EPIC04 Aspern-Essling (21 May 1809)

Details
Written by: alecrespi
Category: Fifth Coalition (1809)
Hits: 13365
Total Plays: 31
Top Army
(48%)
Avg VP: 5
Bottom Army
(52%)
Avg VP: 16

Historical Background
Slowed by having only one bridge to cross, Napoleon had less than a third of his army across the Danube, when Charles attacked. The Austrians were formed into five attack columns with the Grenadiers and the majority of the cavalry in reserve.
The battle started with the attack by the first and second Austrian columns against Aspern. The French, under the command of Molitor, were already deployed in the village and repulsed the first attack. The second Austrian attack briefly entered the town before being thrown back. French reinforcements were needed to repulse a third attack. By this time, some of the Austrian cavalry had moved forward along with the third column. Napoleon, concerned the village might fall, ordered Marulaz to charge. The battle for control of Aspern swung back and forth and at the end of the day, both Austrian and French infantry occupied the town. Meanwhile, in a series of uncoordinated attacks, the infantry of the Austrian fourth column could not take the granary in Essling, a massive bastion, and pulled back. The fifth column, having the greatest distance to march, was now in position around 8:00 PM and launched its attack. Using both the granary and the Long Garden as key defensive positions, Lannes skillfully deployed and redeployed his outnumbered French troops to these critical points to maintain control of the village. After this final attack of the day, Rosenberg ordered his Austrians to retire and wait for the Grenadiers and the rest of the Austrian cavalry reserve to arrive.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

 

Set-Up Order

Forest Hill Church Walled Garden Marsh Town
8 14 1 1 4 6

Battle Notes

Austrian Army
• Commander: Charles
• 5 Command Cards
• 3 Tactician Cards
• Move First

  

Line Infantry Light Infantry Grenzer Infantry Militia Infantry Grenadier Infantry Light Cavalry Light Lancer Cavalry Heavy Cavalry Cuirassier Heavy Cavalry Horse Artillery Foot Artillery Leader
15 3 4 3 2 3 1 2 2 1 4 9

French Army
• Commander: Napoleon
• 6 Command Cards
• 6 Tactician Cards

Line Infantry Light Infantry Young Guard Old Guard Light Cavalry Cuirassier Cavalry Foot Artillery Horse Artillery Leader
12 7 1 1 2 3 4 1 9

Victory
16 Banners

Special Rules
• The four town hexes of Aspern (3 town hexes and church) form a temporary Group Majority Group Victory Banner Objective worth 2 banners to the side that occupies an absolute majority of the town hexes at the start of its turn.
• The three town hexes of Essling form a temporary Group Majority Group Victory Banner Objective worth 2 banners to the side that occupies an absolute majority of the town hexes at the start of its turn.
• The French starts with 4 Victory Banners.
• The Long Garden is a Temporary Victory Banner for the Austrians worth 2 banners when occupied at the start of the turn.
• The two side by side town hexes in Essling represent the Granary. The Granary has all the effects of a town, in addition, a unit on each Granary hex may ignore one flag.

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Posts in discussion: EPIC04 Aspern-Essling (21 May 1809)
Mark-McG replied the topic:
#14401
3 months 2 weeks ago
Austrian Militia have the same movement restrictions as Austrian Line infantry in regards to Forced March and Bayonet Charge.
AdmiralYi replied the topic:
#14400
3 months 2 weeks ago
TLDR: Don't try to drive the French out of the buildings with close assaults, but deny them the buildings with firepower while gradually advancing.

The key to the Austrian victory seems to be around Aspern. Massive concentration of 14 infantry ready to go with a single force march. Problem is the Austrian infantry are slow and get shot up on the approach. The trick is to use the faster moving militia and to get up next to the towns and occupy the attention of the French garrison while the line infantry plod forwards into range to be able to deliver a 3 dice standing volley into the town the next turn. Grenzers I think are way to valuable to use as meat shields like this because they are in a great position to be shooting up the church, but they can do it if your militia get killed too quickly early on. I once even used the heavy cavalry on that flank to move into the upper hex of Aspern to hold up the French infantry in the lower town hex, while my line infantry advanced within range (making sure the cavalry had enough room to evade infantry combat).
If I was the Austrian player, I would actually take my time setting up my troops, moving up the cavalry and attaching leaders to units. It's tempting to throw forwards the infantry that are in starting range of the towns, but in urban combat the Austrian infantry have poor staying power, and usually get ground down to exhaustion after losing two blocks in a single assault, after which the cost of activation is not worth the single combat dice and they become sitting ducks. Austrian infantry have better firepower than the French and more reserves, and in a situation where both sides are trading volleys, the
Austrians can put forwards fresh troops and swap out weaker ones, which is harder to do in a melee situation. It's a slow, attritional going, but the French aren't really in a position to be going on the offensive except in the center. Essling can be cleared in a similar situation, as the Austrians starting right within range are firing an equal 3 dice to the French in the granary. Yes the French can call up reserves including the guard, but if the Austrians can get into position (very important) and keep shooting up the French infantry with 3 dice volleys every time they move into a town, they will eventually stop and the towns become no-man's land, and more room for the Austrians to make an army-wide advance, now using the towns as cover to block LOS.
Hawkmoon replied the topic:
#14013
1 year 3 months ago
An Austrian victory : 16/13. The French were leading 14/9 after a fierce Cavalry charge in the centre. But the Austrian reaction on the right flank and the destruction of the weakened infantry units led to victory.
NCF replied the topic:
#12481
1 year 9 months ago
2 battles played

1 FRENCH victory (16-15)
Fierce battle in building hexes but final victory for FRA

1 AUSTRIAN victory (16-8).
France was overrun in both flanks with Austrian Force March cards
NightOwl3 replied the topic:
#11160
2 years 3 months ago
This was my first CCN Epic. Judd had played the battle in the regular CCN which is two different scenarios. He knew the cards better than I, and had some experience with the game. Since he knew the Austrians better, he suggested he play them and I the French which had more cards and held some towns for a defensive advantage. I started out trying to support my left and the towns there. I also had to worry about the towns on the right as well. Judd quickly got his ARTT in position and bombarded my towns. My towns on the left held out against multiple attacks, but the towns on the right traded hands several times before Judd claimed them. I eventually stopped trying to take them back since it was to deadly. He took two banners from me and added them to his score. He also was in control of the game at this point. I was reacting to his moves. He also attacked in the center with some Cavs including a lancer which was deadly. Thankfully, I responded with a Heavy Cuir to push them back. I finally killed the lancer and one of his Heavy Cuir. I also lead a light Cav attack on my right to take pressure off the Long Garden which was two banners if he took it. Meanwhile on my left my light troops took out some of his units with ranged fire. Those volleys of 5 dice were effective against his infantry. I was slowly gaining banners but his masses on my left were also starting to wear me down. He finally took one of the hexes for the towns but not total control. I was in a position to win (if I got four banners) but only got three. He attacked with a heave Cav which took out an ARTT but could not defeat my infantry in square. I charged with a Heavy Cuir and attacked with a flag bonus charge to win: 16-12. It was close, and I thought I might not win.
Hexagoon replied the topic:
#7169
5 years 4 months ago
Austrian victory by 4 banners. The Austrian right flank was unstoppable, ground down the French and at the end took 3 of the Aspern hexes after which the cavalry unit was able to pass through and mop up. An attritional fight in the centre and Austrian left used up the French cavalry and the Guard, and there wasn't much left to halt the final Austrian advance. JB & Colin v CK & Glen.
g1ul10 replied the topic:
#5322
8 years 2 months ago
I won this one yesterday with the Austrians, 16 to 11. The main assault on Essling was helped by the fact that my opponent did not draw any first strike Combat card. The Frenches were committed to controlling the villages at any cost. Thus they kept on sending infantry units in Essing, just to be ground the next round by Austrian combined attacks. I gained 3/4 medals this way that in the end were decisive.

Essen from the Austrian lines


View of the village of Essling from the Austrian lines.
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