SYW Combat of Vagelsberg - Scenario and battle

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This scenario is good to test the wits of both players, as it offers them many tactical options and choices what to be their priorities on the various problems they have to tackle.

The Austrian FML von Holzkopf, in a rare show of tactical brilliancy, managed to lure the Prussian Corps of General von Nichtflincheninch to the North, using a token force of Grenzers and Hussars.
The Prussian general, mistakenly supposing that this was the Austrian rearguard, is pushing his troops to the North.
Worse than that, during the night, has been separated form the precious Wagon Train he is escorting, which has been delayed by muddy roads.
On the same night, with a swift move, FML von Holzkopf places his Corps on the strategic hill of Vagelsberg, overlooking the road from which the Prussian wagons are bound to pass.
He has made some hasty frontal fortifications and has posted batteries on his left, ready to pound with murderous fire, creating havoc at the Prussian convoy.
Early in the morning, Nichtflincheninch realizes the hoax and returns as quickly as he can to save the wagons!

The battlefield is set

The Combat of Vagelsberg

The map

Scenario Vagelsberg map by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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Orders of Battle

Prussian Corps

C-in-C General Nichtflincheninch, Dashing

1 Grenadier Brigade
3xGrenadiers (Superior)
1xField Artillery
BP:3

2 Fusilier Brigade
3xFusiliers
1xGrenadiers (Superior)
1xField Artillery
BP:3

3 Musketeer Brigade
3xMusketeers
1xGarrison Battalion (Inferior)
1xField Artillery
BP:3

4 Freikorps
1xJager light troops
1xFreikorps "Grenadiers" (small)
1xDragoons (small)
BP:2

5 1st Cavalry Brigade
1xCuirassiers (Superior)
1xDragoons
1xHussars
BP:2

6 2nd Cavalry Brigade
1xCuirassiers (Superior)
1xDragoons
1xHussars
BP:2

Wagon Train
9xWagons

TOTAL Break Point:12


Austrian Corps

C-in-C FML von Holzkopf, Dependable

1 Artillery Reserve
3xField Artillery
BP:2

2 German Brigade
1xGrenadiers (Superior)
2xLine Infantry
1xField Artillery
BP:3

3 Hungarian Brigade
1xGrenadiers (Superior)
2xLine Infantry
1xField Artillery
BP:3

4 Light Infantry Brigade
1xFeldjager (rifle)
1xGrenzers
BP:1

5 1st Cavalry Brigade
1xCuirassiers (Superior)
1xDragoons
1xHussars
BP:2

6 2nd Cavalry Brigade
1xCuirassiers (Superior)
1xDragoons
1xHussars
BP:2

TOTAL Break Point:10

All brigade commanders, Dependable

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The scenario is designed to be played with Honours of War rules, but can be easily modified for other rules systems

Game Turns: 10

Terrain
All obstacles shown in the map, are soft cover:
The village of Vagelsdorf, some farm walls, the two forests and the hasty Austrian earthworks.
Vagelsberg and the knoll opposite, are gentle hills.

Deployment
The Austrian main force is deployed on Vagelsberg, from the level of the hasty earthworks and behind, the guns of the Reserve Artillery overlooking the road.
Each of the three earthworks may contain one battery or battalion.
The Austrian Light Brigade is deployed in and behind the East woods.
The Prussian main force is deployed behind the road from Vagelsdorf, up to where the knoll ends, in any formation and set up.
The Prussian Freikorps is deployed between Vagelsdorf and the forest.
The Cavalry brigades of each side may enter the table from the arrows, whenever it is the player's turn, in any round, one at every round and their first move is just to appear at the table edge. 

The Baggage Train
Consists of nine wagons, starting from the West road.
Set up the head of the convoy so as to be roughly level with the front edge of Vagelsberg. If your wagons are a bit large, the tail waits to enter the table.
The Austrian guns are shooting at medium range, up to where the farm building on the North road. Beyond this, the gun range is long.
The wagons move with 2/3 of infantry move on the road. They have to throw a die and with 1 they do not move this turn.

Victory Points
The game has the Brigade Breaking Point Point rule. One brigade breaks at the BPs shown.
The priority of the Prussian is to attack the cannons! For every Austrian battery captured/destroyed, he wins 1 VP extra.
For every unit destroyed, the opponent wins 1 VP. At the end of the game, for each unit still rallying, (or small unit destroyed), the opponent wins 1/2 VP.
The wagons
The wagons are destroyed with 2 hits. For every wagon destroyed, the Austrian wins 1/4 VP.
At the end of the game, the wagon VPs gained, are rounded down to the nearest half. So, if the Austrian has destroyed 3 wagons, he wins 1/2 VP.
For each wagon exiting the table at the North end of the road, (arrow), the Prussian wins 1 VP. He wins 1 VP extra, if he manages to exit 5 or more wagons.

Victory Conditions
Crushing Victory: Break the enemy!
Marginal Victory: Have won 3 VPs more than the opponent.
Also, exiting 6 or more wagons and not breaking is considered a Marginal Victory for the Prussian.
All other results: Draw

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Combat of Vagelsberg - The Game

Last Saturday, Doc Vag brought his Prussians and I brought my Austrians to the club. The scenario was improvised the night before.

The table setup, from the Austrian side.

Vagelsberg (01) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

...and from the Prussian side. The Prussian right wing is held by the Grenadier Brigade posted on the Knoll.

Vagelsberg (02) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Prussian task: Pass the wagons as safely as you can!

Vagelsberg (03) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr


The Austrian hasty earthworks

Vagelsberg (04) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The deployment of the Prussian Freikorps

Vagelsberg (05) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Austrian "German" brigade on Vagelsberg

Vagelsberg (06) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Prussian Fusilier Brigade

Vagelsberg (07) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Prussian Musketeer Brigade

Vagelsberg (08) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr


Austrian Jager, lurking in the woods

Vagelsberg (09) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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First turn and all the Prussians are moving forward en masse
Vagelsberg (10) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Second Turn. After pounding on some wagons, two of the Austrian batteries are pointing the Grenadier Brigade. The Prussian Grenadiers on the right have already taken 3 hits.
Vagelsberg (11) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Third Turn: The Prussians are climbing the Vagelsberg!
Vagelsberg (12) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Austrian units are fewer and stretch their lines
Vagelsberg (13) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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Fourth Round and the 1st Austrian Cavalry Brigade appears at the edge of the table
Vagelsberg (14) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

... so does the 1st Prussian Cavalry Brigade
Vagelsberg (15) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Austrians deploy the Grenzers next to the German Jager. For some reason, von Nichtflincheninch pulls his Freikorps back.
Vagelsberg (16) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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Three wagons are destroyed! The Austrian gunnery is very effective! But also, the rightmost Prussian Grenadier Battalion is done for!
Vagelsberg (17) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The first Prussian Battalion to approach the Austrian battery on Vagelsberg was received with heavy canister.
Now, they reform after having retreated
Vagelsberg (18) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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The Second Austrian Cavalry Brigade enters the table
Vagelsberg (19) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Prussians are coming again! Their superior shooting causes losses to the Austrians
Vagelsberg (20) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Heavy fighting at the Austrian left wing against the ferocious Prussian Grenadiers!
Vagelsberg (21) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Both opponents lose one unit during the melee
Vagelsberg (22) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

...and the Prussians have one more loss: The Brigadier General of the Grenadiers is mortally wounded! Nichtflincheninch resumes command of the remaining Grenadiers!
Vagelsberg (23) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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The Fusilier Brigade assault the central part of Vagelsberg
Vagelsberg (24) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Schnell! Angriff auf die Kanonen! Los, los!
Vagelsberg (25) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

One more Prussian battalion, while climbing the Vagelsberg, receives combined arms fire and is destroyed!
Vagelsberg (26) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Intense fighting to protect the battery! The Austrian battalion has to retreat with 4 hits!
Vagelsberg (27) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The guns pour canister, but the Prussian Fusiliers, undaunted, are assaulting the Austrian battery!
Vagelsberg (28) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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With a rash move, the Austrian Light Brigade leave the cover of the woods. They manage to put three hits to the Freikorps' Dragoons!
This is an ouch! For Nichtflincheninch was counting on them to disperse the cheeky Grenzers!
Vagelsberg (29) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

...meanwhile, the Fusiliers triumphed, knocking out the Austrian battery!
Vagelsberg (30) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Austrian center is in danger!
Vagelsberg (31) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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The Prussian Hussars of the 1st Cavalry Brigade moved aggressively against the Grenzers, who took refuge to the woods.
Vagelsberg (32) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Prussian infantry attempt a second attack!
Vagelsberg (33) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The brave Austrian Grenadiers of the right wing, almost isolated, keep them at bay!
Vagelsberg (34) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

While the Prussian infantry attack in waves, the Hungarians are manning the central redoubt
Vagelsberg (35) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The volley of the Fusiliers sends one more Austrian battalion to retreat!
Vagelsberg (36) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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The Cavalry clash! Two vs two Cavalry brigades! Who will prevail this gamble?

Vagelsberg (37) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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The German Jagers in the woods, facing off the approaching Freikorps
Vagelsberg (38) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Austrian center is yielding, but still puts a stubborn fight!
Vagelsberg (39) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Melee! One fusilier battalion done for. One Austrian unit retreats!
Vagelsberg (40) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The attack on Vagelsberg seen from the Prussian side
Vagelsberg (41) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The last Prussian Grenadiers fall with honor!
Vagelsberg (42) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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The situation seen from above. The Austrians still hold on Vagelsberg

Vagelsberg (43) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

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Meanwhile, we have a cavalry fighting with terrible casualties from both sides. Two and two regiments of the opponent's cavalry have to retreat!
Vagelsberg (44) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Austrian Light Brigade use the cover of the trees to shoot at the oncoming Prussians
Vagelsberg (45) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr