Tuesday, June 16, 2015

New Skirmish Scenario "Incident at Osona": Armored Trains and Herero Rifles (Part IV)

Download .pdf  of Playtest Version Here
Here is the play test version of a new German-Herero War skirmish scenario I have developed for use with the Jones/Alvarado Herero Wars Scenario and Rules book (based on TSATF Rules system).  It follows on the Ambush at Uitkomst scenario I developed in collaboration with Roy Jones last year.  Previous posts on this blog in the Armored Trains and Herero Rifles in 1904 category provide the historical documentation and assumptions that inform the design of this scenario.

The German force has two significant assets that require careful handling in order to function property and upon which the success of their expedition to relieve Okahandja depends.  They have a train pushed by paired Zwillinge engines and open cars with sides that have been hastily reenforced with sandbags.  In addition two 32 Schutztruppen (4 foot elements in game terms), the train carries a machine gun in one of its open cars.  Maintaining proper speed, avoiding derailment and keeping the machine gun on line, all the while repairing sabotaged sections of track under enemy fire, presents a significant challenge for the German player, as indeed was the case during the historical Maschinengewehr-Expedition on which this scenario is based.  The train crew members are essential, and the loss of all four puts the train out of commission and means certain defeat.

The Hereros have excellent cover in the dense bushes, among nearby steep cliffs and within a large stone house, but perhaps not quite enough riflemen to pour on a devastating fire and disable track simultaneously.  In the actual fight at Osona, the tracks were broken in three places before the Germans arrived and the Hereros had perhaps as much as a 7:1 advantage in riflemen.  The numbers are reduced for this scenario, and not all of the 8 Herero Foot units are available when play begins.

Until it has been play tested, I'm not sure that I have the forces balanced appropriately, and am eager to see how new rules I have developed for causing and spotting track sabotage, derailment, track repair, train movement and cover will function.  If you decide to give this scenario a try, I would be grateful for detailed feedback on your results.  Further updates to the scenario will be posted here.

Monday, June 15, 2015

WTB 28mm HLBS German Colonial Sets

The Honourable Lead Boiler Suit Company (HLBS) stopped making its 28mm German Colonial line before I had the chance to start collecting them, so I have been haunting eBay and various message boards for the last couple of years with decent results. 

I think the following is a near complete list of the old HLBS German Colonial Range, including set numbers and descriptions. 

GC1 Schutztruppe in slouch hat with colonial service cartridge belt (5 different figures)
GC1a Command Group (3 different figures)
GC2 Schutztruppe in peaked cap w/neck curtain, with colonial service cartridge belt (5 different figures)
GC2a Command Group (3 different figures)
GC3 Marines (seebatailon) in Pith Helmet with standard cartridge pouches (5 different figures)
GC3a Command Group (3 different figures)
GC4 Schutztruppe in Tropenhelm with standard cartridge pouches (5 different figures)
GC4a Command Group (3 different figures)
GC5 Askari in Fez with standard cartridge pouches (5 different figures)
GC6 Askari in Fez with standard cartridge pouches (5 different figures)
GC6a Askari N.C.O.s (3 different figures)
GC7 schutztruppe with maxim with colonial service cartridge belt (2 figures with gun&tripod)
GC8 Seebatailon with Maxim in Pith helmet with standard cartridge pouches (2 figures with gun&tripod)
GC9 Askari with Maxim (2 figures with gun&tripod)
GCM1 Camel Corps in slouch hat with colonial service cartridge belt (2 different figures and 2 different camels)
GCM2 Camel Corps (2 differing poses to GCM1)
GCM3 Camel Corps Command (2 different figures and 2 different camels)
GCM4 2 baggage Camels
GCM5 2 Kneeling Camels, with saddles for dismounted troops with holder
GCM6 Mounted Infantry, in slouch hat with colonial service cartridge belt (2 different figures and horse poses)
GCM7 Mounted Infantry (2 differing poses to GCM6)
GCM8 Mounted Infantry Command (2 different figures on two different horses)
GCM9 Two dismounted horses and holder

I have plenty of dismounted slouch hatted Schutztruppen (GC1 and GC1a) and machine gunners (GC7),  though I wouldn't say no to adding more.  I have 26 mounted Schutztruppen (GCM6, GCM7, GCM9),  including 2 commanders (GCM8), and would like to have another 3 sets including the command set.  I have a large number of Askaris (GC5, GC6, GC6a, GC9) and Asia Corps types in peaked cap (feldmutze) (GC2 and GC2a) that will be useful for East Africa/ the Middle East.

What I still do not have nearly enough of, and would dearly like to acquire, are HLBS Schutztruppen or Marines in pith helmets and tropenhelms (GC3, GC3a, GC4, GC48, GC8), and Schutztruppen mounted on camels (GCM1, GCM2, GCM3, GCM4 or GCM5).  

I will gladly acquire individual figures or entire collections in this range, painted or unpainted.  Message me in the comments if interested and I'll make you a good offer.