Spanish v French - October 2007

This was a campaign game played on 27 September 2007 as one of our weekly games with Phil. It was loosley based on our earlier game and involved some hidden movement. The revised LFS rules work well with Spanish v French battles. Because of the large element of luck regarding the dice throw, it means that the Spanish are not always doomed to lose. However the odds are rightly in favour of a French win. So a limited Spanish success regarding the game objectives means a Spanish win.

Battle of Terreul - Setpember 2007

This 28mm game was set up on 10 September 2007. The aim was to see if we could play a Spanish guerrilla v French infantry type wargame using our amended LFS rules. The objective of the game was for a French division of 4 infantry brigades and a battery to rescue a single infantry brigade which was surrounded by Spanish regular and irregular troops.

The French had to make their way along the road, with Spanish troops hidden on and behind the hills. To spot the Spanish, the French had to climb the hills, this would delay them reaching the isolated brigade which was under attack from the start of the game.

The whole table at the start of the game. The cards might, or might not, indicate the location of Spanish regular or irregular troops. The isolated French infantry brigade is at the far end of the table on the right. There is a support brigade at the far end on the left. The relief force is in the village front left, the rear guard front right will hold the bridge and road so that they can all retreat.

French left at start of game. The isolated brigade is in the village beyond the river, the support brigade in the nearest village. The Reinforcements will come from the right. The red markers indicate possible Spanish troops.

The French right at the start of the game.The two infantry brigades, plus the artillery, in the nearest village are the relief force. The third brigade in the village on the far side of the river is holding the road open for them all to retreat.

The French left in the middle of the game. Three Spanish brigades are attacking the single French brigade holding the road the French will retreat down.

The French centre in the middle of the game. The French in the foreground have tried to storm the hill, but have been routed. More French have crossed the river and are approaching the hill.

The French right in the middle of the game. The brigade holding the bridge and retreat route have been routed towards the divisional headquarters. The Spanish now control the road and the whole French division has been cut off.

The French right at the end of the game. On the Spanish side of the river all available troops are holding the bridge. Behind them the isolated French brigade continues to rout to safety.

The French right at game end. The French division have stormed the bridge and opened the road again. The defending Spanish troops are all in rout, except for the field battery who are trying to hold the bridge.

Battle of Magdeburg - September 2007

On 5 September 2007 I set up this game as one of the weekly games prepared for the Jalon Wargames Club. Each member was sent a copy of the first photograph, together with an explanation of the objective of the game and his own order of battle.

French will enter from the left, Prussians from the right

The French are holding on their left and attacking on their right

The French cavalry move forward to break the Prussian centre

The Prussians have been driven off the hill and the cavalry are moving in for the kill

French v Prussians

Phil came to wargame with us most weeks for about a year during 2007. This was obviously one of those games, but I have no record of which. However it was 28mm and French v Prussians. It was during the period when we were still trying to make LFS work, but again that covered a long period.

Phil and Jan ponder the finer points of LFS

French attack a ridge held by the Prussians, who also hold the town at the top of the photograph

The French have lost the attack on the ridge and begin to retreat

Close up of the French retreat

Battle of Talavera - September 2006

In mid October 2006 we set up this table for the visit of Costa Blanca News, the English language weekly newspaper. They do an article each week about ex pats living in the area, and we asked them to feature us so that we could get some publicity and contact other wargamers in the area.

He seemed quite impressed and took a few photographs which appeared in the paper.

It seemed a shame not to record the table in photographs for our own records

Talavera battlefield

British foot artillery

British centre

British cavalry

Spanish army in Talavera

Spanish reserve at Talavera

Spanish cavalry passing through Talavera

French right flank

French Irish Legion

French foot artillery

French reserve cavalry

French reserve cavalry

French left flank

French left

French attack on Talavera

Battle of Landshut - September 2006

On 4 September 2006 we set up this one off wargame.

It was not a refight of an historical battle, but another in the series we fought to convert LFS rules to suit our armies.

The whole battlefield. Bavarians on the left are attacking. Austrians on the right defending

Austrian right. The church is held by a battalion of jagers, with a brigade of greandiers in reserve.

Austrian centre. One battalion holds the woods, with another on their right. The rest of the brigade are held in reserve behind the woods.

Austrian left. One battalion holds the village, another two either side plus a battery of artillery. The remainder of the brigade is in reserve. The battallion on the right has formed square because of the threat from enemy lancers.

Bavarian left. An elite infantry brigade approach the woods, with cavalry on their right.

Bavarian centre. The divisional commander has ordered Halt. The CinC has arrived to issue fresh orders. The infantry are in square because of the threat from enemy cavalry

Bavarian right. The main attack consists of a Bavarian brigade (right) and a Baden brigade (left). Cavalry protect their left, and the artillery are moving up in support

Battle of Linz - August 2006

On 3 August 2006 we set up this game to test play LFS rules. We started using these rules about one year before, and liked them a lot. We particularly like the orders system, which prevents reacting to what is happening at the other end of the table. We also like the "blind" movement at the start of the game which makes it difficult to know what you are up against.

However it is a game designed to use one corps per side, and this does not allow us to fight multi corps battles. Also it is designed for 12 figures infantry and 8 figure cavalry units. And it is best used to refight smaller historical battles, or parts of larger ones. So I do not have sufficient figures, or artillery, without mixing different nationalities.

So we are trying to adapt the rules to suit our collection of figures, as I have no intention of increasing the size of each army. Our armies are organised in infantry units of 8 and cavalry units of 4 figures. For this game we are trying out 6 figure infantry and 4 figure cavalry units.

This game is not based on any historical battle. We are currently using a campaign based on the Danube valley, loosely based on the 1809 campaign. This particular game is Austrians v Bavarians.

Austrian Left. An Austrian division is on Move orders, so they will have to advance towards the Bavarians. One infantry unit is in square because they are faced by enemy cavalry.

Austrian right. On the opposite side of Linz the Austrians are on Attack orders, and the Bavarians on Hold orders. So only the Austrians can make offensive movements. One Bavarian infantry unit has failed its morale and is in rout.

Bavarian right. The Bavarians are on Hold orders so they can not advance towards the Austrians. The CinC is with the divisional commander, so he can change those orders during his turn if he decides to do so.

Bavarian centre. The Bavarians are on Move orders, and are marching towards Linz. Their cavalry have lost a melee with the Austrian cavalry are are in rout into the woods. The Bavarian right is now in great danger from the enemy cavalry.