Battle Report: 18th April 1993 Late British Indian  ~vs~  Prussian (Robert Avery & Rupert Avery ~vs~ Nog Norgren & Richard Avery)

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Late British Indian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1 100 2inC 1 50 Infantry 1st/24th Bttn 40 8x5 RegB blr+ 520 98th Highlanders 40 8x5 RegB blr+ 520 Ghurka Bttn 40 8x5 LightsC blr 560 Cavalry Bengal Lancers 20 4x5 RegB s,blc,p,l   400 17th Lancers 16 4x4 RegA s,blc,p,l 360 Artillery Battery A 3 3x1 RegA medium blrb FA 405   Battery B 3 3x1 RegA light blrb HA   384 Naval Personality 1         25 Brigade Infantry 15 5x3 RegB blr   240 Gatling Gun 1 1x1 RegA hmg 104 Ammo Wagon 1 50 3718

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Prussian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points   CinC 1         100   2inC 1         50   Dresden Guards 48 4x12 RegA blr   664   Jaegers 48 4x12 LightsB blr   664   Line 48 4x12 RegC blr   520   Uhlans 24 4x6 RegA s,blc,l   496   Hussars 24 4x6 RegB s,blc   424   Battery A 3 3x1 RegA medium blrb HA   405   Battery B 3 3x1 RegA medium blrb FA   321   Ammo Wagon 1         50               3694

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. Late British Prussian Foot 2700 2880 Horse 720 960 Guns 14 12

Report The battle opened with an artillery duel: convincingly won by the British, who took a mere 45 minutes to wipe out one Prussian battery, and only another ½ hour to to destroy two thirds of the other, leaving the British with a 6:1 advantage. Faced by a slow death under artillery barrage, the Prussians advanced boldly: with the Jaegers, led by the 2inC, skirmishing fiercely with the 24th Foot. Both sides lay prone, and the Prussians negated the British advantage in range with a rapid advance. Meanwhile, the British began a hook around the Prussian left flank: which was anticipated by the Prussians who moved their line infantry and Uhlans to counter it. Knowing that it was merely a matter of time before the British guns began a slaughter, and seemingly unable to break the 24th Foot with the Jaegers, the Prussian CinC ordered the Guard forwards in a last ditch attempt to break the British line. Unfortunately, the British guns were ready: opening fire at short range and routing the Prussian Guard within 30 minutes. Defeated, the Prussian general conducted an orderly retreat. Casualties The British lost 218 24th Foot and 30 Ghurkas. The Prussians lost 306 Guards; 166 Jaegers; 5 guns and 65 line infantry. Results A win for the British. Analysis It must firstly be noted that luck was with the British for the duration of this battle: rolling consistently well, as the Prussians rolled consistently badly. Tactics were not wonderful on either side: with the British not taking advantage of their superiority in artillery until late in the battle and, quite frankly, being unable to make any headway with their right flank hooking force. The Prussians, also, never properly involved their line infantry and their cavalry and, although the Jaegers were used boldly, they just couldn’t do the necessary casualties against a prone target. Note that the retreat of the Prussians would have been orderly and efficient: with their superiority in cavalry keeping the British at bay. All in all, a good, if uninspiring battle, finished in 3 hours despite the large sides.