Hessen-Darmstdt Leib-Grenadier Garde and Brunswick Leib Regiment

Two new units graduated from boot camp this week. The top two pictures show the Brunswick Leib Regiment. These are mainly Black Hussar miniatures with a few Minden minis and a Front Rank colonel added to bring them up to establishment. The original unit of Hesse-Kassel infantry was bought off eBay last year but Hesse-Kassel flags are boring so this unit was transferred to Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel service (with far nicer flags) after a quick and minor paint job.

 The next unit has a similar provenance as the one above. I had the flag, unused and purchased off Maverick Models ages ago and was itching to use it. I had to repaint the mitre caps and add half a dozen more figures to bring them up to my preferred strength of 36 but I think they look great. They're mainly Foundry miniatures.

The Battle of Kolin 18 June 1757, using Honours of War

Friday's game was our second refight of Kolin within a year, this time using our new favourite rules of the moment, Honours of War, rather than Black Powder. Robbie, John, Paul and myself were joined by Graham from Cran Tara Miniatures.

As organiser I thought it best if I took a minor Austrian commander (Feldzugmeister Ernst Dietrich Freiherr Marshall von Burgholzhausen) with the longest name, in order to give me the freedom to control the entry of reinforcements and provide tea, coffee and lunch at the appropriate times. So,  Robbie was Marshal Daun the Austrian CinC and Paul was Nadazdy. Graham was volunteered to be Frederick and John played Anhalt-Dessau. I was using my brand new mat from Deep Cut Studios in Lithuania. I have to say it looks excellent, and everyone agreed.

For a detailed account of the battle I can recommend http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1757-06-18_-_Battle_of_Kolin . Charles S. Grant also includes Kolin in one of Wargaming in History titles, which I used for ideas in setting up this game. These maps are from Kronoskaf.

AUSTRIAN ARMY: 

FM Leopold Graf von Daun (DEPENDABLE)

Grenz infantry (6 x 12) (Chotzemitz 1, Krecozr 2, Bristw1, Brezan 1, Kutlire 1) 1 x 3pdr battery*  (light gun) (Kreczor), EACH GARRISON IS  INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDABLE

General of Cavalry Franz Graf Nadazdy  (extreme right) DASHING  {Lt Gen to the brigades marked +++)

Feld-Marshall Leutnant Baron Morocz (DEPENDABLE)+++

Hussars 2 x 12 **

Feld-Marshall Leutnant von Hadik (left/rear of Morocz) DASHING+++

Hussars 2 x 12**

General Major Nostitz (Behind Oak Wood, elites on right) DASHING+++

Saxon cheveaulegers  3 x 12

Independent unit:+++

Converged elite companies 1x12*

General der Kavellerie Baptiste Graf Serbelloni  (On Kreczor hill) DASHING

Cuirassiers 2 x 12*

Dragoons 2 x 12*

General der Kavellerie Graf Stampach  (enter T4 left rear behind Chocenitz) DEPENDABLE

Cuirassiers 2 x 12*

Dragoons 2 x 12*

Feldzugmeister Ernst Dietrich Freiherr Marshall von Burgholzhausen (deployed extreme left, can move from T5) DEPENDABLE

4 x line battalions

6pdr battery  - 2 x medium guns*

Feldzugmeister von Collordo  (off table, enter left/rear area in column, from T7) DEPENDABLE

line battalions x 4

Feldmarshall Leutnant  Graf zu Wied (deployed in centre, guns in battery behind C and B) DEPENDABLE

line battalions x 3

Cuirassiers 2 x 12*

Dragoons  2 x 12*

12pdr battery #2 – 1 x heavy gun* (Limbered)

Howitzer battery  -1 x medium howitzer* (Limbered)

Independent  units

Grenadier battalion* x 1 (with battalion guns) (in march column, SW of Krecozr)

12pdr battery  #1– 2 x heavy guns* (Deployed SW of Kreczr)

PRUSSIAN ARMY: 

Commander in Chief King Frederick II of Prussia DASHING

Second in command: General of Infantry Moritz Furst von Anhalt-Dessau DASHING

Advance Guard: General Leutnant Hans Joachim von Zieten  (far left facing Austrian hussars) DASHING

Hussars 4 x 12              

General Major Dietrich von Hulsen on road deployed to assault Kreczor) DEPENDABLE

grenadier battalions  x 2*

6pdr battery - 1 x medium gun (limbered)

3pdr battery  - 1 x light gun (deployed)

General Major Joachim Friedrich von Tresckow (on road march column)DEPENDABLE

line battalions x 3*

12pdr battery  - 1 heavy gun (limbered)

General Leutnant Herzog Braunschweig-Luneberg-Bevern (entering table on road in column T2) DASHING +1

line battalions x 3

Leibgarde battalion* x 1

12pdr battery -1 x heavy gun (limbered)

General Leutnant Peter Ernst von Pennavaire entering table off road to right T5) DEPENDABLE

Cuirassiers 4 x 12*

General Major Christian Siegfried von Krogsigk (off table, enters T1 left of Hulsen) DEPENDABLE

Cuirassiers 2 x 12*

General Major von Meinicke (off table enters on road T4) DEPENDABLE

Dragoons 2 x 12*

General Major Karl Ludwig von Norman (in column N of the inn) DASHING 

Dragoons 2 x 12

I made Bevern Dashing +1 to reflect the fact that although his orders were to merely demonstrate against the Austrian left, his troops were stung into a precipitous attack by Croats' nuisance firing. Von Marshall's command was facing Bevern and was not allowed to move until turn 5 or Bevern came closer than 60cm. * means the unit(s) so marked are superior, ** that they are inferior, which is not good for the Austrians saddled with 5 regiments of inferior hussars! Let battle commence!

 A very distant shot of the extreme eastern end of the table with the Austrian hussars beyond the village of Kreczor, garrisoned by Croats.

 Von Hulsen's command poised to make their assault on the Croats holding Kreczor. The sunken lane was more of a hindrance than a help to the Prussians.

Von Tresckow's command began the game in march column on the road but quickly deployed to face south through the standing crops to face the Austrian positions on the hill. 

 A good view from West to East down the table. The Austrians on the right have plenty of cavalry but very few active infantry at this stage. The Croats in the villages were to prove to be more than a slight annoyance for the Prussians.

The cavalry both sides clashed on the Eastern end of the battlefield, with the Austrians at first gaining the upper hand as Graham's hussars were weakened by fire from the Croats in Kultire (just out of picture to the left) and Kreczor (with the church). Paul's combined 'elites' regiment broke first one then a second regiment of Prussian hussars.

 The second unit of Prussian hussars about to break. Von Zeiten looks on in a foul temper. The little stream was very deceptive as I understand it was a real obstacle, small but very steep-sided with boggy ground along its banks, so cavalry took a whole turn to cross. Neither side wanted to give the other the chance of glory! 

 In the centre, Serbolini's cavalry were moved to the front of the hill to threaten the Prussian advance. By some strange twist of fate I'd allocated this commander the Jung-Modena Dragoons and the Alt-Modena Cuirassiers. Both represented by my venerable Hinchcliffe models.

 Von Tresckow's infantry in the process of driving the Croats (represented by my Austrian jager) out of Bristwi.

 At Kreczor the Prussian artillery had managed to drive out the Croat garrison, seen here vaulting over the graveyard walls to safety! Paul had hoped to get his grenadiers into the village but they seemed rooted to the spot as apparently messenger after messenger failed to get through.

 The Prussian left now reinforced by a brigade of cuirassiers and overseen by Frederick in person. The grenadiers are about to assault Krezcor.

 Paul had also reinforced the hussars on the right wing with three regiments of Saxon cheveaulegers, leaving that flank pretty much slowed to a halt for a while.

Weid's infantry in the centre and Serbolini's cavalry on the hill facing Pennevaire's Prussian cuirassiers. Severn's infantry can be seen in the corn to the right. Behind the building (the Sun Inn) is Norman's brigade of dragoons and a rallying battalion von Tresckow's command.

 The Austrian cavalry took heavy casualties from the Prussian guns and one regiment was forced to withdraw to rally. 

 The Prussians have occupied Kreczor, driven out the Croats and captured their cannon. They had taken heavy losses and needed to regroup and rally. Frederick can be seen just to left of the church encouraging them from the safety of the 2 foot thick walls!

 In the area beyond the church of Krezcor the massed Austrian/Saxon cavalry were motionless.

 The main Austrian artillery battery caused a fair bit of damage on the Prussians but was masked for a while by Serbolini's horsemen. Nevertheless they found other targets and continued their execution throughout the game (or would have if they'd hit more often).

 Robbie threw caution to the wind and charged down the hill right into von Norman's dragoons.

 The Prussian cuirassiers now don't have to worry about the Austrian cavalry in the centre, and prepare to charge the Austrian centre. Unfortunately the Prussian infantry were supposed to move up into range to try and wear down the Austrian infantry through musketry before the charge went in but there was a breakdown in communication.

 Jung-Modena dragoons supported by the Alt-Modena cuirassiers locked in combat with Dragoon Regiment No. 1 von Norman. Predictably the leading Prussians were routed but the Austrians were also done for.

 Remember that big gap left when Serbolini charged to glory? Well, it was quickly filled by the cavalry from von Weid's command, just as John threw a 6. With a 'dashing' commander this meant that as they were close enough they had to charge. Remarkably the cuirassiers survived the closing fire but were forced back after a brief melee.

 Prussian grenadiers in the churchyard.

 The Austrian combined horse grenadiers regrouping.

 The former garrison of the church taking pot shots at the new residents.

 On the far right the Prussians under Bevern had advanced, driving the Croats out of Brezan (the thatched building in the distance) which was occupied by the Prussian Guard. They had obviously seen the print on my wall depicting them being riden over by the Austrian cavalry in the original battle and decided that it was safer in the village. The Austrians counter attacked but were initially driven back before their artillery started to knock men and horses down throughout the Prussian left.

 Stand off in the centre. The Austrians were not going to move off the hill and the Prussians didn't have the men to attempt to drive them away.

 One of the Prussian 12pdr batteries. I mainly include this picture to show off Westfalia Miniatures' 12pdr gun. It really looks a brute.

 The main Austrian battery in the centre. It's performance can only be described as average with occasional signs of brilliance.

 Austrian dragoons and infantry of Weid's command in the centre.

 The final positions. In the centre the Austrian CinC can be seen. Robbie managed an unparalleled number of failed command rolls, throwing 6 or 7 consecutive 1's when trying to get the Austrian centre to move, thus giving the Prussians time and space to deploy.

General von Pennevaire (the cuirassier above)was the only commander to become as casualty in the game, TWICE! He started the game as a 'dependable' commander but was felled by Austrian fire towards the end of the game. We randomise the ability of replacement commanders rather than applying a straight downgrade as suggested in the rules. On this occasion John threw a 6 and his replacement was classed as 'dashing'. Obviously a rising star on the General's staff. Sadly the next turn, the rising star was snuffed out, and his replacement was 'dependable' again.

We had to call it a day at that point, after a game lasting around 5 hours including a brief stop for lunch. With no clear winner or looser it was agreed both sides had fought themselves into a draw. However, under the conventions of the day, the Prussians would have had to abandon the field to the Austrians. Had we carried on to the bitter end I suspect the outcome would have been an Austrian victory purely because the Prussians would run out of troops, especially in the centre and on their right. The final lot of Austrian reinforcements might also have helped a bit too. The Prussians actually did better than in the real battle so I will award them 2 points and the Austrians 1 in my 'championship league table'. 

Everyone seemed to have a great day and enjoyed the game. I certainly did. The rules again worked really well for what was a rather large battle. The game and the result was again much more satisfying than when using Black Powder, as the players have to think much more about their troops' stamina and positioning or if they don't will die horribly! 

Thanks to everyone for making the trek, and I look forward to next time.

A word on the little cards if anyone is wondering. In the rules, commanders are either 'Dashing, 'Dependable' or 'Dithering'. In our first couple of games we lost track a little, especially as losses among commanders were quite high in those games. I therefore decided to photograph every commander model I own and create a card for each with their picture on it, showing their ability. These could be switched round as necessary as and when a casualty was caused. 

Kolin on Friday

We shall be refighting Kolin again on Friday, using the Honours of War rules this time. These rules will no doubt give us a very different game. Robbie and John R ae coming up, as are one of my oldest wargaming buddies (40 years or so) and Graham Cummings of Cran Tara miniatures. The top three pictures show the two armies moving into position. I'm using my new mat which arrived yesterday from Lithuania courtesy of Deep Cut Studios.

 The last two pictures show a slovenly Prussian grenadier being dressed down by his NCO for being drunk on the morning of the battle. "If you want to fight, then fight the Austrians over there!". A full report will follow.

Refighting History Vol1

This just dropped through the letterbox this morning and the rest of the day is now on hold until I have devoured it cover to cover!

This is the latest from Charles S Grant and first impressions are that it is yet another excellent book, focussing on fighting withdrawals of the Seven Years War. Not cheap but IMHO well worth it.

Austro-Hungarian SYW Grenzer battalion gun

I've known for some time that Austrian Grenzer regiments had battalion guns, but never thought much of it. However, as I plan to have another run through of Kolin next week and the greasers in Krzeczor had some very tight guns attached (1pdrs I think), I utilised a Westfalia Miniatures Saxon amusette and some spare Grenz figures to make this piece up.

The Battle of Chotusitz, 17 May 1742

This week's game, the first of the year, was a cracker. On Thursday, Robbie, John and Dave (Jarvis) joined me for a refight of Chotusitz, Frederick the Great's second battle of the War of Austrian Succession or the 1st Silesian War, take your pick. We used the new Honours of War rules, with some suitable amendments to accommodate the differences in troop quality seen between this and the Seven Years War. For example, the Prussian cavalry of 1742 were still 'requiring improvement' to use a term well known to any teachers reading this, and were downgraded to 'standard' while the Austrian cavalry (Cuirassiers and Dragoons) were 'superior'.  Robbie and I took the Austrians (I am becoming quite fond of my Austrian army) while John and Dave happily took the Prussians. The orders of battle for the game were as follows:

Prussian Army:

CinC Frederick II King of Prussia (Dashing) Off table until turn 4.

1^st Line: GL von Kalckstein (Dependable)

Musketeers x 2

Grenadiers  x 2 (Superior)

6pdr bty x 1

2^nd Line: GL von Schmetau (Dependable)

Musketeers x 3

Guard  x 1 (Superior)

6pdr bty x 1

Gen der Inf Leopold von Anhalt Dessau (Dashing) [Lt.General for the brigades below]

Cavalry, left flank:  GL von Waldow   (Dependable)

Cuirassiers x 3

Dragoons x 2

Hussars x 2

Infantry: GL Jeetze (Dependable)

Musketeers x 3  (superior)

Cavalry, right flank: GL von Buddenbrock (Dashing)

Cuirassiers x 4

Dragoons x 2

Artillery: (Dependable)

Heavy artillery:  1 x 24pdr, 2 x 12pdr (on table centre of Prussian line)

29: break point 14

Austrian Army: 

CinC Prince Charles of Lorraine (Dependable…..just!)

Light troops: [Independent units]

Croats x 3 Inferior (2 on right and 1 on left flank)

Infantry, 1^st Line: GL von Daun (Dependable)

Musketeers x 5

12pdr x 2 (superior)

Howitzer x 1 (superior)

Infantry, 2^nd Line: GL von Konigsegg (Dependable)

Musketeers x 5

Right wing Cavalry: GL Leichtenstein (Dashing)

Cuirassiers/Carabiniers/Horse Grenadier x 3 (superior)

Dragoons x 2 (superior)

Hussars x 2 (Inferior)

Left Wing Cavalry: GM Batthyanyi (Dashing)

Cuirassiers x 4 (superior)

Dragoons x 2 (superior)

Hussars x 2 (Inferior)

31: Break point 15

The  Prussian cavalry counted as inferior for rallying purposes and the player couldn't elect to prevent a unit from following up a beaten enemy when testing. Prussian cavalry also still had some way to go with their retraining so all changes of formation etc took half a move. Frederick and the main body would arrive on Turn 4 but only on passing a command roll. We used random commander casualty replacement which was to have a significant impact in the game. All infantry except grenadiers had battalion guns.  Austrian cavalry also could not elect not to pursue a beaten enemy when testing and although the Austrian infantry were much improved since Mollwitz they were no match for the Prussians in terms of rate of fire so would always get a -1 when shooting.

I won't go into much detail about the lead up to the battle. For a detailed account I can recommend 

http://obscurebattles.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/chotusitz-1742_30.html

Suffice to say that the Austrians caught the Prussians napping, and were in a position to overwhelm and crush the Prussian rearguard under Anhalt-Dessau before Frederick could bring the main body of the Prussian army into play. History tells us that they nearly did it but were unable to exploit their position and quit the field in the face of the Prussian main body. So how did our version play out?

 The battlefield from behind the Prussian right flank. The entire Austrian army facing just three Prussian battalions and all their cavalry.

 The Prussian left wing and centre, with their annoying heavy artillery battery in the foreground.

The Austrian centre and some of their left wing cavalry before they began their advance.

 The Austrian centre begin to advance while their artillery began to soften up the Prussians in front of Chotusitz. 

 On the Austrian right Prussian dragoons forced the Croats to evade, but were unable to catch up with them. In the meantime the remainder of their left wing cavalry is deploying out of Chotusitz.

 On the Austrian left the cavalry of both armies soon came to grips in a massive melee. The honours went to the superior Austrians, who over the course of the first three turns managed to break or drive back the entire Prussian force with the exception of a sole cuirassier regiment which was left rallying on the Prussian baseline.

 The Austrians had similar but less spectacular or speedy success on the right wing in dealing with their Prussian opponents, loosing a number of units before the Prussians were crushed.

 The Austrian right slowly pushing the Prussians back.

 In the centre the Austrians were slowly advancing (too slowly as it happens) towards the outnumbered Prussians. Robbie's hussars are being positioned to exploit any gaps in the Prussian line while the Austrian reserve line move to the left.

 The Austrians were then struck a decisive blow as General Daun, commanding the front rank of the attacking forces was struck down by a musket ball. One of the best aspects of the rules are those around command and control, and your brigadiers really need to be up there with their men in order to keep things moving. This also brings with it risks, in the form of the odd errant musket or cannon ball. Any general within command radius (15cm) of a unit that has taken casualties must test to see if they are hit. A throw of 11 or 12 on 2D6 (thrown by the enemy) and they are knocked on the head. In the rules the 'commander' comes back the following turn but with one less level of ability than their predecessor, e.g. a 'Dependable' commander would return as a 'Dithering' one. 'Dithering' is bad, very bad. I changed the rule so that the ability of the replacement is decided randomly as per the appropriate national characteristic table. In the Austrian case, on a throw of a 1 or 2 they are 'Dithering', 3-5 they are 'Dependable' and 6 means they are 'Dashing'. Dashing is a very good thing for a commander. Robbie threw a 2 so Daun's replacement was 'Dithering'. This meant that in the command phase it was possible for orders to go astray etc which would result in the entire command not moving at all. This happened 3 times to Robbie (he threw three 1's in successive turns) so effectively the Austrian assault ground to a halt.

 Once the ability of Daun's replacement was known the army became quite dispirited as the photo above shows.

 At the same time as Daun met his maker the reserves under Fred arrived. Eight battalions of nasty Prussians, with two 6pdrs, right in the centre and behind their heavy battery which had been proving to be a thorn in the side of the Austrians. At the start of the battle this battery of 24pdrs and 12pdrs had been rather isolated and provided a fragile link between the troops in Chotusitz and the cavalry on the Prussian right. Could be budge it? No. Advancing towards them proved to be futile as several hundred Austrian and Hungarian soldiers could attest to.

 The Prussian Guard of IR15 lead the advance in the centre.

 On the Austrian left, I was still mopping up the remainder of the Prussian cavalry. The regiment shown actually became done for in the process of shattering their opponents, and most of my cavalry on this flank were carrying one or two casualty points. 

 In desperation my favourite Hussar regiment (the Palatinal Hussars made up of venerable Hinchliffe one piece castings) charged the Prussian battery. They were unsuccessful and routed (they always run away) but at least the guns didn't fire at our infantry that turn. 

 The cavalry fight continues on the Austrian right. The Prussians are being slowly ground down but at not insignificant cost to Robbie's Austrians.

 The following turn it was going to be the von Reusch Hussars turn to feel the edge of Austrian steel. To the left are the Prussian Garde du Corps, busy rallying for not the first time.

 The Austrian artillery proved to be overwhelmingly ineffective although I suppose they did pin down the Prussians in and around Chotusitz and gradually wore them down, but too gradually.

 John's reserve brigade swung round to cover the flank of the main Prussian line from any interference from my Austrian cavalry, who were in no fit state to even contemplate any frontal charges against formed infantry.

 The Austrian centre dissolving before the Prussian counter attack.

 The Austrian centre, what's left of it.

 The battlefield from the Austrian left. Massed cavalry impotently facing the Prussian infantry, a very large hole in the Austrian centre, then in the background the remains of Robbie's victorious right wing cavalry.

 The Prussian centre faces where the Austrian centre had been!

The battle over, a Prussian general officer retires to the loo to contemplate the battle.

Well, game over and what a cracker! It was definitely a game of two halves and defeat snatched from the jaws of victory (which seems to be an Austrian habit these days!). The game presented some challenges for both sides, the main Prussian one being to hang on until Frederick and the main body arrived. This they did. Command and control is for me an important aspect of any war-game. In the 'old days' the  all-seeing eye of godlike commanders was the norm but I like the uncertainty of not knowing if my troops will do what I ask of them, for whatever reason. When Daun was replaced by a 'Ditherer' everything went pear-shaped for we Austrians, as our advance and opportunity to close with   and overwhelm the few Prussians in the centre before their main body arrived went down the pan when order after order failed to get through, and the strength of the Austrian centre was literally blown away by Prussian musketry and that damned artillery battery. 'C'est la guerre'

The rules worked really well and I think we are all warming to them as the ruleset of choice for mid-18th century games. Players need to think and make careful decisions to avoid squandering their troops. I'm certainly looking forward to two weeks time when we shall be having another go at Kolin, using these instead of Black Powder.

We agreed that the result was a hard-fought winning draw to the Prussians as the Austrians would have to abandon the field. In terms of scores on my league table this means that its one point each as the Prussians did no better than on that day in 1742.