Green bonnets over the border.

Since I want to test the updated version of my old rules in preparation for a couple of 18thC  games for Huzzah, an early 20thC game may seem like a strange choice. However, the first version of the rules was written for late 19thC Colonial games and these lads haven't been out in over a year.

When the first shells exploded around the head of the column, the reaction was immediate. The cavalry, armoured car and motorized infantry deployed and engaged the enemy.

The good news is that the rules still work for the early 20thC when adjusted for weapons and tactics of the day. Mind you, I'll need to find someway to indicate firing units in the pictures since clouds of cotton powder smoke are no longer appropriate.

To everyone's surprise the Oerberg Railway Battalion crumbled quickly despite being dug in around the customs house. The convoy rolled on.

The bad news is that playing these rules solo is still good exercise since the activation of 1 unit at a time still leads to a lot of moving forth around the table. Its also a fair amount of brain work when running both sides that way compared to an igougo game. Of course neither of these things apply to a multi-person game.

Despite effective counter-battery fire from the 4.7", the Oerberg artillery zeroes in on the convoy while the Oerberg Constabulary moved forward to block the convoy's advance. 

At least the lads have been out and I've had enjoyable 1 1/2 hour game with a surprise ending. Twice I thought the invading forces had it wrapped up but that seems to have lulled me into pushing the convoy forward too fast, giving the Oerbergers a chance for some "good" shooting.

Under a heavy fire the convoy pulled back rapidly. Once the armoured car had driven off the Oerberg horsemen and the 4.7" had silenced the enemy artillery, the rallied convoy came forward again.  The Oerbergers weren't done yet though. While the Border Police opened fire on the convoy from the cover of the stonewalls, the Oerberg artillery redeployed and opened a surprisingly accurate fire on the convoy. Within minutes the road was a shambles of wrecked vehicles. No coup de main today, a full scale invasion will be needed. 

This campaign will resume later this year, once I finally get the armies up to scratch but for now its back to the 18thC or maybe the War of 1812.