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Tuesday, August 23, 2022

26 May 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 6

 

Massena continues to fight to hold Obersdorf, Kufstein and Worgl

7th army fight to defend Obersdorf

8th army deploy east of Kufstein

9th army redeploy around Worgl

 

Schwarzenberg orders an attack on Obersdorf

1st army attack Obersdorf

2nd army regroup at Sankt Johann

3rd army retreat to Kitzbuhel


Battle of Obersdorf

Both armies started the battle with moderate casualties from earlier battles

This results in brittle morale, and makes them more likely to fail morale test and rout

 

After just 8 moves (out of 12) the whole Bavarian army is in retreat towards the town

The Austrians pursue, but are unable to catch up with them

 

At nightfall the Bavarians still hold Obersdorf, and can claim victory

 

Casualties have been very light on both sides

Bavarians lose 1 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (700 men)

Austrians lose 2 cavalry casualty (200 men)

3 Bavarian brigades in rout, 1 Austrian brigade in rout

Saturday, August 20, 2022

25 May 1813 – Battle of Worgl

 

Tactical map of battle area

3rd Austrian army launch a surprise attack on Worgl

9th French army have orders to advance and hold Worgl

 

French – 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Austrian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

French are deployed on the left, either side of Worgl

There are two militia brigades in the town

General Victor has created a reserve of two infantry and artillery in the centre

 

3rd Austrian army is off table on the right

They will enter the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Austrians enter the table

5th corps advance on the right

General Klenau has created a reserve of two infantry and artillery in the centre

6th corps cavalry have charged French lancers, lost melee and retreated shaken

 

French redeploy and win first cavalry melee

17th corps advance on the right and occupy village

Reserve form column of attack and advance

18th corps move down from hill, counter charge and rout Austrian dragoons

End of move 4

Austrians deploy

5th corps advance their right

Reserve deploy artillery and form square

6th corps occupy farm and rally cavalry on hill

 

French advance

17th corps occupy village and deploy artillery

Reserve unlimber and form square

18th corps advance to attack

End of move 6

Widespread Austrian hand to hand fighting

5th corps infantry melee to right of village, cavalry to left

Reserve artillery support 5th corps

6th corps reinforce melee for farm, cavalry rout

 

French cavalry and infantry rout

17th corps artillery and village garrison retreat

Reserve cavalry and infantry rout

18th corps attack walled farm

End of move 8

Austrians take village (top right)

5th corps take village, but lose three brigades in rout

Reserve rout French reserve

6th corps hold farm but lose two brigades in rout

 

French retreat to Worgl

17th corps rout, only one brigade left to cover retreat

Reserve lose artillery and one brigade, second brigade retreats to join town garrison

18th corps fail to take farm and retreat with three brigades in rout

 

Summary

Both armies have lost heavy casualties

 

At nightfall the French still hold Worgl

They have lost their cavalry and artillery and have 9 brigades in rout

However they reinforce the garrison of Worgl with three infantry brigades

 

The Austrians have lost their cavalry, but still have their artillery

They have five brigades in rout

But they are too weak to attempt to attack a strongly held walled town

 

The French have lost 9 infantry. 7 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (4400 men)

The Austrians have lost 10 infantry and 5 cavalry casualties (4500 men)

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

25 May 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 5


Marshal Massena prepares to defend Obersdorf, Kufstein and Worgl.

7th army deploys east of Obersdorf

8th army retreats to Kufstein

9th army battle of Worgl

 

General Schwarzenberg continues to attack

1st army prepare to attack Obersdorf

2nd army occupy Sankt Johann

3rd army attacks Worgl

 

Battle of Worgl

Both armies lost heavy casualties during this hard fought battle

The French moved forward to attack, rather than wait for the Austrians to do so

The Austrians held their ground, and respulsed the French]

However they lost too many casualties to then attack the fortified town

 

French lose 9 infantry, 7 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (4400 men)

Austrians lose 10 infantry and 5 cavalry casualties (4500 men)

Friday, August 12, 2022

24 May 1813 – Battle of Sankt Johann

 


 

Tactical map of battle area

2nd Austrian army attack Sankt Johann

11th Bavarian army have orders to hold Sankt Johann

River Inn can only be crossed by bridge

 

Bavarian – 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Austrian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

This photo is taken from the same direction as the map

         

8th Bavarian army is deployed on the left

The walled town is Sankt Johan

Oudinot has reinforced the garrison with one brigade from each corps

11th Bavarian corps is at the top

12th Baden corps is at the bottom

 

2nd Austrian army is off table on the right

They will enter the table at the start of move 1.

End of move 2

The rest of the photos are taken behind the attacking Austrian army

 

Austrians enter table and advance towards town

3rd corps are on the right

Gyulai has taken command of the grenadier brigade from each corps

4th corps are on the left between the river and the hills

 

Bavarians react to the Austrian advance

11th corps move their cavalry and artillery down from the hill

Reserve wait in the town

12th corps move their cavalry forward and unlimber artillery

 

End of move 4

Austrians advance, but infantry and cavalry halt outside artillery range

3rd corps artillery open fire on Bavarian cavalry, no hits

Reserve halt in pass to remain out of enemy artillery fire

4th corps artillery unlimber but are only in range of enemy artillery

 

Bavarian artillery open fire, but  no casualties

11th corps artillery fire on gunners, no hits

Reserve wait for enemy to attack town

12th corpsartillery fire on gunners, no hits

End of move 6

Austrian prepare to attack

3rd corps artillery fire, remainder advance into the plain

Reserve wait  in pass, but must  soon advance

4th corps artillery fire but no casualties

 

Bavarians wait for Austrians to advance

11th corps artillery fire, no casualties

Reserve wait in and around town

12th corps artillery fire, no casualties

End of move 8

Austrians attack

3rd corps cavalry lose melee, but rally and move onto hill

Reserve advance to skirmish with town garrison

4th corps cavalry win melee and rout Baden cavalry

 

Bavarians hold their position

11th corps cavalry regroup having won melee

Town garrison prepare for attack

12th corps infantry form square to cover rout of their cavalry

End of move 10

Austrians press home attack

3rd corps artillery fire at close range on town, cavalry lose melee and rout

Reserve skirmish with garrison, lose 10% casualties but pass morale test

4th corps break Baden corps

 

Bavarians lose heavily but continue to hold town

11th corps cavalry rout Bavarian cavalry

Garrison win initial skirmish at  town

12th corps lose cavalry, artillery and one infantry brigade in rout

End of move 12

Austrians take town and rout Baden corps

3rd corps artillery fire on town and rout garrison

Reserve storm town and rout garrison

4 th corps artillery fire on town and rout garrison

 

Bavarians lose town and retreat

11th corps hold hill and fire on square causing 10% casualties

Reserve send third brigade in to town, all three brigades rout

12th corps lose five brigades in rout , one square left  to cover retgreat

Summary

Towards the end of the day both Austrian artillery open on town at  close range

Reserve grenadier brigades storm town and rout  garrison

 

Baden corps lose five of its six brigades to rout, remaining infantry square covers retreat

 

Decisive Austrian victory

 

The Bavarians have lost 5 infantry, 2 cavalry and one artillery casualties (2300 men)

The Austrians have lost 2 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (1000 men)

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

24 May 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 4

 

Marshal Massena moves to support Sankt Johann

7th army retreat to Oberaudorf

8th army attacked at Sankt Johann

9th army deploys in front of Worgl

 

General Schwarzenberg continues to attack

1st army occupied Walchsee

2nd army attacks Sankt Johann

3rd army redeploys to attack Worgl

 

Austrians take Sankt Johann

Baden corps is broken and routed

Bavarians lose 5 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (2300 men)

Austrians lose 2 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (1000 men)

Friday, August 5, 2022

23 May 1813 – Battle of Walchsee


Tactical map of battle area

1st  Austrian army attack on Walchsee

7th Bavarian army defend Walchsee

Both armies are full strength and deployed and ready for battle

 

Bavarian – 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Austrian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

This photo is taken from the same direction as the map

Bavarians are on the left, Austrians on the right

General Klenau has created a reserve in the centre of two brigades from each corps

Marshal Massena has reinforced the town garrison with one brigade from each corps

Table at start of battle

This photo is taken from behind the Austrian army looking towards Walchsee

Previously photos of the table were always taken from the same direction as the map

This is an experiment to see if the progress of the game is clearer from behind the attacker.

End of move 2

Austrians advance

1st corps enter woods with cavalry on their right

Reserve advance in column of march

2nd corps deploy between village and woods

 

Bavarians react to Austrian deployment

9th corps artillery unlimber to engage Austrian reserve

Reserve wait to see how Austrian advance develops

10th corps cavalry and artillery advance between village and hill

End of move 4

Austrian lose cavalry melee

1st corps deploy in woods, cavalry are shaken but pass morale test

Reserve form column of attack

2nd corps artillery duel with Bavarian gunners

 

Bavarian gunners open fire

9th corps artillery fire on infantry, no casualties

Reserve wait  for Austrian attack

10th corps fire on Austrian gunners, no casualties

End of move 6

Austrian advance to attack town

1st corps artillery hit Bavarian cavalry, own cavalry advance

Reserve advance towards town

2nd corps infantry enter town, artillery manhandle into range of cavalry

 

Bavarians retreat

9th corps cavalry retreat shaken with 20% casualties

Reserve infantry advance counter Austrian attack

10th corps artillery and cavalry retreat out of artillery range

End of move 8

Austrians attack

1st corps advance

Reserve lose first melee in town

2nd corps artillery advance

 

Bavarians withdraw either side of town

9th corps fail to rally cavalry and continue to withdraw

Reserve win first round of melee in town

10th corps artillery and cavalry withdraw out of artillery range

End of move 10

Austrians take half of town

1st  corps break and rout 9th Bavarian corps

Reserve take right half of town

2nd corps halt to face 10th Bavarian corps attack

 

Bavarians hold half of town at nightfall

9th corps are in rout

Reserve hold left half of town, but rout from right half

10th corps cavalry and artillery advance to pin 2nd Austrian corps

Summary

At nightfall the Bavarians hold area left of cross roads

However with 6 brigades in rout they have to retreat during darkness

Austrians win the battle


Bavarians have lost 8 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (3500 men)

Austrians have lost 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1300 men)

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

23 May 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 3


Marshal Massena is determined to hold the Kufstein/Salzburg border

7th army to hold Walchsee

8th army to hold Sankt Johann

9th army to rally at Worgl

 

General Schwarzenberg wants to follow up his victory at Kitzbuhel

He also orders reserve depots to transfer all available supplies to forward depots

1st army to attack Walchsee

2nd army hold Inzell

3rd army occupy Kitzbuhel

 

Austrians win the battle of Walchsee

Bavarians hold half of the town, but have half of their army in rout

During darkness they retreat and abandon the town

Bavarians lose 8 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (3500 men)

Austrians lose 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1300 men)