ARMY REVIEW- The Ottomans

I must be getting old and reminiscing way way too much.

I decided the other day to put the Ottomans on Parade- the whole army hasn't been on the table top in years, although sections of it have seen action quite a lot of action.

I've had the core of this army for over 30 years with bits added over time- and it's my all time favourite. 

I've insisted that I be buried with it when my time comes!!

Because of it's sentimental value, I decided to photo every unit and stand, just so I can look at the photos when I'm bored in a meeting at work! So now you will all have to suffer a blog with all the photos!

This army has won a couple of competitions ( I still have the two trophies) - lost a hell of a lot more- but has always taken pride of place on my shelves! The figures are a combination of Hinchcliffe, Essex and Dixon, Redoubt,  Warlord Games and a few Foundry ( I think!!).

THE JANISSARIES.

The ones with the muskets are old Hinchcliffe ( I think) and have fought under so many rule sets, and been rebased so many times- I don't think they could undergo another rebase without dissolving! 

They are without doubt "Wargame Veterans"!

As I stated in a previous blog, they're now over 30 years old and are I think they are some of my, if not, my oldest, figures that I own. They have fought Napoleonic British, French, Piedmontese, Russian and Spanish ( Against the Spanish was one of my worst defeats ever!!) 

They've fought 17th Century Bavarians (Ralph's army of the 1683 Turkenkrieg- my first game againt the Bavarians was a very humiliating defeat- others not so humiliating, but still defeats) , Louis XIV's army (Richard's) and GNW Russians and Swedes. 

They have also fought War of the Spanish Succession Dutch (another series of tragic defeats- thanks a lot Ross- he didn't call it the 'Meat Grinder' for nothing) and Seven Years war Austrians , Prussians, French and British.

Also against Huns, Mongols, Samurai, Mamluks, Classical Greeks, Romans and Byzantines of all sorts, Han Chinese, other Ottomans, French and Burgundian Ordonnance , Swiss, Macedonians, Indians, Parthians, Ancient Gauls, Ancient Germans, Persians and God knows what else.

And yes,  I hate to admit it, they've even fought in fantasy games- against orcs, elves and an army of Ogres led by a great brute called  "Ugg the Mugg" (don't ask- it's a sad sordid story). 

The Janissaries killed him.

The Mehter Band- Redoubt figures.

The ACEMI OGLAN- trainee Janissaries!

The relevant picture from the Osprey book!

The Janissaries with the bow are Warlord Games and are the most recent addition- about three years ago- although I bought the figures when they first came out- probably about 8 or so years ago- see my previous blog on buying stuff 'just in case'. They mean that I can field an Ottoman force for the late 14th and 15th centuries.

Yes I know- you've seen enough of them- but I took the photos so they are being included!

OTTOMAN MARINES:

These guys are based as skirmishers and carrying crossbow. 

The Osprey illustration.

ARTILLERY- Ottoman Guns.

I've got earlier bombards and some later guns- just so i can slot in the appropriate type depending on the time period, opponent or rule set!

The seated figure with the paper chart was originally from my command vignette with appropriate attending figures ( Janissaries, advisors, dancing girls etc- but when a very heavy box was dropped on it- he was the only surviving figure worth salvaging! Go figure. One day I may remake it.

OTTOMAN MEDIEVAL INFANTRY;

Some Wallachian Voynik auxiliary infantry from 1500- well that's what the Osprey book says- and the picture is nice too!

OTTOMAN HEAVY INFANTRY- early 15th century.

The illustration from the Osprey book on Ottoman armies ( 1300-1772). Published in 1983 I think it was one of the first Opsrey MAA that I bought.

TUFEKCI.

Skirmisher style troops that carried Jezzails from the 17th century. I added these a few years after the orginal army and when I first used these in a wargames competition ( WRG Horse and Musket) they were very effective!!

ARCHERS- just a few for the earlier period- added later.

BOSNIAN FRONTIERSMAN- early 18th Century- added later.

The stand above to the right also has a Bektashi Dervish- religious holy men- roughly equivalent to Christian Friars.

Greek/Albanian Martolos- late 17th early 18th century- added much later.

MORE GUNS- some originals - some later additions.

THE CAVALRY

For all of the Heavy cavalry- any comments regarding the Janissaries apply to these guys.

THE HEAVIES:

The Qapiqulu- the Guard Cavalry. 

The rest of the Heavies are an assortment of Mamluks, European or Asiatic Sipahis. 

They have fought in as many battles and against as many opponents as the Janissaries as they were all part of the original army.

All the Heavies.

In one very humiliating defeat against the Bavarians of 1683, I recall that after we laid out the terrain, I incomprehensibly placed several of my best Sipahis behind a long terrain feature- that was in fact an impassible ditch and stone wall. 

The other players were not impressed and the Bavarians shot my best cavalry to bits- and I couldn't get anywhere near them! Sh*t.

Sipahis

Armoured Sipahis.

MAMLUK types- see the Osprey pic with the Bosnian Frontiersmen.

SIPAHIS

SIPAHIS

THE LIGHT CAVALRY

An assortment of Akinjis, Delis, Ghazis and anything else you can think of. 

No Turkish army is complete without them- and they were responsible for my greatest triumph ever.

In a campaign fought years ago, with six players a side, on the final day of a competition weekend, a large group of my akinjis, on a long range scouting mission, well behind enemy lines, came across the enemy commander in chief, miles behind his forward troops with only a small escort.

I rolled a double zero on two D10- so they captured him and his whole staff- and killed them. 

The enemy force received no orders- real 'fog of war'- as they didn't know he was dead and was stuck in place while my allies hammered them. Needless to say, my coalition won.

It was very edifying!

Most are part of the original force from about 1989-1990, but some have been added over the years.

And the Army's own specialised dice- hasn't improved my dice throwing- but they just look appropriate!!