Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => Batreps => Topic started by: Steve J on 11 March 2016, 07:05:29 PM

Title: Froeschwiller 1870 - A Bloody Big Battles AAR
Post by: Steve J on 11 March 2016, 07:05:29 PM
The latest game in our narrative Franco-Prussian War campaign. As always details can be found below:

http://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-battle-of-froeschwiller-1870-bloody.html (http://wwiiwargaming.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-battle-of-froeschwiller-1870-bloody.html)

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RtDz4YvEo3s/VuL14pCZ2ZI/AAAAAAAADXI/fdrOp0kz4DAEMsaFcKcPf_FT4DJnvZyFg/s400/Froeschwiller%2B002.jpg)

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OY5lQZ0usTQ/VuL14A_bGQI/AAAAAAAADXA/hnSh0egSrIESTaf-PYhdeZAyF2fpCxm2A/s400/Froeschwiller%2B003.jpg)

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VBTRseXf8eA/VuL2AHvewlI/AAAAAAAADXk/JM2Nnymn6FgnCUwV6VwH2pRcBE7at9c5w/s400/Froeschwiller%2B010.jpg)
Title: Re: Froeschwiller 1870 - A Bloody Big Battles AAR
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 11 March 2016, 09:12:35 PM
Very nice report. Sounds very accurate.  8) Apart from the sacrificial charge of the French cuirassiers, no, wait, you had one of those.
Having walked this battlefield, I can assure you it's REALLY steep and high, almost 1/3!  :o
Title: Re: Froeschwiller 1870 - A Bloody Big Battles AAR
Post by: Steve J on 11 March 2016, 09:38:07 PM
Thanks Lemmey. When the kids have flown the nest etc one of the things to do on my 'wish list' is to tour the 1866 and 1870 battlefields. Until then Google maps and Streetview will have to suffice...
Title: Re: Froeschwiller 1870 - A Bloody Big Battles AAR
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 12 March 2016, 07:18:39 AM
Last time we did it, we did it over a long weekend and at about £200 quid a head. ;)

Basically because it's not a tourist area. 
Title: Re: Froeschwiller 1870 - A Bloody Big Battles AAR
Post by: Chris Pringle on 12 March 2016, 08:06:45 AM
Nice job, Steve. Commiserations on your defeat. If it's any consolation: Dr Murray ran this scenario a few times at the US Army's Command & General Staff College. Apparently the officers playing the French side consistently replicated the debacle as well, not so much because of inferior numbers, more because of failing to have a plan, forgetting to give orders to entire divisions ... So you're not doing any worse than the professionals!

Chris
Bloody Big BATTLES!
https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BBB_wargames/info
http://bloodybigbattles.blogspot.fr/
Title: Re: Froeschwiller 1870 - A Bloody Big Battles AAR
Post by: Steve J on 12 March 2016, 09:18:37 AM
Well that's nice to know Chris :D. During the post game discussion, I mentioned one plan for the French is to basically fall back on Reichshofen as quickly as possible, to take advantage of the wooded defensive position in front of it and the good fields of fire towards Froeschwiller. Given how slow it was to move troops, this might be a good plan, but not too historically accurate, given that the French acted rather aggressively on the day. This is certainly a scenario I would like to play a few more times just to see how things pan out over a few games.
Title: Re: Froeschwiller 1870 - A Bloody Big Battles AAR
Post by: Chris Pringle on 12 March 2016, 09:31:37 AM
Quote from: Steve J on 12 March 2016, 09:18:37 AM
This is certainly a scenario I would like to play a few more times just to see how things pan out over a few games.

Yes, it's surprising how, at this scale, even an apparently simple attack-defence scenario like this can offer multiple options and plenty of replay value and variety.

Chris
Title: Re: Froeschwiller 1870 - A Bloody Big Battles AAR
Post by: Steve J on 12 March 2016, 12:56:52 PM
That's one of the joys of these rules and scenarios Chris :)