The Engagement at Schleiz - Napoleonic Action from the 1806 Campaign.

 

The Engagement at Schleiz occurred on October 9th, 1806, marking the very first clash of the War of the Fourth Coalition during the Napoleonic Wars, so it was appropriate that in the October meeting, October 10th, four tolerant and amiable wargamers should play a scenario based on this first meeting between French and a mixture of Saxon and Prussian forces.

Why am I collecting armies that have no or little chance of winning? Well, my first army was an 1815 Dutch Belgium Division. ‘Nuff said. If you want to see how they fared, have a look at their last outing.

Devon Wargames Group: The Battle of Waterloo June 18 1815 Braine l’Aleud - Changing History

So why collect such a problematic army? Well, precisely for that reason. I wanted to try to model the strictures of command and doctrine that this army fought under and to understand the challenges faced by their Generals when confronted with a foe with a manoeuvre and combined arms doctrine. 

Also, well, AB Jena Prussian figures are just gorgeous, and Eureka do a wonderful quirky Saxon 1806 army. What’s there not to like?

For an excellent account of the engagement I thoroughly recommend ‘Mike’s blog, Brilliant Actions of the Napoleonic Wars’, which I found extremely useful, not least because of the map, link below.

1806 Campaign Begins: Combat of Schleiz – Brilliant Actions of the Napoleonic Wars

The information and map given to the players was as follows:

PRUSSIAN/SAXON - Linear Doctrine.

Delay the French advance and maintain control of the roads North of Schleiz.

Deploy anywhere behind 1’ from Southern edge. Any Units deployed in obscured terrain (Schleiz and Oschitz Wood) are marked as blinds, except skirmishers. Two Additional Decoy Blinds.

General-Major Bogislav Friedrich Emanuel von Tauentzien

Prinz Johann Chevau-légers Regiment

Albrecht Dragoons Regiment

4lb Horse Artillery Battery

Advance Guard - General-Major Karl von Bila

Rosen Fusilier Battalion

Werner Jäger Battalion

4 Kronhelm Jäger Companies

3 Graf von Wedel Fusilier Companies

Bila Hussar Regiment No. 11 (6 Squadrons)

SAXON

Saxon Infantry Brigade- General-Major Johann Christian von Zweiffel

1 Bn Prinz Maximillian Infantry Regiment No. 28

2 Bn Prinz Maximillian Infantry Regiment No. 28

1 Bn Rechten Infantry Regiment No. 12

2 Bn Rechten Infantry Regiment No. 12

8lb Foot Artillery Battery

FRENCH  - Combined arms and dynamic manoeuvre Doctrine.

Gain control of Schleiz and the two Northern roads.

• Turn 1 1er Brigade along Southern edge in Oschitz Wood.

          Watier Cavalry Brigade along Southern edge East and West of Oschitz.
          Général de Division Jean-Baptiste Drouet on road passing through Oschitz.

• Turn 2 2e Brigade along Southern edge in and around Oschitz.
• Turn 3 Divisional Artillery on road passing through Oschitz.

Général de Division Jean-Baptiste Drouet

8lb Foot Battery

4lb Horse Battery

1er Brigade- Général de Brigade François Werlé

1/27e Régiment d'Infanterie Légère

2/27e Régiment d'Infanterie Légère

3/27e Régiment d'Infanterie Légère (5 Elite companies)

2e Brigade - Général de Brigade Bernard-Georges-François Frère

1/94e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

2/94e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

1/95e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

2/95e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

Any Voltigeurs company may detach to 1er Brigade

Cavalry Brigade - Général Watier

2e Hussards

4e Hussards

5e Chasseurs a cheval

General-Major Bogislav Friedrich Emanuel von Tauentzien took up a strong defensive position with the ford being covered by his cavalry, the Saxon Infantry Brigade of General-Major Johann Christian von Zweiffel occupying Bergkirche St. Marien and Schleiz and the Advanced Guard deployed in Oschitz Wood. 

Any Units deployed in obscured terrain were marked with Blinds, with two additional decoy blinds being placed in Oschitz Woods. The two Artillery batteries were deployed in Bergkirche St. Marien churchyard and in the gap between the church and the village of Schleiz with good fields of fire covering the approaches.

Drouet ordered the Light Infantry of Werlé’s Brigade to clear Oschitz Wood and for Watier’s Cavalry Brigade to probe the southern approaches to Schleiz. Bickering skirmish fire confirmed that Oschitz Wood was occupied and the two strong battalions of Werlé’s Brigade pressed on, confident in their ability. The wood seemed lightly defended so Werlé ordered the 2/27e Régiment d'Infanterie Légère to form up in half companies on the road with the view of advancing on Schleiz. 

Just as they were preparing to advance the Rosen Fusilier Battalion appeared out of the thick undergrowth and engaged the 2/27e who quickly returned to open order and returned fire. It was now that the full strength of the Prussian forces was realised. The Prussians were happy to slowly give ground but the French did not have the numbers to gain any tactical superiority in this part of the battlefield.

As this bickering fight continued, Watier’s light cavalry advanced towards Schleiz and soon uncovered the Saxon position.

Having done their job, they retired behind the newly arrived Brigade of Général de Brigade Bernard-Georges-François Frère and took no further part in the battle, considering the ford over the river Wisenttal to be too strongly defended. Frère’s Brigade lost no time in launching a strong attack with all four battalions on Schleitz and the horse battery on its western outskirts. 

The two battalions attacking the horse artillery battery were stopped in their tracks by more than a whiff of grapeshot, but the other two battalions braved the Saxon infantry storm of lead and advanced into the village, engaging Prinz Maximillian’s two Infantry Battalions.

The first was forced further back into the village, but the second, against all odds, held and beat off the attack, even capturing Frère himself, who, like all good French Generals, was leading from the front – at least, that is what he told his capturers and that is what was later reported in Le Moniteur Universel. The absence of his sword was never investigated or questioned.

Somewhat bloodied, Frère’s Brigade retired and reformed. But the attack, although unsuccessful, had seriously weakened the Saxon centre and they started to withdraw, some voluntarily and others because they felt the need.

The second French attack that went in was met with greater success, any remaining Saxon forces being repelled from the village, except the wounded and dead, of which there was a large number. 

However, having gazed at an empty ford for most of the day, the Saxon cavalry had taken up a position covering the two northern roads exiting the village denying the opportunity of a further French advance. Drouet had to wait for more troops to arrive to press home his advantage which gave the Saxon and Prussian forces time to withdraw to a new defensive position on the high ground to the north of Schleiz.

It was an interesting engagement that showed if a Prussian/Saxon army held a good defensive position, command and control was not such an issue and they would be hard to shift. What happens when they are in open fields and widely spread out might be another matter. We shall see.

My thanks as ever to my friends at DWG who are happy to act as guineapigs and tolerate my on the fly decisions. Their support and constructive comments are always appreciated. And they’re such a great group of gamers who play in the right spirit and with humour. My particular thanks to the tenacious Prussian/Saxon players, Mike and Ian and the ‘have a go’ French players, Mark and JJ.

Surviving 'Nam: Chaos in the Paddy Fields

This month at the club, Mick organised a 15mm game to the “Surviving 'Nam” rules, on a beautiful jungle themed table.

The Surviving 'Nam rules saw his four players: Paul, Lawrence, Mark and Vince, working cooperatively to control the blue, green and orange fire teams, plus a command team (white) against an enemy force driven by event cards & rules.

The scenario had fire teams entering on the west side of the board, with the exit point on the opposite, eastern, side.

The game began quietly, as Green team advanced toward the first sampan.

As the Green team closed in, all hell broke loose. Incoming fire quickly found its mark, with one of the team going down in the paddy fields. The medic immediately rushed forward to his stricken comrade, only to come under fire himself and hit the deck in the paddy fields.

With the situation becoming increasingly confused, another member of the green team moved over to check on the casualties. A quick examination revealed that the medic was, in fact, perfectly fine. He picked himself up and prepared to continue the advance.

His good fortune lasted only a matter of seconds. No sooner had he got back on his feet and started moving forward than another burst of fire caught him, sending him straight back into the paddy.

Orange team, meanwhile, skirted around the north of the village, only to walk straight into the jaws of a Viet Cong ambush! Their sergeant, having apparently spotted a particularly dangerous snake, bravely dashed for the safety of a nearby building, leaving the remainder of his squad to fend for themselves.

Despite their sergeant’s somewhat less-than-heroic behaviour under fire, the rest of Orange team held their nerve and managed to see off their would-be ambushers.

Elsewhere, a machine gun concealed in a hidden bunker suddenly opened up on White team, unleashing a torrent of fire. Fortunately, the position was quickly identified and pinned down by return fire.

With the scene rapidly descending into chaos, Blue team forged ahead, continuing their search of the sampans and village huts. 

Just as the fire teams were beginning to think they had completed their mission, word came through that the Colonel had other ideas. The troops were now required to search at least five Viet Cong bodies for intelligence! 

Orange and Blue teams doggedly pursued their new objective, while Green team began to evacuate their wounded and dead. 

As more Viet Cong closed in on their position, the 2nd Lieutenant and his radio operator also made their way towards the extraction point, leaving the M60 team and grenadier to cover their withdrawal. 

The grenadier's well-timed smoke screen bought them some valuable breathing space, but it wasn't long before their tenacious adversaries began charging through the smoke to continue the pursuit. Both members of the M60 team were hit, prompting Orange team to rush to their rescue and drag the wounded men towards safety. 

By now, the 2nd Lieutenant, Green team, and roughly half of both Blue and Orange teams had reached the relative safety of their waiting choppers. As the helicopters lifted off, they were able to provide covering fire for the beleaguered rearguard, allowing the remaining troops to make their escape.

Against all the odds, the survivors made it out - although quite how much intelligence the Colonel actually got from those five bodies was another matter entirely!

Bir el Gubi, 19th November 1941 - 'O' Group

The Background

Our engagement took place at Bir el Gubi, Libya, on 19th November 1941. The action was fought as part of Operation Crusader, a major British offensive in North Africa which aimed to recapture Cyrenaica, and to relieve the besieged port of Tobruk.

The British Eighth Army advanced westwards out of Egypt on 18th November 1941, with the XIII Corps operating in the north. The XXX Corps, centred around the 7th Armoured Division, moved south through the Libyan desert in an attempt to outflank and engage the Axis armoured forces, before advancing towards Tobruk.

The inexperienced British 22nd Armoured Brigade, equipped with new Crusader tanks, was initially part of the force advancing on the airfield at Sidi Rezegh. Having identified the presence of the Italian 132nd Armored Division "Ariete", but perhaps underestimating its capabilities, Major-General William Gott, the commander of the 7th Armoured Division, redirected the 22nd towards Bir el Gubi. Contact was made with the Italians on the morning of 19th November, with British forces preparing to advance against well-prepared defensive positions.

The Rules

The engagement was fought using the ‘O’ Group ruleset, published by Reisswitz Press . The rules are designed for battalion level actions and above, and feature some clever resource management mechanisms, with a variable number of “orders” allocated to both sides at the beginning of each game round. 

Invariably, the commanders found themselves with a shortage of orders, when compared to the number of actions they wanted to take. In addition to this, the commanders needed to decide whether they wished to keep a cache of orders “unspent” during their turn - these orders could then be used to interrupt and react to enemy actions. We found that this helped to maintain a level of uncertainty and excitement throughout our game.

Of the four players, three of us were relative ‘O’ Group novices and were reliant on the game organiser, Steve, to guide us through the intricacies of the rules. Thankfully, I found ‘O’ Group to be relatively easy to pick up - we quickly nailed down the basics, and the gameplay flowed nicely throughout.

The Forces

The battle was represented using Steve’s beautiful 15mm collection. The British forces consisted of three companies, two of Crusader tanks* (3 pairs in each company), and the third consisting of infantry with two armoured cars.

*The commander of each company was represented using a Stuart tank, both because Steve didn’t quite have enough Crusader miniatures, and to make them easier to spot on the tabletop.

The Italian forces also comprised three companies. Two of the companies each contained two platoons of infantry, with one adding a pair of 47mm anti-tank guns, and a 20mm anti-tank rifle, while the second had a pair of heavier 75mm guns. The third company was made up of two platoons of M13/40, and a single platoon of M11/39 tanks.

The Battle

Ken and I volunteered to lead the brave Italian defence of Bir el Gubi, while Dave and Owen took control of the perfidious British.

As the defenders, the Italians were first asked to mark their dispositions on a map in secret, with both infantry companies beginning on the table, and the armoured company to arrive later as reinforcements. The Italian artillery, and one platoon of infantry from each company, was able to begin the battle “dug in”.

Not knowing how the British would decide to direct their attack, we opted to place our heavy 75mm guns, along with two platoons of infantry, on a hill overlooking our right flank. Our 47mm guns, and one platoon of infantry (with the 20mm anti-tank rifle) were deployed on our left flank, with the final platoon of infantry deployed in the village itself.

With the Italian dispositions secretly noted, Dave and Owen were able to deploy their forces, and decided to roll the dice - focussing solely on their own left flank (the Italian right).

The British won the initiative roll, and decided to take the first turn for themselves. Desperately needing intelligence on the location of the Italian forces, they rushed forward with their armoured car, while their tanks followed behind more cautiously.

The armoured car quickly discovered the Italian 75mm guns, which opted to open fire - destroying the car on the second attempt.

Having located their quarry, but lacking High Explosive ammunition, the British Crusader tanks rumbled onward, hoping to close on the Italians before the guns took their toll. An infantry platoon deployed from a “jumping off” point, just in front of their tanks, and opened fire on the Italian forces on the hill.

Off-table artillery fire proved effective for both sides - some excellent rolling allowed the British heavy artillery to maul the Italian units on the hill. This, combined with fire from the infantry and the tanks’ machine guns, managed to knock out both Italian 75’s in short order. 

Noticing that the British infantry and tanks had bunched together, the Italians replied with their own artillery, slowly chipping away at the British forces. 

With their guns disabled, the Italian infantry deployed on the hilltop, hoping to slow the British advance long enough for their reinforcements to arrive on the battlefield.

Effective Italian mortar fire checked the inexorable British advance, giving the Italian company on their left flank precious time to attempt to re-deploy into the town, where they could be of more use. 

This respite was short-lived, however, with some poor Italian rolling causing their lefthand company commander to become “hesitant”, and to refuse to move into a position where his guns could be brought to bear. The British, meanwhile, finally managed to overrun the Italian infantry on the hill, leaving the second Italian infantry platoon hiding in rough ground on the extreme flank.

With a British victory looking certain, the Italian defenders morale was boosted by the rumble of approaching reinforcements. The Italian tanks were split, with their less capable M11/39’s deployed into the settlement, and the M13/40’s rolling directly toward the British and immediately scoring a kill.

The battle for the Italian right flank was on a knife edge, with heavy damage being taken on both sides as the British continued to commit more tanks to the engagement.

It was at this moment that the M11/39 tanks moved out of the village, to the Italian centre. Some very lucky rolling, and thinner side armour, helped them to knock out a pair of Crusader tanks.

With the tide of the battle turning, and with a burning desire to test Steve’s knowledge of the rules, Ken decided that the platoon of Italian infantry, stranded in rough terrain on their extreme right flank, would attempt to assault the closest British tank unit. 

The assault was (against expectations) a success, and proved to be the last straw for the British. With their forward momentum arrested, and with several tanks disabled, the British commanders decided that the time was right to withdraw, leaving the bloodied Italian forces with possession of the battlefield. 

Aftermath

With three new players, I want to give special thanks to Steve M, who did a fantastic job of umpiring what turned out to be a very close game, and to my co-commanders David, Owen and Ken for playing in the right spirit and making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The impression of the rules amongst us newbies was overwhelmingly positive - we found them quick to pick up, but with enough flavour and uncertainty to give an interesting game.

I look forward to playing some more ‘O’ Group in the near future!

Russian Civil War - Battle of Khabarovsk, Eastern Maritime Provinces, Siberia, 24th August 1918

On the 3rd of March 1918 Russia and Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litvosk, ending Russian involvement in World War One. Huge stocks of Entente supplied war-materials lay in Murmansk and Vladivostok; it was imperative these did not fall into Bolshevik/German hands. This is why the 25th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was sent to Siberia and found themselves fighting, under the Japanese flag.

25th Battalion Middlesex Regiment “The Navvies”.

John Ward was born in 1866, the son of a plasterer who died when he was three. At seven he was doing odd jobs as a teenager and he worked as a navvy (a labourer on road, railway and canal constructions). Increasingly interested in politics, he set up the “Navvies, Bricklayers’ Labourers and General Labourers’ Union” in 1889; and by 1906 he was a Member of Parliament. In 1914, The War Office asked him to recruit men for construction battalions. He raised four battalions all becoming part of The Middlesex Regiment (a.k.a. The Die-hards), and John Ward was offered the Colonelship of the 25th Battalion.

Col Ward (left) and Czech General Detriks – Vladivostok 1918

The men of the 25th Battalion were classified as B1 (B-oners), fit for overseas deployment but not prime men; most were older and John Ward was 46. The 25th were designated a Garrison Battalion and sent to Singapore and Hong Kong, where they expecting to sit out the war uneventfully.

To Siberia

With the Bolshevik Russian Government making peace with Germany, it was essential to safeguard Vladivostok’s stocks of war materials. The 25th Middlesex were the nearest British force available, so in July 1918 they became the first Interventionist force to arrive in Vladivostok. 

By August the situation in Eastern Siberia was deteriorating rapidly, following successes by Bolshevik/Magyar forces, against the smaller White army consisting of Czechs and Cossacks. 

The Bolsheviks threatened the junction of the TransSib (in green) with the Trans Manchurian railway (in orange); if lost the rest of Russia would be cut off from Vladivostok. As the only allied troops available, John Ward had no option but to entrain his B-oners and move north. Contact was made with the Bolshevik army at the last halt before reaching Khabarovsk and within shelling range of a Bolshevik armed train; the navvies played to their strength and dug-in. 

Russia showing Trans Sib railway et al.

The 25th's position was untenable but further interventionist troops were now arriving in Siberia, mostly from Japan. Soon the Japanese had a divisional strength force just south of the 25th’s position. 

John Ward and his men fell under the command of the Imperial Japanese Army’s 12th Division, Lieutenant-General Oie; I think this is the only time British troops were commanded by and under The Imperial Japanese Army. 

At dawn on the 24th of August 1918 the 12th Division attacked. The 25th were the first British troops to witness the ruthless advance of Japanese infantry driving all before them. By 8.30am the B-oners were exhausted but the only organised Bolshevik force east of the Ural Mountains, had been dispersed.

British Troops Parade in Omsk, Winter 1918

If the Navvies thought that was the end of their adventures in Siberia, they were very mistaken. Omsk was the capital and the centre of anti-Bolshevik resistance in Siberia; as the only British unit in theatre the 25th were sent via the Trans Manchurian and Trans Sib railways there. While the majority of the 25th remained in Omsk, Colonel Ward as the most senior British officer in Omsk, went on an inspection tour of the front accompanied by a smaller party of his troops. 

Colonel Ward and staff, well wrapped-up, somewhere in Siberia.

His tour took him across the Urals into European Russia, via Yekaterinburg and Perm ending near Koltis, about 300 miles south of Arkangel, now occupied by another Entente intervention force. By now it was the middle of the Russian winter and while precarious contact was made with Arkangel, no further progress was possible, so he and his men returned to Omsk. With more entente interventionist forces arriving in Omsk, the navvies began the long homeward journey.

Map showing location of Kotlas, the extreme limit of Col John Wards progress into Russia.
The North-Dvina River, discharges into The White Sea at Archangel.

The Rules

Triumph of the Will | TOOFATLardies

We used the Too Fat Lardies rules “Triumph of the Will – Wargames rules for revolutionary warfare 1914 to 1936”, by Richard Clarke; these rules, focus strongly on morale and motivation. To represent this, the size (number of figures) of each unit is a reflection of the unit’s motivation, not its actual numerical size. For example, the highly motivated Japanese units are ten figures each, but the less motivated Bolshevik units are six each. 

Infantry movement is one inch per figure, up to a maximum of eight inches and the units gets one shooting attempt per five figures. To continue the example, the Japanese would move eight inches and fire twice and the Bolsheviks six inches and fire once per activation; as a unit loses figures movement is reduced by one inch per figure lost. As a unit loses more figures, it is increasingly ineffective as it can only move one or two inches and fire at a very reduced level. There are no morale tests, as morale is rolled up into fire and movement. 

Unit activation is by cards; when the two jokers are drawn, the turn-cycle ends, though units not yet activated can still shoot. Units are initially deployed using blinds and only placed on the table when spotted. These rules are available in pdf format from the Too Fat Lardies web shop and include supplementary rules for specific wars (e.g. Spanish Civil War, Russian Revolution) in this period.

How the game played.

The forces of both sides were a mixed-bag. The Bolshevik forces consisted of conscripted Red Guard motivated by their commissars, ex-POW Magyars and some Cossacks for cavalry; their best troops were a unit of naval infantry (sailors & marines) and the armed train. The Interventionist forces were composed of well-motivated Japanese infantry and artillery, the 25th, ex-POW Czech infantry, some so-so Japanese cavalry (cavalry was never a Japanese strength) and a significant number of Cossacks. Off table The Interventionists had an armed train, represented by a spotter team.

The Bolsheviks and the Interventionists had decided to deploy some units directly onto the table, without blinds. The Bolsheviks deployed their two best units, the armed train and the naval infantry unit into the railway-station and The Interventionists deployed their off-table artillery spotter without a blind too. 

As most units were represented by blinds, initial game turns moved quickly, until sufficient blinds were replaced by their spotted units. 

The Interventionist artillery spotters quickly called counter battery artillery fire aimed at the train. With more unit cards in the draw-pack the sequence of play became less predictable. The Bolsheviks had spotted the 25th and Japanese troops advancing towards the railway station; Red Guards, marines and the train opened fire on them. The 25th, not enjoying the attention of the Red Guards, decided that some shovel and spade work was in order and charged the Red Guards, defending the coal bunkers. However, the youthful Red Guards, despite their poor morale, held off the navvies who were forced to retreat.

By now the advancing Japanese were closing in and, despite taking fire from the Bolshevik train, moved to charge the coal bunkers. Interventionist artillery was raining down on the Bolshevik’s train causing considerable damage, as the focus of the action remained the railways station. 

In front of the 25th, more advancing Bolshevik forces were spotted in the morning light, but the mist was thicker in front of the Czechs and Magyars, as the presence of blinds persisted on this flank; perhaps as well since the Czechs and the Magyars had a particular dislike of each other.

With a ruthless attack the Japanese cleared the coal bunkers of the youthful Red Guards, but the naval infantry, remembering Port Arthur, were made of stronger stuff. Another unit of the 25th attacked the Russian sailors but with no avail and were driven off. Luckily the artillery spotter was experienced and at the next opportunity walked the barrage to the sailors’ position causing considerable casualties, including the loss of their officer. With the numbers now more even and with Colonel Ward leading his men, the 25th attacked again and pushed the sailors back and securing a firm lodgement in the railway complex.

By now all the mist must have cleared, as all blinds had been replaced by their respective units and the Japanese saw the left flank of the Bolshevik army spread out before them. The Japanese cavalry thought it a good idea to advance towards a unit of maxim gun armed Magyars they had mistaken for Red Guards; the result was predictably bad for the Japanese. However, the Japanese artillery had got the range of the Bolshevik lines too and a combination of accurate and luck fire destroyed several Bolshevik units.

The 25th weren’t put of the woods yet, as a force of Red Cossacks charged them; the 25th buckled but did not break at the ferocious charge. The Cossack officers lost control of their men, who thinking the retiring opponents had been broken, wildly followed them. But the men of the 25th didn’t lose their cohesion and after a desperate struggle held off the Cossacks, but at considerable cost to themselves.

It now only remained for General Oie to deliver the coup de grace, on behalf of his Emperor. With Japanese infantry sweeping forward and soon to be in melee, the activation card for the allied Cossack cavalry came up; General Oie didn’t miss his opportunity. Lead by their Altman in best Cossack tradition, the Magyars holding the extreme end of the Bolshevik line were routed; the Altman didn’t try to stop his men pursuing the Magyars, who were soon slaughtered. 

Their flank turned by Cossacks, Russian good sense overtook political ideology, as it was self-evidently safer on the other side of the Amur River, which is two and a half kilometres wide at Khabarovsk. The game ended with a clear Interventionist victory, as happened in history when the Bolsheviks confronted the Japanese 12th Division. 

This shouldn’t really be surprising as Russia was militarily exhausted and in political turmoil; conversely the Imperial Japanese Army had taken no significant part in The First World War.

Acknowledgements etc: figures from Copplestone Casting, Empress Miniatures, Wargames Atlantic and Redoubt Miniatures. Train, rollingstock, station etc by Sarissa Pression. 

Thanks to Mark, Mark, Mathew, Tom and Ian for all playing in the spirit of the era.

Source: the main source for the scenario and historical account is, With the “Die-Hards” in Siberia, by Col John Ward. The book is available in hard copy reprint or a free e-book from gutenburg.org. I highly recommend the book if you want to know about this forgotten era of twentieth century history.

Colonel Ward, C.B., C.M.G., M.P.
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10972/pg10972-images.html

Other information is from internet resources.

Stephen Huntsman