Bruderkrieg Peter Riley A supplement for converting Polemos Commandant de Bataille FPW rules for the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 Bruderkrieg A supplement for converting Polemos Commandant de Bataille FPW rules for the Austro Prussia war of 1866 Published in pdf format by: Baccus 6mm Ltd, 2010 Text Copyright: Peter Riley Layout and Design: Baccus 6mm Ltd Photography: Peter Berry Maps: Sven Lugar Baccus 6mm figures painted by Peter Berry All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the express written consent of the authors. For more information about the figures and models used in this catalogue, extra sections and add-ons to these rules, as well as the other rules sets in the Polemos series, visit: www.baccus6mm.com A Yahoo group has been set up to allow for discussion of all aspects of playing games using Polemos rules. If you have any questions, are looking for tips and advice or just want to talk to other gamers, you can join by logging on to http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/polemos Introduction Bruderkrieg 1866 Introduction ii Part One – Setting up the Game Troop Types 4 Part Two – Playing the Game Part Four – Army Generators Tempo Bidding 5 Army Generators 24 5 Bombardment Tables Prussian Army 25 Move Distance Table 6 Italian Army 26 Firing Range Table 6 Austrian Army of the North 27 Firing Procedure Modifiers Table 6 Close Combat Attacks Table 7 Austrian Army of the South 28 Pursuit Modifiers Table 7 Allied Army 29 Army Morale 7 Tyrolean Theatre Army 30 Part Three – Orders of Battle Prussian, Italian, Austrian & German Army Commands 8 Part Five – Scenario Prussian 1st Army - OOB 9 The Battle of Nachod - 1866 31,32,33 Prussian 2nd Army - OOB 10,11 Prussian Army of the Elbe- OOB 12 Prussian Army of the Maine- OOB 13 Royal Italian Army Army - OOB 14,15 Italian Army of the Po - OOB 16 Austrian Army of the North - OOB 17,18,19 Austrian Army of the South - OOB 20,21 Austrian Tyrol Command - OOB 21 Saxon Army - OOB 22 Bavarian Corps - OOB 22 Hesse-Kassel Division - OOB 23 Hanoverian Army - OOB 23 23 Italian Volunteer Corps - OOB i Polemos — Bruderkrieg 1866 Introduction The DeutscherKrieg of 1866 Prussia and Austria Apart from Russia the Austrians had the largest army were in confrontation over Schleswig-Holstein, a state in the European arena, however Austria‟s 850,000 shared by both countries following the 1864 war with plus soldiers couldn‟t mobilize in the few short weeks Denmark. Bismarck inflamed the confrontation, hop- allowed. The Prussians began the war with 350,000 ing that France, Italy and Russia would leave them to men against, not including their Italian allies, Austria‟s it. The question was, would the Prussians be able to 320,000 men. The Prussians were better prepared and stand against the might of the Austrian Imperial organised it seemed. Army? The well trained Prussian soldier would prove deci- In 1860 the German parliament had halted the plans sive; they were also armed with breech-loading rifles. of King Wilhelm to reform the Prussian army in reply Their Austrian counterparts had to make do with out- to a crisis in the state. In reaction to this the king ap- dated tactics, old muzzle-loaders, marching in close pointed Bismarck as his Prime Minister. Bismarck columns and using bayonet assaults. The outcome was a hardliner who made the changes to the army was in the balance. despite any opposition. Bismarck‟s, and Wilhelm‟s, aim in making the Prussian king‟s position stronger in Parliament, either with or without Austria, had been achieved. ii Polemos — Bruderkrieg 1866 Polemos Bruderkrieg 1866 Setting up the game Troop types Light cavalry: Hussars, Uhlans or Lancers, Reiters, Infantry units in this era formed in increasingly more Light Horse and Uhlans etc. Cavalry trained to scout, open formations with a Skirmish line in advance and Skirmish and screen in front of the army, but also a formed reserve deeper in the rear of the formation. capable of charging. In attack however, columns were often used to de- liver fast moving assaults like the Austrian “Stosstactik”. Infantry: Most infantry, known as Regulars, Land- wehr, Grenzer, Guard, Foot Guards, Grenadiers, Fu- siliers or any other name, are formed units and are armed with Muzzle or Breech-loading Smoothbores or Rifles and bayonet. They can deliver their fire by command or individual shots to break up attacks or rely on the charge to break the target. Heavy cavalry: Dragoons, Cuirassiers, Heavy Horse & Carabiniers etc. These are cavalry trained to charge but, are also capable of scouting and screening. Skirmishers: Jaegers, Kaiser Jager, FeldJagers, Ber- saglieri or Sharpshooters etc. These are not generally depicted by distinct bases of their own, but by a Skir- mish capability factor which is assigned to standard infantry bases. This represents the infantry base‟s abil- ity to Skirmish. However they can also be represented Artillery and Rocket units were mainly used to sup- as individual Infantry bases as well. port defensive lines by breaking up attacking move- ments. They would also be used in suppressing enemy lines, counter battery fire and closely supporting at- tacks. The war had a mix of Smoothbore and Muzzle Loading or Breech Loading Rifled artillery; it was generally therefore used to engage targets at a mixture of ranges. The Austrians were used to grouping and massing their artillery at key points whereas the Prus- sians in particular were slow to mass and found they had to expose themselves and move in closer to sup- port attacking formations with their own artillery. Cavalry units did not generally fare well against the increasing ranges and rates of fire of Infantry and Artillery: Batteries were able to closely support infan- Artillery fire during the period. Compounding the try or cavalry attacks and unlimber close to the enemy issue was that Cavalry formations were often parceled line. The Heavier „Corps‟ or „Reserve‟ guns were usu- out piecemeal by both sides‟ generals. The cavalry ally placed in support of troops in defense, however arm therefore was mainly used in pre-battle scouting, they could also be deployed forward on the gun line. harassing a retreating enemy or providing rearguard actions to delay the enemy. In some cases though, shock action was employed by cavalry, such as the Austrians at the Battle of Custoza. 4 Polemos — Bruderkrieg 1866 Tempo & Bombardment Tempo bidding (CDB p.10) Maximum ranges are: 16pdr, 8pdr 10BW 4pdr, 6pdr 9BW At the start of each move the CinC throws 1D6 and gets this number of tempo points (TPs) plus: Rockets 8BW Prussian CinC’s: 12pdr SB, 5pdr Mountain, 12pdr How SB 7BW • 4 TPs for an Energetic CinC. 4pdr SB, 6pdr SB, 8pdr SB 6BW • 3 TPs for an Experienced CinC. • 2 TPs for a Listless CinC. Otherwise add or subtract the following Bombardment Modifiers: Prussian Subordinates: Firer behind target‟s flank +2 • 3 TPs for each Imposing officer. Each further base in line of sight and in base • 2 TPs for each Competent officer. +1 contact behind target (up 2 additional bases) • 1 TP for each Confused officer. For each additional base firing +1 Austrian CinC’s: 8pdr, 12pdr or 16pdr bases firing or in firing • 3 TPs for an Energetic CinC. +1 group • 2 TPs for an Experienced CinC. Firer is Austrian artillery +1 • 0 TPs for a Listless CinC. Austrian artillery with at least 3 bases in firing +1 Austrian Subordinates: line • 4 TPs for each Imposing officer. Any Rocket bases Firing -1 • 3 TPs for each Competent officer. Artillery standing on rough ground or marsh -1 • 2 TP for each Confused officer. Artillery is shaken -1 German CinC’s: Target behind level 1 obstacle -1 • 3 TPs for an Energetic CinC. Target behind level 2 obstacle -2 • 2 TPs for an Experienced CinC. • 0 TPs for a Listless CinC. Target behind level 3 obstacle -3 German Subordinates: • 3 TPs for each Imposing officer. Bombardment Results read resulting total off following • 2 TPs for each Competent officer. table: 2 or Over • 1 TP for each Confused officer. Score 3-4 5-7 8-10 less 10 Italian CinC’s: Result BS BCF BNE TBS TSF • 3 TPs for an Energetic CinC. • 2 TPs for an Experienced CinC. • 0 TPs for a Listless CinC. Bombardment Definitions BS = Bombarding Shaken (BS) - bombarding base Italian Subordinates: (s) take one level of shaken. Bombarding bases will not • 3 TPs for each Imposing officer. fire in next bombardment phase or give support in this • 2 TPs for each Competent officer. turn. All units must limber up and move back one full • 1 TP for each Confused officer. move. BCF = Bombarding Cease Firing (BCF) - bom- barding base(s) will not fire in next bombardment Bombardment phase (CDB p.10) phase or give support in this turn. BNE = Bombardment No Effect (BNE). If an unmodified dice roll of, 2 for the Austrians, 2-3 TBS = Target Base Shaken (TBS) - target base takes for the Italians or 2-4 for the Prussians & Germans one shaken level. occurs for any artillery firing this result is an automatic BS result and it is immediately applied to the firers. TSF = Target Shaken & Fall Back (TSF) - target base, plus any base behind and in contact with it, take one shaken level and fall back 1BW. Polemos — Bruderkrieg 1866 5 Movement and Firing Move Distances (CdB - Page 14) Firing Procedure (CdB - Page 17) Note: Rocket Bases are treated as Artillery in all re- spects. Firing Modifiers +2 to firer Point blank range Troop type Normal Attack (Austrians +1) move move Firer behind target‟s flank +2 Generals 4 BW - Prussians or Hesse-Cassels firing +2 to firer Infantry formation 1 BW wide