Battles of the War of the Spanish Succession: a Volley and Bayonet scenario book

I can still recall seeing the photos and reviews of those Greenwood and Ball Napoleonics, and early Peter Laing 15mm figures for the Marlburian Wars, in my monthly copies of Meccano Magazine or Military Modelling to which I subscribed as a teenager, feeling the inspiration to refight some of the battles of the period, although I only knew a few of the names at the time - Blenheim, Malplaquet. As a family we had little money, and the foreign currency and import restrictions in New Zrealand at the time were such that the very idea of buying figures from overseas was barely even a consideration, merely a dream.

My wargames career began therefore with the inevitable Airfix figures that were available from the local cycle shop, and so it went over the years. My introduction to the Volley and Bayonet rules began in 1999 when Brent introduced me to Adrian Powell, newly arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand, with this amazing array of beautifully painted 15mm figures for all sorts of 'horse and musket' sub periods.

In the decades since, we have played battles ranging from the War of the Spanish Succession to the Boxer Rebellion, all with these same rules. The capacity of the rules to absorb subtle sub period tweaks, and to give a very accurate feel of battles of each period, has in all that time never ceased to amaze me.

The hankering for the Battles of Marlborough has never really left me though, even though I still haven't assembled and painted my own army for any of the combatants. 

It has therefore been a real pleasure to help Adrian and Jon to play test some of the nineteen carefully researched scenarios that they have assembled in this their first wargames scenario collaboration.

Available here ... Volley and Bayonet Road to Glory Scenarios: Battles of the War of th Spanish Succession

Each scenario has been carefully researched. Both authors are experienced 'gamers and researchers. Adrian has been researching and assembling scenarios for Volley and Bayonet for several decades. His career as an architect is also on show with the beautiful maps included for every scenario, each of which is a major piece of research in itself. They related to me numerous occasions in which they had had to reconcile inaccurate maps and battle accounts, referring to real life geography to assist them in getting the maps as close as seems possible to the location at which each battle occurred.

Jon brings to the table a career as a research scientist including many years of work in scientific publishing,  disciplines that he has applied very effectively to this work too. They comment in the introduction "In each scenario we have attempted to represent the organisation and numbers on each side. However, for many battles accurate information is unknown and frequently contradictory. In these cases we have made some assumptions base don best available information." This is Jon the scientist speaking. As a duo, their complementary skills are clear to see in this work.

Each scenario comes with historical background, deployment suggestions, maps, and Volley and Bayonet roster sheets that can simply be copied off and used in the games. The level of detail provided also (I suspect) means that adaptation to other rules sets pitched at a similar level of operational command would be a relatively simple task.

Often when I buy scenario books and attempt to play some of the games I am left to wonder if the writers ever actually play tested their creations, so unplayable do the games seem. In this case you can rest assured that every single scenario has been play tested multiple times to ensure that a range of outcomes is possible. That's not to say that some of the battles aren't tough for one side or the other to win, but you can be assured that in every case it is possible for either side to win the encounter. As they say in the introduction "The one caveat is that our consistent aim has been to produce "games" which can be won by either side".

Whether you want a source of playable battle scenarios that range in size from medium to larger battles, or a useful historical reference to some of the basic elements of the military history of the period, this book is a winner. It is printed in colour, with a range of illustrations of both art works representing the battles of the period and photos of some of their beautifully painted figures in play.  There is a second book in the writing/play testing phase right now, so keep an eye out for more of this wargaming 'lusciousness'. For 'gamers of warfare in the age of reason, this is a must.

One of my early childhood influences

Those teenage years .. at the time, this was a hobby 'winner'

A Prussian hero? A bit of magic?

What might a Prussian VSF 'hero' look like? Well, I guess, something like the Kaiser, who would of course receive the adulation of his subjects. The Airfix WW1 German infantry come with two officers in greatcoats, and two surrendering Germans in field caps.. what do you do with the surrendering dudes? Slice them through the midriff, and reposition the torsos so that they look as if they are bowing, paying homage.. of course. So arises the great Prussian Hero (hero as in HotT rules 'hero'). Sadly the boing figures might be mistaken for zombies... oh well ..

And then there's the figure peering through binoculars.. an officer watching the battle unfold? Matched with another officer figure, and a large mysterious disc, to create something .. um.. weird.. ah.. magical.. um .. oh yes, a magician. Such is the magic of the Prussian General Staff.. summoning up all sorts of devices from the scientific labs of the Kaiser.

So that's two 4 point elements for the VSF Prussian army for HotT.

More Prussian VSF.. some machine guns

I've been 'pottering' away at the VSF Prussians (for Hordes of the Things - HotT), based around those Airfix 1/76th scale WW1 Germans. The box comes with a Maxim, albeit that it is not on the correct mount. However this is after all VSF, a fantasy genre, so.. who cares. I decided to use them as artillery. Why? They have a longer range than rifles, and were certainly more effective that rifles, so counting them as shooters didn't seem to reflect the impact of machine guns on the battlefield. 

I also wanted something a little different in the way of a mount. I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks, messing around with bits from the good old fashioned spares box (I'm not into 3D printing you understand, not because I'm some sort of modern day luddite, but simply because I love the challenge of creating in this more practical physical way). I came up with a solution that I liked - there was an earlier 'fail', or an earlier learning experience if you prefer, since discarded, but which lead to this solution. So, one gun on a special sled mount with armoured shield, designed to be pulled into position by some suitable tow (not modelled), and one the good old fashioned tripod.

The two MMG 'artillery' pieces, the armoured shield sled mount nearest the camera

The traditional tripod mount

The army so far is:

3 x airboats

2 x artillery

2 x blades

5 x warband (specialist attack troops with flamethrowers etc)

6 x shooters

... giving a total of 42 points. The goal is to complete a Big Battle HotT army at 72 points.

The whole Prussian army so far

The two blade elements at the front

Warband in the middle ground of the photo

A ways to go to reach that 72 point figure, and as you'd predict, there will have to be some sorts of behemoths and heroes in the mix here somewhere.

Russian advance into East Prussia 1914

It's August 1914. Rennenkampf's offensive into East Prussia with the Russian First Army has begun. The German army is scrabbling to shift forces to hold the offensive at bay.  Russian cavalry have pushed ahead looking to capture river crossings as the infantry march more slowly behind.

This fictional scenario seeks to capture some of the flavour of such manoeuvres in those earliest days of August 1914. Two regiments of veteran Russian cavalry have pushed ahead towards a river crossing that is held by a battalion of Jager and a small detachment of divisional cavalry. 

The Russian field guns have been given an enhanced AI=6 per the scenario book 'All Fine Men' representing the reported superior performance of Russian artillery in the first few months of the war. The battle sees an escalation as units from German and Russian infantry divisions arrive at the river crossing at differing (predetermined) times in the game. To reflect the comparative command flexibility, the Russian player had to draw all command arrows for arriving units before play started. The German player had to draw arrows at the start of the game for the first two regiments arriving, but only indicate arrival points for the remaining two regiments. He was free to draw the arrows at the time of arrival as if the 3rd and 4th regiments were reserves.

The Russian objective was to seize the central (road/rail) bridge and one other river crossing (there were two). The Germans had to prevent the Russians from crossing the river by denying them the central road/rail bridges and one other crossing. Can the German Jager and cavalry hold the main bridges until their reinforcing infantry arrive? The game had an eight turn limit, and was played with my 20mm armies.

The battlefield, Germans arriving form the left, Russians from the right.

The battlefield before the action begins ...

The Russian commander's battle plan

The German commander's plan

German cavalry (dismounted) part of the force holding the central town and bridge

The initial German holding force was supported by a single battery of 77mm field guns

Two companies of Jager were holding the river crossing on their right flank

The Russian cavalry rode rapidly up the main road looking to seize the bridge by 'coup de main'

The Russian cavalry quickly came under fire, with artillery fire from a battery of German 77mm field guns deployed in support of the Jager and the div cav

The single battery of German 77mm guns fires direct on the Russian cavalry

The view of the advancing Russian cavalry from behind the German defenders

The situation early on in the centre

The Russian cavalry now look to try and deploy, but come under intense fire and take casualties. Their commander has finally dismouted them

Reinforcements arrive for both sides, Germans nearest the camera, Russians at the top of the picture

Gaps are appearing amongst the Russians. Their artillery have yet to deploy

The weight of the Russian attack against the German right is apparent at the top of this photo, but the German 3rd and 4th regiments are beginning to arrive too (at the bottom of the photo)

German reinforcements swarming forward. This is significant too because their arrival signals the readiness of the corps 150mm howitzers (two regiments worth)

Russian artillery fire is now falling on the German Jager and cavalry in the centre

The view from behind the German left flank looking across to the right

The Russian cavalry that were attempting to shift towards the left of the German defenders in the centre has been eliminated as a result of fire from the German 150s

The Russian attack against the right flank river crossing is closing on the defenders and exchanges of fire have begun

Lots of fire, and suppressed Russian infantry companies

The Russian cavalry has been eliminated. Their four batteries of 75mm field artillery remain. The unit has tested morale (it was veteran) and passes .. whew

The space where the Russian cavalry had been before another devastating 150mm howitzer salvo

German infantry have support the field gun battery set up defending the main river crossing

German infantry flooding forward to ensure that the bridge on their right flank isn't crossed

There's quite a wee stoush going on around that German right flank

Russian infantry reinforcements are now manoeuvring towards the German left (top of the photo)

 

Finally some Russian artillery support starts to come down

However German artillery fire starts to fall on several of the Russian gun batteries

The Russian attack against the German right is now taking very heavy fire

Each side tries to shift forces towards the German right to outflank the other

At this stage darkness has fallen and the fighting dies away. The Germans have prevented the Russians from forcing a crossing. What will the 'morrow hold?

A panoramic view of the battlefield as darkness fell.

Arguably the eight turn limit was too short. However the Russians perhaps didn't make the best use of their cavalry and supporting artillery in the early game turns. The higher direct fire factor for the Russian field artillery offered a significant advantage in the early game turns. The German corps artillery wasn't available until their 3rd and 4th regiments arrived on turn 4.

However that said, the game was still a lot of fun. It set some really interesting challenges, and was quite different to our previous 1918 game (as you'd expect).

The first VSF Prussian infantry

The Prussian Victorian Science Fiction army began with three airboats (a Hordes of the Things troop type). I am using the Airfix World War 1 German figures for the infantry.  This is a 'painting conversion' given that these figures don't quite match the uniform/equipment look of pre 1900 Prussian infantry. However HotT is a form of 'fantasy' 'gaming, so who is to tell me exactly what they should look like.

I didn't want this army to simply be the  same as the British and Turkish VSF armies. When I create HotT armies I try to give each army a slightly different tactical feel by varying the troop types. So looking at the troop types, and thinking about technology, it struck me that perhaps some of the 'assault troops'; might be better represented by 'warband'. When they are 'on form' they can be lethal, but they may also be brittle when opposed by determined shooters, or blades.

These are three 'proof of concept' stands..  I often do this to ensure I can create the look/feel I am looking for - black picklehaube, dark blue tunic, and grey trousers. The first two stands are 'shooters'.  Of course armies of this era ought to have shooters, rifle armed infantry. 

Prussian shooters

Prussian warband

I'm happy enough with these, so, onward and upward with more infantry. I do think there will also be mobile artillery, maybe a behemoth, and of course cavalry, still to come.

They've broken through north of the Argonne ...

You now that feeling - when you set up a scenario and the game offers almost everything you imagined, all tempered with the ability of players to see things a little differently and take the game in (to you) surprising directions that add to the interest and enjoyment. Well, I hope you know that feeling. It's pretty much what this week's Great War Spearhead game offered.

I set this fictional scenario during the German 1918 Spring offensive, with a German divisional attack against some American troops that had been rushed to the front to try to prevent another breakthrough. I followed my usual practice of trying to capture elements of a particular battle or campaign in a fictional scenario while making the game both interesting and appropriate for the players. 

So in this game I added in air support and armour. The  German air support (two flights of fighters capable of ground attack) was available on demand, but only in the first four turns. The American support (two flights of F2Bs in ground attack mode) wasn't available until turn 4, and then with an ever decreasing random roll (being guaranteed by turn 7 if it hadn't arrived before.

The Germans had one section of A7Vs, which I decided would count as support stand, and so could fire through fighting stands.

The American armour (5 sections of FT17s), along with a regiment of reinforcing infantry) was available from turn 5. However the American armour counted as a separate fighting 'regiment' and so couild not fire thought other fighting stands.

The Germans were all regular, with a battalion of veteran Stosstruppen. Their Corp artillery had gas shells available to use in counter battery fire if they were employed in that role. The Americans started with two regiments and one artillery regiment in hastily constructed defences (including a redoubt). One of the regiments was green.

The battlefield seen from above the American left (at the bottom of the photo). The Germans attack from the right of the photo.

The German plan of attack, featuring a 'deep flank march' on their right against the American left, timed to arrive turn 3. The players were successful in rolling the required score to have the flank attack arrive

The American player nominated the entry point of his reserves bottom centre. The attack arrow was drawn at the end of Turn 4, when the reserves were available

The German attack begins, on the left of the photo

The German right advances in something of a close order column. There are of course historical accounts of German infantry doing just that during the Spring Offensive

American infantry defending their centre in a wood

The defensive line on the American left, in hastily dug (level 1) entrenchments with wire

The redoubt on the American centre/right. The German plan completelys bypassed these positions and focussed on the American left

Fire is exchanged against the main American line: preplanned German artillery falls on the trench line, and American mortar and small arms ambush fire hits the advancing German regiment

The German plan includes a flank march which catches the American left

American defenders in their 'front line' on their left caught in the flank and attacked from the front

Heavy exchanges of fire are taking place in the centre

A flight of German fighters swoops across the landscape and attacks troops attempting to move from the extreme America right to shore up their left flank. In the case the Americans get away with no casualties (i.e. the German player rolled two 1's and a 2' )

However a flight of F2Bs arrives and attacks the German troops attacking the American left causing significant casualties, and allowing the defenders time to begin to re-orient themselves in the face of this attack

The American front line on their left continues to fight for its life, with a series of melee combats. Troops from the American centre are being shifted across to support their left too.

The German attack against the left flank town is caught in the open when the divisional 150mm howitzers are successfully called in causing significant casualties

The threat to the American centre has all but dissolved

However a second German air attack arrives with devastating consequences..

German Stosstruppen supported by the armour, with a regiment of artillery in support, pushes ahead on the extreme German right against the embattled American left

The American reserves arrive

At this time the counter battery battle also takes a turn with the American Corps 150mm  howitzers silencing the German Counter battery fire.

The race is on .. can the American reserves stop the German flank march infantry from breaking through (exiting from the American base line)?

An American battery of 18pdrs is caught trying to flee from the flank attack on their left

The American reserve advancing with some haste (i.e. at full speed)

The Americans left is holding out against the frontal attack, and has so far held off the flank attack

The attack against the centre has been eliminated

The reserve armour pushes forward

I just like this photo of the 18pdr limber and horses.. yes, it's from the old Airfix set

A nice photo of the Armourfast FT17s .. just because I could

The artillery supporting the German right is finally deployed.. unfortunately too late

The German players had to exit one regiment from the American baseline.. my victory conditions needed to be more tightly expressed.. they should probably have said any regiment that hadn't flank marched, because this all became a bit too easy for the Germans ...but.. this was still a wonderful wonderful game. Unfortunately the armour never really became engaged. That would have lifted it yet another level. Next time.

This is a panoramic sweep of the battlefield at the end of play. We managed seven turns in the evening, with four players.

My overall aim with the scenario was to set some degree of urgency on the German players, giving them some force superiority in the first four turns, but then shifting the balance against them and in favour of the defenders in what I imagined would be the second half of the game. I wanted the feel of some slight desperation in the face of initial German attacks, and then the fight as reinforcements arrived to halt the attack.

Because of the flaw in the victory conditions we didn't quite get there, but it still created an interesting and (I hope) a challenging game for all four players.