Sunday 29 April 2018

Fighting in a Built Up Area (BUA)


Table at start of Game


New BUA Rules
We use our own “house rules” to wargame the battles produced by our 1813 campaign.   We have developed these rules through extensive game play over the past 10 years.

They include fighting in a built up area (BUA), such as towns, villages and farms.   At present they are spread throughout the rules and we now want to combine them all in a single section called BUA.

At the same time we will simplify them and update to bring them in line with amendments in other sections of the rules.

As part of this process we are about to play the first test game, and I thought it might be of interest to some readers to read about it.   So over the next couple of weeks I will post each move of the game and explain the mechanics.


Current Wargame Rules
First I need to explain a few principles of the rules themselves.

There are a maximum of 12 moves in a game, each representing one hour in the campaign.

Each move we dice (or draw a chip for large games) to decide which side moves first.   This can make a huge difference, as they can then move and fire first.

Commanders have a command range of 8”.   To issue orders he must be within that range of the brigades concerned.   He is allowed one order for each Formed brigade (none for those disordered, shaken or in rout), plus one if he is a Poor commander and two if an Average commander.

Test Game
There are two corps in this game, one French and one British.   Their order of battle is below.   C types get minus one for combat and morale.


1st British Corps – General Stewart (Average)
1 infantry brigade     4000 men      B class          B firepower   B skirmish
2 infantry brigade     4000 men      B class          B firepower   B skirmish
3 infantry brigade     4000 men      C class         B firepower   C skirmish
4 infantry brigade     4000 men      C class         C firepower   C skirmish
1 cavalry brigade     1000 men      B class          light cavalry
1 corps artillery        1000 men      B class          30 9 pounder guns

8th French Corps – General Taupin (Poor)
29 infantry brigade   4000 men      B class          B firepower   B skirmish
30 infantry brigade   4000 men      B class          B firepower   B skirmish
31 infantry brigade   4000 men      C class         C firepower   C skirmish
32 infantry brigade   4000 men      C class         C firepower   C skirmish
8 cavalry brigade     1000 men      B class          lancers
8 corps artillery        1000 men      B class          30 9 pounder guns

The ground area of each BUA is determined by a 6x6” felt square.   One is a village or farm.   Two is a town.   Four is a city.      Only one brigade is allowed in each section.  However two brigades can attack each corner.

The French commander has orders to hold the area between the two hills, including the walled farm in the centre.   He has placed one B class brigade in the farm, and the second behind in support.  The two C class brigades are either side of the farm.   The cavalry are placed on his left to threaten any approach on that side.   Most important his artillery have been placed on his right to dominate the most open side and most easiest for the enemy to attack.   The long white card is the range and width of artillery fire.

The British commander has orders to take the farm.   His plan is to attack the farm with his artillery and two best infantry brigades.   He will hold the flanks but not advance unless the French do so.   His artillery is centre left and one of his B class infantry centre right, the second one in reserve behind the artillery.   His two C class brigades are on the flanks.   His cavalry is in reserve to keep the French guessing.

Link to Wargame Rules

Sunday 22 April 2018

Leon Campaign Map to Table


Wargames Map

To make it easier to transfer the map battle to the wargames table I have organised my scenery to make it all standard.   There are two sets, one Spanish and one north European.

On the wargames map each village or farm is numbered or identified as farm with hedge or wall.

All built up areas (BUA) are free standing and placed on 6x6” squares of felt.   Green for farms and light brown for towns and villages.   The felt shows the foot print of the BUA.  The buildings can be removed when the enemy enter the BUA to allow hand to hand fighting and control reinforcements.

Fortified Farms
The fortified farm is a two piece homemade model.  The buildings are separate and can be used for other farms or for a village.   There are two models, numbered one and two on the map.   One felt square is used.   One infantry brigade is required to form the garrison.


Village
Each building and wall section is separate, to allow for more variety.   Again there are two models, numbered the same as the fortified farms.  Each village has a church and two or three small buildings.  One felt square is again used for the footprint.

Hedge and stone walls
All of the buildings can be used as miscellaneous farms.   There are two wall and hedge sections glued to make a standard hedge or wall around the field.   However there are also a lot of long and short sections to allow a wide range of different options.   Once more one felt square is used.


Towns
Two felt squares are used to make a town.   It requires two infantry brigades to provide a full garrison, one in each square.   I have about twenty buildings suitable for towns and cities.   Most are Hovels, the rest home made.   There is also a free standing wall which can be used for either towns or cities, and suitable for either Spain or northern Europe.   Each town has a large church and six miscellaneous buildings.   The same church is always used, but there are a wide variety of building combinations.

Cities
Four felt squares are used for each city.   It requires four infantry brigades, which is a full corps, to provide a full garrison.   The walls are only used when a walled city is shown on the map.   Each city has a cathedral and twelve miscellaneous buildings.
Once more the same cathedral is always used, but a different selection of buildings.

The aim of standardised buildings is to ensure that I used all of the available scenery in rotation.   Each wargame map has all of the available combinations.

In addition I have felt outlines for woods and marshes.