First Fight in the new war-games room !

As the new house gets gradually sorted out and my study takes shape, I got Steve C around today for a game of Sharp Practice, something we haven't played for a while.

The British are sweeping up the table and get a head start before the French can react.

Four out of five groups are on and heading towards the French positions

The "Light Bobs" dashing ahead through some light woods

The British commander has four groups formed into two formations with a fifth group flanking them on the left

The Light troops have reached the stream near the orchard

but now the French react - two formations of line troops plus two groups of Voltigeurs advance as quick as they can

They reach the first of the woods and the French light troops begin to advance through the trees

The French commander orders a volley from his front formation - its devastating with four of the British killed outright.

and now the French light troops emerges from the trees

The British light troops need to get out of here before its too late !

The left hand British group has rushed across the stream trying to outflank the French

The French formations are "leapfrogging" each other to keep up the advance

RTheir light troops continue their aggressive move and cross the stream

The surviving British light troops have crossed the wall and taken cover in the orchard

Stung by the French light infantry fire, the British commander orders his right hand formation to charge - but the enemy evade

Sustained French light infantry fire is causing a lot of shock on the British 

The British formation on the left crosses the stream to try and take the initiative back

They play the "Thin Red Line" card and charge the enemy who are still unloaded from their previous volley

But they lose the melee and retreat with high casualties. A follow up volley from the French destroys the remaining British and their force morale collapses to zero.

A clear French victory today, whose force morale has only moved down a couple of points on the chart.

It was so fast moving, neither of us had a chance to get into a position where our formations could deliver controlled volleys but the casualty toll was still high !

A good first game at the new house.

General d'Armee at the club

Les had organised this game at Essex Warriors a couple of weeks ago but I've not got around to blogging the game.

Steve S had the French attacking force and I the Austrians defenders, Les umpired.

Austrians on the left, French the right

The French have to drive the Austrians from the high ground

Where their general observes the approaching French

Austrian skirmishers occupy the ruined churchin front of the high ground

Austrian artillery commence firing at the enemy

The French Imperial Guard attack on their right, including the ruins which the Austrian skirmishers decide to abandon 

Now Steve's left flank attack develops but the Austrian infantry counter charge

They are holding off the French here

and initially, the Austrians fighting the Imperial Guard give good account of themselves 

The French fail to break through on their left

but the ruins having been occupied by French infantry threatens the Austrian position behind

Sadly, for the Austrians two of their four regiments on the left retreat from the fight - which means a broken brigade in General d'Armee.

Although the right has held, with half his force in retreat, the Austrian general is threatened with being outflanked so the rest of the army will have to pull back - game over, French win !

We enjoy the way ADCs influence the battle in General d"Armee and the variety of actions they can take on behalf of their commander to influence the fight. There are never enough of them to be able to do what you want but that applies to both sides.

Good game.

Prussians v Russians : Black Powder Game at Mike's

After a long hiatus due to moving house, I was able to finally get a game at Mike's.

Steve C had the Prussian forces, I the Russians and Mike presided.

The Prussians had four infantry brigades giving them 14 battalions against three Russian infantry brigades with 9 battalions.  Each side had a cavalry brigade of three regiments : the Prussians had 2 lancer and one hussar, the Russians each of a cuirassier, dragoon and hussar, the Russians also had a cossack unit skulking through the woods at the far end of the table. Both sides had three guns.

The Russian forces arrayed on their base line

and here are the Prussians

This village dominated the centre of the table

My Russians won the initiative throw, so the Grenadier brigade hurried to get into the village before the enemy

On my right, another infantry brigade advanced across a wheat field

Whereas this brigade opted to stand fast

The Prussians had advanced a battalion between the farm and a pond which was enough to bring the cossacks out of the woods to try and catch them before they could form square - it didn't work so the cossacks withdrew into the trees again !

Between the farm and the village a Prussian brigade advances in line

The Prussian infantry that had been forced into square by the cossacks proceeded to get hit by artillery fire and disordered

Ivana Trumpianova runs a nice little vodka bar in the village

Thoughts of food and drink sent us off to the Horse & Groom for an early lunch !

Back at the battle, two of the Russian guns have been steadily pounding the Prussian Landwehr brigade - and they all broke leaving a gaping hole in the Prussian lines

and about the same time, the Prussians in square had taken too many casualties and failed their break test - they fled too.

With Prussian infantry edging ever closer in the centre, the Russian infantry brigade to the right of the cavalry decided to charge

as the Russian grenadiers moved further into the village

the fight for the centre was a stalemate so the melee continues

more Prussian troops were thrown into the fray but gradually the Russians got the upper hand

The Russian hussars and dragoons were ordered to charge the Prussian gun beside the farm

they destroyed the gunners and were about to continue on to the Prussian infantry when they, the infantry collapsed - they had broken from the fight after losing the infantry melee 

The Russian hussars pressed on but found themselves isolated - the cavalry brigade were ordered back to their own lines

At this point, the Prussian cavalry attempted to charge the Russian guns on my right but failed to get there and took casualties coming in from both the guns and the infantry in the corn field  

The Russian gunners proceeded to destroy the first unit but undeterred, the others turned to try and charge the infantry beyond the hedges 

as the Russians were dominating this central position

The Russians managed to form square so the Prussian cavalry withdrew

but casualties from Russian fire saw another unit destroyed - the brigade commander wonders where all his men have gone !

Prussian infantry still try to press on with an advance on their right

The left sees the remaining Prussian hussars trying to get back to their own lines

Prussian infantry from the centre have been ordered over to the left flank and they now charge the advancing Russian infantry 

but the Russians win the melee and the Prussians have to retreat.

With daylight rapidly fading and his army in no fit state to continue, the Prussian commander orders a withdrawal from the field.

Emphatic victory for the Russians today.