This year Ilkley Irregulars will be hosting the battle of Borodino, 7 September 1812, at the Joy of Six Wargames Convention in Sheffield on 28th June.
Friday 20th saw Mike, Charlie, Mark and myself refight the battle as a first run through. We had all last met at the excellent Battleground show in Middlesborough, where the Irregulars were hosting Waterloo.
Mike and I played Borodino in October 2024 (AAR here) and I played it with the scenario author, Mark Smith, way back in October 2022 (AAR here). On both occasions the Russians won (merely by not dying too fast....).
OK, so what happened on Friday? Mike and Mark led the French, Charlie and I took the Russians. Team Rodina is hampered by having some poorly armed troops (pikemen) and having the right wing pinned until turn 3. The French (plus the Italians, Saxons, Polish, Westphalians, etc.) have lots of well armed troops - but they have to climb 2 two level hills and assault the Russian entrenchments.
Turn 0
Here's the starting picture - Mike has made some bespoke scenery and I am planning to make suitable buildings and defences.
Turn 2
On the Russian right Charlie defended the Redoubt and Borodino, however, with most of his troops fixed till turn 3, the action was mainly trading shots with the advancing Italians. There was a fair bit of banter that despite much shooting and Borodino changing hands, neither Charlie or Mark lost any bases for several turns.
On the Russian left my plucky defenders counter attacked and I tried to get various Cossacks and Pike troops to move. As half my flank is a huge forest, there was much opportunity for my troops to delay.
Turn 3
At the end of turn 3 (lunch break!) the Poles, backed up by heavy cavalry, had pushed my front-line defenders into the woods, however I still held the village and my reserves were moving, slowly, to bring their pikes and ragged muskets to bear. In the centre more reserves were supporting the Fleches (left hand defences) and I had even advanced to take on one of Davout's assault units.
On the right Charlie had advanced his troops (released at the start of turn 3) and was pressurising the Italians in Borodino. It was around this time that someone finally lost a base....
Turn 4
Fortified by Baguettes and Borsht (OK, it was filled rolls - very good!) we pushed on.
On the left, Junot's Westphalians destroyed the Cossacks and advanced against my reserves. My heavy cavalry support rolled low enough to not move. Around Ultitsa the Poles got wiped out at the cost of two of my units and Davout stormed the Fleches. My reserves (lower right) are waiting for the next turn to swing into action.
On the Russian right Charlie moved to contact with the Italians and the cvasualties mounted on both sides. Ney went straight ahead to assault the Redoubt.
Turn 6
By the end of turn 6 I had lost the Fleches, but had halted any onward moves by Davout by sending in my decent reserves. In the woods my good cavalry finally turned up to support my exhausted reserve troops and my regulars, whilst low on ammo and disordered, managed to be sufficiently hard to kill that they were still fighting.
On the right Charlie held the redoubt and the Italians were only just across the stream from Borodino. the column you can see at the top of the picture is the Guard moving to shore up the French left, as the Italians started to take casualties and holes opened up in the line.
Turn 7/8
At the end of French turn 8, with the Russians having completed turn 7, we decided to end the game. It was decided that the French were unlikely to make any further gains, so we concluded with a draw.
The Russian left - the Russians are still hanging on in the woods about 9 inches from Ultitsa. The French have the Fleches defences, however the next objective is unlikely to be taken.
On the Russian right the redoubt is firmly in our hands and a solid line of troops blocks the French direct advance. The French Guard has reached the stream at Borodino, but the French left flank has some pretty big gaps that the Russians can use to slip troops through.
Conclusion
It was great to have a new player - Mark has played a lot of games under different rules, so was quick to get the mechanisms sorted and start making decisions - he also had some good questions that meant Mike and I were busy checking the rules. Welcome Mark!
The game is similar to Waterloo, in that the French need to move far and fast to envelop the Russian defences before the Russian reserves are released and the numbers move towards the Russian favour.
On the French left the Italians need to take Borodino AND hold that flank. On the right, the French need to push through the woods to get behind the Fleches, in this game my aggressive counter attacks destroyed the Poles and slowed Davout's troops.
It was a lot of fun and I am looking forward to our next play test!
French, Italians, Saxons Colin's BBB collection, Russians & Poles are Mike's. Figures Baccus 6mm.
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