Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Fjodin on March 18, 2010, 10:29:23 PM
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I just found a new war (new for me). Its First Italo-Ethiopian War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Italo-Ethiopian_War
But saddly there are not many information about it in the internet (same problem as with Italo-Turkish War) For example I am interested in Battle of Adwa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Adwa but I CANT find any pics of uniform and order of battle (I need it for wargame) !!! Only these old style pics
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Battle_of_Adwa_tapestry_at_Smithsonian.png/800px-Battle_of_Adwa_tapestry_at_Smithsonian.png)
(http://www.anglo-ethiopian.org/publications/articles/2007winter/pictures/adwapaintinglarge.jpg)
(http://www.loc.gov/rr/amed/guide/images/a4_5s.jpg)
There are article in wikipedia, but there are nothing about how it was, standing in the open in close formations under fire of magazine fed (single shit) rifles?
And If I want to paint my italians for this battle fdoes the colour of uniform on these pics accurate. And what about Ethiopian uniform?
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I got some pics...
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/back%20to%20africa/ital3.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/back%20to%20africa/ital7.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/back%20to%20africa/ital8.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/Plynkes/back%20to%20africa/ital9.jpg)
I have a ten-page article from the old "Colonial Conquest" magazine that goes into more detail than that Wikipedia entry, but I don't think it has a particularly detailed OOB, or a huge amount of analysis of tactics. I'll have to have a look. It's the most detailed account I have. Pakenham's "The Scramble for Africa" has a chapter on it, but his interest isn't primarily military or tactical so it probably wouldn't be all that useful. Still, it is a brilliant book and almost a must-have for anyone interested in the colonisation of Africa in the latter part of the 19th Century.
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Its always sad that all battle descritpions I saw on Wikipedia was like: "Brigade A marches towards Brigade B, where it was attacked by Brigade C. Cavalry Brigade D tried to charge Brigade A but failed..." There is nothing about how it was for solders in battle.
For example this is description of ACW Battle of Fredericksburg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fredericksburg and here are video (from Gods and Generals) of this battle http://fjodinvsf.blogspot.com/2010/02/battle-of-fredericksburg.html. Have a look at on moment - stanging of Union batalion near the wall in bouth articles. In official article there is nothing about marching toward the wall while being under fire of more accurate and quick firing caplock muskets (quick firing??? Well its more quick firing that flintlock muskets). They have marched under artillery fire, then tried to stand near this wall and fire volleys, but without great results!
For example here are video about more acqurete muskets and artillery in ACW and problems with tactics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTUQ-ezDLPc
Now try to find something like this in official battle reports!
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2 Plynkes
THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Can you tell me the name of book with this pics?
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Sorry, no. They have been on my hard drive for a long time. Got them off the internet, but I'm afraid I don't remember where exactly. :(
There are some more if you are interested, but they do not pertain specifically to the Adwa campaign. I could post them anyway if you like.
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2 Plynkes
THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Can you tell me the name of book with this pics?
Title: La guerre Coloniali Italiane 1885/1900
subtitle: Italian colonial wars 1885/1900
author/artist: Raffaele Ruggeri
serie: "serie de bello" 07
edited: Editrice Militare Italiana, Milano 1988
sorry I was unable to locate anywhere in the book the ISBN number.
A very good book in italian with English translation, I do not know whether it is still available.
But don't panic: the whole set of the colour plates are available online via the warflag excellent site:
http://warflag.com/shadow/uniforms/uniform.htm
& here
http://www.warflag.com/shadow/uniforms/ituniform.htm
a full set of suitable figures is available here:
http://www.strategiaetattica.it/miniature_base.asp?tipologia=25mmcoloniale
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THANX FOR LINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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And if you really interested in gaming it there are at least 2 lines of miniatures that I know of.
1) Cannonfodder (now owned by Blazeaway), 28mm and some of Greg Blake's best work.
2) Bicorne, in 28mm rather ugly looking minis judging by the photos I've seen, which is a shame as their ECW lines ( by other sculptors) is superb.
Probably a few more in 15mm. IIRC one of the Italian companies produces a range (not Mirliton). Your best bet for for the Abyssinians might be the Musketeer/ Anglian range but Askari also produce some.
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And if you really interested in gaming it there are at least 2 lines of miniatures that I know of.
1) Cannonfodder (now owned by Blazeaway), 28mm and some of Greg Blake's best work.
2) Bicorne, in 28mm rather ugly looking minis judging by the photos I've seen, which is a shame as their ECW lines ( by other sculptors) is superb.
Probably a few more in 15mm. IIRC one of the Italian companies produces a range (not Mirliton). Your best bet for for the Abyssinians might be the Musketeer/ Anglian range but Askari also produce some.
.- yesterday I was trying to see the Cannonfodder miniatures but I was unable even to locate them in blazeaway's site.
.- indeed there is a bicorne line, never seen any yet!
.- the italian firm is Strategia e Tattica, already linked in my previous post. Some time ago North Star used to stock this range in UK, and I bought an Abyssinian command group. Now I do not know if anyone stocks them,too.
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Take a look at this yahoogroup (Adowa 1896):
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Adowa1896/?yguid=40452330
Castaway Arts, Askari Miniatures, Empress Miniatures all have suitable models. Also, Colonial Campaigns does a scenario book.
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Here are those plates online.
http://www.suite101.com/external_link.cfm?elink=http://warflag.com/shadow/
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I have bought models for this war from Castaway Arts, they have one of the best ranges, in my opinion (and should be the obvious choice if you are in Oz.)
The plates from the Italian book are the best colour resource available; sadly there is no Osprey book for Adowa yet.
There is an excellent wargaming scenario/campaign book that I think someone else mentioned. 'Colonial Campaigns: Ethiopia 1887-1896' by Mark Fastoso. It's a wargaming booklet aimed at Sword and the Flame players, though the scenarios will translate to any system. It contains a brief history of Italian involvement in Ethiopia/Eritrea during this period, as well as army details, a quick painting guide (just b&w pics) and even battle cries! The 10 scenarios are really good and include two for Adowa itself. The book cost me £11.50 GBP; I bought mine from Caliver Books (UK). Thoroughly recommended.