Napoleonic Game; BE V2, Germany 1805
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 9:06 pm
Derry and I had a great time playing a BE game. It was a seesaw battle. As the images show. I didn't begin taking photos right away, because as usual, I forgot. I think I started taking images at the beginning of the 2nd turn.
The Armies-
Russian Forces:
Commander in Chief - Ordinary
1x Vanguard Division
Division Commander - Ordinary
2 - Poor Jagers w/BTN guns (LT) ----------- L2 --- C --- SK1 --- Stoic, Poor Shooter
1 - Vet Musketeer w/BTN guns (LN) ------- L4 --- B ------------ Stoic, Poor Shooter
3 - Musketeers w/BTN guns (LN) ----------- L3 --- B ------------ Stoic, Poor Shooter
2 - Hussars (LC) ------------------------------- L3 --- B
1- Dragoon (MC) ------------------------------- L3 --- B
*The 6-pdr horse artillery was exchanged for battalion (BTN) guns
3x Infantry Division
Division Commanders - 1 Ordinary, 2 Poor
1 - Poor Jagers w/BTN guns (LT) ---------- L2 --- C --- SK1 --- Stoic Poor, Shooter
1 - Line Grenadier w/BTN guns(LN) ------ E4 --- B ------------ Stoic, Elan
1 - Vet Musketeer w/BTN guns (LN) ------- L4 --- B ------------ Stock, Poor Shooter
3 - Musketeers w/BTN guns (LN) ----------- L3 --- B ------------ Stoic, Poor Shooter
*The 6-pdr Foot Artillery was exchanged for battalion (BTN) guns
Reserves
1 - Life Guard Jager (LT) -------------------- G5 --- B --- SK1 --- Stoic, Elan
2 - Life Guard Grenadiers (LN) -------------- G5 --- B ----------- Stoic, Elan
1 - Life Guard 12-pdr Foot Artillery (FA) --- E5 --- B ----------- Large
*1- LG Jager's attached to 1st Division
*1- LG Grenadier attached to 2nd Division
*1- LG Grenadier attached to 3rd Division
*1- LG 12-pdr attached to 3rd Division
French Forces:
Commander in Chief - Strategist
3x Infantry Division
3x Division Commanders - Competent
4 - Line Infantry (LN) ------------------- L3 --- A --- SK1 --- Elan
1 - Light Infantry (LT) ------------------ L4 --- A --- SK1 --- Elan
1 - 6-pdr Foot Artillery (FA) ----------- L4 --- A
1x Reserve
1 - Converged Grenadiers (LN) ------- E4 --- A --- SK1 --- Elan
2 - Voltigeurs (Sk) ---------------------- L4 --- A --- SK2
1 - 12-pdr Foot Artillery (FA) --------- L4 --- A
3 - Cuirassiers (HC) -------------------- L4 --- B --- Cuirass
1 - 6-pdr Horse Artillery (HA) -------- E4 --- A --- Small
The Russians and the French cast dice to determine the attacker, and with the Russians having a greater number of 'Light Cavalry' (LC), they gained the initiative. The game commenced according to the rules, with setups 6-UD from each side's edge, followed by a 1D6 roll to decide the engagement type, resulting in "Refuse Flank"—a scenario unfamiliar to us. Derry repositioned a division to his right, while I remained stationary to fulfill the scenario's demands. The first turn involved advancing into engagement range. The French advanced swiftly on their right flank, but their left flank progress was slower. Meanwhile, the Russians captured the hill unopposed.
The bridge spans a wide river, impassable to all. Yet, beyond the bridge, the river forks and narrows, transforming into a stream.
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In image (5) the Opolchenie, substituting for Musketeers due to forgetting a box of infantry units, moved to the rear without a facing change—a slow maneuver. However, the Russian commander had enough Command Points (CPs) to order the units to move twice.
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In the end, the French infantry unit didn't move from the bridge, eventually dying on the bridge, never having made it across, as the cavalry continued blocking the way. The 2 infantry units next to the bridge had moved up, braving continuous fire from the nearby artillery and fired muskets at the French infantry unit, and finally killing the unit.
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Elements of the 1st Division charged the remaining French infantry unit, next to the hamlet. Unfortunately, the charge failed. However another and different charge eliminated a French infantry unit.
The Russians charged again the next turn, T6, but they didn't so well.
In image (11) the building is burning because the 12-pdr on the hill fired on the unit inside and set it on fire. Also, something else we hadn't noticed before, the "Set Fire to Buildings" rule (p 88) say that the fire can spread on a roll of 5-6 to adjacent areas. I guess that makes it sort of interesting?
In the end, the Russian left was stalemated, with neither side giving ground, and despite the French heavy cavalry moving off to help the French center (Russian center, too), the damage done to both sides on the French left (Russian right) was too much to insure victory for either side. Thus, the game was declared a draw.
The Armies-
Russian Forces:
Commander in Chief - Ordinary
1x Vanguard Division
Division Commander - Ordinary
2 - Poor Jagers w/BTN guns (LT) ----------- L2 --- C --- SK1 --- Stoic, Poor Shooter
1 - Vet Musketeer w/BTN guns (LN) ------- L4 --- B ------------ Stoic, Poor Shooter
3 - Musketeers w/BTN guns (LN) ----------- L3 --- B ------------ Stoic, Poor Shooter
2 - Hussars (LC) ------------------------------- L3 --- B
1- Dragoon (MC) ------------------------------- L3 --- B
*The 6-pdr horse artillery was exchanged for battalion (BTN) guns
3x Infantry Division
Division Commanders - 1 Ordinary, 2 Poor
1 - Poor Jagers w/BTN guns (LT) ---------- L2 --- C --- SK1 --- Stoic Poor, Shooter
1 - Line Grenadier w/BTN guns(LN) ------ E4 --- B ------------ Stoic, Elan
1 - Vet Musketeer w/BTN guns (LN) ------- L4 --- B ------------ Stock, Poor Shooter
3 - Musketeers w/BTN guns (LN) ----------- L3 --- B ------------ Stoic, Poor Shooter
*The 6-pdr Foot Artillery was exchanged for battalion (BTN) guns
Reserves
1 - Life Guard Jager (LT) -------------------- G5 --- B --- SK1 --- Stoic, Elan
2 - Life Guard Grenadiers (LN) -------------- G5 --- B ----------- Stoic, Elan
1 - Life Guard 12-pdr Foot Artillery (FA) --- E5 --- B ----------- Large
*1- LG Jager's attached to 1st Division
*1- LG Grenadier attached to 2nd Division
*1- LG Grenadier attached to 3rd Division
*1- LG 12-pdr attached to 3rd Division
French Forces:
Commander in Chief - Strategist
3x Infantry Division
3x Division Commanders - Competent
4 - Line Infantry (LN) ------------------- L3 --- A --- SK1 --- Elan
1 - Light Infantry (LT) ------------------ L4 --- A --- SK1 --- Elan
1 - 6-pdr Foot Artillery (FA) ----------- L4 --- A
1x Reserve
1 - Converged Grenadiers (LN) ------- E4 --- A --- SK1 --- Elan
2 - Voltigeurs (Sk) ---------------------- L4 --- A --- SK2
1 - 12-pdr Foot Artillery (FA) --------- L4 --- A
3 - Cuirassiers (HC) -------------------- L4 --- B --- Cuirass
1 - 6-pdr Horse Artillery (HA) -------- E4 --- A --- Small
The Russians and the French cast dice to determine the attacker, and with the Russians having a greater number of 'Light Cavalry' (LC), they gained the initiative. The game commenced according to the rules, with setups 6-UD from each side's edge, followed by a 1D6 roll to decide the engagement type, resulting in "Refuse Flank"—a scenario unfamiliar to us. Derry repositioned a division to his right, while I remained stationary to fulfill the scenario's demands. The first turn involved advancing into engagement range. The French advanced swiftly on their right flank, but their left flank progress was slower. Meanwhile, the Russians captured the hill unopposed.
The bridge spans a wide river, impassable to all. Yet, beyond the bridge, the river forks and narrows, transforming into a stream.
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- (1) T2: Russian left, The Russian 3rd Division, in line, took the hill, while the French occupied the hamlet along the river. The 2nd Division, in line, is to the left of the hill.
- (2) T2: Russian center, the French have reached one of the hamlets along the stream. The 1st Division, in line, have occupied the small woods next to the hill.
- (3) T2: Russian left, The French have quickly reached the bridge. The Vanguard division, inline, is in the woods next to the bridge and on the end of the bridge.
- (4) T3: The Russian cavalry charge across the bridge. Oh, brave souls.
- (5) T3: Consequences of the Charge
In image (5) the Opolchenie, substituting for Musketeers due to forgetting a box of infantry units, moved to the rear without a facing change—a slow maneuver. However, the Russian commander had enough Command Points (CPs) to order the units to move twice.
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- (6) T3: Overall view of the Vanguard Division confronting the many many French forces heading their way. One of the infantry units has gone to square, just in case.
- (7) T3: Russian center, the 1st Division is on a Hold order, the 2nd Division is on an Attack order, and the 3rd Division is also on an Attack order.
- (8) T4: Top view of the Vanguard Division as Derry contemplates his next actions.
- (9) T4: "Dans quelle direction dois-je aller, Docteur?"
In the end, the French infantry unit didn't move from the bridge, eventually dying on the bridge, never having made it across, as the cavalry continued blocking the way. The 2 infantry units next to the bridge had moved up, braving continuous fire from the nearby artillery and fired muskets at the French infantry unit, and finally killing the unit.
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- (10) T4: The Russian 2nd Division moved up and charged along the French line. Charging in column gives a boost to the charge, but charging up a riverbank is a negative. One of 2nd Division's infantry regiments had already said a hearty hello to the French artillery. The Russians were victorious in all 3 charges. Goodbye, artillery!
- (11) T5: The hamlet had been shelled by a large 12-pdr battery of the 1st Division, situated on the hill. It caught fire. Still, the brave Russian Lifeguard Grenadier Regiment of the 1st Division charged, in line, the burning structure with support from other 1st Division unit and forced the French infantry out.
Elements of the 1st Division charged the remaining French infantry unit, next to the hamlet. Unfortunately, the charge failed. However another and different charge eliminated a French infantry unit.
The Russians charged again the next turn, T6, but they didn't so well.
In image (11) the building is burning because the 12-pdr on the hill fired on the unit inside and set it on fire. Also, something else we hadn't noticed before, the "Set Fire to Buildings" rule (p 88) say that the fire can spread on a roll of 5-6 to adjacent areas. I guess that makes it sort of interesting?
In the end, the Russian left was stalemated, with neither side giving ground, and despite the French heavy cavalry moving off to help the French center (Russian center, too), the damage done to both sides on the French left (Russian right) was too much to insure victory for either side. Thus, the game was declared a draw.