Battle of Le Truc 1569 - French Wars of Religion Battle Report

Over the weekend some of the Rejects gathered in the Shed-o-War for a game set during the French Wars of Religion. Richard has been creating what I think is a cracking set of rules for playing this period, specifically designed for his 2mm collection of figures. I was going to write a full battle report but both Richard and Ray have beaten me to it and I don't think there is much to be gained by repeating the OOB's and background to the game. Check out their excellent posts on the game at my wargaming habit and Don't Throw a 1

I did however want to share my pictures from this very enjoyable and exciting game. I may have been on the losing side, but the game was so enjoyable I didn't mind being defeated.

These Pike and Shot units look so good in 2mm. 

After a short deployment phase the game begins

The Huguenot line facing toward the Catholic army

Manouver was difficult but not impossible with these rules. They key was timing it right. Next game we will all have a better idea of how to move more effectively.

The lines start to get close together.

However on the flank things aren't go to plan for either side (but its the Huguenot army that comes off worse)

Huguenot reinforcement begins to arrive but may be a little too late to change the outcome. 

The final positions in what was a very enjoyable and challenging game. 

I had wanted to get this post out earlier in the week but, well, things got away from me! It's been a very busy week at work and the next few look to be similar. Some careful planning will be needed if I am going to drag my schedule back into some semblance of order. 

Da Vinci's Fighting Vehicle

Renaissance Italy was a patchwork of warring city-states, each constantly looking for an advantage over the other. Rich in coin but poor in manpower the states employed large mercenary contingents into their armies. Not, you would have thought, ideal territory for a jobbing artist and inventor such as Leonardo. However, when he was looking for a new patron instead of offering his sword arm in return for payment he offered the fruits of his prodigious mind.

One potential employer was the Duke of Milan and Leonardo tempted him with a new and innovative weapon of war. Writing to the Duke in 1487, Da Vinci stated: 

"I can make armoured cars, safe and unassailable, which will enter the close ranks of the enemy with their artillery, and no company of soldiers is so great that it will not break through them. And behind these, the infantry will be able to follow quite unharmed and without any opposition.”

Suitably impressed, the Duke of Milan employed the renaissance polymath.

Leonardo da Vinci's fighting vehicle employed a sloped wooden cover to deflect incoming shots and would have been armed with up to a dozen small cannons. The 'crew' of the vehicle would have been very busy indeed, propelling the tank using a massive hand crank and manning the guns once in position.

The actual design has some 'obvious' flaws in it, such as the crank system which would have turned the wheels in opposite directions. Scholars believe this was deliberate so that his design could not be stolen and used by someone else. The size of the narrow wheels would also have made the ground pressure very high meaning it would have been useless on anything other than flat firm ground. While the practical application his design may have been lacking, the concept was certainly way ahead of its time.