Staffordshire Museums

 I had a free day before a book talk this evening, so I went on a grand tour of Staffordshire museums.

I started at the remains of the Roman town of Wall (Letocetum). This town on Watling Street, the main road to London, was well established by 50AD. The remains of the walls here cover the public bathhouse and the main administrative building. It is only a small site but has good information boards. A small museum is attached to the site, but it has minimal opening times.

The next stop was the excellent Staffordshire Regimental Museum near Lichfield. It has a few armoured vehicles (Spartan, Ferret, MTLB, Bren Carrier) outside and one of the best replica WWI trenches I have seen. Inside is the usual chronological set of display cases covering the regiments amalgamated into the North and South Staffords, which today are part of the Mercian Regiment. 

Iraqi MTLB

I had never seen this 20-round magazine for the SMLE.  120,000 were issued in 2018.

This did make me laugh.

I stopped off in Lichfield for lunch and rummaged through the second-hand bookshops. The cathedral is impressive and has a regimental chapel. It saw much action during the Civil War, including three sieges.

This memorial in the chapel covers the little-known Sutlej Campaign in the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1815.

The final stop was the National Memorial Arboretum. This is very impressive, with memorials to the regiments, corps, and campaigns of the armed forces and others who lost their lives, such as railway workers and miners. It is beautifully laid out and makes a great afternoon stroll.

The main post-1945 memorial.

The South Atlantic memorial

Gallipoli. It includes the famous Ataturk quote, although he probably didn't say it.

Balkan Wars

 Balkan Wars is a mighty tome by James Tracy, with a matching price tag (£70). It examines the long 16th-century conflicts between the Ottomans, Habsburgs, and Venetians in the Balkans. Even I baulked at the price until it arrived as a Christmas present.

The 15th century was the period when the Ottomans swept across the Balkans, occupying modern Greece, Bulgaria, large parts of Bosnia and Serbia, and capturing Constantinople. The 16th century started with further conquest based on the destruction of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary following the battle of Mohacs in 1526. This not only pushed the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire against the Austrian Habsburgs and the Venetians in Dalmatia, but it also consolidated the Ottoman administration of the Balkans for centuries to come. Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia (modern Romania) were organised as vassal states. Progress was limited for the rest of the 16th century until the boundaries largely stabilised after the Long Turkish War ended in 1606. 

This is the big picture that James Tracy breaks down into a narrative history of the individual conflicts and a study of how the armies were financed and recruited. This is often portrayed as a clash of Christendom against Islam. However, Tracy points out that this is a simplistic conclusion given the era's changing nature of religious belief. Many Habsburg regions became Protestant, and the Ottomans were often drawn back to their eastern borders to fight their own heretics in Persia. Language, trade and cultural ties were more important than shifting religious affinities.

The Ottomans had the best of the century primarily because they could mobilise greater warfighting resources on the front line. Bosnia provided the core of Ottoman manpower, supplemented by armies from across the empire during major wars. The small war was almost constant. Akinci raiders would spread across the border into Croatia, devastating the countryside, followed by the armies that could engage in battles and capture fortresses. The Sultan could direct the resources necessary to deliver his strategy.

The Habsburgs had less centralised control, relying on the nobility to play its part, which it did not consistently deliver. Subsidies from the Holy Roman Empire were increasingly crucial in paying for the troops that garrisoned the forts along the shifting border. Only when the border stabilised did the Military Border and the Grenzer become the institution that it became in the following centuries. It was government by consultation, which was inevitably slow to respond to events.

 The Venetians wanted Dalmatian ports as stopping points for their ships in peaceful trade and war. They were always conflicted between the need to develop positive trade relations with the Ottomans and the pressure on their territory. The land around the ports was often abandoned, making it difficult to sustain them without support from Venice. They often facilitated the uskok raiders until they became more of a nuisance than a benefit by the end of the century.

The author breaks down the story into bite-sized chunks, making this long book readable. It reminds me of John Fine's magnificent two-volume history of the medieval Balkans in style. It is thoroughly researched and is the most comprehensive study of the period. Other books cover individual combatants, but this book pulls it all together. It is as well it is robustly bound because it will be regularly coming off my shelves.

Croats in Habsburg service

And the Ottoman Sipahi on the other side of the border.

York Museums

 I am in Yorkshire for my wife's family gathering, which gave me a free day when she met up with her old pals. Unfortunately, the East Riding has lost some good attractions, including the Military Transport Museum at Beverley, where we are staying, and Fort Paul on the Humber Estuary. So, I returned to York to visit museums I hadn't visited for a few years.

I started at somewhere I hadn't been to before - The Battle of Stamford Bridge. Hardrada and Tostig landed in northern England with a large Viking force, capturing York on September 20, 1066, after defeating an English army at the Battle of Fulford. King Harold marched his army nearly 200 miles from London to Yorkshire in just four days, taking Hardrada's forces by surprise. Hardrada and Tostig were killed, and the Viking army was decisively defeated. Only 24 of the 300 Viking ships that had arrived returned to Norway, carrying the survivors of Hardrada's forces. 

The bridge is long gone, but an information board and a Viking 'longship' are near the new bridge. The battle site is contested. Some argue it was fought in front of the bridge, but the traditional view is that it was fought in the meadows east of the bridge. A monument overlooks the meadows. 

I then went into the city to the York Army Museum. This small regimental museum houses the Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Royal Dragoon Guards. 

Then up Clifford Tower, which isn't much of a castle, but it has great views of the city from the battlements.

After a quick sortie around the second-hand bookshops, I finished at the York Castle Museum. They had a 1914 exhibition with some interesting exhibits.

Fun over the dreaded shopping trip tomorrow! Beverley does at least have some good pubs and restaurants.

Zorndorf 1758

 I picked up this 2003 Osprey Campaign book by Simon Millar on Frederick the Great's clash with the Russians in the Seven Years' War at the York show.  It goes well with my current project, rebasing my Adler 6mm (closer to 8mm) Seven Years' War armies.

The Battle of Zorndorf was fought on August 25, 1758, between the forces of Prussia, led by Frederick the Great, and Russia, commanded by Count Wilhelm Fermor. The battle took place near the village of Zorndorf in what is now Poland (then part of Brandenburg). The Russian army, approximately 42,000 strong, had invaded Brandenburg and threatened Prussia's eastern territories. Commanding about 35,000 troops, Frederick aimed to stop the Russian advance and protect his kingdom. The terrain was marshy, with limited manoeuvring space, adding to the difficulty of the battle.

Frederick's forces launched an aggressive assault on the Russian flank, including the Prussian cavalry under Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz. Despite heavy losses, the Russians held their ground and inflicted severe casualties on the Prussians. By the end of the day, both armies were exhausted, and neither achieved a decisive victory. The Russians withdrew in good order, while the Prussians claimed the battlefield but were too battered to pursue. Casualties were extremely high for the period, with around 12,000–14,000 on each side.

The book follows the usual Osprey format. The opposing commanders and their armies are described, followed by a detailed orbat. The campaign is outlined with the usual excellent maps, followed by the battle itself. The author visited the battle site, which hasn't been developed too much. There are lots of period illustrations and a handful of colour plates.

Having just finished rebasing the Russians, it looked like a good battle to refight at the club on Sunday. I have used Sam Mustapha's rules, Maurice, for this period. I wasn't impressed despite being generally a fan, but my opponent was an experienced player of the rules, so I decided to give them another go.

My opponent used the superior Prussian manoeuvre capabilities to attack the Russian left flank. I pulled the Russian line back and reallocated units from my right wing to create a second line. I used my heavy cavalry to pin his reserves and, if possible, flank him.

It became a slugging match. I lost my first line, but the second held on. Due to the rules, the cavalry couldn't move much, so getting into position took a long time. We were both down to a couple of morale points when he drew an action card that won the game.

It was good to give Maurice another go, as I am generally a fan of Sam's rules. However, it confirmed that this set doesn't work for me. The activation mechanism makes it very difficult to use both wings of an army, and battles, therefore, settle on one. Plus, the card system with its special rules is too random. In fairness, he corrected the wings issue to a degree in Longstreet. Either way, I will return to Black Powder for the big games in the period.

The Courtesan - Master of Gray trilogy

 It is not an obvious book title for a military historian, but this is the second in Nigel Tranter's Master of Gray trilogy. A brief reminder that Patrick, Master of Gray (1559–1612), was a Scottish nobleman and politician who played a notable, though often controversial, role during the reign of James VI of Scotland. The courtesan is his illegitimate offspring, Mary, a fictional character who, in this book, takes over from Patrick's brother David in telling the story.

At the conclusion of the last book, Patrick is banished from Scotland. However, he makes a comeback with intelligence about the Spanish Armada. Needless to say, the arch-plotter plays both outcomes, although we should remember that few thought England would survive the Spanish invasion. 

He then engages in various plots, playing off the Catholic and Protestant factions. James marries Anne of Denmark and then indulges in an obsession with witchcraft in Scotland. This is historically correct, as James VI was personally involved in the witch trials in the 1590s, which were a result of his belief that he was the victim of witchcraft. He published a book about witch-hunting called Daemonologie. Around 2,500 people were executed during the witch trials. The execution rate in Scotland was five times the average European rate per capita.

Patrick's plots eventually become too much for his daughter Mary after he goes against the Duke of Lennox. She eventually becomes Lennox's lover, hence the title. She exposes his treasonous correspondence with Queen Elizabeth, and he is forced to flee. But as ever, he will return.

If you are looking for Bernard Cornwell-style action, this book is not for you. This was a rare period of peace between the two countries, as James was Elizabeth's apparent heir, even if she did not acknowledge him. There were internal revolts, so skirmishes were the order of the day. Border Wars is ideal. However, it is a fast-paced story with plenty of twists, even if largely fictional.

Rapid Fire Reloaded

 I used to be a regular Rapid Fire player, using the 2005 version, which I still have, along with some additions for modern warfare. I'm not sure when or why I drifted away, but suspect Bolt Action took over my WW2 playing pals. 

I picked up a copy of Rapid Fire Reloaded at the York show and we had an opportunity to give it a go in the midweek game.

The first thing that struck me about the new version is the size of the rule book. In a period when rule books are typically hefty books with a price to match, this is a joy. It is just 12 pages in A5 while losing nothing in production quality. The 2005 version was 120 pages. Admittedly, there is only one scenario, army lists are free downloads, and there is another supplement for the less frequently played WW2 elements. However, all the basics are here and only £5 as well.

The rules are also well supported, with an excellent website, lots of free downloads, and regular new supplements.

For those not familiar with the rules, they operate at a higher level than Bolt Action, with a model representing 15 men or 5 guns/tanks. This means we are deploying a battalion combat group on the tabletop. The booklet includes a couple of example forces. Basing isn't a problem, and you can use whatever you have. There is a simple points system for those who want it.

It is a you-go-I-go system, although the ambush rule allows for interrupts. I like the Bolt Action activation system, so I might try incorporating it. The return of 'can you see the enemy?' dicing is interesting, one of the less good parts of Bolt Action. Movement is again straightforward, with deductions for turns. Firing is generally by the number of dice you roll, which depends on the number of figures left in the unit, with outcomes based on range and cover. Hits on vehicles are more complex, involving morale tests. Close assault is a simple dice throw added to numbers with a minimal number of factors. It really could not be simpler, and we were going well after a couple of moves.

So, onto the tabletop. I was keen to get my new Swiss force onto the table. They were set up to defend a mountainous position next to a pass. The German Gebirgsjager were tasked with capturing the high ground while the panzers made for the pass. 

The Gebirgsjager took casualties as they crossed the open ground, but made good progress up the hill side. 

They captured the hill and the panzers rolled in, with light casualties.

On reflection, the Germans were too strong for a balanced game, even if it was probably historically accurate. However, the rules played really well and I will certainly return to using these.

East African Campaign 1940-41

 This overlooked early WW2 campaign is now getting the Osprey Campaign series treatment in a new book by Pier Paolo Battistelli. 

Mussolini sought to expand the Italian empire in East Africa into his new 'Roman Empire'. In 1936, Italy had already conquered Ethiopia (then known as Abyssinia), and by 1940, Mussolini had ambitions to extend control over British colonies in East Africa, including Kenya, Sudan, and British Somaliland.

Italy launched a series of offensives from Italian East Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Italian Somaliland) against British colonies. The British garrison in the region was small, and they were forced to retreat. However, British and Commonwealth forces, under the command of General Sir William Platt, launched counteroffensives, deploying Indian, South, West, and East African troops. At the Battle of Keren (March–April 1941), they defeated Italian troops in Eritrea and pushed into Italian East Africa. 

The campaign extended to Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland. The British pressured Italian forces through a combination of military action, guerrilla warfare by Ethiopian resistance fighters, and strategic support from the Royal Air Force. By the end of 1941, Italian East Africa fell to the British. Ethiopia was liberated in May 1941, with Emperor Haile Selassie returning to the throne after being exiled by the Italians in 1936.

The book uses the standard Campaign format. The opposing commanders get potted biographies. The British included Orde Windgate, and there is a classic photo of him riding into Addis Ababa on a white horse. A very modern publicity-aware general. The Duke of Aosta commanded Italian forces. He was a member of the Italian royal family and was educated in England. The actual field commander was Army General Claudio Trezzani.

The chapter on the opposing forces clarifies that 'British' forces meant Africans and Indians. They included exotic units, such as the Sudan Defence Force on camels. The larger units included Indian Army divisions supported by Matilda tanks. The number of Italian troops was huge, although they also relied on colonial units. 5,540 officers, 5,891 non-commissioned officers, 56,510 Italian other ranks and 180,427 colonial non-commissioned officers and other ranks, for a grand total of 255,950, growing to nearly 300,000. They also had 24 medium and 39 light tanks. Poor organisation was one of the main shortcomings affecting the Italian forces. These were widely dispersed in a series of units and sub-units, often created without apparent logic, undermined by limited transportation.

A less determined commander than Wavell might have chosen to defend what he could, but he started preparing to attack in North and East Africa when Britain faced the threat of invasion. Moving the 4th Indian Division from North to East Africa was a bold decision, although some have argued that this weakened the British offensive in North Africa. However, he also had to consider the growing nervousness in Kenya, Rhodesia, and South Africa about a possible Italian invasion. 

The various stages of the campaign are described in detail, accompanied by excellent maps and colour plates of key actions. British losses amounted to 1,154 battle casualties and 74,550 sick and injured, including some 20,000 cases of dysentery and malaria. By the end of the campaign, only about 80,000 Italian forces—colonial troops included—were left out of the 300,000 or so available in June 1940.

As usual with this series, there is a chapter on the battlefields today. While the battlefields may be untouched, I suspect tourism will be limited, given contemporary conflicts in the region.

I could run this campaign with my 10mm Desert War models, although it needs the exotic units to get the authentic flavour. 

Vapnartak

 The first big wargame show of the year is Vapnartak, held at York Racecourse. It's a well-lit venue on several floors, within walking distance of the city centre if you come by train, and has ample car parking. Catering and cash machines on-site.

It is primarily a trade show, with most games on the top floor. The usual names were there, and a few I hadn't seen before, mostly niche games or figures. There is also a reasonably big bring-and-buy, and I picked up a Wings of Glory bi-plane and a Red Skies ace at a very reasonable price. I travelled by train (football in Newcastle the previous day), so I resisted some painted figures. I also got some bases and acrylic paint markers to try.

While it's not a big games show, there were several good participation and display games.

A huge participation game of the landings on Omaha beach in 1944. It looks a bit limited as a participation game to me, but it is striking and popular.

Wings of Glory. I would be guaranteed to fly into those barrage balloons.

A magnificent harbour and town model. The game was less clear, but they used Pulp Alley rules

1877 Satsuma rebellion without Tom Cruise

The Yarkshire Gamer's Italian Wars collection is always worth a look.

It's an AWI game using Rebels and Patriots with some interesting amendments.

Eagle of the Ninth game using Midguard rules

Romans v Goths using ADLG in 28mm

The weather was good for the walk, and visiting York without going to the magnificent National Railway Museum would be rude.

The Rif War 1921-26

This new Osprey by Philip Jowett and Martin Windrow is dangerous, given my predilection for obscure conflicts. I had thought this was a solely Spanish colonial affair without appreciating France’s role.

The Rif War (1921–1926) was a conflict between Spain (later joined by France) and the Berber tribes of the Rif region in northern Morocco, led by the revolutionary leader Abd el-Krim. Spain controlled northern Morocco as a protectorate, while France controlled the central and southern regions. The Riffians, primarily Berber tribes, resisted Spanish rule and heavy taxation, pushing back poorly trained Spanish forces in the mountainous Rif region. At the Battle of Annual (1921), the Riffians routed the Spanish army, killing 8,000 and seizing large amounts of weapons, including machine guns and artillery. It was the greatest-ever defeat of a white colonial army.

This led to the establishment of the Rif Republic (1921–1926), led by Abd el-Krim, with his younger brother commanding the army. Alarmed by Rif victories, the French joined Spain. In 1926, facing overwhelming forces, Abd el-Krim surrendered to the French.

The authors start with some historical background and a chapter on the earlier conflict, which began in 1909 and ran through the First World War. The Spanish forces started with the conscripted mainland army, but when that failed, they increasingly turned to regular troops (the Tercio) and locally recruited Regulares. These were recruited from tribes hostile to the Riffians. There are orbats for each campaign and excellent colour plates. The Spanish also used FT-17, Schneider tanks, and aircraft to drop gas shells from 1923. 

Rif troop numbers are contested, probably up to 80,000, but they could never field more than 20,000 at any one time. The core was a ‘regular’ five-battalion brigade of up to 7,000 picked infantry (plus artillery). They were also used to stiffen the tribal irregulars. They captured modern rifles from the Spanish, and German gun runners smuggled in more. They had machine guns and about 80 serviceable cannon. There were a few European technical advisors who helped with training. 

The French watched the conflict, taking defensive precautions. As the war spread, they initially deployed around 60,000 troops, including tanks, aircraft, and artillery. They also extensively used their own Moroccan troops. For the final offensive, they used 40,000 French and 52,000 Spanish troops. The 18 years of savage conflict killed up to 50,000 Spanish, and the French lost around 8,600. Rif casualties are unknown. 

Looking at the colour plates, I see some of my Spanish Civil War figures would work for this conflict, along with WW1 French. But let’s not go there!