The Battle of Zom Kehl, 1761 - AAR

In a continuing series of mid 18th century clashes played remotely with the Rejects, this instalment took us to the struggle for control in the Indian sub-continent and a fictional encounter between the two aspiring European powers.

The players were sent the following blurb and map.

"Whilst the British and French battle over control of the New World and compete on continental Europe, the forces driving British and French interests in the sub-continent are contesting for control and influence.  You are all converging near the hills around Zom Kehl.  The fight for the destiny of central India is about to be fought.
"Victory goes to the side that can force the other to retire."

The game would be played with my hex adapted version of Koenig Krieg.

The Armies

The British - led by Steve and Jon
1st Infantry Brigade - 2 units of Rajput and 2 units of Levies.
2nd Infantry Brigade - 1 European Foot, 1 Sepoy, 1 Levy and 1 artillery.
3rd Infantry Brigade - 1 European Foot, 1 Sepoy, 1 Rajput and 1 artillery.
1st Cavalry Brigade - 1 European L.Cavalry and 1 Rajput heavy cavalry
Independent Skirmish Units - Mahratta Skirmish Cavalry

The French - led by Ray and Dan
1st Infantry Brigade - 1 European Ft, 1 Sikh Levy, 2 Mysore Infantry and 1 artillery.
2nd Infantry Brigade - 2 Sikh Levies, 2 Sepoys and 1 artillery.
1st Cavalry Brigade - 2 units of European Hussars.
2nd Cavalry Brigade - 1 Mysore L.Cavalry.
Independent Skirmish Units - 1 unit of native infantry levies and 2 units of Mogul cavalry.

With a lot of irregular and low quality troops, plus cavalry who can shot from the saddle, this was shaping up to be an intriguing encounter.

Deployment

The armies were constructed by Ray and Steve from army lists I supplied.  They were also responsible for their deployment on the map, which was as follows:

The Battle

The British quickly advanced all along the line.  The French advance was a little more measured with their formed cavalry swinging to cover the western flank (concern about the upcoming artillery seemed uppermost in their mind) and the skirmishing Mogul cavalry racing around on the eastern.

The French quickly pushed their native levies through the woods to harass the British Sepoys.  But having attracted their attention, the Sepoy and Rajpat units turned their ire on them.

A swift charge and overwhelming numbers proved to be just enough to dislodge the French levies and send them running.

With this initial success, the British commanders swung their mounted brigade round their flank, whilst their Mahratta skirmish cavalry started operating a hit and run tactic in the centre.  Successfully forcing a unit of Sikh levies to retire from their shooting.
Along the line the infantry continued to close as French Moguls began their harrying of the British flank.

Infantry and artillery opened up, inflicting casualties.  One Mogul unit retired after receiving a volley just as the British Mahrattas continued its hit and run promenade in the centre.
However, the action was about to get up close and personal on the western flank as the French suddenly felt emboldened to take the fight to the British.

With commanders attached and committed, the French charged with Hussars and Mysore light cavalry against the heavier British Rajput cavalry.

In this unequal contest, numbers overwhelmed weight.  With heavy losses the Rajputs were thrown backwards.

The French were quick to exploit the situation to crash into the British Hussars....

... who also took a pounding and were compelled to follow their fellow Rajputs in retreat.  However, the French Mysore cavalry was now out of control and ignored the rest of the fight.  Nonetheless, the French Hussars saw the rear of the Rajputs and put the remnant to the sword.

The situation across the battlefield.  

Seeing an opportunity to remove the British cavalry threat from the west, the French commanders manoeuvred their cavalry to confront the last of the British Hussars.
On the eastern flank, the Moguls continued to harass the British.  However, the infantry began to close.  With artillery and muskets firing, morale along the line was being tested.  All managed to stand except a French native unit.

Seeing the imminent danger the British Hussars swung round.  However, the French caught them with their charge.
Now you see them...

... now you don't!

With French cavalry success on the western flank, their hopes now turned to the east.  However, their European foot unit was cut to shreds and forced to retreat from the British European line and native units.
With their backs now to the British, the victorious troops pursued...

... and annihilated the fleeing French.

With honours seemingly even, both armies were beginning to show signs of wavering.

The French army's countdown clock was on minus 3.  At zero, an army has to take a morale check.  Four and under to pass.  For every minus on the clock there is a minus on the morale check.  The French needed to roll a one... they rolled a two!

So, victory to the British.

Afterthoughts

An interesting encounter with both sides rather unsure about how best to play their armies.  They would probably know for next time... perhaps!

With so many low grade irregular troops on both sides prone to morale checks with every hit, the battle could well be influenced by the side whose morale held better.  In this case, it was the French who saw more of their troops retiring from enemy shooting.  With equal numbers of units destroyed in melee, this was critical.  Plus, the French cavalry commander was never able to regain command of his Mysore cavalry - which ran off in search of baggage.  These all weakened the French army morale faster and further than the British, who themselves were down to 1 on the clock!

A close and tightly fought battle.

The Battle of Fernspiel, A SYW Remote Encounter

Continuing the Rejects' run of fictional 18th century remote games, we gathered for another evening of mid century conflict.  This time an meeting engagement between Catherine the Great's Russians and the Prussians of Frederick the Great.

The Russians have been advancing towards Berlin.  Quick to react, Frederick led a Prussian army to intercept it.  With faulty reconnaissance on both sides, the armies collided to the east of the village of Fernspiel.  Unable, or perhaps unwilling, to avoid a clash the troops were quickly deployed.

This is a meeting engagement.  The Prussians have arrived from the north.  Frederick is present on the battlefield.

Two opposing players (Jon for the Prussians and Lee for the Russians) 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 Lee.  Brown hex are hills, green squares are wooded hexes.
The white boxes are the deployment zones.  The Prussians will deploy in the northern zone.

The Objectives

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

This will be determined by either player deciding to cede the field when asked what they would do if this battle was part of wider campaign.  Alternatively, once an army point countdown clock has reached zero and an army morale check is failed.

The Armies

The Russians (Lee and Ray) - Red
1st Infantry Brigade: 4 line and a heavy battery
2nd Infantry Brigade: 2 line, 1 grenadier and a medium battery
3rd Infantry Brigade:  2 line, 1 grenadier, a heavy and a medium battery
1st Cavalry Brigade:  2 dragoons
2nd Cavalry Brigade:  2 hussars
Independent units: 1 jagers and 1 cossack

The Prussians (Jonathan and Dan) - Blue
1st Infantry Brigade: 4 line and a medium battery
2nd Infantry Brigade: 1 line, 2 grenadier and a medium battery
3rd Infantry Brigade:  2 line, 1 mercenary, and a heavy battery
1st Cavalry Brigade:  2 dragoons
2nd Cavalry Brigade:  2 cuirassiers
3rd Cavalry Brigade:  1 hussar
Independent units: 1 jagers

Deployment

The two sides constructed and deployed their own forces without knowledge of the other side's dispositions.

The Battle

Both sides knew their armies and deployment.  So, it was agreed that the game started with neither side aware of the type of units opposing them other than that they were infantry, cavalry etc.

The Russian infantry made a general advance onto the southern ridgeline as Frederick consolidated his infantry's position on the northern ridge.  Taking advantage of the Russians in column, the German artillery found their range and began causing casualties.  The King also threw his jagers forward into the small woods between the ridges.  The jagers would prove to be a continual annoyance.  
The Prussian cavalry moved aggressively on the western flank.  Meanwhile, the Russian commanders sought to bring their hussar reserves from east to west to support the dragoons as they started manoeuvring the fast moving cossacks in the opposite direction.

With the Russians swinging their cossacks onto the eastern flank and the infantry moving off the ridge and towards the Prussian flank, the intention of a "right hook" was clear.
Meanwhile, the Prussian cavalry continued to advance.  Whilst the Russian commanders sought to avoid a cavalry clash until their redeployment was complete, their rightmost hussars found themselves within charge range of Frederick's cuirassiers.

Prussian and Russian horse clashed across the stream.  The heavier German cavalry overwhelmed the hussars throwing them back in disarray.

Momentum and wild enthusiasm compelled the cuirassiers to lose control and throw themselves onto the flank of another hussar regiment.

The outcome was swift and deadly as the hurl of sabres cut through and annihilated the Russian light horsemen.

Unable to rein the troopers in, the armoured riders continued their pursuit and finished off the Tsarina's hussars.

On a rules point, Koenig Krieg allows for an exploitation phase following a successful combat phase for those units that charged.  This can be quite dramatic.  It is designed to reflect the disruption, mess and chaos that follows melee before both sides are able to reflect and readjust lines as required.

As the cavalry started engaging on the western flank, cannons and muskets were beginning to cover the battlefield in black smoke.

As the Russian right hook continued to develop, Frederick withdrew his infantry from the ridgeline.  Meanwhile, he advanced the infantry on the other flank.  More and more, gunners and musketeers opened up as casualties mounted.
Seemingly far from the infantry action, the cavalry action was developing.

In the centre, one of the Tsarina's regiments was given the order to assault the hill.

Unfortunately, the Prussian advantages of position and supporting artillery sent the Russians back, reeling from the experience.

On the west four regiments of dragoons hurled themselves at each other.  Brigade commanders from both sides leading by example.

In, what was a close fight, the Prussian riders were forced to retreat.  However, their brigade commander was left died on the field of battle!  The Russian dragoons advanced to be in position to catch the enemy at the first opportunity.

The situation as the cavalry fight for control of the western flank.

Having been subjected to some accurate Russian gunnery, Prussian foot and guns are forced to retire.  However, the Prussian jagers holed up in the woods were causing a lot of nervous tension in the advancing Russian infantry.  So much so, that the commanders were becoming increasingly distracted and focused on destroying them.

As the Prussian cuirassiers turned to threaten the Russian rear, the dragoons moved into position to continue their fight.
Russian infantry was compelled to turn to face the mounted threat.  Their right hook stopped and turned to concentrate on the Prussian jagers.  Regiment after regiment poured fire into the woods but somehow the skirmishers' morale held.  This left the lone cossacks to move behind the Prussian eastern flank.  However, Frederick now put his plan into action.  With the Russians now exposing their right flank, the Prussian infantry marched back over the ridge to position themselves to present the Russian commanders with a horrible sight.  Leaving the Prussian hussars to face the cossacks, Frederick could concentrate his forces against the Russian infantry.
We were reaching the crisis moment of the battle.

On the Russian left, their dragoons crashed into one enemy unit while the other Prussian unit wavered.

With the weight of numbers on their side, the Muscovy dragoons unhorsed and rode down much of their opponent.  With the rightmost dragoons overcome by their victory, the commander lost control of the horsemen and they swept forward.
Fortunately the other dragoons maintained their composure and fell on the wavering Prussian dragoons.

Stunned by the impact, more German riders fell to the Russian sabres and flew back towards their own lines.

On the Russian right flank, they were about to find out what happens when distracted.  The Prussian infantry charged into the Russian flank and front.  The combat was savage and the Russian unit annihilated.

Keeping typical Prussian composure, Frederick's foot exploited the moment and fell onto the unsuspecting flank of the next Russian infantry unit.  With equal brutal efficiency, the Russians were forced to flee, leaving half their comrades dead and wounded behind them.

With the Russian infantry facing enemy to the front and rear, and the cavalry engagement still quite distant and undecided, the position for the Tsarina's army was looking precarious.

At this point, I asked both sides what they would do if this battle was in the context of a wider campaign.  The Russians decided to retire.

Nonetheless, I also consulted the army countdown clocks. 

The Russians had reached zero (minus three in fact!) and were required to take an army morale check anyway.  They rolled... and failed.

So, victory to the Prussians.

Afterthoughts

That was an incredibly entertaining game and a very interesting one to watch.  

Koenig Krieg provides quite a number of decision points and it was a lot of fun to see and hear the players discuss and struggle in their decision making.

There was some titanic cavalry action and the infantry was engaged.  Controlling the initiative was vital, yet also a dilemma.  

Both sides played really well.  However, in my opinion, three critical and related moments may have turned the battle.

1. The pausing and reorienting of the Russian infantry on the right flank to face the jagers in the woods instead of facing forward and/or continuing the right hook.  This decision opened up the infantry flank which Frederick (Jonathan) exploited by moving his infantry over the ridge and into position to charge.

2. Throwing the cossacks into the Prussian rear instead of shielding the Russian infantry flank.

3. The Prussian jagers occupying the small woods between the ridges became a great distraction and took the Russian eye off the bigger picture.  The effort to remove the jagers instead of bypassing them left the Russians vulnerable.

Congratulations to the players for playing so well and making for a great evening.

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.