BLB - Vienna 1683 - 15mm Polish Pancerni

 

I started painting these 4 units of Pancerni during the Painting Challenge, but ran out of time at the very end, so I've only just finished them off.

The armoured companion (Polish: towarzysz pancerny) was a medium cavalry soldier of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from the 16th to 18th centuries, named for their chainmail armour. They were the second most important cavalry force after the hussars and were mainly recruited from middle and lower ranks of the nobility.

They served in units called chorągiew (companies) of about 60–200 horsemen. In 1676, “Cossack cavalry” was renamed armoured cavalry (jazda pancerna), and after 1776 reforms, both pancerni and hussars became part of the National Cavalry.

Their equipment typically included chainmail or similar armour, arm guards, sabre, bow, pistols, and carbines, with earlier use of weapons like maces or lances (later made compulsory under King John III Sobieski).

The term pancerni originally referred, in medieval Poland under rulers like Mieszko I and Bolesław I the Brave, to elite, well-equipped warriors in the ruler’s retinue.

There are no records of units as such, so I have named each unit after 4 Pancerni Commanders who fought at Vienna, again I don't know which weapons each would have used, so this is a guess, if anyone knows any different please let me know.

For the battle 2 units need to be lance armed, while the other 2 can be armed as you like, I chose bows!

Chorągiew pancerna of Stanisław Jabłonowski

Red regt

Chorągiew pancerna of Aleksander Michał Lubomirski

Yellow regt

Chorągiew pancerna of Michał Florian Rzewuski

Green regt

Chorągiew pancerna of Adam Mikołaj Sieniawski

Blue regt

All the figures are from Essex Miniatures, I had to cut and drill to make standard bearers, which was easy for the lance armed troops, but no so for the bow armed troops!!!

And here's the list I'm working from, as you can see, there's more red than black, so hopefully I'll get the finished in the next few months.....or at least by the next Challenge!!!!

After that, I may paint more, it'd be nice to have some Austrian infantry for example?

The list is taken from Barry Hilton's, scenario in, A Taste for Victory, set during the Relief of Vienna in 1683

Ottoman Army under Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha

1st Line (Independent Commands)

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

2nd Line indie command

Timariot Sipahis Blade, Lance Drilled 6 figs 

Timariot Sipahis Tribal, bow/carb drilled 6figs

Timariot Sipahis Blade, Lance Drilled 6 figs 

Timariot Sipahis Tribal, bow/carb drilled 6figs

(Already painted before the Challenge)

3rd Line indie commands 

Sekban musket, loose Raw 12 figs 

Tufeckci musket, loose Drilled 12 figs 

Sekban musket, loose Raw 12 figs 

Tufeckci musket, loose Drilled 12 figs 

Janissary Brigade & Brigadier

Janissary Orta All Musket Drilled/Elite 12
Janissary Orta All Musket/Flintlock Drilled/Elite 12

Janissary Orta All Musket/Flintlock Drilled/Elite 12

Janissary Orta All Musket Drilled/Elite 12

Reserve & Brigadier

Sipahis of the Porte Blade, Lance Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Sipahis of the Porte Blade, Lance Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Vizier's Guard All Musket, Flintlock Guard 6 

Great Gun Drilled 1 model 

Great Gun Drilled 1 model 

Holy League under King Jan III Sobieski

Polish Cavalry Brigade

Lipka Tartars Tribal Cav now Raw 6figs

Pancerni Bullet, armour Drilled 6 figs XXXX

Pancerni Bullet, Lance, armour Drilled 6 figs XXXX

Hussar Banner Blade, Lance, armour Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Polish Cavalry Brigade

Lipka Tartars Tribal Cav now Raw 6figs

Pancerni Bullet, armour Drilled 6 figs XXXX

Pancerni Bullet, Lance, armour Drilled 6 figs XXXX

Hussar Banner Blade, Lance, armour Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Imperial Cavalry Brigade 

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 12 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Veteran-Elite 12 figs

Bavarian Cav Brig

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 12 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Drilled-Elite 12 figs

Saxons Cav Brigade 

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 6 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Drilled-Elite 18 figs

Field gun 1 model

AHPC 16 - Vienna 1683 - Polish Winged Hussars

 

Sticking with my 15mm project of Vienna 1683 once again.

The Crème de la Crème of the Allied army The Polish Winged Hussars are my next entry.

Unfortunately in the scenario there are only 2 6 figure units, which seems a bit mean to me, so I will be painting up more after the Challenge. I mean why would you not??? 

The figures are from Essex Miniatures

But once again, come with no command, so figures from the Generals packs have been used and converted into standard bearers, but I suppose I could have just used a normal Hussar figure instead?

The photo's I've taken really don't d these figures the justice they deserve.

The pennants and the flag on the left were bought from Ebay from Wargame Designs, while the flag on the right was found online, sorry, I can't remember where?

Two Winged Hussars, the wings were a pain in the butt to glue in place, I had to you a small blob of Greenstuff to hold them in place. Then when I started painting them, I wished I hadn't glued them in place, because they were a bugger to paint the inside of the wings as they were so close together.

One Winged Hussars, we're a doddle to paint up!!

Onto the points 12 figures at 4 points each gives me 48 points!

Ottoman Army under Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha

1st Line (Independent Commands)

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

2nd Line indie command

Timariot Sipahis Blade, Lance Drilled 6 figs XXX

Timariot Sipahis Tribal, bow/carb drilled 6f XXX

Timariot Sipahis Blade, Lance Drilled 6 figs XXX

Timariot Sipahis Tribal, bow/carb drilled 6f XXX

(Already painted before the Challenge)

3rd Line indie commands 

Sekban musket, loose Raw 12 figs XXX

Tufeckci musket, loose Drilled 12 figs XXX

Sekban musket, loose Raw 12 figs XXX

Tufeckci musket, loose Drilled 12 figs XXX

Janissary Brigade & Brigadier

Janissary Orta All Musket Drilled/Elite 12
Janissary Orta All Musket/Flintlock Drilled/Elite 12

Janissary Orta All Musket/Flintlock Drilled/Elite 12

Janissary Orta All Musket Drilled/Elite 12

Reserve & Brigadier

Sipahis of the Porte Blade, Lance Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Sipahis of the Porte Blade, Lance Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Vizier's Guard All Musket, Flintlock Guard 6 

Great Gun Drilled 1 model 

Great Gun Drilled 1 model 

Holy League under King Jan III Sobieski

Polish Cavalry Brigade

Lipka Tartars Tribal Cav now Raw 6figs

Pancerni Bullet, armour Drilled 6 figs

Pancerni Bullet, Lance, armour Drilled 6 figs

Hussar Banner Blade, Lance, armour Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Polish Cavalry Brigade

Lipka Tartars Tribal Cav now Raw 6figs

Pancerni Bullet, armour Drilled 6 figs

Pancerni Bullet, Lance, armour Drilled 6 figs

Hussar Banner Blade, Lance, armour Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Imperial Cavalry Brigade 

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 12 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Veteran-Elite 12 figs

Bavarian Cav Brig

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 12 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Drilled-Elite 12 figs

Saxons Cav Brigade 

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 6 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Drilled-Elite 18 figs

Field gun 1 model

AHPC16 - 15mm Ottoman Turk - Tufekci & Sekban

It'd back to my one true love, 15mm for this post. Yes I paint a lot of 25's, but 15's are best! 

I posted my Challenge plan, back in December, part of that was trying to paint up, are figures for a scenario In Barry Hilton's book A Taste for Victory, set during the Relief of Vienna in 1683, there's a lot to paint up, but I'm gonna try my best to get as much painted up as I can. 

 Ottoman Army under Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha

1st Line (Independent Commands)

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

Irregular Tribal Raw 12 figs

2nd Line indie command

Timariot Sipahis Blade, Lance Drilled 6 figs XXX

Timariot Sipahis Tribal, bow/carb drilled 6f XXX

Timariot Sipahis Blade, Lance Drilled 6 figs XXX

Timariot Sipahis Tribal, bow/carb drilled 6f XXX

(Already painted before the Challenge)

3rd Line indie commands 

Sekban musket, loose Raw 12 figs XXX

Tufeckci musket, loose Drilled 12 figs XXX

Sekban musket, loose Raw 12 figs XXX

Tufeckci musket, loose Drilled 12 figs XXX

Janissary Brigade & Brigadier

Janissary Orta All Musket Drilled/Elite 12
Janissary Orta All Musket/Flintlock Drilled/Elite 12

Janissary Orta All Musket/Flintlock Drilled/Elite 12

Janissary Orta All Musket Drilled/Elite 12

Reserve & Brigadier

Sipahis of the Porte Blade, Lance Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Sipahis of the Porte Blade, Lance Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Vizier's Guard All Musket, Flintlock Guard 6 

Great Gun Drilled 1 model 

Great Gun Drilled 1 model 

Holy League under King Jan III Sobieski

Polish Cavalry Brigade

Lipka Tartars Tribal Cav now Raw 6figs

Pancerni Bullet, armour Drilled 6 figs

Pancerni Bullet, Lance, armour Drilled 6 figs

Hussar Banner Blade, Lance, armour Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Polish Cavalry Brigade

Lipka Tartars Tribal Cav now Raw 6figs

Pancerni Bullet, armour Drilled 6 figs

Pancerni Bullet, Lance, armour Drilled 6 figs

Hussar Banner Blade, Lance, armour Veteran-Elite 6 figs

Imperial Cavalry Brigade 

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 12 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Veteran-Elite 12 figs

Bavarian Cav Brig

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 12 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Drilled-Elite 12 figs

Saxons Cav Brigade 

Dragoons Regt Dragoons, Flintlock, Drilled 6 figs

Cuirassier Regt Bullet, Armour Drilled-Elite 18 figs

Field gun 1 model

So here are my first 4 units, 2 units of Tufekci, one in red.

and one in blue

Then 2 units of Sekban in mixed uniforms, the first mainly in red,

the second mainly in green.

Most of the figures are from Essex Miniatures, but for some reason Essex don't sell command figures for either of these troop types, so I ordered some packs from Lancashire Miniatures, they are slightly bigger than Essex miniatures so i cut them from their bases and they now match in better.

I found the flags online, they are for the earlier Muslim armies in Spain, but trying to find info on Ottoman flags for the period has proved difficult.

I'm painting up some cavalry next, so look out for them soon.....fingers crossed!

So to the points...

48 x 15mm figures @ 2 points each makes 96 points!!

AHPC 16 - Empire Bonus Round - Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire , Vienna 1683

For the bonus rounds I always try and paint somthing that I actually need or want. Somtimes this isn't possible, so every show I pick up a few odds and sods figures that might cone in handy. But when I saw Empire, I knew exactly what I'd be painting up.

I'd already decided that I'd start my new 15mm project, the Siege of Vienna in 1683, so all I needed to do was decide what unit to paint up.

I began to run out of time so chose a command stand, instead of a unit.

The figures are old Minifigs, that I picked up at Broadside Wargame Show last June and were a pleasure to paint up to be honest. The base is a 60mm circle from the fab, Warbases. The base represents Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, Commander in Chief of the entire Ottoman army. Pasha personally directed the siege and bore the full responsibility for its conduct and outcome. Due to the failure of the siege and campaign he was executed on 25th December 1683 in Belgrade, by being strangles with a silk cord, which was the traditional method for high ranking Ottoman officials!!!

After that cheerful bit of information its onto the points, 50 pts for the bonus round and 4 pts each for the cavalry, so another 16 pts, giving a total of 66pts.

If you feel the need, you too can vote for who you think painted the best "Empire" figures, here!

The Battle of Svolra 1812 - A Napoleonic Batrep.

 

I'm a bit late posting my report from this game, I just couldn't find the time to get the post started, fingers crossed I can remember what went on??

Lee posted a short video on his Youtube channel, here.

5 Rejects met up at Reject HQ for our first game for what seems like months. Someone (and that'll be me) had all his wargaming gear stored in the shed when he moved. So there wasn't any room for a game. Now that's all in its new home it was time for a game. Postie chose to do a 15mm Napoleonic game using his own version of General de Brigade.

We picked tickets out of the hat, Lee and myself picked out the French, with me in command, while Smiffy and Steve picked out the Russians with Steve as their commander.

OOB

French

2nd Corps - Marshal Oudinot

6th Division Gen Legrand (part of)

1st Brigade 26th Legere 4 Battalions

2nd Brigade 56th Line 4 Battalions

3rd Brigade 19th Line 4 Battalions

1 Heavy 2, Light Artillery

9th Division - Gen Merle (part of)

4th Brigade 4th Swiss 3 Battalions, 3rd Provisional Croatian regt  2 Battalions

5th Brigade 1st Swiss 2 Battalions, 2nd Swiss 3 Battalions

2 Light Artillery

From the 6th Corps

20th Bavarian Division

6th Brigade 2nd Line 2 Battalions, 6th Line 2 Battalions, 2nd Light Infantry

1 Medium Artillery

2nd Corps Cavalry

7th Brigade 23rd & 24th Chasseurs a Cheval 

8th Brigade 7th & 20th Chasseurs a Cheval, Chevauleger - Lancers

The 20th Chasseurs a Cheval Lancers

Russian

1st Army of the West

2nd Corps - Lt Gen Baggovut

4th Division - Prince Eugene of Wuttemburg

1st Brigade 1st & 2nd Tobolsk, 1st & 2nd Volhynia

2nd Brigade 1st & 2nd Kienenchug, 1st &2nd Vilmarisrand

3rd Brigade 4th Jagers 2 Battalions, 24th Jagers 2 Battalions

1 Heavy & 5 Light Artillery

17th Division - LG Olsuffieff

4th Brigade 1st & 2nd Riazan, 1st & 2nd Belozersk

5th Brigade 1st & 2nd Brest, 1st & 2nd Vilmanstrand

6th Brigade 30th Jagers 2 Battalions, 48th Jagers

4 Heavy & 11 Light Artillery

From the 3rd Corps

1st Grenadier Division

7th Brigade Pavlovski Grenadiers, Ekatmeroslav  Grenadiers

From the 2nd Cavalry Corps

8th Brigade Pskoffski Dragoons, Moscow Dragoons x 2

From the 3rd Cavalry Corps

9th Brigade  Marioupol Hussars

From the Cossack Corps

10th Brigade Bachkir Cossacks

From towns and Villages

11th Brigade 1st, 2nd, 4th & 6th Battalions of Opolchenie

Postie said it was a meeting engagement, where both sides had to attack, the winner would be the one who scored the most points at the end of the game. You scored points for units destroyed, killing leaders, routed units, routed and disordered brigades and enemy flags captured.

Unfortunately for us, we lost the first dice throw to see who would set up first.

My command had loads of Elite Swiss, so these would need to get into melee.

We quite sensibly left our cavalry in column in the centre, just incase they overloaded one flank. Which id exactly what Steve did, putting all their horse facing our right.

Lee's command also had some Elite's, this time they were Legere units

I didn't want to mess around to much so I put all my line units into column, yes they'd make an easier target for artillery, but they'd move quicker. The white markers are a first fir e bonus, that's removed funnily enough, when you first fire!

The Russians had the first move, Steve pushed his Cavalry out to our right, which kinda buggered my plans up straight away, if I moved to far forward to atttack I'd be offering my flank to the cavalry??

Our 3 Horse turn to move over to our right to hopefully attack their cavalry, but they're a few moves away.

I moved my columns up, the right most column anchoring itself to the woods.

On our left, we decided that Lee, would go for the hill, with his Legere in skirmish followed by his artillery, if we could get a hold of the hill he could command our left flank?

Hello, we didn't expect that on turn 2, French reinforcements, well Bavarians, but they'll do!!!

Not sure what to do with them though???

And what's this? Russian reinforcements as well?

Four units of Russian Opolchine, right out on our left flank.

Hmm? Also some Russian Cossacks on our right???

The Bavarians looking rather snazzy in the cornflower blue coats. The green marker means the unit is in march column, giving them more movement on the road. But you don't wanna be caught in march column by any cavalry, that's for sure!

Cossacks lurking on the hill, looking for an opportunity......

My artillery trying to hit the advancing Russians.

My plan was to try and hit 2 columns onto one line unit, but I kept a gap between each unit just incase I had to go into line.

The Russian gun's fire onto a unit of Swiss that then fail their morale test and move back.

Lee and Smiffy begin their titanic tussle for the hill.

Its not really what I wanted to do but I moved the Bavarian's off the road ready to force a defensive line against the oncoming Russian cavalry and Cossacks.

Getting closer....

Lee unlimbers his guns on top of the hill, but will they still be there next turn?

There's a lot of open ground for both sides to move into on our right.

I didn't think he would, but Steve moved his infantry line forward, which meant any attack my flank wouldn't be in danger as he'd blocked off his cavalry.

Steve also moved his far right unit at an angle, ignoring our artillery and Lee's troops just out of shot on the left.

There were lots of shts fired by both sides over on Lee's side of the table. the small blue dice are casualty dice.

Setting up for the charge.

I'd not seen this in any of our previous Napoleonic games, Russian Jagers charging French Legere and artillery.

One of our guns had already been forced to limber up and move away as it took casualties and failed its morale check.

And I'm in....taking casualties as I charged in.

Fingers crossed 

For all our melee's

A shot down the right hand side of our flank, showing the French charges.

I think our right flank is ok??

The mess on the hill...

That looks better, there are now 2 holes in the Russian lines!

2 v1 it was always on the cards

This melee was even better as the Russian unit routed, hence the red marker.

Postie consoles Steve, as Smiffy points out his plans.

Smiffy moved some infantry and guns around our left flank, to try and force Lee's hand as Lee started to push forward in the centre.

In another surprise move, Steve moved his left flank forward in line, I think it was so he could shoot at my columns?

Smiffy charges before Lee could as the Russians won the first move, he also knocked back another of Lee's artillery.

More charges from both sides, on my left, right of centre of the whole tabletop.

Come on Steve, I dare ya!

Lee brings his Cavalry into the centre, just to halted the Russain advance or threatening an exposed flank?

While still battering Smiffy on the hill.

Lee takes a chance and crashes some of his colours into the Russuan lines.

While I go in again on my side.

Steve loses out on the dice throws.The blue marker means they have captured the enemies flag, while the black marker means the unit has lost there colours!

Steve's Brigade has lost many casualties so was forced to take a Brigade check. Which he passed by the skin of his teeth!

Time was running out, so the game was bought to an end.......but who had won?

We all had units still in the fight and units that hadn't fought or fired in the game?

Postie added up the points and it was as close as we all thought....

It might be me, but I don't think Smiffy and Steve were impressed with the result???

It turned out that the French had won a narrow victory 12 points to 9. Well I'll take that a wins a win after all.

Great game, it was a bit of a slog to be honest. I'm not keen on meeting engagement games, I prefer an attacker and defender game. When the sides have near equal numbers its difficult attacking. We lost a hell of a lot of troops before we made contact but didn't have the 3/1 or  3/2 superiority in numbers, so it was always gonna be a close one.

Well done to all involved!