Tarragona Campaign

It will not be obvious from the index, but the daily movement orders and campaign diary for the Tarragona Campaign are being updated each day. Because this update is done as an amendment to an existing blog, it does not show as updated for the whole blog (if you see what I mean??)

Suffice to say that if anyone is interested in what the Spanish and French armies are doing they can read about it by clicking on the 1813 Tarragona Campaign button on the top right. Of if you don't really care, I can tell you that they are both marching around a lot trying to gain an advantage over each other.

Battle of Bucholz

The latest in the Wargames in Spain is a battle report from September 2008.

Again it is one of the campaign we were fighting at that time, but the action has moved to Northern Germany.

You can read the full report by clicking on the Wargames in Spain button on the right

House Fighting Rules

Jan and I have just finished a 12 move game, almost all of which involved fighting for a town. I am really pleased because it is the hardest test so far for our rules for this hardest of wargaming tasks. And they have come through with flying colours.

Under our rules each general has a maximum of 8 "pips" to issue orders and a minimum of 4 "pip". If he has two infantry brigades within 4" of each other, he can swop them around for the loss of 3 "pips" - quite a high cost.

If infantry are on Attack orders when they assault a town, there is one set of rules. If they are on Engage orders there is a different set . In the latter each side needs a total of 6 to kill an enemy, and they must then make their morale. So house fighting is likely to go on for longer. That is what happened in this game.

You can't read the battle report yet, it has not been typed up. But I was so pleased that I wanted to tell you all!!

Visit to Salamanca Battlefield

This weeks "Walking Napoleonic Battlefields" recalls our visit to Salamanca in 1991. This is one of the easiest, and most rewarding, battlefields to visit. You can see more photographs, and read about the visit, by clicking the button on the right.

Tarragona Campaign

The second battle of Cambrils was epic in more ways than one.

First it was the biggest wargame of the campaign so far, with all three French corps and all four Spanish armies taking part.

More epic still, we fought it FOUR TIMES as a wargame. The first time we have ever done so. It was all because we were not happy with the balance between French and Spanish. Jan commanded the Spanish for the first game, and lost. I commanded them for the second and lost. And changed the orders of battle to make the Spanish stronger. In this second battle it became clear that there was no point in having more Spanish, is they all broke when the first one did.

Third game Jan commanded the Spanish and won. Fourth game I commanded the Spanish and again won. In both cases only just. And by winning I mean that they were still holding their position at the end of the game, not that the French had been defeated.

Strangely all four games were enjoyable. Because of the rules we use, the dice throw is very important. So it is easily possible to play the same game, with the same troops and in the same opening positions, but have a completely different result each time.

You an read the full battle report by clicking 1813 Tarragona Campaign button on the right.

Visitor Time

It may be quiet on here for the next two to three weeks. We are now into the visitor season, and living in Spain most come to us rather than we go to them!

We have two good friends arriving today. They have bought a house further down the coast, but are not living here full time yet. Paul is an old wargaming friend, and I have set up a game to keep us occupied whilst the ladies keep cool in the pool or get up to date on the the latest news on the naya with a glass of wine.

Next week my son and family arrive. We have a three year old grandson and when he is here there is no time for anything else. The house is converted into one big three year old play area. From first thing in the morning, until he goes to bed at night, all is bedlam and noise and dashing about and his favourite dvd on the TV. We love it, but it does not leave any spare time, or energy, for the blog.

Will post when I get a chance.

Fuentes de Onoro

This weeks "Walking Napoleonic Battlefields" remembers our visit to the sleepy little village which was the scene of one of Wellingtons hardest fought battles. To read more, and see more photographs taken at the time, click button on the right.