Battle of Maisnon - BatRep

Having reached critical mass and wanting to get his latest project onto the gaming table, Jake hosted an afternoon of gaming at his casa in Moscow.   Kevin and I made the trip from Spokane while Don made the journey from Nez Perce.

What was the latest project about to see its maiden battle?  Great Italian Wars in 28mm using Impetvs.  Jake has been working on this project for about one year and great progress has been made.

Before the battle, a short teaser was sent out to participants to set the stage.  Included was a sketch map, OB, and background.

Battle of Maisnon:
"Situation: Mercenaries in them Employ of Charles V have captured a key crossroads south of the Town of Maisnon, rechristening the town "Machtsnichts". The site is also the location of the only traffic-able ford across the Aben river capable of handling heavy supply wagons. The local noble has assembled his Gendarmes and is leading a group of Swiss Mercenaries and local militia to re-open the road."

The stage is set!

To read Jake's battle perspective and to see the full OB employed, visit, Battle of Maisnon at Dartfrog's Adventures in 6mm.

Upon arrival, we were treated to a display on the sunken sand table.  Nifty bit of construction work by Jake, himself.  After the battlefield was shaped, a game mat and terrain were placed on top.

Initial deployments

As the French attackers, Don and I line up on the left with an objective of clearing out the opposition to open up the river crossing.  Don's column is deployed against the river with an objective of cutting the road.  My objective on the right is to eliminate the Imperial cavalry opposite my position and then swing onto the enemy flank.

French forces

Imperial forces deployed to interdict

French Gendarmes on the right

German cavalry on Imperial left

As the battle begins, the French right lopes into action.  With the Imperial left covered by artillery, French light cavalry is sent forward in an effort to screen the gendarmes from cannon fire. 

French right advances

While the Imperials wait, the French begin a general advance upon the German and Spanish positions.  With evenly matched forces, the French attackers will likely suffer.

Battle view behind French lines

French (in foreground) left advances

Not content to allow the French to advance unmolested, artillery and arquebus fire begins to take its toll on the French horse while the gendarmes cross the open ground.

Gendarmes advance

German cavalry trot out to meet the French

while Imperial left outflanks the French (in background)

With their flank being threatened, the French pikes advance.  Getting within striking distance of the Imperial line, the French left closes.  Led by the Swiss, the pike block strikes into the Spanish pike.

Swiss strike Spanish pike

On the other flank, the gendarmes charge in as well.  After a heavy clash, the French heavies prevail and clear the enemy left of their horse.

Gendarmes overpower the Germans cavalry

Unaware of the pike clash on the French far left, the gendarme charge on the right may be too little too late.  The critical phase of the battle is unfolding on the left.  The Spanish, pushed back by the impetus of the Swiss, are rescued by a timely counterattack.     

Counterattack!

The Swiss, themselves, pushed back, fall under artillery fire and are then attacked once again by the weakened Spanish pike.  Bold move on the Spanish to attack having been weakened in the earlier fight.

Swiss pushed back,

and counterattacked by Spanish pike.

This day, God was with the Spanish as their counterattack caught the Swiss off balance.  Striking a severe blow, four hits on four dice are scored against the Swiss with only one loss to themselves.

Miraculous! Four Hits to the Swiss!

and take only one

Having lost the Swiss and with the remainder of the French left in tatters, the French general calls off the attack.  No victory for his troops today.

French disengage

What a fun and tense battle!  The destruction of the Swiss sealed the fate of the French aggressors.  Within the confines of the valley, the French could do little more than advance straight ahead and into the teeth of Charles V's force.

While we have gamed Basic Impetvs (BI) in both the Punic Wars and Reconquista, light troops actually had an impact in the outcome of this game.  In the Great Italian Wars, the skirmish stands of doppelsoldners hold a positive Impetus bonus allowing them to wade into the pike blocks and knock the starch out of the freshly pressed formation.  Accomplishing that task pays dividends later when the pikes no longer maintain their Impetus bonus.  In a similar light infantry tactic, the arquebus-armed lights can stand off at a distance and pepper away at the more dense pike blocks hoping to score a hit.

Now, I am planning a force to field as well.  Maybe that was Jake's plan all along?