Haslach-Jungingen scenario

Just a quick note to say that the Haslach-Jungingen game went well...

Three of us played the scenario; Malcolm was Dupont, Mick was Mack and I played
Ferdinand.

Mack started out by sending an order to Ferdinand to take Haslach which was
ignored, and then Ferdinand issued his own orders to do so anyhow!

Reisch`s command took Haslach but it was thrown out again as both Reisch`s and
Werneck`s brigades were successively beaten off by French infantry around
Haslach.
Seeing this happen Ferdinand ordered them to retire as the morale of his entire
force was being weakened.

Two large infantry attacks by Laudon were beaten off on the French right.
Although the Austrian Chevauleger had forced the French infantry into squares
and were attacked by Austrian columns, the French right flank held and finally
beat off the Austrian infantry. This was supported by counter attacks of the
French Dragoons.

This was a close game; the Austrians had an early success in taking the
undefended village of Haslach and later Laudon`s command very nearly broke the
right of the French line, which would have caused a morale check. By 16:30 hours
both Austrian wings were ordered to retire.

I think the scenario will be posted quite soon on the yahoogroup and angelbarracks site.

1805 scenarios

Well, I`ve been fairly busy over the past few months painting and decorating, but I`m back I think now to spend more time on the rules and in particular providing scenarios for them.
So, scenarios upcoming for the 1805 campaigns are; Haslach-Jungingen, Mariazell, Wertingen and Elchingen.
On Wednedsay this week, the first of this new batch to be tested will be Haslach-Jungingen.
More later...
These scenarios will be posted on the yahoogroup and at Angel Barrack website.
Mike.

deploying and forming from a march column

this may be of interest; "tattergreis" posted these questions on the
Angelbarracks forum...


How long does a march column need to
a) form a line in march direction
b)form a line in a right angle to the direction of the march?

How would that manouver in b) be accomplished? Would the March column change to
an open column and then simply wheel?

cheers.

[and my answers were]:

dear tattergreis,

The simple answer I have is to treat the open column as a march column if it is
on a road.
This is not as long (stretched out) as a deployed line; it is 3/4 of the length
of a line.

A march column then would take one turn to form a line in the direction of the
march. So, the same as applies for "...all nations to deploy to line from an
open column on the head"

As for b) "form a line in a right angle to the direction of the march", this
would be the same as the above and practically, it would take one turn.
As you suggest, a half-turn deduction, formation change and then a wheel with
just a little movement remaining - roughly about 2.5 cms.

hope this helps,

regards,

mike.

my profile

so... i just updated my profile.

Changes to overhead fire rules.

After some discussion on the yahoogroup, I`ve made some changes to the overhead fire rules.
The main change being that there is now some risk to intervening friendly units and a minimum distance that the intervening units must be from their own supporting artillery. One rule less for howitzer fire on page 97, there now being only a note to say that the same overhead rules apply to howitzers.

Two pdf`s have been posted on the yahoogroup files section so you can reprint for your copies of the rules.

Here`s the two rules regarding the changes then:

92

Phase 4 a. Artillery.

2. Firing in proximity to friendly units:

c)  Artillery may fire “overhead” of friendly units if the artillery and the target is on a higher elevation than the intervening friendly unit and the friendly unit is no closer than ten centimetres from the target and not closer than five centimetres from the firer. Artillery may also fire overhead if the artillery is higher than both the target and the intervening friendly unit. The intervening friendly unit must roll for normal range artillery fire effects upon it.

and:

97

Phase 4 a. Artillery.

17. Howitzer batteries:

b)              Artillery rule 4a 2c (page 92) also applies to howitzers.

Thanks again to the contributors there on the yahoogroup !

Mike.

skirmishing amendment

Skirmisher combat die rolls:
Prussian, Russian and Austrian line battalions may skirmish with one base,
representing volunteers etc. and strengths up to a company deployed for that
purpose, but with a -1 modifier to their die roll.

My apologies: this was an obvious omission to the rules.
Please add this note to page 102
If you have access to the yahoogroup, you`ll be able to find this page in the files section so you can reprint.

Regards,

Mike.

Grand Manoeuvre: Example of a Cavalry Combat.

The game from the French side: the Austrian reserve of two regiments in column formation can just be seen at the top left beyond the cultivated fields. 

A French cavalry brigade of two regiments of Dragoons supported by a horse artillery battery has taken up position between a wood and a village. They are ordered to perform a rearguard action against a larger Austrian cavalry force of two brigades; one has a regiment of Uhlans and Chevauleger, the other of two regiments of Hussars.

The French cavalry and the Austrian Uhlans and Chevauleger were classed as “C” class troops and the Hussars as “B” class.

Turn One:

The Austrian cavalry brigade advanced from beyond long range of the French horse artillery.

The French horse artillery opened fire, but there was no effect on the Austrian Chevauleger; only a “1” was rolled against them!

Advancing Austrian cavalry come under fire from the French horse artillery.

Turn Two:

A French initiative roll was made to counter-charge the advancing Austrians and was passed. Being at just under 20cms away the two lines met in the middle. In the combat that followed the second French Dragoon regiment are disordered by the Austrian Chevauleger.

Showing the die rolls and disorder marker, the second dragoons disordered by the Austrian Chevauleger.

Turn Three:

At the start of the turn, I tried to activate the Austrian reserves by rolling for the commander’s initiative. As a regimental commander, this is more difficult to do; I required a “6” to do this. I failed the test.

The French Dragoons are rallied and the combat continues in which the Austrian Uhlans become disordered.

Again, showing the die rolls and a disorder marker, but this time the first regiment of dragoons disorder the Austrian Uhlans.

Turn Four:

I attempt to activate the Austrian reserve, but fail again!

The lancers are rallied and the combats in this turn are all tied.

Turn Five:

Again, I fail to activate my reserve cavalry.

Combats are all tied.

Turn Six:

In this turn I finally managed to activate the Austrian reserve and the Hussars advance in column towards the French right to attack its flank.

In combat the Austrian Chevauleger are disordered.

Turn Seven:

The Chevaulegers are rallied and the combats are tied once more

Turn Eight:

The Austrian lancers become disordered.

Turn Nine:

Stationed on his brigade`s right and seeing the Austrian reserve approaching, the French general tries to make an initiative to retire, but the player fails the die roll.

The Austrian Uhlans are rallied and the combats are tied

Turn Ten:

This turn the French general passes his initiative test and the command is ordered to retire.

However the French cavalry are engaged with the enemy and therefore need to make a test to perform the manoeuvre.

These tests are passed with two rolls of “6” on the dice! They successfully disengage and retire half a move, but the leading regiment of advancing Hussars charges home on the first regiment of dragoons.

The French horse artillery are limbered and move off.

In the combat that followed, the first dragoon regiment became disordered.

This photo shows the start of the turn and the French general`s initiative test (he rolled a "4" and passed) and the two unit manoeuvre tests which were passed by rolling two sixes!

Turn Eleven:

As the rest of the French command retires, their first dragoon regiment becomes shaken and they are routed in combat. The Austrian Hussars, failing their reaction test, pursue them in disorder.

In the pursuit the Dragoons are beaten again. The photo below shows this happening. 

Photo shows the first French Dragoons in a pursuit combat with the Austrian Hussars as the rest of the French command retires.

Turn Twelve:

At the start of turn twelve, the Austrian Hussars are rallied and the first Franch Dragoon regiment continues to rout. 

Although beaten and forced to withdraw, as a rearguard action the French were reasonably successful in holding the Austrians for about ten game turns; equalling some forty minutes of real time.
Ordering his withdrawal just in time, the French commander managed to save one of his regiments from defeat and he saved his artillery too.

In this example scenario, I wanted to show a reasonably balanced combat between cavalry and then a decisive use of a reserve. This plan worked out very well, because the disorders caused on the regiments in the combats were all rallied for each of the next turns of fighting. It might have turned out differently however if these units were not rallied; in which case there may possibly have been a decisive result either way within three turns of combat.

Photos by Malcolm Williams.