Planning && Organizatioll ill Monstergame~

'y fJ?d /!lJe;ymaPlanning and organizationplaya.

very important role in large, multipleplayer games (monstergames). Monster-

games can sometimes be virtually won,or lost, prior to the first piece beingmoved. Some teams prepare for weeks oreven months for a big game. The follow-ing planning and organization concepts

need to be considered when planning fora monstergame.

1. Objective2. Analysis of enemy intentions -

including personnel assignments

J. Strategy4. Command structure - including

operational sectors5. Troop allocations

6. Operations (implementation ofstrategy)

7, Training

This article will present both a

French plan and a Russi8n plan for theLA BATA ILIE DE LA MOSKOWA game. These

plans were used in weekend games by theauthor's war game group against anotherclub. Much material is drawn from these

games to add realism and color to the useof the plans. Finally, a comparison ismade between the goals of the plans andthe actual game results. -J-

FRENCH PLAN

Objective:The French team must take and hold

Utitsa., the Fleches, the Great Redoubt,

and the village of Semonovskaya (alsoknown as the town). They must have bet-ter than a 1-1 kill ratio, calculated ac-

cording to victory points rather thanmerely stacking points. Further, theFrench te~m must accomplish these objec-tives within J6 turns.

A~alysis of Enemy Intentions:The Russian team knows where we havE

to go. It is expected that they will

load .up the center and place their bestplayers there. (The center runs from the

Kalotcha to the northern edge of the U-titsa forest.) We expect the Russia.Tlteam to stubbornly defend the Fleches ancthe northern flank behind the river. A

delay action in the Uti"tsa forest is an-

ticipated. ~ving not played LA BATAILLEwj..t.h this team before it is difficult toguess their command organization and whattricks they might have up their sleeve.

It is always prudent to expect the worstfrom your opponents.

Strategy:

Strategy in LA BATAn..LE consists ofthe general plan by which the objectivesare accomplished. Frontal assaults earlyin the game against the Redoubt and the

town, against competant players, are us-ually fruitless and very costly. Simul-taneous attacks in all sectors so'unds

good on the surface, but violates theprinciple of mass. Coordinating such astrategy in LA BATAn..IE is difficult.

The French team decided to execute

a double envelopment of the Russian po-sition. The first half of the game

would be taken to envelop the Russianflanks and inflict heavy casual ties onthe Russian forces. This would be done

by maneuver and concentration of offen-sive force. Further, these battles

would be fought away from the centerwhere most of the heavy Russian artil-

lery is located. The second half of thebattle would see a combined assault on

the Russian center from a "horseshoe"

position. It is anticipated that a goodkill ratio early in the game will enableus to maintain a better than 1-1 kill ra-tio at the end.

Command Structure :

Two key factors in a large, mul ti-

player game are the selection of thecommanders and the assignment of frontalcommanders. In the best spirit of a

monstergame the French team organized aseven man team. The two most experienced

players were given the principle flankcommands. The northern flank marshal,

hereafter known as Murat (subse~uent

troop allocations will reveal why Muratwas assigned the north), was assignedeverything north of Borodino. The south-ern flank marshal (Davout) Was assignedUtitsa and the Utitsa forest. Three ad-ditional marshals were detailed to as-

sault Borodino (Eugene), assault the

Fleches (Ney), and demonstrate in thecenter (Junot). A sixth marshal' was

picked to triumphantly lead the Polishcorps into battle. The seventh Frenchplayer assumed the role of Napoleon.He would lead and coordinate the Frenchattack but would not have a frontal com-

mand. (It is oftentimes profitable, andrealistic, to have a "supreme commander"when playing a monstergame.) -4-

The French team planned the game forseveral weeks. Each marshal became ac-

quainted with his forces and what would

be expected of him. Several training

games were played to practice executingthe plan including coordination with

other players. Several possible Russianresponses were wargamed. (Although, asevents would show, not all options were

explored.) The French team was preparedfor battle and headed for the weekend

battlefield with high morale.

Troop Allocations:The French left was allocated a mo-

bile, high quality force. The French

right was supplemented with some eliteguard units. The rest.of the guard and

most of the VIII corps was kept in re-serve in the center under Napoleon'scommand. Maintaining a reserve is veryimportant in this game. It should benoted, inasmuch as this is only a game,

that individual units of several corps

were functionally parceled out to severaldifferent players in order to optimizethe allocations. At the start of the

game, markers were placed on stacks show-ing which units were going where.

(See next page).

Operations:The number of turns required for

each phase serve as a general guide.The important point is to coordinate theoperations of each command.PHASE 1 (turns 1-4)

1. Eugene secures Borodino as

quickly as possible.2. Davout launches all-out assault

on Utitsa.

J. Ney deploys for an assault onthe Fleches.

4. Murat rapidly develops the flank-ing maneuver on the left.

PHASE 2 (turns 5-12)1. Davout clears the Utitsa forest

and begins turning the Russianleft.

2. Ney takes the Fleches and neutral-izes Russian artillery at Semon-

ovskaya.J. Junot deploys for an as saul t on

the Redoubt. Junot's flank is

supported by Ney's artillery.

I~III~N(~II OIIJ)I~II Ol~ 111,rrrrl..l~MURAT

Infantry: IV/1J, 14, RlG; VIII/aD BN,OG BN.Cavalry: : IV/Italian c~valry; IIIC; IIC;

IGD/15-12, 15-10, 12-10, 1-14.

Artillery: IV/4 HA bat; IIlC: IIC; III/2

HA bat; IGD/2 HA bat.Leaders: Murat, Grouchy, Montbrun,

Bessieres.

EUGENE

Infantf:14(2JN .Cavalry:

Artillery :

Leaders:

1/1; IV/1J(lPC), 14(18L),

IV/2x5-11, 2xJ-ll.

IV/ foo t artillery.

Eugene, Rapp.

JUNOT

Infan)ry: 1/2, lJN; II 1/1 a (129), 10( lP) ,10 46 , 11(2P); VIII/2J(2L), 2J(JL),24(lL) , 2J(2).

Cavalry: III/2xJ-l1; VIII (all);IGD/4-12, J-12.

Artillery: 111/1 bat; VIII/l ~t;

IGD/2 bat.Leaders: Junot, Lobau

PONIATOWSKI

V Corps.

- (.1')11~ INEYInfantry: 1/5; III/10(24L), 10(72),11(1), 11(4), 11(18), 11(9J), 25.Cavalry: III/4x5-11; IC.

Artillery: 1/4 bat; J how. bat, 2 HA bat;

111/6 bat, 1 how bat; IC; IGD/2 bat,2 how. bat.

Leaders: Ney, Nansoul ty, Sorbier, Lari-

boss (Note: this is the principle artil-lery force and thus the two big artilleryleaders are assigned to this command.)

DAVOUT

Infantry: l/J, 4, J(127), J(STA); IGD/

OG(lC), OG(2C) , MG(FC) , MG(F).Cavalry: 1; IVC.

Artillery: 1/7 bat, 1 HA bat; IVC; i.

IGD/6 bat.~eaders: Napoleon, Davout, Maubourg,Berthiers.

NAPOLEON

Infantry: IGD/OG (-), MG (-), YG, VL,

VPB, VTG; VIII/2J(J), 2J(c), 2J(7),

24(5), GG.

Cavalry: IGD/9-12, 5-10, 2x9-11.

Artillery: IGD/2 HA ba.t; VIII/2 bat.

Leaders: Lefebvre, Roguet, Mortier,Caulaincort.

PHASE 2 (continued)

4. IV artillery deploys in Boro-

dino and supports a crossingof the Kalotcha northwest ofthe Redoubt.

5. Murat's mobile force crosses theKalotcha near Maloe Selo and

Staroye Selo and drives south.Murat's infantry prepares tocro ss near Zakar:tsi or NovoeSelo.

Options:1. Davout and Ney may transfer some

resourses depending on the op-portunities presenting them-selves and the casualties.

2. The V corps will support Davout'sflanking maneuver. Poniatowskiwill operate under Davout's di-rection.

J. Napoleon will maintain the re-serve in the center in an at-

tempt to pin down Russian re-serves.

PHASE J (turns lJ-18)1. Davout and Poniatowski launch

an all-out attack on the right.2. Murat launches an all-out attack

on the left.J. Ney, Junot, and Eugene gain and/

or maintain artillery superi-ority in the center. Theirforces deplo;y for the finalassaulton the Redoubt andthe town.

4. The reservemovesforwardtosupport the attack in the cen-ter.

-5-

PHASE 4 (turns 19-24)1. Davout and Murat continue their

heavy assaults on the flanks.2. Ney takes Semonovskaya.3. Junot and Eugene take the Redoubt.4. Napoleon commits the reserve

when and where needed to as-sure capture and retentionof the objectives.

(let's be optimistic!)Mop-up.Victory celebration.

PHASE 51.2.

Resul ts of Ac tual Gaine:Now that we have seen the French plan,

let's review what actually happened in theweekend game.PHASE 11. The Russian team fielded only threeplayers. Their most experienced marshalplayed the center and their least exper-ienced marshal played the Russian right.2. The Russians refused the left anddeployed east of the Utitsa forest.Davout's flank attack emerged from theforest six turns ahead of schedule.3. The Russians essentially withdrewfrom the Fleches. Ney's cavalry pursuedbut found out what Custer discovered atthe Little Big Horn.4. Eugene took Borodino after a briefstruggle. Murat was rolling towards theriver and the Russian flank.PHASE 2

1. Davout got involved in very heavyfighting along the Old Smolensk Road asthe Russiansstoodon the hills to theeast of the Utitsa forest. After 6 to 8turns of brutal fighting Davout withdrewto regroup.2. Murat crossedgan rolling up thestrength and speedseemed to surprise

the Kalotcha and be-Russian flank. Theof the French left

the Russian command-

erst3. The Russians defended the center bywithdrawing behind the Redoubt and thetown and deploying heavy artillery inthis area. The French advanced cautious-

ly in this sector.PHASE 31. The Russian right collapsed and theRussians rushed reserves from thecenterand the left to the north.

2. Ney shifted some troops to Davoutand the French prepared to resume theadvance on the right.3. Junot carefully advanced and seiz-ed the Great Redoubt. The French were

preparing for the final assault on Sem-onovskaya.

Eighteen game turns were completed.The French lost 525 stacking points andthe Russians lost 636. The French ac-cumulated 691 victory points to 633 forthe Russians, a 1.09 victory point ratio.

The French plan was seen as being

generally successful. .Despite the set-back on the right the double envelopmentwas achieved. The French left carried

the day. The French were confident of

securing the final objectives by turn25-26 had the game continued. A. finalkill ratio of around 1.1 was expected.

(Note: Experience has shown that a vic-

tory point ratio of 1.1 - 1.2 is aboutall that can be expected against a com-petent Russian team.) A. final note onplanning for a LA BATAILLE game. Despiteall of the analysis, training and having

a supreme commander, the French team still

had diffic.ulty properly coordinatingtheir attack.

RUSSIAN PLAN

Objective:The Russian team need only hold any

one of the four objectives while holding

the French to less than a 1.5 victorypoint ratio. A good Russian team shouldvirtually always be able to keep the killratio significantly below 1.5 if theFrench make a serious attack. The objec-tive to be held normally reduces to the

Redoubt and/or Semonovskaya.

Analysis of Enemy Intentions:It is difficult to predict what

strategy the French team will employ.However, we have some possible clues for

we are playing a rematch with our oppon-ents from the last game. Our analysisconcluded that they will make a majorassault in the south since they appar-ently believe that area is indefensible.

Accordingly, they attached a low pri-ority to the north last game so we are

not expecting a major assault there.

We suspect that they will mass theirartillery at the major point of attack.

It is anticipated that their best play-er will command the French right.

Strategy:The cornerstone of the Russian de-

fense is the center. We will defend the

Redoubt and the town strongly and willnot retreat from them. The Russians

can afford to fight to the last man forthe center because they must retain oneof the two objectives located there towin. In a bloody attrition battle thekill ratio will be in the 1.1 to 1.2

range. The Russian players must becareful not to lose too much too quickly.

He will deploy very strongly in the cen-ter.

More than likely the French willdecide not to attack the center initial-

ly. The principle strategic questionthat must be answered by the Russiansis how to avoid defeat on the flanks.We will defend the Kalotcha. in the north.

It is expected that the northern flankwill hold. It is anticipated that themajor battle will be fought in the south.

The initial setup and the firsttwo turns at Utitsa and the Fleches

should give the impression that we will

stand and fight. Once the French startdeploying and we see the French plan,the Russians will withdraw from Utitsa.

A.fighting withdrawel will be made fromthe Fleches. The main line of defense

will be along the east edge of the Utit-sa forest, the three-hex hill aside th~Old Smolensk Road, and behind the stream

east of the Fleches. It is anticipatedthat the decisive battle will be fought

here. The retreating Russian left willbe reinforced and will turn and fight.It is an ambush of sorts. The French

will be pinned to the woods and engaged .

in a static attrition battle. If the

French can be sufficiently bloodied and

delayed the Russians have a good chanceof holding the center.

-7-

Command Structure:

The Russians fielded a four-man

team for the "road" game. While lean,it was a veteran team. The best LA BA-

TAILIE tactician was given the Russianright. This marshal, hereafter known

as Uvarov, can operate well independant-ly and conserves his forces. Kutuzov

was confident that his right would beheld. The key center position was givento a veteran wargamer with limited LABA.TAILIE experience. Raevski was givenan intensive training program the week

before the game. It was felt that Raev-ski would be steady when the lead start-ed flying. A.real fighter (TUchkov)

took the Utitsa front. The Supreme Com-mander, believing that one should notdelegate the critical south-centralfront, took the Fleches sector. He will

be known as Baggovut, who figured prom-inantly in the Russian plan.

The Russian team did not field a

"non-playing" supreme commander for thisgame. The Russians normally have less

need for that role than the French, and

this Was a veteran team. While Baggovutnominally conducted the battle, most of

the key command decisions were made bya four-mar~hal council. Frequently, thebattles in the north were left in the

capable hands of Uvarov and Raevski.On the eve of the battle Uvarov was

called to Moscow. A reserve marshal was

thrust into the Utitsa front commarid.

ItlJSSIAN ORnl~lt Ol~ IIA1'1'IAI~· «.A)II~ 2UVAROV BAGGOVUTInfantry: IV (all); II (17th); VI (jager); Infantry: VIII (all); 2CG; 7CG; IISmolensk Militia. (4th);VII (6 jager).Oavalry: 'IC (all); IIC (all except 4-10);' pavalry: GD (2x12-10); IVC (12-11,Cossacks (all except 7x5-14). 11-12, + 4 regiments).Artillery: IV (4 bat, 1 HA bat); VI (1 Artillery: VIII (6 bat, 1 HA bat); IIbat, 1 HA bat); II (3 bat, 1 ~A bat); (3 bat); VII (3 ba.t);III (1 HA bat);VII (1 HA bat); IC (1 HA.bat); IIC (2 IVC (2 HA bat); R (6 bat, 4 HA bat).HA bat); IIIC (1 HA.bat). * Leaders: Baggovut, Borozdin, Gorchakov,Leaders: Barclay, Bagration, Benning- Constantine, Korff.sen, Uvarov, Platov, Kreutz.

RAEVSKI

Infant)i: VII (all except one jager bat-talion ; VI (all except jagers).Cavalry: IIIC (all); IIC (4-10);GD (8-11); IV(3 regiments).Artillery: VII(3 bat); VI (5 bat);IV (1 bat); GD (5 bat); R (8 bat).Leaders: Raevski, Dokhturov, Milora-dovich, Seivers, Tolstoi.

* Uvarov has a 'thing' about artillerywith a 9-hix range. He requisitionedall artillery in II, IV, and VI corpswith a 9 hex range.

TUCHKOV

Infantry: III (all); VI (11J); VIIr41J); VIII (50J); Moscow militia.Cavalry: III (all); Cossacks (7x5-14).Artillery: III (6 bat).Leaders: 'fuchkov, Ermalov.

KUTUZOV(Reserve)Infantry: Guard (all).Cavalry: none.Artillery: R (6 bat how, 2 HA,bat; GD(1 HA.bat).Leaders: Kutuzov, Kutaisov.

A. crash training course Was initiated

to prepare the new 'fuchkov for battle.The new 'fuchkov would perform aQmirablyon the battlefield.

Troop Allocations:

The center received priority on thereinforcements. Most of the VI corps andthe first two stacks of the reserve ar-tillery, as well as the Guard, reinforcedthe center early in the gaJ1le.Horse ar-tillery batteries were deployed to thetwo flanks. Heavy reinforcements start-ed marching towards the anticipated bat-tlefield on the left. As with the Frenchin the previous game, the Russians had avery detailed troop allocation and trans-fer plan.

Operations:

The phasing of most of the Russian

operations is, of course, dependant onthe French attack plan. The"following

will be the phasing if the battle devel-ops as anticipated. Contingencies andmodifications will be presented as ap-

propriate. '-f~

PHA.SE1 (turns 1-2)1. The Russian team will adopt a for-ward, aggressive defense on,all fronts.The intent is to confuse the French teamand mask our actual plan. We hope tosee the French plan unfoldingbeforewemove on turn three.2. Uvarov will cross the Kalotcha andthreaten the French northern flank. Ra-evski will lead a contingent into Boro-dino. If the French are weak on theleft we willattack, If theyare strong,Uvarov and Raevski will withdraw acrossthe Kalotcha.

PHASE 2 (turns 3-8)1. 'fuchkov will withdraw through thewoods. The French advance will be de-layed with skirmishers and militia.2. Baggovut will conducta fightingwithdrawal towards the narrow gap between

the stream and the forest while holdingthe east bank of the stream. The rein-

forcements from II corps, VII corps,reserve artillery, and the guard, willmarch towards the southern flank.

3. Raevski will deploy two infantry

corps plus 66 stacking points of artil-

lery in the center. Any attack in the

center will be repulsed.4. Uvarov will either attack the Frenchleft or fall back behind the Kalotcha.

In this case Uvarov will.maneuver so as

to prevent a French crossing of the Ka-lotcha.

PHASE 3 (turns 9-18)1. The Russian left will stand and join

the battle. The artillery deployment

will be completed and the 4th Divisionwill have reached the battlefield. Tuch-

kov will hold on the edge of the forest.

(Note : The Russian team had a diagram

showing the turn by turn deployment sched-ule of the artillery in the center and

the reserve artillery on the South Cen-tral front. The reserve howitzers, which

would be deployed last, would go whereneeded.

2. Raevski will aggressively defendthe center. Ra.evski's artillery will

engage targets of opportunity within 9hexes of Semonovskaya. Raevski will be

prepared to come to the aid of the Rus-sian left if required.

3. Uvarov will prevent French crossingof the Kalotcha if possible. If this

does not prove feasible the French cros-

sing should be extended as far northwardas possible. Uvarov's principal mission.is to prevent the French left from a£-

fecting the decisive battles in thesouth and center.

PHASE 4 (turns 19-36)Since so much depends on the French

plan and the course of the battle theRussian plan is very general from thispoint. At some point the Russians willbe forced to, or elect to, withdraw to-wards the center. All effort will be

made to hold the Redoubt and the town.

Hopefully, the French will have been suf-ficiently bloodied and delayed longenough to assure victory.

Resul ts of Actual Game:

PHASE11. The French team fielded four mar-shals this time around. Their most ex-

perienced player from the previous gameplayed the right advancing through theforest. The new, unknown marshal ad-vanced on the Fleches.

2. The French left advanced aggres-sively on Borodino.

J. The French conspicuously avoidedthe center.PHASE 21. The French right advanced steadilythrough the woods. The French ove=anthe Fleches and began advancing down thegap. The Russian main line of defense

began forming.2. In the center a brief attempt at

bombardment of Semonovskaya was drivenback with heavy French artillery losses.No further assaults in the center wereto be made until turn 14.

J. After a bloody fight the French leftsecured Borodino and, reinforced by the

VIII corps, headed north in an attemptto flank Uvarov.

PHA.SE:31. A.bloody battle was joined in theSouth around turn 9. While Tuchkov heldfast on the woods line Baggovut and themain French force engaged in a.furiousartillery dual. A French assault across

the stream against the reserve guns wasbeaten back as Raevski came to Baggovut' s

aid. On the closing shot Saturday nightthe French guns in the south were on tar-get and dropped 20 stacking points ofRussian g~ns -- 10% of the initial force.As the Russian rteam!departed for the mo-tel at midnight, in the snow, there wascause for concern.2. The Russian marshals called a coun-cil of war. What will we do? A£ter

much soul-searching, Raevski and Tuchkovsaid ATTACK! Uvarov nodded in agreement.Baggovut was inspired. Kutuzov uttered"we will attack at dawn," or somethinglike that, and the marshals retired forthe night.

3. The Russians threw in everything

they had at 9:00 the next morning. Be-tween fire and capture, 26 stacking

points of French guns were taken out.To make matters worse, two sta.cks of

French guns moving up were routed by

a.cavalry charge. French morale dropped

even further whan a phone call revealedthat two of their colleagues had beenliterally snowed in (Russian winter).

-9-

PHASE 41. The French left maneuvered 'until a

crossing point was found. The Frenchcrossed the river and began advancingsouth. The Russian infantry and artil-

lery began advancing to meet them be-hind a cavalry screen. Uvarov planned

to fight the battle while the while theslow moving French foot guns were still

deploying across the river.2. A.French assault in the center got

underway on turn 14. Raevski was confi-dent he could hold until help arrived.

J. The French right recovered from itsartillery losses and prepared to breakout of the forest and advance on the Rus-sian southern flank.

Conclusion:

Unfortunately, the game had to end

after 15 turns. The Russians claimed

victory since they had inflicted heavylosses on the French (better than a 2-1

artillery kill ratio) and held a dom-

inent position in the center. TheFrench claimed, with some justification,

that they were in position to advance onboth flanks. The French lost J59 stack-

ing points and the Russians 458. TheFrench accumulated 501 victory points to

487 for the Russians, a 1.0J ratio.The Russian plan was considered to

be a success. The Russian team had an-

ticipated the major French effort. TheFrench right was bloodied and delayed.The center held but was coming under in-

creasing pressure at the end. While theFrench left did cross the river Uvarov

kept them away from the center and kepthis force intact. The Russian team be-lieved the cepter wO"t.:ldbe held apd vic-

tory achieved.A good monstergame requires a lot

of preparation and effort by both teams.Getting your team ready for a big game,

particularly whep playing an out of towngroup, can be almost as much fup as theactual game. Coordipating the effortsof four or more players players withhundreds of pieces becomes a.key gamefunction. Good plaMing usually pays

big dividends during the game.Besides the game planning itself,

there are a few other matters that should

be takep care of prior to the weekend

game. The date, time, and location ofthe game should be kpown several weeks,if not months, in advaPce. It is a

good idea to agree on the rules to beused includipg interpretatiops aPd ques-

tiops prior to the weekepd of the game.It helps to agree on a time limit foreach move so that the game will flow

smoothly aPd the desired pumber of turpscan be completed.

Happy monstergamipg!

-10-

\ ~,t.is~, - «1..--4~? .

W-~EDI'IOR, S FINAL NO'IES: Your Friendly Ed-itor was not involved ip either of the

games Rob describes, so I can speak asa somewhat neutral observer. Ip fair-

ness to the Richmond group, they felt

both games were distorted by being sus-pepded before either game was more thanhalfway through. ill.the first game, theyfelt that their Russiap positiop had atleast a fair chance of victory, while

they vehemently ipsisted that their Frepch

position in the second game Was a clearwiMer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rob Beyma, in addition

to being a charter member of the NMS, isa distinguished member of the wargamipgcommuni ty. His name can be foupd on sev-eral mastheads, and his design creditsinclude AR's THE GUNS OF AUGUST. Rob'steam was one of the winners in the LBDLMtournament at ORIG INS '82.

The following companion p~ece by AndyNunez describes the second game from a

pla.yer's point of view.

DECEMBER11, 1982 -- The sky was drapedwith leaden billows as our car pulled upin front of the drab building marked6 E. Main Street. This was my first tripto Richmond, but I would see few sights.Last November, our team had faced theCentral Virginia Wargamers:.in a savageLA BATAILLE game, the results of whichwere printed in CHAINOF COMMAND # 6.This was Richmond, the enemy's city.Things were different.

Dick Walker deployed a four-manFrench team, taking the No~th Flank him-self. Jim Sharp faced the Great Redoubt,Steve Saxby opposed the Fleches, andGeorge York took the South, or UtitsaFront. Facing them were Tom Bateman(North), Lee Tenney (Redoubt), Rob Beyma(Team Captain and Fleche Commander),and of course, your Humble Scribe tookthe Utitsa Front.

The Russian plan Was simple. Wewould await the French, identify themain axis of their assault, and stop it.Things didn't take long to develop.The French loaded up their Southern Wingfor a powerful roundhouse punch throughUtitsa and the Fleches. The followingis a summary of the game.

WHATPRICE MOMENTUM?(Turns 1 - 5)

-11-

The French began their advance ingood order. The II and IV CavaJ.ry in-cluding horse artillery headed into theUti tsa "Gap," while assorted Guard jumpedinto the woods. The First Corps advancedto the Kamenka Stream. Eighth Corps andthe Young Guard went the woods route to-wards the Redoubt. The IV Corps and haJ.fthe VIII Corps hit Borodino hard. Dickand Lee battled toe-to-toe for aJ.l ofthe first five turns for control of Bor-odino, while the French began a cavaJ.rysweep around the North Flank. Since Tomwas outnumbered, he retreated skillfully.

Jim was determined to mask the Re-doubt, keeping his Young Guard troopsprepared in case the opportunity present-ed itself to rush the s~ronghold. Steveknew only one thing -- headlong assault.Rob met him with cavaJ.ry and routed 12battaJ.ions on Turn 2. It was Turn 4before Steve was in a position to resumethe advance. Meanwhile Rob had retreat-ed to the Fleches. Rob had worked outa complex plan which enabled me to pullout the Russian III Corps (the best reg-ular Russian corps), leaving a screen of

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SITUATION, END OF TURN15; situation map by ~ ./U.t/t/l'f~-12-

skirmishers, cossacks, and militia.

George muscled his way into Utitsa, tak-ing the town on Turn 4. The French wereadvancing, with casual ties. Borodino

was stinging them, but not stopping them.

IN'IO THE ABYSS (Fr. Turn 6 to Fr. Turn 12)

Tom was encountering bad die rolls,which hastened his retreat, until by Rus-

sian Turn 11 he was across the Moskva,

waiting for Dick to cross over. If Dickrolled a six on th~ Red die, Tom wouldroll a one or two. Lee backed out ofBorodino on Turn 8 to attend to the

threat Steve was posing to his otherflank. Meanwhile,. J:lir1 had formed hisYoung Guard up, ready to charge the Re-doubt.

Steve had managed to bulldoze intothe Fleches by Turn 7, causing a bulge

in the line. Well, bulges are what bat-tles are made of. Counterbattery fire

chewed up French artillery until theFrench, masked by cavalry, closed. Lee

was enjoying taking potshots into the

bulge, where French counters were boilingaround. Leaders were lined DP shoulderto shoulder on both sides. The order in

the Utitsa Forest was, "They shall notpass! " George's Guard and cavalry push-ed me back, back, until by Turn 11, I

was at the last woods hexrow. Charge

and countercharge by Rob and Steve routeddozens of battalions and destroyed sever-

al batteries. Steve's artillery had open-

ed big holes in the line. He was at theLittle Hill behind the Utitsa Forest.

By the end of French Turn 12, it lookedbad. Meanwhile, outside, snow was fal-

ling. It was time to find a motel.

DESPAIR BECOMES DE'IERMINATION

( That night and Sunday)

I had never seen Rob so down. He

Was used to dicing 'uphis opponents; but

through a combination of mass and unbe-lievable die rolls, Steve had Rob on the

ropes. In the motel, we discussed theday. Rob turned to me.

"Is your front in any shape to re-treat?" he asked.

"Tney would be slaughtered in the

open," I replied. "I would rather -13-

ha~e them die fighting, not lanced in theback."

"Can't we charge his guns?" demandedLee. "What's under them?"

"Not much," I said. "I'm for get-

ting at them. I'm tired of retreating!"Rob bowed to our advice and we put

together our plan. After a hearty break-fast, we returned to 6 E. Main to.findthat George and Jim were snowed in. Sothe blow fell on Steve and Dick. I came

out eating fire, smashing guard and horse

artillery. Korff Was killed by the French,but, subtly, the momentum had shifted.

Lee poured fire into Steve's flank.

Steve desperately threw in the Guard and

the Polish Corps. His Croats capturedRussian Guard Leader Constantine. Good

but not good enough. Dick crossed theMoskva to the North at the same time.

By this time, Rob, Lee and I were enfil-

ading Steve from three sides, shatteringhis Poles, killing LeFebre, and captur-

ing Mauborg~ It was ding-dong, hammerand tong as the British would say. Stevewould surround a cavalry regiment; Rob orLee would route 7 French battalions. The

French couldn't get out of the UtitsaForest, though, and it hurt. Meanwhile

Dick passed Ma.slova. The Redoubt wasfine, and stayed that way. Turn 15 was

the final orgy of death as the Russiancavalry was plowed under, with Ermalovbecoming a French POW. The Russian Turn15 saw more French artillery gone, andSorbier, the French artillery leader,killed.

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED

Fifteen turns is no place to call

a winner. Both sides played well. Thisis not to say that both sides were flaw-

less in their play. The French had ham-mered in both flanks, but the Russian

heads were "bloody but unbowed," enjoy-ing a 3-1 artillery superiority.

All players expressed a desire to

meet again, and all promised to playmore turns -- if only the weather coop-erates. I'm looking forward to going

at it again. . . How about it, Dick?

, (L,~ ~-:, j =,I~ ~v~,

FRENCH

Old Guard

Guard

Attached

I Corps

III Corps

IV Corps

V Corps

V III Corps

I Cav Corps

II Cav Corps

III Cav Corps

IV Cav Corps

Tota.l

Percent

Infantr;r Cavalry

60

98_

38 -'--298_107_136_56_75_

868

61

21

8

31_

37_17_13_46

56_47_46

383_

Artiller;r Leaders Total SP Total VP

36_4

48

28

38

22_11

8

8

6

6_215_

60195_63_

354_166

211

95_

240

390_63_

354_166

211

95_99

54_64

53_52_

1841

*************************************************************************************

RUSSIAN

II Corps

III Corps

IV Corps

V Corps

VI Corps

VII Corps

V III Corps

I Cav Corps

II Cav Corps

III Cav Corps

IV Cav Corps

Cossaks

Comb. Gren.

Res. Arty.

Mili tia

Total

Percent

92_

94/15_79_

/84_89_79_95_

8

80

120_

/32_

18/50_77_30_63_

(91)

-835_ 386_

99_54_64

53_

52_

1466

14

14

12

/2114

14

14

2

4

2

4

106

148

91_

137_10':\./-

106

151_91

274_103_93_

109120

81

32

75_46

80_

100_ 100120 60

1436_ 1520_

# after slash = Guard; # in brackets = militia or cossacks. Count by Dick Wa.lker.

-17-

93_

109_70_81

32_

75_9180

100

215_