Campaigns v3.04 AAR

[chemkid]

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[Rasputitsa]

ORIGINAL: chemkid

great to see a new episode of your AAR!

ORIGINAL: Rasputitsa

[...] as there is known to be huge supply stocks in MUNICH, [...]

...just wonder if these supplies will last over a sunny weekend on Theresienwiese (Oktoberfest)?!

cheers! ...err BEERS!!! oans, zwoa, g'suffa~

The tragedy is that I might have to make a BBQ out of these supplies, so get it while you can, the Austrians are coming. [:D]

[Rasputitsa]

I haven't pushed the button on Turn 11 yet, as I am still deciding what to do with CHARLES, stay in a central position near DEGGENDORF, or move out to one of the flanks where the action is and get things moving. Then there is the problem of orders delay, whatever I do will cause problems somewhere.

Turn 9 had me thinking that NAPOLEON was retreating and maybe I was into a pursuit, now Turn 10 has me thinking about scrambling back across the DANUBE, has the AI pulled off to oldest trick in the book, the 'feigned retreat', is it that clever ??.

Either way, the cost of a mistake now is serious, here is ROSENBERG's situation after the battle :





He could fall back on the supply at SCHWANDORF, or retreat to CHAM. Going through SCHWANDORF would, either draw MASSENA away from heading deeper in the Austrian flank, or if MASSENA doesn't follow, it would give ROSENBERG an escape route. I have decided on CHAM to cover BELLEGARDE's rear, but it is a risk, as ROSENBERG is unlikely to survive another defeat at the hands of MASSENA, a lot depends on the tardy Prince LOUIS. I need to get his corps onto the flank to fill the gap which ROSENBERG will leave as he continues to retreat and retreat he must, to rebuild.

Mouse-over to check the stacks to see if there are any additional units (French) mixed in with ROSENBERG, but Legrand heads a stack of 5, which is the bulk of MASSENA’s corps, so ROSENBERG has broken free and should be able to retreat, which might not be so easy if he was still intermingled with the French.

Note : check the stacks, if you cannot see the enemy, it might be because they are in the same hex as your units, you can cycle through your units, any additional numbers are the bad guys.

ROSENBERG has lost the use of his cavalry (Somariva), as they have all become stragglers. Two of his infantry divisions have also shattered with large numbers of stragglers, only the artillery and one infantry division remain confident, but ROSENBERG himself shows high stress and the corps need to rest, which can only be achieved by retreat out of further combat.

The difference with HILLER's battle was that HILLER had been at BRAUNAU for several days and his corps was concentrated, the 'counter attack' battle stance was very effective against LEFEBVRE moving up to the river crossing. ROSENBERG encountered battle on the move and was not so concentrated.

[Rasputitsa]

Here is the situation on the Coalition left flank. The river lines and roads here channel an Austrian movement towards FREISING and MUNICH and give protection as there are limited crossing points through which the French can intervene :




The situation is much better here, LEFEBVRE's VII Corps is shattered (at least LEFEBVRE himself is) and HILLER should be able to push on towards MUNICH, which is known to be a major French supply centre, surely NAPOLEON cannot ignore that. HILLER hasn't moved yet, but that might just be orders delay, speed is now of the essence, but the mud ...

LIECHTENSTEIN and KIENMAYER will act as flank guard to HILLER's advance, each corps can be allocated a separate road initially, if I can get them moving, again the mud...

To stop NAPOLEON pushing into the Austrian right flank and pressing on to PILSEN, or KLATTAU, and cutting supply lines, a threat from CHARLES, with HOHENZOLLERN, in the centre may dissuade the Emperor from forcing the flank, but then CHARLES considers the uncomfortable possibility that the concentrated might of the French may turn on him.

The critical point is the centre, where units of French II and III Corps are confronting HOHENZOLLERN and BELLEGARDE, a mouse-over of these French units shows 15 in total, while this will include command and maybe supply units, it's obviously a powerful force. This could be turned either on BELLEGARDE, or HOHENZOLLERN (with CHARLES),or both. CHARLES decides to stay with HOHENZOLLERN as this is the critical part of the front and orders BELLEGARDE to defend the crossing at STRAUBING and HOHENZOLLERN to reverse the advance and retreat to the bank of the DANUBE opposite DEGGENDORF. CHARLES is prepared to give ground in the centre, but only as necessary and to probe on the flanks, with the main objective as MUNICH.

The river line strategy always was going to give NAPOLEON the advantage of the interior position, but CHARLES has to make use of the opportunities of striking from many different directions, if his army is up to the task, then there is the mud ...

All of this is the result of just one turn, this is a great game.[8D]

[Recognition]

Yes its a great game and a great Aar.

Thanks for all your hard work here for CotD Rasputitsa.


Cheers,

[Rasputitsa]

ORIGINAL: Rush
Yes its a great game and a great Aar.

Thanks for all your hard work here for CotD Rasputitsa.
Cheers,

Thanks, the progress is slow because I am going into some detail of what the thought processes have been, to demonstrate the depth in the game.

It's the write-up which take the time. I could speed things up by being briefer, but I am learning things about the game and the overall 'feel' compares well with the historical record.

Many games give pages of data and odds calculations, whilst this game has limited displays, but all that it shows you is important and could have an effect on what happens, so I am learning to ignore nothing. [:)]

[Rasputitsa]

Turn Report

Turn 11 (weather raining – terrain mud)

Situation: The rain continues and the roads remain rivers of mud. ROSENBERG has shattered and retreated to CHAM and although a retreat to CHAM had been ordered, this move is probably not because of orders, but because CHAM is the designated retreat point for this corps. This shows the importance of setting a useful retreat point and keeping it updated and relevant if the situation changes. Once a commander shatters nobody is listening to orders any more, the retreat point becomes the objective for all units able to move.

The good news is that MASSENA did not follow up and has not moved, maybe he is dealing with the damage of the previous day's battle. This gives ROSENBERG a little time to recover, but for how much longer. CHARLES is considering moving to CHAM to speed the recovery and to be able to directly control the action on this front.

BELLEGARDE had been ordered to defend the crossing at STRAUBING, which he had been contesting with LANNES, but now was attacked by DAVOUT. BELLEGARDE set a strong defence and held the crossing. BELLEGARDE’s corps contains several veteran units, which remain confident, or steady, despite the losses, but inflicted three times the casualties on DAVOUT’s units.

HOHENZOLLERN and CHARLES took up positions covering the DEGGENDORF crossing, but were not attacked. DAVOUT’s corps, facing BELLEGARDE, had been split with some units sent to re-capture LANDAU, which was briefly taken by the leading cavalry of LIECHTENSTEIN, whose flanking move between the rives now seems to be having some effect.

HILLER has not moved and although his units are supremely confident after their defeat of LEFEBVRE, HILLER himself is showing signs of stress, possibly because of the pivotal task of attacking MUNICH that has fallen to him (edit - the real reason is probably that he has run out of supplies). This move is central to the army’s strategy, now that the struggle for the DANUBE crossings has begun in earnest. CHARLES would like to be with HILLER, to push him into action, but cannot leave the serious situation developing on the DANUBE. Meanwhile the delay is giving LEFEBVRE time to recover.

On the opposite right flank, KOLOWRAT is still in NEUMARKT and doesn’t seem to have received the order to proceed to SCHWANDORF to intercept MASENNA, but the detached cavalry of Klenau has started on the raid to NURNBURG and should be there tomorrow. Provided that it is undefended, the capture of this city, even if only temporary, must attract the Emperor’s attention and complicate his planning.

LOUIS is still prevaricating around KLATTAU, with his units all taking different routes to an assembly point near CHAM, this may be advantageous on these difficult roads, but LOUIS corps will have to be reformed before meeting the enemy.

KIENMAYER has begun his part of the flanking movement out of SCHAERDING, but painfully slowly, CHARLES feels the desire to go and boot this commander into action, but he cannot be everywhere and it’s probably the mud …

When will it ever stop raining, but at least it may slow down the French.

Results: French losses 68 SP – Coalition losses 40 SP (17 – 5 this turn)

Victory points -10 against the Coalition (was -19, so improving)

Coalition Replacements available 8

Coalition Confidence reduced to 2 (same as French)

Strategy: Unchanged, hold in the centre, threaten on the flanks, attempt to wear down the French.

[Rasputitsa]

Comments: CHARLES reviews the campaign so far, the weather has been atrocious, but it must be making life equally as difficult for the upstart Emperor.

He sat in a tent on the South bank of the Danube opposite the crossing at DEGGENDORF, expecting to be attacked at any time, Through the open tent flap he watched a cavalry picket detachment slowly returning to camp, the horses and men sodden after hours in the saddle.

Further up-river BELLEGARDE had been attacked by DAVOUT at STRAUBING, the rain had deadened the sound of the gun fire, but the report contained the detail. BELLEGARDE had artillery superiority and had prepared a solid defence, DAVOUTs men broke upon that defence and BELLEGARDE has held. ROSENBERG was incoherent after the shock of the previous day, but he and his units had fallen back on CHAM as previously arranged. MASSENA had not moved and a day has been gained to recover, but how much more time would there be.





DAVOUT was without some of his units at STRAUBING, as several of his III Corps units can be seen at LANDAU, where LIECHTENSTEIN's cavalry briefly captured the town.

So why did BELLEGARDE succeed in holding his ground, when ROSENBERG failed ? BELLEGARDE has been in this position for several days, his corps is concentrated, ROSENBERG was caught on the march in a meeting engagement, with his divisions stretched out along the road. ROSENBERG didn't get his artillery into action, whereas BELLEGARDE was able to use all his firepower. The two events show the subtlety in the game. DAVOUT advanced with an 'Escalating Attack', but without some of his units and was beaten back with loss, by BELLEGARDE's firm 'Defend' stance.

What has happened to LANNES II Corps which had been confronting BELLEGARDE, they are now at LANDSHUT and FREISING, are they damaged, or responding to the flank threats ? If they are heading back, then LANNES' cavalry is closer to MUNICH than HILLER, maybe the window of opportunity is already closing, if it was ever open.

The messenger that had carried the orders to HILLER at BRAUNAU reported that HILLER had been shaken by the news that he was to head for MUNICH and was not comforted to know that LIECHTENSTEIN and KIENMAYER would be covering his flank.

There was a warning as Turn 11 started, ‘one corps out of supply’, a quick check made of each of the corps commander counters.

HILLER has exhausted his supplies, there is a wagon convoy (89 supply pnts) destined for HILLER just past SCHRAEDING, but there will be at least a day’s delay before it can reach him. HILLER had already been instructed previously to draw supply from LINZ, which is closer than the LOC at PILSEN. LINZ has just despatched a convoy (34 pnts) to HILLER, so there is plenty of supply on the way, but it may take a day, or two, to arrive. Time and mud, the two imponderables.

CHARLES realised that the rain was probably his saviour, because if the Emperor had free movement, he might have cut through towards VIENNA by now.

The losses are mounting, but the French have suffered more. The French are over the DANUBE at REGENSBERG, but this is the least dangerous position and as the right flank withdraws and the left flank advances, the whole front is pivoting.

The approaches to VIENNA are still covered and a major battle has been avoided, the army is still in being, but it has only been eleven days and the scenario runs to July 14th.

CHARLES is relieved, but worried by the performance of some of the corps commanders, they will have to do better than this when the weather improves and the pace of the campaign quickens. CHARLES had not selected these men, many would not have been his choice and he had not wanted to provoke a war this soon, as the army reforms he had started had not been completed, but now he was sitting in this tent contemplating the rain, making the best of it.

There is a great opportunity on the left flank, the way to MUNICH may be open, but the weather and lack of supplies conspire to thwart such a plan.

KOLOWRAT is out on a limb at NEUMARKT, with his cavalry nearing NURNBURG, but he still has some supply with the corps (38 points). There may be supply to capture at NURNBURG, a supply convoy (51 pnts) is heading through AMBERG to re-supply him and a further convoy (33 pnts) is heading for AMBERG to set up a depot. Some of this is my action, some automatic by the supply staff, either way, if the worse happens and the flank behind collapses, KOLOWRAT should survive and continue to be a useful diversion.

This supply system, set at computer control, but with player input available, is very impressive, easy to use, but with a realistic feel, with actual supply depots and wagon convoys to be captured, or lost.

It typifies the whole game, simple but very effective. [8D]

LOC needs to move closer to provide quicker supply and a source of replacements. Could use KLATTAU, but that would not make much difference, BUDWEIS would be good if retirement becomes neccessary.

There is sufficient supply (600), reaching PILSEN now, with more coming, and is it the time to set up supply elsewhere, but where ?

The supply in PILSEN has an escape route to TABOR in event of retreat, a good strategy to stretch NAPOLEON's supply line, but all eggs are in one basket so decide to move LOC to KLATTAU to join hospital for wounded and provide replacements closer to the action, KLATTAU has an evacuation route by BUDWEIS.

There is a captured supply depot at SCHWANDORF which could be recaptured if MASENNA moves, so order it burned. The supply cannot be sent to PILSEN without risking it being overtaken by MASENNA, or could have ordered KOLOWRAT to draw supply from this depot, but again, MASENNA may get there first.

LOC changed to KLATTAU, prepare to send supply from PILSEN to top-up this depot next turn.

Engineers at DEGENDORF, close to CHARLES, waiting for orders.

CHARLES did not have much confidence in ROSENBERG to start with and now ROSENBERG has shattered, although since reaching the temporary refuge of CHAM he has become ‘wavering’, which is slightly better, but still very unreliable and probably unable to accept further battle just yet. LOUIS is useless at administration and getting his units moving, but he will be good in battle and I could rebuild a bigger corps around him, if only I could entice him to get into the fray.

A plan is developing, which is to destroy all supply which could be used by the French, as without adequate supply NAPOLEON will find it very difficult to get to VIENNA. If only I could get HILLER moving, before LEFEBVRE recovers, or other French troops reach MUNICH, because to capture, or destroy this supply depot would be a huge blow to the enemy.

The advantage of this policy is that supplies don't shoot back and it's easier than having to fight the Emperor. [:D]

[Rasputitsa]

Sorry this is going so slowly, but just coming to the end of the traveling season and a wife that likes to be on the move. Heading for Scotland next week, Wales the week after, then to capture MUNICH ??

[Rasputitsa]

Screen Shot test

[Rasputitsa]

Another Screen Shot test






Trying out new software for screen shots, to stay within forum upload limits, but this also shows what might become a race for MUNICH, although HILLER is unlikely to move until his supply arrives, so the race may be lost before it even starts, depending on where LANNES II Corps is going.

[Rasputitsa]

bump

[Rasputitsa]

Bump!

[Rasputitsa]

Bump !