Monday 30 December 2013

New 28mm figures for the Chaco War released


We are very happy to announce the release of our new range of 28mm figures covering the Chaco War (1932-35). This Interwar conflict was the biggest and bloodiest war seen in South America in modern history, and was certainly one of the biggest conflicts of the 1930's along with the Spanish Civil War and the Japanese invasion of China.

The war witnessed the evolution from trench warfare to more mobile tactics over a 3 year period. Indeed one of the largest battles at Nanawa was called "the South American Verdun" such was the intensity of the fighting.

The war between Bolivia and Paraguay was over ownership of the Chaco Boreal, a vast semi arid landscape of partial desert, cactus and dry savannah-like scrub and low jungle, which at the time was thought to contain large oil deposits. The Bolivians with an army four times the size of Paraguay's, and with large arms contracts from Britain, and led by a WW1 veteran German general, were effectively outfought and outmanoeuvred by the smaller Paraguayan forces who benefited from tough and acclimatised soldiers and a small but highly trained and capable officer cadre.

The figures come in four packs (each with 4 individual sculpts) which represent the vast majority of the fighting forces on both sides. In addition to these will next be released LMG, HMG and mortar squads for each side.

The packs are listed below:

Bolivian Army

BV01 - Bolivian Infantry Advancing



BV02 - Bolivian Infantry Firing/Loading



Photo of all the Bolivian Infantry figures

Paraguayan Army

PY01 - Paraguayan Infantry Advancing



PY02 - Paraguayan Infantry Firing/Loading



Photo of all the Paraguayan Infantry figures


We do hope you like the figures. These are ideal both for the collector and wargamer, and there are several excellent sets of Interwar rules with which to game this conflict. There will be more information in the near future about resources for this period in terms of book lists, suggested wargame rules and scenarios as well as uniforms guides.

The figures will be available for sale later today at our webstore here:



Just to give you a further taste for the period, some contemporary British News from the conflict:


Thursday 26 December 2013

New figures range on the way


Here's a little taster for something in the pipeline from Orinoco Miniatures... Stay tuned for more announcements and images over the coming days.

Monday 23 December 2013

Happy Christmas / feliz navidad, and PF 2014

We would like to wish all our customers, friends (and fellow bloggers) of Orinoco Miniatures a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

2013 has been an exciting year for us at Orinoco Miniatures, and 2014 promises to be even better with more releases for our Liberators range already in the pipeline, along with other upcoming projects.

Thank you again for all your support and input.

Sunday 22 December 2013

GUERRA DE INDEPENDENCIA DE VENEZUELA 1811-1814



La República de Venezuela fue declarada como nación independiente el 5 de julio de 1811 por siete (7) de las Provincias que conformaban la Capitanía General de Venezuela, a saber:

OCCIDENTE
ORIENTE
Mérida
Margarita
Trujillo
Barcelona
Barinas
Cumaná
Caracas


No conformaron la República, manteniéndose como súbditos de la Monarquía Española las Provincias de:

NORTE  ESTE
SUR
Zulia
Guayana
Coro




La Vida de la 1ª República fue corta y se selló con la toma de la fortaleza de Puerto Cabello por parte de las fuerzas Realistas y la posterior Capitulación de Francisco de Miranda en San Mateo ante el Jefe Realista Domingo Monteverde. Las causas de la pérdida de la 1ra. República son examinadas y analizadas en detalle por el entonces Coronel Simón Bolívar en un documento que ha pasado a la historia como el Manifiesto de Cartagena.

Perdida la República, los principales responsables políticos y militares optan por el exilio, Bolívar y otros Jefes de Caracas y las Provincias del Este de Venezuela se trasladan a Cartagena, Provincia Neogranadina (actual República de Colombia) que se había declarado independiente del Gobierno de Bogotá.

Por su parte, un grupo de Republicanos de las Provincias de Oriente (Barcelona, Cumaná) entre los que se encuentran el entonces también Coronel Santiago Mariño, José Francisco Bermúdez, Manuel Carlos Piar y Antonio José de Sucre (Futuro Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho) toman el camino de la Isla de Trinidad, para entonces Colonia Británica.

En Cartagena Bolívar logra su incorporación al ejército de la Nueva Granada con el rango de Coronel, siendo destinado al cargo de Comandante del Puesto Militar de Barrancas al mando de un pequeño fuerte sobre el Río Magdalena y 70 hombres de guarnición.

Desde este oscuro rincón de la geografía neo granadina lanzaría la audaz Campaña de Magdalena que culminara exitosamente el 31 de diciembre de 1812.

El año 1813 se inicia con todo el territorio de la República de Venezue bajo el control de las autoridades civiles y militares leales a la Monarquía Española, situación esta que iría cambiando a corto plazo.

Las operaciones militares se desarrollaron en dos frentes independientes y autónomos; en el oriente del país, la llamada Expedición de Chacachacare, liderada por los exiliados en Trinidad, desembarca los primeros días del mes enero al norte de la Provincia de Barcelona, iniciando una campaña que los llevará a tomar el control militar de las principales ciudades de dicha provincia y de la provincia de Cumaná. De esta campaña es de resaltar las batallas que por el control de la Ciudad de Maturín.

También en Oriente, más al norte en la Provincia de Margarita, las Fuerzas Republicanas toman por asalto El Castillo de Pampatar y liberan a Juan Bautista Arismendi.  Desde Margarita se organiza la expedición marítima que permite la toma por parte de los Republicanos de la Ciudad de Barcelona en agosto del año 1812, permaneciendo las provincias orientales bajo el control republicano durante todo el año.

En el occidente, Simon Bolivar, al mando de 500 hombres toma existosamente la ciudad de Cucuta el 28 de febrero de 1813, derrotando al Coronel Ramon Correa centra en la llamada “Campaña Admirable” dirigida por Simón Bolívar luego de culminar exitosamente la toma de la Ciudad de Cúcuta el 28 de febrero de 1813 al mando de 500 hombres, derrotando al Coronel Realista Ramón Correa al mando de 800 hombres bien apertrechados mas 600 habitantes de la población quien ante la derrota decide evacuar el sitio con destino a la Ciudad de San Cristóbal (en territorio venezolano).

Las operaciones militares al este del país se centraran en la llegara a conocerse como la “Campaña Admirable” Tras la victoria de Cucuta, Bolívar es nombrado Brigadier por el gobierno de las Provincias Unidas y puesto al mando del batallón 5to de La Unión, formado por 500 hombres y autorizado a cuzar la frontera hacia Venezuela en persecución del Coronel Correa.Al mando de oficiales como Rafael Urdaneta, Atanasio Girardot, Antonio Ricaunte, Luciano D’Elhuyar y Francisco de Paula Santander,con 4 cañones y 1.400 fusiles, Bolívar inicio la “Campaña Admirable” el 14 de mayo de 1813. Para el día 6 de agosto del mismo año, Bolívar haria su entrada triunfal a Caracas, Ciudad en la cual se le otorga el título de Libertador de la Patria.

A la liberación de la Provincia de Merida siguió la liberación de Trujillo (Batalla de Agua de Obispo). En la Ciudad del mismo nombre, en fecha 15 de junio de 1813 Bolívar dicta su famoso Decreto de Guerra a Muerte.



A Trujillo siguió la toma de Barinas, la campaña admirable se caracterizo por los rápidos movimientos de las fuerzas republicanas que supieron anticiparse a los movimientos del enemigo, atacarlos donde estos no lo esperaban, de esta campaña especial mención deben tener las batallas de Niquitao, Los Horcones y Taguanaes. El día 2 de agosto entra Bolívar en la ciudad de Valencia que había sido abandonada por las fuerzas realistas con destino a la ciudad amurallada de Puerto Cabello, abandonando abundantes pertrechos de guerra entre ellos 30 piezas de artillería ligera y municiones. Por órdenes de Bolívar Atanasio Girardot persigue a los realistas pero no logra alcanzarlos antes de que se refugien en la ciudad, a la que se pone sitio bajo las órdenes del Luciano DÉlhuyar.

Parte de las tropas realistas que abandonan Caracas se unen con las venidas del oriente, tras las victoria obtenidas por Bermudez, Mariño y Piar, reuniéndose en los llanos centrales. Monteverde, sitiado en Pto. Cabello recibe refuerzos por vía marítima y decide tratar de romper el cerco, sale de la ciudad y ataca a las fuerzas republicanas que se habían replegado al cerro de Bárbula que domina la llanura de Naguanagua a la salida de Valencia, donde se libra una importante batalla, en la que se imponen los republicanos pero al altísimo costo de la muerte del Coronel Neogranadino Atanasio Girardot.


El 3 de octubre las tropas Republicanas vengan la muerte de Girardot en el combate de Trincheras obligando a los realistas a retroceder nuevamente a Pto. Caballo donde quedan sitiados.

Las fuerza republicanas se dividen abriendo operaciones al Nor Oeste sobre Coro y Barquisimeto bajo la conducción de Rafael Urdaneta mientras Vicente Campo Elías se dirige a los llanos centrales (Calabozo) donde operan Jose Tomas Boves a quien derrota en la Batalla de Mosquiteros. El mismo día de esta batalla, en Caracas Bolívar es nombrado por el Congreso de Venezuela Capitán General de los ejércitos y proclamado Libertador.

Procedente de la Provincia de Coro, el Brigadier Jose Ceballos amenaza Barquisimeto con una fuerte división, Bolívar después de levantar nuevas fuerzas en Valencia se une a Urdaneta y en fecha 10 de Noviembre tiene lugar el combate de Tierritas Blancas resultando vencedoras las fuerzas realistas, al abandonar el campo de batalla tanto la caballería y como la infantería republicana cuando el combate este estaba por decidieres a su favor. Por esta acción el Batallón que abandono el campo, como castigo se ve despojado por Bolívar de sus insignias y estandartes siendo denominado “Batallón sin Nombre, como consecuencia de esta acción se perdió para la causa Republicana la plaza de Barquisimeto.

En Vigirima, al centro norte del país, tiene lugar la Batalla más larga de la guerra en el cual después de tres días de combate el General de División Jose Félix Rivas y el Comandante DÉlhuyar, derrota a las Tropas realistas integradas por el Regimiento de Granada compuesto por 800 veteranos de Europa y 200 Venezolanos al mando del Coronel Miguel Salomón.

En general en todo el territorio de la republica surgían guerrillas y rebeliones a favor de la causa de España, mientras se efectuaba el combate en Vigirima las tropas realistas tanto de Apure como de Coro aprovecha la oportunidad y se concentran en torno a la Villa de Araure lugar en el cual tuvo lugar la batalla del mismo nombren en fecha 05 de diciembre de 1813 en la cual se vistió de gloria el Batallón sin Nombre, rompiendo el centro de la infantería realista siendo rebautizado al día siguiente por Bolívar con el nombre de Vencedores de Araure.


Con el triunfo en Araure culminan las operaciones del año 13, las fuerzas republicanas controlan al menos nominalmente las provincias de Merida, Trujillo, Caracas, Cumana, Barcelona y Margarita mientras los partidarios de la monarquía española tienen el control de las provincia de Maracaibo, Coro (Nor Occidente), Apure (Sur Occidente) los llanos de Guárico (Provincia de Caracas, llanos centrales) y Guayana (sur), rodeando a las fuerzas Republicanas.

El año 14 será de combates decisivos para la suerte Republicana.

Venezuelan War of Independence

I am delighted to be able to include a guest post on the blog. This is from a good friend in Caracas, Carlos Godoy, who is a great expert on the Independence wars in Venezuela. I hope that this will be the first of several posts on this fascinating period from Carlos:




VENEZUELAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
1811-1814
The Republic of Venezuela, as an independent nation, was declared on July 5, 1811 by seven (7) of the provinces that made up the Captaincy General of Venezuela, namely:

EAST                                                              WEST
Mérida                                                            Margarita
Trujillo                                                                        Barcelona
Barinas                                                          Cumana
Caracas
The following provinces  did not join the Republic,  and remained subjects of the Spanish crown:

NORTHEAST                                               SOUTH
Zulia                                                               Guayana
Coro

 
The 1st Republic was short-lived. Its fate was sealed with the capture of the fortress of Puerto Cabello by the Royalist forces and the subsequent surrender of Francisco de Miranda in San Mateo to the leader of the Royalist forces Domingo Monteverde. The causes for the failure of the 1st Republic were examined and analysed in detail at the time by Colonel Simón Bolívar, in a document that has gone down in history as the Cartagena Manifesto.
Following the loss of the Republic, the main political and military leaders opted for exile. Bolívar and others from Caracas and the eastern provinces travelled to Cartagena, New Granada Province (now the Republic of Colombia ), which had declared its independence from the Government of Bogotá.

A group of Republicans from the Eastern Provinces (Barcelona, Cumaná) among them Colonel Santiago Mariño, José Francisco Bermúdez, Manuel Carlos Piar and Antonio José de Sucre (later known as the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho) traveled to the Island of Trinidad, a British colony at the time.

In Cartagena, Bolívar was able to join the New Granada Army with the rank of colonel and was assigned to command the military post of Barrancas, in charge of a small fort on the Magdalena River and a 70-man garrison. 

From this remote corner of New Granada he launched the Magdalena Campaign, that culminated successfully on December 31, 1812.

As the year 1813 dawned, the entire territory of the Republic o f Venezuela was under the control of civilian and military authorities loyal to the Spanish king, a situation that would soon change.

Military operations began on two separate and unrelated fronts. In the east, the Chacachacare Expedition, led by those who had been living in exile in Trinidad, landed on the first day of January north of the Province of Barcelona, launching a campaign that enabled them to take military control of the major cities in that province and in the province of Cumaná. The most noteworthy events in this campaign were the battles for control of the city of Maturin.

Also in the East, but further north on the island Province of Margarita, the Republican forces attacked and overran the Pampatar Fortress, releasing Juan Bautista Arismendi. From Margarita a seagoing expedition was organized that allowed the Republicans to take the city of Barcelona in August 1812. The eastern provinces remained under Republican control throughout the rest of that year.

In the west, Simon Bolivar at the head 500 men, successfully took the city of Cúcuta on February 28, 1813, where he defeated Colonel Ramon Correa and his well-barricaded 800 men, plus 600 civilians, all of whom, following the defeat, decided to evacuate the site and retreat to the city of San Cristóbal (in Venezuela).

This western theatre of operations became the scenario for what was to be known as the Admirable Campaign. Following his victory in Cúcuta, Bolívar was appointed Brigadier by the government of the United Provinces, placed in command of the 500-man 5th Battalion of the Union, and authorised to move into Venezuela in pursuit of Colonel Correa. In command of officers such as Rafael Urdaneta, Atanasio Girardot, Antonio Ricaute, Luciano D'Elhuyar and Francisco de Paula Santander, 4 canons and 1,400 muskets, Bolívar launched the Admirable Campaign on May 14, 1813. On August 6 that same year, Bolívar marched triumphantly into Caracas, where he received the title of The Liberator.

The liberation of Merida Province was followed by that of Trujillo (Battle of Agua de Obispo). In the city of the same name, on June 15, 1813, Bolivar issued his famous Decree of War to the Death
Trujillo was followed by Barinas. The Admirable Campaign was noted for rapid mobilization by the Republican forces, who were able to anticipate the movements of the enemy forces, attacking them where they least expected.   Of this campaign special mention must be made of the battles Niquitao,  Los Taguanaes and Los Horcones. On August 2nd Bolivar entered the city of Valencia, which had been abandoned by Royalist forces bound for the walled city of Puerto Cabello, who left behind a huge cache of war supplies, including 30 pieces of light artillery and ammunition. On orders from Bolívar, Atanasio Girardot set out in pursuit, but was unable to reach the retreating forces before they took refuge in the Puerto Cabello, a city to which Luciano Delhuyar then lay siege.

The Royalist troops fleeing Caracas joined troops from the East that were moving west following the victories of Bermúdez, Mariño and Piar, gathering in the central plains. Monteverde, besieged in Puerto Cabello, received reinforcements by sea and decided to try to break out of the city and attack the Republican forces that had retreated to Bárbula, a hill overlooking the Naguanagua plain on the outskirts of Valencia. There a major battle was fought, and won by the Republicans who, however, paid a high price: the life of Colonel Atanasio Girardot.

 On October 3 the Republicans avenge Girardot´s death in the battle of Las Trincheras, forcing the Royalists back to Puerto Cabello, where they are once again blockaded.
The Republican forces are divided, launching operations in the northwest, Barquisimeto and Coro, under the leadership of Rafael Urdaneta, while Vicente Campo Elías is sent to the central plains (Calabozo) where he defeats José Tomás Boves in the Battle of Mosquiteros. On the same day of the battle, in Caracas Bolívar is appointed by the Congress of Venezuela Captain General of the armies and proclaimed Liberator.

From Coro, Brigadier José Ceballos moves on  to Barquisimeto with a strong division.  After raising new forces in Valencia, Bolívar joins Urdaneta and, on November 10, they fight the battle of Tierritas Blancas, where Ceballos takes the day when the Republican cavalry and infantry leave the battlefield. In the aftermath of this action, as punishment, the battalion that left the field is stripped of its badges and banners by Bolivar and is then called the Nameless Battalion. The end result is that Barquisimeto was lost to the Republican cause.

Vigirima was the stage for the longest battle in the war. After three days of fighting, Major General Jose Felix Rivas and Commander Delhuyar defeat the Granada Regiment that consisted of 800 European veterans and 200 Venezuelans led by Colonel Miguel Solomon.
In general, guerrillas and rebellions in favor of the cause of Spain emerged throughout the territory of the Republic. While the battle was being fought at Vigirima, Royalist troops in Apure and Coro/Barquisimeto concentrated around the town of Araure, where a battle took place on December 5, 1813. Here the Nameless Battalion is bathed in glory, breaking through the centre of the Royalist infantry, and the next day is renamed by Bolivar:  Vencedores de Araure.


With the victory in Araure, military operations ended in 1813. The Republican forces controlled the provinces of Merida, Trujillo, Caracas, Cumana, Barcelona and Margarita, while supporters of the Spanish monarchy were in control of the provinces of Maracaibo, Coro (in the northwest , Apure (southwest), Guárico plains (Province of Caracas, central Plains) and Guyana (south), surrounding the Republican forces .

1814 will be decisive for the fate of the 2nd Republic.

Saturday 14 December 2013

Update on new Osprey book on South American Wars of Independence



Just read a great blog post over at John Fletchers "Liberators" blog about his new book on the South American Wars of Independence, which will be published by Osprey Books next week.

You can find more details here: http://liberators.blogspot.cz/2013/12/designers-notes-on-new-osprey-book.html?showComment=1387054534910

Sunday 8 December 2013

New Spanish Infantry with an ink wash

So here are a few new images of the Spanish infantry after I managed to give them an ink wash this evening. I think you can appreciate the level of detail, and the quality of the casts in these pictures. These troops are in the short jacket common amongst the Spanish Royalist Army in Central and South America. They are also suitable for the Peninsular War, especially some newly raised Spanish units from 1809-1812, or regular Spanish or French Infantry fighting just in their waistcoats (many units discarded their tunics in battle due to the heat in Spain). I hope you like them.
 
The figures can be purchased directly from our webstore here:  







Friday 6 December 2013

Spanish Infantry now available for sale




I would like to announce that the packs of Spanish infantry (4 packs: Command, Flank & Centre Companies, and skirmishers) are now available for sale at the Orinoco Miniatures web store . I do hope you all like them.


The figures can be purchased directly from our webstore here:  

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Spanish Figures available for sale this week

I would like to announce that the new Spanish Army figures will be available for sale this week (6th December). These comprise of four separate packs; Centre Company Marching, Flank Company Marching, Flank Company Skirmishing/firing, and Command set. Each pack has six unique figures. Once the figures have arrived I will update the webstore so that their listings are active.

I'm very excited that these wonderfully sculpted figures will now be available. The Llanero Cavalry, and Peasant infantry packs will be next. There will also be another announcement soon about other figures to be released in the next week.
Please let me know if you would like to order some figures and I'll set them aside when I receive them and await your online order.

The figures can be purchased directly from our webstore here:  

Sunday 1 December 2013

Battle of Sombrero 1818 - Replacement Map and Wargame Scenario suggestion

The battle of Sombrero (1818), was a mostly infantry affair, where the better trained Spanish regulars outfought and outmanoeuvred the Patriot Army of Simon Bolivar. There is an excellent account of the battle written in the book "Conquer or Die" by Ben Hughes. The only problem is that they have the wrong map in the book (on page 87).

A replacement for the map was posted up on Flickr a while back, so I thought I would share it with you here. The beauty of this battle is that it presents a perfect scenario for a small scale, infantry only battle. Contesting a river crossing (Charles Grant could even have written it if it was not an actual historical event), Bolivar attempted to take the field by head on attack across the Guarico River. The Spanish were waiting in ordered ranks on a slight rise on the other side. Unsurprisingly they wreaked havoc on the Patriot army, and cut them down crossing the river with their musketry.  After several failed assaults across the river, the coup-de-grace for the exhausted Patriot army came from a Spanish flank attack, which shattered the Patriot attack, and caused the army to fall back, some units routing. Full destruction was only avoided by the Spanish lacking sufficient cavalry to follow-up, the Patriot Llaneros cavalry covering the retreating troops.

As I said, this makes for a perfect wargame scenario. The Spanish had 3 battalions of 800 men each, and 2 companies of the Castilla battalion (roughly 200 men). Using my preferred rules (General de Brigade), with a 1:20 figure ratio, this would give you 3 battalions with 40 figures each and 10 flank company figures for the Castilla battalion. The small Spanish cavalry detachment played no role in the battle, so can be left out.

Similarly for the Patriot army, the 3 battalions of Bravos de Apure, Barlovento, and Anzoategui's Honour Guard can be represented for a game by the same numbers of men and 1:20 ratio, so 40 figures for each Battalion. The Llaneros cavalry also did not participate, so do not need to be included.


The Spanish army size could be reduced slightly to make the game more interesting, though they should be ranked as 2nd line in quality, except the 2nd Navarra Battalion which can be ranked as regular line infantry. The Patriot army can be ranked as Conscript, except Anzoategui's Honour Guard which contained several veterans from the British Legion so should be ranked as 2nd Line. All the Patriot battalions will also have the "Enthusiastic" unit modifier of +1 on morale rolls (this reflects their greater commitment to the cause and to fighting).


I've managed to glean a lot of new information about this and other battles, thanks to a kind contact in Venezuela who recently sent me a copy of the above book published in Caracas. This lists details of all the battles in Venezuela from 1810-1824, and is written by Edgar Esteves Gonzalez. It's in Spanish, so if you get your hands on a copy, a dictionary should be enough to get you through the battles. I will certainly post up more scenario ideas in the near future as I plough through it.

Once our new Spanish figures are released in the next week or so, we will have available all the figures necessary to re-fight this battle :-) (a shameless plug I know...)
 
The figures can be purchased directly from our webstore here: