Campaign game for 2015

An exciting new campaign game will be introduced for 2015. Based on Napoleonic warfare in the 1813-14 era it will feature two teams of players initially playing online with an umpire overseeing the action. A large scale map will see players commanding divisions and brigades from France who will be up against forces from Russia, Prussia and Austria.

The game will include crucial elements that make a game realistic like light cavalry scouting, spies, and the use of engineers to both blow and make bridges. Whilst the Allies will have the numerical advantage, the French will be operating along interior lines, have a more flexible command and control structure, and have better local intelligence. Orders will be given by each team but last minute changes of heart will see units delayed in reacting to a new plan. When units do finally come up against each other this action will be replicated on a large gaming table in the barn. Units that were hitherto hidden on the map may remain hidden on the table also as the use of a neutral umpire makes this possible.

Anyone within reach of Newbury in Berkshire will be welcome to join in. We are anticipating a minimum of six players per side. So do get in touch. francis.long@hanslips.com

Another 1813 Napoleonic game held in the barn..

As the rules get better so does the game. This time we had 6 brigades of French infantry (a Bavarian brigade, a poor Saxon brigade, a French conscript brigade, an excellent Old Guard brigade, a good Polish Brigade and lastly a standard French line brigade) and 5 brigades of cavalry (1 heavy, 2 medium and 2 light) Mostly Art Miniaturen cavalry except for a couple of plastic sets (4th French chasseurs with yellow facings and some Bavarian lancers in green and blue) Most of the infantry are Newline.

The Prussian Corps was made up of 6 brigades of infantry which included one Guard's brigade with landwehr intermingled into the other brigades. Plus 5 brigades of cavalry. The Guard du Corps cavalry were classified as excellent but the Cuirassiers (without armour) as good only…on a par with the French Dragoons. Added to this mix were Prussian Dragoons, Hussars (Silesian, Brandenberg and the 1st Lieb Hussaren classified as good, National Cavalry and Uhlans as well as lots of landwehr cavalry. All Art Miniaturen. Most of the Prussian infantry are Newline.

3 Objectives…the village (5 buildings), the farm (2 buildings) and a supply road connecting 2 bridges. The last objective perhaps being the hardest to achieve.

The French ordered the Polish brigade to take the village, the Old Guard to take the farm spearheaded by a light cavalry brigade to stop the Prussian advance in the centre and two cavalry brigades supported by the Bavarians to try their best with the bridges.

The Prussians had to rely on line infantry to take the village, their Guard to clash head on with the Old Guard in the centre and a mixture of units for the two bridges.

The French cavalry attack in the centre was made up of the 10th Hussars in blue, the 1st and 5th line lancers. The hussars headed straight for the Silesian foot battery (yellow facings and white cross belts) and had the French not thrown an 8 (1D8 throughout the game) the guns would have been lost and a breakthrough would have resulted in another Prussian unit being wiped out. The lancers also were stopped by some plucky Prussian infantry who refused to form square and should have been routed. Despite this set back, the attack fulfilled its aim of slowing the Prussian advance and allowing the Old Guard to take one half of the farm and literally were knocking on the door of the 2nd building. The sergeant with his axe was seen delivering the blows.

The Poles were successful in taking the village but Prussian units remained a threat to the end in that sector. The early cavalry clash between Prussian landwehr and the French 19th and 23rd Dragoons resulted in both sides with little or no meaningful cavalry.

 The Saxons repeatedly failed their brigade test and urgently tried to form square to beat off a Prussian cavalry charge with dragoons and had to rely on their foot battery on the hill to do the job. Their two skirmisher stands from the two light battalions successfully inflicted damage on the Prussian Guard du Corps who veered sharp left to relieve the pressure on the Prussian centre. Prussian Silesian landwehr cavalry later in the day swept up the road and attacked the saxon flank. A poor Saxon brigade coupled with allocating a poor brigade commander to the Saxons meant they spent most of the battle totally paralysed. The Bavarians faired slightly better.

A spirited French cuirassier attack on the furthest bridge did cause some debate with the rules. The French could have assaulted the 2nd building in the farm when they had the chance instead of firing at it. Thereafter a failed brigade test halted any more attempts by the Old Guard, at taking the building.

Overall a marginal French victory largely because of their success in taking all 5 buildings in the village.

Napoleonic 20mm game. 1813.

An excellent game was held in the barn with 20mm Napoleonic figures a couple of weeks ago.

5 objectives were to be fought over. A-E on the map. 29 x 6 table.

French strategy was to punch a hole in the centre, whilst the Allies had a more balanced deployment. A mixture of Prussian and Russian cavalry in the centre meant that the French assault had to be delayed.

The French right wing was made up of a weak Saxon Brigade and a weak cavalry brigade which proved no match for the Prussians.

The Russian right wing did not fancy their chances against a stronger French left wing made up of the 19th and 23rd Dragoon regiments with infantry support. The Russian Cossacks withdrew into the wood. As a result the village was easily taken by the French with hardly a shot being fired.

The cavalry clash in the middle decimated both sides but left the French weaker. With little cavalry where it mattered most, the French advance in the centre, spearheaded by the Young Guard and Polish brigades, could not be exploited. It all ground to a halt when the Allied cavalry threatened.

The French Old Guard, when they finally did appear, were also unable to take the farm as Russian Lubny and Soum Hussars controlled the gap in the French deployment.

In the end, a marginal Allied victory.

Prussian Cuirassiers and Dragoons are deployed.

Russian Dragoons with support from line Cuirassiers and Hussars of the Guard.

 Guard Cuirassiers.

 Lubny and Soum Hussars

 Cossacks

 Hussars

Russian infantry in the centre.

French Dragoons on the right wing.

The Bavarians, with two whole brigades, did little of note throughout the battle.

French Cuirassiers and Carabiniers in the centre

The 2nd French Dragoons await instructions.

French lancers and Hussars begin to move forward.

 French infantry. Note the figures on the left are in fact plastic (Zvezda)

 Bavarian light infantry watch the lancers ride past.

 The Polish brigade begins its advance.

The French heavy cavalry prepare to take on the Russians in the distance.

Saxon infantry and a foot battery.

Russian Lubny and Soum hussars.

Eclaireur Young Guard cavalry, Polish lancers and Guard Dragoons advance.

Russian infantry enter the farm complex.

Prussian infantry in square.

Prussian Dragoons.

Prussian Cuirassiers.

Russian Soum hussars.

The Old Guard halt and form square.

Polish infantry spearheading the breakthrough.

Bavarians not doing much.

French Dragoons

Russian right wing fall back into the wood.