The Reds are Holding the Village

As we continue to try out the Rule Set "Set the East Ablaze", the scale gets a little larger. The 'Bolshies' (which I've learned was a British term used for their opponents) are housed in the town, trying to stay warm indoors on a typically chilly Russian winter day. There are troops in the Manor House (mid-right); an Austin-Putilov AC you can just make out parked in front (seen above the Church onion-dome); more troops in  the smaller Dacha across the road to the left; with a Cavalry unit (horses tied up outside) in the house between that Dacha, and the second across the street (with more troops) towards the bottom of photo. Finally there is a detachment of Kronstadt sailors housed in the Station House at the bottom along with an Armored Train (with two gun cars, a MG car, and an external MG at end of train). This photo actually shows the end of the first turn and the sentries are alerting the garrison. You can make out two dead horses at the crossroads, and that will be explained in the next photo...

Looking over the attacking White forces. Left to right we have a detachment from the Kornilov Division (Crack troops they); two Cavalry units (at the head of the column, Don Cossacks); below the cavalry and to the right of the Kornilov men, two infantry units supported by a Maxim MG; a truck-towed Howitzer; dismounted Kuban Cossacks and a dismounted Don Cossack unit bottom right. An Austin-Putilov AC is advancing down the road and has opened fire at the string of horses it can see at the crossroads (the result you saw in previous photo)... 

Now the Whites are advancing all along the battle field. To the left, Kornilov along the flank, and Infantry to the perimeter fence of the Manor House. In the center, the mounted Don Cossacks made the mistake of plunging straight down the main road when unexpectedly, the Bolshevik AC came roaring down through the gate of the Manor House ploughing into them and spraying them with MG fire! All very costly to the Cossacks. The 2nd White Cavalry is peeling off the road to the right side of town while the Kuban unit is pushing forward as well. The Howitzer fires at but misses striking the Manor House...

Next you can see the Reds reaction. At the bottom the Kronstadt sailors are manning the various positions on the Armored Train. In the center, the slaughter of the Don Cossacks, while to the left Red Infantry is moving to the left while their cavalrymen have mounted up.

Turn three, the Red's AC finishes off the unfortunate Don Cossacks, while the second White Cavalry and the Kuban continue to advance...

The Whites are bringing pressure up on the Manor House, while the two ACs pelt each other with MG fire. The Whites actually get a suppressed marker on the 'Bolshie' which means that they cannot advance...

On the other side of town, there is a large melee involving White Cavalry against Red Cavalry and Infantry. The Whites get the worse of the fight especially against the Reds behind the fencing and are nearly wiped out (the remains are seen retreating in the upper left).  White infantry however gain the upper hand with the Red Infantry inside the Dacha (top center) and succeed in suppressing them. They also shoot down a number of the Red Cavalry (lower right). What the Reds wouldn't know right away is that the White unit with two red caps has just run out of ammo!..

Unfortunately for the Bolsheviks back at the Manor House, accurate MG fire has broken the Reds stationed inside the Manor House, and they have been completely routed. Even threatened by their Commissar (you can just see him on the porch of the Manor House) has failed to stop their flight, and they are out the battle. The Kornilov detachment is just reaching the other side of the House (upper right)...

...yes he has a megaphone, don't all Commissars!

I wish I could take credit for setting this picture up but I simply used the opportunity when someone opened the blinds on the west facing shop windows creating this effect! (literally the setting sun) It looks so Dr Zhivago. Anyway, the routing Red unit from the Manor House are running so fast they are leaving their Commissar far behind. Above the very angry Commissar you can make out the remnants of the Reds who were stationed inside the Dacha routing as well (3-yellow caps) while their AC has pulled back to the crossroads (mostly obscured by the Church Dome again...

A better view of the deteriorating situation for the Reds on the other side of town. Their lone surviving Cavalryman (upper left in road) and the AC at the crossroads with the routing infantry to its right. The final Bolshevik unit is seen along the fences (upper center) facing the White infantry closing in from the right...

With the Whites pouring in, the Bolshevik command decided it was time to retire. BTW, the Armored Train had virtually no affect on the fight. In fact, the die rolls for the Red Players were almost completely bad with the exception of the Infantry unit that smashed the White Cavalry at the fence. We are finding the Rule Set gives a fairly quick and fun game and we're planning on more. Dasvidaniya til later...
 

A Meeting Engagement

 One of the first games using the new rules "Setting the East Ablaze" follows.

At the bottom are the Whites. From l to r we see a Truck and Howitzer; unit of infantry behind a Maxim MG; another infantry unit; then finally a Kuban Cossack infantry unit...

The Bolshevik view, with (from l to r) an Austin-Putilov AC; three Infantry units; and finally some Cavalry...

Initial turns saw the Whites deploying their Howitzer and MMG white other troops move into the village. The Cossacks on the right, move towards the farm house. The Reds are moving their Cavalry (l) and Putilov (r) quickly before the Whites consolidate their positions. Some Infantry are moving on the farm house as well...

The Bolshevik view...

The Cavalry smash into the Artillery crew but shockingly lost more in the melee than the gunners! Then supporting White Infantry fire and MMG fire devastated their ranks. The Putilov opens fire and brings down a couple of enemy troops to slow to reach cover. But there is bad news even here, as they roll for low ammo (occurs when you roll 2x1 for each 6 rolled. It then means -1 on future rolls and will go out of ammo if repeated)...

At the two farm house, both sides are approaching the fight...

With the Red Cavalry dispatched, artillery, MG, and rifle fire rip into the closest enemy Infantry. The Putilov scores more hits BUT... get another low ammo roll and so they are out of ammo!

The final episode (as it turns out) occurs at the farm house. While the Whites take some losses, their fire, devastates the Red Infantry and their morale breaks! Fight over.

A nice quick little game and we'll continue to try out these rules.

 

The Battle of Kherson: 2 March 1919

The French and their forces landed at Odessa on the Black Sea, 18 December, 1918. They scattered their small force to the north, northeast and east including the town of Kherson. This town is located on the Dnieper River, a few miles inland from the Black Sea, some 150 miles (+/-) east  of Odessa. The French commander assigned the responsibility of defending Kherson to the 1st Btn, 34th Ing Regiment of the Greek Army. This was supported (?) by one company of the French 176th Regi supported by two 65mm  mountain guns. It was reinforced by a second company from the French 176th and two companies of the Greek 7th Inf Regi. Even though the Greeks made up the vast majority of the men, command was in the hands of the French Major Lanchon. There was a two tiered defense line consisting of an advance line based on the Kherson Railroad Station and a local church/cemetary, a few miles north of the town center (the main line) and its small fortress. On 1 Mar, Ataman Grigoriev's pro-Bolshevik forces arrived some 31 miles to the north and had delivered an ultimatum to Lt Mathios in command of the advanced position. The Allies were to lay down their weapons and evacuate by 1500hrs on 2 Mar, or face the consequences. This was rejected and the battle was on.

This view is northward looking over Kherson itself, toward the Kherson RR Station, seen top center. Kherson's riverside dock area is just off to the bottom of the photo...

The view is still northward, now a closeup on the station (l) and church (r). The defenders are seen at bottom. Two French Hotchkiss MMG, two French cos, three Greek cos and a Greek Evzoni co, and one White Russian co (not in photo, and supported by a French Armored Train and artillery)...

Viewing southward to Kherson with the initial Bolshevik force drawn up for the assault just out of the photo to bottom. (The allies were heavily outnumbered 10-12,000 to 1000+). Late snow is lingering underneath the few trees...

The fighting began with the Bolshevik artillery aiming at the grand RR Station House, but only one round was on target and it had no affect on the large structure. The Bolshevik cavalry and infantry began to make their charge across open ground...

...while the French artillery placed one of their first rounds directly on a charging horsemen. First blow to the Allies...

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The Greeks on the Allied right flank let the charging horsemen get closer before their rifles and a French Hotchkiss tore into the Bolshevik ranks, downing seven of the ten man co! With such a devastating volley, its no wonder that the Bolshevik failed their morale and came to a thunderous halt...

On the other Bolshevik flank, the French artillery barrage all came up short. Only the Hotchkiss MMG had the range to reached the Reds, but it only dropped one cavalryman...

To be continued...

Russian Civil War: The Interventionists

 Researching the history of any era is always rewarding, and the RCW is no different.  I had the knowledge of the Allied effort in Odessa in 1918, but never realized the specifics. This included the French troops, but never knew there was just as large a Greek contingent. The French also brought along Colonial troops as well including Algerians and Senegalese! Naturally I had to stage this particular part of the Civil War.

Here are some Greek soldiers...

and Greek Evizone...

Finally (for now) some of the French troops...

Russian Civil War: The Whites

 Moving on to the forces know overall as the Whites, including everything from leftist Social-Revolutionaries, to Menshiviks, Centralist Cadets, and Right Wing Monarchists. The First two photos show the elite Kornilov Division. These miniatures are I believe from STP Miniatures out of St Petersburg, although I purchased them from Siberia Miniatures...

Next two photos of some regular White troops also from Siberia (I highly recommend their miniatures)...

A Lewis Gun Team (from Tiger Miniatures) on left, with some standard troops (from Copplestone)...

Kuban Cossacks (from Siberia) in the next two photos...

And finally, for now at least, some Don Cossacks (from Askari Miniatures)...

To be continued...

Russian Civil War: The Reds

 Along with our continuing Blood and Plunder Campaign, I've taking a dive into he Russian Civil War  with new and interesting figures to paint and buildings to put together. To start off, I have some of my Bolshevik forces to illustrate, so here we go.

First up are some Kronstadt sailors, backbone of numerous Red units. These come from Copplestone and their Back and Beyond range...

Next are some generic Bolshies, these coming from Siberia Miniatures in Russia. I highly recommend them...

Some more Bolsheviks from Siberia...

Siberia Minis on left, with Copplestone's three on right...

More Copplestone...

A good old Maxim from Siberia...

Finally, can't do the RCW without cavalry, these are Copplestone as well...

Next up, the Whites...

The Opening Moves at the Little Big Horn

 The first Indians. begin to emerge from the village. Notice the stragglers appearing behind the Cavalry's charge. The Rules "Yellow Ribbon" account for that...

As more Indians move into the fight, the first shots are fired...and Reno is hit and killed! Another trooper is killed while two receive light wounds (yellow caps)...

The fighting intensifies as more and more Warbands emerge from the village. Two bands even close to hand-to-hand and casualties mount for both sides. Two Warbands are actually forced to retire (when native leaders are lost, a roll is taken and if failed, they withdraw until a new leader is selected, or they vacate the field)...

Reno's (?) three troops begin to withdraw to the timber, some mounting up while others simply fall back. M Troop (at top of cavalry line, just entering the timber) is to be the rear guard...

While M Troop fires into the Warbands, keeping them temporarily at bay, Troops A and G (top right) try to save themselves...

When A Troops attempts to retire after mounting up, they are overtaken by a Warband and engaged in hand-top-hand (center). It is a one-sided fight, no Native losses, but three troopers bite the dust!

Closeup of A Troops difficulties, as five troopers escape momentarily...

Troops A and G along with Reno's (?) HQ, are arriving at the top of the bluff overlooking the Little Big Horn. Will they have a chance to regather themselves before Benteen arrives?

The remnants of A Troop (top center) are desperately attempting to reach the Reno Column reforming at the top of the hill, but Native Bands are closing in from two sides...

Yet another Native Band is moving along the Little Big Horn to attack the troopers from the west...

Unfortunately for the few A troopers still in the saddle, a Native Band goes first and shoots two of the three off their horses! The lone survivor gallops off...

One lucky trooper...

As the survivors of Reno's Battalion reform and try to dig in, Captain Benteen arrives with his Battalion and the Pack Train. They survive (?)