Monday, May 9, 2022

Marengo Campaign - Snappy Nappy Style

I had the good fortune to participate in this fabulous ten player, five table campaign style game, organised at the club by Darren.  Better still many of the figures in use were from my collection.  But best of all...

The map provided was indicative only and did not show the tables or their orientation.

The plan was as follows:
  • Victor (Steve B) and the II Corps (8 units) was to come down from St Gothart and head to Milan, threatening the Austrian supply lines.
  • Lannes (Graham) and the I Corps (12 units) including Duhesme (Curtis) was to head from Mont Cenis towards Alessandria and engage the Austrian main body which was believed to be in a central location.
  • Suchet (Andrew) with the Army of Italy (7 units) accompanied by the Napoleon (me) with the Reserve Corps (9 units) was to strike along the coast from Nice and relieve Genoa.
I am not sure what the table was called that we were on,
but we were just about to exit along what we hoped was the road to Genoa,
when we were informed a larger Austrian force had blocked out way.
Its size meant were pushed back on to our table.

We had completed five turns at this stage.

The Austrians (commanded by John) met with initial success.
Especially so when Suchet and Napoleon found they each had been allocated one unit each too many.
Whoops!

But after heavy fighting and some desperate but futile charges by the Austrians,
they were all but destroyed.
On to Genoa I thought.
I had received word that Victor was surrounded and that Lannes had also engaged the enemy.
With the other Austrian forces seemingly totally committed our way was clear.

This stage was reached after about another five turns.

Victor, having eluded the Austrians (Russel and Dave)
goes on to relieve Genoa

A quiet section of the campaign 
However I think the Austrians tried to follow Victor here on his way to Genoa.

Another quiet area of the campaign,
although I think Austrian forces dallied here and marched and counter marched

The I Corps area of operation.
They eventually destroyed all the Austrians here (under Stephen N's command).

Our success on the road from Nice to Genoa was rudely interrupted,
when even more Austrians (Carlo) arrived.
Ugly fighting on the table age 
was in the balance
but then
the bad news 
started
to pour in
for the 
poor
Austrian 
CinC

At this point we had completed about another four turns.

Fabulous simulation of the unknown.  Great fog of war, team work and simple rules created a great a game.  Winning was nice too :-)


4 comments:

  1. It was enormous fun wasn’t it Mark. Congratulations yo the French and their fearless leader Napoleon. I’ll get you next time mate😂. Darren DIC such a wonderful job on the day that’s for sure.

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    Replies
    1. The mix of player personalities also came to the fore, something that rules can not capture.

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  2. I always enjoy reading 'Snappy Nappy' accounts, and quite like the general look of the campaigning. Great stuff!

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    Replies
    1. Carlo has put up photos on the Facebook Napoleonic Wargaming group. There are also some on the NWS Facebook group. We should probably try and collect them on the NWS blog as well. Not sure if Darren has any other publishing ideas. He had planned to make a video, but was too busy umpiring on the day.

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