The Imperial Russian Army of 1812

I decided some time ago that I needed to branch out from my current Bataille 15mm armies into the later Napoleonic period. I decided that an Imperial Russian Army would fir the bill. Not least because the uniform changes over the entire Napoleonic period were perhaps less noticeable on the models at 15mm scale. Or perhaps I should say I didn't need to worry too much about the migration from bicorn to shako as with the French Army, or from Shako, to helmet and back to a different shako with the Austrians!

The second point I would make is that this entire army was 3d printed by myself, from a range of different developers of the stl files. This made the entire experience relatively cost efficient way of creating an army. Albeit there is a tendency to print and paint far too many figures!!!! A better solution might be to design an Army and then print it- but where is the fun in that. We do all want the options available.

The figures are printed  and painted on their Bataille Empire bases. The figures are painted in Speedpaints or Contrast paints over the slapchop method. 

The entire army in review order.

The Hussars, two regiments. A wonderfully detailed model.

The Army Commander

The Cuirassiers, 2 regiments.

The Artillery; given the size of the batteries I probably need to print some more.

The Reserves. There are 6 regiments of Opolchenie; one of which is armed with melee weapons

A line Grenadier Division of 3 regiments

The Don Cossacks, with 4 regiments

One of the two Line Divisions of 4 Musketeer Regiments and 2 of Jagers

The Dragoon Division of 3 regiments

The Command and General Staff; which given the size of the Army needs at least one more divisional commander printed (done) and painted (to do).

ADLG - Game Report 160

Taifa Kingdom (204) vs Catalan Company (262)

Final game was against Paul. The Catalans won the initiative and decided to defend in the plains. We decided to deploy with the Infantry on the left, Spanish Knights in the centre and the Andalusian Cavalry on the right.

Despite the fact that we were attacking we decided to take it easy at first to feel out what the Catalans would do.

The Andalusian line was wheeled right. In response the Catalans have moved their right-hand mixed command of Knights and Almogavar and Crossbows further right. Meanwhile the rest of their line has similarly wheeled right in response to our movement.

Once again, the infantry is going to fight a holding action by pinning the enemy’s right command. It seems we have all of our ducks in a row and have a safe start line to launch the assault; or so I think. However, the Catalan's have other ideas and they have spotted that their left has managed to flank the cavalry line.

And the enemy left command successfully shows how to conduct a flank attack and destroy one of my cavalry units. In the centre the Knights and the Andalusian Heavy Cavalry are taking the fight to the enemy, and I am gratified to be able to inflict, for once, to be able to get some payback on the Almogavars.

Despite the success in the centre with the Knights advancing on the enemy camp, the enemy left has started to roll up my line with increasing losses on my Cavalry units.

On the left the Catalan Knights and Almogavars, have advanced to contact my infantry, losing one of the Almogavars in the process. The enemy lights are about to flee of the table and leave the camp vulnerable, which we seize.

Outcome

Despite seizing the camp, the Catalans were able to inflict sufficient casualties on me to cause a Mutual Destruction in the turn the camp was seized and their army was due to break – thanks Mark for allowing us to play out to the end! Another very exciting game.

Lessons Learnt

On my right I should have kept the flank refused in order to prevent the Almogavars flanking the line; a more carefully review of the situation when moving is needed.

ADLG - Game Report 159

Taifa Kingdom (204) vs Classical Indian (79)

Second game was against Kevin’s Indians. I have to say the terrain came out in my favour. Especially when I used one of Kevin’s dice to remove a field covered hill!!! I was gifted the attack. The Andalusian’s have deployed classically with the Infantry in the centre flanked to their left by the Spanish Knights and to their right by the Andalusian Cavalry.

The outflanking move to the left and to the right has started to draw the Indians out of position. It might have been even better if I had placed the Andalusian CinC with the cavalry moving to the right so that they could have moved three times.

The die is now cast. The cavalry are around the flanks and ready to launch their attack, while the infantry know that their mission is to hold the centre.

On the left the Spanish Knight commander has flanked the Indian line and is now helping to roll it up. On the right once again despite the most favourable flank attack the mixed swordsmen and bow unit not only survives the flank attack but wins the melee. In the centre the infantry are being severely punished by the elephants and the two handed cutting weapons used by the Indians.

Outcome

Mutual Destruction in an a very exciting game in which the Indian camp was seized and ransacked.

lessons Learnt

If you are going to move around the flank with lots of command points make sure the General is with the unit.

ADLG - Game Report 158

Taifa Kingdom (204) vs Ilkhanid Mongol(270)

The Gathering – again! Once more we decided to flock to Entoyment for another Saturday’s round robin gaming. We have quite a group of us with 10 players, each playing 3 games. The theme for the day was anything from 493AD to 1307AD.

My first game was against the sailor home from the sea; Harry and his Ilkhanid Mongols fresh from the painting table. As always in my mind was how to get close enough and quickly enough to drive the horse archers away. My Infantry were encamped on the hill with the Spanish Knight command to their left (including their new printed and painted included commander flying the flag of Santiago – patron saint of Spain with the Andalusian Cavalry command to their right.

Already the bow fire has been spectacularly effective; watch the wounded knight carefully over the following game turns.

Before they broke off they inflicted a further hit on the knights again! Meanwhile the Knight mercenaries are closing in on my Heavy cavalry. I decided that the infantry needed to pin the enemy.

The infantry pinning action was less than successful, as one of the enemy’s cavalry units has caught the knights in the flank. The knights survived the contact, and the infantry came forward to in turn take the enemy cavalry in flank. Meanwhile in the centre the cumulative shooting hits on that Knight unit meant they did not survive the contact! The Ilkhanid mercenary knights caught one of my cavalry in flank and destroyed it with me trying to do the same to one of theirs.

Once again despite doing everything right, the combat failed me and the enemy knights survived the flank attack. Not only that they were able to reinforce the line to avoid further out flanking. Meanwhile the Spanish Knight commander is forging ahead destroying all before him.

The Spanish Knight commander survives an attack in the rear. And the infantry are moving forward to against the enemy cavalry.

Finally, the enemy knight who was being a thorn in our side, has been destroyed. Not before his brother knight supported by Mongols has destroyed more Andalusian cavalry.

Outcome

A win for the Ilkhanid’s by 14 to 24.

Lessons Learnt

If you are trying to pin someone make sure you measure the distance, as you are allowed to, before you move.

I think we should outlaw these Peter Pig dice as they have been the bane of my gaming over the last two battles.