Battle of Waterloo Fun Game

 

Wargame Map

There is a lot of administration when one campaign phase ends and I have to prepare for the next  one.   It can take a couple of weeks to complete, and during that time we don’t have a wargame on the table to play.   We are used to having a couple of moves most days, so this can be annoying.   And particularly at this time of year when it can be very hot here in Spain, and we rely more on our wargaming than during the cooler months.

This time I have decided to have a one off fun game, very loosely based on Waterloo.  It is many years since we last did this, and we both quite liked the idea of a game outside the constraints of the 1813 campaign.

I would stress that this is not a wargame of Waterloo.   The terrain is wrong, the buildings are wrong , the orders of battle is wrong, the whole concept is wrong.  It is just a fun game inspired by the famous battle

We used the same scenic boards and corps organisation as in our 1813 campaign,  but the British corps do not have their Portuguese infantry brigades.   The order of battle is:

Brigades              French                   British

Infantry                   12                          9

Cavalry                     3                          3

Artillery                     3                          3

The game would last our usual 12 moves, each move representing one hour.  

The French objective was to take the cross roads

Table at start of game

The British are deployed on the left , with one infantry brigade in each of the three fortified farms to their front.   Wellington is centre rear.  He does not command any troops, but can take command of any brigade by moving into base contact with them

The French are deployed in column of march on the right.   Napoleon is centre rear and can also take command of any brigade by moving into base contact.

Both armies are out of artillery range at  the start of the game.

The French advanced their artillery to short range of the three buildings.  These were held by elite British brigades, and supported by their artillery.   The French artillery were in place by the end of move one, but it would be move 6 before they inflicted sufficient casualties on the garrisons for the French infantry to attack and take them.   There were then only six moves left for the French to take the cross roads.

The British artillery dominated the open area between the three buildings.   The French cavalry were sent forward to cover the massed infantry attack.   Two of the three French brigades were broken by the artillery fire and by British cavalry counter  attacks.  By the end of move 10 the cavalry on both sides were withdrawn.  

On the left the 4^th French corps took the ridge behind Hougoumont.   Only one of the four British brigades remained formed, and they covered the retreat of the rest of 1^st British corps

On the right 3^rd French corps took the ridge and routed all of 3^rd British corps.  They were then able to move infantry and artillery to support the main attack in the centre.

1^st French (Guard) corps advanced to take the cross roads.   This was the most  heavily defended area of the whole table, and they suffered heavy casualties.  By the end of move eleven all three French artillery brigades were firing on the cross roads.   The Guard infantry suffered heavy casualties, but managed to rout 4^th British corps.   At  night fall the only one British infantry brigade remained to cover the retreat.

Comment

This wargame was never intended to be a serious refight of Waterloo.   The table paid only a passing resemblance to the actual battlefield.   The orders of battle were nothing like either Wellington or Napoleon armies.   The rules were our standard campaign wargame rules, designed to provide a fast, fun game.

Despite this the course of the battle was similar.  The three villages held up the French for half of the game.   The French took the high ground either side of the cross roads, but struggled to  take the centre.  In fact during the closing phase of the game it  looked like they would run out of time and fail to take their objective.

The stars on the photograph indicate brigades in rout.   The French has four, compared to fourteen British brigades.  However this is a reflection of how our wargame rules work, rather than a complete French “walk over”.   To create a clear winner my rules rely heavily on morale.  As the battle develops both sides suffer casualties, which in turn reduce their ability to survive a morale check.   When one brigade does rout, all friendly brigades within 4” have to test their own morale.  Quite often one or more will join the rout.  This in turn forces other friendly brigades within supporting distance to test their own morale.

This was a really enjoyable game.  It was nice not to have to consider the consequences of the outcome, and therefore to just  fight to the end.   Not sure I would want to play too many games like this, but it was a nice way to cover the gap between the end of one campaign and the start of the next.

End of Llanes Campaign

 

Battles fought

 

This was a very frustrating campaign for the French player, which was me. 

It was not so much the outcome of the five wargames, as the French won two of them.   It was more the unrelenting good luck of the Spanish, both regular and guerrilla.   They even won the first game of the campaign, even though the odds were very much against them.   The French attack on Cabezon was a surprise, and the Spanish were not concentrated.  Yet they managed to hold the French and win the day.

The Spanish army which formed part of Wellington’s Army of the North is by far the best of the four in Spain.   This was deliberate because they form a third of Wellington’s army, and have to be able to hold their own against the three French armies in the north of Spain.   This is achieved by improving their combat and morale to the equal of the worse of the three French armies.   It is then down to the Spanish player, usually Jan, and the luck of the dice.   Over the years I have experimented with grading the Spanish armies.   At present they are slightly better than previously.   But I don’t think that is the reason for Wellington winning this campaign.

Once more it came down to the guerrilla activity and the effect on the French supply system.   All guerrilla combat is off table.  I have never enjoyed skirmish Wargaming, though I have tried it a few times over the years.   So any guerrilla attacks on either garrisons or convoys is decided by the rules and a dice roll.   The rules give the French a decided advantage, and the guerrilla need a high dice roll to inflict any damage.   However when they do it can have long lasting and serious damage to the French.   The worse that they can do is capture a convoy or a garrison.   If they do so they deprive the French of the supplies involved, usually 2 to 4 days.   These are replaced the next day at the main French depot, but it can take days to redistribute them to the forward depots where they are required.   This in turn can delay the French corp(s) concerned in returning to full combat condition.

When a battle if fought both corps go through a three day recovery period.   On the next day the loser retreats, the winner occupies the town captured and takes possession of any stores held there.   On the next day both rally, regroup and resupply.   They can only do so if they are in supply and not in contact with the enemy.   All routed and shaken brigades become formed again.   Regroup means that Infantry casualties are concentrated in the brigade with the most casualties, but all corps affected keep at least 10%. Resupply is only possible if the corps is within one days march of a supply depot, and then it must have sufficient to bring the corps up to four days supplies.   If all of this is completed then all corps are ready to fight again on the third day

In this campaign the disruption of the French supply system by the guerrillas meant that there was not sufficient supplies in the nearest depots to the recovering French corps.   As a result they were not ready to resume operations on the third day.   This allowed the British/Spanish corps, who were always in supply, to dominate the campaign.   Even when the French did win a battle they were unable to exploit it due to lack of supplies.

I feel that all of this reflects the problems faced by the French armies in Spain and Portugal.   But it is still very frustrating trying to keep the campaign on the desired time table which should produce six battles within six or seven days.  This means we always have a wargame on the table, and the campaign is fast and unpredictable.    

As always I enjoyed the campaign, but it was more frustrating to run than is usual

Llanes Campaign – Day 9

 

19 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 9

Soult has redeployed his army to the Santander border

10^th army hold Torrelavega

11^th army occupy Reinosa

12^th army hold Aguilar

 

Wellington has redeployed his army to the Llanes border

1^st army hold Comillas

4^th army hold Cabezon

2^nd army hold Camon

 

Comment

After nine days both armies are effectively in the same positions as when they started the campaign.   The French hold the Santander side of the border, the British the Llanes side.

Both armies have suffered considerable battle casualties, even taking into account reinforcements received.   Both are weary and in desperate need of rest and reorganisation.

Wellington’s army are however well supplied.   Four of his corps have the maximum of four days supplies, the other two have three days supplies.   All of his depots hold sufficient supplies to ensure that his army does not go hungry.

Soult’s supply situation is desperate.   Two of his corps have a respectable three days supplies, but the other four have only one day’s supplies.   Worst still all of his depots, except for Santander, have insufficient supplies to do more than maintain this situation.   Santander has 14 days supplies, but is surrounded by guerrilla bands and unable to secure convoys to the front line depots.

The French have completely failed in their campaign objective of taking and holding Llanes.   Indeed they have only just been able to secure the Llanes/Santander border.   They will have to send one corps from each army to secure their lines of supply and move forward  the necessary supplies from Santander.  This task will take weeks rather than days.

Wellington is the clear winner of the campaign.  

 

 

 

Llanes Campaign – Day 8

18 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 8

Soult orders reorganisation and resupply

10^th army hold Torrelavega

11^th army reorganise and resupply

12^th army occupy Aguilar

 

Wellington orders 4^th Spanish retreat to Llanes district

1^st army occupy Comillas

4^th army retreat to Cabezon

2^nd army retreat to Camon

 

Comment

Wellington is concerned that 4^th Spanish army is isolated and surrounded at Reinosa

He orders them to retire to Cabezon in Llanes district

 

He is unaware that 11^th French army is in no condition to undertake any offensive operations

In fact all three French armies are suffering supply problems and have considerable battle casualties

 

The retreat of the French armies into Santander district has eased their supply problems

Spanish guerrillas are not allowed to attack if there is a French corps in an adjacent square

However earlier guerrilla success has left all depots short of supplies.

 

The campaign rules state that each corps can have a maximum of four days supplies

For six corps this is a total of 24 days supplies.

In addition the combined depots must carry another 6 days supplies, making a total of 30 days

If the total of both corps and depots is less than 30 days, the balance is delivered to the main depot

For the French army this is Santander.

At present each depot holds only one day’s supplies, with Santander holding 14 days

 

To resupply a corps must be within one days march (three squares) of a depot

You will see from the map that only 21^st corps is within three squares of Santander

To resupply the other five corps must either move closer to Santander

Or supplies must be moved from Santander to an appropriate depot

 

You will also see from the map that 7 and 8 guerrilla brigades are close to Santander

They can attack any convoy moving to either Torrelavega or Medina

 

19^th corps has four days supplies and 20^th corps three days

21^st corps has two days supplies and 22^nd corps also two days

23^rd corps has only one day’s supplies and 24^th corps also one day

 

It is easy to see why Wellington thinks that 4^th Spanish army is in great danger

But in face Soult’s army is in danger of a complete breakdown of supplies

This would lead to each corps losing 10% of one brigade each day they are out of supply

To avoid this Soult would have to order a redeployment of all six corps to within one day’s march of Santander

 

Clearly the campaign has run its course

The French have failed to take and hold the campaign objective of Llanes

Consequently Wellington has won the Llanes campaign phase.

Llanes Campaign – Day 7

17 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 7

Soult must concentrate his army Santander-Medina-Soncillo

10^th army retreat to Torrelavega to avoid being surrounded

11^th army retreat to Medina having lost battle of Reinosa

12^th army attack Aguilar to disrupt allied advance

 

Wellington captures 8 days French supplies at Reinosa

1^st army prepare to attack Comillas

4^th army occupy Reinosa

2^nd army hold Aguilar

Second Battle of Aguilar

The second battle of Aguilar is decided by fighting in and around the town

The town is held by 2 British and 1 Spanish brigade

It is attacked by four elite French and Italian brigades

The garrison is routed, and the British unable to retake the town

The French lose 3 infantry and 1 cavalry (1300 casualties)

The British lose 7 infantry and 1 cavalry (2900 casualties)

Comment

Marshal Soult has accepted that he cans no longer hope to take the city of Llanes, the French campaign objective.  

All three of his armies have retreated into Santander district, and two of the three Anglo/Spanish armies have followed them.   His personal objective now is to drive Wellington back into Llanes district and secure the border.   This would return to the position at the start of the campaign.

To stand any chance of achieving this aim he must win the second battle of Aguilar.    This would force 2^nd British army to retreat into Llanes district, and he would then only have to force 4^th Spanish army to do the same.

However if he loses the battle Wellington will be able to move his whole army into Santander district, and be in a good position to take Santander itself.

He learned a painful lesson having lost the battle of Reinosa, namely that possession of the town is more important than defeating the whole enemy army.  

Observing that the British only had two British and one Spanish infantry brigades at Aguilar, he concentrated four of his best infantry brigades to attack the town.  This meant that 23rd corps in the north, and 24^th corps in the south, were both outnumbered.   They were both ordered to pin 3^rd and 4^th British corps, whilst he attacked in the centre.

The battle opened badly, when both French corps lost cavalry melee.   This made any attempt to threaten the British flanks impossible.   Worst still it left the British artillery covering the approach to the town.

When the situation is desperate a wise man will retreat.   Soult ordered an attack.   By sheer determination, and good luck with the dice, he pulled it off.   In just one hour of fighting he had taken the town and routed all three defending brigades.

At last some good news for the French!

Blog Feedback

In April 2009 I wrote my first blog post, which was the start of this Napoleonic Wargame blog.   One of the very first to comment was Bob Cordery of Wargame Miscellany and writer of many wargame rule books.   He was very generous in his comments and with practical advice on how to write blogs.  I have followed his blog ever since (Wargaming Miscellany) and he has continued to comment and offer advice and support.    We have never met, but I would consider him a real friend.

When I read his blog this morning I was very surprised, and not a little pleased, to find that my blog was the subject of his latest post.   He commented on the small number of comments this blog receives and urged his many followers to have a look and perhaps comment.

According to his blog stats Bob has 394 followers and a total pageviews of 4,185,086.   That is really impressive, but even more so is the large number of comments he receives on most of his posts.   He has a very friendly writing style and obviously inspires interest in, and comments on, his wide range of blog posts.   I know from the other blogs which I follow this is relatively unusual.   A few bloggers have commented on the lack of response to their posts, and a couple have given up blogging as a result.

I currently write three blogs each week.  

This is my main blog and covers all aspects of my Wargaming activities.  

The second one is my 1813 campaign diary blog.  As the name suggests it records the daily events in my long running Napoleonic campaign.   It also has a battle report of each of the 432 campaign battles fought so far.

The third one is Jan and Paul in Spain.  I started this one to keep friends and family up to date on what we are doing here in Spain.  It is mostly a record of our hill walking activities with a U3A group which Jan and I run.    

My purpose in writing blogs has always been personal satisfaction.   Long before I started my first blog I kept a personal daily diary.  It is a five year one, with a few lines for each day.  I have kept one for almost all of my adult life.   So blogging is only an extension of that activity. 

Of the three weekly blogs, the easiest one to compare with Bob’s Wargame Miscellany would be this one.   According to my blog stats I have 131 followers; I have done 931 posts and have had 1335 comments.    All time visitors are 364499 and last month there were 1963.   Not in the same league as Bob’s 394 followers and 4,185,086 visitors.   But in my opinion quite respectable, and certainly more than I expected when I typed that first post 13 years ago.

Bob’s current post got me thinking about the relatively few comments I receive.   1335 comments sounds quite impressive, but it is only 1.4 comments for each of the 931 posts.   I don’t know how many Bob gets for each post, but I would suspect 5 to 10, or even more.

On the one hand I am very grateful that after all of this time 131 folk follow the blog.   I am also very grateful that 1963 of them read the blog last month.   There were 5 posts in May, so if the stats are correct 392 folk read each one.   However there were only four comments in May, and all of them from Bob.

Don’t think for one moment that I am complaining about the lack of response.   I enjoy writing the blog each week, and until I read Bob’s recent post I was not even aware that there was so little response.   If anything I was quietly pleased that I managed to have 131 followers.   It was only today that I realised there were almost 2000 visitors last month.   And none of this will prompt me to abandon the weekly blog.  It is such an important part of my Wargaming activities that I would never consider stopping it.

But it would be nice to have more comments.    I really enjoy each comment I receive, and I try to reply in full to any points raised.

So thank you all for following my weekly posts, and don’t take this one as a complaint that you have not commented more.   But if you do have any comments or suggestions about the blog, please feel free to post.

Llanes Campaign – Day 6

16 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 6

Wellington orders 4^th Spanish army to attack Reinosa

A victory will force the French to retreat from the border

1^st army hold Llanes and the main allied supply depot

4^th army attack Reinosa

2^nd army defend Aguilar

 

Soult feels unable to attack because of attacks on his lines of supply

10^th army hold Comillas

11^th army hold Reinosa

12^th army hold Soncillo

Battle of Reinosa

The battle is won by the fighting in and around the town

In the north 21^st French and 5^th Spanish corps exchange ineffective artillery fire

In the south a cavalry battle results in both sides breaking and routing

6^th Spanish corps take the hill and wait for 22^nd Vistula corps to attack them]

The Poles deploy out of sight at the bottom of the hill and await further orders

With the loss of Reinosa Marshal Foy orders a general retreat

Comment

Reinosa at start of battle 

Three Spanish infantry brigades take a walled town held by four French brigades.

It sounds unlikely, and indeed it is.

 

Fourth Spanish army is under the direct command of Wellington

The two corps are the best Spanish troops in the Peninsula

They do not have any elite infantry brigades, but six of the eight are average

This means that they are as good as any non French infantry brigades in the Peninsula

 

However it was the daring tactics used by the Spanish CinC (Jan) which won the battle.

 

The town is held by four of the best French infantry brigades, but two have 10% casualties

They are deployed behind the town under the command of the French CinC (Paul)

This is because he expects the Spanish to collect their artillery in the centre supported by infantry

This is what the French commander would have done

 

The Spanish commander leaves his artillery with the corps on the flanks, to contain the enemy

He attacks with three infantry brigades, without any artillery preparation

 

When the French commander observes the Spanish attack he sends two infantry brigades into the town

In a walled town this should be sufficient to hold against three infantry brigades

Both of his brigades have 10% casualties, but they are elite and this only reduces them to average

 

The Spanish attack half of the town with two brigades and the other with one

The first round is a draw, with all five brigades receiving further 10% casualties

 

The French commander sends both reserve brigades into the town

However the Spanish win the second round, again with all five brigades receiving 10% more casualties

This causes one French brigade to rout, and the second to test morale and also rout

Both rout into the two supporting brigades, who are not yet in position, causing both of them to rout also

Reinosa at end of battle

The Spanish have taken the town, but all three brigades have 20% casualties

This would make them very vulnerable to a French counter attack

However all four French brigades are in rout, and there is no one available to counter attack.

 

Two of the four French brigades in rout have not received any casualties

However it will be difficult to rally them because they do not have any formed troops within 4”

 

Both French corps are pinned by the two Spanish corps

So the French CinC cannot call on them to counter attack the town

 

A very unusual result and proof that a well planned and supported attack is not always the best option!