Tuesday 28 December 2010

Trouble at t' Mill





Bandit leader "Don" Dharko and Co cast their beady eyes on the Mill at Apl, Trnova


News is reaching Byzantion of a large bandit force massing in the heavily forested hills above the Northwestern town of  AplTrnova. The local Vardariots (Gendarmes) attempting to investigate were sent packing with a hail of musketry. On the other, western side of the river from Trnova, in the hamlet of Apl, is one of the Royal Mills, a very large Granary and a small supply depot - no doubt all this is what is attracting the bandits' attention - that, plus the county that Trnova lies in is a poor mountain region, so the locally paid miltia forces are near non-existent.

There is also a fear that the whole issue could be being prompted up by neighbouring states, and this may be a precursor to a raid or even an invasion. Consequently, the decision has been made to immediately despatch the Gianitzaroi - one of the the two guard light infantry units - to Trnova, along with available squadrons of 2 of the Huszar regiments of the Skythikon from neighbouring counties while their militia are called up. 

There is thus lots of activity in the barracks, and an advance company of the Gianitzaroi is marching out later today....

Monday 27 December 2010

de Tott


de Tott's ship sailing into Byzantion bay, escorted by a Byzantine Naval Tartane

Seen at Court today - Francois de Tott, son of Count Miklós Bercsényi (founder of the eponymous Hussars in French service). He arrives on his way back from Turkish occupied Constantinople to France.

As a youngster, François joined his father's regiment, and in 1754 was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In 1755 he travelled to Constantinople, as the secretary of his uncle Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes, who had been appointed ambassador. His main duty was to learn the Turkish language, to investigate the situation in the Ottoman Empire and to gather information about the Crimean Khanate.

What he is doing at the Byzantine Court is unclear, but news reaches us that Admiral Periplous, Professor Kosmo Kalkulos (the Chief Imperial Engineer), the entire General Staff of Harrumphing Generals and Baron Munchausen are also attending.

Something is clearly afoot......

In the meantine, Commander Villaineuse is looking over the French ship in fine detail......a fast Brigantine, beloved of the Corsairs

Sunday 26 December 2010

The Corps du Vin





As with many other Imagi-Nations, New Byzantium has as its roots a less imaginary 18th Century nation, in this case the French. But that French army is in itself a bit of an Imaginary army - it is the Corps du Vin, using all the regiments from wine producing areas, as well as being in the process of recruiting a few "borrowed" and imaginary ones .

For those interested, here is the webpage detailing it's progress.


It is in the process of being drilled in new formations (aka rebased from Age of Reason rules) as well as recruiting a few more units, they should be in their new uniforms within a week or so.

We hope to have a few portraits of the army up shortly, once they come off training manouevres........

There is a backstory about the commander of the force, the Viscomte de Pinotage (above), who hails originally from the French Caribbean  colony of Saint Jacques, (as does New Byzantium's French naval advisor, Commander Villaineuse, but that, as they say, is another story.....

Tuesday 14 December 2010

The Odessa File



For those of you interested in "Interbellum" (between the wars) gaming, this may be of interest. I have a Greek WW1 army and was curious about it's activities in the Russian Civil War. (This all kicked off because I wanted my Greeks to fight a friend's Russians, rather than always being on the same side as they were on the Salonika Front. My thanks to Mark Plant and Rudy Nelson for their help on The Miniatures Page - Mark has written a book, see here)

The Greeks were part of a force that occupied Odessa to support White Russia in the Ukraine. The force is an opportunity to field quite a polyglot outfit - White Russians, Poles, French, Greeks, Rumanians and various local bandit...I mean heroic rebel bands.

The army dispositions are shown in the map above, the army TO&E below - just look at the variety of units, all mixed together -  looks like some extremely good scenarios in this! In addition, some of the White Russian units' uniforms were truly over the top (look at these posts for the uniforms)

(Actually makes anything I can make up in my Byzantia 1920 Imagi-Nation fairly tame!)

A. Eastern Sector (See map above)
=========================

Command:
– General Nérel, commander of the [French] 30th ID;
– HQ at Odessa;
– Command post at Gevanova.
Troops:
– Infantry
– [French] 40th IR;
– two regiments of the Greek 13th ID;
– one regiment of the Greek 2nd ID;
– detachment of Russian Volunteer Army in cover.
– Artillery:
– one group from the divisional artillery of the [French] 30th ID;
– artillery of the Greek 13th ID;
– field and heavy artillery of the Russian Volunteer Army
– Cavalry
– two squadrons of the 4th Chasseurs d’Afrique and one battalion of MGs
– one squadron of Russian Volunteer Army

I. The advanced line ran along the Cerbka river, the bridge at Popovca on the Tilgulski [Liman}and the
defile of Koblievo-Troïtkoïe. Covered to the east by a detachment of the Russian Volunteer Army
operating between the Berezanski Liman and the Tiligulski Liman (1 battalion, 2 squadrons and 2 guns), it
was divided into three parts:

a. Under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel de Clavières:
– advanced post of Cerbka
– advanced post of Pocrovscoe;
– bridge of Popovca.
– advanced post of Cerbka under the orders of Colonel Manetas and consisting of:
– one Greek IR;
– one Greek artillery group;
– two [French?] 75mm batteries;
– one Greek engineer company;
– one squadron of the 4th Chasseurs d’Afrique;
– one Greek infantry battalion at Bol Buyalic in support,
limited to the east by the Tchernogorka to Krasnogorka (included) road and to the west by the
Gradenfeld to Andriewka road, and liaising to the east with the Russian Volunteer Army
detachment and to the west with the Polish cavalry at Liebenthal.
– advanced post of Pocrovscoe under the orders of the commander of the Russian Volunteer Army
detachment and disposing of:
– four infantry companies;
– 36 machine-guns;
– two squadrons on foot;
– 10 guns,
limited to the west by the Tchernogorka to Krasnogorka road and the east by the village of Kapri.
Liaising to the west with the advanced post of Cerbka on the river of the same name and to the
east to the village of Kapri with the advanced post of Popovka.
– advanced post of Popovka held by two companies and 16 MGs of the Russian Volunteer Army in liaison
to the west with the company of the Russian Volunteer Army in Kapri and to the east with the garrison of
Koblievo at Savnia.

b. Fortified line of Koblievo-Troitkoie, under the orders of the commander of the Greek battalion
occupying the line and possessing a Greek battalion and 4 guns of the Russian Volunteer Army, limited to
the west by Tiligulski Liman and to the east by the sea. Liaison to the west to the village of Savnia with the
Russian Volunteer Army detachment at Popovka.

c. Cover to the east, under the direct orders of the general commanding the 1st Divisional Group
comprising a squadron of the Russian Volunteer Army (bulk at Krasnaia) patrolling in the direction of
Lubianka and Cozlo with a line of retirement on Koblievo-Troitkoie. The Russian Volunteer Army
occupied, as well, Otchakov, Fort National and Fort Kimburn.
The admiral to give all necessary orders to support, with the fleet, the occupation of Fort National and,
eventually, the evacuation of Otchakov.

II. An intermediate line, passing through Bol Buyalik and Kremidovska, to be held by:
– one Greek battalion;
– one half-company of Greek engineers;
– one French cavalry squadron;
– one platoon of French MGs;
– one French 75mm battery,
and placed in reserve at the disposition of the colonel commanding the 4th Chasseurs d’Afrique.

III. The principal line, under the orders of the colonel commanding the 30th ID, consisting of:
– two Greek battalions (of which one detached to the Troitkoie line);
– one French regiment;
– one Greek 75mm battery,
was divided into two sub-sectors each occupied by a Greek battalion and organised defensively:
– one sub-sector from the sea to Kouialnitchki Liman;
– one sub-sector from Kouialnitchki Liman to Gadjibiesky Liman.
In reserve, a French regiment at Marewska at the disposition of the general commanding the eastern sector.



B. Western Sector
=============

Placed under the orders of General Borius, commander of the [French] 156th ID, limited between
Gadgibiesky Liman [exclusive] and the Dniestr (exclusive) and consisting of:
– a sub-sector of defence, properly speaking;
– Odessa itself;
– a detachment in cover at the water plant under the direct orders of the general commanding the 1st
Divisional Group.

I. Sub-sector of defence, under the orders of General Borius, limited to the east by Gadgibiesky Liman and
the Dniestr to the west, in liaison to the east around Andriewka with the Polish Cavalry and to the west, on
the Dniestr, with the Romanian units occupying Tiraspol and consisting of:
– Infantry:
– one regiment of the [French] 30th ID;
– one regiment of the [French] 156th ID;
– one regiment of the Greek 2nd ID;
– one Romanian infantry regiment, under certain conditions.
– Cavalry:
– one regiment of Polish cavalry.
– Artillery:
– one group from the divisional artillery of the [French] 30th ID;
– one group from the Greek 13th ID;
– one Romanian group.

II. Advanced line: Under the orders of the lieutenant-colonel commanding the [French] 58th IR, running
along the railway to Razdelnaia and consisting of:
– the advanced post of Razdelnaia-Tiraspol;
– Tiraspol;
– the detachment at Bielajewska.

a. The advanced post of Razdelnaia-Tiraspol, under the orders of the commander of the 1st battalion of the
58th IR and comprising:
– one Romanian battalion;
– one battalion of the 58th IR (less one section);
– one Romanian battery,
in liaison to the east with the Polish cavalry around Poniatowka and to the west with the garrison of
Tiraspol around Strasburg.

b. Tiraspol, under the orders of the lieutenant-colonel commanding the Romanian regiment and consisting
of:
– two Romanian battalions;
– one Romanian battery;
– one section of the [French] 58th IR,
in liaison to the east with the garrison of Razdelnaia around Strasburg, to the west with the Romanian
troops of Bessarabia at the Bender bridge. The liaison with the advanced post of Cerbka (eastern sector)
and with Razdelnaia (western sector) was confided to the Polish cavalry of which the bulk was at
Chimiotowka, under the direct orders of the lieutenant-colonel commanding the 58th IR.

c. Detachment at Bielajewska [the water plants] under the direct orders of the general commanding the 1st
Divisional Group and consisting of:
– three infantry companies;
– one squadron;
– one battery.
of the Polish 4th ID.

III. The intermediate line, under the orders of the lieutenant-colonel commanding the [French] 58th IR,
holding Novodlagodatnaya with the staff of the regiment and one battalion of the 58th IR.

IV. The principal line, established at 6 to 8 kilometres from Odessa, running via Ustowa, Dalnik and
Tatarka, under the orders of Colonel Gargalidis, commander of the Greek 2nd ID and held by one infantry
regiment of that division.

Odessa
===== 

This was placed under the orders of General Borius, the governor, charged
with the interior defence of the town. The defence was to be based on the organisation of a principal line
established around the rail line and a redoubt in support of the port.
The support of the fleet was to be realised by agreement between the governor and the admiral
commanding the naval forces in Odessa.

General Borius had for the defence of the town:
– the [French] 156th ID (less a regiment);
– one company of the legion;
– one regiment of tirailleurs algériens;
– the 4th regiment of Chasseurs d’Afrique, less two squadrons;
– the remainder of the Polish 4th ID;
– the remainder of the Russian Volunteer Army;
– the Russian police;
– the disembarked companies [naval landing parties]
– the staging battalions (Indo-Chinese for the port guard and Algerian for the redoubt).

A general reserve, at the disposition of the general commanding the 1st Divisional Group, consisted of:
– one infantry regiment of the Greek 2nd ID and the advised reinforcements;
– tanks of the AS/303 (one section at Peressip, one at the station, one in the proximity of the HQ)
– the 534th Hellenic Aviation Sq. (As best as I can work out equi[pped with DeHavilland DH.4 or 9)

The Battles were:

Defense of Kherson Russia = January 17-February 25 1919. A series of bitter engagements fought against Red Russian forces. Units of the Greek 7th and 34th Divisions conducted a combination of attacks, reinforcing and defensive operations.

Battle of Vasilinovo and Berezovka Russia = February 8- March 5 1919. A series of bitter engagements fought against Red Russian forces. Units of the Greek 1st and 34th Divisions conducted a combination of attacks, reinforcing and defensive operations.

Relief of Kherson = February 23, 1919. The Greek 1st regiment broke through the Red lines surrounding Kherson long enough to evacuate the besieged Allied garrison.

Battle around Odessa = March 6-21 1919. The Greek 3rd, 34th and 5/42nd Regiments fight a series of engagements around the city of Odessa.

Operations in Sevastapol = March 1919. The Greek 2nd Regiment is involved in several battles around the city.

Defense of Odessa = March-April 1919. The Greek forces in the city delay the Red Forces by using a fighting withdrawal tactic

Sunday 12 December 2010

An even Newer Byzantium



It did occur to me that Imagi-Nation readers may be interested in 1920's and 30's Newer Byzantium, set in the 1920's/30's as a way of playing Balkan Back of Beyond type games - basically WW1 with all that wonderfully weird 'tween the wars kit, and lots of political intrigue.

It springboards off my Greek WW1 army. (I was offered c 80 Eureka Greek Evzones of the 1908 - 1918 period few years back and just had to buy them). Evzones are the men in skirts (called the fustinella), tassled hats and pompoms on their shoes who now function as the Greek guards - but a cursory glance at their history will tell you they were top class troops. The Greeks were present in various Balkan wars, WW1 (see here for my army) as well as fighting in  the Russian Civil War (that's the picture above) and vs Turkey, so are quite active anyway, but I wanted to mix battles, intrigue and the small political struggles that characterised the 1920's and 30's, so I always had in the back of my mind that they would be the foot soldiers of a 1920's Balkan nation..

The backstory is that New Byzantium comes into being after World War One, and is created independently because none of the major powers can agree who to give this (fairly vaguely defined)  bit of the Balkans to, and thus they make it independent again. (New Byzantium was re-absorbed by the Ottoman Empire after the Napoleonic Wars, and despite agitating did not achive independence in the Balkan Wars period.

As with my 18th century outfit, I have reached back to Olde Byzantium for the regiments. The Guard now comprises of:

- The Varangian Guard (Armoured Stormtroopers), many ex White Russians now serve in it.
- The Gianitzaroi (Elite assault troops of Turkic origin who for various reasons dn't want to be in Turkey)
- The Scholae (heavy tanks)
- Trapezitae (top class lancers but also trained to operate as crack rifle armed cavalry)

Latinikon - not Guard, but certainly elite - the New Byzantines were impressed with the French Foreign Legion idea, and have thus recruited de-mobbed soldiers from Western Europe to an outfit based on the same lines.But, being Byzabtine no-one is a Real man if not mounted, so they function as Dragoons/mounted infantry

WW1 finally having convinced the powers that be that the heavy cavalry days are over, New Byzantium has resurrected the idea of provincial territorial heavy cavalry but put them in armoured cars (the local nobles being very keen on motoring, this went down well). The Skythikon and Turkopoloi remain as cavalry units but operate as any other cavalry of this period.

As always, the Vardariots function as police/gendarmes so are often first to be involved in any Troubles.

There is of course a vast difference between the dress uniforms of the army which hark back to more gaudy times, and their standard dusty khaki in real operations.

And of course, there is a small Air Corps, operating with (initially) easy-to-get WW1 cast-offfs and then getting 1920's/30's aircraft a few years later than the major powers.

As the main victorious powers in the region were Britain and France, and France seemed to be the more influential, New Byzantium begins it's life with primarly French organisation and equipment, but also quite a few bits purloined from defeated Bulgarian, Ottoman and German forces (and neighbouring Balkan nations).

This is the period of the first editions of Tintin and other literary Imagi-Nations, so New Byzantium is certainly well aware of the tensions between Syldavia and Borduria, unsettled intrigues in Ruritania, even peaceful Herzoslovakia is not untouched, and it also has Johnny Turk breathing down its back. This is also the period of Communist and Fascist demagogues, and dangerously democratic ideals fomented by Secret Societies, never mind the crackpot schemes of various Mad Professors in Transylvanian castles....

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Winter Quarters and Reinforcements



With the heavy falls of snow this morning, the obligatory last shots were traded on the Frontier with the Turks in the East,  Austrians in the West and Russians in the North (Russians - what're they doing there?) before all the forces traded sweetmeats (we get Turkish Delight, Vodka and Strudel, they get Fish sauce - fair deal) and marched into winter quarters to rebuild an re-arm for next year's campaigning season.

In New Byzantium, Saint Nicholas (above) is traditionally looked at to provide these things over this period, so here is the Basileos' Wish List:

- The Scholae - Eastern 3/4 armoured heavy cavalry lancers - Polish Winged Hussars with a few mods, natch

- Getting the Trapezitae up to strength and fully equipped, this should be the first tranche of "Willie" figures (de Saxe Uhlans of course)

- A unit of  New Byzantine Thematic Kavallarioi (Semi-Spahis), figures to be decided on - looking for Balkan looking lancers with swords, pistols etc
 
- A unit of Turkopoloi (Byzantine-friendly Turkish Light Horse) - ditto figures to be decided on, late Ottoman  figs I think.:

- A bit of High Culture....


- A bit of Low Byzantine Decadence