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ABOVE:Just as the sun rises and the morning fog lifts, the French army converges on the town of Lambsnag on the river Bunn.Hi All
Stan and I recently invited our good mate Arnaud up from the 'Big Smoke' of Melbourne to join us for a game of Field Of Glory - Napoleonic. I quickly designed a scenario based 'loosely' on the battle of Albuera. I don't have many Spanish and Portuguese miniatures, so decided on a 'German' setting. The combatants would consist on one side, (commanded by Arnaud) French with some Polish troops and the other side consisting of a mix of Bavarians and Wurtembergers and British.
The idea is as follows:It's 1814, and even though the Bavarians and Wurttembergers have defected to the Allies, Napoleon has managed to withdraw from the Battle of Leipzig in good shape. The Allies have brought across from the Low Countries a British Corp to aid their new found allies, (the Bavarians and Wurttembergers). A mixed force of these 'Germans' are now defending the strategically important town of Lambsnag on Bunn. Marshal Victor has been directed by the Emperor to capture the town and the vital bridges and road intersections. Sir General Thomas Graham is commanding the the British Army (of Corps size) and he is hurrying to the aid of the newly raised Bavarian and Wurttembeg units.
The Emperor had intelligence that the town
is defended by the recently defecting Bavarians, and suspected that even though they had fought hard against him at Hanau that here (without any Austrians to intimidate them) they might surrender the town.The battlefield was dominated by the river Bunn running across it. On the eastern side of the river was the town of Lambsnag. A long line of hills ran the length
of the eastern side of the Bunn. Further east and behind the hill line lay a small stream; the Dinneroll which ran between the hill line and the Kornchip Heights
. Some Scenario Notes:Here is the Map:A: French deployment are for French Infantry Divisions.B: French deployment are for French Cavalry Divisions.
C: Entry point for British Divisions.
The French divisions in Deployment area 'A' setup just outside Musket range, (that's 6 BW in FoG-N terms).The French player can deploy his troops in any way he sees fit within the deployment areas.The Bavarians start with the Vanguard Division with one unit in Lambsburg and one unit to the south in any formation he wants. The Bavarian Guard Division must be deployed to the north of the towm. The German Cavalry Division starts on the Kornchip Heights.Terrain Notes:The town of Lambsnag can hold either one LARGE unit or two SMALL units.For game purposes
all the hills are gentle slopes. The River Bunn will cause all troops types to halt as soon as they contact it, but they may then cross it at no penalty. The small Dinneroll stream is clear terrain for movement, but does offer some aid in defence.The mechanism for the arrival of the British is as follows:
A roll of 5 or 6 on a D6 is required for each British division per turn. If the roll is unsuccessful then next turn
TWO divisions arrive on a 5 or 6. If that roll fails then
THREE divisions arrive on a roll of a 5 -6. I think you can see the pattern here.
If (in the unlikely event NO Brits have arrived by turn three) then they will
ALL arrive on turn 4 in any
Order of March the Allied Player wishes. Otherwise the Allies contine to roll for reinforcements every turn.
I will refer to the Allied units as Regiments and the French units as Brigades.
Now I've set the scenario in Germany in 1814 with French fighting Bavarians and British, but you could easily use Austrian in 1809 or whatever. Use your imagination, I did.BELOW: As the morning fog lifts, the Bavarians are confronted with the French army just outside musket range.
The French ORBAT was as follows:
FRENCH and Polish | | Troop Type | Name | Size | Elan | Training |
1st Corps | | | | | |
|
| CC2 (Skilled) | Victor | | | |
1st Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Girard | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Light Infantry | French Light Infantry | Small | Average | Veteran |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | French Line Infantry (Skirm) | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Medium Foot Artillery | French 8 pndr Foot Artillery | Small | Average | Drilled |
2nd Division | | | | |
| DC2 (Skilled) | Gazan | | | |
| | Light Infantry | French Light Infantry | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | French Line Infantry (Skirm) | Large | Average | Drilled |
| | Medium Foot Artillery | French 8 pndr Foot Artillery | Small | Average | Drilled |
3rd Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Godinot | | | |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | French Line Infantry (Skirm) | Large | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | French Line Infantry | Large | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | 1st Swiss Line Infantry | Small | Superior | Veteran |
| | Medium Foot Artillery | French 8 pndr Foot Artillery | Small | Average | Drilled |
Polish Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Dombronski | | | |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | Duchy of Warsaw Inf (Med Arty) | Large | Average | Veteran |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | Irish Legion Infantry | Small | Average | Veteran |
Dragoon Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Latour-Mabourg | | | |
| | Heavy Cavalry | French Dragoons | Small | Average | Veteran |
| | Heavy Cavalry | French Dragoons | Small | Average | Veteran |
| | Light Cavalry (Lancers) | Polish Lancers | Small | Average | Veteran |
| | Horse Artillery | Polish Horse Artillery | Small | Average | Veteran |
Light Cavalry Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Briche | | | |
| | Light Cavalry | French Chasseurs | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Horse Artillery | Westphalia Horse Artillery | Small | Average | Drilled
|
The Allies ORBAT was as follows:
ALLIES
| | Troop Type | Name | Size | Elan | Training |
| | | | | | |
| CC2 (Skilled) | Graham | | | |
2nd Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Stewart | | | |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | British Line (Skirm) | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | British Line | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | British Line (Skirm) | Large | Average | Veteran |
4th Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Cole | | | |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | British Line (Skirm) | Small | Average | Veteran |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | British Line | Large | Average | Drilled |
| | Medium Foot Artillery | British RA 9pndrs | Small | Average | Drilled |
5th Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Hamilton | | | |
| | Light Infantry | British Lights | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Light Infantry | | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | British Line (Skirm) | Large | Average | Drilled |
| | Light Cavalry | Light Dragoons | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Medium Foot Artillery | British RA 6pndrs | Small | Average | Drilled |
Cavalry Division | | | | |
| DC2 (Skilled) | Merchant | | | |
| | Impetuous Shock Heavy Cavalry | British Heavy Dragoons | Small | Average | Veteran |
| | Horse Artillery | British Royal Horse Artillery | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | | | | | |
| CC1 (Competent) | Beckers | | | |
Vanguard Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Pappenheim | | | |
| | Light Infantry | 1st Bavarian Light Inf | Large | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | 11th Bavarian Line Inf | Large | Poor | Drilled |
Guard Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Holler | | | |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | Bavarian Guard Inf (Skirm) | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | Württ Guard Inf (Skirm) | Small | Average | Drilled |
| | Line Infantry (reformed) | 12th Bavarian Reserve Inf | Small | Poor | Conscript |
German Cavalry Division | | | | |
| DC1 (Competent) | Dietz | | | |
| | Light Cavalry | Wurttemberg Chevaulegers | Small | Poor | Drilled |
| | Heavy Cavalry | Bavarian Dragoons | Small | Average | Conscript |
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. As can be seen from the photos above the allies start with the Bavarian 11th Line Infantry in the town of Lambsnag and the 1st Light infantry to the south of the town. The German Guard Division was deployed on the Hill line to the north of the town. The German cavalry was still asleep in their camp on the
Kornchip Heights.
The French were converging on the town under the cover of an early morning fog. As the mist lifted the French were almost withing musketry range. The Masses of French and Polish cavalry were coming down from the north.
The battle opened with the Allies testing to see if any of the British would arrive on turn one.
Good news (a 6 is rolled), Stewart's 2nd Division was marching west on the Lambsnag - Hanau road and were already on the
Kornchip Heights.
BELOW:The Bavarian Guard Grenadiers. Average Drilled Line infantry. Nothing special. They have an attachment of Wurttemberg Light Infantry Skirmishers. Newly raised, they won't get the 'Guard' bonus.
BELOW:Wurttemberg Guard Light Infantry. Again, newly raised, we've classed them as Average Drilled LINE infantry with a Skirmisher attachment.
BELOW: Bavarian Reserves. 'Poor Conscripts' LINE infantry.BELOW:The British 2nd Division arrive just as the German Cavalry division is tumbling out of bed and onto their horses.
The French for their part didn't waste any time and launched an immediate assault on Lambsnag with a Brigade from the 3rd Division.
Try as they might the French could not budge the Bavarians from the town. Victor decided to focus on clearing the southern flank and drove off the large Bavarian Light infantry Regiment away with a massive weight of fire.
ABOVE and BELOW:
A fire fight erupts!Whilst the fire fight continued around Lambsnag, the masses of French and Polish cavalry moved to envelope the north of the town. The German cavalry moved off to confront them.
BELOW:The French and Polish cavalry heading north before sweeping towards the Allies northern flank.
BELOW: The Bavarian Light Infantry withdraw (wavering) from the flank of the town.
Turn two, and the Allies rolled to see if more of the British will arrive.
Another 6!Now the British 4th Division under Cole arrives. As they arrive the British 2nd division, (two regiments of Highlanders and a regiment of English Line infantry) move of
Kornchip Heights to support the Bavarians in the town. Just in time also, as they are able to provide some 'rear Support' for the town's defenders, and provide some refuge for the retreating Bavarian light infantry.
BELOW: The British 2nd Div moves down off Kornchip Heights as Cole's 4th Division arrives.BELOW:The Bavarian 11th Infantry Regiment defends Lambsnag as French infantry swarm across the Bunn River to the south of the town.
Turn three. No British arrive this turn (a 3 is rolled).
Again and again the French launch attacks on Lambsnag without any success. As two French Brigades attack from the western side one brigade manages to attack from the northern side.
This only invites the Bavarian Guard Grenadiers to enter the fray however, and the charge down the hill and into the flank of the French brigade. After a short fight the French brigade breaks and routs back across the Bunn.
The French have more success on the south of the town however and those units from the 1st and 2nd Divisions that have crossed the Bunn engage the British 2nd Division units in a fire fight.
The result of which will see the small Highlander Regiment driven back 'Wavering' and the English Regiment is disordered.
The French are in a firm position on the high ground to the south of Lambsnag now. Now Victor looks north.
BELOW:Hot lead and round shot crash into the town, disordering the Bavarians within.
At the top of the picture you can see the large French brigade crossing the Bunn . They then asaulted the town from the north.
BELOW:Polish Lancers and French Dragoons eye the German cavalry across the Bunn river.BELOW:The Bavarian Guard Grenadiers moments before they chrged down the hill into the exposed flank of the French attacking Lambsnag from the north.
Turn Four. Again, no British arrived this turn (a 1 rolled).
Victor was now getting frustrated with the failed attacks on Lambsnag. He sends an ADC of to order the French and Polish cavalry to attack the German horsemen across the Bunn. At the same time he ordered the Polish, Irish and Swiss Infantry to do what the French seemed incapable of, and that is to drive off some Bavarian and Wurttemberg infantry.
"Those fellows on the hills will do. They don't have any stout stone walls to hide behind"!With that the Swiss crashed into the Bavarian Guard Grenadiers now downhill after driving off a large French brigade. At the same time the Polish infantry attacked uphill into the Bavarian Reserve infantry and the Irish also charged uphill into the Wurttemburg Guard Light infantry.
The Reservists were already 'wavering' from the fire from the Poles, and they were soon destroyed.
The Swiss and Irish were also victorious, breaking their opposite numbers.
The success didn't end there. The French and Polish cavalry smashed the German cavalry. Not at all surprising being more numerous to the score of 2 to 1, having disordered half the enemy cavalry with supporting fire from their horse artillery and finally being of better quality and 'Elan'!
They German cavalry did manage however to kill General Birche, commander of the French Chasseurs a Chevals brigade.
BELOW: The results of the cavalry battle. All the German cavalry routed from the field.BELOW: The situation at the end of turn four. The French secure the high ground to the north and south of Lambsnag. The town is still held and a large regiment of Highlanders still provide support, however the allies are very battered with three Regiments of foot broken and two regiments of cavalry routed from the field.
Turn Five: Still no reinforcements for the Allies. The Bavarian Guard Grenadiers rally, (now spent and 'wavering') but the Wurttemberg Guard Lights disperse and a lost for this battle. The turn is spent reorganizing a defence on Kornchip Heights. The French for their part manage to drive off the wavering Highlanders leaving the sole 'Large' Regiment of Scots behind Lambsnag. They also launch yet another assault on the town and again, the attackers, (the Swiss this time) are beaten back.
ABOVE:The 'Small' Highland regiment (waving) catches more hot lead. The result sees them retiring quickly up the Kornchip Heights.BELOW: The French and Polish cavalry advance towards Kornchip Heights. The Irish Infantry link up with their mounted brothers. ABOVE: The Bavarian Grenadiers rally after crossing the Dinneroll.BELOW:The Swiss assault Lambsnag.Turn Six: HUZZAH!!! A 5 is rolled. More British arrive. This time it's the 5th Division.
The Allies are still holding on grimly but it's looking bad. The French are closing in on three sides. The Allies are pushed back to the foot of the Kornchip Heights. The British 2nd division to the south of Lambsnag are looking particularly vulnerable. All along the battlefield fire fights rage. Finally the Bavarian's in Lambsnag can't take any more punishment and are broken by the massive weight of fire that is brought down on them.
ABOVE and BELOW:
The Bavarian 11th Regt is finally driven from Lambsnag.Now the French make what they hope is one last push. The Swiss move into the now vacant Lambsnag. The three French Infantry to the south hurl themselves on the Bavarian Light infantry and the Small English Regiment on their flank. It's 3 V 2 and all are 'disordered' except one of the French Brigades. The fire from the Bavarians and English scores a hit on each on some of the French but they all charge home. The hand to hand combat results in one French Brigade reduced to wavering, but both of the Allied Regiments are routed.
The French also launched their cavalry up the Kornchip Height at the British positions there, but it was at this point the allies concede defeat and decided to withdraw as best they can from the Kornchip Heights.
ABOVE and BELOW:
The French Charge in and receive fire but not enough to stop them. The Allies are broken by the bayonet. Another very enjoyable game of FoG:N.
I really like these rules. The ebb and flow is well captured and their is plenty of 'Friction' to frustrate your plans.
As usual. Comments are welcomed.
Cheers
