OT2021 Round 3

Open Tournament
Round 3
...

OT2021 Round 3

I managed to enter the report under the scenario heading rather than here. Anyway, here it is:
Stevet French 8
EZPickins Spanish 7
French prepared an advance into Tamanes, Spanish soon replied with Forced March in the Centre, creating a very strong defensive position. Realizing an attack here would be difficult, French used LGM to transfer forces to the right. Sporadic (and poor Spanish) shooting continued across the front while both sides prepared Cav Charges on the French right/Spanish left, with the Spanish light inf destroyed here when it advanced to open a path for their cavalry behind. The Spanish Cav Charge occurred first, forcing two French line into square, losses to each square and to each cav were compensated when the Spanish HC destroyed the full strength supported French FA. The French launched their Cav Charge riposte – and were stimmied by guerrillas. Fighting of necessity largely continued on this flank for the remainder of the game, with both sides generally having poor cards here but desperately trying to destroy each other’s weakened units. The line infantry and Spanish art in the nearer part of the centre were gradually drawn in. Near the end it was 7-6, favouring Spain, with mainly one and two block units remaining in the French centre and right and Spanish left. French played assault right, but attacked in the wrong order – Spanish inf were destroyed (7-7) but the ldr retreated to the 2 block LC at the rear and therefore 1 block French LC aborted the attack (perhaps just as well!). Spanish replied with recon in force, missed that French LC with 5 ranged dice. French played elan and collected the last banner.
Thanks to John for a nail biting 1st game that went down to the wire, good conversation, and for essentially faultless play!

Log file hopefully attached

 

Burnabybob (French) - 8
Craterus (Spanish ) - 3

The French overcame the larger Spanish force and guerilla tactics with superior troops and better cards. The score was tied 2-2, and a Spanish guerilla action to foil a French Cavalry charge that aimed to destroy their artillery. Several turns later, however, the French launched a devastating bayonet charge that destroyed 3 Spanish units. The Spanish played a give them cold steel card, but two French cavalry used r and r to escape with no losses, and the French used "infantry first strike" to eliminate a 1-block heavy cavalry unit. The winning points were scored on a French cavalry attack, which eliminated an understrength spanish heavy cavalry, then a light cavalry unit on the bonus attack. It was a dramatic end to a fun game, and I look forward to the re-match.

OT2021 C&C Napoleonics – round 3 – Tamames

Mike Stanley – French – 8 banners – won

Andras Kopscik (Kandras78) – Allies – 6 banners – lost

The French sought a strong start with a Forward followed by an Attack Center – but both orders were cancelled by Spanish Guerillas. Meanwhile, two Spanish Bombardments eliminated one French LT on the left and badly damaged another on the right.

A French Assault now opened a major battle on the Spanish left, damaging two infantry units that disdained going into square against the two French LC. One French LC soon eliminated a Spanish LC and LT.  Angiona took command of the four remaining Spanish cavalry and attacked the now badly exposed French cavalry. Each side lost a cavalry unit, and after Guerillas thwarted the next French plan, the last French LC on that flank was lost as well.

A French LT marksmen took out a Spanish LN, followed by an artillery duel that did some damage, mostly to the French. French Leadership accomplished nothing, (including rolling 7 dice with a French HC against a Spanish 2-block HC and rolling 4 blue and 3 red!)   That left the French HC exposed, and he was surrounded and eliminated on the next Spanish turn. Lorcet was able to sneak through the Spanish lines and rejoin his army. 

We were now tied with four banners each

French Leadership was again put to the test, and this time succeeded in removing 11 blocks, killing a Spanish LN and reducing two LT to ineffectiveness.  But the Spanish still had plenty of fight left in them, and a Bayonet Charge killed one French LN and reduced another to 1 block. The French Counter-Attack took out an enemy LT and LN at the cost of a LN. A Spanish Center Assault put units into position but did no damage, and the French response in the center took out a LN for the 8th banner and the win.

A tense, hard-fought game, and a lot of fun against a skilled opponent. 


   
 

110 Tamames (18 October 1809) [OT2021 - Round Three - 1st game]
Allies(scipio1zama) 5 vs French(A) 8

Summary in a nutshell: Spanish tried to move their line of defence straight to the town in the center. This attempt invited a French counter threatening with a breakthrough. Gen. Losada has been killed, the line bent and wavered but held. Then the Spanish Left moved forward and caused heavy casualties to the French but gen. Lorcet and his Heavy Cavalry was able to contain the situation.

Tactical and challenging game with many twists against an excellent opponent.

 

Spanish: stephet 8
French: EZPickins 4
Phase 1:
French attacked right flank then assault right flank. Furious cavalry action and squared infantry on both sides. A French counter-attack against Spanish Cav Charge was guerrilla’d. Dice favoured the Spanish, leaving the French cavalry destroyed and the Spanish cavalry exhausted, with multiple 1 and 2 block Spanish cavalry withdrawn or fled to their left rear. 5-2
Phase 2:
Spanish forced march in the centre, followed by assault centre, occupying Tamanes. Musket fire between the Spanish and French whittled down both sides. 7-4
Phase 3:
French LGM to bring full strength LC and cannons opposite Spanish left where one full strength Spanish Line guarded five 1 or 2 block cav….if the French had had more time the tables could have turned, but a Spanish Line advanced from Tamanes and destroyed a one block French Line for the game 8-4.
Thanks again to John for another challenging, well played and fun game!

Log file attached hopefully

110 Tamames, Round 3. Game 2.

Allies: Burnabybob. 6 banners. (49 blocks remmaining, + 4 leaders)
French: Craterus. 8 banners. (42 blocks surviving and 4 leaders)

The french opened the day trying to take the town. The spanish hold the position with courage, but at the end the french became the masters of Tamames. Not for free: the assault of Tamames took to hell two light units. What's more, the spanish reorganized the line high up the mountains and the dirty work was about to start. Advance through the left seemed too dangerous, with the light, the grenadiers and the artillery waiting for the moment to blow the blues brains out. Spanish Guerrilla actions and a good aim kept at bay the french and stopped several attempts to break the situation... until the bayonet charge arrived. It was preceded by a cavalry charge that put some infantery units in square. This circumstance was taken advantage by the french and some of them fell on the spot. Even so, things were far from over: spanish countercharged with their cavalry units. The french right section of the battlefield was soon a come and go of horsemen chasing each other and many of them found death. At the end of all of that mess, an heroic stand of the horse french artillery, as Bob said, allowed the french to get the last banner.
Thanks Bob for the two matches. And good luck!