The new year started off with a big battle. The SYW battle of Kolin, 18 Jun 1757, fought at 1:2 scale, 1 Brigade representing 2 in the actual battle. We used the Honours of War rules, of the five players, three were new to the rules and two of us had fought one battle (Lobositz 1756). The Austrians were Mark, Paul and James, the Prussians John and myself.
As we were new to the rules we set out the battle field as per the actual battle. I could see from the start that the Austrians had the advantage of both numbers and terrain, which meant John and I could do no worse that Frederick the Great. 😀
The Orbat we used for the game is here. For more about the real battle I recommend:
In the after action report the Austrians are generally on the left of the pictures and the Prussians on the right.
The Austrians were defending a line of hills. The Prussians were on the plain facing them.
In the actual battle the Prussians attacked the Austrian right which was short of Infantry. John and I decided to focus on attacking the Austrian centre, as we assumed their reinforcements would arrive on their weaker right flank.
Austrian cavalry massing on the right wing and Prussian Cavalry responding.
Leaving the cavalry to fight it out on the Prussian left wing, the Prussian infantry concentrated their assault on the Austrian centre.
Prussian Infantry attacking in line against the Austrian centre.
On the Prussian right flank, the Austrian cavalry crumbled but the were strongly reinforced by the Austrian reserves who were placed behind their left wing rather than, as the Prussians expected, the Austrian right wing.
Prussians winning the right wing.
Alas we ran out of time. We'd fought 7 turns and another 2-3 would have settled the result. All in all it was a winning draw for the Austrians.
- The Prussians won the right flank but the Austrian reinforcements could have gained it back.
- The Austrian centre remained strong. The Prussians could not have taken it.
- The Prussian left flank was still holding out but was outnumbered and would have folded in a couple more turns.
Prussian right still being contested.
Left side of the Prussian centre (under me) pushed back with heavy losses. The right side of the Prussian centre holding firm.
The reinforced Austrian centre as solid as ever.
An aerial view of the battlefield at the end of the battle. The Prussians in the foreground, Austrians in the background..
The Honours of war rules played well. We did find a few points which need to be clarified, the main one being, "can troops supporting a melee, break off support and charge a fresh target? I liked the way troops could assault, be driven back and then rally to attack again.
One of the things I love about 6mm is that a battle field looks "right". There is space to manoeuvre, the units are not all shoulder to shoulder from flank to flank. I like the idea that no flank is safe unless it's due to a terrain feature such as a major river.
One of the things I love about 6mm is that a battle field looks "right". There is space to manoeuvre, the units are not all shoulder to shoulder from flank to flank. I like the idea that no flank is safe unless it's due to a terrain feature such as a major river.
I would have preferred to have used casualty counters rather than small dice but the dice worked well.
finally: a special thinks to John and James for setting up the terrain.
