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Monday, March 17, 2014

21st March 1814 – Battle of Ronchamp


Ronchamp Campaign Area
One Italian corps has orders to hold Ronchamp
Two Bavarian corps have orders to attack Ronchamp

Normally with odds of two to one this would be decided off table
However numbers are close, so we will fight it as a wargame

Italian             15,600 infantry           1,000 cavalry              30 guns
Bavarian         19,600 infantry           2,000 cavalry              30 guns

16 Italian        Hold Ronchamp
2 Bavarian      Move to E07 on attack
4 Baden          Move to E07 on attack   
Table at start of wargame
Italian Brigades          4 infantry        1 cavalry         1 artillery
Bavarian Brigades      5 infantry        2 cavalry         1 artillery

All corps start the wargame on the table
Corps commanders may change orders, but must use command points to do so
Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
Bavarians advance through the hills towards the town
They send their cavalry ahead to pin the French
Italians occupy town and move to occupy farm
They will deploy between the two
They must hold the left hand road which leads to Rougemont
Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
Bavarians continue to advance.
The main attack will fall on the farm and road to Rougemont
Italians deploy between town and farm
Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
Bavarians continue to advance
Italians garrison farm and reposition artillery
Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
Bavarians continue to advance
Italians complete redeployment
Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
Bavarians start to deploy into attack formation
Italians wait for enemy to advance within artillery range
Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
Bavarians change orders from Move to Engage
Italian artillery open fire, no casualties
Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
Bavarians advance to attack town and farm
Italian artillery fire on infantry, 10% casualties, infantry pass morale test
Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
Bavarian infantry skirmish town, 10% casualties, garrison pass morale test
Bavarian infantry skirmish farm, no casualties
Italian artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
Italian cavalry move to right to protect road to Rougemont
Move 9 – 1600 to 17000
Italian artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
Farm garrison skirmish with attackers, 10% casualties, attackers pass morale test
Bavarian infantry skirmish with town, no casualties
Bavarian infantry skirmish with farm, 20% casualties, garrison fail morale test and rout
Italian gunners test morale for nearby rout, fail and are shaken
Italian cavalry retreat towards town
Move 10 – 1700 to 1800
Bavarian artillery fire on infant ry, no casualties
Bavarian infantry enter farm (right ) and skirmish town (left)
Town garrison skirmish with attackers who pass test for 10% casualties
Shaken Italian gunners rally 
Move 11 – 1800 to 1900
Bavarian artillery fire on infantry who pass test for 20% casualties
Bavarian infantry rout halt of  town garrison with 20% casualties
Italian infantry rout enemy brigade with 20% casualties
Italian artillery unlimber to cover retreat with cavalry
Move 12 – 1900 to 2000
Italian artillery fire on gunners, no casualties
Bavarian infantry enter left hand section of town.

Game Casualties
Italians lose 2,400 infantry and two brigades rout
Bavarians lose 2,000 infantry and one brigade rout

Game Summary
Although outnumbered the Italians had a good defensive position
As the Bavarians approached they occupied the town and nearby farm
They deployed their cavalry and artillery between the two built up areas

The main Bavarian attack was on the farm. 
After a short skirmish they routed the garrison and occupied the farm
Meanwhile the Baden corps attacked the eastern section of Ronchamp
They also rout the garrison and occupy halt the town

As night falls half of the Italian infantry are in rout
The Bavarians have taken the farm and the road to Rougemont
Fontanelli orders the remainder of his corps to retreat to the north

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