Another 4Play GNW Mini Solo Game

 This "mini" solo game is based on the final phase of the battle of Poltava, July 8 1709, when 10 understrength battalions of Swedish infantry amounting to around 4000 men attacked 22,000 Russians arrayed in 42 battalions of infantry, supported by numerous pieces of artillery.

The 4Play formula is again the "newer" 4 x 4 table version, and they have around four Swedish battalions taking on about 20 Russian ones. On my 3 x 3 table, I cannot accommodate this already scaled down version of the battle, so I went with 2 battalions of Swedes against five of Russians. The game played out over 7 turns and lasted just over an hour.

The initial layout above and below with the Swedish Liv Garden and Narke Varmlands battalions advancing against a crescent shaped line of Russian infantry. 

The Swedish commander, Rhenskold, was classed as a skilled commander whilst Tsar Peter I was rated as Competent (pre game dice rolls)

In turn one, both commanders started well, with all units on both sides receiving orders. Both Swedish battalions advanced fearlessly towards the enemy lines, whilst the Russian leader issued his men with orders to defend. At the end of the movement phase, massed volleys roared out from both sides, but with the two flanking battalions of Russian infantry already within short range, casualties on the Swedish units were higher.

Stunned by the ferocity of the initial volleys, the Swedish leadership struggled to control their men, and only one unit received orders. The Narke Varmlands battalion were instructed to charge the nearest Russian unit but quailed at the order, simply holding their ground. Another volley crashed out from the vastly superior Russian gun line, and more Swedes fell lifelessly to the ground. Both the Liv Garden and Narke Varmlands had already sustained over 30% casualties! Worse was to follows as in turn 3, the Swedish advance stalled completely, as the bewildered commanders struggled to form any plan of attack. The Russians fired again, taking both battalions up to 50% casualties.... things were looking grim indeed.

On turn four, the Narke Varmlands battalion finally came to life and charged forwards through the dense smoke that enveloped the field, aiming for red coated Butyrski regiment. 

Desultory defensive fire caused a casualty but failed to stop the Swedes, but despite fighting with several advantages, a 2 all draw was the result of the charge, taking the Swedes to almost 66% casualties. Despite this, their morale held, and the melee continued into turn five. 

Meanwhile, the stalled Liv garden took another round of musketry from two battalions of Russian infantry.

In turn five, Rhenskold and his command team again suffered from a crisis of confidence and no orders were issued at all. In contrast, Tsar Peter, sensing victory was close, was filled with confidence, and all the Russian units received clear and concise instructions. The Sibirski and Ingermanlandski regiments advanced to support their brothers of the Butyrski regiment in combat with the weakened Narke Varmlands battalion. The result was inevitable, a crushing victory for the Russians, and the Swedish battalion disintegrated as the few remaining soldiers who were not either dead or wounded, dispersed and fled.

In turn six, the Liv Garden finally came to life and put in a valiant charge against the fresh Azovski regiment. In fierce hand to hand combat, the blue coated Russians were forced to give ground to the elite Swedish household troops.

But the sensation of triumph was short lived as both the St Petersburgski and Ingermanlandski regiments attempted to take the guards in either flank. Both failed to charge home, however. The undaunted Swedes surged forwards in a charge of their own but carrying almost 66% casualties, it was a lost cause and after a fierce hand to hand struggle, with neither side giving quarter, the pride of the Swedish army was forced back, and surrounded on all sides by fresh Russian troops, their commanders made the only sensible and honourable decision, and ordered the few remaining guardsmen to lay down their arms. (the 1 on a d12 morale roll indicated the guards should retreat)

Well, it was short and sweet, for the Russians at least, who lost far fewer casualties from Swedish fire than they inflicted. It certainly was a very one-sided game, and it would have needed some superhuman efforts from the Swedes (flukey dice rolls!) for it to end any other way. Unfortunately for General  Rhenskold, his luck really ran the other way, with pretty poor command rolls on the whole, including a 1 which gave the Swedes no orders at all at one point.

It was nice to get most of the recently painted Russian infantry onto a table, albeit a rather small one that struggled to fit them all in! Hopefully over the coming weekend, I can manage to get the Preobrazhenski Guards finished off. 

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you all have a good weekend!