Empire - Russians vs. Bavarians and French: 1812

 Picking up our favorite game system after a long layoff, we dusted off the Empire rules and at the suggestion of the French, got out all our Russians.  Played on a 9x6' table, we thought there would be more room till we put down over 1600 infantry and around 300 cavalry figures.  The infantry sides were very even in numbers, though the Russians had a clear edge in cavalry and of course hordes of class III guns.

The Russians were arrayed in four small infantry corps with two cavalry corps in support, the Franco-Bavarian army had one corps each with attendant cavalry.  Both sides had troops off table at the start that mostly came on during the first hour.  Both armies were operating under attack orders so were going at each other from the start.

So, we'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  Click on them to enlarge.  Very picture heavy, you have been warned.  Enjoy the spectacle.

View from the Bavarian corner, allied right flank.

And the Russian right flank, a mob of Cossacks in
the foreground.

After the first Grand Tactical.  Woods slowed both
sides so there was no action on the Russian right except
for cavalry.

The Bavarians made good time and engaged immediately.

Inviting targets abound.  Who will get the first impulse?

The Bavarian cavalry charges and the gunners abandon
their guns.

Some infantry is ridden down but others stop in the
face of a square.

Later, Russian hussars charge to stabilize things.

On the Russian right the Cossacks somehow delay
French hussars who are disordered by the light woods.

The long view as Bavarian lines advance.

The center.  Some Bavarian dragoons reached the 
back table edge before being eliminated.

Center view looking towards the Russian right.  Long
lines of cuirassiers wait their turn.

New Russia dragoons charge, but halt disordered.

The preponderance of Russian guns begins to take
their toll of advancing French.

Russians in depth in case of a frontline disaster.

The Russians made effective use of the Jagers for once.

Pushing, pushing, pushing...  No one relenting.

My DUB Cossacks had chances for glory, but frequently
refused to call to charge, and when they did couldn't win.

The center, and parts of Korf's 4th Cavalry Corps.

The Russians systematically prepare a major combined
arms attack on their left-center.

The Russian far left, looking towards the center.

One week later we resumed.  On a miserable die roll Bagration took a minor wound and was unable to inspire the men.  In spite of that, for the first time all game, the Russians got the initiative and put it to good use.

The French are doing everything they can, but every step
forward results in opportunity fire.

The Bavarians are still strong and nervously holding.

Russian cavalry charge, retake some lost guns, and
overrun others before being stopped by a hasty square.

The Bavarian cannons, so bravely served, are now few
and far between.

Meanwhile a crack French division readies itself.

Still, that's a lot of open ground to cross in the face of
so many cannons.

Ineffective cavalry charges are exchanged in the center.

Russian uhlans continue to seek opportunities.

The cavalry has really thinned out the leading Bavarian line.

As always, the village/town restricts and hampers movement.

Stalemate in the right center as the French cuirassiers
win, but are unable to break the Russians,

The aftermath (sorry) of failed attempts to come to grips
with the Russians.

The French light cavalry gets pushy, but if the Cossacks
fail, there are multiple lines awaiting.

And so it ended, early on Day Two.  The heavily mangled Bavarian division routed in it's ME Determination test and the equally shot up French division became Shaken and Disordered.  With so much manpower concentrated in their MEs, compared to the dinky Russian infantry MEs, the game was called.  The best French were not yet committed, but with the Bavarians so mangled it was only a matter of time before their flank was turned.

For me personally, this was the first time in who knows how long that I felt the big number of Russian cannons truly came into play.  Usually they get ripped up before they can even come into action but this game they kept the Russian infantry safe from the bigger (by 50%) French battalions till I chose to commit them.  Satisfying though somehow mitigated by having almost 3 times as many guns, even if they are the lowly Class III pieces.

Both sides had their moments, especially the Bavarian cavalry, and in the end everyone conducted themselves as gentlemen remembering it's just a game.  Merci.

2022 Painting Project

 Last year on an impulse I bought a "grab box" online of SYW figures in 15mm scale.  The seller mentioned a bunch of Ottoman-Turks.  So imagine my surprise when it was about 60% or better Turks.  However, this was something I didn't already possess and had only painted for others in 28mm.  So at the first of the year I dove headfirst into painting up enough to host a game at the Seven Years War Association Convention in South Bend, IN on March 31st-April 2nd.

Doing a little research I chose the Battle of Banja Luka in 1737 between the Austrians and Turks in modern Bosnia.  Small enough that I could match the numbers on table.  The Austrians were already mostly painted so in a few weeks we'll be giving it a go.  I ran a playtest of the scenario and made some tweaks, and I'm anxious to see it played out.  

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.  Comments and additional information is welcomed.

The "Big Picture" with one infantry unit to go.

Our local rules of choice are The Final Argument of Kings by the late Dean West.  The majority of infantry units are 12-20 figures, with cavalry 8-12.  All artillery batteries are represented by one model and four gunners.  The system is an offshoot of Johnny Reb so was a natural choice for our game group.

Eight regiments of cavalry, lights and mediums with
a large number armed with lances.

Two medium and two fancy heavy batteries.

Infantry, ranging from "elite" Janissaries to spear and bow armed levies.

The Ottoman Army wasn't covered in the core rules so I have to go to other rule sets like Warfare in the Age of Reason and my own research and experience to come up with values for the troops.  Just the names are confusing to this westerner.  Provincial levies, Sekban mercenary musketeers, Kapikulu, Akinci, Solaks, Azap and Alti Boluk household troopers.  Instead of regiments they are organized into Ortas.

Exotic Akinci cavalry.

Close shot of the medium guns.

The first brigadier I painted, with his sun shade.

For our game the great Hekimoglu Ali Pasha and his escort.

One of the fun things is that unlike European armies, there was no absolute definitive uniform at the time, so I could be creative.  Reds, especially on the lances, predominated, but also greens, blues, yellows and browns appeared in illustrations.  So while some may question, proving the paint scheme is wrong will be difficult.

I hope you found this interesting or entertaining.