Testing the variant - combine arms

This test brought the advance guards of Prussia and Austria in an accidental encounter. The Collision Course variant was used to deploy troops on to an 80cm x 80cm field. This proved too small for 3 battalions of infantry and 2 regiments of cavalry.

Austria won the first encounter, routing a Prussian battalion and mauling a second.

Test two was played on a wider field (120cm x 80cm) allowing the cavalry of both sides to work their magic. After four turns, cavalry formed up on the flanks to their infantry as they deployed from column to line.

A few turns further and both sides were ready for battle.

The Kálnoky Hussars opened the battle charging the Prussian Wechmar Hussars. The distance was further than expected allowing Wechmar to counter-charge the Austrians. Fortune however, favoured Austria sending the Prussians off table with Kálnoky in pursuit.

In centre, Austrian grenadiers moved in with the bayonet to savage the Winterfeldt Infantry sending them in flight. The Prussian attack against Austria’s left proving ineffective and the loss of two units routed, the general signalled the advance guard to retire from the field.

The pursuit off table continues.

A few notes.

Using the collision course variant, allow four to six turns for a solid deployment. Avoid the temptation of a quick attack as the unit may not have the support it needs. 

The most common mistake is made as units deploy from column to line discovering a lack of space, more so if cavalry is part of column entering the table. 

Shooting at long distance may not be effective, but it can prove useful to pin part of the enemy line while the main attack takes place elsewhere.

The Seven Years War project - Sweden

At the outset of the project to refurbish and rebase the Seven Years War collection, a Swedish army was placed on my list to do. The campaign in Pomerania had much potential to bring to the wargame table with the terrain being best described as littoral, both sides made use of flotillas to support the defence of island strongpoints.

The miniatures

The Swedes are cobbled from extra Old Glory 15mm Austrian and French figures and though the cut of uniform is slightly different, one could reason French subsidies to the Swedish coffers may have included uniforms as “German” regiments in French service were clothed in blue.

With a few exceptions, Swedish infantry wore uniformed identically with a blue coat, yellow breeches, waistcoat, cuffs and turnbacks with individual regiments being identifiable by the colours they carried (Kronoskaf.com) Flags are painted by hand and those for the general officers were intricate to do.

To the rear of the infantry lines are two small battalions of grenadiers. Grenadier caps were similar to the Prussian model, the Swedes used black oil skin covers to avoid confusion as Prussians.

The cavalry form two regiments of horse, one of dragoons and a detachment of hussars and you will note, Swedish cavalry regiments sent to Pomerania were on average of 2-3 squadrons strong. In the photo are a battalion of light infantry, historically, these were formed from the best marksmen from each regiment serving in Pomerania.

Note: due to the conditions in Swedish Pomerania and poor logistical support, many regiments lost 25% of their numbers through sickness and this is reflected in the smaller number of elements per battalion.  

Seven Years War project - the Allies

The Allies, Hannover, Hesse-Kassel and Brunswick are the last group to be rebased, Hanoverian uniforms are nearly identical to the British but will still be recognisable by the flags they carry. The flags are currently being painted and should be done by next week.

To their left, representing Hesse-Kassel are four battalions of infantry. Three have flags and the fourth will receive its flag next week. Troops clad in green uniforms are two battalions of light troops that played an active role in Ferdinand’s campaigns against the French.

Cavalry for both the French and Allied armies fielded fewer squadrons per regiment when compared to cavalry of Prussia or Austria. Reading Savory’s “His Britannic Majesty’s Army in Germany”, one is struck by the terrain over which both armies maneuvered around creating supply and foraging problems.     

Compared to the other collections, allied generals and staff are not as numerous, having four generals for the infantry brigades and one for the cavalry. That should be rectified when I do an inventory of the “extra” elements remaining.  

Lastly, the nucleus of a British contingent. Plans are being made to add more horse and foot and while rebasing these, I noticed the grenadiers were not Old Glory 15s, but Blue Moon figures. Twelve years ago, Old Glory did not offer British grenadiers as a separate item, forcing me to purchase the Blue Moon figures. That has been corrected and grenadiers will be included in the next order.