This opposition put the Bavarian Kingdom firmly in the French camp, indeed the Monarchy prospered because of the subsidies. This alliance obviously made Bavaria a target for Imperial forces given its position close to the Hapsburg heartlands.
For the reasons stated above an Inperial Austrian army was marching toward the Danube. Maximillian the 2nd, the Bavarian Elector saw a chance to trap the Austrians.
The main Bavarian army crossed the Danube [ Ger: the Donau ] to the east, at Tapheim. A smaller Division of French troops crossed over to the west, at Hockstadt.
When part of the Bavarian army is spotted at Tapheim the Austrian general Styrum ordered 3 cannon shots to be fired. This is a signal for the supply train to be moved west, away from what he believes is just a scouting /raiding force.
Unfortunately, this was also the signal for the smaller French Division to spring the trap. When this French force is spotted, the Austrian General Styrum thinks that this is the main Enemy army unaware of the real strength coming from the east.~~~~
Franco~Bavarian Army; approx 17,000
The Bavarian Army:
Maximillian 2nd Emmanuel, Duke of Bavaria.
7,000 Infantry in 14 Battalions.
[ inc 28 Battalion Guns + 840 Gunners ]
1,800 Dragoon Cavalry in 12 Squadrons.
2,550 Cavalry in 17 Squadrons.
330 Hussars in 2 Squadrons.
1st French Division [with the Bavarians]
General Claude De Villars
1,200 Cavalry in 8 Squadrons.
4,000 Infantry in 8 Battalions
[ inc 16 battalion guns + 480 Gunners ]
The above equates to 17,000 =17pts x 2=34 points.
The Bavarians;
1 General [ Maximillian ] @ 1 point.
6 stands of Line Infantry [ inc Grenadiers] @ 2 points = 12 points.
2 stands of Light Artillery @ 1 point = 2 points.
2 stands of Dragoon Cavalry @ 2 points = 4 points.
2 stands of Heavy Cavalry @ 2 points = 4 points.
1 stand of Hussars Light Cavalry @ 1 point.
The French;
1 General [ De Villars ] @ 1 point.
2 stands of Line Cavalry @ 1 point = 2 points.
3 stands of Line Infantry @ 2 points = 6 points.
1 stand of Light Artillery @ 1 point.
The 2nd French Division ; 7,600
General , The Marquis Jean Louis D,Usson
1,800 Cavalry in 12 Squadrons.
200 Escort Cavalry in 1 Squadron.
5,600 Line Infantry in 10 Battalions,
(Inc 20 Battalion Guns + 600 gunners).
This equates to 7,600 = 7.6 x 2 = 15points [ r/d ].
1 General [D,Usson] @ 1 point.
3 stands of Line Cavalry @ 1 point = 3 points.
1 stand of Light Artillery @ 1 point.
5 stands of Line Infantry [ inc Grenadiers] @ 2 points = 10 points.
The Austrian Imperial Army 16,000.
Austrian Count Hermann Otto of Limburg-Styrum.
The Prussian Prince Leopold of Anholt Dessau.
8,316 Austrian Infantry in 12 Battalions.
[inc 24 Battalion Guns + 816 gunners.]
5,280 Prussian Infantry in 8 Battalions.
[inc 16 Battalion Guns + 480 gunners ]
1,800 Austrian Cavalry in 12 Squadrons.
600 Prussian Cavalry in 4 Squadrons.
The above equates to approx 16,000 = 16pts x 2 = 32 points.
1 Austrian General [ Styrum ] @ 1 point.
1 stand of Austrian Grenadiers @ 3 points.
6 stands of Austrian Line Infantry @ 2 points = 12 points.
2 Stand of Austrian Light Artillery @ 1 point = 2 points.
2 stands of Austrian Cavalry @ 2 points = 4 points.
1 General [Leopold ] @ 1 point.
1 stand of Prussian Grenadier Infantry @ 3 points.
2 stands of Prussian Line Infantry @ 2 points = 4 points.
1 stand of Prussian Light Artillery @ 1 point.
1 stand of Prussian Cavalry @ 1point.
( At this time, Prussia was still a sub-state of the Holy Roman Empire. Only when Frederick the 2nd became King in 1740 did Prussia start on the road toward independant Sovereignty).
Here are the armies laid out for battle;
In the above photo you can see a road exiting the board at the top edge [ which is "north "]. This is the only road by which the Austrian army can leave the board. This is the road to Nordlingen.
NOTES;
* On the first two Game-Turns, the Austrian Amy MUST move toward the French force positioned on the hill.
* On Game-Turns 1 and 2, the Austrian Army gets the Initiative Point.
* On Game-Turns 1 and 2 the Austrian Army moves first and fires first.
* At the start of Game-Turns 3 to 8, both sides dice for the Initiative Point at the start of the Turn.
* From Game-Turn 3 onwards both the Bavarian and French forces can be moved. The Austrian army can be moved in any direction.
The Waggons;
* Both sides can move stands over the wagons if there is room on the "landing"side.
* Neither side can fire through the Waggons but both sides can engage in combat from either side of a Waggon.
Troop Movements;
The only stands that can move in any direction are:
* All the Artillery [ 2 squares ]
* The Bavarian Hussars.
Terrain;
* Neither side can move into the trees on the "north" side of the board.
* The River Danube on the "southern" board edge cannot be entered, and can only be crossed via the bridge at Hochstadt.
* The River Nebel can be entered by Cavalry and Infantry, but stands must halt on entering. The stands can be moved out of the river during the Movement Phase of the next Game-Turn.
Here is a map of the battlefield;
Final Word;
When D,Ussons force appeared to the west, Styrum thought this was the main attack and had to get the army to "about face".By the time the main Bavarian army made an appearance, the Austrians were commited to the western end of the battlefield. Realising the dire situation his troops were in, Styrum had to get his army onto the only road available through the mountains to the north.
Victory Conditions;
* If the Austrians can get two wagons off the table by Game-Turn 8, it is a draw.
* If both sides inflict the same number of casualties in stands by the end of Game-Turn 8, it is a draw.
* The French win if they cause more casualties in stands to the Austrian Army and capture or stop two Austrian waggons from leaving the board by the end of Game-Turn 8.
The Cavalry;
You may have noted that although I have used the terms “ Dragoon” and “Cavalry”, there is no difference in points value.
By the 18th century Dragoons were being used as battlefield cavalry. The Cuirassiers or heavy cavalry sometimes did not bother with the cuirass and on campaign the horses lost condition.
Some Regiments even had to dismount some Squadrons because of the lack of remounts thereby reducing their effectiveness in the field.
Basically this meant that the lines between battlefield function blurred and any cavalry were used where they were needed.
Indeed the terms were only used as a form of “social standing “ within an army.
I include the terms for anyone wishing to paint the uniforms of the different types.
In the Rulebook, there is a points value for each troop type in a stand alone points-based game, but when doing these historical battles I had to look at the actual function and numbers involved. That meant applying a different points value.
No rebasing is required, I just change the points value of the stand as dictated by the scenario.All the figures used were of the mid 18th century, the only difference between fact and fiction is the cut of the uniform.
Credits;
The figures area mix of Miniature Figurines, Peter Pig and Essex.
The waggons are from Peter Pig.
The painted houses are from Total Battle Miniatures.
The village representations are scratchbuilt.
The buildings on the right side of the table are from Peter Pig.
Some of the hills are by Brian of Essex. Of the others, two are made of cork tile and one is made from part of a garden kneeling mat.
The trees are from various manufacturers.
The square bases are made from picture framing card. The round MDF bases are from Minibits. the river and roads are from thin card and two of the bridges are scratchbuilt.
The board is 3 feet x 2 feet ( 90cm x 60cm).
