The Battle of Quatre Bras 16th June 1815 - Shako II rules

 

The Hundred Days, also known as the War of the Seventh Coalition, marked the period between Napoleon's return from eleven months of exile on the island of Elba. (re:Wiki)

The lead up to the Battle of Waterloo was made up by a series of manoeuvres by Napoleon to try and outwit the Allies as to where he would strike. Napoleon attempted to split the Prussians under Blucher and the British/ Dutch/ Belgian forces under Wellington and took the customary “Central Position” and fought two battles on the 16^th June at Ligny, Napoleon took on Blucher and at Quatre Bras against Wellington he sent Marshall Ney, with orders to take Quatre Bras as quickly as possible and sever the line of communication between the Allies.

In the melee combats the white dice are the combat stats with modifiers and the red & blue dice are the random dice rolls. All Figures are 15mm and are from my collection. Building are 10mm from Battlescale.

Here is our take on Quatre Bras, a scenario by Michael Hopper and using Shako II rules. This is a modified scenario similar to the one in the rulebook. 

I played Marshall Ney and my good friend Rob played Wellington and the British deployed first.

Wellington deployed the Nassaus under Perponcher in the Bois de Bossu (Bossu woods) Brunswick to their right and Picton's 5th division holding the left flank. Altern's 3rd division would arrive turn 2 and the Guards of Cooke would arrive turn 7 or later, depending on how many Allied units break, as they would be routing down the road the Guards are using, marching towards the battle.

Ney deployed left to right Jerome, Foy and Bachelu. Pire (cavalry) would arrive turn 1 and Kellerman's Heavy Cavalry would arrive turn 7. 

Turn 4

Jerome is pushing his French through the Bossu, but the Nassau are making it very difficult

First contact with the Brunswickers in the center. The white "flash" is a failed volley marker. First unit to Break.

The French Columns destroy the first Dutch unit. The figure on the round base donates the unit is Staggered (Shaken). 

 

Turn 5 

Bachelu starts to get organised as he crosses the stream. 

 

Foy continues to press the Allied center

 

Alten has been ordered to support Perponcher            

 

First French unit to Break, from Foy's division   

Turn6

Foy's division pushes on its fight with Brunswickers        

 

Bachelu now makes contact with Picton's left

Picton's artillery if Broken                                            

 

2nd Rate (SR)Brunswickers are collapsing, but the                                                                                           front line is holding fast & Break another French unit

SR Dutch of Perponcher Broken

End of Turn 6, The French Columns have broken the Brunswickers line, but the Black Cavalry should plug the gap.

The French left in the Bossu wood are finding the Nassau a tough nut to crack

Turn 7

Kellerman's Cuirassiers ride past Ney and onto Glory. 

 

The Brunswick Hussars charge the French exposed                                                                                          fatigued (House Rule) column, and subsequently Break! 

The Nassau Charge a French column in the Flank and Break it     

 

Dutch Hussars are Broken when charging behind the wood

Turn 8

Brunswick Lancers fail a charge and forced to Fall-back, and Break in the rally phase.

 

The Dutch Hussar Brigade passed it's turn 7 50% divisional check, so one last ditch charge in turn 8. The first combat was tied, the second round broke the Hussars. 

    

End of Turn 8

Turn 9 

The fight for Bossu wood  

Picton's lads are holding the Allied left, causing French casualties.

Turn10

Kellerman hits home                                                   

 

The French are getting a foot hold in Bossu

Various melees in the center in which another Brunswick unit Breaks, causing the whole division to Break (75% losses)

The Cuirassiers Break some Hanoverians                    

  

Brunswickers Breaking back to Brussels 

The end of turn 10

Turn 11

Saw the French Reorganising for one final push and one melee pushed a unit in Fall-back

Turn 12 (last turn)

The British finally got some decent melee dice and halted the French.

 

CONCLUSION & POINTS. 

Victory Conditions

For each formation removed:

·         3 points (Jerome)

·         2 points (Bachelu, Foy, Perponcher, Brunswick, Alten, Cooke)

·         1 point (Piré, Kellermann, Merlen)

At end of game:

·         1 point is awarded to the French for interdicting the Nivelles – Quatre Bras road; either by being on it or across it (A2-A3-B3).

·         2 points are awarded for holding Quatre Bras (either side)

Both Sides

§  Major Victory: hold Quatre Bras and score 3 or more points more

§  Victory: hold Quatre Bras and score 2 points more

§  Minor Victory: hold Quatre Bras and score 1 point more

The French Broke the Brunswickers (2 points) and Merlen (1 point)

The British still held QB Village (2 points)  

Result was a hard-fought draw

Battle of St. Martin - 29th April 1809 - Using Shako II rules

 The Battle of St Martin, in Austria took place on 29th April 1809. An Austrian rear guard action where the Austrians were slightly outnumbered but held the high ground and terrain which would force the French poorly trained division of Claparede to stay in column for longer than desired.

The Scenario is from "The Roads to Vienna, 1809" from Michael Hopper, and again a very challenging game for both sides. Game length is 12 turns, We played 10 turns before a result and club night finished. In Combat Purple and White (with red pips) are the "stats/modifed" unit score and the other dice Blue and White Dice are the random rolls!

We diced to see if the stream was fordable, and it was. The River was only crossable at the bridges.

I took charge of the French consisting of  14 poor battalions and 2 average and a foot gun, Mike controlled the Austrian forces of 1 large poor battalion, 3 average large battalions, 4 average battalion, 3 light horse regiments and a heavy foot gun. All figures from Mike's collection which, he is still building, hence unfinished bases. 

Deployment:

AUSTRIAN

   FRENCH 

Turn 1 & 2, involved getting orders to units and getting them advancing.

Turn 3: The Austrian Heavy Artillery proved it's worth, causing damage on the French Columns most turns, which forced them into line and slowed their advance!

The Austrians move down from the high ground to join up with the brigade of Radetzky.

While the French columns advanced around the central wood.

Turn 4: The artillery strikes again! The French move up their artillery.

                            

Turn 5: The Austrian Uhlans Charge the infantry of Coehorn 

The poor battalion is broken, not only by the 3 kills, but by the cavalry winning as I elected to fire and not try and form Hasty Square. 

With the reverse result in the center, with the Uhlan unit Broken, with 5 kills (only takes 4)

Turn 6: and another French unit take the full force of the heavy gun and is Broken. The Brigade is on a morale test in the Command phase, which they pass.

Turn 7: The French artillery is starting to cause casualties in the Austrian ranks as the French are getting closer, but the threat of the Uhlans still lingers.

Turn 8: The Brigade of Lesure move up in support of Coehorn:

The French Right flank have manage to get across the stream and are getting their formations aligned. Musketry causing some casualties.

Turn 9: Yes, you guessed it, the Uhlans charged again and breaking another poor unit in combat. Another morale test, as this loss takes the Brigade to 50% losses

The French right desperately charge the Austrian left to try and force the line! (Pic a bit bluured)

In the Command phase, Coehorn failed morale and the Brigade became "Staggered" -1 to their Frontal Morale Rating. 

Turn 10: Coehorn charged (I think he could not, but could not find in rules and time was against us),  and Lesuire moved toward his objective of St Martin! 

Melee on the French right, saw one broken unit and an Austrian unit get pushed back, and losing 2 casualties.

And on the left, two more broken units in Coehorn's brigade! 

 

This broke the Brigade and end the game, as I only had 2 turns to destroy the Austrians (no where near this happening), and to take St Martin (still 3 or 4moves away). The Austrians gain a slender victory, but weight of numbers of the Austrian bigger units would have taken the day we think. Well done Mike!