Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman's nine simple rules of war

The following nine simple rules of war formed part of a recent online article by Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman. Having read them, I felt that I ought to share them with my regular blog readers.

1. Do not depend on the first military move being decisive. If it is not decisive you will be fighting a very different war to the one envisaged;
2. A poor performance in the early stages of a war will prolong its length if it does not lead to immediate defeat;
3. It is easier to start wars than to end them;
4. Forces are more determined when defending their own territory than when invading somebody else’s;
5. Resistance does not necessarily conclude with the defeat of defending forces but can lead to insurgency. This is why it is always unwise to occupy countries where you will not be welcome.
6. The longer wars go on the more important non-military considerations (national resilience/economic strength/ alliance and partnerships) become to their resolution;
7. During the course of a war the political objectives for which it is being fought will change so that the prospective gains can justify the actual costs, thereby making them harder to conclude;
8. The unintended consequences of wars are normally as if not more important than the intended;
9. As Rules 1 to 8 are self-evident those political leaders who ignore them and launch a war are apt to achieve surprise, simply by being stupid.

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Professor Sir Lawrence David Freedman, KCMG, CBE, PC, FBA is Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London.

More solitaire wargame books

Back in February, my old friend and fellow member of Wargame Developments, Tony Hawkins, gave me BISMARCK SOLITAIRE by Mike Wylie, Sean Cooke, and Grant Wylie III as a birthday present.

This proved to be very useful when I went into hospital in March, as Sue was able to get my copy bring it in to me and was able to play some of the scenarios.

Since then I have acquired two more book in this series. They are WATERLOO SOLITAIRE ...

... and GETTYSBURG SOLITAIRE.

I took my copy of WATERLOO SOLITAIRE into hospital with me when I underwent my prostate operation, but I was unable to use it very much as the person I shared a ward bay with objected to the sound of the dice being thrown!

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These books were written by Mike Wylie, Sean Cooke, and Grant Wylie III, and published by Worthington Publishing.

• BISMARCK SOLITAIRE (published in 2021; ISBN 979 87565 4806 8)
• WATERLOO SOLITAIRE (published in 2021; ISBN 979 87749 4492 7)
• GETTYSBURG SOLITAIE (published in 2022; ISBN 979 84360 0269 9)

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Please note that the images featured above are © Worthington Publishing and are included solely for the purposes of this review.

COW2022: Deadline for bookings

Tomorrow (13thy June) will be the deadline for all Conference of Wargamers 2022 (COW2022) to have booked and paid for their places.

As you can imagine, as I am the Membership Secretary and Treasurer (A post I have held since 1980!), the next couple of days could see me spending quite a bit of time in front of my computer processing last minute bookings and payments ... and wondering if herding cats might have been an easier task!

I don't know what it is about some wargamers, but a small minority of them seem to live in a very otherworldly place where deadlines are vague or notional or don't apply to them, and if other people are inconvenienced ... well, that's not their problem.

I used to experience the same sort of thing with some of my students when it came to deadlines for work to be handed in ... and the reaction they had to the sudden impact of them 'hitting' the reality wall was – to say the least – interesting. I once remember a student handing in a piece of coursework that I had repeatedly asked them for two weeks after the deadline for the grade to be sent to the examination board. The conversation went something like this:

Student: 'Here's the coursework you've kept asking me for.'

Me: 'Thank you, but its too late and you have failed this part of the course.'

Student: 'But you haven't even looked at it!'

Me: 'The deadline for it to be marked and the grade to be sent to the exam board was two weeks ago. You failed to meet the deadline ... so you've failed.'

Student: 'That's not fair! I've done the work ... and I want you to mark it.'

Me: 'There's no point. You've missed the deadline ... the deadline I repeatedly reminded you about every time that I saw you up until two weeks ago. I stopped mentioning it then because you hadn't given me the work and the deadline had passed.'

Student: 'I'm going to the Principal to complain! You have no right to refuse to mark my work and to fail me!'

Me: 'Please do. Then when she explains to you that you have failed because of your own stupidity ...'

Student (shouting): 'You can't call me stupid! That's offensive!'

Me: 'Well, what can I call you that isn't offensive? There is no one to blame for this except you. You failed to meet the deadline, hence you failed to complete the coursework on time ... and you failed this part of the course.'

Student (as they go out of the office door): 'I'm going off to complain about you ... NOW!'

Needless to say, the Principal listened to the student, summoned me into her office to hear my side of the story, and eventually had to admit that I was right, and the student was wrong. I was, however, told off for using the word stupid to describe the student's actions! It was deemed to be offensive ... but when asked, the Principal could come up with an alternative word that I could have used.

The matter did not, however, end there. The student's parents contacted the Chair of Governors and made a formal complaint. This was 'investigated' and I was eventually exonerated for doing my job properly ... and although I've been retired nearly seven years, people still ask me if I miss teaching! Certainly not this aspect of it!

COW2022

Just over a week ago, I promised that I’d feature the list of sessions that will form the programme of the forthcoming Conference of Wargamers 2022 (COW2022) which will take place from 8th to 10th July.

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WHAT IF? – THE PLENARY GAME

Teams will be given some ‘what if’ situations and must entertain us all with the short or long-term consequences.

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RAVEN 2 IS DOWN

The summer of '69, SE Asia: an American pilot has been shot down over Vietnam and the 8th Special Operations Squadron is scrambled to rescue him. In their vintage prop-driven 'Spads' they must suppress enemy AAA and ground troops to enable the helicopters to lift the pilot to safety. They will be supported by every 'fast mover' available, the action coordinated by an experienced Forward Air Controller. But they must move fast, as our man came down near Na Xtan in the heart of NVA territory. (It's hot in there sir, that's where we lost McDonald).

A lawn game featuring 1/72 aircraft and 1/32 figures.

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IF A SINGLE SHOT IS FIRED

A game of Soviet special purpose forces in Afghanistan, featuring teams from Zenit, Alfa, the VDV, and others who lack their warmth and generosity of spirit. The game will use 6mm toy soldiers and the Soviet version of the ‘Guts Enough To Try’ rules.

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THE BLOOD OF SAN GENNARO

Liberated Naples, 1943: British intelligence officers hunt for leading Fascists in an ancient, starving city rife with vendettas, prostitution, and other, darker secrets. A role-playing game covering bleak ground and with some adult themes.

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THE BATTLE FOR VILLA ENCOGIDA JAMON

Love it or hate it, another variation on the original Muskets and Tomahawks rules. This time we are in South West Texas/ North East Mexico during the Texan Revolution. A cast of thousands (well dozens) including Santa Anna, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and the Lords of the Southern Plains. Plus Cactus ... lots of Cactus!

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SPARTANS AND SUCCESSORS

Fast-ish play rules for ancients. Based on Rapid Raphia from several years ago. 12 units a side, all driven by playing cards. Refight ancient battles from the Hellenic period without your dice roiling on the floor.

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THE BATTLE OF MAHARAJPUR

A refight of General Sir Henry Havelock’s crowning victory on the road to Cawnpore. Can he defeat the Nana Sahib’s army and free the hostages before vile deeds are done? The game will use the ‘Indian Mutine-era’ variant of the ‘Taiping era’ rules with the added joy of 25mm figures. Yes! Revel in the nostalgia of late 1970’s Minifigs and that Hinchcliffe elephant limber. Launch bayonet charges in the face of massed Sepoy musketry! Or, if you are on the other side fight heroically to send the European invader back home! Join the life and death struggle for the soul of a (sub) continent.

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SPI DALLAS

The 1980 Dallas (as in ‘Who shot JR?’) franchise tie-in with owning TV production company Lorimar is a notorious episode of the past history of SPI, often being quoted as one of the main causes of the death of SPI. The game is a hybrid of an after-dinner game, an RPG, a matrix game where the ‘three arguments’ routine is replaced by a simple conflict mechanism, and a sort of Illuminati-style game where minor characters can exercise power on behalf of the main character.

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PETROGRAD NIGHTS

The Russian Revolution. Failed in 1905. Failed in 1917. Succeeded in 1917. Be ready to play out an attempt at the revolution or counter it – with all of the uncertainty of circumstance and success the leaders went into it with. A combination of political game and toy soldier game with subtle links between the parts, a heavy dose of mutual player interaction ranging from comradeship to open hostility, and the threat of exclusion and strikes. Deals will be made, and deals will be broken. Talk – or fight.

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WATERLOO 1815

A small little known 1815 Napoleonic battle in France with Corsican Corporal against a Sepoy General with the battle being named after a train station. It will be a collective decision-making game with the fate of Europe handing in the balance.

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TAKE THAT HILL

British Army Fight Club Wargame Primer. A platoon assault on a defended hill-top. Team of three NCO's and Leader.

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SHILOH

An American Civil War toy soldier game for half a dozen players on a small table. Some of the mechanisms will be familiar, others perhaps less so. Some appropriate hats will be available.

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1812 – THE ROAD TO MOSCOW

Command Napoleon’s Grande Armée on its march on Moscow. Get the Russians to sue for peace or see the army melt away in the snows of Winter. A single player map-based game using toy soldiers. This game has served as the WD North demonstration game at recent wargame shows. This will run several times.

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COMMANDO RAID

A chance to try Donald Featherstone’s World War Two commando rules (from Donald Featherstone’s Wargaming Commando Operations and Reflections on Wargaming, Lost Tales Volume 2, edited by John and Michael Curry, History of Wargaming Project, 2013). The game has been modernised for the 21st Century by replacing the 20mm Airfix figures with 15mm metal ones and substituting a home-made MTB and Dory for the landing craft. Participants in possession of caps, comforter or berets, green are welcome to wear them.

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THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR WARGAMES TODAY

Wargaming has an outstanding record of modelling historical conflicts; from moving Caesar’s legions around the battlefield to running the Vietnam War. However, when it comes to modelling future conflicts, our wargames are terrible. This lecture and discussion will demonstrate examples of these errors and will offer the first tentative suggestions about how to improve games about future conflicts. Health warning: anyone who has confidence in professional wargaming will probably get annoyed.

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UKRAINE 2022

A map-based game about the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. The game was designed and played prior to the war. This will involve discussion about how the game model compares to the actual reality of the conflict.

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ANOTHER BLOODY NORMANDY BOOK

People can play at any time – another game in the Diary of a Ball series.

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PADDY GRIFFITH’S GENERALSHIP GAME

From Paddy’s Napoleonic Wargaming book. I prepared this game years ago but haven’t played it. It may be a genuine wargame development as I’d not sure if anyone has actually played the full version!

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CHRISTMAS IN HELL v1.1

A counter and zoned map game of the great Canadian WW2 battle for the town of Ortona during Christmas 1943. The game will be a modified version of High-Flying Dice Games ‘Christmas in Hell’ with (hopefully) a new map, some rules tweaks and an evolving narrative. The game will be followed by a discussion of how well it represents urban combat and a summary of the real operation.

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SPACE JACK

A fairly light-hearted sci-fi skirmish game.

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BATTLE OF BLORE HEATH

Illustrated talk on the battle of Blore Heath (23rd September 1459). The second battle of the Wars of the Roses. It has a number of unusual features.

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OPERATION BLUE TIGER

The players are the Computer Emergency Response Team of a large UK organisation. They will be tasked with responding to a cybersecurity incident. Some specific roles will be assigned during the briefing. No knowledge of IT or cybersecurity is required (but might be beneficial …)

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BANDERA II

'Vladimir Putin – how the hell do I get out of this alive', a Matrix Game about the Ukraine and Russian futures.

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SCOUT BASE 947

A home brew RPG adventure set in a backward and almost abandoned system on the edge of civilised space.

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DUCK HUNTING

A home brew RPG designed for British Army Reservist Training in Lockdown. You are recently mobilised Ukrainian Reservists, called to a tattered old Army Base north of Kiev, as Russia is threatening to invade.

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THE EMIR CALLS A MEETING

This black committee game explores the options and possible complications of a terrorist organisation acquiring a WMD. Players will be given a brief to follow and will decide on what to do with the WMD once it is their possession. Inspired by a journal article and adapted to the committee game format. The game will be followed by a discussion on the themes raised.

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WARS OF THE ROSES

Using Bloody Barons rules. A chance to play with lots of 15mm figures. This session will run twice.

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PIECES OF EIGHT

Pirate land raid. Quite a quick game and on a small 2 x 3 foot table too. Probably play twice or more in a session. This session will run twice.

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LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS

A fun look at how railroads influenced the outcome of the American Civil War.

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COYLE'S BEST

An update of Avalon Hill's solitaire WW2 tank game Patton's Best, set in a 1985 WW3 inspired by the novel Team Yankee by Harold Coyle. Each player will command an M1 Abrams tank in a company-sized team through several enemy encounters. After the gameplay there will be a discussion of this and other similar narrative games.

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COW2022 TIMETABLE

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The conference is a 'closed' event and is only open to members of Wargame Developments.

What next?

Whilst I am waiting to recover from my recent prostate operation, I have a period of a couple of weeks when I have to take things relatively easy. I’m therefore working on a couple of small projects that I can do from the comfort of a chair in our home office or my toy/wargame room.

I have a large collection of 15mm Sudanese War figures that are currently not quite compatible with my newer Belle Époque armies. I have therefore begun removing some of the figures from their current bases so that they can be renovated, varnished, and rebased. I chose to start with the Hadendowa figures, and they are going to become a small tribal army whose elements can fight each other in a series of civil wars or can fight on their own or with allies against any potential ‘Frankish’* invaders.

I’m not quite sure what name this new army will fight under, but I am inclined to call them the Wuzzian tribal army.

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* During the Medieval Crusades, the Muslims referred to Europeans as 'Franks' and Western/Latinate Europe as 'Frangistan' ('the land of the Franks'). 'Frangistan' is derived from Persian, 'Farang' being the Persian form of 'Frank' plus the suffix '-istan' meaning 'land of'.

The Napoleonic Wargaming blog

For years, Paul Leniston (AKA Thistlebarrow) has been fighting Napoleonic campaigns and battles against his wife in their home in Spain. He has written a set of rules that enable them to field several corps per side on his tabletop, and to fight a battle to a conclusion in a relatively short time.

Paul has been recording the outcome of the battles he has fought on his blog – Napoleonic Wargaming – and I have been following them with great interest for some years … and I always enjoy reading his battle reports.

Now, I’m not a dedicated Napoleonic wargamer, even though I do own a reasonably sized collection of figures, but every time I read one of Paul’s blog posts, I am inspired. My only regret is that a lot more wargamers don’t seem to follow Paul’s blog. Certainly, my comments often appear to be the only ones that are made on his blog posts, and I strongly urge any of my regular blog readers who have an interest in Napoleonic wargaming to visit Paul’s blog and to follow it.

Platinum Jubilee celebrations at St George’s Garrison Church, Woolwich

St George’s was the garrison church for Woolwich Barracks. It was completed in 1863 and served as the garrison’s place of worship until it was hit by a V-1 flying bomb in 1944 and largely destroyed by fire.

After the ownership was transferred from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation to the Heritage of London Trust Organisation in 2011, it underwent restoration work. This was part funded by the National Lottery Fund, and since 2016 the site has been run by the Woolwich Garrison Church Trust.

The Trust opens the site every Sunday and for special event. This weekend the church has been open from Thursday to Sunday and has hosted a number of Platinum Jubilee events. Sunday’s was for the family and members of the Princess of Wales Own Regiment - which is currently stationed in Woolwich - and the local Gurkha/Nepali community. (The Royal Borough of Greenwich is said to have the largest Gurkha/Nepali community within the UK.)

Sue and I decided that although the weather was overcast and there was a possibility of rain, we would go to the event … and mighty pleased we are that we did!

The local bus service took us to within a couple of hundred yards of the entrance to the church.

When we entered, there were already several people there, and preparations for the afternoon's entertainment were underway under than canopy end of the church.

Just inside the entrance, a local Nepali restaurant (the Panas Gurkha Restaurant) was giving out free food ...

The Panas Gurkha Restaurant stand. The owner (Mr Sujan Katuwal) is standing on the left, and his head chef is in the centre, behind the table.

... and Sue and I both sampled it.

We were not the only people who appreciated the food, and the queue of local Gurkhas/Nepalis waiting to eat it is testament to its quality.

The afternoon's entertainment included examples of Nepali dance given by a young girl ...

... and what I understand were a pair of sisters.

They were followed by a famous Nepali singer (whose name I did not quite catch!) ...

... who was so well received that one of the local Nepali community leaders joined her on stage and danced while she sang.

After a short break, the RAF Cadet Band arrived and entertained us with a selection of military and popular tunes.

By the time that the band had finished, it was almost 4.00pm, and Sue and returned home on the bus.

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The Panas Gurkha Restaurant did sterling service during the pandemic and supplied over 100,000 hot meals (!) to the local community. Their contribution has been acknowledged widely in the the media and has even warranted visits by Dame Joanna Lumley, the well-known actress and supporter of the Gurkha community in the UK.

As to the quality and excellence of the food ... well, as a rule Sue will not eat spicy Asian food ... but on this occasion she ate a plateful of Gurkha food, and even asked for seconds of one dish! My favourite was the spicy minced venison, which I understand is not on the restaurant's usual menu, but which can (according to the head chef) be requested in advance.

The restaurants details are as follows:

Panas Gurkha Restaurant, 318 Lee High Road, Lewisham, SE13 5PJ

Seventy-eight years on

Today marks the seventy-eight anniversary of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of North-Western Europe.

As I wrote last year, with every year that passes, the number of surviving veterans seems to be diminishing with growing rapidity, and it will not be long before the last serviceman or woman who took part in the Second World War will have died.

I concluded last year's D-Day blog post with the thought that it is our duty and our honour to remember the veterans of the Second World War on days like today, alongside all those who served their country before them, and who have served it since.

We should never forget the sacrifices they made.

COW2022

After a hiatus due to the closure of the usual venue for the Conference of Wargamers (COW), we have found a replacement at rather short notice, and the conference will be going ahead as usual from 8th to 10th July.

As I am currently the Treasurer and Membership Secretary of Wargame Developments (I have been doing the job since WD was founded back in 1980!), I am having to process the final payments and booking for the conference. Luckily, taking it easy after my operation means sitting down quite a lot, so I can do almost all of the work from the comfort of my office swivel chair!

The residential conference costs £310.00 (including full board) and is open to members of Wargame Developments. I hope to publish details of the sessions later this week so that non-members can get some idea of what they are missing! The conference is NOT a wargames show but does host a large number of games, discussions, lectures etc., where wargamers and wargame designers can exchange ideas and concepts, experience new and sometimes very novel approaches to wargame design, and discuss wargaming, both formally and informally. There is nothing quite like COW anywhere else in the world in the fields of professional or recreational wargaming ... which probably accounts for its longevity.

Back in circulation

As regular readers will know, my health has been giving me cause for concern for some time. As a result, I was admitted to University Hospital Lewisham on Tuesday to undergo what is known as a TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate). I will not go into details, but essentially it is a procedure that involves removing a section of the enlarged prostate to allow the urine to flow more freely

After the operation I was fitted with a different type of catheter from the one I had been using since the urology consultant at the local hospital fitted me with it in March. This catheter is designed to flush out the bladder and prostate with a saline solution to aid healing and to ensure that blood clots do not form. This catheter was taken out on Thursday morning, and once I had shown that I was able to function normally, I was discharged that afternoon. I now have to take things easy for a couple of weeks and to complete a week-long course of antibiotics.

I’m now back in circulation … and hope to remain so for the foreseeable future.