* 32nd Regiment of Foot * 6 Years of Linebattle gaming *

[JohnnyBo11]

Soooo... On a scale of broke to filing for bankruptcy, how does everyone feel about the new Steam sale season?

Not actually that many games I would like to get so far. Surprisingly enough.

[gurudenis]

Not actually that many games I would like to get so far.

Your standards are too high. You anger our god and savior Gaben.

[gurudenis]

Tonight's line battle was pretty intense!

I believe 3 rounds out of 5 were claimed by Prussia. But it is their assault on our (British) positions in the second round that was particularly exemplary and deserves an after action report. It will span several posts over the next few days. I only have one perspective on it (as I personally survived for a while and wasn't able to spectate), so corrections and additions are welcome. I hope I get to be excused for multi-posting in this case. Without further ado, let's begin.

1. At the outset the both forces set up the artillery and proceeded to advance in force on the East flank. The initial deployment before the first fire contact was roughly as follows:



The gray blobs denote hills, and then there's a 15-foot crevasse with some shallow water at the bottom.

The British battle plan on the East flank was to harass the enemy with skirmishing fire while luring their cavalry into close contact with the 32nd line unit which outnumbered the opposing cavalry considerably. All the while artillery would engage in counter-battery fire in order to counteract the binding effect that the Prussian artillery had from their dominant elevated position.

Little did we know how things were about to go wrong.

(to be continued)

[SwissGronkh]

Sounds pretty intensive

[Painmace]

Still waiting for Lane (yes Lane) to explain what that fine Gren rank is o.o

[SwissGronkh]

Still waiting for Lane (yes Lane) to explain what that fine Gren rank is o.o

Gren is a part of my invite rank in your Regiment
2Lhr_LtGrenMusician_SwissGronkh

Doesn't it look like this?:

[gurudenis]

Oh Swissy...

(AAR continued)

2. At the outset of the battle, the 73rd Prussian cavalry attempted a scouting mission on the East flank to ascertain the position of the British forces. Predictable as the move was, the 32nd line had moved to intercept and set up an ambush behind the crest of a hill on their path. Upon first contact and a quick volley fired by the 32nd, the scouting cavalry hastily retreated from this unfavorable engagement - fortunately for the Prussians - without taking any casualties.

Somewhat to the West of this initial clash and out of immediate line of sight of the 32nd line, the combined Prussian force (42nd, 120th, 16th, 31st, McMeekin's) unexpectedly encountered the British 42nd line and 32nd skirmishers on the march and managed to rapidly close their distance. Pressing the clear numerical advantage at medium to close range, first with skirmishing fire and then with bayonet, the Prussians were soon able to envelop and destroy a large part of both British units that they came in contact with, and the remainder were compelled to fleee with appropriate haste. Prussian casualties in this encounter were less substantial as their main force retained most of its combat strength and gained some ground.

All the while, a fierce artillery duel was in progress as both batteries struggled to zero in on each other at an inconvenient angle.



With the center of the British line pushed out of the way, the 32nd line became liable to being flanked and coerced into a firefight on enemy's terms.

(to be continued further)

[32nd_Freedom]

Wow, these maps are great.

[SwissGronkh]

my battlelog:
It was a big war.
Then i joined.
I started to play music.
Then everyone lived in peace

[gurudenis]

^^ pic seems legit

(AAR continued)

3. The only sensible strategy for the still intact 32nd line was now to abandon the flanking position in favor of consolidating their forces defensively on the South hill. Seeking to cover the friendly retreat from unwanted interference by the Prussian 73rd cavalry, the 5teFK stepped up to engage their counterparts. This protracted duel seemed to be bringing no clear advantage, nor inflicting any crippling casualties on either side, but it bought enough time for the British to finish their maneuver. Having pulled back across the entire front, the British forces proceeded to set up behind friendly artillery on their hill, counting on the vertical advantage to deter an immediate Prussian assault.



The Prussian force had to consolidate their gains and chose to set up and reform behind a hill to the East of the British positions in marginal cover from their harassing artillery fire. For a brief moment it looked like a stalemate had developed, neither side having a decisive tactical advantage. Advancing on a well-formed battle line that is positioned on a hill in proximity to artillery is a risky move no matter what numerical advantage the assailant may command. If Prussians were to strike a decisive blow against the foe, they needed a plan.

And boy did they have one.

4. Disturbed by an intensive enemy bombardment, the 32nd had to position themselves in a small stretch of uneven terrain that afforded reliable cover. A mere 50 yards separated this position from the Eastern crest of the hill overlooking the entire flank. Should a Prussian assault be mounted, effective fire from that position could force them back into cover or decimate their ranks. The challenge for the Prussians was therefore in denying the 32nd the opportunity to occupy that position on a short notice.

In a stroke of genius, the move that followed succeeded in tying up the 32nd just long enough to deny them the pleasure of unloading a few volleys into the vulnerable Prussian battle order as they began their risky advance on the flank of the hill held by the Brits. The 73rd cavalry circled around the North-Western edge of the hill and threatened the enemy cannon battery. Located closest to the 17th artillery and unaware that the Prussian line has begun a rapid advance from the East, the 32nd responded by forming a square to cover the approach to the battery.

Caught in rough terrain and under fire from a fixed position, the 73rd cavalry couldn't hope to destroy the opposing line, but that wasn't the goal either. As the 73rd officer finally gave the order to scatter under fire from the 32nd square and to reform in the rear, the first elements of the advancing Prussian line could be seen cresting the hill on which the British artillery had set up...



The assault had begun.

(to be continued further)

[32nd_Freedom]

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?!  O_O

[JohnnyBo11]

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?!  O_O

I have not been this excited for upcoming episodes since TMNT when I was a kid.

[Wolfus]

Good lord sir. Do hurry up and write the rest of the article will you, what what!

[SwissGronkh]

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?!  O_O

Swissy come again and save the world
End of the story

[gurudenis]

(AAR continued)

5. Observing the 73rd cavalry engage a square, then break away and fall back, the British 5teFK cavalry saw an opportunity to mount a pursuit. Catching up with their counterparts at the base of the West hill, the 5teFK committed themselves to a major fight on relatively equal terms, and both regiments now knew it was their final fight. But the Prussian cavalry diversion hadn't been for nothing.

When the slightly stirred but unshaken 32nd line finally managed to reform in columns, the brief window of opportunity to fire on the advancing Prussian line had all but passed. Atop the hill, the Prussians split their forces, half of them going after the 17th artillery and assorted remaining British forces guarding them. The other half of the Prussian assault force proceeded to open brisk fire on the 32nd from what was now a commanding height, forcing their opposition to consider a retreat. After several maneuvers and volleys in an effort to hold their footing on the hill, and having taking some casualties, the 32nd found themselves rushing for cover downhill and into the ravine in the middle of the map.

This move condemned the already distressed British units engaged on the South hill. Sacrificing themselves in a final stand, they weakened the Prussian line, but were eventually wiped out.



Prussia now firmly held the South hill and had the remaining British forces in retreat.

6. Warning: egos were violently harmed in the writing of this episode...

Confined to a terrain irregularity in the middle of the map, under incessant fire from the 73rd cannons, with the overwhelming enemy line and skirmishers in pursuit, the 32nd had to act fast before all hope was lost. Betting on their traditionally strong line drills, the officer in command at the time (yes, that would be your humble servant) came up with a plan: to suddenly come out of cover and form a firing line on the edge of the ravine in which the 32nd found themselves at the time. Not only was the maneuver doable and frequently practiced, but it seemed like it could help turn the British luck around  (or lack thereof!) if only a successful and unexpected volley could be fired off at the numerous enemies as they pushed their advance. The order was given.



Where an orderly move was expected, chaos ensued. Whether due to a mistake or a misunderstanding or a mistimed order, a chain reaction of confusion saw the entire 32nd line stagger out of cover and hesitate in plain sight. With grim resolve, those few veterans that managed to form up the fastest fired a hasty and thin volley and were almost immediately decimated by incoming fire from the Prussians who used the previous few moments to reform their line. What remained of the British line were now committed to charging the Prussian formation. Volley after volley thinned their ranks as they closed the distance, and the bayonet charge ended as quickly as it began...

Prussia had the victory, by all means a well-deserved triumph of combined arms and enlightened tactical thinking.

The end!

Whateva, we still rock