The Tagus campaign part 1: battle of Alcantara

It is early in the year 1809 and Wellesley is marching his force East along the river Tagus to confront the French army of Marshal Victor before it reaches Madrid. Wellesley has sent General cuts with Brigadiers Sir Geoffrey Barck and Fitsmashel in command of the 54th norfolks, 42nd highlanders, 16th Bedfords, 65th yorkshire and two artillery pieces.

Opposing them was Marshal Victor's rearguard commanded by Brigadier Raymond Dubreton and Colonel Ludwig von Brandenburg with the old guard, 8th fusiliers and three artillery pieces. Also in the French force was a squadron of Bavarian dragoons and Prussian Landwehr.

 

It was dawn and the French rearguard was pushing fast down the banks of the Tagus straight on towards where General Cuts' Vanguard was marching through the scrubland. With his artillery unlimbered Brigadier Dubreton ordered the charge!

The French charge thundered across the parched earth of the Spanish river bank. One of the fusilier companies charged, in attack column, straight into the ranks of the 42nd grenadier company. The other fusiliers and both companies of old guard drew themselves up into an impressive firing line less than a dozen feet from the enemy whilst the Prussian column advanced on the Bedfords. The Bavarian dragoons suffered from and inept aide de camps and suddenly found themselves ordered to charge the British guns much later than they should have been.

The firing lines of French and Britishmen were so close that the bayonets of the men could almost touch those of their opponents.
The fusilier charge on the highlanders was met with some dimay from the Britsih commanders who had been relying on devestating highland charges to break the French flanks.

The old guard on the french right dealt out a hefty volley of punishing point blank fire straight into the ranks of the Norfolkmen, disordering them and inflicting maximum casualties.
But the Norfolkmen were lucky in comparison to the bedfords who suffered two volleys from the old guard and 8th fusiliers, followed by a bombardment from the french artillery and a salvo form the Prussian column.

In the end the Bedfords broke ranks and scattered, those who had not been killed by the artillery blasts or close range volleys, fleeing from the field. The Norfolkmen kept their ground in the face of the old guard and the highlanders fought with great glory! The fusiliers taking far more casualties than the scots who they had charged.

It was now that Colonel von Brandenburg began to roll up the British right flank with his Prussian Landwehr and French infantry.

In the ensuing moves of the battle the British reacted to the French charge by counter charging the thundering dragoons with a company of redcoasts and moving the other two companies of Highlanders to bolster their lines.

However a sucessful comeback was not to be for the British and their counter charge of the Bavarian cavalry was quickly seen off before the horse proceeded to attack the Britsih artillery with minimal casulaties. On the British right too their was defeat and the scottish grenadiers lost their nerve, fleeing from the field, the french fusiliers in their wake.
The British artillery and Norfolkmen also failed to make much of an impact on the line of old guardsmen infront of them, inflicting servere casualties but failing to send the guardsmen into a rout and with two shouts of vive l'emperuer the Old guard were atop them once again.

The Bavarian cavalry charged the British artillery on the right whilst the Old guard lines clashed in bitter bayonet combat with the Norfolkmen and the other British artillery pieces. On the very far flank the Prussians charged towards the Yorkshiremen but failed to make it and let Fitsmashel escape the fusilier's charge that was intended to capture the brgadier.
The ensuing battle phase of the battle was bloody in the extreme and saw both artillery pieces taken out by the French and their lines chipped away at even more. However the most awful event for the British was when the French artillery battery opened up on the Yorks and one cannon ball caught Fitsmashel direct in the leg, the blast killing him right out.

The First action for the British in the Campaign along the river Tagus had ended in defeat with the French masters of the field. It was a decisive victory for Brigadier Dubreton and one which maintained Marshal Victor's security for the time being.
The first phase of the battle had seen a fast French advance over harsh terrain, supported by an artillery barrage. This had scattered the Bedford infantry that held the British centre.
The second phase had seen a counter charge by the British which had been bravely seen off by the stoical Guardsmen and Fusiliers and whats more it had also seen the British right flank collapse.
The Third phase had been decisive with the French pushing their advantage on the right flank whilst moving the main part of their force into the very midst of the British right flank and tearing it apart. In this last part of the battle Fitsmashel had been killed and the British artillery had been lost to the oncommers.
Had phase two gone better for the British or had General Cuts acted before Marshal Dubreton it is possible to suppose that the outcome may have been different...

Memoir 44 eastern front

I arrived fresh from a stamina building run at the athletics track to the gaming club with no idea of what we were going to be doing today, and as I saw one of the other two get out of his car without a box of toy soldiers I had the distinct feeling that perhaps I was meant to be doing something for tonights game... but in the end it was all alright and a good game of Memoir 44 the eastern front.

 

I took the Germans, my opponent took the Soviets and the third member of the club served as advisor. It was a scenario from the booklet in which the Germans could win a point for each unit they sucessfully got across the frozen river on the other side of the board, in addition to units destroyed.

 

The set up was good with the two guard divisions of Panzer tanks in the centre flanked on either side by four units of infantry and one unit of enginneers. On the German right too was another Panzer division and the artillery. The russians held the ridge in the centre of the table with four units of infantry and just behind an artillery battery. They also had two infantry units in forward positions at the bottom of a trench line and in the line of forests. On the soviet left, sheltered behind villages and a forest, were two guard divisions of tanks and one normal division along with two infantry units and another artillery battery. On the soviet  right another division of tanks and another unit of infantry held  onto a village, while guarding a village along the frozen river was a unit of infantry.

I opened up the engagement by spearheading my two guard armour divisions straight down the gap between the trench works and the forest, going straight for the ridge. They were also supported by the majority of the German infantry who threw themselves at the trench works, wiping out half the defenders with their sweeping machine gun fire.

 

The tank divisions opened up on the infantry in the forest and along the ridge, but did little damage to either unit, however they did manage to send the infantry in the woods running for the ridge position. The Germans were staging a strong breakout spearhead offensive and had practically cleared  the russian defenders from the pickets in the woods and trenchworks.

On the left two of the german infantry units advanced from their position in the village towards the line of forest. Whilst the soviets began to move their armour divisions back and towards the river, consolidating their position on the ridge with the infantry units gathering in the centre.

With that the Germans began to really make some headway in pushing for the river. The Infantry assualted the trenchworks and wiped out all the russians inside, taking 75% casualties on one of the assualting units. The other infantry occupied positions in the forest line whilst the engineer units made their way quietly up behind the lines. The Panzer divisions, on the otherhand, made great progress whith the undamaged one assualting the soviets on the ridge and pushing their way on towards the river. The other division came under heavy firing taking 75% casualties but dealing out just as many to the infantry firing on them.

The Panzy division on the other side of the ridge now made a break for it, blasting its way through the russian infantry defenders before racing across the frozen river to safety. The other armour division came under yet more heavy firing on the otherhand and was pushed back down the ridge with minimal casualties. Some of the German infantry made a dash from the forest and up the ridge sending the defending soviet infantry dashing right down the otherside.

It was then that the German commandant called an infantry assualt and the German infantry went racing out from their cover in the tree line and trench works across the open ground and straight up the ridge. Their enthusiastic firing got most of them up the ridge and two of the units over it, sending the russian artillery and infantry fleeing right onto the frozen ice.
The assualt was not without casualties though and the Germans paid dearly for their ground gaining though they killed few men.

The Soviet comissar now struck back. The Russian armour on the right made a flanking move down the ridge and onto the assaulting infantry. They too brought up their infantry units and sent the Germans scattering. The soviet tanks were soon scattered by return fire from across the trenches by the last panzer division and bombardments from the german off board artillery but even this was not enough to break the soviet line and the Germans were inevitably defeated.

Another great game of Memoir 44 and interesting with the eastern front scenario.
It seemed a onesided conflict with the Germans seriously outnumbered and outgunned but the soviets had very weak command structure, choosing an order from four rather than five cards. This was made worse by their commissar who had to choose the command for the next turn before he had seen what the enemy had played as their order.
But a deserved victory to the soviets.

Next time from the club will be napoleonics, myself in command of Captain Frederickson (of Sharpe fame) and the 60th rifles with two seperate forces of Guerillas or Cossacks and Frenchmen. It promises to be a good Sharpesque three way loosely based on Sharpe's gold with acount being taken for time taken to load and fire as well as the amount of ammunition each man holds

Clash in the border lands

After many months of travelling here there and everywhere around the country, the two gamers are at last once again facing each other across the battlefield for a game of warhammer fantasy!
More importantly for me than just being my first return to the wargaming table in a while, i did manage to get in a few games of black powder at various clubs now and again, this was only my fourth game of warhammer since the Empire release back in May.
So as I am saying we met once again for a straightforward 2000pt engagement at the border of Sylvania and Hardenburg to let Boris Johannes Marcov and Raspartine battle it out once again.
I also had chance to look around at A's new games room and so there is a seperate post about his armies.

Hardenburger Inquisitorial escort
Boris Johannes Marcov with mace of helstrum, heavy armour, enchanted shield and war altar of Morr
Sacerdos Barbarossa with brace of pistols and great sword
Bernard Sanchez de Magritta with brace of pistols and great sword
Yann the bold with armour of meteoric iron and additional hand weapon
30 halbediers with shields, champion, standard bearer and two detachments of 15 free companies
30 greatswords with full command, war banner and two detachments of 15 free companies
5 outriders with bardings and marksman
5 outriders with bardings and marksman
Hellstorm rocket battery
Hellblaster volley gun

The Varg hordes of Raspartine
Raspartine, winged vampire lord
Casmir Von Bluud, vampire with obsidian blade
necromancer
39 zombies with musician and standard
40 skeletons with shields, spears and full command
20 crypt ghouls with champion
7 dire wolves
20 grave guard with full command and shields
3 vargheists with champion
Flitch the ever crazed, varghulf

 The vampires went first and in their movement they shot forwards, attempting to secure their right flank (so badly threatened by enfilading guns) on the deadly haunted mansion that stood in the centre of the field, a sinister statue in its grounds. The vampires refrained from charging and instead kept just out of my charge range. Their plan was to makesure that the greatswords would be charged by the vargheists and a support unit in the same combat round.

 

I was silently confident that with their flanking detachments and in the range of Boris' wards, the greatswords would have more than enough ability to see off the vargheists and what ever else the vampires could throw at them. This may have been foolish herosim but thats how i like to play empire. I manouvered the greatswords into a suitable formation so that the vampires would have no oppurtunity to charge either detachment and stop them from flanking. Beside them Sacerdos Barbarossa, his eyes firmly fixed on the heretical Raspartine, smashed and widow and lept into the house on the hardenburger right before kicking down the door and bursting out to send two blessed bullets speeding towards Raspartine. Both hit but the vampire's unholy wards protected him.
Meanwhile Boris had brought down the shield of faith to protect the entire infantry battle line, but he promptly forgot the prayer straight after it was bestowed.
The outriders proceeded to rake their guns across the skeletal ranks, driving bullets deep into the skulls of six warriors.

 On the left the outriders managed to take out a good amount of zombies with their driling fire power. However the volley gun had to be manhauled right down the hill and towards the ghouls flank in order to get within range.

The halbediers were now attempting a flanking manouvere around the haunted mansion to come down on the flank or rear of the vampiric hordes.

 

The missile battery in the tower of blood opened fire upon the skeletons and blasted a good few with the first rocket which landed right on target. The second however did not go off and the battery had to be dismantled in order to clean out the barrel.

The maddened Varghulf was charging straight for Sacerdos Barborossa, but the witch hunter stood defiant chanting prayers of Morr as the great beast threw itself at him. Flitch was almost upon him when he fired off both pistols at the Varghulf's head. Both met their target but did little damage save to bring it up short of crushing their dispatcher.

 

The Outriders too were charged and they too stood and let rip with black powder into the skeletons. However only three of the skeletons fell and the rest threw themselves on top of the outriders that were all that was keeping the skeletons of the Hardenburger flank. 

 

Sacerdos produced two more pistols and fird them off, pressed into the varghulf's body, again this time to more effect and the varghulf reeled back wards with blood spurting from the pistol wound.

Every outrider save the champion was struck down and the marksman fled from them, quiting the field of battle in the next turn and leaving the Hardenburger rear open and unguarded.

Despite the witch hunter's previous success he was finally struck down by the loopy varghulf which now turned its eyes on the Hardenburger flank. With their right flank completly open it was not looking too good for the Hardenburgers.

But then Raspartine led the charge in on the greatswords. He and Flitch, together with two of the vargheists (one had been banished by Boris in the previous turn) and the zombie horde (with plenty of newly resurected zombies) smahed into the greatswords. The free companies reacted to this but it was doubhtful if they could hold off teh undead hordes even with the hammer of Morr fighting beside them.

As Raspartine and his vargheists plunged out of the air towads Bernard Sanchez, the inquisitor calmly levelled his pistols at them. He pulled the triggers and one of the vargheists crashed to the ground at his feet spattered in blood and near death.
The greatswords prepared to make a last stand and so held their banner high and drew on all their courage.

In the combat that ensued twelve greatswords and six peasants fell to the undead hordes. But Bernard Sanchez struck down one of the Vargheists, his greatswords struck down the other and six zombies and the free companies delivered a wounding blow to Raspartine.

With such a valiant stand from the men of the empire the combat was named a draw at 26 combat resolution points per side! But with Boris and Van Bluud waiting in the wings it was still all to fight for (and with Flitch ripping through a rank a turn he needed dealing with quickly.

Boris flank charged the Necromancer's unit of zombies. The volley gun and outriders too were in enfilading position and the Halbediers under Yann had now returned to help bolster the line in the event that it would be broken through.
In the ensuing combat Boris used the mace of helstrum to smash the necromancer flat. The free companies and greatswords dispatched the rest of the zombies and five greatswords and five more free companies had fallen, combat resolution clearly outwayed in the side of Hardeburg and Raspartine and Flitch were overwhelmed by the surviving numbers.
With their general lost it was now up to Van Bluud to pull the undead back from the jaws of defeat. However at his disposal were both the elite infantry units of the vampires and a horde of skeletons behind enemy lines.

At this we left the game for a while and had a walk up into town where I was going to pick up some C.S forester Hornblower books from the free bookshop (which for some reason had closed much earlier than it should have done) and  my opponent some more cards for Magic the gathering (which included a planeswalker dragon named Nicol Bolas).

When we returned the rocket crew had repaired their machinery but were now being overun as skeletons scaled the walls of their tower and hacked them to pieces with their frenzied axes, leaving the tower of blood stained with blood.

The Ghouls were surrounded by the Greatswords and their detachments and the ghoul champion challenged Bernard Sanchez to duel him which the heretic killer gladly accepted. Boris was meanwhile engaged in duelling Count Casimir atop his war altar, whilst the grave guard watched on.

With one swing of his great hammer Boris had the vampire flat aback and at his mercy. But Boris ad none for heretics and so banished the vampiric count with another swing of his mighty hammer.

Bernard too one his duel, dispatching the ghoul with one shot from his shining pistol.

The forces of the empire now closed in on the crumbling greatswords

But as Boris looked down from above his foes, chanting the prayers of banishment, one of the grave guard managed to push him and the archlector fell right back down the staircase inside his war altar and lay, pinned to the floor by his great size and the weight of his armour  as his war altar bashed away out of control.

But the peasants, halbediers and Greatswords made short work of the elite skeletons.

With Yann getting his first fight of the day, striking down a grave guard with one of his hammers.

The final skeleton warrior (all his comrades had crumbled) was now threatening the Hardenburger rear. He drew his jagged sword and advanced on his foes.

Five peasants ran out to deal with him. One of the peasants was cut down but in the end the skelton inevitably fell.

A great battle and a great change from playing black powder. It was great to have a full scale outing with my empire again and this time I fared rather better than I had done against the beastmen.