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Saturday, April 13, 2024

17 July 1813 – Battle of Wismar

 


Tactical map of battle area


The outcome of this battle will decide the winner of the campaign
Wismar is the district capitol and main Prussian base

3rd French army is commanded by Marshal Murat
1st Prussian army is commanded by General Blucher

3rd French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
1st Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

The French have cavalry advantage, the Prussians artillery advantage
The Prussians have lost one cavalry brigade to battle casualties
Two of the three French corps artillery have 10% casualties

Table at start of battle

French deploy out of artillery range
CINC – creates cavalry reserve by taking brigades from 7th and 8th corps
9 corps – attack woods on left
8 corps – attack inn in the centre
7 corps – attack hill on the right

Prussians deploy in front of Wismar
CINC – takes command of half of 2nd corps and artillery from 1st corps
3 corps – hold woods on left
2 corps – hold inn in the centre
1 corps – hold hill on the right

End of move 2

French advance
CINC – deploy cavalry reserve between 7th and 8th corps
9 corps - advance towards woods
8 corps – advance in centre
7 corps – advance towards hill

Prussian artillery redeploy and opens fire
CINC – artillery fire, no casualties
3 corps – hold woods
2 corps – hold inn
1 corps – hold hill

End of move 4

French artillery very effective
CINC – wait for artillery results
9 corps – artillery hit woods twice
8 corps – artillery hit infantry to the right of inn
7 corps – artillery hit cuirassier brigade in centre

Prussian artillery fire ineffective
CINC – cavalry receive 10% casualties, fail morale and rout
3 corps – infantry in woods receive 20% casualties, pass morale test and hold
2 corps – enemy still out of artillery range
1 corps – reserves move onto hill on the right

End of move 6

French attack begins
CINC – cavalry rout artillery in the centre
9 corps – attack woods, rout gunners
8 corps – attack inn
7 corps – attack hill on the left

Prussian start to crumble
CINC – gunners and cavalry rout, infantry shaken
3 corps – gunners and one infantry brigade rout
2 corps – hold inn, supports retreat
1 corps – hold hill, no casualties
End of move 8

French capture inn in the centre
CINC – cavalry halt in front of infantry squares
9 corps – infantry capture top left section of woods
8 corps –infantry occupy inn (first objective)
7 corps – move onto hill and continue firefight

Prussian start to withdraw slowly towards Wismar
CINC – rallies cavalry, infantry in square in front of Wismar
3 corps – lost one section of woods, but still hold three sections
2 corps – withdraw towards Wismar
1 corps – withdraw to rear of hill, but continue firefight

End of move 10

French capture hill on the right
Cinc – lose cavalry melee, one brigade routs
9 corps – lose fight for woods, three brigades routed
8 corps – occupy inn, advance towards city
7 corps – capture hill (second objective)

Prussian hold woods, retreat and occupy city
Cinc – cavalry route French brigade
3 corps – recapture all of woods (third objective)
2 corps – retreat and occupy city
1 corps – lose firefight and retreat from hill

End of move 12

French have broken contact to secure inn and hill
Cinc – cavalry division centre rear
9 corps – deployed north of woods on the left
8 corps – deployed between inn and city
7 corps – deployed on hill

Prussian control woods and city
Cinc – in Wismar
3 corps – occupy woods on the left
2 corps – occupy Wismar in the centre
1 corps – deployed to the right of city

Summary

The French have captured two of the three game objectives
The Prussians hold the third, which is the woods on the left
They also hold Wismar, but that is not one of the game objectives

By taking two of the three game objectives the French have won this battle

The French have lost 6 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2500 men)
The Prussians have lost 9 infantry, 1 cavalry and 5 artillery casualties (4600 men)

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