Soldier King Campaign : hostilities commence

I have been taking tentative steps with a Seven Years War campaign, using the fictional setting of my old 'Soldier King' boardgame. I thought about perhaps drawing a map of a real Central European theatre of war,  but 'time and space, dear boy'.. To get a campaign going and see if the idea works, why not use the game's ready-made map?     The game assumes four belligerent states, but I only need two, so I have only used the eastern half of the map, depicting the little-known Prussian Provinces of East and West Argozia,  and the equally obscure Austrian regions of North and South Arcadia.

                                    

Next,  some forces: the game suggests starting with twelve units per nation,  made up of eight 'veteran' and four 'guard'.  That seemed about right, given that my table setup  will probably allow perhaps six or eight units for a battlefield force.  I thought I'd try to vary the makeup of the armies, so started with a 'base' of two-thirds Infantry to one-third cavalry, and rolled a couple of dice to randomise a bit.  As a result, I finished up with the following: 

Prussians :  Guards - one Infantry, three Heavy Cavalry    

                    Veterans - six Infantry,  two Light Cavalry 

Austrians :  Guards - two Infantry,  two Heavy Cavalry

                    Veterans - five Infantry,  three Light Cavalry 

Thus the two sides each  fielded  seven infantry and five cavalry units,  but with different mixes of guards and veterans , and heavy and light cavalry. That seemed quite pleasing - I didn't want identical armies. The Prussian Heavy Cavalry looks powerful, but the Austrians are strong in Light horse, which seems appropriate, lots of Hussars perhaps?

Final preparatory step was the initial billeting of troops : the game system specifies that each player turn is made up of up two to six  of  'marches', so why not start with six 'Divisions' each of two units?  These were stationed three to a province, using the main 'recruiting cities' and fortresses.  Thus the first turn or two will likely involve both sides gathering their divisions into field armies.  The picture at the top shows the intial deployments - Prussian units are blue,  and Austrians gold. Both sides concentrated their Guards formations in the North-Eastern corner of the map, where their provinces directly bordered each other.   At which point, news reaches the respective provincial military governors from far-off capitals -  'war is declared!' and both sides begin to mobilise their forces. Let hostilities commence...

I decided to dice for  first move  each turn  - on Turn 1 ( Spring , and let's call it 1756 ) , the Prussians won the initiative, but then rolled a '1' for the number of 'marches'. Under the game rules, a player always gets two marches, so that was the Prussian allowance. They concentrated two 'Divisions' ( 4 units ) at the Fortress of Rahden , near the hostile border and advanced  their Light Cavalry into neutral Banst, aiming to threaten the Austrian left flank.  A slow start, obviously some issues with getting orders out..   I decided that the protagonists could move into neutral provinces, allowing for a wider field of operations and more strategic manoeuvre, and I will try to use the boardgame's system of  'recruiting cities' - capturing neutral provinces and cities allowing increased recruiting resources.  The imaginary populations of these imaginary provinces are no doubt told that this is  'for your own protection, we have to move to keep out that other beastly lot'..  

The Austrians in contrast, were all action and rolled a '5' , thus could carry out 5 marches. They concentrated  6 units in their Northern city of Piesport , close to the border, and began moving  4 units up from the south  in support, finally sending two Light Cavalry units westward into neutral  Lower Waldow, capturing the recruiting city of Selters  and covering their left. 

Then Turn 2 - Summer - the Austrians' rapid start continued,  winning the initiative dice roll and moving first - they again rolled  5 marches.  Their light cavalry spread out over  Lower Waldow, occupying both its significant cities and effectively capturing the province - meaning more recruits later. Also on their Western flank, four units used two marches advancing into Upper Waldow, occupying the city of Stauffen.   Last but by no means least , the northern force of six units went on the offensive, advancing to attack the four Prussian units at the fortress  city of Rahden before the Prussians could reinforce. They have a superior force for now, though the Prussians have more troops quite nearby, and Austrian supports are quite a long way away - striking now may be their best chance.  So we have a battle!  

Austrian attack!  But Prussians have support nearby

                                 

 The opposing forces in  boardgame terms are as follows: 

 Austrians:     2 Guard Heavy Cavalry,  2 Guard Infantry,  2 Veteran Infantry

Prussians:      1 Guard Heavy Cavalry,  1 Guard Infantry,   2 Veteran Infantry

And here's an ( entirely gratuitous )  picture of the clashing forces

First battle: opposing forces

 

 So, now I just have to translate those onto the  tabletop, using the figures I have, and devise a suitable attack and defence type scenario,taking into account the 'fortification' of the city on the map, which should lend some protection to the outumbered Prussians.  I'm sure Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame rules will be able to accomodate all this, albeit perhaps with a little judicious tinkering.

Finally for this time, a not entirely unrelated aside. Since we are talking about an old boardgame, here's another one -  a lucky find in Sudbury Oxfam shop the other week.  I must have spent a very large amount of my free time when aged about 12, on this long-lost game, and have often wondered if I might turn up a copy, so I was very pleased to acquire this for the princely sum of £2.99! 

 

Positively Proustian

In very good condition, complete and maybe not used much. For  any 'Campaign' nerds out there,  it's a 1976 edition, I think I had a slightly  earlier  one, perhaps 1974. I remember that one had a potted history of the many Coalitions against Napoleon, which captured my imagination somewhat, and I also remember that in my childhood solo games one power invariably seemed to sweep across Europe defeating all others.  That power was - Spain.  I'll have to give it another go sometime.. 

So there we are,  look out for the next exciting episode featuring the opening battle of the campaign. Meanwhile keep safe and well, everyone. 

**POSTSCRIPT **  Many thanks to everyone, this blog's 'Total Pageviews' count has reached 10,000. I'm rather amazed, and honoured. by the response of readers ( and even followers, wow! ) over this past 9 months. Also many thanks for  the  supportive, entertaining and instructive  comments from many of you ( though I was sadly unable to take advantage of the offer of 'Best Silage Machines Price! Silage machines for sale in Pakistan' ) ,  I  think that's a big hint that I must be doing something right.  The blog has also been a great motivator for actually getting some games on the table and even a few figures painted  - quite apart from the fun of writing. I hope to continue in the same vein in the coming months - I hope you continue to enjoy it .

A Possible Campaign 'Engine' ?

I've enjoyed playing some loosely-linked scenarios with my modest  Seven Years War forces, but I'd like to find a way to run a 'proper' campaign, albeit as simply as possible.  I've been looking at the possibilities offered by a vintage board game : Frank Chadwick's 'Soldier King', which dates back to 1982.  I thought to look at it because of its setting in a fictional version of the relevant period, and its simplicity.

This is 'a game for two to four players covering the war of succession in a leaderless empire. Each player controls one army and must struggle.. to capture a majority of the Imperial electoral cities, thus assuring his election as Emperor. Movement of armies is from point to point along roads and waterways, thus emphasising the key role played by lines of communications in the 1700s, the age of soldier kings.' 

The armies consist of units of Infantry, Heavy Cavalry and Light Cavalry, and units may be have status of Levies, Veterans or Guards.   There are rules for resolving battles , but of course if using the game to drive a campaign then the whole idea is for the battles to  be played out on the tabletop.  

The 'Estavian Empire': note roads, highways and rivers

..and in a little more detail

 

The game map depicts a fictional continent , the 'Estavian Empire',  but I don't propose to actually use it! What looks interesting  is the very simple rules for movement,  supply,  recruitment and promotion of units.  I'm thinking I could probably come up with a map showing a real ( or perhaps  imagined ) region of 18th Century Germany, where Austrian and Prussian forces might contend for control. I wonder if  the fine maps from Christopher Duffy's book on Marshal von Browne might give some inspiration here. Bohemia or Silesia, perhaps?

I like the game's very simple point-to-point movement system and the importance  of river transport  (perhaps often forgotten) as well as roads.  I was recently interested by comments on campaign movement in Mr. Nundanket's excellent blog, which to my mind explains why such movement in this period seems likely to be mostly 'point to point', i.e one town to another  - essentially the roads may be poor, but if you stick to them, you know where you will arrive next, and that's the most important thing!  

I also think that the game's  counter mix could be quite useful in generating armies - in the board game the units seemingly represent 10,000-20,000 troops each, each player starting with 12 units ( perhaps an unfeasibly  large force!),   but for a more limited theatre of operations,  a unit could equally represent a battalion for  Bob Cordery's 'Portable Wargame' rules, for example. There are no artillery units, but those could be factored into the battlefield armies in a pre-defined ratio.

Unit types: L to R Infantry, Heavy and  Light Cavalry

I have owned this game for a long time, indeed I think I probably bought it when it first came out thirty-eight years ago  ( blimey! ), and I think a few games of it were played at the time with my then regular gaming buddies during my university holidays.   I'm afraid it's not been played in many a long year, so it will  be nice if I can  make some use of it, even after all this time!

Not good news on the pandemic front here in the UK, so it looks like even more time at home as autumn and winter progress - our hobbies may help save our sanity.  Keep well, everyone.

 

Fnurban #5 : Serendipity on a Rainy Day

Last week we enjoyed our first proper holiday of this topsy-turvy year. We were in the Peak District,  at a small cottage on a farm, in a tiny village on top of a hill - so  no problem maintaining social distancing, at least. 

Mostly the weather was good, but there was one disctinctly wet day. We elected to look at Cromford and  Arkwright's cotton mill - a World Heritage Site. That was interesting, but the rain defeated us eventually.  Fortunately we had already planned to look in at nearby Scarthin Books, described in our guide book as a 'world of books, curios and comfy armchairs'.

A warm welcome on a wet Wednesday

Well, it lived up to the description - a great example of what a good bookshop can be. Three floors, crammed with bookcases, including on the stairs; there's a cafe in there too, hidden behind a curved bookcase ( one shelf of which I noticed holds the 'English County Regiments' series ) which swings open and closed, like something out of a storybook itself. 

I can't vouch for the tea/coffee as I was spending too much time looking through the books, especially (of course) the military history section.  I came up with quite the little hoard, as you can see:   

   

Best of all for this blogger 'The Army of Frederick the Great' by Christopher Duffy - 1974 hardback edition ( bookshop's pencil note inside "not common - a bit stained" which might describe many things).  Having just been reading Duffy's book on von Browne, this is just what I wanted next -  it's as if this was just  waiting for me, and it will immediately go to the head of the reading pile! That made the whole day worthwhile on its own.

Not only, but also : 

'Military History for the Staff College Entrance Examination' by Major E.W. Sheppard - 'revised in accordance with Staff College Regulations 1937' .  It's a set of 'crammer notes' for student officers, with chapters on major campaigns from Napoleon in Italy 1796 to The Third Afghan War, 1919, and each with a fold-out sketch map. I think this is going to be very interesting - another pencilled note says 'from the collection of MJ Peter Cavendish'  - I suppose that 'MJ' is 'Major', so it looks like he passed!

[ update: the original owner would appear quite likely to be the late  Brigadier-General Peter Cavendish, who lived nearby and passed away in 2011. Being only a few miles from the Chatsworth estate, the surname Cavendish also indicates a certain social status, I suspect. I hope the book doesn't mind being now in the possession of  'salt of the earth' - my only military ancestor rose to the dizzy heights of Lance-Corporal ]   

'The Gun'  by C.S. Forester. As mentioned in an earlier post, I am working my way through Forester's war stories, and this one, it turns out, has relevance. The eponymous Gun is abandoned by Spanish troops of Blake's army retreating from the disaster at Espinosa. Having recently taken the part of 'Blakey'  under the auspices of M.S. Foy ( here ) , during which the Spanish artillery performed rather poorly, I feel a sort of  connection. I hope The Gun redeems itself here.  

'Ripeness is All'  by  Eric Linklater. Having started with the excellent 'Private Angelo' I have been picking up anything I see by Linklater, and quite a few have military themes. This is from 1935 and starts promisingly : 'Sergeant Pilcher was not one of those bull-mouthed swarthy red soldiers. common enough twenty years ago, who larded instruction with oaths and kept conversation bouyant on their flotsam of Hindustani and a flood of beer"..  Eric having served in the army of 'twenty years ago' i.e. 1914-1918, I think he speaks from experience here. Having said that, the first modern on-line review I looked at "found it tedious, slow-moving and far from fun".  I don't think our Eric would be seen as  very 'Woke', though the Sergeant is clearly no  'Gammon'.   We shall see..

Shire Books 'Discovering Model Soldiers' by Arthur Taylor , 1970. What can I say? It cost the princely sum of  40p, a bargain for a nice little piece of nostalgia.  One section is headed '20mm - The Wargamers Size' : so that's you 28mm people told, from the old school. 

All in all a thoroughly worthwhile visit - if you're ever in the area and like a good bookshop, I'd recommend Scarthin Books. Now I just need to magic up the time actually read all these, and the rest of my worryingly large books backlog. As ever,  'time and space, time and space'...

Keep well, everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

Deeper into the Seven Years War

After the dramas of the Bellona Bridge battle, I am encouraged to continue progress with the Seven Years War collection.  I really don't know an awful lot about the period, so some background reading is certainly in order.  Thanks to David Crook, I was alerted to the Naval and Military Press summer sale,  and especially 'The Wild Goose and the Eagle', a new edition of Christopher Duffy's 1964  biography of Marshal von Browne - a bargain at about £7 !

I am admittedly going slowly, but there's plenty of interest. Browne represents a phenomenon of the time, the exiled  'Wild Geese'  Irish Catholics  making  careers in the various armies of Europe, after their fathers left Ireland following the overthrow and defeat of James II, and with 'no other patrimony than his sword'.  Britain's loss was perhaps  Europe's gain, especially for the Catholic powers such as Austria, France and Spain. Interestingly though, even while the Jacobites under The Young Pretender threatened the Hanoverian regime in Britain fifty years after James, English commanders and even  King George would welcome a man such as von Browne into their camp and councils, when sent as an envoy of their Austrian ally, and were happy to deal with him.  As an officer in the Austrian army of the time, he was bound to see varied  campaigning - not just in Silesia and Bohemia but on the Rhine, in Italy, the Alps and Provence, and against not just Prussians but French, Bavarians, Spanish and Turks. Every chapter  opens a new campaign, and there is masses of interest and inspiration here.  I also really like Duffy's style - how about this, on the encounter at Mollwitz : 

'Frederick had attained his surprise by crossing the Neisse at Michelau and Lowen, but the victory would probably lie with the army that first accomplished the mechanics of processional deployment from column of march into line of battle : a process which, before the innovations of the last years of the Ancien Regime in France, may be compared with the ordered complexities of music before its liberation in the integrated harmony of Haydn and Mozart. At least we should not deny a very considerable technical competence to the minor 18th century masters, whether of music or war'.

You really don't get that sort of thing in your average Osprey.

I also very much like the maps, which  are Duffy's own drawings ( see below ) , and for once a book which gives accounts of military campaigns has maps and diagrams  which adequately illustrate the theatres of war and fields of battle. My favourite so far, I think is von Browne's daring, if unsuccessful,  attack on Velletri, near Rome in 1744, attempting to surprise and capture King Charles of Naples.    

I do like these hand-drawn maps

Finally a chance find in the bibliography : 'DE LACY-BELLINGARRI, The Roll of the House of Lacy, Baltimore,1925. A Most misleading and unreliable work, which should not be read on this or any other connected subject. Mentioned here only as a warning' .

 In the same sale were a couple of the recent Helion books on the same period - 'Between Scylla and Charybdis'  on the Saxon Army , and 'For Orange and the States'  on the Dutch Army.   I have an idea that these might inspire me to recruit  some mercenary units to join in my campaigns, in addition to the Austrians and Prussians.  I especially like the idea of fielding some regiments from Saxony.  Total cost for the three books in the 'summer sale' was about £20 - not bad!

The auld enemy 'time and space, time and space' has got in the way a little recently, but I have had a few opportunites on sunny September afternoons for painting.  I have accordingly got started on the second half of the Austrian Botta infantry regiment. Also, in what feels like another big step forward, I have half a dozen cuirassiers of the Austrian regiment Erzherhog Ferdinand primed and ready. They will have nice cheerful red facings to their white uniforms, and should look splendid. Painting horses may be an interesting challenge -  but hey, they are mostly brown, aren't they? Same colour as muskets...

Primed and ready..Cuirassiers

 

That's enough for the moment, I hope all are keeping well despite the looming 'second wave' of you-know-what. If we are all to spend the winter indoors, I suppose we will just have to get on with our hobbies. 

Keep well, everyone.

Bridge on the Bellona - down to the wire!

 

The Austrians have it all to do..

 

We left the battle for the Bellona Bridge at an interesting point - Prussians holding the bridgehead, Austrians needing to advance, but nervous of  cavalry threatening their flank. It looked like Von Jemanden's Prussians just needed to sit tight, shoot down the Austrians coming forward, while the Uhlans and Horse Grenadiers created mayhem on the flamk. Losses of 4-2 Strength Points in the Prussians' favour, both sides Exhaustion Point of 9 SP. What was Austrian General Dachs to do? 

On Turn Seven, Dachs won the initiative die roll went first - and decided to trust to his musketry and cannon fire.  Every Austrian unit stood and gave fire. The gunners, having unlimbered on the hill with a good field of fire,  contrived to miss with their first shot of the game, but the infantry's muskets found their mark. As volleys rolled along the line, both battalions of the Botta regiment scored hits and took Prussian SPs from Horse Grenadiers and Uhlans;  the Rifles took 1 SP from their Prussian counterparts;  and 2nd Jaeger battalion forced 1st Prussian fusiliers to retreat. Good shooting - and it brought the  score to  5-4 in Austria's favour.  Quite a turn around, and as it transpired, more to come.

On the Prussian turn, a positive start as 2nd Fusiliers' volley forced 1st battalion Botta to retreat, whereupon the same battalion  was attacked  by both regiments of  Prussian cavalry  (stung by the flurry of Austrian fire, they acted on instinct - charge!).  Things looked bad for 1st battalion Botta - and in their first engagement, too. 

1st Botta's trial by cavalry: 'stand firm, men!'

... and then the dice took a hand. Two separate melees, one for each cavalry unit, the foot having to face the jeopardy of die-rolling twice in succession, their only consolation being that neither horse unit had  been able to get round their flank, so the die scores would be unmodified, no plus or minus factors.  

The dice rolled - as is right and proper, low scores are bad.  In both combats, no-one rolled better than a two!  Both sides suffered a hit in each combat; once a hit is scored, the effect is diced for, and for 'average' troops the result is: 1-3  lose 1 SP,  4-6 retreat one hex or lose 1 SP.  All four rolls came up  1 to 3.. so that's 1 SP loss for both cavalry units, and 2 SP lost for the 1st Botta battalion.  The foot could take this - just - having 1 SP left. The Horse Grenadiers, too  had just 1 SP remaining,  but the Uhlans had lost their final SP, and were broken.  When the dust had cleared, the 1st Botta stood resolute if battered, and the power of the Prussian cavalry had been shattered.   With that, Turn 7 ended, and the total Losses were : Austrians 6, Prussians 7. The Prussians had suffered  5 SP losses in a single turn, and were only 2 SP under Exhaustion Point. How suddenly fortunes can turn about..

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the next few turns were rather quieter. In Turn 8, the Austrian gun and all foot units on both sides gave fire, scoring hits a-plenty, but no losses - no less than 4 Prussian units were forced to retreat, and their depleted  Horse Grenadiers fell back to nurse their wounds. On subsequent turns the Prussians held their ground as best they could with not particularly accurate fire, while General Dachs ordered a general advance , then another massed volley on Turn 10.  At this point, the disadvantages of defending a river line became apparent, as the Prussian 1st Fusiliers took a hit and 'retreat'  result , but with their backs already to the river, could not retreat, and had to take 1 SP loss. Score now 8-6 to Austria;  Prussians only one point under Exhaustion, with five turns remaining, not a good position at all. 

Turn 10 - Prussian backs to the River

Turn 11 sealed their fate : in the artillery fire phase at the beginning of the turn, the Austrian gunners aimed at the Prussian rifles - scored a hit. Roll for effect - retreat or lose 1SP,  but again, no place to retreat. So the Prussian rifles lost their last SP,  but also reached their army's Exhaustion Point. No more attacking  moves after this turn; could they hold the Austrians off, keep them more than three hexes from the bridge, and still claim victory? 

Austria won the initiative, and elected to keep firing - a further 1 SP taken from Prussian 1st Fusiliers.  Prussians next - last chance to attack! It started well - their 2nd Fusiliers' fire finally destroying the  1st battalion of  Botta, and Frei Korps forcing 2nd Botta to retreat. This allowed the Horse Grenadiers a last chance to strike back   - charging at the rear of 2nd Botta. Surely they could do some damage, and slow the Austrian advance?  Well, not by throwing a '1' to their opponents '5'.. Roll for effect - almost inevitably,  the Horse Grenadiers lost their last SP and were destroyed - the end of the Prussian cavalry.  Three out of 6 units gone, a loss of 11 SP to Austrian 7, it's almost all over, surely ?   

Last charge of the Horse Grenadiers..

Not quite. Under Bob's Cordery's Portable Wargame rules, reaching Exhaustion may be taken as losing the game, but under Neil Thomas'  One Hour Wargames  scenario victory conditions,  until and unless  Dachs' Austrians could get within three hexes of the bridge, Prussia would still hold the bridgehead - and win the game. Could they hang on?

The three remaining Prussian infantry units doggedly held their ground, von Jemanden directing their fire - until Austrian 1st Jaegers' fire hit 1st Fusiliers, von Jemanden at their head - and he was wounded. Another 2 SPs down for a wounded commander - and 1 SP from the Fusiliers. And then yet again, on Turn 13,  a further loss for 1st Fusiliers saw them destroyed in their turn - and their General wounded AGAIN !  Only 2nd Fusiliers and Frei Korps left,  their commander barely alive,  and their losses now at a massive 17SP  to  Austrian losses of 8SP.   But still, despite everything, holding the bridgehead, two turns to go..

Turn 14;  General Dachs kept a cool head, 'no need to hurry, men, don't just rush forward, give them more musketry!'  The remaining Prussian Fusiliers were forced to retreat again, sheltering in the woods, while the Frei Korps lost yet another 1 SP  and were forced to retreat - back onto the bridge they went. And finally - Turn 15, the last gasp.  The Austrians won the  initiative - nothing for it now but to advance.  No less than three units made it to within three hexes of the bridge. With only two Prussian units left, unable to charge forward owing to Exhaustion, and only the Fusiliers  able to fire - they missed -  it was hopeless.   The twice-wounded Von Jemanden was escorted away, 'a broken man'. Well, he was only Somebody or other..

As it ended,  a Prussian catastrophe - or was it?

 

With the final tally of losses at Austrians 8 SP, Prussians 18 SP, and only two Prussian units out of six remaining - one of which was trapped in the woods and unlikely to regain the opposite river bank - it looked like a complete disaster for the Prussians. But, look at the victory conditions: 

"Victory is achieved by there being no enemy units on the North bank of the river, within 12" [three hexes ] of the bridge". 

Of course the Prussians could not win, as multiple  Austrian units bore down on the bridge. But the 2nd Battalion, 44th Fusilers still lined the edge of the woods - only two hexes from the bridge!  So, going by the book,  the Austrians could not win either , and  the game was a draw.

As may be apparent, I had a great time with this game; I hope you've enjoyed following it.  The Scenario ( number 5, 'Bridgehead'  from Neil Thomas'  One Hour Wargames )  was excellent, a real challenge for both sides, and I couldn't have asked for a closer finish, despite the huge disparity in losses.  In particular I think the random entry of the second and third bodies of Austrian troops made for plenty of uncertainty - things might have gone quite differently if Austrian units had arrived at the woods, near the river, early on.  See Ross Mac's   and Maudlin Jack Tar's recent games of the same scenario!

 A couple of small notes - observant readers may have noticed pennies and tuppences used as markers. I thought I'd try them to mark 1 and 2 SP losses from units, rather than removing bases, thus keeping units looking suitably  impressive on the table. The coins were an improvised measure, but I think worked OK - though perhaps they could be coloured - either brightly  ( maybe red )  to make losses very apparent,  or equally perhaps green, to merge into the scenery and not divert the eye. 

Also on the rules, I wonder about cavalry vs. infantry melee?  In Bob's original 'Portable Napoleonic Wargame' , Cavalry get a big die roll modifier for attacking Infantry in Line - Napoleonic infantry deemed to be vulnerable unless in square. I removed that, as 7YW infantry in line should be able to drive away cavalry with disciplined volleys - but I think they should perhaps be more vulnerable if taken in the flank or rear.  Perhaps some additional modifiers when cavalry charge the flank or rear of  infantry in line?  I'll have a think. 

So strictly, the Bellona Bridge Battle was a hard-fought draw;  but General Dachs, as he advanced in expectation of accepting the surrender of the Prussian Fusiliers, and watched the Frei Korps retreating over the bridge, thought he knew better..

Keep well, everyone.

 

Bridge on the Bellona

It begins : 'Uhlans - Charge!'

As we left things last time, a  Prussian raiding force had advanced  down from the hills of Peco (thanks, MS Foy!)  and sent its von Kleist Uhlans dashing across the bridge over the River Bellona, in a bid to secure a bridgehead.  General Dachs' Austrians were scrambling to concentrate and repel the invader; this is becoming an unfortunate habit.

Von Jemanden's Prussians began with the Uhlans facing two  Austrian units ( 1st Battalion Botta regiment, plus their Rifles ) :  thereafter a new Prussian unit would arrive along the road each turn until Turn 6. Meanwhile the Austrians would be reinforced by two units on each of turns 3 and 5, each group arriving at randomly-selected entry points. Tricky for both sides - the Prussians would be outnumbered on turns 1,  3 and 5, while the Austrians would not know where their next reinforcement would be arriving from. Fifteen turns available - victory to the side able to prevent any enemy unit standing within 3 hexes of the bridge on the North bank. 

Turn 1, and the brave Uhlans knew what to do - charge!  Straight into to the Botta regiment. But even for Uhlans, charging frontally on formed line infantry is risky, and they lost 1 Strength Point in the resulting melee - first blood to the Austrians.   Next turn, the Uhlans backed off, but lurked threatheningly on the Austrian right  flank, which perhaps they should have done in the first place. Meanwhile the Prussian commander arrived, leading his  1st battalion 44th Fusiliers across the bridge. 

Turn 3 saw the second group of Austrians arrive - 2nd battalion Botta regiment,  and 2nd battalion Jagers, accompanied by General Dachs  - the dice deciding that they would enter on the road from the North, just as the first wave had done. The Austrians felt  a little more secure, but had to turn both battalions of Botta to face those lurking Uhlans. Meanwhile Prussian Fusiliers advanced, joined by their Rifles unit - all three units over the river. 

Turn 4,  Uhlans flank charge on Botta: dangerous!

 

Next turn, von Jemanden won the intiative die roll and moved first - and the Uhlans struck again, managing to maneuvre for a flank charge on 1st Botta, and taking 1 SP from them, too. In my modified version of the 'Portable Napoleonic Wargame'  rules, this would result in a 'break in' to the infantry formation, giving a big advantage in any further round of melee. But the Austrian battalions worked together as a regiment should -  on their turn the 2nd battalion's musketry forced the Uhlans to retreat, while the first battalion was able to withdraw in good order.  Austrian position stabilised, but a nasty scare, and  the Prussians were well forward, with their 2nd Fusilier battalion already crossing the bridge in support. Losses only 1 SP apiece after four turns.

Austrians fully deployed, but Prussian have the bridgehead

 

Turn 5 brought the last Austrian troops into the field - their gun, and 1st Jager battalion, arriving on the Eastern edge, at the foot of the hill. Thus they made a coherent force, but rather far back from the river - just where the Prussians wanted them?  The Uhlans continued to threaten on the flank, and more Prussian cavalry arrived - Von Kleist Horse Grenadiers.   With no cavalry to counter them, things could get tricky for General  Dachs. Prussian 1st Fusiliers now opened fire, and took 1 SP from 2nd Jaeger. 

Turn 6 was a high point for von Jemanden's Prussians, their two cavalry units advancing to threaten the open Austrian right, and their musketry and rifle fire taking 1 SP from  2nd Botta and 1 SP from the Austrian gunners.  Dachs'  return fire was less effective, 1st Jaeger taking 1 SP from the Prussian Riflemen.    That made it 4-2 to the Prussians, with the Austrians a long way  from the bridge and threatened by massed cavalry on their flank. To prevent the Prussians winning, the Austrians needed to fight their way forward - a difficult proposition. 

 

Austrians on the back foot, cavalry to their flank: how to advance?

Could Dachs' infantry mount an effective assault from this unpromising position, while fending off those nasty-looking cavalry?  

Find out next time folks, in another exciting instalment..

Keep well, everyone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Fnurban #4 : Support your local shops..

Having some time off work last week, I was able to pay a visit to nearby-ish Bury St. Edmunds. It's a pleasant place to wander and shop, with a  'Cathedral City' feel, a nice mix of old and new, chain and independent shops, and very pedestrian-friendly.  We had not been there, however, since before 'lockdown' in March. So, it seemed about time to return, and I had an ulterior motive - there is a decent model shop, and I needed some paints!  Model Junction,  in Whiting Street turned out to be up and running, with no shortage of stock and sensible safety measures - a maximum 4 customers at  a time was not a problem on a quietish weekday afternoon.  Plenty of paints from several different ranges, but my needs were simple and I was happy to plump for flesh, white and black Tamiya acrylics, and some Brass from the 'mig' range. And of course, one has to take a look at the plastic kits.. these resulted in a a couple of nicely matched  impulse buys, the Revell 1:76  'Wespe' and 'Priest' self-propelled guns. Those will fit very nicely into my 'D-Day Dodgers' forces, and I was quite glad to spend a bit more and support a good local shop. I know on-line shopping is the modern thing, but it's great to have a 'real' shop to browse and make serendipitous finds, and in a pleasant location. 

After that, I wandered into WH Smith and looked at the magazine racks - glad to see they are getting back to normal, and I was pleased to see some wargaming magazines. So how could I not support them too?  I came away with 'Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy' no 109,  and 'Wargames Illustrated' issue 392 ( August 2020 ). WSS has experimented with its issue 'theme' ; instead of a single period, it has a run of articles about a single location - specifically Afghanistan. I think this works quite well, with half a dozen pieces  ranging in time from Alexander the Great to 1980s Soviets. Plus the usual run of other articles, including one from Henry Hyde giving a mini-campagin scenario based around a crossroads and river crossing - as you'd expect from Henry and WSS , rather nice maps that are bound to come in handy sometime.  'Wargames Illustrated' is also themed - this time about 'Strategy, Command and Control', which I hope will be interesting.  Rick Priestly  contributes an article on the theme, thus managing to have a piece in both  magazines - his column in 'WSS' is in praise of The Society of Ancients.  'WI 392' also comes with a significant free extra - the rules manual for Warlord Games' new WW2 naval game 'Victory at Sea' . An interesting move, giving the rules away for free - "check out Warlord Games for all the  playing pieces" says the editorial. No doubt they are reassuringly expensive; but for the price of the magazine, you have set of rules as well as the usual articles to read, and no doubt this will interest plenty of naval warfare enthusiasts. Mr Crook, perhaps? 

 I confess I don't buy these magazines on a regular basis, but I will pick them up if the theme looks interesting, and right now it seemed almost a duty to give them a bit of help - the covid-19 crisis has I suspect,  hit them hard, by taking away their high street sales for some months. Equally I find I have just not been spending 'disposable income' in the past few months, while being fortunate to carry on working, and earning as normal. So I had no problem with a bit of  extra hobby spending.   I had a pleasant afternoon ( albeit dodging thundery showers ) and I hope my shopping was a 'win-win' thing for all concerned!

Next time, back to the Seven Years War and the outcome of the Bridgehead battle. Keep well, everyone. 

** UPDATE ** Since the above, issue 393 of Wargames Illustrated has come out, including a special 'freebie' of a set of rules for Wars of the Roses period, entitled Never Mind The Billhooks ( splendid stuff!) written by Andy Callan, no less.  Well worth a look, and a very good initiative from the WI team - good for them!  Much more about that on Norm's most excellent  'Battlefields and Warriors' blog, many thanks to him for highlighting this. 

image from the mag's website: https://www.wargamesillustrated.net/