Battle Command - Jakubowo 1812 scenario

Game with Stephen using Battle Command and a scenario based on action at Jakubowo 31st July 1812 (taken from scenario in Bataille Empire rules).

I was defending French and Stephen the Russians.

Both sides sides start with about a third of their force on table with reserves arriving to boost to 19 units versus 20 (French/Russian).

I pushed initial forces forward onto central hill with Ivans pushing initially on their left.

Both sides had their Light Cavalry forces on same wing and initial clash bewixt these saw Cossack forced back in disorder (a state they retained throughout) and it seemed French would gain ascendancy but was not to be as Russian Hussars broke on of their counterparts in short order and forced another back.

Both sides reserves arrived quite soon

On my left it was mostly a stalemate as it was in center around hill aided by a Russian Brigadier General coming off his horse (although and his disordered troops were rallied before I could take advantage). 

But on my right the arrival of a Russian Brigade of Grenadiers proved too tough for French and this wing was soon crumbling.

Morale losses mounted and soon plunged to zero from 24 (Russians had lost around 10 of their 25) and I was then gifting to Ivans.

I did pass my Army Morale role but called it quits as losses too grievous.

As ever fun game played to completion with this FOB variant.

My dice rolling was mostly fine except I just could not roll Evens on 'Action' Cards meaning I was restricted in Order options especially at key times (ain't that always the way !)

Trying out a new blanket/fleece mat (£10) which lies really well over hills but is bit bland in colour (will try to stick on some shading if I can be bothered)

Initial French deployment with Foot Brigade on left around Jakubowo and Hussars on hill on right wing

French advance onto central hill just before Ivan Jager do same

French right. Cossack in disorder but one French Hussar annihlated and the other forced back as Russian Grenadiers push forward. Note Russian central Brigade in disorder as General patched up

French left awaits Russian reserves

Just prior to the clash of cavalry on French right

Wittgenstein 'elbows' (groan) his way onto battlefield

French dominate in center

But wer ultimately let down by their supporting light horse

Just prior to opening firefights 

As an aside I found these images which certainly awoke some nostalgic childhood memories

Battle Command - Dresden scenario

Game with Hugh using Battle Command and Dresden scenario (ripped off from GDA of course)

Hugh has played FOB once but as 90% of Battle Command is same (only the Initiative/Card Deck differs) not to much 'teaching' required (certainly not to Cambridge Professor standard).

Hugh took the attacking French And I therefore the Russo-Prussian defenders.

After deployment we both tried to attack each others left wings as both had our weaker infantry (2nd Line/Provisional) on respective wings.

On my right I pushed my Jager Brigade up and Hugh withdrew his lesser chaps and sent a couple of Young Guard Battalions across from center to assist, which did weaken his push against the Prussian Brigade on central hill.

Situation changed drastically when the two Guard Light Lancer units appeared from reserve on this flank (not unexpected) forcing the Jager into squares one of which the crushed (fatal roll of 1 on d10 vs 11 on d10) but one Guard unit was later routed in another charge on a square.

The remaining Guards tried to breakthrough to the rear hill objective whilst my light Cavalry Brigade failed to intercept them.

On my left my 2nd Line troops were holding back defending villages to rear and Hugh had his light Cavalry on this flank which crested a hill to threaten my lot.

His first charge was repulsed by my volleys but second damaged another unit which luckily managed to get into square and cavalry repulsed in disarray ie 3UI lost and Disordered.

This square was then pummeled by volleys from French Line units and destroyed.

The game was decided around village of Seidnitz in center.

Hugh charged his Young Guard early on with one unit being forced back but the other forcing my defenders out of village section and it fell to French.

I did Rally and retake this sector but the quality of Young Guard shone through with further charges seeing both section of village being captured by French.

The rate of casualties on my force saw it Morale Drop to zero (from 28) and whilst I passed first Army Morale I decided to yield as no real way to retake village.

Hugh did lose a Brigadier which slowed his progress for a while but of course I managed to roll my usual 'bucket of ones' in a couple of turns to aid the enemy.

French ended with only 7 morale (from 34) so quite a bloody affair overall.

As ever a fun game with this system although am now of opinion that Battle Command is a more 'grindy' version due to new card system (no big runs of initiative possible compared to FOB3).

Further games planned with Hugh

The battlefield from French side with Seidnitz in center (this plus villages of Grosse and Kleiner Dobritz to rear were objectives as is hill in far left)

Pics from the game (of varying quality due to lighting)

Young Guard and Line Brigades push forward to right of Seidnitz 

French in firm control of Seidnitz

Young Guard too tough for Russians

French Provisional troops under pressure from Russian Jager as Prussians defend hill

View from Allied right across battlefield

Young Guard deploy to support Provisional Brigade  

Prussians hold in center

Early action at Seidnitz as possession changed hands. French Hussars have forced Russians into square on left and they are suffering from skirmish fire 

Elite Guard cavalry have appeared on my right 

The Guard Lancers in full flow having destroyed a square in tandem but about to come a cropper on next square.

Losses mounting all across the area

Russian cavalry 'rooted to spot' in fore ground

Wittgenstein surveys his predicament as push on left has fallen short and major tussle inprogress for Seidnitz

Right wing push showed early promise until the Guard Lancers appeared

French mounting major effort on village. Note Line Brigade all in disorder as Brigadier is Hors De Combat

The Young Guard battalions proved just too strong for brave defenders

Markleeberg with Battle Command

Big lad Steven home for a few days and we managed to squeeze in a wargame using Battle Command.

I set up game based on Markleeberg October 1813 with son as French and I as the Prusso-Russo forces.

Once again this proved to be a very close and hard fought action going right down to the wire for both sides.

Both sides started with Artillery Actions and both sides artillery were complete pants !

Boy then aggressively pushed across the stream in the center whilst holding on both flanks

This was nearly his early undoing as both his flanks began to fold and it seemed I was going to turn his flanks very quickly.

But I just could not get my flanking units to maneuver to take advantage (it could have been a Cannae) and the French began to grind down my central Brigade,

Thankfully my reserves arrived just in time to shore up the center and losses mounted for both sides.

French Morale Pool was expended but so was Allied pool soon after.

In fact I was at one point 1 card down (given to French) but no Army Morale appeared and I then gained 3 from French giving a slim 2 card advantage

Just as well as my Army Morale card was turned and thankfully I did not need to test.

Both sides had to be very careful with aggressive actions as any reverse could be fatal.

Luckily for me Steven turned his Army Morale card and had to test with his D12 Commander rolling 8 but the D12 I rolled was a 12 (something I seldom see) so French yielded the field but very close as I had lost more units than French but just maintained a minimal Morale Pool.

Great game with fairly even spread of dice luck which usually is when 'dice demon' not present :-)

Russian Hussars have crossed stream to flank French 

Prussian Reserves arrive to aid crumbling Russian Brigade

Elite Cuirassier which mugged a couple of my Infantry units

French pushing deep into Allied territory

Prussians have taken town and again are ready to flank French 

View from Allied right 

Bloody action in central zone

Those Hussars just will not answer calls to make most of advance

French pushing across stream en-mass

Early action at town

Steven surveys his forces

Allied wings push as central yields (I would love to say deliberately......but........) 

French reserve Brigade arrives on their left 

Guns have been firing on both sides but to little effect

Battle Command - solo SYW engagement concluded

Finished my solo SYW game with Battle Command and what a close run thing it was too and I see how enjoyable it must be for others to see me rolling dice !!

Russians pushed ahead in central area where they had a decided advantage routing or destroying units with close combats, as Prussian firepower failed to stop their charges and managing to capture the town forcing Frei Korps unit therein to retreat. 

But the Russian left wing imploded after Prussian cuirassier got their act together and completely chinned opposition horse. 

A stalemate remained on Russian right with both sides exchanging desultory volleys.

However a somewhat foolhardy charge to contact by Russian Dragoons into Prussian versions on extreme right saw them come a cropper thankfully they had reserve units to contest ground.

Both sides Morale Pools were decimated and Prussians went to zero first soon followed by Russians both sides 'gifted' Morale to each other but Prussia was first to pull the Army Morale card and yielded the field with Russians having a single Morale chip left.

Just as well for Russians as they had several units routing and another fallen Brigadier

A close run thing indeed

Fun game even solo with plenty of action and usual smooth gameplay for a solo player.

Stalemate on Russian right wing although both sides have units routing

Russians firmly across stream taking the town as Prussian center melts away

Russian left hanging in wind however as Prussian horse in ascendancy

Russian Dragoons forced back or routed by Prussian namesakes 

Another Russian Brigadier is Hors De Combat putting his command into disorder

Town in Russian hands as Prussian forces in area under extreme duress

Prussian horse have broken enemy left wing

As defeated Russian horse flee to rear with only a unit of Cossacks (!!) holding on

Russians not getting it all their own way in center

Prussia had 3 units of foot and 2 gun batteries destroyed and a further 3 units in Rout at end

Whilst Russians had lost 1 foot and 1 mounted by with 5 units in Rout 

The Army Morale roll that ended proceedings (the Prussia blue d12 need to exceed enemy d12)