You can't keep a good man down - the campaign continues.

The last cards of turn 6 are played.

Rome: In expectation of losing political control of four areas, Rome asserts political control over 3 areas.

Carthage: Mago sails from Carthage to reinforce Hannibal with 6 CU. After his safe arrival Hannibal moves to Bruttium.

The Situation at the end of turn 6.

Turn 7: Reinforcements were placed and consuls elected. Nero was given a second consecutive term and given command of the troops in Rome. Paulus was replaced by Longus, who was dispatched to Sicily.

Carthage: Mago returned, without troops, to Africa. Hannibal marched again on Rome. Nero managed to withdraw his army out of Rome before he arrived. The siege, even with a siege train present, is a disaster waiting to happen. A surprise assault was repulsed with loss (1 CU).........

Rome: .........and more losses (1 CU) were inflicted on the besiegers when, according to Scrotivius,

"...bad water, from poisoned wells, caused amongst the Carthaginians, a great loosening of the bowels...."

Carthage: Hannibal breaks off from his siege and attacks Nero, who successfully withdraws to Falerii. Hannibal pursues and catches him.

The situation map.

 

The characterisation draw - Carthage 104 MC, By Saturn and Favourable Omens (Stratagem card 10). Rome 70 MC and Wild card. The terrain in this part of Italy is hilly.

The deployments for The Battle of Faleri:



Ager Proelii: The Battle for Rome - part 2

The carthaginian centre crumbled under the weight of the Roman attack.....

....whilst the veteran Spanish are pinned down by the Roman right.

On the Roman left, where Hannibal is strongest, the Romans come under extreme pressure. But, before the outcome is settled here.....

.....the Carthaginian centre is broken.

Scrotivius writes:

"..and Hannibal, seeing the Romans manoeuvring before him, declared that "This Roman swings both ways."

On the Roman left the pressure was mounting......

....and mounting.....

....whilst, on the right victory seemed imminent.

Which would give out first?

The Roman left stabilised after some very fierce fighting.....

 On the right the Carthaginians were being surrounded.

A Roman Victory!

Hannibal withdrew to Croton with 4 CU loss. Paulus lost 1 CU.

One becomes a battalion

This is my first Panzer Battalion for Operation Crusader / Siege of Tobruk showing the units for historical organisation and deployment (scaled at 1:5):
Battalion HQ; 1 Panzer III H command tank
2 Panzer III Companies; 3 Panzer III H, 1 Panzer II F
1 Panzer IV Company; 2 Panzer IV FI, 1 Panzer IV

The same vehicles showing how I'll probably deploy them on the table. The organisation is a battalion / company level hybrid. This allows the formation to utilize its Panzer IIs as a seperate 'flank guard', their historical, company level, job. It also allows the units to be deployed in units of three vehicles (a supply truck, not painted, will accompany the Panzer IV company).

This might not be historically accurate, but I like playing games with a platoon level feel whilst wanting the diversity of weaponry, not to mention scenario possibilities, of company level games. Most of my games will involve a battle group or two of three battalions or so each, per side. Actions during Operation Crusader tended to be on the large side.

Panzer III H
  Panzer IV FI

Panzer  II F

Battalion command stand

Vehicles are Battlefront Miniatures (FoW) painted in enamels. Bases are, 60mm x 75mm x 2mm, MDF.

Colour test - German armour for the desert 1941

It's a long time since I've painted any WW2 stuff for my 15mm Desert 1941 collection.

Today, taking a break from Monsieur Anderson's Romans, I looked at some almost completed SYW Russians and thought........nerrrrr.

I had undercoated some German WW2 stuff a while ago and they have sat there since. This was partly down to 'being busy' and partly down to nerves.

I have painted 22nd Armoured Brigade Group for 7th Armoured so I know what colours I'll use as a pallet for the Brits (based on Humbrol 63 and burnt umber ink wash).

I have painted a battalion of Italian vehicles (for the, Ilkley Lad's, Bir el Gubi game) so I know I'll be using ink wash and a Humbrol 93 pallet for the Italians.

How many shades of desert sand paint can there be? I wonder.....

.......and could I find one for the Germans.

But, I think that the ink wash over a Humbrol 225 base highlighted in base Humbrol 93 with Humbrol 94 used as a base for the top two highlights gives a different shade again. I like it because there is an olive green tinge.

It is debatable how 'desert yellow' varied from nation to nation - even formation to formation - but I like there to be a difference: Different sides, in a game, need different coloured counters.

I'm happy with this combination of shades. I'll use it for the rest of 15th Panzer Division (which mainly sits, at 1:5 scale, in its blisters).  

A shot of the Pz III from 15th Panzer Division next to a tank of 22nd Armoured Brigade. The colour difference is noticeable but not 'dramatic'.  The thing that brings them together, IMHO, is the same colour ink wash, which is also used on the bases.

I hope you approve.

Models are from the FoW range.

Ager Proelii: The Battle for Rome

Carthage (Hannibal): Characterisation draw. 

Rome (A. Paulus): Characterisation draw. 

 Carthaginian deployment

Roman deployment. 

Both sides launch an attack on the hill and a cavalry action is imminent......... 

The Romans guess that the main Carthaginian effort will be made against their left.

The action develops rapidly.

The fight is fierce and confused, but.......

Veteran Spanish cavalry decide the issue of the cavalry battle in favour of the Carthaginians. Rome fears defeat, until....

 ...her infantry counter attack.......

.....all along the line..... 

...and are victorious versus their Gallic enemies.

We have to humour a rare bout of hubris.

Hannibal rides into the fray and temporarily restores the situation but his situation is still dire: His centre is crumbling.

Rome rushes cavalry from one wing to the other.

A 36" move - so fast they are blurry. 

The reinforcements arrive before the Carthaginian cavalry can exploit their earlier success.

The battle extends to the fields and vineyards........















At the end of turn 1, and for the first time, Rome has the ascendancy.

To be continued.....