bigger than the battle section, which in a way is appropriate for the period. There is no real jeopardy, when all factors have been taken into consideration the siege length is determined and the clock starts ticking. There is an element of luck to the siege length, but this is determined at the beginning of the siege. I argue (to myself that this is because it is known how long supplies will last). I will consider, however, adding an element that could mean that the siege lasts a bit longer or a bit shorter than expected.

This brings me on to the question of the minor powers. Bavaria, Piedmont, Saxony and to an extent Spain. I have limited the availability of siege trains to the major powers (Austria, Prussia, the Pragmatic Army*, each with one, and France with 2 siege trains). This is a useful way of stopping sieges happening willy-nilly, but it does mean the minor powers have little 'agency'. In particular, they rely on allies to dig them out when they lose their only city. Which might actually be fine. But it still nags at me. I haven't yet found a reason or opportunity for Saxony to change sides, and it simply gives the Prussians an extra base, until the Prussians turn on them. 

Enough of the reflections, what has happened in the campaign so far?

1740-42

Prussian Theatre

After capturing Breslau early on, the Prussians managed to beat Austria a couple of times in battle. Due to losses against the French, the 'Austrian player' sued for peace in the Winter of 1741-42, ceding Breslau 'permanently' if Prussia pulled back. This allows Austria to concentrate on the French, Spanish and Bavarians. So quite historical so far.

Italy

After some to-ing and fro-ing, the Franco-Spanish (hereafter 'the Bourbons') capture Turin in September 1741. By contrast the Bourbons suffer defeats in the field. In 1742 things turn decisively I favour of the Austrians, defeating the Bourbons again in the field, capturing their siege train.

Bavaria/Austria

An indecisive 1741 is followed by a similarly indecisive 1742, but there is a bang at the end as the Franco-Bavarians capture Venice. A pro-longed campaign into the Winter (with hastily added rules on extra attrition) sees Vencie recaptured after a decisive battle. The Austrians capture the second French siege train! The Austrians proceed to Turin whilst the battered Bourbons keep their distance in order to maintain a force in being.

In the Autumn, alarmed at the Austrian successes against the French, Frederick breaks the truce and invades Bohemia and Moravia.

1743-45

Low Countries

The Pragmatic Army assembles in the Austrian Netherlands. Forces from Britain, the Dutch Republic, Hanover and Hesse-Kassel. French forces concentrate to oppose them. Throughout 1743 and 1744 nothing of significance happens until at the tail of the campaigning season, urged on by their Austrian principal, the allies attack the French near Stassburg. The allies suffer a minor defeat, but the campaign season closes and they retreat to Brussels.

Prussian Theatre

After a long siege Olmütz falls to the Prussians, then the siege train is despatched to Prague which also falls later in 1743. Disaster for the Austrians who only have a small force to oppose them. Austria starts 1744 weakened by the loss of Breslau, Prague and Olmütz. It is unable to do anything to recover lost ground. The Prussians crush the Austrians, outnumbered 2:1, outside Vienna. Fortunately before the Prussians have got their siege train to Vienna Winter falls.

Prussians besiege Olmütz.

Bavaria/Italy

In the Spring Turin falls to the Austrians. After another defeat in northern Italy, an abortive attempt to unite with the Bourbons in Italy causes the Franco-Spanish allies to seek an armistice. This will give them time to recover losses and rebuild a siege train. This suits the Austrians who want to deal with the Prussians. This also suits Charles-Emmanuele of Piedmont who recovers his capital and pay his army to take the field again.

The Austrians aim to recapture Turin while the French are advancing through the passes into  the Ligurian plain.

The Austrians, outnumber the Franco-Bavarians in the Danube region and open the siege of Munich. The siege lasts all Summer before the city is captured. The Spanish cross the Tyrol and eventually unite with the Franco-Bavarians. The combined Wittelsbach-Bourbon army offers battle, but the Austrians knowing they don't need to fight, fall back on Münich. Meanwhile the French descend on Italy again and attack the Piedmontese holed up in Turin again. Turin falls for the third time.

Having captured additional artillery, the Austrians are able to launch simultaneous sieges. Munich's days are numbered.

The Piedmontese left to their own devices as the French approach Turin

The Prussians gather around Vienna.

Winter 1744-45

The Pragmatic Army recovers its full strength at Brussels, whilst the French do likewise. This time they have a base in Italy in which to overwinter.

The gain of Munich partly makes up for their losses and the Austrians recruit to 3/4 of their maximum. Equal to the Prussians, and with 3 siege trains!

Bavaria and Piedmont are out of the game. For now. But what to do about Saxony?

Snapshot of the campaign tracker

Cities and Electorates 'controlled' by the rival powers. The side who holds the majority chooses the Emperor.