Napoleonics "Having recently decided to plunge into the complexities of Napoleonic wargaming, I have found the recent editions of the Newsletter to be most stimulating. After much hesitation I have opted for 5mm, and hence have found a special interest in the two recent articles by Peter Goldesbrough and Paddy Griffiths. It is curious how they have adopted 2 completely different approaches. I appreciate what Paddy is driving at, as Generals obviously were not concerned with company level orders and one could even adopt Paddy's system of a single calculation for all contact (and obligatory combat) within 200 metres. Yet it seems an awful(pity to miss some of the real action (which should of course, be the concern of the lower levels of command) and it seems to me that Paddy is only one step away from discarding actual model soldiers altogether - bringing, of course, a great increase in realism, but an even greater loss in colour! On the other hand - adopt Peter's system, and there is a danger of getting so bogged-down in minor tactical details, that there is little chance of directing much more than a "platoons charge across a' ditch"! Perhaps the only way to satisfy yearnings for command at all levels is by the use of command teams, perhaps using the American Mid-West system as mentioned in the August editorial. I was also intrigued by Paddy's idea of a 10-minute move - obviously this is only possible at this near-strategic level - and, whilst I favour a 1 minute-move, I would argue that it is perfectly logical to "destroy" an enemy battalion with 10 hits. I have never been completely convinced by the logic of a 10 or 15 minute move consisting of 1 minutes frantic activity, and some 10 minutes relative inactivity - time for orders etc. However, since 1 model represents a number of men - so a 1 "minute" move, to my mind actually represents a number of minutes. Thus in my old Airfix A.C.W. set-up, with 1 man representing roughly 30 - a 1 "minute" move represents 2 hour - and some 20-30 "minutes" of activity count for one campaign "day". In my new Napoleonic set-up I intend to use a ratio of 1:10 and therefore my 1 minute move is, strategically speaking, equivalent to Paddy's 10-minute_ one, and consequently in 1 move my cannon can "start to make an impression on an enemy formation." Obviously this rather peculiar system would not work for Paddy - or for Harold Gerry with his 50 and 100 to 1 ratios, but it is practical for me as I like to remove actual figures from my units as casualties occur. The power of resistance of my larger Napoleonic unit is clearly much greater than for my ACW regiments, although both operate on the basis of a one minute move. In all fairness, the Napoleonic unit must, therefore, be subjected to more "minutes" of battle "per day". Even so, the larger Napoleonic unit still gives a more satisfactory result as it can take quite a bit of stick over a short period, and the point where its casualties oblige it to retreat will be reached more gradually than with the smaller ACW unit, although the same length of "strategic time" will have been represented. As you can see it all depends on the name you give your units, and the rahk you, as their commander, .give yourself - I believe Clausewitz made some comments about how long your battles should then last. Actually, although using 5mm I shall not, at present, be commanding anything bigger than an Infantry division - the temptation to deploy more troops is great, but at divisional level there would seem to be the opportunity for decisive manoeuvre, whilst small tactical results retain some importance - besides there are spacial and financial advantages. Anyway, with that little lot explained (I hope) I must finish here - but I would- urge readers to try 5mm - the Heroics figures, when painted up and organised in largish units give a most satisfactory visual, and, it is hoped, tactical, result." Martin Bates of Madrid British Victorian Period "Since when was Rorke's Drift held by TWO men on their own? With all due respect to Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead there were 139 others present, and it does seem a little surprising that the two worthy Lieutenants should manage to win a small matter of 11 V.C's between them. Perhaps we should remember the men of 'B' company, 2nd Battalion of the 14th Foot, and Corporal Scheiss of the Natal Native Contingent, the only Swiss national to win the Victoria Cross. I do not know whether it is widely available, but I recently obtained a copy of Moncrieff Grierson's RECORDS OF THE SCOTTISH VOLUNTEER FORCE, 1859-1908, originally published in 1909, and reprinted in 1972 and published by Frederick Muller. It was originally priced at £12 but remaindered at £5.50p. It is well worth buying if one can find it. It contains details of such units asclgt Banff Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteer). The plates, by the author, are very good and there are some 47 of them with between 3 and 6 figures on each. Apart from the uniforms there are also details of the Volunteer movement as a whole and of the individual units in Scotland. Another interesting book, that I cameacross on holiday in Cornwall, was MILITARY INSIGNIA OF CORNWALL by D.Endean Ivall and Charles Thomas. It is published by Penwith Books and is available from the Curator, the Devon and Cornwall Light Infantry Regimental Museum, The Keep, Victoria Barracks, Bodmin, or from the Secretary, Institute of Cornish Studies, Trevenson House, Pool, Redruth, and it costs I1 excluding postage. It covers all existing examples of Cornish Military insignia beginning in the 18th century. Very well worth buying if you are keen on that sort of thing. Very much improved of late - at least that is my opinion of WARGAMER'S NEWSLETTER - is it my imagination or are more people thinking these days, what with all. this talk of ground scales, unit representation, firepower, morale and so on - makes a change. I do wonder what it has to do with wargaming as most people know it tho'. Is it better for all the refinements?" Ian R. Scott of Cardiff, South Wales Imports "This is quite an event for me writing to you. It is almost 15 years to the day that I sent off for my first copy of Wargamer's Newsletter. I was a twelve year old schoolboy with a set of Airfix British Infantry and a burning enthusiasm for re-fighting D-Day! Things certainly have altered since then. I am married and thinking of beginning on my own family of wargamers. I long ago drifted from miniatures to board games and now run my own paltry 'zine OVERKILL. A friend suggested I take a look at Wargamer's Newsletter since I had not seen it in about ten years. It is still as good now as it was then. Clubs seem to have come and gone but WARGAMER'S NEWSLETTER is still there. Congratulations Now I have a little game business going in importing U.S. games. U.S. games in this country suffer from vastly inflated prices, I hope to be able to offer games at the same price as one would pay in the U.S.A." Chris Harvey of Walsall, West Midlands Inspired "I am a 13 year old boy and I am very interested in wargaming. I have made up some rules with th help of your book SOLO WARGAMING and have a lot of fun. I was reading through it and on pages 125-128 I found some information about Boadicea's revolt so I played it out. First I drew a map of England an marked all the cities on it and also her march. With the help of your book, a set of Romans and Britons and the Roman Fort (my entire collection of men, all Airfix) I had quite a good battle going. And as Boadicea lost against the two legions on the ridge the Britons lost against the Romans on the fort, after losing five of the eight projecticle throwers against the IXth legion (eight Romans). I am making a diorama for my Romans and Britons to fight on, as this is the only period I like, apart from Mediaeval. 1. Hills for hiding troop movement. 2. Where the Roman fort is to be. 3. Where the British village made from balsa is to be. 4. Rocks, sand, trees, etc., for men to hide in and also for scenery. There are also clearing for battles. I would like the Sheriff of Nottingham but we do not get many Airfix soldiers here in Rotorua. I have written to America and England for soldiers but I do not have any replies yet." Konrad Konlechner of Rotorua, New Zealand No Answer "I would like to comment on one point mentioned in your book WARGAMES THROUGH THE AGES - Vol. 3, that re the frustration experienced at times through the lack of "smoke" on the battleground, this frequently leads to what would in real-life have been many a brilliant manoeuvre being ruined through being so obvious to one's opponent. We have tried "cards" and several methos but none completely satisfactory." John Hooper of Tasmania, Australia Natives Chances "With reference to your interesting Editorial in September's Newsletter. Personally I agree with your view in that I enjoy Colonial wargaming very much indeed, whether I am the Native Commander or .leading Imperial units. The period is much neglected by wargamers; the figure market is not over populated, and the only readily obtainable rules are your own "Late 19th Century" ones. To this end within the Victorian Military Society, we have formed a wargame study group. Our aim is to produce a workable set of rules for 15mm and/or 20/25,, Colonial games. We hope the eventual publication of the rules, plus some supporting booklets, giving details on troops, natives, weapons, etc., will do a lot to engender new interest in Colonial wargaming. As to the query you raised in your Editorial, yes, I believe purely for the sake of wargaming, the "natives" must be "in with a chance". Whilst the annihilation of natives may be realistic, the Imperia Regular wargamer may well soon run out of willing opponents! Some native armies are better equipped as organised than others, the Dervish army springs to mind, and also that of the Sikhs. Such units as the Boers take a lot of beating on the wargame table as would say the Hovas of Madagascar. I think also wargamers tend to have too narrow a view on Colonial set-ups. We all know of the Zulu War and the North West Frontier, but what of the French in Tunis and Algeria, Germans in Africa, Italians in Eritrea and, the Russians in Turkestan, all covered by the period 1850-1890. If that is not enough to fire the imagination, how about taking on Maori's or giving Custer's 7th Cavalry a new lease of life? I feel sur any wargamer prepared to research and carry out a bit of objective thinking will be amply rewarded with Colonial wargaming." Stuart A. Asquith, Wargame Study Group, Victorian Military Society Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 165 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1975 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com