Reno's Ride, 6/25/1876

 Using 15mm miniatures from Blue Moon with a few QRF figs, we've set up Major Reno's iconic charge at the Little Big Horn. Bottom to top are Troops G, A, and M, with Reno himself in the middle. At the top of the bluff, you can see Lt.Col Custer with his column observing the charge...

A close up of the controversial commander of the 7th Cavalry...

Custer...

Reno (in his light-colored hat to left) and his scout Bloody Knife, (above Reno) leading the charge...

There's Reno's target, the Native American village...

Fallschirmjager at Veldwezelt, Belgium, 5/10/1940

 Having built this during the 2020 Covid Shutdown, it was time to put the fight on the table.

The first view of the battlefield, is from the south, with the Albert Canal on the right. GThe Belgians have a Platoon in each of the three trench systems along the river and about the middle ground. Another two Platoons are dug in on the hill to the sw (lower left). The German Gliders are place as they actually landed. One (2nd below bridge)flipped upside down but injuring only one man. A second (bottom)was badly shot up by anti-aircraft fire and only three Germans remained operational...

The key bunkers to the Belgian defenses, one alongside the highway; the other directly beneath the bridge. The demolition charges would be set off from these and were obviously, the prime targets of the German Fallschirmjager. Historically the orders never arrived to set off the charges (Belgians waiting for orders), as the HQ Bunker where the commander was preparing to phone in his orders, was completely destroyed by Stuka attacks for that purpose!

Two identical, large Casemates guarded the Canal, located south and north on the canal from the bridge. Neither would play much of a role historically or in the game...

Closeup of German Gliders, #1 whose nine men were to attack the bridge bunker to cut the demo charges as well as the two closest Belgian houses (thought to house soldiers)...

A view across the northern part of the field...

An example of how effective the German assault was. After only 30 minutes, the Fallschirmjager have rendered both bunkers inoperative; destroyed one of the two targeted houses, and have virtually cleared the southern and western trenches! Fighting was still going on in the northern trenches as German Me109 and Stukas begin their runs! Our rules had to reflect that Belgian rifles and MGs had a bad habit of malfunctioning! And thats not to mention none of their grenades had their detonator caps installed!

In the southern/western trenches the Germans are consolidating their defenses while expecting counterattacks...

As our game wound down after 90 minutes of fighting, we sped up the timeline (we had to break for dinner), so as to launch the major Belgian counterattack, supported by three T13 tanks. The Germans struck with Stukas, but they succeeded in disabling one...

The remaining T13s moved against the Germans who used a captured 47mm ATG to knock out both! A terrible day for the Belgians!
 

Battle of the Catalaunian Plains: Western Rome's Last Gasp

 The Army of Attila, with the Gepids (far left) and German allies next, Huns in center, and Ostrogoths on right...

Attila himself...

The Army of Aetius with the Salian Franks front right with Roman Cavalry behind; then Romans themselves with one unit of Cavalry behind; Alans in the center block; with the Visigoths on the left...

General Aetius...

Before the fight commences, with Attila and his men on left, and Aetius and his men on right...

We only played a few rounds to get the feel of the Saga Epic Rules, but it proved to be very enjoyable.

The early conflict was limited to the Ostrogoths/Visigoths, as losses were taken by both sides (top). The Gepid commander moved some Germans forward (bottom), but this front remained quiet...

The fighting continued between the Goths, as the Ostrogoths (bottom) inflicted severe casualties on their western cousins...

The conflict finally got serious between the Gepids/Germans and the Roman/Franks. To our surprise, it was a unit of Alan Levy bowmen (center) who began punishing some Huns. The Gepids also lost a unit against Roman cavalry (bottom)...

The Levy finally lost casualties vs the Huns, while the Visigoths lost their king and their army routed! Good point to stop our 'practice' game. We plan to redo the whole battle in the near future so I will keep it posted...

San Carlos de la Barra

 Located on a spit of land guarding the entrance to the large inland bay that house, among other towns, Maracaibo. The Spanish constructed it to defend against Buccaneer Raids. It was, and still is, massive.

The view from the sea with some of the landward defenses still incomplete...

Same view, a few months later (yea1, I finished the model!)...

From the landward side...

Finally, my version of Maracaibo...

Hopefully will make for a couple of exciting games...

Trafalgar

 Have been collecting models for this epic fight for years, starting back in the 80s! These photos show how far things have progressed. Missing models are filled in by paper-slips with the vessels name. There is light at the end of the tunnel...

First view is from the north, with the Franco-Spanish fleet on the left. The two English columns are about to reach the enemy lines, Admiral Nelson aboard the Victory, at left-center and Collingwood's line lead by the Royal Sovereign just above...

The view moves to the South and Collingwood's Royal Sovereign is just about center with Nelson and Victory above...

The tail of Nelson's column on the left and Collingwood on right, with the Franco-Spanish fleet drawn up from right to left...

Final shot is from the NE over the Franco-Spanish line, which the immense Spanish ship Santisima Trinidad (largest ship in the world at the time with 140 guns!) slightly left of center. The French Bucentaure and Redoubtable are next in line behind her. Nelson's Victory will cut the Franco-Spanish line between those two French ships...

Catalaunian Fields; 20 June, 451 AD

 Been painting up a large number of miniatures to recreate this battle between Rome and Attila. Will post more details in near future, but here is a quick preview...

Attila's Army from left to right: Gepids and Germanic allies ; the center with the Huns themselves; and the Ostrogoths...

A closeup of Attila himself...

I have never painted this many mounted miniatures at one time, and it has been a fun challenge. The plan is for the Gaming Gang to play this out as an Epic Saga Game in the near future, so will keep you posted...

The Spanish Take On Guadeloupe

 After successfully raiding the French port of Petit Goave, our Corasrio Commander next selected the French Colony on Guadeloupe. The Harbor was filled with merchant shipping but even with our rule regarding surprises, the French failed every attempt to sound a warning. Not until the Spanish literally began swarming onto the dock, did the French show any suspicion! Notice the Militia guards simply strolling along the dock...

As the first Corsarios move onto the dock, they let loose a volley and quickly, two Frenchmen go down...

The Militia Commander is on the parapet of the Fortified Stone House (top center) above the harbor, and can't believe what he just heard and saw...

As French Marins pour out of one of the dockside taverns, three are quickly cut down, and the survivor is routing off...

Even at longer range, the Spanish luck continues.  Another volley from the Corsarios drops more Marins (bottom) fleeing to the Fortified House...

Spanish Piqueros Milicianos inflict three more casualties on fleeing Marins, causing the survivor to flee...

The French finally strike back as their Caribbean Militia fire into the Piqueros Milicianos (center)...

The anchored Spanish Frigate (off table to left) fires a volley and they blast the two initial surviving Militia Dockside guards (bottom and center)...

All hope is lost as the last Marins are cut down before they can make it to the Fortified house. It is the last straw for the French Commander (lower left), who lowers the flag and surrenders!

This had to be the most lopsided fight we have held. It was an absolute slaughter, with almost every French figure becoming a casualty while the Spanish lost two! The Corsario Commander then spent the next day and a half, looting the island!