Dice or No Dice

A t the HK Society of Wargamers meeting on 14th December 2024 the Imperial armies once again clashed with the Protestant forces of German Princes and Swedes in a refight of the 1633 Battle of Oldendorf. Following the death of Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Lutzen in November 1632, the campaign of 1633 was marked by the reluctance of Wallenstein, the main Imperial commander, to undertake offensive operations, rousing suspicions as to his loyalties that would eventually lead to his assassination in early 1634. The main action during the year was in Lower Saxony as the Swedish army and their German allies, principally the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, sought to capture cities garrisoned by Imperial troops. In March the town of Hamelin was invested. The Imperial commander in the Weser region, Jobst Maximilian von Gronsfeld, marched to relieve the seige and on 8th July met the allied army about 10 miles north-west of Hamelin near to Oldendorf. The Imperi...

Rossbach with Twilight of the Soldier King

O n Monday 24th February, Chris and George brought over their 15mm armies to refight the Battle of Rossbach on my game table. The rules used were Twilight of the Soldier King by Nicholas Dorrell. The Scenario book that covers this battle gives three options for fighting it on the table top, the historical set up at the point where Seydlitz was about to launch his charge against the Franco-Imperial columns, a larger manoeuvre battle or a set piece confrontation around the positions of the two army's camps. Chris and George had agreed to use the historical set up and I prepared the terrain accordingly. The table was 5' by 5'. The Franco-Imperial force has to set up first in column of march. The Prussian cavalry must be 5 base widths away from the head of the enemy cavalry column, meaning that they cannot charge in on the first turn. Giving the French cavalry a turn to react still leaves them in a difficult position but perhaps not as difficult as...

Wittenweier : Thirty Years War : 1638

T he Battle of Wittenweier, fought on 9th August 1638, was a key point in the campaign of that year. Bernard of Saxe-Weimar was leading an army of mercenaries - among them the remnants of the old Swedish army that he had led to defeat at Nordlingen in 1634 - now paid for by France and reinforced with French troops. Early successes in the year had enabled him to lay siege to Breisach, a powerful fortress on the Rhine but Imperial and Bavarian forces had gathered to try to break the siege and resupply the fortress. Bernhard manoeuvred onto the flank of the Imperial column, forcing them to fight near Wittenweier to protect the supply column. The refight took place at the HK Society of Wargamers' monthly meeting, using 10mm armies and following a modified scenario given in the 'To the Peace of the Pyrenees' supplement to 'Twighlight of Divine Right'. The modification allows the Imperial/Bavarian force to start with their reserve column already on the table ...