Warfare in the Age of Le Duc du Grand Fromage: August 2015

Wavre 1870 Part II - 3 Battles In One

Right Flank Battle for Wavre Proper

After a very long well deserved rest, the Prussians

reorganize to prepare to assault Wavre Bridge, urged on by

none other than the ghost of Blucher.

They advance to the tune of Preussens Gloria played

on my computer via youtube.

Its so quiet...do you think anyone is home?

Mitrailleuse pointing down the street made short work of the

Prussian March Column....maybe better luck in Part III?

Battle II - The Bierge Mill

After escaping from the flaming mill the marines

prepare for the Prussian onslaught.

Assembling the troops to cross into Bierge.

The fire in the mill compromises the defence of

the bridgehead and the Silesian Grenadiers

cross and apply pressure.

Suddenly the Zouaves emerge unnoticed on the

flank of the 2nd Grenadiers.

La Furia Francaise!

Determined Prussians

Resolute French

Stay tuned for the conclusion to the battle for Bierge...

Battle III - Left Flank: Cornflower Blue in Limales

With uniforms this pretty who can resist?

The lancers take a quick dip in the Dial...

but find it too cold...brrr.

Meanwhile Dragoon scouts penetrate the woods

seeking the riverbank.

Bring out your dead...ding!

Not zat way you fools..

Zis Way!

French Guard Mobiles valiantly defend against

one - two -three assaults.

Fourth time is a charm!

The Bavarians consolidate.

The French second line of defence..Horse artillery

and a Cuirassier Brigade

None Shall Pass!

Guard Mobiles advance rapidly to the rear..

follow me men (or not) shouts Baron Nicolas.

Cuirassiers give up on the traffic jam at Limales

and head back to their original objective

Bierge!

Wavre 1870! Part 1

So we talked about a reboot of Wavre since the tabletop looked so good. I decided to mix it up a bit by moving the battle forward in time and using my 1870 Franco Prussian forces but switching them around so that the Prussians were the aggressors (of course!). The theory was that the advanced firepower should allow the Prussians to cross the Dyle river more quickly than their French Napoleonic counterparts. The French however put up a tenacious 8 turn defense of the Wavre Suburb. Session one ends with the Prussians recuperating from their assault on the suburb, in the centre about to advance though the burning Bierge mill complex and with cavalry advancing on Limales. French had hidden set-up recorded on the map with sighting rules converted from Principles of War. Rules used were Carnage and Glory of course.

For this scenario I downsized the units and used a ground scale of 1 inch equals 50 paces. This shortened movement and the quite long ranges of the 1870 weaponry to a more reasonable tabletop representation. I think I will stick with this.