Welcome to Marauder Moments - a chronicle of the Mortimer Street Marauders; the games we play, the rules we use, the figures we play with and the scenery they fight over. Hope you enjoy these pages and maybe call back to catch up with our escapades.

Monday 26 October 2020

Basing the next batch of Austrians & some newcomers

The last few weeks have seen the end of the Flutzen game (which I shall write a concluding post for) and the commencement of a mammoth basing session. The arrival of more Austrians coincided with the first Russians turning up to grace our games. Rich has splurged a few £££'s on the Russians and being a top draw loon has started with the Guards!      

We rolled back the battle mat and get in some essential supplies, mostly beer.
Tubs, sand, grit, glue, spoons, flock & old brushes. 

The first of our much talked about limbers get the basing treatment. 


This is a very therapeutic and productive use of time. Idle banter about past exploits, rules, figures, games & of course... what to buy next. We have a few beers and get loads done because basing this much stuff on your own can be soul draining! 

The infantry battalions on the left are Russian Guards - all in Mitres of course!

Russian artillery get sand between their toes!
More Russian artillery, some Guard heavies, Guard Lights & wild Cossacks! 


These I think are Guard Cossacks and Don Cossacks.

Just need to get the flock on these boys; 4x32 Austrian Grenadiers, 6x36 French Legere,
32 Zastrow & 32 Garde du corps, 32 Austrian Cuirassier plus one Austrian General. 


There is another week in this I suspect, possibly two. Rich tells me that more Russians have arrived so maybe there'll be another batch to do soon too. Then we must play again. 
Magister Militum are casting up an order for me now, more French & Austrians of course.
Next up I think should be a full Bavarian Division complete with a light cavalry brigade maybe.

I'll try to get the Flutzen report finished at some point.

Best wishes,     

Jeremy    



Monday 7 September 2020

The Battle of Flutzen 1809

Now that we are pretty much free to play again at Marauder HQ it's time to play a big game & write a batrep for you. We are now in possession of the latest batch of newly painted figures which once based will feature in the Cloppenhammer game we messed about with during lock-down.

Positions at the Battle of Flutzen - End of turn 1.

This is as usual a fictitious battle but one inspired by one of my favourites to re fight; no prizes for guessing which one. Marshall Ney has camped his Corps consisting of five infantry brigades & attached light cavalry brigade amongst five farms & villages for the night. Without deploying scouts & picquets they are all asleep & blissfully unaware that Archduke Charles is descending on them. The remainder of the army is a few hours march away & Napoleon with the Guard is further away still! 

The scenario

Ney's starts the day in camp having breakfast - le petit dejeuner. Each brigade is based around a farm or village with the cavalry on high ground to the rear. All other French divisions are off table to arrive later. One may arrive on the southern flank table edge the rest along the western table edge. The reserve heavy cavalry cannot flank march and the Guard with the Emperor must arrive last along the main road traversing the battlefield  The Austrians are deployed to attack, their reserves and one brigade are trailing. 

Note that we have begun to deploy by & think of the army in Divisions. Naturally these are made up of Brigades but it adds a level of structure & some deployment limitations and adds further flavour. Once deployed the brigades act as usual within the rules as there is no Divisional level commend in GdA. As the collection matures & grows we can think about Corps levels too. In this game for instance Ney's Corps is depicted comprising two Divisions, one of two infantry brigades, one of three infantry brigades, a light cavalry brigades & divisional artillery which is attached to one infantry brigade, in all 20 battalions, three light cavalry regiments & associated batteries - quite enough to occupy one player for a while at least!   

Marshall Ney directing artillery fire. He is the Corps commander & C-in-C until Napoleon arrives with the Old Guard - everyone loves a visit from Head Office.
     
To replicate the surprise & confusion amongst the French they suffer penalties to ADC tasking in the first three turns. ADC are only activated on a d6 roll of 6 in turn 1, 5+ in turn 2, 4+ in turn three and then the usual 3+ from turn four. This means most brigades will be hesitant in the early turns although if activated once they are then available on the usual roll of 3+ in future turns. This fits in nicely with Command & Control rules in General d'Armee - our favoured big battle rule set.   

Dispositions of the French & Austrian armies at Flutzen    

The far northern flank, here two brigades of Austrian light cavalry mass ready to move. 

Moving south we see the first two infantry brigades setting off towards their target village. The guns are limbered up, on that note we have now finally got the limber teams back ready for basing before our next game. 

Here we see the French around the village pictured above. They managed to wake up on turn two, begin to sort out some defense & deploy their battery.

Moving south from the position above here we see another French brigade, these fellas took longer to wake up so are still hesitant. The tree lined road pleases me greatly :)

Another French held village - this one looks a bit wonky as it sits on the join between two boards beneath the mat, the floor isn't even, just one of those things!    

More Austrians moving up in the centre.

Panning out from the above shot showing the target village opposite.

The target of the Austrian attack shown above. This French brigade is fairly spread out with it's battery on the road. The hamlet behind has another brigade encamped about it.  

The southern front. Here we see three Austrian brigades. From left to right they are; The Avant Garde moving up onto the hill with their hussars, Grenz & Jaeger follow up. In the centre are the dragoons, three regiments in line one behind the other. On the right is an infantry brigade with guns limbered.    

Looking north from the southern flank of the Austrian Avant Garde along the whole front as the advance gets underway. This is all looking rather splendid!

The first French reinforcements arrive & the battle opens  

On the Northern French flank the first fresh forces arrive to rescue Ney. This is the Westphalian Division consisting of two infantry brigades; each of four battalions, one has a foot battery attached. There is also a Divisional light cavalry brigade of two regiments.     

"Marching to the sound of the guns."
Further trailing forces for the French. This looks like the Old Guard, heavy cavalry reserve and the Polish division. There are a few more on the other French back board. 

A close in shot of Austrian light cavalry in the north. These are three large regiments, two of uhlans up front with hussars to the rear. The farm in the foreground was my first test piece for the 10mm project, the roofs need painting terracotta, the edges sandy and flocked. The adjoining vineyards are pretty!  

Bergman's German line & LDW advance behind skirmish screen. Two things need doing here; firstly flags; Secondly new Brigadier name plates. Rich has sourced a producer, an order will be placed once Chris submits a suitable list of historical names. Get on it mate ;)  

Cute village from Total Battle Miniatures 6mm aptly named "Big Battalion" range.
I painted these & have a few larger villages & more farms to finish, hopefully this month. 

French foot battery from Magister Militum painted by Barry's boys who did almost this entire collection - Hi guys! 

Another master piece from Total Battle. 

French dragoon brigade arrives with a horse battery. These are in the south facing off against the Austrian Avant Garde & supporting Austrian dragoons.  

Looking due north from the southern table edge. The Poles are due to arrive here at some point.
The newly arrived French dragoons are in the left foreground. This shot also shows the space available to us now - of course there are plenty for toys still to deploy. 

Tony plays a forward order on this brigade - he is determined for this one work!

Close in shot of the French defending this village.

The two southern most of Ney's brigades set up a strong defensive position before the
"White Storm" breaks against them.

Tony's "White Storm" crashing into Ney's southern most positions.
This is a brilliant shot across Tony's attack in this sector - great to see a second line - something we have been striving for since we started the 10mm project.

French infantry columns line abreast ready for the Austrians as Jaegers snipe at them.

The Avant Garde drive off the sheep to occupy the high ground in the south.
(Sheep now top right - they may counter attack)

Austrian dragoons deploy for battle...

French dragoons also deploy for battle near the heights in the south.

Another divsion arrives to rescue Ney. This comprises Swiss & Wurtemberg infantry brigades plus a divisional light cavalry brigade. The Wurtemburgers boast a foot battery, note limber. 

Ney moves up battalions from his rearmost position to prop up the front line.
Nice depth in this shot. 

Voltigeurs engage with Jaeger & Grenz before the close order formations close.   

Ney's light cavalry brigade moves laterally across his rear to prop up/support the northernmost position. Two regiments of hussars one of chasseurs a cheval - pokey.   

Action in the North. Westphalian light cavalry come off worst in initial melees with Austrian Chevau Legere who outnumber them 2-1. This will be an interesting contest; can the Westphalians force a passage to the south influencing the main event in the centre OR will the Austrian lights deny the French some valuable respite. Let's keep an eye on this...       


Austrian light cavalry sit awaiting the order to advance.

The first trailing Austrian forces arrive. An infantry brigade & a brigade of Grenadiers from the army reserve (top right).  

Hungarian infantry & LDW move up to support the front line of attack. 

Pressure builds in the centre. The Austrians have deployed a divisional 12lb foot battery as two others move up limbered. Skirmishers trade shots as the lines close - it's all kicking off!

Someone loses fire discipline at the critical moment. Typically one of my regiments.

Another brigade approaches the target village shown above.
Foot battery deployed to soften up the Frenchies.



That's your lot... 

We managed 8 turns which is a good start. There is real peril for the French centre but with help on the way there is hope. The Austrians look strong but must race against time as they must defeat Ney before The Old Guard arrive to possibly swing the balance - it's what they do! Moving swiftly isn't what the Austrians do, especially under my command!

We play again tomorrow night so I'll try to post Part 2 promptly. The house rules used for the initial scenario moves seem to have delivered a challenge for both sides which is pleasing. Suffice to say, we have a lot of fighting ahead of us & a lot of formations still to commit - it's going to get very bloody as the street fighting starts to bleed both sides.

Best wishes,

Jeremy  

 



























    

Monday morning laughs

This raised a smile on this crappy Monday morning...


Have a great week everyone.

Jeremy

Monday 24 August 2020

In game pics and a few new toys.

We're back in the cellar we call Marauder HQ. A new Napoleonic battle in underway & we are reacquainting ourselves with the General d'Armee rules at a leisurely pace - it feels good & the atmosphere is both jovial & relaxed. One couldn't really ask for more from wargaming.

This isn't a battle report & it's not the Cloppenhammer game I touted some months ago as the new toys for that are only just heading our way from Barry the painter. Once they're here & based we can do the Cloppenhammer monster with a full batrep.     

Austrian reserve heavy cavalry division comprising two brigades of Cuirassiers, that's 5 regiments each 32 strong.
It's an undeniably impressive sight & a reassuring reserve behind our centre.

Here they are again in a wider context. Tony's battle with Chris rages to the north.

Some new toys in action for the first time, we all know how that goes.
Austrian brigade of dragoons, 3 regiments each 32 strong.
French foot deploy opposite in the distance. 

The Austrian dragoons again. Things have moved on a bit by now. The French foot have advanced & French Guard cavalry have moved up in support behind them. "There may be trouble ahead..."

Tony masterminding the Austrian extreme right flank in the north against Chris with Poles, Westphalians & Swiss.
Tony looks happy & healthy - testament to the edifying power of wargaming... it won't last as hot shot finds its mark!

This picture shows the northern half of the battlefield where Tony & Chris's lines are about to clash.
Its a very pretty landscape even if I say so myself.  

Austrian infantry brigades advance across the northern flank.
This kind of shot reveals eth space we have gained by swapping to 10mm. 

A picturesque scene from the hilltop town looking south west over Austrian forces to the waiting French & their allies.  

Near the centre battle commences across a range of low hills near farms & villages. 

Great minds deep in thought.
Chris: calculating factors & summoning rules from deep within his labyrinthine mind...
Tony: "Arse..............!"
The southern  flank - early setbacks for the boys in white...
Here we see first contact on my flank in the south.
This is seconds after these French heavies charged & cut down Bellegarde's battalion faltering the brigade.
This ably demonstartes the tactical value of attached horse artillery, see top centre, a marked advantage over Austrian heavy cavalry formations. 


French hussars & chasseurs lin eup against Austrian chevau legere - first honours to the French.

Rich schemes & calculates. I look somewhat deflated after his initial successes so have lapsed into admiring tiny shiny toys! 
New shiny tiny toys...

Old Guard artillery park. Two 12lb foot batteries, two of horse plus general.
Magister Militum Nappy goodness.

Austrian C-in-C plus entourage & enthusiastic cavalryman.
Austrian cavalry commanders, two of heavies and an uhlan chappy.



That's your lot for now. There are more toys undergoing basing and more in transit soon so I'll post as they become available. I'll post more informal game pics too as this unfolds but It'll stay casual.
Thanks to Chris & Tony & welcome back to Rich who is on top form, relaxed & happy & collecting a monumental Russian army in 10mm -Austerlitz anyone?

Very best wishes, stay safe out there,
Jeremy