Dettingen - Take III

Having set-up the table yesterday evening, I got the third go at Dettingen underway. This time with some changes, to see if I can rebalance things so history has a chance of repeating itself. In previous goes at the battle , I'd allowed the French on the left bank of the Main to start moving as soon as the various formations passed an action test. This time I restricted that until Noailles, in overall command of the French got word that Grammont was engaged in battle, and then the normal action tests could take place. I reasoned that in the real battle, nothing much seemed to happen in terms of supplying re-enforcements to Grammont. The new scenario rule was that only when Noailles heard heavy fire coming from Grammont could things possibly start to move over at French HQ. Once that happened I would test to see if Noailles reacted. With cavalry clashes nothing could be heard. With musketry Noailles would need a 5 or 6 on a D6. With artillery, the required score was 4,5, or 6. With each successive turn after that first test, the odds improved on Noailles reacting. And only then, could formations begin to take action tests.

I got through eleven turns before I stopped for the night. About 1 1/2 hour's play. Here is the action up until that point.

4 Turns in and the Pragmatic Army is wheeling into battle line from the route along the Main. Grammont is beginning to cross the first stream.  Apart from, the tramp of feet, and rat-a-tat-tats of the drums, and harassing fire from the French batteries on the left bank*, all is quiet.
* Jean-Paul Sartre's ancestor must be there arguing with Voltaire that to be is to do.

At the same time the baggage train is coming under fire, and the infantry at the rear are having some trouble understanding the order to swing off from the river, and head to the right. So they just stand there trying to figure out what that 'crazy German' (to the British)/'coffee swilling Austrian' (to the Hanoverians) is trying to tell them.

A short time later, Hanoverian dragoons catch some French hussars. The French fail to evade, and then bear the brunt of the heavies charge, and rout never to be seen again, until they are discovered 36 hours later plundering the peasants outside Frankfurt.

Another view of the same action. Hanoverian infantry are marching up behind their dragoons.

After turn 6, the infantry from the rear has got the message then head up to the right at breakneck pace.

The Hanoverian dragoons try to forestall Grammont's main body between the streams whilst the Hanoverian, Austrian and British infantry form up.

There are some missing pictures from before this. I had 'cinematic' mode on my phone camera, and that takes videos. Rather good quality, but videos are not accepted by Blogger!
What happened in the interim was that the Hanoverian dragoons charged a brigade of French infantry, inflicted some losses on them, but were then charged in turn by the Maison du Roi. The dragoons were pushed back, and with no immediate supports, they ran through the infantry lines following up. No further damage, but they were left facing the wrong way and out of action the next turn.

The brave messieurs who withstood the dragoons, and the even braver Mousquetaires etc. who chased the dragoons off.

Wider view of the scene after the repulse of the Hanoverian dragoons (left). Grammont to the right.

The baggage train gets lagered up. I must do something about those wheels on the coach.

Infantry clash in the centre! The Gardes Françaises have charged into close combat with the Hanoverians, who take a hit as a result. Beyond them, a brigade of Austrians having taken hits from the French guns, also charge in with the bayonet. The artillery pass the morale test so the gunners are able to retire behind friendly infantry within a base width. Said friendly infantry advance through the guns and charge the Austrians. The Austrians coolly  retire unperturbed (they passed their morale test so are free to retire 1/4 base width.

The situation in Grammont's sector after 10 turns. Off in the background (and off picture) the various French formations beyond the Main are beginning to form up and march to the bridges. Some are already across on turn 11.

In turn 11 the Maison have been charged by British dragoons, including the Scots Greys (no special bonuses for them, other than looking dashing on their white horses and sporting impractical looking mitres). Both rounds of melee are inconclusive. The infantry actions in the background are also fairly stalemated, with the allies having replaced the front line units with fresh troops

View from beyond the Main near Aschaffenburg.

Where I left it after turn 11. The wagenburg centre right, the main action beyond that, and beyond the Main, Noailles has got the other columns moving, and one is already crossing the river (top left). I must do something about the background. Maybe I should get a background picture.

Another angle on the fighting.

And there I leave it until Wednesday evening.