So what are you doing over Christmas?

[d_Guy]

While I miss your Yule shenanigans in days of yore, your first battle report has some entertaining moments. 

[paulr]

    

Pictures, we like pictures

[flamingpig0]

Moping and rebasing 15mm figures for the forthcoming Peter Pig Scifi rules


Best Christmas ever

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Good report Nobby

[fsn]

Round 2: Prussia vs Brunswick.


The field of battle. In the bottom left, the Ghost Farm; the building at the far end is the Convent of Our lady of the Immaculate Dimples, and over to the right is the small township and the Church of St Davide of the Sweaty Spine.*

Although the two forces were of similar size, the Brunswickers comprised 3 infantry brigades (8 battalions), and one regiment of mixed light cavalry. The Prussians have one infantry brigade (7 battalions) and one cavalry brigade (1 light and one heavy cavalry regiment).

Move 1 The Prussian cavalry arrives at Ghost Farm.
Move 2 Oh! Oh! Two Brunswick infantry units appear in the Southern corner opposite the Prussian cavalry. The Advance Guard Bttn moving in a skirmish line, the 3 light infantry battalions in column behind. 
The Prussian cavalry spot the approaching Brunswick light troops.

Move 3 The Prussian cavalry starts to form up for a charge. One Brunswick battalion forms square. The other two were packed between the 1st and the trees and could not deploy. The Advance Guard Bttn was stuck, unable to retire, through the packed Light Infantry, and too far ahead to form square.   

Meanwhile, the remaining Brunswick infantry, the Duke, and the cavalry appear by the Church of St Davide of the Sweaty Spine. The Prussian infantry, with their fearless leader von Pirch at the head, start coming on at the far north road.

Move 4 The Prussian light cavalry charges home against the Brunswick Advance Guard bttn whilst the Heavy cavalry works to the left of their light brethren to deliver a second attack. 
Teh Advance Guard Battalion fires at the Prussian light cavalry

Further North the Duke sends his cavalry ahead to try and contain the Prussians on the North side of the bridge. The first Russian infantry bttn - the Jaegers try to cross the river to defend it whilst their comrades pass over. 

The Prussians head for the bridge
The Brunswick cavalry spur ahead of the trudging infantry.

Move 5 The Prussian cavalry makes another attack and the Advance Guard Bttn breaks and runs.

The Prussian Jaegers start to cross the bridge, passing Pirch. Although the first regiment (3 bttns) is now on the table, the 2nd regiment and the artillery are stuck in the jam caused by the narrowness of the bridge.

The Brunswick cavalry deploys threateningly. The artillery makes it on the board and an ADC gallops to the Horse Artillery and orders it forward to take the bridge under fire.

Move 6 The Prussian cavalry can make no impact on the densely packed Light brigade. The cavalry perhaps should have drawn off, but their blood was up after their destruction of the Advance Guard Bttn so they attacked again.

In the North, the Brunswick infantry pressed forward towards the bridge, and the horse artillery raced ahead. The Prussian Jaegers made to move into the Convent of Our lady of the Immaculate Dimples, but were charged by the Brunswick Lancers. The Jaegers were unformed and caught between the convent, the bridge and the open space between.   
 
Move 7 The Prussian cavalry engage with another round of melee with the largely untouched Brunswick Light Brigade.

The Brunswick Lancers continued their destruction of the Jaegers, the Hussars holding themselves back, and horse artillery nearing the point at which they would unlimber. The Prussian infantry is still confined by the bridge and with Pirch on the wrong side of it, no orders can be sent.

Move 8 Disaster for the Prussians! Pirch is spotted by some Brunswick Lancers who make for him and a massive corporal ran his lance clear through the Prussian commander. The death of their leader broke the Jaegers who tried to flee back over the bridge.

What would have followed would have been mayhem as the Brunswick Hussars would have rolled up the fleeing Jaegers, and the horse battery would have unlimbered and wrought great destruction upon the stalled Prussian column.       
 
Victory to the Brunswickers.

Reflections
These are two of the first armies I painted and I may have to do some rebasing. The Prussians don't even have limbers!

In the France-Denmark game, the strength of the Danes was their relatively large brigades. Here, the death of the Prussians was the one immensely big brigade - all 7 infantry battalions in one lot. The terrain didn't help. That bridge forms a choke point that the Prussians would take forever to get across.

The Prussian cavalry vs Brunswick Light Brigade was another conundrum. The infantry were at the table edge and so I had to make a decision about their deployment. There was one in square and 2 in column. However, there was no room between the battalions, and one flank was protected by the trees, so I deemed the whole brigade to be in square.

The terrain (which I hasten to add was randomly generated) does not favour the blue force. The top left corner is constrained by the bridge, an 50% of Red's forces can be expected to come on the table in the corner. Can't decide if I should restructure the entry points or just let red take what's coming.       


* Davide was the king of a small country, but he was deposed by his first born, who chained him to a furnace and tortured him with hot metals.    

[fred.]

Good stuff! The photos make it much better to follow the action. 

You have plenty of figures on the table!!

I'd let the random terrain cause whatever mayhem it does. It could be said to be the outcome of pre battle manoeuvring. 

The Prussians look good. Just saying. 

[Last Hussar]

Why mention Prussians...  

[sunjester]

Nothing that we had planned!

It was all planned for a family Christmas. We would drive down to the in-laws. Our nephew, Rob, would be cooking the dinner on Christmas Day (he is a real foodie, even worse than me). I would just have to drink cocktails and act as sous chef. Friday we were leaving the dogs with the in-laws and going into London with nephew and niece, for a posh lunch and trip to theatre. Meeting other friends for lunch on Saturday as part of a leisurely drive home. I even had a Christmas jumper to wear ("Is It Over Yet?" with The Grinch)

At the weekend Broni's cough, which she had been fighting off for weeks, turned into a lung infection, so she is in bed on heavy dose antibiotics. She insisted we still go and leave her at home, but we delayed travelling until today. This morning Towse woke up full of snot, with headache, aching limbs and a temperature.

Christmas is cancelled!! I should have known better.

BAH HUMBUG!!!!

[Last Hussar]

Oh bugger.

[Orcs]

That's really crap. Wishing Broni and Towse a speedy recovery

[DecemDave]

Clauswitz strikes again.
Hope you are all fit and well soon.
But at least you now have some time to bring forward all your 2025 purchases before the price rise

[Raider4]

My sympathies.

Mrs. R4 went into hospital yesterday. She's fine, but won't be home until at least tomorrow, so that's everyone's plans scuppered.

[sunjester]

Thanks chaps.

There is bugger all on the box so there is nothing for, I'll have to set up a solo game to pass the time!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

My sympathies.

Mrs. R4 went into hospital yesterday. She's fine, but won't be home until at least tomorrow, so that's everyone's plans scuppered.

Finger crossed she's okay. Hugs

[fred.]

SJ and R4 hope the families are well soon 

SJ you seem to be making the most of some unexpected free time!