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Post by paintdog on Jul 11, 2020 8:06:51 GMT
In what is my first Seven Years War game in some years, I decided to fight Leuthen. The whole battle is beyond my scope in terms of space, time & figures so I planned a scaled down version of Frederick the Great's masterful outflanking attack on Nadasty's corps on the Austrian left flank. The table was already sey up when the participants arrived. A panoramic view from the north end  and the south end  The Prussians heavily outnumbered the Austrians but had the difficult task of fighting through to the outskirts of Leuthen by game turn 8.    The "hook": masses of Prussian cavalry & the Grenadier brigade.   Part of the centre, where the Prussians needed to capture a forest & the small village of Sagschutz.   The Prussian left flank where the Garrison battalions & ex-Saxon fusiliers were meant to feint towards Leuthen. The Prussians advance, with Fred. the G. looking on.    The Austrians were waiting   Pandour were sent to garrison Sagschutz  And Leuthen village.  The Austrians counter attack  The off-table Austrian cavalry arrive (apologies_ I forgot to photograph them on table!)
 The weaker Garrison & Fusilier brigades crumble  The Prussian cavalry is repulsed & history is reversed. donald
Nearly all the infantry & some of the heavily converted cavalry were HaT figures. The rest was Revell & Zvezda, mainly.
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Post by minuteman on Jul 11, 2020 9:35:08 GMT
A great spectacle donald; You said only recently that you would be doing this and you did! I hope the game was enjoyable.
The figures look great. I particularly noticed the newly painted Austrian (HaT) infantry and some of the Airfix hussar conversions on the Austrian side.
Despite the problems that you have aired on a few occasions regarding lack of SYW cavalry, the massed squadrons of converted figures in these photos look very impressive.
Thank you for sharing.
Are you now thinking of some more Austrians so that playing battles with the (more usual) Prussians outnumbered situation is possible? Or will this need to be dependant on that long awaited 1/72 set of SYW (Austrian) Cuirassiers?
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Post by paintdog on Jul 11, 2020 10:43:56 GMT
Thank you for your kind words. I actually lost thanks to the doughty & skilful nature of my opponent but it was a great day, regardless. One of the great things about gaming the SYW is the numerous large battles -that you can game a section of- and lesser affairs. I think I may stick to re-fighting historical conflicts rather than 'what ifs' for some time. Rossbach may be next on the agenda.
What you see is my entire Prussian army (less one Frei Korps battalion) & my current Austrian army. I actually have a French SYW force larger than the Prussians, so I DO NOT need any more Austrians (which is why I'll probably add a few more HaT battalions of infantry & I'm minded to try to convert the Zvezda Nap. Saxon cuirassiers to a SYW Austrian cuirassier regiment. I still hope HaT will oblige one day but the millennium is fast approaching & may arrive first.
donald
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Post by minuteman on Jul 11, 2020 18:54:20 GMT
Yes, there is no lack of actual battles (or parts of) to re-fight in the SYW. It is one of the plus points of the period from a wargaming point of view; in terms of numbers and variety of battles in the 1700-1815 period only the Napoleonic period has more.
Re: Austrians, that is well understood. You have shown us your French army and impressive it is too. And why not simply use French as Austrians (or vice versa) for the bigger battles? I am reminded of Charles Grant's 'The Wargame' and the mix of regiments that he fielded for his big battles 'on the same side'. Lowenstein Oels Grenadiers with Sibersky Infantry as but one example....!?
On the table top anything is possible.
I look forward to Rossbach (where, of course, Prussian Cuirassiers and Seydlitz would need to figure prominently....)
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Post by borodino on Jul 11, 2020 19:22:13 GMT
wow, great report, nice table full of soldiers played the way I like.
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Post by bongman on Jul 11, 2020 20:07:15 GMT
Everything a wargame should be!
A couple of the pictures even makes me feel I'm in the action with cavalry charging towards me!
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Post by paintdog on Jul 11, 2020 23:52:20 GMT
why not simply use French as Austrians (or vice versa) for the bigger battles? Well, there are several battles, where both historically appeared - Rossbach for example.
I won't say "never" but I find I'm unexpectedly a purist in these matters so I think not.
donald
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