WARGAMING IN HISTORY
By Charles Grant with Phil Olley, designed by Battlegames Editor Henry Hyde
£29.95 GBP GBP + P&P
The first of an occasional series of wargame books under the title Wargaming in History has arrived, including inspiring photographs of wargames, beautiful uniform illustrations, maps and accounts of the historical battles and the way they might be wargamed.
Concentrating on the Seven Years War, the authors have picked three unusual or less-well-known battles, not least because they did not involve Frederick the Great, but rather Ferdinand of Brunswick who was commanding the Allied army in western Europe against France.
Each battle is described as it took place, and the campaign background to it has been briefly set out. After each battle, there is a section developing a particular aspect.
The first battle, Krefeld, is a big battle and it was fought as a big wargame. However, the authors have then presented Klein Krefeld, a cleverly scaled-down scenario.
Next, Sandershausen - a delaying action, and one which is sufficiently small to represent every unit. It introduces Freicorps and Legions, and a chapter covers in more detail how these can be represented. Bob Marrion, the military artist, has provided a colourful selection of 'exotics' - mid-eighteenth century irregular light troops.
The third battle, Lutterberg, is a big battle, but is an example of how the wargamer can select one piece of the action. A short section follows on taking a part of a historical action, rather than fighting the whole thing, as a subject for a wargame.
Beautifully designed, lavishly illustrated with colour plates, maps and photographs throughout, and with full orders of battle for the combatant nations, this wonderful 140-page hardback book is surely this year's 'must have' purchase for Christmas.
Available now from Ken Trotman, Caliver Books, and Casemate Publishing.