The attacking Russian (Robin and Guy) force broke several Austrian (Jeremy and Adrian) infantry battalions and cavalry regiments through judicious use of artillery, musket fire, and charges.
BUT the Russians failed to take the two key objectives before the night came to a close, and so the Austrians won the game...damn their eyes....
This GdA2 game was fought as part of the Battle of *******. The French had to attack the Russians across a valley with a stream running laterally across the centre of the table between the two opposing armies.
The Russians (Robin) occupied a village on their right wing, and being the defenders, had built an artillery redoubt to cover their left wing, allowing them to concentrate their infantry and other artillery on their centre and right. The Russian cavalry reserve was held back behind the artillery redoubt.
Opposing them, on a slight ridge, the French (Norman & Guy) infantry and artillery maintained their distance, as advancing and crossing the stream (rough terrain) under infantry and artillery fire would have been suicidal.
However, with the Russian left wing being free of troops, the French quickly sent their cavalry across the stream within the lee of a wood, and out of the direct line of fire of the Russian artillery in the redoubt.
The Russians committed their cavalry reserve to try and stop the French cavalry moving towards their left flank and potentially getting behind the redoubt.
French quality (and good gameplay by Norman) meant that the Russian cavalry were charged and a retreat move forced on them. The French cavalry continued to advance forwards, and the Russian artillery in the redoubt failed to make any impression.
The French cavalry were approaching the flank of the redoubt when the Russian cavalry charged again, and failed again, once more heading back along their rear line in retreat.
Now a Russian infantry column moved swiftly into position to cover the flank of the redoubt. When the French cavalry charged, the Russian column failed it's test to move into square, went disordered, and was hit and destroyed by the French cavalry.
Now the French cavalry were able to charge the Russian artillery within the redoubt, and the Russian artillery was destroyed.
One last attempt was made by the severely weakened Russian cavalry to halt the French cavalry attack, and this time they lost big and dispersed off the table.
The French infantry in the centre were starting to move towards the stream unopposed as the main threat from Russian artillery fire had been mostly silenced, which would have allowed them to consolidate the cavalry gains.
The game ended at this point with a resounding French victory and the Russian infantry opting to evacuate the village and leave the field.
Well played by Norman, and big thanks to Robin for organising the game and helping us through the new 'faster-play' GdA2 rules.
Victory to the French.
The French army complete with Prussian allies fought against the Russians in a bloody battle that saw much charging and slaughter, along with some frustrating inertia.
The French (Stevie) occupied a church and churchyard (one of the two battle objectives) and managed to fight off a sustained attack by multiple Russian (Martin and Robin) battalions, whilst at the same time using their artillery to force one central Russian cavalry regiment to approach dispersal level and retreat to hide in a wood behind their own lines for the rest of the battle.
Next to the church saw another sustained Russian attack, this time their cavalry against French dragoons, who showed their quality and fought off no less than three Russian charges. impressive stuff.
Things weren't quite so hot in the centre, with two brigades of Russian cavalry moving forward, only to move back to their own lines due to French artillery fire. The Prussians (Guy) 'cossack cavalry' reserve moved onto the table into the centre after a few moves, and shielded the left-flank Prussian infantry slow advance from Russian cavalry interference, although one battalion of Prussian Landwehr was eventually shot into dispersal. These two mounted forces didn't see any actual fighting, just a lot of sabre-rattling.
On the Prussian flank the major infantry advance (of two brigades) failed to make much progress due to continued hesitancy throws (despite having extra 'brigade' cards played), but eventually managed to get into some open woods and force the lead Russian infantry battalion backwards.
What could have been an interesting battle within a battle ran out of time, as did the Prussian 'all-arms attack' on the second agreed objective of a small village, again due to hesitancy throws.
A few more turns and maybe a more decisive outcome could have been achieved, and although both sides retained their objectives, the French and Prussians had the better of the combats on both flanks. A great game and lots of laughs to boot.
The Pyrrhic army invaded Sparta in 294BC.
Steve A's Spartan hoplites and cavalry quickly advanced, trying to catch Guy's Pyrrhic invaders getting into formation with their pikeblock, but leaving the Spartan lighter troops sat on a hill on their right flank, far away from the main battle.
The Spartan cavalry tried to get around to the rear of the Pyrrhic pikes, but a Pyrrhic ally force of Psiloi S came on as a flank march and disrupted their advance, whilst a small number of Pyrrhic pikes broke off the main block to hold them in place.
Meanwhile, the Pyrrhic mounted companions raced across the front of their pikes from left to right to try and help, but the rearmost element of knight in wedge was caught by the advancing Spartan Spear S, and turned to give battle. The rest continued into the attack against the Spartan cavalry.
In the centre, 'Spartan hoplite-block' met 'Pyrrhic pike-block' in a clash of dust and thunder, and the battle ebbed to and fro.
Meanwhile, the Spartan cavalry were slowly overwhelmed and whittled down by the Pyrrhic psiloi, pike detachment, and the Pyrrhic cavalry. The Spartan cavalry were eventually all destroyed in the last move of the game.
King Leonidas found himself in the front rank of the battle against the Pyrrhic pikes, and came within ONE PIP of being doubled and killed.
The game ran out of time, and Steve and Guy counted up their losses. Sparta lost 14ME's and the the Pyrrhic army lost 6ME's, so the Pyrrhic army was declared the victor (this time).
That said, if the game had continued, Sparta may well have won as they had a smaller block of hoplites and a lot of psiloi as yet uncommited.
The majority of Pyrrhic losses were psiloi O who tried to slow down advancing Spartan Auxilia S, and were killed off over three or four rounds.
Great game, with some of the usual healthy debate around long-forgotten DBMM rules and clarifications.😁
Robin organised a 15mm General d'Armee scenario game based on the French retreat from Waterloo. This took them through the village of Genappe and over the 'bottleneck' bridge at the rear of the village.
In this scenario three battalions of Young Guard (Napoleon's unused reserve) plus a cavalry brigade were used to delay the pursuing Prussian cavalry, light infantry, and a British heavy cavalry brigade.
A very good game with some awful dice-throwing (and a couple of schoolboy errors) which meant the French were handed a marginal victory having successfully marched seven of the required eleven battalions over the bridge, with the Prussian light infantry hot on their heels. Lots of laughs, and thanks to Robin for umpiring as well.
A scenario game, based on part of the Battle of Vitoria, Peninsula War 1813.
The French army were deployed and set-up to to defend the village and hill of Arinez, complete with cavalry reinforcements should they be needed.
French were Adrian, Steve K, and Bob, British were Robin, Norman and Guy.
The British moved forward quickly with infantry on the two flanks, and an artillery battery in the centre.
The British strategy was to advance quickly with the heavier force up the British right, push back the French, and then turn into the village and capture it, before moving on to the actual hill of Arinez.
Norman's infantry stormed forwards and quickly made contact with Bob's French left, using skirmishers, artillery and volley fire to force the French back, including a number of well-timed charges. This eventually meant the French lost two brigades.
Robin's smaller artillery and infantry centre, backed-up with some reserve cavalry, had slightly less initial success, but eventually forced Ade's French brigade to leave the table, and as the sun started to set, occupied the village after a short battle with the French occupiers.
Robin also saw-off the French cavalry.
On the British left, Guy's two brigades of veteran light battalions and 95th advanced through trees to the edge of the Hill of Arinez, and then up the rough slope to commence skirmisher and volley fire against Steve and Ade's defending infantry and artillery. Accurate and concentrated fire meant the British destroyed the French artillery batteries and all their skirmishers, and were preparing for the final infantry assault as the game ended.
The British won the game, having achieved three 'sauve qui peut' results and occupied the village of Arinez.
Thanks to Robin and Ade for organising the game, Steve K for his baking, and the rest of us for bringing along food. Lots of laughs and a great fun game.
Robin's battalion takes the village of Arinez
The year is 1465 AD and the Chinese with their Korean ally decide to invade Japan.
The Chinese intelligence and scouting must have been faulty, as they sent an almost totally mounted force into the hilly Japanese lowlands..
The samurai defenders were luckily able to deploy between 'difficult' hills, and with sporadic woods to their front, placing a large command of Ikko Ikki warrior monks (Hd S) in the centre, and trusty samurai foot (Bd O) on both flanks, expecting the Chinese force to try and outflank them.
As expected, the Chinese manouevered quickly to get their cavalry forces onto the flanks, found that the difficult hills had been reinforced with Japanese psiloi and ashigaru (Pk F) and so turned away, preferring eventually to charge head-on into the Japanese samurai flank commands.
The first cavalry force to hit home was the Korean ally left wing, but over two turns it became obvious the attack would fail as the samurai killed three bases of Cav O, with more to come had it continued.
The Chinese left flank was just about to charge home when the game ended, and the large and higher grade Chinese cavalry command never saw action.
The game ended with the Chinese invasion being repulsed and a victory to the Samurai.
Chinese were Norman and Nathan, Japanese were Guy and Tom.
Equally matched French and Prussian forces met to dispute a shallow wide valley, with a chateau on one side-edge, and some hillocks in the centre.
Both sides (France was Adrian and Norman, Prussia was Steve A and Guy) appeared to be setting up for a long defensive artillery duel, until the Prussians charged forward with all of their five brigades.
The French right wing had taken control of the chateau and grounds, plus a small nearby farm, but didn't occupy the central hillocks, and in fact had a gap in their line in this area....but not for long.
The Prussian right wing, mainly recruits and line infantry, marched into long-range artillery fire which hurt them somewhat, but they reached the central line before halting to set up their twin 12pdr artillery batteries and returning fire.
On the Prussian left wing, a much more experienced brigade of veteran light infantry attacked the chateau and pushed the defending French battalions back, occupying half of the grounds.
In the centre a large regiment of Prussian Uhlans rode into the shadows of the hillocks, complete with cossack supports, and approached the French centre.
The French brought on their cavalry reserve of three regiments to fill their centre gap, and to face the Prussian Uhlans.
The Prussians had a similarly sized brigade of Dragoons with supports, which also moved forward, although taking artillery casualties as it did.
The Prussian dragoons attempted to charge the centre-right French artillery and infantry, and were shot into retiring.
However, this allowed the Prussian Uhlans, over three moves, to charge into the French cavalry brigade repeatedly and force it backwards to the point where it routed off the table. The cossack supports helped to absorb local French infantry fire so the Uhlan charge became irresistible.
Time ran out, and although the Prussians had probably taken slightly more casualties, the French retired from the field and a Prussian victory was declared. Some more awful dice-throwing though.
The Prussian right wing advances into French long-range artillery fire:
The Prussian veterans prepare to attack the chateau on the French right wing:
The Prussian Uhlans with their Cossack supports ready to charge the French cavalry brigade in the centre:
The Prussian Dragoons (cobalt-blue uniforms near Ade's hand) are shot to a standstill and retire to their own lines:
The Prussian Uhlans with Cossack supports in melee with the three French cavalry regiments:
The French cavalry are forced back to their base edge over three rounds before routing off the board, in what turned out to be the decisive manoeuvre of the battle:
Thanks to Ade, Norm and Steve A for a fun game.
British and German forces, equally matched, clash at a village with a railway station.
Both sides pushed right up to the railway line with infantry (in fact the Germans got across for a short time), whilst leaving the armour a little further back to fire at each other at longer range.
Result was a British victory, losing one Sherman at a cost of 5 points (pulled from Norm's sweaty-sock token-holder) to the Germans losing two Pz4's, a Marder, a half-track, and one or two sections of infantry, at a cost of 19 points.
Highlights:
