R & F in the Peninsular

Last weeks game was another crack at the Rank and File rules. This time the setting was in Spain during the Peninsular war.

With the bulk of his army on or behind the hills Wellesley awaited the French attack. In front of the hills were two small villages garrisoned by British troops and hiding in some trees were some Spanish guerrillas.

The French begin their attack.

The Spanish Guerrillas hiding in the trees.

Rifles defending this village.

A foot regiment defending this one.

Some of the British on the hills.

More British defenders.

The 60th Rifles in the orchard between the two villages.

The French in all out attack mode toward the villages.

Three columns charge into this village only to be thrown back.

The other village under attack, same result!

The guerrillas are slowly giving ground to the French light infantry.

First attacks are thrown back from both villages.

From behind the British lines.

The orchard is finally cleared but the butcher bill for the French is too much

and although the villages are almost in French hands there is no shortage of British on the hills.

We are getting the hang of these rules now and our next game will be another R&F game but this time set during the 7YW.

Napoleonic - Rank and File

Last weeks game was held at "The Mess". A Napoleonic game that had the Russians defending against a French army.

The French army was of top quality while the Russians were poor.

 The French had to get across a river and through a town leaving the table between the buildings but there were only two points to cross at. A bridge and a ford. The French split their force in two, sending the heavy cavalry off to cross at the bridge while the rest forced the issue at the ford.

 The Russians had a large force in the town but these were unable to leave the town.

Russians defending the bridge.

 The heavily defended town.

French columns advancing toward the ford.

 The French dragoons tried to breakthrough at the bridge but the Russian defence was up to the task. The dragoons being forced to retreat back over the bridge.

 The dragoons gave up at the bridge and went off to help their friends at the ford.

Into the second row of defenders.

 The French columns slowly but surely ground their way over the ford pushing aside the Russian defenders.

Now into the third row of defenders.

Almost there but next it is the Russian heavy cavalry.

 By the time the French got to the town their infantry units were all but gone and with stacks more Russians in the town they gave up on their quest and withdrew.

The rules were Rank and File.
French troops from Rodger and Wayne.
Russian troops and buildings from David.