Napoleonic HITS Game Feb 7-8

With the successfully removal of the depot stores from Barsch and other cities, the Austrian army has concentrated its supplies in the large arsenal at Alagon.  The safety of this concentration is crucial for the continued effort against the invading French.

The collection and storage of so much war material has not gone unnoticed by the French.  With numerous informants roaming the countryside, the Emperor has been kept abreast of the growing importance of Alagon to the Austrian war effort.  He has now decided it is time to act and has sent Maréchal Davout south to capture the town and destroy anything of military value he finds there.

As he marched south, Davout's cavalry has reported increasingly heavy contact with their Austrian counterparts.  Yesterday, still several miles from Alagon, the French advance was halted by a large Austrian force blocking the road.

General Johann Hiller and his 6. Korps has once again been tasked with seeing to the safety of a town and arsenal.  His Husaren have kept him informed of the French activities to the north.  Once he was convinced that Alagon was the target of the enemy, he concentrated his forces well north of the town to offer battle.

It is now morning and the armies are deployed and await the order to engage.

This 3 hour battle will take place on the Antietam map, so everyone will need that expansion pack along with version 1.03 of the KS SOW Supplemental Maps mod.  Also the usual Road to Wagram and KS Napoleon Mod 1.710 are needed.

The defensive bonus and fatigue and movement penalties of the wooden fences has been removed.  Also the severe movement penalties of the cornfields have been greatly reduced.

This is more of a set piece battle where both sides have a fairly good idea of the location of the enemy.  Light cavalry from both armies has been very active in gathering intelligence the previous day.  Of course units may have shifted somewhat during the night.  We'll need 10-12 players for this battle.  It shouldn't be too much of a problem if the CinCs take command of a division if they choose.

For this game, the movement of troops cannot take place beyond the rivers along the east and west sides of the map.  This is to prevent any large flanking maneuvers.

Additionally in order to expand the fog of war a little, the CinCs and infantry commanders are not allowed to scout in front of their troops or guns.  Only the cavalry commanders may do so.  They must stay within the usual 200-250 yards of one of their squadrons.

A doodle sign-up link is here:  Doodle Sign-Up

Of course the usual call is being made for volunteer CinCs.  If none are forthcoming, nominations from the floor will be accepted.

I'll volunteer for C in C.

Excellent, Mark! Do you have a preference as to which side you'd like?

I don't have a preference. French? I prefer to attack and I'm sort of careless on the Defense....

OK, sloppy sauces and garlic it is. Now we just need someone who has a fondness for strudel and tubas.

We still do not have anyone for the Austrian CinC. The floor is now open for nominations.

I nominate Martin (the other one, not me).

Nice try Diggers..........

I've actually got a good excuse this time as I am going overseas shortly, and just don't think a weekend game is doable.

I will volunteer for a turn when I can back however   .

Martin (J)

So I am going to have to make an arbitrary appointment?

That's funny. . . you. . . arbitrary?

I'll do it.

Ugh!

I think, given how the two sides seem to be ranged against each other at short distance then not very much planning and such is needed.

So I nominate Kevin as Austrian C-in-C. You're defending so need literally do nothing except respond to what the attacker does.

iven how the two sides seem to be ranged against each other at short distance then not very much planning and such is needed.

Yes because Kevin would never ever mislead the C-in-C's in the briefings and I'm sure this will be a simple and straight forward game, just like the rest of them are.  

MJP wrote:Yes because Kevin would never ever mislead the C-in-C's in the briefings and I'm sure this will be a simple and straight forward game, just like the rest of them are.

Absolutely correct. I thank you for your support.

So we have the Battle of the Two Marks. Briefing will be going out.

Mark PM me with your email address so I can send you the French briefing.

I've no preference for side or role in this game, so whoever makes the decision, please assign me whatever is needed.

Has the game time/day been settled?

I think we should try for today at the usual 20:00GMT. If we do not have enough, I can throw something together and we can try to run the scheduled scenario on Sunday at 19:30.

We're trying to get some gcm guys. We need at least 10 or 20.

20? Yikes. Are these big armies then?

12 guys total would be best. We could play with 10. As usual if we have more, then infantry brigade commands can be filled.

I have a small scenario for today.  It will require 6-8 players, assuming the CinCs take a command.  Of course we can accommodate more.  It will be fought on the same map as yesterday, (different part, naturally).

Let's set the start time for 19:30GMT.



After the French capture of Alagon, Archduke Charles ordered another corps to retake the town and destroy the French forces there.  General Bellgarde found the town unoccupied, but with its storehouses burnt to the ground.  Local civilians have been moving towards the town from the south, a sure sign of an enemy force.

The French in turn proceeded south chasing General Hiller's beaten corps.  In this they were unsuccessful.  General Davout decided to turn back north and reorganize his forces at Alagon.  To his discomfort, he has found an Austrian force astride his line of communication.  Now he must fight another battle near this infernal town and reopen his supply line.

The bridge that crosses the Rio Jalon along the Camino Alumdevar is key.  He must capture is and get at least 1500 men to the east side of it.

I hope to be around

Tom

Is the Camino Alumdevar bridge the only crossing of the river?

No, there are 4 bridges I believe, but this is the only one that matters. This map is modded so troops can't just cross anywhere they like. They have to use the bridges.

Thanks again for the game - and apologies I had to leave.

A big learning curve last night! Firstly, the tricky problem of how to withdraw infantry in the face of cavalry, guns and enemy infantry - I was lucky only to lose one regiment in the end.

Then I positioned myself to defend the bridge, unfortunately in the melee, I got taken out by a French column, whilst ordering a counter attack down from the hill. I respawned, but the damage was done. My brigade was essentially gone - when I got back, there was 1 regiment remaining, which I ordered into square in front of a calvary attack, and was promptly killed again.

Once again, I traipsed over the map, returning to find my single regiment huddled in square still, I participated for a moment in the battle, but they were very shaky, and not really up for much.

So after a while I decided to call it a night, as work was looming.

Thanks for the game all - sorry to my team that my brigade crumbled so fast! What a disaster & plenty to learn!

Tom