Sunday 29 November 2015

Vintage Waterloo (Part 1)

The dust has settled, the soldiers are all back in their boxes (well almost), Roy is finishing the washing up and Napoleon has made a hasty departure to the south – Vintage Waterloo is over, but what a game!

We had nine players on the day and each took control of a portion of the total of 2,600+ 20mm Hinton Hunt figures assembled for the re-fight. The figures were deployed over both of Roy’s sizeable wargame tables with the smaller one used to represent the area around Plancenoit. The game ran for 12 turns each representing an hour of real time which saw us neatly through from 11.00am to a dramatic conclusion at 10.00pm.

I took over 100 photos and as these were taken under battlefield conditions (nine bodies all jostling for position at the table) you’ll have to forgive any that are a bit blurry or poorly composed but I hope they can convey something of the spectacle and fun of the day.

Initial deployment of the French right wing (the building in the centre is La Haye Sainte) - D'Erlon's corps are in the distance with part of Lobau's command in the foreground. On the far edge of the table there are some Prussians lurking in the woods but these were not activated until turn 3. 
Barings KGL riflemen stand ready to defend La Haye Sainte whilst the 95th Rifles occupy the sandpit on the other side of the Brussels road.
D'Erlon's corps - some 12 units of French infantry looking pretty formidable. The units in the front line were all from my own collection.
Reille's corps make ready to attack Hougoumont.
An overview of the left side of the main table showing the area around Hougoumont. On the Allied side at least half of the troops in this area were C class Dutch Militia although the chateau was garrisioned by a unit of British line infantry.
Allied troops massed on the ridge overlooking La Haye Sainte.
A general view of the Plancenoit table. The Prussians are all deployed along the table edge to the right while a rather meager looking French force occupies the buildings of the village.
D'Erlon begins his advance towards the Allied left. Hill however responds with a sneaky move to break up the French attack by charging two batteries of RHA forward and unlimbering them at close range.
A view from the French positions in Plancenoit showing the Prussian hordes in the distance. I wasn't able to follow the fighting on this table as closely as I would have liked as I was at this time carrying the burden of the French high command on the main table.
More French troops in Plancenoit - I made an early decision to allocate 3 guard infantry units and 2 cavalry units from the reserve to bolster the defences of the village.
The Prince of Orange considers his options in the face of an imminent attack on Hougoumont.
Blucher: "I can't see that in the rules!", Lobau "Are you sure you have version 5.3?"
Our host Roy taking a break from his catering duties to study the action at Plancenoit.
The French infantry make their first attack on La Haye Sainte while Guard lancers canter past before turning left to ride down the Allied skirmish line.
A close up of the attack on La Haye Sainte. The 95th Rifles are just coming into range whilst the Dutch/Belgians of Bylant's brigade (at the base of the ridge) look on nervously.
D'Erlon's massed corps start to advance on the main Allied position. The RHA batteries can be seen unlimbering on their flank supported by a unit of Prussian Uhlans. The battle proper was now underway!
To be continued.

20 comments:

WSTKS-FM Worldwide said...

Wow! Love it. Especially the less commonly seen Allied units and the second/third battalion French battle flags.

Best Regards,

Stokes

Anonymous said...

Initial thoughts: WOW, will have to spend some time looking through these, love the commentary. Look forward to more, but need to digest these first.

Excellent

Paul

Stryker said...

Thanks for the comments - there's plenty more action to follow!

MSFoy said...

Fantastic - you realise I am going to have sit at my computer until the next instalment? - I just have to hope the family remember I'm here and keep me supplied with coffee and Hobnobs.

Marvellous terrain and figures - apart from anything else, I keep thinking we have got into the photos from the Charles Grant "Napoleonic Wargame" book. Congratulations to Roy and yourself, and all others involved - excellently done. I'm off to get a heavier sweater - keep them coming!

Thanks for this. We'll also need some credits and a cast list.

Tony

The Good Soldier Svjek said...

Very impressive ! , Tony

Stryker said...

Foy - Steady there lad, it may be a while yet before the next blog post. I will include a cast and credits in the final instalment...

Tony - thanks for that!

Anonymous said...

Very, very impressive.

Paulalba said...

Brilliant Ian really brilliant!!!! What a lovely looking table! I bet you all had great fun and well done getting all the troops together!!!

Conrad Kinch said...

Bravo! Encore! Bravissimo! Jolly good show! Well done!

Fantastic stuff chief. I'm delighted that as well as being a spectacle it worked as a game that could (and was) played. Thank you very much.

KEV. Robertson. said...

Excellent IAN- Your pictures really show the old-world charm of massed Hinton Hunt Armies - well done to all - thanks for posting. KEV.

Wellington Man said...

Well done Ian, Roy and everyone else involved. A stunning pay off for all that hard work and preparation, and very entertainingly presented, as always.

Needless to say I was late for work again!

WM

Stryker said...

Thanks for the comments all!

'Lee. said...

Nothing more I can add Ian, brilliant!

the Archduke said...

Deep respect. This looks like the meaning of life. Thanks to you, Ian and all who put this glorious spectacle together and shared it. Something rather prescient in your comment that you were too busy to pay attention to events at Plancenoit...........

Phil said...

Impressive looking game, and table!

tidders said...

Superb, what a joy to see

Stryker said...

Thanks to everyone for your comments - they are always appreciated!

warpaintjj said...

Bless my soul, that's Roy Boss!
Please say hi! I spent many happy hours in his garage playing FOW and painting endless Armati stuff for him. I lost touch when he moved so send him my way, I'd recognise those endless A4 box files anywhere!!!
Best wishes,
Jeremy J

SteveM said...

Roy

Very very nice!

Steve

James Fisher said...

The excitement and joy of the game and bringing this long-planned project to a head is palpable in your writing Ian. Such a marvellous looking table and wonderful photos. A fine opening to the game.
James
(It is great to look at these posts in detail, even all these months after the event. Superb!)