English Civil War fortified town ready for a siege game

My original plan was to make and paint a simple backdrop of a fortified town, with a couple of earthwork bastions placed in front for another English Civil War siege game. However, after trying out a few options with the two foam earthwork bastions I have made over the past few weeks (see here for details) and looking at the illustrations in "English Civil War Fortifications 1642–51", I decided to use all the bastions and my woodblock houses to make a more substantial looking fortified town.

A fortified English Civil War town.

The first step was to determine what additional ramparts I needed. I set up the town layout, positioned the earthwork bastions around it, and then measured and cut foam ramparts to connect them and create a wall for a gate. The upholstery foam was cut with a sharp carving knife, then shaped with scissors. very much the same steps as with making the earthwork bastions.

The shaping process can get to be a messy business with lots of small bits of foam which seem to stick everywhere. I used masking tape to help collect and pickup the bits of foam. 

Working out the size of ramparts to connect the bastions.

A messy business cutting the foam.

Masking tape used to collect up the mess.

Easily picks up the bits.

Once the foam was cut and shaped, I painted it with a couple of brown washes, followed by touches of green. While the paint is still wet, and it takes a long while to dry, the colours can be blended with a clean brush to achieve the desired look.

For the gate, I used some MDF scraps to build a three-sided arch that fits neatly over the foam rampart. It was quickly painted brown and lines added to suggest wooden planks.

The painted ramparts.

The gate is made to slot over the wall.

Gate simply painted painted in brown and lines added to suggest wooden planks

The gate slots over the wall.

A close view at ground level.

The completed fortified town.

All is now ready for my next siege game.

The defenders man the walls.

English Civil War game report - assault on fortifications

Last week, I finished a second earthwork for my English Civil War games. These foam earthworks (click here for the steps on how to make them) can be used either as standalone forts or as bastions in a siege setup. With two forts now complete, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try out the One-Hour Wargames (OHW) Scenario 15: Fortified Defence.

Fortified defence

Scenario and rule notes…

The game was played using a variation of the One-Hour Wargames Pike and Shot rules. It begins with the Parliamentarian forces defending two fortified earthworks. Each fortification is garrisoned by musketeers and a small gun, boosting their shooting value of D6+2. The forts are also well-stocked with ammunition, so the “out of ammunition” rule does not apply to the garrisons.

Some of the other rule changes:

• Dragoons and artillery are treated as half-units. They shoot with D3 and are eliminated after taking 8 or more hits. Both must also check for ammunition after shooting.
• The first two “out of ammunition” results for an army can be resupplied.
• Movement tests are required for all unit moves: roll 2+ on a D6 to succeed. If a roll fails, no further units may move that turn, and play proceeds to the shooting phase.

Parliaments forces:

• 2 x Fort with musketeers and gun.
• 2 x Infantry (mixed muskets and pikes)
• 2 x Dragoons
• 1 x Cavalry

The two dragoon half-units are stationed near the woods on the left flank. The two infantry units are positioned close to the forts, ready to provide support if needed, while the cavalry remain in reserve on the right flank.

Parliament waits and prepares for a Royalist attack.

The attacking Royalists are allowed to regroup at the end of any turn. When they choose to do this all their  units are removed from play and can re-enter in the next game turn with all hits removed. Both forces can resupply any unit out of ammunition. Parliamentarian units do not remove any hits.

To win the Royalist forces must seize and occupy both forts by the end of game turn 15, otherwise Parliament wins.

Royalist forces:

• 3 x Infantry (mixed muskets and pikes)
• 2 x Artillery units
• 2 x Cavalry units

Background…

Parliamentarian commander Colonel John Haversham, having successfully besieged and captured the town of Greyford (see here for the siege game report), received orders to prepare for a Royalist attack. Greyford is located in the Harrow Valley, the main north–south route used for supply convoys, messenger riders, and troop movements.

Acting on his orders, Haversham directed his troops and the townsfolk of Greyford to construct two earthwork forts along the Harrow Valley road, intending to halt or at least delay any Royalist advance through the valley.

Royalist attack plan…

After assessing the situation, the Royalist commander decided to concentrate the first attack on the left fort, leading with his infantry. His artillery was ordered to take up positions to bombard the right fort, softening it up for a later assault. The cavalry’s role was to screen and protect the infantry and guns against any Parliamentarian cavalry or dragoons that might advance. Once the left fort was captured, the plan was to retire, regroup, resupply, and then launch a second attack against the right fort.

Game report…

The Royalists advanced their infantry, but delays hindered the arrival of their artillery and cavalry. After a few rebukes from the Royalist commander, the remaining forces finally arrived and took up their positions as the assault on the left fort commenced.

Only two Royalist infantry units arrived on the first turn.

The Royalist assault begins as their remaining troops and artillery take up position.

With the assault on the left fort was quickly in full swing, Royalist artillery bombarded the right fort to soften it up for a later attack. Although the Royalists suffered losses from the defenders’ fire, they managed to drive out the garrison, only to see fresh Parliamentarian troops to take their place. After a few more assaults ammunition was low and the Royalist commander withdrew his forces to reorganise and resupply in preparation for a second attack.

The assault on the left fort is in full, while artillery bombard the right fort.

The Royalist forces break off their first attack to reorganise and resupply.

During the lull in the fighting, both sides resupplied their troops. The Royalist second assault began in a rather disjointed and piecemeal fashion. Precious time was lost, but eventually the attack on the left fort resumed. Meanwhile, the artillery’s bombardment of the right fort continued with some accurate shooting.

Before long, the defenders of the left fort broke and fled, allowing the Royalists to shift their focus to the right fort. Their bombardment had been effective, and its defenders were routed. Yet, the Royalists failed to advance quickly enough to seize the opportunity, and the Parliamentarian infantry began preparing to reoccupy the fort. As evening fell, the Royalist commander ordered a withdrawal.

Royalist troops were slow to take up their position for the second attack.

The left fort is cleared.

The right fort is cleared by artillery fire, but a slow advance by Royalists were unable to take advantage. 

Summary...

A Parliamentarian victory, the Royalists just ran out of time and failed to occupy the forts. During the first assault, the Royalists failed to use their cavalry effectively to block or tie down Parliament’s reserves, allowing them to reoccupy the fort. Poor luck with movement rolls (several early rolls of 1) further hampered the Royalist advance, so their units were slow to take up their positions and begin the attacks.

A second earthworks fort and some ECW painting

This past week and weekend, I managed to make another earthworks fort and paint up some English Civil War infantry that had been sitting around primed for a couple of months. I also painted a General Fairfax figure that had been lying around and hiding in the remaining ECW lead pile.

Another earthworks is added.

The earthworks are made from upholsterer’s foam and coloured with watered down paint. Cocktail sticks are painted and pushed into the foam for storm poles. (see my previous post on the steps to making a foam fort.)

The new earthworks will be a useful addition for an upcoming siege game. My next step in preparing for the game is to draw and paint a backdrop of a fortified town. The backdrop I currently have looks more 18th Century than 17th Century. I have just finished reading English Civil War Fortifications 1642–51 by Peter Harrington, which is filled with lots of illustrations that will provide plenty of inspiration for the backdrop.

General Fairfax - a Hinchliffe model.

Latest infantry painted. These models are mainly Minifigs, but the officer and drummer are Hinchliffe.

I also managed to paint some farm animals this week for the siege game. I picked them up while browsing the local hobby shop. They will be used in a game before the siege, if the defenders can escort the animals safely across the tabletop, it will improve their chances of withstanding the siege.

Farm animals added for supplies.

A recent pick up from the local hobby shop by Warlord Games

In the meantime, both earthworks will see action in a game this week using the “One-Hour Wargames” Scenario 15 - Fortified Defence.

The tabletop is set up for the OHW scenario 15 - Fortified Defence.

Making some English Civil War fortifications

Continuing the siege theme from my last two posts, this afternoon I decided to make some quick English earthworks using upholstery foam. These will be useful for playing out some smaller siege actions set during the English Civil War. I have purchased the ebook “English Civil War fortifications 1642–51” from Osprey for ideas and some inspiration.

The completed earthworks.

Current reading.

The steps used to create the earthwork...

1) The foam is measured up using a couple of bases.

2) The foam is cut out and the ramparts shaped.

3) The foam is cut in half and an area removed to create the parapet of the earthworks.

4) Scissors are used to help shape the ramparts and cut little divots to make the ramparts a bit uneven.

5) A brown wash is liberally applied to the shaped foam.

6) Additional colours are added.

7) Dark brown dashes of paint are used to give the impression of wood supports on the parapet.

8) Painted toothpicks are pushed into the foam to create the spikes.

By having the earthworks cut in half, they can be placed along the table edge as part of a larger defensive position, or set up as a small standalone fortification. 

Set up as a fortified position.

After looking over the photos and seeing how they dried, the earthworks appear a little lighter than I intended, so tomorrow I will be applying another brown wash to darken them down and give them a more earthy look.

English Civil War Siege - Game Report

Today I hosted a remote English Civil War siege game with Jon of Palouse Wargaming Journal. Details of the game setup are in my previous post. The scenario is a fictitious siege played with the defender’s actions determined by an events table.

Siege Background

Greyford is a small fortified town guarding the only bridge for twenty miles in either direction. Situated in the Harrow Valley, it commands the main north–south route for supply convoys, messenger riders, and troop movements.

In peacetime, Greyford was a market centre for wool, grain, and salt. Since the outbreak of war, however, it has become a prize of strategic value far beyond its modest size.

After a series of defeats, a small Royalist force has withdrawn into Greyford to regroup and await reinforcements. Determined to deny the King any foothold in the region, the Parliamentarian army has begun a loose blockade of the town.

The Royalist governor, Sir Edmund Kaye, a veteran of the wars in the Low Countries, ordered the townsfolk to stockpile food and ammunition and make repairs to the walls.

The Royalists prepare for the siege.

Parliamentarian commander Colonel John Haversham has brought up his heaviest available guns and is preparing to lay siege. His chief engineer has prepared a plan of parallels and trenches to carry the assault to Greyford’s walls.

Parliamentarian artillery park.

Siege Report

In the opening weeks of the siege, Jon made a strong start, committing most of his limited troops to digging the first parallel and establishing guard lines and patrols to control every road in and out of Greyford. Yet, the Royalist defenders proved adept at slipping messengers through the lines, raising the alarm for reinforcements. This placed Jon under mounting pressure to bring the siege to a conclusion before any relief force could arrive.

The defenders watch on at the siege preparations take place.

Progress on the siege works slowed in the following persistent rain that hampered the trench digging, and disease swept through the camp, reducing Jon’s available troops. Undeterred, he pressed on, diverting troops from patrols and guard duties to continue the work. By the fifth or sixth week, two heavy artillery batteries were in place and construction of the second parallel had begun. Seizing their chance, the defenders launched several sorties, inflicting casualties and forcing Jon to shift some of his troops back to patrols and guard duties, further delaying the digging of trenches.

Work begins on the second parallel.

The balance of the siege now seemed to favour the defenders, as progress on the second parallel and the remaining gun batteries slowed. Worse still for Jon, disease continued to thin the ranks of his troops, while the garrison successfully smuggled out messages to the approaching relief force.

Parliamentarian commanders look on as the gun batteries attempt to make breaches.

Though his numbers were dwindling, Jon managed to complete the final gun batteries and, in the weeks that followed, unleashed successful bombardments against the town’s walls. One breach was opened, inflicting casualties on the Royalist defenders and reducing their morale.

The assaults begin on the first breach.

Jon launched two assaults against the breach. The first was decisively repulsed, inflicting further losses on his army and raising serious doubts about the Parliamentarians’ ability to continue the siege. Undeterred, Jon pressed on with a second attack. This too was beaten back, but at a heavy cost to the defenders, leaving their morale at its lowest ebb.

Artillery bombard the walls to make a second and decisive breach.

Hoping the defenders were unaware of his army’s hardships and unable to risk further losses with a third assault, Jon concentrated all remaining effort on a bombardment to open up a second breach. His guns proved to be accurate, and the new gap in the walls was soon made. This final blow broke the defenders’ morale, and they sued for terms. With his own ranks depleted by disease and casualties, the Parliamentarians accepted the surrender, allowing the Royalists to march out before occupying Greyford.

Summary

Early on, it seemed time would be Jon's greatest challenge, but disease and casualties from repeated sorties meant any further losses might have forced Parliament to abandon the siege. However, accurate gunnery in opening a second breach shattered the Royalist morale. A narrow, but well earned, victory for Jon. Well done!

Taking the fortified town in this game is no easy feat. The besieging commander must carefully allocate their limited troops between:

• Constructing parallels and trenches
• Building gun emplacements
• Conducting bombardments
• Launching assaults
• Establishing guard lines and sending out patrols to prevent sorties and messengers
• Planning and reconnaissance to improve outcomes

And all the while, a mix of defender actions, rain, and disease reduces both manpower and the time available.

Jon managed to balance these demands until disease began to seriously thin his ranks. Then, a calculated gamble of focusing on the siege works and delaying the bombardment until enough batteries were ready proved to be decisive in the end.

For those interested, the game was completed in one hour.

What is Next?

I am really enjoying these rules and have two English Civil War ideas in mind.

The first is to create a small-scale ECW campaign with only a handful of regions, some containing a strategic town or city. To fully control a region, a player would need to win a field battle and, if the region includes a fortified town or city, successfully complete a siege. This idea still needs more thought as I do not want to have the situation of my last ECW campaign which took some 40 odd battles to decide.

The second idea, inspired by some helpful comments (thank you), is to adapt the rules for sieges of fortified manors during the ECW. Where the use of trenches and parallels was far more limited. I will need to do some further reading on how these engagements were conducted and what activity would replace constructing trenches and parallels.

Or perhaps I might take a completely different direction and try a Samurai-themed siege. My Samurai armies have not yet seen the tabletop since I moved to New Zealand, so it might be time to change that.

Preparing for a remote ECW siege game

This week I am preparing for a remote siege game with Jon from Palouse Wargaming Journal. Something I am very much looking forward to after spending most of last week incapacitated due to a bad back that left me floored, quite literally. We will be using the “Siege Works” rules by Solo Wargames, available on WargameVault. They are a paper and pen game that I have adapted for use on the tabletop where the besieging player gradually constructs parallels and trenches, and positions batteries. While having various disruptions, such as sorties and disease among the troops, slowing them down.

An example of the tabletop.

The game is essentially a resource-management challenge. Where the besieger must allocate their scarce, and sometimes dwindling, resources to quickly build their parallels, trenches, and gun batteries so they can breach the walls and launch an assault on the fortified town before a relief force arrives.

The besieged have prepared the fortified town.

The original rules are set in the Napoleonic era, but I will use them for an English Civil War siege of a fortified town. In preparation for the game, I laid out the all the trenches on the tabletop and measured them to get the starting position of the first parallel. 

The parallels and trenches are built using six-inch segments with some restrictions. For example, the first parallel must be 30 inches long before the attacker can advance the zig-zag trenches and begin the second parallel which must be 24 inches long and starts 12 inches closer to the fort. Each gun battery will require 12 inches (two lengths) of parallel to be constructed before they can be established. 

There will be room on the tabletop for an artillery park.

The zig-zag trenches are brown felt cut into strips and the parallels are made from wooded dowel with a fly-wire repair kit wrapped around them for a wicker effect.

A close up view of the parallel lengths.

While I have tried to get as many siege activities as possible onto the tabletop. Tracking of resources off-table is still necessary, especially for remote play where not everything on the tabletop is easily seen. To help handle this a simple resource tracker was drawn up. Nothing fancy, just a series of boxes for placing dice as markers, with a few printed siege drawings pasted on to make it look less boring.

The resource tracker.

So everything is now ready for the remote game.