SoWWL Battle Sunday, August 9 20:00 BST: Plancenoit2/Lobau's Decision

Giving the SoW Waterloo scenario creation scene a twirl this weekend. This one pits us humans as the French in a desperate battle to save Napoleon's right flank at Plancenoit. Full briefing below. Personally, I think this one's got Kevin's name tattooed all over it as French CinC Lobau -- a guy fate has unkindly placed in position to make at least one history-changing, gut-wrenching decision.

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Briefing:
It is 15:00/3:00pm, 18 June 1815. History takes a detour...

The Prussians: Following the debacle at Ligny, III Corps chief of staff Carl von Clausewitz successfully lobbied both Blücher and immediate superior Johann von Thielmann. Much to von Gneisenau's dismay, the Ancient One has ordered a reinforced III Corps, after resting and licking its wounds in the woods a few miles north of Ligny at Villers-la-Ville, to march directly toward Wellington's position at Mont St. Jean. The remainder of the army retires on Wavre. Blücher is convinced that this movement will demonstrate Prussian support and resolve to his friend, the Duke, more forcefully than any words . Following this directive, the III Corps Prussians have been on the march since early morning.

The French: Napoleon has had sketchy advance warning of the Prussian movement, though notably not from Grouchy (who is happily chasing phantoms from his strawberry field at Walhain). Instead, the Emperor has heard from a sympathetic Charmes villager, who tells of a large force of Prussians on the march from the southeast.  Other locals have confirmed variations of this tale, though there is some confusion as to whether the direction of the Prussian approach is southeast -- or south -- or east. In any event, Napoleon cannot ignore the risk presented to his right flank.
Therefore, Lt. Gen. Georges Mouton Comte de Lobau is directed to take the 3 divisions of his French VI Corps to Plancenoit (Nancy on our map) with orders to screen and stop any approaching Prussians. His job is to buy time on the French right for Napoleon to crush the Duke to the northwest. As additional insurance, Napoleon dispatches Duhesme's crack division of Young Guard to the area as backup. However, it is his fervent wish that these troops not be used* unless absolutely needed. The Emperor hints strongly that Lobau is obliged to stop the Prussians using his own force of 3 divisions if at all possible. No doubt experience and intuition are whispering in his ear that these same Young Guard troops will be needed later to ultimately turn the tide against the Duke of Wellington...

Victory Conditions
French Strategic/Decisive Victory: The French VI Corps holds Plancenoit (Nancy) at 18:00/6:00pm without committing the Young Guard of Duhesme's division*;
French Minor Victory: French hold Plancenoit at 18:00/6:00pm after committing the Young Guard*;
Draw: Prussians hold Plancenoit but are unable to dislodge the French from the large woods immediately west of town;
Disaster: Anything else

*The Young Guard Division is considered committed at any point if it takes in excess of 300 casualties. It may be ordered into battle early, even immediately, but doing so sacrifices any chance at strategic/decisive victory. In any event a decision whether or not to commit must be made by 16:30/4:30pm. To remain uncommitted (and therefore available to Napoleon), Duhesme must receive an order to march his entire division toward the northwest corner of the map by that time. Once the order is given, the Young Guard may not be recalled to the battle.

French OOB:
6e Corps d'Armée: lieutenant-général Georges Mouton  Comte de Lobau (15621 Inf.  2437 Cav.  48 Guns))

 19ème Division: lieutenant-général Baron Francois Martin Valentin Simmer (3908 Inf.  318 Cav.  12 Guns)
   Brigade Bellair: Maréchal de Camp de Baron Antoine-Alexandre Julienne de Bellair (2148 Inf. 5 battalions  Avg. Exp. 5.7)
   Brigade Thevenet: Maréchal de Camp Louis Thevenet (1760 Inf. 4 battalions  Avg. Exp. 6.0)
   Brigade Vinot: Maréchal de Camp Baron Gilbert Julien Vinot (318 Cav. 3 squadrons  Avg.Exp. 5.0)
   2e Co / 2e Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval: Capitaine Lebeau (6 Guns   Avg. Exp. 6.0)
   3e Co / 3e Régiment d’Artillerie à Cheval: Capitaine Jean Pierre Paul Tortel (6 Guns   Avg. Exp. 6.0)

 20ème Division: lieutenant-général Baron Jean-Baptiste Jeanin (3552 Inf.  484 Cav.  16 Guns)
   Brigade Bourgeois: Maréchal de Camp Baron Charles François Bourgeois (1881 Inf. 4 battalions  Avg. Exp. 5.5)
   Brigade Tromelin: Maréchal de Camp Jacques Jean Marie François Boudin  Comte de TROMELIN (735 Inf. 2 battalions  Avg. Exp. 6.0)
   Brigade Ricard: Colonel Jean Ricard (936 Inf. 2 battalions  Avg. Exp. 6.0)
   Brigade Merlin: Maréchal de Camp Chevalier Eugène Antoine François Merlin (484 Cav. 3 squadrons  Avg.Exp. 6.0)
   3e Co / 2e Regiment d'Artillerie a Pied: Capitaine Claude Barbaux (8 Guns   Avg. Exp. 6.0)
   3e Co / 5e Régiment d'Artillerie a Pied: Capitaine  Jean Haye (8 Guns   Avg. Exp. 6.0)

 21ème Division: lieutenant-général Baron Francois Antoine Teste (3878 Inf.  438 Cav.  12 Guns)
   Brigade Toussaint: Maréchal de Camp Baron Jean-François Toussaint (1891 Inf. 4 battalions  Avg. Exp. 5.0)
   Brigade Penne: Maréchal de Camp Baron Raymond Pierre de Penne (1987 Inf. 4 battalions  Avg. Exp. 5.0)
   Brigade Travers: Maréchal de Camp Baron Etienne Jacques Travers (438 Cav. 4 squadrons  Avg.Exp. 7.0)
   4e Co / 3e Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval: Capitaine Jean Javelier (6 Guns   Avg. Exp. 6.0)
   5e Co / 1er Régiment d'Artillerie à Cheval: Capitaine  Alexandre Duchet (6 Guns   Avg. Exp. 6.0)

 Division de la Jeune Garde: lieutenant-général comte Guillaume Philibert Duhesme (4283 Inf.  1197 Cav.  8 Guns)
   Brigade Chartrand: Maréchal de Camp Jean Hyacinthe Sébastien Chartrand (2328 Inf. 4 battalions  Avg. Exp. 5.3)
   Brigade Guye: Maréchal de Camp Nicolas Philippe Guye marquis de Rio Milanos (1955 Inf. 4 battalions  Avg. Exp. 5.0)
   1er Régiment de Chasseurs à Cheval de la Garde: lieutenant-général baron Francois Antoine Lallemand (1197 Cav. 5 squadrons  Avg.Exp. 7.6)
   5e Co d'Artillerie à Pied de Vielle Garde: Capt François Gaspard Bouquero (8 Guns   Avg. Exp. 7.0)

Those stinking sausage eaters will not survive the day. They will regret their decision not to slink back to Berlin.

the only thing better than killing Frogs is killing Prussians... hope I will be around - not sure though - I'll be in the Italian Alps most of next week - going to visit a few of the sites of trench warfare in WW1 in the Alps still visible today!

Just one question - why didn't you use the Waterloo map?

The Waterloo maps place Plancenoit too close to the map edge for my purposes. As a result of this, or perhaps the differences in the road net, it was difficult to get the AI to act in a reasonable manner.

It is rumored that the Prussians have a rather large baggage train with them. Such a prize will justify nearly any risk taken. I will expect my division commanders to perform their duty accordingly.

I'll play Duhesme... since I got my 2nd screen back I can easily watch a movie while my troops do nothing, as Mr. Georgia MT no doubt wants a decisive victory....




no - just kiddin... if I am around I am happy with a brigade or something - better plan without me...

Uncle Billy wrote:Such a prize will justify nearly any risk taken

Prussian silver? General Georgia might be better off surreptitiously knocking over the Emperor's baggage train -- after either a victory or defeat -- and blaming it on the Prussians either way.

This one's going to be a classic case of quality vs quantity. We'll see whether these Frenchmen are able to live up to their reputation.

I'll be there.

But I'm itching for some P v P action.

I hear that ladies have now been recruited into the young guard as long as they fit the main description. Young means under 25, right? If so I'll take the guard. I'll be "in reserve" in my tent for 2 to 3 hours... 

I feel a Duh moment coming but what is the name of the map please?

It should be France Manassas.

I don't have that game so that's me out

No it is a free add-on to GB, you just need the 3 KS mods to play.

Lol Just come off the game after trying & getting it to work.Thanks taking the time & letting my know why.Told you it was a duh moment

not entirely true however - you will need the lsl files from the maps to have no "cannot found" messages... dunno how this works with giving it out for free.... might be a bit tricky...

I have GB & transferred those files on advice from another thread

so why did you say that you didn't have that game then?

not entirely true however - you will need the lsl files from the maps to have no "cannot found" messages... dunno how this works with giving it out for free.... might be a bit tricky...

This only applies to the pay-for NSD add-ons:

Pipe Creek
Antietam
Chancellorsville
Brandy Station

Without owning these GB add-ons the maps in WL will give you errors.

All the freebie GB add-on maps have their lsl files included in the KS maps mod.

Sunday, all you'll need is the 3 standard KS Waterloo II mods to play. Before the game, I'll post a link to download & unzip a special folder to SoW WL Mods.

Prepare to deal with the AI Prussian onslaught! Will Kevin/Lobau be forced to commit the Young Guard to save the Emperor's right? Will his division commanders be able to hold the town? And, most importantly, will Gen. Georgia score a wagon load of Prussian -- or even Belgian or French -- silverware? So many questions... Don't miss it!

The 1st priority will be the Prussian baggage train. The 2nd will be the Emperor's. Once the important objectives are secured, we'll worry about the town.

I would like to give it another go. Last Sunday I kept getting dropped, so I reconfigured a few things on my network (assuming it was that).

Thanks,
Tom W

By all means join us. It may be best if you take a brigade command in case you drop again.

I'll try to be there - but no promises.... all depends on how many Germans decide to take the same motorway I have to in order to get back home tonight before the game starts!

Ron, what type of cavalry does Lobau have? Does he have dragoons or light cavalry that can be used for scouting?