1879, British attack on French Colonial Assets.

It is 1879. The ‘Great War’ in Europe has been raging for almost 6 months. Following the repulsion of the French invasion forces from British soil, an empire wide campaign is brought into operation to take the fight back to the French and every corner of the world in their possession.

 

^ The Forces of the Crown launch a costal strike against French Ships in harbour. The French ships start unmoving in their harbour, whilst British forces march from the west (bottom of the photo), under the protective fire of the Royal Navy.

^ The British Line Advances

^ As does the French Line

^ The French Battleship 'La Gloire' supported by the gunboats 'Tripoline' and 'Mafalde', attempt a flanking move on the British line, destined for failure, as within minutes the an anarchist bomb detonated in the magazine of ‘La Glorie’ before she could make any real impact on the battle. Despite this setback, the French pushed forward, easily holding the line with their considerable advantage in numbers.

^ The costal monitor ‘HMS Dictator’, the battleship-of-the-line ‘HMS Dinosaur’ and the torpedo ram ‘HMS Thunder Child’.  A Rag-tag British squadron crept along the cost on a mission to destroy a squadron of French ironclads unawares whilst at port. However fate was not to have it, as news of their presence and intentions reached the French squadron in time for  the ships to raise steam and for several regiments to be rushed to their defence.

^ The Thunder Child  torpedoes French frigates leaving port. 

 Actually found time to play a game of Land Ironclads. It was just something I did after work one day, so we sort of ‘winged’ making the scenario and orders of battle. It went rather well considering that, however it soon turned out that running a naval battle alongside a major land battle was a little less interconnectivity than intended. Aside from a few pot shots, the naval and land battles were entirely separate. When the battle-lines did come to meet it soon turned out that the forces were a little less than balanced, and the superiority in French numbers took their toll on the British. Still bloomin’ good fun though.