Tarawera Wargaming Trip - Game One - Napoleonic

Welcome to the first of five reports about the games our group played this year in the garage at our friend John’s beautiful holiday home adjacent to Lake Tarawera. Unfortunately, as most if not all readers will know, our great gaming buddy Mark of 1866 and All That fame was unavoidably delayed due to his wife being admitted to hospital on Monday. It was a great shame Mark missed more than  half the games, but thankfully his wife’s condition stabilised and she was able to go home and after twenty four hours to ensure she was fully recovered, Mark joined us for the last two and a half days.

Mark has already posted a report on his game, a Crimean War slog fest loosely based on the Battle of Inkerman, but as he was not present for the first two games, my reports will be all that are available.

Game One designed by Chris was a Napoleonic scenario played on quite open terrain and pitting an Allied Russian/Austrian Army against the French and Bavarians. Like Marks later game, this turned out to be a mammoth struggle, and I cant really recall how we called it in the end. I lost an entire brigade of Austrians from rolling high on a brigade morale test – Paul who was playing the French lost a brigade through an unlucky frontal assault where he rolled eight dice to Johns three, but only scored one hit to three hits by John for a bloody repulse. Paul could easily have lost another brigade to a morale check, in the same way I did, but he managed to roll a 4 when required, whereas I did not ☹

Barry (Bavarians) and Rick (Russian) on the other flank, fought each other to a standstill although I think Rick was starting to get the upper hand.

Chris had used a point system based on VP’s for objectives held – roads, bridges, buildings etc. For much of the game, I was in the lead with 25 points due to holding three roads and two bridges, but the loss of an entire brigade at the eleventh hour had a huge negative impact! Thinking back as I write, I think using the points system, our Allied army did prevail – but only just! The good thing was, everyone got a game that lasted the entire day, no one had an absolute disaster (although Paul was quite annoyed with himself for his impetuous charge!) and everyone had some success to take away from an enjoyable days gaming.

After a wonderful dinner of home made Bouef Bourginon (kindly pre cooked by Marks wife and transported to Tarawera by Chris) we relaxed with a few drinks and watched Sharon Stone gunfighting her way through “The Quick and the Dead” on Netflix! A great first day.

 

 

      Austrian artillery, preceded by cavalry, head down a road to seize control of one of the bridges

  The second Austrian brigade, covered by Kurassiers, advance (all Austrian figures are mine and are mainly Sash and Sabre but with some Old Glory as well)

The first Austrian brigade on heights overlooking the river (which was fordable at all points but took three full moves to cross). The bridge mentioned previously can be seen. The French under Paul were in the area on the other side of this river.

My Austrians in the foreground, Russians to the left – John nearer me then Rick at the far end – Bavarians in the top right and Pauls French nearer me, and opposite John.

 

Out of focus shot of some of the forty year old, old school shiny Russians

 

 

Ricks Russians advance towards Barry’s Bavarians

 

A view from the opposite end of the table – Ricks Russians on the right, Barry’s Bavarians on the left

 

Pauls French

 

The first Austrian brigade close up on the river, prior to wading across. Chris took the precaution of declaring the river as 300mm wide, meaning the musket armed troops could not fire across from one bank to the other, Additionally, troops fording the river could not fire whilst engaged in wading across

 

Second brigade taking control of the bridge

 

To my left, John’s Russians advance towards the French

 

The French cavalry brigade before their heroic and successful charge against John’s Russians. The French forces were mainly Front Rank figures from Paul’s collection

 

The French cavalry charge!

 

The guns were over run, the gunners fled and adjacent infantry battalions pushed back

 

Meanwhile, the Austrian first brigade waded across the river to the left flank of the French

 

French gunners line up their next shot at the Russians!

 

The Austrian second brigade wade across the river above the bridge whilst in the distance, the Austrian cavalry advance via the bridge and also by fording the river.

 

The French advance on Johns Russians

 

One the Russian left, Ricks guns hold the heights, supported by infantry. His cavalry took a bit of a pasting from Bavarian artillery though…..

 

For all you lovers of old style shiny gloss true 25mm figures – the Russians advance.

 

Multiple battalions of Pavlovsky Grenadiers await Pauls French

 

A Russian battalion assaults a French square but despite several advantages, failed to break the Old Guard!

 

View from the far end of the Bavarian line – Barry occupied the town early, gaining 20 VP’s

 

Same view but slightly different angle

 

The Russians press forward against the French, supported by Austrian cavalry

 

Broken French units routing before the victorious Russian infantry

 

Rick’s Russians, (far side) push forwards against Barry’s Bavarians

 

Austrian first brigade standing toe to toe with the French, trading volleys of close range musketry

 

The gunners were virtually all that stood between the second brigade and Austrian cavalry

 

An impressive array of Austrian horseflesh waits for an opportunity to charge the French

 

The Austrian infantry continue to press the French left wing

 

Rick’s Russians pile the pressure on the Bavarians, forcing them to back step

 

Austrian guns supporting the advance

 

The fire fest on the Austrian front continues – both sides took multiple casualties and were approaching exhaustion

 

Another poor quality shot but had to record this event – in the final action of the game, my Austrian cavalry successfully charged and broke a French square!

 

The first game of five was over and a good day was had by all, with the possible exception of Paul, who was very hard on himself for failing to break John’s Russians with his infantry assault.