Friday, January 1, 2021

Call to Arms: Generals for Rivoli

Napoleon at the Battle of Rivoli, by Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux
Back in a November post, I mentioned the desire to refight the Battle of Rivoli near the anniversary date of the battle (14-15 JAN1797) in a solo exercise.  With many of us still in various levels of lockdown and self-quarantining, I figured that an opportunity to stretch many a homebound, armchair general's command abilities may be just the remedy in overcoming any post-holiday or pandemic malaise.  I will fight the battle on the gaming table in 15mm while carrying out instructions from the Remote Player Commanders (RPC).

Those RPCs volunteering to take up command will issue orders to their subordinates as subordinates attempt to carry out orders and issue dispatches up the chain of command to their superiors.  Superiors will only be able to react to situations within sight or through information provided in dispatches.  Lag times between dispatch transmission will vary dependent upon distance between commanders and whether couriers can find the last known HQ location.  Reports that are not delivered in-person between commanders travel at the speed of light horse.  RPCs may not be able to react timely to all battlefield situations.  Coordination between commands may not always be possible.  All of these communications will be accomplished via email.  I will be the central email regulator.  Generals will receive dispatches and situation reports to aid in assessing their actions and reactions for the next turn.  

If this sounds interesting, please read on.

The Situation
The Battle of Rivoli occurred as a result of the Austrian Army attempting to break out of the Adige Valley and marching out into the open countryside where Austrian superiority in numbers could overpower the inferior French army.  The goal of the Austrian operation is to relieve the siege at Mantua.  This would be the fourth attempt to lift the siege.  The Austrians are marching in six columns under the command of Alvinzti.  Austrian forces total about 28,000 men.  Having intelligence of this Austrian operation, Napoleon orders Joubert and his 10,000 man division to strike the Austrians before they can debouche from the Rivoli Plateau.  Contesting the advance of the Austrians in the early hours of the morning, our battle opens up with Joubert's French, having been pushed back by the advancing Austrians, situated upon the Trombalore Heights awaiting an attack by four of the six Austrian columns.

The remaining two Austrian columns are moving down the Adige Valley from which they plan to attack up and onto the Rivoli Plateau through the Osteria Gorge.  Most of the Austrian artillery and cavalry could not pass over the mountainous terrain to reach the plateau so all of these assets are in the Adige Valley.  Communication between these two Austrian forces is nearly impossible until the Osteria Gorge can be forced.

While Joubert is initially outnumbered, his division consists of hard fighters with a number of veteran light infantry.  As the morning wears on, Napoleon will be sending reinforcements north in order to help Joubert hang on to the heights.  From a tactical perspective, the French hold interior lines with fewer but better troops while the Austrians are more numerous but without all arms on the Rivoli Plateau.  Communications for the Austrians on the plateau and down in the valley are nearly impossible until the Osteria Gorge can be taken.  

Can Joubert and the French be crushed on the Rivoli Plateau before Napoleon and Massena intervene?  Will Joubert maintain his central position and thwart all Austrian attacks and threats until reinforced? As the boxes of Avalon Hill Wargames often suggested, YOU take command to change history.

The Battlefield
The battle will be fought out over a roughly 6'x6' battlefield with general troop dispositions as shown.
Initial dispositions
The Forces
The two armies are detailed in the OB below with each line item representing one Basic Maneuver Unit (BMU).  Generals are rated from ' 1' to '4' with '4' being best.  Infantry are rated by maneuver doctrine (French style or Prussian style) and skirmish capability (from '0' to '2' with '2' being best).  Artillery and cavalry are rated as Light (LT), Medium (MED), or Heavy (HV).  Non-leader BMUs are graded from 'Poor' to 'Elite'. 
Rivoli OB
Depending upon the number of RPCs who volunteer, commands will be assigned from the top down.  For example, with only two RPCs, Napoleon and Alvinzti will be the only active commanders.  With four RPCs, the commands could be logically split into Joubert and Napoleon (and everyone else) for the French and Alvinzti (and columns I-IV) and the two columns (V and VI) in the Adige Valley for the Austrians.  All orders to any non-player commands will be carried out by me and then sent through the command chain.  As more players take commands, more commands will become active to participation by RPCs.

Time commitment expected is not large on the part of RPCs.  As each turn is played out on the table, reports will be sent to participants.  Participants will need to evaluate these reports and dispatches, and write any orders when warranted.  More details on order writing and expectations will be provided at the start of battle  Order writing will be standardized with specific elements required but additional details are welcome.  No knowledge of the rules in play is needed but familiarity with wargaming and Napoleonics will be beneficial. 

If interested in taking an active command, please declare as a comment and by email to let me know.  In an email to me, please provide your preferred contact email address, preference for either France or Austria, and whether you have a command preference within that choice of nationalities.  My email address is listed in My Profile link on this page.  If your interests lay in commanding the armies and setting overall direction, pick either Napoleon or Avintzi.  If your interests lay in middle management, select one of the French division commanders.  If guiding tactics at the lowest formation level and carrying out orders from above is preferred, choose either a French brigadier or one of the Austrian Column commanders.  Perhaps list Top Three choices to help resolve any ties.  For more information, please send me an email on that too.

Those expressing an interest in participating from the November announcement were:
Norm S.
Andrè H.
Matt C.
Peter A.
Pascal B.
If any of the five above are still interested in participating, please give me another shout out to confirm.

Thank you!

38 comments:

  1. Excellent way to start the year Jonathan I’m definitely in, I meet the two criteria having some knowledge of both wargaming and Napoleonics 😀 you have my email. Happy to play whatever level, if I had a preference probably French ? But really happy to balance others out👍

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    1. Thank you, Matt! I have your email and your preferences are noted.

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  2. Hi Jonathan, I am still in. I have absolutely no preference in side or command level, I will just fit in, draw me from a hat.

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    1. Norm, good to see you are still in! I have your email. Your name has been tossed into the hat!

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  3. I will be watching with great pleasure! :)

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  4. What a great idea! I have large 1790s armies: French, Austrian, Russian in 15mm. I may copy your orbat and board layout for a solo game... I use Napoleon’s Battles rules; what are yours? Cheers and HNY!

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    1. Thanks! If you want to use information here for your own Rivoli refight, I hope you share your results. The rules in use will be some of my own doing.

      Do you want a seat at the Command Table or simply an observer?

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    2. Only just seen this... Observer status would do. How do I achieve that? I'm not very technical, but I have used Zoom etc.

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  5. I'll email as requested, but I am certainly still in.
    The table looks great, and interesting as well!

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  6. Looks like it will be good Jonathan - look forward to your report on how it all pans out.

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    1. I look forward to seeing how this all pans out too!

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  7. The scenario as always is looking very promising. Can we turn the battle in Austrian favour? Would be very interesting.

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    1. An Austrian victory may be a tall order but possible. To win, the Austrians must force the Osteria Gorge quickly.

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  8. This does sound like fun and I'd be keen to be involved, unless the time difference to Australia will hold things up. I'll send you an email anyway.

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    1. If you are interested in order writing, please jump in! Time zone differences should not be critical. Play will not be at a fast, regulated pace.

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    2. Sounds good. I sent an email yesterday Jonathan, and hopefully it got past your spam filter.

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    3. Your email DID NOT make it passed my SPAM filter! Thank you for following up!

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    1. I hope the situation realizes this promising concept.

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  10. Nice of you to provide a game opportunity. I’m sure you won’t have any lack of volunteers. Usually after enjoying the experience with Norms game I would jump at the opportunity but I’m afraid that I am currently too overwhelmed with real life to really pay attention. ☹️

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    1. Well, if you are too busy, you are too busy. Hopefully, Real Life will settle down so that you can return some focus back to Wargaming. Happy New Year, Stew!

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  11. Interesting Johnathon, it is a nice little battle, I look forward to your reports

    Cheers
    Matt

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    1. Hopefully, the play-by-play will provide some entertaining moments. Nice little battle, for sure. We will see if the Austrians can bring their numbers to bear.

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  12. A great idea Jonathan, I look forward to the reports.

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    1. Thanks! Hopefully some entertainment will be found in the battle reports.

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  13. Good luck, I look forward to the results!
    Best Iain

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  14. Nice way to start the new year, Jonathan! Looking forward to your future posts.

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  15. Excellent lay-out. I look forward to seeing it play out.

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  16. Fab idea! Would love to take a place at the table if there is still space and if the time difference permits (I’m on CET).

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    1. Mike, the seats have been claimed but this is just beginning. If a player doesn't respond to duty, you are next in line!

      Time differences should pose no issue since players are from around the world.

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    2. No worries. I was late off the blocks anyway. I will follow with great interest! Thanks 😊

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