Blowing My Own Trumpet - 200 Followers!

Toot-toot!

Follow the shoe!
No, follow the gourd!

I'm not the Messiah! I'm just a very naughty boy!

I just noticed that my followers have hit the 200 mark, thanks to The Lord of Excess from The Excessive Gamer and other blogs. Thanks your Lordship!

I'm sorry that I've been a bit quiet of late, but with semester kicking off here in Australia, work has been pretty busy. After a day at work and then the second shift with the family afterwards, there hasn't been much time left in the day for painting or blogging! I'm hoping to remedy it shortly with some more units from the workbench to submit in a last gasp for Curt's Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge and actually exceed the target I set myself.

Thanks again for your continued support. It's much appreciated!

Kaiserlik-in' Good!

Last Saturday's game at the club was my second for the year, the first being last Friday where I forgot my camera, so there's no photos or write-up. This last game was almost another undocumented game as not only did I forget the camera, I forgot the whole bag with rules, dice, tape-measure and camera! I used my camera to take photos as the light was good, but the pictures aren't up to the usual standard, I'm afraid!

Mrs. R. was working in the morning, so I was her chauffeur to and from work, which necessitated a late arrival at the club. However, she had to stay back an extra half-hour, which threw out my plans somewhat and I ended up at the club almost 2 hours after start time. Hence the rush which resulted in me leaving behind the bag with rules, camera, etc.

That's my excuse, anyway; the fact that I haven't lost my head because it's firmly screwed on, is beside the point!

The chaps were extremely patient and waited for me to arrive, even setting up the table to the specifications of my scenario as I described it to them earlier. I had in mind a scenario where a strategic feature like a cross-road or river crossing was dominated by a ridge-line or hill. With the hill as the objective, one side had to defend and one attack and capture the hill. In my envisaging of the scenario, the strategic point was not a dominant feature, only the hill, with the bridge or cross roads positioned in the corner of the table, out of the field of play. However, as I wasn't there, the chaps set up using Darren's terrain with the river directly down the centre of the table and the hill across the river. It was fordable at all points with some areas deeper than others and was crossed by two bridges.

Even though it wasn't exactly how I planned the scenario, it made for a challenging game that would have had an interesting conclusion if we hadn't run out of time! Pete and Ian had ground to a stalemate on their flank, but Darren and I still had a situation on the extreme flank which could have gone either way resulting in the victor rolling up the other's line on that flank. As it was, the Austrians held the hill by the end of the game, so by the reckoning of the scenario objectives, they were the winners.

The French, as the attackers, get first move

The Queen's Dragoons get ready to storm the bridge

The infantry head to the river. (Note to self: Don't lead off  with a single battalion. They tend to absorb the brunt of the counter-attack when it comes!)

The Kaiserliks await the storm

Ian's HaT 1/72nd French strut their stuff!

My Veteran brigade cross the river in the teeth of Austrian resistance. Huzzah!

The dragoons move further left to threaten the Austrians from the ford, while my second brigade assemble behind the bridge.

My guns move up behind 2 battalions of Italian infantry. The Austrian guns on the hill were 12 lbers, so I didn't want to give them a free shot at the limbered guns!

Ian's skirmishers head for the river, while the rest of his troops assemble behind the bridge.

Pete's Austrians hold the town on the other side of the bridge.

On the other side, Darren's Austrians focus their attention on my leading battalion which can't cope with the barrage unleashed and retreats though the oncoming traffic, disordering the units behind it.

I took a gamble with my cavalry crossing the ford; I hoped that Darren wouldn't take the opportunity charge, and that if he did, my cavalry would be of sufficient morale that I would survive the Austrian onrush.

Sadly, Darren did take the opportunity charge, rolled very well (and I didn't!) and broke me giving me 60% casualties...

...and, to rub salt into the wound, capturing my general!

After copping a blast of 12 lber fire, my chasseurs went into skirmish formation and plunged through the gap between the two Austrian divisions. I was hoping to throw the cat among the pigeons, but they spent the rest of the game touring the rear lines, without causing much distraction at all. If the game had lasted a couple of turns longer, I had planned on forming them up again in Darren's rear (oo-er, matron!)

One lonely battalion in line has forced the river, while other battalions regroup behind. The artillery make bloody work of the Austrian line at the top of the picture.

My line gets charged. I stand and fire, taking a couple of figures off the Austrian attack.

Darren flubs his pre-melee morale test and halts at 2". As I passed mine, I get to counter-charge!

However, the fact that the Austrians were in column and I was in line, couple with their mass, resulted in a draw. My line is still on the right side of the river and I've added another couple of disorders to his units.

While my flank is in action, my 3rd brigade decides to go for the gap between the two Austrian divisions in a flanking maneuver. Forgot about the 12 lbers apparently!

My Veteran forces regroup and cross the river. I had hoped to be able to get in the flanks of both the line on the right and the columns blocking the bridge...

...which would allow me to clear the cavalry from the ford. If Darren had co-oerated by staying still....(just sayin')

My Chasseurs on their Grand Tour of the Austrian rear echelons

The Italians join their French comrades now that the guns are safe from attack

In the center, I coordinate a crossing with Ian's infantry and cavalry in the teeth of accurate artillery fire.

My Chasseurs behind Darren's dragoons. One more move and they would have formed up to cause him a headache! Darren's cavalry held the key to the game at the end: I had crossed the ford on the left of the bridge and managed to get in the flank of the cavalry. Supporting Austrian infantry had come up to prevent the French from attacking the dragoons' flank. The resulting infantry combat would have decided whether my infantry were cleared from the cavalry flank, allowing a free run at the rest of my infantry line. If I'd won the combat, I would have fired on the cavalry, sending them back to be harassed by the Chasseurs, while leaving the Austrians vulnerable to a flank attack down their line.

Pete and Ian ended the game with an inconclusive regimental charge that bounced off each other.

Treading Water

Not much happening on the Rosbif front lately, Napoleonics-wise. With Borodino done and dusted I've sort of let things slide with Napoleonic painting.

Currently, I've got 3 projects I'm considering:

• Continue with my long-delayed Italians from Piave 1809

• Finish my long-delayed British 2nd Corps c.1812

• or, start a Wurttemberg division c.1809

Meanwhile, I haven't been totally inactive. Some of you who have been following the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge will know that I've been busy with my late antiquity project. Those of you who haven't, feel free to pop over to my other blog, Romani in Tenebris to check out what I've been up to of late.

Another reason I haven't been active of late is that some little toe-rag stole our car a few weeks ago, so I've been unable to attend any of the club sessions in the last few weeks. After wrestling with the insurance company and getting little to no information from the Victoria Police (whose customer service, I suspect, is more geared towards the non-law abiding citizens of our community), we finally had the car written off and bought a replacement. You really don't know how much you rely on wheels until you don't have any!

To protect our precious new car we've installed this state-of-the-art, revolutionary anti-theft system. It's worked well so far....

Borodino Part 4

Here is (finally) the last installment of our mega-Borodino game!

When we last left off, the game was still in the balance with the main action in the south, while the centre consolidated and I tried to gain bridgehead over the Borodino bridge, after it was clear that I would be facing no threat on the northern flank. After 3 fruitless attempts, James and I had to admit defeat and try another tack.

So the Russians were secure in the north, preparing for the French attack in the centre and ferociously disputing the south against Poniatowski and Davout.

We pick up the game from this point.

The Grand Redoubt and all its supporting guns. A tough nut to crack!

Just peeping over the dead ground, Ney's counter-batteries, including Guard artillery.

Guard cavalry (in the case, the Empress' Dragoons) also make an appearance.

The two sides face off

The view down the table from the north. As you can see, all the action is at the other end!

With the Cossacks gone, the southern front opens up.

A realyl scrappy combined arms affair develops

No serried ranks as occurs to the north. The Russian salient is being squeezed.

Boney gives Eugene the order to move in support of the assault on the redout.

I form a Grand Battery to try and hit the Grand Redoubt, while my healthiest division moves around into dead ground across the river.

Morand and Gerard are Tasked by Napoleon to assault the Redoubt. Their divisions assemble in the dead ground immediately in front.

The Imperial Guard makes its appearance on the board! Robin was not going to follow the example of the real Bonaparte and keep them inactive; he was planning to force a breakthrough from the gap between Ney and Davout currently held by the Cavalry Reserve.

The Young Guard make the first attack...

...against infantry of the Russian Guard!

More Guard cavalry, artillery and...Grognards of the Guard!

Boney takes a bow!

On the northern flank, my first brigade has made it across the river and into dead ground, leaving its regimental guns behind.

James take the opportunity to sneak across the bridge while Russian eyes are distracted elsewhere.

My first brigade leapfrogs to the next dead ground to try to interfere with Quinny's bridge guard. His Jaegers are taking on my skirmished legere infantry in the mid-ground.

James rushes more infantry across the bridge.

My second brigade follows the first over the top to the next dead ground, suffering casualties on the way from artillery fire.

Quinny's cavalry put a stop to any more forward advancein a clash with the leading battalions in closed column. His infantry inevitably react to James' attempt to establish a bridgehead, despite my best efforts at delaying the jaegers, who disdainfully shrug off my flank fire.

Jim tries an attack on the Grand Redoubt with a single regiment...

...and is repulsed for his trouble!

My forward movement stalls with cavalry and artillery to the front. After sending James' sortie back over the bridge, Quinny's Jaegers are formed up on the cliffs in the flank of my line of columns. This was where the thrid night ended. I felt that I had to attack, but the results would be catastrophic. Having a whole division running on his flank would definitely not help Jim in cracking the Redoubt!

In one of those brilliant moves (even if I do say so myself!) borne of desperation, next morning I sent my two best battalions up the 'cliffs' with the resulting 4 disorders. They ended up right on Quinny's flank in a move that he wasn't expecting (Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our main weapon is speed and surprise... Curses; our TWO main weapons are...etc.)

After seeing off one of the Jaeger lines (see running column in distance), his other line advnced and fired on the flank of my remaining grenadier rated batalion. In a sign things were looking up, they shrugged off the casualty and passed the resulting morale test with flying colours. Hurrah!

They send a second battalion fleeing after issuing their own flank fire, but lose another casualty to the jaegers. However, they laugh in the face of danger (ha, ha!) and refuse to buckle, passing another morale test

Meanwhile, bleow on the riverbank, Quinny launches his hussars at one of my artillery weakened battalions. They coolly form square in a another display of expert dice rolling and see off the threat!

The legere battalion which followed the greandier battalion gets some action, moving onto the flank of the jaeger line. Other battalions follow behind, while James takes the opportunity to recross the bridge.

Finally, after an inconclusive combat, the grenadiers are forced back with another casualty and maximum disorders.  James takes on a Russian line attempting to prevent him entering the plateau. My legere battalion takes the shot down the flank of the Jaeger battalion

Both James and I force Quinny's troops back, establishing our bridgehead at last! Huzzah!

However, Quinny has more reserves than we do. Lots more! Our aim was to distract the defence of the Grand Redoubt, which we certainly achieved.

Meanwhile, in the centre, Boney launches a cavalry charge through the gun lines; Lancers, Grenadiers a Cheval and Chasseurs of the Guard!

The Guard infantry also gets stuck in.

Russian and French cavalry clash!

The lancers are defeated! They push through and disorder the Grenadiers serried ranks...

...which doesn't help when they take on the victorious Russian cuirrassiers. The Guard cavalry flees!

Jim winds up for his second attempt on the Grand Redoubt. This time he goes in with the whole division!

A charge by Quinny's dragoons stops the charge in its tracks! The redoubt remains in Russian hands!

The table from the north to the centre at the end of play.

With that, it was obvious that neither side could land a knock out blow. The French had committed the Guard, so there were no more reserves. The Russians still had some reserves left, but not enough to make a difference.

Despite Quinny taunting us that our victory at the bridge was fleeting, and that he would be able to send us back across the bridge if there was another turn, he readily admitted that in his role as Kutuzov he'd probably have to issue a breakoff order just like in the historical battle, as there was no way that a decisive breakthrough was going to happen. Keeping a force in being was more important than winning an attritional battle, but losing the war.

So ended a brilliant 4 days' gaming. Thanks again to Tim and Jill for being wonderful hosts and building the brilliant terrain. Thanks also to the Andrews for umpiring and the design of the special rules. Also to John R. for the special terrain features like the Borodino church and the redoubts and fleches. A big thanks to all those who were there throughout the weekend, too. A better bunch of blokes couldn't be found to wargame with. Special mention to John W. and Fly, who lent us their troops, even though they couldn't make it; Very generous!.

Special thanks to James of the Avon Napoleonic Fellowship for making the long trip over to see how we do it in this neck of the woods. His passion for the period and his quick grasp of the rules stood him in good stead as did his sense of humour and general outgoing nature. It was like he'd been part of the group for years, rather than just days! One moment asking pertinent questions regarding the rules, the next moment taking the piss like an old hand! A better bloke you couldn't find (we regard him as an honorary Victorian and don't mention that he's a Sandgroper!). Great to finally meet you James, and I trust this won't be the last time we'll see you either on this side of the continent, or over your way!


Post Script Edit: I nearly forgot to thank Jim, whose idea this whole three ring circus was! He put his money where his mouth is and started researching the whole project about 18 months ago. If he didn't pick up the ball and run with it, this game may never have got off the ground. Kudos, Jim!

FIN