Battle of Castelcerino - 30th April 1809 - Using Shako II rules.

     Italy, April 1809, A French -Italian force under the command of General Jean- Barthelemot Sorbier, tries to cut the Austrian's line of communications at the small battle of  Castelcerino, also known as the
battle of Caldiero and battle of Souve. 

     This scenario is taken from Duel of the Princes by Michael Hopper, and is based around the Italian campaign of 1809 covering battles in Italy and Hungary. 

    All troops used are from Mike Eynon's collection he is still building. The Austrians are a bit hotch-potch to fit the scenario. The buildings are 10mm, which fit on the village footprints nicely. Mat is from Deepcut Studios. 

                                                                 Map                                                  The Troops          

  

Italians deploy first in their designated zones, and then the Austrian. Both sides have reserves available, the Austrian player will dice on turn three for their point and which turn they arrive. The Italians can then activate their cavalry off table in reserve, when the Austrian reserve reach the and starts to ascend the hill.

Initial deployment, from the Austrian position:

Turn 1, 2 and 3 were manouvers. The Austrian reserves were diced for and the were to come on next turn, (4) arriving on right of picture: bit of musketry saw both sides lose a skirmish stand each.

 

 Turn 5: Musketry, we played a house rule. Battalions occupying towns: The Battalion can fire out of one single edge per turn, but fires as skirmishers at volley fire range!

 

Turn 6 : Austrian musketry was inflicting heavy losses on the Italian defenders and in turn 7 the Austrians Charged up the hill and  routed two Italian units and in the command phase, the division broke and routed.

   

The Italian 2nd  division Grenadiers had now become engaged and the reserve Dragoon regt had arrived. 

   

Turn 8: Musketry, A few kills (not shown here)

 

Turn 9:  The Austrians are now taking casualties and the Italian Dragoons charge one of the Austrian flank units. One Italian Grenadier unit on the left of the Italian line took two hits and a Stagger.

 

The Austrian Grenz unit took one casualty and fell back and the Dragoon took the breakthrough charge, hitting a unit that was in column, which took three kills and fell back.

 

Both Austrian units passed their fallback test. 

Turn 10: Musketry, The Dragoon took a kill from the reformed Grenz and on the Austrian right an Italian Grenadier unit took a fifth hit and was broken.

 

Turn 11: The Austrian charge the Italian line and an Italian line battalion was broken in the melee and the resulting Divisional morale int the command phase broke the division and the way was open to Cazzano (north end of the table and one of the Austrian victory points)   The Dragoons managed to break one unit and force another to fallback.

 

The game was 13 - 15 game turn game, so the Austrian could reach the VP. The Austrian achieved total victory due to some really good dice rolling when it mattered.