"The Abyssinian Crisis project blog" Topic

Gentlemen,

For those that have seen the latest Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy magazine, #81, you may have noticed an article about the Abyssinian Crisis of 1935-36 – 'Benito takes as beating'. The article postulated the circumstances and possible gaming opportunities that can occur if the The Abyssinian Crisis ‘goes hot' by the inclusion of Britain and France into the fray.

In my co-authored article I made mention of a support blog to provide information to expand on the information available and ideas for those interested in some ‘interwar action'. The article has some the ideas of how a conflict between Ethiopia and Britain on one side and Italy and France on the other could occur. The final WSS article was only brief so the story shall be expanded upon in the support blog. I'd encourage your to get it for the OB info and scenario details included.

Details on the interwar armies of Italy, Britain, Ethiopia and France are not that easy to come by and the Abyssinian Crisis story is ‘our own' based on what we think could've happened in reality as opposed to just making up stuff..well, that's how we see it anyway. The army details and discussion will approach the topic with a detailed look at this reality.

The blog will include hard to find info on the main armies concerned and thus will be of interest to interwar gamers regardless of wether they are interested in the proposed Abyssinian conflict or not. This info has been hard to find and will prove useful for sure.

The intention of the blog is to stir interest in the subject matter and provide a platform for other people contribute to it to further add to its utility to the community. It's kind of a resource blog for the Abyssinian War and armies around that time that are relevant. I hope people contribute as this will enhance the blog no end. All sorts of info is welcome from figure reviews, ‘hard history', gamers AARs, and so on.

There will be a steady release of info over next couple of months, including full platoon level army lists for each of the armies concerned for use with Chain of Command in the run up to xmas which can be easily adaptable to Bolt Action or similar game systems such as Disposable heroes, etc. Take whatever you want, discard the rest.

So with that, here is the ‘official' launch of The Abyssinian Crisis.

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Happy Wanderer

Thanks for this. I have a number of 28mm Italians and Abyssinians that have been painted up but stand unused. This may push me from painting them to gaming with them.

..I hope it does Paul,

In the upcoming posts we'll touch on suitable figures that can be used for the British, French, Italian and Ethiopians. You may find that you already have more troops for this period than you think!

Cheers

Happy W

What figures would you suggest in 15mm? I always like the odd theaters of war!

Darryl, Look at Tin Soldier, Irregular and Eureka (I think the later two are under their colonial lines) for Abyssinians. WWI Brits in the peaked cap should do for Abyssinian guard troops and artillery crew. You could use the same for Stokes mortar crews.

There is some stuff on you tube:

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Good links 79th….I have a few of those on the blog yet to be posted…nice one ;-)

Darryl, I confess I don't know that much on 15mm for this period but in a day or so there will be a post on suitable 28mm figures to use and their equivalent figures in 15mm should be easy enough to track down….the ideas of what to use is more what the post is about and thus suggestions apply to any scale.

Cheers

Happy W

FYI chaps,

A follow up post describing some of the figure choice options to use for The Abyssinian Crisis.

Regards

Happy W

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FYI Gents,

I've added military-political timeline supported by maps too describe the machinations of the Italo-Ethiopian War on The Abyssinian Crisis blog.

Cheers

Happy W

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Gents,

There have been a number of army description updates since the Italian army was notified here. Starting with the Ethiopian, then British and lastly the French, there are comprehensive descriptions and army organisational details for interwar fans.

In December there will be a release of army lists for use with TFL Chain of Command, that off course will be useful for other rule sets portraying platoon level actions. Once CoC lists are done Bolt Action lists will be released as well.

FYI !

Regards

Happy Wanderer

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Gents,

A little more history.

There is an article (WWII Quarterly) giving an abridged account of the Italo-Ethiopian War by Colonel Feodor Konovalov, a military advisor of Ras Seyoum Mengesha, commander of the Ethiopian Western Tigrey forces. His is an eyewitness account and has many interesting military details from the Ethiopian perspective.

Definitely worth a read.

Enjoy!

Happy W

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Good stuff but as usual 15mm is slighted. Now show me where I can get 15mm Ethiopians and I will be impressed! ( Currently using PP modern african militia.)

Joe

Hey Joe

Sometimes you have to look under Abyssinian rather than Ethiopian :).

Irregular make some:-

FZ70 Abyssinian/Ethiopian Infantry with spear/sword
FZ71 Abyssinian/Ethiopian Infantry with rifle
FZ72 Abyssinian/Ethiopian Cavalry

Eureka make Renaissance types that could fit in:-

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Tin Soldier has a range:-

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as well as a range of Italian Colonials:-

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Pictures of the Irregular and Tin Soldier figures at this blog – link

Some of the Italian Colonial at this blog – link

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

Nice work GrumpyOldMan. Sorry Joe, 15mm kind of isn't my scale but it can be for this period no question….jus not what I have. I think if you are 15mm man then there are a good number of options. Early War Miniatures are doing a superb 20mm range if you want to go up a scale.

I've got an idea for post on the blog if you guys are interested.

If we could find all the manufacturers of suitable 15mm figures I shall put together a post and it can be kind of a resource for people to look at. That would be Italian, British, French, and Ethiopian.

I found this info from Eureka miniatures as well – the figures are actually for fighting in the 19th century as well – they are totally usable for 1936. The Ethiopian Chitet are just fine. The heavy barded cav not so useful.

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Eureka also do a stack of cool Italian kit – nice motor bikes!

As for Ethiopian Imperial Guard, well really, any WW1 British infantry are going to fit the bill, including mounted lancers. Maybe if your really keen a head swap of Turkish infantry would work if you could be bothered as as the Turk kit is a bit lighter and more akin to the Ethiopian Guard.

Blue Moon Darkest Africa range do some nice huts and an assortment of African bits and pieces.

So, looks like lots of choice really!

Cheers

HW

Happy Wanderer, thanks for the link to Konovolav material. Very good stuff!

Gents,

The TFL WW1 Chain of Command supplement quite naturally provided some of the inspiration for aspects of Chain of Command:Abyssinia.

In this post we provide the six scenarios from that supplement that form the basis for some of the attack/defence scenarios in the The Abyssinian Crisis theme that can arise both historically and historically.

Whilst not well known the Ethiopians did build substantial fortifications which the Italians attacked with varying degrees of success. The French also built historical fortifications in French Somaliland that fit this style of game very well.

At the very least they provide you with six additional Chain of Command scenarios that frankly can be used for a number of other situation from WW1 to WW2.

Hope you find them useful.

Cheers

Happy W

wp.me/p6mUyQ-cu

Eureka are putting a range of Colonial Italians (Eritrean inf and cav, Somali dubat infantry) into production soon.

"Eureka are putting a range of Colonial Italians (Eritrean inf and cav, Somali dubat infantry) into production soon."

What scale?

Where did you here this info…a web link?

Italian Range update from EWM
EWM is releasing a vast set of additions to its range of Italian Army miniatures in glorious 20mm scale. We have been developing this range since late 2015.
This is a fantastic period to game using Richard Clarks awesome Chain of Command rules and these fantastic army lists and supporting material, great job guys.
These range from motorcycles, motor tricycles, trucks, armoured cars, colonial infantry with separate heads, Allied infantry including Askaris, Libyans, Somalies plus a whole range of head and weapon types, AA and ATG guns and much more…
Some examples, too many to show here.
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AND THERE IS STILL LOADS MORE GOING INTO PRODUCTION……
O, did I mention I have started to release the first Abyssinians this week with loads more to come. Enjoy
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For more information and comments as this range develops go to :
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To buy Italians go to
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To buy Abyssinians to go
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O, did I mention I have started to release the first Abyssinians this week with loads more to come. Look out for camel mounted warriors today…
Enjoy
Paul T@EWM
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