FPW - Battle of Bitche, the conclusion

I think we can re-name this the battle of bloody ridge. The French picked up from last week and continued their assaults across the river, trying to drive up the slope to the awaiting Baden and Wurtemburgers. Every time they thought they were about to break through, they failed to get their reserves to move forward. We all agreed that they had seen the carnage that their comrades had faced and didn't really fancy advancing into the storm. 

Meanwhile the Baden and Wurtemburg regiments were seriously creaking, casualties were mounting and they were running out of reserves. However their artillery was on good form. Their accurate and heavy fire keeping many of the french regiments at bay.

Here come the French

Baden artillery keeping up heavy fire

French cavalry in the rear swing around the infantry looking for a crossing point.

Eventually the French reached the enemy lines, overrunning a regiment of Wurtemburgers and causing the Badeners's to fall back. But these advances were coming at a cost. The failure to get the fresh regiments moving was preventing the needed breakthrough. Eventually the French committed both divisions of cavalry. Over on the right flank they met with disaster, both regiments falling to accurate fire. In the Centre they got across the river and charged straight into the waiting Wurtemburgers, again they met with disaster. Another regiment lost.

After 7 of the 8 turns played the French called off the attack. Their reserves were too far in the rear to be able to reach the ridge and with the failure of the cavalry to break through the fight was done. The Wurtemburgers and Baden troops had gamely hung on, though at great cost. With holding the ridge and destroying more than half of the french cavalry they picked up a deserved victory.

The first assaults go in

Baden gun line hammering the advancing french

More assaults as the Wurtemburgers struggle to hold on

French driving forward

A thin Baden line holding off the battered french

The end of the game

Both players agreed it had been a fun game. The failure of the fresh french regiments to move hamstrung their efforts, Thom rolled so many 1's for movement at critical times. If even half of the regiments had moved the outcome may have been different. Now I need to start planning the 3rd game in the series before the major encounter.

FPW - Battle of Bitche, part 1

So Thursday night at the club we had our second encounter as we build up to a large club game. This time Neil G would be against Thom. Neil was supposed to be commanding the Bavarian 1st Corps, but I got the boxes mixed up. So no Bavarians. We quickly switched the commands over and gave Neil XIV Corps, Andy would now have the Bavarians for his future game. Thom took command of the French 1st Corps with an additional Cavalry division.

For this game the French are the aggressors as they try to break through the Prussian positions at Bitche. The Prussians are actually outnumbered and need to hold for 8 turns. The maps was produced using AI, obviously before the Bavarians were replaced.

We have managed to play through the first 3 turns. So far the French have gone for a rather unsubtle strategy of just heading straight towards the enemy. The Wurtemburger's and Badener's just simply awaited them. The river has proved a bit of an obstacle to the french, the cavalry on their left failed to find a crossing point.

The set up

French chasseurs looking for a suitable crossing

Wurtemburg Division awaiting the enemy

Baden artillery deployed to cover the bridge

1st turn saw the french approach the river looking for crossing points

Sometimes it is better to take the bridge

Wurtemburg Jagers advance to deploy

Baden troops and artillery running low on ammo (rolling lots of 10's)

The french begin to struggle across the river

The last of the chasseurs trying to cover the advance

Wurtemburg Jagers also beginning to suffer heavy casualties

The thin blue line against the french

The remains of a pinned french regiment blocks the bridge, forcing their comrades to get their boots wet

Finally getting across the river

The game is evenly poised for next week. Both sides have been rolling some high dice for shooting, even at range causing some significant casualties. The only melee so far has been between some french hussars and a Wurtemburg line regiment. The hussars were simply destroyed in the engagement.

Next week will be interesting. The French are starting to get their infantry across the river and bringing the Chassepotte into effective range. The Baden line regiments are already feeling the effects. However German artillery has already successfully destroyed a number of the french batteries.

Battle of Marcellin part 2

So the concluding part of our opening battle in the return to the Franco Prussian War. After last week, the Prussian 11th Division was slowly fighting its way into the village of Marcellin which had been bravely defended by French Chasseurs, supported by the 2nd Division on the heights above. On the other flank, the village of Saint-Symphorien was threatened by the approaching 12th division.

Eventually the Prussian columns drove off the Chasseurs in Marcellin and charged straight up into the redoubts above. The french infantry gave what can only be described as desultery fire (rolled a 1) and found themselves evicted. The Prussians quickly brought up a second column of infantry as they prepared for a french counter attack.

12th division approach Saint-Symphorien

The defence of Marcellin

The Prussian column advances through Marcellin

The attack goes in

The defence of Marcellin was not going well for the French. Forced from their redoubts, Montadoun, commander of the 2nd division personally led the counter attack. Despite 3 regiments, artillery and mitrilliause pouring in fire, the Prussians didn't budge, receiving the charge. In some brutal combat, ta french regiment was destroyed and Montadoun himself was captured. A big hole was starting to open in the defence. North of Marcellin, the french had some success as they drove off the Prussian 6th cavalry division. They respectfully retired out of range, giving up on their flanking maneuver.

Prussians securing Marcellin

Montadoun leads his counter attack from the heights above Marcellin

Disaster as the french are destroyed

Prussian cavalry begin to retire

On the southern flank, the remnants of Clerambaults cavalry were trying to extricate themselves from the woods, but with little success. They were slowly being worn down by the advancing Mecklenburgers. Eventually the division collapsed, exposing Saint-symphorien to even more pressure from the 20th Division. Meanwhile the Prussian 12th division launched their attack. At first the Chasseurs held them off, however witht the support of a second column, they smashed through the Chasseurs into the village and even evicted the French line regiment. Both villages were now in Prussian hands and the heights were now exposed to attacks on 2 fronts.

20th division driving off Clerambaults cavalry

The attack on Saint-symphorien

Prussian infantry driving through the village

The exposed french position on the heights

It was at this point that the French called off their defence and began to make a tactical withdrawal. Though they had prevented Prussian cavalry getting behind them to cut the railway line, they had lost both villages and the heights were under serious pressure.

So game one over. It could have gone better for the French, but Robbo's luck with the dice seriously deserted him. On multiple occasions he could have devastated Prussian columns and rolled a 1. In 2 or 3 weeks time we will move on to the second battle which will be between the Bavarian I Corps with a supporting cavalry division, up against the French I Corps and 6th cavalry division.  Just need to get the scenario designed.

Battle of Marcellin Part 1

So the first battle of renewed hostilities in the Franco Prussian War campaign, The Battle of Marcellin. Robbo with The French III Corps, supported by the 6th Cavalry division were given the objective of holding the heights and both villages and ensuring the 3rd Division under Castigny was at least at 75% strength at the end of the game to cover any retreat. 

Mitch commanded the Prussian VI Corps, supported by the 1st Cavalry division and 20th Infantry division, and was tasked with capturing the village of Marcellin and securing the heights. His secondary objective was to get at least 1 cavalry regiment off the French table edge to cut the railway lines.

The French infantry position upon the heights, covering both villages

The Prussian VI Coprs begin there advance

Prussian cavalry wing round onto the left of the line

Jagers spot French cavalry under Clerambault lurking on their left flank

Both sides were concentrating on a long range artillery duel, with neither side gaining much of an advantage. Both repeatedly silenced batteries for a turn before they returned back into the firing line. It was then that the French decided to send Clerambault's cavalry into the woods to try and outflank the Prussian advance, instead they were met by the advancing 20th Division which had been using the woods to hide their approach. It was a shock to the horsemen, with many unhorsed before they retreated. The brigade was shattered.

French horse enter the woods

They are met by the Mecklenburgers of the 20th Division. After a couple of quick volleys they are sent into full retreat.

Casualties are quickly mounting.

In the centre the Prussian Jagers advance to draw the artillery fire and protect the Prussian columns They tenaciously hold on despite facing repeated fire from artillery and infantry. On the Prussian right they begin their assault on the village of Marcellin, currently held by some Chasseurs and covered by the 2nd division on the heights.

The Prussians begin their approach

French infantry man the redoubts, ready to pour fire into the advancing Prussians

Overview of the battlefield

The Prussians storm into Marcellin, but find their assault checked by stubborn resistance from the Chasseurs

2nd Division pour fire into the Prussian columns, slowing their advance

So the game is finally poised for next week. Neither side has gained a significant advantage as yet, though the loss of Clerambault's cavalry may prove costly as the Prussian 20th division will be able to get free of the woods and support the assault.