Sharpe Practice - Game Report 2

A further encounter in 1809

Kevin and I decided that we needed a break from ADLG and CoC so a mutual decision to enter the world of Sharpe Practice was agreed upon with alacrity. For a change we chose the Attack-Defend scenario with the French attacking the Austrians; the Austrians were fortunate to be in defence. As it had been sometime since our last game, we expected a lot of page turning to remind ourselves of the rules, and indeed this proved to be the case!

The Austrian's were commanded by Leutnant Sharf who had command detachments from the 19th Infantry Regiment (IR) (from 1st, 2nd and Grenadier Companies), 2 companies from the Vienna Freiwilliger, 2 Companies for the Broder Grenzer Regiment, a squadron of Dragoons and a 4lb field gun. Although Sharp Practice is a skirmish game, in my mind I relate the stands of infantry and cavalry as half infantry companies and squadrons respectively. Actually, with troop size and man spacing this is about right!

On to the game, this farm complex on the road provided a sound defensive position; with the woods to the rear right of the farmhouse. Lt Sharf anticipated that this would indeed prove a strong position and one we would be confident that the French would find it difficult to break. He deployed 1/19th IR forward of the farm to allow the gun to deploy. The Freiwilliger under Feldwebel Volkstein were deployed in column of companies in the wood.

The remainder of 19th IR were in column of companies behind the farm, unfortunately when they started moving forward to the left command rather broke down. To their left are the Dragoons. In the distance within the wood on the left and the field to the left of the barn are the Broder Grenzers.

In the distance we could make out the drums of a French column advancing. These were from last minute reinforcements for the French whose commander failed to get his sums correct; mixing up the unit costs with the number of figures in his units!

A group of very spirited French dismounted Dragoons came forward skirmishing. The audacity of their advance and firepower caused grave discomfort to the men of the 1/19th IR.

They were sufficiently perplexed as to withdraw prematurely though the artillery piece they were protecting. The sole benefit of this was that the 4lb gun would be able to fire a round of grapeshot at these irritating Dragoons.

However, no sooner than the Dragoons were shocked by the artillery, another French column was seen to hove into view advancing down the road.

The fire from the column soon caused problems for the gun crew who were not expecting fire from the column to be so effective. Behind them the 1/19th have fallen into absolute confusion and were seen to be countermarching trying to get into a better position to support the guns.

The fire has completely unsettled the gun crew who have abandoned their position to leave the 1/19th IR to hold the line. In support of this Feldwebel Volkstein has brought forward the Vienna Freiwillige into line to bring fire to bear onto the advancing French column.

While the French column continued to advance down the road, the other column and supporting skirmishers is advancing against the Broder Grenzers and is bringing down intensive fire on them.

An enemy line advanced into the woods and threw out a section of the Broder Grenzers, however 2/19th and Gren/19th have advanced and formed line and has started to deliver well practiced volleys at the French.

On the right a fire fight has now started between the Vienna Freiwillige and the French column, which has now deployed into line.

All the Grenzers have now been withdrawn, and casualties on the 19th IR are mounting as a result of the fire from a French 6lb cannon which eventually arrived late to the battle. The Dragoons have been brought forward ready to launch a counterattack.

Their charge is more than sufficient to cause the French to fall back, the charge was effective in stabilising the situation, but it left the Dragoons very exposed to the woods on their left.

From the woods the French infantry turned smartly to their left and charged driving the Dragoons back and preventing a rout of the remains of the French defeated by the Dragoons.

The French decided at this stage to withdraw and not press the issue, and to leave the objective in the hands of the Austrians until such time as they had reinforcements to finally defeat them. An excellent game, and despite the rules-page-turning we had a surprisingly good grasp of what we were doing, and I don’t think we made too many mistakes that would have changed the outcome of the game.

ADLG - Game Report 307

Taifa Kingdom (204) vs Feudal Scandinavians (218)

For my final game it was a pleasure to face up against Cameron and his Scandies. He won the initiative and decided to defend in the plains, and the terrain could not have been any better for him. This left me the problem of how a Cavalry army was going to attack and beat a line of spears. I decided to err on the side of caution and placed the foot on the right and I left the centre Cavalry command in column so it could then move left or right as the situation or my mood took it.

The plan was to try and exploit the one weakness I cold see which was the lone bowmen on the right of the Scandie line. If I could break through there with a supporting attack by the Knightsto the right of the field, I might be able to penetrate the left cavalry column into the depth of the enemy position. Another bold and courageous plan your highness.

Well, that went well didn't it? Not! An attack against the Bows failed and the enemy cavalry have intervened. One last throw of the dice would be to throw in the Heavy Cavalry.

The attack in the field stalled, while the supporting attack saw the loss of two Heavy Cavalry. A breakthrough on the left was increasingly unlikely as the casualties increased.

The Cavalry was disengaged but not before a unit f Knights was destroyed. While attempts to take down the enemy bowmen on the right by both Light Cavalry and medium spearmen both failed miserably. In the centre the infantry have also failed to shine through; on reflection it is unlikely that the Taifa won more than two combats the entire game!

Outcome

A crushing Scandie victory in which they lost only 3 cohesion points. Karma is complete.

Tournament running scores: One Draw, Three losses, One win; this left me 20 out of 24 (no wooden spoon this time around).

Lessons Learnt

I could have fought for a draw, but where would have been the fun in that?

Perhaps it could have been better fun if the melee dice had been a little more balanced?

ADLG - Game Report 306

Taifa Kingdom (204) vs Ghaznavids (201)

After a crushing victory over the French over night (6 to 4) could I do any better on Sunday in Devizes. While there were 5 Ghaznavid armies in the competition Harry's was the first (and as it happens, the only one) I would fight; that is the benefit of being in the lower half of the competition draw. I decided to attack in the plains, but the plain I would have wanted to fight over was not the plain I found myself on. I always assume I could play it safe in a competition, but that isn't me. So I decided the best form of defence is to attack.

Hence, I committed all of the Cavalry to try and overwhelm the centre before the elephants on the flank could intervene. A bold and courageous decision your highness. On the left the light troops drew back the veil of the elephants waiting in ambush behind the hill; hardly a great surprise!

The Cavalry and Knights in the centre started to charge and disperse the enemy horse archers. On the right two squadrons of Heavy Impact Cavalry charged a threatening enemy light cavalry unit with the express purpose of trying to protect the line of cavalry in combat. And as predicted in the previous game the dice gods and karma meant that the Cavalry battle didn't go the way we would have liked. On the left the elephant does what elephants do best, but their supporting troops although they lost the first round fought back in the second.

On the left in spite of a successful counter from the Taifa spearmen the elephant and remaining impetuous swordsmen continue to defy the odds. In the centre we have managed to further disperse the horse archers but have failed to drive them from the battlefield. The sacrifice of the cavalry against the elephants on the left has been to no avail as we have failed to defeat the enemy cavalry.

Outcome

• A crushing Ghaznavid victory in which they lost 8 cohesion points.
• Tournament running scores: One Draw, Two losses, One win with one game to go.

ADLG - Game Report 305

Taifa Kingdom (204) vs Arab Indian (135)

For the final game of the day it was a pleasure to once again play Paul, and his Arab Indians another army I had considered for the event. He won the initiative and asked me to defend in the plains. While we deployed in a similar manner as before with foot centre and horse on the wings, the Arab-Indians decided to deploy foot right and horse centre and left.

At the outset I decided that the left wing was not going to face down the enemy foot on our left and would be much better employed in the centre against the enemy horse. On the right our Light Cavalry have skilfully manoeuvred out of their ambush to place themselves on the enemy's flank to pepper them with javelins.

For the discerning reader the absence of the enemy right wing in tis view may raise an eyebrow. Suffice to say they decided to charge into contact against our own right wing to be destroyed after two rounds of melee combat. In the centre the Taifa left wing has now deployed sufficiently to engage the enemy centre.

The remaining cavalry has made contact, however, the Taifa right wing is now poised to rejoin the fight from behind the enemy's flank and rear. A heavy screen of light troops is protecting the Cavalry's flank.

Once again, the Cavalry battle has gone the way of the Taifa Kingdom, as the enemy infantry advance on our foot.

With the Cavalry battle on going one way it has allowed the Taifa Heavy Cavalry to intervene in the infantry battle.

Outcome

A Taifa victory losing 6 cohesion points during the battle. Spoiler alert as poor as Paul's dice were in combat, mine would be worse later in the competition; remember what goes around, comes around.

Tournament running scores: One Draw, One loss, One win with two games to go on Sunday.

Lessons Learnt

A lopsided victory in which one could learn very little, other than to pray for that quality of dice in every game. Or is that being greedy?