Ramillies 1706

Well I managed to get a couple of big games in during December, one of which was Ramillies, a great Marlburian bash of epic proportions in 15mm (see below, a confident [Umpire Driven "Bot"] French General surveys his dispositions - he may be facing the feared British but he has two line of solid French infantry defending a water obstacle, backed by fortified villages and with "life" insurance of the finest French cavalry behind them - over to his right securing flank is the Elector of Bavaria and his army, what could possibly go wrong?):

John Churchill meanwhile has it in mind to unsettle the Frenchman with his superiority in artillery to both counter battery and bombard the French strongholds before his "obvious" assault with his dreaded British infantry (see below, this activity completely transfixes the Frenchman): 

Meanwhile the Duke of Marlborough has amassed the most cavalry seen on a European battlefield facing the Elector of Bavaria's forces. He intends to smash the Bavarians while the French stand transfixed at the British flags; the French haunted by the thought of Blenheim and fixated by Louis XIV's instructions to defend sturdily against the British - aka not be beaten by "them" (see below, the Allied cavalry will soon hurl themselves forward in a desperate gamble): 

There are columns of Allied infantry to back up the cavalry by assaulting the Bavarian held fortified villages on the Allied left (see below, a lot depends upon the tenacity of the Dutch infantry):  

Meanwhile the British artillery continue to pound away (see below, they are keeping the French artillery quiet with some "good rolling"): 

In fact the defenders of Ramillies find themselves situated n a place far too hot and give way to fear and panic (see below, the [yellow counter indicates a] routed unit disrupts the unit [indicated by an orange counter] behind it - in so doing "fixating and worrying" the French commander away from the Bavarians plight, somehow the village needs to be garrisoned again): 

Meanwhile the Allied cavalry are trading blows with the Bavarian cavalry away on the other [Allied left] flank (see below, the disruption this leaves the defenders in will be seized upon by the next fresh Allied wave of cavalry): 

Before the French can re-garrison an Allied infantry unit takes opportunely enters Ramillies (see below, the French commander in incensed and it will be immediately counterattacked): 

All hell has broken loose on the Bavarian flank. Ramillies is being fought over in the background but the Allied infantry have stormed the far right Bavarian village and flanked the Bavarian cavalry line to make a crushing "L" (see below, the Allied cavalry have the upper hand and Elector of Bavaria commits his reserve and hastily sends a note to the French commander pleading for additional help): 

The Bavarian flank must hold or the combined French/Bavarian army is lost. The Bavarian infantry has been forced to hold defensively against the cavalry in square which is perilous given the proximity of the advancing Allied infantry - in particular an elite Dutch regiments (see below, the cotton wool smoke indicates how much of a battle there is, all along the line, the majority of it being a head on cavalry-on-cavalry engagement): 

The battle swings back and forth. Ramillies had been re-taken by the fierce French infantry counterattack (see below, routing [yellow] and disordered [orange] Allied infantry stream away from Ramillies, however note, the battalions of red coated Danes forming up to the left of the routers. They have secretly countermarched from the Allied right flank to the Allied centre and will again attack Ramillies - another testament to the brilliance and planning of the Duke of Marlborough): 

The Bavarian infantry is fighting at hopeless 3:1 odds and the first line of Bavarian cavalry has been swept away - the Bavarian reserve is committed but is ground down by waves of fresh Allied cavalry. There were even sightings of the Duke of Marlborough himself leading the attack in (see below, at last the French commander has sensed something is amiss with the Bavarians - so he is committing French reserve cavalry in, but alas it is only in "penny packets" which is too little too late. By the time it takes to reach the Bavarian flank it will be all over): 

The Bavarian infantry breaks and routs away and the remaining cavalry (French and Bavarian) are hopelessly outnumbered as fresh Allied cavalry are ready for a third attacking wave (see below, the second column or rather lined mass are ready to attack Ramillies the hinge of the Bavarian/French line): 

The Allied infantry in the centre retake Ramillies (for the third swap in ownership for the day), this time it is the brave Danes who unpack their suitcases and take up lodgings (see below, the French seem to fear every form of "Red Coat" in Marlborough's army): 

The Bavarian side of the battle is where all hangs in the balance. Confusion and disruption reign on both sides of the battle lines, the only difference being the Allies can pull their disrupted units out and send in plenty more fresh units (see below, over half the French cavalry will not move or engage in a meaningful way today as it is in the "wrong" place whereas all bar a token force is exactly where John Churchill needs it): 

The Elector of Bavaria stands transfixed as powerful formations of  Allied horse hold him in square and a line of fierce Red Coats (again not strictly British but lead by an enigmatic character some swear was the Duke re-horsed from a "previous adventure" with Bavarian cavalry) assault the Elector in close quarter fighting (see below, the Bavarians in a tight spot, vexed with both numbers and tactical dispositions against them): 

The Bavarians are crushed, the Elector falls badly wounded and is captured, this event causes the first of several French/Bavarian morale checks as the Allies have delivered to date, through crushing routs and combat losses, that are 20% of the total French/Bavarian forces (see below, this game mechanic is an additional "line of sight" morale check that makes some "Fresh" units go to "Disordered",  "Disordered" to "Rout" (see below, for atheistic reasons I really think there really should have been more "cotton wool" used at this point to convey the tragedy of the situation): 

The Bavarian right flank (aka the Allied left) has crumbled and "gone". It no longer holds any of the fortified villages, its general has been captured, most of its infantry has routed off table and further resistance depends upon reconstituted "disordered" units outnumbered 4:1 (see below, the writing is well and truly on the wall and in actual fact running, kicking and screaming off the battlefield): 

The next round causes another army level morale check (25% and 30% checks come in quick succession). The Allied cavalry have pushed the Bavarians completely off the battlefield (see bottom left of the photograph) while Ramillies itself is convincingly held by the fierce Danes and the British infantry (although outnumbered) are now walking up to the water obstacle unopposed (see below, as the French Army now starts its withdrawal in a completely different direction to the Bavarians (see below, this is a strategic disaster, the French King Louis XIV will be most displeased [sent into a fit o rage], even if his "orders" were followed "to the letter" by his Marshals):

The battle of Ramillies thus falls into the strategic category of an Allied "major win", as per history which felt right. The rules were a house rules set and are designed to play very quick (combat and morale factored into one spreadsheet driven dice roll) - in total it took five hours to play the game, so it was able to complete the battle  in a single Saturday afternoon (which I consider a major accomplishment). My previous club attempt of refighting Ramillies using "Under a Lilly Banner" rules in 25mm literally took months of actual calendar time (the battle area left set up) and had a playing time of weekends and evenings that tallied in upwards of twenty plus hours. Although that was a beautiful spectacle, "doing the deed" in an afternoon is an Olympic Gold result IMHO ;)  

Ramilles: Consolidated History

High Level Summary:

End Scene: The storming of Ramillies (see below, after the fire of cannon comes the storming of the infantry, a bloody and dangerous affair for sure):

A game of three parts, two won by the Allies, one a winning draw by the French which translates into a 2-1 football score and Allied win; compared that is to Marlborough's 3-0 masterpiece on the day. This was cause partly with the 'historical hindsight' (hard to factor out without being too deterninistic) allowing the French to defend far further forward than they did on the day. Another Allied disadvantage being the total 100% information presence - aka no "Fog of War" which denied the 'stroke of genius' Marlborough had on the day in achieving a critical mass of cavalry on his left flank. However it produced a hard fought and entertaining game which gave a greater appreciation of how good a general Marlborough was.

The Battle Plan: 

As viewed from the Allied side the left wing was going to be the scene of a massed and ferocious cavalry battle, the slim centre was a concentrated bombardment of the town of Ramillies (hopefully down to rubble) and a holding action along the length of the riverbank (despite the Allied infantry being provided with 'historical' brush fascines to assist filling the ditch - to attempt a full frontal attack would be suicidal). The bulk of the artillery from the holding sector was transferred to the Ramillies bombardment along with the Allied Cavalry Reserve (this movement was in the clear as opposed to hidden). The French were happy be aggressive with their cavalry wing and be defensive elsewhere, however they countered the Allied Cavalry Reserved by committing their own Bavarian Cavalry Reserve to the cavalry wing (again movement seen to all).

The Battle: 

The Allied obtained a swift storming of a fortified town hamlet on their extreme left which was invaluable in securing that flank. In addition it drew in no less than six French dismounted Dragoon formations into a futile attempt to retake it. These French Dragoon formations were sorely missed in their mounted role as despite their fighting ability being "less than" that of regular fresh Line Cavalry, they could certainly hold more than their own against the same Line Cavalry weakened or disordered. This in the end tipped the balance in the Allies favour. The reciprocating mutual destruction of massed ranks of cavalry oscillating back and forth across the battlefield was the 'standard mode of operation' for the day. To give you a feel of the level fluctuation, portions of both side's baseline at some point were occupied by 'enemy' cavalry (albeit rather transient in the case of the French Cavalry success). The wear and tear of successful charges being subsequently caught afterwards in a disordered state and then in turn routing seemed a shameful waste of good cavalry. The Elite French Guard Cavalry was the first formation to disappear (as was its fate historically), followed by an Allied Line Cavalry Division and so on. The reciprocal exchange continued but the Allies manage to rally more of the routing units maintaining a slight superiority, having some when the French had lost all of theirs. Towards the end of the battle what was previously the French Cavalry Wing was collapsing into the ruins of Ramillies and rout!

Ramillies itself had been methodically reduced by the might of the Allied artillery (something that from an OrBat perspective was in their favour). When the Allied infantry went in success was assured and the town feel in four quick turns of fighting (compared to the twenty rounds that decided the cavalry affair). This was timed to perfection with the collapse of the French Cavalry Wing so that the defenders of Ramillies were not supported in their time of need.

Meanwhile the posturing along the "Siegfried Bank" by the river eventually escalated from earnest skirmishing with dismounted Dragoons to full musketry exchanges between Line Infantry. From the Allied perspective this sector was always planned as a forceful demonstration to 'pin' the bulk of the French Infantry down in what they [the French] knew as an advantageous position without committing to the 'futile' (historical) fascine crossing. However the course of the battle drew in the Allied First Infantry Line and then even some of the Second Infantry Line. It was the concern of the Allied Cavalry Commanders (including myself) on the outer Cavalry Wing that the Allied Infantry Commanders would lose their restraint and commit to an assault (in fact because the battle continued over ten separate "game nights" the faces of the infantry commanders were never the same). There in question being "one particular moment" where this seemed to about to happen - thankfully instead of going forwards the Allied Commanders took the pain of tracing back [and taking artillery hits as a consequence of being condensed targets]. If the French had counterattacked at the end of the line (the Allied Right Wing) something may have come of it. As it was, when Ramillies and the French Cavalry Wing fell so did the player morale of the French and the came was conceded. Night was calculated as falling and the it seemed natural to stop at this point. We (the players) were all mentally exhausted and glad to see it "done".

In Retrospect and Conclusion: 

The rule-set was Under The Lilly Banner Version 3 (admittedly this was not a universally known set of rules - although several play tests had been made, several unique circumstances occurred during the battle which we had to figure out on the fly). One conclusion was that although we "bath-tubbed" down the scenario with regiments representing brigades, the rules at times played (such as partial interpenetration being prohibited) too tactical for the forces we were trying to represent. Higher level morale was absent and the consequences of a wings's collapse "were local". Having said that the game was played and thoroughly enjoyed which stands as a great testament to all involved.

Note: One 'house rule' that really seemed to work was an ammunition restriction on cannon, only having a certain number of cannon balls [black balls as markers] which turned it into an asset that needs to be husbanded.

All Ramillies Posts can seen through this link but you will have to cycle back to the oldest post and read forward: https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/search/label/Ramillies%201706

Individual Ramillies Posts can be seen directly using the following links:

1. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/01/ramillies-set-up.html
2. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/01/big-game-ramillies-final-set-up.html
3. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/01/ramillies-opening-rounds.html
4. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-cavalry-sash-and.html
5. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-heart-of-matter-game.html
6. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-second-wave-of.html
7. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-second-wave-of_10.html
8. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-not-even-pause-for.html
9. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-all-that-remained-of.html
10. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-sickening-sight-of.html
11. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-spilling-more.html
12. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-first-blooding-of.html
13. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/02/big-game-ramillies-oh-fortuna-game-11.html
14. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/03/big-game-ramillies-hot-pursuit-game-12.html
15. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/03/big-game-ramillies-allied-cavalry-close.html
16. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/03/big-game-ramillies-sternest-french.html
17. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/03/big-game-ramillies-hanoverian-cavalry.html
18. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/03/big-game-ramillies-crumbling-french.html
19. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/03/big-game-ramillies-attack-on-name-sake.html
20. https://exiledfog.blogspot.com/2019/03/big-game-ramillies-victory-ramilies.html

The end of one Malburian Epic but the starting point of  another ..

(Big Game) Ramillies "Victory .. Ramilies Falls" [Game 18] Post #20

A plucky unit of French Dragoons charge the disordered Hanoverians (or rather mass of Hanoverians) attempting to repeat the astounding success of the Allied line cavalry on an equally massive target of Bavarian Cuirassiers, but for all its valour it is routed - but it will draw the four bases of Hanoverians with it in pursuit but importantly they are not "lost" to the Allies cause and will eventually return. Meanwhile the charging Allied Dragoons continue to hack into the static Bavarians trading cruel blow for cruel blow (see below, this effectively will end the French cavalry on this wing as a fighting force):

The Allied Dragoons are gone [but not forgotten] but only one strength point remains on the Bavarian unit - which means that it will "die" in the next combat (see below, there is also a good chance that if pressed or charge it will simply dissolve away):

The precarious position of the French is shown here. The angle of their "L" is being encircled slowly. What good troops they have here cannot escape. The last unit of cavalry is one casualty away from 50% so will not fair well in a combat (see below, what is more the Allies are about to deploy a light cannon - there will be no peace for the French - the Allies are now confident of victory ):

The Wild Geese are destroyed and half of Ramillies occupied by victorious British troops. The last remaining stand of French will retire. Ramillies falls to the Allies after a bitter contest (see below, once garrisoned it effectively traps any French troops to the south [three infantry brigades and the last Bavarian Cuirassier regiment] in a hopeless position):

The French C-in-C concedes that  "All is lost" and the rearguard action has to start, falling back down the river-line, losing all their baggage and train (see below: it has been a long, long day but it will be a longer night for the French with the bitter taste of defeat):

Bitter sweet is the victory given the piles of Allied (and French) dead that litter the battlefield. It just showed you the true genius of Marlborough and how he conducted the real attack!

(Big Game) Ramillies "The Attack on the Name-Sake" [Game 17] Post #19

The action at Ramillies becomes intense. The full weight of Allied infantry comes to bear on the defenders (see below, one senses no quarter is taken in this battle - particularly with the Wild Geese involved):

Successive rounds of combat build up infantry losses on all units. The Allies weight of numbers allows them to distribute them more evenly across many units instead of one (see below, the Wild Geese are down to their last 'base' of troops in the top section of Ramillies):

On the Allies left flank two more cavalry charges take place. At the top two French Dragoon dice versus four Allied Line Cavalry (both sides charging in). At the bottom the Allied Dragoons catch the Bavarian Cuirassiers at the halt (this seemed to be the straw that broke the French camel's back). The Allied Dragoons had turned the table of their Bavarian Cuirassier foe and the chances are now that there will be several bloody rounds of combat (see below, with this the sands of time had run out for the French Cavalry Wing):

Along the river the infantry firefight had exhausted itself. The British had sacrificed a full third of  their forces but the French were unwilling (or perhaps unable) to launch any form of counterattack (see below, two forlorn bundles of fascines had been placed [next to the bridge, right-middle] at such a great price - too high a price in Corporal John's eyes):

One thinks the Allied far right wing commander is almost tempting the French to charge across the bridge [to do so they have to form in condensed columns]. It looks ripe for attacking the Allies in teh flank but they would swing round to face and charge [probably] (see below, the Frenchman does not seem to be a gambler):

Another infantry fight, but after a protracted fire-fight the Dutch infantry charge in. At three stand to one they hold a distinct advantage (see below, there is much confusion when common colours used on both sides [one thinks of BLUE as a French colour but the Dutch used it too], you can only tell the Allied infantry by the direction of their advance):

The combat ends with the French in a state of rout. Additional Allied infantry are also following up to exploit the success (see below, yet another whole appears in the French line - brick by brick the French wall is crumbling):

The coup 'de grace' on the Cavalry Wing. The French Dragoons put up a round of resistance before routing whereas the French Line Cavalry finds itself in a protracted hacking match (see below, the Allied cavalry have done all asked of it on this day):

Both sides reduce themselves to below 50% casualties, this means heir combat effectiveness is now all but minimal , yet still the hacking continues (see below, the Allied Dragoons have in the course of the battle travelled the full depth of the Cavalry Wing - from the Allied baseline to the French baseline):

With one weary round of combat to go the Bavarian Cuirassier will be the last man standing in this combat as a hoard of Allied cavalry comes his way. Guaranteed to lose one casualty if he fights again this places this unit is a completely "no win" situation (see below, the Allied cavalry has truly earned its laurels at Ramillies):

The way is now clear for an advance down the undefended French baseline, straight to the French baggage camp behind the rubble that is now Ramillies.

(Big Game) Ramillies "The Crumbling French Right" [Game 16] Post #18

The fighting on the left wing of the Allies is condensed around the French baseline. Never a good sign for the defender when one errant move can see formations disappear off-table in the blink of an eye. Even more concerning is that the French and their Bavarian allies have "no room" to manoeuvre. They are literally tripping over themselves, with their flanks and rear being constantly threatened (see below, a draw would be the French could hope for here!): 

Ramillies is assaulted ... the "first wave" goes in and both sides extract casualties on the other. The Allied artillery has done good work on the original brigades (including the Wild Geese) and reinforcements sent it to take the place of casualties (see below, more disconcerting for the French is the second wave of Allied infantry advancing to reinforce the contest next turn):

The bravest of the brave ... foolhardy souls simply obeying orders (see below, the Allied Cavalry Commander[me] only hopes their sacrifice will not be in vain):

All eyes focus back on the Allied cavalry wing. They [the outnumbered Allied line cavalry] fought and died hard ... killing more of the enemy that they lost themselves which meant they actually won the melee. Therefore no morale test for the Allied Cavalry (see below, a tense time suddenly comes for the French C-in-C because, if the Bavarians fail they will rout "off-table" and that is the best part of his "last" cavalry on this wing):

The die is cast and the Bavarians morale crumbles. The Allied line cavalry had fought them so hard that despite being inferior in numbers they astounded all and won! The Bavarians could not take it and will flee (see below, with this one result in particular you could see the French C-in-C's personal morale crumble too - one stand will be pursing four stands off table):

Rather than take a devastating infantry fusillade it is clear that the Hanoverians will charge and try and fight their was out of a tight corner (see below, with the French on their own baseline a win means an unrecoverable rout off-table - the Allied cavalry will pursue off table but in battle terms they are deemed 'recoverable'): 

The first wave of infantry assault Ramillies. These are the poor unfortunates who will take the brunt of the defenders fire. Three units go in against the defenders two. It will now become a slogging match and the bodies of the dead will pile high (see below, flags a flying the boys go in):

A final glimpse of the chaos that is now the French right wing. Soon there will be more Allied units on the French baseline than the French themselves have. This is not a good sign (see below, the "L" in the French line is being turned in on itself):

Posing briefly for the camera the 'luckiest' Allied cavalry unit of the day departs off table chasing the Bavarian Cuirassiers (see below, this exposes the flank of the remaining French cavalry unit on the French baseline):

Once again the Allies have a distinct cavalry advantage which means an "end run" into the French rear is now possible (see below, the slow moving Allied infantry brigade is now free to move down the enemy baseline to their camp and behind Ramillies):

The French cavalry may have one final fling of the dice, but all know they are doomed. Along with their demise then the French hopes of holding Ramillies flounder.

(Big Game) Ramillies "The Hanoverian Cavalry Make Their Mark" [Game 15] Post #17

The "prodigal sons" return. On the Allied baseline a "lost" unit (well base) of French line cavalry with attached General appears "far from the maddening crowd" (see below, they spy in the distance "routers that" could be easy pickings - fate seems to be turning in ever so small ways to the French, the Allies nerves are beginning to tingle a little):

Even the French infantry are getting the "best of it" in the attritional battle of the flank of Ramillies (see below, the addition of a cannon seems to be helping the French cause):

I must confess that the long hours in the saddle pitching my wits against French horse had not prepared me well for this match-up against the infantry. Seeing the hard-won cavalry advantage being thrown away was heart-breaking. At this point I was set to become defensive, bring up my light cannon and let the infantry take over. That seemed slow but sure. Thankfully the Cavalry Commander of the Reserve was made of sterner stuff. Not only was he going to charge again but in condensed double line. That way his mass should break the the disordered French infantry (see below, the might of two whole lines of Hanoverians thundered at the French - all eyes turned to the outcome of the melee):

Down the line another small but vital action took place. A bastion of French heavy artillery pieces had to be removed and the brave Dutch infantry charged into contact (see below, they took the force of the "effective" cannonade but removed the canons [one base]):

As the mighty Hanoverians stampede in, a unit of Dragoons move half and dismount - just in case the Hanoverians come to mischief (see below, the theory being that if we cannot ride over then we start shooting them up - I had the distinct feeling that this could be the Allied Stalingrad):

But my worries were unfounded. The Cavalry rolled eight dice to the oppositions four (it really helped with the double line and the infantry remaining disordered) and rolled well. The infantry (my beautifully painted infantry - Grenadiers and all) were routed (see below, a most welcome sight for sore Allied eyes, yet all the work is not yet done as the Bavarians lurk alongside the last French infantry brigade):

Seen from another side the catastrophic destruction of the French infantry brigade. This is deemed a huge swarming mass of mixed cavalry and infantry which prevents "volley fire" from the last remaining "wing" infantry unit (see below, the infantry are hapless and will be removed next turn as the cavalry will always catch them in a pursuit situation):

What remains of the original Allied cavalry forms up ready to attack the Bavarians. There target is a condensed formation of two lines of Bavarian Cuirassiers. The top right unit of line cavalry will lead the attack and the dragoons follow up one after the other - expecting to find the Bavarians disorganised and hence themselves at an advantage (see below, even so it is by no means a sure thing):

What seems like a crazy charge follows, the Allied line cavalry seek to sell their lives dearly so others may follow up (see below, with this turn of events this "wing" may well become cavalry neutral! With both sides obliterating each other): 

Meanwhile the Allied infantry were methodically cleaning up the second French artillery bastion outside of Ramillies, steadying themselves for the main assault with "friends" out of camera shot to the right (see below, gaps were now appearing in the French Line, here there was not the defence in depth as seen on the river-line):

One more push is called for as the very walls of Ramillies are assaulted!