Alone the Danube: https://sammustafa.com/download/42828/
It has taken much longer than I had initially thought, but this weekend I finally finished! The terrain table I used was also something I put together to run Blücher. I made it over the summer and haven’t had the chance to get a game on it until now. There are more board sections than shown here which allow for some more varied terrain.
I set up the board as closely to the scenario map as I could within the limitations of the terrain I had. I threw some roads on mine as decorations but they didn’t serve any purpose game wise. There are a couple of other terrain bits that are on the table but were treated as open ground for the purpose of the game. Only the river, forests, three major hills, and fields in the upper right corner of the scenario map were treated as such in the tabletop.
This was a solo run through as I wanted to nail down the rules. It wouldn’t have been practical to line up an opponent anyhow since I had to squeeze in a few turns when I could over a busy weekend. I haven’t done many proper battle reports but I did my best to document the flow of the battle. Missed a phase here or there I’m sure but the narrative should come through alright.
For those unfamiliar with Blücher, it is aimed at fighting large scale engagements. In the book, Sam describes his recommended scale as:
- 1infantry unit = 2-3 thousand men (4-6 battalions)
- 1 cavalry unit = 1-2 thousand men (6-12 squadrons)
- 1 artillery unit = 18-24 guns (2-4 batteries)
The forces were as follows:
French
1st corps: 4x infantry, 1x hussars, 1x foot artillery
2nd corps: 4x infantry, 1x hussars, 1x foot artillery
3rd corps: 4x infantry, 1x hussars, 1x foot artillery
Reserve Cavalry corps: 2x cuirassier, 2x dragoons, 1x hussars, 1x horse artillery
Austrians
1st corps: 6x infantry, 2x foot artillery
2nd corps: 6x infantry, 2x foot artillery
3rd corps: 2x cuirassier, 2x hussars, 2x grenadiers
The two objectives depicted on the table above are special objectives that start controlled by the Austrians. The French win the game if they end any turn controlling both of them.
The Austrians placed their objective near the special objective in the fields in the northwest corner of the board. The French placed theirs in the southeast corner behind a wood.
The Austrians deploy their first corps covering the left objective and the second on the right. The hussars guard the right flank of the army while the grenadiers reinforce the right. The cuirassier are stationed between the two corps to exploit any opportunities.
The French place a corps on their right flank with plans to hook around the forest and make a run at northwest objective. The other two infantry corps are stationed opposite the Austrian position on the hills with a strong cavalry force to their left. Cuirassier and dragoon’s form the mobile reserve in the center.
View down the French lines
Austrian cuirassier ready to exploit French weaknesses
The French begin their attack by moving around the wood on the right. Their main force advances toward the hills while the cavalry on the left move into the woods hoping to flank the Austrian lines.
Austrians respond by reinforcing the right flank of their line with infantry while foot artillery and cuirassier fill the middle. On the left of their lines they move to meet the advancing French leaving an infantry reserve behind the bend in the river.
The French left advances up the hill and through the woods while the vanguard enters skirmish range on the right.
The Austrians plug the gap between the hussars and infantry on the left of their line while the infantry on the hill skirmish fire at the advancing French and prepare their lines to receive the assault. In the center, the infantry reserve begins to advance. On the Austrian left, the infantry shakes out into a line in order to block the French corps. Prepared infantry are marked with bolt action order dice.
The French charge hits home on the Austrian held hill but they are beaten back all across. One unit impetuously charges on the right flack but is similarly stymied.
The French are beaten back across the entire line
Then raked by musketry from the stationary Austrians
The front unit of the right flank has taken a serious beating from fire and combat
The Austrian cuirassier spring into action against the depleted infantry of the French first line, breaking one unit and forcing another to retreat.
The French advance has been stymied and the Austrian cuirassier are threatening to get around the end of the French lines and roll the flank.
The French respond quickly to the threat posed by the Austrian cavalry. The units already in position open fire at close range with musket volleys and canister. Meanwhile, the French reserves spring into action with the horse artillery moving up to contribute its own fire while a cuirassier and dragoons gallop towards the Austrian horsemen.
The French cavalry, finally emerging from the woods, charge the Austrians’ right flank
The cavalry charge meets with mixed results, pushing back a unit of Austrian Hussars on the flank and breaking a unit of infantry, but otherwise failing to penetrate the Austrian lines. This action is mirrored by yet another unsuccessful attack by the French units on the right flank.
Austrian muskets rattle down the lines as they attempt to weaken the French before the next assault
The French cavalry in the center move up in the wake of the Austrian cuirassier’s retreat. On the right flank the infantry advance across the river to engage more Austrian units
The Austrian lines erupt in smoke as volleys of musket fire strike back at the exhausted French. The infantry reserve in the center make their way across the river to threaten the French rear.
