Shako II - Gross Beeren scenario and a new Vassal game started - No Retreat! The Russian Front

Game at Stephens today using Shako and a scenario he adapted from a scenario booklet set during Leipzig battles with action at Gross Beeren.

I fielded the Prussian attackers against his French.

I had a whopping 26 (8 in reserve formations) Landwehr units with a 9 Regulars and couple of Grenadiers with 2 Hussars and a Landwehr cavalry unit backed by 2 artillery batteries (tough to use in attack in this terrain). French had several 2 Line units several Regular Line and several Elites, with 6 units of light Horse arriving as reserves and 5 Artillery batteries. 

Odd scenario in some ways as despite being a 6' x 4' board you really only use 4' x 4'. 

Scenario designed primarily for Gen De Brigade with about a third of Prussian Infantry reserves appearing on Turn 6 on the 'unused' left flank portion of table but this is lined by an impassable river cross-able only at at only 2 adjacent bridges. The bridges are however at least 5 moves from entry point and with game only lasting 15 turns the impact of these reserves seems minimal/inconsequential (as essentially only 2 units can cross the bridge in a 2 turn window ?). Think this would be an issue with most rule sets unless some form of march move available (FOB or BP might allow multiple moves to get to bridges faster) and enemy intervention of any kind would nullify this.

The rest of table is literally crammed (even with the small footprint Shako units) with units with 24 units each at start and both receiving reserves in this same sector with both having cavalry among their follow up formations which have limited deployment options (mounted cant enter woods in Shako). Using GDB size units (24-36 figures) would surely cause even greater density (not well read on this action so that may indeed be accurate ?). 

Stephen had reduced the amount of artillery batteries available to both side by a third but the remainder are very effective (especially for defender) as a target rich environment and Shako artillery always causes a lot of casualties (as it should especially once in canister range).

Prussians advanced slowly through woods in attack columns but then tried deploying into line once French artillery started its pounding but suffered lots of casualties.

I did manage to assault edge of Gross Beeren with two units (1 Elite) but was repulsed twice be its defenders. Minor assaults by a couple of Prussians units on my right were easily repulsed. 

A tough task indeed this one but still enjoyed using Shako (one of my favourite sets)

Initial deployments showing density of units and the unused left flank and bridges

Prussian foot on my right in column to move through woods with Hussars stuck in column to use road.

So many units so little room.

The only real open zone was narrow section just in front of village

Initial forces are both 24 units in size so attackers not having any numerical advantage

Another PBEM Vassal game started this week with Mike this time trying No Retreat! The Russian Front (a game I thoroughly enjoy but not played in a while).

We have started with the opening Barbarossa scenario but will likely continue on if no auto victory.

Early stages (ie Turn 2) and the module maybe not as Pbem friendly as last with quite the variety of potential phases cards that can be played in enemy turn so needing to go step by step to allow possible play of such cards, but so far so good.

Germans (moi) just completed moves having gained 3VP so far with 2 captured cities and one surrendered unit.

Close up of the on map units (low counter density is definitely an attraction)

 

Shako - Seven Years War variant - Prague scenario

Game at Stephens and he selected another SYW bash to give a Shako variant another outing.

Scenario was an adaption of a Volley & Bayonet scenario covering Prague again (this a much bigger affair than our last game) with unit count cut by one third and using the small table (6' x 4') option.

I was Prussians attacking the Austrians and boy oh boy one really wonders what Frederick was thinking !! so many impassable ponds and lots of marshy streams with Austrians commanding the high ground and utilising field works. Even with classing the bulk of Prussian foot as Elite it is a tall order.

The slightly truncated table made deployment a real bind with simply no room for Prussian mounted (if trying again we would use a 7' x 5' table) and with so much difficult terrain it was a nightmare just trying to move forwards. 

Scenario issues aside (tis the nature of the beast) the Shako amendments worked pretty well although fiddly maneuvering/wheeling of units and potent Artillery are inherent 'problems', not helped here by terrain which compressed units into killing grounds (one Artillery shot had bounce through onto 5 units). I prefer Shako for Napoleonic games.

Only a single pic as others I took very blurry for reasons unknown

Prussian right wing with cavalry unable to deploy and some tough entrenchments with marshes, ponds and streams (similar in center).

One of the blurries but showing bit more of the table and more terrible terrain

Shako - Utitsa scenario

Game at Stephens today and he choose to use Shako II and the Utitsa scenario (which we have played a couple of times) with me as attacking French and he as Russian defenders.

We managed to play through 6 turns (out of 12) with no real problems this time (we seemed to have brain barf last couple ot times we used rules) just having to check a couple of rules our recall was weak on.

Tough for attackers in this one especially as the objectives of Utitsa village and the steep 'Mound' are well defended by Russian Grenadiers. 

Artillery is potent in Shako especially as hits cannot be rallied off and Stephens heavy stuff caused me grief early on. 

I did manage to destroy 1 battery on the Mound with my Lancers which was of course only mildly satisfying. 

A unit of Cossacks charged an infantry unit in Line but were shot up and then destroyed as one would expect.

Game really turned when I charged in one turn with 10 units of Infantry and only managed to close with 2, this was particularly annoying against the Russian Jager Division on my left of which I had managed to stagger every unit with artillery and musketry fire. 

All but one of my charging Battalions were repulsed staggered and some with hits by good Jager volleys. 

Elsewhere not so surprising that I mostly failed to close as the Grenadiers in the village and on the hill were mostly undamaged and indeed I lost a unit destroyed outright due to accumulated casualties.

I did manage to force one Jager to Fall Back as did a Grenadier unit (huzzah !) but both recovered (of course) and these were minor isolated successes.

My infantry force was mostly staggered (which cannot be rallied off close to enemy) and several had hits so I felt unable to gain much more offensively and so at end of 6th turn I called it (playing time was running out as well).

Shako is a good system overall although we found some 15mm moves can be a bit fiddly (trying to measure 2/3rds of a 4" move is just a tad awkward), the doctrinal support rules for foot units work really well.

It certainly has the 'feel' of a Corps level encounter.

French push towards the 'Mound' 

Staggers and hits from effective Russian artillery cannonades mounted fast

French columns try to avoid artillery, my own artillery was pretty ineffectual 

French reserves form up 

On my left I am ready to charge en mass having staggered all the Jager and having suffered naught, but all except the unit on extreme left failed to make contact and were repulsed damaged !

Utitsa village a tough nut to crack (note I have deployed into Lines to try to lessen artillery effect)

French Lancers on my right have recalled blown having destroyed an artillery battery (was just where Cossacks are)

Highwater mark for French just prior to massed charges are repulsed almost everywhere

 

Shako - playtest of some Seven Years War house rules

Attended Stephens with a horde of SYW Russians to face his Prussians in a play test of several rules amendments for the period he has been sorting through for the Shako II rule set.

So not a proper game as such more of a line 'em up and try different aspects of house rulings.

Upshot was that several house rules that seemed worthy inclusions proved less so in practice and often just easier to use standard Shako rules.

Probably only real changes are that Infantry are able to stagger cavalry backwards with defensive shooting and hasty squares only 'available' to infantry charged on flank by mounted.

One we struggled with (as we do in standard Shako) is that units particularly heavy Cavalry can engage in multiple melees/breakthroughs and if winning can emerge totally unscathed (bar temporary Blown status). We had a couple of Prussian Cuirassier involved in Melees then Breakthrough Melees suffering no damage at all which always seems rather odd.

We discussed giving them a Hit for each melee/breakthrough melee they became engaged in but that seemed overly harsh so decided to give them a single hit when fresh even if they won a melee meaning they carried some 'hurt' for rest of game. 

Always looking for that elusive 'perfect' set 

Wavre with Shako II (and believe it or not a rare WIN !!!!!)

Another game using Shako II rules today at Stephens with the published Wavre scenario.

I of course used my Prussians to defend against Stephens French.

The scenario has rather complicated terrain with bonuses for Prussians defending the river Dyle crossings in the town sectors and lots of marshland all along both banks of the river, and differing levels of possible French victory.

We both realised that our respective mounted units were essentially superfluous as just no place to operate (pretty tough to effectively deploy and use artillery as well).

That said Stephen did get one unit of French Hussars across the bridge near Limal which had to stay in column on a road, but managed to destroy a unit of Landwehr before dying itself.

French need to push across bridge at Limal (which is very weakly defended by a single unit of Infantry and a Skirmish stand) on their left flank whilst attacking the tough Prussian positions at Bierge and Wavre.

The defenders of Bierge managed to thwart 5 separate assaults by staggering back the attacking French columns but on their 6th attempt the volleys failed and French then managed to take the town sector.

By this time a massive French force was bearing down on the flank of my central force at Bierge and after a brave stand they eventually broke. 

However this had taken 10 (of the scheduled 12) turns to achieve and as French had ignored garrison at Limal until too late they had insufficient time to capture this town thereby denying themselves even a marginal victory (taking Bierge and Limal) so Prussians triumphant (yee hah !!!).

A tough task for the French this one but Prussians somewhat lucky at Bierge as had it fallen earlier things may have been very different.

Fun game with Shako today without the head-scratching we had in some recent games, we will of course not play it again for ages and forget what we decided re any issues :-)

Congestion at Wavre on Prussian left

French forming up to assault Bierge in Prussian center

The isolated defenders at Limal on Prussian right, as French prepare to seize the bridge

French Dragoons redeploying (fruitlessly as it transpired)

Prussian guns firing (to little effect) on French side of Wavre

Central Prussian command deploys to meet oncoming French

French Hussars lead the way along the road through marshy area

French piling up along road and marshes to threaten Prussians around Bierge

Prussian light cavalry try to help but realise they cannot (not allowed to enter marsh)

Overview of action at Bierge and Limal 

Wavre scenario map (note each square is 8") with marsh extending 8" either side of river along its length. Town sectors on river contain bridges and have enhanced defences.

Shako II - Utitsa scenario played

Played Shako II today with Stephen utilising the Utitsa (Borodino area 1812) scenario from the Field of Glory scenario booklet. 

Stephen used Russians in defence so I was attacking with the French.

My Cavalry Brigade (1 Lancer and 1 Chasseur) on my right tried to sweep around behind Utitsa mound but were confronted by an Infantry division but in the end I destroyed a unit of Cossacks before seeing my Lancers destroyed in turn. This led to a morale test for my Brigade which of course I rolled 1 for and the Chasseurs fled the field.

On my left my reserves were contesting matters with the Russian Jager division in the large wood and their own reserve formations, these sort of cancelled each other out although I was reducing the Jager.

A struggle around the mound then ensued between Infantry divisions. I suffered from Russian heavy artillery cannister fire despite eventually destroying both batteries.

A key match up saw 3 French columns manage to contact a single Russian unit in Line but this unit rolled a crushing volley which staggered and forced back my units. I then lost a couple of units in adjacent melees and had to test Divisional morale which of course I failed removing the Division directly attacking the Mound.

We called it at that point as French lacking sufficient strength to take the Mound

We struggled again with some of the rules around attack orders/formation changes which are frankly somewhat contradictory, and wondered how we never seemed to have these problems in past games !? old age in action ??

Table prior to set up from Russian edge

French initial advance

Russian artillery causes Stagger (yellow puff)

Jagers defending wooded area (Russian reserves waiting to arrive in distance)

The Mound defended by stout Grenadiers and heavy Artillery

Up close and personal around the Mound

French reserves arrive on left and engage the Jagers as Russian reserves also arrive

French formation attacking the Mound would soon flee

A tiny bit of Shako II

Tried a 'pick up' game of Shako II today at Stephens with his Russians against my French circa 1812. We last played these rules in Feburary 2020 (Quatre Bras scenario) but both kind of struggled to deploy our Divisions today. I think this partly down to the 'pick up' style game orders of battle, its generic terrain generation and rather odd table size (64" x 40" in 15mm).

We both placed a Cavalry division in reserve and I had a light cavalry division on a Flank March.

My Flank March arrived on turn 3 but really had no place to go on arrival (likely needed a much better plan). We were also unsure what happens if the flanking units are 'blocked' by enemy units up close to arriving table edge as not really defined other than one can charge into contact from off-table, but what if units have to fall back or recall ? are the destroyed ? do they rally off-table ? we have not encountered this before.

Stephen brought on an off-table reserve of 4 Cavalry with a horse gun which was literally crammed up behind a defending Infantry Division and I had my heavy Cavalry as an on table Reserve from start. 

We realised that the interpenetration (or actually lack of interpenetration) rules meant these mounted units were very unlikely to get used as essentially badly blocked (especially the Russian Division) and requiring a lot of 'work' to move elsewhere. 

The rules allow Mixed Divisions (something not usually seen in the scenarios we have played) which would be a much more flexible use of cavalry (ie in direct support of Infantry Division) but neither of had considered this historically justifiable. However I think the use of the term Division in Shako is a tad more flexible in what it represents.

We sort of gave up on the game (and plunged into waffling session) once we realised we had less than optimal deployments but plan is to re-try next week with Utitsa scenario.

French left with Cavalry in Reserve position. Note clogged deployment of Russians at top left as Cavalry 'stuck' in behind stationary Infantry division. French outflank due to arrive following turn into flank of own Infantry !