18 Feb 2009 Scenario 11: River and Land

This game was played solo using 40mm 19thC fictional armies and Hearts of Tin rules.

This game was rather cramped on my smaller table and I accidentally made it worse by laying the river slightly off center on the wrong side so that there was little room for maneuver. I decided to play Red and diced for Blue's deployment which more or less decided their plan of attack. On reflection I would have done better to command Blue's attack.

I also started the gunboats off table and diced for their arrival. Blue's boats were fighting the current and rolling poorly to boot and were barely 1/2 way across the table when the gunboats arrived and opened fire on the schooner with deadly effect, sinking her in 3 turns. The longboats crammed with privateers had 2 choices, land behind their own lines or run the fire and try to board. On their first attempt, they were repelled by fire and 1 boat load fled the table. The remaining boat was fierce however and, helped by fire from batteries on shore which silenced the FTCS Reuse, driving her from the table, they boarded and took the FTCS Recycle. This success was short lived however and cannister and rockets from Red's artillery cut them down and they leapt back into their launch and fled downstream in their turn.

On the right bank, after a short sharp firefight in which the Victoria Rifles drove off the San Carlos Volunteers, the battle settled into an inconclusive long range duel of rifle, rocket and roundshot. On the left bank, Blue's infantry advanced in line and engaged in a prolonged exchange of musketry in which the 1st Infantry and Green Tigers mauled each other while the artillery dueled over head until Red's battered guns were forced to pull back. Eventually the young Buffs were also reduced to 1/2 strength and had to withdraw as Blue's reserves came forward. The game was basically a bloody draw but the price of the village was too high and General Sloidh ordered a withdrawal while his forces were still in fighting order. (Rolled a 2 on army morale.)