The Battle of Uzaktan Savas

Following on from the Rejects' last remote 18th century adventure (see here), we gathered for another evening of mid century conflict.  This time an encounter between Catherine the Great's Russians and the Sultan's Ottoman Turks.

Two opposing players (Jon for the Russians and Ray for the Ottomans) were given the size of forces available, the army lists and a map of the battlefield.  Their job was to construct their armes and deploy ahead of the game.

The map sent to Jon and Ray.  Brown hex are hills, green squares are wooded hexes, the grey square is a village.
The white boxes are the deployment zones.  The Russians will deploy in the northern zone.

The Objectives

Simply put, the aim of both armies is to force their opponent to retire.

If one side doesn't concede then I'll refer to my (still on trial) army countdown clock where one is taken away for each retreat and defeat in melee. Three is removed if the road junction with their table edge is captured; 1 each is added for controlling the central bridge and road junction.

The Armies
The Russians (Jonathan and Dan)
1st Infantry Brigade: 3 line, 1 grenadier and 2 heavy artillery.

2nd Infantry Brigade: 3 line and 2 medium artillery.

1st Cavalry Brigade: 1 hussar

2nd Cavalry Brigade: 1 cuirassier and 1 dragoon

Independent units: 1 jäger and 1 cossack

The Ottoman Turks (Ray, Lee and Steve)
1st Infantry Brigade:  3 Janissary, 1 levee, 2 medium and 1 heavy artillery

1st Cavalry Brigade:  2 Spahi

2nd Cavalry Brigade:  1 Akinji, 1 Grand Visierial Guard

3rd Cavalry Brigade:  2 Akinji

Independent units:  1 Azab skirmish infantry, 1 Seyman skirmish infantry

Deployment

The table with the armies deployed.  The Russians to the north.
It looks like Ray has gone for overwhelming the Russian eastern flank with all of the Ottoman cavalry.

The Battle

The Russians move quickly to turn their high ground into a bastion against which the Turks will break themselves.  At the same time, redeploying their dragoons and cuirassiers from west to east to try and counter the Turkish mounted threat.
The Ottomans advanced along the whole line.  Swinging their cavalry wide on their right flank while skirmishers moved swiftly through the woods to harass.  However, Russian jagers and cossacks moved to nullify any immediate danger.

The battle of manoeuvre continued as cannons opened up on the western flank and Seyman, Azabs and jagers fought a running firefight in the woods.

The Russians started gaining the ascendancy in the woods.  Meanwhile, the Turkish heavy cavalry hurled itself into the defending infantry and cavalry.

A spahi unit suffered losses from Russian musketry fire and refused to charge into the disciplined line of bayonets and volleys.
However, the other heavy cavalry of the Sultan launched itself against the Tsarina's dragoons and cuirassiers, who countercharged.

Meanwhile in the centre, jagers and cossacks started to make bloody work of the Azabs.

The Ottoman heavy horse routed the Russian cavalry but were unable to exploit the situation further.  However, the men from Muscovy won control of the woods as they annihilated the Azabs.

As I tend to do, I asked the players what they would do if this battle was in the context of a larger campaign.  The Russians quickly responded that they would withdraw... and so they did!

Victory to the Turks!

Afterthoughts
I enjoyed seeing how this battle unfolded.  It was interesting to see how the more oriental Ottoman forces would stand up to the more modern Russians.

I think that it would be fair to say that the Turks were lucky to pass so many morale checks with their irregular troops.  This was critical.  The Turks have quite a fearsome army but are very brittle and units could retire at the first hit.  That they didn't showed how favourably the dice gods smiled on the Turks.

Thank you to Ray and Jonathan for participating in the army creation and deployment.

The Fictional Battle of Haftah ka Khel - AAR

Surjit and I got together on Saturday morning for another remote game of Koenig Krieg.  This time we ventured to the Indian sub-continent for a fictional battle between British and French forces.

Surjit was sent an image of the battlefield.  He had to select a 14 point British army and deploy on the northern edge of the map in the white box prior to the game.

The map for deployment sent prior to the game.
Brown hexes are hills. The green are woods.  The grey hex is a BUA.

I took control of the French, deploying in the southern deployment box.

The Armies

The British
1st Infantry Brigade: 1 European Foot, 1 Rajput, 1 levy unit and 1 heavy artillery

2nd Infantry Brigade: 1 European Foot, 1 Rajput, 1 Sepoy, 1 levy and 1 medium gun

3rd Infantry Brigade: 1 Sepoy, 1 Rajput, 1 levy and 1 medium gun

1st Cavalry Brigade: 1 Rajput heavy cavalry, 1 Native light cavalry

2nd Cavalry Brigade: 1 European light cavalry

Independent units: 2 units of Mahratta skirmish missile cavalry

The French
Infantry Brigade 1: 1 unit of European Foot, 1 Sepoy unit, 2 Mysore foot, 1 medium and 1 heavy artillery

Infantry Brigade 2: 2 units of Sikh levies, 1 Sepoy unit, 1 medium artillery

Cavalry Brigade 1: 1 European light cavalry, 1 Mysore light missile cavalry

Cavalry Brigade 2: 1 Sikh armoured cavalry, 1 European light cavalry

Cavalry Brigade 3: 1 Mysore Light Cavalry

Independent units: 1 unit of native levies, 3 units of Mogul skirmish missile cavalry

Deployment

The Battle

The plan, such as I had one, was to throw the Mogul cavalry forward to harass the enemy infantry, induce panic and shield the approach of my own.  All this whilst my cavalry held the flanks.

Both sides advanced quickly towards each other.  Mogul skirmish cavalry moved out on the right flank to occupy the British cavalry with their missile fire.
However, the French made a dreadful error by boxing in their cavalry reserve.

The Moguls on the right flank exploited the gap between the British cavalry and its infantry line by slipping inbetween.  This had the desired effect of forcing the flanking cavalry to turn back to deal with the situation.  Meanwhile, another Mogul unit induced a British levy unit to retreat along with a nearby battery; only to be caught by musketry from European foot and forced into a panicked retreat themselves.
In the centre, infantry began closing amidst musketry and artillery fire.
On the left flank, Hussars from both sides squared up to each other.

However, the British were to win the upper hand against both hussars and skirmish infantry.

The British then wasted no time in exploiting the situation.  The infantry on the hill charged into an unprepared and undeployed French regiment on the hill.  Further to the left, the British hussars crashed into a Mysore light cavalry unit and sent it reeling.

As for the melee on the hill, the unprepared foot unit was despatched without mercy.

The situation across the field of battle.
Not looking so good for the French!
The left flank looks ragged and the centre creaking.  Plus, the boxed in cavalry reserve is unable to take advantage of the situation on the right flank.

The centre was now fully engaged.  The air was thick with black smoke as casualties mounted on both sides.  However, British weight of infantry numbers was being brought to bear.

With two regiments charging the front and skirmish cav on the flank, the French European foot regiment was under extreme duress.

Despite fighting valiantly and inflicting heavy casualties with its cannon, the French foot suffered dire losses and retreated in haste and close to collapse.
A Mogul unit on the hill was compelled to surrender after being surrounded.  However, the Mogul cavalry on the right managed to escape from the attentions of the chasing British formed horse regiments.

At this point the French conceded the field and sought to withdraw as quickly as possible.

Afterthoughts

The situation at the end of the game.

That was an incredibly interesting and enjoyable game.  Battling with such exotic armies was a real test.  Neither of us really knew how to use our forces to best effect.  So, we learned alot during the game about how we would approach this arena of mid 18th century conflict in the future.

I kept the army countdown clock.  The result at the end certainly reflected the view and demise of the French.

Both clocks started on 14!

This was also a game with a greater degree of terrain which made for a different but entertaining challenge during play.  It was good that here was a game that was not decided by events on the flanks.

Lastly, I am very happy that Koenig Krieg and my army lists worked for a battle set on a non-European battlefield with non-European armies.  I just need to try out a SYW game set in North America.

The Battle of Wakefield, 1460 - A War of the Roses AAR

Jonathan Freitag and I took to the remote gaming table to stretch our hands across the Atlantic and fight his interpretation of the War of the Roses Battle of Wakefield (see here for his details).

An in-play photo, courtesy of J. Freitag

I took command of the Yorkists while Jonathan led the Lancastrians.

The initial deployment.
Rutland's archers overseeing the wagons en route to the castle.  The Duke of York rushing out to engage the Lancastrians.

While the wagons move slowly, York's Battle advanced aggressively towards Somerset and the newly arrived Northumberland.

Yorkist reinforcements arrive in the guise of Salisbury and his Battle.

Meanwhile York, hoping to gain a swift advantage, charged Northumberland's troops.  However, things do not go to plan.  Northumberland repels York's efforts but his men force him to fall back to reorganise.  Somerset now crashed into York throwing him back further.  But at the moment of victory, Somerset is wounded and has to be carried from the field.

With Clifford having arrived on the field to support the Lancastrian left, Northumberland hurled his men at the Duke of York's faltering Battle.  The melee is brutal.  In the crush the Duke of York is struck down, dead!  York's Battle is now a broken unit.

Rutland's archers on the Yorkist left keeps up a constant rain of arrows but to limited effect as Somerset and Clifford move to strengthen the Lancastrian battle line.
Salisbury moves forward to support the remnants of York's tattered Battle and shield the creeping supply wagons.

Hoping to reverse the situation, Salisbury launched his men at arms into Northumberland's depleted Battle.  

Northumberland's men at arms are annihilated as Salisbury's warriors sweep forward.  However, little do they realise that in the swirl of melee Salisbury is struck down and mortally wounded.  Seeking to wipe out Northumberland, Salisbury's now leaderless troops pursue and crash into Somerset's men.  The Yorkists are thrown back at great loss...

... and back again as Somerset is relentless in the pursuit.

The remaining Yorkists are not given a chance to rallying as Somerset's men deal out more slaughter.  Salisbury's Battle breaks under the strain.

With two of the three Battles broken, the Yorkists flee the field.  This has been a disaster for the Yorkist cause.  Two leaders dead on the field.  One of them the Yorkist leader himself!

Afterthoughts
By choosing to play the Yorkists, I knew that this was going to be a very tough battle to get a victory.  However, that did not stop this game being a tremendous amount of fun.  The challenge was to better the Yorkist performance.  Alas, I believe history was repeated.

A thoroughly enjoyable game.  Well done, Jonathan.

The Battle of Pondeli

Monday evening saw some Rejects gather for a game via Zoom.

This was a Seven Years War encounter between the Prussians and Austrians.  As is becoming the norm for remote games, the red and blue blocks were used with my hex adaptation of Koenig Krieg rules.

Ray and Dan commanded the Austrians (red).

Jonathan and Steve took charge of the Prussians (blue).

A rough sketch of the battlefield was emailed to the players. The Prussians won the choice of edge.

The rough sketch map.

The Prussians chose to have their army deployed on the top edge.

The Armies

Prussians (Jonathan and Steve)

1st Infantry Brigade

3 line

1 mercenary/freikorps

1 medium gun

2nd Infantry Brigade

2 line

1 grenadier

1 medium and 1 heavy gun

1st Cavalry Brigade

1 cuirassier

1 dragoon

2nd Cavalry Brigade

1 dragoon

1 hussar

1 jager acting independently

Austrians (Dan and Ray)

1st Infantry Brigade

1 line

1 grenadier

1 medium and 1 heavy gun

2nd Infantry Brigade

2 line

1 Hungarian fusilier

1 medium gun

1st Cavalry Brigade

2 cuirassiers

2nd Cavalry

1 dragoon

1 hussar

2 Croats acting independently

Deployment

The Battle

Both sides advanced; the Austrians slightly more aggressively.
Light troops began exchanging small arms fire on the left flank.
Austrian cuirassiers swiftly moved into position on the right.

Despite having the more flexible and attack minded infantry, the Prussians infantry held their ground while the Austrian foot advanced.  Artillery gunners fired their opening salvoes with infantry on both sides taking hits.
To counter the growing cavalry threat, Prussian guns and foot on the right opened up on the approaching Austrian horse.  However, their morale withstood the hail of lead.
On the far right, the Austrian cuirassiers charged prompting a massive Prussian countercharge.

In the swirling mounted clash honours were initially even.

However, the Prussian cuirassiers seized the initiative.  First falling on the Prussian light horse and throwing them back, the cuirassiers fell on the flank of the nearby Prussian foot.  After wiping out the gunners and routing the infantry, the Austrian heavies had Frederick's infantry before them.  Unfortunately, the horses were blown and compelled to pause in an exposed position.

A position that Prussian dragoons quickly took advantage.  With a regiment of Austrian cuirassiers eliminated, the struggle for the right flank had taken a turn in favour of the Prussians.

Meanwhile, the superior Prussian infantry refused to move.  Both sides taking casualties from artillery fire.
On the left, the Croats and jagers intensified their fire fight.

Alas, time is always the enemy.

I asked both sides to consider what they would do with their armies if this battle was in the context of a wider campaign.  Ray and Dan said that they would withdraw before their cavalry suffered anymore and exposed their flank.

I would call it a draw, the Prussians will claim a victory.

Afterthoughts
When looking at the dice clock for both sides, the situation was very close.  Both sides started at twelve.

However, what the clock does not say is that Austrian cavalry losses were heavier.  Both brigades having suffered at least 50% losses compared to much lighter casualties taken by the Prussian horse.  Reinforcing the Austrian perception that they would find it hard to defend their right flank.

I enjoyed the game.

This was a learning curve for some of the players.  So, there were a lot of questions to understand how things worked.  The plan is to have another game soon to start embedding the mechanisms.

From my perspective, the adaptations to Koenig Krieg worked well and require no change. Plus, the players tracked their blocks/ troops without asking my to tell them what was what.

I had a good evening with good friends.  Can't ask for more than that.

A Bit of Reading

I found this book in a charity shop, snapped it up, and read it straight away.

I cannot say that I learned much new about the developing military technology and its corresponding application. However, I found that the strength of the book was in how Stephen Turnbull took me, as the reader, across Europe and through time to narrate examples of the evolving art of warfare.

From the fall of Constantinople, to the conquest of Granada, past the Italian Wars, through the lowlands, onto Poland and to the Balkans, Turnbull writes of the changes in action.  

The campaigns and individuals are dealt with in a clear fashion without getting bogged down in unnecessary detail.  The biographies of the Chevalier Bayard, de Monluc, de la Noue and Captain John Smith (yes! He of Pocahontas legend) left me waiting to know more... especially about John Smith and his time fighting the Ottoman Turks.

The book has opened up to me an awareness of previously little known conflicts.  If I was made of weaker stuff (thinking of some of my fellow Rejects!!!) I might now be consider a new wargaming project.

Turnbull has not written a great, in-depth tome. Nor do I believe that was his intention. This is perhaps more of a survey over space and time.  And, for me, he has done a great job

Thoroughly enjoyable.

The Battle of Hoch-Zwölf

Steve and I went up against each other in a fictional remote game, via Zoom, using Koenig Krieg rules adapted for hexes.

Not having the figures for the Prussian army, I used my coloured blocks (see also The Battle of On Alti).  Steve commanded the blue Prussian army.  I took charge of the red Austrian army.  Both armies were compiled from my adaptation of the army lists from the Age of Reason ruleset.

It was a time limited encounter. We had a maximum of two and a half hours to play.  So, the battlefield was left open and flat.

The Deployment

Prussians (Steve)
5 line
1 grenadiers
1 mercenary/freikorps
1 jagers
2 dragoons
1 hussar
1 cuirassier
2 medium and 1 heavy artillery

Austrians (Me)

3 line

2 Croats

1 grenadier

1 Hungarian fusilier

2 cuirassiers

1 dragoon

1 hussar

2 medium and 1 heavy artillery

The Battle

My battle plan was to get my superior heavy cavalry, on the left, to throw back the Prussian horse then turn the Prussian infantry flank.  Whilst on the right flank, I aimed to hold and reduce the cavalry threat there.  I was hoping that this would be done before the better Prussian infantry could draw too close to mine.

Both sides advanced with all cavalry quickly cantering into close proximity.
Austrian Croats swarmed forward.  After pushing the Prussian Jagers back they began to harrass the infantry line.

Both centres continued to make a cautious approach towards each other.  Both sides testing the range of their artillery and inducing some nervous tension.  Croats and Jagers continued competing against each other.
On the left, the Prussians decided to trade space for time by withdrawing their cavalry slightly.  Meanwhile, on the right, both cavalry commanders were clearly overcome by martial excitement and charged.

Honours seemed even in the cavalry clash as Prussian dragoons and Austrian hussars were thrown back.  However, the Prussian hussars seized the initiative to thunder into the Austrian flank...

... with devastating consequences for the imperial horsemen!

So far, things were not going to plan!  But at least a regiment of Prussian Freikorps were compelled to retire and reorganise due to Austrian gunnery.

With both flanks still being fought over, there was much to play for.

On the left flank, the Austrians were able to force the issue and bring the Prussian cavalry into contact against their well trained cuirassiers.

Meanwhile, on the right, the Austrian hussar commander barely had enough time to rally and reorganise his troops before having to face the fury of a Prussian charge.

And furious it was!  With great savagery the Austrians were cut down.  The Prussian horsemen now turned towards the imperial flank.

In the centre, increasing artillery fire was starting to nibble at the ranks and morale of both sides with the Croats having had enough and withdrawing to cover and a Prussian line regiment faltering on the left and retiring out of danger.
However, the clash of horse on the left resulted in the Austrian cuirassiers failing to live up to their reputation and forced backwards and showing their tails.

After much action, time defeated both of us.

A Prussian victory was declared.  With one flank now horribly exposed to Prussian cavalry, the other one being contested and increasingly weak, and the Prussian infantry making its presence felt, the Austrian commander declared that, "if this was part of a campaign, I'd withdraw from the field of battle."  And so it ended.

Afterthoughts

That was a lot of fun.  That took 2.5 hours but with questions and rules clarification/explanation it was probably less than two hours of actual playing time.

The outcome was pretty clear.  With one flank turned, there was probably only one likely outcome.

However, I also did a countdown "clock".  Starting on twelve (each side had a 12 strength point army), I took one off the clock with each retreat and loss of melee.  As you can see, the Prussians had 9/12 left on their clock.  The Austrians 6/12.  This seemed to work and I'll try it again.  Koenig Krieg has it's own method for determining victory but I think that it works better with bigger games with more brigades.  Hence my trial with the "clock".

The two army "clocks".

I'm really pleased with the blocks for remote games.  Steve's first reaction on seeing the table was along the lines of, "that's really clear, much clearer than with figures."

All in all, a great way to spend a Saturday morning.