Raab Starting Orders:
The following is a run through of the set up to a re-fight of the battle of Raab.
Firstly, given the historical situation, the orders for each command where diced for.
The Austrians are on hold (defend) orders (On the day, these orders were not elaborated upon by Archduke John), and the French (plus Italian allies) were advancing.
Secondly then, each army's infantry command's battle arrays and dispositions were diced for.
In each of the cases above I have shown the die rolls made, listed the relevant modifiers and shown the results quoted from the rules.
At the end of this post I have listed some points and changes which needed to be made as a result of dicing for this and "playing it out".
You`ll appreciate that I need to add something of more detail in the rules about cavalry dispositions.
In this game set up example, the non-player attack by Eugene, with his infantry on engage orders is a more of a hesitant, "wait and see what happens"; a probing of the enemy lines rather than the actual attacks initially made on the day.
Another interpretation might be that it is a pinning of the Austrian centre with two flank attacks by his mounted wings – the most powerful of which is on the right.
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1a. Determining Divisional or Corps Orders for the French Forces at RAAB, 14th June 1809.
Battle starts at 10:30.
RAAB: General posture of French/Allied Army: Advancing.
Modifier that applied to the die rolls:
Natural obstacles/defences in front of enemy line: -3 (the stream and banks of the Pándzsa)
On the Right Wing, the line cavalry, Grouchy`s dragoons were rolled for first
Right Wing
Montbrun (Colbert and Jacquinot)
die roll: 9 – 3 = 6
Result: "Support the flank of command already determined to have assault orders".
Grouchy (1st Dragoon Division Guérin)
die roll: 4 – 3 = 1
Result: Assault
Infantry Centre
RIGHT: (Grenier) Seras
die roll: 7 – 3 = 4
Result: Engage.
CENTRE: (Grenier) Durutte
die roll: 6 – 3 = 3
Result: Engage.
LEFT: (Baraguey d'Hilliers) Severoli die roll: 6 – 3 = 3 (Engage)
Left Wing
die roll: 3 – 3 = 0
Result: Assault.
Sahuc extreme left
Baden Brigade extreme left rear
RESERVES:
To be diced for when change of situation determines their use.
Pully (Cavalry Reserve)
(Reserve)
Royal Guard
(Reserve)
Pachtod (Infantry Reserve)
(Reserve)
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1b. Determining Divisional or Corps Orders.
RAAB: General posture of Austrian Army: Defending.
As mentioned earlier, no additional orders had been issued by John on the morning of the 14th – no directions as to rally points lines of retreat or communication. And as per the historical situation, the Austrian orders are very simply; "hold" or be in reserve and do not need to be diced for.
RIGHT WING: (Oberst Emerich Bésán) FML Johann Frimont in command
Hold Orders
LEFT WING: FML Daniel Mécsery
Hold Orders
RIGHT FLANK/COLUMN: FML Franjo Jelačić
Hold Orders
LEFT FLANK/COLUMN: FML Hieronymus Colloredo-Mansfeld
Hold Orders
RESERVE CORPS: FML (Johann Frimont)
Reserve
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2a. Orders & Dispositions (French/Allied)
Infantry Centre
Battle Arrays:
Modifier that applied to the die rolls:
It is clearly visible to subordinates carrying out the orders that the enemy's (player's) first line is deployed. +2
RIGHT: (Grenier) Seras (Engage)
die roll: 20 + 2 = 22
Result:
19 or more: Engage in line, preceded by skirmishers, second infantry lines and reserves to be ployed in columns with artillery in close support by battery and any attached cavalry as flank guard.
CENTRE: (Grenier) Durutte (Engage)
die roll: 9 + 2 = 11
Result:
11-12: Engage in line with artillery in reserve, second infantry lines and reserves to be ployed in columns and any attached cavalry as flank guard.
Bombardment option normally for Corps commanders only (Eugene):
die roll: 7
Result: No bombardment.
LEFT: (Baraguey d'Hilliers) Severoli (Engage)
die roll: 9 + 2 = 11
Result:
11-12: Engage in line with artillery in reserve, second infantry lines and reserves to be ployed in columns and any attached cavalry as flank guard.
(For cavalry dispositions please see notes at end of this post)
Reserve infantry and cavalry formations would most likely have been held in column.
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2b. Orders & Dispositions (The Austrians)
Modifiers that applied to the die rolls:
Enemy has numerical cavalry superiority/threat: +10
Army is behind linear obstacle: -5
= +5 net modifier
RIGHT WING: (Oberst Emerich Bésán) FML Johann Frimont in command
Hold Orders (For cavalry dispositions please see notes at end of this post)
LEFT WING: FML Daniel Mécsery
Hold Orders (For cavalry dispositions please see notes at end of this post)
RIGHT FLANK/COLUMN: FML Franjo Jelačić
Hold Orders
die roll: 19 + 5 = 24
Result:
19 or more: All infantry units in [battalionsmasse] All artillery to second line intervals. Any attached cavalry in reserve to counter-attack and/or pursue if enemy cavalry is disordered.
LEFT FLANK/COLUMN: FML Hieronymus Colloredo-Mansfeld
Hold Orders
die roll: 11 + 5 = 16
Result:
15-16: All infantry units held in [divisonsmasse] screened by skirmishers. Corps artillery in reserve. Any attached cavalry in reserve limited to counter-attack enemy only if one of own lines is broken.
RESERVE CORPS: FML (Johann Frimont)
Reserve
Modifiers that applied to the die rolls:
Enemy has numerical cavalry superiority/threat: +10
Army is behind linear obstacle: -5
Reserve orders: +5
= +10 net modifier
die roll: 4 + 5 = 9
Result:
9-10: Infantry first line deployed screened by skirmishers, second lines and reserves ployed to column. Divisional artillery by battery in the centre. Corps artillery in reserve. Any attached cavalry arrayed to behind flanks.
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Notes:
Lineal armies:
Lineal armies are; Austrian to 1805, Prussian to 1807, Russians to 1807. British throughout.
"Engaging in Line":
When a command is to "engage in line", unless it is a lineal army, it will advance in column to within 20cms (400-500 yards) and immediately deploy to line.
Cavalry Dispositions:
Please note that cavalry dispositions within commands still need to be determined, but they won`t be difficult, as I have said before, I believe that the keys to determining these things are brigade structure and the unit strengths.
Lines in brigades would be equalized to result in approximately the same number of men and horse in each line, so there may not be an matching number of units in each line.
E.g. the Austrian left wing:
Please refer to GM OOB of Raab for the Austrian cavalry.
Unit strength/number of bases in brackets:
Hadik`s brigade could then be in 2 lines:
1st Line Heyes(4)/Zemplin(3) (=7)
2nd Line: Eisenburg(3)/Neograd(2)/Bars(2) (=7)
Andrassy`s brigade could be in 2 lines:
1st Line: EH Nr12(4)/ Vesprim(3) (=7)
2nd Line: Eisenburg(4)/Oedenburg(3) (=7)
(Hadik`s and Andrassy`s brigades would both have a frontage of 7 bases)
Ghilanyi`s brigade may have roughly the same frontage (8), but a little different with 1 line and a small reserve?
1st Line: Husr Ott Nr5(4)/Pest(4) (=8)
Reserve: Barser(3) (=3)
Reserve Infantry Formations:
These will not have skirmish screens and only be deployed if within enemy artillery range.
Modifers:
(Hold Orders)
Adjusted modifier:
"Enemy has numerical cavalry superiority/threat: +10"
"Enemy bombardment in progress (more than one battery firing upon command) or is about to start (massed batteries forming) -10
Added modifier:
"Army is behind linear obstacle: -5"
The bombardment option for Corps commanders only:
The reserve formations artillery batteries would be used for the massed battery plus any available divisional artillery which has been designated as being in reserve in the divisional/corps dispositions.
If no single division/corps is leading (in echelon), then the point that massed battery is to be deployed should be diced for (left, centre, or right).
Added result:
"5 or more: no bombardment."