Bataille Empire - Game Report 16

Russian 1807 vs French 1807

Robin mentioned that he wanted to see how Bataille Empire played and I therefore, of course, offered the services of my troops and my (limited) experience of the rules to teach him. I seem to have managed to impart my wisdom of the rules to Kevin, so I was confident of success. I put together two orbats for 1807 for us to trial. The terrain for this battle came out quite easily. Robin selected the Russians and to reduce the number of variables, and the dice roll gave us the Battle scenario – a good choice for a simple learning experience.

I decided to place both of my Line Divisions on Attack orders with a simple line of attack – Hey diddle diddle, straight down the middle. None of the subtleties of flank moves or manoeuvring. This way we would get to contact quicker and be able to teach Robin the game mechanics. I left the Cavalry on the left with Engage orders to respond to the Russian Cavalry when they arrived. For his part Robin placed his Divisions on Hold orders.

The right attack Division found very soon that it was entering a killing zone between the woods and the marsh. But we aimed to preserve in the attack.

The initial attack by a column on the French right was repulsed with ease by the Russian Musketeers. At the same time another regimental attack against the Russian artillery battery was also repulsed. It was also difficult to both bring the guns forward and to unlimber them under fire from the large Russian batterys. One of the left forward division’s regimental attacks managed to break the Russian line, the others were also repulsed.

A swift counter attack by fire drove the lead French regiment back over the elevation. Forcing the French to regroup.

After regrouping the left Division continued its advance in strength and this time managed to secure the hill. Its battery was able to deploy on the crest and bring close range fire down on the Russian Battery. The Russian Musketeer Regiments threatened by this attack have withdrawn behind their supports. On the right a French Light Regiment has pushed back a Jager Regiment into the woods away from the tree line.

The forward left Russian Division has started to regroup its line to try and close the gap. Lack of command has prevented the French Division Commander from reinforcing this success. The Corps Commander’s focus is on the reports he is receiving from his left forward Division. Although the French are consolidating in the elevation, the Russians are reforming to counter attack. On the French left the arrival of the Russian Dragoon division has countered any activity by the French Hussars.

On the French right a successful attack Russian Musketeers has driven back and destroyed the French Light Infantry. Similarly on the French Centre left another Light Infantry regiment has been destroyed in the Russian counterattack on that flank. Further left the French Hussars are engaging the Russian Dragoons, who very quickly gained the upper hand in the combat.

Outcome

After counting up losses and objectives it became a Russian Marginal Victory, and a very enjoyable game!

Lessons Learnt

The positive impact of supporting artillery with infantry regiments!

We need to read more carefully what one can do and how one can deploy under Hold orders; we both feel that we stretched the order, as defined in the rules, to its limit.

Bataille Empire - Game Report 15

French 1809 vs Austrians 1809

Kevin and I enjoyed the first 28mm Bataille Empire battle we clearly needed to revisit it. Given the period and armies I decided to invest in some mid European buildings for this battle. For this battle we diced for and received the encounter battle. In my case I deployed the Advance Guard Division on the right to secure the buildings and to hold the flank. The Corps Comd arrived with the Corps Artillery Reserve.

The Infantry Division arrived. Its Militia Regiments were broken down to deploy as detached skirmishers. While the Austrian Regiments formed column to move forward to attack.

The French were deployed as three small Infantry Divisions at this stage, each of two regiments supported by an 8lb battery.

The Advance Guard Division’s Cavalry regiment has deployed between the buildings to protect the flank from some interfering French Cavalry.

The Infantry Division has secured the first low hill and is now pressing on to the main French line of battle. The Advance Guard Division has further refused its right flank as the Cavalry regiment withdraw into reserve.

The French have forced one of the Grenzer Regiments of the Advance Guard Division to withdraw from a fire fight. However, their line remains intact. In the centre the Infantry Division Commander is waiting for orders from the Corps Commander.

The French counter-attack, and drive the Austrians from the hill they had secured, destroying two infantry regiments in the process. However, the left-hand regiment has pursued its French opponents and is continuing its advance while the remainder regroup. On the right the same Grenzer Regiment was broken by French fire and has withdrawn. On the left flank the arrival of the Austrian Light Cavalry Division has the potential to change the dynamics on the left flank.

In response to the threat posed by the Austrian Infantry that have broken though the French have withdrawn from the low hill.

While the Austrians consider whether they can exploit the breakthrough that they have made, and the French consider how to counter it.

The French have decided to launch a counter to the breakthrough and have formed column to charge in the flank against the breakthrough. The challenge for the Austrians is that they lack the command and control to be able to move forward in support of the Infantry Regiment on its own. Nor are the Advance Guard or the cavalry Divisions in any better state to help.

The regiment is on its own.

Outcome

From counting up the losses and objectives we believed that it was a Marginal French Victory. Another excellent game using 28mm.

Lessons Learnt

The jury is still out on the deployment of the Militia as detached skirmishers.

More attention to the terrain deployment rules, as the buildings were probably much too close together.

Austrian Command and Control is a severe challenge, I am not sure the large size of the Austrian Division was worthwhile.

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).

Bataille Empire - Game Report 14

French 1809 vs Austrians 1809

Kevin had suggested that we play Bataille Empire in 28mm, given he already had a substantial number od 28mm Napoleonics available which he used for Sharp Practice. Who was I to say no? Whilst it was not quite a moment to print of a number of 28mm Austrians to supplement my meagre Austrian 1809 Sharp Practice force it certainly did not take that long. The final resultant Austrian 1809 Army is available for viewing.

The scenario for this game was “Battle”.

The terrain was relatively open. The French fielded 3 weak infantry divisions with a supporting Hussar Brigade of two regiments.

For my part the Austrians had two identical infantry divisions; each with 3 large German Infantry Regiments, a unit of Vienna Volunteers and a 6lb Battery. The Advance Guard was in reserve off-table with 2 Grenzer units with Battalion Guns and three Light Dragoon units, one of which came from the Commander’s reserve.

The French infantry were placed under attack orders and started their advance. Their cavalry were under manoeuvre orders and were clearly biding their time. The Austrian’s moved forward under engage orders and the left division were able to deploy their Vienna Volunteers to hold the building. However, on the right the command was much tardier, and the Volunteers have yet to advance.

On game turn two the Austrian reserve arrived led by their Cavalry. As with the other troops under engage orders. In response to a charge these cavalry the Fench have opted to form square, while the Grenzers start to manoeuvre to the flank. In the centre and right both sides are exchanging artillery and musketry fire.

On the left the Grenzers have advanced into the field and across the hedge, and in doing so had to leave their Battalion guns behind! However, the French Hussars have manoeuvred their way around from the French left and are now readying themselves to charge the Austrian cavalry. In the centre the firefight continues, however on the right the Austrian infantry columns are manoeuvring to attack the French lines. The reserve 12lb battery has yet to be ordered to deploy.

Charge! The French cavalry manoeuvre into line from column and charge the Austrian Light Dragoons.

The Hussars have thrown back the Light Dragoons, but in doing so have exposed their flank to potential attack from the remaining Light Dragoons. The Grenzers have moved around to the far side of the field with the intent of taking the French Battery in flank. While in the centre the combined might of Austrian firepower has destroyed a French infantry unit.

The Austrian division in the centre has been given orders to hold the buildings. Meanwhile the right hand division has been given orders to attack. They have managed to bring forward their Volunteers to support the attack.

The attack has not gone according to the Austrian’s plan. Their cavalry have been overcome by the French Hussars, with two regiments leaving the battlefield. While the Grenzers failed to engage the battery despite their order having been changed to attack; not least because the enemy battery was able to reorientate itself to engage them!On the right the right Austria division has successfully engaged and destroyed a French Infantry regiment and is now moving forward to attack the rest of the French line.

Outcome

The Austrians suffered 22.5 cohesion points to the French’s 15; there were equal number of objective points per side. The result being a marginal French Victory.

Lessons Learnt

The jury is still out on whether the large Austrian regiments are as effective as the medium sized French.

The bottom line is that 28mm works very well indeed, but we do need better movement tools (on order)

Imperial Austrian Army of 1809

Introduction

I have a number of Austrian armies from 1756 through to 1815. There are two reasons for this:

1. The first is very simple; White coats were easier to paint than multicolored coats when I first started my Seven Years War Armies.
2. The second is because I am very interested in the Danube campaign of 1809. A campaign in which the Austrians started to perform well, and gave Napoleon the first taste of victory at the Battle of Aspern-Essling. Hence my large collection of 6mm Napoleonic Austrians!

Latterly I decided to invest in some 28mm Austrians for Sharp Practice, and I have now gone one step further and extended the inventory sufficient to make a 200 point 28mm Bataille Empire Army.

The Army has 3 Divisions and a Corps Reserve 12lb Battery.

The infantry are individually based on 1p sized bases so that they can be mounted on movement trays for Sharp Practice. For Bataille Empire the frontage of the Warbases 4 by 2 base is the equivalent of 2UD for 28mm Bataille Empire. Hence for a large Austrian Regiment one of these bases is fine, with two 2 by 1 movement trays that allow the unit to be in Line of Column - here they are in column.

One of the best things about Bataille Empire is the flexibility it offers in basing troops. Moreover although the rules suggest having 3 figures on a 5cm 1UD frontage, I think they perfectly fine with only two figures, and besides it is less to paint and bring to battle.

The Commanding Generals were printed at home using STL files from Piano Wargames. The figures have been painted in contrast paints.

The artillery are based on Warbases 2 by 3 bases with the guns stuck to two 1p bases for easy of transitioning for different gun size configurations. I have made some blank 1p bases to fill in when I reduce the figure count for the battery. The rather large Austrian gunner at the rear is from the North Star Silver Bayonet Napoleonic Vampire Figures. 

The Line Infantry!

The Grenzers.

The Cavalry - Light Dragoons.

Bataille Empire - Game Report 13

Russian 1812 vs French 1812

Round two for Bataille Empire for Kevin and me. In this game I decided to field my new Russian Army. In this game we followed the full rule system including the terrain selection, and also the choice of scenario. In this case we rolled for and received “Surprised”, which was indeed a surprise and one which gave each of us very interesting tactical decisions to make. On the first game turn everyone has to be given Manoeuvre Orders.

The Russian Infantry divisions have been deployed in column. The rear division has an attached Opolchenie Regiment. In the centre we deployed a Dragoon division with two Cossack Regiments.

On the Russian right there was an advanced guard division with Hussars and a Light Infantry Regiment.

The Russians were able to secure the village, with this firm base in place the Hussars moved to out flank the French Line. On the left the lead infantry division has seized the hill to hold it, while the second moves to support by moving to the flank.

The move of the Russian Hussars failed when the French were able to counterattack and drive them from the battlefield. However, the village and the objectives remained secure in Russian hands. The French right has now mobilised itself to attack the Russian left.

A successful charge by two Russian regiments has thrown back the French right wing. While in the centre the Russian Dragoon division, less the Cossacks saw the advantage in launching an attack which has successfully overthrown the French Cuirassiers. The French have deployed into line to try and take the hill by fire.

The French Infantry were unable to make any impression on the hill. The Russians standfast on the ground they have seized. The Light regiment in the village has already thrown back an attack, but they are likely to be outflanked at any time due to the French bypassing the village on the Russian right. The Dragoons were forced back to their original deployment area after a successful French counterattack.

Outcome

A minor Russian Victory.

Lessons Learnt

Kevin learnt not to use my die, and in future to bring his own!

We were both much more comfortable with the rules now and they played much quicker than previously.

Using the Russians gave a very different feel for the battle.

It gave us the appetite to next try a game in 28mm.