Irregular Wars Wargaming

We return to Mark now with another dispatch from the East Indies: ***** It’s some time in the middle third of the C16 - as usual - as we return to the East Indies and find the Ming Chinese piracy-suppression squadron hard at work. An-te Hai has positioned a wolf pack of submersible rams (total 183 points) in ambush in the Maluku Strait, through which many of the Portuguese spice convoys pass. They are commanded by Huang Ju, on the Silver Carp. 3 x Submersible rams (62) (186) Fecui Liyu (Emerald Carp), Jin Liyu (Golden Carp), Lian Liyu (Silver Carp) Q3 C3: Ramming, Sluggish, Submersible, Unarmed, Unorthodox They didn’t have long to wait, as a convoy (total 190 points) soon appeared, commanded by Francisco Alvares on the Sao Martinho. 2 x Frigates (60) (120) Sao Jorge, Sao Martinho Q3 C3: Chaser guns, Galleon rigged, Master gunner, Trained guncrew 1 x Merchant brig (18) Moscato (Nutmeg) Q3 C2: Lateen rigged, Merchantman, Master gunner 2 x Large merchant junks (20) (40) Ginger Jar, Haina...

Mark is back with another dispatch from the Indies: the Portuguese raid on Songkhla. ***** Don Marco da Pattaya has decided it’s time the Sultan of Songkhla received an unfriendly visit from the Portuguese. He leads a squadron North into the Gulf of Ayutthaya. The Portuguese sailed with 414 points, comprising - 1 x Galleon (Santa Caterina da Goa) (106) Q3 C4: Chaser guns, Drilled soldiers, Flagship, Galleon rigged, Master gunner, Trained gun crew. Don Marco is a Swaggering commander (I made him re-roll and he delivered another D6=6). 3 x Fragatas (Santa Barbara, Sao Jorge, Sao Martinho) (60 each) Q3 C3: Chaser guns, Galleon rigged, Master gunner, Trained gun crew. 1 x Submersible ram (Baderna) (58) Q3 C2: Ramming, Submersible, Unarmed, Unorthodox 1 x Dragao (Dragao) (70) Q3 C2: Airship, Bombs, Fiery attack, Lateen rigged, Master gunner The Songkhla fleet was not expecting (§ contingent event) this attack and some of it’s galleys have been hauled out for off-season repairs and maintenan...

Mark has just sent through the latest dispatch from the East Indies: The annual Goa convoy sailed down the Pearl River estuary. Once out to sea it turned SW to begin the first leg of its thousand league journey. It comprised the old carrack Sa Isabella (Don Manuel Silva), which had been making this annual round trip for many years, and her escorting fragata Sao Martinho (Don Cristobal da Crespo). Here are the profiles - 1 x Carrack (35) Santa Isabella das Indias Q4 C5: High castles, Merchantman, Reinforced hull, Sluggish, Square rigged 1 x Frigate (60) Sao Martinho Q3 C3: Chaser guns, Galleon rigged, Master gunner, Trained guncrew Some time later the topmast lookout on the Sa Isabella reported a group of ships on an approaching course. They turned out to be - 2 x Large merchant junks (20) Ginger Jar, Hainan Trader Q4 C3: Merchantman, Reinforced hull, Square rigged 1 x Small escort junk (50) Bamboo Shoot (easily mistaken for a pirate vessel) Q2 C2: Derring-do, Intimidating, Lateen rigge...

The Sultan of Songkhka is fed up with the piratical activities of the Knights of St Michael of Singapore in the waters around Sumatra and Kalimantan. He sends a strong squadron to suppress them, commanded by his current court Favourite, Lala Mustafa. Clued in by reports from irate merchant shipowners, they catch up with the Christians near the Belitung islands off the SE coast of Sumatra. The Knights are commanded by Don Oliver Starkey, who, it will be remembered, was commander (in the Portuguese service) of Kupang fortress when it fell and subsequently turned up in the service of the Knights of St Michael (go back and check out the  SIEGE OF KUPANG  here). Vessels marked * are flagships. Lala Mustafa is a Swaggering commander. Oliver Starkey is a Dashing commander. The Songkhka squadron (323 points) comprises - 2 x Galeasses (Hat Yai* & Banda Aceh) 72* & 59 Q4 C5: Drilled soldiers, Bow guns, High castles, Square rigged, Sluggish, Sweeps, Veteran NCOs 4 x Galleys (Ayut...

Here is the last epic dispatch of the year sent through from Mark.   The Portuguese invasion of Madagascar is an obscure facet of the contest for control of East Africa and the Indian Ocean, waged between the Portuguese and the Ottoman Turks for much of the C16. The Turks got involved to support their co-religionists as Islam gained influence in E Africa and SEA, and because the Portuguese strategy to strangle the old Spice Routes from India was a significant economic threat. There are some videos about the wider conflict (but not the Madagascar affair, oddly) on the Kings & Generals YouTube channel. You could start here if interested -  https://youtu.be/R3E1SYBgK4w The surviving archives of both sides are silent about the strategy and details of the Madagascan conflict. Fortunately a Venetian observer got himself attached to the expedition, and his relationes, in the Venetian State Archives, give some information. He was Sebastian Vernier, later commander of the Venetian ...

Part 3. The siege of Kupang fortress A couple of weeks have passed since the Lasiang landing and battle. Instead of following up the defeated Songkhla defenders at once, the Portuguese have completed a palisaded base and moved in the supplies necessary to support the army. Now it’s all done and Don Cristobel Da Crespo has left a small garrison and led his men to the fortress of Kupang.  A contingent of Timorese natives has joined the expedition, led by the missionaries.  The remaining Songkhka garrison has withdrawn into the fortress. Since it was captured over three years ago nothing much has been done to repair the damage, except a hastily-built and incomplete palisade in front of the breach. The Portuguese had been counting on this, it’s why they havn’t brought up siege artillery. As Don Cristobel is making his dispositions, a message arrives from Don Marco: the Sultan of Songkhka has sent a large relief force, and it has been sighted at Utara Pulau, to the SW. He’s going t...