Saturday, January 9, 2021

SYW Global Campaign - 1757, Prussia vs Russia

 Prussia defends East Prussia


PR Prince Henry vs RU Apraxin

It's high summer. The invasion of Poland and Eastern Prussia has not been going well for Russia. First, the Polish army was able to escape and consolidate in Warsaw due to the sluggish Russian movements in Spring. Then, they were frustrated by the Prussians burning bridges and flooding roads in East Prussia, preventing a link up to fight the Polish in Warsaw early.

With the Russian army still separated, the Prussians were able to link up in Warsaw with their new Polish allies first with Lightning Speed, and marched on the split Russian army before they could react. The massive Polish cavalry advantage allowed for total out-scouting, leading to the current situation: the Russians being in danger encirclement near their camp in East Prussia.

The Russians had smelled trouble early in the year with news of Ottoman agents attempting sabotage in the rear lines, but paid no heed. But, as soon as the Russian cavalry reserve was needed to relieve the force in eastern Prussia, Apraxin received news that both his southern Cossack forces and his northern cavalry reserve had both suffered widespread revolts and mutinies, taking them out of action for the year.

Will Russia escape the Prussia-Poland coalition army, or at least slow them down to secure their retreat? 


Play-by-play:

The game opened with the Prussians winning initiative and grabbing the middle town right away while their massive cavalry force rushed in to screen from all approaches.

The Poles on the flank have command issues from the start and the infantry get left behind.

Seeing how fast the enemy is approaching, the Russians step up to defend their gun batteries and the approach to their town...

While the flank corps of Russian infantry rushes to engage the polish flanking force and funnel them.

The next round, the Russians rush forward and catch the advancing polish hussars in a brutal crossfire between their cannons and musket fire.

Meanwhile, the Russians form to receive the Polish flanking force.

The fire is so intense that the Polish hussars retreat to let the Prussian infantry do the dirty work. Meanwhile, the Saxon Cuirassier charge the guns batteries.

The next round, the advancing Prussian infantry are also savaged by Russian shooting and staggered.

The Saxons continue to take the guns but take heavy fire from the infantry behind them
in the following turn the Prussians reform their line and bring up reinforcements.

And the flanking Poles try to overwhelm the Russian defense force, but fail due to the famous sturdiness of the Russian line.

Meanwhile, the Russians continue to perform extremely well in shooting against the Prussians, even getting flanking shots by bringing in their reserves to take the hill.

The undaunted Polish Hussars on the flank continue to charge the Russians, and with a lucky roll, break through.

Meanwhile, the Prussian lead brigades are forced to retreat, and one brigade is actually shattered by strong Russian shooting and a Grenadier assault, marking the first time in the campaign any Prussian line brigade is routed.

However, the Prussians are starting to overwhelm the Russians on their flanks and with the guns gone, things are starting to look grim.

Similarly, the brave Polish Hussars are finally breaking through on the flank, and crash into a second line brigade with a flank charge, wiping it out as well.

The Prussian reserve corps senses weakness in the overwhelmed Russian Grenadiers and launches a strong assault, wiping out another brigade.

The Russians finally bring their last reserve in to try and relieve their right, but with their flank falling to the Poles, and a new flank opening up, things look bad.

With the line breaking apart on the Russian forest flank, turn 2 ends and the Russians are exactly at their breakpoint. Rolling quite high for their rout roll, the Russians try to withdraw -- but with no cavalry to cover their retreat, and a veritable horde of polish light cavalry on their heels with a lot of daylight left to ride, the Russians disintegrate as a force completely.



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