August 2019 – The Uncivil Servant

For this week’s game we were back with Napoleonics but a bigger battle with smaller figures. Rules were Black Powder and it was 15mm figures (continuing the theme of using armies that have not seen the light of day for a while). The scenario was devised and umpired by “Broken Dice” David, the Russo-Prussian forces commanded by Alan, Dave A, Dave B and “Uncle Albert” Julian, the French by Paul, Nigel and my good self. Figures were from David’s and Paul’s collection.

The scenario was based on the Battle of Montmirail, February 11, 1814 and saw Napoleon trying to defeat the dispersed components of Bluchers Army of Silesia and attacking the Sacken’s Russian Corps which is being supported by Yorck’s Prussian 1st Corps. Now what had the French players drooling (literally in some cases) was the forces at our disposal. The majority of the French forces were made up of the Old, Middle and Young Guard infantry supported by the Guard Artillery and Cavalry. The only downside was Bertran’s VI corps and the Guards de Honour holding the flanks which were newly raised troops. Nigel kindly accepted the challenge of commanding this force and holding the French left flank, that left Paul and myself to “play” with the Guard 😁

The French right flank had the Guard Cavalry Corps soon to be supported by the Young Guard preparing to advance.

“Marie Louise” Infantry guard the French left

While on the left flank was held by the “Marie Louise” infantry and garrisoning the village of Le Tremblay one of the Russian objectives.

Guard Arillery supported by Old Guard in the centre

And in the centre we had the Guard Foot and Horse artillery supported by the Old Guard (what’s not to like😀)

The Prussians commanded by Julian guarded the Allied left flank and the bridge that was one of the French objectives.

Facing the Guard Cavalry was the Russian Cavalry corps

Russian Infantry guarding the villages of Marchais and Les Genereux

While the last 2 divisions of Russians held the centre and their right flank where the villages were also one of the French objectives.

The Russians decided to reinforce their centre with Dave A and Alan’s division starting to manoeuvre but as they discovered this was a slow process.

While on the French side Paul swung the Guard Cavalry into action sending four regiments towards the Russian Cavalry and the remainder towards the Prussians.

While in the centre I advanced the Guard artillery supported by both the Old and the Middle Guard (it would seem wrong not to).

While on our left the Russians had advanced some Jagers into the woods to harass the French left, but from our point of view their main forces did not advance meaning our weak flank wasn’t threatened, which left Nigel to stoically hold the defence and fire the odd shot with the artillery.

The Guard cavalry charged the Russian cavalry at the earliest opportunity, driving one regiment back but was held by the other much to the announce of the French.

Young Guard advance to support the cavalry

While on the French right flank the Young Guard had arrived and moved up to support the Guard cavalry against the Prussians.

In the centre the the long range shots from the Guard artillery was not being as affected as I hoped (and it didn’t help that I forget the +1 for shooting at columns, doh!!) time to try something else.

After driving the Russian Dragoons back the Empress Dragoons crash into a Russian artillery battery and breaks that as well.

While on the Allied right more Prussians arrive and start to deploy.

In the centre the exposed Empress Dragoons is charged by Russian Hussars and is driven back.

Charging Cavalry with Infantry is never a good idea

Now “Uncle Albert” strikes again after already throwing a couple of “blunders” he outdoes himself while trying to withdraw an infantry battalion and blunders again and this time the result is a Charge! Now infantry charging cavalry is never a good idea but it is definitely not a good idea when the are the Chasseur a Cheval de la Garde and are soon broken.

Now in most scenarios where the Old Guard appear there are a lot of restrictions on how they can be deployed and used but in this game there were none so I was off and the Old Guard charged – however the Middle Guard declined to advance in support. The two infantry held but were shaken while the artillery battery was destroyed.

While on the French right the Young Guard had joined the fray and assaulted a Prussian square.

Brave columns advance on the French cavalry

Now in the centre a quirk in the rules that makes it relatively easy for infantry to form emergency square, which meant that Russian columns were advancing on cavalry to get into close range (I can sense a houserule coming into play).

While in the centre the stubborn Russian infantry are still holding the Guard but not causing casualties but this will soon change as the Guard break through and also break the brigade.

On the French right the Guard Cavalry and Young Guard break one of the Prussian brigades and start to push forward.

Guard Infantry break through supported by the Guard Cavalry

In the centre the Guard break through and start to move on the Russian second line this time supported by the Middle Guard.

The Prussians are thinned out but still holding the bridge.

And on the French left the stoic defence by Nigel paid off as the Russian attack we had feared never materialised and in the end they even advanced to get better shots with the artillery.

It was at this point the game was called while the French had not achieved their full objectives (breaking 5 brigades or 3 brigades and taking the village and the bridge) we had broke 3 brigades to none to it was a partial victory.

And applause to “Uncle Albert” was it 4 or 5 blunders you rolled there Sir?

And also thanks to “Broken Dice” for devising the scenario and running the game 😁

As preparations step up for D-Day more convoys are seen in the channel and more targets are presented to the Kriegsmarine.

For this week’s game we are back on the high seas in WW2, with a Cruel Seas scenario was a Kriegsmarine attack on a British convoy, giving me the excuse to get out the new Flower Class Corvette, a second tanker and finally the S100 E-Boats I had finished painting 😀

The Convoy was commanded by Alan, “Uncle Albert” Julian and Paul and was made up of the aforementioned Corvette, an Armed Trawler, a Fairmile D and four Vosper MTB Type II. While the Kriegsmarine forces of two S-38 E Boats and four S100 E Boats commanded by Dave A and “Broken Dice” David. Umpiring service by my good self.

The victory conditions were easy, the RN had to get the 2 tankers off the board and the Kriegsmarine had to sink them.

The RN Convoy starts across the table but note the Fairmile D skulking between the tankers on the starboard side of the convoy, what are its plans?

E Boats increase speed and launch their fish

The first E-Boat flotilla accelerate to combat speed and lose no time in launching their torpedoes in the direction of the convoy.

The convoy reacts by turning into the attack

But with the number of torpedoes in the water the armed trawler cannot avoid them all and after being hits prayers go up hoping for a “dud” but their luck is out and the torpedo explodes. 18D6 can do alot of damage but with that many 6’s rolled the trawler sinks beneath the waves.

Now trying to distract the E Boats the MTB’s go in for close action relying on size and speed to minimise the hits. Unfortunately the tactic doesn’t pay off and soon some the the MTB’s are taking heavy damage and joining the trawler beneath the waves.

Going in close to try and distract the E Boats

Close enough to avoid the 37mm, but not the 20mm shots

Nelson would be proud as an MTB crosses the T on E Boats

While the MTB’s had been dogfighting with the E Boats the second wave of torpedoes approach the convoy this time from “Broken Dices” flotilla and things start to look grim for the tanker.

At the rear of the convoy the Corvette has been taking pot shots at the enemy flotillas and now they decide to start returning the favour but only a near miss.

While the tanker tries to manoeuvre to avoid the torpedoes but also manages to ram an E Boat damaging both the vessels and then the torpedoes strike home.

The E Boats then turn their attention on the last tanker and needing less than 8’s and 9’s on D10 manage to miss with 5 out of 6 shots – back to gunnery school for some!!

But its luck didn’t last long as the pack of E Boats swarm in for the kill and unleash a barrage of fire.

While the Corvette still tries to defend the Tanker and manages to critically damage one of the E Boats by damaging its rudder so it os not in control.

Minor victory as the corvette damages an E Boat

And why is that important you may ask, well its next turn it has to dice to see which way it turns and guess what, it turns the only way “Broken Dice” doesn’t want it too and collides with another E Boat. Severely damaging itself but sinking its friend, thus causing the only sinking in the Kriegsmarine flotillas, much to the embarrassment of the RN forces who had now been reduced to just the corvette (which wasn’t going to last much longer) and the Fairmile D “dogboat”.

Now I hear you ask about the “dogboat” and where had it been, well it got itself in a position where it had to sail past the tanker and then around the sunken trawler, all the time masking its guns to finally appear to exchange shots with an E Boat that damaged its bridge so could not manoeuvre for another turn!!! When control is finally restored the skipper looks out and sees he is the only boat in the convoy still afloat!!!! So doesn’t slow down but heads to port to make sure his report of the brave action is put in before any other tales could be told 🤣😆

“I’m here chaps, where has everyone gone?”

So at that stage the game was called the Kriegsmarine had sunk both the tankers, plus the Corvette, Armed Trawler and 4 MTB’s for the loss of one E Boat.

Now this is the third game we have played and the RN have won the first two easily decimating the Kriegsmarine flotillas, so what was different this time?

Well for the 2nd game in a row old “Broken Dice” was not living up to his nickname but was throwing low on attacks and high on damage as needed under the rules, seeing some impressive damage being done to the RN. But we spotted it in the end old “Uncle Albert” Julian had been on the Kriegsmarine side in the first two games and for this game swapped to the RN, yep and guess who lost all his ships again, well to be fair so did Paul and lets not mention Alan and the skulking “dogboat”

Another enjoyable and fun game, well at least for the Kriegsmarine players 😀

The Uncivil Servant

The musings of a wargamer retired from her Majesties Uncivil Service

Month: August 2019

Battle of Montmirail 1814

Excitement in the Channel