Game 119 : Battle at Plancenoit, Waterloo 1815

 This is a venture using some computer rules called Carnage & Glory. Like all new rule sets we had a few teething problems but not enough to really influence the overall outcome.

This pic gives a long shot across the battlefield from the Prussian right. Plancenoit is in the middle of the table. The Prussians have 4 Brigades of Infantry, 3 Brigades of Cavalry and 11 Batteries. The French have 2 Divisions of Infantry, 2 Divisions of Cavalry and 6 Batteries. 

The Prussians started their attacks on their right with the lead Cavalry Brigade. The French would come of worst from this encounter. Fatigue plays a large part in how the software controls overall unit effectiveness and units can tire quickly.

The French await the advance of the mass of Prussian Infantry. The French edge the quality ratings, but the Prussians make up for this with numbers. 

The Prussians did attack Plancenoit. Fighting in villages is difficult, as it should be, and progress was slow. The Church was counted as a stone strongpoint.

The Prussians make a general advance just as nightfall was beginning to close. In the open, the French would have no option but to retire. However, the Prussians made no headway into Plancenoit itself. An interesting first experience which is about to be repeated.

Myself and Graham enjoying a short break before resuming hostilities. Graham was Prussian and we decided that he had the edge in the result.

 

Game 118 : Hill 220

 We're on the Eastern front, sometime in earlyish 1943. GrossDeutschland is driving down the main Highway. In its path is Hill 220 that dominates the visibility in the entire area. GD is advancing with a reinforced Panzer Grenadier Regiment. It is supported by the Assault Gun and Tank Destroyer Btns from the Division along with a Tiger Tank company.

The Russians defending have an Infantry Division, an old style Tank Division with T34s and some randomly assigned assets. Key to this assignment was  Btn of KV1 tanks.

The Russians are dug in. The game was effectively resolved by the Russian KV tanks. Their heavy armour made them a bit like a moving road block. It allowed the T34s to rush the lighter German armour, namely the Marders. The Germans tried to protect these with the Stugs from the Assault Gun Btn, but opportunities were to be had. The village in front of Hill 220 was taken by GD infantry. The Russian infantry were ousted, not helped by their random rolls to have high morale but next to no casualty absorption capability.

Russian T34s, sneaking forward, come under Stuka attack. The air forces of both sides were active, they both really only had a cameo affect.

Russians form a square. No, its not 1812, but the Russian Btn in question is literally being given the run around by the GD Motorcycle Btn. The intervention of Russian armour to the top of the pic would see the Germans driven off.

We did have a combat where the bulk of both air forces turned up. In a nutshell, the German dice rolling was hopelessly unlucky and the Russians were more effective than they should have been.

A nice little outing that saw the WWII kit back out in a small sized game. Plenty of space and options. The usual crowd, Brendan and Adam are doing their best to hide! 

Next stop is Carnage & Glory computer rules, Plancenoit 1815.

Game 117 : Battle of Waterloo June 18th 1815

 No introductions required for this. Just some photos with some brief description of the action. 

A long shot looking from the French Centre-Right along the battlefield

A similar shot with the French cavalry now moving to support. This was the first French attack.

This is a little later, a shot from the French Centre-Left with La Haye Sainte to the right. The French infantry attack did get to just below the crest of the ridge where is was charged by the Union Brigade.

The Union Brigade was repulsed.

Back to the right flank and the Allies have deployed to receive the assault. Many attacks would be launched and the Allies would manage to hold.

Back to the Centre. The Union Brigade has retired to reform and Cavalry from both sides are now engaged. 

This was the turn of battle. French Carabiniers have broken through the British Guards. The Guards morale has stood, but the guns in support have been either ridden down to forced to retreat. British Light Cavalry will counter-attack to allow the Guards to reform in the rear.

The French Guard Light Cavalry are now in the fight. The Dragoon Guards would get cut down. Although still holding, pressure on the Allied line has increased.

The French Guard Heavy Cavalry reach the crest on the left and now dominate their front where a hole has now developed. Below them are the French Guard Grenadiers.

French Guard Grenadiers are now about to engulf the Dutch/Belgian Divisions who have already been fighting, tenaciously, all day. The result is inevitable. The French Guard Heavy Cavalry launch themselves at two Brigades of Uxbridge's Light Cavalry. Again, the result is as expected. That was the game end. Lots of fighting and then a sudden crack in the line which quickly increased in size and severity.

French Formations	Losses %			Prussian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
Imperial Guard : Drouot				Army Reserve	18	-	42
Friant	0	-	0
Morand	0	-	0	I Corps : PO Orange
Duhesme	0	-	0	Cooke	10	-	38
Guyot	-	0	0	Alten	12	-	50
LeFebvre	-	9	8	Perponcher	9	-	3
St Maurice	-	-	0	Chasse	12	-	63
I Corps : D’Erlon				Dutch-Belgian Cavalry : Collaert	-	-	9
Quiot	14	-	9	Trip	-	42	-
Donzelot	43	-	41	Merlen	-	51	-
Marcognet	36	-	6	Ghigny	-	17	-
Durutte	11	-	0
Jacquinot	-	25	50	II Corps : Hill
I Corps Artillery	-	-	0	Clinton	9	-	23
				Mitchell	2	-	25
IV Corps : Reille
Jerome	10	-	38	Reserve Corps : no General
Bachelu	30	-	6	Picton	14	-	35
Foy	7	-	38	Cole	10	-	54
Pire	-	20	0	Olfermans	18	64	52
II Corps Artillery	-	-	0
				Cavalry Reserve : Uxbridge
VI Corps : Lobau				Somerset	-	62	-
Simmer	0	-	6	Ponsonby	-	50	-
Jeanin	0	-	6	Dornberg	-	0	-
Domon	-	0	4	Vandeleur	-	10	-
Subervie	-	7	17	Grant	-	25	-
VI Corps Artillery	-	-	0	Vivian	-	0	-
				Arentschild	-	0	-
IIIC Cav Corps : Kellerman				Estorff	-	0	-
L’Heritier	-	31	29	Royal Horse Artillery	-	-	22
D’Hurbal	-	34	8
				IV Korps : Bulow
IVC Cav Corps : Milhaud				Hake	15	-	-
St Alphonse	-	18	8	Funck	0	-	-
Delorts	-	22	0	Losthin	9	-	-
				Hiller	3	-	-
				Prince William	-	15	-
				Braun	-	-	2
				II Korps : Pirch I
				Tippelskirch	0	-	-
				Krafft	0	-	-
				Brause	0	-	-
				Bose	0	-	-
				Jurgass	-	0	-
				Rohl	-	-	0
				I Korps : Ziethen
				Steinmetz	0	-	-
				Pirch II	0	-	-
				Jagow	0	-	-
				Schutter	0	-	-
				Roeder	-	0	-
				Holtendorff	-	-	0

The casualty returns demonstrates how heavy the fighting was.

The Generals in reposted before more beers and another night out!