Thursday 12 October 2017

The French get Prussian at Bois de Malleure around 1870

I conscripted Sandy to test with me some rules (Kevin Calders "Bonnie Blue Flag" warped into the Franco Prussian war just for 10mm - a private project of mine, as the BBF rules are so easily convincing ...) with the help of Jim who came along and was shanghaied to help Sandy with the French. The miniatures were mine (as for the Prussians) and the French were mostly Jack‘s who was so kind to let us use them, the other Frenchies were Sandy‘s ...

The scenario was from the late but great Captn Archibald Haddock, two similar sized armies meet at a road and try to kill each other. I explained the rules to the two guinea pigs and off we went into the century old Scharmützel. I introduced gun rounds (black dice) not to make the Prussian too powerful. Gave the French lesser Attrition points (AP) and commander AP‘s, and also the transfer of said points was more difficult for the French than the Boches.

Surprisingly the Frenchies (Jim actually) came up with a cunning plan: a flank attack and  the old oblique order, while the Prussians were to lazy and just  reacted. The Initiative were mainly with the French all through the game and they made good progress as well as bombarding my poor Prussian lines until they were finally hiding behind "the Hill". The Prussians gave the French artillery a good lick and  Sandy and Jim couldn't laugh that I annihilated the complete artillery of the French right flank!

But then as Jim launched his final attack, my brave Prussians brushed the black powder off their Pickelhauben and faced the music. Just three units went down in the whole battle. Then came my counter attack with my Krupp guns and I blasted Jim‘s Dragoons back to Reims. ...

We stopped then there, as time was running out, Sandy and Jim felt victorious, but to be honest I didn‘t felt quite defeated at all, I would have gave them some more Krupp metal, given more time, but regardless it was such a good fight, that I even forgot to take more pictures in the end.

The Rules need some more adjusting as the firing is  more than brutal even in the long distances, Maybe tweak in the ranges and the fire boni or in the Fire and melee a I go U go in each phase ...

we will see ...

P.S.
as per special request I shall mention the casualties:
Prussians: 2 Line Regiments and a Guard Regiment
French: 2 Mitrailleuse batteries and 3 Artillery Batteries and a Dragoon Regiment

The French left flank
The Prussian right flank on "the Hill"
The Prussian  left on "the other Hill"
The French defensive line
The Prussian centre on "the road" 
After the first French move/turn
Jim‘s attack on "the Hill"
My Prussian shambles behind the hill, more like Colognian Carnival

My gun battery "skirmishers" to the front!! 
My go at the ACW Kevin Kalders Bonnie Blue Flag ...

6 comments:

  1. Nice looking scenario...and battle!

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    1. Thank you, Phil! I have decided to go with the French Imperial Guard next to paint!! :)

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  2. Thanks Andy, it was just a small test game ... but I'm getting there...

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  3. Nice looking game, sounds like fun even for those shanghaid/conscripted!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks Iain, yes it was and more to come! The uniforms (even in 10mm) are beautiful!

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