Key Points Napoleonic Campaign - battle 1

Setup

In the first battle of the campaign both sides were fighting for control of the fortifications protecting a strategically important port. The Allies fielded an Anglo-Dutch infantry division supported by their Light Brigade. The French just an infantry Division.

There were three sets of fortifications to capture, with both sides having one within easy reach.  The allies massed their forces on the flank and did not contest the central fortification heavily. The French position to refuse on their left and capture the centre.
  


Massed infantry on the Allied left



Hanoverians and cavalry on the Allied right

The thinly held allied centre

French cavalry on their right poised to attack 

The French refuse their left

French infantry massed to assault the centre

A long-view of the table

The Battle

The battle open with the outnumbered French going on the offensive on both their right and in the centre. The French commander hoping to buy time on the right while he seized two forts.  

French horse advance rather than sitting-back to be shot 

Swiss and Irish capture the central fort

On their right the Allies made their own move with the Hanoverians moving forward supported by the Belgium cavalry. Sensing they may loose the central fort rather easily they also decided to contest the ground with a battalion of British line being held in reserve

Allies advance on the French-held fort

Belgium hussars standing ready

Allies move to contest the central fort

On their right the French horse met with initial success scattering a battalion of British line and causing some confusion in the Allied ranks. On their own right the Allies also had some success with their own cavalry, routing a unit of  French foot.  

French horse charge home

The Belgium's reciprocate 

The Allies had the better of the exchange though as the thinner French lines were breached where as the French own attack ground to a halt against the deeper British formations.  

A bit of a hole in the French lines

French grind to a halt

The position was far from fatal for the French but it was clear they were at a disadvantage - they held the central fort but a strong British infantry force was able to flank them and would likely break through. On their left the Belgium cavalry had an opportunity to get into the French rear. So the French commander opted to withdraw rather than suffer further loses in the opening battle.

The Campaign Situation

First blood to the allied side with the British gaining control of the fortifications

Rank & File Napoleonics - second practice game

This week we fought  a second practice game as we had a few inexperienced players - one returning from a recent holiday to Sri Lanka and another after an 8-year absence in Japan. So a district Eastern flavour to the conversations.

This weeks setup was a simple affair as predicted there might be more than the usual amount of gossiping. An out numbered French force was holding a defensive position along a ridge with its right flank anchored on an rural church. A Prussian force was attempting to evict them from their position. Is was also the first outing for my Prussians after a couple of years of on-off painting.

On the French left both sides had deployed a brigade of cavalry, evenly matched in weight and quality. The Prussians took the initiative with a swift advance across the field but the French met the challenge about half way. The French cuirassier beat their Prussian opponents and chased to the edge of the table. The Prussian Hussars in turn beat their opponents but suffered less damage and so were able to remain a viable force
     

Cavalry lines advance

The cavalry clash

In a bold move the Prussian Hussars charged the pursuing French cuirassier in the rear - that attack was from long distance though which gave the French time to turn and respond. Shockingly though the larger Hussar unit was able to defeat the French heavies and so leave the Prussians in control of the flank.

    
On the French right the Prussian launched an assault against the church which was held by a small force of Leger. Perhaps confused by the smoke of battle the Prussians underestimated the strength of the defenders and strayed closer then they intended, receiving a shattering close-range volley that drove back one unit of Musketeers. Undaunted the supporting Landwehr attacked but were easily repulsed. So one flank each.

Prussians approach the church

 

A bloody business as the French volley

 

The attack goes in and bounces off

So the finally to the centre of the field where the Prussians advanced their main force towards the hill proceeded by French position proceed by Fusiliers. This is a classic Napoleonic tactic but can be risky - the skirmishers are a hard target but are badly out numbered and subject the close range artillery fire.

The Prussians advance

View from the waiting French

 On this occasion the gods favoured the Prussians and their skirmishing proved rather effective - damaging several French units and destroying a gun. A big lose of the French

Fusiliers in action

And so finally the main lines clashed - again the firefight seemed to favour the Germans with several French lines pushed back from the ridge  

A hole in the line

Oncoming Prussians

As darkness fell the French clung-on to the ridge but several holes had been made. A winning draw for the Prussians on their first major outing.
 

Ancients reinforcements

With our move into Armati inevitably some of my units are the wrong size, so a few reinforcements are required to make the units up to strength.

Firstly a further unit of light infantry skirmishers - they are pretty generic but I envisage them mostly as Roman or Greek. Figures are Victrix Greeks. Armati seems to need quite a few light units so I may have to paint a few more.

Light infantry skirmishers

Next a few Punic cavalry command to enable me to field a second unit. Figures are from 1st Corps with some recycled Warlord Greek shield transfers. 

Punic heavy cavalry

Finally some Roman cavalry, in this case Early Imperial auxiliary cavalry. Again these are 1st Corps with Warlord transfers from the auxiliary infantry set.  They are slightly larger that the Warlord ones I have but it should nt be noticeable with Armati unit basing 

Early Imperial Roman cavalry

Key Points - a Napoleonic Campaign

Introduction

 

Some military campaigns involved grand sweeps across large tracks of open country, but much more typical was seeking to dominate several key strategic features connected by a barely usable road network. This campaign depicts the later and pits French vs Allies in 1815.

Maps and Movement

 

Both sides write orders for each turn and then play these through. Where both sides would meet on a connecting node then dice to see who falls back and defends (1D6, +1 for 50% more cavalry, +2 for 100% more). Units may move 1 connecting line per turn.  Each turn you receive 1 victory point (VP) per key point held. 

Battles and Key Points

 

In an encounter both sides deploy behind screens or from a map. If one side is defending then they deploy first but will have advantageous terrain

There are no draws unless it was an encounter. The defender wins unless driven off or the objective captured.

·         River Crossing: There is a village with two river crossings and a chance to find a ford (D6/turn per section finding on a 6). If you defend the far-bank then the river counts as held by you. If you defend your own bank then it counts as contested and a draw allows the attacker to remain. If it's an encounter then dice to see who arrived first as they have the choice (+2 if you have more cavalry)   

·         Strategic Crossroads: Hold the crossroads and rout the enemy to count as held.

·         Fortified Position (guarding a major port): Hold the fort to count as holding the square.

·         A strategically positioned farm complex. Hold the farm to count as the winner.

·         A town (acting as a supply depot): Hold the town to count as the winner.

·         A series of hills protecting the approach to a town: Hold the heights to count as the winner. Rout the enemy to count as the winner or hold the line with at least a brigade of fresh troops.  

Forces

Both sides have the following forces available:

·         3 x command-level generals

·         2 x Infantry Divisions

·         1 x Cavalry Brigade and 1 x Special Brigade (lights or guards)

You may deploy Infantry Division and a maximum of 2 supporting Brigades in a key point. You must have a command-level general to move troops, those without may only form a garrison.

Replacements are allocated each move. You receive a maximum of 25% of your starting force per turn, but capped at the original size of the force. This costs 2 VPs. The replacements are in proportion to the original structure of the force as noted in the army lists. 

Jagers / Rifles:  These can be broken-up before the campaign and a company allocated to an infantry brigade. They may not be later recombined though and whole battalions must be broken-up.

Light infantry: These may deploy half their number as skirmishers with the rest in reserve. The skirmishers deploy 12" in front of the reserves. Casualties are taken from the reserve.

Light Companies: These may deploy up to 12" in front of their unit. They don't trigger morale tests if lost but do count  towards overall casualties.

Heavy Cavalry: Cuirassiers and British dragoons count as "heavy" against other heavy cavalry.

British Cavalry: These must charge viable targets in range on 4-6 (D6). They will count as -1 melee as they are tired if they charge immediately following a melee, but have been made better as compensation.      

French
1st Infantry Division
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Line Infantry	Veteran		6	32	3	576
Leger	Regular	Skirm	6	30	3	540
Line Infantry	Regular		6	27	6	972
Dragoon	Regular	Shock	4	27	1	108
Hussar	Regular	Skirm	4	21	1	84
Heavy Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
Medium Battery	Regular		1	78	2	156
					Total	2534
2nd Infantry Division
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Line Infantry	Veteran		6	32	3	576
Leger	Regular	Skirm	6	30	3	540
Line Infantry	Regular		6	27	6	972
Dragoon	Regular	Shock	4	27	1	108
Hussar	Regular	Skirm	4	21	1	84
Heavy Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
Medium Battery	Regular		1	78	2	156
					Total	2534

 

Guards Brigade
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Old Guard	Elite	Shock	6	35	1	210
Young Guard	Veteran		6	32	1	192
Leger	Veteran	Skirm	6	35	1	210
Medium Battery	Veteran		1	100	1	100
					Total	732
Cavalry Brigade
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Dragoon	Regular	Shock	4	27	1	108
Chassuer	Veteran		4	26	1	104
Cuirassier	Veteran	Shock	4	32	1	128
Horse Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
					Total	438
Total	6238

 

Allies
Anglo-Dutch Infantry Division
	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General	+1	1	20	1	20
British Line Infantry		6	32	3	576
British Line Infantry		6	27	3	486
Hannovarians		6	27	3	486
Dutch Line Infantry		6	27	3	486
Dutch Jagers	Skirm	4	30	1	120
Dutch Carbiners	Shock	4	27	1	108
Dutch Hussars		4	21	1	84
Medium Battery		1	78	2	156
				Total	2522
Prussian Infantry Division
	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General	+1	1	20	1	20
"Old" Line Infantry		6	27	4	648
"Old" Fusiliers	Skirm	6	30	2	360
Reserve Infantry		6	27	2	324
Reserve Infantry		6	21	2	252
Dutch Line Infantry		6	27	3	486
Dutch Jagers	Skirm	4	30	1	120
Cuirassier	Shock	4	27	1	108
Hussar		4	21	1	84
Medium Battery		1	78	2	156
				Total	2558

Light Brigade
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		+1	1	20	1	20
Jager Companies	Regular	Skirm	6	30	1	180
Light Infantry	Veteran		6	35	1	210
Rifle Companies	Veteran	Rifles	6	39	1	234
Medium Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
					Total	722
British Cavalry Division
	Class	Note	No/unit	cost/stand	Units	cost
General		1	1	20	1	20
Dragoons	Regular	Shock	4	27	1	108
Hussars	Veteran		4	26	2	208
Horse Battery	Regular		1	78	1	78
					Total	414
Total	6216