CAMPAIGNS IN IBERIA
SOLVES A PROBLEM
----------------------------------------SOLVES A PROBLEM
Date: 25 August, 1810/2012
Location: Between Almeida and the Coa River Bridge
Rules: Batailles de l'Ancien Régime {BAR} adapted to Napoleonics
Situation: An outnumbered British force at first stands to fight and then must scramble to the Coa River Bridge to escape.
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TACTICAL ORDERS AND COURIERS
There is a problem but not like you might think.
When gaming pards become highly skilled in deployment, maneuver and rules, it becomes harder to surprise each other. Unforeseen and entertaining blows become fewer and fewer because both sides have become nearly evenly matched. Parries are frequent. We know each other too well.
There is a problem but not like you might think.
When gaming pards become highly skilled in deployment, maneuver and rules, it becomes harder to surprise each other. Unforeseen and entertaining blows become fewer and fewer because both sides have become nearly evenly matched. Parries are frequent. We know each other too well.
One more thing and this is BIG. As players we tower above the tabletop seeing everything. It therefore becomes even easier to counter enemy plans. Legerdemain almost entirely vanishes. Players on one side often huddle to change plans, move reserves or do just about anything to impossibly stop the foe in unrealistic moments.
The solution is to introduce Tactical Orders and Couriers. What does this entail?
1. Each player is given a mission such as take the hill, use refused wing tactics, swing wide right, hold the village area, etc. These are Tactical Orders. Obey them.
2. Each player is represented by a miniature officer. You as that miniature officer will honorably make decisions only about what that little fellow can actually see or be told down on the table.
3. Each player will have couriers to send orders, information, ask for help, etc. It is important couriers are well-mounted and skillful riders simulated by double or treble light cavalry open order speeds. Thus, if centrally placed commanding General Alexander perched atop a high hill can actually see a dangerous enemy move on a flank, he can write a message, fold and place it under a courier and send off the galloper to the reserve to order a static regiment to the flank to help. The officer receiving the message can react the turn after receipt.
Let's see how this was reflected in the following game.
Let's see how this was reflected in the following game.
THE BEGINNING
Stand quietly boys and do your duty.
The French are coming.
Two kilometers to the left of the quiet Coa River Bridge is the Fortress of Almeida. Between the two we played a fun, stimulating and companionable 1:10 Napoleonic game in Iberia. This bridge was British extreme right flank.
Meanwhile near Almeida French line infantry and chasseurs a cheval busily approach the British extreme left flank held by riflemen.
The same riflemen view the French advance.
Deeper inside the left flank is Der Alte's new 94th Regt.
Note distant riflemen of the previous two images.
Center: Major General Pettygree, staff,
more riflemen and the 9th Regiment.
A later view of the same rifles and the 9th Regt.
Better view of the 9th. Regt.
British Horse Artillery Battery on the unopposed right flank.
This would soon change.
The Coa River Bridge on the extreme right flank.
Captain Magoo's 5th Foot Grenadier Company
guards the bridge.
The End Of The Beginning
In the beginning French forces were not allowed to deploy opposite the British right flank. They instead deployed opposite the British left and center. Reasons were because French numbers nearly doubled those of their foe. The British did not need the French appearing everywhere! Plus, the French were not initially posted there historically. That soon changed.
As Polish Lancers shockingly arrived to disrupt a supply train heading for the bridge. The bridge is to the upper right of the image less than two feet away.
They were followed by two squadrons of French dragoons making for the bridge. You can just see a corner of the bridge in the upper right of the photo.
One squadron then turned to canter up and over the bridge. Would the other squadron follow and burst through Captain Magoo's unsupported Grenadier Company? Afterwards would the French dismount closing the British escape route?
Now Back To The Problem And Our Solution
Here's the thing. As Bill, I knew French regiments of cavalry were heading for the British right flank on Turn 2. I could have shifted the artillery and Paget's cavalry earlier than turns 3 and 4. I did not because the officers on the table had to discern what was happening from their perspective an inch above the table, a courier needed dispatching and recipients needed time to react. Thus, real world reasonable delays were built into my response.
Come back next time to see what happened!
Closing Remarks:
1) Some of the information for our scenario was personally provided by Charles Grant, "from his next publication, Wargaming in History - Peninsular Actions - which will be out well before Chritsmas." Jim and I sincerely thank him for our adaptation of his Coa Bridge scenario. We like this scenario so much we plan do it again in two months. Seven players are needed for our version.
2) See: http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/virtual/almeida/c_almeida.html for information about The Fortress of Ameida and its geographical and tactical importance in the region by Robert Burnham.
2) See: http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/virtual/almeida/c_almeida.html for information about The Fortress of Ameida and its geographical and tactical importance in the region by Robert Burnham.
3) Most miniatures are Elite Miniatures: http://www.eliteminiatures.co.uk/products.htm Others are from Peter Gilder's Connoisseur available from Bicorne Miniatures: http://www.bicorne.net/catalog/index.php?cPath=292_102&osCsid=8cb021725bf323ebc47d14d244f1449d
4) The bridge is from Miniature Building Authority: http://miniaturebuildingauthority.com/index.asp
5) Your remarks are very welcome at "Comments" below.
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A fascinating (and useful) post! Interesting points to consider and try out at a later date, and the account of the game -- plus the re-examination of your initial points on Tactical Orders, CO's, visibility, etc. -- was up to your usual high standards. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Very interesting post!! How did you include chain of command into the rules? Was the officer in green of high enough rank to give orders to the artillery and cavalry? And did they not have any orders? Where they just hanging, waiting for the first courier to come along? Or would this request first have to go through the CinC for confirmation? What about personal relationships between various commanders. How often did a general not move due to conflicting orders or personal rivalries... A juicy subject:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for an interesting and thought-provoking report, along with the enjoyable pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe Tactical Orders and Couriers system sounds very intuitive and 'natural'.
Looking forward to the description of the outcome.
Interesting game developing. Mechanics for couriers can easily get overly convoluted in my experience, so keep it simple. I fondly remember in games with Ken Bunger rolling the "Courier way-laid by courtesan" (or something like that) result. It can work well, but only with certain groups.
ReplyDelete