Ingolstadt Campaign – Day Six

Campaign Map

17 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 6

French attack Ingolstadt and retreat to Lauf
7th French army – retreat to Lauf
8th French army – attack Ingolstadt
9th French army – rally and resupply at Manching

Aus
1st Austrian army – regroup at Buxheim
2nd Austrian army – defend Ingolstadt
3rd Austrian army – rally and resupply at Emsgaden

Battle of Ingolstadt – End of Battle

8th French army, commanded by Marshal Mortier, attack Ingolstadt
2nd Austrian army, commanded by General Klenau, defend Ingolstadt

French have 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades, 3 corps artillery
Austrians have 10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades, 3 corps artillery

Both armies are full strength, less brigades detached on garrison duty.

Ingolstadt is the main administrative centre for the Austrian army
It is also the campaign objective for this campaign phase

The Austrians advanced to attack the Bavarians as they entered the table and started to cross the three bridges. The Bavarian cavalry crossed first and deployed to allow the infantry and artillery to cross behind them.

On the left 6th Austrian dragoons charged and routed the 24th hussars. This delayed the rest of the Bavarian corps, until their artillery deployed on the northern bank and routed the Austrians dragoons.

On the right 22nd Bavarian corps took a big risk in placing their artillery on the right bank of the river. This allowed them to force the elite Austrian division holding the right bank to retreat, and it also allowed them to engage the rest of the Austrian corps on the left bank. The Austrian artillery redeployed to engage the enemy gunners, but this allowed the rest of the Bavarian corps to attack along the left bank and take the first objective – the ford.

The Bavarians now attacked the hills in the centre and on the left, the second and third objectives. This developed into an infantry melee, and the Austrians lost both

Having secured all three objectives the Bavarians won the game and the campaign.

Comments

The Austrians were deployed on the table at the start of the game, but out of artillery range of the bridges. The Bavarians moved first and managed to get all three cavalry brigades on the enemy side of the bridges, to protect the infantry and artillery as they crossed the river.

On the left the Austrian cavalry charged and routed the Bavarian cavalry. This delayed the right hand corps and almost won them the game. The Bavarian artillery unlimbered and fired on the rallying Austrian cavalry, hitting them and causing 10% casualties. The cavalry failed their morale test and routed.

This is a good example of how a good, or bad, dice roll can affect the whole game. In this case the luck favoured the Austrians in game move 2, but deserted them in move 3. In effect it saved the whole game. Had the Austrian cavalry passed their morale test, their artillery could have deployed within short range of their side of the bridge. This would have prevented one third of the Bavarian army from crossing and ensured an Austrian victory.

A daring plan can also have an impact. On the right flank the Bavarians risked putting their artillery on the right bank of the river, leaving them no artillery on the left bank to counter the Austrian gunners there. The elite Austrian infantry division on the right bank had no answer to the approaching artillery, and retreated to abandon their side of the ford. The Bavarian gunners could now fire at close range on the mass of Austrian infantry on the left bank. The Austrians retreated and the Bavarians took their first objective.

The hills in the centre and on the left were the second and third objectives. Both were decided by prolonged infantry combat. This was decided by the luck of the dice, and this time”lady luck” smiled on the Bavarians.

Interesting, and very enjoyable, wargame for both of us.

Ingolstadt Campaign – Day Five

 

Campaign Map

16 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 5

French attack Buxheim and occupy Manching
7th French army – attack Buxheim
8th French army – regroup and resupply
9th French army – occupy Manching

Austrian defend Buxheim and retreat to Emsgaden
1st Austrian army – defend Buxheim
2nd Austrian army – regroup and resupply
3rd Austrian army – retreat to Emsgaden

Battle of Buxheim – End of Battle

Seventh Bavarian army is commanded by Marshal Massena
First Austrian army is commanded by General Schwartzenberg

On 13 August Massena was defeated at the first battle of Buxheim
He retreated to Lauf and the Austrians occupied Buxheim

The remainder of the Austrian army has retreated east
As a result Schwartzenberg is isolated at Buxheim
Whatever the outcome of this battle he will have to retire east

The Bavarians have 10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades and 3 corps artillery
The Austrians have 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades and 3 corps artillery

The Bavarians were winning this game until move 9, when the reserve cavalry charged the Austrian artillery in the centre. If they could take the guns the cavalry would dominate the centre and allow the Bavarian infantry to take the T junction. They already held the farm on the right, and would thus hold two of the three objectives and win the game.

The gunners caused casualties, the cavalry rolled 1 on their morale test and routed. The rallied Austrian cavalry charged the reserve Bavarian brigade, which was disordered by the rout, causing them to rout as well. It was now the Austrian cavalry who dominated the centre, and caused the Bavarian centre to halt and form square.

The Bavarians took the farm, but lost it to a counter attack.

They attacked the hill, but lost the skirmish battle and were forced to retreat.

A convincing and well deserved Austrian victory

Comments

Another game when the apparent winners lost everything in just three moves, and all due to the luck of the dice. In fact we had to play an extra move to determine the winner of the final battle for the farm on the right.

Some wargamers may not like this type of result, in which victory can turn to defeat in the last three of twelve moves. But we really enjoy this element of luck, which makes a game interesting right up to the last move.

It can be annoying if one side has a long series of good, or bad, dice. But when it is evenly balanced, but the critical dice throw is the decider it heightens our enjoyment of the game. “Horses for courses” as they say

Ingolstadt Campaign – Day Four

Campaign Map

15 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 4

French attack Manching and occupy Bergheim
7th French army – rally and resupply at Lauf
8th French army – occupy Bergheim
9th French army – attack Manching

Austrian defend Manching and retreat to Ingolstadt
1st Austrian army – regroup and resupply at Buxheim
2nd Austrian army – retreat to Ingolstadt
3rd Austrian army – defend Manching

Battle of Manching – End of Battle

9th Bavarian army, commanded by Marshal Ney, attack Manching
3rd Austrian army, commanded by General Mervedt, defend Manching

Bavarian have 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
3 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty
They have 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (200 men)

Austrian have 10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
2 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty
They have 2 infantry, and 3 cavalry casualties (1100 men)

The Bavarians start the battle with just two days supplies, the Austrians have 4 days
If Ney is defeated, his army will have to retreat with just one day’s supplies
If they run out of supplies they will suffer attrition casualties (400 men per day)

The Austrian army occupy the three objectives at the start of the battle.
They also outnumber the Bavarian infantry
Their battle line is further north than usual, to support the hill on the left

The battle opens when the Austrian reserve cavalry charge the enemy guns
The gunners evade to nearby supporting infantry squares
The Bavarian cavalry then charge, and rout both Austrian brigades

On the left 7th Austrian corps has more infantry than 25th Bavarian corps
They move forward to attack, led by their cavalry brigade
The Bavarian light horse charge and rout the Austrian hussars
Without cavalry support the Austrian infantry are forced to retreat in square
With no support the garrison of the inn also retreats.

8th Austrian corps in the centre hold their ground
But without cavalry support the infantry are forced to form square
26th Bavarian corps advance forcing the Austrians to retreat

9th Austrian corps have two infantry brigades on the hill
They are attacked by three Baden brigades, lose the fire fight and are routed

Comments

I expected the Austrians to win this battle.
They outnumbered the Bavarian infantry ten to nine brigades
Both sides started with battle casualties, but neither had any advantage

The Austrians were unlucky to lose all three cavalry melee.
This forced their infantry to form square, and left their artillery vulnerable to attack
The Bavarians were quick to exploit their advantage

The Austrians lost two cavalry melee in the centre, due to poor dice
However they might have recovered with their attack on the right
But luck was against them again, when they lost the third cavalry melee

Without cavalry support the Austrian infantry were forced into square
This left them with no defence against Bavarian artillery and infantry in column
When charged by Bavarian cavalry, their gunners all ran to the nearest square for safety

The only exception was the hill on the left
Cavalry cannot fight on hills, and guns are ineffective
Two good Austrian infantry brigades held the hill
They were deployed in line, which should have held their own against enemy columns
But the Bavarian infantry did not charge the hill
They halted and sent their skirmishers forward
Again luck deserted the Austrians
They lost the first round of skirmish, and never recovered

An interesting game, but I feel the Austrians were particularly unlucky
And in Wargaming, as in life, there is no real answer to excessive bad luck.

Battle and Campaign Casualties

 

 

The only purpose of my 1813 campaign is to provide interesting battles to wargame.  Each campaign phase is now designed to provide about 9 battles

However I also want the campaign to recreate an acceptable Napoleonic strategic appearance.  This second objective has long caused me serious problems in designing and managing the campaign.

Most, if not all, historical campaigns follow the same general principles.  The attacking general aims to achieve overwhelming odds and a strategic advantage for the opening battles of the campaign.   This was particularly so during the Napoleonic period.  Having achieved this initial objective the attacker would follow up and seek to destroy the weakened enemy army.

Any wargamer will quickly realise that this is not going to achieve my objective of interesting wargames.   And certainly not six or more battles/wargames per campaign phase..   In most wargames casualties are much higher than in historical battles.   It is very hard, if not impossible, to wargame a tactical retreat.   This is particularly true if the wargame rules used rely heavily on luck, in the form of dice.  

If the winning army is allowed to aggressively pursue the retreating losing army, the second and subsequent battles will be very uneven.  This is because it is hard to win a wargame when one side starts the game with many more casualties than the other side, and particularly if those casualties are in cavalry or artillery.

It did not take me very long to realise these limitations.    And given that I wanted each wargame to be enjoyable, I have to find a way to reduce the impact of losing a wargame.   I did so by allowing both armies to be reinforced to reduce the effect of battle casualties.  

First I kept the actual wargame casualties, but moved them into one infantry brigades per corps.   For example if there were seven infantry casualties spread between four brigades, I would concentrate them all in one brigade with seven casualties and three brigades with no casualties.   This worked quite well, because both armies would have three full strength brigades and the odd casualties in the fourth brigade would mean it was non operational.

But it didn’t work so well with artillery and cavalry casualties.  There is only one brigade of each per corps, so they could not be concentrated in one brigade.   In my rules each casualty is minus 1 on morale and combat tests, so a brigade with two casualties is effectively non operational.

I overcame this problem by keeping all casualties in the brigade which received them, but reducing each brigade to just one casualty.   This meant a slight disadvantage for such a brigade of minus one for combat and morale tests.   Because both armies had similar numbers of brigades affected this worked reasonably well.   I have used this system for many years.

In my current campaign rules each army has nine corps, divided into three armies of three corps each.   These armies can only move east or west, and consequently remain opposed to the same opponent throughout the campaign phase.  If one side has more brigades affected than the other, this will remain a problem throughout the whole campaign phase.  

However recently I have become increasingly aware that even these reduced casualties can give the winning side too much of an advantage.   And particularly when the casualties are cavalry or artillery.

Using one 6 sided dice, adjusted by appropriate plus and minus factors, to decide all combat and melee tests give a fast and decisive result.   When two very experienced players regularly game together this is necessary to avoid long and protracted wargames.   But it can make it very difficult to overcome casualties.

For example in counter battery fire a total of 6 is required at long range, and 5 or 6 at close range.   If one side has just one casualty it is impossible to hit the enemy gunners at long range.   It is also difficult to prevent enemy cavalry from charging and routing the gunners.

I have therefore decided to play test a dramatic change in the rules.  In future battle casualties will be recorded, but ALL will be replaced before the next battle/wargame.   I appreciate that to most wargamers this would be too drastic to be acceptable.   And if the aim was to replicate historical campaigns I would agree with them.   But our aim is to wargame battles where both sides have an equal chance of winning each game.   Otherwise the player who loses the first battle of a campaign will almost certainly lose all subsequent battles also.

Already we start each new campaign phase at full strength.   This change will mean that we now start each battle/wargame at full strength.  I am not sure whether this adjustment will remove some of my enjoyment of the campaign itself, which is why I am going to play test it to see how we feel about it.

Ingolstadt Campaign – Day Three

Campaign Map

14 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 3

French attack Bergheim and retreat to Lauf
7th French army – retreat to Lauf
8th French army – attack Bergheim
9th French army – regroup and resupply

Austrian defend Bergheim
1st Austrian army – advance to border
2nd Austrian army – defend Bergheim
3rd Austrian army – regroup and resupply

Battle of Bergheim – End of Move 2

The Austrian army was deployed on the three game objectives at the start of the game.

All three are in the centre of the able, the bridge on the left, the road junction in the centre and the farm on the right.

The first two battles of the campaign had not gone well for the French army, and it was essential that they won this one. In previous battles the defender had placed troops at both ends of a bridge, the attacker then put an equal number of troops to attack the bridge. The winner of this isolated combat did not have any effect on the main battle. So this time both commanders ignored the left bank of the river.

The battle opened with a cavalry melee on the left, which the Austrians won. The Bavarian army deployed out of artillery range, and moved their guns forward. For a short time there was an ineffective counter battery battle, which allowed the routed Bavarian cavalry brigade to rally.

The attacking player ordered all three corps to attack, with the cavalry leading. The cavalry melee was won by the Bavarians, and the Austrian infantry had to form square. The supporting attacking infantry smashed the squares, and the Austrians retreated.

Both sides lost a lot of cavalry and gunners, but the Austrians also lost morale and five brigades routed.

Overnight the Austrian army retreated, and abandoned the walled town of Bergheim

Comments

This campaign has gotten off to a bad start, with the attacking French losing the first two battles. This is very unusual, because the attackers have a distinct advantage in the early battles of each campaign phase. The defenders are dispersed and must concentrate to fight. In addition the attackers have fewer brigades detached on garrison duty. So they normally manage to take the first three objectives, which are the border towns. The advantage then shifts to the defenders as they can dictate where the next three battles will take place, and collect their detached garrisons as they retreat from the border towns.

If the attacking army fails to take the border towns, or worse still are forced to retreat back across the border, then effectively the campaign phase has ended and the defending army wins. In addition there are only three battles fought, rather than the anticipated six or more.

In this campaign the Austrians won a technical victory at Weichering, where they held one of the three objectives and disputed a second, however they suffered more casualties and had to retreat the next day.

They won a decisive victory at Buxheim, and the French/Bavarian army had to retreat back over the border.

So this battle was critical for both sides. If the Austrians won again, then they would win the campaign. In fact they lost, they will have to retreat and the campaign continues.

My Blogging Experience

 

In April 2009 I started work on my first blog, which was called “Walking Napoleonic Battlefields”.  It was a record of the many holidays Jan and I have spent exploring battlefields in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal.   Our first such holiday was to Waterloo in July 1971 and the last recorded was our second visit to Austerlitz in July 2002.   The aim of this series of blogs was to explain how we planned each visit and illustrated by photos we had taken at the time.    There is no better way to understand a battle than to walk the battlefield yourself.  And particularly if you have researched and planned the holiday yourself.   I hoped that by explaining how easy it is to do others might be encouraged to do so themselves.   I don’t have any stats for this blog because I used a different email address to set up each blog, and no longer have the passwords

In May 2009 I started my current 1813 Napoleonic campaign, and at the same time I started a blog to record the progress of the campaign and to provide a permanent record of all the battle reports.   It is a campaign diary, with one entry for each campaign day and one entry for each battle report.   I am not a great believer in the stats provided by the blog, but at present it states that I have 1001 posts and have had 122344 views.

Also in May 2009 I started a second blog called “Jan and Paul in Spain”.   This would be a record of our life here and the aim was to keep our family and friends in the UK informed of how our life in Spain was progressing.   Apart from Wargaming, our main interest was hill walking.   Within weeks of arriving in 2006 we had joined a local walking group and most blog entries recorded our many walks in and around our home in the Jalon Valley in the Costa Blanca.   The blog stats confirm I have posted 1084 posts and claim there have been 335220 views.

It was not until July 2009 that I started the fourth blog called “Napoleonic Wargaming”   This would allow me to air my general views on my favourite subject, as distinct from the factual reports on “1813 Campaign Diary”.  I didn’t have any clear idea just what I would post on this one, but it would allow me to expand on rules and Wargaming experience on the campaign diary.   According to the blog stats I have written 1069 posts and there have been 548863 views.

“Walking Napoleonic Battlefields” was a one off project, and would only last as long as it took to research and post each visit.  

“Jan and Paul in Spain” was started as a longer term project.   The first blog covered our move to Spain in 2006, so there was a considerable amount of work to catch up to 2009.    I have always recorded our holidays and day trips by taking photographs, and then filing them on my computer using a series of annual, monthly and then daily folders.  I continued this when we moved to Spain.   The photos taken of each walk and holiday formed the basis of the blog, with a short description or summary as appropriate. As I was now using a digital camera it was easy to take more photographs of each walk.   The blog also allowed other members of the walking group to share with their own family and friends.   So it is quite possible that there were indeed such a large number of views.   Remember that each blog would probably be viewed by the same family member or friend.

“1813 Campaign Diary” was also planned as a long term project.  However I did not understand how blogs worked, so I expected to have to start a new blog for each campaign phase, or mini campaign.   The first one was called “1813 Campaign – Magdeburg” and for some time I created a new blog for each phase.   It would be a few years before I realised that by using the labels function I could separate each campaign phase on one blog.   This system also changed over the years as I developed a better “filing system”.   By its very nature this blog provided content for a new blog post each week, and continues to do so. 

“Napoleonic Wargaming” had no long term plan.   I wanted to be able to post a different subject each week.   Having to work to a timetable is something I enjoy, and prospective readers would know that a new post would come out each Sunday.   It would be a general blog where I could explore all the different aspects of Wargaming this period.   I could explain problems experienced with my ongoing 1813 campaign, or explore different ideas for new maps or rules.   However right from the start it required inspiration for something new each week.   The advantage of wide range choice of subjects is that I could work on posts as and when I had inspiration.   I would often have four or five posts in reserve.   Recently I have found it more difficult to find something new to write about, and I decided to post a summary of my “1813 campaign diary” as a regular series on “Napoleonic Wargaming”.   Each one has a map, a short description of campaign movements and also of the daily battle.  In addition I would comment on the actual wargame, particularly if I had encountered a problem with the rules.

I feel that this latest development has become too much a part of “Napoleonic Wargaming” blog, and I am now looking for something different to break up the weekly posts.  I will let you know when I have found it. 

Ingolstadt Campaign – Day Two

Campaign Map

13 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 2

French attack Buxheim and occupy Weichering
7th French army – attack Buxheim
8th French army – hold Amberg
9th French army – occupy Weichering

1st Austrian army – defend Buxheim
2nd Austrian army – advance to border
3rd Austrian army – retreat to Manching

Battle of Buxheim – End of Battle

7th Bavarian army, commanded by Marshal Massena, has orders to attack Buxheim
1st Austrian army, commanded by General Schwartzenberg, has orders to defend Buxheim

Bavarians have10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
2 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

Austrians have 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
3 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

The Austrians know that the French have attacked the town of Weichering, but are not yet aware of the outcome of that battle. 2nd corps is deployed close to the border to observe any enemy movement. 1st and 3rd corps are under orders to move forward at daybreak to support 2nd corps.

Massena is aware that he has lost the element of surprise, and orders his army to advance at first light and attack Buxheim

For the first six moves the battle goes well for Massena.
On the left 21st corps deployed north of the hill, 3rd Austrian corps south of the hill
In the centre the cavalry reserve, and 21 corps artillery, support 20 corps
On the right 19 corps have forced 1st Austrian corps to withdraw from the farm

At the start of move seven the cavalry reserve move forward to engage the Austrian cavalry
They lose both cavalry melee and rout with 10% casualties to each brigade
The Austrians have received no casualties, the nearby artillery fail to hit them at short range
One brigade charge and rout the gunners, the second brigade charge and rout infantry brigade
The Austrian cavalry rally and are still full strength, they have broken the Bavarian centre

Massena abandons his attack on the farm and orders his army to retreat

Cavalry Melee

Comments

In one move an almost certain Bavarian victory turns into complete defeat.

The Bavarian commander combines two cavalry brigades to form a reserve, and puts it in the centre to support his main attack. The Austrian commander quickly follows suit, to counter this move.

This leaves one cavalry brigade, on the right of the table. The Bavarian cavalry charge and rout the Austrian brigade. This leaves them with a decisive advantage on their left flank.

The Bavarian reserve cavalry now advance, to clear the way for the main attack in the centre. They are immediately charged by the Austrian reserve cavalry. The Austrians roll a 5 and a 6, this means the Bavarian cavalry have received 10% casualties to each brigade. They test their morale and roll a 1 and a 2, they fail and both rout

The nearby Bavarian artillery fire on the nearest Austrian brigade, they need a 2 or more to hit at close range, and they roll 1. The Austrian cavalry rally and are both full strength. One brigade charges the gunners, who are too close to react, they rout with 10% casualties. The second brigade charges the nearest infantry brigade. The infantry test morale to form square, they roll a 2, this means they are shaken and cannot react. The cavalry charge home and rout the infantry with 10% casualties.

The Bavarian centre is broken, and worst than that the Austrian reserve cavalry are still full strength. The Bavarian infantry in the centre form square, as do the infantry to their right behind the hill. Both corps start to retreat in square.

The Bavarian left are still in a very strong position. They have driven the enemy out of the farm and sent their grenadier brigade in to take possession. Their cavalry and artillery are pushing back the rest of the Austrian corps. However with the centre and right in retreat, the whole Austrian army can turn on them. So they must also retreat.

A very dramatic end to the battle. But also a very disappointing one. No one likes to win a game, or lose one, solely on the luck of the dice. Very good Austrian dice combined with very poor Bavarian dice has brought about this result. But a game is a game, even if the result will have a dramatic effect on the whole campaign, which is only on day two out of nine.

Ingolstadt Campaign – Day One

Campaign Map

12 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 1

The French are deployed to the west of the Nuremberg-Ingolstadt border
They are out of sight of the Austrian army, but are concentrated ready to attack
7th French army – observe enemy
8th French army – observe enemy
9th French army – attack Weichering

The Austrian army is deployed to the east of the Nuremberg-Ingolstadt border
2, 5 and 8 corps are on the border to warn of any attack
The remainder of the army are in reserve to make supply easier
1st Austrian army – defend border
2nd Austrian army – defend border
3rd Austrian army – defend border

Battle of Weichering – Start of Battle

9th French army, commanded by Marshal Ney, attack Weichering
3rd Austrian army, commanded by General Mervedt, defend the border

French have10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
2 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

Austrian have 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
3 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

The French have the element of surprise in this first battle of the campaign
They use this in the south because this is the most difficult area to attack
All three corps are concentrated and will reach the river together

Only one of the three Austrian corps are in position to defend the river
The other two will not be able to reach until the start of move 2

Battle of Weichering – End of Battle

On the left the Austrians have held the hill
The French have supported the centre, and not attacked the hill

Centre the French have forced the Austrians to withdraw
But after a prolonged fire fight have failed to take it

Also in the centre both armies have created a reserve of two cavalry brigades
They struggle for control of the centre, and all four brigades suffer casualties
But the melee is a draw, and both withdraw into reserve

On the right the French have moved through the pass between the two hills
They outflank 7th Austrian corps, who withdraw with one brigade in rout
At nightfall the French hold the hill.

The French have lost 2 cavalry (200 men)
The Austrians have lost 4 infantry and 3 cavalry (1900 men)

Comments

This game objective was to hold at least two of the three hills in the centre of the table.
The Austrians started the game in position on the centre of the three, a big advantage.
In addition the French corps could only cross the river by using one of the three bridges, this was a major disadvantage.

Cavalry can cross hills in column of march, but are not allowed to charge up, down or across.
Artillery can fire onto the hills, but must be on the edge to fire down
These two rules determined how the game would be fought.

The main French attack would be in the centre, but they must first force the Austrians in the centre to retreat out of artillery range of their side of the centre bridge. This was achieved by combining two of the three cavalry brigades to threaten the Austrian gunners.

The Austrian commander took control of two of his three cavalry brigades to counter the French move. This resulted in a prolonged cavalry melee, which ended with all four brigades suffering casualties and withdrawing behind their infantry and artillery.

The French took the right hand hill, the Austrians the left hand hill. This left the centre hill to decide the winner. The French attacked to the left of the main road, where the cavalry melee also took place. The Austrians did withdraw, but kept a grenadier brigade on the centre hill. The French sent two brigades to attack the hill, but there was only space for the leading one to neither side wanted to risk a melee, so it would be a firefight which decided the winner. The Austrians lost 10% casualties, but passed their morale test and were still holding at the end of the game.

Each side held one of the three hills, and the third was still in dispute at the end of the game. The French failed to take two hills, so the Austrians won the game. However the right hand Austrian corps had suffered heavy casualties and had two brigades in rout. With only two corps against the three French, the Austrian commander could not risk a second day. So despite winning the game, the Austrians would have to retreat and abandon Weichering.

Start of Ingolstadt Campaign

1813 Campaign Phases 

This 1813 campaign started in April 2009 and since then there have been 93 campaign phases and 505 battles fought as wargames.    A campaign phase is a mini campaign, and usually lasts 6 campaign days, with a battle being fought on each day.   This map shows the location and winner of each of those campaign phases.  The map used is the latest version, not the original map used in 2009.

1813 Sixth Campaign

During that period there have been six major changes to the campaign.

April 2009               first campaign was solo campaign with paper maps

October 2009          second campaign was computerised and first attempt at PBEM

June 2013               third campaign reached 1814 set in France

February 2015        fourth campaign restarted 1 January 1813

February 2016        fifth campaign reverted to solo campaign

June 2020               sixth campaign created new maps with military regions 

This map shows the 19 phases of the sixth campaign, which has produced 132 battles to wargame.   

Ingolstadt Campaign Phase

This is the campaign map, which is used for daily movement.   It shows the location of the nine Austrian and nine Bavarian and Baden corps on the first day.   It also shows the infantry brigades detached as garrisons to secure the rear area of both armies.  The white star indicates the location of the first battle, which is at Weichering.

This is the second time I have used the larger map showing 15, rather than 12 towns.   This allows for the losing side to launch a counter attack after the campaign objective, which is Ingolstadt, has been taken by the French.   This will allow for a maximum of 9 battles, rather than 6 battles.

Southern Germany is my favourite of the three campaign areas in Germany.   This is because of the colourful uniforms of the Austrian, Bavarian and Baden armies.   At some time in the future I would like to introduce the Tyrol, with the Bavarian “guerrillas” of Andreas Hofer.   But it was a very limited campaign and did not really affect the larger Danube campaign.   However ever since I visited Innsbruck back in the early 1970s I have always wanted to do it!

Resupply in Germany

 

Ingolstadt Campaign Map on day one

Having spent so much time and effort working on supply and lines of communication for the campaign phase in Spain, I find myself back at square one for the three campaign theatre’s in Germany.

My campaign is designed to provide wargames, not to replicate the historical 1813 campaign. But just as I want my wargames to have a flavour of Napoleonic battles, I also want the campaign to have a Napoleonic feel about it. However I don’t believe that lines of supply played a major part in the historical campaign, or at least not to the extent that it did in Spain.

It goes without saying that supply was a major problem for every military commander throughout history, including in the 1813 campaign. But I don’t recall that the campaign in Germany was dominated by it, as it was in Spain.

It would be easy to create a complicated system of supply which would include living off the land. But I doubt that it would be worth the huge amount of effort required. Nor would I want it to affect the campaign objective of providing wargames.

I have decided that the most limiting factor will be the total amount of supplies available to both armies. This will be sufficient to allow them to fight for nine days, providing that they remain within a day’s march of the nearest garrison. They will also have to halt for a full day to resupply, which will prevent them from advancing nonstop. And finally each army will have to detach one infantry brigade to garrison each town within the area they hold. This will mean that the army which has won, and therefore probably suffered fewer casualties, will have to leave one brigade behind as they follow up the retreating enemy. The one retreating will collect the garrisons in the towns they a

End of Jean Campaign

Campaign Map Day 10

Main French depot at Hellin – 0 days supplies
French have no more reserve supplies
French occupy Martos
French have defeated Spanish army
Spanish in general retreat

13th French army – resupply and secure Linares
14th French army – occupy Martos
15th French army – regroup and resupply at Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – retreat off map
2nd Spanish army – retreat off map
3rd Spanish army – retreat to Alcaudete

Guerrilla cease active operations

Comment

The defeat of Second Spanish Army at Martos signalled the collapse of the Spanish Army Group.
In the north First Spanish Army immediately abandoned Andjuar and also retreated off the map.
In the south Third Spanish Army was in a very exposed position far to the east.
They immediate retreated to Alcaudete, hoping to follow First and Second Armies before being cut off by 14th French army at Martos.

The French had not only secured the campaign objective of Jean, but also routed the whole Spanish army. However they were in a weaker position than the map would indicate. 6 of their 9 corps were down to one day’s supplies. The main depot at Hellin had run out of supplies, but there were sufficient supplies spread between the nine towns now held by the French. But to access these supplies Second French Army would have to retreat to Jean.

Had the French lost the battle of Martos 14th French army would have found itself in a very difficult position. If they attempted to hold Jean they would have run the risk of a combined attack from Second and Third Spanish Armies. In addition they would have had only one day’s supplies. I suspect that given all the circumstances I would probably ordered them to abandon Jean and retreat to Jodar. This would have resulted in the Spanish winning the campaign.

The French did win, but only just. At the start of the battle of Martos the Spanish had won four battles and the French had also won four. Whichever side won Martos would have deserved to win the campaign.

This was our most enjoyable campaign in southern Spain. It has taken me a long time to balance Spanish weakness in set piece battles against French problems with guerrilla attacks on their lines of supply. All of this has worked much better in this campaign than in previous ones.

Jean Campaign – Day Nine

Campaign Map

Main French depot at Hellin – 0 days supplies

French have no more reserve supplies
French occupy Linares
French attack Martos

Spanish retreat to Andjuar
Spanish attack Jean
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – occupy Linares
14th French army – attack Martos
15th French army – regroup and resupply at Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – retreat to Andjuar
2nd Spanish army – attack Jean
3rd Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Huelma





4 guerrilla attack convoy Tobarra to Riopar – fail no casualties

8 guerrilla attack convoy Elche to Jodar – fail no casualties

15 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Minateda – fail 10% casualties

Battle of Martos – Start of battle

14th French Army commanded by General Saint Cyr attack Martos
2nd Spanish army commanded by General Elio attack Jean

French have 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
4 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 4 infantry and 1 artillery battle casualties (1700 men)

Spanish have 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
They have lost 6 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery battle casualties (2700 men)

The French are running short of supplies, there are none left in their base at Hellin. St Cyr is ordered to attack Martos and destroy 2nd Spanish army before the campaign grinds to a halt.

To win the campaign the Spanish must retake their base at Jean. They have more infantry than the French but have suffered more casualties to their cavalry and artillery.

Neither command is aware that their opponent is under orders to attack. The result is an encounter battle between Jean and Martos.

Comments

The Spanish have three more infantry brigades than the French. They have two 12 pdr and one 6 pdr guns. Both of their cavalry brigades have casualties.

The French have to detach one infantry bridge to control Martos. They have one 12 pdr and two 9 pdr guns. One of their cavalry brigades have casualties

Both armies start the battle with considerable casualties, so neither can afford to risk unnecessary casualties, which might prompt wide spread loss of morale. This applies particularly to the cavalry, who are restricted in what they can attempt. In particular a charge on enemy artillery is unlikely to succeed.

The French must take the initiative to delay the stronger Spanish infantry occupying all three game objectives. They decide to attack the bridge on the left and the woods in the centre. They will not attempt to take the woods on the right, but will deny it to the Spanish.

The two best Polish infantry brigades attack the left side of the bridge, but struggle to defeat the two defending Spanish brigades. They do eventually take the bridge, but at the loss of 3 casualties, rendering them pretty useless for the remainder of the game.

On the right the French infantry are heavily outnumbered, and lose one of their three brigades to Spanish artillery fire. They are fortunate to be able to prevent the Spanish taking the objective.

The French choose the centre because 6th Spanish corps have 6 pdr guns, and also have 1 casualty. The attacking Poles have 9 pdr guns, and no casualties. This means that the Spanish gunners are ineffective against enemy artillery at longer than short range (which is 4” on the table). The Poles keep their gunners out of range and force the Spanish to withdraw from the bridge to avoid artillery casualties. The Polish cavalry and artillery, under the command of Saint Cyr, then support the attack on the woods in the centre.

The Spanish have no answer to the French tactics, but due to particularly bad luck (in the form of very low dice rolls) it takes much longer than expected for the French to win.

It is possible that if the Spanish had fought a more aggressive battle they might have won. But they could just as easily have suffered casualties attacking resulting in the whole army failing their morale and running away. This is the danger when poor quality troops start a battle with considerable casualties spread throughout the whole army. But it was the only way they could have won.

Strangely a rather dull game, particularly for the French player who had to play a very cautious game and avoid the temptation to risk an aggressive attack for a quick victory.

Jean Campaign – Day Eight

Campaign Map

 

Main French depot at Hellin – 9 days supplies

Spanish occupy Huelma
Spanish attack Ubeda
French retreat to Mortalalla
French attack Linares
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – attack Linares
14th French army – regroup and resupply at Jean
15th French army – retreat to Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – attack Ubeda
2nd Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Martos
3rd Spanish army – occupy Heulma

10 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Tobarra – fail no casualties

Second battle of Linares – Move 4

13th French Army commanded by Marshal Suchet attack Linares
1st Spanish army commanded by General Giron attack Ubeda

French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 4 infantry and 1 cavalry battle casualties (1700 men)

Spanish have 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
They have lost 9 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery battle casualties (3800 men)

On 6 August Marshal Suchet was unable to take Linares, and retreated to Ubeda to regroup and resupply. General Giron remained at Linares to regroup and resupply. The Spanish had suffered more casualties than the French, but Giron was determined to follow up his victory and take Ubeda. Suchet was determined on a second attempt to take Linares. At first light the Spanish set off to take Ubeda, and the French to take Linares. Neither side was aware of the intentions of the other

On the left 1st Spanish corps took position in and around the farm, due to the slow French advance over the high ground. However 37th Young Guard corps cavalry and artillery were able to deploy between the hill and the farm, and cover the infantry deployment. The French took the farm, but were driven out by a Spanish counter attack. The Spanish held the farm at nightfall

In the centre 2nd Spanish corps reached the woods first, but 38th French corps reached the southern edge at about the same time. Neither side occupied the woods, but the French artillery caused the Spanish cavalry to rout. This allowed them to force the infantry into square, and their own infantry to take the woods. At nightfall the French held the woods

On the right 3rd Spanish corps occupied the two northern wooded sections by the time 39th Vistula corps reached the southern edge. There was a prolonged infantry melee for the woods, which the Poles finally won. The Spanish corps was smashed, and all five infantry brigades routed. At nightfall the Poles held the woods.

Having taken two of the three game objectives, and routed ten of the sixteen Spanish brigades, the French won the battle.

Comments

Despite the French having an elite guard corps, and fewer casualties than the Spanish, this was a very hard fought game. Both sides started with considerable casualties, and consequently both had very brittle morale. This caused both armies to fight a very cautious game.

Half way through the game the French artillery caused casualties to the Spanish cavalry in the centre, resulting in their rout. This allowed the French to push forward and force the Spanish artillery to withdraw. This in turn allowed the French infantry to attack the woods on the left and in the centre. They would eventually take both objectives.

The farm on the right was more difficult. The Spanish artillery had longer range than the French, and they were protected by heavy cavalry and a mass of infantry. So the young guard were reluctant to attack the area to the right of the farm. With the loss of the Spanish centre t he guard infantry were able to storm the farm and drive the Spanish out. The Spanish guns caused 20% casualties to the elite French infantry. The 1st Spanish grenadier’s then counter attacked and drove the weakened French infantry out. Their rout caused the supporting French infantry to withdraw. At nightfall the Spanish still held the farm.

But the Spanish army was broken. They had suffered very heavy casualties, and two of their three corps were in retreat or rout. At nightfall the Spanish commander ordered the third corps to abandon the farm and retreat. The French won the battle.

Always good fun to have such a close run wargame. On the last move there was a prolonged melee for the woods in the centre and on the left. All four brigades involved had 20% casualties, the loss of just one more would taken them down to 30%, which is an automatic rout. The Spanish only had to achieve 3 or more on their dice throw to achieve this. The first brigade rolled a one, the second a two. Both Spanish brigades fled with 30% casualties, both French brigades held with 20% casualties.

Only one more game to decide the winner of the campaign. It could easily go either way

Capture French Eagle

Melee

For many years I have preferred to fight multi corps wargames, usually three per side.   Each corps has a game objective, and the winner is the side which takes and holds at least two of them at the end of 12 moves.  This provides a lot of flexibility, particularly for the attacker, who can tailor his attack to suit the terrain and the condition of his army.   The CinC is allowed to take create a reserve by combining brigades for any or all of the three corps under his command.   Normally these are artillery and infantry, or artillery and cavalry.   This will reduce the combat ability of at least one of his corps, but he can give them the task of avoiding a major battle, but attempt to pin the enemy corps opposite them.      This type of game provides both players with the type of tactical problems experienced by a senior commander, rather than a corps, divisional or brigade commander.   

The disadvantage of this type of game is that the brigade is the lowest combat element. The battalion or squadron battle is represented in an abstract way.   Brigades are rewarded, or punished, by their formation.  So column of march, line, square or skirmish are used on the table, but of course it is the whole brigade in such formation.  The brigade combat is decided by one D6, and this tends to “flatten out” the experience. The ebb and flow of battalion or squadron combat is missing. 

So it is really unusual for either side to lose a colour or eagle, until now.  And even more unusual for the Spanish to capture a French eagle.  In the second battle of Heulma 3^rd Spanish Army attack 15^th French Army.   The French had lost the first battle of Heulma, and the Spanish followed up their victory.  The Spanish were stronger than the French, not only in infantry but also artillery.   They had the same number of guns, but their 12 pdr guns had a longer range than the French 9pdr.    This dictated the Spanish tactics, which were to weaken the French infantry with artillery fire and only commit their low quality infantry when the odds were in their favour.

It took most of the game to achieve this objective.   The Spanish ignored their right flank, and concentrated the 12pdr guns between their centre and left flank.   The French held a farm with an elite brigade, thus making it a very difficult objective for the Spanish infantry.   The Spanish concentrated on the supporting French infantry and when they retreated moved their guns into close range of the farm, and surrounded it with infantry and cavalry.    The French garrison held despite 20% casualties, but once they reached 30% it would be an automatic rout.   This was the situation at the start of the twelfth, and last move, of the game.   Only one Spanish brigade could attack each side of the farm, and all of them had 10% casualties.  

The Spanish player had to decide whether to risk an infantry attack, or hope for one more artillery casualty.   Even at close range the gunners would require 4, 5 or 6 on their 1D6.   If they failed the French would hold the farm, and thus win the battle.   Their best infantry brigade would also require 4, 5 or 6 to win the melee.   He decided to risk an infantry melee, as much because it was the “right thing” to do as any other reason.  By that I mean an attack on a fortified farm would normally be decided by an infantry attack, rather than rely on artillery fire alone.   The Spanish won the melee, the garrison were now had 30% casualties.  

You will see the situation on the photo above.   There are four Spanish infantry brigades, one in the farm, one above the farm and two to the right.   The Spanish artillery are above the farm and their cavalry are surrounding the French brigade, with their eagle.

I was the Spanish player and I must admit that all of my sympathy was with the French garrison.  They held the farm for three moves, during which they received two artillery hits, at 10% casualties each.   Their luck ran out when the Spanish infantry rolled a high dice to win the melee.

Great game, and even after all these years very tense during those last four moves.   

Christmas with Napoleon

We spent Christmas with my son and his family.   He has never been interested in Wargaming, nor anything to do with the Napoleonic period.   His passion has always been creating a home cinema.   His first attempt was when he bought his first house, just as we were moving to Spain in 2006.   I had sold my house in the UK, and was dismantling my wargames room which was built in our garage.   He removed the whole table and used the wood to build a cinema in his new garage.

He had gone through many versions, but now inside the house where it is much warmer and more comfortable.   These have included a projector on the wall facing a large TV screen.   He has also dabbled with 3D, which was very impressive.   But his latest set up is by far the best yet.   There is a very large screen (see above) with the electrics and sound system fitted into the wall around the sitting room.   The overall effect is very similar to sitting in a cinema.  The screen is huge, the picture crystal clear and the sound sharp and all surrounding.

He could not wait to demonstrate it with an evening watching "Top Gun: Maverick".   I have seen it before, but never like this.  

I told him that we would love to see both Waterloo 1970 and Napoleon 2023 on his system.   He was happy to oblige, but not prepared to sit through them himself.    So he set it up so that we could watch each one on alternative afternoon

 

I have seen Waterloo many times.   The first time was in a cinema in Germany in 1970, just before our first visit to the battlefield of Waterloo.   There was a visitor centre showing Waterloo, but it was in black and white and (I believe) made in 1929!

Since then I have watched the 1970 version at least twenty times.   We bought a video and then a CD and would watch it every couple of years.   For me this is the definitive film of the battle.  The acting is excellent, particularly Rod Steiger as Napoleon.   The uniforms as very accurate, especially for a popular film.   The story line is acceptable, and the scenery very similar to the battlefield.

I had watched Napoleon only once, and like almost everyone else was very disappointed.   The acting was wooded and unconvincing.   Joaquin Phoenix was the worse choice for Napoleon, particularly for the younger version.   Bonaparte was only 24 at the siege of Toulon   Phoenix was 49 when he made Napoleon.  

The battle scenes were impressive, if you knew nothing about the Napoleonic period.   I quite enjoyed the Toulon sequence, mostly because I don’t know very much about the siege.   However Austerlitz was pathetic.   I have visited the battlefield twice, and it looks nothing like the terrain shown in the movie.   Worst still there was no attempt to follow the sequence of the battle, which had it been done would have been impressive.   To concentrate on the frozen lake, and in particular to show the artillery covered in sheets at the start of the battle, is nonsense.   The very story about the losses on the frozen lake have long been discounted.   I recall reading that the lake was dredged only “a few bodies were found”

The battle of Waterloo was even worse.   Once more no attempt was made to follow the sequence of the battle, or to explain how it developed.   I have read many accounts about Wellington’s reverse ridge tactic, but never that he built trenches.   Napoleon leading the Guard on the final attack is well recorded, as is the fact that he handed over command well before they came within range of the enemy lines.   And I have never read an account of Napoleon leading a cavalry charge, which he appears to do at every battle in this move

But, for me, the most annoying thing was the large number of very large French flags carried by the French troops.    One seems to have been issued to every 50 men.  

Despite the above I did enjoy watching both movies on such an impressive sound system.   It was just like sitting in a very comfortable cinema with the latest audio and visual effects.  

Despite its age Waterloo was, and is, by far the best movie.   Even after 54 years the acting, uniform details, battle scenes and the gripping story line made this a most enjoyable movie to watch.