The second game in the weekend series saw a Prussian attack on an English Rail depot.
Prussian Forces
Four units of Line Infantry commanded by Hauptmann Binok
Two units of Jagers commanded by Lt. Ritter
One unit of Jagermonsters led by Konstruct Hauptmann Affeonkel
Five of the mechanical men called Klankentruppen overseen by a klankmeister.
Two of the recently delivered Tesla cannon.
Reinforcements scheduled to arrive:
One Light Steam Tank
Two units of Seebatallion
English Forces
Two units from the Royal Rifle Regiment led by Sgt. Major Osgood.
Two units from the Royal East Kent Regiment led by Captain Spode.
Two units of Royal marine Light Infantry Ensign Benson.
Two of the Sgt harper class gun tractors, a light gun mounted on a steam powered tractor carriage.
Support troops in the form of:
One unit of the Fenian Free State's King's Own Light Rifles
Two Fenian Steam Tanks, one parked in a building and a second off board at the beginning of the game.
The Situation
Prussian intelligence indicated the presence of two of the technically superior Irish steam tanks they had been hearing so much about. The tanks were said to be in a train depot that was for the most part on the Prussian line of assault leading from the beach to London. If the depot could be captured it would greatly speed up the Prussian advance and give a good location for a headquarters. Capturing the Steam tanks and turning them over to Prussian klankmeisters for inspection and possible implementation would be an added bonus to the Prussians.
Photos from the battle
The view of the of the depot from the English side of the field. The Irish steam tank is quartered in the large building in the background on the left. The Irish crew and its escort of Riflemen started in the public house that can just be seen on the left side of the image.
The view from the Prussian side of the field. In the center of the picture can be seen the building housing the Irish steam tank, one of the Prussian objectives and the scene of heavy hand to hand fighting during the battle.
Prussian Regulars on the left move forward towards the building housing the Irish tank after securing the first structure they encountered. Hauptmann Affeonkel follows up with the Jagermonsters in tow.
Royal Marines and gun tractors in the foreground, Men of The Buffs in the center and Royal Riflemen in the background, move in to the depot area. The Buffs take up a defensive position in and around the buildings. The Rifles move forward to support the Irish Rifles and their tank crews trying to get to the tank before the Prussians do while the RMLI follows in support of the artillery.
The first of the Prussian reinforcements come on the board in the form of a light steam tank. Its first shot narrowly misses one of the gun tractors at the end of the road. The shot takes off a large portion of the building next to the tank, the rubble creating a partial roadblock to the gun tractors.
Prussian Jagers take heavy casualties after taking direct hits from both English gun tractors. The Prussian regulars discover the Irish tanks whereabouts. The front line of Regulars along with Hauptmann Affeonckel move around the building to engage the Irish and English troops while the rear line of Regulars secures the tank.
The Irish tank crew moves into a building adjacent that holding the steam tank while its escort of Light Rifles moves forward to try and push the Prussians back from the recently secured steam tank. The men of the Royal Rifles moves up alongside the train in an attempt to support the over extended Irish.
The English troops hold a defensive position on the right flank.
Another picture of the situation on the left showing the Irish advancing on the Prussian Regulars.
Prussian regulars swarm around one side to engage the English Royal Rifles while Affeonckel and his Jagermonsters charge into the Irish Light Riflemen. A row ensues.
All that is left of both units of Royal Riflemen after taking a direct hit from one of the Tesla cannons. In hindsight, the Rifle's commander said that it probably wasn't such a good idea to bunch up on a railroad track when your enemy was throwing the lightening around.
The Jagermonsters and Irish mix it up rather well. The Irish are completely run over but not before they take down more than half the Jagermonsters and their Simian superior as well. The Prussian regulars look on in terror.
Prussian Klankentruppen and Seebatallion move into the depot. Seeing at least two of their units destroyed and in the face of advancing Prussian reinforcements the English forces elect to retire in good order, saving one of the two Irish steam tanks.
While consolidating the position at the Ashford depot the Prussian command learned of the Exposition of Steam Marvels that was being held in Hyde Park. With this victory and the foothold it gave the Prussian forces, the High Command felt they might have a few steam marvels of their own to show off at the exposition. The klankmeisters had pronounced the new Irish tank relatively easy to operate and declared it ready to serve after a bit of repair. Once that was accomplished the Prussians would begin to move on London.