1/72 Napoleonic battle (Part 2)
Date: March 03, 2010.
Hi,
We played a 1/72 Napoleonic battle with our rule, which will be published by Partizan Press in April.
Geert and I were Austrians and Siegfried with the Wurtenbergers and Bavarians as French allies, Patrick took the French and Adrien took the Italians, all Guard, which were given all veteran status.
In the centre of the field was a large village.
My plan was to leave the village to the opponent, to lure as many enemy troops into the village and to defeat the enemy on the flanks with massed troops.
Geert was opposed by Adrien with the Italians, who indeed stormed with part of his toops a number of houses in the village.
Patrick in the centre, also sent two units into the village, but turned with the remaining part of troops against me, including a division of cavalry. To counter the threat of the latter, I formed Austrian masses, which were targeted by the artillery. I slowly took the upper hand, losing less units than the opponent getting confident to be able to push both the French and his allies back.
On the right, Adrien's Italians were severely outnumbered and crushed by Geert.
On my side of the table, it wasn't that easy.
The French dragoons charged one of my battle columns, and to my surprise broke it and the same happened with the unit that received the breakthrough charge, the supporting units rushed into retreat. I was able to stabilize the situation and managed to destroy one dragoon unit with combined artillery and infantry fire, but my grenadiers were isolated and outnumbered by the Bavarians, and I lost one of the units. I was at about 50% losses, still able to slow down the French-ally advance, but surely forced to withdraw at the end.
However, by concentrating all the French forces on my side and giving no support to the Italians the latter were now completely destroyed, the French rear was now severely threatened, leaving them no option but a hastily retreat. The plan had worked, resulting in a clear Austrian victory .
All figures (mostly Hät) and buildings are from Geert. Pics by Patrick.
Regards
Dirk Donvil
Belgium
Many thanks to Mr. Donvil.