Borodino—more pictures

All great things come to an end and so it was with this game of Borodino. We pulled up stumps early afternoon today after three and a half great days of wargaming, camaraderie and humour!

The group was so welcoming and I really appreciated being able to join in such a mammoth game. Thanks to our wonderful hosts Jill and Tim and to all of the players (in alphabetical order) Andrew, Ben, Darren, Gary, Jenks, Jim, John, ’Kiwi’ Andrew, Malcolm, Paul, Peter, Robin, Tim, Tony and Quinny.

‘Rosbif’ and I will be working on a combined summary to put on his blog, so I’m gonna keep you all in ‘suspenders’ about the result!

In the meantime, here are a few selected pictures from Saturday’s and Sunday’s play.

Firstly in the south, Utitsa area

Next the centre-south, just north of Utitsa

On to the centre-north, near the redoubt

In the north, Borodino area

Overall table

Borodino—the morning

Thanks to those who commented on my first post about this game.

Your kind and encouraging comments are much appreciated by the players, members of the Nunawading Wargames Association (a wargames club based in Melbourne) whose game I have been kindly allowed to join as a player and observer.

Each January the Napoleonics group from the NWA gather to  hold a big, historical re-fight; this year’s game being based on Borodino.

The game is being played on a 24’ x 14 ‘ table. There is a central table that is 24’ x 4’ around which are ‘layers’ of 8’ x 2’ tables. These latter are on casters so can be wheeled in and out as need for game play, over-view of the battle—and photos!

The game is being played using the club’s own Cold Steel rules, an Empire successor set. These are battalion/regiment/battery scale rules with a figure scale of 1:60, ground scale of 1:100 and each turn representing approximately 15 minutes of real time. The game is being played using 1/72nd and 25/28 mm figures, all of which were painted by members of the club, most of them during the two-years of planning for the game.

You’ll also find some photos of the game on Ben ‘Rosbif’s’ blog.

At the end of the first full day of the game we are on schedule at the mid-point of the battle, the 11:45 turn.

After capturing the flêches by 07:15, the French-Allied attack in the centre petered out. While Ney and I and II Reserve Cavalry Corps consolidated their position—with much ‘skulking’ in the dead ground—the lead elements of Davout’s I Corps moved into the Utitsa woods to assist Poniatowski’s V Corps in the attack there.

Although they did produce the largest cavalry mêlée of the game so far.

In the north Eugène’s expanded IV Corps faced-off the Russians across the Kolocha until I, with “the bruiser” Broussier’s division was ordered to attack across the bridge to establish a bridgehead on the southern bank. Unfortunately the Russians had anticipated the move and the division was put into retreat by a combined-arms attack from Tim’s Russians. Fortunately they automatically rallied and are now ready to fight again!

Below are a few over-view photos of the battlefield as it stands. The ‘Borodino traffic-jam’, familiar to those who have played a game of this battle, is in evidence—such is the density of troops.

From the south, Utitsa at centre-left.

From the north, Borodino at right/centre-right.

Looking marvellous, n’est pas?

Borodino 201.5

Wargaming with the Vics

I have been fortunate to be able to join the fellas from the Nunawading Wargames Association at Drouin for their great big gaming weekend, which this year is The Battle of Borodino.

The game is the culmination of two year's of planning and painting by 18 members of the club. You may have read about the preparation for the game on Ben 'Rosbif's' blog. He has described his painting marathon to produce IV Corps, beginning in late 2012 all the way to New Year's Eve, including:
• French infantry
• Bavarian cavalry and,
• the entire corps in all its glory.

Now 16 of the 18 have gathered for three days when "too much wargaming is enough"; and I have been fortunate enough to be able to join in the fun.

It's now the end of the first day of play, well actually half-day, which included setting up the table and the first seven turns (15 minutes each). Once finished, Ben will do a complete write-up of the game on his blog, so I'll just be posting a few photos to whet your appetites.

 Here's the set-up, looking from the north, Ben's IV Corps in the right foreground 

 and from the south, Utitsa in the centre-left.

The battle began with Ney's III Corps and Davout's I Corps launching a combined attack on the flêches.

 This was more successful than expected.

But there are still many more troops from the Second Army of the West uncommitted,...

 the grand redoubt is untouched,...

 and the first Army of the West untroubled;

save for the loss of Borodino to Eugène's IV Corps: here showing Broussier's ("the bruiser's") division in the village with the rest of IV Corps to his left and Morand's and Gerard's divisions of I Corps in support.