Thursday 11 April 2013

The Chaco War - 1932 to 1935


The Osprey title covering the conflict

I have a confession to make. Were it not for the fact that Bob Cordery (Chaco War Blog Posts) has an interest in this war and had not only devised some rules but also produced some unit counters to use instead of figures (and thereby sowed this particular seed) it would have in all probability completely passed me by. I had never even heard of it!

However, and for a variety of reasons, I am now the proud owner of the above Osprey title which will serve as a good little primer to the conflict. I also have another title on the war set to one side and the news that our friends at Irregular Miniatures have launched a 15mm range for the war has absolutely no bearing whatsoever in this not-so-sudden interest in a new period.


9/4/13
We have added a 15mm Chaco wars range.
Paraguayans
CHAP 1Infantry rifleman advancingA
CHAP 2Infantry SMG man advancingA
CHAP 3Infantry LMG man advancingA
CHAP 4Infantry engineer/standard bearer (please choose tool or flag-pole)A
CHAP 5Infantry officer with pistolA
CHAP 6HMG & 2 crewF
CHAP 7CavalrymanB
CHAP 8Horse holder and horseB
CHAP 9Mortar & 2 crewF
CHAP 10
Mountain gun & 4 crew
J
CHAP 11Field gun & 4 crewJ
CHAP 12
Howitzer & 4 crew
J

Bolivians
CHAB 1Infantry rifleman advancingA
CHAB 2Infantry SMG man advancingA
CHAB 3Infantry LMG man advancingA
CHAB 4Infantry engineer/standard bearer (please choose tool or flag-pole)A
CHAB 5Infantry officer with binocularsA
CHAB 6HMG & 2 crewF
CHAB 7CavalrymanB
CHAB 8Horse holder and horseB
CHAB 9Mortar & 2 crewF
CHAB 10Mountain gun & 4 crewJ
CHAB 11Field gun & 4 crewJ
CHAB 12Howitzer gun & 4 crewJ
Also use our Renault FT17 tank from the WW2 range

100 piece armies (Paraguayan or Bolivian) £25

None whatsoever.

None.

(If I keep telling myself this for long enough I may even begin to believe it....)

It is obscure, little known and features some rather novel troops with a range of odd equipment including biplanes and Vickers 6 ton tanks so in honesty, what's not to like?

20 comments:

Ray Rousell said...

A very interesting little war, didn't know about the Irregular figures though????/ Must resist.....must resist................

doctorphalanx said...

Hi David

The Irregular range somewhat outflanks the Khurasan one(http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/chacowar.html) which I was waiting to see develop. I wonder how well they will mix.

Regards

Richard

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

A crazy little war for sure, but what is not to like?

There was also a nice little Command magazine game on this war

David Crook said...

Hi Ray,

I know, I know - I could feel your pain from here! The great thing is though is that you would not need very much kit to set up a good little game.

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Doctorphalanx,

It certainly covers all the bases - more so than the Khurasan stuff and cheaper as well.

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Hi Geordie,

Those magic words that are like music to my ears - 'crazy little war'.

I have a very uneasy feeling about this....;-)

All the best,

DC

The Angry Lurker said...

I was looking at Khurasan today and actually looked up the war before your post....spooky!

David Crook said...

Hi Fran,

"The dark side of the force is the pathway to many abilities - some considered to be unnatural...."

It is by all accounts a bonkers kind of a war and therefore should appeal to pretty much any wargamer I can think of....;-)

All the best,

DC

Sean said...

A sale on a period you've never even heard of before seems like a perfectly reasonable impetus to me. I need to buy a horde of samurai after winning a box of 5 figures.

David Crook said...

Hi Sean,

I am glad we have gotten the moral justification covered then....;-)

Of course youwill need to add to the 5 figures you have - to a wargamer that is blindingly obvious!

All the best,

DC

doctorphalanx said...

Irregular are certainly prolific and, I believe, of increasing quality. I like obscure wars too and particularly this one because of the opportunity to deploy some 'interwar' armour, though not much of it.

David Crook said...

Hi Doctorphalanx,

Twin turreted Vickers Light tanks - what's not to like?

I certainly had not envisaged tackling this period per se but all these goodies now being in place makes it hard not to resist....;-)

All the best,

DC

Paul O'G said...

Be strong...move one...the force is strong with this one....

David Crook said...

Hi Paul,

Luckily being out of work means that I can resist most things thes days!

Nice idea though and one that I will tuck away for future reference.

All the best,

DC

Tim Gow said...

Nice to see you are remaining focused and not becoming distracted by new things....

David Crook said...

Hi Tim,

I can honestly say and with my hand on heart this was not my fault!

Does look very tempting though and it is probably just as well I am out of work....;-)

I know somebody that will be rather more interested in this lot though!

Anyway, I can resist anything except temptation.

All the best,

DC

tradgardmastare said...

Just right to use as a portable wargame army...

David Crook said...

Hi Tradgardmastare,

You are absolutely right! To be honest I need a new project like a fish needs shoes (excepting the Sole of course)but this is so self contained it has 'do me now' written all over it!

All the best,

DC

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Apart from ancients/Napoleonics/Franco-Prussian I seem to shy away from 15mm as a scale for the more modern stuff (1914+)

David Crook said...

Hi Geordie,

It is a dilemma and no mistake - not helped by the sheer amount of kit available in both scales.

All the best,

DC