"Commanding positions" Topic

We often read of artillery in certain positions commanding other positions. Little Round Top was said to command Cemetery Ridge, Cemetery Hill was said to command the surrounding area, Hazel Grove commanded Sickles' III Corps at Chancellorsville, etc. I was figuring on giving artillery in such situations extra dice, or a positive die roll modifier (depending on on the combat mechanism).

Otherwise one position is the same as another. Which also brings to mind that on our tables pretty much everything is a good place to unlimber a battery. In real life one needs a moderately flat area large enough for guns, limbers and caissons. Those aren't everywhere, even in relatively flat terrain. Nothing is as flat as our tables.

a commanding position usually means good lines of sight and fields of fire. The advantage should be reflected in the terrain you lay out. I know ground scale (especially elevation) is often out of sync with troop scale, but before you change rules consider changing the table top first. It will give you an opportunity to consider the battlefield features the way the commanders did and give you a reason why you should risk a regiment to take particular location.

Have to agree with FABE. Artillery didn't get better simply by being on a hill or "commanding position." It had a clear field of fire and a looong LOS.

Even Little Round Top didn't have THAT commanding a position. Union General Warren couldn't tell where the Rebels were on Day 2 of Gettysburg. Lots of woods covering the approaches. He had an artillery piece fire a shot over the trees and when the unseen Rebels turned their heads to follow the shot, Warren saw the flash of thousands of bayonets.

Being on the flank of the enemy is a 'commanding position'[Such as Little Round Top looking down the length of Cemetary Ridge]. Defending with a stream to your front is a 'commanding position'. Having a redoubt between two stretches of dense woods is a 'commanding position.'

The position itself gives the advantages.

I presume we are talking about 18th and 19th century artillery.

It is true that artillery did not like to set up on hills as the shot tended to bury itself in the ground rather than bounce. There was also the issue of dead ground in front of them.

However they did look for an eminence or low hill to give them a clear view not only of the target but also of any approaching threat to them. It takes a while to limber up and flee if guns are under threat.

My table has low hills which are half speed to move on. Artillery gets an extra 20cm added to their range and guns trying to fire up at them are disadvantaged inside a certain range owing to elevation restrictions. This makes hills worth holding in the game.

This position could also have been the "command" position that all junior officers were informed to refer to during the battle. With the poor accuracy of most weapons in the field, it was an important factor to get as many troops firing at the same target as possible.

It can be hard to model gently rolling terrain on our style of table top. But here is how I do it. I have a terrain feature called "ridgeline." I model it with a piece of kitchen string dyed green and flocked. You could also just use loose clump foliage, lichen, etc.

A ridgeline blocks LOS but has no other effect on play. It costs nothing to cross, confers no advantage in melee etc. Naturally, any unit on higher elevation can see over them. Thus between Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Ridge unlimbered artillery will really only be useful close in.

It allows you to break up those mile-wide billiard tables our battles often look like.

Extra C.:

The string idea is excellent… and it can also be used as a hedge row for 2mm troops.

For that gently rolling terrain, we have used a piece of green or brown felt to indicate a low spot or dead ground on the table as well as hills or ridgelines. Move into it and the unit is out of LOS to surrounding units unless on a hill etc.

I also do the 'ridgeline' thing, but for twentieth century warfare as well as blocking LOS it provides cover/hull down positions for elements touching the line. The benefit does not apply against fire from positions which overlook the ridge.