Battle of Gilly 1815 - Field of Battle 3 - Solo game (pictastic)

With the latest increased, but not quite lockdown, restrictions coming into play here in N.Ireland we have decided to 'hang up our gaming boots' for the duration (4 weeks they say but I think 6-8 more likely) and so I decided to set up a FOB3 game using a Gen D'Armee scenario for action at Gilly in June 1815.

We played this with GDA and so looking to see how FOB handles it.

Easy enough to sort orders of battle to FOB for the Prussian defenders and the French attackers, and to enact the scenario special rules, mainly concerning the stream crossing (ie not by Mounted or Artillery except at bridge or ford).

And so table set up and first flurry of action undergone.

Lots of pics with varied colouring due to ever changing winter lighting conditions

The initial set up with Prussians on left

The French attackers deployed

Overview from French lines

French Brigade under Berthezene on the French right

Brigade Lefol in French center

Brigade Corsin on left supported by 6pdr and 12pdr batteries on slope.

Light Cavalry Brigade under St Laurent backed by Empress Dragoons under Letort on extreme left. 

French left wing

French center with skirmish unit to the fore (I use 3UI skirmish only units as Brigade 'screens' in FOB an idea stolen blatantly from GDA)

Brigade Berthezene again

Prussian right wing Brigade Pirch with 9pdr Artillery battery attached defend ford

Cavalry under Treskowo on central slopes

Defence of Gilly and its bridge falls to Brigade Von Hichtenbrock

Landwehr Brigade Wurst on Prussian left

Prussian lines

Gilly itself defended by a large (5UI) unit of Musketeers

Landwehr move to defend stream

French Cavalry before 'the off'

French Infantry ready themselves (limbered Horse battery just visible)

French advance generally across the field as Artillery pounds Prussian columns near the ford

French push hard for ford

Some telling fire on Prussian columns

Gilly under pressure

Prussian push up on either side of Gilly

French entering Gilly (Veteran Light Infantry to the fore)

Landwehr engaged near marshy area

Berthezenes large Brigade target the Landwehr under Wurst who has thrown a skirmish screen across the stream to slow progress

French Artillery Brigade continues long range bombardment

French Infantry have secured the ford and mounted head for same

Prussian right falls back somewhat

Not much change at Gilly (lack of movement by French on Move card !)

French about to cross stream on their right

Prussian cavalry stays in reserve and out of French artillery range (Horse battery deployed)

Overview

Prussian right in difficulties after loss of Brigadier

More to follow..................................................

Some more Board Wargame COINage

Managed another couple of solo COIN game outings this past week and started a PBEM game via Vassal as well.

Medium scenario game of A Distant Plain with Warlords winning narrowly (by 1 VP)

Long scenario game of Colonial Twilight with French coming out on top by 5 VP

Vassal game with Falling Sky commenced with Long scenario (very early stages)

Such a great system and fun even played solo (I have not used the included 'Bots' as yet) as so many variables and choices it keeps one fully engaged no matter the subject matter.

Field Of Glory: Napoleonic - short and sharp

 

Game of FOGN today circa 1812 with me fielding Russians in Prepared Defence against French (a rather specific 1812 list with a Corps under Ney) using envelopment.

I initially managed to get decent terrain to close off my left flank but French managed to move it 12" to open up flank.

My being stuck with no advance for 2 turns proved a boon to French as able to hold back or manouvre their 2 Infantry Divisions unmolested as flank attacks developed.

Pretty quick game (under 2 hours in total) as French cavalry literally overran everything in their path.

Stephen flanked deep on both flanks and both marches arrived on 2nd turn.

He had a unit of Superior Hussars with another in support charging a unit of Russian Superior Hussars on my right so 7 dice to French vs 5 dice to Russians.

I preceded to roll 2 hits and with no re-rolls possible and French totaled 7 hits out of 7 after a couple of re-rolls, total overkill as 5 hits would have same devastating effect.

French Cuirassier on my left appeared and whilst I got first charge in with 2 Dragoon units I was again overpowered as whilst I threw a General in the French had a General and a Officer with a unit of Light Lancers supporting both units (I suspect this is benefit of this specific French list).

So I had 10 dice total versus 14 dice total...........you know whats coming............I totaled 3 hits on 1 unit (good enough to try to kill attached General........but nope)  and a mere 1 hit on the other (even with re-rolls) whilst sustaining 6 hits on each of my units so another 2 Routed units

Out of 15 dice in 3 combats I managed 6 hits whilst French managed 19 hits out of 21 simply awesome and unstoppable.

No way back from that especially as an Infantry unit hit on flank by pursuing Cuirassier and subsequently Routed. 

Game ended with my suffering 40% losses compared to only 10% on French (mainly Spent Cavalry).

Shock Heavy Cavalry 'powered' by Leaders/Officers are simply awesome especially if Superior and only effective counter to them is to field your own versions or so it seems to us.

Field of Glory Napoleonic - A 'bubbling' game

After much discussion, Stephen and I decided to continue face to face gaming (will review every week) as counting each other as 'bubbling' and as such maintaining minimal social contact (ie no-one to infect or be infected by). 

If my Dad had wished to continue contact (parents have decided to essentially self-isolate again) I would have 'bubbled' with him instead (no offence Stephen !)

So another game of FOGN with Stephen choosing 1815 Anglo-Dutch and I therefore 1815 French

Interesting game with Brits using Flexible Defence and French trying Envelopment as I had 2 Cavalry Divisions.

Both Cavalry earmarked to appear on my left flank in enemy half of table.

They arrived on turns 2 and 3 but would have preferred to see my heavy Cuirassier arrive first instead of light Cavalry Division.

Still had Stephen guessing and sort of 'forced' him to keep his Cavalry Division in Reserve in central sector.

This left me with 2 on-table Infantry Divisions (One of Veteran troops) to hold the line until flankers arrived.

Sort of worked as Brits delayed by first turn Flexible Defence move restrictions and slower speed of Unreformed Foot.

But my Cavalry failed to make sufficient Impact on arrival and my right wing folded under pressure of Veteran British foot (failing all Rally attempts did not help) and as per last game I had 30% losses whilst British had just over 10% losses but managed to Rally 3 units to force a subsequent auto Victory.