Category Archives: Andy – Wargaming

Back to North Devon

In order to “finish off” the last game,  Sunday morning saw a return visit “up north”

The terrain had be rolled back 2ft to give the allies room to retreat and some reserve space to move around in,

Having set up a well organised attack the previous visit as French, I was asked to change sides to see if I could repluse the French onslaught.

The reinforcements took the form of the Dutch Belgian Cavalry (OK we used Austrian and Russians for the part).  I probably should have had a free reorganisation move to make it a game, but as it was, I had done too well last week and the Young Guard punched through, whilst the Grenadiers and Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard took the rest of the Ridge down to La Haye Sainte.

Highlights for the allies this time round included:

1. Failed to roll above 5 (on 3d6) to melee the Young Guard with 3 Hanoverian Battalions.  Result:  British routed in round 1 of Melee and one of the hanoverians then legged it.  As shown above.

2.  The remains of Vandeleurs Light Cavalry took on the French Cuirassier, won, and persued into the next mob, where they died to a man.  However the French only managed to “Return to Own Lines” so they managed to see off 3 squadrons of Cuirassier.  Also shown above!

3.  Failed to roll above 5 (on 3d6) to melee the Grenadier of the Guard in a 3 on 2 situation with the Dutch Belgian Militia infanty.

4.  The French attempted a 1 on 1 fight with the damaged Highlanders behind Papelotte.  They lost and routed!  Next time they organised and went in 2 on 1.  And naturally won.

5.  The Dutch Belgian Cavalry gained revenge for 3. above, by getting a breakthrough on the winners a couple of moves later.  Another 12 dead Middle Guardsmen!

Suppose the next scenario should be – can the British reclaim the ridge!

All in all it was an interesting scenario.  With roughly 40% of the French at Waterloo (in terms of numbers), but 65% of the quality (in terms of troops points value) it was a bit likely the ridge would fall, so becomes a bit of a how quickly and how damaged in the process.

Escapades in North Devon

North Devon became the place to be over the weekend as a scenario based on Waterloo took place.  Initially the 1st and 2nd Infantry division press on Papelotte, supported by Milhaud’s 4th Cavalry Corp, and the Guard Light Cavalry Divison.

 

The infantry from the old guard have just turned up.  As the game progressed they started their advance up towards the british lines, as the 1st and 2nd Divisions fell on Papelotte.

 

 

Waterloo – Battle no 2

Papelotte to about half way to La Haye Sainte.  Start of turn 9.  The Old Guard Grenadiers are on the move.

 

Though it looks a bit sparse in defense, there are a number of allied battalions and squadrons lurking on the back table, just out of shot

Waterloo – Battle 1 – Turn 30

Three turns later.  As the French push on around La-Haie farm, the boards have been moved back so our fight is concentrated on the central table.

The 2/30th managed to last until turn 29, where they were ridden down by Cuirassier after retreating from fire.  They died to a man, and the cuirassier managed to “Rally”, in a position to take on elements of the Prussian 1st Corp who have been forced round to the road along the back wall.  The Prussian 1st Cavalry Division is now fully  on the table, the Prussian 1st Infantry Division is due to start arriving this turn.

 

1815 all over again

Finally got round to having a game again. Forces deployed

End of Turn 1 – visible forces deployed – casualties inflicted already

As this was our first game for sometime. And opening of the new table, took sometime to work everything out again.

Our forces are mostly a random selection based on the full orbat at Waterloo. We only use half the guns, 1/30 in Cavalry and 1/20 for infantry. Both sides have reinforcements scheduled to arrive and in total both sides end up fairly even points wise. The french have an initial advantage in points to encourage the attack.

Now we just need to buy some more figures!