Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Napoleonic Scenario: Borodino, 1812

This is a scenario for my Empires at War rules but can easily be adapted for other rule sets.  This is a large scale game that scales the forces down to something a large 28mm Napoleonic collection can handle.  I also provide two versions - one that includes the fighting around Utitsa (Poniatowski's V Corps) and one that removes that part of the battle.  One could argue that the action around Utitsa isn't all that important to represent in the battle and that it is better to focus on the fighting for the "great redoubt" and the fleches.


The other benefit to removing the Utitsa part of the battle is you remove a large chunk of the non-French troops that fought in the battle - making it a little easier to achieve the forces necessary for the battle.  For the rest of the French force, it is really only difficult to not represent the Wurttemburg units - but I plan on using my Bavarian units to represent them (close enough).


The other consideration is the French guard.  They didn't take part in the battle, although there are opinions that they should have been sent it to secure a decisive victory.  I've included them as a reserve in the French OOB --- but once again, they are not necessary for achieving the forces necessary to play this scenario and frankly throw the forces involved a little over the top for the French side.  But, it is an option.

SCENARIO MAP

Below you will find the table layout and starting positions for all forces involved.

The table size is 20 feet by 6 feet if playing the full scenario.  If playing without the Utitsa section, the table is 16 feet by 6 feet.  Each small square on the map represents a 1 foot by 1 foot section.


Stream:  The stream is fordable at all points - counting as difficult terrain.

Victory Points:  Standard VPs apply, with the following additions:
  • Raevsky Redoubt
    +25 points for the French if in control of the Great Redoubt at the end of the game.  +10 points for the Russians if in control of the Great Redoubt at the end of the game.  If contested, +5 points for the French.
  • Fleches
    For each of the three small redoubts on the Fleches.  5 points for each held by the Russians at games end.  +10 points for each held by the French at games end.
  • Utitsa
    +15 points to the side in control of the town at games end.

RUSSIAN ORDER OF BATTLE


Army Command:  Kutuzov


1st West Army (Bennigsen)

Raevsky Redoubt
2 x Foot Artillery (Very Large)
(Combined from IV, V, VI, and VII corps)

II Corps (Baggovut)
4 x Musketeer
1 x Jager
1 x Foot Artillery

IV Corps (Tolstoy)
2 x Musketeer
1 x Jager
1 x Grenadier

V Corps (Constantine)
3 x Musketeer
1 x Jager
1 x Grenadier

VI Corps (Dokhturov)
3 x Musketeer
1 x Jager

I Cavalry Corps (Uvarov)
1 x Hussar
1 x Cossack

II Cavalry Corps (Korff)
1 x Dragoons
1 x Hussar
1 x Mounted Jager
1 x Horse Artillery

III Cavalry Corps (Korff)
1 x Uhlans
1 x Mounted Jagers

2nd West Army (Bagration)

VII Corps (Raevski)
3 x Musketeer
1 x Jager

VIII Corps (Borozdin)
3 x Grenadier
2 x Musketeer
1 x Jager
1 x Foot Artillery

IV Cavalry Corps (Sievers)
1 x Dragoons
1 x Uhlans
2 x Cuirassiers
1 x Horse Artillery

III Corps (Tuchkov)
3 x Grenadier

NOTE:
The grenadiers from III corps were detached to reinforce the fleches.  These units are held in reserve and can enter the game on turn 4+ via the designated table edge behind the fleches.

OPTIONAL:
If playing with the larger scope including Utitsa:

III Corps (Tuchkov)
2 x Musketeer
1 x Jager
1 x Opolchenie
1 x Cossack
1 x Foot Artillery

FRENCH ORDER OF BATTLE


Army Command:  Napoleon

I Corps (Davout)
12 x Line/Light Infantry
1 x Foot Artillery
1 x Chasseur a Cheval

III Corps (Ney)
7 x Line/Light Infantry
1 x Foot Artillery
2 x Wurttemburg Line Infantry
1 x Wurttemburg Light Infantry (Small)
1 x Wurttemburg Chevauxleger

NOTE:
For wargaming practicality, Bavarian's could be substituted for Wurttemburg units if your collection has Bavarian's but no Wurttemburg units.  Roughly speaking, the uniforms had several similarities.

IV Corps (Eugene)
8 x Line/Light Infantry
1 x Foot Artillery
1 x Bavarian Chevauxleger

VIII Corps (Junot)
5 x Line/Light Infantry
1 x Foot Artillery

I Cavalry Corps (Nansouty)
1 x Hussar
1 x Lancer
1 x Dutchy of Warsaw Uhlans
3 x Cuirassier
1 x Horse Artillery

II Cavalry Corps (Montbrun)
1 x Hussar
1 x Chasseur a Cheval
1 x Lancer
2 x Cuirassier
1 x Carabinier
1 x Horse Artillery

III Cavalry Corps (Grouchy)
3 x Dragoons
1 x Horse Artillery

IV Cavalry Corps (Latour-Maubourg)
1 x Zastrow Cuirassiers
1 x Saxon Guard du Corps

NOTE:
The heavy cavalry from IV corps was detached to support a renewed attack on the Raevksy Redoubt.  This detachment is held in reserve and can enter with VII corps on turn 3+ in the same area (between the Reavsky Redoubt and the Fleches).

OPTIONAL:
Guard formations are optional and if used, held in reserve (can enter start of Turn 4 onward at any point along the French side table edge)

Imperial Guard (Mortier)
1 x Old Guard Grenadier (Large)
1 x Old Guard Chasseurs a Pied (Large)
2 x Young Guard (Small)
2 x Vistula Legion (Dutchy of Warsaw)
1 x Old Guard Foot Artillery (Large)

Guard Cavalry (Bessieres)
1 x Grenadier a Cheval
1 x Empress Dragoons
1 x Guard Lancers
1 x Guard Chasseur a Cheval
1 x Les Mamelukes
1 x Gendarme d' Elite
1 x Guard Horse Artillery

OPTIONAL:
If playing with the larger scope including Utitsa:

V Corps (Poniatowski)
4 x Dutchy of Warsaw Line Infantry
1 x Dutchy of Warsaw Foot Artillery
1 x Dutchy of Warsaw Chasseur a Cheval 

IV Cavalry Corps (Latour-Maubourg)
1 x Dutchy of Warsaw Uhlans

12 comments:

  1. Impressive layout. 16 x 6 is a large table!

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    Replies
    1. Not as large as my Waterloo game, but stkll big :-)

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  2. I come from a family of four with all of them younger sisters, why oh why could I not have been blessed with you as a younger brother? What fun it would be!

    Your sharing of rules modifications, scenario ideas, and hobby sharing in general will just have to be good enough. Thanks Jay😎

    Cheers
    Kevin

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    Replies
    1. Lol, I have an older sister ... could add a brother :-) Of course, all you need to do is move to plague ridden California ...

      More to come, writting a post on how I determine OOBs for battles like this one.

      Thanks Kevin!

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  3. 20x6... another monster game lol! So when are you and guys playing out the scenario?

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    Replies
    1. 1/3 of the Russians are done, 1/3 in progress. Looking to run this in the new year ... really when COVID gets resolved since 4 players are not nearly enough for this game. Russians will be done by Jan/Feb, then I have everything done to run it.

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  4. The battle the french didn't loose and russiabs didn't win. Must have been a bloody mess...

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  5. How wonderful Jay. There is nothing like a game coming together after lots of planning, painting, collection, basing (ugh!) and research. Looking forward to following this closely. BTW i have a similar game on the go now with Austerlitz in 25mm so the madness is a global phenomenon.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Carlo! Funny, I'm just about done writting up my Austerlitz scenario as well, lol! With the Russians getting done, and my existing Austrians, I'll have what I need to run that scenario as well.

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  6. Looks very nice. We played something similar a long time ago. If I could change something it is with the IV Cavalry Corps. I would split it on two and add 1 more Uhlan unit. The Heavy cavalry should be closer to Davout's forces (in the real battle they charged the Great Redoubt) and Uhlans in the place where is your IV Corps, they supported Poniatowski's units.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! Great point, I'll need to adjust. Several formations got detached here and there, but hard to overlook the Saxon Guarde du Corps and Zastrow Cuirassiers attacking the redoubt. Off to update the map :-)

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