Monday 8 July 2019

1866 Austrians and Allies take on Prussians and their Allies

Finally got around to having the game with Jack and Bob that I threatened.  Way too many figures but an opportunity to show them to Jack who hadn’t seen them before, despite making a number of the moulds for me.

It started as a game using Black Powder but quickly degenerated into more of a chatting match.  After Jack had his second glass of Shiraz and a bacon sandwich and we discussed which of us was going to get to the pearly gates first this just turned into a photo shoot opportunity.  So lots of pictures not much text but we enjoyed ourselves which was all that mattered.

On the Prussian left flank is a brigade of light and heavy cavalry consisting of Hussars, Uhlans and Cuirassiers



 
The next to them a brigade of Allied troops from Oldenburg, Mecklenburg, Lippe and Saxe Coburg


 The centre is made up of Prussian infantry supported by artillery



On the right is another allied brigade of troops from Brunswick, Bremen and Waldeck


On the extreme right is another Brigade of cavalry consisting of 2 regiments of Prussian Dragoons and Dragoons from Mecklenburg and Oldenburg. 
  

 The Austrians had a mixed force of Austrian. Bavarians, and Wurtemburgers supported by troops from Nassau, Saxony, Scheswig Menningan, Baden and Hesse Kessel.  On the right was a mixed brigade of cavalry with Austrain Uhlans, Bavarian Cuirassiers and Light dragoons and Hesse Kessel Hussars.
 





Supported by Wurtettemburgers and Bavarians  in the centre and the Austrians on the left flank.






 Jack and Bob plot the Prussian strategy. Which quickly goes to pot as Jack never seeing the opportunity to wait with his cavalry launches a frontal assault on the Austrian artillery and Jagers on the hills to his front.

  



The Mecklenburgh Hussars charge the Austrian artillery.  Needless to say they are driven away.







 The same is true for the first regiment of dragoons who are charging up hill into the Austrian Jagers.




A lot of head scratching about what to do next.  Withdraw the remaining cavalry or plough on!   This is of course Jack and retiring isn't part of his vocabulary so they charge on!


 In the centre the Prussian infantry brigades advance



The Prussian artillery enjoy some success routing an Austrian regiment


 Poor Austrian artillery allows the Oldenburg Hussars to charge home routing the gunners but at the same time running into the Austrian cavalry brigade who drive them back.



 The second regiment of Prussian Dragoons also enjoy success with some pitiful rifle fire failing to stop them they rout the Jagers.



Jack celebrates this brief cavalry victories.


In the centre the Bavarians close on their Prussian enemy.


 The Prussian regiments form a formidable firing line 



The second glass of Shiraz slows the thought process!



The Bavarians quickly try to counter the Prussian firing line.



The combined allied cavalry of the right finally get moving and charge the Prussian Hussars who are put to flight
 


 The Austrian allies and Prussians firing line grows in length.  Unfortunately, the actual firing ranges from feeble to pathetic and even the extra boost given to the Prussians fails to have any effect.




Another Prussian Hussar Regiment is put to flight.





 Even at close range the firing is hopeless



 The Brunswickers and Bremen infantry rush to join the fray.


 Still the deadlock goes on.   The Austrians throw the last of their allied reserves into the firing line but still both sides remain locked in a series of hopeless firing throws and good saving dice



At this point and with 2 glasses of Shiraz and a bacon sandwich having an effect we decided to call it a day.

15 comments:

  1. Great looking game and great company .

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    1. It was fun. Jack was on form and his hearing aids were working so no 'post it notes', shouting or Semaphore!!

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  2. Looks and sounds like a fun day! And every bit as colorful as Napoleonics.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

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    1. Hi Stokes
      Thanks for posting. I showed the blog to Jack today and the comments and he was really pleased. Normally it is coffee and cakes, but I mentioned Shiraz thinking that as a Merlot man Jack wouldn't want one so when the first glass disappeared more or less before we got far into the game and a second coffee was substituted for a second Shiraz you knew it was going to be a fun time!

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  3. Replies
    1. Thanks for posting Jonathan, glad you liked it.

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  4. Splendid sir...
    A great looking game with lovely toys and great company.


    All the best. Aly

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    1. Hi Aly it was good fun and Jack was on form. The hearing aids were working so no shouting 'roll the dice Jack'!

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  5. A lovely looking game and fine collection. Providing Shiraz sounds a great part of any commanders battle plan :-)

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    1. Well normally I only give Jack coffee. But after coffee and a cake he mentioned a glass of red and then the smell of bacon cooking wafted upstairs and he decided on a sandwich and another glass which combined to make it a very enjoyable time.

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  6. Allan, that was not only brilliantly funny but also a wonderful photographic tribute to one of the best and most original collections of toy soldiery on the planet. Just saying
    Best regards
    WM

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    1. Hi, what can I say by comparison with you brilliantly painted HH figures these are modest. Really pleased you like the limited commentary and the pictures.

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  7. What a fantastic assembly of toy soldiers and wonderful photos too!

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    1. Hi Stryker glad you liked the picture. They did look rather fine when they were all on the table.

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  8. Very entertaining, ABC, and very well photographed.
    Best regards
    WM

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