Shinyloo Two- Bigger Longer Shinier !!

Saturday 21st July saw the Tantobie Warfare and Tactical Society gather for it's July meeting. 5 members  attended and I was in the chair as Umpire  so I thought I'd run a second "Shinyloo" game using my retro Napoleonic collection. Especially as I had added a good few figure to both sides . We would use the aged but still very usuable rules as outlined in Young and Lawford's wonderful book "Charge" or How to Play War Games" first published in 1967  of which we had 3 copies available.
 Forces were as follows

The Field of Battle- even the scenery is deliberately "retro" .

 British

The British deployment. 

  Four and a half Companies of Line Infantry
 2 - slightly under strength companies of Rifles
 1 Battery of Artillery
1 unit of Dragoons- The Scots Greys.
Or about 110 infantry 14 Cavalry and 2 guns with crew plus a few staff.

 The French

The French deploying. 

4 Companies of Infantry.
 2 Under strength companies of Light Infantry
 1 Battery of Artillery
 1 Heavy Cavalry
 1 Light Cavalry.
Or about 110 infantry24 cavalry and 2 guns and crews plus Napoleon Shinyparte and staff.
The forces were much more even that in the first encounter in February as well as being a little larger in Infantry

The French Cavalry advance

The French Cavalry -after the Rifles had popped away at them 

So fortifying himself with his pint  your Gentle Umpire  began. Although I had toyed with a few rules amaendments I decided to play this game as per the book . This being because as it was only our second attempt I though it a little early to amend at this point. Next time probably , but not today.
 Sides were. Mechanical Shaun and Floating Jeff as the French
 Andrew the Tekkie and Theatrical Steve as the Brits.
 The stage was set the Beer had been drawn so off we go.

Cavalry fmelee- The Greys see off the French Heavies 

It was obvious from the outset that the French would have to take the initiative as the British were heard to mutter remarks to the effect that "we are nailing ourselves to this ridge"- in true Wellingtonian style.  So the first moves were French. On their right they advanced their cavalry to try a right Hook against the British line. . Fire from a Rifles company emptied several saddles and the Greys then steamed in . The resulting melee saw off the French heavies but the lights - avoiding the initial clash sought to outflank the Greys and catch them whilst they reformed - which they did. However the actual melee did not go quite to plan (some Bum French dice) and whilst both sides had to retire-the wrong way- both sides cavalry were now effectively spent and would take no more part in the fight.

More Cavalry fighting- The Greys hang on like grim death  to get a draw against the Chasseurs 

On their left the French went for another hook. Sending a mass of light infantry forward against the Rifle company. A fire fight broke out which eventually forced the Rifles back into the wood but the French supports were late and despite trying hard the left hook never mad contact with the British line. This was mainly because said British line shifted towards it's left to compensate for the loss of the Greys and to cover a possible advance by the Imperial Guard who were beginning to look a tad threatening.

The French left Hook slowly gets going. 

 In the centre the fight had become an artillery dual with the honours first swinging towards the French . Indeed at one point the 44th foot looked decidedly shaky losing almost 50% to the French guns and in response the RHA at first could not find the range (Bum dice from Steve!). Only the British re- alignment saving them . However as the Guard began its advance  the guns got the range and caused havoc in 2 turns of firing the Guard were smashed to under strength and at this point the French conceded.

The Umpire's pint surveys the carnage. 

 So in the "Shinyloo stakes" honours are now even at one victory each.   So something must be working right. As Umpire it was deeply amusing to watch each side mumbling amongst them selves whilst considering next moves orders. Much and many secretive gesticulations were in evidence from both sides- staff conferences can be murder or so it seems.

Yes there will be other games in this series and also with other "retro" rule sets.
 Once again our Thanks to Landlady Jean for  excellent Beef Butties ans pints of White Hot- our most popular tipple. Next- end of August - some one else should be in the chair.