The League of Augsburg
Campaign report: de Ruyter on the Volta 1664
I have been a bit remiss at not posting this campaign report sooner, but, it was a cracker and worth waiting for... Brilliant game, well played by both Dave and Colin.
Mouth of the Volta River, Slave Coast. August 22nd, 1664
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| The den of iniquity that is Adafoah - target of de Ruyter's squadron. |
The mission to extinguish Arab slaving activities operating from abandoned Portuguese facilities on the...
Battles of Goa 1638-39
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| Da Silva sails out to do battle with Van der Veere |
The Portuguese colony of Goa came under repeated pressure from the Dutch VOC during the period of European expansion in the 17th century. Here is a link to a previous blog post about my visit to Reis Magos - the 16th century Portuguese fort at Goa, still in working order.
Portuguese Fort Reis Magos -Goa
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| 1639 raid by van der Veere on the three... |
Chinese take- out? VOC v Pirates 1666
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| South China Seas action |
In my continuing Covid-induced privateer laboratory I decided to blood some ships I had painted a few months back just because I had them. A few packs of Chinese pirate junks which I had intended to use specifically to run out against European vessels exploiting the riches of the South China Sea.
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| VOC Trading station somewhere in modern day Indonesia |
By now you know the form -...
Campaign report: Run for home, Mull October 8th 1689
The third report from round two of the campaign.. Jan Baert kidnaps a very important person dear to King William and burns some Scottish assets in the process. Taking on no less than twelve enemy ships he runs for home!
Turns 1-4
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| Baert's ships approach the island chain. |
The fresh westerly winds created heavy seas and made sailing extremely challenging for Baert’s four ships as they nosed northward.
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| Th... |
Continuing the privateer scenario play tests: Portuguese man o'war
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| Rainha Santa Isabel - 52 guns Portuguese man o'war |
Lots in this post for those interested in more involved ship to ship combats and small actions involving boarding and character play.....
The three iterations of the three on one ship scenario produced thought provoking results. The single privateer vessel won all encounters although the final run against the Martinique based French was a very close...
10 Reasons why this is my favourite wargaming period
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| Neerwinden/Landen 1693 |
I have been gaming the period 1666-1720 for thirty years this year. Despite forays into other periods of which I am fond, I always return to my favourite. Recently, I have agreed to write a title for Helion about wargaming the period 1666-1697 specifically and that has made me reflect on why I maintain an enduring fascination for this 60 year span of history.
So, here are my...
Saved the best to last.. Caribbean test 3
It's a funny old game (to paraphrase Greavsie). Having experienced two wins from two for the single 'blinged up' privateer Sea WolfI thought I'd give the European power trio's third leg a chance to prevail over the pirates. It turned out to be the best game of all with so many little twists that I played on for 15 turns to get the final result. It took about 90 minutes altogether but of course I...
Second run of the privateer play test
I considered the first run of this game not a fluke but perhaps a little fortunate for the privateer ship.
So, giving it another go with pretty much everything the same except, the opponents this time were the Dutch West India Company Geoctroyeerde Westindische Compagnie or GWC. The ship profiles were exactly the same with Jupiter replacing Elizabeth, Schiedam substituting for Swan and Egmondfor...
Launching a privateer - Small ship action using my naval rules
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| The game setting... tropical paradise or, mosquito infested hell hole? Europeans in the Caribbean. |
I took an inevitable diversion into the world of piracy by painting a 4th rate up and flagging it as a late 17th century privateer of indeterminate nationality.
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| The frgiate Elizabeth set sail to meet the privateer threat |
Having further developed the points system for my rule set I thought it would be...
Campaign report: One thousand Irish 19th March 1689
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| The game is underway... Akkerman hugs the coast and O'Brien has to reposition to block the channel at Duncriege. |
Dave O'Brien's nautical Jacobites are once again, all at sea!................
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| Late in the action - Indomitable pounds Komeetster from an advantageous angle. |
King James, newly arrived in Ireland is mustering his forces to take possession of the entire island and reinforce his loyal troops...
Campaign report: Action at Duinkirk April 3rd, 1672
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| Battle set up 1/2400 scale. 4 x 4 feet table |
Peter's Admiral Tocht is at sea once more in his second campaign adventure........
War has been declared between the United Provinces and France. Spies have warned of a well-equipped squadron putting to sea from Duinkirk and Tocht’s reformed command has been charged with preventing it gaining open waters and persuading it back to port.
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| Early manouevres as... |
Naval campaign part 2 preview
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| A nice day out at Ardnamurchan.... maybe not for some of these ships |
With a little help from my friends.....
Dave and Colin came over last week to keep the campaign going. We played three cracking games with me going to pick up the fourth and fifth when I get a chance.
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| Make ready your guns! Tocht challenges Rochefoucauld at Duinkirk 1672 |
Scenario number 1 entitled 'King Louis's ships'takes place off...