SYW - Gaming "Battle of Leuthen" - A total demolition of the Austrian forces

Manufacturers:   FrontRank, CrusaderMiniatures, WargamesFoundry, DreispitzMiniatures

Scale:   28mm

Hi,

Today´s post is about our big battle we have fought on Father´s day - or as we call it -  "Kriegsvatertag".

We have been seven guys parted into four guys playing the Austrians and another three guys playing the Prussians. That was exactly the number of brigades the certain army had on its Order of Battle.

The setup was that the Austrians already had been placed awaiting the corps of Bevern in their front. They thought the Prussian attack would come from straight ahead. But the main Prussian force started its attack on the left Austrian flank and rolled up the Austrian battalions. The first move was given to the Prussians and the Austrians only had been allowed to react after the appearance of the Prussians on their left flank.

It was interesting how the Austrians would manage to swing their right flank and to bring it into position to be able to fight against the Prussian thread.

It was a desaster for the Austrian players. We rolled horribly and lost a lot of regiments. So after about six hours of fighting the army morale had gone and the outcome was a decisive victory for the Prussians.

A very nice game and though it was hard to play the Austrians we would like to replay this battle soon.

For more information here are some links. The first one is dedicated to the sites of  https://kronoskaf.com/ dealing with the battle of Leuthen. The other links will take you to YouTube where I found some nice music and movie extracts concerning the battle.

https://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=1757-12-05_-_Battle_of_Leuthen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvKVUqIc2yw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSkhMH12Q3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAAIvqTPRg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEl669OwRhI&t=584s

One highlight surely is an extract of the old movie "Der Choral von Leuthen" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0aQPZ4wbqs

And here are the photos of our own fought battle. Hope you like them.

Cheers

Mike

A photo taken at the height of the battle.

The King´s speech to his Generals at the evening before the battle.

The map of our scenario.

The Prussian Order of Battle

The Corps of Bevern

The Corps of Zieten and Forcade. This is not how they started. The troops had to appear by activation. They had only been placed on the table for a photo.

The Austrian Order of Battle

The Corps of Lucchese

The forces of Kheul

The Brigade of Colloredo

Nadasdy´s force on the left flank. They will be the first to get in contact with the Prussians.

The setup for the game. The Austrians have taken their positions and guess that the enemy in front of them will be chrushed soon. But it is only the brigade of Bevern. In the background - two of the comrads playing the Prussians, Christopher (aka "Axebreaker") and Mirko.

The main force of the Prussians will appear on the left flank of the Austrians. First of all three regiments of cavalry are coming up. Another three regiments of cavalry are kept in reserve.

The Austrians react on the Prussian attack and try to turn their forces to the enemy.

The Austrians are on their way.

The cavalry of the Austrians tries to catch Bevern´s cavalry in its flank.

The Prussian infantry appears on the left flank to support the cavalry of Zieten.

Bevern´s force is awaiting the reaction of the Austrians.

Fierce cavalry fight on the left flank. Nadasdy´s corps attacks the cavalry of Zieten ...

... and looses the fight. The Austrian Cuirassiers are routing due to heavy losses.

Meanwhile the Austrian cavalry of Lucchese is very close to the flank of Bevern´s corps. Just a single movement action will cause a heavy fight with heavy losses to the outflanked Prussian cavalry.

The infantry battalions of Kheul are also coming closer to Bevern´s corps.

Before the Austrian cavalry is able to crush into the flank of the Prussian cavalry the Prussians manage to turn ...

... and start an attack on the Austrians ...

... with an disastrous outcome for the Austrians. The first regiment of Cuirassiers is wiped out while the Prussians losses are minimal. Seems to become a bad day for the Austrian cavalry loosing their combats on both flanks.

On the left flank the Prussian infantry moves into position.

First firefights of the infantry.

And on the right flank Bevern´s cavalry causes another Austrian cavalry regiment to retreat.

But they get support by the Austrian artillery and the second regiment of the Prussian cavalry has to fall back. The first Prussian regiment suffered 50% of its strength and is now without support. This could be the chance for the next Austrian cavalry attack.

The Prussian infantry is coming closer.

The Austrian corps of Kheul is coming to support the Austrian cavalry on the right flank.

The Austrian cavalry is newly formed up. But they have been too slow. The Prussians had been able to rally their troops and also to form up.

A view on the complete table.

The next cavalry fight on the right flank Only one out of four Austrian cavalry regiment is left and faces a decimated regiment of Prussian hussars. The second regiment of Prussian hussars had to retreat but could rally again.

The Austrian cavalry on the left flank lost a regiment of hussars and the Cuirassiers are still routing. The Prussian cavalry starts an attack on the Austrian decimated infantry. And - the Prussian reserve also appears on the battlefield - another three regiments of cavalry.

The left flank of the Austrians is weakened more and more.

The regiment of Prussian hussars that had to retreat managed to stop their routing and also rallied some squadrons. This happened about three times during the battle. It was like fighting against undead.

Bevern´s artillery.

Maria Theresia will not be amused by the outcome of this battle.

Kheul´s infantry is the only Austrian corps without any losses and still has not fired any volleys yet as it had no chance to get in range. Only Kheul´s artillery managed to fire at the Prussians so far.

Now it could be the hour of the Austrian cavalry getting into melee with the Prussian hussars and to wipe them out.

The first (and only) success for the Austrian cavalry - and the first eliminated regiment of the Prussians.

But the left flank is totally overrun by the Prussians. The army morale of the Austrians had to be tested and due to heavy losses they failed the test. The battle was over and the outcome had been a decisive victory for the Prussians.