Galicia 1914.. an introductory game

There is a simple joy in introducing someone to something that they love. Having talked to Murray about the Spearhead stable of rules, he expressed an interest in trying out the Great War Spearhead rules. I set up a simplified 1914 scenario with understrength Russian and Austro-Hungarian divisions advancing with poor reconnaissance, creating an unexpected 'meeting engagement'.

The Austro-Hungarian force comprised three regiments, a cavalry regiment, and a regiment of 76mm field guns.

The Russian force comprised two infantry brigades, and a regiment of 76mm field guns. To keep things simple, I'd not included any off table artillery, nor any entrenchments.

The ganme was playe dusing my 20mm armies.

The Russian advance

The Austro-Hungarian plan of advance

Both forces advanced at full speed, as they are required to do in the absence of any spotted enemy.

The Russian left managed to deploy into a wooded area before the Austrians could arrive, leaving them in the open facing a stiff fire fight. 

The forces on both sides were played as 'random morale'. All of the Austrian regiments turned out to be Regular. The Russian left flank brigade was Veteran, but the right flank turned out to be Green.

On the Russian right, their right flank brigade was kept back in reserve until it had spotted Austrian cavalry advancing. The right flank brigade was supported by the artillery brigaded on table. However the artillery spotted the cavalry dismounting as it had tried to take the Russians in the flank, and brought them under fire.

The firefight begins on the Russian left

The Russian brigade on the left flank sends five companies around to try and outflank the Austrian right

On the Russian right, the Austrians decide to assault, and advanced in to withering fire (the Austrians are at the top of the photo advancing against the Russians in the wood)

Austrian casalties are heavy

The Austrian cavalry begin to take casualties from the Russian artillery

The firefight on the Russian left intensifies

On the right, the Austrians assault the wood

One Austrian company makes it into the assault

... and wins the combat.. the Austrians are able to advance into the wood, but at a heavy price

On the Russian left, the flanking force wins the firefight against the Austrians

Meanwhile the major part of the Russian left continues a fierce duel with the Austrians

Overview of the Russian right at this stage

Given the amount of talking and 'instruction;, we ran out of time. In normal circumstances we would have had time to fight the game to a conclusion. At this stage things were very much in the balance. The centre Austrian regiment had just begun its own advance against the Russian right, bringing numbers and firepower that were sure to bring about a result.

For something so simple, this was a stirring wee game, with some interesting nuance. In the next game we'll bring in off table artillery, and counter battery fire.

Somewhere in Galicia, spring 1915

Early spring 1915, and Russian forces launch a counter-attack up a river valley somewhere in Galicia, with the limited aim of securing a vital river crossing necessary to future operations.

Andy and I got together to push the 20mm WW1 armies around the table in a smaller Great War Spearhead game. The scenario pitched a Ruissian division against two Austro-Hungarian regiments. Both sides were supported by one on table regiment of mfield guns, and one regiment of heavy guns off trable. The Austro-Hungarians also had a regimetn of cavalry in reserve. The defending AH forces had had time to dig some light entrenchments and lay some wire, but their defences were very sketchy and incomplete. The game was fought with my 20mm armies, mostly HaT figures, with some Irregular MIniatures heavy weapons.

The defending troops in the upper regions of the photo, the photo taken from behind the Riussian advance in the lower regions. The Russian commander had taken a gamble with a flank march on his left, hitting the Austro-Hungarian right flank. The troops arrived in turn 1 of the game... ouch

Defenders on the AH right

The flank attack arrives stopping short of the defending Austro-Hungarian defenders, but right behind their flank

Defening Austro-Hungarian troops on theior left flank

One Russian Brigade attacked up the centre, supported by two batteries of 76mm guns

The left flank attack begins to bite

We played the game with all units unbder 'ranmdomn morale'. As fire opens, the flanking Russian brighade turns out to be 'Regular' morale, but all other units on both sides are 'Greeen'. This is going to be a tough fight.

In an early success Russian fire drives the Austro-Hungarian defenders from their entrenchments on the  right

The Russian Brigade attacking through the centre takes casualties from fire

Troops from that centtre Brigade

The Austro-Hungarian on table field guns set to bring fire down on the Riussian attackers

Lots of fire...

The right flank Russian Briogade had advanced a short way, and been ordered to remain stationary as a reserve, but was brought under fire by Austro-Hungarian defenders, and so adopted defend orders in situ

The Austro-Hungarian right under increasing pressure

Several companies make theior way through woods to the Austro-Hungarian rear, stumbling across the Austro-Hungarian divisional command

The battle on the Russian left contimnues

The Russian centre brigade pushes on in the face of heavy fire

Meanwhile mthe Russian right manouvres within the limits of its defend orders to bring fire onto the Austro-Hungarian left

Overview of the battlefield at this stage. This shows the extent of the casualties being taken by the Russian centre brigade

Pressure continues on the Austro-Hungarian right from the flank attack

Russian troops assault the Austro-Hungarian divisional command

The Austro-Hungarian divisional command is eliminated

Casualtuies are now mounting on the Austro-Hungarian right

... and on the Riussian centre

Riussian troops push forward intot he outskirts of the town adjacent to the bridge

Overview of the batttle on the Russian right

The Russian centre brigade breaks and pulls back from the battle

Heavy fighting in progress .. but the right flank Austro-Hungarian regiment also now breaks, opening up the entire Austro-Hungarian position

The firefight left  contimnues on the Austro-Hungarian but their position is now untenable as their own right flank has disintegrated.

The flank march strategy was relatively high risk. I've played games where with the same odds the flank march never arrived. The risk paid off this time, but the ending would have been very different had it not.

It was also significant that neither side managed to get the support of its off table heave artillery... casualties would have been even higher had we done so.

All in all, a really interesting small scenario, albeit that it was made up on the fly as they say.