Friday Night Games: Annual Napoleonic Big Game - The Battle of Apsern-Essling (Week Two)

    Week two same the same commanders resume their positions as the Austrian attacks drew ever closer to the French lines. Tis represented Day Two of the battle, with some redressing of lines having been allowed 'overnight'. 

French occupying the urban area on their left flank

An early Austrian attack on the church and graveyard are soundly repelled by the defending French. THe Austrians loos three battalions destroyed in the attack and they then circumnavigate the area. Mike W's 1st Corps head left of the church whilst Warrens's Corps head right and push a flank march through marshy ground attempting to reach the French rear.

French defenders in their centre left, commanded by Dave

Austrians advancing on their left flank

French emplaced batteries on their right

French units under Nigel occupying urban area on the French right flank

French centre right

Austrian cavalry arrive on their centre left

Wider view of the Austrian attcking positions on Day Two

Austrian attacks in the centre have more success with the line of the dyke breached by a number of Austrian units - both Infantry and Cavalry, several French battalions are lost. However, the French Guards Divisions are coming onto the tabletop in their rear.

Austrian attacks in the centre start to put French under pressure

Austrian left of centre

Massed Austrian batteries, to the right of the line, pound the French lines.

The French try to hold the line in the centre but are hampered by the need to defend against the Austrian flank march, only the French Guards seem to have the ability to puch back at the Austrians.

Another wider view of the attacks, in the right background can be seen a sweeping Austrian flank move, through marshy ground.

To compound the French problems in the centre Mark is able to deploy his Austrian Corps to deliver a massed attack on the French right wing. As WQeek Two closes, the game lies in the balnce.

End of Week Two and Austrian attacks go in on the French right flank.

Friday Night Games: Annual Napoleonic Big Game - The Battle of Apsern-Essling (Week One)

Friday 8th May saw us meet at Rupert's gaff to play John's 15mm recreation of the Battle of Apsern-Essling, where Napoleon was caught by the Austrians as he crossed the Danube.

The figures were supplied from the colections of John, Rupert & Dave - possible plus others!

The Austrian forces were commanded by Rupert and he was aided by Steve, Mark, Mike W & Warren whilst the French were commanded by Mike N and his sub-commanders - Mat, Davel & Nigel.

The French right flank at the start of the game, commanded by Nigel

French positions on their left flank, commanded by Dave

And the sparcely defended French centre, commanded by Mat and Mike N when his troops arrived

Most of the Austrian forces had to march on  to the table, with Mike W & Warren's Corps on the Autrian extreme right, Steve's Corp on the centre right and Rupert taking the centre and Mark's Corps takling the Austrian left.

Austrian 1st Corp arriving on the tabletop on Turn One.

A wider view of the Austrian extreme right, with Mike W & Warren's Corps at the edge of the world

Austrian trioops advancing

Steve's Austrians advancing 

More advancing Austrians!

Austrian centre an left

End of play on Week One, a massive Austrian attack, involving 3 Corps, is developing on their centre right and right wing. 

Friday Night Games: The Battle of Cerigmoza, 1503

Friday 28th February, saw us all reconvene at Rupert's for a second week of Italian Wars fun and games, this week we refought the Battle of Cerigmoza, which occurred a few weeks after last week's refought Battle of Seminara.

Seminara had been fought on the 'Toe of Italy', this Battle was on the 'Heel of Italy' with the French and their Swiss troops, looking to check Spanish armies uniting and creating an even larger problem for the French.

This week the Spanish were commanded by Mike N, John and Steve, whilst the old stalwarts Mike W, Mat and Dave commanded the French army.

The difference this time was that the French Command had learn the hard lessons from the week before and improved their initial deployment set-outs and with a better understanding of the rules, they were much more effective in getting their powerful Swiss pike blocks into contact with the enemy and checking the Spanish Horse wings with their own balanced mounted wings!

Both armies attempted to secure the advantage on the flanks, with spirited fights extending through out the game on both sides.

Gradually the French prevailed on both flanks, but on the French right the victory was Pyric and thus  no advantage was really gained. On the French left, it went better, with the Spanish ultimately pushed back and French units, including a supporting pike block, turning the Spanish flank.

In the centre the Spanish strategy had been to hold their positions on the slope, behind the dried stream and force the French had to attack .

This week, better coordination between pike and shot allowed the French to engage their pike blocks as well as sustain ongoing fire into he enemy.

A French pike block centre right refused to engage much of the game, but the two Swiss pike blocks did Stirling work in the centre and centre left.

The left most block, immediately routed a German Landsknechts block and then whittled down a Spanish block before breaking that. 

By the time the central Swiss pike bloke (it had been stopped by heavy fire and a Spanish block), the Spanish flank had been turned and the umpire called the game at that point, a victory to the French.