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.