Buckeye Game Fest will be held May 2-5, 2024, with The War Room opening on 29 April ~~ More Info here
Recent Posts
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History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Yesterday at 10:46:12 PM »1932. American diplomats at the 1932 Geneva Disarmament Conference proposed the universal abolition of tanks, which met with approval from Army Chief-of-Staff Douglas MacArthur, who argued that tanks were “offensive weapons” not needed by the United States.
what a putz
2
History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on Yesterday at 09:32:01 PM »404 BC Athens surrendered to Sparta, ending the Peloponnesian War
1740. During the reign of Frederick the Great (1740-1786), a newly appointed captain in the Prussian infantry had to purchase his company’s weapons from his predecessor, at a cost of some 800 thalers, about five years’ pay for a senior lieutenant.
1792 First execution by guillotine in France. Nicolas Jacques Pelletier, Fench highwayman, the first man to date Mdm. Guillotine
first Russian plan to invade India from Central Asia was developed in 1801 when, inspired by a suggestion from French First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, the rather dim Tsar Paul (r. 1796-1801) ordered a Cossack expedition of 30,000 men to be organized; after causing some concern in London, the operation was cancelled when Paul was assassinated and succeeded by his son Alexander I (r.1801-1825).
1915 78,000 British & ANZAC troops undertook an amphibious landing at Gallipoli. While the Gallipoli operation was brilliantly conceived, it was very poorly planned and badly executed. One important reason for the poor planning and execution was Anglo-French contempt for the enemy.
The Turks had done poorly in recent wars with Italy and a coalition of Balkan powers (1911-1913), losing badly and being forced to cede vast territories. But these wars had given the army a solid cadre of veteran officers and troops. And the disasters also sparked a major reform of organization, training, and tactics. In addition, the Turks sacked most of their older commanders, so that going into the World War their generals were on average were in their 40s, rather than 50s and 60s, as was the case with British and French commanders.
At the time, the British credited their defeat largely to the influence of “German advisors” on the Turkish Army. But the German military mission to the Turks had hardly arrived before the Ottomans entered the war, and had little influence on the Gallipoli operation. In fact, the primary role of Generalleutnant Otto Liman von Sanders, the chief German advisor was negative; on the eve of the landings he insisted on positioning nearly a third of the available Turkish forces in the wrong area.
After the campaign, Hamilton would inform a Parliamentary commission, “I did not know, to tell you the truth, that they were nearly as good as they turned out to be.” That is, the Allies violated one of the oldest rules of war, “Never underestimate the enemy.”
1932. American diplomats at the 1932 Geneva Disarmament Conference proposed the universal abolition of tanks, which met with approval from Army Chief-of-Staff Douglas MacArthur, who argued that tanks were “offensive weapons” not needed by the United States.
1740. During the reign of Frederick the Great (1740-1786), a newly appointed captain in the Prussian infantry had to purchase his company’s weapons from his predecessor, at a cost of some 800 thalers, about five years’ pay for a senior lieutenant.
1792 First execution by guillotine in France. Nicolas Jacques Pelletier, Fench highwayman, the first man to date Mdm. Guillotine
first Russian plan to invade India from Central Asia was developed in 1801 when, inspired by a suggestion from French First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, the rather dim Tsar Paul (r. 1796-1801) ordered a Cossack expedition of 30,000 men to be organized; after causing some concern in London, the operation was cancelled when Paul was assassinated and succeeded by his son Alexander I (r.1801-1825).
1915 78,000 British & ANZAC troops undertook an amphibious landing at Gallipoli. While the Gallipoli operation was brilliantly conceived, it was very poorly planned and badly executed. One important reason for the poor planning and execution was Anglo-French contempt for the enemy.
The Turks had done poorly in recent wars with Italy and a coalition of Balkan powers (1911-1913), losing badly and being forced to cede vast territories. But these wars had given the army a solid cadre of veteran officers and troops. And the disasters also sparked a major reform of organization, training, and tactics. In addition, the Turks sacked most of their older commanders, so that going into the World War their generals were on average were in their 40s, rather than 50s and 60s, as was the case with British and French commanders.
At the time, the British credited their defeat largely to the influence of “German advisors” on the Turkish Army. But the German military mission to the Turks had hardly arrived before the Ottomans entered the war, and had little influence on the Gallipoli operation. In fact, the primary role of Generalleutnant Otto Liman von Sanders, the chief German advisor was negative; on the eve of the landings he insisted on positioning nearly a third of the available Turkish forces in the wrong area.
After the campaign, Hamilton would inform a Parliamentary commission, “I did not know, to tell you the truth, that they were nearly as good as they turned out to be.” That is, the Allies violated one of the oldest rules of war, “Never underestimate the enemy.”
1932. American diplomats at the 1932 Geneva Disarmament Conference proposed the universal abolition of tanks, which met with approval from Army Chief-of-Staff Douglas MacArthur, who argued that tanks were “offensive weapons” not needed by the United States.
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Intel Dump / Re: Consolidated Games-on-Sale Thread
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Yesterday at 03:52:01 PM »big sale w/ Avalon Digital on Steam thru Monday
https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/36173274/view/4035857237846603275
bunch of SGS games at 50-60% off, plus some others
https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/36173274/view/4035857237846603275
bunch of SGS games at 50-60% off, plus some others
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Conventions, Clubs, and Events / Re: Buckeye Gamefest 2024
« Last post by Putraack on Yesterday at 03:07:14 PM »I'll be there, but beyond Monday, I cannot be sure *when*.
Family and work are suddenly piling on what I intended to be an off week!
Family and work are suddenly piling on what I intended to be an off week!
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Intel Dump / Re: New Column - #TBT / Throwback Thursday!
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Yesterday at 02:35:33 PM »#TBT ~ I feel so used!
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/tbt/tbt-i-feel-so-used/
Quote
"As I walked up to the game shelves I am sure I audibly gasped for there was not only a selection of GDW and Avalon Hill wargames from the 1970's and 1980's but (huge gasp) six SPI flat box titles!"
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/tbt/tbt-i-feel-so-used/
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Conventions, Clubs, and Events / Re: Buckeye Gamefest 2024
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Yesterday at 01:52:23 PM »Definitely going to be there, but probably just FRI/SAT b/c of work.
I've got some LNLP's Dawn's Early Light on the schedule for FRI and the big Team COIN game on SAT.
I'll play in all sorts of stuff around that as I can, but definitely going to end up with a longer lunch in there somewhere with some of the dudes.
I've got some LNLP's Dawn's Early Light on the schedule for FRI and the big Team COIN game on SAT.
I'll play in all sorts of stuff around that as I can, but definitely going to end up with a longer lunch in there somewhere with some of the dudes.
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Pre-Gunpowder / Re: HISPANIA wargame on Gamefound
« Last post by DracoIdeas on Yesterday at 05:25:44 AM »Salve!
Proconsvl variant unlocked! ...but what are variants?
We take a look at the Hispania variants, as several of them have been unlocked, in addition to the variable difficulty levels and unlocked scenarios.
https://gamefound.com/es/projects/draco-ideas/hispania/updates/7
Proconsvl variant unlocked! ...but what are variants?
We take a look at the Hispania variants, as several of them have been unlocked, in addition to the variable difficulty levels and unlocked scenarios.
https://gamefound.com/es/projects/draco-ideas/hispania/updates/7
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History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on April 24, 2024, 06:55:47 PM »1183 BC the Greeks took Troy [Trad].
1066 Comet Halley makes an appearance
1811, then-Viscount Wellington moved to capture Almeida, a city in eastern Portugal that had been in French hands for nearly a year. Lacking heavy artillery to conduct a proper siege, Wellington blockaded the place, hoping to starve the garrison out. The French holding Almeida, some 1,400 men under General de Brigade Antoine Brennier, resisted stoutly.
Learning that André Massena was concentrating a relief force, Wellington maintained the blockade with about 13,000 troops, while holding the bulk of his army in readiness to counter the French marshal. In the resulting Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro (May 3-5, 1811), Wellington, with about 38,000 troops repeatedly beat off assaults by Massena’s 48,000
Despite his defeat, Massena maintained his army nearby, perhaps in the hope of renewing the fight.
Then, very early one morning, as Wellington was shaving in his tent, Baron Aylmer, of his staff, told him that Massena had pulled out, and that even as he spoke “the last cavalry [was] mounting to be gone," and thus the fall of Almeida was certain.
Wellington reacted by taking the razor from his face for a moment, to say “Aye, I thought they meant to be off; very well," and then continued his shave, not mentioning the enemy again until he had completed dressing, yet again demonstrating his remarkable tranquility.
As for Almeida, realizing that all was lost, a few days later, on the night of May 10-11, Brennier managed to slip most of his men out of the town, right through the British lines, after having rigged the defenses with explosives, which went off in spectacular fashion, demolishing the fortress.
The incident led Wellington to come close to expressing anger, when he wrote of the officers commanding the blockade, "They had about 13,000 to watch 1,400. There they were all sleeping in their spurs even; but the French got off. I begin to be of the opinion that there is nothing on earth so stupid as a gallant officer."
1862. Farragut runs the Confederate batteries on the Mississippi below New Orleans
1863 War Department isues GO No 100, The Law of Land Warfare, the first US ROE.
1943. U.S. 7th Infantry Div. having trained for desert warfare, sails from San Francisco for Alaska
Fire in the freighter 'El Estero' at Jersey City threatens to detonate 5,000 tons of ammunition aboard her, two nearby ships, and at dockside; USCG tows the vessel into New York Bay and floods her
1967. Vladimir Komarov (40), first man to die in space, Soyuz 1 disaster
1066 Comet Halley makes an appearance
1811, then-Viscount Wellington moved to capture Almeida, a city in eastern Portugal that had been in French hands for nearly a year. Lacking heavy artillery to conduct a proper siege, Wellington blockaded the place, hoping to starve the garrison out. The French holding Almeida, some 1,400 men under General de Brigade Antoine Brennier, resisted stoutly.
Learning that André Massena was concentrating a relief force, Wellington maintained the blockade with about 13,000 troops, while holding the bulk of his army in readiness to counter the French marshal. In the resulting Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro (May 3-5, 1811), Wellington, with about 38,000 troops repeatedly beat off assaults by Massena’s 48,000
Despite his defeat, Massena maintained his army nearby, perhaps in the hope of renewing the fight.
Then, very early one morning, as Wellington was shaving in his tent, Baron Aylmer, of his staff, told him that Massena had pulled out, and that even as he spoke “the last cavalry [was] mounting to be gone," and thus the fall of Almeida was certain.
Wellington reacted by taking the razor from his face for a moment, to say “Aye, I thought they meant to be off; very well," and then continued his shave, not mentioning the enemy again until he had completed dressing, yet again demonstrating his remarkable tranquility.
As for Almeida, realizing that all was lost, a few days later, on the night of May 10-11, Brennier managed to slip most of his men out of the town, right through the British lines, after having rigged the defenses with explosives, which went off in spectacular fashion, demolishing the fortress.
The incident led Wellington to come close to expressing anger, when he wrote of the officers commanding the blockade, "They had about 13,000 to watch 1,400. There they were all sleeping in their spurs even; but the French got off. I begin to be of the opinion that there is nothing on earth so stupid as a gallant officer."
1862. Farragut runs the Confederate batteries on the Mississippi below New Orleans
1863 War Department isues GO No 100, The Law of Land Warfare, the first US ROE.
1943. U.S. 7th Infantry Div. having trained for desert warfare, sails from San Francisco for Alaska
Fire in the freighter 'El Estero' at Jersey City threatens to detonate 5,000 tons of ammunition aboard her, two nearby ships, and at dockside; USCG tows the vessel into New York Bay and floods her
1967. Vladimir Komarov (40), first man to die in space, Soyuz 1 disaster
9
History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on April 23, 2024, 04:24:53 PM »1370 Construction of the Bastille begins in Paris
1676. Naval Battle off Etna/Agosta/Catania: Dutch-Spanish vs. French. French fleet of 29 men-of-war, 5 frigates and 8 fireships under Abraham Duquesne engaged 17 Dutch and 10 Spanish ships plus 5 fireships under Lieutenant-Admiral-General Michiel de Ruyter. The battle was a short but intense affair and ended abruptly when Duquesne, after hearing that De Ruyter had been mortally wounded, retreated. Neither side lost a ship, though there were many dead and wounded, especially among the Dutch.
1769 Madame du Barry becomes King Louis XV's "official" mistress
1778. During the American Revolution, two boats of volunteers from the sloop-of-war Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, go ashore at Whitehaven, England, burning ships in the harbor and spiking the guns of the fort.
1809 Battle of Eggmuhl: The French defeat the Austrians
1870. Born Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov, known as "Lenin" - intellectually inclined mass murderer, d. 1924
1915. The Germans initiated the use of chemical weapons at Ypres in 1915. By the end of the war, the major combatants were all using gas to vary degrees. And despite the greater industrial resources of her opponents, Germany maintained its advantage in chemical weapons until the end of the war, expending more agents than all of the Allied powers combined.
Chemical Agents Expended, 1915-1918
(in thousands of tons)
Country 1915 1916 1917 1918 Total
Britain -- 2.0 4.0 8.0 14.0
France -- 4.0 6.0 15.0 25.0
Italy -- 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.0
United States -- -- -- 1.5 1.5
Allied Total -- 6.5 12.5 27.5 46.5
Austria-Hungary -1.0 2.5 6.0 9.5
Germany 4.0 6.0 15.0 30.0 55.0
Central Powers4.0 7.0 17.5 36.0 64.5
Total 4.0 13.5 30.0 63.5 111.0
When first introduced gas caused considerable panic, a characteristic of its use that continued until the end of the war. But in fact it was among the least lethal of the many weapons used in the war. Even the most deadly of the agents used, yperite, was fatal in less than 4-percent of cases.
1945 3rd Inf Div committed an act of cultural insensitivity -- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JFdoGlUmBSo
1676. Naval Battle off Etna/Agosta/Catania: Dutch-Spanish vs. French. French fleet of 29 men-of-war, 5 frigates and 8 fireships under Abraham Duquesne engaged 17 Dutch and 10 Spanish ships plus 5 fireships under Lieutenant-Admiral-General Michiel de Ruyter. The battle was a short but intense affair and ended abruptly when Duquesne, after hearing that De Ruyter had been mortally wounded, retreated. Neither side lost a ship, though there were many dead and wounded, especially among the Dutch.
1769 Madame du Barry becomes King Louis XV's "official" mistress
1778. During the American Revolution, two boats of volunteers from the sloop-of-war Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, go ashore at Whitehaven, England, burning ships in the harbor and spiking the guns of the fort.
1809 Battle of Eggmuhl: The French defeat the Austrians
1870. Born Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov, known as "Lenin" - intellectually inclined mass murderer, d. 1924
1915. The Germans initiated the use of chemical weapons at Ypres in 1915. By the end of the war, the major combatants were all using gas to vary degrees. And despite the greater industrial resources of her opponents, Germany maintained its advantage in chemical weapons until the end of the war, expending more agents than all of the Allied powers combined.
Chemical Agents Expended, 1915-1918
(in thousands of tons)
Country 1915 1916 1917 1918 Total
Britain -- 2.0 4.0 8.0 14.0
France -- 4.0 6.0 15.0 25.0
Italy -- 0.5 2.5 3.0 6.0
United States -- -- -- 1.5 1.5
Allied Total -- 6.5 12.5 27.5 46.5
Austria-Hungary -1.0 2.5 6.0 9.5
Germany 4.0 6.0 15.0 30.0 55.0
Central Powers4.0 7.0 17.5 36.0 64.5
Total 4.0 13.5 30.0 63.5 111.0
When first introduced gas caused considerable panic, a characteristic of its use that continued until the end of the war. But in fact it was among the least lethal of the many weapons used in the war. Even the most deadly of the agents used, yperite, was fatal in less than 4-percent of cases.
1945 3rd Inf Div committed an act of cultural insensitivity -- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JFdoGlUmBSo
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Intel Dump / Re: Tuesday Newsday! Weekly dump of wargaming news
« Last post by bayonetbrant on April 23, 2024, 03:21:26 PM »Massive Game Industry Corporate Changes, Plus Wargaming ~ #TuesdayNewsday
Start your week with a bang by catching up on the latest wargaming happenings in our #TuesdayNewsday column
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/news/tn042324/
Start your week with a bang by catching up on the latest wargaming happenings in our #TuesdayNewsday column
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/news/tn042324/