Fighting in a Built Up Area (BUA)

Table at start of Game

At the end of the wargame both corps appeared to be broken

The French had lost 3700 casualties and three brigades in rout

The British had lost 4300 casualties and the whole corps in rout

Casualties by brigade are shown below

1^st British Corps – General Stewart (Average)

1 infantry brigade     4000 men      B class          1200 casualties          rout

2 infantry brigade     4000 men      B class          1200 casualties          rout

3 infantry brigade     4000 men      C class         1200 casualties          rout

4 infantry brigade     4000 men      C class         400 casualties          rout

1 cavalry brigade     1000 men      B class          100 casualties          rout

1 corps artillery        1000 men      B class          200 casualties           rout

8^th French Corps – General Taupin (Poor)

29 infantry brigade   4000 men      B class          2000 casualties          rout

30 infantry brigade   4000 men      B class          800 casualties          rout

31 infantry brigade   4000 men      C class         800 casualties          rout

32 infantry brigade   4000 men      C class        

8 cavalry brigade     1000 men      B class          100 casualties

8 corps artillery        1000 men      B class         

However in campaign terms these casualties are not as bad as they seem

The French will halt next day

Overnight they will rally their routed brigades

Because they do not move they will be able to regroup their casualties

This means that most infantry casualties will be transferred to one brigade

Usually the one with the most casualties, in this case 29 infantry brigade

Each day that the corps does not move they will receive battle replacements

At the rate of 10% of one brigade for each day

10% of one brigade is 100 cavalry or gunners or 400 infantry

The British will retreat next day

At nightfall they will have the same casualties and routed brigades

If they are allowed to halt the following day they will rally and reorganise

They will then receive battle replacements at the same rate as the French

If the French pursue they will have to continue their retreat

Casualties and routed brigades will remain until they are allowed to rest

However no brigade which has suffered casualties will ever be full strength again

They will always have 10% casualties.

This will reduce their morale and combat effectiveness for the remainder of the campaign.

Link to Wargame Rules

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Link to Campaign Rules

http://napoleoniccampaignrules.blogspot.com/

Fighting in a Built Up Area (BUA)

Move 12

British move first

Gunners and Portuguese infantry are the only formations not in rout

However both are shaken and cannot accept new orders until rallied

Infantry test morale for shaken

1D6 need 8, roll 4, fail and rout

Gunners test morale for shaken

1D6 need 8, roll 2, fail and rout

The whole British corps is now in rout

French move second

Lancers are disordered and out of command range

They return to corps commander and will rally at end of this move

Until then they are unable to pursue routed British

Artillery fire on 4 Portuguese brigade

2D6 need 9, roll 10, hit and another 10% casualties

Portuguese already in rout and do not need to take morale

30 infantry complete occupation of farm

29, 31 and 32 infantry continue to rout

Summary

The game has ended in a comprehensive French victory.

Infantry, supported by cavalry and artillery, hold the farm

The entire British corps is in rout

French have lost 3700 casualties

British have lost 4300 casualties

In the next blog I will show casualties by brigade and explain the effect on the campaign.

Link to Wargame Rules

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Fighting in a Built Up Area (BUA)

Move 11

French move first

Artillery fire on 2 infantry

2D6 need 7, roll 7, hit 10% casualties

Infantry test morale for casualties

1D6 need 5, roll 1, fail and rout

Nearby 4 brigade test morale for rout within 4”

1D6 need 4, roll 3, fail and are shaken

British gunners test morale for rout within 4”

1D6 need 4, roll 3, fail and are shaken

Lancers charge 3 infantry

Infantry test to form square, 1D6 need 6, roll 2, fail to react

Lancers melee infantry

2D6 + 6, roll 9

Infantry rout with 20% casualties

Shaken Hussars test morale for rout within 4”

1D6 need 6, roll 2, fail morale and rout

Lancers test morale to pursue, roll 1, fail and halt disordered

30 French enter farm

31 French test morale for shaken

1D6 need 7, roll 1, fail and rout

32 French test morale for shaken

1D6 need 7, roll 3, fail and rout

British move second

1 infantry continue rout to edge of farm

Remainder of corps are in rout or shaken and cannot carry out orders

Summary

This move highlights the advantage of moving first

Normally this is decided by a dice roll

But in this game each side move first alternatively

Moving first the French artillery could rout the shaken highland infantry

The Lancers could charge and rout the infantry and supporting shaken cavalry

It also highlights the weakness of brigades with poor morale and casualties

Two French infantry brigades failed their morale and routed this turn

The advantage has moved to the French

Their cavalry and artillery, plus one infantry brigade, are all in good order

The British still have their artillery and one infantry brigade

But both are shaken and must rally before they will obey new orders

Link to Wargame Rules

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/