The Battle of Königgrätz

[Hertsblue]

Part of the problem with using the one base equals one battalion format is that battalion formations then become irrelevant. It can be argued that at corps level this is possibly correct, since one is then in the realm of grand-tactics and brigade/divisional formations. The problem then is how to replicate intangibles like superior training and initiative - not to mention that old bogey, the effects of the needlegun.

I think what I'm trying to say is that the period works better with some sort of battalion flexibility, even if it's only company bases. Whatever solution is adopted it will only be a crude approximation of the plethora of forces acting on corporate bodies composed entirely of individuals. But that's wargaming.

[Leman]

As Hertsblue says, you pays your money you take your choice. I have played this period using multi-based battalions and single base battalions. If I want a large action then it's the single base, but if it's a divisional action I'll play it in 15mm using Field of Battle 2 or something similar. With a big battle many bases can slow the action right down and anyway 10mm look great on larger bases. Take a look at some of Mad Lemmy's Prussians, on even bigger bases than my stuff; but they do look good don't they! 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

  Thanks!

[Leman]

 

[Hertsblue]

Agree totally, DP 

[Steve J]

Book arrived safe and sound today, so can't wait to start reading it .

[Hertsblue]

Oddy enough, mine arrived yesterday. Having seen it I have a feeling that I have read it somewhere back in the dim and distant past. 

[Steve J]

Really enjoying reading this book, but suprised that the battle is now referred to as Konigratz, as when I was at school it was known as Sadowa. At least the book explains why to a certain extent.

Anyway, the main reason for the post is a question to Holdfast and Mollinary:

Would your Wargaming in History book be suitable as a reference material for gaming the period with the Black Powder rules? The OOB etc I take it as given that they will be, but I'm not sure if the amendments to the F&F rules will transfer across as it were. All info greatly appreciated .

Steve J.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Black Powder works brilliantly in this period, when the lads down our club are not fighting 10mm FrancoPrussian they are using it for 1866 in 42mm!

[mollinary]

Hi Steve,

I am going to take a fence-straddling position on this one (ooh, matron!).  What the book provides is a look at the war, the armies, the tactics and equipment, as well as examination of the early, corps on corps, battles. These include detailed OOBs (not just for RF&F, but with actual numbers where available), maps largely taken from Lettow-Vorbeck's pre WW1 study, together with wargame maps. The refights are described, and contain a lot of detail on how the battles developed and why. We also try and explain the reasons behind our mods for RF&F, and our conclusions on the relation between our games and reality. And if you are into battlefield walking (which I highly recommend in this instance) it includes a chapter on the fields today. Having said all that, a forum member who has both read the book and played Black Powder (if one exists) would be better placed to comment on the read across between the two. I have Black Powder, but have not played it, or tried to adapt it to this period, so am not really best placed to help. Sorry!

Mollinary

[Steve J]

Thanks for the feedback, which is very useful .

[Leman]

Have played Black Powder in an FPW game and it played well.

[Hertsblue]

Having now got approximately two thirds of the way through the book I find myself worrying about a few detail inconsistancies. Craig describes the Prussianinfantry in at least two passages as a"grey-clad mass", or words to that effect. Now this may have been because they were wearing their great-coats, but later on he recounts how they stowed their packs and greatcoats on the transport wagons before advancing into action. I had been led to believe that the Austrians fought the campaign in their black greatcoats, but Craig quotes eye-witnesses on more than one occaision as stating that they were dressed in white.

This is all trivia, of course, but I always have this nagging feeling that an author that gets the small facts wrong may have blundered elsewhere.

Notwithstanding that, the narrative is clear and easy to follow and the diagrams (they're hardly maps in the true sense of the word) make the course of the battle relatively simple to understand - much more so than the comtemporary maps.   

[Chad]

HB

I think the coats are a dark grey as opposed to black. Stuart Sutherland describes them as 'graumelierte'.

Chad

[cameronian]

Having now got approximately two thirds of the way through the book I find myself worrying about a few detail inconsistancies. Craig describes the Prussianinfantry in at least two passages as a"grey-clad mass", or words to that effect. Now this may have been because they were wearing their great-coats, but later on he recounts how they stowed their packs and greatcoats on the transport wagons before advancing into action. I had been led to believe that the Austrians fought the campaign in their black greatcoats, but Craig quotes eye-witnesses on more than one occaision as stating that they were dressed in white.

This is all trivia, of course, but I always have this nagging feeling that an author that gets the small facts wrong may have blundered elsewhere.

Notwithstanding that, the narrative is clear and easy to follow and the diagrams (they're hardly maps in the true sense of the word) make the course of the battle relatively simple to understand - much more so than the comtemporary maps.   

The kittel was white though only worn by the officers; the men wore an unbleached linen under jacket which at a distance would also look white however all ranks wore the grey greatcoat as the outer garment, so in fact it would be the Austrian infantry that would have appeared as a grey mass not the Prussians ... and yet Hohenloe Inglefingen describes the Austrian infantry drawn up at Koniggratz as 'white'; perhaps the greatcoat, washed out and bleached by the sun appeared lighter at a distance. Craig's maps are pretty bad however his narrative is generally good and he gives a good account of the campaign. If authorial inconsistencies worry you then best take a valium before reading Geoffrey Wawro's history of the 1866 campaign, its full of them, infuriating really as with a bit of decent editing it could have been a good read.