After rattling through April and May map moves and the Battle of Parma last week, I was slow getting down to the Battle of Piacenza. Finally I got it done today.
This was another hard fought contest in terrain with lots of obstacles and cover. It was mostly an attritional slog in which the superior numbers of the Austro-Piedmontese prevailed.
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| 3 turns in and the opposing columns are still marching up to compete for advantageous ground. (Bourbons from the left, Austro-Piedmontese from the right) |
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| On the Bourbon left, infantry from Modena have occupied the Cascina and line of the stream. To their left Spanish dragoons have bounced Austrian cavalry who had crossed through the tree line. |
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| Austrian foot in the centre have occupied a built up area with enclosures. Their brethren to their left have been battered by the Spanish guns in the foreground. |
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| Turn 14. The Piedmontese (on the left of the Austrians) have finally formed up opposite the Neapolitans and both sides slugged it out for SEVERAL more turns. |
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| Also turn 14. The Austrian advance in the centre has been shredded (note more the casualty markers on the right compared to those on the left of the picture). Despite this the two units centre right were to survive until the end. Across the tree line the combined Austrian grenadiers slug it out with Spanish infantry all game. |
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| Another contest without decisive result. On the Austrian right repeated cavalry attacks fail to dislodge the Modenese infantry from the stream. I think I might upgrade the Modena troops following their experience. |
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| After 25 turns the Neapolitans have broken. It was touch and go. Despite being outnumbered they made good use of the enclosure, inflicted as many hits on their Italian cousins from the north. The Piedmontese were the first to face a Wing Morale test but passed. Alas, King Carlos' men failed theirs. With stalemate in the centre and other wing, I called it a day and decided the Bourbon forces would retire in reasonable order and due to the terrain and losses on the Austrian cavalry, there would be no pursuit. |
Following the game I diced for recovery of lost brigades and hits. The net outcome in terms of permanent losses are given below.
Bourbons
Neapolitans: Lost 1 brigade and 2 further hits on the remaining brigade.
Modenese: No hits
Spanish: lost 2 brigades inc the guards plus 2 further hits, no further hits on the cavalry
Austro-Piedmontese
Piedmontese: Lost 2 brigades and 3 further hits.
Austrians: 2 hits on cavalry, lost 1 infantry brigade, and 1 further hit. No further hits on artillery.
I'll work out what happens next in the campaign. I'm slightly concerned at the rate of attrition, especially for the Bourbons. Will they make it until the end of the year? Maybe the Bourbons need to lick their wounds and wait for winter for reinforcements. But can they do this without giving the Austrians a free hand to mop up Bourbon-aligned fortresses? It certainly looks like the Austrians are free to continue their siege of Piacenza. Will the Infante Felipe and Prince of Conti show their faces east of the Alpine passes again before the end of the campaigning season?
Well, this looked like a good fight. From the casualty returns, losses look about even. If it comes down to sieges, how will you adjudicate those actions?
ReplyDeleteYes, the losses were fairly even. But the Bourbons had no chance of capturing the second bridge and looked like they would lose the first.
DeleteSieges are abstracted. Theres a schedule running from investment to breach with variations based on dice rolls which can delay/accelerate the progress.
Chris
A tough battle, 24 turns seems like real marathon surprised anybody survived. Good luck in the next phase of the campaign 👍
ReplyDeleteThe turns go quickly with these rules and especially solo.
DeleteChris
It seems to be a reasonable result for the Bourbons Chris considering the forces involved.
ReplyDeleteI don't know a lot about the history of the period but it would seem that the Bourbons waiting for winter to keep their army intact would be realistic. Rather than the usual wargamer strategy* of going for broke.
* at least my usual strategy 😂
That's the benefit of doing a campaign - it stops us going all out each battle. And I think the decision to give battle this time might have been a bit rash. But I try to build in what I think is a historical perspective: the Spanish side want to add to their patrimony in Italy and not lose anything. Sometimes that led to them being more 'forward' than they would otherwise be.
DeleteI actually got this a bit wrong because thew guy in charge in 1742 got the sack for not being forward enough.
Another good game in your campaign there Chris, and the attritional slog felt right from what I know of the period and the terrain involved. With the losses etc I'm reminded of the SYW as after a few years, the losses felt by both sides led to fewer battles, but more raids and skirmishes etc.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the impression I got from accounts of battles in the Po region. I deliberately put in more linear obstacles - not as many or as close together as reality, but then they have the same effect. Lots of streams, ditches (canali?) and raised roads. Shades of the challenge XXX faced in September 1944. Cavalry hasn't been much use - luckily for the Spanish as they don't have much.
DeleteThe Gallispans will definitely be upping their recruitment of light troops over the next winter. A few renegades and chefs on the make.
Tough day at the office for the Gallispans! The Austrians still held the ground even if casualties were even so I guess its their victory, the table is looking really good, the cyprus trees place you nicely in Italy, I must make some for my 28mm armies!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
It was what happened near the bridge that swung it for the Austrians and friends. Mentally possession of the bridges was the target for the Bourbons I decided after set-up, and reasoned the Bourbons weren't concentrated in the right area just because stuff like that happens.
DeletePS Think I need more cypress trees Iain.
DeleteExcellent table and battle. Attritional is often the case unless one side can gain a positional advantage. Enjoying the campaign and following with interest.
ReplyDeleteCheers Richard. An attritional battle was likely because the sides were peers in almost every way. The Austrians struggled to make their advantage in numbers tell, because of the terrain, until late on when the Piedmontese got the upper hand on the Austrian left flank, where they brought their superior numbers to bear on the Neapolitans. That was the difference eat the end of the day. And it was quite close there and could have flipped on the roll of one die.
DeleteWow the smaller scale figures really come into their own with this scale of battle Chris - your table looks fantastic
ReplyDeleteCheers Keith. You're too kind. It's not bad.
DeleteWow! You did Piacenza! I thought that the real battle is difficult to recreate with a good chance for the French. Thank you so much for your detailed report of the game.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome André.
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