Last week Jon and I played a second game based around Napoleon's campaign in Egypt. It was very loosely based around the Battle of Alexandria 1801 (very loosely). I played the French, Jon played the British, all fought using Jon's 6mm armies (Heroics and Ros miniatures).
The French are depicted on massed bases, the British on linear bases. All cavalry are on linear bases. Jon added a couple of interesting scenario rules: one unit (the highlanders) was allowed to charge disordered French cavalry, and another was always cavalry secure. The unit if camels amongst the French cavalry would cause disorder amongst any British cavalry within 2". These rules were designed to model actual events that took place during the battle. The British were supported by some gunboats (those same models that Jon made a few weeks ago to support the French against th Mamluks)
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| The view from behind the French army, at deployment. The British are deployed on a ridge line at the top of he photo |
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| British infantry deployed in a redoubt on their right, some ruins behind. |
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| The British line on the ridge |
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| French cavalry |
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| More French cavalry |
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| The French force included a couple of battalions of very heavy (siege) guns that came up on the French left along the road to Cairo |
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| The French cavalry masses to work around the left of the British line |
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| Jon re-deploys several British regiments to protect the left against the French cavalry |
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| French assaults go in against the British line |
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| That's a Brigade of converged grenadiers!!! M6 Shock, take that!! |
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| The attack on the left end of the British line succeeds, but.. |
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| The grenadiers' assault in the centre is repulsed |
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| More attacks go in.. |
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| The British right comes out of their positions amongst the ruins to attack the French left |
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| The French attack against the line is stalling but .. |
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| And the French left is struggling... and .. |
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| The French cavalry manages to get around the British left, and routs all of the British cavalry.. the British rear is exposed. This is ab\n absolute 'dog's breakfast' |
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| The French left is under constant attack now |
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| But the British rear is in chaos |
The game ended a little prematurely.. weeknight games need to be shorter (work the next morning, and all that) and while we thought his was a smaller game, it could have done with another couple of turns. We were pretty certain that whomever won, it would be a pyrrhic victory. For my money, I felt that the British just had that little edge to make it their victory.
Fascinating how M6 and M6 British on linear stands (and at 2 strength points) made this once more a very different game, as did the linear cavalry. However another great game.. Volley and Bayonet never disappoints.
