Monthly Archives: July 2025

July 22nd 1805 Battle of Cape Finisterre Wargame Scenario

On July 22nd, 47 warships engaged in a battle to determine the future of England. If the British were destroyed, Napoleon would be able to invade. If the French were destroyed, or even thwarted, Napoleon would have to change his plans. Historically, the battle was a win for the British. They, however, were unable to destroy the French fleet.

British Fleet
Robert Calder
15 Ships of the Line (8 3rd Rates, 4 2nd Rate, 3 Small 3rd Rates)
2 Frigates, Egyptienne 40 Gun, Sirius 36 Gun
1 Lugger
1 Cutter

French/Spanish Fleet
20 Ships of the Line (Spain, 4 3rd Rates, 2 Small 3rd Rates) (France 14 3rd Rates)
7 Frigates (2 44 Guns, 5 40 Guns)
2 Brigs

Wargame Scenario
Use Black Seas or another Age of Sail wargame
2-9 Players
16×4 Table no terrain
The Wind should be set to the back of the British Fleet.

Set-Up
The Fleets should be divided into squadrons. The British had three, each headed by a 2nd-rate ship of the line. The Spanish should be their own squadron, and the French should be divided into 3 squadrons, with the ships on the line split into two, and the smaller vessels a single squadron.

Objective
Anything but a complete victory for the French/Spanish is a tactical loss. They must secure the channel.

July 21st 1798 Battle of the Pyramids Wargame Scenario

After a grueling nighttime march in the oppressive Egyptian heat. Napoleon and 25,000 of his soldiers faced off against 35,000 Mamluks of the Ottoman Empire.

France

Napoleon Bonaparte

3,000 Cavalry 20 squadrons

17,000 Infantry 26 battalions

36 guns 3 batteries

Ottoman

Murad Bey

6,000 cavalry 40 squadrons (20 elite)

22,000 infantry 36 battalions (all militia)

1 battery of guns

Wargame

Use general d armee or other corps size Napoleonic wargame

2-4 players

4×8 table covered with sand dunes and a potential oasis.

Special rules

The Napoleonic forces should be regular or better, all of the Ottoman should be militia except the elite mamluk cavalry.

July 20th 1864 Battle of Peachtree Creek Wargame Scenario

Newly in command and with his army nearly surrounded John B Hood of the Confederacy attempted to assault George H Thomas and the Army of the Cumberland.

United States

George Thomas

21,655

Confederate States

John B Hood

20,050

Wargame

2 players

4×8 tables

24 infantry regiments for each side, 2 cavalry regiments each, and 4 artillery batteries each.

River with 2 crossings, woods, fences, two small hills

Set-up

Both sides should start off the table. The union should be attempting to cross the river, while the confederacy wants to attack their positions. the river should be within a few inches of its board edge, while the hills should be middle of the table, but slightly closer to the confederacy.

July 19th 1702 Battle of Kliszow Wargame Scenario

On July 19th 1702, a Swedish army of 12,000 defeated a combined Saxon Polish army of 23,000. The Swedes simply had better soldiery and leadership.

Sweden

Charles XII

12,000 men

4 cannons

18 infantry battalions, 25 cavalry squadrons, and 12 dragoon squadrons.

Saxons

Augustus II

16,500 Saxons

6,800 Poles

50 guns

16 battalions, 44 cavalry squadrons, 24 dragoons, 26 Polish squadrons

Wargame

Use any 1700’s ruleset

2-6 players

4×8 table with lots of woods, swamps, and rivers , one key central hill, one Saxon camp

Objective

The Swedes must either secure the central hill or the Saxon camp. Either is a victory. I’d recommend giving the Swedes slightly improved units.

July 18th 387 BC Battle of Allia Wargame Scenario

After a diplomatic misunderstanding the Senones tribe of Gaul with their Boii and Insubres allies marched on Rome. Rome tried to field an army of untrained soldiers who quickly fled the field and Rome was sacked.

Rome

Quietus Sulpicius

24,000

Gauls

Brennus

40,000

Wargame

Use dbmm, hail Cesar or other such rules.

2 players

Standard game army for both sides. Instead of legions for Rome use auxiliary or militia.

6×4 board, with the Roman left flank set to a river.

Objectives

Re-fight the battle. In real life the battle was a slaughter, but a savy Roman commander should be able,to make better use of his troops.

July 17th 1453 Battle of Castillon Wargame Scenario

The final notable battle of the Hundred Years War featured 6,000 English under the command of John Talbot against 8,000 French with 1,000 Breton allies.

The battle was a slaughter with the English mistaking camp followers as retreating French soldiers, and walking his army into a killing field of cannon fire.

England

John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury.

6,000 soldiers

France

Jean Bureau

9,000 soldiers

300 cannons

Wargame

Use dbmm, pike and shotte, or other similar rules

Create the army lists giving the French large amounts of artillery.

The battle should take place on level terrain with some rough going.

The English attacked in waves with each being slaughtered. Can you attack as a unified force and uproot the French?

July 16th 2013 Battle of Ras al-Ayn Wargame

The Battle of Ras al-Ayn took place over 5 months and three phases during the Syrian Civil War. The Kurds (YPJ/YPG), vs the Syrian Arab Republic, vs Hasaka. I tried to summarize this Sittang, but Wikipedia does it better.

The third phase of the battle erupted when al-Nusra militants surrounded a unit of female YPJ fighters near Ras al-Ayn on 16 July, and arrested the group’s driver. The YPG/YPJ consequently mobilized their forces, deployed reinforcements to the town, and started a number of raids on key al-Nusra positions.[28] Seeing a chance to take revenge on the insurgents, about 200 fighters of the Abu Jabal Brigade (an Arab government loyalist unit) joined the Kurds in their attack.[10] After a night of fighting,[6] the YPJ driver was freed, and the YPG had captured the al-Nusra Front’s local headquarters.[28] By 17 July, the jihadists had mostly been expelled from the town,[6] and the YPG/YPJ soon after took control of the border crossing with Turkey.[8] Eleven people were killed during this phase of the fighting, including nine jihadist and two Kurdish fighters.[66] The YPG/YPJ consequently advanced into the countryside to establish a defensive ring around Ras al Ayn, encountering heavy resistance. By 20 July, the Kurdish-led forces had secured the town and its surroundings.[67]

Wargame

Modern warfare skirmish rules

A Kurdish force about 50 models, and a rebels force of similar size, RPGs, Ak47s and LMGs should be your primary weapons.

Terrain, hilly, rocky, with a small town in the center.

6×4 table

Set-up, the rebels should be in the town with the hostages, while the Kurds should be in surrounding positions able to attack.

Objective

Kurds secure the hostages, and the town.

July 15th 1410 Battle of Grunwald Wargame Scenario

The Battle of Grunwald in 1410 led to the complete destruction of the Teutonic order. Out of 270 brothers, 211 were killed. The victory marked the rise of the Polish-Lithuanian kingdom as the dominant power of Eastern Europe. It was also one of the largest battles in medieval Europe.

Order of Battle

Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Led by King Wladyslaw II

39,000 men

50 Polish Banners and 40 Lithuanian

Teutonic Order

Led by Grand Master Ulrich Von Jungingen

27,000 men

50 Banners

Wargame,

Use DBMM, Hail Caesar, or any other large format battle. I’d plan on 600 points of Teutonic order, 350 Polish, and 350 Lithuanian. Teutonic should also have a camp. Don’t be afraid to give the Lithuanian army mercenaries.

I’d use an 8×4 table for 15mm figures. Set the temperature as hot and give the Teutonic two areas of rough ground to set as terrain.

Set-Up

Historically the Polish heavy cavalry took the left flank, Lithuanian light cavalry the right flank, and infantry in the center. The Teutonic order placed their elite heavy cav against the Lithuanians, with infantry in the center.

Terrain

A flat field, some woods, a small hill between the camp and the field. The Teutonic order should place two small rough ground areas.

Objectives

Win the battle in accordance with the rules of your chosen game.

July 14th 1808 Battle of Lapua Wargame Scenario

During the Finnish War of 1808, the Kingdom of Sweden went to great efforts to avoid a single decisive battle against a superior Russian force. Instead many smaller engagements over supply lines were fought all over the frontier. Lapua is such a battle.

Russia

Nikolay

4,000 troops (800 cavalry)

17 guns

Sweden

Carl Johan

4,700 troops (900) cavalry

18 guns

Wargame

Black powder or other regiment/division level wargame.

4×8 table

Wooded terrain with roads, small hills and structures.

Sweden 2 commanders, 2 artillery batteries 6 battalions 3 squadrons

Russian

2 commanders, 2 artillery batteries, 6 battalions, 2 squadrons

Set-up

The Russians should be in a defensive position, on a ridge or in a wooded area. The Swedes should attack the position.

Objective

Whatever your chosen game system recommends to win the day.

July 13th 2008 Battle of Wanat Wargame Scenario

On July 13th 2008, 200+ Taliban insurgents assaulted 48 American and 24 Afghan soldiers. The Taliban destroyed several tons of American supplies and were able to enter the base before being repelled by artillery and air strikes.

The attack was one of the bloodiest attacks of the war and should make a good scenario.

Wargame

Bolt action modern or other modern infantry based game

6×4 table

48 American figures, 200 enemy figures.

American army bases about 2×2 in the center of the table surrounded by hills and farms

Set-Up The Americans and Afghans should be within the base. They are not permitted any vehicles but can take an extra mmg. The Taliban should be in the surrounding hills. They are allowed lightly armoured vehicles such as trucks.

Objectives

Americans repel the attackers. Taliban destroy the American base.

Special rules

Air strikes, the Americans can call in an air strike every third turn.

Taliban destruction, the Taliban should designate 3 buildings they are attempting to destroy. If they get within 3inches and set off a bombardment it is considered destroyed.