Hildesheim Campaign – Introduction

Europe

The next campaign phase is set in northern Germany and the objective is to take the city of Hildesheim. This will be the 94th campaign phase since we started the 1813 campaign in April 2009. This map shows the location, and winner, of each of those phases.

This is not the original campaign map. In July 2021 I created a series of maps covering all of Europe and divided into fictional regional areas. This was to avoid the difficulty of researching actual maps and trying to confirm national and regional boundaries in 1813, plus location of rivers and mountains. I divided Europe into 33 military regions, each of 9 districts. Each district is a campaign phase, and has 9 towns each of which is a wargame table.

North Germany

This may shows the new military regions and districts. But it also shows the historical national boundaries, such as France, Hannover, Westphalia and Prussia. This is only for information, and to help orientate. The rivers shown do not follow their actual rout, but are so that I can include them in the campaign.

There are three regions in North Germany
Osnabruck Region – French rear area
Brunswick Region – campaign area
Berlin Region – Prussian rear area

Brunswick Region

There are nine districts in Brunswick Region

There have been 24 battles fought in this region

The French have won 13 and the Prussians11
Each star shows the location of a battle fought

Hildesheim Campaign

The campaign is fought between the French held city of Hildesheim, and the Prussian held city of Goslar.

First French army is commanded by Napoleon. It is divided into three armies, each of three corps. They are deployed to the left of the border. The map shows the location of each of the nine corps at the start of the campaign phase.

The Prussian army is commanded by Blucher. It also has three armies each of three corps. They are deployed to the right of the border. Their objective is to take and hold the city of Hildesh

Infantry Combat and Morale Values - The Solution

Typical Austrian Corps

All corps of all nationalities, except for the French Old Guard and the Spanish Army, will have the same combat and morale value as follows:

1 infantry brigade CA FB SC
2 infantry brigade CB FC SA
3 infantry brigade CB FB SB
4 infantry brigade CC FC SC

1 cavalry brigade CB

1 artillery brigade CB

C indicates the class of troops, used for morale
F indicates firepower, used for volley fire
S indicated skirmish ability

A are elite and will add plus 1 for combat or morale
B are trained
C are conscript and will be minus 1

In addition each casualty will deduce 1 for both combat and morale tests

In the past the same grades were used, but each brigade had a different combination of plus or minus for morale, volley fire or skirmish. This made it difficult to compare and identify different abilities on the wargame table. The order of battle sheet had to be consulted each time there was a combat or morale test.

In future the first brigade will be elite, and where possible grenadier figures will be used
They will be ideal for hand to hand fighting, average for volley fire and poor for skirmishing

The second brigade will be excellent skirmishers and jager, riflemen or light infantry figures used
They will be most suited for open order fighting, average for morale and poor for volley fire

The third brigade will be standard, trained infantry, line infantry figures used to represent them
They will be average for morale, volley fire and skirmish

The fourth brigade will be poor quality and landwehr or militia figures used when possible
They will be poor for morale, volley fire and skirmish.

This will make it very easy to allocate the most suitable brigade to each task, and also make it easier to identify them on the table.

 

French Old Guard

This is the only exception, apart from Spanish infantry. They are the elite of the French army, but by 1813 were not on a par with the Imperial Garde before the Russian campaign. I wanted them to be different from the other corps, but I may change my mind about that after play testing.

1 infantry brigade CA FB SC
2 infantry brigade CB FB SB
3 infantry brigade CB FC SA
4 infantry brigade CC FC FC

1 cavalry brigade CB

1 artillery brigade CB

The first two brigades are grenadiers, the last two chasseurs. So the elite skirmishers are in the third brigade. The fourth brigade are conscripts.

Typical Spanish corps

I have sufficient figures for four Spanish corps, but only enough cavalry for two corps. This was deliberate, because I wanted the Spanish to be weak in cavalry.

1 infantry brigade CB FC SC
2 infantry brigade CC FC SC
3 infantry brigade CB FC SB
4 infantry brigade CC FC SC
1 cavalry brigade CB 
1 artillery brigade CB 

At present I am using a completely different order of battle for the Spanish. This is because even in 1813 they were inferior to the French infantry, even to the conscripts. This will be very hard to replicate on the wargames table.

In addition only half of the Spanish corps have cavalry, which leaves them at a huge disadvantage.
To counter this I have increased their armies to four corps, rather than the three in all other armies.
They will also have the advantage of large bodies of guerrilla brigades to attack French lines of supply.

Once more I may change my mind about this after a period of play testing.  

Infantry Combat and Morale Values - The Problem

 

Typical Bavarian Corps 

All of the corps in my campaign, except for a few Spanish, have the same order of battle.

4 infantry brigades
1 cavalry brigade
1 corps artillery

I have always retained an element of national characterists in the infantry brigades, despite wanting both commanders to have an equal chance of winning on the table top. The order of battle for a typical Bavarian corps is as follows:

1 infantry brigade 4000 CA FB SB
2 infantry brigade 4000 CB FC SB
3 infantry brigade 4000 CC FC SC
4 infantry brigade 4000 CC FC SC
9 cavalry brigade 1000 CB light
9 corps artillery 1000 CB 12 pounders

The combat ability and morale of each infantry brigade is shown in the three columns on the right. C is class, F is firepower and S is skirmish ability

A is elite, B is average, C is poor.

All of these are affected by casualties, with one casualty (10%) reducing all three by one
For example a class A skirmisher becomes the same as class B with one casualty.

These abilities are different for each nation, but also for each corps within all armies. There are 1440 infantry brigades in the current campaign order of battle, and every one is slightly different.

Deploying an army on the wargames table requires some study of the ability of each infantry brigade, taking into account which have casualties. When I adopted this system, many years ago, I liked complicated rules and really enjoyed pondering the strengths and weakeness of each brigade in my army. But at that time we used to wargame once a week, at best. I did not run a campaign, so each wargame was stand alone. I was quite happy to spend considerable time planning each wargame and trying to be very clever pitting different abilities on the table. At that time I ran a wargames club from my garage, and we used my figures and scenery. There were up to 10 players, of very different abilities, knowledge of the rules and even interest in Wargaming. The games were mostly every march to the centre of the table, rolls lots of dice have plenty of casualties and fight until the last man standing – or we got to 11pm and the game just ended. Next week a different game with no reference to the outcome of the last one.

My wargaming is now confined to battles derived from my campaign, and my only opponent is my wife Jan. Over the years, and particularly since we retired, our preferred type of wargame has changed drastically. We started our 1813 campaign in April 2009 to provide us with interesting and enjoyable wargames. Since then we have played 511 wargames generated by the campaign. That works out at about 32 games a year. Our preferred type would now be called “fun”, as opposed to “aggressive”.

That is a lot of wargames to transfer from the campaign map to the wargames table, which is my job. I also deploy both armies on the table, though Jan can (and often does) amend the location within the game guidelines. To do so she has to study the combat ability of each corps in her army. It is to make this process easier that I am rewriting the orders of battle.

I will explain the new order of battle in the next post.

Ingolstadt Campaign – Day Seven

Campaign Map

French occupy Ingolstadt and win the campaign
7th French army – advance to Buxheim
8th French army – occupy Ingolstadt
9th French army – hold Manching

Austrian abandon Ingolstadt and lose the campaign
1st Austrian army – retreat to Kosching
2nd Austrian army – retreat to Vohburg
3rd Austrian army – hold Emsgaden

Comments

The campaign ends in a well deserved French win.

Both armies won three battles each, and at the end the Austrians had the advantage in the north. But in the centre and south they had suffered many more casualties than the French, and in particular at the final battle for Ingolstadt. Even allowing for my generous battle casualty replacement rules, there is no way that Second Austrian Army could have recovered, counter attacked and stood a reasonable chance of retaking Ingolstadt.

It also made sense that with the centre and southern Austrian armies in retreat, First Army in the north would have had to retreat or risk being surrounded by 7th and 8th Bavarian armies and forced to surrender.

Two aspects of the campaign require adjustment of the rules following this campaign phase.

Despite making the supply rules easier than in Spain, I found them time consuming and unnecessary in Germany. Obviously supply is important in any campaign, but historically they did not play a vital role in the 1813 campaign in Germany. Unlike in Spain, there were not large bodies of irregular troops constantly attacking supply trains or depots. To reflect this, the supply rules in this campaign were just a record keeping exercise. This could just as easily be done by allowing each army six or seven days supply, and when they ran out the campaign ended.

I also spent some time thinking about the combat and morale value of infantry brigades. I have long used a system of national characteristics. For example French are better at skirmishing, British are better at volley fire, Russians are very stubborn. This raises a lot of problems when deciding which brigade is most suitable for which role in each wargame. It is made considerably worse when campaign casualties are added. For example an elite skirmisher becomes a standard skirmisher when the brigade has 10% casualties. I am working on new orders of battle, of which more later.

Yet another enjoyable campaign, not least for the colourful table top with white and blue uniforms for the Austrians and light blue and white for the Bavarians.

Next time it will be Napoleon v Blucher in northern Germany, but with a slight twist in the tail. Of which more later.

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.