I recently returned to my 'Soldier King' boardgame-based fictional Seven Years' War campaign, moving things on three turns from Autumn 1756 to Spring 1757 in search of the next tabletop battle.
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| Autmn/Winter: Prussian Light Horse's deep raid |
Following the opening battle for the northern border town of Rahden, the Austrian force (gold counters) there found it could not progress any further into Prussian territory, as Prussian reinforcements (blue counters) reached the area. The rest of the Austrian forces moved slowly North, taking control of the neutral province of Lower Waldrow and capturing most of neighbouring Upper Waldrow - these would be very useful as recruting grounds come the winter season, allowing their army to expand. But there was a large gap between them and their northern comrades. Despite terrible dice-rolling for initiative and too many rolls of '1' for the number of marches available, into this gap the Prussians were able to move their '6th Brigade' of Light Cavalry.
With typical elan the 6th swept south-east, capturing the town of Wittingen to deny Austrian control of Upper Waldrow, and then onward into Austrian home territory, taking two further towns, threatening the rear of the Austrian northern force and causing consternation for the Austrian commanders, as refugee civilian worthies no doubt berated them 'you are not defending us from these terrible Uhlans!'
With the onset of winter, the Austrian strategy of occupying neutral territory paid off, as they could now increase their army size from 11 units to 17, placing six new units around their possessions (only one per recruiting city, though, and new units are rated as untried 'Levy' quality). The Prussians by contrast, could only restore their forces to the original 12 units. So, a big strength advantage for Austria, if it could be brought to bear.
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| Winter : recruits rush to Austrian colours |
And so opened 1757. For the Spring turn, as had become almost obligatory, the Austrians won the initiative roll and moved first. But they were a little slow getting their troops on the move - only two marches available, with which they began to move new-raised troops to join their comrades. Meanwhile, the Prussians had spent the winter formulating a plan - and for once the dice gods smiled on them. With five marches available after their die roll, the plan and their army swung into action ....
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| Spring 1757 : Rahden surrounded! |
Prussian high command had spotted that the Austrian force of five units had been left rather isolated at Rahden: using four of the available five marches, the Prussians were able to combine their entire army of twelve units into three forces, and all three attack Rahden, from three different directions! A positively Fredrickian strategic concentration of force, which showed how well they had listened at the officers' mess dining table, when their venerated king had made his last tour of inspection in more tranquil times. If they could destroy the Austrian force, the numerical odds against them would be evened at a stroke, and the cream of the Austrian army might be 'in the bag'.
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| The odds don't look good.. |
And so, we have a battle to decide. Five Austrian units, all 'Guard' quality, but outnumbered by more than two to one. Let's hope for their sake that they improved the town's defences over winter. The Prussians have five cavalry regiments to two, and seven infantry against three, surely decisive odds? But they have to co-ordinate an attack from three directions, which could be challenging, Also challenging will be my job of setting up a game with these forces on my three feet square table! I am going to be leafing through my scenario books with a furrowed brow, I think..
It looks set to be an 'interesting' game, whose events will be related in a post in the near future. In the meantime, keep well, and safe, everyone.
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