Kluszyn 1610

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bertalucci
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 232 8Rad
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 232 8Rad
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Kluszyn 1610

Post by bertalucci »

KLUSZYN 1610

Piotre (5 games in total FoGR) in command of the Poles
Alexinoff (1st try FoGR) in command of the Russians

The battle took place on level ground, both flanks being somewhat protected by thick woods denying both sides of the opportunity to flank march.
The Poles advanced at 5:00 am having set fire to the village earlier that night.

The forces engaged, about 1000 points a side, were what we have rather than what took part in the historical battle but looked surprising similar to the painting in the article on Wikipedia!

Image

The Polish plan was to delay the infantry battle as far as possible whilst smashing the Russian left flank.
Then to use their weight of numbers and flank threats by the hopefully rampaging cavalry to destroy the high class Russian Streltski.

The Russian Plan was to shoot and skoot with their Boyars on the left flank while hammering the Polish centre with their heavy artillery (Puchka) supported by the German Soldatski and delaying the Polish left flank by the judicious use of their dragoons in the woods. The Dvor were held in reserve just behind the Boyars with Alexinoff commanding the centre left.

So both sides had chosen to delay the infantry clash in favour of resolving the Cavalry battle around the burning village.


Image

Piotre choose to race a unit of Noble Levy (Poor Lancers) forward to run down the Puchka, or at least protect the slower moving foot from the artillery bombardment for a while. The gunners could not adjust their sights and missed the fast moving Nobles (at least at first). Whilst on the cavalry flank the two forces drew close enough to exchange bow fire – to no avail.

Image

The superior Lithuanian Tartars executed a perfect manoeuvre onto the flank of the Boyar line whilst the brave Pancerni (1) charged in against 2 units of the unarmoured Boyars. Unfortunately for Alexinoff they could not evade as they were in the wrong formation to do this (as were all of the Boyars). The 2 units of Cossack Light Horse evaded the charging Boyars (2&3) who then crashed into Noble Levy (1). Piotre was confident that the advantage in armour would compensate for being outnumbered (Pancerni) and for the lack of courage of the Nobles. To help maintain the morale of their fellows Noble Levy (3) moved into rear support. In the centre Alexinoff’s Puchka had found their mark and in 3 rounds of fire routed Noble Levy (4) (it’s tough having to reroll a double six and getting double one :!: ).

In the following crucial turn the Tartars, Pancerni (2) and Noble Levy (3) thundered into the ensuing combat. Noble Levy(2) avoided the flames wafting from the burning village to charge Boyar (6) supported to the rear by Winged Hussars (1).

Image

Piotre’s momentary joy at seeing the plan work (Boyar’s 1 to 5 routed and Boyar 6 fragmented) was somewhat dulled by events in the centre.

Winged Hussar (2) charged into the unarmoured Boyars (7) confident that their superiority in weapons, armour and morale would sweep the Boyars away in short order. But fate was against them, (or did the smoke from the burning village get in their eyes?) 4 dice no hits and no rerolls whilst the Boyars struck a mighty blow by rolling a solitary 6. The following CMT (rolled 4) and even with rear support from the Pancerni and despite Piotre ardently urging them on the Winged Hussars became shaken. No matter, Piotre shrugging his shoulders joined the unit and expanded on the flank, the melee would be different.

Well not quite, 1 hit from 5 dice with advantage for the Winged Hussars against 2 from 4 from the disadvantaged Boyars and another poor CMT saw the cutting edge of the Polish army well and truly blunted (Fragged). Alexinoff seizing his chance, threw Dvor (3) over the disordering hedgerow and whilst the charge gained nothing for either side the melee saw the Winged Hussars broken and Piotre dead at Alexinoff’s feet.

Pancerni (3) were so shocked at this cruel twist of fate they first became fragmented and then routed when the Winged Hussars pushed their way through them while in flight from the pursuing Boyars.

On the rest of the battlefield the Drabs and Streltski were beginning to line up for a fire fight, while the Haiduks were seeking close combat with the Dragoons and the German Reiters were trying to race through the gap before the door could be shut by the Russian foot.

Image

Turns 6 and 7 saw Boyar (6) routed but their assailants were in turn routed by the Heavily Armoured Dvor (1). As the gallant and victorious mounted Poles tried vainly to reorganise themselves a valiant charge by Dvor 1 uncovered the weaknesses of Noble Levy (2&3) routing them in short order, while Winged Hussars (1) turned about face to seek retribution for the death of their beloved commander. Surely the remain 6 Polish mounted units on the right flank could prevail against the decidedly average Russian pair of Dvor’s! Meanwhile Drabs (1) came under combined fire from Streltski (1) and Puchka losing a base and becoming disordered. The German Reiters failed to squeeze past Strelski (3) by less than a centimetre (Okay, okay, this was a big mistake :oops:) and the Dragoons took first blood reducing the Haiduks to ¾ of its original size and disordering them also.
Had Piotre still been alive he would have been worried, but his alter ego was still confident that he could get another 2 Russian units routed to win the day.

Image

Unfortunately optimism was not enough, the mounted wing could not get itself reorganised quickly enough, Drabs (1) routed under fire, Drabs (2) became fragmented and the German Rieters routed following a flank charge by Strelski (3).

Alexinoff had won a decisive victory!

However, we failed to realise this and fought on, the Haiduks catching and routing the evading dragoons and Winged Hussars (1) routing the last remaining Boyar. But even then the loss of Drabs (2) and the German Mercenaries to the now exultant Streltski secured a final victory for Alexinoff.

Brilliant stress free game - we will be having another try at this on January 9th, perhaps we will avoid the errors of the past (or even learn from this game)
chubooga
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
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Post by chubooga »

excellent battle report, and what a great advert for Washington club!

wish I could have made it, man flu preventing almost everything atm!

best wishes to everyone at washy!

jon
nickdives
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
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Post by nickdives »

Nice one, just goes to show that however good the troops are, however nicely painted they are if you keep throwing 1s and your opponent 6s you have lost!!!

Merry Christmass and I must get a few photos of my new 15mm Poles up!
bertalucci
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 232 8Rad
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 232 8Rad
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Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:43 am

Post by bertalucci »

Well we did try this scenario again last weekend and apart from us jointly getting the Gulay Gorod rules wrong the Russians performed magnificently again.
Although the Russian open flank once again collapsed the Polish Hussars and Cossacks just could not exploit this before the Polish centre collapsed.
I think the Poles need more shot and less cavalry to balance out the Russian foot superiority.

Only a day or two (Amazon willing) before I find out if the troop classifications are anything like what we guesstimated.

But for now thats Kluszyn finished with.
Blathergut
Field Marshal - Elefant
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Location: Southern Ontario, Canada

Post by Blathergut »

Here, after several enjoyable games, we have yet to see the cavalry flank manage anything beyond fighting it's opposite opponents. By the time they do destroy what is in front of them and then manage to turn in, the game is decided already by what happens in the centre, and this despite one side holding the centre back and trying to delay long enough for the horse to make it in. The battles seem to be much more about the centre and you have to plan to be able to shoot/hit with it and not rely/hope the horse will come in from a flank.
SirGarnet
Brigadier-General - Elite Grenadier
Brigadier-General - Elite Grenadier
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Post by SirGarnet »

Nice account and nice map-making tools, though the small labels are hard to read.

I can assure you that mounted wings can be decisive at times, though it may involve focusing strength near the foot centre to force a gap there and allow a flank charge rather than trying to defeat the whole mounted wing. Giving up one BG of horse to engage and draw two of cavaliers into pursuit is a gamble but can provide an opening for the prepared. Or put most of the horsemen on one wing and press hard there while refusing the other wing.

It can make sense to hang back somewhat with the foot and draw the enemy centre a little farther forward than its mounted.

Very annoying though if the enemy has a second line of foot to counter these tactics. Poor foot are good value in the second line for this purpose.
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