Battle of Altheim - Move 9

2000-2100

17 June 1813

10 Bavarian Corps

As evening approaches General Bartram must order an immediate attack on Altheim without any skirmish to weaken garrison. He is too far from his guns to order them to fire in support.

Orders – Move to Altheim

6 Command Points

Change orders to “Attack”

Artillery can not fire as general too far away at start of move

Move two infantry brigades to attack town.

Infantry attack town

Two infantry brigades attack town, so two rounds of melee fought

First melee – Bavarians win with one casualty, Austrians rout with two casualty

Second melee – Austrians win with one casualty, Bavarians rout with two casualty

Austrian garrison rout into centre of the town.

Austrian infantry support test and pass morale

One Bavarian infantry brigade rout from melee

Second brigade test morale, fail, join rout

Grenadier brigade test morale, fail, join rout

1 Austrian Corps

If General Lichtenstein can hold for one more move the battle will end due to nightfall.

Orders – Hold

5 Command Points

Routed brigade in town test morale, fail and rout again

Supporting brigade not affected by second round of rout and moves into town

Three Bavarian infantry brigades in rout.

One Austrian brigade in rout.
Second Austrian brigade moves into town.

Summary
Under these rules combat can always go either way. A very good dice will rout the defenders. A very poor one will rout the attackers. Because two brigades were attacking, two rounds of melee are fought at the same time. The Bavarians won the first, the Austrians the second.

All supporting units within 4” of first rout must then test their morale. There was only one Austrian brigade, and they made their morale. There was also only one Bavarian brigade, in fact the one who had won the melee for the town, but they now failed their morale and joined the rout. This brought them within 4” of the grenadier brigade, who already had two casualties and now no supports, they also failed their morale and joined the rout.

With darkness approaching and half of his corps in rout Marshal Bertrand has no option but to order a retreat towards Branau.

The Austrians had achieved their objective of holding the Passau bridge. In addition they have inflicted a severe defeat on 11 Bavarian corps.

The Austrians suffered 2 cavalry and 5 infantry casualties.

The Bavarians has suffered 1 cavalry and 6 infantry casualties.

These are heavy casualties under my rules. Both corps will take some days to reorganize and regroup before they can take offensive action again.

Battle of Altheim - Move 8

1900-2000

17 June 1813

1 Austrian Corps

Attack is against the right flank, where there is no infantry support. On Hold orders General Lichtenstein is unable to move his infantry forward to attack the enemy.

Orders – Hold

6 Command Points

Artillery fire on nearest column, total 10 – second hit

Bavarian grenadiers test morale, total 4 – pass

10 Bavarian Corps

General Bartram moves two infantry brigades to attack the town, one with casualties is left to counter any enemy advance

Orders – Move to Altheim

6 Command Points

Artillery fire on infantry nearest town, total 3, miss

Move infantry column towards enemy square

Move two infantry brigades into position to attack town

Two Bavarian infantry brigades are in position to attack the town, one from the front and one from the side. The grenadier brigade is left to hold the Austrian supports and risk further casualties from the enemy artillery.



Summary
The battle has now reached the crisis. The Bavarians are about to launch their attack on the town, but the grenadier brigade could easily break if they receive one more casualty and might well take the rest with them. So who moves first next round could well be critical.

The game should end as it is now 2000. However we will allow one more move just to decide who wins.

Battle of Altheim - Move 7

1800-1900

17 June 1813

1 Austrian Corps

General Lichtenstein now in position to meet the attack

Orders – Move forward

7 Command Points

Change corps orders to “Hold”

Artillery fire on nearest column, total 8 – hit

Bavarian grenadiers test morale, total 6 – pass

10 Bavarian Corps

Infantry have approached town in column of march to move quicker, but must now change into line or column of attack in order to engage the enemy.

Orders – Move to Altheim

6 Command Points

Artillery fire on infantry nearest town, total 5, miss

Move three infantry brigades closer to town

Change to column of attack with “corps move”

Bavarian columns in column of attack and ready to move to town.
Nearest brigade have a casualty but are still formed.

Austrian infantry in support of town have one casualty but are still formed

Summary
General Bertrand has moved his infantry closer to the town and changed their formation to column of attack in preparation for an assault on the town.

The Austrian artillery are in a good position to engage the enemy columns as they approach the town

Battle of Altheim - Move 6

1700-1800

17 June 1813

10 Bavarian Corps

Corps advance to attack Altheim

Orders – Move to Altheim

6 Command Points

Artillery fire on infantry nearest town, total 10, a hit

Austrian infantry test morale, total 4, pass

Cavalry forms line facing enemy flank

Manhandle gun forward

Move three infantry brigades closer to town with “corps move”

1 Austrian Corps

General Lichtenstein deploys to meet attack on town

Orders – Move forward

7 Command Points

Light infantry in support of town form line

Artillery unlimber facing enemy columns

Square moves forward to protect gunners

Bavarian columns near town, supported by artillery and cavalry

Austrian infantry in support of town have one casualty but are still formed

Summary
General Bertrand has moved his infantry closer to the town, but will have to change his orders before he can attack.

General Lichtenstein now has his infantry in position to hold and support Altheim. One brigade in square on his left flank protects the gunners, who are about to open fire on the approaching Bavarian columns.

Battle of Altheim - Move 5

1600-1700

17 June 1813

10 Bavarian Corps

General Bertrand moves his corps forward to attack Altheim

Orders – Move to Altheim

5 Command Points

Artillery fire on square, total 6 with 2D6, miss

Move cavalry to right flank out of artillery range

Change formation to column of attack for artillery support

Move remaining three infantry brigades forward with “command order”

1 Austrian corps

General Lichtenstein decides to move forward before the enemy can launch their attack

Orders – Move forward

6 Command Points

Light infantry in support of town form column of attack

Artillery advance

Square advance to protect gunners

Three Bavarian infantry brigades move forward in column of attack towards Altheim

Summary
General Bertrand has moved his cavalry out of danger from the enemy artillery, and pushed forward three infantry brigades who will attack the town. One infantry brigade remains behind to support the gunners and the cavalry should they attack

General Lichtenstein is also redeploying his corps to receive the anticipated infantry attack and is unable to fire on the approaching columns this move.

Battle of Altheim - Move 4

1500-1600

17 June 1813

10 Bavarian Corps

General Bertrand is now ready to advance

Orders – Move to Altheim

6 Command Points

Artillery unlimber

Infantry brigades advance on corps order

Cavalry turn right and move to flank

1 Austrian Corps

General Lichtenstein decides to move forward before the enemy can launch their attack.

Orders – Hold Altheim

5 Command Points

Change corps orders to “Move”

The artillery are manhandled forward into range of the enemy

One infantry brigade moves forward and forms square to protect the gunners

The Bavarian corps present a massed target as they make their final preparations for the attack on Altheim. The Austrian artillery have moved forward to take advantage of this opportunity.


Summary
General Bertrand had not anticipated the forward movement of the enemy guns. He allowed his corps to become a massed target because he was confident that he was out of artillery range. However until his cavalry are in position on the flank they can not charge the enemy guns, and present a good target to them.

Battle of Altheim - Move 3

1400-1500

17 June 1813

10 Bavarian Corps

General Bertrand must bring his infantry on to the table and position them ready for an advance

Orders – Move to Altheim

4 Command Points

Artillery advance two moves

Two leading infantry brigades advance

1 Austrian Corps

The enemy are still out of range of the Austrian 6 pounder artillery

Routed cavalry continue to rout and are now well behind the Austrian position

General Lichtenstein has decided to wait for the enemy to approach

Orders – Hold Altheim

4 Command Points

No action

The Bavarian infantry are now in position to advance. The artillery is ready to unlimber, and the cavalry covering the whole deployment.

Summary
General Bertrand has used his time to deploy his infantry and artillery behind the cavalry screen, rather than risk his cavalry against the steady enemy infantry. However his dragoons are now in the way of the infantry advance, and he will have to decide how best to use them to cover the advance.

Battle of Altheim - Move 2

1300-1400

17 June 1813

10 Bavarian Corps

General Bertrand had to change his orders to Engage to clear the enemy cavalry out of the way. However his infantry are not deployed to engage the town, so he must change his orders to Move in order to deploy.

Orders – Engage Altheim

4 Command Points

Change corps orders to “Move”

Artillery advance

Leading infantry brigade advance

1 Austrian Corps

The enemy are out of range of the Austrian 6 pounder artillery

Routed cavalry flow around supporting infantry causing no disorder

General Lichtenstein decides to wait and see what the enemy will do

Orders – Hold Altheim

5 Command Points

No action

The routed hussars flow around the infantry support but do not cause any disorder

Summary
It will take a little time to regroup the Bavarians to attack the town. Fortunately they are out of range of the Austrian artillery and can take their time doing so. The Bavarian artillery are 12 pounder who easily outgun the enemy lighter 6 pounder guns.

The Bavarians are unable to take advantage of the new “corps orders” rule, as their infantry is in column of march approaching the table, and they are too near the town to advance far enough for them all to enter the table. So Bertrand will have to bring them on one by one to reposition them at the table edge.

Battle of Altheim - Move 1

1200-1300

17 June 1813

10 Bavarian Corps

General Bertrand must delay his approach march until he can drive off the enemy cavalry screen

Orders – Move to Altheim

5 Command Points

Changes the corps orders to “Engage”

Forms cavalry in line and advance to charge move of the enemy

Move leading infantry brigade in support

1 Austrian Corps

General Lichtenstein must either engage the enemy cavalry or withdraw his own. He decides to join his hussars and charge the enemy cavalry

Orders – Hold Altheim

5 Command Points

He forms one infantry brigade in square, just in case he loses the melee

He then joins his hussar brigade and orders them to charge the enemy cavalry

The Austrian hussars lose the melee and rout

Cavalry Melee
The Bavarian cavalry are medium, the Austrian light this means the former test with plus 1. The Bavarians roll 11 with 2D6.. The total is 12, a very decisive victory. The Bavarians lose one casualty and are disordered. The Austrians lose two casualties and rout. There are no Austrian supports to test morale. The Bavarians test morale but do not pursue.

Summary
An exciting first move. The Austrians commander took a calculated risk. If he routed the enemy cavalry he would have delayed the attack for at least one day. He lost, and his own cavalry routed. This gave an advantage to the enemy, but not a decisive one. Without cavalry support he will have to fight a defensive battle and will find it difficult to counter the enemy cavalry. However he has the advantage of holding a town, not suitable terrain for cavalry.

Battle of Altheim - Set Up

Transfer from Map to Wargames Table

Tactical Map 1200 17 June 1813

Campaign Background

1 Austrian corps have been at Altheim since 14 June with the aim of preventing communication between the garrison of Passau and Bavarian forces south of the river Danube. One infantry brigade has been deployed north of the table to hold the bridge south of Passau. They are aware that 2 Austrian corps is moving to Franken to support them

10 Bavarian corps has been ordered to advance west from Branau, attack the town of Altheim and join forces with the garrison of Passau. They are not aware that 11 Bavarian corps has failed to take Mattsee and have retreated south to Salzburg.

The battle opens at 1200 17 June 1813

Wargames Table

Altheim is the town in the centre

The centre road bottom to top is from Franken (bottom) to Passau (top)

The road from left to right is from Branau (left) to Raab (right)

1 Austrian corps is deployed in and around Mattsee. One infantry brigade has been detached to guard the bridge at Passau (off top of table). They have orders to hold the town, and must also hold the bridge at Passau.

10 Bavarian corps will enter the table on Branau road. They have orders to take Altheim and join forces with the garrison of Passau.

1 Austrian corps hold Mattsee.
4th infantry brigade has been detached to hold the bridge at Passau.
2nd jager brigade garrison the town.
1st jager, 3rd line and artillery in support.
Hussar brigade in front to delay the enemy advance.

Special Game Notes

The Austrian commander must detach one brigade to guard the bridge at Passau before the game starts. This brigade will not be available unless he sends orders to it. These orders can only be sent at the end of campaign move 16 or 17 – not during the wargame.

A new rule is being tested. When the corps commander wants more than one brigade to carry out the same order, and providing that they are within 2” of each other, he can use a “corps order”. Both commanders are Average so the cost of this type of order will be two command points.