venerdì 6 settembre 2019

Battle of Saguntum (scenario)

For my next battle using the Grande Armee rules I chose Saguntum, again taken from here. I wanted to try the rules again, and add the rally rules in. I'll also switch and test FPGA-style skirmish fire, with both sides rolling a die and adding the Sk factor. Whoever has the higher results inflicts 1 SP loss to the other. If result is a draw, nothing happens. If one side is beyond range (like Sk1 engaged at Sk2 range) or has Sk0, it will not inflict SP losses on the opposing unit even if it rolls higher.

This time I needed very few modifications to the existing scenario. Under my rules modifications, I thought that Loy's cavalry (for the Spanish) couldn't really attack if it had only 1SP as in the scenario, so I merged both cavalry units in Zayas' command as a single 3SP Trained cavalry unit, which would also make them behave more historically anyway.

The Battle of Saguntum in 1811 was a small but important clash between Suchet's forces (which were besieging Saguntum) and Blake's relieving forces. Blake was defeated and the town surrendered soon after.


Scenario general info:
1. Basic Length: 6 turns.
2. Weather is Normal (with no variation). Ground is Hard.
3. See original scenario for terrain effects: Streams count as obstacles. Horse may not enter the Carob groves which are all land to the NE of the streams between the Expeditionary Corps and the French except for a 3" area along the Valencia- Saguntum road. Horse may not enter any upland area.
4. Both armies set up simultaneously, as indicated on the scenario map.
5. Morale of the French Army is Confident. Its Break Point is 3.
6. Morale of the Spanish Army is Shaky. Its Break Point is 4.

Scenario map:



French Army
Army Commander: Marshal Suchet (Good)
This is a Napoleonic Army of 2 Forces

Left Wing (L): Suchet 1 / 12"
1/L Hebert's Brigade                    Trained   9SP   Sk2
2/L Harispe's Division                 Veteran   9SP   Sk2
3/L St.Paul's Italian Brigade        Trained   6SP   Sk2
1C/L Cuirassiers                          Veteran   3SP
2C/L Dragoons                            Trained   2SP

Right Wing (R): Chlopiski (V) 1 / 12"
1/R Poles                                     Elite        6SP   Sk2
2/R Robert's Brigade                   Trained   8SP   Sk2
C/R Italian Horse                         Veteran   2SP

Spanish Army
Army Commander: Blake (Average)
This is a Traditional Army of 3 Forces

Expeditionary Corps (E): Zayas (V) 2 / 9" Aggressive
1/E Zayas' Division                      Veteran   8SP   Sk1
2/E Lardizabal's Division             Veteran   7SP   Sk1
3/E Velasco's Valencians             Raw        5SP
C/E Loy's and Caro's Cavalry      Trained   3SP
1A/E 4-pdr Horse Arty
2A/E 4-pdr Horse Arty

Valencian Corps (V): O'Donnell 3 / 5" Aggressive
1/V Miranda's Division                 Raw        6SP
2/V Villacampa's Division             Raw        6SP
3/V Obispo's Division                   Raw        6SP
C/VSan Juan's Horse                   Raw        4SP
A/V 4-pdr Horse Arty

Murcian Corps (M): Mahy 4 / 3" Aggressive
1/M Creach's Brigade                   Raw       3SP
2/M Montijo's Brigade                   Raw       4SP
A/M 4-pdr Horse Arty


This isn't an easy battle for the Spanish to win. Only a few units are veterans and reliable, while the rest is of low or very low quality, with their Raw quality meaning they are unlikely to recover once routed. They also have a difficult command situation, even if the "Aggressive" status of their Sub-Commanders (which in this battle means they are prone to follow their attack battle plan) helps move them forward even in face of few CPs. Suchet instead will have little or no problem in controlling his higher quality forces.

Cavalry is very limited in numbers and strength for both sides. Yet its ability to interdict skirmishers (especially for the Spanish versus the French), threaten infantry flanks and face opposing cavalry trying to do the same may prove vital for both sides. In the end, this is a fairly small scenario that lends itself well to being used for introducing new players (in this case, just let them use the French!).

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