Scenario test - An accidental encounter

Both armies are on the move and in an attempt to hinder their opponent the attacking army have despatch an advance guard to seize and hold a key junction. This must be held until nightfall as reinforcements will arrive the following morning. The opposition have caught wind of the plan and have despatched their own force to contest the move.

Forces and time clock:

Both forces are of equal strength, consisting of two battalions of infantry, a unit of light troops and two regiments of cavalry. Hanover have a ‘bold’ general commanding their force and the French, a ‘rash’ general. Forces sight one another at 09.00 hours leaving 13 hours of daylight.

 

Test one

Using the Collision Course variant, both forces have marched cross country delaying the formation of a battle line. The Franch have deployed their cavalry to the left of their battle line while Hanover have positioned their cavalry to each flank.

Before infantry lines reach shooting distance, a cavalry fight erupts on the Hanoverian right. The resulting combat proves ineffective and both sides break off to rally. Following an exchange of musket volleys, the 1^st battalion of Swedes sweep the Hanoverian jaegers away and come face-to-face with Hanoverian line infantry.

Despite being disordered, the 1^st battalion of Swedes charge the Hanoverian line forcing them back. Elsewhere, French light troops skirmish with a second Hanoverian battalion. French cavalry, in reserve, wheel right to take the Hanoverians in flank, needing little time to send them off the field. The Hanoverian centre critically exposed, leave the field as nightfall approaches, leaving the French to hold the crossroads.

Test two

Terrain is changed slightly to give both sides the advantage of road movement. Rain has fallen making both fields a quagmire limiting the available dry ground.

The brigade of Swedes surge passes the crossroads and are met by the Hanoverian infantry. The Swedish left is charged in flank by Hanoverian cavalry, but these take a withering fire from French light troops positioned at the edge of the wood.

The attack to their flank proves devastating and the Swedes are routed leaving a lone second Swedish battalion to grimly hold on. It does not take long before French command decides to withdraw and leave the crossroads to Hanover.

Observations

Both sides were able to score a success which is good news. The current series of tests take place in Western Germany where terrain may vary between arable, hilly or forest regions. This is determined first by a die cast, followed by the random selection of a terrain card from the appropriate deck. This negates the use of maps and time taken for map movement.

Scenario test, a cavalry skirmish

Both armies have established a defensive line spanning a distance of 30 to 40 kilometers. Garrisons hold key positions and during the subsequent waiting game both sides send patrols to probe weaknesses or any significant changes. In this scenario, the attacker’s objective is to engage an enemy patrol and take prisoners. A reconnaissance in force has been assembled for the task, but take caution as the enemy may do likewise.

 

Test one.   

Constricted by marsh and wood, French dragoons and the Bercheny hussars deploy and prepare to engage the Hanoverian troops.

The French dragoons launch their attack keeping the Bercheny hussars as a reserve.

The cavalry action in centre results with both sides falling back to rally, unfortunately, for the French, the Holstein-Gottorp dragoons have turned the table to rout their opposition. Having lost a third of his command and fearing the return of Holstein-Gottorp, the French general wisely leaves the field to Hanover.  

Test two.

A second encounter takes place in a forested area yet an open area offers sufficient ground for all to deploy.

This time, both sides leave adequate distance between lines so as to build sufficient momentum to charge. Holstein-Gottorp dragoons opened the dance and charge the Bercheny Hussars. The remaining regiments held their positions and await the outcome of the first combat.

After an inconclusive melee, the dragoons and hussars break off combat to reorganise. Feeling lucky, French command launched both dragoon regiments, La Reine and Colonel General, and attack the Reusch and Malachowski hussars.

Both sides, evenly matched break off after an inconclusive fight to fall back to their original positions. Casualties are slight and honour now satisfied, both generals salute one another and marched their command off the field.

Observations.

Of the twelve scenarios, this one requires the least amount of time to play and for that reason, players may wish to replay the scenario adding one or more options listed, such as, alternative terrain choice, adding a general’s characteristic, and varied troop class. 

In these tests, both generals were deemed average and troop were classed as trained. Hanover fulfilled their objective by capturing a number of prisoners in test one. The second test ended in a bizarre manner with both sides engaging all their units, but inflict no casualties (no prisoners).   

Scenario test: Pursuing the enemy rear guard

The defending army plan to move their camp from its current location to one offering a better defensive position. The move would be done under the cover of night and to gain a day’s march on the enemy, a rear guard must remain behind creating the illusion of an active camp. The rear guard would depart the late morning to rejoin the army. 

Having fulfilled their task, the rear guard set off to rejoin the army. Later that morning, scouts report the approach of pursuing cavalry, prompting a search for a suitable position for battle.

Terrain and size of forces

The defender casts a die to determines where the combat will take place, arable or forest. Both forces are of equal size, but slightly differ in composition.

 

Test one.

The first test posed a number of problems, the board size was set at 120cm x 80cm, in expectation of a decent rear-guard action. The Hanoverian rear guard managed to avoid any real contact by the French and secondly, the playing cards used for time control accelerated the approach of dusk, thus ending the game.  

During the course of the test, withdrawing troops became a problem as the rules limit formation changes to; column to line or the reverse and stepping back (allowed to elite and veteran infantry). Nearing the end of the test, the solution appeared allowing a unit of cavalry to retire, as seen to the right of the wood.

The test concluded after eight turns with Hanover holding the French advance guard at bay.

 

Test two.

The board, reduced to a standard 80cm x 80cm, brought both forces deployed for battle at 0900 hrs., as nightfall was 13 hours away, this was poised to be an interesting conflict.  

The additional formation change worked well, allowing Hanover to withdraw half their force while the remainder covered their retreat. This action was repeated for several turns allowing the rear guard to approach the board edge before nightfall.

Plagued with poor pip scores, the French cavalry made a last-minute charge to salvage the day and selected an isolated gun to attack. Gun crew survived later repulsing the French dragoons, elsewhere, a second dragoons fared no better, losing a few casualties for their effort.