Monday, December 7, 2020

Battle of Sagschutz, A Different Leuthen Scenario

 


Prussian cavalry, in the foreground, face off against the Austrian cavalry, in the background.


This weekend on the Virtual Wargames Club I was presenting photos of a Leuthen solo game that I played in 2016. Someone suggested that it might make an interesting game to focus on the attack of the Prussian Advance Guard on the Austrian left flank at Sagschutz. Agreeing that this sounds like a good scenario, I cleared off my game table and set up my winter terrain for the game.


 View  of the table set up.



In the back of my mind, I recalled that Charles Grant created just this scenario as part of a larger Leuthen game. I pulled my copy of Grant’s book, “Wargaming In History, Volume 4” from my bookshelf and thumbed my way through the book until I found the outline for a Sagschutz scenario.

The Austrian forces are as follows:

6 battalions of infantry (4btns start on the table, 2 btns arrive on subsequent turns)

7 squadrons of cavalry( 1 squadron starts on-table and the rest arrive on turn 4)

1 cannon


The Prussian forces are as follows:

9 battalions of infantry ( 6 btns start on table and 3 more btns are off-table, en echelon)

13.5 squadrons of cavalry

8 cannon (4 guns are on-table)


Scenario Tweaks:

I gave the Austrians 5 btns of line infantry and one btn of Croats, all deployed on the table. I also placed all of the Austrian cavalry on the table to start the game.

For the Prussians, I gave Wedel’s advance guard 3 btns and another three battalions comprised the next brigade of Prussians, deployed en echelon to the left of Wedel’s command. A third brigade of 3 battalions start the game on table, but they will probably not be used in the game. In other words, I really am focusing on the Advance Guard attack.

I reduced the number of Prussian guns to 2 light battalion guns and 2 giant 12-pound Brummers, for a total of 4 guns.


The cavalry action is largely separated from the infantry attack on Sagschutz by a screen of woods that divides the table. Thus there will be four players per side, each having one infantry and one cavalry player per side.

Here are some pictures of the table set up:


Prussian Garde du. Corps leads the Prussian cavalry attack.


Austrian cavalry.







12 comments:

  1. That is one fantastic looking game. Your winter scenery really looks cold!

    Nicely done, Jim

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  2. Beautiful looking table again Jim. I too love the winter look.

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  3. Very evocative of a cold European winter.

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  4. It looks great.....and cold, and you've beaten me to it! Playing this on Saturday with a bit of luck

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    Replies
    1. You more or less gave me the idea during our VWC meeting. 😎

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  5. I assume the mighty Prussian military machine won?

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  6. I do not think anyone can put on a more beautiful shame that captures the feels by if the actual battle. Brilliant!

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  7. Looks absolutely brilliant, I love your Winter effects

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  8. Looks superb. Can't beat massed cavalry can you?

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  9. May I ask what rules you used? As with all your games it looks fantastic.

    John

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  10. Spectacular game and absolutely stunning snow terrain!
    Regards, James

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