Sunday 8 February 2015

Lobositz, a battle won and then lost?

Yesterday I attended the refight of the Battle of Lobositz at Colin's.Paul Robinson of Grimsby Wargames club fame, did the long drive North to play in the game. I wont spoil what I anticipate will be on Colin's blog, 'Carry on Up the Dale ' but instead will only show some of the images I took during the day.The image above shows Paul ringing for a taxi to take him away from the battle as the Prussians commanded by him and John Reidy were getting a severe thrashing by the Austrians led by me and Colin. That was before dinner. Now everyone knows wargaming is a game of two halves, and after dinner it was fair to say my command was annihilated by John and Paul.
I still cannot believe how a wargame that Colin and I were winning, and winning well could turn so dramatically wrong and end up with a severe defeat for us.   

               Colins command ensconced in Lobositz, they were never troubled by the Prussians.

 My grand tactical march onto the flank of the emerging Prussian army, when all seemed to be going well.





 When best laid plans go t##ts up. Prussian dragoons hitting my weakened cuirassiers. One can guess what happened next.
                                          Yes that's correct, the flank began to be rolled up. If one looks carefully, you can see Paul's infantry approaching to give my Austrians the killing blow.

                                   Prussians, thousands of them, and very unforgiving ones at that.



I knew things had become desperate when all I had to stop the Prussian advance was som Austrian Hussars. Needless to say it wasnt to be.




           
These were the detritus of my command leaving the battlefield. A unit that had never actually been on a wargaming table before. 


9 comments:

  1. Post-supper losses aside -- The ebb and flow of tabletop warfare, eh? -- it looks like a spectacular game.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Afternoon Stokes,
      It was a really nice way to spend some hours, good crack, lovely colourful figures, and some banter.

      Delete
  2. Very nice looking game. What make are your Austrian Cuirassiers and Hussars? I have some bought second hand but never knew the manufacturer, are they by RSM?
    cheers
    Chris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Chris,
      The cuirassiers are Hinchliffe from their SYW range. The hussars are also Hinchliffe from their one piece SYW range.
      Thanks Robbie.

      Delete
  3. Very nice looking game. What make are your Austrian Cuirassiers and Hussars? I have some bought second hand but never knew the manufacturer, are they by RSM?
    cheers
    Chris

    ReplyDelete
  4. You could have chosen a more flattering photograph to lead with Robbie and I'm not quite sure I'd ascribe any level of fame to myself. It was a terrific game and I'm still trying to work out how we won as well. Thanks for the day - best day of 2015 so far!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paul,
      I actually thought Id took a good photograph, studious but still a bit pensive, intelligent but still Prussian like.

      Delete
  5. My account of the Austrian's tantalisingly close victory and subsequent rapid collapse is now on my blog Carringsonupthedale@blogspot.co.uk. I pinched a couple of your photos to add to mine.

    ReplyDelete
  6. A very nice looking game, and one that will live long in infamy! The best games are ones you can still talk about years later...

    Jim

    ReplyDelete

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating