Game of the War of Spanish succession , 13th August 1704.
Using Field of Battle 3 in 10mm.
Organized, using terrain and models and umpired by Gary.
AARs by Gary and the Editor.
Players
French : Jeremy Nixon, David Taylor, Stephen Casement, Tom.
Allied : David Maltman, David Taylor, Andy Smith.
Club today and I ran another FOB3 scenario with my 10mm toys again.
Scenario was based on Blenheim (I termed it 'Baby Blenheim') with units representing as usual 3-4 foot battalions or 8-10 cavalry squadrons.
Was nominally designed to accommodate 4 players but ended up 7 played to control 4 Commands per side.
Allies were Dave T, Andy and Dave M with French under command of Dave B, Jeremy, Stephen and Tom.
I used historical deployment areas but allowed players to swap units between commands if they wished (think they only shifted a couple each).
What a cracking game this one turned out to be with loads of to and fro action, incidents galore and swings of fortune for both sides with a super battle narrative.
Allies had some minor success after initial advance but then came undone with multiple units being Routed as French artillery seemed to get an endless run of artillery cards.
Seemed Allies were going to stutter as could not get a good run of cards (not helped by a mid-deck reshuffle) or successful rolls other than for rallying (superior officers helping).
The Maison Du Roi in the centre charged and swept up 3 units and things really looked bleak for Allies as their losses mounted and Morale pool dwindled rapidly.
French were also taking losses from superior Allied volleys but a lesser rate.
But then when all seemed lost (Morale expended but did not turn a potential game ending Army Morale card) Allied fortunes uniformly improved all across the battlefield and French center suddenly collapsed with several units routed or destroyed (including Maison Du Roi) and French morale plummeted to zero as well.
Allies were then able to get the English foot into action against Blenheim itself and after initially being forced back they swept the French out of the town (gaining a much needed +5 Morale).
Things then went from bad to worse for French as Allies pushed well across Nebel into crumbling French centre and their guns lines were assaulted (French started to 'gift' morale to enemy).
Losing a General did not help and he was never replaced (i.e. no leadership card)
Looked to be no way back for the French but a unit of Bavarian Foot Guard did sterling work routing opposing foot and horse units, but again the Allies managed to Rally quickly.
One feature was the Allies managing to gain extra actions on French Lull cards (they had 3 in their Poor deck) and often key actions they were like melee, infantry fire or artillery fire which rubbed salt into French wounds.
French were hanging on by a thread but did manage to play 8 or more cards before they pulled an Army Morale card which they failed and they quit the field.
A very close game with Allies teetering on brink at one point (although Marlborough may have kept them in it with his D12+1 command dice vs Tallards D10) but they survived and pendulum swung back so far French could not recover.
The battle blow by blow :
The quiet battle field, before the armies arrive.
Initial Allied advance in center (from right) under Marlborough (Dave T) facing Tallard (Stephen) and Blainville (Dave B)
Allied right under Lord Cutts (Dave M) move towards Blenheim (French forced to keep 2 Battalions in the 2 sector town) defended by Clerambault (Jeremy).
On Allied right Prince Eugene (Andy) advanced against Marsin (Tom).
Initial success for Allies getting across Nebel in centre.
View along battle lines from French right at Blenheim and the Danube.
French guns and the Maison Du Roi have pushed Allies back.
Late in game and Blenheim has fallen to elite English foot with French routing (red tufts).
French right and center in real trouble now and Blainville is Hors De Combat with units all disordered (yellow tufts) out of command.
Allies applying coup de gras in center.
French left only formation still mostly intact.
French guns about to be swept away.
Heavy action near the windmill.
View from the Allied right.
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Today you get a second AAR for this battle. Lord John Cutts gives a report of the attack on Blenheim town.
The froggies moved into Blenheim on mass, with some of their infantry coming down to the river and cavalry in support.
I agreed with Lord Churchill that when the cavalry in the centre of the field had been neutralized we would storm the town. Could not do it with cavalry at our backs.
The Frenchies were looking too happy at the river, so I sent the infantry up to drive them off.
A few good volleys and they scarpered back out of range.
For a while it all got a bit hairy in the centre with M'Lord Churchill under some pressure. Then it turned back in our favor. For the most part we traded musketry with the French infantry to the right of Blenheim and kept the ones to the left pinned by our Dutch cavalry waiting just out of musket range and the Dutch infantry giving then a volley or two. I sent my British cavalry over to the right to support Lord Churchills infantry should the French cavalry break through. Then the attack on the town started with the first British regiment going to its right flank preparing for the attack.
The Dutch fire fight on the left managed to rout one French unit, at a cost of one of the Dutch units falling back. A second British unit wheeled to allow itself to fire into the town, the third staying back incase the French cavalry in the centre boke through.
British attacks on the front and flank of the front half of the town saw the French defenders routed.
Next go it was into the back part of the town and they went as well. Blenheim as now a part of Britain with the men ransacking every hostelry for Bavarian Larger ( The Brits abroad, what can you do with them - Editor ). The Dutch cavalry following the French just in case they managed to recover.
So that was it, the French crumbled in the Centre and Right of the field and it was all over bar the after battle booze up.
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Editorial comment :
When the French finally retreated from the town of Blenheim, Gary quoted a line from the ballad of brave Sir Robin. So it seemed only fitting to turn to the comic bard Mr Eric Idle for a suitable commemorative ditty to be sung in the Taverns of Britain and Holland.
The ballad of the brave French army.
Brave French army thought this was their day,
Held Blenheim town in their sway.
Then the British and Dutch went in, to give them a good kickin'.
Oh, oh, oh, brave French army.
Brave French army ran away,
Bravely ran away, away.
When danger reared its ugly head, they bravely turned their tails and fled.
Oh, oh, oh, brave French army.
Yes, brave Sir John Cutts, took up his sword and whacked French butts,
And gallantly, the Froggies chickened out. Bravely taking to their feet,
They beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, the French army ? nay !
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Photos curtesy of Gary and the Editor.
