Imperial France vs. Russo-Prussian 1813

A trio of napoleonic game reports coming from the warren. First up is Imperial France vs. 1813 era Russian and Prussian armies fought on a typical November southern California day. Our everlasting napoleonic group meets every month, on the third saturday, at Bob’s gaming garage. Contact the WR if interested to join us.

Forces: Imperial France fielded four corps: Three standard infantry and a separate cavalry corps. John (2x Infantry, Lt cav), Rob (3x Infantry), Greg (2x Infantry, Lt cav) and WR (Lt cav, Dragoon, Cuirassier divisions) commanded their respective corps command and divisional structures (12 divisions or light cavalry brigades in total).

Allies had two Russian infantry corps (2x Infantry and cavalry division) plus a reserve Russian cuirassier division.  Prussians joined in with their single corps of three infantry brigades and attached cavalry. Russo-Prussians fielded 12 divisions or brigades on the battlefield. Rolled weather was agreeable with clouds and light winds from the weather chart.

Note: Our napoleonic game miniature ratio is 100:1 with adjustment for historical scenarios. So the typical command or divisional sized force is 60-80 miniatures for an infantry division, 15-30 miniatures for a cavalry division plus respective attached artillery bases. Tabletop units are infantry battalion, commonly of 5-9 miniatures, cavalry regiment of 4 to 10 miniatures, or battery of artillery. The actual unit size can be adjusted for the historical field strength or TOE so there are really no “standard” sized units.

Relaxing before the start of the scenario. Initial deployments done with wooden blocks for each team side. France on right, Russo-Prussians on left.

Initial deployments had the French (l to r): Greg’s corps, WR, then Rob and John anchored the right end of the French formations. Russo-Prussian deployment had Daniel on their right flank, Bob and Tim with additional Russians in center and rear area reserves, then Dave and Andy holding down their left flank with the Prussians. Fairly open battlefield with two low hills and a central town on the road network. Isolated woods, farms and a pond completed the terrain.

French vs. Russian 1812 Napoleonic scenario

This past June Bob’s monthly napoleonic game was game mastered by Ty. Featuring a variable entrance and strength scenario, the group players, including WR and son Daniel, arrived early looking forward to Russians vs. Imperial French 1812. The battlefield was open spaces in western Russia with the typical dusty sunny weather.

Russian players: Dave, Daniel, Tim, Theron and WR

French players: Andy, Andrew, Bob, Dan and Rob

Opening situation has the French and Russian advance guards blundering into each other with variable entrance points for the successive arriving corps. Most corps, pre-game rostered by Ty,  had two or three divisions within their organizational structure. Using our wooden block movement system, the initial game opening movement and deployment quickly determined the opening contacts.

Grand table of 24 by 6 feet. Initial forces marching on using block movement system. Looks open…. before the two armies arrive. Ty is directing the initial placement of arriving commands.

Opening contact. A Russian cavalry division advances towards the off-center low hill with a deployed French light cavalry brigade. Behind the French light cavalry was one French infantry division (block being measured for placement below) and surprise….. a French cuirassier division.

French vs. the Russo-Spanish Coalition

This last weekend WR travelled south with Dan to enjoy a large 25mm napoleonic game, have some time out of the warren, and away from the Ligny 1815 project*. Staged in Bob’s Redondo beach garage / gaming room, the featured line up was an unusual fight with early Imperial French with their Kingdom of Holland ally vs. a weak Russian corp with their Spanish 1805 allies. How the Russians got in this fight is open to much discussion but somehow the English “paymaster” government surely had to be involved.

Since WR is deep in his warren with the HMGS-PSW Ligny 1815 project today, time will only allow a photo AAR, with action comments, for this monthly 25mm napoleonic miniature battle.

Initial blocks set up. French on right, Russo-Spanish on left.

Starting set up from the other viewpoint.

Opening moves, Spanish cavalry forces French infantry deployment from their blocks.

Central battlefield view, Spanish side. Spanish battleline (blocks) is forming up.

Spanish cavalry threaten the French and their Dutch allies.

Grand view of the developing battle. French on left, Russo-Spanish on right.

Massed Spanish infantry slowly form into their battle line.

French infantry control the French left flank woods.

Dutch artillery and their infantry hold the village.

French infantry columns approach the Spanish formed lines.

Massed French columns assault the waiting Spanish linear (grenadier btn.) infantry.

Victorious Russian dragoons have destroyed the French square.

While Spanish artillery supports, the Spanish line held against the French columns. Spanish general looks on.

Russian cavalry skirmishes against the French left flank.

Russian artillery pounds the village Dutch defenders as Spanish linear infantry slowly pushes forward. Spanish cavalry moving forward.

Spanish left center having replused the French assault start their reorganization to resume the advance.

Spanish pushing forward in their linear lines. Cavalry in rear support.

Dutch battalions adjoining their French allies on hill.

French view right flank with Spanish across the stream.

With the Spanish infantry parting way, The Spanish cavalry ride forward to charge the Dutch infantry and artillery.

Russians contain the French left flank with their cavalry.

French reorganize across the stream as Spanish infantry line the stream edge.

Aftermath of the grand Spanish charge. A few shot up Spanish cavalry regiments…. the Dutch infantry held their positions.

French slowly retiring in front of the Spanish lines.

Russian artillery advances to engage the Dutch infantry center. French on hill look on.

Russian cavalry test their mettle against Bob’s beautiful French Chasseurs ‘a cheval. Disordered French battery looks on….hoping the French cavalry wins.

General view of the group enjoying the game. (l to r) Paul, Rob, Dan, Dave, Bob and WR taking the picture.

Russians hold the right flank as French infantry slowly retire.

Dave (l) and Paul (r) measure out the action.

For a different game, playing with an early 1800’s Spanish army is fun. Lots of linear formations, second-rate infantry and poor cavalry. Artillery doesn’t bring much to improve the army. Still, they are cheap and loads of Spanish will appear for a level points game and win their share of battles.

French vs. Prussians 1815: Battle of the Two Farms

This WR after action report covers the 2nd recent napoleonic game at Bob’s. Fielded armies were the 1815 French and Prussians for a level pointed matchup on a cloudy rainy day.

French OOB: 1815 organization of two Corps. WR’s and Daniel’s 1st Corps had Middle guard division, 3 infantry divisions and attached light cavalry division. Dan’s 2nd Corps had 3 smaller infantry divisions and attached light cavalry (lancer) division.

Prussians OOB: 1815 organization with two artillery heavy Korps. Bob’s Prussians had 2 landwehr heavy infantry brigades, Prussian guard infantry and kavallerie brigades, and attached kavallerie brigade. Rob’s Prussian Korps had 3 normal infantry brigades and attached kavallerie brigade.

Tabletop deployment was different. Instead of the face off lines setup, we rolled for starting zones, including possible deployment zones on the flanks. End result was the French deployment zones was along one table side but Rob’s Korps started on the French left flank. A small deployment gap was created between the Prussian Korps….could the French take advance of the situation? Weather for the tabletop was cloudy day.

French plans: While WR holds off the Prussian flanking Korps, Daniel and Dan both assault the Prussian Korps before them, seize the two farms complex and roll forward to the rescue of WR’s hard pressed left flank.

Prussian plans: Link the two Korps together with a right face march by Bob’s Korps, contest the two farms position while Rob’s Korps crushes the French open left flank position.

Tabletop set after the determination of starting location zone. Daniel surveys his terrain creation…Good job Daniel! Tabletop lighting gives the broken clouds effect with lit and dark zones.

Both plans seemed to create an interesting game….what happened next quickly gave advance to the Prussians.

1813 French & Allies vs. Austrians: Battle of Center Hill

Recently, WR travelled south from the warren for two different 25mm napoleonic games. Joined by WR’s son Daniel, we both played 1813 French at Bob’s Redondo Beach gaming garage.

1st game: 1813 French with Dutch-Belgian allies vs. the Austrians. Game pictures with commentary to follow but first the French game plan.

Game set up had the wooden block deployment system in play. After reviewing the block dispositions for both sides, the crafty French players (Bob, Daniel and WR) elected to sweep left around the exposed Austrian right flank while containing the Austrian left with the Dutch-Belgians (DB). Meanwhile we are avoiding the Austrian center hill position. What a plan!

French & DB allies had: 3 French and 2 Dutch-Belgian infantry divisions, French dragoon and light cavalry divisions plus a Dutch-Belgian cavalry division. Austrians as we found out during the game deployed: Austrian mixed reserve division, 4-5 infantry divisions, 2 light divisions and a very rare artillery command. Both sides had several “dummy command” wooden blocks at deployment.

Austrians (Dave B. and Rob) went with a typical Austrian deployment…..clump together in the table center, with some left flank extension, and await the French attack. Looks good on the map….have you sent the letter to Vienna yet for approval?

Block system details can be found under the Napoleonic game rules, video & files tab found in the WR header or these links: Tabletop Block Movement Primer; WR block article link; Napoleonic Game Primer.

1813 French (right) vs. Austrians (left). Starting deployment with wooden blocks for commands (divisions or brigades).

Terrain is simple. low hill, small average woods, occasional building (villages) or farmstead, a stream with a first time determination random roll (upon touching) for disorder level. Otherwise, open, flat and typical Bob terrain….:-) Bob, being an ancients player, tends to deploy terrain like for an ancients game….nice open flat ground.

July Game (1807 French vs. Russians)

WR travels south again to visit Bob’s game garage. Joining with Ty, Dan and Bob, the four gamers enjoyed a hypothetical French vs. Russian battle using 1807 unit organization. Bob and Dan both wanted to join their recently painted French 1807 period infantry against a similar period organized army. The Russians, under Ty and WR command, matched themselves against the best of France.

Forces involved: Russians used 1807 organization. Two wing styled commands; right flank commanded by Ty & left flank commanded by WR. Each wing command composed of two Divisional columns; each of 5-6 infantry regiments (15 to 18 battalions) of 3-4 musketeer regiments, a grenadier regiment and a jaeger regiment , 2-3 positional artillery batteries and attached command of heavy, dragoon, or light cavalry regiments with a dash of cossacks. Four Divisional columns in total with all rated as veterans of the winter battles. Approximately 600 tabletop miniatures, or 60,000 scaled Russians, point costed at 4,750 points. Note: Till WR paints his 1805-07 period Russians…Ty and I used our 1812 uniformed Russians with 1807 OB.

French arrived with two corps. Bob’s right flank corps had two French infantry divisions, each containing several French line or legere regiments (10 battalions). For cavalry, Bob had the corps light cavalry brigade (3 regiments of chasseurs or hussars), a cuirassier division of 5 regiments and his guard cavalry division. Dan’s left flank corps had two French infantry divisions, Saxon 1807 infantry division (5 regiments and converged grenadier battalions) plus attached Saxon cavalry brigade. French forces were veterans of the Grande Armee march across europe. Approximately 470 tabletop miniatures, or 47,000 Frenchmen / Saxons, point costed at 4,750 points.

Weather was good with a frost in the air. Fought on Bob’s 16′ x 6′ table in his gaming garage. Game start was 9 am….ending near 6 pm.

Game AAR:  Bob and Dan discuss initial French deployment using our block system while Ty checks the Russian order of battle. French army on table left, Russian army arranged on table right. Side note…check out the recent block movement videos and usage rules posted under my Nap TV section to understand this portion of our games.After the second game turn, both armies had advanced upon each other. Miniatures are deployed to the tabletop (per block system rules) and the battle takes form with the powerful Russian right advancing on Dan’s left flank. WR with his left flank Russians attempts to arrest the French right flank advance with cavalry.Ty’s Russian right flank bears down on Dan’s French left flank. Close photo inspection shows the 1807 infantry musketeer regimental organization (using our 1812 uniformed Russians)….3 battalions with a grenadier battalion and two musketeer battalions. Cossack screening, mixed cavalry and infantry formations.