A week and a half ago Stuart put on a Seven Years War game for me Steve. None of the others could make this game sadly, so this was just us two going head to head across a large table. The game produced some interesting results and a decisive outcome for one of us...but I'm jumping ahead of myself. Today's post is a little overdue as this game took place over a week and a half ago. The work-life balance has been a little off-centre, to say the least, and it's not likely to change for a few weeks.
Orders of Battle
First off, my Austrians:
1st Battalion - 55th D'Arberg(2), 48th Luzan(1), Grenadiers(1), Medium Gun
2nd Battalion - 27th Boden-Durloch(2), 51 Gyulay(2), Light Gun
3rd Battalion - 4th Bretlach Curassiers(1), 12 Modena Currassiers(1)
4th Battalion - 6th Traultmansdorff Curassiers (1)
5th Battalion - 6th Balthuany Dragoons(1), 7th Leverstein Dragoons(1)
6th Battalion - Palatinal Hussars(1)
7th Battalion - Karlstadter Likaner (Croat)(1)
Supply Waggon
Facing these across the field stood Steves Prussians:
1st Battalion - 45th Fusiliers(2), 41st Fusiliers, Medium Gun
2nd Battalion - 7th Musketeer(2), 1oth Musketeer(1), Grenadier(1), Medium Gun
3rd Battalion - 2nd Curassiers(1), 11th Currassiers(1)
4th Battalion - 1st Dragoons(1), 3rd Dragoons(1)
5th Battalion - 4th Dragoons(1)
6th Battalion - 2nd Hussars(1)
The Action
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| The setup stage saw each side roll for initiative and place Brigades one at a time. Steve and I more or less matched each other move for move. We also rolled for commander quality and in this my dice were better making two of my three leaders exceptional (+2 instead of +1 in morale and melee checks) |
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| The cavalry moves in. Steve was more cautious with his movement...or maybe he just wanted to make me stretch across the table. |
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| Every unit went in perfectly with charge and counter charge all along the line. This was going to be messy. |
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| Hang on...I won a cavalry melee...what going on?? This never happens. Steve moves his unit back but have they retreated far enough to avoid being hit in the rear by the pursuing Cavalry? |
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| Cor Blimey!!! With one exception, I send Steve's cavalry packing all along the line, hitting two in the rear and destroying them outright. It's going to take a few turns to recover and reorganise but there is now a real possibility that I can move behind Steve's infantry on the right of the table. |
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| Meanwhile, his infantry advance and take advantage of their better drill to move and oblique to threaten the flanks of my impeccable line. However, this is slowing down his advance and I can wait to respond to his manoeuvring for a few more turns. |
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| In the centre my Hussars and a unit of Cuirassiers clash with Steve's Hussars... |
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| Predictably my Currasiers win easily, pursuing and destroying the Hussars facing them. However, they are now fatigued and I will have to stand them for a while turn to recover before I can move them again. Meanwhile Steve wins the melee between his and my Hussars, but I am able to retreat enough that he cannot pursue. My Hussars live to fight another day. |
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| In the centre the Prussian infantry are continuing to move to my flanks...but this is creating a big gap in the centre of their line which I may be able to exploit. (btw the little white markers behind the units denote that they have not used their First Fire bonus yet) |
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| At last, the infantry are in musketry range. When a unit is hit it must make a Moral test to see in the men stand or retreat half a move. Steve's dice let him down again. |
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| Both sides take casualties in the shooting phase, but my men stand their ground and the Prussians partially fall back. |
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| The same happens on the other flank. Some of my unengaged units in the centre are now in a position to change facing to bring fire to bare on the flanks of the Prussian Brigades. |
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| This picture doesn't show it but two of my Currasier units, have now recovered their fatigue and are beginning to move around the rear of the Prussian lines. It will take a couple of turns of movement for them to become a threat, but the fact is the Prussians can't win now. |
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Steve reluctantly, but wisely, concedes defeat and withdraws his army from the field.
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Analysis
Well, what can I say, the dice gods were with me this day. I did feel sorry for Steve because his dice were utterly appalling and no amount of generalship could make up for that. That being said, we both enjoyed the game and had a very pleasant afternoon rolling dice and pushing little metal men around the table, so all in all a very good day.
Great period and always good when the dice roll your way (not that I would know !)
ReplyDeleteIt is an unusual experience for me.
DeleteVictory? Good God, man! You have a reputation to uphold! Fine looking game. Quite a massive spread for two players.
ReplyDeleteYes, my reputation (and the dice curse) seems to have passed to the others. I'm sure it won't last! I think Stuart had hoped for more players, but that's the nature of our group. He usually doesn't know exact numbers until a days or two before the game. In this case I suspect he had more battalions, waiting in the wings, that could have been brought out on the table if anyone else has been able to make it.
DeleteFine report Lee. So, 2022 continues to be a winning year. Can it last?
ReplyDeleteI usually go to your YT postings (sumerandaccad) as they seem to be dualled with the blog. Pleasantly surprised to find a great report. I think the game was up as soon as the cavalry were defeated. Bad look for him.
ReplyDeleteThat cavalry charge was devastating, but it took most of the rest of the game to reorganise, recover fatigue and be in a position to move behind the Prussian lines. It would have still taken at least two more turns of movement for them to threaten the rear of the enemy infantry. However, with their line of communication compromised there was little doubt the Prussian position was untenable.
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