Spanish and Portuguese Military History,
Wargaming, and other stuff
During the period 1810 – 1824, the Spanish colonies were wracked by revolution. By 1824 Mexico and all the South American Colonies were independent. The Portuguese had their own problems and Brazil was independent by 1825. You might want to check out Overview, Timeline, my 1817-18 Chilean Project, 15mm Figures, Painting Guide and Resources.
I have rebased my 1817 Royalists on big bases. So I took the opportunity to do a photo shoot including some units I’d not featured before.
This is the army that got smashed at Battle of Chacabuco (12 Feb 1817). I’ve also included the units for the Alternative Chacabuco Scenario in Fletcher (2006).
This is my second blog post in my series on Talcahuano, the port fortress near the city of Conception in Chile. This time the focus is the Combat of Talcahuano which led to the Patriot capture of Talcahuano on 28 May 1813. As I mentioned in the first post the purpose of the series is to figure out how to make an interesting scenario from an assault on the fortress.
This is the first in a short series of blog posts on Talcahuano, the port fortress near the city of Conception in Chile. Talcahuano was the focus of some military activity during the Wars of South American Liberation. The first of these incidents was the Royalist seizure of Talcahuano on 27 March 1813. The purpose of the series is to figure out how to make an interesting scenario from an assault on the fortress.
Ian Spence, Des Darkin and Martin Gane of the South London Warlords put on a demonstration of the Battle of Araure at Salute 2015. It was great to see Liberators featured at the premier show in the UK. However, the stand out feature was the table itself. Very effective and terribly simple. And as a bonus we had a mystery guest from the USA.
Chris Harrod and I played my Alternative Tucuman Scenario for Liberators HOTT. Chris played the attacking Royalists trying to reach Tucuman along the main road from the north. I had the Argentine Patriots. Another great little game with victory going to Chris.
This is a “What-if” Liberators HOTT scenario related to the Battle of Tucuman 24-25 September 1812; the deciding battle in the War of Argentine Independence.
Belgrano was expecting the Royalists to march directly on Tucuman so initially deployed where the road from the north entered the plain. As it happens Tristan chose to outflank Tucuman and approach from the south-west. What if Tristan had marched south down the direct road to Tucuman and straight into the Patriots waiting for him.
Chris Harrod and I played my Tucuman Scenario for Liberators HOTT. I was the attacking Royalists trying to reach Tucuman. Chris had the Argentine Patriots. Nice little game let down my a bit of incompetence on my part. Victory to the Patriots.
The game also saw the christening of my new wargaming table and my new 1815 Liberators armies.
This is a Liberators HOTT scenario for the Battle of Tucuman 24-25 September 1812; the deciding battle in the War of Argentine Independence.
Having written up the an account of the historical Battle of Tucuman (24-25 September 1812) it is time to consider how to recreate the battle. I’ve come up with three options: (1) historical (2) alternative and (3) grand tactical.
The Battle of Tucumán was fought on 24 – 25 September 1812 near of the Argentina city of San Miguel de Tucumán, in the War of Argentine Independence. The Northern Army, commanded by General Manuel Belgrano, defeated a Royalist army under Brigadier Juan Pío Tristán. As a result the outnumbered Patriots halted the Royalist advance into northwest Argentina. Along with the Battle of Salta (20 February 1813), the Battle of Tucumán confirmed the area that would remain under Argentine control at the end of the war.
Different rule systems assume different ground scales. So I thought I’d show one scenario map, a Liberators scenario by John Fletcher for the Battle of Ica, at different ground scales. And suggest which Wargaming Rules suit each scale.
On 5 Apr 1818, in one of the bloodiest battles in the Wars of South American Independence, the Patriots under San Martin decisively defeated the Royalists under Mariano Osorio. Although I posted a draft of this back in January 2012 I completely updated it so have reposted it.
When I rebased my Argentine army I also transferred my Chilean army to Big Bases. This is the Chilean element of San Martin’s Army of the Andes from my 1817-18 Chilean Project.
I have rebased my Argentine Army of the South American Wars of Liberation on Big Bases. All infantry and cavalry on 80mm x 40mm bases. 12 figures per infantry base; two bases to a battalion. 6 figures per cavalry base/squadron. Guns stayed on 40mm x 40mm bases; one gun per base.
A while ago I put together some thoughts on Using 15mm Liberators Figures of 1817-18 for 1815. That was for my old armies on bases 30mm wide. I’ve now gone for Big Bases so I thought I’d revisit what I need to do for the third campaign in Upper Peru (Jan-Nov 1815), featuring the Battle of Viluma / Sipe Sipe.