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.
Thistlebarrow,
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting battle report … and it was interesting to see how the choices made by the opposing commanders influenced the course of the battle. The decision of the Austrian commander to charge the Bavarian cavalry could easily have won the battle, only for that cavalry to run foul of the Bavarian artillery.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
DeleteThanks for your comment
I usually play the role of attacking army, and am often faced with that type of decision.
There is a lot of advantages of being the aggressor, you get to play your game and the defender has to react to you.
Each game follows a general sequence. First two to four moves advancing onto the table and deploying. Five to eight the attacking artillery tries to create a weak point to attack
Then comes the critical part. The attacker must take out either the defending cavalry or artillery, otherwise the attacking infantry are unlikely to achieve a break through. To do so the attacking cavalry have to move into charge range of the enemy cavalry or artillery.
We use poker chips to decide which corps moves first each turn. So the attacker has to wait until his opponent has moved before moving his own cavalry forward. He then has to hope that luck will favour him that he moves first next turn. And even if all works out in his favour he has to hope for more luck to win the resulting cavalry melee or reach the enemy guns.
Despite repeating this sequence in game after game, each one creates its own tension, which I guess is why we continue to wargame day after day and week after week.
best regards
Paul