014 Quatre Bras (16 June 1815)

014 Quatre Bras (16 June 1815)

Hi all,

When this scenario refers to "Allied" troops, does it mean (as I suspect) the Dutch-Belgians (i.e. the forces allied to the British) or is it referring to all the troops (the Allies)?

Cheers,

Just finished playing six times at wargame club session. Three victories for French, three for British.

Discovered error in the Battle Notes for this scenario. There should be two Allied (Portuguese) LC not one.

apergis1@verizon.net wrote:

There should be two Allied (Portuguese) LC not one.

Thank you!
Just fixed it.

9-8 win for France.

Game deciding moment was a failed charge by the allied infantry, who had initially withdrew behind the center hills. After the french advance they counter charged, but totally failed to put a dent into the french line. Rolling 4 vs 4 in melee against the french line, they did less damage with 4 units going first vs 3 french units.

Also the flanks have some units who are in a real difficult position to use offensivly for the allied player. The RL on the left and the allied Line on the right for example.

Still good fun scenario.

British won with 9:8. French opened the battle with the bayonet charge against Dutch troops in the woods. The attack was successfull and only artillery survived. Wellington intervened with his light cavalry but French cavalry countercharge destroyed the opposing cavalry and inflicted serious losses to Allied infantry. Dutch artillery in the woods repelled all the attacks on itself while in the meantime French artillery in the centre cleared the ridge in front of itself.

French cuirassiers attempted to destroy remnants of Dutch infrantry but was destroyed around Quatre Bras. The secon cuirassier attacked Dutch artillery on the ridge with the support of French artillery but failed to score with 14 dice. In the desperate counterattack Dutch light cavalry got four "horses" on four dice and the battle went towards Allies.

British soon increased their lead to 7:4 with successful battles on their left flank. French refused to go down quietly and with some desperate infantry charges equalised the score on 8:8 but British played Elan and finished the battle.

Well I played this one twice over Skype and VASSAL with my mate Tony Reynolds from Belgium.

As the Allies I lost 7-9. My start was assisted with a Grand Manouvre card that got my British units up quick, but despite that, Tony played a canny game with his Frenchmen and ran out the 9-7 winner in a tense, close finish that featured a lot around Le bois du Bossu in the latter turns. The French curraissiers carrying the win for Tony.

In the re-match played yesterday, it was my turn as the French, and this time, the day was carried once more for the Frenchmen as I won this time 9-5. The British did not get forward fast enough and the Dutch-Belgians and Brunswickers had to take the brunt of the French attack. This came mainly in the centre with the French Cavalry carrying the day JUST!! They had almost run out of gas before they got the last two banners which included occupying Quatre Bras.

Although the French won both games with our plays, I think we both feel there is a chance of Allied wins (as shown by stats), but overall seems slightly slanted towards Les Bleus

I believe key to winning as the British/allied is withdrawing your allied infantry on the first turn, behind the center hills. If you don't do this, french double cannon can just blast your infantry to death. Or they can wait for a double move card with their infantry and kill you off that way. It's just too easy for them to kill your main central force if you don't withdraw them.

The British flanks are pretty well defended. On the left the RL + cannon make it a deathwish for an infantry advance, and on the right a single GG in the forest stops whatever french units have left after killing the allied forest force.

With strong flanks and a center that falls back, french central advance can be harassed from the flanks. Making it a dangerous business.

All in all very well balanced scenario. But I do feel that if you play as the french are you are extremely patient, you can not really lose. And with that I mean waiting and waiting untill the good cards are available. Since France has much more troops, and are in better defensive positions, you can afford to wait for good cards. Brits can't attack much unless they want to lose fast.