The German Division in the Peninsular War, Part 1: Returning to an Old Favorite

Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Number 3 (Frankfurt), converted Dutch Infantry from WoFun Miniatures. This unit was part of General Leval's Geman Division

First of all, if you’re going to game on the Iberian Peninsula, you have to know how to spell “Peninsular” to avoid embarrassment!  

My first foray into miniature gaming as a teenager with my brothers were the lovely 1/72 plastic Airfix Napoleonic’s. As an Anglophile I was first drawn to the Waterloo Campaign, which, as I got older I found too limiting in the variety of forces. So it was little wonder that I was drawn to the Peninsular War with the variety of British, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Polish, Dutch, and German states forces that can be fielded. 

The first rules we played were Bruce Quarrie's wonderful rules Napoleon’s Campaigns in Miniatures. 

I graduated from Airfix to 15mm metal figures that were Minifigs, Essex and then Old Glory. I discovered the rules Volley and Bayonet and the Second Edition Volley and Bayonet: Road to Glory which eventually became my big battle rules were we could actually play a big battle in one day. With an adult paycheck I moved up to 28mm figures from Wargames Foundry (by the Perry’s), Front Rank and Perry Plastics.

For Volley and Bayonet I used 8 figures painted as the 71st Highland Light Infantry on a 3" x 3" base represent a brigade of the British Light Division.  Figures from Front Rank Miniatures.

The South Essex.  British Line from Wargames Foundry and the 2 Riflemen from Front Rank.  If you don't know who the South Essex are, shame on you!

Volley and Bayonet felt right to me for big battles - and even though I was using 28mm figures, the cost was right. A brigade was on a 3" x 3" base which I would put 8 figures for infantry and usually 3 for cavalry. I would by more command figures (one of the great things about Front Rank is the ability to buy individual figures) and I mounted them on thicker bases to put labels on the back for easy identification. 

Brunswick Oel Jagers.  Miniatures are from Perry Miniatures and the mounted British officer, a Division Commander, is from Front Rank Miniatures.

Labels for easy identification and a great boon for new players.

French Army Commander

Wellington.

Huzzah!

Okay. I'm showing off.

Then I got an offer I couldn't refuse and I sold my Peninsular armies.

Years later, I really missed playing Napoleonic games. How to get back into the game without spending a gazillion dollars and taking years (and I mean years) to paint. And then I discovered Wofun Miniatures - the affordable flats illustrated by Peter Denis and made of plexigas. They are very affordable, look great in mass and I decided to go with the 18mm scale.

What they looked like out of the box.

What they look like on the tabletop. I added some sand and static grass to the bases.

Now that I have a about a division's worth of French infantry, a division of cavalry, artillery and command, it's time to do their allies in the Peninsular War. What better a subject than the German Division.