Game 63 : Albuera 1811 take 2

This was the second playtest of Albuera. The sides are nicely balanced and the first game worked well and showed no real issues with the introduction of 2 rank lines for the British and Portuguese. The game was played different tactically, very useful as it helps to increase the range of testing as more different situations will arise.

The tactical side was different for both sides. The French would launch a major attack through the woods with Infantry and Heavy Dragoons. A major assault would be launched on the right with Infantry and Light Cavalry. The French centre would be screened and held lightly.

The Allied deployment was also different in that the British held Albuera in strength and the flanks were held by the Portuguese and Spanish, the Spanish on the right facing the French debouching from the light woods.

 

 

The French attack from the French left. Two Divisions are attacking with two Brigades of Heavy Dragoons in support. They are facing Spanish

This is a Portuguese Brigade formed up in line. Attacking frontally is difficult and bloody as the attackers, unless outnumbering the defenders 3:1 are likely to be unformed in the attack and the battle becomes one of attrition. The attrition tends to favour the Allies as they tend to have the greater number of Btns, the downside is the potential quality of the Allied Spanish and Portuguese. Its a gamble to go "hell for leather"

 



A Spanish Division forms square to protect itself against the French Heavy Dragoons. Despite having good artillery support, the Dragoons never quite managed to break any squares, close but not close enough!



The British strongpoint was Albuera itself. The French had gathered enough strength to approach the village directly. The British were hampered by space and so their vaunted firepower was never utilised to full affect. In hind sight, the village was not a good place to deploy as on the rest of the battlefield, the Allies were out shot by the French.

 

A Portuguese Brigade in Line. It would be involved in heavy fighting but still fight off various assaults by both French Infantry and Cavalry. Ultimately, the losses grew and so the formation did retire towards advancing British reinforcements that would stabilise the flank. The other flank was in disarray, completely turned and the Allied supply/escape route in danger of being cut off. 

The gamers looking as happy as usual except Steve (in the middle) who is passing comment on the behaviour of his Spanish troops!

Lastly, I've included the casualty returns for comparison from playtest one.

 

	Play Test 2
French Formations	Losses %			Spanish Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
Soult	-	-	24	Beresford	-	-	0
Godinot (1st Brig)	17	-	-	Stewart (1st Brig)	12	-	13
Godinot (2nd Brig)	25	-	-	Stewart (2nd Brig)	3	-	-
Girard (1st Brig)	3	-	-	Stewart (3rd Brig)	0	-	-
Girard (2nd Brig)	0	-	-	Stewart (KGL Lt Brig)	11	-	-
Werle (1st Brig)	9	-	-	Cole (1st Brig)	0	-	0
Werle (2nd Brig)	28	-	-	Cole (2nd Brig)	28	-	-
Gazan (1st Brig)	16	-	-	Cole (3rd Brig)	0	-	-
Gazan (2nd Brig)	4	-	-	Hamilton (1st Brig)	34	-	6
Grenadiers	0	-	-	Hamilton (2nd Brig)	3	-	-
Latour (1st Brig)	-	-	3	Hamilton (Ind 3rd Brig)	19	-	44
Latour (2nd Brig)	-	-	0	Port Cav Brig	-	49	-
Latour (3rd Brig)	-	-	9	Lumley (1st Brig)	-	0	-
Latour (4th Brig)	-	-	27	Lumley (2nd Brig)	-	0	-
				Blake	-	-	25
				Lardizabal	16	-	-
				Zayas	29	-	-
				Ballasteros	15	-	-
				Loy	-	74	-
				Espana	25	-	19
				Villemur	-	50	-

Next up is a third playtest over a week long period. This should exhaust the play testing and then we will be on to different Penisnular battles with larger armies and greater complexity.