THE BATTLE OF LOBOWITZ

 This last weekend I ran a game of Post of Honor for two new players, and a pair of veterans. The game was the battle of Lobowitz, the first battle of the Seven Years War. The UPC was standing in for Fredrick's Prussians, while the Empire had the honor of being Browne's Austrians. We also had a guest from the store stop in to watch for over an hour. Perhaps we will be adding a new player to our ranks. 

The Battle Commenced with the Opening Bombardment Directed in Typical Fasion Against the Cavalry. The Cuirassier and Dragoons of Both Sides Lost Considerable Numbers. 

With No Hesitation Both Forces of Cavalry Charged into Their Opposite Number. Rather than Use Their Numbers to Support the Central Cavalry Battle, the UPC Chose to Cover the Flank Against a Possible Empire Advance from Across the Stream. 

On Their Left Flank the UPC Advanced to Clear the Empire Light Infantry Defending from a Forward Position in the Vineyards atop the Hill. 

With Orders to Hold the Empire's Left Flank Remained Steady in Their Position Behind the Stream, Before Finally Receiving Orders to Advance. The Cavalry Squadron Immediately Crossing the Stream and Swampy Ground to Bring Their Weight Against the UPC.  

On the UPC Left the Infantry Cleared the First Line of the Vinyard but not Without Loses. Like a Tidalwave They Moved Incessantly Forward. 

With Both Flanks Secured the Main Body of the UPC Advanced to the Assault on the Town of Lobowitz. The Second Wave can be Seen Here Advancing Up in Columns. Up to This Point Units Had Been Driven Back, but no Forces had Been Lost. 

Having Finally Driven Off the Empire's Central Cavalry the UPC's Vast Dragoon Squadron Returned to Attempt to Do the Same to the Empire's Infantry Outside the Town. On the Right the Empire's Lights Looked to Stall the Enemy Long Enough for the Left Flanks Forces to Come to the Rescue. 

The Empire's Left Flank Cavalry and Infantry Slowing Began to Advance Trying to Threaten the UPC's Main Assault. The Final Remainder of the Empire's Central Cavalry, the Undersized Hussars, Guard the Bridge Waiting an Opportunity to Attack. 

The Empire Launching Their Attack to Try Turning the UPC's Right Flank. Under Incessant Bombardment all Day the Grenadiers in Sullowitz are Still Standing Strong, with Addition Reinforcements at the Ready Should They Falter. 

Massed UPC Infantry Ready to Assault the Stoic Empire Defenders of Lobowitz. To the Upper Left Can be Seen the Dachshund's Dragoons Who Singlehandedly Drove Off the Empire's Grenadiers, Light Infantry and Artillery Defending Outside the Streamside of Lobowitz. 

On the Empire's Left Flank, the UPC's Cavalry Keeps up the Pressure. The Empire Troops Were Unable to Come to the Aid of Their Comrades in Lobowitz.  

The Final Moments Before the Inevitable End. UPC Artillery, Infantry, and Cavalry Combine to Smash the Empire's Defenders of Lobowitz. 

For a first game for half the players things went very smoothly. The Empire's Commander, some say an UPC puppet, seemed defeated from the start. The final losses go a long way in explaining just how one-sided the battle was. The UPC lost one Regiment of Cuirassier. The Empire lost two Cuirassier and one Dragoon Regiment, a Battery of Artillery, a Grenadier Battalion, a Light Infantry Battalion and at one point had both their top cavalry General and their C-in-C dead. The UPC Generals had a good plan and executed it well. The Empire seemed to be on their backfoot the whole battle. 

Will the UPC prove as decisive a second time? Stay tuned to find out. 

THE BATTLE OF HARMS WOODS

 

This battle was a sort of meeting engagement, with the UPC starting partially entrenched, the Empire arriving with their artillery ready, and a very soggy field preventing artillery bounce through. Both sides needed to drive the other from the field. 

 

The Opening Bombardment Caused Only a Few Casualties to the UPC. 

With No Artillery of Their Own the UPC Decides Attack is The Only Option. They Launch a Massed Assault Against the Empires Right Flank. The Green Markers Show Where Artillery Fire has Dug the Guns into the Mud Making them Unable to Move or Pivot.  

The Empire's Close-Range Fire Fails to Produce the Kind of Casualties Against the UPC Forces They had Hoped for. 

On the UPC Right They Hold Back, Suffering Only Minor Damage from Artillery Fire. 

The Close Up Fighting Begins in Ernest. The Initial UPC Assaults are Halted and Pushed Back, but not Without Serious Damage to the Empire Forces Holding the Line. More UPC Formations are There to Continue the Work. 

The UPC's Numbers Achieve a Breakthrough, as the Empire Finally Responds to This Attack by Bringing up Reinforcements. 

The Empire's Left Continues to be Quiet, While the Center is Starting to Receive Action. On the Right the UPC has Eliminated One of the Artillery Batteries and is Pressing Home Their Local Numeric Advantage.

The UPC Begins to Turn the Empire's Right Flank, as the Center Now Comes Under Assault. 

The Empire's Right is Now Completely Turned and the Whole Line has Become Vulnerable. In the Center the UPC's Losses are Becoming Serious, but as Usual There are Reinforcements at Hand. 

As the Sun Sets and the Days Fighting Nears its End the Empire Begins its Withdrawal from Another Battlefield with Their Tails Between Their Legs.   

The UPC needed to overcome a number of problems, such as the lack of artillery, heavy congestion of their forces and a false sense of security from their earthworks. The Empire was slow to respond to the buildup on their right with sufficient reinforcements. They seemed very focused on winning by their artillery, even when they became bogged in the mud and that contribution became less and less. Still a close battle that either side had the opportunities to win right up to the end. 

RATHER NOISY ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER - BARKING MAD PART 1

The Battlefield Looking North

 I am starting a new series of battles this Spring that are unconnected but will still influence troop quality for the Fall Campaign. This battle has the United Packs Commonwealth (UPC) holding a central hill position against a massed combined arms force from the Wolfenstein Empire (Empire). The UPC's left flank is secured to an extent by a very soft sandy beach and the Great Lake. The Empires goal is to drive the UPC off the hills by nightfall, and the UPC's is to prevent this. All the UPC players know that I am stacking the odds in favor of the Empire, so are up for a hard fight. 

The Two Sides Facing Off. The UPC on the Left, Empire on the Right. 

UPC Light Infantry Advancing to Take the Woods on Their Left Flank, While Massed Squadrons of Empire Cavalry Move to Flank the Hill Position. 

The Full Weight of the Empire's Forces can be Seen Moving to the Attack Against the Hill. Things are not all Going the Empires Way as UPC's Reinforcements Make an Early Appearance. Even with These Troops the UPC is Outnumbered. 

The UPC's Snarler's Battalion of the Line, Along with Supporting Artillery Protect the Hill and the National Colors Against the Onslaught of Empire Grenadiers, Line Infantry and Flanking Cavalry. 

On the Empire Left Two Full Line Battalions Begin Their Advance up the Hill Supported by a Mass of Artillery. The UPC's Longstrider's Battalion Seeks Protection on the Reverse Side of the Slope. In the Background can be Seen the UPC's Reinforcements Rushing to Their Comrades Aid. 

The Tip of the Spear. Snarler's Battalion Looking into the Teath of the Empire's Main Attack. 

With Their Initial Assault Repulsed the Empire's Massed Cavalry Turn from the Hill Assault to Instead Holdup the UPC's Advancing Reinforcements. 

The Empire's Second Line of Infantry Presses Forward on Their Right, as on Their Left Command Failure Halts the Attack on the Left Side of the Hill at a Critical Moment.  

With Cold Steel and Courage, the UPC's Cavalry Advances Against the Empire's Left to Attempt to Stabilize the Situation. 

Combat Occurring Across the Entire Field with Empire Cavalry Attacking UPC's Infantry Reinforcements, and the Key Hill Line Holding on as Empire Pressure Slackens. 

With the Empire Left Still Stalled the UPC Infantry Defenders are Able to Switch Their Focus to Helping Their Brothers on the Opposite Hilltop. 

The Empires Great Strategy of Turning the Right Flank of the Hill with Their Cavalry is Lost as Their Focus Becomes the UPC Forces Infront of Them. 

The Battlefield Ablaze with Fight Going on Across its Entirety. Massed Vollie's of Musket Fire have Seen Off Most of the Empire's Cavalry. In the Center the UPC has Beaten Back the Empire's Assaults and is Now Supporting Against the Cavalry's Flank. In the Distance can be Seen the UPC's Cavalry Firmly in Control of the Key Hill Objective. 

A Closer View of the UPC Right Flank with Their Cavalry Firmly in Control and all Threats to the Hill Line Repulsed. 

Another decisive victory to the UPC. The Empire came to the battle with one hand tied behind their back, having two Dithering Commanders, one on each flank. They seemed to have a great plan, but lost focus along the way. The first was the cavalry switching focus to the enemy not yet in the fight, instead of continuing on with the flanking assault that was gaining real headway. Their first line had been repulsed, but they had plenty more troops to keep the pressure up with. The less obvious problem was not sending their C-in-C to keep their left flank advance going. This was a critical part of the battlefield, and they left it to chance that this would not stall. A minor problem was the infantry brigade on the right flank would have been better used in the center, where just one more push could have seen them still pulling off a close victory. 

Congratulations needs to be given to Snarler's Battalion, who held off over three-to-one odds, including a converged Grenadier Battalion, even though they had been the focus of the Empire's initial bombardment and started the battle in a worn state. 

THE RELIEF OF FOX RIVER GROVE - Spring Campaign Battle 5

The Relief of Fox River Grove Commences. 

The Union of Pacts Commonwealth has taken a slight lead in the Spring Campain. This last battle will see if they can turn this into a decisive victory, or will the Empire be able to continue its goals of reduction of UPC gains?

With the Union of Pacts Commonwealths destruction of the Empires Field Army at Ridgeville it freed up troops to rush to the relief of the besieged town of Fox River Grove. This key point along the Fox River if taken would provide the Empire a strong position to continue campaigns into the Northern Territory of the UPC, while its relief would secure this area for the Commonwealth for years to come.

This would be an attack Vs defense battle, with the attackers holding a fort under siege able to launch a supporting attack into the defenders rear if the opportunity arose. 

The Field of Battle as Seen from the West. UPC Forces will be Approaching from the top area.  

Battlefield as Seen from the East. The Town of Fox River Grove on the Lower Right. 

Empire Reserves Await a Breach to be Made for Their Opportunity to Launch an Assault. 

Fort Springtail Under Siege Outside Fox River Grove. 

The Empire's Northern Hill Defenders Await the UPC Onslaught. 

The Southern Hill Defenders. 

Ranks of UPC Infantry Advance on the Hill Position, while on both Flanks Their Cavalry Moves to Envelope the Empire. The Town of Fox River Grove is Under Heavy Pressure. 

With the Town Taken the full Weight of the UPC Hammers at the Empire Forces on the Hills. Behind can be Seen the Empire Reinforcements Beginning to Come Up. The Siege Lines Remain Manned Keeping the Forts Occupants from Joining the Attack.   

Empire Forces Surge Forward to Reinforce the Center and Hold the UPC on the Flanks. 

UPC's Massed Grenadiers Take the Hill, While the Light Infantry in the Woods Drive Back the Empire's Cavalry. The Second Line of Empire Infantry Prepares to Meet the Advance. 

On the Right Flank the UPC Drives the Empires Light Infantry from the Woods and Continues Forward in the Center. Undaunted the Empire Continues to Bring Forward more Reserves to Contest the Next Line of Defenses. 

Despite their wave like advance taking one defensive line after the other the UPC was running out of daylight. As darkness fell the Empire still tenaciously held on to their last line of defense coving the trench lines. The relief was halted short of its goal and rumor of addition approaching Empire forces forced the breakoff from the battle.  

Empire Forces Still Manning the Siege Line. 

The Spring Campaign was over. The UPC had won a minor victory over the Empire. Both sides would go home and lick their wounds while preparing for the next coming Campaign Season.