Playtest of SCENARIO 7 – Krasnik – – August 23, 1914
Type: Meeting engagement
Rules: Command Decision Test of Battle, playtest for "Great War East – 1914" scenario book
Figure Scale: 15mm
The Battle of Krasnik was the first major contact between the Austrians and Russians in Galicia in August 1914. The Russian 4th Army was marching southward without a cavalry screen. They were surprised to encounter the Austrian First Army. The Austrians flanked the advancing Russians forcing them to retreat in a two day battle. Bayonet charges were the order of the day. Historically the Austrians won, with heavy casualties on both sides; some Austrian regiments are reported to have taken 40 to 50 percent losses. The Austrians captured about 6,000 men and 30 guns. The battle represents the high point of Austrian military performance during the entire war.
Play: Both the Austrians and Russians are rated as Trained. The Austrians have morale 9 while the Russians have morale 8.
At the start of play, the Russian's have two battalions on the table. These are deployed on the road north and south of Rudnik. The Austrians also deploy two battalions within 12-inches of the River Strozka. Both sides are told the terrain objectives of the scenario are to capture Hill 208, and the bridge over the Strozka at Krasnik. Inflicting greater losses than taken in personnel and guns are also objectives.
Additional Russian battalions enter on turns 1 and 2, on the road north of Rudnik.
The Austrians are told they have troops making a flank march, and they will enter later on the eastern board edge. They must choose the entry point for the reinforcements prior to the start of play.
The Russians send one battalion directly up Hill 208. The other swings west to envelope the hill from the north. The Austrians attack the southern side of the hill with one battalion. The second splits its advance, two companies each along the eastern slopes of the hill and north through the wooded area. This split of the Austrian forces turned out to be the key decision of the battle.
The lead Russian reinforcing battalion splits mirroring the Austrian second battalion. The second reinforcing battalion heads for the eastern woods. Austrian reinforcements enter on Turn 5, a turn later than planned, as their march was reoriented by the commanding player (he arrived late from dinner). They enter just south of the eastern woods and turned north to counter the advancing Russians. Combat in the woods remains clashes of patrols in the advance of the main bodies.
The main combat occurs on Hill 208, where the local superiority in numbers is decisive for the Russians. The Austrians lose some 20 stands, while the Russians lose but ten. The lead Austrian battalion is virually wiped out, taking 75 percent losses.
The Terrain objectives were split between Austrians and Russians. The Austrians still held the bridge, but the Russians had taken the hill. Based on losses in personnel and guns the game is a Russian victory.
As a result of the playtest the terrain objectives for the scenario will be changed. The Austrians must hold the bridge and take Hill 208. The Russians hold Rudnik and take Hill 208. One Russian battalion will be removed from the scenario order of battle.
We had seven players for the scenario, and I believe all had a fun time. Photos to follow in a later post.
bases more of his German artillery tractors.
