Sunday, June 23, 2013

Dresden scenario


    Last month I covered the background for developing my "based upon the Battle of Dresden, 1813" scenario. It did seem to me that the number of Allied troops was rather high. On re-reading my source materials, I discovered that part of the reason for that was that only a small part of Klenau's corps ever made it to the battlefield. Eliminating the surplus Austrian troops reduced the imbalance in the forces considerably. I also left out Teste's small Division on the French side. so adding a few more infantry units there helped, too.  It took me much longer than I expected to put this one together, especially having done it once before with Grand Piquet. Work demands, an annoying cold, and the approaching wedding of The Princess Imperial in August all combined to delay the project considerably!

    The basic idea behind adapting the scenario is to have 5 commands on the Allied side - 2 Austrian, 1 Russian, 1 Prussian, and the Allied reserves. This involved chiefly increasing the number of Russian troops and decreasing the numbers of the Austrians, and reshuffling some Russian troops from the reserves. On the French side, the Dresden Garrison is added to some of the French line corps, and the Imperial Guard troops shuffled around a bit (and I have substituted the Wurttemburg Guides for the Berg Lancers, which i don't have. Thus purists should work off the earlier OOB (with the above corrections) and not this one! This scenario was developed for use with Field of Battle, 2nd edition, by Brent Oman. A description of the rules is found here on this blog. See the prior post for the troop and ground scale, etc.


Deployment map for the Dresden scenario (terrain map is at the end of this post)


ALLIES: Schwarzenberg LD 10/Czar Alexander plus King Friederich Wilhelm LD 8 (see special command rules)
(123 units total: 79 Infantry, 27 cavalry, 19 Artillery)
AVERAGE Sequence Deck



 Ignatz Gyulai (Austrian)  LD8
(19 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 3 Artillery) - 27 Morale Points

1st Light Division - Crenneville  LD10
3 Grenz  DD4 CD10
1 Chevauleger  DD6  CD 10

1st Line Division - Weissenwolf  LD10
6 Austrian Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Battery  DD6  CD 12

2nd Line Division - A. Liechtenstein  LD 8
6 Austrian Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Battery  DD6  CD 12

2nd (Heavy) Cavalry Division - Lederer  LD 8
2 Austrian Dragoons  DD6  CD 12

2nd Light Division - Mesko  LD 10
1 Grenz   DD4 CD10
3 Austrian Line  DD6  CD 10
1 Hussar DD 8  CD 12
1 Cuirassier  DD 8  CD 12+1

Corps Artillery Reserve
1 12# Battery  DD6  CD 12+1


 Hessen Homburg (Austrian)    LD 10
(20 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 4 Artillery)  - 29 Morale Points

Light Division - Moritz Liechtenstein  LD 10
1 Jager   DD8  CD10
1 Grenz   DD4 CD10
1 Cheavu Leger  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Cavalry Battery  DD6  CD 12

1st Line Division - Colloredo  LD 8
5 Austrian Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

2nd Line Division - Bianchi LD 10
5 Hungarian Line  DD6  CD 8
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

3rd Line Division - Civalart  LD 8
5 Austrian Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

1st Reserve Division - Chasteler  LD 10
3 Austrian Grenadiers  DD 8  CD 12

1st (Heavy) Cavalry Division - Nostitz  LD 12
2 Austrian Cuirassier DD 8  CD 12+1

3rd (Light) Cavalry Division - Schneller LD 8
1 Chevauleger  DD6  CD 10
1 Hussar  DD 8  CD 12


Right Wing - Wittgenstein  (Russians)   LD 10
 (17 Infantry, 4 Cavalry, 4 Artillery) - 25 Morale Points

Advanced Guard - Roth  LD 8
2 Russian Jager   DD8  CD 10
4 Russian Line  DD8  CD 8
1 6# Battery  DD6  CD 12

1st Corps - Gortcachov  LD 10
2 Russian Jager   DD8  CD 10
4 Russian Line   DD8  CD 8
1 Russian Opolochenie   DD4  CD8
1 6# Battery  DD6  CD 12

3rd (Grenadier) Corps - Raevsky  LD 12
4 Russian Grenadiers  DD 8  CD 12
1 Russian 6# Battery  DD6  CD 12

Cavalry Division - Duka  LD 10
1 Cossack  DD4  CD8
1Hussar   DD8  CD 10
1Dragoon  DD6  CD 12
1 Uhlan  DD6  CD 10

Corps Artillery
1 12# Battery  DD6  CD 12+1


Kleist (2nd Prussian Corps)    LD 12
(16 Infantry, 6 Cavalry, 4 Artillery)  - 26 Morale Points

9th/10th Brigades - Von Klux/Pirch I  LD 10
2 Prussian Line  DD6  CD 12
2 Prussian Reserve  DD6  CD 10
2 Prussian Landwehr   DD4 CD10
1 Schutzen   DD8  CD12
1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6  CD 12
1 Landwehr Cavalry  DD6  CD 8

11th/12th Brigades Ziethen/Pr. August von Preussen  LD 10
3 Prussian Line  DD6  CD 12
3 Prussian Reserve  DD6  CD 10
3 Prussian Landwehr   DD4 CD10
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12
1 Hussar  DD8  CD10

Cavalry Reserve - Von Roder  LD 8
1 Prussian Cuirassier  DD 8  CD 12
2 Dragoon  DD6  CD 12
1 Landwehr Cavalry  DD6  CD8
6# Horse Battery  DD6  CD 12

Reserve Artillery 
1 12# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12+1


Russian/Prussian Reserves Grand Duke Constantine  LD 10
 (7 Infantry, 7 Cavalry, 5 Artillery) - 19 Morale Points

5th (Guard) Infantry  Corps Miloradovich  LD 8
4 Russian Guards  DD10, CD 12+1
1 Prussian Guards   DD10, CD 12+1
2 Russian Guard Jager   DD10, CD 12

1st Cuirassier Division - Depreradovich  LD 8
2 Guard Cuirassier   DD10, CD 12+1
1 6#  Guard Horse Artillery  DD 8  CD 12+1

2nd/3rd Cuirassier Division Kretov  LD 8
2 Cuirassiers DD 8  CD 12

Guard Light Cavalry Division - Chevich  LD10
1 Guard Hussar   DD10, CD 12
1 Guard Dragoon   DD10, CD 12

Prussian Guard Cavalry - Von Werder LD 8
1 Guard Cuirassier   DD10, CD 12+1
1 6#  Guard Horse Artillery  DD 8  CD 12+1

Army Artillery Reserve - Hune  LD 10
1 Guard 12 # (Russian)  DD 8  CD 12+2
2 6# Horse Batteries (Russian)  DD6  CD 12

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FRENCH:  Emperor Napoleon I  LD 12+1
(114 Units total: 62 Infantry, 29 Cavalry, 23 Artillery) 10 Reserve Morale Points
EXCEPTIONAL Sequence Deck


Part Imperial Guard - Marechal Mortier    LD 10
(11 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 3 Artillery)  -  19 Morale Points

2nd Young Guard Division - Barrois LD 12
2 Flanquers   DD8 CD12
3 Voltigeurs  DD8  CD 10
1 6# Young Guard Battery  DD 8  CD 12

3rd Young Guard Division - Delaborde  LD 10
3 Voltigeurs  DD8  CD 10
1 6# Young Guard Battery  DD 8  CD 12

4th Young Guard Division - Rouget  LD 12
3 Tirailleurs  DD8  CD 10
1 6# Young Guard Battery  DD 8  CD 12

1st Guard Cavalry Division - Ornano LD 12
Wurttemburg Guides  DD8  CD 12
1 Dutch Lancers  DD10  CD 12

2nd Guard Cavalry Division - Lefebvre-Desounettes  LD 12+1
1 Polish Lancers  DD10  CD 12+1
2 Guard Chasseurs a Cheval/Mamelukes  DD10  CD 12+1


Part Imperial Guard - Marechal Ney  LD 12
(9 Infantry, 3 Cavalry, 6 Artillery)  -  18 Morale Points

1st (Old Guard) Division - Friant LD 12+1
2 Grenadiers a Pied  DD10  CD 12+1
2  Chasseurs a Pied  DD10  CD 12+1
Guard 6# Foot Battery  DD10  CD 12+1

1st Young Guard Division - Dumostier LD 12
Fusiliers- Grenadierts  DD10  CD 12
Fusiliers-Chasseurs  DD10  CD 12
3 Voltigeurs  DD8  CD 10
Young Guard 6# Battery  DD 8  CD 12

3rd Division - Walther LD 12
Grenadiers a Cheval  DD10  CD 12+1
Guard Dragoons  DD10  CD 12
Guards d' Honneur  DD8  CD 12
Guard 6# Horse Artillery  DD10  CD 12+2

Guard Artillery Reserve - Senarmont LD 12+1
Guard 12# Battery  DD10  CD 12+2
Guard 6# Horse Battery  DD10, CD 12+2
Young Guard 6# Foot Battery  DD 8  CD 12


II Corps - Marechal Victor    LD 12
(14 Infantry, 3 Cavalry, 4 Artillery)  -  21 Morale Points

4th Division - Dubreton  LD 10
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
3 Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

5th Division - Dufour  LD 12
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
3 Line  DD6  CD 10
6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

6th Division - Vial  LD 10
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
3 Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

23rd Division - Teste  LD 12
2 Line  DD6  CD 10

V Cavalry Corps - L'Hertier  LD 10
2 French Dragoon  DD6 CD 12
1 Chasseur a Cheval   DD4 CD10
1 6# Horse Battery  DD 8  CD 12+1


IV Corps - Marechal Marmont LD 12
  (16 I, 1 Cavalry, 4 Artillery)  -  21 Morale Points

20th Division - Compans  LD 12+1
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
1 Line  DD6  CD 10
2 Infanterie de la Marine  DD8  CD 10
1 6# Battery  DD6  CD 12

22nd Division - Frederichs  LD 10
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
3 Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Battery  DD6  CD 12

21st Division - Lagrange  LD 12
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
2 Infanterie de la Marin  DD8  CD 10
1 Regt Joseph-Napoleon   DD4 CD10

Dresden Garrison - Bernard  LD 8
1 Westphalian Light Infantry  DD6  CD 10
2 Westphalian Line Infantry DD4 CD8
1 Saxon Footguards  DD8  CD 12
1 Saxon 6# Battery DD6  CD 10

25th Light Cavalry Brigade              LD 10
Saxon Chevau-Legers  DD6  CD 10

Corps Artillery Reserve
1 12# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12+1


XIV Corps - Marechal St. Cyr   LD 12+1
 (12 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 4 Artillery)  -  21 Morale Points

43rd Division - Claparede  LD 12
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
3 Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

44th Division - Bertheneze  LD 12+1
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
3 Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

45th Division - Razout  LD 12
1 Legere  DD6  CD 12
3 Line  DD6  CD 10
1 6# Foot Battery  DD6  CD 12

Corps Reserves - Pajol  LD 12
1 Hussar  DD6  CD 10
1 Italian Chasseur  DD4  CD 8
1 6# Horse Artillery  DD 8  CD 12+1

V Cavalry Corps - L'Hertier  LD 8
2 French Dragoon  DD 6  CD 12
1 Chasseur a Cheval  DD4 CD10
1 6# Horse Battery  DD 8  CD 12+1


I Cavalry Corps - Marechal Murat  LD 12+1
(12 cavalry, 2 Artillery )  -  14 Morale Points

3rd Light Cavalry Division - Chastel  LD 10
3 Chasseurs a Cheval  DD4  CD 10

1st Heavy Cavalry Division - Bordesoule  LD 10
3 French Cuirassier  DD8  CD 12
1 Saxon Cuirassier  DD 8  CD 12+1

3rd Heavy Cavalry Division - Doumerc  LD 10
1 Cuirassier  CD 8  DD 12
1 Italian Dragoon  DD6  CD 10
3 French Dragoon DD6  CD 12

Corps Artillery
2 6# Horse Batteries  DD 8  CD 12+1

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SCENARIO RULES:

1) Weather

The second day of Dresden featured very heavy rain, often making musket fire almost impossible.I will handle this by adding a couple of Weather cards in each side's sequence deck.  There is no impetus cost to turn this card. The game will start with Light Rain. Upon each appearance of a Weather Card, the side turning the car rolls a D6.  On a roll of 1, the rain decreases a step. On a roll of 2 or 3, there is no change. On a roll or 4, 5, or 6, the rain increases a step.  The levels and effects are as follows:

Overcast - use the usual rules

Light Rain - all Infantry Fire is Down 1

Heavy Rain - all Infantry Fire is Down 2, Infantry and Artillery are Down 1 in melee.

Downpour - No infantry fire allowed, all Infantry and Artillery are Down 2 in melee.

Infantry in buildings (but not the Gross Garten) are exempt from the above penalties.


2) Allied Command Problems

While the Austrians had the bulk of the troops and Schwarzenberg was acting as Army Commander, the presence of both Czar Alexander and King Frederick-Wilhelm on the battlefield meant that Allied generals that disagreed with order from Army HQ could and did feel free to appeal to their sovereign to over-ride them. To reflect this, on each Allied Leadership Card, roll a D6; on a 1,2, or 3, Schwarzenberg is in command; on a 4,5,6 The Sovereigns have effectively taken command - use the appropriate Leadership Die type (D10 for Schwarzenberg, D8 for the Sovereigns) until the next Allied Leadership card is turned. The Allies use an Average Sequence Deck.

3) French Command Strengths

Napoleon was clearly the best general on the field this day. While I have assigned them to Corps for game purposes, Murat functioned as Left Wing Commander, and Ney as Right Wing commander, and they seemed to function fairly well in these roles. Napoleon gets the D12+1 LD rating and a Superior Sequence Deck. In addition, Napoleon gets 10 Morale Points as a "reserve". He can transfer any or all of these to any command(s) of his choice on each French Leadership card.

4) Corps Morale

On each appearance of the friendly  Army Morale Check Card, any Corps with zero Morale points must check Morale as per the Army Morale Check rules. If they fail, they will start retreating towards and off their nearest friendly baseline at full speed at the next available opportunity, and may not initiate melee or regain Morale Points. All units in the Corps are permanently Out of Command, and any units that were Out of Command at the time the check was failed are removed from play immediately.

If the side turning the Army Morale Check card then has more Corps that have failed Corps Morale than the enemy, then a standard Army Morale Check roll must then  be made for that army.

5) The Bridge over the the River Weisseritz

The Weisseritz is unfordable, and can only be crossed at the bridge at Plauen, or, for the French, at the Bridges in Dresden. To use the bridges, a Command must use one Move one segment off the table (exiting within 8" of the point where the Weisseritz runs of the table towards the Elbe), and  and then another Move segment back onto the table, returning withing 8" of the same point (on the other side of the river, of course).

The other streams are all Class II terrain. The Buildings are all Class II Terrain, except the Gross Garten which is Class III. All the  Hills are class II terrain as is the woods. 

8 comments:

  1. Dresden is a really BIG battle fought into a confined space. I played, some years ago, a Scenario based upon the first day and using Napoleon's Battles. http://www.rafaelpardoalmudi.com/NBdresden_1.html
    It was a French Strategic Victory
    Regards
    Rafa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A French victory on Day one, where St Cyr is holding on for dear life while he awaits the arrival of Napoleon and reinforcements, is quite an event!

      Delete
  2. Looks like a big one, Roger has the Berg Lancers, perhaps if you ask nicely?

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  3. Very nice scenario. I always like to see "Allied Command Problems" in the scenario notes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well they certainly came into play here!

      The map probably has the Weieseritz a bit too far to the North in the interest of a better game - it should probably exit the allied and French sides of the table another 1.5 to 2 feet to the left to be more strictly accurate.

      Delete
  4. Only two weeks until the big game Peter. It's gonna be a ripper and I can hardly wait to see your photos and read the report(s)!

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    Replies
    1. Yep, once I finish painting up the last Prussian Reserve Infantry it's time to get it all packed up for the long drive to Fredericksburg!

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