Jason Roach
04-18-2006, 11:17 AM
I decided to first give the AAR, which is not necessarily a breakdown of every turn but rather a narrative of the highlights. Afterwards, I will post my comments and thoughts on the battle and the situation as a whole.
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The Battle of Katzbach:
The weather is clear and the French get an “Early Start” and to strike fast as two cavalry brigades of the II Corp roll across the bridge north of Weinberg to attack Henkel’s Brigade. The result is a DR and the French are luckily across the Katzbach on turn one.
The French get some reinforcements and Simmer and Gerard are kept on the left along with Domang’s Brigade who together form a screen in the open between points 1313 & 1414 as they move towards the towns in the center. This is when the Allies decide to hit early in order to push Mac’s forward units back up against the Katzbach.
Lovkoffin's Cavalry charges out from Gross Janowitz into the open fields beyond and hit the 6th Horse of Mac’s Corp. However, the 6th's guns unleash a wrath of metal and cut-down the charging cavalry; the brigade is eliminated, making much of the Allied maneuver in that area less profitable. The regular attacks then commence and Yorck’s I Corp hits Gerred and end up in a desperate “shock” combat where both units are nailed by an exchange. Now Waskitchikow attacks Simmer and the desperate fighting continues with another shock combat result that ends up as an exchange. All of these losses throw the Wasiltohikow’s Corp into demoralization and the units can’t advance in order to force the 6th and Domagnt into poor odds attacks just outside the original combat area.
Perhaps due to the beating that the Allied cavalry have just taken, Blucher decides to sit out and his command bivouacs briefly to assess the situation. Much of Mac’s force is now outside of Wienberg consolidated on the downside of the Katzbach. Mac himself however is actually on the other side, with his artillery and baggage carefully placed out of harm’s way.
As accounts of the Allied losses poor in, Blucher becomes sick and tired of the battle, but the weather remains fair, and the rest of the Allied officers except for the demoralized Corp of Wasiltohikow, are in command. 1st Corp decides to use its large artillery assets and hit the French V Corp’s position along the ridge near Arnholshof, eliminating V’s Corp 5th horse artillery and forcing the rest of the units back.
The Allies decide to hit the remaining French units on “their” side of the River. Henkel’s cavalry moves to the right to engage Domangt and places the entire area in ZOC as the rest of Yorck’s units move into position. On the defense is Meunier vs. the Allied combined arms attack making the 2:1 a 3:1 combat. Yorck is able to help by being involved in the combat himself and allowing extra units just south of the French to over-stack. The combat results in a French to retreat across the bridge and in the subsequent panic and confusion, Meunier’s brigade makes it across the river, but the artillery is eliminated. To the right of the combat occurring at the bridge, Henkel ends up in another "knife-fight" with the Domangt’s brigade resulting in more shock combat and another bloody exchange.
Sensing the weakness of the French position between Arnholdshof and the Katzbach, the Allies take the opportunity to launch a large attack. With the Katzbach securing their right flank, Langeron’s units along with Korff’s I Corp slam Lauriston’s units that had formed the southern defensive line of the French position in that area. The two corps, are joined by some elements of I Corp who moved across the river earlier and are able to get the numbers necessary push ahead with strength. Lohenthal and a light cavalry brigade from I Corp hit the French left along the River and force a retreat allowing the Allied units to move on Dermon’s Brigade from all sides. With Dermon completely in Allied ZOC, Langeron’s large infantry brigades now strike across the stream, and end up eliminating Dermon’s entire brigade as it is forced back into an unsuccessful retreat.
At the same time, Korff with the assistance of two smaller VI’s Corp brigades, as well as most of their artillery, use their strength to nail the French V’s Corp in Arnholdshof; They move up the slope and into the town pushing aside the French Brigade and taking the position.
The outcome of this Allied push is that the French are forced into poor odds attacks as they try to extricate themselves from the untenable forward positions. To begin the pullback, Mac’s artillery that is positioned just south of Nieder Cray bombards the I Corp’s cavalry that had moved across the stream and they are forced to retreat. Lauriston, along with Penne’s brigade and supporting artillery are now forced to counter attack Langeron himself in Arnholdshof. In a valiant effort, they somehow manage to successfully force them out of the town, but they do not dare to advance any further for fear of being overwhelmed in another attack. The fact is that Arnholdshof will be in Allied hands shortly and the French southern line is disintegrating.
Looking at the time and positions with most of the day gone, the French decide to put this battle to an end, resulting in an Allied win. The Prussian commander is satisfied but the Allied cavalry have taken considerable losses.
-Jason
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The Battle of Katzbach:
The weather is clear and the French get an “Early Start” and to strike fast as two cavalry brigades of the II Corp roll across the bridge north of Weinberg to attack Henkel’s Brigade. The result is a DR and the French are luckily across the Katzbach on turn one.
The French get some reinforcements and Simmer and Gerard are kept on the left along with Domang’s Brigade who together form a screen in the open between points 1313 & 1414 as they move towards the towns in the center. This is when the Allies decide to hit early in order to push Mac’s forward units back up against the Katzbach.
Lovkoffin's Cavalry charges out from Gross Janowitz into the open fields beyond and hit the 6th Horse of Mac’s Corp. However, the 6th's guns unleash a wrath of metal and cut-down the charging cavalry; the brigade is eliminated, making much of the Allied maneuver in that area less profitable. The regular attacks then commence and Yorck’s I Corp hits Gerred and end up in a desperate “shock” combat where both units are nailed by an exchange. Now Waskitchikow attacks Simmer and the desperate fighting continues with another shock combat result that ends up as an exchange. All of these losses throw the Wasiltohikow’s Corp into demoralization and the units can’t advance in order to force the 6th and Domagnt into poor odds attacks just outside the original combat area.
Perhaps due to the beating that the Allied cavalry have just taken, Blucher decides to sit out and his command bivouacs briefly to assess the situation. Much of Mac’s force is now outside of Wienberg consolidated on the downside of the Katzbach. Mac himself however is actually on the other side, with his artillery and baggage carefully placed out of harm’s way.
As accounts of the Allied losses poor in, Blucher becomes sick and tired of the battle, but the weather remains fair, and the rest of the Allied officers except for the demoralized Corp of Wasiltohikow, are in command. 1st Corp decides to use its large artillery assets and hit the French V Corp’s position along the ridge near Arnholshof, eliminating V’s Corp 5th horse artillery and forcing the rest of the units back.
The Allies decide to hit the remaining French units on “their” side of the River. Henkel’s cavalry moves to the right to engage Domangt and places the entire area in ZOC as the rest of Yorck’s units move into position. On the defense is Meunier vs. the Allied combined arms attack making the 2:1 a 3:1 combat. Yorck is able to help by being involved in the combat himself and allowing extra units just south of the French to over-stack. The combat results in a French to retreat across the bridge and in the subsequent panic and confusion, Meunier’s brigade makes it across the river, but the artillery is eliminated. To the right of the combat occurring at the bridge, Henkel ends up in another "knife-fight" with the Domangt’s brigade resulting in more shock combat and another bloody exchange.
Sensing the weakness of the French position between Arnholdshof and the Katzbach, the Allies take the opportunity to launch a large attack. With the Katzbach securing their right flank, Langeron’s units along with Korff’s I Corp slam Lauriston’s units that had formed the southern defensive line of the French position in that area. The two corps, are joined by some elements of I Corp who moved across the river earlier and are able to get the numbers necessary push ahead with strength. Lohenthal and a light cavalry brigade from I Corp hit the French left along the River and force a retreat allowing the Allied units to move on Dermon’s Brigade from all sides. With Dermon completely in Allied ZOC, Langeron’s large infantry brigades now strike across the stream, and end up eliminating Dermon’s entire brigade as it is forced back into an unsuccessful retreat.
At the same time, Korff with the assistance of two smaller VI’s Corp brigades, as well as most of their artillery, use their strength to nail the French V’s Corp in Arnholdshof; They move up the slope and into the town pushing aside the French Brigade and taking the position.
The outcome of this Allied push is that the French are forced into poor odds attacks as they try to extricate themselves from the untenable forward positions. To begin the pullback, Mac’s artillery that is positioned just south of Nieder Cray bombards the I Corp’s cavalry that had moved across the stream and they are forced to retreat. Lauriston, along with Penne’s brigade and supporting artillery are now forced to counter attack Langeron himself in Arnholdshof. In a valiant effort, they somehow manage to successfully force them out of the town, but they do not dare to advance any further for fear of being overwhelmed in another attack. The fact is that Arnholdshof will be in Allied hands shortly and the French southern line is disintegrating.
Looking at the time and positions with most of the day gone, the French decide to put this battle to an end, resulting in an Allied win. The Prussian commander is satisfied but the Allied cavalry have taken considerable losses.
-Jason