Thursday 9 July 2015

Brunswicks stand against the French at Quatre Tres - Part One

The Duke looks on as the French commence their deployment.  Great figure from Perry Miniatures.

Following on from the great success of the Waterloo Battle Day at the club I was determined to continue to strike whilst the iron was hot with my youngest son's new found enthusiasm for Napoleonics.

My oldest lad Ben has always enjoyed his Peninsular games against me however the complexities and details somehow had not quite enamoured Alex to the period.  All this changed with him commanding some artillery and cavalry in the clubs big day when he saw the spectacle and colour of the period.  Haven't we all been there ourselves in the past?

He had seen my Brunswickers in the cabinets and thought that the black uniforms had just the right amount of "cool" for him to take the mantle as the new Black Duke and battle my newly based French.


Quick snapshot of the set-up. 

We decided to play this on a Wednesday night at the club during the school holidays.  This would allow for a later than usual bedtime for growing lads and the old man!  Therefore the scenario was to be reasonably simple with out too many strategic complexities for the young Brunswick commanders and the odds stacked slightly in their favour.  Quatre Tres was devised as a simple encounter battle.

We do need them to want to come back for me now don't we.

The Brunswickers were tasked with defending an important village from advancing elements of D'Erlons I Corps.


Rear view of my newly based Perry French

The battle woud also provide me with the opportunity to finally play French for a change.  I have been accumulating painted Perry Plastics and metals for over eight years and have not based the infantry due to ebryone at the club having French!  They all know I have the opposition so its a fix-up of epic proprtions.

Ben enjoys his British and Alex now likes the allies, namely these Brunswick fellows, so I may finally get my wish and play the frogs a bit more.

View of the far French Brigade

Brunswick Light Battalions in defence mode with Molls artillery on the hill

Perry Brunswickers.  I remember picking up the metal from Alan and Michael at the Jerusalem pub and
having a pint with them as if it was yesterday.  Here the 3rd Lights defend the hedge line

Supporting columns and artillery.  The 2nd Lights and Molls Foot Battery.

7th Hussars in the correct 1815 uniform mind you - they would provide purely a diversionary
role in this battle.  Long range artillery target as well!
The church and its surrounds defended by the 3rd Brunswick line battalion

The old stables defended by Brunswick line troops with Hussars and Uhlans in support

 

French Legere advance through the wheatfields

French Foot artillery prepare to open fire.

Buttlers Brigade to the right of the old Church.   The 2nd Line in cover, 1st Line at the Wheatfields and the Lieb Garde behind them.  Good defensive position chosen by the young commanders

The old wily French commander orders his columns forward - victory is a certainty...surely 

Brunswick 3rd Light battalion advancing at the trail

 
The view from the supporting Brunswicker cavalry brigade

Marcognet looks on as the French infantry advance on all fronts

So the scene is set.

Brunswick troops of dubious quality in a sound defensive position commanded by a novice Napoleonic Commander and his older brother.

Up against them the wily French Divisional commander with good troops and loads of experience.

What could possibly go wrong mon amie?

20 comments:

  1. Beaut little game there Carlo. I envy you you're special Dad/Son activities - alas, I doubt my girls will ever take to wargaming. I'd probably worry about them if they did. I especially like some of those set terrain pieces. AND good on you for maintaining the Napoleonic rage. My next game may not be until October but it will be Napoleonics again. I'm painting little else at the moment.

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    1. Thanks Greg - yes very lucky indeed mate. I am sure Grant is trying the same thing with his lads as well! The games are always fun and I have been busy hitting the rules again to make sure I don't pass on any bad interpretations. Hopefully many, many more to come mate.

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  2. A great post all around Carlo. Great figures and scenery and great to bring on the young men. I remember bringing on my young man. At first I was blighted by his uncanny knack with the dice, Now I'm blighted by his uncanny knack with manoeuvre, placement etc!

    "What could possibly go wrong" indeed.

    Salute
    von Peter himself

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    1. Thanks Peter - never a truer word spoken. Ben is naturally a cautious general as you will see in subsequent posts whilst Alex is learning that the patience of his bother us not always a bad thing. Young gamers sometimes feel they need yo be moving everything all the time however they are learning that sometimes less is more!

      I am really enjoying this though buddy.

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  3. Terrific looking setup, Carlo and extra-special to have you share you enjoyment of wargaming with your sons. Excellent.
    As for the game, I think the wily French commander may have them right where he wants them. Maybe...

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    1. Cheers Jonathon - very enjoyable with the young ones that's for sure. Oh I love your optimism mate ...it can lead yo so many false dawns in terms of thus battle let me assure you 😃

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  4. Carlo,

    Wonderful game/terrain and figures enhanced by Family members participating.

    Regards
    John

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    1. Thank you John - it certainly adds an interesting command HQ dynamic when brothers are deciding who is in command!

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  5. Great looking game Carlo and good to see those hedges are still getting use

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    1. Thanks Nathan - still the best hedges you can get mate:-)

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  6. Wonderful looking game! Great painting and scenery.

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    1. Thanks you Mark. Always good to have the Brunswickers out for a rumble.

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  7. Very impressive looking game; mass quantities of great looking troops and nice terrain.

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    1. Thanks Dean. We tried to keep the troop numbers down to reasonable levels for a Wednesday night game but even then, there is close to 700 figures on the table. Excellent!!

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  8. Very nice looking game and the Brunswickers certainly do look "cool". Your lads are very lucky to be able to play with such a smart set-up. I could never get my son interested in horse and musket games. Though he would do the odd FIW or Darkest Africa skirmish he liked anything with wheels and machinery and explosions....probably why he is now an engineer! Good luck keeping them interested.
    Chris

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    1. Thanks Chris - very fortunate all round I think as they gave access to figures I would only dream if their age. However the subtle tactical immersion over the years has started to take root!!

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  9. Brilliant Carlo, what a beautiful game with stunning figures and terrain!!!

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    1. Thank you Paul - always nice to get the lads out for a rumble mate. This game was great fun.

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  10. A great looking game with beautiful minis Carlo, and great photos as well...

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    1. Thank you Phil - the game was sensational fun. Something about 28mm Napoleonics which is quintessentially wargaming for me.

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