The Battle of ‘Wanneminden’ 1759 (The Scenario)

Last time I posted my after-action report for our 2024 Christmas game, the Battle of ‘Wanneminden’, which was a half-scale or ‘bathtubbed’ version of the Battle of Minden, fought on 1st August 1759.  So by popular demand, here’s the scenario!  Yay.

As always, the scenario is designed for Tricorn, which is our own 18th Century variant of Shako rules.

Briefing for Field Marshal Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick

Prince Ferdinand of Brunbswick

Despite you having driven the French armies out of Hanover last year, they are now resurgent on the east bank of the Rhine and last month captured the vital fortress of Wanneminden, on the River Weser.  You have massed your forces to retake the city, but can do nothing at present, thanks to the presence of the Marquis de Contades’ army, encamped just across the Weser.

You need to tempt Contades’ army to cross the Weser and come onto ground of your choosing.  You have therefore dangled Wangenheim’s corps as bait in front of the walls of Wanneminden, while the rest of your army has withdrawn a discreet distance away, ready to strike the French left flank, once Contades commits himself against Wangenheim.

However, while the French have indeed taken the bait, the Prince of Anhalt (commanding your outlying picquets) neglected to inform you that Contades is already on the move!  You have therefore sent a flurry of orders, ordering your columns to march at once to Wanneminden Heath, where the French army will likely be forming up to attack Wangenheim and can only hope that you have not left it too late!

Allied Scenario Notes

The umpire will roll secretly for all changes of orders and inform you of the result.

The attack-arrows for ALL reinforcing formations must be drawn on the map before the start of the game (their entry points are listed below).

The game lasts until one army breaks or until the players lose the will to live, whichever comes first.

Order of Battle of the Allied Army

Field Marshal Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick
(Excellent – 2 ADCs)

Picquets – Lieutenant General Prince of Anhalt      (Poor)
1st Battalion of Picquets      [4/1]
2nd Battalion of Picquets      [2x Skirmishers MR 4]
3rd Battalion of Picquets      [2x Skirmishers MR 4]

First Column – Lieutenant General Lord Sackville      (Poor)
British Royal Horse Guards (The Blues)      [6/2]
Hanoverian ‘Breydenbach’ Dragoons      [5/2]
British 1st (King’s) Dragoon Guards      [6/2]
British 3rd Dragoon Guards (Howard’s) & 2nd (Royal North British) Dragoons      [6/2]

Second Column – Major von Haase
Hanoverian Heavy Artillery Battery      [3/0]
British Heavy Artillery Battery (MacBean’s)      [3/0]
British Light Artillery Battery (Foy’s) [3/0]

Third Column – Lieutenant General von Spörcken      (Excellent)
British 37th (Stewart’s) Regiment of Foot (elite)      [5/2]
British 23rd (Royal Welch) Regiment of Fusiliers (elite)      [5/2]
Hanoverian Fußgarde Regiment      [6/2 – Large Unit]
British 51st (Brudenell’s) Regiment of Foot (elite)      [5/2]
British 25th (Home’s) Regiment of Foot (elite)      [5/2]

Fourth Column – Major General von Scheele      (Good)
Hanoverian Reden Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
Hanoverian Stolzenberg Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
Hanoverian Estorff Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]

Fifth Column – Colonel von Braun
Hanoverian Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]
Hanoverian Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]

Sixth Column – Lieutenant General von Wutginau      (Average)
Hesse-Cassel Leibgarde zu Fuß Regiment      [6/2 – Large Unit]
Hesse-Cassel Toll Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
Hesse-Cassel Bischhausen Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]

Seventh Column – Lieutenant General von Imhoff      (Good)
Hesse-Cassel Grenadierregiment      [5/2 – Large Unit]
Hesse-Cassel Gilsa Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
I. Bn, Brunswick Imhoff Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
II. Bn, Brunswick Imhoff Infantry Regiment      [4/1]

Eighth Column – Lieutenant General Duke of Holstein-Gottorp      (Good)
Hanoverian Hammerstein & Leibregiment Horse Regiments      [6/2]
Prussian Holstein-Gottorp Dragoon Regiment (DR 9)      [5/2 – Large Unit]
Hesse-Cassel Miltitz Horse & Prüschenck Horse Regiments      [6/2]

Corps of Lieutenant General von Wangenheim

Cavalry Division – Major General von Grothaus      (Average)
Hesse-Cassel Prinz Friedrich Dragoon Regiment      [5/2]
Hanoverian Reden Horse & Heise Horse Regiments      [6/2]

Infantry Division – Lieutenant General von Wangenheim      (Average)
Hanoverian Kielmannsegg Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
Hanoverian Spörcken Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
Hanoverian Jung-Zastrow Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
Hanoverian Halberstadt Infantry Regiment      [4/1 – Large Unit]
British Grenadier Battalion Maxwell      [5/2]
Hesse-Cassel Grenadier Battalion Donop      [5/2]
Brunswick Grenadier Battalion Stammer      [5/2]
Schamburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Infantry Regiment      [4/1]

Artillery Division – Lieutenant General Count William of Schaumburg-Lippe
Hesse-Cassel Heavy Artillery Battery      [3/0]
Hesse-Cassel Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]
Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]

Allied Order of Battle Notes

1.  The ‘battalions of picquets’ are the massed duty detachments for that day, from all the battalions in the army.  There may also have been some dedicated light infantry (e.g. Hessian or Hanoverian Jäger) in this area, but information is scarce.

2.  Haase’s 2nd Column, Braun’s 5th Column and Schaumburg-Lippe’s Artillery Division class as Army Artillery and do not require orders, nor do they apply formation morale tests.  The MR of each lost army battery is counted against Army Morale when conducting an army morale test.

3.  The British Royal Horse Guards are classed as Cuirassiers.  The British Dragoon Guards, Hanoverian Horse and Hessian Horse are classed as Heavy Horse (this only matters in the event of a draw between opposing heavy cavalry with the same MR).

4.  As this is a ‘bath-tubbed’ scenario, battalion guns are counted as part of infantry firepower and are otherwise ignored.

5.  Many British, Hanoverian and Hessian cavalry regiments at this time were rather small, consisting of only two squadrons.  Therefore in game terms, a cavalry ‘unit’ might represent two brigaded regiments.

Allied Formation Breakpoints

Division                                             FMR    ⅓      ½      ¾
Anhalt                                                       12         4        6        9
Sackville                                                   23         8       12      18
Haase (Army Guns)                                9           –         –        –
Spörcken                                                  27          9       14      21
Scheele                                                      15          5        8       12
Braun (Army Guns)                                6            –        –        –
Wutginau                                                  21          7       11      16
Imhoff                                                        19          7      10      15
Holstein-Gottorp                                     18          6       9       14
Grothaus                                                    11          –        6        –
Wangenheim                                            39         13     20      30
Schaumburg-Lippe (Army Guns)         9            –        –        –

Army                                                  FMR      ¼      ⅓      ½
Allied Army                                            210         53      70    105

Allied Deployment

The following formations and units are on-table at the start (refer to the deployment map):

The Prince of Anhalt’s picquets start the game on table, contesting the village of Hahlen.

Haase’s British batteries are limbered and marching to support the Prince of Anhalt. MacBean’s heavy battery starts the game hidden from French view, so is not placed on table until after orders are written.  The Hanoverian heavy battery is still off-table and will arrive at the rear of Spörcken’s 3rd Column.

Schaumburg-Lippe’s three batteries are all deployed in earthworks on the extreme left flank of the army, near the River Weser, guarded by the Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Infantry Regiment from Wangenheim’s Corps.

Wangenheim’s infantry are deployed in a single line, extending west from the earthworks and in front of the village of Kutenhausen.

Grothaus’ cavalry are deployed on Wangenheim’s right flank, between the villages of Kutenhausen and Stemmer.

Allied Reinforcement Schedule

While you know where your columns are due to arrive, the confusion of the late orders and the night-march means that you have lost contact with most of the columns and don’t know exactly when they’ll arrive.  The umpire will inform you when the columns arrive and in what formation.

Ferdinand’s Headquarters arrives at Point G.

Sackville’s 1st Column arrives at Point A.

Spörcken’s 3rd Column arrives at Point B.

Braun’s 5th Column arrives at Point C.

Scheele’s 4th Column arrives at Point D.

Wutginau’s 6th Column arrives at Point E.

Imhoff’s 7th Column arrives at Point F.

Holstein-Gottorp’s 8th Column arrives at Point G.

Briefing for Maréchal de France Louis Georges Érasme, Marquis de Contades

Marquis de Contades

This year’s campaign has seen your army regain its honour following last year’s retreat from Hanover.  First the Duc de Broglie managed to blunt the Allied attack at Bergen and last month your army managed to capture the key fortress of Wanneminden, on the River Weser.

Your army has since adopted a defensive posture along the Weser, protecting Wanneminden from recapture while gathering in supplies and detached corps before resuming the attack into Hanover.  The Allied army of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick (now heavily reinforced by British troops) has maintained a watchful stance beyond the Weser, but has thus far not made any move against you.

However, it would appear that Prince Ferdinand has now withdrawn his main army from the immediate vicinity of Wanneminden.  Perhaps to find forage?  Whatever the reason for his withdrawal, he has left an observation corps commanded by the Hanoverian General von Wangenheim to watch the fortress.  Wangenheim’s corps would therefore appear to be isolated and ripe for the plucking!

You have consequently ordered the Duc de Broglie to cross over the Weser via Wanneminden and launch an immediate attack.  Your army’s engineers are presently building bridges over the River Bastau, to the south of the city and your army will therefore join the attack at the earliest opportunity.

French Scenario Notes

The attack-arrows for ALL reinforcing formations must be drawn on the map before the start of the game (their entry points are listed below).

The game lasts until one army breaks or until the players lose the will to live, whichever happens first.

French Order of Battle of the French Army

Maréchal de France Marquis de Contades
(Average – 2 ADCs)

Division of Lieutenant-Général Duc de Guerchy (Left Wing First Line)      (Poor)
1st Bn, Aquitaine Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Aquitaine Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, Vastan Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Vastan Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, Du Roi Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Du Roi Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
3rd Bn, Du Roi Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
4th Bn, Du Roi Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
Chasseurs      [1x Skirmishers MR 3]
Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]
Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]
Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]

Saxon Division of Generallieutenant Prince Xaver (Left Wing Second Line)      (Good)
Lubomirsky Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
Prinz Clemens Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
Prinz Josef Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
Prinz Friedrich August Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, Prinz Xaver Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Prinz Xaver Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
Prinz Carl Maximilian Infantry Regiment      [4/1]

Cavalry Division of Lieutenant-Général Duc de Fitz James      (Average)
Colonel-Général Cavalry Brigade (Poor)      [5/2]
Mestre de Camp-Général Cavalry Brigade (Poor)      [5/2]
Du Roi Cavalry Brigade (Poor)      [5/2]
Bourgogne Cavalry Brigade (Poor)      [5/2]

Cavalry Division of Lieutenant-Général Marquis de Poyanne      (Excellent)
Gendarmerie de France      [6/2 – Large Unit]
Royal-Carabiniers      [6/2 – Large Unit]

Division of Lieutenant-Général Duc de Beaupréau (Right Wing First Line)      (Average)
1st Bn, Touraine Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Touraine Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, D’Aumont Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, D’Aumont Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
Heavy Artillery Battery      [3/0]
Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]

Division of Lieutenant-Général Chevalier de Nicolay (Right Wing Flank-Guard)      (Good)
1st Bn, Picardie Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Picardie Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
3rd Bn, Picardie Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
4th Bn, Picardie Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, La Marche Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]

Division of Lieutenant-Général Comte de Saint-Germain (Right Wing Second Line)      (Average)
1st Bn, Anhalt German Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Anhalt German Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, Saint-Germain German Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, Bergh German Infantry Regiment      [4/1]

Corps of Maréchal de France Duc de Broglie

Cavalry Division – Lieutenant-Général Prince Camille      (Poor)
Commissaire-Général Cavalry Brigade (Poor)      [5/2]
Penthièvre Cavalry Brigade (Poor)      [5/2]

First Line – Lieutenant-Général Marquis de Saint-Pern      (Poor)
1st Bn, Grenadiers de France Infantry Regiment      [5/2]
2nd Bn, Grenadiers de France Infantry Regiment      [5/2]
3rd Bn, Grenadiers de France Infantry Regiment      [5/2]
4th Bn, Grenadiers de France Infantry Regiment      [5/2]
Heavy Artillery Battery      [3/0]
Light Artillery Battery      [3/0]

Second & Third Lines – Lieutenant-Général Chevalier du Muy      (Average)
1st Bn, Piémont Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Piémont Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
3rd Bn, Piémont Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, Planta Swiss Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Planta Swiss Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
1st Bn, Royal Deux-Ponts German Infantry Regiment      [4/1]
2nd Bn, Royal Deux-Ponts German Infantry Regiment      [4/1]

French Order of Battle Notes

1.  The French cavalry are all classed as Cuirassiers, but are mostly classed as ‘Poor’, so are reduced by one MR factor (5/2 instead of 6/2).  This only matters in the event of a draw between heavy cavalry of the same MR (e.g. the Gendarmerie de France or Royal-Carabiniers and most Allied heavy horse).

2.  As this is a ‘bath-tubbed’ scenario, battalion guns are counted as part of infantry firepower and are otherwise ignored.

3.  Most French cavalry regiments were absolutely tiny at this time, consisting merely of two weak squadrons.  A cavalry ‘unit’ in game-terms, therefore represents a brigade of several regiments and is named for the senior regiment in the brigade.

French Formation Breakpoints

Division                  FMR      ⅓      ½      ¾
Guerchy                        44         15      22      33
Prince Xaver                28         10      14      21
Fitz James                    20          7       10      15
Poyanne                        14          –         7        –
Beaupréau                    22         8        11       17
Nicolay                          23         8        12      18
Saint-Germain             16         6         8       12
Prince Camille             10         –          5        –
Saint-Pern                    26         9        13      20
Du Muy                         28        10       14      21

Army                        FMR      ¼      ⅓      ½
French Army                231       58      77     116

French Deployment

The following formations and units are on-table at the start (refer to the deployment map):

Marshal de Broglie’s corps is deployed in battle-formation, in preparation for the assault on Wangenheim’s left wing the entrenched artillery.  Saint-Pern’s division forms the first line, while the Piémont and Planta Regiments of Du Muy’s division form the second line and the Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment forms the third line.  Prince Camille’s cavalry are posted in two lines on Broglie’s left.  The artillery is unlimbered.

Nicolay’s division has deployed into battle-formation and is marching to support Broglie’s left.  The artillery may be unlimbered or limbered.

Two battalions of Guerchy’s division, together with the Chasseur detachment, have occupied Hahlen.  They need not follow the orders set for the rest of the division.

French Reinforcement Schedule

All reinforcing formations arrive on Turn 1, in column/limbered formation.

Contades’ Headquarters arrives at Point C.

Guerchy’s division arrives at Point A.

Prinz Xaver’s Saxon division arrives at Point B.

Fitz James’ first line (Colonel-Général & Mestre de Camp-Général Brigades) arrives at Point C.

Fitz James’ second line (Du Roi & Bourgogne Brigades) arrives at Point D.

Poyanne’s division arrives at Point E.

Terrain Rules

Please note that the fortress in my pictures above is purely for decorative purposes!  Replace it with the French outer-works, consisting of a line of four entrenched positions and one all-round defence redoubt, as shown on the deployment map.  However, these can happily be ignored if you lack the models, as it’s highly unlikely that they will play any part in the game.

Terrain features are largely as per the standard rules, with these exceptions:

Entrenchments provide a -1 cover modifier and +2 mêlée modifier.

Woods provide a -1 cover modifier to smallarms, but nothing against artillery fire.  No mêlée modifier.  In order to claim rear support in woods, the supporting unit must be within 2 inches.

The River Weser is unfordable.

We’ve been playtesting a different method for villages in Tricorn that’s somewhat different to the standard ‘Built-Up Sector’ method used in Shako.  While there might be some advantages to deploying in villages, the disadvantages of urban fighting often outweighed the advantages and 18th Century armies would (usually) actively avoid defending villages.

  • We still use the Built-Up Sector method for fortified farms, redoubts, castles, churchyards and densely built-up areas in large towns, though villages are now treated as area terrain, like woods. 
  • Infantry battalions deployed in villages gain a -1 cover modifier against all types of fire and a +1 mêlée modifier (the mêlée modifier increases to +2 if the village has been prepared for defence, though none have in this scenario). 
  • Infantry battalions deployed in villages may not claim any rear or flank support modifiers in mêlée.
  • Infantry battalions deployed in villages suffer a -1 shooting modifier (this is not cumulative with the shooting modifier -1 suffered for being staggered).  
  • British and Hanoverian infantry battalions deployed in villages lose the +1 modifier for shooting at chargers.

Visibility through woods or villages is 2 inches.

Umpire’s Eyes Only

Allied Reinforcement Schedule

Turn 1:  Spörcken’s 3rd Column arrives at Point B.
               Ferdinand arrives at Point G.

Turn 2:  Sackville’s 1st Column arrives at Point A.

Turn 3:  Scheele’s 4th Column arrives at Point D.

Turn 4:  Braun’s 5th Column arrives at Point C.
                Wutginau’s 6th Column arrives at Point E.

Turn 6:  Imhoff’s 7th Column arrives at Point F.

Turn 8:  Holstein-Gottorp’s 8th Column arrives at Point G.

Special Scenario Rules

Sackville’s command will deploy into two lines six inches on to table and then adopt Defend orders, regardless of their pre-written orders/command arrow.  Sackville will then ignore all order-changes (hence the need for secret order-change rolls by the umpire), though may order units to charge as normal, should the enemy come within 12 inches.

Optionally, the umpire may permit Sackville’s orders to be changed in the normal manner if an Allied division breaks or if the French army becomes demoralised.

Posted in Eighteenth Century, Scenarios, Seven Years War & War of Austrian Succession, Shako Rules, Tricorn (18th Century Shako Rules), Tricorn Scenarios | Leave a comment

The Battle of ‘Wanneminden’ 1759 (Our 2024 Christmas Game)

As mentioned in the last few articles, our 2024 Christmas Game at W.A.S.P. was a ‘bath-tubbed’, half-scale version of the Battle of Minden, 1st August 1759. 

I’m not normally a fan of ‘bath-tubbed’ scenarios.  I like to see the actual order of battle on the table or if not, a set of rules being used that’s actually intended for a higher scale of warfare (e.g. Napoleon’s Battles, or Fire & Fury, where the basic unit of manoeuvre is the brigade).  However, I wanted to get a load of troops on the table and it occurred to me that I had passed the half-way point for the Minden orbat…  So this is NOT the Battle of Minden; we will eventually do that ‘properly’.  This instead, is the fictitious Battle of ‘Wanneminden’, which might possibly bear a passing resemblance to the Battle of Minden…  Here’s the full-fat map for Minden, based on the Prussian Greater General Staff history:

As can be seen from the map above; when I eventually get around to painting all the troops for Minden, it will be something of a ‘line them up’ slug-fest, as we don’t really have the time or space for a great battle of manoeuvre.  However, ‘Wanneminden’ does allow us to play out the advance to contact phase of the battle.  I’ll post the full scenario soon, but here’s a map showing the starting-positions.  As you can see, there is a far greater amount of space and tactical options for the development of the battle:

The rough outline of the scenario is that the French have once again invaded Hesse and have captured the fortress of Wanneminden on the River Weser.  Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick’s Allied army is unable to open a formal siege due to the proximity of the main French army, so Ferdinand has baited a trap; dangling the corps of the Hanoverian General von Wangenheim as a juicy worm to tempt the big French fish to come out into the open.

Sure enough, the French corps of the Duc de Broglie has come out of Wanneminden to engage Wangenheim, with the rest of the Marquis de Contades’ main French army following not far behind.  However, Ferdinand’s outposts have failed to promptly alert him of the French attack, so will Ferdinand’s army arrive in time to save Wangenheim and destroy the French army…?

Above:  The view from behind Wanghenheim’s corps, facing south toward the walls of Wanneminden.  If this were the Battle of Minden, the city would actually be just off-table and would be replaced by a line of earthworks and redoubts.

Above:  On Wangenheim’s left flank, hard up against the Weser, is Count William of Schaumburg-Lippe’s artillery reserve.  These batteries have been dug in and are defended by Count William’s own Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Infantry Regiment.

Above:  The centre of Wangenheim’s line is formed by four single-battalion Hanoverian infantry regiments (Kielmansegg, Jung-Zastrow, Spörcken and Halberstadt) and a battalion each of British, Hessian and Brunswicker grenadiers.  On the right flank is General von Grothaus’ cavalry division, consisting of the Hessian Prinz Friedrich Dragoons and two massed regiments of Hanoverian heavy horse (the Reden and Heise Regiments).

Above:  The Duc de Broglie’s corps is deployed into three lines; the first line is formed by the Marquis de Saint-Pern’s Grenadiers de France, supported by a battery each of heavy and light artillery.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie’s second and third lines are formed from the Chevalier du Muy’s division, consisting of the Piémont Regiment, the German Royal Deux-Ponts Regiment and the Swiss Planta Regiment.  Prince Camille of Lorraine’s cavalry (the Commissaire-Général and Penthièvre Brigades) are stationed on the left.

Above:  Having judged Wangenheim’s position to be something of a tough nut to crack, Broglie pauses while he waits for the Chevalier de Nicolay’s division to move up in support.  Nicolay has five battalions from the Picardie and La Marche Regiments, together with a further battery of light artillery.

Above:  Some distance behind Nicolay, two more French infantry divisions are moving up in column (as indicated by the MDF arrows), past the hamlet of Finster-Reie.  The division of the Duc de Beaupréau, consists of the Touraine and d’Aumont Regiments, each with two battalions, together with a battery each of heavy and light artillery.  The blue-coated German division of the Comte de Saint-Germain comprises another four battalions from the Anhalt, Saint-Germain and Bergh Regiments.

Above:  The garrison of Wanneminden watches as the battle unfolds.  I should add that the fortress and its garrison are purely decorative and will play no part in the battle.

Above:  At the southern end of the battlefield, in the village of Hahlen, the French Vastan Regiment (from the Duc de Guerchy’s division) quickly find themselves under extreme pressure from the Prince of Anhalt’s picquets and are forced to fall back.

Above:  The rest of Guerchy’s division, consisting of the Du Roi and Aquitaine Regiments and a strong artillery complement (including some green-coated Saxon gunners), marches onto the field and deploys into line between Hahlen and Finster-Reie.  The artillery quickly goes into action, engaging Allied artillery and infantry emerging from the western woods.  To their rear, Prince Xaver’s Saxon corps (seven battalions from the Lubomirsky, Prinz Clemens, Prinz Josef, Prinz Friedrich August, Prinz Xaver and Prinz Carl Max Regiments) marches past, aiming to support the northern sector of the battlefield.

Above:  To the right of the Saxons, the Marquis de Poyanne heads his two elite cavalry regiments (the Gendarmerie de France in red and Royal-Carabiniers in blue) onto the field, while on their right, the Duc de Fitz James leads his four cavalry brigades (Colonel-Général, Mestre de Camp-Général, Du Roi and Bourgogne) northward.

Above:  The divisions of Saint-Germain and Beaupréau deploy into a single line between Finster-Reie and Malbergen.  Beaupréau’s artillery is soon in action, though quickly starts to suffer casualties from effective Allied counter-battery fire.  It soon becomes apparent that the French artillery can’t shoot for toffee

Above:  Another view of Saint-German’s and Braupréau’s divisions, with Fitz-James’ cavalry approaching from the south and the walls of Wanneminden behind.

Above:  In front of Beaupréau, the British-Hanoverian corps of General von Spörcken emerges from the western woods.  Major MacBean’s brigade of British heavy artillery is already in action on their right.  In the distance, Prince Ferdinand and his staff arrive to take control of the battle.

Above:  Spörcken’s corps consists of four British regiments; the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, the 37th Foot (Stewart’s), the 25th Foot (Home’s) and the 51st Foot (Brudenell’s).  On their left stands the formidable Hanoverian Fußgarde Regiment.  All five regiments are brimming with confidence and don’t seem to be remotely concerned by the considerable force arrayed against them.

Above:  At the southern end of the battlefield, Lord Sackville’s corps of British and Hanoverian cavalry has arrived.  As he emerges from the woods, Lord Sackville spots the huge phalanx of Frenchmen and orders his cavalry to halt while he seeks clarification of his orders from Prince Ferdinand.

Above:  In front of Sackville, Major Foy’s Brigade of British light artillery is making an extreme nuisance of itself, despite being completely isolated and out-gunned!

Above:  Back at the northern end of the battle, the Duc de Broglie realises that his artillery is completely inadequate to the task at hand and instead orders the Grenadiers de France to decide the issue at bayonet-point!  Prince Camille’s cavalry meanwhile, launch a supporting, if somewhat suicidal, charge on the Hessian and Brunswicker grenadiers.

Above:  The brave, if somewhat foolhardy Grenadiers de France are shredded by canister fire from the Hessian and Schaumburg-Lippe batteries and their charge falters at the foot of the redoubt.  The Commissaire-Général Cavalry Brigade meanwhile, is utterly destroyed by the Brunswick and Hessian grenadiers.  The battle has not started well for the French.

Above:  Nevertheless, Broglie has every confidence in Saint-Pern and his Grenadiers de France, so instead of ordering du Muy to support the assault, orders him to wheel left and engage Wangenheim’s infantry in front of Kutenhausen.

Above:  To the west of Kutenhausen, Grothaus waits with his cavalry to see what develops.  Nicolay’s French infantry don’t seem to be as enthusiastic to get in amongst it and seem content to engage at long range with their guns.

Above:  The Marquis de Contades and his staff have arrived.

Above:  Undeterred by their earlier rebuff, the Grenadiers de France charge again!  This time however, the Allied gunners fail to stop the vengeful fur-bonneted grenadiers, who are soon swarming over the parapet!  Neither the gunners or the supporting Bückeburg Regiment are able to stop the grenadiers and they are quickly ejected from the redoubt, abandoning the guns to the enemy!

Above:  More Allied infantry appear in the centre of the battlefield; General von Wutginau’s blue-coated Hessians (the Leibgarde zu Fuß, Toll and Bischhausen Regiments) form the first line, while General von Scheele’s red-coated Hanoverians (the Stolzenberg, Estorff and Reden Regiments) form the second line and a Schaumburg-Lippe artillery battery deploys in support.

Above:  The Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Regiment have managed to rally in the second line of entrenchments.  Two battalions of the Grenadiers de France continue the assault, but the stalwart Bückeburgers this time manage to hold their ground.

Above:  The 2nd Brigade of the Grenadiers de France rally, having failed in their first attempt to destroy the Bückeburgers.

Above:  The rest of the Grenadiers de France wheel left, to join Du Muys’ attack on Wangenheim’s infantry.  The Stammer’s Brunswick Grenadier Battalion, on Wangenheim’s left flank, is quickly overwhelmed.

Above:  With Wangenheim’s position looking precarious, Fitz James is ordered to lead his cavalry to that sector, to exploit the success and roll up the Allied left flank.

Above:  Prince Xaver’s Saxons finally move into their allotted position, in support of Saint-Germain and Beaupréau.

Above:  Nicolay’s infantry meanwhile, are happy to stand and watch their artillery achieving the sum-total of ‘Rien’.

Above:  Poyanne’s elite cavalry wait in reserve to add some dash and tone to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.

Above:  Guerchy meanwhile, is not content to wait and marches forward, thereby masking his own guns.  Guerchy’s aide asks “Are you sure that’s wise, Sir?”

Above:  Spörcken can’t believe his luck.  As the French artillery fire slackens off, his infantry advance on Guerchy.  Behind Spörcken, three batteries of Hanoverian artillery under Colonel von Braun and Major von Haase deploy and take the French artillery to task.

Above:  Spörcken of course, is working on the assumption that Lord Granby’s cavalry will be launching their own supporting attack on the right flank.  However, Granby has already ignored the orders brought to him by four ADCs…

Above:  At Hahlen meanwhile, the Vastan Regiment has finally been pushed out of the village by the Prince of Anhalt’s persistent, pesky picquets!

Above:  Guerchy’s gunners have finally re-established their guns in front of the infantry line, but Spörcken’s division is now very close!

Above:  Poyanne deploys his cavalry reserve into regimental lines and prepares to attack Spörcken.

Above:  Another view of the northern end of the battlefield.  Prince Xaver’s Saxons are completing their deployment, but are already taking casualties from ‘overs’, thanks to the large number of Allied guns being directed against Saint-Germain and Beaupréau.  One of Beaupréau’s batteries has already been knocked out by Allied counter-battery fire

Above:  Wutginau’s Hessians and Scheele’s Hanoverians have completed their deployment and prepare to attack Saint-Germain.

Above:  Fitz James’ cavalry march past Nicolay’s flank to deploy in front of Kutenhausen.

Above:  The Hessian and British grenadiers on Wangenheim’s left flank are under extreme pressure from de Broglie, but are still holding their ground.  Most of Wangenheim’s Hanoverian battalions have withdrawn into the limited cover afforded by the village.

Above:  At last, Spörcken’s division passes through the storm of canister and launches its charge on Guerchy’s line.  However, the 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the Du Roi Regiment hold firm and manage to halt the British 37th and 23rd Regiments through firepower alone.

Above:  On Spörcken’s left flank, the Hanoverian Fußgarde manage to weather the storm of musketry and charge home on the 1st Battalion of Du Roi.  However, they are counter-charged in turn by the Gendarmerie de France!  Nevertheless, the elite guardsmen earn their pay and manage to defeat both enemy units, throwing them back in disorder!

Above:  In the centre, Wutginau’s Hessians advance past the hamlet of Malbergen.

Above:  In front of them, the French and Saxon infantry are starting to suffer significant casualties from the persistent Allied artillery.

Above:  Wangenheim’s left flank meanwhile, continues to hold out.  Donop’s heroic Hessian grenadier battalion even manages to defeat a charge by the 3rd Brigade of the Grenadiers de France on its open flank!

Above:  Fitz James’ cavalry continue their deployment, but in so doing mask de Broglie’s guns.  

Above:  Fitz James was rather hoping that de Broglie would by now, have defeated Wangenheim and cleared away the enemy infantry!

Above:  To add to Fitz James’ woes, the previously-identified ‘clear space’ between the villages of Stemmer and Malbergen (which he’d planned to ride through in order to roll up the Allied flank) is now being filled by the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp’s Allied cavalry.

Above:  Holstein-Gottorp’s column is led by a brigade of Hessian heavy horse (the Miltitz & Prüschenck Regiments), followed by a brigade of Hanoverian horse (the Leib and Hammerstein Regiments) and Holstein-Gottorp’s own regiment of Prussian dragoons.

Above:  In addition, General von Imhoff’s division of Hessian and Brunswick infantry has now arrived (the Hessian Gilsa Regiment and Grenadierregiment and two battalions of the Brunswick Imhoff Regiment).

Above:  Spörcken charges again and this time succeeds in throwing back the 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the Du Roi Regiment.

Above:  The French might not be able to roll shooting and combat dice for toffee, but they do have a remarkable ability to rally every retreating unit!  The Du Roi Regiment and the Gendarmerie de France therefore halt their retreat and face the enemy once again.

Above:  At Hahlen, a vicious firefight develops between the Vastan Regiment and their tormentors.  The Vastan Regiment have taken heavy losses, but at long last are managing to damage the Allied picquets.

Above:  The formed main body of the Allied picquets moves forward to join the firefight, just as the Allied skirmishers, having taken too many losses, decide to flee the field. 

Above:  As Allied roundshot continues to bound through the French ranks, Prince Xaver pushes Saxon battalions forward to plug emerging gaps in the first line.  Beaupréau’s heavy guns are too busy engaging the approaching Allied infantry to conduct counter-battery fire.

Above:  Nevertheless, Beaupréau’s guns have only done marginal damage to the enemy infantry, who now close in for the kill.

Above:  Saint-Germain’s Germans and Prince Xaver’s Saxons fail to stop the Hessians through musketry, so the combat is resolved in the old-fashioned way.  The Saxon Lubomirsky Regiment somehow manages to destroy the Hessian Bischhausen Regiment, and the Fußgarde Regiment is halted by fire from the Bergh Regiment.  However, the Hessian Toll Regiment charges home and simply destroys Saint-Germain’s own regiment.

Above:  With the loss of two out of four German battalions, Saint-Germain’s division breaks and runs from the battle!  Thankfully, Prince Xaver’s Saxons are in place to plug the gap, but at present are somewhat widely-spread, having been used to plug gaps in the French line.  Prince Xaver, Beaupréau and Nicolay frantically order battalions to counter the Allied breakthrough.

Above:  At long last, Fitz James’ four cavalry brigades (with Prince Camille’s remaining brigade in support) ride out to meet the Allied horse!

Above:  Holstein-Gottorp forms up to meet them and will soon be joined by Grothaus’s division from the left.  Cavalry numbers are roughly equal, though the Allies have a slight qualitative edge.

Above:  Back on the southern flank, the Royal-Carabiniers have also had a go at the Hanoverian Fußgarde, but have also been beaten off and are now rallying under the walls of Wanneminden.  The Fußgarde are very vulnerable on the flank of the line, but they are the best unit in the army, so are just the lads you want holding the flank!  The Gendarmerie de France charge again, but now have the additional problem of the British 51st Foot (with the green colour), who have moved from the second line to support the left flank of the Fußgarde.  The additional musketry causes heavy losses to the Gendarmerie, who are finally broken when they charge home on the wall of redcoats.

Above:  At Hahlen, the Prince of Anhalt’s picquets have suffered very heavy losses, despite their tactical successes.  Determined to go down fighting, the Prince leads a desperate charge out of the village with his main body!  Astonishingly, this desperate act succeeds in breaking a battalion of the Vastan Regiment, though the picquets can take no more and soon join their comrades in fleeing the field.

Above:  The final removal of the threat at Hahlen is of small comfort to Guerchy, as his division is being taken apart by Spörcken’s British battalions!  The 4th Battalion of the Du Roi Regiment has broken following a protracted firefight with the 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, while two of Guerchy’s three batteries have been destroyed, while the third battery is forced to pull back.

Above:  The Royal-Carabiniers are rallying from their previous exertions, though as fugitives flee past them from the broken Gendarmerie de France, they too break and run to the safety of Wanneminden!

Above:  Spörcken’s division charges again!  On the extreme flank, the isolated British 37th Regiment is halted by fire from the Vastan and Aquitaine Regiments.  However, the Du Roi Regiment is simply destroyed.  With the loss of over half of Guerchy’s division, the remaining formed units (the Aquitaine Regiment, one battalion of Vastan, a light artillery battery and the massed Chasseur companies) are suffering a severe crisis of confidence!  Spörcken looks around, expecting to see Lord Sackville’s cavalry riding down the remnants of the French infantry, but the British horse are nowhere to be seen…

Above:  In the centre, Prince Xaver, Beaupréau and Nicolay desperately attempt to form a new line against the Allied infantry.  Beaupréau’s artillery are doing damage to the approaching lines, but it’s simply not enough.  The Allied artillery meanwhile, continue to hammer away and succeed in breaking up the two battalions of the Saxon Prince Xaver Regiment, thus weakening the new line.

Above:  On the extreme northern flank, the situation remains unchanged as Wangenheim’s grenadiers beat off assault after assault!  In the entrenchments, the heroic Bückeburgers continue to hold out against the Grenadiers de France.

Above:  As the French cavalry advance, the Penthièvre Brigade on the right flank, suffers casualties from the Hanoverian infantry lurking in the village.  Although only light, those casualties will put them at a slight further disadvantage in the mêlée.

Above:  The Allied horse charge to meet the French!  Although there are no disastrous failures, the French horse are beaten all along the line.  The groans of dismay can be heard from Contades’ headquarters…

Above:  In the centre, Wutginau’s surviving Hessians charge again, with Scheele’s Hanoverians in close support and Imhoff’s Hessians and Brunswickers in reserve.

Above:  The Saxons fail to stop the Hessians through musketry and somewhat inevitably, the Saxon Prinz Josef and Prinz Clemenz Regiments are broken by the Hessian steamroller.  With four out of seven battalions now broken, Prince Xaver’s remaining Saxons decide that they’ve had enough and are soon following their comrades in the general direction of ‘Away’.

Above:  With the first line of French cavalry in full retreat, the Prussian Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons exploit the situation and charge Prince Camille’s second line.  Once again the French horsemen are put to flight.  Nevertheless, all five French cavalry brigades rally and prepare to fight again.

However, with Guerchy’s, Saint-Germain’s, Prince Xaver’s and Poyanne’s divisions all broken and with little prospect of success, Contades orders the general retreat.  Most critically, the Marquis de Broglie’s corps is now over-extended and is seriously in danger of being cut off from their line of retreat through Wanneminden.  It will be a challenge to extricate them from the trap and the French horse will need to sell their lives dearly to hold off the enemy until that withdrawal can be executed…

However, we wouldn’t get to play that out, as the French players’ personal morale was broken and the pub was calling…

My thanks to the players; Kirk French and Dennis Lisle for the Allies and Dave Llewellyn, Jack Thomas, Bruce Castle and Tane Castle for the French.  Also to the W.A.S.P. Old Guard, Al Broughton, Mike Lisle and Gareth Beamish for hosting and providing the ‘touchline banter/abuse’, as always.

Sadly, our mate Andy pulled a sickie again, so missed the game and is keen to get another one organised.  I think it might be something Napoleonic next time…

Posted in 15mm Figures, Eighteenth Century, Games, Seven Years War & War of Austrian Succession, Shako Rules, Tricorn (18th Century Shako Rules) | 13 Comments

Jemima Fawr’s Review of 2024

Well, that was shit…

I hope that my remaining reader had a better year, but here at Fawr Towers, 2024 was pretty diabolical, primarily down to major health issues in the family, my ongoing eye trouble being the very least of it!  Thankfully, the end is now in sight, so here’s to 2025 being a far better year.

Needless to say, that did have a major impact on my wargaming and blogging, so this annual review is going to be relatively brief (stop cheering at the back)!

My sodding eyelids flared up with a vengeance, quite literally on New Year’s Day 2024, which meant I did absolutely no painting whatsoever until August!  Since then however, my painting-rate has been pretty good, though it’s been 100% 15/18mm Seven Years War and the overall totals are obviously well down on previous years.

So here’s what I’ve painted this year.  The links will take you to the relevant article, though I haven’t yet caught up with my photography and article-writing for the most recent units:

The first unit was one I actually started last New Years Eve, but had to abandon due to eye-trouble, so I finally managed to finish them in August, namely the Brunswick ‘Imhoff’ Infantry Regiment, along with a Brunswick artillery detachment and General von Imhoff himself:

Then I finished off the infantry of the Chasseurs de Fischer, by adding some skirmishers to the unit which I’d part-painted in 2023:

Intending to put on a refight of the Combat of Sanderhausen at a local club open day, I needed to expand the Hessian contingent, so added a few more infantry battalions, generals, artillery and the Jäger Corps.  I also had a varnishing disaster with the Hessian Foot Guards…

You can never have enough French infantry, so I added two more large regiments; the Regiment Du Roi and the Grenadiers de France:

Then it was time for more Hanoverian infantry, horse and artillery, as well as Freytag’s Jäger Corps:

Lastly, there are a few units for which I haven’t yet taken any decent photos or written articles, starting with the first half of the French Royal-Carabiniers (there are still another sixteen of these to paint):

For the Christmas Minden game we also needed a few more French cavalry, the Schaumburg-Lippe-Bückeburg Artillery Corps and a pile of Saxons.  Sadly however, my painting-table photos are even worse than usual, due to my new Samsung S24 phone having a surprisingly poor camera for photographing models (it’s probably something in the settings, but buggered if I can work it out…).  I’ve therefore decided to keep my old Samsung i10 in reserve, purely to use as a camera for photographing models and games:

And last, but most certainly not least, I finally got around to getting myself a ‘proper’ fortress…

So to the scores on the doors…  As previously discussed, it was a late start and I only painted for five months, so numbers are well down on previous years.  I managed to paint 335x Foot, 56x Horse and 8x Guns, totaling £354.60 at current prices.  However, to that can be added 2x bastions, 1x ravelin, 1x lunette, 3x curtain walls and 1x gatehouse, which adds a further £144.00, bringing the total to £498.60-worth of stuff painted this year.

All of the figures came out of the Lead Dungeon, so my wargames expenditure this year has been limited to the fortress and two board-games (the excellent ‘Napoleon 1806’ and ‘Napoleon 1807’).  This pleases Mrs Fawr…  Paint, brushes, glue and books of course are essential household expenses, so don’t count… 

So aside from solo board-gaming (of which I did a fair bit when I was unable to paint), I managed to get a few games on the rare occasion I was able to get down the club AND gather a few suitably-interested people around me.  This mostly revolved around the Seven Years War, but in March I dragged part of the old Murfreesboro terrain out to once again play the northern flank scenario, this time at W.A.S.P.

In June I was at W.A.S.P. again, this time to test a draft scenario for the Combat of Sanderhausen:

In September, the Sanderhausen scenario got another run-out; this time at the annual open day of the Haverfordwest Gaming Club:

In October, our old mate and club-deserter Jase was back from New Zealand for a visit, so we managed to play another Seven Years War game before he buggered off again; the Combat of Corbach:

Finally last Friday, for our Christmas game we played yet another Seven Years War scenario, being a half-scale version of the Battle of Minden.  The game report is still to be written, but here are a few photos to be going on with:

So games were fairly thin on the ground for me this year, though in the meantime I’ve been fighting a ‘postal’ (e-mail, actually) campaign of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.  The campaign is masterminded by Barrie Lovell of Timecast Miniatures and he runs the campaign and fights the battles on his wargames table in Shrewsbury, while we send him orders. 

My role is the Chief of Staff of the Prussian-German 2nd Army.  I can’t say too much about it at the moment, as French eyes might be reading this, but to date we have managed to cross the River Saar and with some difficulty, eject the French army out of their fortified position around the town of St Avold.  3rd Army meanwhile, comprehensively defeated a rather bold French invasion east of the Rhine. 

Having forced the bulk of the French army back behind the walls of Metz, my 2nd Army managed to catch the French Imperial Guard Corps and V Corps in the open to the south of the city and finally gave them a well-deserved malleting!  3rd Army meanwhile did likewise to another French army at Luneville, which is now in full retreat through Nancy.  However, we now have reports of yet another rather rash invasion of Germany up near the Luxembourg border, so that’ll be a task for 1st Army to deal with. 

On to Paris!

Here’s a picture of Barrie’s wargames table, showing my 2nd Army giving the French Imperial Guard the good news outside Metz…

I was nowhere near as productive on the scenario, game report and general history-writing front as I’d hoped I would be this year (for the reasons mentioned above), though I still managed to get a few articles published, starting with my write-up of last year’s Christmas game, the Battle of Warburg 1760:

Then I finally got around to writing up my much-played ‘what-if’ scenario for the northern flank at Murfreesboro/Stones River 1862:

June was a pretty productive month, with two scenarios published.  The first was for the Battle of Kesselsdorf 1745, which ended the 2nd Silesian War and Prussia’s participation in the War of Austrian Succession.  I really need to finish that Saxon army and get on to playing this one (8 infantry battalions, 4 cavalry regiments and 1 artillery battery done, just a few more to do…):

The second scenario for June was the above-mentioned Combat of Sanderhausen 1758, pitting a Hessian rearguard against a superior French force:

It’s been a while since I posted anything relating to WW2 (despite having repeatedly promised more Burma stuff…), but in August I finally finished off a Normandy scenario I’d started in 2012.  Titled ‘No Longer Having a Go 1944’ this scenario covered the events of one of the darkest days for the 7th Armoured Division in Normandy:

Then it was back to the Seven Years War with the Combat of Corbach 1760:

Other stuff on the blog this year included catching up with a load of troops I’d painted at the end of 2023, starting with some more SYW French infantry regiments:

Then some more British Dragoon regiments:

And some British Dragoon Guards and regiments of Horse:

Then it was back to the French, with some more artillery and Swiss infantry regiments:

Rounding off the catch-up articles from 2023 was this profile of the Chasseurs de Fischer and the massed French Grenadiers and Chasseurs:

There was only one ‘also-ran’ article this year and that was prompted by a discussion elsewhere on 18th Century Spanish forts.  I posted a few photos of such things from my photo-albums of visits to the excellent Military Museum of the Canary Islands in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and then thought “That might actually make a good blog post.”:

The museum article was well-received, so I’ll probably do another in 2025 about the Italian Air Force Museum at Lake Bracciano, which I visited last March, as well as some of my Normandy battlefield tours of years past.

Another highlight of 2024 for me was my visit to Richard Youngs and his amazing wargames collection (see below)!  Richard is a fellow fan of AB Figures Napoleonics and Napoleon’s Battles rules, so I think it’s safe to say that there will be more Napoleonics (my first wargaming love) in 2025!

I don’t have too many plans for 2025 beyond hoping that my family members recover from what ails them.  From a wargaming point of view, I’d like to catch up with writing up my game-reports and would like to actually do some more wargaming this year!  As much as I love the 18th Century, it would also be nice to play some WW2, Napoleonic, AWI and ACW games this year and perhaps some other things as well.

Oh and I should add that this blog just clocked up over 100,000 visits this year (now on 100,932 at time of writing), which is the first time I’ve had over 100,000 (or even 90,000) in a single year! 🙂

Anyway, that’s me for 2024!  Have a very Happy New Year who/wherever you are (unless you’re Russian, of course)!

Posted in Annual Reviews | 19 Comments

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Nadolig Llawen to the remaining reader of this blog, from all here at Fawr Towers!

My thanks to Gareth Beamish for the suitably-seasonal ‘snowy’ Battle of Mollwitz photos (OK, so Mollwitz was actually fought in April, but still…).  We played this in October 2023, and I still haven’t got around to doing the write-up, but here are some snowy photos for Christmas Day…

The Austrians (now in my collection) were originally painted by Gareth for the collection of a late friend ‘Deutschmeister Doug’.

Right, that’s it, I’m off to the bosom of my family!  Here’s hoping that Santa’s sack is loaded with goodies from Helion Books and Eureka Miniatures… 🙂

Posted in 15mm Figures, Eighteenth Century, Games, Seven Years War & War of Austrian Succession, Tricorn (18th Century Shako Rules) | 8 Comments

‘Hannover Siegt, Der Franzmann Liegt’ (Part 11: Hanoverian Reinforcements)

And now, in this thrilling instalment, I add yet more units to my Seven Years War Hanoverian Army!  Please try to control your excitement.

These were mostly added for our recent Battle of Corbach game, but will also come in handy for our Battle of Wanneminden game at Christmas, for which I’ve now finished the first eight battalions of Saxon infantry and am currently working on a load more French cavalry, including the much-needed Royal-Carabiniers.

Above:  First up are some Hanoverian Artillery, consisting of a pair of 6-pounder position guns.  I did cover the powerful Hanoverian artillery arm back in Part 4 of this series, so I won’t repeat myself here with regard to organisation and uniforms.

Above:  The Hanoverian Artillery are among of my favourite units on the table, simply due to their very striking colouring.  They certainly do add a splash of colour!

Above:  Nobody makes Hanoverian Artillery in 15/18mm scale, so these fellas are 18mm British artillery crew figures by Eureka Miniatures (with one Blue Moon 15mm British artillery crew figure – they mix perfectly), with Eureka Miniatures British 6pdr guns.

Above:  The ‘Schulenburg’ or ‘Freytag’ Jäger-Corps.  I painted these chaps for our second refight of the Combat of Sanderhausen in September.  It’s not known exactly which unit was involved and the battle isn’t mentioned as one of the Hanoverian Jäger-Corps’ engagements, but it seems fairly likely that at least part of the unit was there.  In any case, it was a good opportunity to get the unit painted, as I will need them at some point.  I will also eventually add more, as it was a very large unit.

I used figures from the lovely Blue Moon AWI Hessian Jäger pack, which is ideal for most SYW jäger units, provided you paint the long ‘American Trowsers’ as breeches and gaiters, which is easy enough.  The pack includes 20 figures and I’d already used twelve of them for the Hesse-Cassel Jäger-Corps, so had these fellas spare.

Graf von der Schulenburg

Above:  The ‘Schulenburg’ Jäger-Corps was raised in May 1757 by Count Christian Günter von der Schulenburg, initially consisting of two companies each of 106 Mounted Jäger and 156 Foot Jäger.  The rank-and-file were armed with rifled carbines and were mainly drawn from foresters, game-keepers and hunters; men who would be familiar with fieldcraft and the use of such weapons.  In July a third company of Foot Jäger was added, followed in August by a fourth company.  In 1758 the fifth and sixth Foot Jäger companies were added.

The unit up to this point was known as the ‘Schulenburg Jäger Corps’ for the name of the corps’ Inhaber (i.e. colonel-proprietor).  However, the septuagenarian Schulenburg was permanently absent and unable to take an active role in the leadership of his corps and in 1759 command was therefore passed to the second-in-command, Wilhelm von Freytag.  The corps was therefore known as the ‘Freytag Jäger Corps’ from that point forth and is best known under this name.

Wilhelm von Freytag

In February 1759, Freytag raised a third company of mounted jäger, which meant that the corps could now be deployed as three equal ‘brigades’, each of one mounted company and two foot companies.  Each brigade was also now supported by a 4pdr gun detachment.

These brigades were each denoted by a colour, with the 1st being the White Brigade, the 2nd being Yellow and the 3rd being Red.  These colours must surely have been displayed in some manner, but it’s not clear where.  Perhaps marker-flags?  Shoulder-straps?  Sword knots?  The unit’s hat-cockades all seem to have been green (the common badge of Allied light troops), so it can’t have been that.

In 1760 three more mounted companies were raised, which meant that each brigade now had two companies each of foot and mounted jäger and the total strength of the corps was around 1,883 (roughly 620 men per brigade).  However, the attrition of continual campaigning meant that by the end of the war in 1763 the organisation had fallen back to three mounted companies and four foot companies.

As with all light ‘free corps’, the corps was heavily engaged from the outset in the Petit Guerre or Kleinekrieg of scouting and raiding.  In particular on 5th August 1759, just after the Battle of Minden, Freytag’s Jäger to capture the French army baggage, including the entire escort of 800 men, the Saxon war chest andall of Marshal Contades’ headquarters correspondence!  The corps also frequently operated in close support of the main field army, being engaged in the battles of Hastenbeck, Krefeld, Bergen and Emsdorf (and probably provided the detachment mentioned as being present at Sanderhausen).

Above:  The uniform of the ‘Schulenburg’ or ‘Freytag’ Jäger-Corps was very simple, consisting of a dark green coat with lapels, cuffs and turnbacks in the same shade of green.  The waistcoat was also in the same shade of green, though breeches were white.  Buttons were of white metal.  Belts were white, though some illustrations show red leather rifle-slings.  Scabbard and cartridge-pouch was black (note that belly-boxes are not shown as part of their equipment, but my figures are stuck with them).  Gaiters are variously shown as grey, white, off-white or black, though grey seems to be the most common interpretation; with or without a black garter-strap.

The shoulder-strap on the left shoulder is described as white, though I’m tempted to think that it might have been coloured according to brigade; one of the plates shown above appears to have a yellow shoulder-strap.

Hats were unlaced and had the green cockade common to Allied light troops; some sources also show green ‘pulls’ in the corners and a green ribbon that appears to function as a chins-strap (though tied up over the hat), as well as the usual sprig of oakleaves.  Kronoskaf shows white hat-lace (not described in the text), though I think this might be a mis-interpretation of the light shown along the edge of the hat in the period illustrations shown here.

The mounted jäger seem to have worn tall cavalry boots instead of gaiters, even though they were mainly geared toward dismounted action (perhaps they were made of soft leather?).  Some interpretations also show straw or buff breeches instead of white.  Gloves were straw-covered and these are also sometimes shown being worn by foot jäger.  Mounted jäger were armed with a curved light cavalry sabre and horse-furniture was plain dark green without lace edging.

Some sources show grenadier caps for the corps, suggesting the existence of such companies, though there doesn’t seem to be any evidence for these.  They are perhaps confusing them with the other two Hanoverian free corps; Stockhausen’s and Scheither’s?  The infantry of both those corps were very similarly dressed to Freytag’s Jäger and in both instances included a company or two of grenadiers, who acted as musket-armed support for the vulnerable rifle-armed jäger, whose weapons lacked bayonets and were slow to load.

The plate here on the right shows a grenadier and a jäger of Stockhausen’s Corps here, together with one of Freytag’s jäger, so perhaps that’s where the confusion stems from?  Scheither’s Corps was dressed very similarly, though with straw-yellow smallclothes, scalloped lace edging to collar and cuffs and bearskin caps for the grenadiers.

Ernst Philipp von Grothaus

Above:  The ‘Grothaus/Jung-Bremer’ Regiment of Horse was first raised in 1675 and saw action in the Franco-Dutch War, Nine Years War, War of Spanish Succession, War of the Quadruple Alliance and the War of Austrian Succession.  At the start of the Seven Years War, the regimental inhaber was actually Johann Friedrich Röscher, though before the regiment saw action this changed to Ernst Philip von Grothaus.  Grothaus owned the regiment through most of the war until 1760, when the regiment passed to Alexander von Bremer (the regiment was then known as ‘Jung-Bremer’, as there was already a ‘Bremer’ Regiment of Horse, which then became ‘Alt-Bremer’).

During the Seven Years War the regiment consisted of two squadrons, each of three companies, for a total full strength of 358 men of all ranks.  The regiment fought at Krefeld, Minden, Corbach, Langensalza, Vellinghausen and Nauheim.

The Swiss artist David Morier painted this trooper of the regiment during the 1740s.  The regiment was then known as the ‘Wrede’ Regiment of Horse.

After the Seven Years War, Hanoverian Regiments of Horse were paired up to make four-squadron ‘field’ regiments.  This regiment then formed half of the new 3rd Regiment of Cavalry and was therefore designated as 3C-A, being paired with the ‘Hodenberg’ Regiment (below), which was designated as 3C-B.

Above:  The ‘Grothaus/Jung-Bremer’ Regiment of Horse was uniformed in the standard pattern for Hanoverian regiments of horse; namely a single-breasted white coat without lapels or lace, though with cuffs and tail-turnbacks in the facing-colour, which for this regiment was crimson.  The horse-furniture was crimson to match and was edged in ‘fancy’ lace.  Buttons were brass/gold.  Hats had yellow lace, black cockades and were often decorated with a sprig of oak-leaves.  Neck-stocks were black.  Smallclothes and belts were buff.  Cuirasses has ceased to be worn by this time.

Above:  The ‘Hodenberg’ Regiment of Horse was first raised in 1645 and as such, was the oldest regiment in the Hanoverian Army.  The regiment fought in the War of Devolution, the Franco-Dutch War, the Great Turkish War, the Nine Years War, the War of Spanish Succession, the War of the Quadruple Alliance, the War of Polish Succession and the War of Austrian Succession, though in the last war had a reputation as an unlucky regiment, suffering the death of three inhabers.  Despite this reputation, Ernst Wilhelm von Hodenberg accepted the role of inhaber at the start of the Seven Years War.  His appointment seemed to break the curse, as the regiment kept his name until 1775.

David Morier painted the regiment during the 1740s, when it was known as the ‘Breydenbach’ Regiment of Horse.

During the Seven Years War the regiment fought at Hastenbeck, Krefeld, Minden, Corbach, Langensaza, Vellinghausen, Wilhelmsthal and Lutterberg.

After the Seven Years War, the regiment was paired with the ‘Jung-Bremer’ Regiment (above) to form the new four-squadron 3rd Cavalry Regiment.  As such, it was designated as 3C-B, while the ‘Jung-Bremer’ Regiment was 3C-A.

Above:  The ‘Hodenberg’ Regiment of Horse was dressed largely the same as all other Hanoverian regiments of horse, except that the facing-colour was scarlet and the ‘metal’ colour (buttons and hat-lace) was white.

Above:  As previously discussed, the weak two-squadron organisation of Hanoverian regiments of horse (as with those of Hesse-Cassel and most British cavalry regiments of the period) mean that a regiment consists of only six figures and I brigade two such regiments together to make a ‘game’ unit, as shown here.

Above:  Trumpeters and kettle-drummers of Hanoverian regiments of horse were dressed in coats of reversed colours, heavily decorated with lace.

Above:  Hanoverian cavalry carried one square standard per squadron; the 1st Squadron in each regiment carried a white Leib standard, while other squadrons carried coloured regimental standards.  Having two standards in a six-figure regiment would look rather ostentatious, so I only give them one standard and usually use a coloured regimental standard, as the white Leib standards look rather boring.

For Hanoverian cavalry I use 18mm British dragoon figures by Eureka Miniatures, which are largely ideal for the job.  The only slight niggle is that these figures have infantry-style cross-belts with the buckle on the front (as worn by British dragoons and dragoon guards), whereas Hanoverian cross-belts should look ‘flat’.

Above:  This regiment was raised in 1745, being initially known officially and uniquely as ‘The Fusilier Battalion’ rather than by the name of its inhaber.  However, by the start of the Seven Years War, it was routinely referred to as the ‘Halberstadt’ Regiment for the name of its inhaber, Hans Jürgen von Halberstadt until 1757.  In 1758 the inhaber changed to Johann Heinrich von Fersen and the ‘Fusilier Battalion’ title was officially dropped in 1759, so the regiment was officially known as the ‘Fersen’ Regiment from that point forth.  However, with Fersen’s death in 1760, the title changed again to the ‘Ahlefeldt’ Regiment for Siegfried Ernst von Ahlefeldt.

After the war, the regiment was grouped with the 2nd New Battalion (aka the ‘Wrede Regiment) to become half of the new 13th Regiment, being therefore designated as 13-A.

Note that when Hans Jürgen von Halberstadt moved on from the regiment in 1757, he became the inhaber of Regiment 6-B (the former ‘Dreves’ Regioment), which then took on the title of ‘Halberstadt’ (which it kept until 1761, then becoming ‘Linsingen’).  This is why it’s often easier to refer to the anachronistic post-war regimental numbers, when the titles kept getting passed around!

Above:  The ‘Halberstadt/Fersen/Ahlefeldt’ Regiment saw action for the first time in 1757 at the Siege of Harburg.  In 1758 it served for the first time in the main field army, fighting at Krefeld and Lutterberg.  However, Lutterberg proved to be a disaster for the regiment, which lost 9 officers and 216 men in the battle.  In 1759 the regiment fought again at Bergen and the Siege of Münster.  In 1761 the regiment fought in the Battle of Langensalza, the Siege of Cassel and the Battle of Vellinghausen.  In 1762 it fought at Wilhelmsthal and was again involved in besieging Cassel.

Above:  The ‘Halberstadt/Fersen/Ahlefeldt’ Regiment wore the usual British/Hanoverian style of red coat, with lapels, cuffs and tail-turnbacks in a medium blue shade.  Waistcoats were a matching shade of medium blue and breeches were dark straw.  At the start of the Seven Years War, Hanoverian infantry coats were heavily laced much in the British style, with lots of lace edging around lapels, cuffs and pockets, as well as lots of lace buttonholes.  However, in 1759 this was simplified to the style shown here, with seven lace buttonholes on each lapel, two buttonholes beneath each lapel, two buttonholes above each cuff and two buttonholes on each tail-pocket.  The colour of the lace matched the button colour, which in this case was white (silver for officers).

Above:  The ‘Halberstadt/Fersen/Ahlefeldt’ Regiment.  Other uniform details included white gaiters, secured by a buff leather garter (the Hanoverians don’t seem to have used darker colours as campaign dress), buff belts, yellow officers’ sashes, button-coloured hat-lace and small red-over-medium blue pompoms on the corners of the hat and above the black cockade/

Above:  The ‘Halberstadt/Fersen/Ahlefeldt’ Regiment.  In contrast to the elaborately-laced, reversed-colour coats worn by Hanoverian cavalry musicians, Hanoverian infantry drummers wore much the same uniform as worn by the rank-and-file, though with the addition of facing-coloured shoulder-wings and lace chevrons down the sleeves.

These are 18mm British Infantry figures by Eureka Miniatures, with flags by Maverick Models.

Well it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and thoughts turn to the annual Christmas Game…  This year it’s going to be a half-scale ‘bathtubbed’ version of the Battle of Minden (‘Halbeminden’?  ‘Wanneminden’?), so I’ve been filling some gaps in the collection, starting with Saxon infantry and French cavalry, including the oft-required Royal Carabiniers.  More soon…

Posted in 15mm Figures, Eighteenth Century, Painted Units, Seven Years War & War of Austrian Succession, Seven Years War British & Hanoverian Armies, Seven Years War Minor German States, Tricorn (18th Century Shako Rules) | 4 Comments

The Military Museum of the Canary Islands (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)

I decided to do something a bit different with this post.  I’ve been to many, many museums over the years and have walked many battlefields.  I even used to run battlefield tours to Normandy for cadets and regular military personnel.  However, I’ve never posted any of them on this blog.  A recent conversation with Willz of this parish, regarding his wonderful model forts for his forthcoming 1762 Siege of Havana game, led me to think of the very similar forts and batteries utilised by the defending Spanish forces during Admiral Nelson’s attack on Tenerife in 1797.

I expect that many of you reading this (especially the Brits) will have been to Tenerife or one of the other Canary Islands.  However, most tourists to Tenerife rarely venture outside of the resorts such as Los Cristianos, Playa de Las Americas, Costa Adeje and Puerto de la Cruz, but it is an amazing island to explore, particularly the high-altitude volcanic moonscape of the El Teide National Park (just as long as it doesn’t go boom while I’m visiting).  It is rather good fun to make a small snowman up on the volcano and then stick him in a cold-bag and drive downhill to put him on the beach among the sunbathers…

Even those brave souls who venture away from the beaches might still be completely unaware of the fascinating military history of the island and the truly excellent little Military Museum of the Canary Islands.  The museum is situated in the modern-day capital city of Santa Cruz, which is situated on the east coast, near the northern tip of the island, roughly one hour’s drive along the TF-1 motorway from the main resort areas around Los Cristianos.

This little gem of a museum is housed within the 19th Century Almeyda Fort and is completely free to visit.  The museum is normally open from 0900hrs to 1500hrs, except on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, when the hours are shortened to 1000hrs to 1400hrs.  It’s closed on Mondays.  There’s free parking and an excellent restaurant on site and it’s only a relatively short walk from the centre of Santa Cruz.  We always tend to park in the underground car park at the Plaza de España and walk to the museum while the girls go and do something ‘more interesting’.

Nelson’s fleet bombarding Castillo San Cristóbal in 1797

The Plaza de España has added bonuses, as in 1797 it was the epicentre of the battle, being the site of the main fortification, the Castillo San Cristóbal.  It’s easy to miss, but next to the entrance to the underground car-park is another entrance to the underworld; this one takes you down to the exposed (now subterranean) bastions of Castillo San Cristóbal and a nice little exhibition on the battle, which includes the actual gun (named El Tigre) that took off Nelson’s arm.

El Tigre

From Plaza de España, walk north along the harbour-front (where all the cruise ships park up) and you’ll eventually see the steep outer bank of the fort on your left (now with the museum restaurant terrace along the top).  The main entrance is round the back, in Calle de San Isidro and the fort sits within a triangular piece of land in the fork between two main roads.  If you find yourself at a large 1940s fascist statue of General Franco being carried on angel’s wings (which is at the apex of the fork in the roads), you’ve gone too far.

Anyway, here are some photos from two of my visits in 2013 and 2016.  Since then they’ve restored a lot of the vehicles stored outdoors, including beautiful restorations of some horse-drawn wagons dating from the Spanish Civil War.  They’ve also built canopies to protect the vehicles and helicopters from sun and rain.  Apologies for the strange angles of many photos; this is due to the fact that most exhibits are behind glass, so I needed to find angles that would eliminate or at least reduce reflection and glare.

Above:  The harbour of Santa Cruz (aka Santa Cruz de Tenerife, to avoid confusion with many other cities and towns of the same name), photographed in 1890, shortly after construction of the Almeyda Fort was completed in 1884 (and which can be seen just to the right of the bay).  Tenerife was always a major hub of Spanish transatlantic trade and a major sugar-producer in its own right, having been attacked numerous times by the English/British Royal Navy, starting with Sir Francis Drake (El Draco) in 1586, who notably attacked the fortified sugar-plantation manor at Adeje, near the southern tip of the island.  El Draco‘s landing site is still called the Baranco del Inglés (Ravine of the English) and is reasonably well known to tourists as the spot where paragliders land their terrified passengers on the beach.

Consequently, a major programme of fortification was instigated during the 17th Century and at Santa Cruz, the still-magnificent Castillo de San Juan Bautista (aka Castillo Negro) near the modern-day opera house was built at this time, along with the original Castillo de San Cristóbal and other defences that have long-since vanished.

These fortifications had a major test in 1657, when Santa Cruz was attacked by the English fleet of Admiral Robert Blake.  The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of 1657 (the first of three battles to bear that name) was a total success for the English fleet; the formidable coastal defences (consisting of multiple forts, batteries and three lines of infantry breastworks) proved to be no match for English naval gunnery and a complete Spanish silver fleet of 16 ships was sunk at anchor, for the loss of only one English ship.  However, the silver plate had already been offloaded and it was (mostly) eventually delivered safely to Spain.

A second major attack came in 1706 during the War of Spanish Succession, when Admiral John Jennings attempted an amphibious assault on Santa Cruz, intending to seize control of the town as a precursor to seizing Tenerife as a whole.  This time the fortifications proved too much of an obstacle to overcome, with the guns of Castillo San Cristóbal and several previously-unidentified shore batteries causing considerable casualties among the landing force.  The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of 1706 was therefore a Spanish victory.  With the scoreboard at one-all, there would therefore have to be a decider…

Santa Cruz remained largely undisturbed through all the Anglo-Spanish wars of the middle part of the 18th Century, but the establishment in 1796 of a new alliance between Spain and Revolutionary France resulted in the British Royal Navy returning for a re-match in 1797.  The intervening 91 years had seen yet more improvement to the fortifications, with yet more forts and batteries being built and the main Castillo San Cristóbal being upgraded to a more modern, four-bastioned design.  A fortified harbour breakwater-wall had also been built and this structure had yet another fortified battery at the tip.

Clearly undeterred by Jenkins’ abject failure 91 years earlier, on 22nd July 1797 Admiral Horatio Nelson launched another frontal assault.  

The Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of 1797 was another disaster for the British.  With the first two attempts at landing on 22nd & 23rd July having failed, Admiral Nelson took personal control of the third attempt on the 24th.  However, the defending General Gutiérrez had used the time to bring more militia in from as far away as Guía de Isora, Garachico and Güímar, as well as the regular garrison of the fortress at Puerto de la Cruz on the other side of the island, so the defenders were stronger than ever.  They were also joined by untold numbers of armed civilians.  The third wave therefore ran into a hail of fire and Nelson’s own landing party took severe losses.  Among the losses was Nelson’s arm, which legend states was destroyed by grapeshot from El Tigre.

Nelson was immediately taken back to his flagship HMS Theseus for surgery.  In the meantime, some 350 men under Captains Troubridge and Hood had fought their way into the town, but following a failed assault on the gate of Castillo San Cristobál, soon found themselves trapped within the walls of the convent of La Consolación, whose tall black & white tower is very obvious on the horizon of the 1890 photo above (it’s now known as the church of La Concepción).  An attempt to relieve the trapped force failed miserably, with the loss of the cutter HMS Fox, several small boats and many men.  However, Gutiérrez was magnanimous in victory and offered the besieged force the right to march back to their ships with full military honours.

This generous act of chivalry on was gratefully received by the British and resulted in an exchange of gifts (cheese and booze) between Nelson and Gutiérrez, followed by a warm correspondence between the two men until Gutiérrez’s death from ill-health in 1799.  Nelson, Troubridge and Hood vowed never to attack Tenerife again and remained true to their word.

However, the British, French and other growing world powers remained a threat to Spanish possession of the Canary Islands, so the programme of fortification continued, with the Almeyda Fort being built during the 19th Century, as well as numerous modern coastal batteries and beach-defences until well into the 20th Century.  Those fears were not entirely unfounded, as in late 1941/early 1942 Britain and Canada came remarkably close to executing a plan to take the Canary Islands by force (Operation PILGRIM), due to the perceived threat of a German-Spanish alliance attempting to seize control of Gibraltar, the Azores and Cape Verde Islands.

Above:  Anyway, back to the museum…  Here’s a close-up of the previous photograph, showing the freshly-completed Almeyda Fort in more detail.  The fort consisted of a main half-moon (‘D’-shaped) casemated battery, surrounded by half-octagonal outer works, surrounded in turn by a ditch and earthen glacis (on the near slope of the glacis can be seen the zig-zag remains of 18th Century infantry breastworks and the Santa Isabel Battery).  These outer works mostly consisted as infantry positions, though included another casemated battery facing the sea.  However, artillery technology had progressed rapidly during the thirty years it took to build the fort and when completed in 1884, Almeyda Fort was already obsolete!

Above:  This photo from 1908 shows that Fort Almeyda had been heavily modified in the intervening 18 years to make it more useful in the modern era.  As can be seen, the earth glacis had been removed from the northern side of the fort (i.e. the side facing the camera), with the spoil then then used to fill the ditch on the seaward side, thereby making a far thicker glacis that would hopefully capable of stopping modern naval artillery shells.  This new glacis therefore buried the embrasures of the seaward battery and a new battery, consisting of modern breech-loading guns in open positions, was therefore established on top of the former casemated battery.

Above:  My Beautiful Assistant Ian here for scale, in front of the original half-moon inner works of the Almeyda Fort, which now forms the core of the museum.

Above:  This photo is taken from much the same angle as the old photos, showing the former casemated battery on the left.  The open-topped gun-positions on top of the casemates were at some point enclosed within four concrete casemates, as can be seen here and in the aerial view at the top of the article.

Above:  The old, curving casemates of the main fort hold a magnificent collection of artefacts and models, arrayed on two floors, as well as numerous other side-rooms, the central ‘cloister’, the outer courtyards and the old outer-works and outbuildings.  It’s a lot to pack in to just four hours!

Above:  The museum houses a magnificent model of Nelson’s attack, showing Santa Cruz exactly as it was in 1797, complete with all the fortifications.  Here, Nelson’s fleet bombards the shoreline, but things have clearly already gone horribly wrong ashore!

Above:  The centre of Santa Cruz, as viewed from the south.

Above:  The southern suburb of Santa Cruz.  The dark-coloured line marks the position of infantry breastworks.  The small redoubt at the point of the breastworks on the left is the San Telmo Battery.  Further to the left and out of shot, is the the small rectangular San Francisco Battery (part of which can still be seen in a ruined state today, next to the modern opera house) and the magnificent 17th Century Castillo de San Juan Bautista (aka Castillo Negro or ‘The Black Castle’).  The large building with the tall black and white tower is the convent of La Consolación (now known as the church of La Concepción), where 350 British troops and sailors managed to hold out until the surrender.

Above:  Moving further along the coast, we see the large, rectangular La Concepción Battery, which is attached to the front of the massive, fortified Customs House (Casa de la Aduana).  The yellow-painted building to the left is the Artillery Headquarters, which was also fortified and defended by Spanish troops.  Near the top of the picture, to the left of the ravine, is the black tower of the convent of Santo Domingo, which represented the high-water mark of British penetration into the town.

Above:  Right in the centre of the waterfront is the principle fortification defending Santa Cruz, the Castillo San Cristobál and the new dock, tipped with a half-moon battery.  The wall projecting at 45 degrees from the right-hand bastion of the fort is where El Tigre was positioned, being sited to enfilade the beach.  The fort was demolished at the start of the 20th Century and most of it is now an underground car-park, topped with a large public square called the Plaza de España.  However, the two seaward bastions were excavated and revealed about 20 years ago; as mentioned above, you can go underground to see them, along with the gun El Tigre and a very nice exhibition about the Battle of 1797.

The square behind the fort is the Plaza de la Candelaria, where the surrendered British forces paraded and presented honours to the Spanish defenders before marching back to the boats.

Above:  North of the Castillo San Cristobál is a beautiful ornamental gateway (which is still in situ), which leads on to an avenue of trees and the rectangular Rosario Battery.  A little way inland, with the large square in front and botanic gardens behind, is the convent of San Francisco, which also acted as a defensive strongpoint.

Above:  Further still along the beach is the half-moon San Pedro Battery, which was a far more considerable fortification than most of the batteries.

Above:  Defending the northern exit from the beach are two more batteries; the Santa Isabel Battery on the left and the San Antonio Battery on the right.  The Almeyda Fort was built immediately behind the Santa Isabel Battery.  There’s another very small battery, the El Pilar Battery at the apex of the upper breastwork, just in front of the small, isolated house.  At the extreme right of the photo is a complex of infantry positions covering the flank, which extend inland, along a ravine from the round tower of Castillo de San Andrés, which guards the mouth of the ravine (and which still exists in a ruined state).

Parked in front of the fortifications are a French frigate and a Spanish frigate, as well as a number of smaller Spanish naval vessels, whose guns provided valuable extra firepower to the defence, while many of their crews fought ashore as infantry and additional gun-crew.

Out of shot to the right are three more batteries named La Candelaria, Santa Barbara and San Miguel, and the formidable Castillo de Paso Alto.

Above:  The southern portion of an 18th Century map of the defences.

Above:  The central portion of the map; note that the dock had not yet been built and there are a few batteries missing, so this probably dates back to the early 18th Century (possibly the time of Jenkins’ attack of 1706).

Above:  The northern position of the map, showing the Castillo de Paso Alto, defending the northern end of the line.

Above:  A model of the Castillo San Cristobál and the new dock.

Above:  An architect’s plan of the Castillo San Cristobál before the dock was built.

Above:  An architect’s drawing of the Castillo San Cristobál, including the new dock.

Above:  A model of the San Pedro Battery.

Above:  An architect’s drawing of the San Pedro Battery.

Above:  A model of the Castillo de Paso Alto.

Above:  A model of the La Concepción Battery.  This was typical of most of the battery positions; a simple, rectangular structure with a few administrative and accommodation buildings and low defensive walls facing the sea and flanks, but lacking defences on the landward side.

Above:  An architect’s drawing of the San Miguel Battery – another rather formidable structure.

Above:  A model of the convent of Santo Domingo.  This was the high-water mark of the British assault in 1797.  The dark brown pinewood balconies, doors and window-frames, with whitewashed walls and dark volcanic masonry are absolutely typical of old Tenerifean architecture.

Above:  Another painting of the Battle of 1797, showing the British assaulting the dock and Castillo San Cristobál.

Above:  Spanish gunners fire from one of the northern forts, with the Castillo San Cristobál in the distance.  San Pedro?  Unfortunately, I didn’t take a close-up photo of the information plate.

Above:  The Sencilla (‘Regimental Colour’ in British terms) of the Garachico Militia Regiment.

Above:  The Ordenanza (‘King’s Colour’ equivalent) of the Guía de Isora Militia Regiment.  The arms are from the first half of the 18th Century and the reigns of Phillip V (1700 to 1746) or Ferdinand VI (1746 to 1759).

(There was also Louis I who reigned very briefly in 1724, following the abdication of Phillip V.  However, Louis only survived a few months and the crown reverted to Phillip V later that same year.)

Above:  A portrait of Lieutenant General Antonio Gutiérrez de Otero y Santayana, defender of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.  He’s wearing the uniform of the ‘Africa’ Infantry Regiment (6th in order of seniority among Spanish line infantry regiments), indicated by the black lapels and cuffs, while collar with black piping and yellow metal.  This portrait dates from the 1790s and was probably painted from life.

Gutiérrez was born on 8th May 1729 and had a long military career, fighting in Italy during the War of Austrian Succession, in North Africa and even deploying to the Falkland Islands during a confrontation with Britain in 1770.  Appointed as Governor of the Canary Islands in 1791, he was aged 68 when Nelson attacked and was suffering badly from asthma.  Nevertheless, he demonstrated inspirational and tireless leadership during the defence of Santa Cruz and won considerable honours for his efforts.  However, his illnesses soon got the better of him and he died at Santa Cruz on 15th May 1799.  He is buried at the scene of his greatest triumph, in the church of La Concepción (the former convent of La Consolación).

Above:  There is also this modern portrait of Gutiérrez, though I’ve no idea whose uniform he is wearing.  Perhaps one of the local militia regiments, or merely an artistic fancy?  Gutiérrez is also listed as being commissioned into the ‘Del Rey’ (1st) Infantry Regiment, but they had purple facings, not light blue.  The red waistcoat also seems unlikely.  However, he is shown wearing the Order of Alcántara, which was awarded for his bravery at Santa Cruz.  There are sadly some other fanciful modern paintings showing fantasy uniforms for both Spanish and British, which aren’t worth showing here.

Above:  A captured jack from HMS Emerald, which had been used by one of the landing-parties as a colour.  HMS Emerald was a 36-gun frigate of the Amazon Class and 90 of her Marines and crew, including Captain Thomas Troubridge fought ashore, with 17 being killed.  Note the rather rough, non-standard design of this jack.  Perhaps knocked up at last minute, specifically to act as a rallying-point for troops ashore?

Above:  Another jack, similarly captured from one of the landing parties, or possibly recovered from the sunken HMS Fox.  This jack is of far better quality and of the standard pattern.

Above:  A modern reconstruction of the uniform of the Santa Cruz Militia Regiment.

Above:  An 18th Century Sencilla, attributed to the regular ‘Canarias’ Infantry Battalion.  However, as there are none of the usual corner-medallions showing the regimental crest, it could honestly belong to any regiment.

Above:  An 18th Century Ordenanza of the La Laguna Militia Regiment.  Note the corner-medallions showing the regimental crest of the El Teide volcano.  This style, incorporating the  Ragged Cross of Burgundy normally seen on the Sencilla, was carried in the mid-18th Century, being typical for Spanish regiments of the Seven Years War and the early part of King Carlos III’s reign.  However, it’s not inconceivable that this type was still being carried by militia units in 1797.

Above:  An 18th Century Ordenanza of an unknown regiment.  The arms are from the first half of the 18th Century; from the reigns of Phillip V or Ferdinand VI.

Above:  Another unidentified Ordenanza.  I think these are probably from the reign of Carlos IV (1788 to 1808) or Ferdinand VII (1808 to 1833).

Above:  And yet another unidentified Ordenanza from the first half of the 18th Century and the reigns of Phillip V or Ferdinand VI.

Above:  The sinking of the cutter, HMS Fox.

Above:  A reproduction Sencilla of the ‘Fixed Regiment of Spanish Luisiana‘ from the late 18th Century.

Above:  The surrendered British forces parade on the Plaza de la Candelaria and march past Castillo San Cristobál, back to their boats.  

Above:  A model of the same scene.  The memorial at the bottom of the square is still there, though the cross was removed during the early 20th Century.

Above:  The muzzle of a Spanish gun with a very distinct direct hit from a Royal Navy roundshot.

Above:  My Beautiful Assistant Ian, with a Spanish Royal Artillery NCO in one of the casemates.

Above:  These are the casemates that were already obsolete when Fort Almeyda was finished in 1884.  They were then buried between 1890 and 1908, in order to provide a thick earthen glacis to protect the modern breech-loading battery on the roof.  These casemates have apparently been massively upgraded since our last visit and are now filled with artefacts and exhibitions.

Anyway, that’s enough of the Battle of Tenerife.  The museum has plenty to more to look at and is unusual from a British perspective, in that all our military museums (and those I visit in continental Europe) largely revolve around WW1 and WW2, with perhaps a nod to the Cold War Central Front and the artefacts tend to be a bit ‘samey’.  Spain of course, didn’t directly participate in either of the World Wars, so this place is packed with artillery and smallarms that I’d never even heard of.

Above:  A cuirass which once belonged to the French 3rd Provisional Heavy Cavalry Regiment (formed from elements of the 5th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th Regiments of Cuirassiers).  However, the regiment was destroyed on 21st January 1810 at the Battle of Mollet with around 250 men and sets of Cuirassier equipment falling into Spanish hands.  The remnants of the regiment were absorbed into the 13th Cuirassiers. 

The Spanish meanwhile, formed a new regiment, the Coraceros Españoles (Spanish Cuirassiers), who wore the captured armour over red coats, with green facings and horse-furniture.

Above:  Part of the museum’s magnificent smallarms collection.

Above:  It was somewhat refreshing to be positively encouraged by the supervising staff to pick the weapons up and play with them!

Above:  The uniform of the Colonel of the ‘Princesa’ Hussar Regiment, circa 1833.

Above:  The museum houses an amazing collection of model artillery and artillery-vehicles that was donated from a private collection sometime around 2010.

Above:  Who doesn’t love a collection of models…?

Above:  As well as the collection of artillery models, the museum also acquired a massive collection of incredible naval models and other artefacts from a former maritime museum in Puerto de la Cruz.

Above:  Another ship.  This one’s got a red hull… That’s the limit of my naval knowledge…

Above:  More ships… This one has a hell of a lot of guns.  Santissima Trinidad, perhaps?  The collection also includes smaller models of all the British ships engaged in the battle of 1797.

Above:  There’s also a very nice gallery devoted to the Spanish Army’s engagements in North Africa, about which I know even less than I do about naval warfare…

Above:  A Spanish Civil War flag from 1936, belonging to the Battalion of Patriot Volunteers of Las Palmas.

Above:  Another Spanish Civil War flag, this one being from 1937 and belonging to the ‘Death Battalion’.  Contrary to first impressions, this was actually an anti-fascist unit of Italian anarchist volunteers fighting for the Republic.

Above:  Mortars, various.

Above:  The very attractive cloistered inner courtyard of the main fort.

Above:  My Beautiful Assistant Ian models this massive 16th Century gun; one of the museum’s oldest artillery pieces.  This gun, named Hercules, saw action in all three assaults on Santa Cruz.  Note the mirror above, to enable the inscriptions on the top of the barrel to be easily seen by visitors.  The cloister has many other guns, including on my last visit, a German 7.5cm PaK 40, which isn’t in these photos.

Above:  The oldest piece in the museum is this mediaeval breech-loader.

Above:  A Skoda M1914 100mm Field Howitzer. 

Above:  A Deport 75mm Field Gun.

Above:  A Maxim-Nordenfelt 57mm Quick-Firing Gun.

Above: A Vickers 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun.

Above:  The legendary 8.8cm FlaK 18 anti-aircraft gun.

Above:  A Vickers 5.5-inch Coastal Gun.  

Above:  The Vickers 5.5-inch Coastal Gun viewed from the rear.

Above:  The Cañón de Montaña de 75/22 M1941 75mm Mountain Gun.

Above:  The Cañón Contracarro de 60/50 M1954 60mm anti-tank gun.  For a post-WW2 anti-tank gun designed in the era of the British Centurion, US M26 Pershing and Soviet IS-3, this was a very anaemic design.  It was apparently capable of penetrating 129mm of armour at 1,000yds, which (assuming that’s at an angle of 0 degrees) is actually inferior to the British 6pdr of WW2.

Above:  Naval Reinosa Obús de Campaña de 105/26 M1950 105mm field howitzer.

Above:  Vickers Obús de Campaña de 105 105mm field howitzer.  This interesting weapon was built under licence by Naval Reinosa and in the original M1922 105/22 version, was widely used by both sides during the Spanish Civil War.  However, this is the 1950s upgraded version with a longer barrel and the original wooden wheels replaced by pneumatic wheels for motorised transport.  All versions used carriages originally designed for the British 18pdr and 25pdr.  I’m not sure what the designation was for this version.

Above: An Oerlikon 20/70 20mm anti-aircraft gun.

Above:  An Oerlikon 20/120 Twin-Mount 20mm Anti-Aircraft Gun.

Above:  An Oerlikon 20/120 20mm Anti-Aircraft Gun.

Above:  An M55 Quadruple Browning .50-Calibre Anti-Aircraft Gun.  This is the US M45, but the Spanish had a slightly different mount and called it the M55.

Above:  A Spanish Army wagon from the Spanish Civil War.  This has since been beautifully restored and along with the helicopters and other vehicles outside, is under a canopy to protect it from the elements.

Above:  A two-wheeled wagon from the Spanish Civil War, seen here in mid-restoration.

Above:  A 1970s-vintage US M813 truck, again modelled by my Beautiful Assistant.

Above:  More Cold War US kit; an M110 203mm Self-Propelled Howitzer.  

Above:  Here’s a lovely example of a home-grown Spanish AFV of the Cold War, the VEC (Vehiculo de Exploracion de Caballeria).  This vehicle first appeared in the mid-1980s and became the cutting edge of the Spanish Army’s Light Armoured Cavalry Squadrons, replacing the venerable M41 Walker Bulldog light tank and Panhard AML-90 armoured car.  While not based on the same chassis, it shares many mechanical components with the Spanish Army’s BMR series of wheeled AFVs.  The first 30 of 340 vehicles were armed with Rheinmetall 20mm cannon and the remainder were meant to be fitted with an Oerlikon 25mm chain-gun, though this was changed at last-minute to the US M242 25mm Bushmaster.  The last 100 vehicles were fitted with the turrets and 90mm guns from retired AML-90s, being known as the VEC-H90.  In addition to the vehicle crew, the VEC also carries two dismountable scouts.  This example was lacking its main armament when I took these photos, but has since been fully restored.

Above:  Another uniquely Spanish piece of Cold War kit; the Teruel is a multiple-launch rocket artillery system based on a Pegaso truck chassis and carrying 40x 140mm rockets.  The Spanish Army only operated a single battalion of these.

Above:  The ubiquitous Bell H-13 Sioux.

Above:  The Bell UH-1H Iroquis or ‘Huey’.  The H model was a stretched version of the classic UH-1B and 60 of them served with the Spanish Army for 52 years from 1971 to 2019.

Above:  The M41 Walker Bulldog light tank.  These were delivered to Spain from the USA during the 1950s & 60s and equipped the Spanish Army’s armoured cavalry regiments, before finally being replaced in the late 1980s, as mentioned above, by the VEC.

That’s enough for now!  I’m off to Tenerife again in March 2025, so I think the museum is due a return-visit to see what’s new.  I thoroughly recommend a visit if you happen to find yourself in Tenerife and sober enough to drive up the TF-1…

Then again…

Posted in Battlefield Visits, Cold War, Cold War - NATO Armies, Eighteenth Century, Museums, Napoleonic Wars, Spanish Civil War | 7 Comments

Reinforcements for King Louis (Part 10: Du Roi Regiment & Grenadiers de France)

The 18th Century arms-race continues this week, with yet more reinforcements for the Army of Louis XV.  You can never have enough French infantry, so here are another eight battalions; four battalions apiece from the Du Roi Regiment and the Grenadiers de France.  That means that I’m now well over two-thirds of the way toward my objective of 63 battalions for the Battle of Minden and I’ve almost reached the 49 battalions required for the Battle of Dettingen (still rather a lot of cavalry to paint, however).

Above:  The Du Roi (‘King’s’) Infantry Regiment was first raised by Louis XIV on 2nd January 1663.  The intention was for the sons of the most élite noble families in France to start their military careers in the regiment, which would also serve as a ‘model’ regiment for the development and demonstration of new drills and tactics.  Initially designated as the 14th most-senior line infantry regiment in the army, it was promoted to 12th in 1671 and was still in that position of seniority during the Seven Years War.

The regiment saw extensive action during the War of Devolution, the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years War and the Wars of Spanish, Polish and Austrian Succession.  During the Seven Years War the regiment was engaged at the Battles of Hastenbeck, Krefeld, Minden, Corbach, Vellinghausen, Neuhauss and Wilhelmsthal.  Although most of these engagements were defeats for the French, the regiment consistently acquitted itself well and never suffered any catastrophe.

Above:  The Du Roi Regiment was one of the larger infantry regiments in the army, being consistently organised throughout its existence as four battalions.  

These are all Eureka Miniatures 18mm French Infantry figures.  I’ve gone for the ‘with turnbacks’ option to show off the coat-lining and the lace on the waistcoat.

Above:  The Du Roi Regiment was dressed in the usual off-white, unbleached wool coat (often interpreted as ‘grey’), though was slightly more colourful than most regiments, with blue cuffs, tail-turnbacks, waistcoat and breeches.  The exact shade of blue is a matter of some uncertainty, being depicted as everything from ‘French’ or ‘Royal’ blue to light sky-blue.  I’ve opted for the medium ‘Turquin’ blue shown in most artistic depictions. 

The uniform was further decorated with ‘aurore’ lace buttonholes – three sets of three on each side of the breast, another three on each cuff and another three on each pocket.  The waistcoat was decorated with evenly-spaced lace buttonholes.  Buttons were brass and hat-lace was ‘false gold’, while officers’ buttons and lace were gold.  Belts and equipment were natural leather and gaiters were white canvas, secured with black garters.

Above:  The Colonel’s Flag of the Du Roi Regiment had the usual white cross on a white field, but the arms of the cross were decorated with fleurs-de-lys and in 1753 had the motto ‘PAR DECORI VIRTUS’ added to the arms of the cross.  The ordonnance flags had the same decoration, though with alternating red and green cantons (green uppermost at the hoist). 

There is some slight disagreement among the details; Kronoskaf says that the motto started with ‘PER’ rather than ‘PAR’, the picture above shows blue cantons, David Morfitt’s version on Not By Appointment shows more fleurs-de-lys and most versions show gold lettering in a Roman font.  These flags are by Maverick Models.

Above:  The Du Roi Regiment, somewhat unsurprisingly, dressed its drummers in the King’s Livery of blue with red cuffs and smallclothes and lace of mixed silver and crimson.

Above:  The Grenadiers de France were a new regiment, that had only been in existence for seven years at the start of the Seven Years War, having been raised on 15th February 1749.  The regiment was formed from 48 grenadier companies, belonging to 24 regiments that had been disbanded at the end of the War of Austrian Succession.  The King had been lobbied to keep the grenadiers and the best of the officers from these regiments in his service and so this new regiment was created.

Despite being a new regiment, the Grenadiers de France were numbered 40th in order of seniority among the infantry regiments of the line (out of 119 regiments).  The regiment fought at the Battles of Hastenbeck, Krefeld, Bork, Minden, Vellinghausen, Wilhelmsthal and Nauheim, almost always being grouped in reserve formations with regiments of the Grenadiers-Royaux.

Above:  The Grenadiers de France were organised into four ‘brigades’.  These brigades were battalion equivalents, each comprising 12 companies and numbering some 720 men of all ranks when at full strength (which like almost all French units, was rarely, if ever achieved). 

Somewhat astonishingly, the Colonels of the 24 disbanded regiments were maintained on-strength and each would command one of the four brigades for two months of the year, on rotation!  There was therefore no regimental Colonel, though oversight was conducted by the General-Inspector, being the Marquis de Saint-Pern until 8th March 1761 and the Comte de Choiseul-Stainville thereafter.

In wargames terms, it’s often rather subjective as to whether regiments given the title ‘grenadier’ or ‘guard’ should be given elite status when they just recruited in the normal manner, like any other regiment.  However, in this instance, they did actually selectively recruit from the grenadier companies of other regiments, so I would argue that they can be considered to be a true ‘elite’.

Above:  The uniform coat of the Grenadiers de France was coloured royal blue, with scarlet collar, tail-turnbacks and half-lapels.  Cuffs and small-clothes were blue and buttons were white metal.  The lapels were normally worn closed across the breast (with hooks and eyes), though officers and NCOs normally wore their coats open, having longer lapels (as shown above).  There are some slight variations in sources, with some (such as the one below) showing scarlet cuffs and others (above) showing blue turnbacks and no collar.

The lapels were decorated with eight white lace buttonholes.  There were another three buttonholes below the lapels, another three on each cuff and another three on each pocket.  The collar also had a buttonhole on each side, as well as white lace edging.  The waistcoat was also decorated with white lace buttonholes.  The coat was further decorated on the right shoulder with a fringed white epaulette, though Kronoskaf shows it wrongly on the left shoulder.  There seems to have been a blue shoulder-strap on the left shoulder to hold the cross-belt in place.

Above:  Sources disagree as to whether the Grenadiers de France had whitened belts or if they were just left in their natural colour.  I went with natural leather, but should probably have gone with white, as that seems to be the colour shown in most artistic depictions.  The cartridge pouch is always shown as natural leather.  One thing to note is that the waist-belt for the sword (which for the rank-and-file was of the curved grenadier pattern) was apparently worn over the coat by the rank-and-file and under the coat by NCOs and officers.

The regiment’s headdress was the characteristic grenadier bearskin cap in black or dark brown fur, which was brushed upward to form a point.  The bearskin is not normally depicted with a front-plate, though one source (above) shows a brass (?) grenade badge being worn by an officer and NCO.  The cap’s bag was scarlet, with a tassel in scarlet or white.  The bag could be worn hanging loose or could be tucked in to form the infamous cul de singe or ‘monkey’s arse’.  These Eureka figures are depicted in the latter style.  Unlike the grenadier officers of most Germanic nations, French grenadier officers wore grenadier caps as opposed to hats, like the British.

The regiment’s drummers wore the King’s Livery with bearskin caps.

Above:  The Grenadiers de France as mentioned above, did not have a single Colonel, so there was no Colonel’s flag (some speculative designs are seen in sources and wargames flag-sheets, though these are apparently incorrect).  Each brigade therefore carried Ordonnance flags of the same pattern.  These had the usual white cross, emblazoned with the Arms of France, with cantons of alternating dark blue and white.  Most sources show the dark blue canton uppermost at the hoist, though Kronoskaf disagrees and has it the other way around.  The blue cantons were each decorated with 18 fleurs-de-lys, arranged in four rows (5-4-5-4) and the white cantons were each decorated with 18 blue grenades with red flames.

I must admit that when I did these, I was working on the assumption that each ‘brigade’ had a pair of flags in the same manner as an infantry battalion.  However, I’ve subsequently read that each brigade only included a single ensign carrying a flag.  Ah well, they look nice… 😉

These lovely flags are by the talented David Morfitt and are available for download from his super Not By Appointment blog.  I printed them off on my own laser-printer (the best investment I ever made!).

This week I’ve made a start on a new army, the Saxons.  That said, it’s not strictly a new army, as I’ve already got four of the six Saxon cavalry regiments that fought alongside the Austrian army during the Seven Years War.  However, I really need some Saxon infantry to fight alongside the French in the Western Theatre of war and it would also be nice to expand this further into a full Saxon army for the War of Austrian Succession.  Anyway, here’s the first regiment.  More soon!

Posted in 15mm Figures, Eighteenth Century, Painted Units, Seven Years War & War of Austrian Succession, Seven Years War French Army, Tricorn (18th Century Shako Rules) | 7 Comments

The Battle of Corbach, 10th July 1760 (The Refight)

A few weeks ago, our old mate and W.A.S.P. club-deserter Jase Evans was over from New Zealand for a couple of weeks, so of course we had to put on a game.  He’s a huge fan of 18th Century French history, so a Seven Years War game was the natural choice and I decided to do a test-run of my recently-published Corbach scenario.  Jase took the role of French commander and was joined by Andy James and Kirk French, who recognised a winning position when they saw one…  That left me with the unenviable task of commanding the Allies and I was ably assisted by Dave Llewellyn, who wasn’t quick enough off the draw when picking sides!

After considering the options, I decided that the ‘full fat’ version of the scenario would require far too much dull advancing to contact, so decided to get straight into the action with the shorter version, as per the map below.  This requires the scenario-clock to be ‘fast-forwarded’ to start the game on Turn 8.  I also decided to include Bischhausen’s cavalry division as ‘optional reinforcements’ to even the odds for the Allies (arriving no earlier than Turn 15).  I also added a small patch of woodland to the Allied left flank that I’d completely forgotten to include in the map.

Please note however, that this game report contains scenario-spoilers, so if you’re planning to play it, I recommend NOT reading this report until after you’ve played it! 🙂

Above:  The opening situation as seen from behind Allied lines.  General von Luckner’s mixed corps of Hanoverian and Brunswicker light troops, grenadiers and cavalry is deployed on the left flank.

Above:  To Luckner’s right, General Griffin’s small corps of Hessian and Hanoverian infantry is deployed along the crest of a ridge and forms the left wing of the Erbprinz’s main line, supported by a light position battery of Hanoverian 6pdrs.  General von Oheimb’s small reinforcing corps of Brunswick and Hanoverian infantry has just arrived on the battlefield and forms a second line behind Griffin’s infantry.

Above:  General von Grothaus’ British, Hanoverian and Hessian cavalry regiments have formed a widely-spaced line well to the rear of the main position.  On Grothaus’ left, General Webb’s small column of British and Hanoverian infantry is just marching on to the field. 

Above:  General von Kielmansegg’s large corps of Hanoverian and British infantry is deployed further along the right, along the edge of woodland.  Several British and Hanoverian 6pdr position batteries are deployed on a knoll in front of the right flank, guarded by Geyso’s Hanoverian grenadier battalion.

Above:  With worrying reports of French infantry moving through the densely-wooded hills on the right flank, Kielmansegg has positioned a flank-guard, consisting of two British regiments, the 50th and 51st, along a steeply-banked road and just reinforced it with a further Hanoverian regiment.

Above:  Forward of Kielmansegg’s flank-guard, a detachment of picquets guards the bank of a small stream.

Above:  The whole battlefield, as viewed from the south, with the Allies on the right and the French on the left.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie has just arrived on the field and takes position on the highest point, alongside the Comte de Guerchy’s freshly-arrived position batteries.

[One of the three batteries actually consists of light artillery, but I’d run out of light guns and had to use heavies for all the French position batteries (the labels say what they actually are).]

Above:  On the extreme French right flank, the Marquis de Poyanne’s corps of Carabiniers forms up on high ground, well out of Allied artillery range, to threaten the Allied left flank from a distance. 

[The observant will have noticed that these troops are in fact the red-coated Gendarmerie de France and not the blue-coated Carabiniers!  I hope to have the Carabiniers painted in time for our Christmas game, but for this game I had to use the Gendarmes as rather splendid-looking proxies.  Like the Gendarmerie de France, the Carabiniers were a truly colossal regiment and in game terms are represented by two large units.]

Above:  Keeping the Allies’ attention fixed in the centre is Baron de Clausen’s corps.  Like Luckner’s corps opposite them, this is a mixed advanced guard, consisting of two regiments of Liégeois infantry (the Horion and Vierzet Regiments), the Turpin Hussars, Beauffremont Dragoons, the light infantry of the Volontaires du Dauphiné and the massed Grenadier and Chasseur companies from Rooth’s corps. 

[Unfortunately, I had to cobble this corps together from whatever was left in the box!]

Above:  Advancing against the Allied left wing is the Comte de Guerchy’s massive corps, consisting of seventeen infantry battalions.  However, they have had a hard march to the battlefield and are arriving piecemeal.  Guerchy watches from the heights as the Navarre Brigade (4 battalions of the Navarre Regiment and one from the La Marche-Prince Regiment) advances directly toward the Allied battery and Kielmansegg’s infantry.

Above:  Some distance to the rear, the Du Roi Regiment arrives, followed by the Orléans, Dufort and Auvergne Regiments.  Visible on the left are the massed dragoon squadrons of the Volontaires du Dauphiné and Volontaires de Flandre.

[N.B.  The Du Roi, Royal-Deux-Ponts, Castellas and Diesbach Regiments, as well as the light infantry of the Volontaires de Flandre are the only infantry regiments in my collection that actually match the order of battle.]

Above:  On Guerchy’s left, the eight battalions of the Marquis d’Amenzaga’s corps (four battalions of the La Tour-du-Pin Regiment and two each from the d’Aumont and La Couronne Regiments) have already pushed into the wooded hills and valleys to outflank the Allied line.  

Above: The light infantry of the Volontaires de Flandre push forward through the woods, ahead of d’Amenzaga’s battalions.

Above:  To d’Amenzaga’s rear is the right wing of the Irish Jacobite Comte de Rooth’s corps.  The Royal-Suédois Regiment (here represented by three battalions of blue-coated Germans) form Rooth’s right wing.

Above:  In the centre of Rooth’s corps are the grey-coated German Royal-Deux-Ponts Regiment and the red-coated Swiss Castellas Regiment.

Above:  The left flank of Rooth’s corps and indeed, the entire French army, is formed by two more Swiss regiments; Eptingen and Diesbach.  The dense woodland on the hills has prevented most of the French infantry from deploying their battalion guns, but the Swiss have managed to deploy some of theirs in the open ground of the left flank.

Above:  As the massed position batteries open fire on Kielmansegg’s infantry, the Navarre Brigade advance into the teeth of a storm of shot from the massed British and Hanoverian guns.

Above:  The Du Roi and Orléans Brigades deploy into a deep battle formation and follow the Navarre Brigade into the maelstrom (possibly breaking the all-time record for the number of bounce-throughs from a single shot).  On the hilltop to their left is another battery of light position guns; this one belonging to Rooth’s corps.

Above:  Guerchy’s attack signals a phased advance all along the French line, as Clausen’s corps now also begins to advance.

Above:  In a short time, Poyanne’s Corps of Carabiniers has also joined the general advance.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie watches with satisfaction as his artillery pummels the Allied lines without mercy and the juggernaut of Guerchy’s infantry prepares to smash into the enemy line.  However, is that a new enemy column in the distance…?

Above:  At the head of Guerchy’s column, the Navarre Regiment is taking a hard pounding, but no battalions have yet broken in the face of the Allied firepower.  On the Allied side, Kielmansegg has drawn his left wing in to form a second line.

Above:  D’Amenzaga’s infantry advance through the wood and look set to crush the Allied right flank.  The Volontaires de Flandre make very short work of the tiny detachment of Hanoverian picquets.

Above:  Ignoring the withering hail of canister fire from the British and Hanoverian batteries (who to be fair, would struggle to hit a regiment of elephants parading in close order…), the Navarre Regiment closes with the British-Hanoverian gun-line, forcing most of the gunners to run to the protection of Geyso’s grenadiers.

Above:  [SCENARIO SPOILERS!]  With the Allied right flank about to be overwhelmed by French infantry, fickle fate plays a hand!  The Duc de Broglie, having spotted an Allied column approaching in the distance, misjudges the size of the column and, fearing that he is about to be attacked by the entire Allied army, sends out a flurry of confused orders, halting the attack!  Rooth’s Swiss-German corps on the left flank reacts by immediately turning about and retreating back to their starting positions!

Above:  D’Amenzaga’s corps, deep in the woods, mills about in confusion and adopts a defensive posture.

Above:  However, d’Amenzaga’s light troops, the Volontaires de Flandre, have already reached the road and now lay down a persistent harassing fire on the two British battalions and their supporting battalion gunners.  [For once, Andy’s dice-rolling doesn’t fail him and the Volontaires keep rolling consistent sixes!]

Above:  Unfortunately for the Allies, the only French formation to continue with the attack is also the most powerful formation on the field!  Guerchy’s corps alone has as many infantry battalions as the entire Allied force.  Interestingly, Guerchy decides not to immediately launch a charge with his leading battalions, opting instead to engage in a brutal exchange of musketry and canister.

Above:  With Kielmansegg having shortened his line in order to create a second support line, Guerchy takes advantage of the situation by extending his own line, pushing the Du Roi Regiment out on the right. 

Above:  In the meantime, the British gunners make short work of the French battalion guns to their immediate front, though are soon forced to join their comrades in seeking shelter among their supporting infantry lines.

Above:  At last, an ADC arrives from army headquarters to get d’Amenzaga’s corps moving again!

[Historically, the only corps to continue its attack was Rooth’s, while most of d’Amenzaga and Guerchy’s corps made a temporary retreat.  At that point, the Allies accepted the loss of their guns and made good their retreat.  However, we decided that would be rather dull as a wargame, so we fight on…] 

Above:  Prince Camille of Lorraine’s cavalry corps arrives and immediately moves to attack!

Above:  Clausen’s corps and Poyanne’s Carabiniers however, are still milling about in a state of confusion, waiting for fresh orders.

Above:  The pause in the French attack has provided the Allies with vital time to reinforce the right flank with Oheimb’s and Webb’s corps.

Above:  Grothaus’ Allied cavalry corps (4 squadrons of Hessian dragoons, 2 of British dragoons, 3 of British dragoon guards and 6 of Hanoverian horse) has been dispatched to the right flank, in an effort to prevent Rooth’s Swiss-German corps from crossing the open ground and enveloping the flank of the Allied infantry.

Above:  However, by the time they reach the stream, all they can see are Swiss-German backs disappearing back into the trees!

Above:  Despite the breathing-space given by the stuttering French attack, it’s all going horribly wrong at ‘Kielmansegg’s Korner’!  The first French charge was halted by fire, but attritional losses suffered by the Allied battalions at that point are rapidly becoming unsustainable.  With the threat on the right flank diminished, Kielmansegg swings his two right-flank battalions out to face the main attack and drive back the deeply-irritating Volontaires de Flandre…

Above:  However, a second charge by the Navarre Brigade destroys Kielmansegg’s first line, sweeping away Geyso’s Hanoverian grenadier battalion, the Hanoverian Laffert Regiment, the British 51st Foot (Brudenell’s) and two of the three position batteries!  The deeply-irritating Volontaires de Flandre meanwhile, seem immune to Allied fire as they pick off the last of the British battalion-gunners.

Above:  Their wheel to the left proved fortuitous, as the 50th Foot (Carr’s) and the Plessen Regiment suddenly find themselves in the front line!

Above:  On the left of Kielmansegg’s line, the Hanoverian Bock Regiment suddenly find themselves being the last remnant of the first line, facing the entire Du Roi Regiment alone.

Above:  To the right of the Bock Regiment, the Wangenheim Regiment forms up on the left of the British 50th Foot, supported by the Reden Regiment.  However, the morale of Kielmansegg’s corps is starting to waver…

[i.e. after losing one-third of the corps, they’d become Demoralised in game terms]

Above:  At long last, d’Amenzaga finally gets his corps into action as the La Tour-du-Pin Regiment smashes into the Hanoverian Plessen Regiment on the extreme right flank of the Allied line.

Above:  As d’Amenzaga’s battalions frontally assault the red-coated line, the Deeply Irritating Volontaires de Flandre move to the flank.

Above:  Having already suffered heavy losses, the 50th Foot can take no more and break, leaving a yawning gap in the centre of what remains of Kielmansegg’s line!

Above:  Similarly, on Kielmansegg’s left, the Bock Regiment finally collapses in the face of the Du Roi Regiment.

Above:  D’Amenzaga’s assault destroys the gallant Plessen Regiment, though now faces new enemies in form of Webb’s small British-Hanoverian corps.

Above:  To Webb’s left, Oheimb’s small Brunswick-Hanoverian corps, led by the Hanoverian Dreves Regiment, advances in a desperate attempt to hold the wood.  In front of them, Kielmansegg’s last two units, the Hanoverian Wangenheim and Reden Regiments, finally break and run!

Above:  Guerchy watches with grim satisfaction as his leading regiments finally steamroller into the wood.

Above:  As the La Tour-du-Pin Regiment of d’Amenzaga’s corps forms up on Guerchy’s left, the d’Aumont and La Couronne Regiments are squeezed out and have to form a third and fourth line.  What a bore it must be to have so many battalions…  And as of yet not having even lost ONE of them!  Not that I’m bitter…

Above:  As the fugitives from Kielmansegg’s corps stream past them, Webb’s three battalions; the Hanoverian Jung-Zastrow and British 5th (Hodgson’s) and 24th (Cornwallis’) Regiments of Foot, form a hasty line across the road.  Webb is heard to utter an expletive, “Bugger me, that’s a lot of Frenchmen!”  Nevertheless, Webb’s first act is to finally annihilate the Deeply Irritating Volontaires de Flandre (pleasure before business in this instance).

Above:  At the bottom of the picture, the two battalions of the Brunswick Zastrow Regiment (not to be confused with their Hanoverian neighbours, the Jung-Zastrow Regiment) form up on the left of the Hanoverian Dreves Regiment.  However, this has left a rather large, battalion-sized gap between Oheimb’s and Webb’s corps.

Above:  The Thin Red Line…  Probably about to become a pink smear…

Above:  Things might be going horribly wrong on the right flank, but at least the left flank is secure… Oh, hang on…

Above:  As Prince Camille’s cavalry shake out into battle-formation, they are joined at last by Poyanne’s Carabiniers and Clausen’s corps, who have finally received orders to renew the attack.  In particular, the Turpin Hussars and Beaufremont Dragoons from Clausen’s corps form up on Camille’s left flank and join the charge.

Above:  Waiting on the ridge for the French cavalry are Griffin’s Hessian and Hanoverian infantry, alongside Luckner’s Hanoverian cavalry.  Three of Prince Camille’s brigades lead the charge, supported by the fourth brigade and the Carabiniers.  The Turpin Hussars also get a rush of blood to the sabre and launch a rather unwise charge on the Hessian Gilsa Regiment.

Above:  The view from the French side.  The Carabiniers are subjected to sniping from the Brunswick Jäger in the copse to their flank, but this has little effect (unlike the French light infantry, who seem to have telescopic sights and guided munitions…)

Above:  The frontal assault on Griffin’s Hessian infantry proves to be a disaster for the French cavalry!  The Turpin Hussars and one of Prince Camille’s brigades are utterly smashed against the blue-coated wall and flee the field!

Above:  The Cavalry battle on the flank however, does result in some limited success for the French horse, as the Hanoverian Walthausen and Heise Regiments of Horse are thrown back.  The Luckner Hussars however, have better luck and repulse their attackers.  However, the defeated French horse manage to rally behind Poyanne’s Carabiniers.

Above:  Having defeated the Hanoverian horse, the Royal-Cravate Cavalry Brigade decides to press its advantage and wheels to charge the Hessian Malsburg Regiment, on Griffin’s left flank.  However, the Hessian infantry, having already destroyed one French cavalry brigade, successfully beat them off.

Above:  Having defeated one French cavalry brigade, the Luckner Hussars decide not to press their luck and instead retire to rally out of range of French retaliation.  As for the Hanoverian Horse…

“Roll anything except a 6 to rally!”

“Ha!  That won’t be a problem, as we haven’t rolled a 6 yet in this entire g… Bugger…”

Above:  Although most of the French cavalry were defeated, there is now a huge gap in the Allied line between Griffin’s Hessian infantry along the ridge and Luckner’s Hanoverian grenadier battalions on the hill.  The French also still have a large body of cavalry in reserve, with which to exploit the gap.  

Above:  Guerchy’s infantry, having rolled over Kielmansegg while barely breaking step, suddenly find their seemingly unstoppable advance halted by Oheimb and Webb.  French infantry casualties rapidly mount and at last, French battalions begin to break.

Above:  Over on the far flank, Rooth has turned his corps back toward the battle, but faced by a mass of Allied cavalry, he decides to play it safe by contracting his line and deploying in greater depth.  The German brigade therefore forms column [as indicated by the arrow markers] and marches across the front of the Swiss brigade to form two lines.

Above:  D’Amenzaga’s eight battalions are now fully formed up on Guerchy’s left, but are making absolutely no headway against Webb’s British battalions.

Above:  On Guerchy’s right, a single detachment of Brunswicker battalion guns has caused a remarkable amount of damage to the Du Roi and Orléans Regiments (the only bright spot in a generally dismal display by the Allied artillery).  This detachment of guns is the only unit guarding a huge, yawning gap between Oheimb’s and Griffin’s corps.  Guerchy orders the Orléans, Dufort and Auvergne Regiments (eight battalions) to silence that battery and drive through the gap.

[NB  I’d run out of French battalions to represent the Auvergne Regiment (in the foreground) and to my annoyance, no broken battalions were forthcoming, so I was forced to deploy the Chasseurs de Fischer and some spare grenadiers to represent that regiment.  As the game went on, I replaced them with grey-coated infantry battalions from the dead pile.]

Above:  Pride comes before a fall… The Orléans Regiment’s charge is shredded by effective canister fire from the heroic Brunswick gunners and to everyone’s astonishment, the infantry break and run!

Above:  Although the Brunswick Artillery Corps has managed to hold its ground, the Hanoverian Schulenburg Regiment on Griffin’s right flank has been broken by the combined effects of long-range French heavy artillery and Clausen’s light infantry.  The gap between the Allied infantry formations has now widened to an unsustainable degree and a couple of battalion gun detachments are simply not going to stop the French infantry, no matter how lucky they get!

Above:  With all their available targets now destroyed, masked by friendly troops/terrain or withdrawn out of range, the deadly French position guns finally fall silent.

Above:  The Duc de Broglie watches with satisfaction as the battle continues to go well.  The Volunteer Dragoons meanwhile, with nothing better to do on the left flank, decide to parade for the headquarters staff…  “Mon Dieu!  Is it Christmas already, Colonel…?”

Above:  The grinding battle of attrition continues in the wood, but at last the Allies are starting to do real damage to Guerchy’s infantry, as a battalion of the Navarre Regiment and two battalions of the Du Roi Regiment are broken!  However, that really is only a pinprick in the side of the French juggernaut.

Above:  Rooth’s corps continues its re-deployment as a desultory duel breaks out between opposing detachments of battalion guns.

Above:  Grothaus’ Allied cavalry have been waiting patiently for Rooth’s infantry to come back out into the open ground.  However, an ADC arrives from Prince Ferdinand, ordering Grothaus to march at once for the left flank and counter the potential French breakthroughs in that sector.  

Above:  Webb’s infantry fight on under the assumption that the cavalry are protecting their open right flank…

Above:  Over on the opposite flank, it’s the Carabiniers’ turn to charge.  However, Wersabé’s Hanoverian grenadiers are made of sterner stuff and send them packing!

Above:  As the rest of the French cavalry pour over the ridge and through the gap, rescue for the Hessians arrives in the nick of time, in the form of Bischhausen’s cavalry (consisting of 4 squadrons of Hessian horse, 4 squadrons of British dragoons and 5 large squadrons of Prussian hussars)!  The Hessians charge the French horse head-on, supported by the British and Prussians. 

However, the French have the high ground and supported by the Carabiniers, manage to hold off the Hessian horse.  Feeling confident, the French horse charge on into the British dragoons, but the vengeful dragoons manage to turn the tables and throw the French horse back over the ridge!

Above:  With the cavalry distracted, Clausen’s infantry press home their assault on Griffin’s Hessians.  The two Liégeois regiments (the Horion Regiment in the fore, with the Vierzet Regiment in support) charge the Hessian Prinz Carl Regiment, but are halted by a withering volley.  The massed French grenadiers meanwhile have more luck, throwing the Hessian Gilsa Regiment back off the ridge. 

Above:  On the opposite flank, the greatest military mistake since Olaf The Hairy bought 10,000 battle-helmets with the horns on the inside is taking place…

Above:  As he sees the Allied cavalry turning and marching away, Rooth can’t believe his luck!