Bloody Big Battles Franco Prussian – Froeschwiller 8th Aug 1870
The terrain map was designed on Inkarnate and printed on a vinyl fabric as 6’ x 6’ (the battle area is still 6’ x 4’ leaving a foot either side to put map information. And just for this one deployment information as a trial to see if the text can be read – other maps I have designed miss the deployment information as I was not sure if the text would be too distracting). Terrain map basic layout courtesy of Mark Smith / Chris Pringle’s BBB Franco Prussian battle scenarios.
I find with 10mm figures the 2D maps are the easiest to manoeuvre bases and Mark / Chris’ maps and positions of terrain make all the difference in the battle. So cheap, easy to store. This map was taken straight out of its packaging and left on the table for a day before playing. Other maps I have taken the time to carefully iron out the creases from the back with a cool / steam iron and using a dish cloth to protect the vinyl.
In this map all the hills are STEEP shown as stone edges. With roads and the built up areas are TOWNS (with tiled roof buildings), and VILLAGES (shown as thatched buildings and crops) in approximately 3” x 4” rectangles. The STREAMS are passable with the standard penalties. Roads, woods are marked on the battle map.
Turn 1: Prussian Active player.
After the Prussians moved and the French defensive fire, Prussians offensive fire. The circles show the deployment and current position of the troops. The yellow circles indicate the Prussians, the red circles the French. I have added arrows to show the Prussian movement Hartmann sets up the BLA and the infantry moving out and through Langansulzbach to use the cover of the woods. Where Kirchbach is using the road and the protection of Woerth to support the right flank. There was a little exposure to the 0.5 MG, and two stands that fire on the units using the road. One unit the 6 S Trnd Ng failed to move (just out of the picture here – just on the table). Von Bose with a unit in Gunstett uses the town to block being shot at by the French in the South (left flank). In the exchange Hartmann’s BLA (just unlimbered to firing at ½ effect) the French RA was silenced and has retreated at the start of the French move (red dotted line).
We have played Froeschwiller several times and the French superiority in small arms fire requires the Prussians to carefully position themselves in cover. They never win in a small arms exchange with the French. The Prussians must resist the feeling to attack until they have several units ready to charge out. Forcing the French to distribute their fire across many targets. All too often the Prussians either go too early or too many units fail to activate with a NO MOVE or ½ MOVE which can be a disaster with all the steep hills and woods.
The rest of the battle report continues in part 2 and 3.
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