15mm Austrians First Outing

Well okay not entirely true.  some of these figures have been on here before, but this was the first time that this particular project has been in its final format.  New figures took center stage - two full brigades of new figures and all brigades with uniform basing for the first time.

 Three brigades of infantry, each of six large battalions with an attached light battery and some Jaegers.  With numerical superiority (and the GOC having the lingering effects of a Superbowl induced hangover) a quick and decisive game was called for.  So the three brigades rolled forward.  The central brigade was tasked with taking the village in the middle of the table.

 The far left brigade of Hungarians were to protect the flank and offer support for the central flank.  So two battalions held back and covered the small wood on the left flank whilst the other four battalions advanced into the fire of a twelve pounder battery.

 The central attack went in on cue and was promptly pushed back.  Whilst on the left the Austrians managed to break through the line of French facing them but at a high cost with the French artillery removing one of the battalions as it attempted to reform.  On the low ridge in the middle of the Austrian lines the light battery was unable to repulse the French counter attack.

 Austrian lines were hastily reorganised to prevent the French from splitting the lines asunder.  Unfortunately this was not enough and the veteran French brigade pushed all the Austrians from the ridge to give them a breakthrough in the center.

 The Hungarians were now outflanked and facing more French as the remains of one French brigade began pouring fire into the remaining two Austrian battalions.

With the first attack on the village repulsed, the Austrians reformed and sent in a second wave.  The renewed attack saw the Austrians gain the village and force the french defenders out.

Whilst all of that had been going on the Austrian right hand brigade, supported by a (new) Kuirassier brigade had been slowly advancing against the enemy.  the cavalry had been battling since the opening salvo and it was only on the last turn that the brave Austrians gave in to the greater numbers of french (initially numbers were even but the French Hussar reserves tipped the balance in their favour). 

With the battle evenly balanced it was the Austrian morale that broke first.  A volley from the Hungarians had no effect on the enemy and that must have been the final straw, since the entire brigade decided it should leave the table.  With the demise of the left flank and the Kuirassiers the right hand brigade decided it wasn't going to stay either and fled as well.  Leaving the center brigade holding the village but facing two brigades of French and a swarm of Hussars.

Another good game and so my thanks to Mark for fielding the French & will for pushing metal around.  rules are the club house rules and allowed the entire game to be played in just under two and a half hours (quicker than the Superbowl and no power cuts!).