SYW using DBN

It's been a whole since I posted so I thought I would post a SYW game I recently played a using the SYW version of DBN using my 28mm collection. 

DBN (De Bellis Napoleonicis) is a Napoleonic set of rules but has supplements for a range of periods including SYW and ACW. I helped design and a test the SYW supplement which is available as a free download from DBN Wargaming

I played a 26 point game, loosely based on the battle of Kolin, with Alex Testo the author of DBN. The game was closely fought with my Austrians claiming victory in a game that lasted 2 hours. 

Massed ranks of Frederick's finest. Although in the game the Austrians proved to be more than match for them.

Each base, or element, is a unit and I have rebased my infantry on 80 by 40mm bases with 10 figures.  This will also allow me to use 3 bases as a 30 figure unit for Grants The Wargame.

Cavalry bases are 80 by 60mm and have either 3 or 4 figures depending on type.  I have organised these so I can use 2 bases for the Wargame.

A unit of Prussian Jager defending  a wood. The Jager are actually Barry Minot 1806 Prussians which I bought around 1975 and are still going strong. 

An artillery battery is based on a 80mm square base. The big bases make is a lot easier both playing a game and storing/transporting the figures.

DBSYW 15mm figures

I have been busy rebasing some old 15mm Tricorne troops for more playtesting of the SYW variant of DBN.

Some of the figures I have unearthed are 15mm minifigs from the 1980s and GNW cavalry. I also have a few newer figures including a couple of freshly painted French guns. The armies will represent the Grand Duchy of Calvados and the Electorate of Furstenburg-Lederhosen and its allies in the Electoral Kreis.

DBSYW - Chotusitz (ish)

Played another playtest of DBSYW set in the war of Austrian succession loosely based on the battle of Chotusitz.

Prussian infantry and Austrian Cavalry were all rated as elite.

The Austrians have 14 elements set up on the table  and the onus is on them to attack before the Prussian reinforcements arrive.

The Prussians only have 6 elements on the table  with 7 more to arrive as reinforcements. However they have some high ground and the village of Chotusitz to defend. The Prussian cavalry is exposed with their backs to the pond.

The Austrian cavalry launch a ferocious attack on the Prussian cavalry and in the ensuing melees they easily push back and destroy the Prussian cavalry.

The Austrian infantry in the centre push forward and are soon trading musketry with the Prussian Infantry.

The Austrian grenadiers try to take Chotusitz but are beaten back and destroyed. The Prussian reserves have arrived and are now in supporting distance of the Infantry battle. Time is running out for the Austrians.

The Austrian cavalry now launch flank attacks on the Prussian infantry and although they destroy the Prussians guns are thrown back by the Prussian infantry and then destroyed by musketry.

The Prussian infantry are getting the upper hand with Austrian infantry struggling against the effective Prussan volleys. The Austrian cavalry are able to throw back the Prussian cavalry and stabilise their right wing.

With loses mounting the Prussians launch an attack on a shaken Austrian infantry uunit. They have the advantage 6 - 3  (shown by the black and white dice) The Austrian roll a 6 however the Prussians roll a 3 and the melee is drawn.  Both sides take a loss which destroys the Austrian infantry unit and takes them to 50% loses overall. The Prussians have lost 5 elements so a historic Prussian victory. But it was close.

DB SYW action

This afternoon I set up a quick DB SYW game using my small 6mm collection. The game looks a bit like Lobositz and featured the Prussians attacking the Austrians.  3 Austrian Infantry and 2 Cavalry behind the Morellenbach stream had to roll equal or less than the turn number on a D6 before they could cross the stream. The onus was on the Prussians to strike quickly whilst they have the numerical advantage.

The Prussians deployed ready to advance.

The Prussian advance into the valley as they attack the Austrian Grenz on the Losbosch to protect their flanks.

The Austrians roll a 2 on the second turn releasing the forces behind the Morellenbach stream. The Prussians are up against it so launch their cavalry into the attack. 

The Cavalry melee is initially successful however the Prussian Dragoons are driven back and are ultimately destroyed.

The Austrian commander supports his Cuirassiers who counter attack and drive off and destroy the Prussians cavalry.

As the cavalry battle continues the Prussian Infantry advance and engage the Austrians in front of Lobositz.

The Prussian infantry are a tough nut to crack as they destroy an Infantry and Artillery unit. However Prussian loses are mounting and the victorious Austrian cavalry are now attacking the Prussian Infantry in support of the remaining Austrian Grenadier unit. The Prussians loses are now reach 50% and the game is up.

Fun game done and dusted in an hour.

SYW 6mm Update

Since my last post I gave decided to go with slightly smaller 40 by 30mm bases for these 6mm chaps.

I have now completed enough figures for a small game of DBSYW.  All figures are from the Baccus range.  

First up the Austrians.

The Prussians include Kleist Jager as I had spare Austrian Grenzer figures.

I have also got some more unpainted figures and I will be adding extra units over the coming months.

SYW 6mm basing

Yesterday afternoon was a pleasant and sunny so I sat n the garden doing a spot of rebasing of my 6mm SYW armies.

That morning I had tried out different bases sizes by blue tracking unpainted figures down.  I came to the conclusion that I needed larger bases if I wanted an Infantry and Cavalry units to look the part.

For Infantry I went for 60 by 30mm with 20 figures in a line with a mounted officer and 4 extra figures with 2 behing and 2 in front of the battalion line. 

For cavalry I wanted to represent a unit with gaps and space between the squadrons and decided to use as 4 squadrons as the basic configuration. I know Prussian and Austrians both had more squadrons but in the end of the day the solution  looks ok.

This Austrian Cuirassier unit has an extra officer added and I will probably to this fir new units as I paint them up.

SYW - 6mm

I started a SYW project in 6mm over 5 years ago as a solution to losing my permament gaming table when we  moved house.  The plan was to build large units of 48 infantry and 24 cavalry figures and play the War Game on a kitchen table.

I have recently be playing DBN with my old 15mm Napoleonic collection and I am about to play test DBSYW. Rather than use my 28mm collection I thought this would be an opportunity to use the 6mm SYW collection. For DBSYW I plan to use 2 bases to represent a unit.

Well I undertook a quick review of what I had and of course I quickly decided that I needed some more units.  

First up some Prussian Grenadiers of the Braunschweig-Bevern Infantry Regiment. 

For the Austrians I have added some Grenadiers of the Deutschmeister Infantry Regiment.

And finally some Prussians of the 3rd Dragoon Regiment.  Freshly varnished with a coat of gloss varnish.