Halle Campaign – Day Four

Campaign Map

French attack Konnern
4 French army – attack Konnern
5 French army – rally and resupply
6 French army – occupy Querfurt

Russian retreat to Leuna
1 Russian army – defend Konnern
2 Russian army – rally and resupply
3 Russian army – retreat to Luena

Battle of Konnern – Move 2

The Russian army is deployed on and around the three game objectives.
The bridge on the left must be held at both ends
The hill in the centre must be held to deprive any movement towards the town
The village on  the right must be held

The Russians start the game as shown in the photo. They are not allowed to move forward to attack the French. If allowed to do so and they routed just one brigade the game would be over. So the French are allowed to cross the two bridges at the top of the photo unopposed.

Artillery can only fire on troops lining the edge of the hill, and cavalry can only move across hills, they are not allowed to fight on them. So the hill in the centre was always the most difficult of the three campaign objectives. The French do not attempt a determined attack, and the Russians still hold it at nightfall.

The village on the right is the easiest, and the Young Guard is given that objective. Despite their best efforts the Russians hold the village throughout the game, and still do so at nightfall

To take the bridge the French must attack along both sides of the river, in order to take and hold both ends of the bridge. 12th corps cavalry and infantry attack along the left bank. The CinC attacks along the right bank.   He takes command of the artillery from 11th and 12th corps, plus the cavalry and one infantry brigade from 11th corps. They finally take both ends of the bridge, but it is then too late to redeploy to attack the hill in the centre, which was the original plan.

The Russians held two of the three game objectives and thus won the game

Comments

The wargame has twelve moves, to keep it in line with the campaign which has 12 active hours in each day. This decision was taken back in 2009 when I started the campaign and was not based on any serious consideration about how long the wargame need to last. It was just a nice fit to have one move equate to one campaign hour.

It has worked very well during the 482 wargames which the campaign has produced. I particularly like the fact that it results in a fast moving game, because if the attacker waits too long he will run out of time before achieving the game objective.

We use a 6x6 foot wargames table, consisting of 9 2x2 foot scenic squares. The table is an accurate reproduction of the wargames map, which has a square grid. Each square on the campaign map is a 2x2 foot scenic square.

The game always starts with 2 foot between each army. Cavalry have a movement rate of 12”, so would cross that distance in two moves. Artillery has a rate of 8”, as do infantry in column of march, and would take three moves to cover that distance. Infantry in attack column have a rate of 6”, and would take four moves to cross the distance. 12 pounder guns have a maximum range of 12”. These distances determine how all games are played.

In general terms it takes the attacking army 3 to 6 moves to advance 12” from the enemy and deploy into attack formation. The artillery is usually deployed within 4 moves, and then has four moves to soften up the defenders, and for the cavalry to engage, and hopefully, defeat the enemy cavalry or gunners.

The attacking infantry usually has 4 to 6 moves to attack the game objectives and defeat the enemy infantry.

If this timetable is followed the attacker usually has a slight advantage. This is because he can reinforce the attack on the weakest of the three game objectives. He has to take and hold at least two to win the game.

However just one set back can throw the attack time table into disorder. The attacker always has to move into attack range, just under 12”. This allows the defending artillery to fire before he can, and the defending cavalry to charge him. If the defending cavalry win the melee, or if a lucky artillery shot results in a rout, the attack stalls until the attacker can rally the shaken or routed brigades. This usually takes at least two moves, and often results in the attack running out of time.

When the attacker has to cross a river at the start of the game, as in this case, the odds are against keeping to the timetable. Major rivers can only be crossed by one of the limited number of bridges. The attacker can concentrate his artillery against their side of the bridge and have a very good chance of routing one of the brigade columns before they can clear the river. They must rout directly away from the artillery causing the hit, which means routing through the remaining columns waiting to cross the bridge after them.

To avoid this I have recently either allowed the attacker to start the game on the enemy side of the river. Or, as in this game, had a special rule which stopped the defender from advancing to less than 12” from their side of the bridge.

Worked well in this game, though time was a factor and worked against the attacking French once again.

Halle Campaign – Day Three

Campaign Map

French attack Querfurt
4 French army – rally and resupply
5 French army – occupy Eisleben
6 French army – attack Querfurt

Russian retreat to Halle
1 Russian army – rally and resupply
2 Russian army – retreat to Halle
3 Russian army – defend Querfurt

Battle of Querfurt – Move 2

3rd Russian Army is fully deployed on the three game objectives at the start of the battle. 7th corps on the hill on the right, 8th corps in the woods in the centre and 9th corps in the farm on the left. Winzingerode has taken command of half of 8th corps, from the woods to the hill on the right

6th French Army arrive at the start of move 1. 16th French corps on the right advance towards the hill, 17th Polish corps in the centre towards the wood in the centre and 18th Vistula corps advance over the hill on the left. Poniatowski has taken command of the cavalry brigades of 16th and 17th corps.

The Russians occupy a strong defensive position. On the left their cavalry and artillery are poised to attack as soon as the 18th corps come down from the hill. The Poles have to march across the hill and descent to the right to avoid this.

The centre is also difficult to attack. Russian infantry hold both the farm and the woods, and have the remainder of 8th corps between the two strong points. The Polish corps cannot risk an attack until they can weaken the Russian defenders

On the right 16th French corps send their infantry to attack the hill, their artillery and the reserve cavalry will prevent the Russians in the centre from delaying this advance. However when they reach the hill the Russian infantry put up a strong resistance. After two rounds of firefight neither side have inflicted any casualties. On move 11 the French roll 2 sixes and 1 five, inflicting three casualties on the Russian infantry. Two brigades rout, but the arrival of the Russian grenadier brigade halt any further advance. At nightfall there are four French and two Russian brigades still exchanging fire.

At the start of move 10 the Russians in the woods in the centre withdraw having received 10% casualties from French gunners. French infantry enter the woods, but receive similar casualties from Russian artillery. Russian infantry counter attack, but lose the firefight and rout into their reserves. On move 12 the French secure the woods.

It is move 10 before the Vistula corps is finally in position to attack the farm on the left. Their artillery force the garrison to withdraw, the their infantry follow up. The Russian infantry counter attack, but lose the melee and retreat shaken. Russian cavalry charge the French guns, but are routed with 10% casualties. The French secure the farm.

Mainly due to good French dice, and poor Russian ones, the game is decided in the last two moves. It is a clear French victory, but one mostly due to luck.

Comments

This was a very enjoyable wargame in which either side could easily have won. The French would not commit to an attack without first weakening the Russian defenders. However all early attempts to do so failed.

It was typical that it took three rounds to decide the fire fight on the hill on the left. The French infantry were better quality musket and skirmish, but failed to cause any casualties for two moves. The Russians were poor quality conscripts, and out of six dice rolled failed to achieve one six which was required for a hit. However on the third round the French rolled two sixes and one five, all causing casualties.

It can be very frustrating when your opponent rolls a six at the critical point of the game, causing casualties. And even more so when you roll a one or two for morale. But it does result in a clear and decisive outcome, which we both like. Fortunately the good and bad luck are usually fairly evenly spread between the two armies.

Halle Campaign – Day Two

Campaign Map

French attack Eisleben
4 French army – occupy Mansfeld
5 French army – attack Eisleben
6 French army – hold and resupply

Russian retreat to Konnern
1 Russian army – retreat to Konnern
2 Russian army – defend Eisleben
3 Russian army – move up to border

Battle of Eisleben – Move 2

The Russians are more prepared than on day one
4 and 6 corps have orders to move forward, and do so at the start of move 1

All three French corps arrive on the table at the start of move 1
Once more there is a hill on the right, which will delay that attack considerably

The Russians occupy all three game objectives in the centre of the table

Once more the French CinC take command of artillery from two corps
The main French attack is against the woods in the centre.
14th French corps is supported by the grand battery
Their cavalry rout the cossacks, which leaves a gap in the centre
As the French infantry advance into that gap, the cavalry rout an infantry brigade
The centre is broken, which forces 6th corps to retreat
As soon as the French take the woods and fortified farm they halt the attack

Both generals have fought a very cautious battle, to avoid unnecessary casualties

French have lost 1 cavalry casualty (100 men)
Russians have lost 2 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (1000 men)

Comments

The table is very similar to Mansfeld, but the Russians react much quicker. Warned of the French offensive by the battle of the previous day, both reserve corps have orders to move forward on move 1. Consequently they are in position long before the French can reach any of the game objectives.

The French tactics are very similar to the previous day. Once more the CinC takes command of artillery from two corps, to create a grand battery. This is used to support the attack on the centre, and as soon as they open fire the Russian infantry withdraw from the woods.

However it is the performance of 14th corps dragoon brigade which makes the critical difference. On move two they are charged by Russian cossacks, and retreat shaken without a melee. They quickly rally and rout the same cossacks. The nearest Russian infantry join the cavalry rout, leaving a gap in the centre. The French infantry quickly move into that gap and the dragoons rally and charge a grenadier brigade in support of the fortified farm. They rout and take the nearby gunners with them.

The Russian centre and left retreat to the town, abandoning two of the three game objectives. It is an easy victory for the French.

It was interesting that a poor dice delayed the attack in the centre, but a series of very good dice resulted in the destruction of the Russian centre. The low casualties would seem to indicate a lack of will on the Russian side. But in fact the loss of both cavalry, artillery and infantry in the centre meant that they had no choice. Any delay would have resulted in heavy Russian casualties, and a rout rather than an organised withdrawal to a strong second position.

Halle Campaign – Day One

Campaign Map

French attack Mansfeld
4 French army – attack Mansfeld
5 French army – hold and resupply
6 French army – hold and resupply

Russian
1 Russian army – defend Mansfeld
2 Russian army – hold and resupply
3 Russian army – hold and resupply

Battle of Mansfield – Move 2

The campaign opens with a surprise French attack on the border town of Mansfield.

1st Russian army has one corps between the town and the border, their task is to observe the border and warn of any French movements. The CinC is in the town, with the other two corps either side of the town. It will take one move to inform the CinC and a further move to activate the two reserve corps. They will not move until the start of move 3.

10th French army arrive on the table at the start of move 1. The photograph shows their position at the end of move 2, just before the reserve Russian corps start to move.

2nd Russian corps put up a hard fight for the woods in the centre, including a determined counter attack. But the French beat them off and held the woods at nightfall.

10th French (young guard) corps were delayed by having to move over the hill on the right. This allowed 1st Russian corps to occupy the fortified farm before they could reach it. Marshal Davout combined the artillery from 10th and 11th corps, and supported the attack on the farm. The Russians were driven from the farm and forced to retreat behind the woods on the right.

3rd Russian and 12th French corps arrived at the hill on the left at the same time. Cavalry can cross a hill at half speed, but may not fight on it. Artillery can fire from the edge, but not redeploy. So the battle for the hill was an infantry one. The French had an initial advantage and the melee continued for three moves, but the elite Russian grenadier brigade finally drove off the French and held the hill at the end of the game.

Having taken two of the game objectives the French won the battle.

Comments

The delayed arrival of two of the three Russian corps worked really well, particularly on the right left where the infantry slogged it out for three moves. The Russian grenadier brigade arrived late, but turned the tide and secured the hill.

The battle in the centre was evenly balanced. The woods is relatively small, and could only hold one brigade. The French attack was supported by the grand battery, which allowed them to take the woods. But the area between the woods and the hill on the left was strongly held. The French had to advance to the right of the woods, however they were able to drive off the Russian counter attack on the woods.

10th young guard corps should have played a major role in the battle. However they had to advance over the hill on the right, and had to move at half rate until they had cleared the hill. So it was half way through the battle before they reached the fortified farm. Fortunately they were supported by the French grand battery, who forced the garrison to withdraw from the farm. Despite their late arrival they forced all of 1st Russian corps to withdraw behind the woods.

A very enjoyable first game.

Halle Campaign in Central Germany

 

Campaign map of Germany

There are three campaign areas in Germany
In the north First French Army Group and the Prussian army
In the centre Second French Army Group and the Russian army
In the south Third French Army Group and the Austrian army
This is the eleventh campaign phase to be fought in Germany

Campaign map of central Germany

There are three regions in central Germany
Dusseldorf region is the reserve area for Second French Army Group
Dresden region is the reserve area for the Russian army
The campaign is fought in Erfurt region

There are nine districts in Erfurt region, each one a campaign phase
The area from Nordhausen district to Halle district is the campaign area for this phase

Campaign map for Halle phase

This map is used for campaign movement and resupply
It shows the location of the nine French and nine Russian corps
It also shows the movement of supply columns.
There are 12 towns on the map and each one is a possible battle/wargame
Each town has 9 squares, and each one is a scenic square on the wargames table

Example of a Russian corps

Wittgenstein has nine corps under his command, all are Russian. All nine corps have four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery. Russian artillery are more powerful than the French, but their cavalry weaker.

Example of a French corps

Davout also has nine corps under his command. There is one young guard corps, five French corps and one Polish, Italian and Vistula. The non French corps have more conscript troops than the French ones.

Comments

I always think of central Germany as the least interesting of the five campaign areas. In north Germany there is Napoleon and the Imperial Garde. In south Germany the very colourful Bavarian and Austrian armies. In North Spain Wellington with British, Portuguese and Spanish corps. In south Spain the colourful, but not very effective, Spanish army, plus of course the bands of irregular guerrillas. By comparison there are the all green uniforms of the Russians and the equally uninspiring blue of the French.

However once the campaign starts this superficial view is quickly forgotten. Once on the wargame table the large number of troops is impressive, and the tactical problems of attack and defence renders all else secondary.

We start the new campaign during the hottest part of the year here in Spain. With temperatures of 34 to 40c we have to suspend our normal weekly walking group, and our whole daily routine changes dramatically. We get up early most at 0700 so that we can do an hour’s walk. That leaves us another hour to do our outdoor tasks, and finish by 0900. It is too hot to attempt much outdoors for the remainder of the day. So our Wargaming becomes more important than ever. We are fortunate to have a permanent wargames room which is the coolest part of the house and we spent an hour or so gaming most days.

I also tend to spend more time working on the campaign than during the rest of the year. I often have a special summer project, and this year is no different. I am updating all of the wargame maps, which keeps me busy for a couple of hours each day. I will post an update on the blog when I have something to show.

Review of Santander Campaign

 

Battles fought during the Santander campaign phase 

The campaign covered the period 19 to 25 July 1813, and took seven weeks to complete.   It was set in northern Spain and provided six battles to wargame.  Campaigns set in Spain include guerrilla activity, and this has proved one of the most difficult things to get right.   It also included a new method of deciding who won the game, namely three game objectives set in the middle of the wargames table.

Getting the balance right in Spain has always been difficult.    In northern Spain it is British v French, and in southern Spain Spanish v French.   Historically Wellington always outfought his French opponent in battle.   He often had to retreat, even when he had won a significant battle.   This was caused by the strategic situation in Spain, where the French greatly outnumbered the British army.  

Regional map of Europe

The regions shown in this map are my fictional military regions, which has no historical basis.  The map is designed to divide Europe into five campaign areas, each of which has 27 military regions, each of which is a campaign phase.  

The whole campaign is designed to provide wargames in which both sides have an equal chance of winning.   The campaign has now produced 92 campaign phases and 482 battles to wargame.   Every single battle has achieved the major campaign objective that both sides should have an equal chance of winning.

This has proved particularly difficult to achieve in northern Spain.    It is generally accepted that Wellington was the best commander in Spain, and his army superior to his French opponents.   Certainly he won most, if not all, of the battles he fought.   He often had to retreat either before or after a battle, but that was due to strategic rather than tactical reasons.   Throughout the Peninsular War the French outnumbered Wellington’s army.   Whilst Napoleon would accept large numbers of casualties, Wellington has to avoid a major disaster at all costs.

Throughout the 14 years we have been running this campaign, getting the balance right in Spain, and particularly in the north, has proved one of the most difficult problems.  

Our latest solution is to allow the British element of Wellington’s army to be better troops than the French.   However each corps has three British and one Portuguese infantry brigades.    The Portuguese are graded as low quality troops.   This is unfair from a historical point of view, but necessary from a wargame one.

Wellington has two British armies and one Spanish.   The Spanish are generally low quality troops, though each of the four corps has one average infantry brigade.   On the wargames table this means that on the wargames table Wellington has to protect his Spanish army, as he also had to do at Talavera.

Another major factor in our Spanish campaigns is the guerrilla bands.   In our campaign each of the 12 cities and towns has a garrison of one Spanish infantry brigade.   When the town is taken by the French that brigade becomes a guerrilla band.   The more towns they capture, the more guerrilla bands attacking their lines of supply.   The outcome of such combats is decided by rolling one D6.   The guerrillas need a roll of 6 to take the convoy.   In this campaign, for the first time, they were particularly lucky and caused critical problems for the French.   In fact largely due to their success the French had to retreat just as they were about to capture the campaign objective of Santander.

The second big change in this campaign was creating three game objectives to determine the winner of the game.   These were villages, farms, hills or woods.  One was situated on each of the three middle terrain squares.   The defender usually occupied them at the start of the game.   The attacker has 12 moves to take at least two of the three.   This has prevented the defender from slowly retreating throughout the game, forcing the attacker to deploy to attack only to find the defender out of range.   It has worked very well in this campaign, and I have high hopes of it in the future.

Santander Campaign – Day Seven

 

Campaign Map

 
French forced to retreat to river Ebro due to lack of supplies
Siege of Soncillo abandoned

10 French army – retreat to Laredo to resupply
11 French army – defend river Ebro
12 French army – retreat to river Ebro

1 British army – rally and hold Santander
2 British army – hold Medina
3 British army – raise siege of Soncillo

Guerrillas
All brigades stood down to rally, regroup and resupply

Comments

The French won the wargame of the battle of Santander, by taking two of the three game objectives. However Wellington still holds the city of Santander and the villa on the main road east of the city. To take the city would require a second day of fighting, this time to take the villa and then the city.

10th French army group was reduced to one days supplies per corps when they started the battle of Santander. By nightfall they were out of supply. The campaign rules state that any corps out of supply must immediately retreat to its nearest supply base. Each corps would also lose 10% of one corps for each day they were out of supply. Soult therefore had to order an immediate retreat to Laredo.

This left 11th French army group (in the centre) with an exposed flank, and open to attack from both 1st and 2nd British army groups. They were also down to two days supplies for each corps and the supply situation was becoming critical. Soult ordered them to retreat to the river Ebro, but to hold the west bank of the river.

In the south 12th French army group had laid siege to Soncillo for two days, and the garrison was running short of supplies. Wellington had ordered 3rd British army group to prepare to attack and raise the siege. He now ordered that attack, in the knowledge that the French would not dare to risk a battle with the other two French army groups already in retreat. Soult ordered them to also withdraw to the river Ebro and hold the west bank of the river.

This is the first time that guerrilla activity has had such a dramatic effect on either of the campaigns in Spain. There are nine active bands in this campaign. They have a maximum of 3 days supplies, so they can attack a convoy once every three days. In a campaign which normally lasts 6 days, this means each one can attack twice.

When they do so the outcome is decided by rolling 1D6. They need to roll six to capture the supplies and rout the convoy escort. This means the immediate loss of those supplies. On the next day the same number of supplies are received at the main depot, in this campaign that is San Sebastian. They then have to be moved to the army group concerned.

Each corps has a maximum of four days supplies, but these are reduced when they are moving or fighting. It is not unusual for a corps to be reduced to one or two day’s supplies at the end of a battle. If they capture a town, they also capture the supplies held there. This is usually sufficient to keep them going in the latter stages of a campaign. However in this case they failed to do so, and suffered the consequence.

I am quite pleased that this campaign has shown that with more than average luck the guerrilla can have a decisive effect on the outcome. I would not want it to happen too often, but the chances of rolling so many sixes are pretty slim.