Neerwinden Play Test - part 3

 Another Wednesday night at the club, Mike and I fought Neerwinden to a conclusion (7th turn) and then I set up for a refight next week...

This has been my first scenario, so it's been a real pleasure just to get something drafted and played out.  A big THANK YOU to Mike and Ned, who rolled dice, asked questions and acted as "guinea pig" generals.  

The French did manage to take and hold the village of Neerwinden 😀 but the Austrians ended up in firm possession or control over the other 3 objectives.  The French also had morale issues, with disrupted spent raw troops regularly yelling "sauve qui peut"and legging it off the battlefield.  On the day of the actual battle Gen Miranda's French left wing collapsed, leading to a general retreat.  So, our game ended in a similar fashion to history.

In addition to my usual ability to roll 1s, or low enough to miss, I made the mistake of not putting my French units in depth, to simulate the "l'ordre mixte" formations used by the French at the time.  Thus my early charges stopped as the leading line of infantry took casualties, rather than diluting the Austrian fire with multiple unit targets in any charge.  Doh! (I fixed this on week two.... )

I have also been reflecting with Chris Pringle (BBB rules author) and Mark Smith (seasoned BBB scenario designer) on the widespread use of battalion guns by both sides.  Read Chris's blog here  and  Read about Mark's India scenarios here

Battalion guns were light (3 or 4 pdrs) issued in pairs to each battalion.  I had represented this extra firepower by classing the line units as EB (Early Breechloader), rather than SM (Smoothbore Musket).  This was too much extra firepower, so the one amendment I will make for the second play-test is to change the line infantry to SMBG (Smoothbore Musket Battalion Gun).  More effective than SM, but not wildly more effective.

OK, more eye candy...

The last turn - overall view of the battlefield.

Austrian line infantry - all neat and white and orderly.

French - a right mix of uniforms (only one base in the actually correct uniforms - but hey!) 

The Austrian killing machine on the left - line, reinforced by Grenadiers (nice colours on the bearskins) and dragoons.  The French General on the top right has now earned the brown counter (or smartie !) of being overrun.

The other unit of Austrian Grenadiers - moving in a menacing way to General Miranda & escorts - who win their own brown counter.  Shortly afterwards, Miranda heads for Paris to tell tales on Dumouriez, who is busy retreating and parleying with the Austrians before defecting to them later!

The fight for Neerwinden (Yes, my French got there!)

The French have Neerwinden !  The Austrians gather...  Green counters are for Aggression, Purple for K (Killer)

The new French owners are now being attacked to the sides and rear...

Meanwhile, to the French left, much close combat between the French, more spent Austrian infantry and Austrian Heavy cavalry.

The reset:  My cunning, linear, plan!

Finally, some close ups of the Austrians - they deploy first, the French will deploy on Wednesday.

Archduke Charles' advance guard - he gets the Lancers, the Hussars, the light infantry/frei corps and a useful 5 strong unit of Grenadiers.  Also some sheep.....

Karabiniers & Kuirassiers in Tricornes ready to charge any French who dare to cross the stream.

More Kuirassiers and Cheveaux Legere.  Yes, they are difficult to tell apart from behind at a distance!

So, another great week's gaming and a pleasurable evening.  I hope this inspires you to have a go at this not so well known period of history.  Figures are Baccus (of various periods!), rivers are S&A Scenics, buildings my scratch builds.  Thanks to the Leeds club for the mat, some of the roads and the hills.

As the battles all take place in Belgium, you can just use any "100 days" scenery with no problem at all!!