Prussians Garde

Well it's been over a year since I have done any painting on my classic Napoleonics. So this morning I dug out some figures and got them ready to go.

I have had some original HH Prussians Grenadiers for a while but not enough for a full 24 figure unit. However I have been  fortunate to be given a bag of 30 DK versions. The DK figures are not as crisp as originals and are slightly smaller.

The original figures have been painted to a reasonable standard so and I have decided to do a paint restoration rather than a full strip and paint. 

I will use 8 of the DK figures and will paint these to match the repaints. I will make one of these into a standard bearer. I am not sure if I will do a hand painted standard or use a printed one.

For the drummer I will use a Lamming figure I got with the painted Hintons. He will get a paint restoration.

Battle of Barosa 1811 - shiny DBN

This afternoon Tim W popped over for a game of DBN. We played the battle of Barosa using the scenario from the DBNwargaming website and my shiny 20mm Napoleonics.

The British attack and advance towards the distant hills. The terrain slows the British movement and the French decide to deny the British space and advance their centre and left to meet them.  The ravine, shown by the brown card and stones, hampers the British advance.

Solid British infantry push forward through the Pine woods. I dont have any Pines so had to use my old Merit Adler trees instead.

The British initially hold back their right which consist of 2 battalions of elite infantry supported by some less effective Spanish troops. The British also send some rifleman down the ravine to support their advance.

The Riflemen shield the advance as the battle in the centre and French left rages. 

French cavalry supported by infantry hold the high ground. The high ground is worth 2 Victory Points to the French. Each destroyed unit is worth 1 VP and the first to 7 VPs wins.

The British left holds fast and is able to push back the French left removing the French threat on that flank.

The French attack in the centre looks imposing however British musketry proves effective. Both sides take casualties and a battalion of French combined Grenadiers charge and overrun the unsupported British gun line. 

The British now launch their attack on the hill . Both sides have lost 5 units and the British have their best troops in the final push.

British musketry proves telling and as the volleys hit home the French lose 2 more VPs and victory goes to the British.

Another fun and closely fought game of DBN.

DBN - Battle of Elchingen - 1805

GH came over today and we played a couple of games DBN. It was his first go at the rules so after a quick explanation we started.

I used the Command and Colours scenario, with a few tweaks, for the map and force composition. 

The French, under Marshal Ney, are poised to launch their attack.  The objective is to capture both of the small towns (non linear fortifications in DBN terms) or to inflict 5 loses on the Austrians.

The Austrians are set up to defend the small towns and the range of hills. Their force does not include any Light Infantry elements but does include 2 units of Cuirassier.

The French attack on their right with heavy Columns advancing whilst their left  is held back.  The French have 3 light units and get a plus one on their Cap dice where as the Austrians are a -1. This gives the French greater flexibility to out manoeuvre the more ponderous Austrians. The French can also use attack columns with a +3 bonus which makes them tough against Austrian lines.

The French attack against Elchingen is successful however a counter attack by a Austrian elite element recaptures the town.

The French attack against the church is however thrown back and Austrian Light horse moves forward to threaten the French Infantry.

French Light cavalry heroically charge an Austrian horse artillery unit but lose the close assault and recoil before receiving rasping canister fire which destroys them.

With the French attacks failing the Austrian counter attack on their left are are able to win 5 vs 4 elements lost.

After a lunch and a pint on a local pub we changed sides are refought the game. In this game the Austrians and French tried 5 loses each and the game went into sudden death which saw the Austrians able to win 6 - 5. 

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.

DBN - Plancenoit

It's been a while since my classic Napoleonics have had an outing so I got them out and played a quick solo DBN game using the Plancenoit scenario from DBNwargaming.

I used 50mm unit frontage so increased the table size to 30 by 30 inches and used 1.25" = 100 paces.

The Prussians opened the game with some effective counter battery fire with the first shot causing 2 hits and a shaken status on one of the French guns. Both French guns were destroyed by the end of turn 3.

With the French artillery destroyed their left wing is made up of a single unit of Hussars.

Plancenoit is defended by a unit of Alberken infantry. A detachment defends the cottage which represents the church.

Bulow pushes forward his troops in massed columns.

The French cavalry attack a unit of Prussian Light Cavalry.  Both units have 2 hits and are shaken so its winner takes all. The French win and get a breakthrough charge and hit the  leading unit of Prussian attack column who are able to form square and drive off the French cavalry and then destroy them with musketry.

On turn 6 the Young Guard reinforcements arrive and use a good CAP throw and STMs (Strategic Moves) to quickly reach Plancenoit.

Its turn 9 and the Prussians close on Plancenoit ready to launch an assault next turn.

A unit of Guard arrives on Turn 9 and moves up.

On turn 11 the Prussian assault goes in. The first column fails to break in. The second is however successful and takes Plancenoit.

On turn 11 the French Old Guard counter attacks. Both units count as in being in bad going. The French are on a 4 the Prussians regulars a 2. The French roll a 4 the Prussians a 6. The melee is a tie. Both sides take a hit and a the units are locked in a desperate melee. 

In Turn 12 the Prussians are able to take the Church ( a strongpoint in DBN). However even though the Old Guard are shaken they beat the Prussians regulars and recapture Plancenoit. On the final French turn the Young Guard storm and recapture the church. 

A french victory but it was close.

Another fun game of DBN.

DBACW

My continuing affair with DBx related games saw me try out the ACW rules this afternoon using some 10mm figures I had knocking around.

I like these DB games as they allow me to play out a solo game in around an hour.  

The ACW has always been one of my favourite periods to game as I, like many others, am one of the Airfix generation. I have fairly large 28mm armies but limited space at home has meant these have not been used for a while.  Although I may use them for DBACW using 60mm instead of 40mm frontage for each element and use a 3ft square table for the standard 12 point game.

I am thinking of playing a solo ACW campaign using these rules and the old GDW board game a House Divided.

Here are a few photos of the game set up on a 2ft square gaming mat.

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.