Wednesday, 7 August 2024

Game 124 : Battle of Caldiero, take II

 Having learnt quite a bit from the first game we played of this battle, this was a repeat. There was a lot more fighting and far heavier attrition of both armies.

This time we were two a side, so a lot more happened more quickly. Below is the Austrian right flank. Although the Austrians have mostly light cavalry, they are large regiments and so we decided to use them offensively across the front. Austrian infantry is also advancing, but the terrain, orchards, would heavily compromise the advance.


At the top of the pic, a French Grenadier Division is assaulting Caldiero. The Austrians would hold off four separate assaults, having luck with morale throws, before voluntarily yielding the village when the army began a controlled withdrawal.


The Austrian left flank saw massed Hussars attacking to their front and succeeding in stopping any useful French advance in this sector.


This is the second French assault on Caldiero. The Austrians holding the village comprised mainly Grenadiers, including one elite battalion actually holding the village.


The fourth, and last, French assault. The Austrians were in a position to have their own reinforcements. Losses on both sides were heavy. 


French Formations

Losses %

Austrian Formations

Losses%

Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Massena

3

10

-

 Archduke Charkes

-

-

0

Gardenne

23

0

16

Bellegarde

-

-

10

Molitor

0

0

0

Left Wing

-

-

0

Partonneaux

11

-

22

Lindenau

14

-

-

Verdier

0

0

0

Reuss-Plauen

1

0

31

Durutte

0

0

0

Simbschen

3

0

13

Moulin

16

-

-

Davidovich

0

0

-

Duhesme

0

8

0

Argentau

0

0

0

D’Espagne

-

15

38

Vogelsang

35

7

-

Mermet

-

13

25

Ballinlough

-

21

29

Palombine

-

0

0

Nordmann

2

6

0

 

 

 

 

Somariva

0

0

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The artillery suffered rather badly. I claim the luckiest shot, nearly knocking out a French battery in a single shot. Counter battery fire at artillery effective range is rather bloody! 


Rogues gallery. Graham designed this game and it worked very well. Next stop is back to the Sudan!!