Rough Wooing

 The final book in Nigel Tranter's trilogy covering the rule of James V deals with the conflict with Henry VIII of England, known as the Rough Wooing. Tranter continues to tell the story through David Lindsay, The Lord Lyon.

The book starts in the final years of James V's rule. He died in 1542, aged only 30, and his final years also involved war with Henry VIII and the maintenance of the French alliance. After his first French wife died, he remarried the competent Mary of Guise, mother of their only surviving child, Mary Queen of Scots. The war was a mixed success, with the Scots winning at Haddon Rig but losing at Solway Moss. 

The Rough Wooing proper was sparked after James' death, leaving his infant daughter, Mary, as the heir to the Scottish throne. At the same time, Henry VIII of England, engaged in religious and political conflicts with various European powers, saw an opportunity to influence Scotland through a marriage alliance. In 1543, Henry VIII sought to secure this alliance through the Treaty of Greenwich, which proposed Mary's marriage to his son Edward. However, the treaty was unpopular in Scotland, where there was strong resistance to the idea of English domination. The Scottish Parliament ultimately rejected the treaty, leading to a breakdown in relations between the two countries.

There were three main battles and plenty of border skirmishing, although Tranter only covered some incidentally, as Lindsay was only sometimes present.

• The Burning of Edinburgh (1544): The English, under the command of the Earl of Hertford (later Duke of Somerset), launched a devastating raid on Edinburgh, burning much of the city and surrounding areas in an attempt to force the Scots to submit.
• The Battle of Ancrum Moor (1545): A significant Scottish victory during the Rough Wooing, where a Scottish force defeated an English army, boosting Scottish morale and resistance.
• The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh (1547) was fought on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland. It was the last pitched battle between Scotland and England before the Union of the Crowns, and the Scots suffered a disastrous defeat.
• The Siege of Haddington (1548): English forces captured and fortified the town of Haddington but faced a prolonged and costly siege by the Scots, who were supported by French troops sent by Mary of Guise, the Queen Regent of Scotland.

The Rough Wooing ultimately failed to achieve its primary objective. Despite the intense pressure and destruction wrought by the English, the Scots refused to agree to Mary and Edward's marriage. Instead, in 1548, at the end of the book, Mary was sent to France to marry the Dauphin Francis, solidifying an alliance between Scotland and France against England. The Rough Wooing concluded with the Treaty of Norham in 1551, effectively ending the hostilities. Henry VIII had also died by this time.

This book contains more action, as well as internal disputes and religious reform that dominated the period. The Rough Wooing is not well-known, but this book, although fiction, sticks closely to history.

For the wargamer, Border Wars works well for skirmishing. I have been trying out DBA Renaissance for the larger battles, which provides an excellent quick game. The midweek game saw a narrow victory for the Scots. English firepower forced the Scots off the hill, but the pikes managed to defeat both the English cavalry and the billmen.

The Changing face of the World's Navies

 Writing the HMS Ambuscade book interested me in the broader development of navies since the Second World War. This book by Bruce Watson chronologically takes the reader through the period, examining the events that shaped changes to the organisation of navies and warship design. It was written in the early 1990s, just as the Cold War ended.

For each period, the author highlights the influential factors and political and military events before looking at how the major and later minor navies of the world responded.

The Cold War began in the post-war period from 1945-50, but the Soviet Union had not developed a blue sea navy, so the USA and, to a lesser extent, Britain still ruled the waves. The aircraft carrier was the physical embodiment of that power projection. The Korean War was a turning point, and the USA developed nuclear-powered warships capable of staying at sea for extended periods. The Soviet Union started to re-evaluate its naval strategy after 1953, recognising that defending Soviet interests required something more than a coastal navy.

The Suez Crisis caused a reconsideration of sea power needs, not least in Britain with its withdrawal from Asia (East of Suez policy). Battleships and heavy cruisers were becoming obsolete, and general-purpose ships displaced specialist warships. Between 1967 and 1979, the British made the questionable decision to go in for Polaris submarines and a ballistic nuclear missile force. This was at the cost of other warship programmes, with the author arguing that 'British leaders had lost the understanding of the true value of naval power'. This was also the period of growing tension between Greece and Turkey, as Greece, in particular, came to believe that the Soviet threat against them was exaggerated. After the 1964 and 1967 Cyprus crises, Turkey started to look elsewhere than the USA for its warships and began the development of its own warship-building capacity.  

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union experienced its golden era based on Admiral Gorshkov's doctrine, as set out in 'Sea Power of the State.' New Soviet designs came off the slipways while the USA suffered from its post-Vietnam hangover, which wasn't reversed until the Reagan years. Britain's naval cuts were ruthlessly exposed by the Falklands War, where only good training and leadership plugged the gaps in the Royal Navy's capacity to recapture the islands. 

The Cold War ended because the Soviet economy could not keep up with the USA's rebuilding of its fleets, bringing the Superpower era to an end. The author's forward-looking conclusions highlight the role of smaller navies enabled by small-boat missile technology. He also recognised China's growing role in the Pacific, although he could not have foreseen the scale of Chinese shipbuilding or the impact of drone warfare.

This is a really well-argued and structured book, which is essential reading if you are interested in this period. It is out of print, but secondhand copies can be picked up cheaply.

I have been using Naval Command rules for modern naval actions on the tabletop. I found other systems far too complex. So far, I have used them for Cyprus conflict what-ifs and a brief dabble in the Falklands. However, writing about the Pakistan Navy in the Ambuscade book reignited my interest in the Indo-Pakistan wars.

Hellenic Air Force attacks on a Turkish convoy heading to Cyprus.

HMS Ambuscade

 My new book, HMS Ambuscade: From 1746 to the Present Day, is launched today. It is unusual for me not to have any Balkan links in a book; believe me, I looked hard!

The last Ambuscade (a Type 21 frigate) was sold to Pakistan in 1993 and renamed PNS Tariq. I got involved when, in 2023, the Pakistan Navy kindly agreed to donate the ship to the charity Clyde Naval Heritage, and I joined the Advisory Board. The charity aims to bring her back to the Clyde, where she was built, within a museum focusing on the Falklands War. That project inspires this book, and all the profits will be donated to Clyde Naval Heritage.

The project faces a couple of challenges at present. The ship is berthed at the Karachi naval base, and we have a ship-lifting firm prepared to bring her home. However, the only viable route is through the Suez Canal, which is effectively blocked by the current conflict. We must also raise significant funds to pay for the journey once the route opens. You can read more about the project on the charity's website.

The book traces the history of all Royal Navy ships bearing that name since the first frigate was captured from the French in 1746. While not a Royal Navy ship, there was an earlier British fighting ship named Ambuscade. She was a privateer authorised by the British government to attack enemy ships during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714). 

There were five substantive Ambuscades, although matters were more complex during the Napoleonic Wars when one Dutch and two French warships were renamed Ambuscade after being captured by the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy’s first steam-powered frigate was laid down in 1830 and was initially named Ambuscade. However, it was renamed HMS Amphion when launched in 1846.

HMS Ambuscade is probably not one of the most famous or recognisable names in the long history of the Royal Navy. As the ships bearing that name were primarily frigates, they were the fleet's workhorses rather than the ships of the line or battleships that tend to dominate naval history. From the age of sail to the Second World War, Ambuscades protected the convoys that provided the sinews of war. Had these essential supply chains been broken, military reverses would have followed. Ambuscades also took economic warfare to the enemy, capturing merchant ships and blockading their ports. The strategic importance of ships like the Ambuscades in protecting Britain's maritime trade cannot be overstated.

I have included the technical data you would expect in naval history, although lightly, as this book is aimed at the general reader. However, the focus is the story of the ships and the men who crewed HMS Ambuscade over nearly three centuries. While we know more about the captains than the crew, they are interesting, and I enjoyed the research.

If you are interested in this book, there is a dedicated web page that includes a presentation by me on it. You can get it through your local bookshop, but if you buy online, please do so on the web page, as that generates more revenue for the charity.

The Gallipoli Oak

 I was in Manchester last week, and in between the cricket and the football, I visited a few museums, including a return to the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum in Bury. My last visit was rushed, so it was an opportunity to savour this fine regimental museum. I picked up a copy Of Martin Purdy and Ian Dawson's book The Gallipoli Oak in the shop. 

In the Spring of 1922, the parents of a teenager killed at Gallipoli took the sapling of an English oak tree in a bucket of water to Gallipoli. One hundred years on, the sapling has grown into an enduring memorial to the sacrifices of hundreds of men from a close-knit group of old Lancashire mill towns.

This is the hook for the story of the 6th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. This territorial battalion had its baptism of fire at Gallipoli. The professional soldiers of the 1st Battalion are probably better known because of their landing on 'W Beach' near Cape Helles. The battalion was to win six Victoria Crosses before breakfast as they gained control of this beachhead at a huge cost. I have visited what is now known as the 'Lancashire Landing' in their honour, and it is hard to imagine a more challenging place for an amphibious landing.

The 6th Battalion's territorial's had sailed from Britain to Egypt before sailing to Gallipoli. They landed at night and took their place in the trenches. They were almost immediately thrown into a major assault with the 42nd East Lancashire Division as part of the Second Battle of Krithia. Like so many operations in this campaign, the planning was poor, and the Battalion suffered severely, with around one-third becoming casualties. When the news reached home, the postie had to deliver the news to each family. The local newspaper editor recalled seeing a postman sitting on the kerb sobbing.

With few lessons learned, the Battalion participated in a diversionary attack during the Third Battle of Krithia, losing more men even in a supporting role. Lord Rochdale, the regimental colonel, was particularly scathing about the role of staff officers who failed to understand the conditions on the ground. Even in between the major assaults, the battalion lost six wounded and two killed every day.

The battalion had one short break during the campaign and was eventually evacuated in the only competently managed operation of the whole campaign. They went on to serve in France.

The story is well told, using private papers to add to the operational details. This isn't a cheerful tale, but it is a valuable addition to the extensive literature on the Gallipoli campaign.

Some of my 28mm early WW1 figures.

Turning the Tide

 When you think about the USAAF in WW2, you rarely think about the Mediterranean. However, it was here that many American pilots learned their trade and played a vital, yet often overlooked, role in the campaign. I have therefore been looking forward to this new Osprey book by Thomas Cleaver on the USAAF in North Africa and Sicily. It is a complete-length book, not an Osprey MAA or similar.

The early deployment of USAAF B-24 bombers to Palestine enabled the bombing of the Romanian oilfields. It wasn't a great success, mainly due to poor weather, and four returning aircraft were forced down in Turkey, three near the capital at Ankara and one at Izmir, due to fuel shortage and battle damage. You can see the remains of a later USAAF bomber (fished out of the sea) in an Istanbul museum today (see below). The Turkish Air Force eventually acquired enough US bombers to create their own Squadron.

Operation Torch brought significant USAAF assets to the Mediterranean despite differences between Churchill and the US leadership over his 'soft underbelly' strategy. The USAAF also regarded this theatre as a diversion from building up their strength in Britain for the bombing offensive. However, Roosevelt issued a direct order, and various fighters were deployed, including P-38s and P-40s. Two fighter groups also used the Spitfire in a reverse lend-lease operation. 

The author covers each of the operations in some detail. It is challenging to write operational air war history in a way that keeps the reader's attention. However, pilot memoirs are effective in breaking up the text. American air units arrived just before El Alamein, helping the Western Desert Air Force to victory. For example, the 65th Squadron had its baptism of air combat when it got into a fight with 20 Bf-109s over El Alamein. First Lieutenant Arnold D. Jaquan, in a P-40F, made the Squadron's first claims for one Bf-109 destroyed and a second damaged.

While the book focuses on the USAAF, its opponents are addressed. There is a good chapter on the Italian Air Force's shortcomings and the regular deployments of high-quality Luftwaffe units. The Vichy aircraft are not ignored.

There is an interesting discussion about the deployment of air support. The US Field manual held that air support must be subordinated to ground force needs. A headquarters memo issued in October 1942, stating a policy that aircraft should not be “frittered away” on unimportant targets but rather “reserved for concentration in overwhelming attack upon important objectives,” had not solved the problem. At Kasserine, there was a shift from tank-busting missions to more effective missions against airfields, infantry concentrations, and soft-skinned vehicles. Eisenhower eventually embraced the new philosophy, partly because he had lost confidence in Fredendall, who had been the leading proponent of tying the air forces to specific ground forces.

The USAAF learned to walk and then to run in the Mediterranean. The success of Operation Overlord would not have been possible without the lessons learned in battle over the North African desert and Sicily during the 12 months when the tide turned in World War II.

Slightly outside the timescale of this book, the use of US airpower in this theatre was also the cause of a major bust-up between Churchill and Eisenhower. This was over the deployment of long-range P38 fighters to support Churchill's folly, the Dodecanese adventure. It is a pity he stopped at Sicily, as it would have been interesting to get his take on this controversy. 

No P-38s but here is the opposition for Blood Red Skies

James, by the Grace of God

 This is the second in Nigel Tranter's trilogy covering the reign of James V of Scotland. James is coming out of his infancy and preparing to rule Scotland if any of the warring factions will let him.

Our hero remains David Lindsay of the Mount, the King's Usher—a sort of guardian and tutor. He is close friends with David Beaton, nephew and secretary to the Primate, who effectively runs the church. The young monarch has escaped the clutches of his mother, the sister of Henry VIII of England, only to be held by Archibald, Earl of Angus, chief of the mighty Red Douglases. 

Several attempts were made to free the king, aided by Beaton's plotting. Walter Scott of Branxholme ambushed Angus' forces on 25 July 1526 at the Battle of Melrose but was routed. Another attempt later that year, on 4 September at the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge, also failed. However, in May 1528, James finally escaped from Angus's captivity when he fled from Edinburgh to Stirling in disguise with Lindsay.

James attacked Angus, although they failed to capture Tantallon Castle, which was almost impregnable even with the great cannon, Mons Meg. Angus still fled to England.

James' personal rule has to be set in the context of the period. The Papacy was struggling with the disruption caused by the Reformation, and Henry was busy breaking away from Rome when he couldn't get a divorce. He was still trying to get James to marry his daughter, Mary, backed up with many punitive raids. However, the French alliance was Scotland's best defence against Henry, and the book ends with James looking for a French bride.

Tranter is generally not a big fan of the Stewarts, and he paints James as weak and dissolute, which is a bit unfair given his childhood. He managed to subdue the border lords, if only temporarily, and institute reforms, including establishing Scotland's top law court, the Court of Session, which remains in place today. Angus introduced the adolescent king to the pleasures of the flesh, an aspect of his personal life that Tranter emphasises. 

It is not a bad story, but the battlefield action is limited to small-scale internal feuding and border raids. The Border Wars game and figure range cover this period well, which is an excellent way to cover it on the tabletop.

The Sieges of Rhodes 1480 and 1522

This is Jonathan Davies' new study of the epic sieges of Rhodes. Often overshadowed by the later Siege of Malta, these Ottoman sieges of the Knights of St John (Hospitallers) base happened during a transitional period in the history of siege warfare. 

  

The 1480 Siege of Rhodes was Sultan Mehmed II's attempt to capture the island of Rhodes from the Knights. The Ottomans launched a large-scale assault, with a fleet and an army numbering in the tens of thousands. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Knights, led by Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson, mounted a fierce defence. After several weeks of intense fighting, including a failed final assault on the city's walls, the Ottomans were forced to withdraw. The Knights' successful defence was celebrated across Europe as a significant victory against the expanding Ottoman Empire.

In 1522, Sultan Suleiman, the Magnificent (Lawgiver), returned to finish the job. Unlike the previous siege in 1480, the Ottomans launched a massive, well-coordinated assault with an estimated force of 100,000 men and a large fleet. The Knights, led by Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, mounted a determined defence. Still, after six months of intense fighting, they were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and firepower of the Ottomans. Facing inevitable defeat and severe casualties, the Knights negotiated a surrender. Suleiman allowed the surviving Knights and citizens to leave the island with their lives and belongings. The Knights later relocated to Malta, where they established a new stronghold.

The author starts with a brief overview of the strategic position in the eastern Mediterranean before quickly moving on to the strength of this book, how sieges were undertaken and military engineering. The Ottoman bombards were cast from bronze that was easier to manufacture and transport. Here is one in the Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson I visited last year.

The 1480 siege failed due to poor planning, arguably something of an afterthought. Mehmet was occupied on many fronts at the time. In addition, the defence was skillfully led, perhaps more important than the divine intervention claimed by the chroniclers! The Order had been preparing for this siege for 40 years, although the power of Ottoman artillery did considerable damage to the medieval fortifications.

By 1522, the Order had begun to upgrade the defences in line with the latest thinking,. However, it wasn't until after the siege that the new Trace Italienne system was fully developed. Interim measures, as you can see here in Scotland at Tantallon, kept the bombards further away. Artillery was also improving, particularly cast iron ammunition, and the Ottomans had both types at the 1522 siege.

The armies deployed in the 1522 siege are described, with more detail on the Ottomans than the Order. There are colour plates of the standards used by both sides, although surprisingly for this series, no colour plates of the troops, other than the fine Janissary on the cover. There are many other studies of the Ottomans with colour plates.

Finally, a detailed description of the siege. Numbers are always challenging, with the order possibly fielding up to 16,000 men and the Ottomans up to 100,000. The difference between the two sieges was Sulieman's better planning and determination to continue the siege beyond the normal campaigning season.

Overall, this is an excellent and very readable study of the sieges. Highly recommended.

Sieges are difficult to replicate on the tabletop. The best attempt I have seen recently is the board game, Fire and Stone, which covers the later Siege of Vienna. For figure games, sorties, make good quick games.

My take on an Ottoman siege camp in 28mm.

The Riven Realm

 This is the first of a trilogy by Tranter covering the reign of James V. Yes, the last book was also during this period, but I am reading chronologically. Tranter often returned to a period he was particularly interested in. In this case, some 20 years later. Much as I love his books, I'm not convinced James V deserves a trilogy, as it wasn't a fascinating period. 

This book covers the early years of James' life as seen through the eyes of David Lindsay, the Usher and Procurator of the infant King. His mother, Margaret Tudor, was under the influence of her brother, Henry VIII of England, so the Regency Council appointed David and others to look after him. Henry wanted the young King in England as part of his claim to be Lord Paramount of Scotland. Margaret lost her right to be the infant King's guardian when she remarried Archibald Douglas, who was in the English faction.

Not having a strong King meant the Scots nobles did what they always did best - squabble amongst themselves. The Douglas and Hamilton factions vying for power. The increasingly corrupt Catholic church held the balance, and David's friend David Beaton, the subject of the last book, makes an early appearance. The only serious candidate for sole Regent was John Stewart, Duke of Albany, the King's cousin. He was appointed but never stuck around for long. He was French and didn't even speak English, let alone Scots. The need for the French alliance was also a common theme in the period, an essential counter to Henry, although subject to the vagaries of continental alliances and politics. 

The period in this story didn't cover a great deal of action, but there were all the usual cross-border threats and raiding. This is very much a lowland story, with the Highlands rarely entering the tale. It's not the most gripping story, but there is plenty of plotting and power politics. 

I do have a Tudor English army of this period in 15mm. I do not have a Scots army as such, but a raid through my late medieval armies produced enough figures close enough to the long spear schiltrons the Scots generally fielded. I considered a few different rule sets and even downloaded the ADLG Renaissance set. However, Pike & Shotte has a section on this period so I went for them. They worked very well, and our midweek game was excellent. I have always been a fan of Renaissance wargaming since George Gush enticed me all those years ago.

Claymore 2024

 Yesterday was the Claymore show in Edinburgh, one of two big shows held in Scotland. The venue is the Granton Campus of Edinburgh College, which, while a bit away from the city centre, offers ample space with good car parking.

This year's show was overshadowed by the death of one of the main organisers, Derek Hodge, the day before. Derek was a stalwart of the hobby, and I always followed his projects with interest. His death was very sudden, and I had only exchanged emails with him about our display game the week before. Our thoughts go out to his family; his son attended the show yesterday. The Wargaming in Scotland Facebook page will have details of the funeral arrangements when known.

The club rallied around, and the show was as well organised as ever, if a little quieter and with fewer traders than usual. Standard purchasing service resumed for me after recent shows. Claymore Castings has a new range of 28mm Seven Years War Russians, one-piece castings (hurrah!) that look lovely with excellent character figures. They will be an addition to my Potemkin figures, as both types were used in the Russo-Turkish War. I also succumbed to Perry Miniatures Nizam-i-cedid figures as I don't have these in 28mm. I bought another box of Mig Alley for Blood Red Skies with the vague aim of any early Cold War scenario on the Thrace front. The Flea market was a bit quieter than usual, but I also picked up some nicely painted space types for my Xenos Rampant force.

Rab and Mark organised the GDWS display game based on Juno Beach 1944 in 15mm. I have only played Battlegroup rules a couple of times, so I fear I was not a lot of help. However, there was a lot of interest in a lovely table, and the Canadians did get off the beach this time.

 As I was only filling in on the display game, I had more time than usual to look at the other games. The very best was, without doubt, this 28mm British Seven Years War raid on the French coast. The two ships, fort, and village were magnificent.

The Falkirk club also used Battlegroup for their Normandy game. I don't know about the hex basing but it does contouring well.

The Jutland game used the diminutive 1/4800 scale ships and Dreadnought rules, which looked very playable.

The Tradeston guys brought their Breitenfeld 1631 in 15mm. Using their own ‘Through the Square Window’ rules. Carpet tiles may be old school, but they are still effective for a big battle like this.

This game was a bit of nostalgia for me. The classic Fulda Gap Cold War scenario brings back memories of the board game of the same name we played in the 1980s. Desperate NATO rear guard actions as masses of Soviets came after you.

From the other side of Glasgow, this Dark Ages battle from Phoenix was a classic, come-and-get-us-off-the-hill scenario using Midgard rules. The mat was very effective.

The Durham lads brought the Carlist War with an excellent display board to explain this less well-known conflict.

WWI air combat has always been a popular participation game, this time by the Kirrimuir club.

The ever-engaging SPIT team did a popular WW2 Far East game next to us.

If you like strategic games, this is the early stages of WWI, fought over a mat painted to represent the whole of northern France.

As ever, and particularly this year, a big thanks to the Edinburgh club for organising the show.

The North Caucasus Borderland

 My Persian Napoleonic rabbit hole in the Southern Caucasus led me to wonder how Russia got into the North Caucasus. Then I came across a review of this new book by Murat Yasar that covers the border between Muscovy and the Ottoman Empire from 1555 to 1605. This was a period when Muscovy was pushing its border southwards, clashing with the Crimean Khanate and then the Ottomans. I am always interested in the history of borderlands, so this is a double hit. The author quotes Owen Lattimore's argument that ‘the linear frontier as it is conventionally indicated on a map always proves, when studied on the ground, to be a zone rather than a line’. This was certainly the case here.

The North Caucasus is globally known for its ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity. Nearly fifty languages with no cognates to the major linguistic families are a testament to the impact of geography and the region's role as a refuge. I was watching Bethany Hughes' excellent 'Treasures' series, when she highlighted this in a visit to the region. The scenery is just magnificent.

Three major imperial powers surrounded the North Caucasus in the sixteenth century: the Ottoman Empire, the Tsardom of Muscovy and the Safavid Empire. The Persians were being pushed out, and the other two powers had different approaches at the start of this period. Muscovy favoured direct control, imposed through a fortress-building programme supplemented by local clients. The Ottoman approach adorned local rulers with imperial titles and granted salaries. If a local ruler failed to fulfil his promises or was no longer loyal, the Ottoman Porte sent the Crimean Khan to punish him. As Muscovy advanced, the Ottomans incorporated the region into its normal administrative structures. They even started an ambitious canal-building project from the Volga to the Don rivers. 

The author takes us through the various stages of the expansion. He covers the complex network of peoples who populated the region, some nomadic and others more sedentary. I suggest printing off a map because the local 'states' will probably not be familiar. He analyses the different strategies, which for the Ottomans included building a naval squadron on the Caspian Sea. As with all borderlands, most conflicts were small-scale. However, larger battles were also fought with Ottoman armies entering the region and faced by Muscovite Streltsy musketeers and cossacks.

In the end, neither the Ottomans nor the Muscovites lost, but rather the local polities, peoples, and rulers of the North Caucasus, who became dependent on the power and strategies of these two empires in the following centuries.

This is a complex story and, in places, a challenging read. However, there are very few objective studies on this period and region in English. It also has modern-day relevance.

I don't have any Streltsy for the wargame table, but I have the excellent Foundry Cossacks! This would be another period for which you could adapt to Flags of War, Border Wars game.