Teaser – March ’79 – Military Modelling

244 MILITARY MODELLING


A new scenario for miniature
generals devised and
described by C.S. Grant.
t has been said that the French Revolutionary
I
and Napoleonic Wars form a social watershed
in land warfare in that they mark the change
from the small professional armies fighting wars of
manoeuvre to large, people's armies fighting
wars of attrition. If this is so, then the wars of
the 1860s, in particular the Prussian Wars of
Bismarck leading to the Franco-Prussian War of
1870, and also the American Civil War, must
mark a technological watershed. These wars
serve to highlight the effects of the Industrial
Revolution and to demonstrate how its techno-
logical off-shoots changed the nature of modem
warfare.
At sea, the steam ship was rapidly replacing
the age of sail while the armour plated ships
(ironclads), beginning in France, first really saw
prominence in the American Civil War. The
Introduction of USS Monitor and CSS Virginia
heralding the end of the Man o' War and the
arrival of the "Battleship" was itself a counter to
the shells which proved lethal against wooden
vessels. This same period saw the first sub-
marines, torpedoes and sea-mines, indeed a
whole revolution in sea warfare.
On the land, this same technological revolution
was manifesting itself in a variety of ways.
In small arms, the benefits of breach loading,
rifling and the change from ball to bullet were
increasing accuracy and rate of fire. At the same
time, the machine gun was going through its
birth pains with the Mitrailleuse and the more
efficient Getting gun. Coupled with these
Teaser – March ’79 – Military Modelling
developments, the techniques of mass
production enabled vast quantities of rifles,
muskets and revolvers to be produced rapidly as
in the case of the Samuel Colt factory during the
American Civil War,
While these technological developments were
direct contributions to the tools of war, the
indirect applications of the Industrial Revolution
to warfare were perhaps even more telling in
changing its very nature. This is particularly true
in the field of communications. Improved roads
made conventional transport more effective,
while the arrival of the railroad provided rapid
transport, of both troops and supplies beyond
any level previously imagined. Indeed, it is notice-
able how many campaigns of the Civil War
followed the lines of the railways. The speed
of communication was further enhanced by the
introduction of the telegraph, semaphore and
heliograph systems. Not only did this produce
rapid and effective command and control systems
between forces, but enabled a two way flow of
up-to-date information between political leaders
and the front line forces. It was, however, a
double edged weapon-liable to interception by
the enemy. Incidentally, this period with its rapid
passage of news, coupled with the introduction
of photographs gave rise to the modern war
correspondent.
Finally, the air was not neglected by this
technological invasion. The balloons, first used
by the French armies of the Revolution and by
Napoleon in Egypt, once again took to the air
in the Civil War, this time with more success.
They were used for reconnaissance, directing
fire and for communications using semaphore.
Indeed, a foretaste of anti-aircraft development
can be seen in the start of anti-balloon warfare
using camouflage and anti-balloon artillery fire.
The vast contribution of technology and. the
Industrial Revolution to this age of warfare has
only been touched on, and indeed, it would take a
great many pages to cover it in any detail. I
hope that this introduction will, however, serve to
set the stage for our Teaser this month.
I must confess here that this Teaser stems not
from any highly motivated ideas of demonstrating
the effects of technology on warfare. In fact, if
the truth be known, the idea is derived from that
splendid film "The Horse Soldiers" where the
train, supposedly full of re-enforcements, pulls
into the town met only by a small party of
soldiers who are much surprised to find that, far
from re-enforcements, the train disgorges the
enemy. Thereupon, a frantic fight ensues through
the town. It is with this in mind that I sat down
to construct the following Teaser.
Period
The Teaser has less scope than many for
adaptation to different periods as it is dependent
upon the railway and communication systems of
the second half of the nineteenth century. It is
suitable for the American Civil War period, or for
those who seek a less common period as a
change, it could well be used in one of the three
wars of German Unification in the 1860s. These
are the Schleswig-Holstein War of 1864, the
Austro-Prussian or Seven Weeks' War of 1866
and, of course, the Franco-Prussian War of
1870. Finally, it could be suitable for some of the
Colonial wars in the last quarter of the nineteenth
century.
Terrain
The terrain is laid out as shown in the diagram.
The town, hills, woods and other normal features
are serf-explanatory. The railway itself can be
provided in two ways. The first is by far the
most satisfactory from the point of view of
appearance and realism. All one requires to do is
to exert a little judicious pressure on a convenient
model railway enthusiast and persuade him to
lend you a few yards of track and a locomotive
and rolling stock for a short period. You might
even allow him to come and watch, provided he
keeps quiet - we don't want any sound effects!
If this fails, we can always fall back to more
expedient methods such as ribbon representing
track and cardboard templates cut to represent
wagons and the engine.
Before passing on to the forces, it is worth
considering the look on the players' faces when
they arrive to find that your wargame table has
been transformed into what is apparently a
model railway lay-out... Ah, horror!
Forces
The forces given reflect a small but balanced
force holding the town compared with a slightly
stronger, all infantry force arriving by train.
Red Force — Town Garrison
One regiment of infantry with a detachment of
four men in the junction box. One regiment of
cavalry (dismounted). One gun.
Blue Forces — Train Forces
 Teaser – March ’79 – Military Modelling
Two regiments of infantry. (One could include a
Gatling gun but no artillery).
 Teaser – March ’79 – Military Modelling
MARCH 1979 245
Opening Scenario

Red force is a small garrison post protecting

the town which, by virtue of its position on
the railway line, is one of the main Red supply
depots. It is expecting a supply train in at
10.00 hrs today, an event which has become a
routine over the last six months.
Blue force, as yet unknown to Red, has
captured this supply train approximately 20 miles
outside the town and, with two infantry regiments
crammed into its wagons, it now approaches regardless of whether the train is on the table '
the town. or not, the answer (odd or even) is diced for in
Red Force's Aims period 3. If the answer is "odd", the same
Red force's aim is to hold the town which is a rules for recognition of the enemy apply as
major supply depot. before and there is no further action in the town
Blue Force's Aims until Blue reveals his intentions. If the throw is
Blue force's aim is to seize control of the town "even", the remainder of the column (d) is
and to capture the supplies at the depot (D). followed period by period. The same system
The Communication Factor and continues. If the train appears in period 4 column
(a) will mean no further action is taken, (b)
Preparing the Game means that the remainder of that column is
With the train moving towards the town, it is
followed, (c) no further action and (d) means
necessary to add our second technological factor,
continue to follow the instructions in the column.
communications. The last town that the train
Well, I hope you are still with me and can
left before being taken by the Blue forces has
follow what will happen if the train appears in
telegraphed our garrison town to say that the
periods 5 or 6. As the chart shows, by period 6,
train has left on time and is expected at 1000 hrs.
something is obviously wrong if the train is only
At 0945 the telegraph station in the town signals
Red works out his actions with the umpire just appearing and the commander can take
the junction box to change the points to bring
who knows at what stage, one to six. Blue will whatever action he feels is appropriate.
the train into the town. This is done by the
arrive on the table. If Blue (in the train) arrives The Red commander does not know Blue's
detachment there. All is set for the arrival of the
on the 2nd period, the actions are still carried orders and must make and write his plan the
train as normal. A few officers and a fatigue
out by Red with the die being thrown as shown. period after the train appears on the table if his
party are at the station (S) but otherwise all
However, if the action was nil (odd) then Red's .suspicions nave been aroused by the reactions
is quiet (The forces are distributed as shown in
force carries out no further, action until the given on the chart. However, if he has not been
the diagram).
enemy, Blue, give their intentions away or pass alerted, and the train arrives between periods 1
The train cannot, of course, arrive on time
the junction box where they are recognised by and 4 he is not permitted to take any action until
even if it goes faster than normal because of the
the picket. If, on the other hand, "even" was warned by the junction box party, and action
time taken by Blue to stop the train, overcome
thrown and the other town telegraphed then. which itself takes one period after the train has
the guards, off load the supplies and embark
passed. If the train stops at the junction box, the
the two infantry regiments. The delay in getting
message is still able to pass to the
onto the table is decided (unknown to Red)
by the throw of one die by Blue. A throw of
one represents a delay of only 15 minutes,
2 will be 30 minutes and so on in 15 minute
intervals. Once Blue knows how late he will
be, he must make his plan and write it down
in detail and hand it to the umpire. It should
include details such as whether he plans to drive
straight into the town and disembark his attack-
ing force there, or whether he will stop at the
junction box, change the points if required and
then drive on into the town, whether he will
disembark one unit say in area A out of sight
and use it to support the train which will try
to drive into the town or whatever other action
he decides upon. Blue's course is now fixed but
not so Red's.
Red awaits the arrival of the train at 10 o'clock.
However, depending on the lateness of the train,
anxiety grows. The table shows the actions of
the Red force in the town:
MILITARY MODELLING
town despite so that the success.
the fact that train does We can
the troops in not go into assume that
the box may the town, it Red will alert
be under will require neighbouring
attack. one clear towns or
However, the period to garrisons by
town does halt the train telegraph or
not receive after it rider as soon
the message passes the as he is
until the next box. suspicious;
period. Communi failing this,
Some cation silence from
miscellane between the the town or a
town and cut line will
ous rules the junction arouse
Once the
box or vice suspicion. Re-
train is on the
versa takes enforcements
table, it starts
one move can therefore
to approach
period and be expected
the station (S)
no action by late
and should
can be afternoon. To
slow down
initiated until win the game
accordingly. A
the following Blue must be
suggested
period. in command
movement
There are, of the town by
scale appro-
of course, mid
priate for a
other afternoon. A
table seven
eventualities suitable time
foot by nine
which will period should
foot would
need to be be agreed
be:-
prepared for upon in
1st move on
in the rules. advance to
the table 14
Like other represent, let
inches.
Teasers, us say, 4pm.
2nd move on
these will This will
the table 12
depend on enable him to
inches.
the basic take what
3rd move on
rules used stores he can
the table 10
locally but from the
inches and 10
they should depot (D),
inches per
always be destroy the
move after
worked out rest and
that until the
before the withdraw,
station is
game preferably by
reached
wherever train to a
where
possible. prearranged
disembarkati
They should rendezvous
on for troops
include the (RV). If the
is % move
effect of fight
distance from
both small continues
the wagons in
arms and past 4pm the
the same
artillery fire game is
period that the
on the train, drawn if Blue
train stops.
rules for can retreat
If the train
firing _ from having
stops and
the train, defeated the
has to
deployment enemy but
restart, the
from the train without taking
1st move
and the the
period is 6
effect of advantages of
inches
surprise on the supply
increasing by
the garrison depot by 5
2 inches until
forces. o'clock. If
the maximum
Winning Blue is still
of 14 inches is
the game. tied down in
reached if
Once combat by
required.
again we Red at 5
If the
are all set o'clock, or if
junction box
for an he has been
(J) has
interesting if defeated.
changed the
somewhat Blue has lost.
points
unconventio The stage
nal is set, the
confrontation train
. AH that approaches.
remains is to Let
consider the battle
requirement commence...
s for