The battle of Sävar 1809 in 54mm (part 1/2)
Date: February 25, 2013
We played with our club PMCD Mobilisatie the battle of Sävar in 54mm, using the "About Bonaparte" wargame rule. The battle of Sävar was the last important battle fought in de Russo-Swedish war of1808-1809.
The Russian army of the dashing commander Kamensky , after the successes in Finland, was marching South in the direction of Stockholm following the coastline. As the Swedish, controlled the sea, they planned to make a landing with a considerable force behind the Russian main army, to cut their lines of communication, and with a pincer movement combined with an attack from the South, destroying the Russians force. Kamensky, learning about the landing at Ratan, rushed back North covering 80km in 36 hours. The Swedish commander, Wachtmeister had detached part of his force, and now had to face the Russian army at Sävar. A village on the Sävarå river, where the road passes over a bridge in a densely wooded area.. The first Swedish defence lines were on mount Krutbrånet, just outside Sävar. Both sides had detached a secondary force to the other side of the river, where a small secondary battle developed. The river is fordable.
At this point our game started. 4 Players on per side, with each also having a CIC. Geert, with the Russian advance guard, immediately rushed toward the Swedish first line of Pots. The Swedes stood firm and the attack failed. Now Geert tried turning the flank while still attacking the Swedes defending mount Krutbrånet. Ronny also joined in with the first column of the Russians, extending the battle lines to the right Adrien from the second Swedish line fed in part of his troops to counter this movement. On the secondary theatre Siegfried defended against Steven, the latter making a frontal attack with costly results, forcing him to a more prudent approach.
Then, in the main battle, one of the Swedish units broke, and Mark, controlling the Swedish reserves, did started to send in 3 of his 4 battalions. Just in time, they took position in the front line as Pots command was by now destroyed. The aggressive defence, with counter charges had taken its toll. But also the Russian command of Geert had been bleeded, now forced to a more defensive approach. Also Ronny was thrown back again and again. The Swedes still stood firm. Now Robby with the Russian reserves came up, but instead of reinforcing the main battle lines , as CIC of the Russians, I ordered him to cross the Sävarå river which would bring him behind the Swedish lines of both the secondary and main Swedish battle line. It took Robby 3 turns to make the crossing and starting to threaten to cut of the Swedish communication lines.
To save his army, Bart, Swedish CIC ordered a general retreat. It was history repeated. Also Kamensky did dispatch a (much smaller) force to the other side of the river making Wachtmaster believe his army was in great danger., forcing the latter to retreat and returning to his ships at Ratan. The plan to destroy the Russian army failed, the Swedes started negotiations and the war ended.
All Swedish troops are Hät , part of the Russians also.
Regards,
Dirk Donvil
Belgium
Many thanks to Mr. Dirk Donvil, Belgium.