La Bataille De Montebello
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
La Bataille de Montebello Règlements Exclusif Pour les Règlements de l’An XXX et Les Règlements des Marie Louises Copyright © 2013 Clash of Arms Dec 1, 2013 Rules marked with an eagle or are shaded with a grey background apply only to players using the Règlements de l’An XXX. All rules herein take precedence over any rules in the series rules which they may contradict. 1.0 INTRODUCTION La Bataille de Montebello (Casteggio) is a tactical Napoleonic game of the battle that was fought on 9 June 1800, between French advanced guard under GdD Lannes and Austrian rear guard under FML Ott. Napoleon's capture of Milan on 2 June found the Austrian army separated into three major and several minor concentrations. GdK Melas held Turin with 18,000 men; FML Peter Ott's 16,000 troops remained near Genoa where they secured the surrender of GdD André Masséna's starving garrison on 4 June, while FML Anton von Elsnitz with 8,000 soldiers retreated from the Riviera, in front of GdD Soult’s forces. To the east of Milan, FML Josef Philipp Vukassovich had 4,000 men. South of the Po River, FML Andreas O'Reilly von Ballinlough marched east toward Piacenza with 3,000 men. Strong garrisons manned the fortresses of Alessandria, Coni and Casale. Melas believed he had plenty of time to mass his army and launch a counter-offensive north from Piacenza. GdD Jean Lannes moved south from Milan with his corps, seizing Pavia on 3 June and being initially repulsed by Piacenza's tiny 400-man garrison. In a series of operations on 6 June, Generals of Division Joachim Murat and Jean Boudet ferried their troops across the Po to the east of Piacenza while Lannes crossed the Po to the west of the city. Murat then overran Piacenza while Lannes pushed O'Reilly back to the west. These actions placed French forces directly on the main Austrian line of communication between Alessandria and Mantua in the strategic Stradella defile. Meanwhile, Murat captured a set of Austrian dispatches that disclosed that Genoa had fallen. Confronted with a new situation, Napoleon issued orders to press the Austrians. On 7 June, Ott's column was marching north from Genoa. Ott's corps reached Voghera at 8 pm on 8 June to join O'Reilly. A patrol reported French troops to the east. Ott directed O'Reilly with six infantry battalions and four cavalry squadrons to defend the village of Casteggio on the main east- west highway, to cover the withdrawal to Allesandria of the army’s artillery train. Meanwhile, the French army became overextended. Believing that his enemies could not be in strength, Napoleon sent a note to Lannes, "If troops should present themselves between Voghera and Stradella let them be attacked without caution; they are, certainly, fewer than 10,000 men." Lannes planned to continue marching west. This would bring his 8,000 men into contact with Ott's Kolonne of 18,000. 2.0 RULES QUESTIONS Check the La Bataille forum at Consimworld: http://www.consimworld.com. 3.0 GAME COMPONENTS A complete game of La Bataille de Motebello includes the following components: 1. One 25” x 16” map 2. A lot of counters 3. Two Series Rules books (Règlements de l’An XXX, et la Règlements des Maries Louises) 4. One Exclusive Rules Book 5. Charts and tables 6. Two organizational displays 7. Game Turn Record Track 8. Terrain Effects Chart 3.1 Change of Scale La Bataille Montebello is at a scale of 140m per hex and 30 minutes per turn. This affects mainly the default stacking values. 4.0 TERRAIN 4.1 Rivers and Streams 4.1.1 The Coppa stream (river) May ony be crossed at Bridges and the Ford (when discovered). 4.1.2 All other Streams are very deep following recent heavy rain and were difficult to cross by formed troops. Formed infantry and cavalry crossing streams are disordered. Artillery may only cross using bridges & fords. 4.1.3 Bridges: Combat units may Assault or Charge across a bridge/ford, but the following conditions apply. The assaulting unit may not make an Offensive Fire Attack during the Assault Procedure. Only one infantry battalion/regiment or cavalry regiment may Assault or Charge across a bridge hexside per turn. Infantry must be in Column (Battalion Masse) when assaulting across a bridge. Cavalry units must be in Column in order to Charge across a bridge. La Bataille de Montebello Infantry subtracts 6 from its Roll to Close dice roll, when assaulting across a bridge. 1 Cavalry units multiply their Mêlée Value by /3 as if the cavalry was attacking into General Order. 4.1.4 Discovering a Coppa Ford. The 12e Hussars or any Légère Infantrie may attempt to discover a new ford across the Coppa. A die roll may be made each turn and on a 5 or 6 a ford is discovered. Only one new ford may be discovered. Note: The Austrianss do not appear to have notice the discontinuos road north of Casteggio which clearly indicated a possible ford. 4.2 Visibility and Artillery Ricochet Note: Across some of the battlefield the corn in the fields was nearly 6ft high, and in between there were vineyards where vines had been trained over frames, and there were thick hedges bordering the roads. The maximum range of all artillery fire is 4 hexes. There is no artillery ricochet as a result of the very wet ground. NOTE: Artillery Ricochet only applies to the Règlements de l’An XXX. 4.3 Slopes 4.3.1 Steep Slopes There are many steep slopes south of the main road. Steep Slopes are only traversable by Infantry Skirmishers, Personalities and Routed Infantry. Trails through steep slopes have a movement penalty. 4.3.2 Slopes Slopes affect all movement unless the unit is on a road / trail and in Road Order. 4.4 Castle / Farm There was an old castle in Casteggio, and a strongly built stone farm complex at Casa il Giardina. Only infantry may enter the castle / Casa hexes. No more than 6 increments or one batallaion/regiment may defend the hex. No more than 6 increments may be considered for melee combat. 4.5 General Order The following terrain requires formed units to enter General Order when entering: Town / Farmette Brush 4.5.1 Infantry units in farmette hexes have all-round facing. 4.6 Depots French: The road east to Piacenza. Austrian: The road west.to Allesandria 4.7 Terrain and Artillery Ricochet There is no artillery ricochet as a result of the very wet ground. NOTE: Artillery Ricochet only applies to the Règlements de l’An XXX. 5.0 COMMAND The Organization and Display Charts reveal the command structure of the armies. Refer to them as necessary. 5.1 French Command Points: The French receive a CP for Lannes & Napoleon. MU Size: The largest MU which the French may create is an Infantry Corps (with attached cavalry regiment). Leader Casualties: If Lannes is killed Victor replaces him (and generates a CP). If Napoleon is killed Victor replaces him (but does not generate a CP). Artillery Leaders of Special Ability: Napoleon, Marmot. o Marmot’s Brigrade may contain any artillery batteries attached from any other formations. Initally it consists of the two Guard Infantry batteries and Lanne’s and Victor’s Corps Batteries. NOTE: Special Abilities only applies to the Règlements de l’An XXX. Any French leader in a town / farm may generate a local MU and may place his subordinate formations in command. 5.2 Austrians Command Points: The Austrians receive a CP for Ott; before Ott enters O’Reilly has a CP. Note 1: MU Size: The largest MU the Austrians may create is a Division of Infantry including attached Cavalry Regiment. (O’Reilly’s Division includes a cavalry brigades so requires 2 MU’s) Leader Casualties: If Ott is killed O’Reilly replaces him. There are no Austrian Leaders of Special Ability: NOTE: Special Abilities only applies to the Règlements de l’An XXX. La Bataille de Montebello 5.3 Random Events Table A die roll is made at the start of each turn, starting at 11:30. If the Zach stops Ott event is rolled on the turn that Ott arrives, his arrival is delayed one turn. Random events Table 1 Zach realises Ott has no reserves, 1CP 4 Thunderstorms 2 Ott attacks French weakness, 2CP 5 Coppa Fords flooded 3 Lannes attacks Austrian Weakness, 2CP 6 Delay reinforcements (no die rolls this turn) The Thunderstorm events may occur only once, see Exclusive Rule 6.6. Zach realises Ott has no reserves: If there is not a whole Brigade of Infantry in Motebello in General Order (to obver the retreat) then a Brigade is chosen ar random, and the 1 CP, must be given to the this brigade. Note: Zach summised that Ott was facing Napoleon’s whole army and recommended an immediate and speedy withdrawal. 5.3.1 All units move at fastest speed towards Montebelo Village (and advent orchard). 5.3.2 Any units in ZOI take a die roll, if they fail they withdraw routed, if they pass they withdraw in Bataillon Masse or March Order. 6.0 SPECIAL RULES 6.1 Line Upto 6 increments may fire from a hex in line. French Ligne regiments of more than 8 increments may form line in two hexes. 6.2 Skirmish / Rifles Upto 4 increments may fire from a hex in skirmish. The Mariassy Jägers are rifle armed and not halved at two hex range.