Mexican Revolution game
Just got back from a nice break at our Spanish home. This
time we also took two friends of our Chris with us to keep him company and save
us from killing ourselves playing basketball, tenis, etc, etc all day long to
keep him entertained :) Jonas & Mats are 15yr old Dutch twins, nice bright boys
and after a few days they pressured me into running a game.
Now I had nothing planned and also had the problem that
neither had played before and I usually run historic based games where one side
will loose (as per the history). So I had to write an easy to follow narrative
where both sides had an equal chance to based on how the game unfolded. looking
at what we had available I decided on a big(ish) Mexican Revolution bash based
(loosely) on the 2nd battle of Rellano Station, 23rd May 1912 during the
Orozquista Revolt.
Background
President Madero`s government forces commanded by General
(later President) Huerta are chasing the Colorado Rebels across the countryside.
Both sides had multiple columns moving too and fro on a variety of axis,
clashes were often small and inconclusive, but occasionally major engagements
occurred. Rellano Station was the site of the first major defeat of the Federal
(government) forces by the Orozquistas, but that was several months previous
and the Federal forces have learned from their mistakes.
Battlefield overview
Plane just for fun :)
Church hill
Federal scout train held up by mined track
Some shots of the forces
Federal Lt battery
37mm Hotchkiss auto canon and a Colt
machine gun
Federal cavalry
Villa`s irregular Cavalry
Col. Rubio`s artillery
Colorado forces
Colorado motorised column + artillery
Vehicles are just poetic licence, just fun toys
on the tabletop
Colorado Cavalry
The Game
I have taken huge liberties with the history and forces
involved - please don`t get too upset - this is just playing soldiers NOT an historic
re-enactment.
In pursuit of the Rebels, the Federals of Huerta`s
Division of the North sent a scout train ahead of their main column towards
Rellano Station. It discovered the enemy had blown the tracks and was holding
the station and nearby hills in force. The defence company dug in and by
morning Colonel "Pancho" Villa and Artillery Colonel Rubio had arrived
along with infantry from the Carabineros de Nuevo Leon commanded by Raul Madero
(the president`s brother). Villa and Rubio formulated a plan of attack to commence
as soon as all forces were assembled and ready to go.
For the game, my Alex (19) and one brother (I`ve
forgotten which) took the Colorados whilst Chris and the other brother played
the Federals.
Opening moves
Villa`s irregular Cavalry (Rubio`s `75s in the background)
Raul Madero`s volunteers
More irregulars and the railways company
A better view of the Federal right wing
Villa + Rubio overseeing the battle
Colorado Col. Diez moves his vehicles to the centre
Whilst his men (dug in) await the attack
The 105mm (too far forward and not well enough protected)
Colorado cavalry in reserve
The game started with a long range artillery duel between
the Federal `75s and the Colorado 105mm whilst the various Federal units
advanced towards the river and their enemy beyond. The gun duel ended in a draw
with one Federal `75 destroyed and the 105mm loosing most of its crew.
To prevent the Federal cavalry breaking through on his
left, Diez moved his armoured car to the centre as a mobile pillbox and sent
half his cavalry to counter charge also.
On the Colorado right, Villas cavalry scare-off the
remaining gunners, but then are faced with with a Colorado counter-charge
On turn 5, Federal Yaqui indians attack the Colorado left
rear at Church Hill.
For the next few turns fighting swung back and fore on
the left and right, the Yaqui silenced the Colorado machine gun, but were
slaughtered by the enemy cavalry soon after. The armoured car halted the Federal
cavalry on their left and the cavalry melee on the right left both forces
depleted and hors d`combat, but the Colorado`s re-manned their 105mm and
resumed firing at the advancing Federal infantry.
At this point, the lads became unfocussed (particularly
the new players) the Colorados needed to be aggressive and launch a counter
strike against the Federal infantry before they could organise themselves for
the final advance, but this didn`t happen :(
The Federals moved their 37mm and a couple of machine
guns into position in the centre and peppered the station, the armoured car and
any dug in positions they could see! Over the next few rounds the Colorados
took so many casualties, their morale just evaporated and it was game
over........
37mm on the bridge
The final attack
