LET'S TALK ABOUT BAR #1

BAR: Batailles de l'Ancien Régime 1740-1763 and More!

The next few posts will provide insights about BAR. For fun and brevity several miniatures from my collections will speak for me. You have questions. They have answers.

This is Part #1.
Part #2 is here: http://campaignsingermania.blogspot.com/2013/01/lets-talk-about-bar-2.html

We'll begin with our celebrated scouts, Troopers Ham and Corey, 10th Hussars, temporarily on leave from The Campaigns of General Pettygree [Colonial] Blog at your service.

Ham (left): "Why Bill asked us to do this is no mystery mate. We've seen it all."

Corey: "Aye. Getting away from them Tugs an' that Guru chap for a holiday ain't bad either. Lots of questions. Here's one now and can you beat that! Look who it is!"

Guru: "We are busy surviving in my country. There is little time to learn new skills and apply them. We don't want voluminous manuals and tedious complexities."

Ham: "You're in luck Mr. Guru Sir. All games are conducted using Quick Reference Charts like this one. There is one set for large table surfaces and large collections and another which reduces movement and weapon ranges for smaller tabletop needs. Page 1 has movement rates and other useful things Corey and I like."

Corey: "Aye. Three cavalry speeds, pursuit options and the possibility of penetrating deep into and past an enemy's lines like Prince Rupert of the Rhine."

Ham: "Open it to pages 2-3 for weapons, melee and morale regulations. Lay it out as shown or fold to focus on just one page. Convenient and easy. Most players do not need much coaching about the basics after turns 2-3."

Corey: "One sheet of paper, mind. Page 4 is mostly the drill manual so chaps can maneuver proper like. Fonts are large to make reading easier too."

Ham: "The main rulebook is consulted a few times per game in case we need to know something extra such as how gentlemen behave at table, how to form and maneuver combat forces, scales/ratios, chat about lofty officer concerns, explanations of 18th Century tactical nuances and more. Quick Reference Charts have 90% of the rules."

Corey: "Quick Reference Charts are updated periodically. Bill has updates available after February 2013. For example, rocket rules may be added after more trials where applicable this year."

Guru's Guard: "Good rules too. You've missed us every time! Ha!"

Ham: "Quite so. Thank you yer honours. Ah, another inquiry coming up."

Ham: "ADC Captain Siggins brought us this query from an officer on the south coast of Iberia. Read the letter will you Trooper Corey?"

Corey: "BAR is about The War of Austrian Succession and The Seven Years' War; all mid-18th Century history. Is it useful for more?"

Ham: "Yes. Bill's friend Der Alte Fritz suggested some years ago that since the system works well and our pards like it - so why not adapt it to other time periods. Bill agreed. However, allow me to go back farther in time."

Corey: "BAR is the son of Bill's Drums of War Along The Mohawk published in the mid 1980s. BAR was developed from DRUMS for continental actions in Europe using the latest histories and analysis."

Ham: "To get back to the query. We've had Quick Reference Charts under development for The Jacobite Rebellion, Napoleonics and our Colonial eras. It is a happiness none of us have to learn new systems."

Corey: "Naturally there are differences in weapons, formations and such."

Ham: "Looks like a group of inquirers is forming up ahead."

Corey: "Gentlemen. Thank you for your interest in BAR. Let's chat later after you've had time to think about our remarks and after good food and beverage."

Ham: "Aye. Let's go to a nice establishment we know to the left. Afterwards we'll say more. Follow us, if you please."

CLOSING REMARKS
1) Troopers Ham and Corey will return soon for more insights about BAR. I know they want to talk about cavalry rules and fun stuff. More information is also available at http://www.oldregimerules.com/    Till next time....

2) If you have questions, place them below.
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LOBOSITZ #3

Date: 27 December 1762/2012
Location: Lobositz, Bohemia (Der Alte Fritz's Home)
Situation: Historical Refight of the Historical Battle
Rules: Batailles de l'Ancien Régime 1740-1763 {BAR}
Scale: 1:10 (But 1:20 will work with BAR)

For A Detailed and Very Interesting Account See Der Alte Fritz's AAR here:
http://altefritz.blogspot.com/2012/12/battle-of-lobositz-dec-27-2012.html

This is our third refight of Lobositz. A great one to do over and over again!
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Our regional group has been gaming the SYW for seven years. Recently we labeled this Cycle #1. Reason? We want to start over. Before we start Cycle #2, we decided to have five final games. Completed so far were East Prussia, Silesia and Bohemia; the Lobositz game in this posting. Yet to come are two last games; one in Westphalia and another in Canada.

For the one in Westphalia we might use our 1:20 units, my old Tricorne lads and Jim's new Mindens supplemented with some other collections. Yes BAR can be used with 1:20 forces.
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LOBOSITZ

MOSTLY FROM THE AUSTRIAN LEFT FLANK

WHERE I WAS POSTED

Once in a while my photos and narrative are limited mostly to my position in the line of battle. Reason? Simply to limit my point of view to what my personal command miniature could probably see and interpret. Here we go!

AUSTRIAN LEFT FLANK

A few turns after the historical fog lifted, Austrian forces got into action along the Morellenbach Stream.  One battalion guards the bank while 30mm Suren Lanciers de Saxe commence crossing the stream to flank the Prussians or cause mischief. The  Lanciers were no longer in existence but we like to use them.

In the distance Prussian hussars on white horses are about to be engaged by 28mm Elite Miniatures Saxon Rutowski Chevaulegers. Though labeled light cavalry, Saxon Chevaulegers were certainly not light horsemen. Rate them heavy horse. This regiment was probably bottled up at Pirna. Again...we like to use them.

CRASH! Beyond the Rutowskis a three squadron regiment of Prussian dragoons canters onto the scene. Trouble!

Streamers on our BAR units are for exceptional battlefield accomplishments over the years. Both Jim and I have several honored units.

More Rutowskis ride forward to help. It is a four squadron regiment; two engaged and two in reserve for a total of forty-eight castings.

The extra squadrons pitch in. Attrition has affected both sides but the Saxons are losing badly. They will eventually be entirely bested and lost. Advantage Prussia!

Meanwhile to the right of the Rutowskis rides the von Brühl Dragoons. These are 28mm Elite Miniatures in tricornes rather than the celebrated fusilier hats. I explain my quirky reasoning why later for the hats. Prussian cuirassed horsemen are their target.

This regiment has five squadrons; total sixty-two castings. One squadron is horse grenadier in the center. The regiment was in Poland at the time of the siege and surrender of the Saxon Army at Pirna. (The Elector of Saxony was the King of Poland at this time.)

 

Wrong or right I chose to have them only wearing fusilier hats. These are Eureka 28mms riding Elite Miniatures horses. Your von Brühls should probably all don fusilier hats to reduce chattering amongst nabobs. Honest doctor, I did it only so I could differentiate my horse grenadiers from the rest of the men. Grenadiers you know!

However Fabrizio informed me on 4 January that the fusilier hat was discarded in 1756 according to:

http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=Graf_Br%C3%BChl_Chevauxlegers 

Anyway as the battle continued the von Brühls amazingly did well and pushed forward. See them there in the distance? Eventually though this regiment too would be shattered. Advantage Prussia. But....

Eventually my newest unit, the Saxon Leibkürassiers trotted onto the field. These had been patiently waiting in reserve on one of Jim's Back Tables waiting for their moment de l'Bataille! These are snappy Eureka 28mms. Magnificent castings!

Here they are before the battle. Their commander observes them from a rise of ground. There are twenty-five castings; two squadrons. I've wanted to do Saxon kürassiers since the 1970s. Now finally they ride to battle.

Kürassier is the German spelling of the French word Cuirassier.

Remember the Lanciers de Saxe? Here they are across the Morellenbach Stream formed and ready to charge. They could not be ignored and would pull Prussian cavalry from the distance to them. A good thing for Austria!

Reason? The Rutowskis are gone and von Brühl in the far distance is very busy but....

Soon enough that Austrian battalion previously mentioned crossed the Morellenbach in disorder, stayed in disorder rather than reform to advance to the beat of the drum to cause unignorable pressure.

A Prussian battalion came forward to stop it. Sometimes it's prudent to not reform. You take your chances, you see! Push.

The Lanciers de Saxe trot over to cover the left flank of the Austrian infantry.

To the right of the previous image are two more Austrian battalions who have crossed the Morellenbach. Forward of them are the Leibkürassiers and not much Prussian horse any more. The game soon stopped.

The Austrian Left Flank was deemed by a post game conversation to eventually be victorious. Austrian infantry had a 3:1 advantage, Prussian horse was ready but greatly diminished and the Saxon kürassiers were ready for a potential coup de grace or at least a lot of mayhem. Advantage Austria.

ELSEWHERE

Prussian forces heavily pressed the Austrian Center. Notice the Macedonian Horse Phalanx of Prussian kürassiers in mid-image. Scary I'll tell you! Read Der Alte Frit'z blog AAR mentioned at the beginning of this post to discover what amazing thing happened. Truly astounding! Really! Advantage Austria - eventually.

Way at the top of the image are my Saxon von Brühl Dragoons.

The Prussian Horse Phalanx is gone from the left of this image. See Der Alte Fritz's AAR why. Above is the Austrian Right Flank.

Cast your eyes and consideration upon the magnificent Prussian infantry battle line nearby. Though the game ended at this point due to time running out, all agreed these would probably sweep the Austrians away. Advantage Prussia on the Austrian Right Flank.

Here is the Austrian Extreme Right Flank looking down onto the west face of Lobosch Hill. Again see Der Alte Fritz's AAR. The Prussians would be victorious in their ascent.
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CONCLUDING REMARKS:

1) I had no idea who won the game because my attention was mostly focused on the Austrian Left Flank. Things looked bad elsewhere to me. A post game chat deemed the Austrian Left Flank and Center victorious while the Prussian Left Flank and Extreme Left Flank were considered winners. Der Alte declared the game a draw. All agreed.

2) Bravos, applause and tips of the hat to Jim for hosting this really fun wargame. The back and forth aspect of our cavalry battles simulated history well, cavalry got to shine early instead of late in a game and the battle swirling near and on the Lobosch Hill was striking.

3) 18th Century music, great chow, gorgeous terrain and companionable pards made the game a great success. There is something about Lobositz which is singularly entertaining and different. You should try it.

4) It has been fun limiting my narrative to mostly the Austrian Left Flank. Additionally, there was something satisfying about commanding the two Saxon medium regiments of cavalry till mid-game rather than a lot more units. A brigade action can be fun.

5) You can do it too.

6) BAR is available at: http://www.oldregimerules.com/
BAR handles the back and forth nature of cavalry battles with long movement rates and options immediately after most melees to rally back, stay in melee and/or pursue; immediately in the same turn.

7) Remarks welcome, if you please.
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The Cavalry Charge

Date: 1 December 1762/2012
Location: Someplace Near Breslau,Silesia
Situation: Russians vs Prussians
Previous Battle: http://campaignsingermania.blogspot.com/2012/07/battle-in-1762-east-prussia.html

Rules: BAR Batailles de l'Ancien Régime (1740-1763) See: http://oldregimerules.com/
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After we complete 4-5 tabletop games in as many regions, Cycle #1 of the Seven Years' War will end for us. Last July the first game was in East Prussia. See the link above. The second encounter was yesterday in Silesia. In the coming months we will repair to somewhere near Bohemia, followed by western Germany and then perhaps to Canada. Afterwards Cycle #2 will restart our version of the SYW.

I write this report mostly from the perspective of my personal command miniature posted in the rear in central reserve. More happened than the title of this post implies.

Somehow folks hereabouts think my favorite things to command in tabletop games are highly mobile combatants; horsemen and armored fighting vehicles. True!

Thus, I asked for the honor to command my newly raised Saxon Leibkürassier Garde. These lovely miniatures are Eureka 28mms. In response Russian commanding general, John M. said, yes Bill and....

You will command all the other cuirassier squadrons too. Well WELL! That's the ticket! Naturally I agreed. Seven squadrons are shown above with three more off image to the left. My Leibkürassiers are on the right side of the photo. We are on the Back Table in central reserve awaiting orders.

Opposing me on the Main Table was a Prussian Brigade with a battery of 12 Pdr. Brummers commanded by Keith L.

To their left the Prussians extended their line on top of a gently sloping ridge. (Think Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg.) Todd B. was posted here to the end of the Prussian line.

My armored horsemen became impatient to charge as Keith's Brummers took out twelve cuirassiers over several turns with long-range fire. There was no place to go to avoid this fire. I wanted to charge but orders were orders. I waited....

While far to my left Prussians led by Chris K. advanced through an open wood on our extreme left flank. These would eventually push our soldiers back, back....

And back as seen at the top of the image. However, by mid-afternoon....

On my far left an amazing column of battalions in line advanced forward disposing of Earl K's Prussians who formerly occupied the field at the top of the image. Russian Commanders were Brent O. and John B. To their right....

More Russians pressed forward while....

To my right Russian heavy forces commanded by Michael M. advanced onto the Main Table at mid-afternoon. Previously horsemen had been battling in the open wooded area in the top center and right of the image.

When units march from the Back Table onto the Main Table it is sometimes difficult to ascertain just where something is. In the above image a clipboard was inserted under terrain boards to place an artillery battery that had not quite gotten onto the Main Table yet. Helpful.

What about my cavalry? Orders arrived to advance near 3:00 pm. Thoughts of the French cavalry at Minden danced in my head. Okay. I would try something different. With a little luck!

I sounded the charge. Four squadrons led at the gallop. The others hung back in the intervals at the canter. The Prussians fired everything they had! The battalion fired poorly. The luck I needed happened.

This image shows the moments after the first melee round.The squadron with the bright blue coat failed to charge due to losses. The other three went in. 

In the upper left one squadron fell back to rally. The central squadron did better electing to remain in contact. The right hand squadron lost ten of twelve riders to Brummer canister fire, amazingly held morale and cut down the crews. If you look closely you will see two cuirassiers amidst the guns a la Balaclava.

If you look deeper at the top of the image, Prussian cuirassiers are riding to the rescue. Lots of 'em.

Never mind. I knew they were coming. However my personal miniature could not see them. He ordered last reserves to sweep the Prussian musketeers off the ridge.

When my Leibkürassiers topped the ridge they immediately saw the Prussian Garde du Korps and switched to attack them per the rules. We won the first round. To their right my remaining heavies crossed sabers and bayonets with the infantry. The blue coats would lose with survivors routing away. Fortunately two things happened next.

#1 A die throw prevented the Russian cuirassiers from pursuing the routing infantry. Had they done so, the rules would have required a cavalry engagement with the Prussian horsemen coming on strong that turn.

#2 It was 4:30 pm real time. Quitting time for the turn in progress. Game over.

From left to right Michael M., John B. (seated) , Jim P. (Der Alte Fritz), Brent O. (seated), Todd B., John M., Chris K. (seated) and last Bill P. Not pictured: Earl K. and Keith L. Participants came from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

CLOSING REMARKS

1. At 4:30 the Russian extreme left held on with trouble, our powerful near left was unstoppable and would break through to the Prussian Back Table and my cavalry was temporarily victorious on the ridge. The Russian right was sweeping forward.

2. My opinion? I thought Prussian cavalry opposing me would be needed to cover a withdrawal aided by several battalions posted on the blue coat Back Table. My cavalry for the moment was greatly weakened and disordered - not much of a threat. I don't know if anyone heard me say this or agreed. However,....

3. The others thought the Russians won the day. No one disagreed.

4. Reader remarks are welcome below.
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2013 PLANS

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CAMPAIGNS
1) Finish Cycle #1 of the SYW.
2) Commence Cycle #2 of the SYW. We start over.
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SYW PAINTING PLANS
1) Saxon Prinz Xavier Bn. (60) Lovely Eureka 28mms.
2) Saxon 6 Pdr. artillery sections.
3) Saxon von Schill Hussars (12)
4) Saxon command officers.
5) Add third Saxon Leibkürassier Squadron (12).
6) Add to Lady Diana Pettygree's Hussars. (Hinterland Miniatures)
7) The Eureka music ensemble.
8) Finish Bercheney Hussars dismounted sections, combatants and horse holders.
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TABLETOP GAMES
1) Goal = TEN.
2) New blog stories/personalities.
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CONTEMPLATIONS (Perhaps - Perhaps Not)
1) Trial balloon to stockpile combatants for India.
2) 2013 SYW Assn weekend in South Bend?
a) Naval descent on an island.
b) Finish Cycle #1
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A fine thing on paper, eh? Your remarks are welcome below.
Cheers,
Bill

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU GUYS?

WHAT'S GOING ON BILL, JIM, RANDY, ET AL?

Change of pace, time-out, hiatus, reset, resting or pause?

Yes all that.

What's Next Then?

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We are finishing seven years in real time doing Seven Years' War-games so we can start another seven year span of games.

Specifically we are finishing Cycle I with 4-5 last games. One was fought in East Prussia on 21 July, 2012. See: http://campaignsingermania.blogspot.com/2012/07/battle-in-1762-east-prussia.html

A second occurs in Silesia on 1 December 2012. The next three games will occur through the Spring of 2013 in Central Germany near Bohemia, then Westphalia and last possibly in Canada. Afterwards we'll decide who won the SYW, allowing one point for each win. Something like that. So far it's 1 point for Russia/Austria/France and 0 for Prussia and Great Britain. Should we have a party?

Cycle II will restart the SYW possibly using Murat Campaign System Maps, carrying casualties forward with reinforcements and so forth. It will be a super easy system.
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In 2012 we played many different kinds of games. Most are listed off to the left of this screen. Scroll down a bit.

In my case I also completed the amazing Colonial Adventure Photo Story, Expedition To Alexandrapour on the General Pettygree blog. See the last chapter, Buried Alive, here: http://generalpettygree.blogspot.com/2012/10/chapter-xxii-buried-alive.html

Plus I have a new six month old grandson and puppy. Here is the Rocket's October photo at five months old.

In the immediate future we are preparing for a Napoleonic game in Iberia on 10 November. Jim and I are painting new British for it. Our Napoleonic blog is here: http://barnapoleon.blogspot.com/   Take a look.

After the November game I will be painting SYW Saxon cavalry for the 1 December game.

Randy has been painting and raising Colonials for our Mafrican Continent and doing amazingly well. Jim is painting feverishly and keeping his exquisite Fife and Drum Miniatures Company progressing prodigiously. See: http://fifedrumminis.blogspot.com/

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. Look for new stories, vignettes, personalities and intersting images in the coming year. See you again sometime in December, if not sooner.

2. Just thought some of you might like to know what's going on.

3. Thank you very much for looking in. We sincerely appreciate your interest. Your remarks as always are welcome below.
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To The Coa River Bridge Part 2

For this story Der Alte Fritz (Jim P.) and I are moving our Napoleonic game activities to the blog Campaigns In Iberia.

The story To The Coa River Bridge Part 1 posted on 7 September concludes here:

http://barnapoleon.blogspot.com/2012/09/campaigns-in-iberia-solves-problem-part.html

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To The River Coa Bridge #1

CAMPAIGNS IN IBERIA
SOLVES A PROBLEM

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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.

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.

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

This closer view of the 9th Foot reveals two mounted officers. The green jacket officer in charge here spotted a brigade of enemy cavalry crossing his front left to right about four feet away. He decided to send a courier shown with a message under the horse to his rear alerting....

The horse artillery battery to move forward and deploy to protect the right flank. Note the courier in the upper right of the photo. The courier delivered the information and then rode to the rear several more feet to advise Lord Paget to bring his British light cavalry forward as well.

Lord Paget obeyed. The 15th Hussars led the 16th Light Dragoons from the British Back Table to the Main Table on Turn 4.

On about Turn 5 the artillery is unlimbered and the light cavalry has arrived to act.

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.

As a result, Captain Magoo's grenadiers were feeling very isolated and lonely. Nobody else was there to stop a French breakthrough. Had I not played the game with delays described, this moment would never have happened. Paget would have gotten here before the French dragoons cantered onto the bridge and this exciting moment would never have occurred.

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.

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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