, ·I -· .- -f[;QM-~ ~ ~. - • Win with armies J. New Essex 25mm

desi n db winner. Late Medievals

Not only are the figures themselves widely accepted as the B EST, but the order of battle lists used to make up these 1 000 point armies were designed by tournament winners to optimize fighting power. To help you meet and beat the competition, these army lists have been designed by the winners of Origins (Books I, II & III), Historicon, the Norm Gisclair and the SW. Championship.

Each army is complete and meets w.R.G. specifications. Send $1 .00 for sample figure and order of battle. Please specify army of interest.

25mm 1000 point armies (Essex, Dixon and Tin Soldier) $99.95 - Late Roman, Wars of the Roses, 1 00 Years War, Teutonic Knights, Burgundian, N ikephorian Byzantine, Samurai (Dixon), Aztec (TIn Soldier), Free Company, Palmyran, Viking, Anglo Danish , Khitan Liao $124.95 - Alexandrian Macedonian, Alexandrian Imperial , Late Hoplite, Lysimachid, Indian, Thracian, Tibetan, Middle Imperial Roman, Norman, Norse Irish, Early Crusader, Late Crusader, Thematic .. Byzantine, Macedonian Early Successor, Asiatic Early Success

TIN SOLDIER 15mm AZTECS

15mm 1000 pOint armies (Tin Soldier) $31.95 - $49.95 - Alexandrian Macedonian, Alexandrian Imperial, Late Hoplite, Lysimachid, Indian, Macedonian Early Successor, Pyrric, Asiatic Early Successor, Seleucid, Hellenistic Greek, Ptolomeic, Wars of the Roses, 100 Years War, Aztec, Teutonic Knights, Swiss, Bactrian Greer

Imminent Arrivals of 25mm 1000 point Renassiance, Seleucid, Early Imperial Roman, Bactrian Greek, Parthian, Late Macedonian, Hellenistic Greek, Ptolomeic, and Pyrric army packs.

• Coming or going there are no better Napoleonics than these:

Essex 25mm Napoleonics (French Napoleonic Early Empire, 1804-1812) Imperial Guard

FN 1 Grenadier, ful l dress, advancing

A FN2 A FN3 A FN4 A FN5

FN6

- $.75 French guard or line infantry flag Drummer, advancing Officer, drawn sword, advancing Standard bearer, advancing Grenadier in great coat & bearskin , advancing - $.75

FN7 Grenadier, full dress, kneeling , firing - $.75

FN8 Grenadier, full dress, loading - $.75

A FN9 Drummer at attention A FN 10 Standard bearer at attention

FN 11 Grenadier or Chasseur in great coat & bicorn, advancing - $.75

A FN 12 Grenadier or Chasseur officer in great coat & bicorn

Foot Chasseurs FN13 Chasseur in full dress,

advancing - $.75 . A FN 14 Chasseur drummer, advancing A FN 15 Chasseur standard bearer,

advancing A FN16 Chasseur offi cer , advancing

FN 17 Chasseur, great coat & bearskin , advancing - $.75

FN 18 Chasseur at the ready - $.75 FN19 Chasseur, kneeling at the ready

- $.75 A FN20 Drummer at attention A FN 21 Standard bearer at attention

Mounted crossbowman (3 types)

A M53 Mounted archer (3 types) A M54 Medium/ Heavy shield less

horseman (3 types) A M55 Retinue archer D M56 Standard bearer on foot with

standard A M57 Crossbowman (3 types) A M58 Heavy spearman (3 types)

M58A Heavy billman (3 types)

- ...... Beautifully painted armies.

Now you can buy professionally PAINTED Essex/Dixon armies and units at a very affordable price.

Order your army today as we have had an overwhelming response for these figures. Most Essex/Dixon armies available for painting through special order. Call us for more information.

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TIN SOLDIER 25mmAZTECS

Just Arrived! • Essex Indians (MP53 thru MP69)

• Essex 25mm Egyptian figures/ absolutely beautiful

• Armies of the Middle Ages, Part II - $19.95

• Module for Cry Havoc - $5.95

• Play what the winners play, paint what the winners paint.

Winners of major competitions • Origins/ Book III - Essex 1 00

Years War, Joe Robinson • Historicon - Dixon Samurai,

J.B.H. • SW. Championship - Essex 1 00

Years War, Joe Robinson • Norm Gisclair- Essex Late

Romans, J .B. H.

Winners of major painting competitions • Origins/Best Book III Army­

Essex Medievals, Joe Robinson • Origins/ Best Unit - Courier Award

- Essex Hoplites, Scott Pryor • H istoricon/ Best Army - Essex

Spanish Imperialist, Francisco Vando

• Historicon/ Best Unit - Essex Spanish Imperialist, Francisco Vando

• H istoricon/Best Figure - Essex Spanish Imperialist, Francisco Vando

• H istoricon/Best of Show - Essex Spanish Imperialist, Francisco Vando

M530n Hl

M58/58A

WARGAM ES, INC. • 1410 PROM ENADE BAN K CENTER •

We make ordering easy. 1. Determine prices through our

price codes: A & B $ .85 J $2.25 C .99 K 2.75 o 1.10 L 2.95 E 1.05 M 3.95 F & G 1.20 N 5.75 H 1.50 a 5.95 I 1.75 P 7.95

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NORTH AMERICA'S FOREMOST MINIATURE GAMING MAGAZINE

FEATURE ARTICLES

SEND A GUNBOAT LYNN BODIN discusses the gu nboat of the Coloni al Period ........... . . .. . . .... .......• . .. . .. ..... • •. ..... ..• ..... . ....•...• . ..•.. .. ... .. •.... 5

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE FALSE PROPHET OF THE SAN JUANS LYNN BODIN with PART III , the fi nal part of the ca mpaign .......... .. .. . .. .. . .••... ... . . .. • .... ..... ..... .•.... . .•.. . ..... •.. .•....... . •.... 13

NAPOLEONIC T ABLE TOP TALK NED ZUPARKO discusses better sca ling of games to the table top . ..... .. . . ... . . • .. .. .. .....•.... ..... .. ...• .. .. . .•. . ..•. .. ..... . ...•. ...... . . 19

A MEDIEVAL SKIRMISH GAME MARK SWANSON describes a multi-sided game . ... .. . . .•. .....•. . . .. ...... .. . .. .. . . .. .. .... ..... . .... .••............. ... . .. . .. ..•....•.. . . 23

NAPOLEONICS IN AMERICA CARL WEST and the War of 1812 ... .............. . . . .. ... . ... .. .. ..... . ..... . ..... . . . .... ... ... ......... . . ....... ... . .. ... .. . . .. .. . ... .... 33

PUTTING WRG ANCIENTS INTO HIGH GEAR JOHN THU LL brings us some speed-up methods ...... . ....... . .. ... . •...... . ....•... . ..• ... ..•.. . .....• . ......• . . . .. . .... . . . ....• . . . ... .. .. 35

THE FRANCQ-PRUSSIAN WAR (A MINI-THEME)

WARFARE IN THE AGE OF NAPOLEON THE LITTLE PAT CONDRAY introd uces the period ... . ...... .... . ... . . . .. •... ..•.. ...•... . .• • . . .. .. ..... . •.... . .. ••. . . ..•. ........ . . . .• ... . . .. . .... 37

THE FRENCH AND PRUSSIAN ARMIES -1870 PAT CONDRAY descri bes organ izat ion & tacti cs .. ... ... .. . ..• . .....•.... . •.... . •..... .• . . ........... . •......•. . . . • . ....... . .... .. .. • . . .. 40

FRANCO PRUSSIAN FIGURE AVAILABILITY PAT CONDRA Y gives a list ........ ... .... . ... . . .. .•... ...•... .. ••.....•.... . • .. .. . •. . ...••. ... ...• •.... .. • . . . . .. .. ...... . . .. . .. . .... . . 42

NACH PARIS PA UL KOCH with a complete set of ru les for the period . ... . ..... . •. .... . • .. . . .. ... .. • ... .. •..... .. •..... .. . . ... .. ....•. . .. . ..• . ... • . ..... 43

TACTICAL TRICKS FOR ON TO RICHMOND PA UL KOCH te lls us how to win with these rul es . . . . . •. .....••.......... .... .. .. .. ....•. . ...•......••........• .... . .... • ............... ... . . 48

THE BATTLE OF CROSS KEYS PA UL KOCH with a scenario for ON TO RICHMOND .. . . .. • .. . . ..•.... .•.... ... . . . . . . . . ...•... .. • •. .. .....•..... .. . .. ... . .• .. . . ... • .. ...... 49

DEPARTMENTS

SAPPER'S REPORT Build a Colonial Gunboat .. . . .. .... .. . .. . .. . • .. . ... • . ..... • ....•..... .. .....•.... .. .... . . . ...•...•.... . ... . ...•........ . . 9 THE REVIEWING STAND with Jay Hadley . ..... .. ........ . .... ...... .. •.. . ..•.... .• . . . . ... .....•.. . ....•• . ..... • ... . . .. . . .... ....•.. .. . . ... 29 THE COURIER DISPATCH News of the hobby with Rob Maclean ....... .. .... •. . .. .••..... • . . .. . .•. .. . . ...• .... .. .... .. . . .•...•. ........•.. .. 50 DISPATCHES FROM THE FIELD Letters to (or at) the Edito r .... ... ... ...•... . .• • ....• . ... . • •... .••.... . . .... . . ... .• . .... . . . •... •... .. .... . .... 55 VOLLEY FIRE W hat do you like (or hate) about the issue . ... .. . • ..... . •... .. ..... .... . . . . .. ....•• . . ............ • .... .. . . . . • . . .. ... . . . .... .. . . 56

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1lrbe

~(l-U·ti~1f MANAGING EDITOR: Richard L. Bryant

BUSINESS MANAGER: Leo Cronin ART DIRECTOR: Joseph Miceli

ADVERTISING MANAGER: Bruce Mi lli ga n THEME EDITOR: THE SUDAN

Lynn Bodin

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Wi lliam Abrams; Ken Bunger; Phil Barker; Robert Beattie; Rodman Burr; Steve Carpenter; Pat Condray; Tom Desmond; Jay Hadley; Steve Haller; Ian Knight; Paul Koch ; Doug Joh nson; Robert Mosca; Nick Nascati; Cliff Sayre; George Schneider; Kruse Smith ; Walter Simon; Ned Zuparko.

STAFF CARTOONISTS: Jon Rettich Jose Niera

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Pat Condray Tom Desmond

THE COURIER DISPATCH: Robert MacLean

STAFF ILLUSTRATORS Alan Archambau lt, A I Karasa

John Thull , Joe Matthews, Larry Schuman

THE COURIER PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. Richard L. Bryant, President

DIRECTORS Richard Bryant, Leo Cron in, Gloria M iceli

THE COURIER is published approximately bi-monthly at Brockton, MA 02403 USA.

SUBSCRIPTIONS USA - $14.00; CANADA & S. AMERICA, su rface rate - $17.00. UNITED KINGDOM & EUROPE write to: Athena Books, 20St. Mary's Rd ., Doncaster, South Yorkshire DNl 2NP England. AUSTRALIA & N. ZEALAND write to: The Tin Soldier, 424 George St., Sydney NSW 2000, Austral ia.

BACK ISSUES Recent back issues are avai lable for $3.50, USA; $4.00 Ca nada & Foreign surface; $5 .00 Foreign airmail. See last page of issue for listing. Monies in US funds drawn on US banks or international Postal Money Order. Subscriptions start w ith NEXT pub li shed issue after receipt of payment.

No responsibility is assumed for statements of fact or opinion made by the authors. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited manuscripts, but all sub­missions are welcome, no query necessary. A ll sub­missions should conta in a self-addressed STAMPED envelope large enough to return the submission .

This magazine and other publications of The Courier Publishing Company are sold with the understanding that every reasonable attempt is made to deliver them safely through the mails. The Courier Publishing Company is not responsible for items lost in the mails. Replacements will be provided at their usual cost.

AL L DOMESTIC DEALER INQU IRIES, ADVERTISING COPY AND INQUIRIES, DOMESTIC SUBSCRIP­TIONS AND ARTICLES to THE COUR IER, Box 1878, Brockton, MA 02403.

Entire Contents Copyright © 1984 by The Courier Publishing Company, Inc.

NOV/ DEC 1984 VOL. V, NO. 6

THE VANGUARD

EDITOR'S NOTES

Thi s issue brings to a close the theme yea r forTHE SU DAN . I am sure you wil l agree with me that it was one of the best presented themes to date. M any thanks to Lynn Bodin who put in so much effort while sti ll maintain ing his own SAVAGE & SOLDIER magazine on schedu le. Lynn is not quite finished. There are several Sudan arti les that wil l be printed next year including one on the uniforms of the British and their allies (a companion to the Mahdist Army piece in last issue) .

Next yea r's theme is the Age of Sail , edited by Jon Williams, author of Heart of Oak Sailing Rules and severa l Napoleonic Period sail ing novels publ ished by Dell. Jon has many great articles planned but wa nts some from the readers as well. Tell us about your age-of-sa il battles and rules. Send articles to Jon c/ o The Courier.

While on the subject of themes, th is issue presents a mini-theme that is a favorite of mine and has not seen much interest up to now. Th e Franco-Pruss ian War. Here is a period of incongruities: machine guns and horse artillery; charging Cuirasseurs and Krupp breech-loadi ng art illery; both colorful and reasonab ly easy-to-paint uniforms. Let me know if you wa nt to see more of these thumb-nail mini-themes for li tt le-gamed periods in th e future and suggest some subjects.

ORIGINS CONVENTION

The Courier is a founding support member of HMGS. As such we urge you to support HM GS' endeavors to make sure that O rigins '85 has the best historical miniatures turnout ever at any Origins. People interested in helping out with games, tournaments, seminars, w ri te NOW to: Pat Condray, 8234 Kings Arm Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308. Thank you.

ADVERTISING MANAGER WANTED

THE COURIER needs an Advertisi ng Manager:

Requirements: Must be a Historical Miniature Wargamer. Must be a self-sta rter. Must be able to se ll by phone, letter and in person. Advertising background preferred but not necessary.

Compensation: A percentage of ad income attributable. Free subscription Editor Discounts li mi ted Expenses

Send resume to THE COURIER, P.O. BOX 1878, BROCKTON, MA 02403.

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"SEND A GUNBOAT" USING GUNBOATS IN VICTORIAN-ERA WARGAMES

BY LYNN BODIN

MELIK class gunboat with all armor plating fitted. Note hinged armored shutters on front of pilot house. - Navy and Army Illustrated.

Portions of this article originally appeared in SAVAGE AND SOLDIER Magazine, Vol. X No. 1, Jan-Mar 1978.

Gunboats played important roles in several Victorian-era military campaigns, most notably the British campaigns in the Sudan. Who can forget the scene from Khartoum when Colona I Stewart left Khartoum on the converted paddle steamer in a vain attempt to reach freedom? With artillery pieces and machine guns blazing the boat tried to fight its way through the Mahdi 's lines. You may also remember the excellent gunboat models which appeared in Alexander Korda's The Four Feathers. The scenes of the friendlies towing the Sultan over the cataracts were very realistic. This article does not intend to be a history of gunboats in Victorian warfare (though I've included a brief overview of the gunboats which participated in the Omdurman campaign) , rather, it will present ideas about building gunboats and using them in conjunction with your miniature wargames of the era.

Kitchener's flotilla for the final adva nce on Omdurman contained ten armed gunboats. Six of the boats were new craft, less than two years old. The other four were veterans of the 1884-5 campaign. Four other steamers accompanied the flotilla to serve, primarily, as towing vessels and were armed only with machine guns. Despite some reconaissance duties and the participation of six boats in the battle of Omdurman, the majority of work performed by the gunboats involved the transportation of troops and supplies. The hoped-for battle with the Khalifa's gunboats never materialized.

The newest of the Sirdar's gunboats were the three twin-screw vessels of the Me/ik class - Me/ik, Sheikh and Sultan. These large gunboats were built in sections in England and assembled on the Nile. Previous gunboat classes had always been paddlewheelers to best take advantage of their shallow draft even at low water levels on the river. The Me/ik's, though screw-propelled, drew even less water than the sternwheelers thanks to the novel

S

method of mounting their screws - in tunnels within the hull proper. Armament was impressive - two 12pdr QF guns, four Maxim guns and a four-inch howitzer. The boats were well­covered with armor plate - being virtually immune to all forms of small arms fire.

The Zafir class (Zafir, Nassr and Fatteh) were large stern-wheelers designed for the Dongola campaign, though only the Zafir was completed on time. One 12pdr QF and two 6pdr QF guns were supplemented with three Maxim guns as armanent on theZafir's. The 12pdr was not very useful , though, as it was mounted on the forward portion of the main deck and was, therefore, usually too low to fire over the relatively high banks of the Nile.

The Tamai class gunboats Tamai, Metemmeh, Abu Klea and Hafir (ex-EI Teb) were veterans of the 1884-5 Gordon Relief Expedition. They were small sternwheelers barely 90 feet long. Despite their size they were very handy in restricted waterways and their armament of one 9pdr Krupp gun and two Nordenfeldts was more than adequate.

The machine gun only armed boats were tha Dal, Kaibar, Akasha and Tahra. The first three were about the size of the Tamai cla.ss while the Tahra was an even smaller ex-Mahdist gunboat originally built by General Gordon. It has been sunk by the Egyptians at the Battle of Hafir and was subsequently raised and repaired . All of these steamers were used for towing barges and native boats, gyassas, loaded with troops and/ or stores. The gunboats were also used for towing when needed (which was quite often), but these four small vessels were specifically assigned to the transport duties.

Typical crews for the gunboats consisted of an English officer in command, two European engineers, one or two sergeants of the Royal Marine Artillery, and the fighting and working crews. Egyptian garrison artillerymen manned the guns. There were 23 to 27 gunners on theZafir and Me/ik classes and eleven on the Tamai

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