Background:

In 2009 I was again able to travel to Canberra Australia to participate in the 15mm DBR event. The DBR competition was again organised by the Canberra Gentleman’s Pensioners and was the 9th consecutive running using these rules. With New Zealand unable to run a 15mm DBR event at the New Zealand Nationals Cancon  was also to be the competition to decide the DBR South Pacific Championship.

The decision on which army to take to Canberra this year had been difficult. I had considered several options but after much deliberation I realised that of my armies that were ready I had the most experience with Parliamentarians. As with last year the event the format was two list and fixed terrain. 

So once again the Roundheads were assembled for the trip to Australia. I remained unadventurous and took an army that was only marginally different from that used in 2008. My main list comprised a large infantry centre with two very small wings. One wing was smaller than the other and was not supposed to become to involved in the fighting. Rather it was a reserve and delaying command. Apart from some commanded shot these wings comprised Pi(I) harquebusiers supported by some Pi(O) , Pi(S) and what dragoons could be mustered by Parliament for the expedition.

The Games:

Game One – TYW Swedish 1633:

True to form for my first game I found myself defending, though I would like to think the army was defending somewhere on the continent. The battlefield can be described as follows. In my centre rear, just in front of the baggage, was a long thin area of broken ground while on the far right a small stream flowed towards the left table edge. This was outside of the area where the battle was to be fought. In the left and right flanks and just astride the deployment areas were three enclosures. All these features can be seen below.

The Swedes, under John McCarthy, comprised three equal commands. One command comprised a strong body of musketeers and pike with a number of guns in support. The Swedish artillery train included both leather guns and heavier pieces. The remaining two commands comprised a mixture of cavalry including one command  with some 150 hackapells. These cavalry commands included additional commanded shot and small number of dragoons. The engagement started around 11am on a fine summers morning. Below the English can be see on the left and the Swedish on the right. 

As can be seen the Swedes massed their cavalry on their left and probably planned to hold on their right while engaging in the left and later centre. The English in turn determined to seize the enclosures on each flank quickly and move in what commanded shot that could be spared to support the dragoons. In turn the centre would push forward where it was hoped the Roundhead musketeers would slowly gain the upper hand. The English pike were needed forward due to counter the numerically superior Swedish horse.  

After a grinding battle a marginal 6-4 victory was achieved by the Roundheads who were only slowly gaining the upper hand against the Swedish commander.

Game Two – Venetian Italian 1607:

Last year Lyle Daymond had opted for the army of Louis XIV French which he used very aggressively against me. While he had switched to a different army I still suspected an aggressive battle. I wasn’t to be disappointed!

The terrain over which I was invading comprised a long gentle ridge on the Venetian left that stretched well into their centre but inclined to the rear as it did so. Small areas of brush and other broken ground was to be found on the English left rear and far right flank. These areas were not to impact on the battle.

Clearly the English were not prepared to advance on the hill and therefore deployed some distance from it with cavalry on the wings and the centre comprising the infantry. The pikes of the English regiments were generally forward as the Venetians were well supplied with cavalry who were intermingled with the Venetian foot. The Venetian centre comprised some 600 musketeers supported by 200 mercenary foot  as well as screen of skirmishers along with a small but significant body of pistoleers. On their left flank was deployed a another mixed body of more musketeers and pistoleers who were supported by strong body of light horse. On the right the final mixed command was deployed. This was further aided by a small naval element that would be un-engaged.

Battle was soon joined all along the line as the Venetians moved rapidly to the offensive. No surprises there! Casualties were significant for both armies as the battle quickly moved to hand to hand combat all along the line. The first command to break was the Venetian left flank. Resulting in the pursuit of the fleeing Venetians by the victorious horse of the English right flank. But casualties continued to mount and soon the English commands also began to break. Firstly, both English wings would break, the problem with their small size. However, in time, the English centre also broke.

By the end of the battle all three Roundhead generals were wounded and carried from the field. The Venetians losses had however been significant. No less than 29 ME destroyed! Victory however lay with the Venetians, who had secured a 9-1 victory.

Game Three – TYW French 1637:

The terrain for this engagement was to create some difficulty for the English who were attacking. In the centre were two large enclosures one of which the French commander, Guy Sheppard, was able to secure before the battle. Further, on the French right and against their base line was a small town which was in turn flanked by a river that ran initially towards the Roundhead lines before changing course to the right. The combination clearly created a very defensible position. On the English right centre the terrain was more open but with a hill on the French left.

The English council of war soon determined that the French right could easily defend by careful use of the terrain slowing any attack. At the same time any attack in the centre would be disrupted by the enclosures. Therefore, an attack on the English right was decided on. However, this was also where French cavalry was likely to be concentrated. The English commanders were well aware how weak their own cavalry was. Therefore the English foot was to expand to the far right which would hopefully counter the French cavalry. The extreme English right flank was to be then covered by the stronger of the two English cavalry wings. A forlorn hope and some dragoons were to contest the enclosures of the centre for as long as possible. The rest of the battlefield was to be ignored. Hopefully the French cavalry would be faced with the English foot and slowly be driven back.

When the armies were deployed the position generally followed that which the English commander expected. The French had indeed concentrated much of their foot in the centre especially in the area of the enclosures. Perhaps too much so. Their initial deployment, while strong, hampered any redeployment. Their left wing was, as expected, cavalry heavy, with a mix of Pi(O), Pi(F) and LH(I).

Battle commenced around 5am on a fine summer morning in France. The English army started to march two infantry regiments to the right and the right wing cavalry even further to the right. It was a race to expand and deploy as the French left wing, comprising cavalry, also moved forward to prevent the expansion. Elsewhere the English came under long range fire by several French cannon. To the right one English regiment can be seen extending the line to the right.

The armies were soon upon each other with most fighting on the English right. The French cavalry came on quickly and while there was some jostling for advantage soon charged home. The English horse bore the main weight of the attack and through successive lines and some good fortune both withstood the initial attacks and then counter attacked. In time the French left, comprised of cavalry, was in rout but in the ensuing confusion was able to also inflict further casualties on the English horse, beating this command. In the centre after a slow start the French also tried to press home their charges. However, the French musketeers were unable to charge home against the superior Parliamentarian firepower. This very enjoyable battle ended with a 5-5 draw.

Game Four – Neopoliatian Spanish 1512:

Game four, the last of the second day, was against Stuart Murmain who was using Neopolitian Spanish. This time I was defending against Stuart’s Spanish and selected the battlefield orientation. On my right was a stream that ran between our table edges. In the centre  and continuing towards the Spanish extreme right were three hills forming a sort of ridge at 45 degrees to my base line. That nearest and that most distant to my base line were small. In the centre and astride the battlefield centre, though in my centre left, was of a medium sized hill which was critical to the battle. To my left, and outside my deployment area was an area of brush.

Last year Stuart had used the same army and I suspected had a similar composition. Specifically a strong centre with several light guns of which the Neopoliatians were well known. Suspecting such a deployment, presumably reinforced by pike and arquebus, I decided a forward defence followed by a rapid advance was called for. It was hoped that this would give the Spanish little opportunity to harass the English flanks with light horse. My left flank was secured by both infantry and the stronger cavalry wing making use of the medium sized hill mentioned earlier. The dragoons of this wing would attempt to delay the Spanish light horse using what cover the brush would provide. The smaller English cavalry wing was deployed on the right. The dragoons and commanded shot of this wing would advance forward to secure a bog while the mounted components of the wing would protect against the expected turning movement on the right from Spanish advancing on the opposite side of the river.

The forward deployment in some ways caught the Spanish by surprise but they formed up as expected with a strong centre and strong cavalry wings. The Spanish then advanced their centre and began their bombardment while moving against the English left flank. Attacking uphill here was difficult but screened by a thick skirmish screen the sword and buckler armed Spanish advanced to threaten the English infantry regiments on the left of the line. These attacks while prolonged resulted in few of the sword and buckler armed Spanish charging home due to the English musket fire. Eventually English harquebusiers also contributed to the defence having crested the ridge and discharging their firearms at close range.

While the Spanish attacked on the left the English centre advanced. All along the line the musketeers engaged the Spanish centre. As expected casualties soon mounted on the Spanish. First the skirmishers were driven off then the Spanish gunners fell prey to English musket. With the centre under pressure and the Spanish attack on the English left stalled the Spanish pike now advanced forward. However, despite their best efforts their advance to was halted.

With casualties mounting the Spanish, unable to breakthrough on the flanks or centre, finally broke. Finally, a 10-0 victory for the English.

Game Five – Williamite Anglo-Danes 1688:

The first game of the final day found me drawn against the Daimen Pooley who was already in a strong position having achieved no less than 40 points from his first four games. Last year Damien had opted to use Irish Confederates, from the English Civil War, an army I would have enjoyed fighting. However, this year Damien had opted for the Williamites. No doubt he accepted the moral victory that such a selection provided his opponents.

The battlefield I was found defending was based on Nieuport. Specifically, on my right flank was a waterway and in the centre right a large hill was linked to the waterway by rolling sand dunes. Two further hills, smaller than that previous, were on the English left flank. These were, unlike the large hill, to play no significant part in the battle.

Two regiments of Roundhead infantry were deployed to hold the hill while dragoons were to contest the sand dunes. Extending to the Roundhead right, but echeloned back, were further Roundhead infantry regiments and eventually the Roundhead main cavalry wing. The right wing cavalry formed a reserve on the reverse slopes of the hill. Here they were drawn up in such a way to plug gaps in those regiments on the hill. It was hoped that this disposition would in someway counted the superior firelock troops who would either be forced to attack up hill or expose their flank as they pressed forward on the flat.

The Williamites deployed in three equal commands with both flanks being similar. Each comprised musketeers, a mixture of Sh(S), Sh(O), supported by pike and cavalry. The centre comprised mostly musketeers equipped with firelocks along with a strong body of dragoons. 

The battle soon began with a general Williamite advance and exchange of fire with those Roundhead regiments deployed on the higher ground. In this exchange the Williamites failed to gain the upper hand and for some time showed no inclination to advance to hand to hand. Below, the general situation with the English Roundheads on the left and the Williamites on the right. The Williamite left wing cavalry have already moved to a central position.

Meanwhile on the right a several bodies of commanded shot were involved in a rolling skirmish in the sand dunes, also with no result. In the centre however with an unwillingness for the Williamites to push forward the Roundhead centre and left pushed forward. Slowly the Williamite dragoons were driven in but time was slipping away.

With casualties mounting on the centre right the reserve Roundhead cavalry moved forward and soon became embroiled in the fighting. Hoping to take advantage of the lack of pike in the Williamite line one body of Roundhead horse pressed home their attack. It failed, and with it the command broke. However, despite the situation the Williamites were still unable to take advantage of the situation. With dusk approaching the two armies were forced to disengage. A 6-4 win to the Williamites, but a moral victory for the English Roundheads.

Game Six – Later Danish 1672:

The final game of Cancon was against Phil Clark who used his recently painted Later Danes. As before I found myself defending. This tme there was no significant terrain to break up the centre. On my right two woods provided a degree of protection against a cavalry attack form this direction. The left was open however, apart from a hill that was of no tactical value. It’s occupation by English troops would likely result in their quick defeat. It would be, obviously, a clash in the centre. To this end the English centre deployed their right secured by commanded shoot and dragoons of the right wing. The left wing, comprising the stronger cavalry component deployed echeloned back. With deployment completed we awaited the Danes.

The Danish centre comprised 1200 infantry armed with firelocks supported by a further 800 drawn from their left and right wings. Of the Danish horse most were positioned on the Danish right flank, some 750 or so, while a smaller body formed up on the Danish left.

The battle was simple in the extreme. The Danes advanced quickly all along the line. The English horse on the right at first advanced but soon fell back, as planned, into the centre. The centre being already under great pressure. The English had hoped to gain the upper hand in the firefight but this was not to be. All along the line English musketeers were forced back by the heavy rolling Danish fire. On the left the two cavalry wings failed to engage being drawn up some 300 paces apart. This gave an opportunity for the English dragoons to help delay the advancing infantry. But alas this turned to disaster when the dragoons were themselves caught by Danish horse and ridden down. 

These same Danish cavalry then continued their advance into the English centre attacking from the now exposed flank. The Roundheads turned to face as best they could. However, they were unable to stop the attack as they were soon attacked from front as well by the Danish foot. As was to be expected soon the English centre, and therefore the army, broke. A disater had overtaken the Roundheads. The result was a  complete victory to the Danes who secured a 10-0 win.

Summary:

Again, Cancon had proven to be an excellent convention and the DBR competition, as with last year, extremely enjoyable. It was interesting to see a number of new faces and to play against a range of different armies. A special thanks must go to the organisers Roger and Phil who worked hard organising the DBR competition and of course the wider organising commitment of Canberra gamers that organise Cancon itself. However, I must also thank all my opponents who always fought like gentleman and made the DBR competition at Cancon 2009 an event to remember.  

The final placings were as follows:

As a result Damian, in addition to winning the 15mm DBR competition for Cancon 2009, secured the 15mm DBR South Pacific Champion for 2009.

Return to the Renaissance Page