tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97754405909576170.post6030080922639359260..comments2024-03-24T19:50:13.945+01:00Comments on napoleonic wargaming: Llanes Campaign – Day 3thistlebarrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00077298970769942656noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97754405909576170.post-45389237554072793642022-05-17T10:09:42.704+02:002022-05-17T10:09:42.704+02:00Hi Bob
Thanks for your considered comments.
I ha...Hi Bob<br /><br />Thanks for your considered comments.<br /><br />I have read a lot about the Peninsula, and there is not much about the different gun calibre of the British and French. You would expect it would make a huge difference, a 12 pdr gun has a much longer range than a 6 pdr. And the French generally has more guns than the British. But it does not seem to have made a significant difference in the battles fought.<br /><br />No doubt this is largely due to Wellington's skill at choosing very good defensive postions, which would hide his troops from the effect of long range artillery fire. But even when the French faced opponents who were not so skilled the infantry seemed to stand their ground. You will remember when Wellington visited Blucher just before the battle of Ligney, he suggested that the Prussian infantry be placed behind the crest of the hill. Blucher replied something to the effect that his men preferred to see their enemy!<br /><br />In my rules short range for 12 pdr is 0-10", for 6 pdr 0-6". To hit another gun you require 7 or more with 2D6. It does not seem a big much, but it can make a big difference. 6pdr guns really need to keep out of short range of 12 pdr ones. In defence this is relatively easy, as guns can manhandle 2" each turn. <br /><br />But when attacking the artillery is often needed to supress the enemy guns. To do so they must advance, and unlimber, within short range. This can often leave them open to counter battery fire for two moves, that is to say two attempts to receive casualties. Just one hit will usually leave them ineffective for the rest of the game.<br /><br />In conclusion it means it is very difficult in campaign for a British army to attack a French one, unless they have superiority in either cavalry or artillery.<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Paulthistlebarrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00077298970769942656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97754405909576170.post-34980745483511967312022-05-15T19:57:05.633+02:002022-05-15T19:57:05.633+02:00Thistlebarrow,
I have taken to reading the releva...Thistlebarrow,<br /><br />I have taken to reading the relevant battle reports on your 1813 Campaign blog before reading your main blog battle reports. I find the blow-by-blow description and images give me an idea of the action that took place before reading your main blog summary, and my impression is that although the Allies prevailed, the French might have won had they managed to skirmish more effectively. <br /><br />I’d be interested to see what would have happened if the positions had been reversed, and the Allies had been defending the hills and the French were attacking.<br /><br />The French artillery certainly have a longer reach than the Allied artillery, and I was a bit surprised that they seem to have been less effective that I would have expected. Did the Allies in the Peninsuls ever manage to match the French in terms of artillery firepower? My limited reading around the subject gives me the impression that the Spanish did but the British and Portuguese didn’t.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />BobRobert (Bob) Corderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13109130990434792266noreply@blogger.com