WARNING - OVERSIZE POST FOLLOWS - 80+ Images to view!
Yes, between John and I, we took over 80 pictures of our rather small GNW game at Julians! Chris was unable to attend at the last minute, so I commanded a slightly smaller force of Swedes against Julian and John with the Russians. Through a miscalculation, the Russians ended up only a slightly larger force - 6 infantry, 2 guns and 3 cavalry v's 5 infantry 1 gun and 3 cavalry to the Swedes - I had intended the Russians to have 8 infantry between them - did it matter - read on and find out!
First up. to set the scene, is a cartoon image based on the author, aged around 28, courtesy of Co Pilot AI!
Russians on the left, Swedes to the right
Swedish left flank held by one cavalry unit (Bohusland Dragoons) and the sole artillery
Five units of tough Swedish infantry in the centre comprising Livgarden til Fods (Lifeguards), Halsinge, Kronobergs, Vastmannland and Estlandska Regiments
The Kronobergs Regiment
Halsinge Regiment
Pommerska Dragoons
Livgarden til Hest (mounted Lifeguards)
Russian artillery and infantry
"The Russians are Coming!"
Repnins Grenadier Regiment
Swedes advancing
Using the normal card driven activation, the first 8 turns were - Swedes, Russian, Russian, Russian, Swedes, Russian, Russian, Russian!
This resulted in some rough handling to the Swedish units from Russian artillery and infantry fire!
The Swedish left flank was in a precarious position after a sustained artillery bombardment on the Bohusland Dragoons, and the Russian cavalry sensed an opportunity...
Likewise in the centre, the Halsinge Regiment was on the brink of retreat, as the Russian infantry charge in....
On the other flank, the Pommerska Dragoons clashed with the Russian opposite numbers
The Bohusland Dragoons pushed back and now on four hit markers!
In the centre, King Charles XII inspires the Halsinge Regiment and they drive back the impetuous Russians.
The Swedes reorganise in the centre
But the left flank is in tatters as the Russians drive off the Bohusland dragoons and turn on the isolated gunners
Have easily swept aside the Swedish gun crews, the Russian cavalry moves up on the exposed rear of the Halsinge Regiment
Overall view of the game midway, the Swedes at the bottom, Russians at the top
By fortuitous initiative cards, the Swedes managed to turn and hold off the Russian cavalry
Repnins Grenadier Regiment wondering why there are Swedish infantry to their right rear!
The Swedes now got three initiatives in a row and declining to waste time firing, they charged in with true "Gå på" spirit, driving back the Russian guns and infantry in the centre!
On each flank, an isolated Swedish infantry unit holds off Russian cavalry, while in the centre, their colleagues get stuck in with bayonet and pike
The Vastmaanland Regiment charges uphill
The Estlanska and Livgarden smash into the Russian line
The Kronobergs Regiment versus Repnins Grenadier Regiment on the Swedish right flank
Swedish cavalry ganging up on Johns Russkies!
The Halsinge Regiment repulsing Julians cavalry on the other flank
The first of several very disappointing flank attacks! The Livgarden go in against Julians grenadier regiment. The Swedes get +2 for being attacking Swedish infantry, +1 for being elite, the Russians got +1 for elite but -1 for flank attack and another -1 for carrying 3 or 4 hit markers ..... and yet, the Swedes contrived to lose and be pushed back!
Meanwhile, the Kronoberg Regiment went toe to toe with Repnins Grenadier Regiment - they won, but it could not have been closer! Both sides caused the other two casualties, but the Swedes won because it was draw and they had the higher aggregate score (green dice!)
On the other flank, the Russian infantry weathered the initial storm of Swedish charges and pushed them all back - the Swedes are looking quite precarious at this point
The Kronoberg Regiment, having driven back the elite grenadiers, have an exposed flank - fortunately, the white coated Russian infantry was hesitant to close with the fiery Swedes (John rolled poorly and they could not reach, phew!)
On the other flank, Julians cavalry has another go at the Halsinge Regiment, but his infantry had the same issue as Johns and failed to close with the Swedish line
His grenadiers though were made of sterner stuff and smashed into the Estlandska Regiment which, as it was already on four hits, broke and fled the field!
The Livgarden are charged in the rear by Johns Russian dragoons but inspired by fighting under the eye of their king, repulsed the cavalry with ease!
The Kronoberg Regiment storms downhill into the shaken Repnin Grenadier Regiment
The Livgarden til Fods assault Julians grenadiers in the flank for a second time - with the same result FFS!
After a much better run of activations for Charles XII - something like three Swedish turns, one Russian, two Swedish, one Russian, three Swedish.... things were now looking grim for Peter the Greats boys.
All along the line, the charging Swedes drove back the enemy
Even the heroic grenadiers finally succumbed to a third charge in their flank!
The Vastmannland Regiment moves forward behind the Halsinge
We called the game here after checking the activation deck to see that the next three turns would again go to the Swedes!
A few random close ups I did not weave into the AAR!
We all thought the rules worked pretty well, although we made some adjustments along the way. We are all meeting again tomorrow at Barrys place for a WSS game created by mate Rick and using exclusively his collection of figures, so look out for another AAR in a couple of days!
And finally, another recent online auction site purchase - with all these late war Russian tanks, I have been feeling for some time I need a few German vehicles of the same era for my solo games - here is the first - a nice bargain too!
With the current exchange rate that's about ten quid/US$16
