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Saturday, March 28, 2015

21st April 1814 – Battle of Losheim




Losheim Campaign area

3rd Russian corps has orders to attack Losheim
14th French corps has orders to hold and resupply

Russian- 12000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 30 guns
French - 16000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 30 guns
Table at start of wargame

Russian Brigades    3 infantry       1 cavalry        1 artillery
French Brigades      4 infantry       1 cavalry        1 artillery

 Both corps start the game on the table
Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
French lancers advance and spot Russians are they deploy at pass
Russian blind is replaced by figures
Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
French cavalry withdraw to town
Russians advance north of the pass
Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
French deploy north of town to meet Russian advance
Russian infantry climb onto hill
Remainder of Russian corps continue to advance

Move 4 -1100 to 1200
Russians continue to advance
French artillery unlimber


Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
Second Russian infantry move on to hill
French gunners fire on cavalry, no casualties

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
Russian infantry advance along hill
French gunners hit on leading Russian brigade, who are shaken with 10% casualties
Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
French gunners hit leading Russian brigade again
Russian infantry fail morale and rout into supporting brigade
Supporting brigade are conscripts, also fail their morale and join rout

Russian Infantry Rout
With the loss of two of his three infantry brigades the Russian commander calls off the attack and orders a general retreat
 
Game Casualties
French lose no casualties
Russians lose 800 infantry

Game Summary
The Russians start the battle at a serious disadvantage
They attack with one infantry brigade absent on garrison duty
The French have all four infantry brigades present
In addition they have a strong defensive position
The direct approach to the town is through a narrow pass
The Russians send their infantry over the northern hills
Their cavalry and artillery deploy north of the pass
The leading Russian infantry brigade suffer 20% casualties and rout
The supporting brigade are conscripts, who join the rout