FLEA UNDER THE COLLAR

 

After a long work delay the campaign is finally back on schedule. With the last battle ending in a draw, it seemed given the importance of the location that a continuation was in order. After both sides withdraw to their camps for the night they began the combat on the following morning. Each side makes their plans and repositions their forces for the long days battle ahead. 

Behind the UPC Lines, Their Skirmishers Deployed Forward Screening Their Approach. The Militia Garrison of Fort Flea Hold to Their Posts, While the Regular Empire Forces Wait Further Back to Await Developments. The Von Mutts Hold a Defensive Posture on the Western Side of the Fort.  

The Empire Forces Seem Content to Await the Von Mutts Assault While Thier Cavalry Begins a Long Ride to Change Their Position from the Center of the Line to the Right Flank. 

Both Sides Hold and Engage in an Artillery Duel. Again, there was no Attempt to Breach the Walls of Fort Flea. 

The UPC Assault Begins Against the Fort and the Empire Troops Outside. 

Ignoring the Fort the Allies Forces Begin to Engage the Empire from Two Directions.

After a Long Delay the Empires Cavalry Finaly Takes up Position on the Empire Right Flank.

Empire Forces on the Left Flank Begin Taking Casualties from the UPC Batlle Line. 

With no Breach in Fort Flea's Walls the UPC Assault Breaks Against Them Like Waves Against the Shore. 

On the Empire Right Flank Their Cavalry Assembles Before Beginning Their Assault on the Von Mutts Line.  

Finaly Realizing Their Problem the UPC Starts to Bring Forward Their Artillery in Order to Create a Breach Before Nightfall. 

The Final Assaults Begin. 

Massed cavalry attacks by the Empire made little headway against the Von Mutt's Grenadiers, but further down the line fire and infantry assaults began to take their toll. Closer to the fort the UPC also attempted to break the enemy by close combat and fire. While having some success the failure to breach Fort Flea's walls left them no choice but to withdraw and look for a different way around to the coast. The Empire could breathe a sigh of relief having held off the Allies approach for at least a few more days. 

FLEA IN THE SUGAR BOWL

 

The second battle of the Fall '24 Campaign has the Allies assaulting Fort Flea which is blocking their line of advance to the capital of the Island of Dei Barba, Road Town. The fort needed to be taken to open the supply route from the landing beaches. 

Fort Flea sat in the middle of a major opening in the jungle along the main roads that connects the farms, villages and ports to the capital. Control of the fort meant control of the islands travels and economy. Without it no attempt could be made to capture Road Town from the landward side. Any attempt to take Road Town from the sea would require the assaulting force to deal with the town's formidable guns. 

Allied Forces Begin to Arrive at Fort Flea. The UPC Column Emerging from the Jungle, while to the West the Von Mutts Burst Out Ready to Assault the Infantry Redoubt. 

With Their Initial Assault Repulsed the Mutts Bring Up Their Artillery to Help Batter the Empire Militia in the Forward Redoubt.  

Empire Cavalry and Infantry Begin to Arrive to Reinforce the Small Garrison of the Fort. 

Empire Troops Massing Around Fort Flea.

The Allies (Von Mutts on left, UPC on right) Prepare Their Assault. 

The Elite UPC Converged Grenadier Begin Their Attack on the Empire Artillery Redoubt. 

The Full Weight of the Allies Forces Finaly Arriving. The Forward Elements have been Fighting for Over Half of the Day.

The Mass of Empire Cavalry Launching Their Charge Against the Von Mutts Line. 

Near Days End and More Troops Continue to Arrive. 

Battlelines Drawn, but the Stifling Heat, Troops Exhaustion and the and Setting Sun are Bringing a Close to the Days Battle.

Fort Flea Surrounded but Still Holding Firm. All Combatants have Fought to Equal Honors. Minor Skirmishing Continues Throughout the Night as Both Sides Rest and Recover for the Continuation of the Battle the Next Day. 

Originally, I had planned to continue the battle the following game from where this stood, but the long delay of three weeks made me rethink that plan. I have instead decided to restart the battle with both sides slightly separated in their respective positions and slightly recovered. All loses and honors gained will remain. Stay tuned for the Battle of Fort Flea day two. 

A LITTLE BIT OF SUGAR

 

The UPC Hits the Beach

The new campaign for Fall '24 begins. The theater of operations has changed from the central farmlands of the continent to the highly lucrative Sugar Islands in the Eastern Sea where the Empire and Grand Kingdom squabble for control. The Grand Kingdom follows it long pattern of using others to fight its wars in a mercenary capacity, so has hired the Von Mutts and the United Packs Commonwealth with promises of new land. While the Von Mutts and UPC will provide the land troops, the Grand Kingdom will support and transport them with its navy. 

With peace now on its western borders the Empire's attention was drawn back east. Its spies had kept them informed of the greater military activities of the Grand Kingdom in its ports. In response the Empire began building more warships to protect its overseas interest, while at the same time ignoring the plight of its army. Only after it became obvious that the Sugar Islands would become the new battleground did they begin to reinforce them with more troops. 

A new challenge to this campaign was going to be the climate. New troops would need to acclimate to this region. Being raised and equipped for the colder regions of the midcontinent they were not prepared for the stifling heat of the tropics. Troops were going to take time to adjust to the heat and until they do, they will suffer loses to combat abilities.   

The first blow came on the Island of Dei Barba where the Von Mutts and UPC Allies would attempt to land on two separate beaches. The Von Mutts would land on the western beach, while the UPC would land on the southern beach closer to the old stockade defenses of Fort Flea. The Von Mutts landing against an unpatrolled beach allowed them to prepare for a night march. Just before dawn both forces were to meet near the old fort and then head inland. While the second landing went as planned and the Von Mutts did arrive on time, the Empire was far more prepared here. 

Von Mutts Forces Arriving from the West, but the Local Empire Milita is Already Awake and Mustering. 

The UPC Landing Force Nearly at the Just Manned Redoubt. Fresh Empire Troops Begin Marching in from the North and East. 

Von Mutts and UPC Allies Emerging from the Western Jungle. 

The Empire Rushing to Meet the Threat Coming from the West. 

Empire Massing to Defend Against the Landing.

Battlelines Drawn and the UPC has Already Captured the Redoubt.

Empire Forces Slowly Snaking into Position Being Hampered by Orchards and Jungle. In the South (upper left), the Militia are Holding Back the Beach Landing Force. 

The Whelp's Von Mutts Advancing Through the Vineyard and Applying Pressure on the Empire's Deployment. 

All Sides now Heavily Engaged. The Empire's Light Cavalry Acting Like a Cork Keeping the UPC from Rapidly Advancing Through a Series of Support, Block and Fall Back.  

The Empire's Defenses are Finally in Place with Strong Interior Lines. The Bend is Giving them Problems with the Allies Able to Bring Superior Firepower to Bear at These Points. 

The Battered Militia Still Holding Their Place in Line While Empire Regulars Now Take Up the Fight. 

On the Opposite Flank the Empire are Heavily Engaging the Von Mutts. 

Still Under Serious Pressure the Empire has Formed its Next Defensive Fallback Position.  

 

Both Sides Have Secured Their Flanks Against the Jungle, as the Battle Rages On. 

The UPC's Beach Landing Force continues their advance but at a high cost. General Hunter has been carried off the field in a wounded state and all of the line is bloodied. The Empire is not in any better shape having lost their artillery, a number of banners and the Onion City Militia. On the Western flank the Von Mutts have lost Von Puppen's Line Regiment. With the heat and humidity of the day becoming intolerable, both sides break off. During the night the Empire withdraws to camp around Fort Flea and prepares for the next battle. 

NEW UNITS FOR THE FALL CAMPAIGN

 

The Well Blooded and Experienced Cavalry Now with Their Flags. 

This is a bit of fluff to show off the units I have been painting since the Spring. First up are the Militia Units and their General, Liftsleg, known affectionately as "Ol Yeller". As with all these units I am working on getting their flags print ready. Depending on which side they are on they will have different names. 

The Green Militia. This Describes Their Uniform Not Their Quality. 
Empire Prairie County Militia. UPC Cook Country Militia.  

Red Militia.
Empire North County Militia. UPC Lake County "In-a-Minutes".

Blue Militia are the Large Unit of Seven Stands. 
Empire Onion City Militia. UPC The University Pups. 

Militia General Liftsleg. Affectionately Known as "Ol Yeller".

Empire General Howlden. 

The Guard of the Packs Commonwealth. 
First Unit of Mixed Dog Colors. 

Everyone's Favorites the Dead. 

I am going to close this with a couple of pictures of the workhorses of the battlefield, the Line Infantry Colors. 

The Empire. 

The UPC. 

All the Militia on Parade.