Colonial Campaigns Club (CCC)

It ocurred to me that certain unlucky incidents that occasionally messed up a battle in the real world beyond description just don't happen in our controlled environment. For instance "friendly fire". As we have unit bases and counters in different colors, we never confuse friend with foe, yet it happened a lot in the real world. Or consider this one (posted to a military history listserver I am subscribed to):

"This incident actually took place at the Siege of Basing House (Hampshire, November 1643). Geoffrey Regan also mentions it in his book 'Blue on blue: a history of friendly fire' on pp 32-33; 'The front rank had been trained to fire a volley and then retire behind the other two ranks to reload and fire again when their turn came. [I believe this is called 'countermarching' ?] In the excitement - or stress - of battle, all three [Parliamentarian] ranks fired at the same time, and the front rank was completely wiped out by the fire of the rear-rank men. Over seventy Parliamentarians were shot down in an instant by their fellows ...'

The same thing also happened at the Battle of Kolin (near Prague, 1757) when the Austrians mowed down their own front rank instead of Frederick's troops."

I think from now on I will occasionally fire on my own troops just to create a little confusion ... wonder if any opponent will be obliging enough to follow suit? [:p]

With regards to the Basing House "Friendly fire" incident. The main reason it happend was that Westmister Trained Bands which was the unit involed in this was using the Dutch style order formation of six to eight ranks of matchklock of musket,(the most commonly used formtaion by the Parliamentarly troops).

Where as well-drilled troops could keep up a continuous fire, though the emphasis on the Dutch system was for "well drilled" troops.
The Westmister Trained Bands in 1643 has a level of training which left something to be desired.[:(]

Though I have once or twice fired on my own units in a over stressed moment.[:I] (That was a long while ago though![B)]])

Unfortunately, I've fired on my own troops more than once in many of the games - either do to sloppy mouse work, or scatter when using indirect fire... [:(]

"Friendly" fire can sometimes be quite intentional. At the battle of Blenheim an English officer, a martinet who had abused his soldiers for a long time, realised his predicament, he may very well be "fragged" as he lead his men into the fray. Prior to advancing he turned and delivered a short address to the effect that he aknowledged his poor conduct in the past, and if his men let him live through the day he would strive to be a better officer in future. From the ranks someone sang out "Face the enemy, sir! We have our duty to do, now see that you do yours" or words to that effect.

The charge was made, the English swept the enemy from the field, and the officer in question emerged from the smoke, whole and healthy. In his exuberance he called for a cheer from his men, "The day is ours!" Upon that instant he was felled by a ball from his own regiment.

Can we make the game engine recognize shoddy generalship and so cause a unit to execute "martial justice"?

If every unit we ever ordered to make a suicidal charge while being outnumbered, outgunned, outflanked, and outfatigued would have had the option of firing at us instead I doubt that very many of the members of this honorable club would still be alive. [:D]

A simple rule could be devised for players to use. Such as:

1. When units of the same side are in adjacent woods hexes and meet roll 2 d10. On a roll of 03 or lower they fire on each other. In cases where a unit is in the rear of another then only one fire would occur.

2. When Routed units which are out of LOS to friendly units come into view roll 2 d10. On a roll of 02 or lower fire on the routing units (as if they were charging the position of the unit that is not moving).

Other rules could be adopted as well. Obviously its the old House Rule thing of course.

There is a die roller online somewhere I think. The ACTS system used for certain games allows for the results to be emailed to up to four other opponents. You can also attach text to the roll as well. Something like "Rolling for Friend Fire" (FF as an abreviation) can be added in.