Paraguayan Horror. War of the Triple Alliance Game #2

Yesterday saw another run out for my new Paraguayan War armies, this time using Valour and Fortitude. I had been planning to use BBB but decided at the last minute to use V&F just to see how they worked and because I wanted to put my entire collection (as it stands now) on the table.

There were six of us playing. The Alliance were played by Jon (Brazil), John (Argentine) and John (Uruguayan). Conrad, Nigel and I were the Paraguayans, Nigel taking the role of the dictator López. The objectives of the game were simple. The Alliance were tasked with capturing a Paraguayan fort covering a tributary of the Parana river.  The Paraguayans needed to destroy as much of the Brazilian and Argentine forces before the Uruguayans arrived ( when John the Red had finished dad’s taxi duties). A passive defence was unlikely to work. The Paraguayans rather sneakily had another emplaced battery of heavy guns across the river ready to enfilade the Allied attack.  

Terrain wise, there were a number of small impassable lagoons, lots of marsh and broken ground/scrub and the river was deemed to be twice as wide as represented on the table so the heavy guns would only be able to fire at a limited number of Alliance forces. Here are a few photos which hope will give some idea of how things unraveled or developed during the day.Blogger has as usual buggered up the order of the photos but I’ve made an attempt to put them back in the right sequence, I hope.

A view of the Paraguayan line.

Conrad commanded the entire Paraguayan cavalry arm, and deployed all seven regiments on our left.

Despite starting the game amidst the scrub and difficult terrain the Paraguayan cavalry advanced as quickly as they could in order to attempt a flanking attack on the Alliance forces.

Conrad’s horsemen massing to envelop the Argentinian flank. 

Paraguayan cavalry threaten the rear of the Argentinian infantry. Two battalions were forced into square.

On the left Jon’s Brazilians were struggling to make any headway against the fort but did pile the pressure on my infantry between the fort and the river. One cavalry attack was   beaten off.

The Paraguayan  left about get overwhelmed by the Brazilians

In the centre Nigel’s infantry closed with the Argentinians and held them up. Casualties were heavy and several battalions on both sides were broken.

An expanded view of the fight in the centre.

Our cavalry were poised to outflank the Argentinians but were held by several charges by the outnumbered and outclassed Argentine cavalry.

A nice view of the fort.

In the nick of time the Uruguayan division arrived to save the Allied army. They blunted several attacks from the Paraguayan cavalry. 

Paraguayans getting the worse of the fight against the tough Uruguayans.

In the centre one of Conrad’s regiments broke an Argentinian square. President Mitre above was almost captured.

The last throw of the Paraguayan dice as the sole surviving cavalry regiment took on a regiment of Argentinians. 

The fort looking packed full of Paraguayans. They infantry were all militia types and not as good as Nigel’s veteran troops in the centre .

 

The Brazilians had meanwhile annihilated my division by the river. 

Another shot of the gallant Uruguayans who saved the day. 

Well that was superb and much fun. Highs and lows were me forgetting to fire my artillery across the river most turns, me forgetting the rules until well into the game, the tenacity of the Paraguayan cavalry was remarkable although they were wiped out in the end. The Brazilians under Jon wiped out my division by the river but were struggling to make any progress against the fort. Interestingly nobody put their infantry into skirmish order where such a thing was allowed, and the skirmished rule was forgotten until well after the battle.

I think the statistics for the Paraguayan army seemed to work. I maybe need a little more thought regarding the Alliance forces as some of the troop stats didn’t seem right and I wanted to separate out Volunteers of the Fatherland and National Guard. I think the artillery was possibly a little too powerful as I’d used two guns per battery as it looks better. Jon struggled against the fort but maybe that’s accurate? 

Anyway, everyone enjoyed the game and the rules so we shall try them again soon. Maybe the Austrian-Prussian War of 1866?  Meanwhile ai had some fun with ChatGPT or whatever it’s called.

John as the Uruguayan commander

John ‘President Mitre’ Hogan

A battered me

    
                 Conrad above and Nigel        below

Jon the Brazilian 

Another Argentine Battalion

Another unit rolled off the painting desk today. Here we have the ‘Legion Militar’ from the Argentinian army. This is one of the uniforms attributed to this regiment. A former Papal Zouave who served with them reports wearing a green jacket and red trousers. He was there I suppose and I’ve already done a unit like that ‘just in case’ any button counters find a soapbox to stand on. 

I’m afraid I couldn’t be arsed to give them havelocks on the back of their kepis but apart from that they were one of I believe only two units in the army who wore Zouave-style uniforms. The minis are Perry from their ACW range except one of the officers who started life as a Carlist. I do think they look rather striking; whether that helps much in battle we shall see when they get their baptism of fire tomorrow.

The Serbian Army in the Wars for Independence against Turkey 1876–1878

This is dangerous reading for wargaming butterflies like me, but only if I decide to start collecting in smaller scales such as 10mm. Phew! 

For those interested in nineteenth-century military conflicts or the history of modern Serbia, Dušan Babac’s ‘The Serbian Army in the Wars for Independence against Turkey 1876–1878’ (from Helion’s from Musket to Maxim series) provides a detailed and visually informative account worth reading. I knew next to nothing about this conflict so was excited to be able to learn something new. I believe this is an updated version of the original 2015 publication. 

I found thus book was not your typical dry military history. Babac weaves together strategy, politics, and national identity to tell the story of Serbia’s hard-fought emergence from Ottoman rule. The 1876–1878 wars (there were two) were more than just a regional conflict;
they were a turning point in the Balkans that helped redraw the map of Southeast Europe.

The book is broken down into six main sections; The First Serbo-Turkish War 1876, the Roleof Volunteers (which  was significant), The Second Serbo-Turkish War 1877–1878, Weaponry and Equipment, Uniforms and Standards, Orders and Decorations. There are two appendices covering European opinion on the wars and Prince. Milan’s Order on the Occasion of the Independence of Serbia. This book excels in its detailed research and presentation, featuring dozens of rare photos, uniform illustrations, maps, and pictures of surviving artefacts. The quality and sheer number of photographs gives a lasting impression of not just reading about the soldiers and commanders, but also seeing them.

The author also provides context for the development of the Serbian army, describing its attempt to modernise amidst influences from old Ottoman tactics and new European strategies. The writing highlights how Serbia's military efforts were closely linked to its pursuit of independence and how the war influenced the country's future.

A notable aspect of this book is its nuanced portrayal of the conflict. Babac offers an impartial treatment of the Ottoman forces, avoiding the tendency to depict them merely as adversaries. This balanced perspective enhances the narrative's depth and credibility.

Nevertheless, the book primarily focuses on the military aspects. It does not offer a thorough examination of the civilian experience during the war, nor does it delve into the wider social ramifications of the conflict. That is not the intention of the author. However, in its aim to investigate the role of the Serbian army in a pivotal struggle for national survival, it succeeds admirably.

If you are into military history, this book is a gem. It is informative, engaging, and beautifully produced with much emphasis placed on the visual. Whether you are already interested in Balkan history or just starting to explore the region’s past, Dušan Babac delivers a compelling and accessible read. For me this was a wonderful introduction to a previously unknown conflict and has whetted my appetite for more.

Brazilian Cacadores

Another battalion fell off the far end of the painting queue this afternoon in the form of a battalion of Brazilian Cacadores. They’re mostly in the tropical uniform and I think they look ok. No flag as am assuming that as supposedly light infantry they wouldn’t carry one. 

Additions to the Triple Alliance Project

I finished a few more troops for the Triple Alliance project today in the shape of some cavalry and artillery.

This is them.

Brazilian mountain gun battery. I have some mules somewhere I can co-opt into service.

Uruguayan National Guard cavalry. They were nowhere near as good as the Uruguayan infantry.

Brazilian National Guard Cavalry of Rio Grande de Sol, aka Gauchos.

The Gauchos are Parkfield Miniatures, everything else being Perry.

And another review......

 

Nic Fields' Leûktra 371 BCE: Sparta’s Twilight presents a compelling and meticulously researched analysis of one of antiquity's most significant battles. Published by Helion & Company as part of their new From Alexander to Adrianopleseries, this work examines the events leading up to, during, and following the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BCE, where Theban forces under Epaminondas delivered a decisive defeat to Spartan supremacy.

 

Dr. Fields expertly places the battle within the wider geopolitical context of the era. He explains how Sparta, having triumphed in the Peloponnesian War, had established a seemingly unassailable dominance over Greece. However, internal challenges and external pressures paved the way for Thebes to emerge as a significant power.

 

A particularly important feature of the book is Fields' examination of Epaminondas' innovative tactics. The arrangement of the Theban phalanx, which was notably organised fifty shields deep and led by the elite Sacred Band, exemplified a groundbreaking approach to hoplite warfare. Fields explains how this formation, combined with the oblique order of attack, not only secured victory at Leuctra but also significantly influenced subsequent military strategies, particularly those of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great.

 

The narrative is clear, making military manoeuvres easy to understand. Fields' writing is both engaging and informative, highlighting the battle's importance.

 

The book contains a good number of black and white photographs, several maps (the one depicting the deployment of all the various elements of both armies is especially interesting) and four stunning full page colour illustrations by Renato Delmaso, commissioned especially for this book.  There are five appendices, covering subjects such as the Greek Language, literary evidence for the Spartan army, and my two favourites, Spartan hairstyles and the influence of wine on society and the battlefield. 

 

In my view Leûktra 371 BCE: Sparta’s Twilight is a major addition to ancient military history. Nic Fields has presented a comprehensive look at a battle that reshaped the Greek world, emphasising the fleeting nature of power and the lasting impact of tactical innovation.

 

ISBN: 978-1-804517-69-7     Paperback, 164 pages

Time for another review.

Richard Taylor’s The Army of Alexander the Great offers an in-depth and easy to understand analysis of the organisation, strategy, and development of Alexander the Great’s military forces. It is the first volume in Helion’s new and exciting from Alexander to Adrianople series. The author meticulously examines how the Macedonian army's tactical sophistication and flexibility were pivotal to Alexander’s successful campaigns across a wide geographical area, diverse terrain and against a multitude of adversaries.

The book dedicates considerable attention to the structure of the army, detailing elements such as the renowned Macedonian phalanx equipped with long pikes (sarissas) and the elite Companion cavalry. Taylor emphasizes Alexander’s strategic acumen in coordinating diverse units — infantry, cavalry, and allied or local troops — to triumph over numerically superior forces.

 

A noteworthy aspect of this work is its focus on the incorporation of non-Macedonian troops as Alexander’s empire expanded, underscoring his innovative command and control strategies. Additionally, Taylor delves into logistical and operational considerations, highlighting how the army maintained prolonged campaigns far from their homeland.

 

The book is beautifully illustrated with a tremendous 20 gorgeous full colour plates executed by Renato Delmaso, depicting a wide range of troops, not just of Alexander’s army but the armies of his enemies. There are also a large number of black and white images, both of surviving pieces to photographs of the battlefields and terrain as they are today. There are also a range diagrams and maps (strategic and tactical), all of which add to the richness of this book.

 

The illustrations and maps enhance the text, but the book’s primary strength lies in its simple description of military systems, accommodating both enthusiasts and novices in the field of ancient military history. This is a hugely interesting narrative and an informative read.

 

ISBN: 978-1-804517-70-3     Paperback       223 pages