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. 

Annual Big Game: Battle of Lutzen 1813 - Day Four

By Rupert

During the course of the last day's play, Blucher took the four central villages swiftly for little loss, in addition Souham and Brenier forces were broken. This resulted in eth French having to exercise the   'Napoleon Option'  but the Emperorwas wounded and command devolved to Ney. However, on a mor epositive note for the french, Ricard and Girard held on west of Kaja for most of the day.

The Young Guard were sent out on a loop west around Starseidel [an error in my opinion, too many turns not fighting - discuss] with the army guns and guard horse. The guard foot were busy between Starseidel and Rahna, contributing to the rout of Bergs grenadiers and Eugenes division.

As fighting continued, the Russian cavalry broke one of Marmont's divisions on the west flank, before crumbling when the guard cav came to assist Marmont.

MacDonald retook Eisdorf, but could make no more progress. Likewise Marchand could do little. there being plenty of allied reserves on the east side.

Bertrand advanced [from the west] but with limited space to make numbers count, was stopped by Russian guards.

In the last hour before dusk,the French amassed a grand battery [6batts] but they were less effective than expected, the guard heavies being late into action, and the allies responding with 4 of their own batteries Ricard and Girards divisions finally broke.

 

The last turns on sat morning. The French guard were broken by artillery and Prussian musketry. The Russian Guard held on under pressure from the Young guard, being saved by nightfall.

RESULTS

The French score: 2 villages, 1 allied tile occupied,3 allied divs broken.  6 points

The Allies: 4 villages, 3 tiles, 5 fr divs, French Guard broken.                   14 points

Scenario maybe too weighted against the French?

Annual Big Game: Battle of Lutzen 1813 - 5,000 figure game. Day One

The weekend of 7th - 8th June, saw the playing of the club's annual 'Big Game', as with other recent games, it was John who organised this along with Rupert, who also supplied the venue. With over 5,000 15mm figures on the table this was a truely 'big' game.

Rules were the club's version of Shako, with John & Rupert acting as umpires and the players were as follows:

Prussians: Mikey & Steve (7th & 8th)

Russians: Dave (7th & 8th), Mike W (7th Only)

French: Phil (7th & 8th),Nigel (7th Only) and Warren (8th Only).

The figures were from the collections of John, Mikey N, Dave and Graham H.

The following photos are from Day One of the battle, with Russians, Prussians and French all marching on to the table.

Russian and Prussian Reserves table,
holding Corps & Divisions waiting to get on to the table

View of the battlefield prior to figures being placed

First Allied Divisions transfering to the tabletop during the deployment phase of the game

French Forces being deployed on the battlefield

Russian Cavalty Corps at their kick-off position, Cossacks at bottom of photo,
Dragoons and Hussars at top. These are deployed on the extreme left Allied flank.

Prussians at their deployment position

Allied Artillery awaiting orders

Russian Infantry Division

French Infantry in their deployment zone

More French

French forces respond to opening Allied advances

Massed Allied Assault begins to take shape

French continue to counter Allied movement

Allied right flank

French pour on to the tabletop from their right flank

Even more French!

Allied units continue to advance

Prussians on the march

French lines consolidate

More French deployment by infantry after an early setback to
French cavalry after encountering their Russian counterparts

Close up of advancing Russian Units

And the wider view

French infantry units on thier right flank, shake out in to lines of battle

More French arrive!

And even more...

Nice view of the Allied assaults on the French left flank

French troops deploy behind their lines

More of the French centre

Allied troops having captuired a French held village, burst out to attack the
French lines, supported by more Prussiand on their right (bottom of picture)