In which the Tattemberg forces begin their assault on Flaschendorf.
Referring to the sketch map of the campaign, Flaschendorf lies at a bend on the Schwachwasser River, south west of the regional capital at Vierecksbrucke. The river flows in from the north through a shallow valley before turning eastwards. A stone bridge at Flaschendorf carries the main road across the river and is critical to commercial trade.
The initial Tattemberg objective on day one of the campaign is to recapture Flaschendorf from the occupying forces of Gallia. Once a bridgehead has been established the army can then push on towards Vierecksbrucke with the aim of expelling the Gallians from the region and enabling reopening of the pilsner export routes.
The defending force is as follows:
- Brigade Commander: The Comte d'Croqaumerde
- Regiment Clafoutis: two battalions under the command of Major Cheri with an attached section of field guns
- Regiment Chatgues: two battalions under the command of Major Vipernoir, also with an attached section of field guns as well as two companies of the Chasseurs d'Alsace light infantry
- Hussars d'étranger: two squadrons under the command of Major Boudin, held in reserve
I rolled to determine the personal attributes of the commanders. Croqaumerde was rolled for specifically. For his subordinate I rolled-up three profiles and assigned them in what felt the most appropriate manner.
Croqaumerde:
- Leadership 7
- Education 9
- Independence 7
- Aggression 9
- Courage 8
- Constitution 10
- Honour 5
- Patronage 10
- Wealth 8
Physically fit, he is well-connected, well-educated and has an aggressive attitude on the battlefield. His low honour rating suggests some flaws in his character however.
Boudin:
- Leadership 8
- Education 10
- Independence 6
- Aggression 10
- Courage 7
- Constitution 10
- Honour 6
- Patronage 7
- Wealth 7
Boudin is a 26-year old, born cavalryman with above average academic skills and an aggressive nature could with a strong personal constitution. While not yet an outstanding officer, he has plenty of potential to develop and is not overly hindered by any misplaced sense of honour or reckless courage.
Cheri:
- Leadership 8
- Education 8
- Independence 8
- Aggression 7
- Courage 6
- Constitution 10
- Honour 5
- Patronage 6
- Wealth 5
The butt of a thousand jibes, Major Cheri of the Clafoutis Regiment is almost the very definition of an 'average' infantry officer, marked only by his tall and broad frame and a sly, devious nature. Aged 41 and somewhat embittered, he frequents the gaming tables but fortune has thus far eluded him.
Vipernoir:
- Leadership 10
- Education 10
- Independence 9
- Aggression 4
- Courage 5
- Constitution 4
- Honour 5
- Patronage 9
- Wealth 8
In contrast to Cheri, we have Major Vipernoir of the Chatgues Regiment. There is little to be described as average about a man who despite persistent ill-health has achieved his rank at the age of just 26 thanks to being the nephew of the Comte d'Croqaumerde. He is an extremely able commander of men, however he appears excessively cautions, even something of a coward, in his approach and personal conduct.
On the other side of the battlefield we find the attacking army of the Baron Von Kurzerpilz, a scion of one of the oldest families in Tattemberg who can trace his lineage back to the Grand Order of St Helmut. His forces are as follows:
- Left Wing (Von Bittert)
- Schwarzwald Dragoons: 2 squadrons
- Gelbvogel Hussars: 1 squadron
- Weisspferd Dragoons: 2 squadrons - dismounted
- Bratensosse Jager: 1 company
- Centre (Von Kodenchypz)
- Fusilier Regiment von Kodenchypz
- Fusilier Regiment von Schlangewurst
- Grenadier Regiment von Fleischkuchen
- Artillery Regiment von Boomingen: 1 section
- Right Wing (Von Falkensteyn)
- Musketeer Regiment von Falkensteyn
- Leichte Regiment von Hahnchinabun
- Bratensosse Jager: 1 company
- Lieb Grenadiers: 1 company
- Artillery Regiment von Boomingen: 1 section
The personal attributes of the Tattemberg officers were rolled for in a similar way to the Gallians, resulting in the following:
Kurzerpilz:
- Leadership 7
- Education 7
- Independence 8
- Aggression 7
- Courage 6
- Constitution 9
- Honour 6
- Patronage 10
- Wealth 9
Not exactly outstanding is he? On the positive side, there's nothing awful about him but clearly he has risen to his rank through family wealth, aristocratic connections and not making any significant errors. One suspects he will be unshakable in taking a methodical approach and possibly just boring his enemies into making mistakes. Well, it's better than no plan I suppose...
Bittert:
- Leadership 7
- Education 5
- Independence 5
- Aggression 8
- Courage 8
- Constitution 5
- Honour 8
- Patronage 10
- Wealth 4
I'm guessing his father got him his job? He is not entirely useless but the brains are probably in the horse. Given this and with some modicum of aggression and courage a career in the cavalry seems unsurprising, but he will probably need quite clear direction from his commander-in-chief.
Kodenchypz:
- Leadership 6
- Education 7
- Independence 5
- Aggression 6
- Courage 8
- Constitution 8
- Honour 9
- Patronage 5
- Wealth 6
Commanding the central brigade of the army, Kodenchypz like his commander is best suited to a steady, unspectacular approach. Other than lacking a spark of initiative he seems entirely competent and one suspects that to have risen through the ranks without overt patronage or wealth, this competence is aligned to a degree of self-belief.
Falkensteyn:
- Leadership 6
- Education 10
- Independence 4
- Aggression 8
- Courage 4
- Constitution 11
- Honour 6
- Patronage 8
- Wealth 7
Falkensteyn seems to be yet another Tattemberg plodder. Well versed in military history and a strong as an ox, he is not without some merit. Rather like Bittert, he will need clearly written orders but will probably carry those out competently, but not oustandingly. He is unlikely to lead from the front and any troops under his command are more likely to be the anvil than the hammer in any plan of attack.
Having outlined the forces and commanders involved, let's take an initial look at the battlefield and deployments. Below we see the Tattemberg forces arriving from the south west and deploying in front of Flaschendorf. Bittert's cavalry are to the left, Kodenchypz's infantry brigade in in the centre accompanied by Kurzerplitz, while Falkensteyn holds the left and has formed the grenadiers and light infantry into columns ready to charge the bridge:
Focussing on the Gallian defenders, Vipernoir and the Chatgues regiment hod the northern end of the bridge and are supported by a section of artillery in some fieldworks. To their flank, facing Bittert's men is Major Cheri with one battalion of the Clafoutis regiment and a second section of guns.
Here is a closer view of Falkensteyn's brigade:
...and a view of Bittert's cavalry from the other side of the river:
In reserve the Gallians have two squadrons of the Hussars d'Etranger, holding position near one of the many walled farms scattered across central Tattemberg:
Also in reserve is the second battalion of the Clafoutis Regiment:
Here we can see the grenadiers and light infantry of Falkensteyn's left wing, ready to launch an assault on the bridge across the Schwachwasser. French Chasseurs hold the southern side of the town for now:
Lastly, here is a front view of Kodenchypz's central brigade of fusiliers and grenadiers:
The plan is to start the game assuming that a couple of hours has already passed while the Tattembergers were hoping for good news about Von Trapp's diversionary attack. Now suspecting, or being informed, that Von Trapp would not be falling on the rear of Croqaumerde's brigade it is time for Kurzerpilz to order his men forward and take the bridge the hard way...
I'll inflict some randomised damage and disruption on units of each side to reflect the effects of artillery and small arms shooting. This will be more interesting than playing the battle from the start of the Tattemberg army entering the battlefield.
While the bridge is the obvious crossing point, I've also determined that the river can be crossed by infantry wading across at the point where the river has some small, central islands. Given that the water is fast-flowing and still full of ice this will not be without cost. A unit will take one turn to cross from one bank to the other (regardless of the number of activations it achieves) and will immediately raise its disruption level to three while suffering 2d12 stamina losses. It's not a tempting prospect but does allow the attachers to consider some alternative approaches. To win, the route north must be fully passable with the Gallians driven from the field, while nat taking losses so high that a further assault on Vierecksbrucke becomes unviable. The Gallians will be looking to inflict as many casualties as possible.
More to come...
Comments
Post a Comment