SHAKO II battle, Scenario #4: HOLDING ACTION

 I had not played on the tabletop for more than a month, since our UK trip and the opportunity to do a face-to-face with Martin Knight in Birmingham.

My youngest son was willing to take on a game, so I chose one from the Programmed Wargames Scenarios by Charles Stewart Grant, number 4: HOLDING ACTION.

We set the Russians as the blue force defenders and and a mix of French and Italio-Bavarians as the red force attackers.  Randomly we ended up with the 'middle' map for setting up on.

the Russian defenders had the two hills
with the road between them and the village

this little woods, out from the village,
would turn out to
be pivotal for both sides

initial deployment was concealed
from the attacking French player
(until visual, artillery fire or 18" command range)

French main body and right wing
following the advance guard

by turn three all forces were revealed

French advance guard and right wing columns

main body and left wing
(led by ADC)

these Russian Jagers would win the day
(though their loss eventually would prove
to be too many casualties for a victory)

Russian command had chosen a location
just a bit out of range of their 'second inspection'

meaning it took four turns to get a message
to that commander to start his attack against
the advancing French

Russians on the hill were outflanked
and outnumbered

French command held back, waiting to see if
the main body could break the hill fast enough

a quick strike by Russian dragoons managed
to eliminate 1/2 of a French advance guard
and push back the supporting French Dragoons

while not 'swept away' the Russian left wing
was going to retreat by turn 8

French artillery was now fully supported
and ready to blast out the village

by turn 8 the guns were 1/2 setup

the Russian second inspection was going
to have to cover the final retreat

the Russian first inspection had failed a morale
test and lost all of its artillery

Once again I had my 'second iPhone' on hand and doing
a time-lapse of the battlefield
here again presented with some music and a few notes

I wish everyone some game-filled summer months.