SYW Honours of War - Bridgehead - Fighting Retreat 12.09.18

[DintheDin]

For Bridgehead - Fighting Retreat scenario, please go to bottom of p.4
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=110718.45

For Advance Guard scenario, please go to p.3
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=110718.30

Demolish the Bridge

Last Saturday Miltiades and I played a very exciting SYW game with Honours of War rules, based on a Charles Grant scenario.

I found it at the excellent wargamer teasers blog
https://steve-the-wargamer.blogspot.com/p/word-document-jpgs-of-original-article.html
the scenario was "Bridge demolition".

Our scenario version, goes like that:
1758 somewhere in Germany. An invading French force is threatening to capture a strategically important bridge.
Lieutenant General of the Prussian Engineers Michael von Milten is ordered to take a small force and prevent the French reach the bridge, while his engineers will be preparing the bridge demolition.
The river is impassable in all places except the bridge.
A village with wooden houses (soft cover) is astride the river.
The Prussian forces are already on the table, most of them in march columns on the road leading to the bridge.
Two Prussian cavalry regiments and a Jäger battalion have already taken positions in front of the bridge.
The French forces enter the table from points A and B (see the map).

The Prussian forces:
Commander: Lieutenant General von Milten
1 Regiment Kürassiere (small, superior)
1 Regiment Dragoner (standard)
3 Line infantry regiments (standard, superior for fire only)
1 Jäger battalion (standard)
2 Leichte Artillerie Batterien (standard)
1 Ingenieure Battallion (small, inferior)

Break at 4,5

The French forces:
The French numbers 9 pieces of paper and draws one each round.
On an odd number, the force written enters the table from point A.
On an even number, from point B.

Commander: Brigadier General Dinois d' Antoin, compte de Milfeuille - with the first group entering from point A
Sub-Commander: Major Armand de La Folie - with the first group entering from point B

The nine groups are:
1. 2 Line Infantry Battalions (standard)
2. 1 Light Artillery Battery (standard)
3. 1 Light artillery Battery (standard)
4. 1 Light Infantry Battalion (standard)
5. 1 Chevaulegers Regiment (standard)
6. 2 Grenadier battalions (superior)
7. 1 Gendarmes Regiment (standard)
8. 1 Line Inf Battalion (standard), 1 Grenadiers (small, superior)
9. 1 Hussars regiment (standard, inferior)

Break at 6

[DintheDin]

Here is our table setup, the Prussian forces strung on the road, the cavalry regiments and the Jäger battalion, as a screening force in front of the bridge. The bridge? Errr, it is coming! 

[DintheDin]

Round one and the Gendarmes Ecossais enter from point B.
The Prussian cuirassiers rush to anticipate them, while the first Prussian line infantry takes positions in the village.
In the last picture, a Prussian infantry column passes in front of a Hovels house nicely painted by Miltiades.

[DintheDin]

The engineers at work.
The scenario says:
Game rounds: 18
At the end of Firing phase on Round 12, von Milten receives a message that the bridge is ready for demolition.
On a d6, we have the following:
6 or 5: Bridge is ready for demolition, any time you order, Sire!
4 or 3: Fuse problem - we need one more round to re-wire!
2: Disaster! Two barrels of powder dumped in the water, we need two more rounds to be ready!
1: Sergeant Dumpkopff lit the fuse prematurely and the bridge is demolished without warning!
Every unit 5cm from the bridge take 2 hits! The engineers on a 1,2,3 are done for!
On any round the Prussian player (end of firing phase) decides to blow the bridge, the game is over.
The Prussians gain 3 victory points for the bridge demolition, but lose one point for every unit left at the other side. So, after round 12 when theoretically the bridge will be undermined, they have the time to pull back any unit left at the other side, before blowing the bridge. 

[Belisarius]

Table Top Teasers , we,ve had many a good game using them over the years . The table and figures look terrific, Dinos . 👍

[DintheDin]

Table Top Teasers , we,ve had many a good game using them over the years . The table and figures look terrific, Dinos . 👍

Thank you! I found many exciting and balanced scenarios, I would like to play them all 
Yesterday it was too hot a night to finish this AAR, I'll continue when I return home. Cheers!

[DintheDin]

Von Milten summons his Dragoons to aid the Cuirassiers vs the Gendarmes

Although the game was set for 18 rounds, its flow was very quick. Few units from every side, so no brigade dicing was needed.
The only dicing needed was for move and fire initiative and the players played one unit alternately.
The commanders (one from the Prussian and two from the French side) were useful to remove hits when near a unit in need.   

[DintheDin]

Von Milten's infantry troops while marching to take positions in front of the bridge

[DintheDin]

Second and third round and Compte Dinois enter with 2+2 infantry battalions from point A, a small grenadier battalion leading the columns. On the fourth round they deploy out of Prussian long range musketry. The Prussian Jäger are lurking in the woods, the French need quickly their  light troops to enter the table (they were late  )

[DintheDin]

The cavalry clash. The advantage is on the side of the Prussians.
The Gendarmes take 4 hits and retreat.
The Prussian cuirassiers take three hits, dice unwilling to follow up in an uncontrolled advance and manage to remain in place.
Both sides remained in a safe distance to recover.
Every round that passes the French forces are stronger, as one or  two units enter from point A or B.
But the French must attack the village as soon as possible, before round 12.

[DintheDin]

The grenadiers approach the Prussian infantry in musketry range, Over the river the Prussian artillery start firing long range shots to the second French infantry unit. The Dragoons turn about face threatening a flank attack on the grenadiers. But at the same time, the Gendarmes come back, ready to charge the cuirassiers. This round, two infantry columns of grenadiers entered from point B and they are already following the Gendarmes!

[DintheDin]

The French line infantry battalions following the grenadiers, meet their own problems:
They receive harassment from the Jägers and roundshot from the two Prussian batteries.
 
Unable to come closer to help the grenadiers, turn their attention to the woods.

The Prussian artillerists did a good job throughout the game.

[DintheDin]

The small grenadier battalion manage in two rounds, with very accurate fire to put the first Prussian infantry out of the game!
Another Prussian battalion takes its place in front of the bridge.
Round by round the engineers are undermining the bridge. They must be protected until the critical round 12.
 
The Dragoons attack the grenadiers and the Cuirassiers charge the Gendarmes (countercharging)
The battle starts heating up!

[DintheDin]

While l'Infanterie Royal exchange potshots with the Jägers in the woods, the Chasseurs de Fischer (background) enter the table from point A. The Jägers are in danger to be captured, so next round they disengage and head for the village.
Bad news for the Prussians:
The dragoons charged frontally the small Grenadier battalion with no charge bonus, receive 5 hits and disperse.
The Cuirassiers vs the Gendarmes after two melees in the same round exterminate each other!
For the moment, two and a half Prussian units lost to one French.
Will the Prussians be able to demolish the bridge on time?
The next consecutive rounds, the French player picks randomly the remaining slips of paper and his last units enter with this order:
Round 6 a light artillery battery from point A.
Round 7 a Chevaulegers regiment from point B.
Round 8 a light artillery battery from point B.
Round 9 The Hussars from point A
All of them much needed, but too late to play a major role in the battle.

[DintheDin]

Somehow, the Prussians take a revenge.
The small grenadier unit receive fire from the village. L'Infanterie du Roi receive crossfire from the Jägers and the light artillery.
Both receive 4 hits and retreat for two consecutive rounds, not finding a proper place to reform.
When they recover, it will be proved for them as well that it was to late to actively participate in the battle.
These Jäger sharpshhoters were a real nuisance!