Game 128 : Aspern-Essling, the early action.

 This game is set around Aspern-Essling. There were 2 of us so we wanted a simpler game. We played the initial actions around the villages which was somewhat confused and uncoordinated. To reflect this, once the French were sighted in the villages, the Austrians were restricted on movement. This was done by rolling 1 average dice per Division and that was then how many units could move/charge/reinforce that turn. It led to quite a few odd situations but worked well to reflect the fog of war. The troops involved were 2 Austrian Korps and 2 French infantry Divisions with 2 cavalry Divisions in support.

The above shows a frontal assault on Aspern. The Church is just seen at the top  of the picture.

This is another picture of the above assault demonstrating that the whole of Aspern is being attacked.

This is the assault on Essling. The Granary, nearly impossible to seize quickly without protracted action, is just of pic to the left.

The height of the action at Aspern. Although the Austrians were able to launch multiple assault, the movement limitations effectively stopped co-ordination between Divisions. Although tough for the French, the piecemeal attacks were all successfully driven off.

There was a cavalry action in the middle of the battlefield linking the 2 villages. It was a case of bish,bash, bosh and then return to where we started. Each side nearly won the combat, but in the end it really was "as we were" looking at each other!

 

I put this in just to show the Granary. It is behind the walled garden in the centre of the pic. The result of the battle was the French successfully holding both villages. We actually completed 24 turns. The movement restrictions worked well and "spoiled" most Austrian attacks. The French were never strong enough to launch a counter-attack. It was "hold until relieved!!

The next game will be Aspern-Essling proper. Loads of troops!

Game 127 : Battle near Kursk 1943

 This was an imaginary battle set in the spring/summer of 1943. Both forces were mobile. The Germans were based on GrossDeutschland plus add ons. The Russians were based on 2 Tank Corps plus add ons.

There were only 4 little villages on the table. One, essentially in Russian lines, found a German security Btn surrounded by ever expanding numbers of Russian mobile/armoured forces. They held out for most of the battle, losing most of their numbers to combat and not breaking.

German armour is deployed to try and force a way through to the entrapped security Btn above. This was also the main flanking attack by the Germans. It was based on 3 Btns, A Stug Btn, a Pz Btn based on PzIVs and a Gepanzert PzGr Btn.

In the centre were the most significant German add ons. A full Tiger Btn along with a Brumbar coy are attacking the village. The main German problem, it affected both sides, was a lack of infantry.  

A JU 87G finds Russian armour in the open. Both sides had significant air assets that required planning. Missions were ground attack, escort or interceptor.

Standard Stukas, with escorts, attack the central village. These attacks had to be careful as the bombs do have a tendency to not fall on target. On this occasion, friendly fire was avoided.

Not to be outdone, the VVS attack with numbers against German armour in the open. The FW 190s managed to drive off part of the attack but significant numbers of aircraft got through. The German armour survived the encounter.

Russian T34s deploy, with support to try and stop the German left flank assault (first seen above).

The result of the combat. German armour rolls through the ground that the Russians tried to hold but were driven back with heavy loss.

Usual faces from the engagement. Lots of dice thrown and lots of things blown up. Just as it should be!