Apr 28, 2015

Maurice - The Battle of Kleuthen


This battle was partly based on the battle of Leuthen. Instead of letting the opponents deploy as they wished, I set limitations.

Situation
The attacker has successfully conducted a flanking march and is coming from the left flank of the enemy lines.

Deployment limitations
The defender has a limited deployment zone up until the end of Kleuthen village, the ditch on the left flank and the woods north of the village.
The attacker can deploy immediately for a flank attack.

This is a ready-made situation - the goal is to examine how the rules (and commanders) react to it.
Defender's dilemma: Successfully reorganize and redeploy forces to meet the attack.
Attacker's dilemma: Force the capture of the churchyard through bad terrain and before the defender could complete a change of facing of his lines.

Victory conditions
Tactical victory: the attacker captures the Kleuthen churchyard.
The defender is then allowed to fight until morale runs out.

Orders of battle

'Austrian' (Union an dem Flosse) OOB
CIC+ 2 notables (1 irregular)
7x Regular infantry
6x Regular cavalry
4x Artillery
3x Irregular infantry
2x Irregular cavalry

'Prussian' (Schultze-Böhnstadt) OOB
CIC+ 1 notable
5x Veteran regular infantry
5x Regular cavalry
3x Artillery

I have my limits unit- and figures-wise, plus representing the greater 'Austrian' numbers would  have imbalanced the army morale.


The attacking cavalry, although disordered by crossing the ditch, clears out the enemy light infantry and countercharging hussars.


The defender's right flank swings into action slowly and the elite Schultze-Böhnstadt troops dominate the field on their left flank.


A shot from the yet intact Flossian right (coincidentally, the CIC spends too much time here, just like in the original case) - a dragoon squadron breaks off and charges an attacking unit.


The assault of the church begins with two Flossian battalions dug in.


Despite a third unit placed inside the yard, the Böhnstadter attack is victorious.


The tactical goal reached and their morale very much shattered, the Flossian army sounds retreat.


The cavalry has reached a stalemate with two notables facing off and neither doing anything. With the aid of combined arms the local forces of the Flossian left were destroyed: two irregular foot, two hussars and two cannon. Then the focus shifted to the fight in the churchyard.

The strong points of this tabletop clash were
-the fast-paced action: a handful of cards were still left from the first deck after the conclusion.
-relatively narrow space: players had to think hard to avoid their lines being disrupted by interpenetration and most units were supported by others throughout the battle.

4 comments: