Crisis on the Danube AAR vs Coalition AI

[Rasputitsa]

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

One thing that surprises me is that the Guard, which are supposedly attached to Napoleon, did not follow him as he moved towards St Polten. I never detached them. They stayed in Vienna a second turn after Napoleon left, also. I didin't give them orders, thinking they would follow him.

The way I have always thought of this is that when units are attached to the Army Commander, then as I am the Army Commander these units will move where I tell them and stay put until I give an order. I am not saying this is right, it's just how I visualised the game.

Units attached to corps commanders are given orders by the commander to meet the objectives given to the corps. When attached to me, I should give orders as a corps commander would do.

I am down there on the map with my boys. [;)]

[gwgardner]

May 24

The enemy continued his withdrawal from the scene of battle south of Krems. Only a delaying action there led both Lannes Corps and Bessieres cavalry to pursue across the Danube.

Massena was ordered to remain in Vienna, and to send a probe across to determine enemy dispositions. Instead he took his entire corps across river.

[gwgardner]

May 25-26

No battle reports. Austrian forces pulling back towards the northeast from Krems, north from Vienna area.

Situation to the west:

[gwgardner]

Davout, Lannes, Bessieres, Massena converging on the known Austrian forces.

Lannes and Bessieres have pursued the fleeing Austrians closely and have offered battle, but the Austrians have refused.

Without Vandamme's reports from the west, Napoleon is still unsure if the whole Austrian army is moving northeast. Until a better picture presents itself, his HQ is it Krems.

[note: I've made a mess of handling the Guard. Expected all elements to follow along with Napoleon, but so far it hasn't worked that way. I've detached the lagging elements and given them direct orders now.]

[gwgardner]

May 28-31

Continued pursuit of the retreating Austrians to the north. On the 31st elements from Lannes and Massena's Corps forced a pitched battle at Nicolsburg - the Austrian's withdrew after a brief engagement.

Meanwhile, Vandamme's continued dereliction of his orders allowed Brady's Division of the the Austrian II Corps, which had been shadowing the French forces at Linz for a week, to move towards Krems.

Lefebvre's Corps was ambushed by Brady along the road to Krems, losing his artillery complement. Brady rushed on to Krems, not even taking the time to loot the supplies there. It is thought that the Austrians knew Napoleon had established his HQ at Krems, and saw an opportunity for a quick dash to capture him. However, the Emperor had already moved towards the east and the pursuit of the main Austrian army.

[gwgardner]

The engagement at Nikolsburg:

[gwgardner]

French Plan Mods 1st(25) 2nd(20) 3rd(0) 4th(0) = Quick Attack
Coalition Plan Mods 1st(-5) 2nd(0) 3rd(0) 4th(0) = Withdrawal
Lannes, good execution (+8%)
Massena, good execution (+8%)
Liechtenstein communication problems (-6%)
Hohenzollern, good execution (+8%)
*** ROUND 1
French Intensity 3
Coalition Intensity 1
II (A) Str:4 Ftg:2 Mod:64 % Hits:1
Gudin Str:15 Ftg:6 Mod:34 % Hits:0
Molitor Str:12 Ftg:6 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Boudet Str:11 Ftg:6 Mod:33 % Hits:2
Kienmayer Str:15 Ftg:4 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Lusignan Str:1 Ftg:2 Mod:33 % Hits:0
Lusignan has been routed off the field
Tharreau has arrived

[gwgardner]

Brady's actions were an eye-opener for me. The AI is indeed wily and I have to utilize my cavalry better for recon.

As of the end of May, the French have essentially lost track of the main Austrian forces, even after maintaining contact with their rearguard on the road north to Nikolsburg.

Napoleon is going to reorganize his army and discover where the main Austrian force is, before continuing haphazard pursuit.

It must be remembered that Archduke John is approaching from Hungary towards Vienna.

[Rasputitsa]

Are we heading for another Austerlitz ?

[gwgardner]

No Austerlitz, but a nasty counter-attack when a 25,000-strong Austrian force hit elements of Lannes' Corps north of Nikolsburg.

[gwgardner]

...

[gwgardner]

...

[gwgardner]

With Lefebvre and Bernadotte approaching, and Archduke John not yet anywhere near the area, Napoleon will order Massena north. If the Austrian's have decided to turn and offer battle north of Nikolsburg, the Grande Army is seriously unprepared.

[gwgardner]

June 2-3

HQ moving to Nikolsburg, Massena ordered north. Bernadotte approaching Krems.

Another minor skirmish east of Krems between Brady's Division of the Austrian II Corps and elements of Davout's Corps.

[gwgardner]

June 4-6

[gwgardner]

2nd Battle of Nikolsburg

Lannes and Massena's forward elements were called back to Nikolsburg, but the Austrian's followed and offered battle again, apparently not aware that Napoleon had concentrated much of the Grande Army there.

[gwgardner]

...

[gwgardner]

June 8

Bernadotte's Corps advanced from Krems, Davout's from the east, to rout Brady's Division in a brief skirmish in which the Austrian's took 5000 casualties to minimal French losses.

If Brady's force can be dealt with permanently, and why should it not!?, Davout can be sent north to prepare for a convergence on the Austrian main army.

Bernadotte will be posted to Vienna, to await the return of his detached cavalry.

Lefebvre has finally rallied his battered corps and is marching towards Linz.

[gwgardner]

Brady's rout:

[gwgardner]

to June 19

The past two weeks have been taken up repositioning the French forces.

Lannes, Massena, Bessieres, the Guard, HQ at Nikolsburg in defend stance - repeated probes by Austrian forces, all brushed back without major battle

Davout to Znaim, thence to Nikolsburg - order given on 18th after recon shows no enemy presence in or north of Znaim

Bernadotte to Wolkersdorf - positioned to be able to march quickly either north or to Vienna should Archduke John appear in the area

Vandamme to Vienna

Lefebvre to Krems

On the 19th Napoleon ordered the advance from Nikolsburg by the main force, resulting in a pitched battle.