The Battle of Grossbeeren - Blucher AAR

We played this game a few weeks ago, I know I've been a bit slack posting this up but better late than never. We revisited the Blucher rule set with yet another scenario from the ‘oldmeldrumwargamesgroup’ team. This time we played the Battle of Grossbeeren (must be a good scenario as it has the word beer in it!). I umpired, Dave took the Prussian side and Alan and George played the French each commanding a Corps. As neither of the Armies Commanders were present at the actual battle, Oudinot was ill and Bernadette as usual was up to something else (there is a special rule for this game of no CnC activation) I kept both sides players in the dark about their reinforcements (what was coming and when).

The scenario can be found here…

'oldmeldrumwargamesgroup' Blucher Scenarios

The Battle Map…

I’ve used the scenario map and added some fancy arrows/rectangles to show how the battle developed, there were three main phases; the initial French advance, secondly the French IV Corp trying to breakout of the woods near Blackenfeld while the French VII Corps secured Grossbeeren and then finally the Prussian attack to capture Gossbeeren and the heights. 

The AAR

The game started as expected with the French IV Corps pushing forward to overwhelm their counterparts of the IV Prussian Corp around Blackenfeld. The French Advance Guard took quite a beating from the Prussians but they did their job covering the rest of the Corps as it deployed. The French were then content to stretch their line out to match the Prussians and make a shooting contest of it. It was sensible as with the skirmish trait available on every unit they had it gave them a distinct advantage.

The French IV Corps advanced from the woods...

...and deploys in line to engage the Austrians

While the action before Blackenfeld unfolded the French VII Corps arrived and were quick to occupy Grossbeeren and the adjacent high ground (the scenario objectives for both sides).

With the use of Reserve Movement the French quickly took Grossbeeren and the high ground, they retain their concealment as they are over 8 BW's from any enemy in their LOS (our house interpretation of sighting rules)...

The Prussians IV Corp despite losses (including voluntarily retiring two units) kept the French bottled up as they tried to deploy from the woods.

Prussians keep the French pinned against the woods and block their route to Grossbeeren...

The delaying of the French IV Corps was very helpful for the Prussians as when Von Bulow (Vigorous trait) arrived on the table with the balance of the IV Corps and the III Corps the French defenders in and around Grossbeeren were isolated and outnumbered!

The French right now pulled out all stops and several charges were carried out and these unhinged the Prussian defenders around Blackenfeld and opened a way for them to reinforce their comrades at Gossbeeren but it was too late they had been delayed long enough so that they were effectively out of that part of the battle!

The Prussian left wing dispersed by the French while the infantry fled the sole cavalry Brigade moved toward the right Flank to add more pressure to the French at Grossbeeren...

Over to Von Bulow and his attack on the French at Grossbeeren. The Prussians formed a large line and advanced en mass, Von Bulow’s trait allowing activations at half the number of MO’s required made this movement easy even with only two MO dice available! The French kept their powder dry and awaited the onslaught. Finally with the Prussians close enough to fire on bad luck struck the French! First it started to rain so volley fire was negated to skirmish fire (scenario special rule), secondly the French got only two MO's so were unable to redeploy as required and lastly the Prussian scored two shooting hits on the French artillery unit in the centre of their line and on the high ground causing it to retire!

The first wave of Von Bulows right wing line up to attack the French...

As the first seven Brigades of Prussians move forward nine more Brigades arrive! Hopefully the French Commander is wearing his brown trousers!

With the help of rain and some luck the Prussians push the French line back! The second wave used their Reserve Move to get right up behind the first it was now sixteen Brigades to seven...

The MO Dice can be cruel! The Dice Shako is removed to show snake eyes after the French have only moved a couple of units on the IV Corps...Merde!

After the initial contact between Von Bulow and the French VII Corps the last few turns turned into a desperate fighting withdrawal for the French. Then drew back while trying to inflict casualties and hold Gossbeeren, they put up a valiant effort but the Prussian numbers prevailed and they were pushed back.

 The French struggle to hold their ground...

...and Grossbeeren...

Overall a Prussian victory, if we play this again the French really need to push on their left so they can get more troops around the victory objectives, Grossbeeren and the heights beside it.

Overall a good nights gaming was had and we had a result close to the historical outcome, our French IV Corp was more successful than the original though. Consensus is we’ll definitely get Blucher rules out again plus I am all set for a Waterloo refight at brigade scale (40mm x 20mm units) later this year (one hopes in June but with this Covid19 stuff who knows!)…