Napoleonic

Ship ‘o the Line Test Game

Today we did a quick test of the Ship ‘o the Line naval rules by Battleline, after converting them from the original square grid to a hex grid. This is similar to what was done to create the Wooden Ships and Iron Men game, but retaining the slightly higher complexity of Ship ‘o the Line.

Empire 1809 French vs Austrian

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a Napoleonic game using a modified version of the Empire V rules. The game pitted two corps (four divisions) of French against a similar force of Austrians.

The Austrian division on the left flank advances.

The Austrian center right in the foreground.

The Austrian right flank division is ordered toward a small woods. The French division opposite occupies that woods and most of the raised ground on this end of the battlefield.

The French center left division advances to meet the oncoming Austrians.

Infantry firefights break out along the length of the front.

The Austrian right flank division pivots to face the advancing French.

French infantry units break and the Austrian left flank advances toward French a battery

Austrian infantry advances on French guns in the center.

French units advance into the void and move to overwhelm the Austrian right flank division.

The French success on their left seemed more significant than their losses on their right, but overall a closely fought battle.

Empire – d’Erlon’s Attack

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a Napoleonic game at the Dogs of War shop using a modified version of the Empire V rules. The scenario was based on the attack of d’Erlon’s corps at Waterloo.

Although on the table in this shot, the French on the left will enter on the first turn, after a bombardment by off-table artillery.

The crossroads, with British cavalry in reserve.

The French grand battery (off-table) has destroyed more than half of the deployed British artillery and damaged Bijlandt’s infantry.

French infantry break through the British line behind the crest. La Haie Sainte and the sandpit are under fire.

Bijlandt is gone, and French cavalry has arrived.

British cavalry ride down several French battalions that had crossed the ridge.

When we quit due to the late hour, there was a significant hole in the British line. Lots of uncommitted cavalry on both sides were poised to clash there.

Empire Napoleonics Introductory Game

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a Napoleonic game at the Dogs of War shop using a modified version of the Empire V rules. The game was a introduction to the rules, so no specific historical battle was represented. Each player had a division of infantry, cavalry and artillery.

15mm figures from a variety of manufacturers.

Prussians and Russians (foreground) face Poles and other French allies.

Austrians and British (foreground) face French.

The Austrians advance in a compact mass in the center.

French cavalry quickly destroy the British and Austrian cavalry, then turn to face the exposed Allied infantry.

Prussian cavalry attempt a wide flanking move.

French cavalry hit an Austrian column in the flank and destroy it. They are then seen off by British infantry fire.

Column, Line and Square – Leipzig

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Napoleonic game using Column, Line and Square, Version 2. The scenario was an Allied attack on the French near Probstheyda, south of Leipzig, on 18 October 1813.

The French are on the left (north). On the right, from top to bottom, are the Prussians, Russians and Austrians.

The French right (western) flank with the Austrians in the distance.

The French left deployed on rising ground.

Austrian lights wipe out the crew of a French battery.

The assault on the French left.

The Allied objective was to take both villages. The French objective was to drive the Allies from the field. When the game was ended due to time, neither side had achieved their objectives.