Sunday 28 January 2018

Spanish Campaign Army – Town Garrison


Campaign Tactical Map

At the start of the campaign the French have one garrison, in this case Probete, which is provided by the field army.  All supplies will arrive at this depot until they establish more depots.  To do so they must detach one full strength infantry brigade in a town.  The garrison will forage each day and collect sufficient supplies to support one full corps for one day.

The Spanish start the campaign with eight garrisons.  They are local militia troops who are independent of the field army and the Spanish CinC.  They will remain in the town until it is occupied by the French, when they will become a guerrilla band.   The Spanish can only have four depots, so four of the towns have a garrison but are not a depot.

The main role of the guerrilla bands is to attack French garrisons.   They can only do so if the nearest French corps is more than one square from the town to be attacked.
The attack is not played as a wargame, it is decided by a dice throw.

Plus 1 for each additional guerrilla band attacking at the same time
Plus 1 for B class garrison
Minus 1 for each 10% casualties
Minus 1 if shaken

1 – Guerrilla lose 10% casualties and rout
2 – Guerrilla lose 10% casualties, are shaken and retreat
3 – Guerrilla lose no casualties and retreat shaken
4 – Guerrilla lose no casualties and retreat
5 – French lose no casualties but are shaken
6 – French lose 10% casualties and rout

The odds are heavily in favour of the garrison, particularly if they are fully trained troops (B Class).   But they are reduced if the garrison has suffered casualties

A guerrilla band can only attack when in supply and unshaken.   They carry a maximum of three days supplies.   One day to reach the garrison, a second day to attack and a third day to retreat to a safe town or village to resupply.  

Casualties for both garrison and guerrilla are replaced when they are in supply, formed (not shaken or in rout) and not under attack.   However the final 10% of casualties are never removed.  So any brigade which suffers any casualties will suffer a reduction of morale and combat ability until the end of the campaign phase.

When a garrison is under attack it cannot forage, nor can it receive supplies.   So even if they repulse the guerrilla without casualties, they will still lose one days supplies.   The main supply depot will receive one extra day’s supply, so the army will always hold the minimum of 20 days supplies.  However it will have to be transported from the garrison if there are no corps close enough to supply.

If the guerrilla do rout the garrison and take the town, they will take control of any supplies held there. 

You will find the campaign rules for guerrilla here

Sunday 21 January 2018

Spanish Campaign Army – Militia and Guerrilla


Campaign Tactical Map

This shows the campaign at the end of the ninth day.   The four French corps have advanced south and have forced the Spanish regular army to retire to Linares, which is the campaign objective for both armies.   Behind the four French corps are three depots, each with an infantry brigade as garrison.   The French have occupied six towns, which has produced six guerrilla bands.   One has captured the French depot at Abenojar (top left) and a second is attacking the routed garrison which is trying to get to Probete.

There are nine militia brigades, one for each town on the map.  When the town is occupied by the French, its militia brigade becomes a guerrilla band.   The guerrilla must remain in the general area of their town, and can only supply by moving into an unoccupied town or village.   
Mixed regular and irregular troops

In the photo above a Spanish regular corps has deployed in front of the town, which is occupied by a militia brigade.   The milita cannot be moved from the town, but they will fight to hold it.

The militia garrison does not come under the command of the Spanish commander, and cannot be moved out of the town.  They can be moved from one town section to another as required.   If supported by a regular corps they will fight to defend the town.

The main role of the guerrilla is to attack isolated French garrisons or supply trains.   To do so they must move into an adjacent square.   They are allowed a maximum of three days supplies, so they only have one day to attack.  They move into location, fight and then move back to resupply.

If they run out of supplies they are not allowed to attack.  In addition they lose 10% casualties for each day out of supply.   This will reduce their morale and combat ability.

You will find the campaign diary blog here