From: Markus Stumptner Subject: [Consim-l] Abensberg (S&T 113) replay Having played several scenarios of S&T 114 (Eckmuehl) with Chris Harding to our mutual enjoyment, I decided I'd give it smaller sister game from S&T 113 a solitaire go. The Battle of Abensberg was basically the opening for Eckmuehl - Napoleon's initial assault with which he wanted to split the Austrian left wing from the rest of the army so he could fall on the flank of the Austrian main body the next day. (The maps abut and there is a five-day campaign game that permits linking up the two.) Unlike its sister game, which has both sides switching between attack and defense, this one basically has the French attacking all day, and while it comes with the same size map and components, about a third of each is only used in the joint campaign game. So it's a bit "lighter" than Eckmuehl. Essentially it shows a three-corps assault on the Austrian line (which consists of one corps reinforced with two divisions), with Lannes' provisional corps coming in from the northern edge to take on one Austrian division that is almost permanently out of command control. The first two hours are basically limited to inconclusive long range bombardment (by rules constraints when playing the "Abensberg only" scenario), except in the northwest, where Lannes' corps debouches on the map. Opposing it is Thierry's division (which is in command control on a roll of 1, which it only manages once, when it is too late. It's pretty hard to establish a delaying action when you are limited to 3 MPs versus 5 for your opposing infantry, and leaving a ZOC costs 1 MP. However, on the other hand, I had serious problems deploying Lannes in the woods around his entry point. Instead of moving Gudin out to the right, I had moved Deroy's division of VII Corps out there from further south, which placed great strain on VII's Lefebvre and meant that Wrede, on VII Corps' southern flank, sometimes had to roll for initiative. At the same time, Lannes had the major traffic jam on his one main road of advance, and trying to move Gudin through the woods between his main body and Leroy meant that half his troops were disrupted at any one time, his division lagged behind and did not make it back out into the clear until after Morand's spearheads had already passed through Rohr around noon. Most of the fighting against Thierry fell to Morand and Nansouty's and St Sulpice's cavalry were also stuck behind him. In the initial hours, the French took what I considered pretty heavy losses and a lot of disrupted units lot, but I think the Austrians still fell back too slowly. Two of Thierry's strongest units ended up pinned and surrounded before Bachelt around 10am, while the others were being ground to dust. Ironically the other two managed to rout through the French lines, then reform in the woods and defend for another couple of hours. Because of that, the defense of Bachelt, which would actually be an excellent strongpoint, was quite perfunctory and the place was overrun quickly. Still, the road was blocked until the end of turn 7. turn 8 With Thierry's remaining 3 units momentarily driven off into the woods and disrupted, Morand sends some of his troops down the road. At this point the loss ratio is F 25, A 54. To win, the French not only have to force the defensive line the Austrians are sure to form along the Grosse Laaber, they also have to maintain a 1.5:1 ratio in victory points. At the moment, that seems to be no problem. Turn 9 The Austrians, in particular the center of V Corps, begin falling back in earnest. The French reach Rohr (3316) just in time to deny the Austrians their 10 VPs. Thierry's last infantry brigade finally loses 4 SPs in enfilade fire. Plauen is ejected unceremoniously from Kirchdorf in the first try, but the defenders of the next village to its southwest give as good as they get. The battle is not over yet. Losses F 29, A 67 In the next few turns, the French finally push forward into the open area beyond Rohr, making contact with Hiller's advance guard that is moving west from the river. Hiller has sent his cavalry forward into the woods, giving him just enough time to establish a strong northern flank in Adelhausen. The fall of Rohr and Kirchdorf has cut off the direct retreat route of V Corps to the Grosse Laaber, and it is withdrawing southwestwards into the woods, although a side road to Ober-Elnbach is still open. The French VII Corps now pushes fairly forcefully into the gap around Handelkirchen; some traffic jams result from individual I Corps having gotten lost in the fray but Deroy's division has managed to get back into contact with the corps and is now also moving on Rohr, finally giving Gudin a chance to catch up with Morand who is skirmishing with Hiller's troops east of Rohr. Up north, Nansouty's and St Sulpice's cavalry push Hiller's cavalry back and shortly after 3pm (turn 12) are finally in a position to forcefully attack his cavalry and curl around the northern Austrian flank at Adelhausen. The outcome is a disaster, with not a single charge succeeding (I rolled 2,3,3 on 2d6) and for the moment the French cavalry falls back in disarray. Losses F 35, A 84. Turn 13 The Austrians are unable to take advantage of the discomfiture of the French cavalry, but the story continues. Nansouty is unable to rally any of his troopers (three sixes), while St Sulpice does, only to attack the Saxon cavalry that has retreated into a woods patch in front of the river, and again find his advance thrown back in disorder. Kottulinsky has had time to build up a blocking position in front of the Laaber crossing at Laaberberg, allowing Jellacic's columns to pass behind his troops and arrange themselves on the east side of the river. He is massively assaulted by Morand's troops. The artillery cut deep furrows in the French lines, but Lacour's brigade attacks in a very daring maneuver to throw the Austrian position (3:1 assault, succeeds on a 9 - a /FD result, the lowest result to not hurt the French). From here, the French will be able to direct artillery fire on the road along the river. Moreover, further north, Weissenwolf's brigade occupies a small village on the west side of the Laaber, and have not been able to reform after having been thrown by Morand's men an hour before. They are now assaulted again and rout back to Laaberberg, giving the French their first foothold on the river. These remain the major successes for this turn, although back southwest, Wrede's cavalry delivers an attack that routs Clary's remaining dragoons (who were trying to protect disrupted horse artillery) after some helpful interference fire from Vandamme's troops who are finally entering the fight. Turn 14, 16:35 Hiller rolls a 1 to be in command! The only division commander in range is Vincent who sends his troops against Nansouty's milling masses, but they are no more lucky than the French were before them. The supporting infantry ends up disrupted outside Adelhausen instead of inside, and Nordmann's cavalry is sent packing. Nansouty manages to finally rally two of his units and sends them to charge the infantry that has left the village. It does, and the infantry runs off into the forest but all of Nansouty's division is now again disrupted. St Sulpice, on the other hand, finally drives the cavalry opposing him all the way down the hill and across the Grosse Laaber. Morand and Gudin meanwhile assault the Austrian position in front of the river, routing part of the Austrians. The drive on the right wing continues slowly. Overall, the most bloody turn for the French today, with 11 losses total. Turn 15, 17:10 Nansouty's cavalry is not even able to get rid of the unprotected guns in Adelhofen, but Nordmann's cavalry is at least pushed back. However, all of Nansouty's and St Sulpice's troops are again disrupted. By now it's pretty clear that it was a mistake for Napoleon to retain so much of VII Corps putting the pressure on the Austrian V Corps; Wrede and Vandamme should have been sufficient to keep the Austrians honest and Deroy and Crown Prince Ludwig's division should have been going to join Lannes' Corps in pushing across the Grosse Laaber. Turn 16, 17:45 The Austrians abandon Unter Elnbach rather than face the concentrated defensive fire of Gudin's and Morand's divisions. Louis has left V Corps to its devices to speed the move of Lindenau's division to the Laaber so it can cover Hiller's left flank and guard the route to Rottenburg, and to put Hiller in command. Hiller is now in command range from Louis for the first time, which accelerates the final preparations for the upcoming the French assault. He now has formed a solid front behind the Grosse Laaber with less than 2 1/2 hours to go. However, the front turns out to be less solid than it looks. While Nansouty tries to maneuver around Adelhausen and thereby manages to disorder everyone yet again. Lannes, in desperation, sends Jacquinot against the artillery in Adelhausen and watches them being ejected again. However, St Sulpice manages to charge across the marshy river ground and propel his opposing cavalry right into the hills. The French have a first bridgehead on the other side of the Laaber although it's now out of command (and all of St Sulpice's units are likewise again disrupted). An assault by Morand's men agains the Weissenwolf brigade that has not made it onto the other river back sends the unit routing across the Laaber, disrupting some of the defenders on the other side, just before Gudin's columns arrive and drive them into the hills. The French, at high losses and again with everyone disrupted, now hold a fair bit of ground between the villages on the east bank, but the villages are bristling with Austrian gun and musket barrels. Further southwest, most French assaults, now deep in the woods, lead to little, but a joint assault by Wrede's division and Vandamme's men finally throws the grenadiers out of Wildenberg where they have been resisting for several hours. Turn 17, 18:20 The other problem that the French advances cause is that Louis' tenuous link to Hiller is now cut again by a French ZOC, and in fact no Austrian corps is in command control this turn. However, at least the Austrians on the far right rally; they should be able to withstand the French cavalry for the two assault rounds that might still make a difference. One unit of Nansouty's cavalry finally manages to cross the river, but is disrupted again. Jacquinot's cavalry finally manages to eject the guns from the north end of Adelhausen, but the infantry at the other end holds out. St Sulpice's spearhead likewise crosses the river but also ends up disrupted. Morand's assault on the remaining clear area held by Austrians is successful, scattering the next brigade, as is Gudin's left flank. In places, the French have now infiltrated almost 2 km deep onto the right bank of the Laaber, but the villages are still Austrian held. Gudin launched a massive assault on the village opposite Unter Elnbach that was repulsed. Napoleon has belatedly started moving VII Corps eastwards; Crown Prince Ludwig's attacks were not very successful and Wrede's division, after having taken Wildenberg, is now unable to go further, in fact it faces the 2R division in almost completely disrupted state. With two turns to go, the battle hangs by a thread. The French are within three to four hexes of several victory areas, but their spearheads will be out of command control the next turn and typically, there is some Austrian unit barring the way. However, the route to Herren seems almost free if Nansouty can send someone round, and the French penetration will probably ruin Austrian command control for the rest of the game. There is no way the Austrians can "send someone over"; each part of the front will have to fend for itself. Also, the costly attack across the river has made the loss contest much closer than anticipated: F 82, A 129. The French do not have a lot of padding left in that area. Turn 18, 18:55 With their command connections severed, there is not much the Austrians can do. Louis concentrates on bringing Lindenau's division forward. Nansouty, flank covered by Jacquinot in Adelhausen, finally manages to get some undisrupted units over the river. In the center, St Sulpice's spearhead unit, faced by a weak cavalry remnant, destroys it and manages to advance to the first buildings of Herren (but is disrupted and out of command). Two massive assaults by Morand's and Gudin's troops finally take Laberberg and the eastern part of Unter Elnbach, capturing many Austrian guns. However, almost all the French end up disrupted. Further back, Crown Prince Ludwig's division smashes through the center of Plauen's line, capturing some guns and driving the routed remnants almost two kilometers east, but in the process completely disordering their own formation. Losses: F 88, A 139 Turn 19, 19:30 So, it has actually come down to the last turn. Ironically, the Austrian hope now lies in the fact that the French advances have left their spearheads disrupted - they need to put sufficient troops in command control so that Austrians can actually reenter the unnamed victory village east of Laaberberg, and and block off access to Herren so the French cavalry cannot enter it in their own turn. For the first of these moves, Louis puts Hiller in command who puts Kottulinsky in command. One of Kottulinsky's brigades makes it into the victory village just in front of St Sulpice's men. At the other end of the front, the 2R corps has finally managed to rally everyone and K. marches them backwards (of course disrupting a third of them immediately again in the woods). The second goal needs Pflanzelter's cavalry, the last survivor from Thierry's corps, and Nordmann's second cavalry unit, to enter or block off access to Herren/Giersfeld with their ZOCs so Nansouty's cavalry can't get through. They can't block directly or move far since they are both out of command. Nordmann makes it to just next to the town, blocking the access road with a ZOC. Unfortunately, Pflanzelter's unit has to skirt the ZOC of St Germain's cavalry from Nansouty's division. It disrupts on a roll of two, leaving it with a CZOC that will not be able to block St Germain's progress. St Germain force marches up the road past the Austrians struggling through the swamps and covers all of the town's hexes before coming to rest in Nordmann's ZOC. Now the only issue is not to run losses up below the 1:1.5 level that has loomed dangerously close in the last turns. In the center, things are essentially stuck. Neiter Moran nor Gudin manage to rally a significant part of their men (not helped along by rolling four sixes in a row), and the traffic jam caused by their troops around the center means Deroy's division cannot enter the fray. The Crown Prince's units eliminate one of Bianchi's units, closing up with the disrupted spearheads of his division, and a last-minute assault by Vandamme assault also takes some of the 2R's horse guns as darkness ends further fighting for the day. Final losses: F 94, A 144. 94*1.5 is 141, so the French have managed a victory by three points... Didn't seem that close early on! I'm always impressed when a game that is essentially a "deep pursuit" delivers such a close result after twenty turns. Markus Last 3 games played: The Chaco War, The 1815 Campaign, Abensberg --------------- http://www.dbai.tuwien.ac.at/user/mst/games/ --------------- "Bakayaro! Bakayaro!" ("Stupid Bastards! Stupid Bastards!") -- Admiral Aritomo Goto's last words to his staff, October 11, 1942 _______________________________________________ Consim-l mailing list Consim-l@mailman.halisp.net http://mailman.halisp.net/mailman/listinfo/consim-l