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1
History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on Today at 06:16:18 PM »1565 The Turks land on Malta and commence a siege (fails Sept 11)
1748. Treaty of Abo: England brokers a peace between Russia and Sweden
1765 Great Fire of Montreal destroys a quarter of the town
1775. Col. Benedict Arnold captures a British sloop at St. Johns in Quebec, Canada and renames her Enterprise, the first of many famous ships with that name
1827. Navarino a combined British, French, and Russian fleet annihilated a Turkish-Egyptian one, in the last great battle of the age of sail, though it did just happened to occur in when these nations were all officially at peace.
1862 Josephus Daniels, SecNav (1913-1921), d. 1948
The Most Hated Document in the History of the U.S. Navy:
GENERAL ORDER NO. 99
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D.C., June 1, 1914
CHANGE IN ARTICLE 827, NAVAL INSTRUCTIONS.
On July 1, 1914, Article 827, Naval Instructions, will be annulled and in its stead the following will be substituted:
"The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order."
JOSEPHUS DANIELS
1863 Siege of Vicksburg begins (to July 4)
1922 Sydney and Violet Schiff hold a dinner at the Hotel Majestic in Paris for Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Pablo Picasso, and Sergei Diaghilev to honor Igor Stravinsky
1942 excellent inn near Harrogate, in England, is named for Banastre Tarleton, the notorious Tory leader, claiming he was the only successful British general of the American Revolution, though at least one observer has commented that this is an “exaggeration for which the quality of their beer easily gains forgiveness.”
1944 The Polish II Corps stormed Monte Cassino :
For our freedom and yours,
We soldiers of Poland
Gave
Our soul to God,
Our life to the soil of Italy,
Our hearts to Poland."-- Polish Memorial, Monte Cassino
1748. Treaty of Abo: England brokers a peace between Russia and Sweden
1765 Great Fire of Montreal destroys a quarter of the town
1775. Col. Benedict Arnold captures a British sloop at St. Johns in Quebec, Canada and renames her Enterprise, the first of many famous ships with that name
1827. Navarino a combined British, French, and Russian fleet annihilated a Turkish-Egyptian one, in the last great battle of the age of sail, though it did just happened to occur in when these nations were all officially at peace.
1862 Josephus Daniels, SecNav (1913-1921), d. 1948
The Most Hated Document in the History of the U.S. Navy:
GENERAL ORDER NO. 99
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D.C., June 1, 1914
CHANGE IN ARTICLE 827, NAVAL INSTRUCTIONS.
On July 1, 1914, Article 827, Naval Instructions, will be annulled and in its stead the following will be substituted:
"The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order."
JOSEPHUS DANIELS
1863 Siege of Vicksburg begins (to July 4)
1922 Sydney and Violet Schiff hold a dinner at the Hotel Majestic in Paris for Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Pablo Picasso, and Sergei Diaghilev to honor Igor Stravinsky
1942 excellent inn near Harrogate, in England, is named for Banastre Tarleton, the notorious Tory leader, claiming he was the only successful British general of the American Revolution, though at least one observer has commented that this is an “exaggeration for which the quality of their beer easily gains forgiveness.”
1944 The Polish II Corps stormed Monte Cassino :
For our freedom and yours,
We soldiers of Poland
Gave
Our soul to God,
Our life to the soil of Italy,
Our hearts to Poland."-- Polish Memorial, Monte Cassino
2
History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on Yesterday at 05:49:07 PM »1490. Albrecht von Hohenzollern, 37th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights and, having converted to Lutheranism, the first Duke of Prussia (1525-1568)
1606 usurping tsar Grigory Otrepyev "The False Dimitri" (July 21, 1605-May 17, 1606) was lynched in interesting ways at 23 by the Muscovites,Muscovites, who then fired his ashes from a cannon toward Poland, which had supported him.
1756 Britain declared war on France, initiating the Seven Years' War
1764, Almack’s, a club in Pall Mall, London (today known as Brookes’), was so snooty that the Duke of Wellington, no slouch himself in the snobbery department, was once refused entry for being improperly dressed.
1797 Royal Navy's Sptihead "Mutiny" ends peacefully (from April 16)
1812, the nickname of the 13th Infantry (later incorporated in today’s 5th Infantry), was “The Snorters,” because its commander, Col. Robert Chrystie, insisted everyone wear a moustache.
1838. Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, 84, effective if eelly French statesman
1863. Battle of Big Black Rivere: Grant begins sealing off Vicksburg
1876. Rosebud Campaign: Custer & the 7th Cavalry leave Fort Lincoln
1943. RAF 617 Squadron carried out “Operation Chastise,” destroying the Ruhr Valley dams during the wee hours, and earning the nickname “The Dam Busters”
1945. During World War II, British intelligence operatives paid some $13 million in bribes to about 30 senior Spanish military officers, right up to the four-star level, to help keep tabs on the Franco regime
1606 usurping tsar Grigory Otrepyev "The False Dimitri" (July 21, 1605-May 17, 1606) was lynched in interesting ways at 23 by the Muscovites,Muscovites, who then fired his ashes from a cannon toward Poland, which had supported him.
1756 Britain declared war on France, initiating the Seven Years' War
1764, Almack’s, a club in Pall Mall, London (today known as Brookes’), was so snooty that the Duke of Wellington, no slouch himself in the snobbery department, was once refused entry for being improperly dressed.
1797 Royal Navy's Sptihead "Mutiny" ends peacefully (from April 16)
1812, the nickname of the 13th Infantry (later incorporated in today’s 5th Infantry), was “The Snorters,” because its commander, Col. Robert Chrystie, insisted everyone wear a moustache.
1838. Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, 84, effective if eelly French statesman
1863. Battle of Big Black Rivere: Grant begins sealing off Vicksburg
1876. Rosebud Campaign: Custer & the 7th Cavalry leave Fort Lincoln
1943. RAF 617 Squadron carried out “Operation Chastise,” destroying the Ruhr Valley dams during the wee hours, and earning the nickname “The Dam Busters”
1945. During World War II, British intelligence operatives paid some $13 million in bribes to about 30 senior Spanish military officers, right up to the four-star level, to help keep tabs on the Franco regime
3
Professional Wargaming / PLAN Blue vs. Red Americans
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Yesterday at 02:16:51 PM »PLAN Blue vs. Red Americans
A recent article in the May 2024 issue of Proceedings discusses how the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has embraced wargaming “with an almost religious zeal” (Martinson, R. D. “The PLA Navy’s Blue Team Center Games for War.” Proceedings. May 2024. Vol. 150/5/1,455). As author Ryan Martinson points out: “[The PLAN] have studied wargaming’s many potential advantages, from helping the PLAN overcome its lack of recent combat experience to shedding light on how to employ its new weapons and platforms to maximum effect—and they want more.” Readers will likely assume that the PLAN is playing catch-up to the U.S. Navy (USN). Reality, though, is not so clear. Martinson’s article is but the latest writing that emphasize the U.S. Navy needs to get more serious about the use of a dedicated opposing force (OPFOR) in wargaming… like the PLAN apparently already does.
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/analysis/planredteam/
A recent article in the May 2024 issue of Proceedings discusses how the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has embraced wargaming “with an almost religious zeal” (Martinson, R. D. “The PLA Navy’s Blue Team Center Games for War.” Proceedings. May 2024. Vol. 150/5/1,455). As author Ryan Martinson points out: “[The PLAN] have studied wargaming’s many potential advantages, from helping the PLAN overcome its lack of recent combat experience to shedding light on how to employ its new weapons and platforms to maximum effect—and they want more.” Readers will likely assume that the PLAN is playing catch-up to the U.S. Navy (USN). Reality, though, is not so clear. Martinson’s article is but the latest writing that emphasize the U.S. Navy needs to get more serious about the use of a dedicated opposing force (OPFOR) in wargaming… like the PLAN apparently already does.
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/analysis/planredteam/
4
Age of Gunpowder / Re: 1714 Case of the Catalans
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Yesterday at 11:54:31 AM »I just picked up a copy of this myself. Were you using the latest version of the rules from BGG?
I don't think so. It wasn't my copy, but I think Russ was just using the one in the box
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Age of Gunpowder / Re: 1714 Case of the Catalans
« Last post by Toadkillerdog on Yesterday at 11:22:42 AM »I just picked up a copy of this myself. Were you using the latest version of the rules from BGG?
6
Intel Dump / Re: Wargame Design Studio News Thread + Latest Sale Titles
« Last post by bayonetbrant on Yesterday at 11:10:02 AM »Sweet! There's definitely some folks around here who play those 
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Intel Dump / Re: Wargame Design Studio News Thread + Latest Sale Titles
« Last post by rahamy on Yesterday at 10:40:49 AM »Announcing the release of the 4.04 updates for our three NATO vs. Warsaw Pact titles in the Modern Campaigns series:
https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/cold-war-in-europe-modern-campaigns-4-04-updates
https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/cold-war-in-europe-modern-campaigns-4-04-updates
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History and Tall Tales / Re: This Day in History
« Last post by besilarius on May 16, 2024, 06:00:44 PM »1152. King Henry II of England (age 19) weds Eleanor of Aquitaine (30), former Queen of France
1364 Bertrand du Guesclin's French defeated Charles the Bad's Anglo-Navarrese in the Battle of Cocherel. in the centuries following the fall of Rome, as both nations began to form, there was no conflict between them. It was not until the Norman Conquest in 1066 that England and France were brought into regular political contact, and that largely because the Dukes of Normandy, newly installed as Kings of England, were at best reluctant vassals of the Crown of France. Naturally, when the Duke had a problem with his overlord of France, he would often draw upon his resources in England. But these were essentially conflicts between a vassal and his overlord. Not for a couple of generations were there issues of substance between England and France, beginning with the importance of Norman lands to the crown of England.
From the early twelfth century until the early nineteenth century, England and France repeatedly went at it hammer-and-tongs.
the two countries seem to have been at war for about 230 of the 692 years between 1123 and the end of 1815, roughly one-third of the time.
Prior to the Hundred Years' War, the matter at issue between England and France was usually questions of feudal rights over the King of England's fiefs in France. During the Hundred Years' War the issue became a claim by the Kings of England to the throne of France, a matter that continued to be mentioned loudly as late as the reign of Henry VIII, and thereafter more politely into that of George III. After the Hundred Years' War, however, the issues between the two countries began revolve around the balance of power, control of trade, and overlapping colonial claims.
Of course, during some of those years there wasn’t much action, such as during long periods of the Hundred Years’ War, even when there weren’t truces or a "peace" in force.
Now this omits “unofficial wars” and proxy wars. For example, there were frequent hostilities between the respective colonies of the two countries, notably in India and America, which didn't quite escalate into full scale war involving the homelands, although the French and Indian War, which began in the colonies in 1754 did merge into the Seven Years' War in 1756.
And, by the way, on rare occasions, England and France did find themselves on the same side . . . usually because they were both at war with Spain, and, of course, over the last century or so, because of Germany, in the second of which there was a British-Vichy French War that lasted from June 1940 until November, 1942.
1412. Giancarlo Visconti becomes Duke of Milan (May 15-June 12, 1412), by murder
Duke Giovanni Maria Visconti I of Milan (1402-1412), 24, stabbed while entering the Church of San Gottardo
1691 Jacob Leisler (c. 50), Jacobite Governor of NY, and Jacob Milborne (c. 30), his son-in-law, half-hanged, then beheaded for treason
1803. Britain declares war on France and Nelson appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet.
1845, the Regiment of Mounted Rifles acquired a distinguished record during the Mexican War, earning the nickname “Brave Rifles” from General-in-Chief Winfield Scott, which it still bears today, as the 3rd Cavalry, a redesignation effected in 1861.
Following the war with Mexico, the Mounted Rifles spent several years on frontier duty, distributed in small detachments across a wide swathe of southern Texas. For a time in the 1850s, regimental headquarters and about 200 riflemen were stationed at Fort Inge, near Uvalde, about 100 miles west of San Antonio, with outposts scattered across a “front” of over 200 miles. As on most of the frontier, this duty was characterized by boring, mind-numbing routine, occasionally punctuated by the need to chase bandits or stray Indians.
Like many regiments, the Mounted Rifles had their special drink, the “Mounted Rifleman’s Slug.” According to former Rifleman August Cline, the recipe was quite simple:
three fingers of whisky
a spoonful of honey
water, optional
1364 Bertrand du Guesclin's French defeated Charles the Bad's Anglo-Navarrese in the Battle of Cocherel. in the centuries following the fall of Rome, as both nations began to form, there was no conflict between them. It was not until the Norman Conquest in 1066 that England and France were brought into regular political contact, and that largely because the Dukes of Normandy, newly installed as Kings of England, were at best reluctant vassals of the Crown of France. Naturally, when the Duke had a problem with his overlord of France, he would often draw upon his resources in England. But these were essentially conflicts between a vassal and his overlord. Not for a couple of generations were there issues of substance between England and France, beginning with the importance of Norman lands to the crown of England.
From the early twelfth century until the early nineteenth century, England and France repeatedly went at it hammer-and-tongs.
the two countries seem to have been at war for about 230 of the 692 years between 1123 and the end of 1815, roughly one-third of the time.
Prior to the Hundred Years' War, the matter at issue between England and France was usually questions of feudal rights over the King of England's fiefs in France. During the Hundred Years' War the issue became a claim by the Kings of England to the throne of France, a matter that continued to be mentioned loudly as late as the reign of Henry VIII, and thereafter more politely into that of George III. After the Hundred Years' War, however, the issues between the two countries began revolve around the balance of power, control of trade, and overlapping colonial claims.
Of course, during some of those years there wasn’t much action, such as during long periods of the Hundred Years’ War, even when there weren’t truces or a "peace" in force.
Now this omits “unofficial wars” and proxy wars. For example, there were frequent hostilities between the respective colonies of the two countries, notably in India and America, which didn't quite escalate into full scale war involving the homelands, although the French and Indian War, which began in the colonies in 1754 did merge into the Seven Years' War in 1756.
And, by the way, on rare occasions, England and France did find themselves on the same side . . . usually because they were both at war with Spain, and, of course, over the last century or so, because of Germany, in the second of which there was a British-Vichy French War that lasted from June 1940 until November, 1942.
1412. Giancarlo Visconti becomes Duke of Milan (May 15-June 12, 1412), by murder
Duke Giovanni Maria Visconti I of Milan (1402-1412), 24, stabbed while entering the Church of San Gottardo
1691 Jacob Leisler (c. 50), Jacobite Governor of NY, and Jacob Milborne (c. 30), his son-in-law, half-hanged, then beheaded for treason
1803. Britain declares war on France and Nelson appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet.
1845, the Regiment of Mounted Rifles acquired a distinguished record during the Mexican War, earning the nickname “Brave Rifles” from General-in-Chief Winfield Scott, which it still bears today, as the 3rd Cavalry, a redesignation effected in 1861.
Following the war with Mexico, the Mounted Rifles spent several years on frontier duty, distributed in small detachments across a wide swathe of southern Texas. For a time in the 1850s, regimental headquarters and about 200 riflemen were stationed at Fort Inge, near Uvalde, about 100 miles west of San Antonio, with outposts scattered across a “front” of over 200 miles. As on most of the frontier, this duty was characterized by boring, mind-numbing routine, occasionally punctuated by the need to chase bandits or stray Indians.
Like many regiments, the Mounted Rifles had their special drink, the “Mounted Rifleman’s Slug.” According to former Rifleman August Cline, the recipe was quite simple:
three fingers of whisky
a spoonful of honey
water, optional
9
The Modern World / Across The Pacific
« Last post by bayonetbrant on May 16, 2024, 04:31:22 PM »#UnboxingDay! Across The Pacific
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/unbox/unbox-acrosspacific/
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/unbox/unbox-acrosspacific/
10
Age of Gunpowder / A Dutiful Fight
« Last post by bayonetbrant on May 16, 2024, 04:29:54 PM »#UnboxingDay! A Dutiful Fight
A Dutiful Fight: The Battle of Châteauguay, October 26, 1813, from designer Paul Rohrbaugh at High Flying Dice Games, is the latest game in the Battles for Canada series. As volume 8 in the series, A Dutiful Fight covers the United States offensive during the War of 1812 to capture Montreal. The game gives you a chance to rewrite history and push the US forces through British, Canadian and First Nation forces or confirm historical events by frustrating the US battle plan.
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/unbox/unbox-dutiful-fight/
A Dutiful Fight: The Battle of Châteauguay, October 26, 1813, from designer Paul Rohrbaugh at High Flying Dice Games, is the latest game in the Battles for Canada series. As volume 8 in the series, A Dutiful Fight covers the United States offensive during the War of 1812 to capture Montreal. The game gives you a chance to rewrite history and push the US forces through British, Canadian and First Nation forces or confirm historical events by frustrating the US battle plan.
https://www.armchairdragoons.com/articles/unbox/unbox-dutiful-fight/