Two Sides of a River (Vom Kriege Scenario)

This battle is based on Scenario 7 from Programmed Wargame Scenarios (by C.S Grant). The game is set in 1809 with the Austrians attacking the French. Vom Kriege rules are used (at scale 1:60) with the Austrians columnar and the French impulse doctrine.

An Austrian Corps (Red) is advancing down a river line but the French defender (Blue)does not know on which bank the Austrian force marches. Foolishly, the French have split their defence, spreading it over both sides of the river with only a single bridge linking them. This error is compounded by an adsence of scouts to give early warning and early morning mist reducing visibility. The French are as strong as the Austrians and feel that they have little to worry about.

The map was rolled for from the above options resulting in the top three sections being selected.

The Austrians rolled Force 34 while the French rolled Force 24. I have developed a conversion to equivalent Vom Kriege units with points values for each unit. Due to the lower quality infantry and leaders the Austrians get a bonus artillery battery and elite infantry unit. 

The following is the resulting Order of Battle:

Austrian Corps (Good leader L2)

1st Division (Poor leader L0)

    3 Gren. (Elite), 2 Line (Regular), 1 Light (Regular), 1 Heavy artillery

2nd Division (Poor leader L0)

    2 Line(Regular), 2 Line (conscript), 1 Light (Regular), 2 Light Artillery

Cavalry Division (Average leader L1)

    1 Heavy Cavalry (Elite), 2 Medium Cavalry (Elite), 1 Light Cavalry (Elite)

French Corps (Good leader L2)

1st Division (Good leader L2)

    2 Line (Elite Sk), 1 Line (Regular Sk), 1 Light (Regular Sk), 1 Horse Artillery

2nd Division (Average leader L1)

    1 Line (Elite Sk), 2 Line (Regular Sk), 1 Light (Regular Sk), 1 Light Artillery

Cavalry Division (Average leader L1)

    1 Heavy Cavalry (Elite), 1 Medium Cavalry (Regular), 1 Light Cavalry (Regular)

The French objective is to hold the river valley and prevent the Austrian advance east.

The French force is split 45% south, 55% north. 1st Division is placed north with the medium and light cavalry. 2nd Division is on the south side with the heavy cavalry. The line of defence is north-south through the bridge as shown below.

The Austrians order of march is for half the cavalry to lead followed by 1st Division then the remaining cavalry and lastly 2nd Division. The Austrians roll for which side of the river they advance and that turns up on the south side. Then they roll for when the mist clears and opposing sides can see each other. They roll for line 1, the closest position to the French, and set up ready for a quick attack (see below).

The initial programmed response for the Austrians is to bypass if there is a gap, or head for the most lightly defended area while screening the force with a light cover.

The initial French programmed response is to redeploy some forces to strengthen the hold on the bridge, but not to reinforce the far bank. Artillery can be repositioned to enfilade the enemy on the other side of the river. There is still a fear that there could be the arrival of fresh Austrian forces on the north of the river.

Turn 1

The Austrian forces roll some pretty good command dice for both infantry divisions. This enables the 1st Division to advance through their cavalry and close quickly on the French position. The 2nd Division moves to the right to attack the far left French position. The Austrian cavalry seems confused as to their role and fail to move!

The French artillery opens up and scores a hit on the Austrian artillery that has unlimbered in front of them. Meanwhile, the French division on the north side of the river re-orients to try and enfilade the advancing Austrians. The French cavalry remain in reserve.

Turn 2

The French right wing shifts to cover the bridge and fire on the flank of the advancing Austrians. Fire from the Austrian artillery damages and disorders the French battery behind the river.

A close up of the Austrian attack on the French line. French artillery and accurate infantry skirmish fire disorders the attacking columns with 2 hits on the left Austrian unit.

Turn 3

The Austrians roll again for their response. The aim now is to destroy all enemy on the south side of the river and proceed with all haste.

The French response doesn't change. They still fear a possible appearance of Austrian troops north of the river.

Despite rolling very good command dice, the Austrian attack has mixed results. They have forced back the French line on the left and beat back the French battery. However, an Austrian unit has routed back behind the second line and both Austrian units leading the attack have taken heavy losses.

Turn 4

The Austrian attack columns go in again and there are heavy casualties on both sides. Two Austrian units have routed back to the rear. The French line is holding on despite a unit in the centre routing. That gap allows the French cuirassiers to charge and two Austrian units are crushed!

Turn 5

The French roll for any change in their response. This time the French north of the river will move with all haste to support the south side.

The bridge quickly becomes congested as the French try and reinforce the southern side.

The Austrian attack continues with breakthroughs on both sides of the village. Two conscript Austrian units successfully rout the French unit on the left flank. Three French units are now in retreat but the village is still held with the cuirassiers and artillery in support. The Austrians contiinue to take losses and many units are tettering on the brink.

Turn 6

The surprising success of the two conscript Austrian units continues as they completely destroy a French unit. This opens a gaping hole in the French defense. The French manage to rally two units and have now got two cavalry units across the bridge. The remainder of the Austrians rallied some of their units and brought up their cavalry to counter the French cuirassiers. The French reinforcements coming across the bridge may well be just in time to recover the situation as the Austrians are out of fresh units.

Turn 7

The Austrian Cavalry defeat the French cuirassiers and secure the Austrian hold on the open French left flank.

The first of the infantry reinforcements arrives over the bridge and it looks like the French will keep the bridge open allowing more troops to follow.

Turn 8

Three Austrian batteries open up on the French behind the river causing substantial casualties. The French continue to send troops over the bridge and have stablised the situation on the bridge approaches. As a result one Austrian unit has routed and another has formed square. The village and the right flank now look secure.

However, on the French left flank all hell has broken loose. The two conscript Austrian units advance and fire on the French cuirassiers sending them routing back again. Austrian dragoons hit the flank of a French infantry unit, routing it as well. Then the dragoons follow up into the flank of a French dragoon unit also sending it routing rearwards. The Austrian dragoons are now in the rear of the French!

Turn 9

The Austrian dragoons attempt to take the French infantry in the rear but the unit successfully forms square and pushes back the dragoons. French Chasseurs move back to counter the Austrian cavalry breakthrough as the other two French cavalry units rally in the rear.

An Austrian attack on village by two units is repulsed by the eilte French defenders, and a second French infantry unit crosses the bridge.

The Austrian artillery finally rout the lone French battery on the river.

The Austrian 1st Division is in a pretty bad way and is unlikely to advance any further. The 2nd Diivision is still in good shape on the far right flank and the Austrian cavalry is still fresh. The French have maintained control of the bridge and there is probably one more turn to determine if one side or the other can achieve a decisive advantage.

Turn 10

The second assault by the Austrians on the village results in another defeat. The Austrian dragoons and the French chasseurs fight out a draw and both retire with losses.

The French infantry roundly defeat the Austrian light infantry near the bridge and two French units advance to shore up the position.

The Austrians are probably in the better position but its likely that both sides would withdraw given the large losses. I'll call this one a marginal victory for the Austrians.