Game of the Napoleonic wars, 11 February 1814.
Using Field of Battle 3 in 15mm.
Organized, using terrain and models and umpired by Gary.
AAR by Gary.
Players
French : Dave Taylor and Jeremy Nixon.
Russian and Prussian : Dave Brown and Tom Sherran.
Montmirial (scenario stolen from Gonsalvo).
Muddy conditions saw all artillery firing at Down 1
Allies had 52 units in 3 Russian Corps (2 Infantry and 1 Cavalry with 50 Morale) and a smaller Prussian Corps (1 Foot and 1 Cavalry) of mostly average status (couple of Prussian Grenadiers and heavy Dragoon types).
French had a mere 38 units (46 Morale) in 3 Corps but with 6 Old Guard foot, 6 Middle Guard Foot, 2 Guard Lancers, 5 Young Guard Cavalry, 4 Old Guard Cavalry with Empress Dragoons in tow, 2 Old Guard artillery and 2 Old Guard Horse Artillery (!!) with support from some Line infantry and Cavalry, a formidable force indeed.
This could easily have been a quick pounding for the Allies up against such Elite French but the initial French assaults by their Guard were easily repulsed (the Guard Cavalry in particular failed to perform as expected) by staunch Russian shooting and bayonet charges.
However Sacken the Russian C in C suffered a bit of rush of blood advancing against the recoiling Guard infantry but failing make any further impression on the Guard.
Indeed having a Divisional Commander fall put his Division into Disorder and of course Napoleon then managed to easily Rally all his Disordered Guards and restore all hits then followed up by several vicious assaults (nice run of Move and Melee cards) against the staggered Russians crushing an entire Division of foot.
Russian reserves held the line but the damage to Army Morale was starting to hurt.
On Russian left their Cavalry Divisions engaged the opposing Guard Cavalry and results were mixed with both sides suffering or being successful in equal measure but with further decrease to Russian Morale.
Prussian on extreme left held their own by forming into squares which the Old Guard cavalry struggled to deal with, at least for a spell.
Russian fortunes took a nose dive (the swing from great to poor results ie dice was stark and swift) however as Guard quality shone through with a couple of Squares routed or destroyed (lowly Landwehr just not up to task) and Prussian cavalry was swept away.
The Guard Infantry proved unbeatable in center and French left as their assaulting columns took both villages (loss of 8 morale to Russians) and thumped opponents.
Again Russian reserves shored up front but Army Morale was now gone.
Russians survived first Army Morale card but things really went to pot for them as they handed their entire Morale pot to French and only lack of Army Morale tests allowed them to remain in action.
We called time as Allies simply no way to recover such grievous loss and victory went to the Emperor.
Another super game with FOB easily handling a fairly large game (90 units) and engaging all players.
It was notable that Russians were vocal early on but got rather quiet as game progressed ......
Rather a lot of pics (as testing new phone camera).
Old Guard Infantry Division initial advance.
Old Guard Cavalry advance against Prussians.
Russian Infantry Divisions await.French Line Infantry move forward in center.
Old Guard Cavalry suffer initial reverses against Prussian squares as Prussian Cavalry arrive.
Allied lines hold fast all across the battlefield.
Russian Dragoon and Hussars Divisions face French Young Guard mounted force.
Prussian cross stream as Old Guard cavalry rout.
Things looking poor for French on both wings as central cavalry melee begins (much verbal abuse hurled from Allied lines).
Cavalry engage in center with mixed fortunes for both sides.
Emperor surveys from hill alongside his Guard Artillery batteries as Russians on his left advance.
Thundering of hooves and clashing of sabers.
Russians try to exert pressure on faltering Old Guard.
Forces engaged all across the field.
French disengage temporarily from Prussians.
Before rallying and getting back to it.
Central cavalry engagement getting confused and messy with neither side gaining advantage.
A major change of fortune for Prussian contingent as revitalised Guard Cavalry push forward.
Old Guard on French left have crushed the advancing Russians and central cavalry melee has started to go way of the French.
Russian lines starting to crumble with numerous Routing or destroyed units.
End is nigh for Allies as Army Morale has collapsed (and taunting has hit mute button).
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Photos curtesy of Gary.
