Wednesday 7 February 2018

Napoleonic game - A fighting retreat

For this Napoleonic game I decided to pick scenario 20, a fighting retreat, from One-Hour Wargames (OHW). The choice of game also allowed me to use my recently completed scratch built bridges.

The Austrian forces start south of the river and must retreat across to the north of the river by the end of turn 2, which is when French units start to arrive south of the river. To win a side must control the hill by turn 15.

For my rules I am using some house rules which are a variation of OHW napoleonic rules, but geared to D3 dice for assessing hits and have unit elimination when 7 hits are taken. To compensate for units being eliminated slightly quicker the number of units selected are doubled from 4 to 8 for defending Austrians and from 6 to 12 for French attackers.

Beginning of the game with Austrian units set up south of the river. 
Austrian units successfully retire across the river.
French forces arrive and battle begins
French units arrive at the west bridge.
French attacks were successful on the East bridge.
French forces desperately try to force a crossing of the West bridge.
French units finally move across the bridges.
Austrian units organise their lines of defence. Skirmishers are placed in the woods.
The Austrian second defence position between the marsh and woods holds up the congested French units as they try and advance across the river.
Austrian Forces consolidate their position on the hill to wait for the French assault.
Skirmishers remain in the woods to hamper any swift advance.
French units keep Austrian skirmishers at bay while forces are marshalled to assault the hill.
A final charge by Austrian cavalry in an attempt to delay the advance upon the hill.
French units bypass Austrian skirmish units located in the woods. 
Combined French forces successfully capture control of the hill on turn 14.

The French artillery proved the difference in allowing hill to be taken. The combination of cavalry, artillery and infantry proving very effective against the Austrian defenders who were hampered throughout the game by a lack of guns to soften up any attack.

This was the second game I have played using D3 dice and the rules seem to be providing enjoyable games. Time to write up the rules from all my notes.

9 comments:

  1. Good looking game, Peter!

    I should pull out my copy of OHW to confirm but can the French only cross the stream at the bridges? I am a little surprised at how easily the French breached the water barrier and that they managed to push the Austrians from the hill objective. I would enjoy seeing a replay of this one.

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    1. Thank you. The river could only be crossed by bridge. In the game I had opted to hold at three points swayed by the scenario title: the bridge, between the wood and marsh, and finally on the hill itself. This meant I did not have all Austrian units in the line shooting. So after by turn 4 the French had cleared the east bridge and the west bridge on turn 5. The combination of artillery and cavalry allowed the French to soften up Austrian units before they attacked (quite successful dice) and flank the infantry with cavalry.
      The Austrians were only one turn away from holding the hill and victory, or contesting it and getting a draw. The French had rolled for a well balanced force.

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  3. Nice job French guys! And nice looking game...

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    1. Thank you. Halfway through the game I was not sure who was going to win, but with their artillery advantage the French made the gains necessary to win the game.

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  4. Sounds like an engaging game and looks good, a Classic look really.

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    1. The Spencer Smith figures help greatly with the look.

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  5. Turn 14 ... that was pretty tight. It looks a very interesting scenario, nicely balanced between forces and objective. I see that it was inspired from a scenario in one of Don Featherstone's Wargamer's Newsletter from December 1967 .... there is something rather nice about that.

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    1. At turn 7 it was still well balanced, but once the French got their combination of cavalry, infantry and artillery units in the open the tide quickly swung their way. All in all a very enjoyable and thought provoking scenario.

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