Toledo Campaign – Day 1

9 March 2013

Marshal Suchet moves south to open his Seville campaign.

Toledo is the gateway to Andalusia, and his first objective

He opens the campaign with an attack on Torrijos

By doing so he hopes to lure the Spanish to support their left flank

This would allow him to advance down the main road in the centre

Battle of Torrijos – Move 4

To reach Torrijos the Poles have to move through the mountains.

As they near the town they send their lancer brigade to the left hand valley

This is to prevent the Spanish gunners concentrating on the valley exit

 

Just about everything which could go wrong for the Spanish did so

The town was held by a militia brigade, supported by one of the two weak Spanish corps.   They only have three infantry brigades and corps artillery, no cavalry at all.  The Vistula have four infantry and one cavalry brigade, plus corps artillery.  They also had a brigade from the reserve who would form the garrison of Torrijos when they took the town.

 

The Spanish gunners fired on the enemy infantry six times, but failed to hit once

By contrast the Polish gunners fired three times and hit each time

First the infantry on the left of the town supporting the gunners

The first time the Polish artillery fired they hit the square, which broke and ran

The second and third time they hit the left hand garrison, who were shaken

 

The Polish cavalry then charged the Spanish gunners

They hit the cavalry, but could not stop them

 

Four Polish infantry brigades attacked just before nightfall

On the left they stormed the town and routed the shaken garrison

In the centre they were held to a draw by the military brigade in garrison

On the right two brigades charged and routed the remaining Spanish brigade

 

The Poles lost 2 infantry and 1 cavalry (900 casualties)

The Spanish lost 8 infantry and 2 gunners (3400 casualties)

 

Unfortunately a very historical outcome.   The Spanish were broken and routed with heavy casualties.  The Poles won with minimum casualties.

 

This was not the rules, it was down to a very unfortunate run of bad dice for the Spanish player (Jan).   When this happens it is very tempting to either ignore a couple of critical results, or to play the whole wargame again.   But we always resist the temptation to do so.   No matter how disappointing the outcome, there would be no point in the campaign if we did not abide with the outcome.

 

In Spanish campaign games the French almost always win the opening battles.   It is only when they advance and experience attrition problems from the guerrilla that things become difficult for them.  

 

Also all battle casualties, less 10% per brigade, will be replaced eventually.   The three Polish casualties were spread between two infantry and the cavalry brigades.  Just 10% each, so none will be replaced.

 

The Spanish heavier casualties per brigade, 4 on one and 3 a second.   5 of those casualties will be replaced, leaving each brigade with just 10% each.   So again time is with the Spanish.

 

It is just hard to remember all of that when you keep rolling 1 or 2, when you need at least 4 or 5.