Hildesheim Campaign – Day Five

 

23 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 5

The Prussians attack Alfeld
1st Prussian army – attack Alfeld
2nd Prussian army – regroup Holle
3rd Prussian army – occupy Harsum

The French retreat to Springe
1st French army – regroup Hildesheim
2nd French army – retreat to Springe
3rd French army – defend Alfeld

Battle of Alfeld – End of Move 2

On 20 August the Prussians defeated the French at the battle of Seesen
The French retreated to Alfeld and the Prussians entered the city of Seesen
Both armies have regrouped and the Prussians now attack Alfeld

1st Prussian army, commanded by Marshal Blucher, attack Alfeld
They have12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
They start the battle with 3 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (1200 men)

3rd French army, commanded by Marshal Murart, defend Alfeld
They have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
They start the battle with 5 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2100 men)

Murat has created a cavalry reserve by taking command of the cavalry brigades of 7th and 8th corps. He has placed them centre right between the two corps…

Blucher has created a grand battery by taking command of the artillery of 1st and 2nd corps. He has placed them centre right opposite the French cavalry reserve.

On the right 7th French corps have occupied the woods. 1st Prussian corps is advancing to attack the woods, with their cavalry on the far right. These cavalry charge the French gunners, who evade into a nearby square. The Prussian infantry are then free to attack and capture the woods.

The Prussian grand battery advance in support of 1st Prussian corps. They are charged by the French reserve cavalry, and one battery is routed. However one cavalry brigade fails to charge home and the second are counter charged by the 2nd Prussian cavalry. Both French cavalry brigades retreat is disorder.

This allows 2nd Prussian cavalry to force 8th French corps infantry into square, and they are routed when charged by the Prussian infantry.

On the left 3rd Prussian corps advance to attack the farm. Their cavalry and artillery pin 9th Polish corps, whilst their infantry attack and capture the farm

Comments

It is quite normal for the CinC to take command of either cavalry or artillery to form a reserve. Normally the opposing general creates a similar command, and this often results in a stalemate.

However this time the Prussian commander left all three cavalry brigades with their respective corps. Instead he took command of artillery and supporting infantry from two of his corps and placed them opposite the French cavalry. He then manhandled his guns forward, and the French cavalry have to either charge the guns or retreat. They choose the former option.

When cavalry charge enemy guns they advance half a move. The gunners must then test their morale to determine how they will react. If they pass the test they can choose to fire at short range, or evade if there are supporting troops within half a move.

In this game one Prussian battery started with 10% casualties, which is minus 1 on firing. They retreated to a nearby square. The cavalry charging them halted and withdrew next move.

The second battery remained with the guns; the French cavalry charged and received 10% casualties. If the cavalry charge home it is an automatic 10% casualties on the gunners and an automatic rout. However the cavalry failed the morale test and halted shaken. The nearby Prussian cavalry then charged and routed them.

The loss of the French cavalry gave a big advantage to the Prussian army and played a major role in them taking all three game objectives. However if the cavalry had won, and the Prussians lost two of their three corps artillery, they would not have been able to continue their attack.

This is the first time that we have used this tactic of opposing massed cavalry with massed artillery. It was a risky option, but fortunately it paid off. No doubt this tactic will be used in future game, and it will be interesting to see how often it works.

Blogger is very slow

 

Is anybody else having problems with Blogger .   It is very slow to post photos or amend text.   I keep getting a message "this page is not responding" and Post: Edit.   It started about ten days ago.

Wargame Rules - Artillery

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I was having problems with the Artillery rules.   In particular the effect of crew casualties.   In our current rules casualties are shown as a percentage, for example 10%.    Such casualties affect the combat and morale tests by imposing a minus 1 on all tests.

This created a particular problem with counter battery fire.   At long range artillery required a roll of 6 using 1D6.   This meant that a battery with just 1 casualty could not hit enemy gunners at long range.   Long range artillery is 12” and short range 4”.   This gave a massive advantage to the side without any gunner casualties and their gun dominated each game.

Counter battery fire had become a standard tactic in our games, particularly for the attacking player.   The attacking player would unlimber his artillery at long range of the enemy guns, with the rest of his army out of range.   Both sides would then fire away at each other, usually with no effect at all.  

Apart from counter battery fire, the only other option was to charge the enemy guns with cavalry.   Cavalry charge range is 12”, the same as artillery long range.   The cavalry would have to move into artillery long range, and then charge the next move.   This meant that the artillery could fire once at long range (3 or more for a hit) and again at short range (2 or more for a hit).   

I am play testing a new rule which restricts counter battery fire to short range.   I have never experienced a game where guns are able to deploy that close to the enemy guns.   In practice they would be engaged by either cavalry or even infantry.

With this rule change cavalry is the most favoured option for removing enemy artillery, though a very risky one.   The sequence for cavalry charging artillery is:

Cavalry advance half move (6”)

Gunners test morale, if they pass they can either fire at short range or evade to nearby supports

If gunners evade cavalry can either halt disordered, or retreat 6” to their start line

With cavalry the only option to take out the enemy gunners, this tactic is used much more often than when counter battery fire was an option.   We draw chips to determine the sequence of corps moves each turn.   If the cavalry are drawn after the enemy artillery they can move into charge range of the gunners without risking fire at long range 

The artillery reaction has become an interesting choice.    If they pass their morale test they must choose to either fire at short range or evade.   If they evade the enemy cavalry can prevent them returning to the guns.   If they fire they will probably hit the cavalry, who must then test their morale to charge home.   They require a roll of 3 or more to do so.   If they pass they charge and the gunners rout with 10% casualties.  If they fail they remain at short range of the guns and are either disordered or shaken depending on their test result.  

In our first game using this new rule there were two cavalry charges against artillery.  In one the gunners already had 10% casualties, passed their morale test but ran to a nearby infantry square.   In the second the gunners fired, the cavalry failed their morale test and were counter charged by enemy cavalry and routed.

Lots of possibilities with this rule amendment and it has added a new challenge to our wargames

Hildesheim Campaign – Day Four

22 August 1813 – Northern Germany Day 4

The Prussians attack Harsum
1st Prussian army – regroup Seesen
2nd Prussian army – occupy Holle
3rd Prussian army – attack Harsum

The French retreat to Hildesheim
1st French army – retreat Hildesheim
2nd French army – defend Harsum
3rd French army – regroup Alfeld

Second battle of Harsum – End of Move 2

On 19 August general Yorck failed to take the town of Harsum
He had to retreat east to Langelsheim to regroup

Since then the French have been defeated at Holle and Seesen
They both had to retreat west to regroup

This has left Marshal Victor isolated at Harsum

Yorck has been ordered to attack Harsum again and force Victor to retreat

General Yorck commands 3rd Prussian army
Marshal Victor commands 2nd French army
Both armies have suffered casualties at the first battle of Harsum

French start the battle with 6 infantry and 1 artillery casualty – 2500 men
Prussians start the battle with 4 infantry and 1 artillery casualty 1700 men

On the left the French artillery started the battle with 10% casualties
This meant that they were outgunned by the Prussian artillery
Consequently 6th corps had to withdraw slowly to keep out of artillery range
This allowed the Prussian infantry to attack and take the village

In the centre both CinC had taken command of two cavalry brigades
Neither side were prepared to risk a melee, and neither played any role in the battle
Without cavalry support the fight for the woods in the centre was an infantry melee.
It continued for three moves, but eventually the Prussians took the woods and road junction

On the right the Prussian artillery started the game with 10% casualties
This put them at a serious disadvantage against 4th French corps.
However the Prussian infantry advanced onto the hill and engaged the French infantry
This melee continued for most of the game, and both sides lost many casualties
But once again the Prussians gained the advantage and took the hill

Having captures all three game objectives the Prussians won the battle

Comments

The large number of casualties with which both sides started the game would play an important role. As explained above this was particularly so for those corps with gunner casualties.

The reluctance of both sides to commit their cavalry did not play a significant role. If they had risked an extended cavalry melee it would have been a game changer for the winner. Had the Prussians lost they would not have been able to advance their infantry in mass. A French defeat would have resulted in their infantry being forced into square, and their gunners put at risk. This is the reason neither player risked a cavalry battle.

The Prussians were able to concentrate their best infantry brigades to attack the three game objectives. The game was decided by three prolonged infantry melee. This is always risky, because so much depends on the luck of the dice. And with both sides starting the game with casualties, many brigades were very brittle and at risk from morale tests. The large number of French brigades in rout at the end of the game was a direct result of this condition. Once one brigade failed their morale and routed, all supporting brigades within 4” had to test their own morale. If they had existing casualties there was a real risk the rout would spread throughout the whole corps.

Very enjoyable game, and not nearly as one sided as the outcome would suggest. In the early moves either side could easily have one any of the three decisive infantry melee. The French were unfortunate that they failed their early morale, and the rot spread

Wargame Rules – Artillery

The use of just 1D6 to determine all combat and morale rules has proved a great improvement on the previous rules, which used 2D6. It has simplified outcomes and also made them much more unpredictable.

However to determine artillery fire casualties it has raised problems which I am currently struggling with. The artillery rules are as follows:

Total require for a hit
06 – Artillery at long range
05 – Artillery at short range
05 – Building, woods or hills at long range
04 – Building, woods or hills at short range
04 – cavalry at long range
03 – cavalry at short range
03 – infantry at long range
02 – infantry at short range

Combat factors
each casualty – minus 1
walled town – minus 1

When all artillery crews are at full strength there are no problems. However after the first three battles of a campaign each army will have battle casualties. These are reduced to just 1 per brigade when the army is regrouped (receive reinforcements and redistribute casualties). So when at the start of the fourth, fifth and sixth battles it is normal for many brigades, including artillery, to start the game with one casualty.

The photograph above shows the artillery casualties at the start of the game. 4th and 6th French corps artillery each have one casualty. The Prussian artillery do not have any casualties. This is quite unusual, more often only one side will have a casualty, or else both sides will have a casualty thus sharing the problem for both players.

The attacking army must try to reduce the effectiveness of the enemy artillery. Failure to do so will almost always result in failure. For example an infantry brigade will be receive casualties twice before they reach defending artillery. At long range the gunners require 3 to hit, at short range only 2. Each time they receive casualties the infantry have to test morale, they deduct 1 for each casualty plus 1 for being disordered. With two casualties the infantry are very likely to fail their morale and retreat or rout.

Counter battery fire is the usual way to reduce the effectiveness of enemy artillery. However at long range the gunners require a total of 6 for a hit. If they start the game with one artillery casualty the maximum they can achieve is 5. They would have to move to close range of the enemy gunners (4”) to be able to hit them.

When I wrote the rules I anticipated that rolling a 6 in counter battery fire would not happen very often. I don’t know what the odds are, but I do know that it has happened surprisingly often in our wargames. And, of course, it always seems to happen to the wrong side! If the attacking army are unable to hit the enemy gunners their infantry are at a huge disadvantage in launching an attack.

Balance is all important in wargame rules, and I am not sure that I have it right in this particular case. In all other circumstances the artillery rules work quite well. With two dice, allowing a maximum of 12 outcomes, I could adjust the tables. This is not possible with jus t one dice.

Despite my reservations I am inclined to keep the existing rules and just accept that rolling a 6 to hit the enemy gunners is actually quite hard. And when it does happen it is just luck. Sometimes it is better to accept an apparent unfair advantage, and accept that you can’t always find a solution to every problem.

Hildesheim Campaign – Day Three

21 August 1813 – Northern Germany Day 3

The Prussians attack Holle
1st Prussian army – occupy Seesen
2nd Prussian army – attack Holle
3rd Prussian army – regroup Langelsheim

The French retreat to Alfeld
1st French army – defend Holle
2nd French army – retreat to Alfeld
3rd French army – regroup at the border

Battle of Holle – End of Move 2

The French, commanded by Napoleon, occupy the three game objectives at the start of the battle
Old Guard woods on the right
2nd French corps road junction in the centre
3rd French corps farm on the left

The Prussians, commanded by Blucher, arrive at the start of move 1
4th corps attack the woods on the right
5th corps attack the road junction in the centre
6th corps attack the farm on the left

4th corps, on the right, never look like taking the woods
They capture and hold one section, but the French hold the other two

5th corps in the centre, is the main Prussian attack
Blucher takes command of half of 6th corps to support them
They break, and rout, all of 2nd French corps

6th corps, on the left, pin the French holding the farm on the left
With the centre broken, Blucher attacks the farm with artillery and two brigades
The French hold the farm for three moves/hours, but eventually retreat

At nightfall the Prussians hold two of the three game objectives and win the game

Comments

Another very enjoyable wargame, with the advantage moving from one side to the other
The game lasts a maximum of 12 moves, and could go either way until move 8

The French cavalry were unlucky, and lost all three melee, though the guard rallied
The Prussian cavalry could then threaten the Prussian artillery and force them to withdraw

The massed Prussian infantry attack on the three objectives started on move 6.
Only one brigade could occupy or enter each game objective
Both sides had committed their best infantry brigades to hold and attack
So it required a prolonged fight to determine the outcome

However the Prussian cavalry could pin the French reserve infantry
This allowed the Prussian infantry to bring their full strength to bear

The French have lost 12 infantry. 4 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (5400 men)
The Prussian have lost 7 infantry casualties (2800 men)

A decisive Prussian victory

Feeling My Age

 

I don’t often have a moan on any of my blogs, because I usually feel that I have a lot to be grateful for and know only too well that there is a lot who would happily change places with me tomorrow.

However.......

Last June I turned 80 which is one of those critical birthdays which it is more difficult than usual to ignore.   We moved to Spain in my early 60s, and I remember thinking “60 is the new 50”.   It may not be true, but there is an element of truth in it.   My wife and I were still quite fit and made the most of moving to this lovely part of Spain.   

A month after we arrived a new U3A was formed in our local town, and we were amongst the first members.   This introduced us to hundreds of ex pats who had taken the decision to move to Spain for our retirement.   In 2006 there was a real surge of brits moving to Spain, encouraged by the many TV programmes such as “A life in the Sun” and the free four day visits paid for by local estate agents to encourage the move.   It was a very exciting time and great to be surrounded by like minded people of a similar age.   Everyone was new, so everyone wanted to make friends.

We took full advantage of the many coach trips organised by the U3A for four day trips to Madrid, Granada, Seville, Barcelona and Saragossa – plus many many more.

We also discovered hill walking with a local walking group, a hobby which we have enjoyed ever since.   For ten years or so we walked as part of a group, but as they got older we started our own walking group.    This not only kept us fit, but widened our circle of friends.

Equally important we built our first custom made wargames table.   Our house was bought “off plan”, which meant we had a large say in how the rooms could be adopted.   We were able to expand an underbuild to provide us with a space large enough for a 6x6 foot table, and an adjoining room for shelves to hold the model soldiers and model buildings

A third project was to make a large collection of model houses to populate our wargame tables spreading from north Germany to southern Spain.   And in two scales, one for 28mm and a second for 18mm.    My wife was the artistic one who designed and built the card buildings.   I got to paint them.   This kept us busy for a couple of years.

My 70^th birthday passed by almost unnoticed.   I have never been one to celebrate birthdays or occasions.   Nor do I particularly enjoy eating out, despite the many excellent and relatively cheap restaurants available locally.   I would rather have a favourite meal on our naya (balcony) on a warm June evening with a cold glass of wine followed by brandy and coffee.

However 80 years old demanded my attention.   As it approached I became aware that many of our walking friends had given up hill walking.   Being in the U3A there is always a supply of new arrivals eager to join in new activities, particularly walking which is not only healthy but also a great way to meet new friends, even if your are not a natural mixer.   However the group was remaining the same age (average 70ish) but we had gone from the youngest to be far the oldest.

My wife Jan had had an accident on the mountains, which made her very wary to tackling the harder climbs.   We had always walked together, and I just didn’t enjoy the walks so much without her.   So I decided to start a new walking group, but this time easy 9km valley walks.   We both enjoyed them, and within a few months it was just as popular as our previous more challenging mountain walks.   But it was an admission that we were both finding the walks we previously enjoyed very challenging.

In March last year my optician confirmed that I had cataracts of both eyes which now needed attention.   I was quite shocked to discover that I had lost 20% of the sight in both eyes in just a few months.  I visited our local GP and was referred to the local hospital.   But, as in the UK, there would be a long wait.   With all the elderly Brits living locally there is a lot of call for replacement knees and hips plus of course cataracts.   It would take 9 months to get the hospital appointment, and another 5 months to get a date for the first operation.   Fortunately my sight did not get worse during this long wait – at least until a few weeks ago.

In late May I became aware that I could no longer read paper size print without eye strain.   I managed ok with the computer, until a few weeks later when I found that becoming difficult too.

Then a week ago I caught a bad cold/flu from my wife, causing me to worry that the operation might be cancelled if they realised when I turned up for the operation.   Finally four days ago an early heat wave arrived without warning.   Temperatures rose from a pleasant 24-26c to a very uncomfortable 34-36c.  

So for the past few days I have been feeling very sorry for myself.   Unable to spend so much time on the computer, feeling too ill to either walk or want to wargame and the approaching operation on my eyes which I would rather not think about too much.

Tomorrow is the first cataract operation, and the weather forecast is for lower temperatures next week.  So hopefully when the next blog comes along I will be feeling much more my normal self and not feeling so sorry for myself.

To celebrate the above I have updated my blog photograph.   The earlier one was taken in about 2008, this one was June 2025.   Our walking group surprised me with a birthday cake and a photograph of Jan and I after one of our walks.  I was starting to feel a little dishonest positing the earlier photo and can feel that I am being more honest with this one.