1809 Austrians vs French in the Danube valley
Last night Adam Worsdale and I fought our first game of Bataille Empire. A qualified success for both of us. There was a lot of reading and re-reading the rules. As should be expected the first time out with figures on the table. One can read the rules as much as one like, but it is not till the metal hits the table and you roll the bones that one can really appreciate what the rules are driving at and enabling.
Initial Forces - 200pts
Adam's French engaged with 3 Divisions; two of infantry and a small light cavalry division with a grand battery of two 8lb batterys. All commanded by a brilliant commander (Marshal Lannes).
For my Austrians, were five divisions; two of infantry, a mixed vanguard division and a light cav division of dragoons. All my commanders were ordinary or poor.
Initial Setup
The first challenge is terrain choice. The entire Austrian right and French left flank was devoid of all terrain - perhaps the river flood plain leading down to the Danube?
The second challenge that the French were attacking, not only that they were assaulting. This meant that 1/3 of the Austrian forces were off table; the Vanguard Division and the Light Cavalry Division. None of which could be expected until Game Turn 4.
The Austrian's decided to concentrate and defend the two key objectives in depth. The French plan was to hold on their right and force a decision on the centre and supported with their cavalry on the right.
Game Turn 1
The initial artillery fire went in favour of the Austrians as the French advanced to contact.
Game Turn 2
The French Division on the right attempted to change its orders to hold, but the order didn't get through.
In the centre the Austrian artillery caused heavy damage on the centre French regiments. A
t the same time the forward right Austrian regiment decided to try and form square to defend against the Cavalry threatening its flank. It failed and was subject to an opportunity charge by the Austrian Cavalry. The cavalry destroyed the Regiment and then rolled over and destroyed the Austrian guns before withdrawing.
The Austrian left forward regiment retreated under fire, while the rear regiment successfully formed square and moved to defend the rear flank of the position from the Austrian Cavalry.
Game Turn 3
The French continued their attack in the centre. Their centre left regiment attacked over the hill into the flank of the Austrian 12lb Battery, destroyed this and pursued into the Austrian square and destroyed that. Their centre right forward regiment moved forward and had a firefight with the Austrian regiment facing them. Both held their grounds.
Now the second French Chasseurs a Cheval regiment attacked in flank the rearmost disordered Austrian regiment. This was destroyed and then pursued into the rear of the forward Austrian regiment destroying that.
At the end of Game Turn 3 the Austrian was 3 cohesion points from a crushing defeat, before their reserves had even arrived! With the terrain objectives firmly in the hands of the French we declared them the victors.
Rather than withdrawing the Chasseurs after their romp through the Austrian regiments, they decided to loiter for more victims.
Lessons Learnt
- The rules give an impressively Napoleonic feel to the game.
- Despite the time spent re-reading the rules as we played we judged it a qualified success; more games are definitely required.
- Force selection is important, specially if one might be faced with the prospect of defending an enemy assault.
- I believe that the terrain options need more feel for the different regions in Western Europe. The Danube Valley around Regensburg, is very different from Brussels, which is again very different from around Vienna!
- Defending an assault is difficult. The CinC needs to have more of a reserve than a battery and needs to strip regiments from the Divisions to provide him with one!
- I am sure other lessons learnt will occur to me!
