Der Treffen bei Kutzdorf
Introduction
This is a Seven Years War battle between the Austrians and Prussians. It was fought on-line over Zoom with Dave designing the scenario, laying out the table and providing all the troops at his home in Arnside, while I was based here at home in Bournemouth. He also kindly wrote up this excellent battle report.
The rules are home grown, but are : heavily modified (but recognisably as originating from) Post of Honour; the changes include token driven alternate brigade activation and movement (similar to Bolt Action) and simultaneous shooting and close combat. The scenario length 12 was turns.
Terrain
The Austrians are on low plateau. To their left front is the hamlet of Kutzdorf, a 2xRural BUA. On the left flank behind Kutzdorf is a large farm complex, 2 single building BUAs with areas of gardens/orchards about it; these are difficult terrain. Behind their centre and right are areas of light woodland. On their right front, extending from the deployment area of the attackers, is a larger area of light woodland. The low plateau offers no combat benefit other than overhead fire to/from artillery and dead ground at rear. Objectives: the plateau centre (worth 1 VP – marked by a windmill), held by the Austrians at the start. Kutzdorf (each section of the BUA worth .5 VP). The attacking force has an approx. 200 pts advantage.
Orders Of Battle
Scenario Background Briefing
The Prussians have sent a detachment under Anhalt-Dessau to fall on the flank of an Imperial and Austrian position. The Prussian columns have been spotted by the Austrian outpost of the Creutzer Grenz under MG Beck. After a quick council of war Prince Karl von Zweibrucken decides to withdraw the Austro-Imperial forces; to cover the withdrawal Graf von Hadik is sent with orders to delay the Prussians as long as possible in scenario terms this is 12 turns. He is given the infantry of General Weid, the cavalry division of von Schallenberg, and a battery of 6lb guns.
Hadik rides ahead and finds Beck in a large farm, known as Schloss Reuben, on a plateau overlooking Kutzdorf. Beck informs Hadik that the Prussians crossed the Rosenbach stream to the north of Kutzdorf. After a brief skirmish Beck’s units were forced back the from Oak Woods and, due to the overwhelming numbers of the Prussians, Beck also vacated Kutzdorf, his Grenz battalions are now in and about the farm complex.
Hadik brought forward his battery and placed it to cover the roads from Kutzdorf and the Oak Woods; Beck’s Grenz are sent forward to support the battery’s deployment. Wied’s division is moved to the rear of the plateau; Wulffen’s brigade to the West of the farm to secure the right flank. Von Schallenberg’s cavalry, the last to arrive, is to take post on the right of the Infantry. Hadik establishes his command post at a mill on the plateau.
The Prussians advance guard of Kahlden secured the Oak Woods; artillery was placed on their right and beyond these the two remaining brigades of Forcade’s division are drawn up in two lines facing Kutzdorf. Anhalt Dessau sends his attached brigades of cavalry to cross the Rosenbach further to the East to protect the left flank of the infantry.
Deployment
Prussian centre: Bde Kahlden & Arty
Prussian right: Bdes Rohr & Brauschwieg
The Battle
While the Prussians waited for their Cavalry to cross the Rosenbach the Austrian artillery commenced firing on the Prussian batteries and Beck’s Grenz battalions descended the gentle slope towards Kutzdorf. The Prussian batteries immediately returned fire and Anhalt Dessau set his Infantry in motion; Rohr’s brigade advanced against Kutzdorf, supported by Brauschwieg in second line. FR38 advanced through the hamlet and engaged the Grenz who had occupied the southern half of the hamlet; 2/IR23 supported their attack from the west. The remainder of Rohr’s brigade pushed back the Grenz skirmishers west of Kutzdorf. The 2/IR23 were beaten back but FR38 soon gained the upper hand and, after a brief struggle, the Genz were driven from Kutzdorf and Beck’s brigade slowly retired back up the slope towards the Austrian line, which was now forming on the plateau. Kahlden’s infantry advanced through the Oak wood, on their left the Prussian cavalry deployed in two lines, Cuirassiers in the first, Dragoons forming the second. Von Schallenberg brought his cavalry forward and initially overcame the lead Prussian Cuirassier regiment, which fell back on their supports. The Austrians were slow to reorganise and were in turn forced back up the slope by a counterattack from the reformed Prussians squadrons. This was the start of long to-and-fro struggle between the Prussian and Austrian squadrons which continued without either side gaining a significant advantage.
Kahlden, perhaps uncertain about the outcome of the cavalry engagement, advanced slowly from the Oak Woods (not intentional; just kept rolling poor activation dice)
By this time the Austrians had formed their main battleline, with Lamberg’s brigade to the right of the battery and Riechlen’s in second line. Wulffen formed to the left of the battery with no reserve.
FR38 Brandes of Rohr’s Bde have cleared the Austrian Grenz from Kutzdorf. The 2/IR23 is reforming, having fallen back after their failed attack on the village. Brauschwieg’s Bde move up in support behind Kutzdorf.
On his right flank Hadik’s cavalry continued to retire, on again forced to fall back by the Prussian squadrons, now supported by the fire from Kahlden’s brigade which continued to advance very slowly. The Grenz, regaining the plateau, move back into the Schloss grounds and gardens and start to regroup into close order to resist any further Prussian advance. Rohr reorganises his brigade and pushes two battalions forward in preparation for an attack up the slope. Brauschwieg’s brigade moves clear of Kutzdorf and prepares to move to is left.
Rohr’s brigade advances quickly up the slope to attack Wulffen; Brauschwieg’s brigade starts to form to their left for a joint attack on the Austrian line. Wulffen’s Brigade, comprising 2 Bns of IR31 Haller, suffers badly; 2/IR 31 breaks as a result of devastating fire from Gren Bn von Hake. 1/IR31 is initially successful, repelling the assault of 1/IR23 Forcade. 1/IR19 Brandenberg, led by von Brauschwieg, attacks IR Rot Würzburg, which broke after a brief struggle. To the left Gren Bn v Manteuffel attacked and drove back the 2/IR51, which were contacted by the pursuing 1/19 and fall back again. 1/IR31 Haller was eventually compelled to retire by the attack of 2/IR15 Garde. The Austrian gunners, now surrounded by Prussian Infantry, and with their supporting infantry on either flank heading rapidly to the rear, abandoned their guns and fled. Gren Bn von Hake and 1/IR15, pursing Wulffen’s retreating brigade, came upon the reorganizing Grenz battalions and quickly drove them from the grounds and gardens of Schloss Reuben. Wullfen and 1/IR31, sheltering behind the Schloss, were swept away in the retreat of the Grenz. (Wulffen is removed as all units in his brigade have been lost)
The Austrian 2nd line came forward to stem the Prussian advance. Moving onto the plateau, Brauschwieg took IR/19 Brandenburg forward against the flank of Riechlen’s line. Riechlen launched a counter-attack with 2/IR47, wheeling the battalion rapidly to the right this attack defeated IR/19, which fell back preventing Riechlen’s brigade from being rolled up from the flank. Riechlen paid a heavy price for his victory, falling mortally wounded; he was carried from the field but died sometime later.
On the Austrian right the Prussian squadrons continued to successfully force von Schallenberg’s cavalry gradually back. It was now that Kahlden brought his brigade forward and sent the two battalions in his 1st line up the slope against the Austrian infantry. 1/IR18 Prince von Prussia, on the right, was beaten back by 1/IR51 Gyulay, however FR38 was more successful and, sending the 2/IR18 Marschall back toward the windmill, gained a foothold on the plateau.
It was clear to Hadik that the plateau could no longer be held and he ordered a general withdrawal. Von Schallenberg’s cavalry, still in good order and supported by Beck and the 1/Creutzer Grenz, prevented a close pursuit by the Prussian cavalry. On the Prussian side, the Brigades of Rohr and Brauschwieg needed to reorganise, having become intermingled and disordered in the latter stages of the engagement. The artillery would need to be brought forward.
Conclusion
The Austrians had failed to hold the ground and all the objectives were, or soon would be, in the control of the Prussians. Although the Austrians did not reach their breakpoint it was clear they could not stave off defeat. The Austrian left was turned, probably by the heavy volleys of Gr Bn v Hake, which routed 2/31 Haller. Had Haller stood another turn the Grenz would have regrouped and been in a better position to contest the ground. As it was, they were quickly swept aside by a spirited Prussian advance. If I played the scenario again I would modify the deployment and permit the Austrian Grenz to occupy Kutzdorf at the start; this would be more realistic and give the Prussians a harder time of it.
Victory Conditions.
When a game concludes without either side reaching its break point it is sometime unclear if who has ‘won’. This is a method whereby victory can be calculated in these circumstances.
Points for objectives held
Points for losses inflicted on the enemy
Each enemy unit lost = 1 point
Each enemy unit currently wavering = ½ point
Each enemy unit currently disordered = ¼ point
Each enemy Senior leader lost = 2 points
Each Brigade leader lost = 1 point
No points are scored for enemy units reordering.
If a side has twice as many points as its opponent it has achieved a Minor Tactical Victory
If it has three times and many points it has achieved a Major Tactical Victory
Any other results means the game is a draw
Very classy report Colin, especially with the fancy graphics. Always a pleasure to see gamers getting something out of my rules - and of course changing other people's rules in accordance with one's own ideas is classic wargaming practice, something I have done myself innumerable times!
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