"Geste et Geste. Nil Separatum Est"

Starting off, I'd like to apologise for the lengthy gap is posts.  Sorry about that.  I've been very busy working on a 7TV game set in 1970 Philadelphia, and have been conducting research and making visits into the same. I should be able to work up a crossover scenario or two for the Victorian (or at least Edwardian) era as a result.

In fact, it was due to the dearth of posts that I decided to pick up some of Askari Miniatures "Beau Geste" personality miniatures.  At least give'em a review. I'm also working on finishing some of the Martian Trieste Company miniatures for IHMN/S:1889. Now on to Fort Zinderneuf:

Ali Ibn Maurer and Askari miniatures have done an excellent job in capturing the personalities of the protagonists of "The Last Remake of Beau Geste", which is, of itself, a film that is perhaps, more funny than not. Rumour has it that constant studio interference dulled the humour, and having seen the film years ago, I'm inclined to agree.  That said, the figures are excellent.

Figures by Askari Miniatures

Animation: 4.5

Detail: 5

Proportions: 5

Variety:5

Overall: 4.75 out of 5

The only missing item is the Ann-Margaret miniature.

- finis - 

"Sédition dans le Souk!" IHMN:1889 for the French on Mars

Sédition dans le Souk (WIP)

The noted French anarchist, Julius Sébastien Lazare, is rumoured to be on Mars. French Constabulary, acting on information from the Martian Office of the Súreté, are searching a native Martian market square in Idæus Fons for clues to the rapscallion's whereabouts. The inspectors are backed up with some muscle from the native Gendarmes.

The Native Market at Idæus Fons

This will be a clues/information gathering game with occasional outbursts of native resistance. The closer the player-inspecteurs get to collaring Lazare, the greater the likelyhood of a violent confrontation.

Updates soon.

Up the Chari Creek

Had another opportunity to play the French Conquest of Chad .Went to Ellicott City to play an evening game with Bob Giglio's crew, using Soldier's Companion (Mk. II).


The scenario was based on the Battle of Kouno, 28 October, 1899, on the Chari River which flows from Lake Chad in French West Africa.


The main French column entered on the board edge, while the commander was aboard the river steamer.  The natives were lying doggo on the coast line, while a  flotilla of canoes, filled with warriors, began to issue from the village, across the sand bar.

Steamer Leon Blot

As any old colonial player knows, there is an instant where the leading European units make contact with the natives, and one side "recoils". In this instance, it was the French, as the commander, caught off guard for two rounds, who had to contend with small arms fire and attacking bands of spear-weilding tribesman.

Hostile River Bank

The steamer happily continued up stream, lobbing the occasional shell in support of the main column.

Dervish launch the first charge

It is a testament to the quality of the Tirailleurs Seneglais that, after falling back, they rallied, at one point even launching a frenzied counter attack. This helped swing the balance against the Dervishes, and stemmed the attack. With the return of the steamer and the reserve ammunition barge, the French were in position to resume the advance, but with darkness falling and scads of dervish occupying the village stockade, the assault would needs wait until the following day.

Tirailleurs flanqued!

On the river, the steamer Leon Blot attempted to push on toward Rabeh's kraal, only to be  met with a flotilla of war canoes. The superior speed of the steamer allowed the Blot to steam past the boarding hazard, only to realise that the main column was in danger of running out of ammunition, and had to come about and run the gauntlet a second time.

RAMMING SPEED!

Post Game Thoughts

The "minute de fou" or mad minute ability give the Lebel breech-loader a hella-lot of firepower, which was extremely effective in sweeping away entire warbands of dervish - this despite having armed all of the natives with various firearms and even a battery of cannon. Despite the danger of jamming, neither French commander hesitated to use this, effectively doubling the French fire power. The French commander, Jeff H. at one point remarked "Nous n'apportons nos fusils de les regarder!*"

Hats off (chapeau!) to Bob G. for researching an oft-overlooked scenario in Colonial gaming (Bob credits Ian Croaxhall for supplying the original data). This campaign is actually an indirect result of the battle of Omdurman, as the remnants of Dervish army, shattered by Kitchener, moved east beyond Kordofan and towards Lake Chad - putting them and their leader Rabeh az-Zubeyr on a collision course with the French.

Landing more ammunition

The French Regroup

Grappling attempt

The Village Boat Landing

 - finis -

 *"We didn't bring our rifles to look at them..."

Painted: French Marine Artillerists from Askari Miniatures

My 28mm French Marine Artillerists (aka les Bigors) from Askari Miniatures have been waiting patiently for several weeks, as they were finished earlier this month - it's just taken me some time to take the photies.

Askari miniatures do paint up nicely.  I decided to opt for the 1889 uniform colours for the first batch of figures, I will follow up with either white tropical dress or, more likely, khaki for the next set. I have used Armory (and now Citadel) white prime since forever as it gives the miniature a happy glow.

"Tirer sur la vache..."

 Since the readers seem to like these battery-in-action tableaux, I'm including two for your delectation. The gun is from the Old Glory Spanish American line.

Nous sommes ouverts pour le commerce. Nur kasse.

The business-end of a piece de 90mm emplacement. Cash only.

Next to pick up some of Askari Al's Schutzetruppen, and the inter-colonial fun begins.

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French Marine Artillerists from Askari Miniatures

Shiney New for 2014, these were a pleasant surprise when I visited the Askari Miniatures website on New Year's Day.  Ali Askari and I had discussed the need for 1890's French Marine gunners to bring the campaigns of Tonkin, Indo-China and Madagascar to the tabletop - not to mention wargaming on Mars post 1889. These figures fill an important gap, as I could not find any other manufacturers who make them.

Packs come with four figures, one with arm raised, one firing, one standing holding a bore-sponge, one sighting with field glasses.  The figure with the sponge might be puzzling, where a figure holding a shell might have been  plus approprié - though would still be necessary to sponge the barrel for the older French guns in use in les colonies.

Animation is nice - a different pose for each. Detail is good. Proportions are also good - the figures seem a little larger than the previously released French Marine Infantry (comparison pics forthcoming).  I hope that Askari Minis isn't giving in to scale-creep - there are plenty of larger scaled colonial period miniatures available. 

Shown below with an Old Glory French Marine on the left and a RAFM British Martian "Sepoy" on the right.

From left to right: 1 Old Glory, 4 Askari, 1 RAFM

 

Askari Miniatures French Marine Artillerists
Animation: 4
Detail: 4
Proportions: 4
Variety: 4
Overall: 4 out of 5

Apparently, I cannot leave the miniatures of mixed manufacturers alone on the photo table, as when I had returned, the poor Old Glory Marsouin, outnumbered (but not out-gunned), was having the wind put up him by Les Bigors - allegedly for his hyper-active pose.

O Marsouin, ne vous regardez où vous sont en marche?

Ah, the joys of a friendly, inter-service rivalry...

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Raid on Kraag Sagonaar - Partie La Troisième - Attack of the Sky Galleons

High Martian Sky Galleon moves to engage Meduse and Rapiere

 The raid was going well for the French - by turns 7/8, the Sapeurs Martiennes had secured a growing sample of le sirdique and had returned to the kite, Meduse.

Standing by to Repel Boarders

Furious flying Martians hurled themselves at the French for committing such eco-sacrilege, but again, Lebel and Hotchkiss cannon fire were able to break up the charging beastmen.

High Martian cloudships from nearby dependent clans began to arrive piecemeal via the board edges, and the French took the message and made ready to depart.

Almost on cue, the French kite took a random critical hit to the rudder - while facing exactly opposite their designated exit board edge. 

"Make fast and rig for towing!"

  

Without losing initiative, Colonel Montrie  brought Rapiere along side the stricken kite and grappled both ships together. 

He then made to tow the kite and her sirdique-wood cargo off board.

 

CLANG!

The High Martian players were not going to be so easily denied, as their heavy Hullcutter galley bore down on both French ships, a smaller Endtime galley attempted to ram the tow lines.

The ram was successful, but the towline held, and le Rapiere, bellowing smoke from her stack, made full steam for the French colony at Idaeus Fons.

The French Won!

Vive la France!

A Hullcutter lines up to ram

Down in Flames

Meduse under tow from Rapiere as the French exit

Post Game Thoughts:

The game was entertaining and amusing.  As I have mentioned previouly, the French play a bit differently than the British, with fragile-yet-heavily-armed indigenous troops stiffened by Marines. 

Losing le Rapiere would have shifted the result toward a French Defeat, as it is their only steel gunboat on Mars - the French players understood this, and were aware that they were never further from defeat than a lucky critical hit. 

The Martian cloudships arrived randomly over a two-turn period, and were positioned to surround the French aerial squadron, but were unable to coordinate, due mainly to the aggressive maneuvering of le Rapiere (and quite a bit of luck).

- Finis -

France Needs Liftwood - Raid on Kraag Sagonar: Part One

Bataille Contre les Hommes-bêtes SAUVAGES! - or that's what Le Monde might say.

Our Cold Wars scenario went very well - especially for the French, who had a bold player-commander that fought with dash and elan.

The scenario: in Paris, the Foreign Office on the Quay d'Orsay has heard rumours of a certain, high-quality liftwood called "Sirdeek" or, as the French spell it "Surdique".  Reports are that Surdique has five to ten times the active lifetime of lesser liftwood, so "la patrie a besoin le Surdique"and Surdique France will have!

A column of La Coloniale is dispatched from Idaeus Fons with a simple mission - penetrate the Tempe Highlands, fight off the High Martian hommes-bêtes, recover some sirdeek liftwood trees, and bring them back for study.

Two Companies of French Marines
Two Companies of Martian Tirailleurs
Four Companies of Native Militia
Harpon-class Aerial Flyer Rapier
Royal Ideaus Fons Cloud Fleet Kite

There were at least 8 flying warbands of High Martians to start, and we were prepared to funnel casualties into new flying bands as the mitrailleuse, Gras and Lebels - not the mention the Hotchkiss revolving cannon fire -  took their toll.  Also, there were eight warbands of slave troops the High Martians could drive forward as cannon fodder. Atop the kraag peaks, several batteries of rogue guns, also crewed by slaves, were available to the Beastmen of Mars.

Martian kite in French service - why buy when you can lease?

 Once aerial flyers are added to a Soldier's Companion game, a second front is opened, and the ground battle becomes almost secondary as the skies above are torn by shot and shrapnel.

Le Rapier

One other noteworthy observation is we had to rename the French gunboat - it had been built a few years ago and was originally name the "Napoleon".  Such nomenclature would have been anathema after 1871, when the house of Bonaparte was banned from France.


Next post...the Raid Commences...

French LaHitolle 95mm Rifled Breechloader

Here's another artillery piece the French introduced after La Catastrophe of 1871 - the Lahitolle 95mm Breechloader.  Like the deBange, these were used well into the Great War and beyond, with many placed on the Maginot line, facing Germany in WWII.

Wikipedia

From what I've read, the French brought a pair of these into action against the Moroccan oasis-town of Figuig in 1903 and after a few hour's bombardment, in which several hundred inhabitants were killed, the town surrendered.

This cannon was superceded in 1877 with the introduction of the deBange, and represents the perfect obsolescent weaponry that might end up in the armory of La Coloniale. It's interesting to note that the model pictured was modernised in 1888.

Wikipedia

Old Glory 25mm Cruesot

No manufacturer makes a 25/28mm copy.  I intend to use either Old Glory's Creusot gun from their Boer War line and try to build up the stepped barrel, or else the Egyptian Krupp gun from their Sudan range.

Old Glory 25mm Krupp

For Soldier's Companion, I'm tempted to rate this as a low-powered 12-pdr breechloader:

Weight: Medium  Pen: 1/1  DV: 1   RoF:1  Crew: 4   Range: 3/6
 
- finis - 

Les Renforts sont Ici

As the government ministries of Idaeus Fons sort out the logistics, including who is going to pay for the army's little adventure, the reenforcements for the recapture of Fort Miami are mustering.

"C" and "D" Compaignie

In short, I've finished my second set of two dozen Tirailleurs Martien, and I'm just a bit chuffed at the moment.

L'ensemble du bataillon aka Le Shebang Entire

At right, a picture of the Tirailleurs defending a grounded kite in French service during a raid on the Tempe Hills liftwood groves.  The outline of a flying High Martian can just be seen at extreme lower right.  This picture was taken during a playtest game for Cold Wars.  I will be giving a sneak peek in an upcoming post.

- finis -

French 90mm de Bange Proxies

In 1889, the most common gun accompanying the French Coloniale on campaign was the de Bange 80mm mountain gun, of which Askari Miniatures do a fine model.

At the same time, the most common French artillery piece you would find aimed at the German frontier would be the de Bange 90mm rifled breech loader. Hundreds of these were made after 1877, replacing the Reffye and Lahitolle systems. They were used well into WWI, despite being obsolete, due to production shortfalls concerning the 75mm Puteaux.

Courtesy Musee du Armee

As the competition on Mars heats up, and open war becomes more likely, the Armée de Mars is going to need some 90 de Bange on hand.

I have not yet been able to find a manufacturer who makes or is willing to make this integral cannon, so I've located the next best thing - the sexy proxy.

Old Glory SAW-28

Old Glory make an American 3.2 inch rifled breechloader in their Spanish-American War line.  Since the Americans were being influenced by French design, it's no surprise that this gun has a similar stepped barrel and clean lines. The trail is a little too wide for the de Bange, being designed to navigate wide American roads and not narrow, French lanes in the Vosges, but that's minor and easily corrected by filing down the trail axle and inserting a new axial pin. I haven't done that with the set I've just finished, but I probably will in future.

Miniatures by RAFM and Old Glory

 There are also two upright supports (for a gunshield?) on the Old Glory original. These were easily removed, as the reader will note in the pictures.

Such a Pretty Gun

En redoubt

 Now to find some limbers!

- finis - 

Painted Chasseurs de Mars - Les Bouchers Bleus

Here are some piccies of my latest paint project - dismounted Chasseurs d'Afrique (on Mars) with some mounted officers, reviewed in a previous post.

These turned out well - Askari minis are fairly straightforward to paint, though their painting guides leave something to be desired as far as full coverage of the topic goes. Still, you can't beat the price.

Here are some mounted officers, also from Askari. Not shown is a third figure in tropical dress and helmet which will be leading the next punitive expedition against the Martians of the Tempe Hills.

Here the Askari officers ares shown with my old Frontier Chass d'Afs. 

 The difference in scale isn't terribly noticeable, and one comes to expect that officers and sergents will be better fed, both man and mount, than your rank and file Poilu.

 - finis -

Askari Chasseurs d'Afrique - dismounted

In discussing the previously posted French Exercise scenario on The Miniatures Page, not to mention the feedback here, it became apparent that the French needed a few more troops to balance the game.  This is due, I think, more to the conditions of the scenario than the actual forces involved - a French player, suspecting an ambuscade, could send forward a small detachment of two-to-three figures and spring the Martian trap.

Some helpful sorts suggested introducing The Foreign Legion, but I hesitate to do so, yet, simply because they are in danger of being over-done in French Coloniale gaming.

Instead, I picked up some of Askari Miniatures dismounted Chasseurs d'Afrique.  I didn't need any new mounted minis, because I had found some twenty-odd mounted Chas. d'Afs that I'd converted from old Frontier miniatures castings. I don't remember what the figures previously were, and it doesn't much matter as Frontier Minis is no longer operating and the moulds are languishing in a barn somewhere near Montgomery, Georgia.

There are two sets (shown on a 1" grid) which I'm reviewing here; the dismounted pre-1900 uniform (with a higher shako) and the post 1900 command pack.

The dismounted pre-1900 figs are the usual Askari "army builder" quality - well sculpted and proportioned with moderate animation. There are three firing and three loading in a pack. Al at Askari has informed me via email that upon ordering, customers may swap poses more to their liking, so if one wanted all six firing, they have only to ask Al in an email.

The command set is a bit more interesting - the officer is advancing while aiming/firing his pistol, the sergeant is gesturing "Allons!" and the bugler stands poised, ready to sound "Remonter!".

As for the Chas. d'Afs appearing on Mars, Il est naturel, mon ami - they are the first French cavalry sent to any foreign place, be it Tonkin, Madagascar, or Idaes Fons.

Dismounted Chasseur d'Afrique
Animation: 3
Detail: 4
Proportions: 5
Variety: 3
Overall: 3.75 out of 5

Dismounted Chasseur d'Afrique Command (Post 1900)
Animation: 4
Detail: 4
Proportions: 5
Variety: 4
Overall: 4.25 out of 5

I'd like to see Askari expand this line a bit, possibly by adding a Chas. d'Af command pack in the pre-1900 uniform.

- finis - 

Tirailleurs Martien

Up to now, my Martian Tirailleurs miniatures have been RAFM British Martian proxies, and they have served well, if without distinction. I've finally finished off a batch of them in the uniform of the French Coloniale, which I think the reader will agree, is rather different.

This paint scheme was copied from the Tirailleurs Seneglais, with a khaki head cloth instead of a red fez.  This reflects the French sensitivities to to the realities of Mars - red is the colour of the Earthmen, so changing the traditional red  tirailleur headwear to khaki allows the Martians to retain a degree of their "Martian-ness".  It also makes for a less obvious target when its in khaki. Also, the figures didn't look right with white head cloths.

I had given some thought to detailing white cloths with tribal patterns for the headwear, but following the French example in North Africa, decided they would discourage tribalism in the Colonie Martienne. 

"Aujourd'hui, mes enfants jaune, vous êtes Français!"

Khaki it is.

Pupils not yet put in.

The RAFM figures lend themselves well to the different uniform - though in retrospect, I should have added a bedroll atop the packs, in the style of the Legion and the Zouaves. Also, the water bottle is off, the French using the equivalent of the "Ollivier" pattern. Maybe next time - Ce que sera, sera. 

- finis -

Askari Miniatures 80mm Mountain Gun and Artillery Mules

One of Askari Miniatures virtues is their focus on ranges outside the standard British Colonial paradigm, on the less well known areas of Victorian campaigning.

One of these less-well-known areas is late 19th century French artillery. In 1889, the French were using several types of field guns, including the De Bange (pron. de baunj) 80mm mountain gun. This weapon crops up on many Coloniale orders of battle, from Chad to Tonkin.

Askari do a nifty model of this gun, shown here with Seneglais crew.  There are also two European officers which I can't show at the moment, because they are still being painted.

Askari also make a set of artillery pack mules which will accept the dis-assembled guns for transport. Also included are pack "bits" (ammo boxes and marching packs) for fitting out a supply mule.

Often, I use the ammo mules as a general supply proxy. I'm of the opinion that as wargamers, we don't always pay enough attention to the supply train. In the 19th century, the colonial forces were often operating well away from their supply base, and including elements of the supply train is both accurate and tactically challenging, as one must task miniatures to guard the train or risk ruin.

- finis - 

L' Ancre Embrouillée

Troupe de Marine symbol

L' Ancre Embrouillée

The French Ministry of Marine Establishment on Mars

As given on page 161 of Soldier’s Companion, the French Colonial Establishment on Mars contravenes the French Constitution, which prohibited the deployment of “Metropolitan” troops (i.e. those in the regular French Army) from being deployed out of France.  

French political thought in the years from 1872 to the run up for the Great War was dominated by “Revanche” – the recovery of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from the German Empire, and the punishment of the Germans for occupying the same.

This meant that, in the mind of the government, the sole purpose of the French Army was to fight Germany in the Next War.

Running concurrently and in opposition to the dominant policy of Revanche was the Colonialists' notion that for France to reclaim her status as a power, lost in the disasters of the Franco-Prussian war, she would need colonies. Occasional Colonialist political victories against the Revanchists would result in France controlling an empire second only to Great Britain’s in size and scope.

The Army’s hands were essentially tied, and the Ministry of the Marine controlled the French colonial military until 1893. Thus in 1889 the bulk of French Troops on Mars should be Marine Infantry, reinforced by native levies and penal battalions (les Joyeux), stiffened by the Foreign Legion and the occasional sprinkling of Fusilier Marines (Sailors) near the landing zones.

The list should be amended to something rather like this:

The French Colonial Establishment on Mars – Idæs Fons Colony

2nd Foreign Legion Infantry                         E2

3rd Marine Infantry                                       V1

7th Marine Infantry                                       X1

1^st Btn Tirailleurs Martien                            T2

5^th Btn African Light Infantry (penal)            X1

1st Foreign Legion Gashant Corps             V1                 
Martian Indigenous Irregular Cavalry           X2

Martian Irregular Cavalty Goumiers

Following the limited success of using native Arab horsemen to track and raid troublesome desert tribes, the French have begun to enlist Hill Martians as native "Goumiers". Thus far, the practise appears to be working well, due to the superior warlike qualities of the Hill Martian riders.

To be continued:...