Jean Campaign – Day Four

 

Campaign Map

Main French depot at Hellin – 48 days supplies

French attack Alcaudete
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – rally and resupply at Ubeda
14th French army – occupy Jodar
15th French army – attack Alcaudete

1st Spanish army – rally and resupply at Linares
2nd Spanish army – retreat to Jean
3rd Spanish army - defend Alcaudete

9 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Elche – capture 3 supplies – escort lose10%casualties

Battle of Alcaudete – End of Move 6

The French start the battle outnumbered in infantry by 12 Spanish to 9 French brigades.
French have 3 infantry and 1 cavalry battle casualties
Spanish have 7 infantry battle casualties

The French must weaken at least one of the three Spanish corps before they can launch an attack with any hope of success. This is usually done by the artillery, but can also be achieved by the cavalry. However one of the two French cavalry brigades have casualties, both Spanish brigades are full strength.

The Spanish start the game deployed on the three game objectives. The winner must hold at least two of them at the game.

The Spanish artillery have two 12 pounder and one 6 pounder guns. The French have one 12 pounder and two 9 pounder guns. The 12 pounders have longer range than the 9 pounders and the 6 pounder the shortest range.

The French artillery must move into effective range before they can unlimber and open fire. This means that the Spanish guns will always fire first, possible more than once. To achieve a hit on gunners requires a roll of 6, using 1D6.

Move 4 the Westphalian artillery receive a hit, fail their morale and retreat shaken.
The Spanish dragoons charge the French artillery, receive 10% casualties and rout.

Move 5 French artillery receive a hit, fail their morale and rout. The nearest infantry brigade has to test their morale because of the rout, fail and also rout. The Westphalian gunners fail their morale for being shaken, and now rout

Move 6 both French and Westphalian gunners, and the infantry brigade, fail their morale test and rout a further full move.

Just half way through the game the French have lost two of their three corps artillery. Worse still the gunners fail their morale and continue to rout for two moves. Even if they rally on move 7, it will be too late when they return to their guns to take any effective part in the campaign.

With only two casualties (200 men) the French commander has no choice but to halt the attack, and prepare to retreat. The Spanish are now so much stronger that they are quite likely to take the offensive and attack.

Comments
A very striking example of the weakness of rules which rely on 1D6 for combat and morale. The Spanish artillery rolled two 6s on their first two rounds fired. The French gunners rolled 1-3 in six morale tests.

Using 1D6 results in a fast moving and decisive wargame. Normally it works well, with both sides having their share of good and bad luck. When things do go wrong, as in this game, it is tempting to ignore the dice roll and roll again. But we never do. I was the French player in this game, and must confess to a short outburst at my bad luck. But you have to take the bad with the good. And the Spanish are overdue a win.

Hoping for better dice in the next game.

Jean Campaign – Day Three

Campaign Map

Main French depot at Hellin – 60 days supplies
French attack Ubeda
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – occupy Ubeda
14th French army – attack Jodar
15th French army – rally and resupply at Huelma

1st Spanish army – retreat to Linares
2nd Spanish army – defend Jodar
3rd Spanish army - rally and resupply at Alcaudete

4 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – capture 6 supplies – escort lose10% casualties

Battle of Jodar – Move 2

At the end of move 2 the Spanish are in position on the three game objectives.
These are the bridge on the left, the woods in the centre and the village on the right

The French enter the table at the start of move 1, and are delayed by the difficult terrain.
The CinC has taken command of most of 42 corps and is between the river and the hill

On the right the Spanish cavalry charge the French gunners as they emerge from the woods. The gunners take shelter in the woods, and the rest of the corps halt. 4 Spanish corps advance to pin them in the woods, and they remain there throughout the battle.

In the centre 41 Baden corps advance through the pass. They pin 5th Spanish corps between the woods and the village, and attack and take the woods.

On the left 42 Polish corps has two brigades on the left bank, and the remainder on the right bank commanded by the CinC. 6 Spanish corps have 6 pounder artillery, which are easily outgunned by the heavier French 9 pounders. The first attack in on the left bank, where the two Spanish brigades lose the melee and retreat. The CinC then moves forward his artillery, and the cavalry pin the infantry on the right bank. The squares take heavy casualties and the whole corps breaks and runs back to the town.

Having taken two of the three objectives the French have won the game

The French lose 1 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (500 men)
The Spanish lose 5 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (2200 men)

Comments

The French have won the first three battles, as was expected. Despite having detached 6 infantry and 3 cavalry brigades they are as strong as they will ever be. They have the advantage of surprise, and the Spanish army is not deployed at the start of the campaign.

During this period the Spanish guerrilla capture another supply train, killing 10% of the escort brigade and capturing 6 more supplies.

As the French advance they will have to detach more infantry to garrison the three towns they have taken. They will also have longer lines of supply, and be even more at risk from guerrilla attacks. In three days the French have lost 9 days supplies, leaving just 60 days for the rest of the campaign.

The French started the campaign with 90 days supplies. Each day they need 9 days, one for each of the 9 corps. The loss of 9 days to guerrilla means that they must complete their campaign in 8 days instead of  9.

In addition the supplies lost will have to be replaced from the main depot at Hellin.  It will take three days to reach Ubeda from Hellin, and each day they are subject to guerrilla attack. Of the 6 days supplies they lost today, 3 were to replace those lost yesterday. Clearly this will have a major impact on the mobility of 13th Army as they advance to take Linares and Andjuar.

To capture a convoy the guerrilla have to roll 5 or 6 with 1D6. If they roll 1 or 2 they lose 10% casualties. A 3 or 4 results in no casualties, the supplies continue to their destination and the guerrilla have to retreat to their base.

You will see that the French have been unlucky, not only to lose two convoys but for both of them to belong to the same army. The main depot at Hellin can divert supplies from 14th and 15th Army Groups, but they will still have to travel at least three, and possibly four, days to reach 13th Army.

It is very early days, but I am quite pleased how the new rules are affecting the campaign. I doubt that it will continue to have such an impact, but you never know!

Jean Campaign – Day Two

Campaign Map

Main French depot at Hellin – 81 days supplies
French attack Ubeda
Guerrilla brigades activated

13th French army – attack Ubeda
14th French army – hold Elche
15th French army – occupy Huelma

1st Spanish army – hold Ubeda
2nd Spanish army – advance to border
3rd Spanish army - defend Huelma

5 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties
10 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties
14 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – capture 3 supplies – escort lose10%casualties
15 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties

Battle of Obeda – Move 2

The game objectives are the three hills in the centre of the table
The winner will be the side who holds at least two of them

The game open with 3 Spanish corps in position on the centre hill
1 and 3 corps are either side of Ubeda, they may move at the start of move 1

The French army will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

By move 2 all corps were on the table, and it was clear that the Spanish would reach the game objectives before the French could. However the French were able to prevent the Spanish cavalry and artillery from taking up forward positions, and this would play an important role in the game

Only infantry could fight on the hills, and both 37 and 39 French corps infantry reached their objective without any artillery casualties, and without any threat from Spanish cavalry. The Spanish defenders put up a good fight, but the French took both hills.

Because 3 Spanish corps were deployed on the centre hill at the start of the game, their artillery were well placed at the entrance to the pass. This made it very difficult for 30 French corps, and their infantry could not advance until their artillery had forced the Spanish gunners to withdraw towards Obeda

At the end of the game the French had taken two of the three game objectives, and had won the game.

Comments
On this second day the Spanish were aware of the French invasion, and had issued orders for 1st and 2nd Armies to move up to the border. Both French and Spanish moved at the start of move one, and this allowed the Spanish to occupy all three objectives before the French could reach them

But the more aggressive French cavalry prevented 1st and 2nd Spanish corps cavalry and artillery from deploying at the French end of the two valleys, and this allowed the French infantry to attack without any danger from the Spanish cavalry or artillery.

On this second day of the campaign the Spanish guerrilla brigades were activated. Only four were able to attack convoys, but one of them managed to capture the convoy from Minateda to Mortallalla (in the south) and three days supplies.

For the first time I have limited the number of supplies available to the French. They have 90 days supplies, which is sufficient to resupply all nine corps for 10 days. It would take a minimum of 9 days for the French to reach all nine towns in Jean district. So they have only enough spare to supply all nine corps for one more day. When a corps runs out of supply it must immediately retreat until it can find supplies, and it has attrition losses of one casualty (400 infantrymen or 100 cavalry or artillery decided by a dice roll) for each day.

The French have already lost 1 day’s supplies for three corps to guerrilla activity. Not only will this disrupt the smooth arrival of supplies to 15th French army, it will also reduce the overall supplies for the campaign.

Jean Campaign – Day One

Campaign Map

The campaign opens with a surprise French attack on Huelma

French main depot – 90 days supplies
13th French army – hold Riopar
14th French army – hold Elche
15th French army – attack Heulma

1st Spanish army – hold Ubeda
2nd Spanish army – hold Jodar
3rd Spanish army - defend Huelma

Battle of Heulma – Move 2

The battle opens with all three Spanish corps on the table, but 7th and 9th corps either side of the town and not allowed to move until the start of move 2. To win they must hold all three game objectives (in the centre three squares). Village on the left, small woods in the centre and large woods on the right. 8th corps is in and around the centre woods.

The French enter the table at the start of move 1. They engage 8th corps before the other two Spanish corps can arrive, but are unable to reach the other two objectives before the Spanish.

The battle is very even during the first six moves. On the left the Spanish hold the village and keep the French at bay. In the centre there is a prolonged fight for the centre woods. On the right each side holds two of the four sections of woods.

During move 7 the French attack the woods in the centre and drive out the Spanish defenders. Meanwhile they have occupied two of the four sections of wood on the right.

During move 9 there is extensive fighting for the village on the left and the woods on the right, but the French gradually gain the upper hand.

Move 10 is a bad one for the Spanish. One rout near the village spreads and all of 9th corps retreat. On the opposite flank there is a similar panic, leaving the French in possession of three of the four sections of woods. In the centre the French hold the small woods, but are unable to make any further progress. But the retreat of 7th and 9th Spanish corps forces 8th corps to do the same.

Comments
French start the game with two infantry brigades detached for garrison duty, and one cavalry brigade patrolling the lines of supply. The Spanish are full strength, plus one militia brigade in the town.

For this campaign the Spanish gunners have been increased from C to B class, making them the same as the French. In addition they have two 12 pounder and one 6 pounder guns. The French have one 12 pounder and two 9 pounder guns. This imbalance calls for caution where one side has the longer range guns.

The detachment of one cavalry brigade from each French army is new. One in three Spanish corps has always been without cavalry, and this change means that in each army only two of the three corps have cavalry support. This allows both sides to opt for the CinC to create a cavalry reserve to gain a local superiority. However in this game neither side do so.

This game was also the first to use the new maps. On the regional maps each square is a wargames table. They also show woods, rivers and mountains. The Huelma square is shown as wooded. The above photo illustrates how this would appear on the wargames table. The table appears quite open, but in fact there are different sized woods on six of the nine scenic squares. On a normal table there would usually be one or two.

This game was a good start to the campaign. It is unfortunate that the Spanish fell apart towards the end, but it could have happened to either side. It would take pages to explain exactly what happened, but it was a case of a low dice for a combat, followed by another low dice for the resulting melee. This resulted in one brigade routing, causing all friendly brigades within 4” to test their morale. Yet another low dice caused a second brigade to rout. That is half of the four infantry brigades in a corps, so the effect is a general retreat.

New Campaign Supply Rules

Campaign Map

During the Jean campaign phase I will be play testing new rules for the French supply system in Spain.

The main difference is that the French will start the campaign with sufficient supplies to allow them to attack all nine towns held by the Spanish in Jean military region, plus one day in reserve. As soon as they run out of supplies the campaign will end.

The French must detach one infantry brigade to garrison each town they capture. In addition each army (of three corps) must detach one cavalry brigade to patrol their supply routes.

The more supplies that the guerrillas can capture, the less time the French will have to reach and attack all nine towns.

Initial Deployment
The map shows the location of each HQ, corps, garrison and guerrilla brigade at the start of the Jean campaign phase.

The French have three armies, each of three corps. They have detached 6 infantry brigades to garrison the six towns east of the Jean-Hellin border. They have also detached 3 cavalry brigades, one from each army, to patrol their lines of communication and supply.

The Spanish also have three armies, each of three corps. In addition they have 15 militia brigades to garrison each of the 15 towns and cities on the map. When a town is occupied by the French, the militia garrison becomes a guerrilla group. They must operate within the nine squares surrounding their town and their task is to attack French supply columns. The nine militia brigades west of the border are still in garrison, the six east of the border have moved to nearby villages and operate as guerrillas.

French Army
At the start of the campaign each corps has 4 days supply
Each friendly town has 3 days supplies
The main depot receives 9 days supplies each day

The campaign will last a maximum of 10 days
The main depot starts the campaign with 90 days supplies

To resupply a corps must halt for one full day
It must be within one days march (3 squares) of a town.
It can resupply up to 4 days, providing the town has sufficient supplies

Spanish Army
There is no Spanish supply system and consequently no convoys
Each corps will be supplied by the nearest town
The town will collect these supplies from nearby farms and villages

The Spanish have a maximum of 3 day supplies per corps, or independent brigade. This is to reflect their lack of a formal supply system. This is one less than the French, and means they must resupply more often

At the start of the campaign each corps, and militia brigade, has 3 days supplies.
Resupply for regular troops is the same as for the French

Militia brigades in garrison will always maintain 3 days supplies
When the town is occupied by the French the garrison becomes a guerrilla brigade
They must always remain within the nine squares around the town

Guerrilla Brigades
Their role is to attack French supply columns
They can only do so if there is no French corps within one days march (3 squares)
Or a cavalry brigade within one square
They must be adjacent to the convoy to attack it

Due to limited supplies they can only ambush a convoy once in four days
Day 1 – move to set up ambush
Day 2 – attack the convoy
Day 3 – return to their village/hideout
Day 4 – rest and resupply

Attack Convoy
Guerrilla brigade roll 1D6
Minus 1 for each casualty

1 or 2 Guerrillas lose 10% French save convoy
3 or 4 No casualties French save convoy
5 or 6 Guerrillas take convoy French suffer 10%

Back to Spain

Campaign Map

Our next campaign will be set in southern Spain. The Fifth French Army Group, who are deployed in the military district of Hellin have been tasked to invade the adjoining district of Jean, which is held by the Spanish Army.

There have been considerable changes in both the campaign map, and the deployment of the French army at the start of the campaign.

The new campaign map covers a wider area than the previous maps. It is now five tables wide by three tables deep. The three on the left are Jean district and the two on the right Hellin district. Each square represents one 2x2 foot scenic square on the wargames table.

Typical Spanish Corps

This photo shows a typical Spanish corps. There are four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and one corps artillery. There are nine such corps in the campaign, organised in armies of three corps each, however three of them have no cavalry brigade.

When I planned my Spanish army, back in 2000, I did so with a completely different order of battle in mind. There were to be 8 infantry units of 36 figures, 2 cavalry units of 8 figures and 4 guns. This would leave them with less cavalry than all other armies. This was deliberate, as I wanted the Spanish to be weaker in cavalry than the French or even British. It seemed sensible at the time, but has since proved a serious problem as I rewrote the orders of battle to suit different campaigns.

My current Spanish order of battle has three armies of three corps each. Two corps have four infantry, one cavalry and corps artillery. One corps has four infantry and corps artillery only – no cavalry brigade. The Spanish also have 15 militia brigades, one each for each of the 15 cities and towns in the campaign. This was meant to make up for the lack of Spanish cavalry.

Getting the balance right between Spanish and French has been an ongoing problem. The Spanish were weaker in cavalry, but also less efficient infantry and artillery. Their guns were 12 pounder, with longer range than the French 9 pounder. But their crews were C class, against the French B class. Half of their regular infantry were C class, against one quarter of the French infantry.

I wanted to redress the balance in this campaign, and have done so by making their gunners B class. I justify this by an impression gained over the years that the Spanish artillery was better than either their cavalry or infantry. Two guns in each army are 12 pounders, one 6 pounder. The heavier guns have an advantage over the French artillery, but the 6 pounder is at a distinct disadvantage as its range is shorter.

Because there are more towns there are also more militia brigades. When the French occupy a town, its garrison become a guerrilla brigade. They must operate within the nine squares surrounding their town, but they are still a serious threat to French lines of supply.

Typical French Corps

There are nine French corps, each consisting of four infantry brigades, one cavalry and corps artillery. However this field army also has to provide one infantry brigade for each town under French control, and this includes the six towns in Hellin district. So even before the campaign starts six infantry brigades have been detached. In addition one cavalry brigade from each of the three French armies are detached to patrol the lines of supply. Each army now has the same number of cavalry available as the Spanish armies. It also means that in each battle one of the three corps on each side does not have any cavalry. This adds a new tactical problem to both players.

If the French manage to take the first three towns in Jean district they will have to detach three more infantry brigades before they can advance to fight second three battles, which usually decide the winner

The French get weaker and weaker as they pursue the retreating Spanish. This should make the two armies more even, though with the heavy reliance on dice it may take some time to confirm whether this is the case or not.

End of Halle Campaign

1 August 1813 – Halle Campaign - Day 7

French halt at river Saale
4 French army – resupply at Mansfield
5 French army – rally and resupply at Eisleben
6 French army – rally and resupply at Querfurt

Russian hold Konnern, Halle and Luena and win the campaign
1 Russian army – resupply at Konnern
2 Russian army - resupply at Halle
3 Russian army – rally and resupply at Luena

Battles fought during the Halle campaign

The French won four of the six battles fought.

However the Russians still held the city of Halle

The French won the first three battles at Mansfeld, Eisleben and Querfurt.
The Russians won the next two at Konnern and Halle
The French won the final battle at Luena, but  had to retreat

With Konnern and Halle in Russian hands, Luena was too isolated to hold

Despite winning four of the six battles, the French were unable to take Halle
This was the campaign objective and to win they had to take and hold the city
The Russians held Konnern, Halle and Leuna and won the campaign.

Battles fought in Erfurt Region

This was the fourth phase to be fought in central Germany since the sixth campaign began in June 2020. The French won two and the Russians also won two. There have been 23 battles to wargame, the French have won 15 and the Russians 8.

Comments

This campaign was fought during July and August, what we consider high summer here in Spain. Temperatures are usually 34-39c, and outside activity greatly reduced. We try to complete any outside work by 0900 each day, and after that follow the Spanish tradition and try to keep out of the sun.

Our annual family visit is also in August. Our son and his family of five visit us for three weeks. They pretty well take over the house but over the 18 years they have been spending their holiday with us we have developed a well tried routine.

Now that the children are 18, 14 and 10 they are no longer banned from the wargames room. Unfortunately, like their dad, they have no interest at all in Wargaming. But our daily routine includes an hour or two of Wargaming, during which they keep clear of the wargames room (which includes the fridge containing their supply of ice cream and ice lollies).

Given the above I think we have done quite well to complete six wargames in the six weeks it took to complete the campaign. One game a week is our norm, and we managed to maintain that average even during the three hectic weeks of their visit.