SYW Global Campaign - 1757, Prussia vs Austria

 Prussia attacks Bohemia

PR Frederick 480 pts vs AU Charles 260 pts

At the start of 1757, the Austrians were preparing to attack the equally matched Prussians in Saxony. However, Frederick opened the game with a lightning offensive, wiping out the British in Hanover and then turning to overwhelm the Austrians in Bohemia before they could make their own move. Since the Battle against the British was very one-sided, the force that met the Austrians was outnumbered 3:2... The Austrians tried to retreat but Charles of Lorraine was not up to the task, so they are forced to try to turn back the Prussians before they can escape.

Play-by-play:

In the opening moves, both the Prussians and the Austrians move in a less than coordinated way across the field, but the Prussians are able to seize both the center town and the forest before the Austrians can use it to interfere with their internal lines.

Grenzers are able to get a toehold in the forests closest their deployments to discourage a rapid advance.

Austrian hussars also try to get into and around the the Prussian lines but are quickly surrounded.

In the center, the lead Austrian infantry corps prepares to attack the town but are unsure due to the  numbers of brigades behind them. Meanwhile the Austrian corps fail to support their central advance properly.

On the Austrian left, the commanders decide to form up the infantry in front of the cavalry to hopefully stop the Prussians on their flank from advancing, and secure an escape route.

Prussian heavy cavalry overrun an isolated Grenzer unit on the Austrian right.

Despite being unsupported, the central Austrian infantry corps commander wants their chance at glory, and charges headlong into the town and through the terrain on its flank, uncoordinated.

Meanwhile the Prussians bring up artillery on the Austrian left.

In the Austrian rear, the remaining hussars retreat to the Austrian left while the Austrian grenadiers jump the gun and deploy into line without having been properly arranged.

With the lead light troops in distress, the Austrian flank defenders prepare to receive the main attack of the Prussian army from multiple sides.

The Prussian cavalry are sent in along the Prussian center to throw back the disoriented lead infantry corps.

On the flank, more Prussian cuirassiers overwhelm the Austrian reserve grenadiers, who have not properly deployed yet. In a single combat, the first grenadier brigade is wiped out.

On the Austrian left, the Prussian cannons work away at the flank defenders with modest success

Despite some early progress, the Austrian center brigade continues to be disoriented and is about to break.

Grenzers try to distract and shoot down advancing Prussian grenadiers.

Before the Prussian cuirassier can charge the next grenadier brigade, they are caught in a brutal crossfire.

Austrian cuirassier are finally released to try and save the center infantry, meanwhile the grenadiers are charged again by more Prussian cuirassier. In another bad roll, the 2nd grenadier brigade is wiped out with minimal effort, joining the rout.

The Grenzers on the Austrian right are also overwhelmed but will be able to delay the Prussian grenadiers for some time.

At the start of turn 2 round 2, things are looking tough for the Austrians but there are no breaks in the line. The Austrian center starts to back away from the town.

The first Prussian line corps to attack the Austrian home objective is staggered by very accurate fire.

After the start of turn 3, the Austrian left is taking heavy cannon fire but otherwise holding strong. However, the Austrian center and right are in in peril, with large holes opening up.

Another Prussian infantry corps is sent to break through the Austrian center and overwhelm the Grenzers defending the approach to the retreat route.

The Austrians continue to put out very accurate volleys, slowing the advance of the Prussians in the center.

Things are looking bad around the main Austrian town, with more and more brigades lining up,

the left Austrian infantry fail their discipline and rush the guns bombarding them, but the Prussian cavalry counterattacks and breaks through to the reserve cavalry.

The Austrian center is now falling apart, and the last Austrian cuirassier corps is sent in to plug the gap.

They are driven back but not before inflicting heavy casualties on the advancing Prussian infantry.

By this point the Austrian grenadier reserve has been almost completely wiped out by heavy cavalry, and the other flank infantry are surrounded on all sides.

On the last turn, the final Austrian grenadier brigade is scattered  by cavalry.

Though they inflict many casualties, the central Grenzers fall back and leave another hole in the line

Seeing an opportunity, Austrian cuirassier scatter one of the Prussian heavy cavalry brigades as they finish off the Austrian grenadiers.

Near the end of the turn, the Austrians have lost most of their front layer of troops but are forming an inner ring to retreat with.

They are able to save several corps of cavalry but the infantry are left to be captured... However, with the game over the Prussians unleash a substantial pursuit cavalry element, so only a single cavalry corps ultimately escapes back to Vienna.