Like many wargamers, we are observing the bicentennial years of the Napoleonic wars by conducting games based on battles that occurred in each year. As our group only came into existence in late 2010, we began doing this in 2011 with battles from 1811.
2011 : 1811
The year 1811 was a relatively quiet one in the Napoleonic wars, with the exception of the long-running Peninsular War. We chose what we consider to be two of the more closely-fought and interesting battles from 1811 on which to base wargames scenarios; Albuera and Fuentes de Oñoro. In fact we thought that they were so good that we did them twice!
Links to the reports of these games (which appear elsewhere on this blog) are given below.
Fuentes de Oñoro 3rd–5th May, 1811 (version 1)
Fuentes de Oñoro 3rd–5th May, 1811 (version 2)
Albuera, 16th May 1811 (version 1)
Albuera, 16th May 1811 (version 2)
2012: 1812
The Russian Campaign of 1812 was the beginning of the end for the Napoleonic Empire. We planned games based on several of the battles of this monumental campaign, including the great, terrible Battle of Borodino.
Plans for 2012
Preparation for Borodino
It's gonna be a BIG game!
Russian production line
Terrain making 1
Terrain making 2
Terrain finished
Setting-up the table
Looking at the troops in detail
Borodino church: scratch-built
Musical inspiration
The Borodino files: designing our scenario
Preparation for Borodino
It's gonna be a BIG game!
Russian production line
Terrain making 1
Terrain making 2
Terrain finished
Setting-up the table
Looking at the troops in detail
Borodino church: scratch-built
Musical inspiration
The Borodino files: designing our scenario
7th September 1812
7th September 1812
7th September 1812The Grand Redoubt
24th October 1812
Battle of Maloyaroslavets—first attempt
Battle of Maloyaroslavets—revised scenario
2013: 1813
Napoleon's last campaign in Germany provides a vast selection of games for Napoleonic wargamers, particularly Leipzig: the Battle of Nations.
Battle of Lützen—part 1
Battle of Lützen—part 2 summary and in pictures
21st–22nd May 1813
Battle of Bautzen, Second Day—part 1
Battle of Bautzen, Second Day—part 2
2014 : 1814
The campaign of 1814 is considered by many to be Napoleon's finest. Faced with overwhelming odds and limited resources of men and materiel, he kept the armies of his adversaries at bay, inflicting several defeats on them, particularly in the famous six-days campaign. We have already played one game based on a battle from 1814 and have many others planned for the bicentennial in 2014.
The campaign of 1814 is considered by many to be Napoleon's finest. Faced with overwhelming odds and limited resources of men and materiel, he kept the armies of his adversaries at bay, inflicting several defeats on them, particularly in the famous six-days campaign. We have already played one game based on a battle from 1814 and have many others planned for the bicentennial in 2014.
Links to the reports of these games (which appear elsewhere on this blog) are given below.
Links to the reports of these games (which appear elsewhere on this blog) are given below.
11th February 1814
Battle of Montmirail
Battle of Montmirail
2015 : 1815
The campaign of the Hundred Days which ended in perhaps the most well known battle of the Napoleonic Wars; Waterloo.
18th June 1815
Action at Plancenoit
Battle of Waterloo: part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4