Russian bear takes on 2-headed Eagle

Today, it was Ian's choice of game to play, so we did WW1 Spearhead, using Russians against Austrians.
Sadly, we have no where near as much terrain for 10mm figures as for 28mm, and we lost the decent roads to players who arrived early at our club.My apologies for the Naff bits of the battlefield!

The battlefield. The Russians would attack an Austrian force holding the right bank of the river. 

Phil, in charge of the Russians, deployed me with 2 regiments on our right, intending to have me cross the river and capture a village on the far bank opposite. I had a battery of 3 75mm guns and a group of engineers in support of my force. 

Phil had a regiment of foot supported by 3 heavy howitzers in the centre. 

 Ian had the Russian left, 2 regiments. He was supported by a battery of guns, and was detailed to demonstrate against the Austrian right.

 My men advanced rapidly on the right, keeping spaced formations to avoid artillery casualties during the advance.

I soon found the Austrians were investing the town and guarding the bridge ahead. 

 The Austrians were in strength opposite Ian too, on our left, under the command of Rod, a welcome new member to our club!

 Ian advanced to the attack, brushing an Austrian cavalry vadette away.

 My men on the right, moved to attack the village via the bridge, supported by my field guns. We were only opposed by small arms...

 ...where were the Austrian guns?

 Ian sent a battalion against his bridge, but took heavy casualties from the Austrians on the hill.

 An overview. Note Lawrence had a force guarding a ford in the centre of the field.

 Phil's guns began to shoot in support of my attack on the bridge.

No casualties, but he kept their heads down! ...continuing fire finally killed these stands!

At Ian's bridge both sides were taking heavy losses... 

...but it was the Russians who broke first. 

 My men, helped by artillery cover, began to attack across the bridge. My first attack was wiped out by the Austrians in the town, however.

 Meanwhile, Lawrence had ordered up his reserves a cavalry division with Dragoons in lead and Uhlans behind.

 The cavalry began to attack down the road, then, the Austrian artillery opened up from a nearby wood. Sneaky Austrians!

 My Russians held though, and the Dragoons were massacred.

Under fire from my infantry and field guns, and Phil's howitzers, the enemy cavalry division fled the field.

 I launched a second, stronger infantry attack on the town. The fight was hard, but this attack failed too. One of my regiments broke and ran.

 With insufficient men left to attack again, the Russians called off the battle.

The Austrians had won!...for today...!

1915 Russians vs Central Powers

Today, we did a WW1 Spearhead game with a couple of new players (Dave O and Craig) taking part. Lawrence wasn't in it as he was under the weather. I too was not 100%, but agreed to command the Russian left.
The scenario was a small Austrian force holding a railway junction, being attacked by the Russians, and a supporting force of Austro-Germans moving to support the junction defenders.

The rail junction, supported by troops in trenches.

I commanded a Division, 2 brigades of Cossacks and a supporting infantry regiment. my horse had 2 guns in support and the infantry had 3 guns. 

Ian held the centre, with 2 infantry regiments. 

Phil held the Russian right, an Infantry regiment with a battery of 3 guns in support, followed by a brigade of Russian cavalry. 

Facing my Russian left, Dave O  led 2 Austrian cavalry brigades, with their own artillery in support.

Dave (the hat!) led the German left, a Cavalry brigade and supporting Jäger and artillery...  

...he also had an Infantry regiment in support. Craig held an Infantry brigade behind the rail junction and Dave O's cavalry.

My first move was to advance towards the Austrian horse.

Ian's force of infantry also advanced on the Rail junction.

 Phil also advanced.

Both Austro-German wings attacked with cavalry. 

The Austrians in the trenches facing me opened fire. 

Despite the range, they managed to destroy 2 companies of my Cossacks!

 The Austrian cavalry attacked my cavalry's artillery. 

I countered by attacking their flank while my machine guns fired at their front. 

 My cavalry also attacked the other Austrian regiment.Supported with fire from Craig's German infantry, I failed to make headway, and my first brigade broke.

Phil on the Russian right was by now heavily engaged with their German opposite numbers

 Dave O, Craig, Dave (the hat) Phil and Ian.

Having lost a cavalry brigade, my second , supported by my infantry, began to win against the Austrian horse. Ian's infantry began to assault the junction.

(An overview from the German side)

 A regiment from the second Austrian cavalry brigade attacked my infantry, and were effectively wiped out.

The battle was hotting up at the junction, Ian's Russians desperately assaulting the village, supported by Phil. The Germans were fighting equally hard to stop them!

On Phil's wing, Dave T.H. was starting to tear holes in the Russian infantry. 

On my wing, things were going better, as the first Austrian cavalry brigade, including their artillery and machine guns, broke and ran.

I now had a chance! - if I acted quickly, I could use my infantry regiment and my remaining cavalry brigade to break the remaining Austrians!

Ian had managed to break into the town, but the Austrian infantry counter attacked and broke the Russian regiment.

With the appearance of Germans from their right. 

Phil's brave Russians broke and ran.

On my wing, however, assaulted by my entire division, the last of the Austrian cavalry was defeated, leaving Craig with no flank protection for his German infantry.

With most of Phil's flank now in flight, the Germans began to outflank the Russians attacking the town.

Ian had his second regiment ready to attack, with the remaining infantry from Phil's force.

Ian (centre in picture) now saw no chance remained to take the junction.

The battle was conceded, and the Russians withdrew from the field.

It had been a very hard fought game, and I think everyone quite enjoyed it!

That is why we play wargames, isn't it, after all!