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Friday, February 28, 2014

18th March 1814 – Battle of Irun (3)



Irun Campaign Area
1 British                              move to F09 on attack                   arrive F09 move 1
2 British                              move to E08 on attack                   arrive F09 move 9
3 British                              move to E07 on attack                   arrive F09 move 5
4 British                              move to F08 on attack                   start in F09

5 French                              move to F07 on attack                   arrive F07 move 1
11 Polish                             move to G08 on attack                  arrive G07 move 1
17 Westphalian                 move to G08 on attack                  start in H07
29 French                           move to G09 on observe               start in G08

French                                     British            
Infantry - 58000                      infantry – 44400
cavalry - 3000                          cavalry - 3000 
guns - 120                               guns - 90

Notes
4000 British infantry are absent on garrison duty
4000 French infantry in Irun under command of 29 French corps

Table at start of wargame
4th British have orders to attack
29th French have orders to move to the farm on observe
17th French have orders to move to Irun on attack orders

French HQ, 5th and 11th corps will all enter the table at the start of move 1
British HQ and 1st corps will enter the table at the start of move move
3rd British corps will enter the table at the start of move 5
2nd British corps will enter the table at the start of move 9
Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
4 British-advance towards farm
29 French – British cavalry opportunity charge column in flank
17 French-advance towards Irun
British cinc-order 4 corps “hold farm”
5 French-arrive on table
1 British-arrive on table
11 French-arrive on table
French cinc-order 17 corps “engage farm"


British hussars Opportunity Charge French column
British cavalry pass test to Opportunity Charge French column in flank
Both infantry brigades and artillery all fail morale to react
Gunners lose 20% and rout taking their guns with them
23 brigade fail morale and are shaken
24 brigade fail morale and join rout
Hussars pass test to Pursue
Charge nearest enemy, who are 23 brigade
23 brigade lose 40% casualties and join rout
Wargame Rule 06 covers Opportunity Charges
Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
4 British-occupy farm, recall cavalry
5 French-continue to advance
French cinc-order 11 corps “engage farm”
11 French-continue to advance
British cinc-order 1 corps “hold”
1 British-start to deploy
29 French-both infantry and gunners fail morale and continue to rout
17 French-continue to advance through Irun
Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
5 French-continue to advance
British cinc-no orders
French cinc-no orders
29 French-24 brigade rally to Shaken, 23 brigade and artillery rout off table
11 French-continue to advance
17 French-continue to advance
4 British-start to deploy
1 British-continue to advance
Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
17 French-continue to advance
5 French-continue to advance
11 French-start to deploy
1 British-start to deploy
4 British-continue to deploy
French cinc-no orders
British cinc-no orders
29 French-29 brigade fail morale, remain Shaken
Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
3 British-arrive on table
1 British-complete deployment
British cinc-order 3rd corps “deploy between 1st and 4th corps”
French cinc-no orders
29 French-take command of 21 brigade (garrison), rally 24 brigade
17 French-continue to advance
4th British-continue to deploy
5 French-artillery fire on gunners, no casualties
Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
17 French-complete deployment
British cinc-no orders
1 British-wait for French to approach
3 British-continue to advance
French cinc-order 5th corps “Engage”
29 French-waiting for orders
5 French-artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
11 French-continue to deploy
4 British-continue to deploy
Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
5 French-artillery fire on infantry, 10% casualties, pass morale
French cinc-change 29 corps orders to “support 17 corps”
3 British-artillery advance and unlimber
British cinc-change 3 corps orders to “Hold”
1 British-artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
29 French-garrison leave town and deploy to advance
17 French-artillery fire on garrison, no casualties
11 French-deploy to engage enemy
4 British-occupy woods and redeploy artillery

Note – French are now deployed and advance to engage the British
Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
British cinc-move to join 2 corps (off table)
1 British-artillery fire on infantry, 10% casualties, pass morale
5 French-artillery fire on square, 10% casualties, fail morale and are Shaken
3 British-artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
29 French-advance to support 17 corps
4 British-15 brigade enter village to support riflle brigade
French cinc-change 17 corps orders to “Attack village”
11 French-advance to engage British
17 French- artillery fire on garrison, no casualties
17 French-infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties
Move 9 – 1600 to 1700
4 British-artillery fire on infantry, 10% casualties, lose morale and Shaken
4 British-garrison skirmish, 10% casualties, pass morale
British cinc-change 2nd corps orders to “deploy on right of line and engage”
11 French-artillery fire on garrison, no casualties
1 British-Artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
29 French-infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties
3 British-artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
French cinc-change 17th corps orders to “Engage”
17 French-infantry skirmish woods and garrison, 10% casualties, pass morale
2 British-arrive on table
5 French-artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
5 French-change orders to “Halt”

French dragoons charge shaken infantry square
Dragoons pass test and charge
Infantry cut down, lose 30% casualties and rout
Nearby gunners test morale for rout, fail test and join rout
Dragoons test to pursue, fail and halt disordered
British hussars charge disordered dragoons
Dragoons lose 50% casualties and rout
Move 10 – 1700 to 1800
4 British-artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
4 British-infantry in woods skirmish, 10% casualties, fail morale and are Shaken
3 British-artillery fire on infantry, 10% casualties, fail morale and are Shaken
2 British-continue to advance
17 French-infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties
11 French-infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties
5 French-artillery fire on cavalry, 10% casualties, pass morale
29 French-infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties
French cinc-change 5th corps orders o “Hold”
British cinc-change 1st corps orders to “Engage”
1 British-advance t o engage enemy

Combat in woods and buildings
Only infantry can attack buildings or woods
If they are on “Attack” orders they close and fight hand to hand
If they are on “Engage” orders they can only skirmish
At present all three French corps attacking the farm are on “Engage”
On the left Portuguese hold woods have won the skirmish combat, French rout
On the right five French brigades are attacking the farm
The Rifles garrison the farm, supported by an infantry brigade (who can not fight)
Infantry brigades skirmish during their corps turn.
Each brigade rolls one D6
Each need 4 or more if B class, 5 or more if C class skirmishers
Attackers have suffered no casualties
Defenders have suffered 10% casualties
Move 11 – 1800 to 1900
2 British-continue to advance
French cinc-no orders
17 French-infantry skirmish woods and garrison, no casualties
British cinc-no orders
4 British-artillery fire on infantry, 10% casualties, pass morale test
3 British-artillery fire on cavalry, no casualties
1 British-cavalry charge artillery, gunners evade to square
11 French-infantry skirmish garrison, 20% casualties, pass morale test
29 French-infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties

5 French infantry skirmish cavalry, no casualties

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000
French cinc-no orders
5 French-infantry skirmish infantry, no casualties
29 French-infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties
3 British-artillery fire on cavalry, no casualties
1 British-infantry volley fire, French lose 30% and rout
2 British-continue to advance
British cinc-no orders
17 French-infantry skirmish woods and garrison, no casualties
11 French-cavalry charge disordered infantry, infantry lose 30% and rout
4 British-artillery fire on infantry, 30% casualties, infantry fail morale and rout

Nightfall
Despite 20% casualties the rifle brigade continue to hold the village
Five French brigades continue to skirmish with garrison

Game Casualties
French lose 6800 infantry, 200 cavalry and 6 guns
British lose 5200 infantry and 100 cavalry

Game Summary
Neither side were concentrated at the start of the battle
The leading British corps attacked, and routed, the isolated 29th French corps
French reinforcements arrived first, and they immediately attacked
The British managed to take the village, which they held throughout the day
At nightfall both sides had suffered heavy casualties
The French held Irun all day, the British held the farm all day
Both sides withdrew to rest and rally their routed brigades

Total casualties at the end of this battle
French 7000 casualties and six brigades in rout
British  5700 casualties and three brigades in rout