28mm American War of Independence Game but.....

....is it ever too hot to game? Last Saturday in Gravesend was like a volcano had been discovered under Posties Wargames shed, it was like a reservoir in the underwear hot, my crackers were baking!

So 6 of the Rejects turned up last Saturday for this game of the AWI featuring quality British troops asleep in their tents with naval support and damn tired Americans who had marched through the night to trap the British (this meant the American units had to roll a D6 every time they moved or fired and on a 1 they lost a quarter in movement or a dice in shooting!) but did I mention it was hot!

Lurker: Ray, you're too close!
Ray: I'm trying to get near the fan!
Lurker: You're dripping on me!
Ray: I'm taking my shoes off, the kids have the paddling pool out next door!
Lurker: Ray, come in and throw your dice and get out of the paddling pool for fecks sake, I'm not moving your troops...it's too hot!
Lurker:......and put your top back on as well!

Anyway back to the game, The American War of Independence or The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) started as a war between Great Britain and the new United States of America, but would expand to a global war between Britain on one side and the United States, France and Spain (some say the Netherlands as well) on the other. The main result was an American victory, with mixed results for the other powers, more here.

The scenario was the British were sleeping in their tents near a port and the Americans had marched through the night to catch them on the hop, we got close with a dice roll but not close enough and one of the American brigades was all militia quality!

Ray, myself and John were the Americans and Surjit and Dave were the British and their Brunswicker allies....

Rules used were Age of Reason and turns were card driven....

Did I mention it was hot!

Battle of View-Point 18th August 1777

Initial table set up.......

The British tents with sleeping troops represented outside, Postie used card to represent the tents...

My brigade with a dice roll has made it to the edge of the woods without being detected....

Ray and John's brigades await the order.....

Contractual Postie shot, his brain fried, well it's the only reason for some of his decisions...

The British redoubt with their main guns facing the sea and not allowed to be moved either but the crew were another thing....

Yet more sleeping British.....

Can you smell bacon?

The port town and ship with cannons!!!!!

The British commander thanking his American host for his hospitality, I had hoped to capture the bugger but he hoofed it....

9 dead with one broadside!!!!!!

....and we're off!

..the American owner thinks about legging it!

Look at the size of this Hessian unit, 24 figures to a standard 16 of most of the Americans.....

The Brunswicker grenaider unit is a little smaller....

This wagon was loaded with explosive by the British and only required a 4, 5 or 6 on a dice roll, it never happened for them....shame!

Some plotting and questions spotted or otherwise known as shenanigans!

The British advance.....

.....from their point of view!

Ray considering another trip to the paddling pool......

I approach the British lines but these fences cause disorder marker for just crossing....

American brigade arrives as reinforcements....

The wagon is assaulted to clear it?

Two routing units were eventually saved but things are tough at the front.....

So the militia sneak around the back of the town.....

The town was a major objective and we threw a lot at it.....

....even from the rear!

The game at the end, a sweaty draw!

We were forced (Americans) to do an army withdrawal check due to severe casualties, which we passed and if the game went on longer I believe we would have won, the British are too strong in defence (and attack) and only some lucky dice rolls kept us in it but did I say it was hot!