HITT German vs British - 1914

Well, here we go, our take on the 'Hordes in the Trenches' rules. The setting, Belgium 1914, the BEF is marching North & meets the Advance Guard of the German Army. The objective to take the crossroads, a mini 'Quatre Bras'.

To make things even, both sides had exactly the same element types. 2 Cavalry, 8 Rifles, 1 HMG & 1 Artillery. Each Rifle & HMG element being Company size, Cavalry a Squadron, Arty a Battery. Jack played the Germans & yours truly the British.

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Looking East across the Battlefield.

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The heroic the BEF advance rapidly.

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The Germans race for the crossroads too.

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The British HMG takes position at the Farm.

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PiPs are poor for Jack & the German Arty lags behind.

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Two companies of Scottish troops head to the British left flank.

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A British Rifle Company takes the crossroads & prepares for the German attack.

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AAhem.... The British Soldier & the Lee Enfield Rifle......

The Germans fall back.

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The British Guns deploy.... 'Ready Aim FIRE!!!!!'

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HA! HA! British Tommy vs Horrible Hun....

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Whoops... The British are sent packing!!

In HITT, units pursuit after winning melee combat.

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The poor Belgian farmer is having his day ruined....

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DAGGA DAGGA DAGGA - British HMG takes out some Germans.

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The German Cavalry race for the flank.

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OH NO!! The horrid Hun cuts down the tired British Rifle Company.

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Get Back! British firepower sends them reeling.

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Nice overview of the Battle at this point.

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BAH! The sneaky Hun tries to overrun the British Guns...

But they are forced back.

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The Cavalry forces engage, it would be back & forth for both sides.

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The HORRID HUN! German soldiers take pot shots at the pigs!

That's just not cricket Old Chap!

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Colonel Blimp leads his men forward, walking stick & all!

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Recoil Recoil Recoil

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Lots of open space on the British left.

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Another German casualty, though Jack lines up for another attack.

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Recoil Recoil Recoil

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Four versus Two, I like the match up!

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READY! AIM..........

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.....FIRE!!!!! The Hun is sent packing, 3 - 1 to the BEF.

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Overview at this point, the German line is buckling.

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It would be a lot tighter on this side of the battle.

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Jack pulls back his forces on this flank.

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The British HMG joins in the scrap.... DAGGA DAGGA DAGGA

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Up close to the fight.

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Leading the WAY!

Colonel Blimp gives the HUN a sound good thrashing.

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The BEF win the day, 4 -1.

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Final Positions, the German Advance is delayed.... For a short time!

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Three Cheers for the BEF... Hoorar! Hoorar! Hoorar!

A nice easy intro to Hordes in the Trenches, it went very well. PiPs were a bit of a killer though, as we had small groups all across the field. The game did flow & we both enjoyed it.

HITT is based on Hordes of the Things, the units we used today, Rifles = Shooters, HMG & Artillery = Artillery, Cavalry = Riders. Hopefully we'll get a few more unit types used in the next few games. Barrages = Gods, they need a 6 on the PiP dice to activate. Going to love to see how that one works!

I've really been struck by the First World War, fascinating but a very sad period of time in history. I've picked up a few copies of THE WAR ILLUSTRATED, which is collection of weekly newspaper reports from the First World War. Lots of pictures as well. Absolutely brilliant, if your interested in the period then I recommend them. I'll put up a few pics in future reports.

WW1 German (1914-16)

The mighty German Army now, complete with the infamous 'pickelhaube' helmet. These figures are Minifigs & they have been finished off with a brown varnish dip.

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The German horde poised for invasion.

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Artillery 150mm, Irregular Minis. Love the funky German Cam pattern!

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German Cavalry

WW1 British (BEF 1914)

Hitting the HUN where it hurts!!!!

Here's a 12 element WW1 Army for Hordes in the Trenches. This variant is based on Hordes of the Things and is available by joining the 'When Technology meets Tradition' Yahoo Group...... http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42879/*http://groups.yahoo.com/group/when_technology_meets_tradition

This Army is based on the British Expeditionary Force that left blighty to give the Hun 'a sound good thrashing' in 1914. It was based on the standing British Army of the time, although it was called 'that contemptible little army' by the Kaiser, it managed to hold it's own against the mighty German Army that invaded Belgium & France. In a fighting withdrawl Sir John French's BEF faced annihilation a few times but managed to fall back 200 miles keeping one step ahead of the Germans. Here's a link to the Battle of Mons, so you can read more about it. http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/mons.htm

Also you could try watching this cracking DVD about the BEF & the Battle of Mons. It's a Cromwell Productions DVD.

Most of the figures are Minifigs, some I think are Irregular as well. The Machine Gunners & Artillery crew are wearing steel helmets - sorry I know it's 1916 for them, but you an only go with what you have! We'll replace them when we can.

The British Expeditionary Force 1914

British Cavalry

Vickers Machine Gunners

British Artillery & Highland Infantry

DBA Medieval Germans vs 100YW English

Now a little scrap between two Medieval Armies. Amy loves the Medieval period & has a special fondness for Knights. So what better than the Medieval Germans with 4 elements of Knights including the BIG 6KN elements. I've never got round to finishing off our French so I went with 100YW English. Lots of English Longbow to counter the host of German Knights. Also it would be a nice build up to our First World War armies that we are creating, so we'll also be doing a few other German vs English battles throughout history.

A very simple battlefield with some marshes & woods providing the cover. The English would be defending, knowing that Amy would charge in with the Knights, I would use the English Knights as bait & try to turn the Germans onto the English Longbows. Hopefully the battle would be over before the strong German Foot troops would be able to engage. Would it work...?

IV/13b Medieval German 1236-1450AD
1x3Kn(Gen), 1x3Kn, 2x6Kn, 1x4Bd, 1x4Cb, 2x4Sp, 2x4Pk, 2x2Ps

IV/62 100YW English
1x3Kn(Gen), 2X3Kn, 6X4Lb, 1x3Sp,1x4Bd, 1xArt.

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The Battlefield & element movements.

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The mighty Germans

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The Heroic English!!!
(Whoops... a Xb element has slipped into the English Army instead of a Longbow)

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They're off! The mighty German Knights fly across the field.

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There's the Bait, the Germans turn to face the English Knights.

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Just in case, the English Heavy Foot square up to the German Foot.

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The VERY Heavy German Foot - Pike, Spear & Blade.

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I would use Archers as a sneaky option...

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Oh no.... I get carried away & the English Longbows advance TOO FAR!

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The German Knights check their advance, the German Foot march on.

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Arrows fly but the dice are poor for the English.

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The English King sends the Knights to fight a lone German Knight on the flank.....

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The troops in the South are getting in position... Amy attacks with Pike & Blade.

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The English Artillery turn into Mobile Artillery many years before their time (D'OH!).

In a moment of madness I advance them too far, without Archer support.

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Arrows still fly, Amy holds her nerve & is patient.

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At last the Knights recoil, but can you see the opening for the Germans.....?

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More recoils...

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HA HA!!! With Blitzkrieg speed Amy charges in the German Duke....

Taking out the English Artillery.

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RaHoo! English Longbows take out the a German element. However Amy turns her Blades into Stormtroopers & they go hunting English Bows.

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The English King must come & save the day!

Another General vs General scrap coming up.

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With a mad frenzy unleashed, the German Blades carve up the English.

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GGGrrrrrrrrr... Another English casualty.

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At last a glimmer of hope... The line is steadied.

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The battle reaches a critical point, mini combats push each other back & forth.

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The Dice Gods abandon me! (that's my excuse anyway)

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The heroic English put up a mighty effort, but the Germans won't go down.

Finally the German Blades finish off the English Bows.

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Raise high the Black flags!!! Nasty looking German Blades win the day.

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I've been whooped with this one. Don't you love it when a plan doesn't come together? With hindsight, I should of gone with Blades instead of Knights. As only 1 out of 3 English Knights engaged in combat. However, I threw this one away by pushing the Bows & Arty too far forward. Plus the English Bows in the woods didn't help. But I'll take nothing away from Amy's victory... Well Done!