Planning for Frederick's Battles

So, of late I have been participating in a rules learning exercise for Koenig Krieg a set of rules for the Seven Years War that date from around the 1970s using Simon's superb 28mm figures.  Not surprisingly they have lots of things in common with rules for the Napoleonic period from around that time and say ten years after (i.e. the 1980s).  I then recalled there is even an adaption of my preferred Napoleonic rules for the SYW called Frederick's Battles.  The challenge is can I adapt the 15mm figure scale with the figures that Simon has  to recreate a battle?

The target is The Battle of Mollowitz 10 April 1741, the scenario for which is included in FB.

A 16 figure unit (roughly a regiment or brigade) in 15mm in line has a width of 3 inches and a depth of 1 inch.  In column it has a width of 1.5 inches and a depth of 2 inches.

Simon's figures are based six to a 45mm square.  

My vision is to use two such bases to represent a unit.  Unit strength would be recorded on the base like what we do for Rommel or Snappy Nappy.  In fact the look would be similar to SN.

In the scenario most infantry units are 16 figures.  Five are 20 and one is 24.  If Simon has enough bases the larger units could be represented by three bases. The frontage would be about right for the 24 figure unit, a bit over for the 20 figure unit, but so it goes.

"16"figure brigade in line

In column

20 or 24 figure brigade in column

And in line

In NB (and by extension FB) 1 inch represents 100 yards.  The measuring stick in the above images is in 40mm steps.  40mm equals 1.5 inches (more or less).  This means two bases of Simon's figures will have roughly the right frontage for a 16 figure unit.  The depth is a bit more, but shouldn't matter.  Importantly it means that the measurement can remain at 1 inch.  Very handy.

An alternative is to use measuring sticks with 3cm gradations, but as 1 inch is 25.4mm it is probably not worth the effort.

Artillery should be on a 1.5 inch base.  The scenario only has two batteries, both on the Prussian side. 

A bit wide but not much of an issue.

That leaves cavalry.  The units are either 12 or 16 figures which equates to frontages in line of 3 and 4 inches respectively.  Again the plan (or rather best/easiest option) would be to use two bases to represent the unit.  Frontage and depth would be acceptable (although the proof would be in the game).

Close to perfect for either sized brigade

Even depth looks good

Order of Battle Requirements

Using this system, the following bases are required:

Prussians

• One army and four wing commanders
• Twenty two bases of infantry (two units of two bases and six units of three bases
• Eight bases of cavalry (four units of two bases each)
• Two guns

Austrians

• One army and three wing commanders
• Ten bases of infantry (five units of two bases)
• Twelve bases of cavalry (six units of two bases)

Map

If we leave out row E then this can easily be accommodated on one of the club's 6x4 tables and using the club's existing terrain.

Labels

Labels will also serve to mark casualties.

The top number in each box is the number of bases required, or figures in the case of commanders.

Koenig Krieg the Second

Simon again put his troops on the table as we continued our learning exercise with these "new" rules.

Hard to fit it all in with one photograph.

Also we had the classic 28mm small table problem.

Prussian infantry decimate their opponents with their move and shoot capability.

A capability not refelcted in the points system it seems.

Army morale check at end of fourth turn.

French even with their heavier losses, passed.

Prussians with their light losses failed.

Excellent learning exercise (notably the cavalry breakthrough pre melee test and the effect of canister). Next step is to get some right sized, balanced armies for the table top.

Koenig Krieg

People outside the hobby often ask when I come back from a game if I won or not.  I always say yes as it is a win to actually have a game to play, better still if you get some of your figures on the table that you have invested time, love and money in, and yes, if lady luck has been kind with the dice, that is a win too.

This week at the club was something different.  Using Simon's lovely 28mm SYW (or so imagined) figures in a game of Koenig Krieg using the original 1985 ruleset.  They seemed strangely familiar to me, but I can't see how, except that maybe it was just the style of 1980's rules.  Some things reminded me of Napoleon's Battles, again, not sure why (although looking at the rules, the basing is similar), and comparisons with Bruce Quarrie's rules were also made by some on the team, again not sure as the rules for KK were quiet different (as far as I can remember Quarrie's Napoleonic rules which I used a lot back in the day).

Apart from the beauty of the figures, the game was mainly a battle to learn the rules.  All four of us looking up and discussing what was meant etc.  Not that they were overly complex, just new, or at least new to us.  We also had the joy of using rules made for 15mm with 28mm figures and had to adjust things on the fly to stop retreating troops fleeing off the table (having just doubled distances and not realising the impact this would have).

It will be interesting to see what the new 4th Edition is like.  There is also a version of Napoleon's Battles for the SYW that can be found in this group: https://groups.io/g/napsbattles).

Here are some pics form last night's play through.

The artillery in Simon's collection has both limbered and umlimber options.

Some imagined French lancers,

lovely flag.

The Prussians.

I was trying to angle this to remove the nontable background 

Obviously failed, but needed to keep it in to show the flags flying proud.

Trying out the cavalry combat.

We had a big discussion on what constituted a charge.

Decided counter-charge is not a charge

and felt this was confirmed in the rules. 

View from the other end of the table.

Hard to spot, but there are no bayonets.

Apparently they had been removed and replaced by pins.

Ouch (in many ways)

Pins had to go in order to save fingers.

Flats

When going through my 54mm figures I found this chap.  David Williams had a whole army of them and gave me one to try out.  This was in the mid 1980s.  Suffice to say I've only painted one.

25mm scale, no idea of manufacturer and yes it is for the Seven Years War.

This post was inspired by James of the ANF sending me links of 6mm flats.  Will the madness never end?