Moys 1757 - Die Kriegskunst AAR

This is one of the scenarios from the "Die Kriegskunst" ruleset.
Historically, it is notable for two reasons:
- the Austrians took offensive action and suprised the Prussians
- the Prussian commander, the highly regarded Generalleutnant
   von Winterfeldt, was wounded and died a few days after the combat.

The action began and for the most part concentrated on the area around the Jäckelsberg, who contained a prussian artillery redoubt, guarded by Grenadiers. We happily used a mixture of Malburian and SYW miniatures; "Prussians" defend the hill, "Austrians" attack it.
(Click pictures to enlarge)

The Grenadiers were having breakfast when suddenly a number
of Austrian Grenadier battalions in attack column appeared ...

 

The guns opened fire! Austrian reinforcements
can be seen in the background.

Light troops appear from the south - Hussars and Grenzers.

The situation looks desperate. The Lights are halting. The attack
order has not come through. All work is left to the attack columns.

The fighting intensifies. The Prussian Grenadiers
fight bravely but have to retreat.

The Austrians capture the Jäckelsberg.
Prussian reinforcemnts appear.

At this point, turn six of the suggested total of ten, the situation on the table looked very akward to us.

The scenario rules require the Austrian Grenadiers to retreat from the Jäckelsberg immediately after they have captured the hill. With the prussian reinforcements right beside them, with minimal losses to themselves, more fellow Austrians marching directly towards them and their own light troops in the vincinity - would they really retreat ?!

Hisorically, according to the kronoskaf website, they did not retreat. They defended the hill, supported by artillery.

We concluded that the chances for the Prussians to recapture the hill were rather slim if we would simply revoke the scenario special rule and allow the Austrian Grenadiers to stay and defend the hill.
The Austrians were too numerous.

We ended the game and used our time to discuss future plans.

Personal insights gained:

a)  Scenario design is an art.

b)  The scenario special rules in conjunction with what might be called a "Heat of Battle Mental Blackout" caused me to unintentionally adopt non-historical tactics.
Look at the last picture above. Prussian infantry in close proximity to the enemy marching happily along in column formation! Good god! Is it 1792 already? What was I thinking?
(Of course, there was a logical reason for this: the Austrians are no threat anymore. The scenario special rule requires them to retreat. They won't fire and won't use their guns.)

Player logic killed historical logic.

Have you experienced something similar or do you not mind at all and say "Imagination" ?

The History of Fusilier Regiment 41

Recently, I bought this small booklet, published 1767, about Fusilier Regiment 41 von Lossow, during the Seven Years War known as „von Wied“.

Hans Bleckwenn notes in his introduction to this edition, a reprint from 1979:

„The fusilier regiment "Wied" belonged till 1755 to the little respected „Wesel Garrison “; which ranked not only in the lists of the army, but also in their opinion below the field regiments, in dangerous proximity to the disesteemed garrison troops. […]

The amazing thing emerged during the war: in its achievements, regiment No. 41 turned out to be one of the strongest of the fusiliers regiments, maybe the strongest one overall. It fights at Prag, Kolin, Kunersdorf, Liegnitz and Torgau, - pushes itself forward unimpressed from both defeats into the group of regiments which also during the last years of the war were regarded as reliable.“

A good regiment to have in your army!

„Auszug mit klingendem Spiel !“
(Departure with drums beating and flags flying)

Charge! + Stuart Asquith modifications + One Hour Wargames = Fun

Time, space and the number of miniatures – three things I struggled with recently.

One solution: Use the classic Charge! rules, add some neat rules modifications Stuart Asquith used in his games with Keith Flint (Old School Napoleonics, The Action At Annie's Farm) on a 6' x 3' foot dining table and combine them with one of the scenarios from Neil Thomas' book „One Hour Wargames“ which uses a 3' x 3' board and six units per side.

The resulting layout for Scenario 4: Take the High Ground, One Hour Wargames, p. 72, (click pictures to enlarge):

Austrians have set up two units on the hill.
Prussians entered along the southern board edge.

Austrians (Defender)

CiC (1 Figure)

4 x Infantry (10 Figures each)

1 x Light Infantry (8 Figures)

1x Artillery (4 Figures)

Prussians (Attacker)

CiC (1 Figure)

3 x Infantry (10 Figures each)

1 x Light Infantry (8 Figures)

1 x Cavalry (5 Figures)

1x Artillery (4 Figures)

Total number of miniatures: 101

The mission for both sides is two be in possession of the hill at games end (after 15 turns).

Austrian reinforcements arrive

First blood – Frei-Infanterie engages from a distance

Close range artillery fire - More casualties for the Austrians

The Prussian cavalry charges ...

… and is repulsed !

The Prussian infantry storms the hill – The Light Infantry
of both sides fight it out in the woods

The big melee on the hill – Prussian Frei-Infanterie has been
dispersed and the croats assault the Prussian gun

The Austrians concede and retreat
(in fact, I used the kitchen table and dinner had to be served)

Conclusion: An entertaining little solo game. I was pleased with „the look of the thing“. The Charge! rules with Stuart Asquith' modifications worked well. I still have to take a deeper look at them and create my own play-sheet.

Gaming with small-sized units, i.e. 10 figures for infantry, 5 for cavalry allows for quicker progress along my work-up schedule to larger battles/units. I´m thinking about playing Honours of War scenarios with 10-figure infantry battalions and 4-trooper cavalry now that I´m comfortable with the look.

Die Kriegskunst - Test Game

An invitation to a game from someone who can set up a 10' x 6' table, owns TWO sizable armies for the War of the Spanish Succession and knows the Die Kriegskunst rules? Yes!

 The Smoke of the first shot of the combat disperses and three Riders
of my opponent were unhorsed by that little 4-pdr. firing cannister!
A failed morale test forces the cavalry to retreat ...

My Center and Right Wing. We both had
an additional Brigade on our other wing.

 Looking gooood ....

Cavalry Action on the right wing. Inconclusive!
Note the riderless horses running around

My impressions of the rules and the game:

-  the rules worked well, no disputes. For me the command system had the right "stiffness" (we treated both sides as Prussians for command. They have a big advantage in this regard).
-  both players operated cautiously, had respect for one another, i.e. the other sides firepower (namely the artillery; 8 guns on the table; Cannister hurts)
-  the game felt veeeery  Seven Years War. Beautifull armies, enough troops (albeit the big infantry clash did not happen), adequate terrain, two lines of infantry, no Grand Batteries, good atmosphere.

A big thank you to my fiend tattergreis for this invitation. I look forward to our next game, a deliberate attack/defence action to get to a decent infantry clash ....