The Seven Years War

Championship Final

Cossacks Art Of War Final

[Cossacks-AOW] Green vs Rehctaw at Raclawice

Rehctaw chooses the battle of Raclawice (Kosciuszko's first map) and Green chooses the Russian side (green, attacker). As the Polish player (blue) Rehctaw commands a force of 1,335, nearly 400 of which are cavalry, the rest an assortment of peasants, pike-men and regulars. It is a rebel army and Green commands the Russian army sent to destroy it; 516 cavalry and 564 regulars and grenadiers. The Russian cavalry on the far left (map bottom) are immediately drawn back to the center and Green sends his grenadiers to the rear to get them out of cannon range. Simultaneously the Polish right (all cavalry) is re-formed just behind and to the right of center. Now the cannon salvo starts. All 6 of the Russian guns pour murderous round shot into the dense Polish ranks and one battery of 3 Polish cannon fires back. However, Green has fewer men formed around his cannon and the Polish volley is thus less effective. A regiment of Russian regulars wanders forward towards the active Polish cannon and is decimated. Russian dragoons skirmish against the same area and are driven back by Polish hussars. The rest of the line sees no action but the punishment of the Russian cannon. The Russian batteries have moved far forward of the rest of the army and are at times, completely void of any protection. Having sent forward no scouts, Rehctaw misses several opportunities to capture these deadly cannon. Rectaw forms up a new center with the pike men organized en-masse. Meanwhile, the Russians begin shifting all their cavalry to their right in a wide arch and maneuver to flank the Polish left. The Polish right, which is also all cavalry, moves north behind their lines and the Polish regulars and grenadiers form the new right. They remain in column and suffer heavy casualties as round-shot lands in their midst. Then the attack begins. The Russian cavalry descend from the north and push back the waves of hussars that counter-attack them. Russian cannon roles forward up the hill, supported by the regulars and grenadiers that had been held in reserve. The fighting is brutal but quick. The Polish positions are overwhelmed as the Russian cavalry folds in from the top and the infantry/cannon assault pushes up the center. A sole remaining regiment of Polish infantry makes its last stand and 3 Polish cannon deal a glorious quick succession of canister shots that take out many Russian cavalry. But it is the final huzzah�Green takes the field in less than 10 minutes with 400 men remaining and in so doing, takes the title of Hawks' AOW Champion of the Field.

(Review written by THE DRAKE)

Cossacks Art Of War Final

Green vs Rehctaw at Smolensk

([Cossacks-AOW], ignore sync error, map included in download)

Rehctaw (besieging Russians, green) finds himself with his army of nearly 4,000 divided into several parts but in strong siege positions while Greenwarrior (red, Polish city and relief army) commands nearly the same in total (army plus city garrison) though the majority are members of the relief army.

The Russian Western division is first to receive the wrath of the rescuing army. Rehctaw fails to draw up and receive the Polish attack and many troops are cut down heading south for the bridge. Within 5 minutes the Russians have lost around 700 men to a Polish loss of around 300.

A smaller part of the Polish relief army heads straight south, attacking the Eastern Russian emplacements. Here Rehctaw meets with more success as his troops defeat part of the attack. However, the placements are overrun from the eastern side, cannon captured, while the majority of Russians battle in the center. The Polish attack on map-left, now wrapped up, they stop short of the bridge, circle north of the first emplacements and attack the beleaguered Russians on map right, now trapped between this force and their own entrenchments. 15 minutes into the battle, major Russian siege works and the majority of Russian troops north of the river are lost.

There is a lull in the fighting as both sides re-group. Rehctaw (1,150 troops left) sends a large contingent north across the bridge to form a defensive line anchored on both sides by strong siege works, facing east towards the Polish army. The Poles are now in possession of the southern facing re-doubts, including all cannon. Greenwarrior (1,800 left) sorties from the city (map-bottom)with around 100 men, including dragoons. It is beaten back. Russian lancers are sent south to bolster this threatened siege works, which still hammers at the city with it's cannon.

Small attacks and counter-attacks ebb back and forth between siege works and city but ½ hour into battle, the Russian siege works are finally overrun, the Russian lancers having recently left. The lancers have headed back north across the river where another attack has been initiated by the Poles, an attack on the Rehctaw's northern defensive position. Both of Green's attacks a success, Rehctaw surrenders. Polish still have 850 men remaining, Rehctaw around 100.

(Review written by THE DRAKE)

[AC-FB] Championship Final

DarkLord vs Gingerfish at Douro (View in FB)

The first of their Round 4 FB battles, DarkLord chooses Douro and Gingerfish chooses his side, the defending French (red numbering 6,417) leaving DL to attack as British (green numbering 5,940). Map rules do not allow the crossing of the massive British battery but do provide many up-grades that add range to these cannon. The British are also obliged to begin their assault on the heights after ½ hr has passed, whether or not all troops have crossed.

The first order of business is to get the rest of his army across the river and DarkLord goes about this while he also forms up his troops already located on the far bank. These troops shift to the right, so that they face straight up towards the bulk of the French army. DarkLord's battery begins to trek east along the bank, anticipating perhaps a heavy bombardment of French troops across the river. Ordered and ready, there is mild skirmishing while the rest of DarkLord's troops cross in the transports.

Gingerfish meanwhile has also shifted troops map-right and forms them up in a formidable position, anchored on the edge of the map, proceeding due West, then angling up towards map top. This formation is far away from the British line. Earlier, fearing a massive cavalry attack on his right flank Gingerfish had formed several squares on his right. British cavalry had scouted the vast northern area, destroying some fixed cannon. The squares are now gone, and the French line is several ranks deep as it angles north.

The last of the British army lands, forms up, and makes a line that now extends West to the town, several ranks deep. The battery located is still moving into position as the general British assault begins, only 18 minutes into the battle. The British left, starts to move north to meet the extreme French right. This British contingent is sizeable (16 infantry regts and 2 cavalry troops) and is still in route as the British center and right close with the French line.

Suddenly, as the British line comes on strong, the French un-believably leave their solid defensive formation and counter-attack. Battle is now joined all along the front and soon along the French right (map top). This advance has extended the French line and they begin to pay a heavy price in the volley fire. Cavalry dash here and there to attempt flanking attacks or hitting weakening lines. Then, 40 minutes into the battle, the French center begins to break. The French have now lost 37% of their army as compared to a British loss of 20%.

Though Gingerfish continues to hold at the top, the situation in the center is soon hopeless. As these troops retreat he attempts to form up a second defense on his extreme left (map right) but this is soon defeated as his position map top is also eventually beaten. DarkLord's battery never fired a single salvo, but his attack wins the field, the French army annihilated almost to a man, the British with 3,000 men still standing.

(Review written by THE DRAKE)

[AC] Championship Final

Gingerfish vs DarkLord at Fuentes de Onoro (1 st AC battle, view in FB, recorded file is not complete battle)

The field of choice for Gingerfish is Fuentes de Onoro and Duke of Marlborough (formerly DarkLord) chooses to defend as the British (red). Thus, as defender, Duke begins forming up lines at the major crossings. He sends some troops to the top-most river crossing, builds up at the northern bridge, forms up in and around the town and pulls his troops back from the bottom position to form up behind the second river.

Gingerfish meanwhile breaks with convention by not attacking in the south (the French cavalry are all stationed here at the beginning of battle). Instead he leaves a token force to stand guard. He does form up opposite the town with a decent sized force and begins bombardment. But, breaking tradition again, he sends only around 30 skirmishers to hold the northern bridge instead of forcing a crossing there. The lack of defense could have been disastrous for Gingerfish later on but lack of British scouting saves him. His bold plan calls for something else; a massive trek of 23 infantry regiments and 8 troops of cavalry march for the northern-most river crossing. At 15 minutes into the game, this column is still moving and the British rest in defense.

This top-most crossing is oft ignored or only minimally guarded during battles on this field. Deemed a virtual trap by most players, this crossing usually sees minimal action by harassing cavalry groups. Duke has sent a larger then usual force to this isolated area and seems intent himself on a surprise crossing to harass the French expected at the northern bridge. He crosses but soon draws back, having spotted the vanguard of the French assault. But the full size of the approaching column has not been seen, and Duke's token force withdraws to the opposite bank and stand guard, no re-enforcements on the way.

The attack begins. Regiment after regiment of French infantry combined with cavalry force the far-northern crossing. At first the oblique formation of the defending British line holds, and British cavalry dash in amongst the attackers to stem the tide. But they are overwhelmed and to late the British realize they have a major attack on their hands. British regiments are pulled from the bridge area and other positions to help and the overwhelmed defenders are pulled back to hold the ridge over-looking the crossing. The British now try desperately to contain this incursion and a semi-circle defense is formed along the ridge.

Now, in addition to the deadly re-enforced fire from atop the ridge, the attacking French have a new problem; cannon fired from the nearby forts. It is here that the French meet their fiercest resistance, and pay a heavy price. More British rush north, being pulled from the town and cannon role north to help. Gingerfish has yet to cross 9 infantry regiments. Yet now, 32 minutes into battle, the British start to break. It happens on their left. These troops begin to flee towards the forts (which by now are smoking from damaging French shot). The rest of the line continues to hold for awhile longer before it breaks as well. Soon, the upper map is awash in retreating British troops, fleeing south as both their forts blow. The last 9 French regiments now cross.

The rest of the field has been quiet, and Duke has only recently discovered through scouting that there was no force opposite him at the northern bridge and that the force opposite his town is not sizeable. British forces arrayed in defensive positions throughout the rest of the map accordingly head north, to form up on the hill above the town, facing north. Gingerfish draws up his victorious northern forces in battle lines and begins his advance south on the last British position. It is here, 49 minutes into the battle that the official records cease. It is told that the final assault was bloody, and it can be assumed that the French opposite the town finally crossed. Accounts tell of the British holing up inside and around a church. It wasn't until this church was destroyed and the British were outflanked that Duke finally surrendered. Estimates are that the British had only 2 intact regiments of foot left and the French 4 or 5 when victory was declared, Gingerfish winning the field.

(Review written by THE DRAKE)

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