SYW Combat of Strehla 1760 Scenario and AAR

[DintheDin]

The Combat of Strehla


In August 1760 in Saxony, the prince of Zweibrücken was at the head of an Austro-Imperial army of about 25,000 men. The superiority of his forces over those of the Prussian lieutenant-general von Hülsen, left to defend in Saxony with only 12,000 men, put the prince of Zweibrücken in position to attack the Prussian general. Zweibrücken thus resolved to attack Hülsen in his fortified camp at Strehla on the Elbe river.

There is a detailed battle narration at the excellent Kronoskaf site

http://kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1760-08-20_-_Combat_of_Strehla

Also I would like to thank Wyre Historic Books for their presentation of the battle at YouTube

[DintheDin]

The map

Strehla my map final by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Yellow: Austrians
Grey: Reichsarmee
Blue: Prussians

[DintheDin]

Orders of Battle

Austro-Imperial Army

Army Commander: Reichsmarschall prince von Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld

Right Wing: Zweibrücken (Dependable)

E Cavalry colonel Zettwitz (Dependable)
Move on turn 3
1xAustrian Cuirassiers Large
1xReich Armee Cuirassiers Small Inferior

D Infantry Zweibrücken
1xAustrian Line Large
3xReich Armee Line Inferior
2xReich Armee Line
1xReich Armee Field Artillery Inferior (limbered)

Centre/Left Wing: Prince Stolberg (Dependable)

C Centre Major-general von Kleefeld (Dependable)
1xReich Armee Line Inferior
1xAustrian Grenzer Light Infantry Large
1xAustrian Hussars Small
1xReich Armee Field Artillery Inferior

B Left Infantry Major-General Würzburg (Dependable)
1xAustrian Line Large
1xAustrian Grenadier Superior
1xReich Armee Grenadier Large
1xReich Armee Line Inferior
1xAustrian Field Artillery Superior


A Left Wing Cavalry: Feldmarschallleutnant Guasco (Dependable)
Move on Turn 3
1xReich Armee Cuirassiers Large
1xDragoons and Horse Grenadiers Superior

Break Point:10


N.B. Not all Reichsarmee units are rated inferior
Austrian artillery is rated superior


Prussian Army

Army commander: Lieutenant-general von Hülsen (Dashing)

Right/Centre: Hülsen (Dashing)


1 Right (Dürre Berg):
1xGrenadier Superior
1xLine Infantry
1xField Battery

2 Centre Colonel Kleist (Dashing)
(from right to left)
1xDragoons Superior Large
1xFreikorps Cavalry Small
1xHussars Large

Left: Major-general Braun (Dependable)

3 Behind fortifications
Infantry

1xGrenadier Superior
1xMusketeer Infantry
1xFusileer Infantry

Artillery:
Captain Kitscher (Dependable)
1xHeavy Battery
1xHowitzer Battery

4 Klein Rügeln
Independent:
1xGrenadier Superior Small

5 Strehla:
Independent
1xFreikorps Infantry Small

Break Point:7

[DintheDin]

Terrain:

Reussen Berg (mountain South of Reussen village), Dürre Berg and escarpments in front of Klein Rügeln and Strehla: 1/2 move for cavalry, no artillery
Woods: Soft cover, passable by cavalry and artillery (1/2 move)
Villages: Soft cover
Strehla: Hard cover
Streams: 1/2 move to cross
Fortifications: Hard cover

Rounds: 12

Victory conditions:

Occupying Strehla at the end of the game: 1 VP
Great victory: Break the enemy
Minor victory:
For the Prussians: Eliminate 2 of the 5 Allied commands (A,B,C,D,E)
For the Austro-Imperials: Drive the Prussian units out of the fortifications.
Or for both: Win 3 VP more than the opponent
In case of draw, or if any of the above conditions is not met, the Prussians win.

Austro-Imperials move first on the 1st round.

Prussians have +1 move, +1 fire initiative. Also all Prussian infantry units have superior fire.

Allow two rounds of pre-game bombardment against and from Dürre Berg.

(Scenario based on Honours of War rules, but can easily be modified for any other Horse and Musket ruleset)

[DintheDin]

The battle

Last Saturday we played the battle.
Buddies Miltiades and Nick took the Austro-Imperials and the Prussians were commanded by yours truly.

The table setup seen from the Austro-Imperial side

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (01) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

and from the Prussian side

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (02) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

[DintheDin]

Colonel Zettwitz with the right wing Austro-Imperial cavalry

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (03) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The main Prussian force behind their fortifications

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (04) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The main Prussian force seen from the Austro-Imperial side, with their outpost of a small grenadier battalion in Klein Rügeln village

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (05) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The extreme left of the Prussian army is covered by a small Freikorps battalion defending Strehla

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (06) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Prussians had a somehow isolated advanced post on Dürre Berg

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (07) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

[DintheDin]

The Austro-Imperials make the first move

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (08) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The Prussian grenadiers on Dürre Berg readying their muskets

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (09) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

[DintheDin]

The Prussian cavalry of the right flank, waiting

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (10) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

[DintheDin]

The Austro-Imperial infantry of the right wing under Zweibrücken himself, approaching Klein Rügeln

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (11) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The troops of Major-General Würzburg brought low dice and are still away from Dürre Berg

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (12) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

But the Left Wing Cavalry under Feldmarschallleutnant Guasco brought a dounble move and the Prussian cavalry (background) is reacting, crossing the brook and deploying

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (13) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Austro-Imperial troops advancing against Strehla

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (14) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

[Jemima Fawr]

Outstanding!  I'm presently building up my Reichsarmee to fight Strehla. 

'Only' 12 infantry battalions, 6 grenadier battalions, the Pfalz 'Kurfurstin' Dragoons and the Kleist Frei-Dragoons left to do... 

[DintheDin]

Outstanding!  I'm presently building up my Reichsarmee to fight Strehla. 

'Only' 12 infantry battalions, 6 grenadier battalions, the Pfalz 'Kurfurstin' Dragoons and the Kleist Frei-Dragoons left to do... 

Great news! Eager to see your game!
Continuing...

[DintheDin]

Nick attacks Klein Rügeln with a large Austrian battalion

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (15) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

While Major-General Würzburg's troops are still delaying their march towards Dürre Berg (background)...

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (16) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

...the Prussians receive an attack from Austrian Grenzers and Hussars who brought a double move! Nick exploited the gap when the Prussian musketeers moved from the left flank of the mountain to face the main bulk of the Austro-Imperial infantry leaving the Prussian battery exposed 

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (17) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

[DintheDin]

Würzburg's troops finally on the move

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (18) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The defenders of Dürre Berg managed to repulse the attackers, eliminating the Hussars, but they lost their battery

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (19) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

[DintheDin]

The Freikorps battalion was too weak to defend Strehla and fell back to reform with four hits

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (20) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

The main Prussian force is still solid behind their fortifications

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (21) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

Miltiades still advancing his infantry against Dürre Berg

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (22) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (23) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

[DintheDin]

The Austro-Imperials, having taken Strehla, charge the Prussian left flank, defended by the small Grenadier battalion which was formerly posted at Klein Rügeln

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (24) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr

HoW Strehla 1760 221015 (25) by Konstantinos Antoniadis, on Flickr