Sharp Practice Battle Report. A Bloody Day At Sankt Norburga

 

Introduction:

      A Silver Lining: At the weekend we had a minor health scare at work which resulted in me and a few of my colleagues being told to stay at home and self isolate. As I had time on my hands (I was fine) and had been watching the Beasts Of War/On Table Top Let's Play Sharp Practice for the umpteenth time I thought I would get my Napoleonic Austrians and French out and have a bit of a dust up; the last time my French and Austrians faced each other being at Deep Fried Lard last year. I reckoned that with it's random activation and the fact that movement is at the mercy of dice rolls I could get a decent, narrative game of Sharp Practice even though I would be commanding both sides. And that's the thing; I was looking to play a narrative game and as such I would favour both sides and neither side equally, if you catch my drift. And as it worked out that's pretty much what I achieved. 

     Watching the Let's Play video was also very useful as it reminded me of many of nuances of the game that I had either forgotten or, more likely, hadn't appreciated!    

     This also gave me a chance to put my latest terrain pieces on the table; to whit Sarissa Precision's European Church, Hoka Hey/Timeline Miniature's Blacksmith's and TT Combat's Barn. So without giving it too much thought I put out my 4x4 boards and threw some trees, buildings and a bit of road on top and ended up with this.

The small hamlet and Church of Sankt Norburga;
nice isn't it? Austrian deployment point bottom
right between the blacksmiths and the wood.
The French deployment point was upper left of
the photo across the road from the windmill

another view; doesn't look too shabby, does it.

Set Up and Forces
      Though I had time in hand, for so I believed, to get the game in before the missus came home from work I decided to make my forces roughly balanced; omit any supports (remember I only have a 4x4 board) and get down to playing the game. I had a list for my Austrians that someone had proposed on the TFL Forum a couple of years ago, notes of which I had kept, and one for the French for 1805 but instead I went with ones that Dave Hunter had produced for an event that took place in Amsterdam last year, I believe. With what I had I threw together these two forces..

Austrians: (Red Chips): Austrian Line Infantry Leader III, Hauptman Otto Traedor (1) and drummer, Leader II, Ensign Helmut Schiner (3), Leader I Feldwebel Karl D'Lippe (5)plus four groups of line infantry from the Hoch-Und-Deutschmeister Regiment. Leader II Leutnant Stepan Krappe (2) and 2 groups of r6 rifle armed Jaeger and finally 6 Grenzers under the command of the youthful, inexperienced but keen as mustard Ensign Enzo Papageno (4)

French: (Blue Chips, naturelement) French Legere Infantry Leader III, Capitain Etienne Coq-Sportif (1) and drummer, Leader II Lieutenant Bidet (3) and Leader I Sergeant Le Brock (5) with four groups of Legere line infantry, Leader II Lieutenant Le Pew (2) and Leader I Sergeant Sournois (4) of the Voltiguers accompanied by three groups of Voltiguers. I had given each commander a drummer/musician as a default and because the drummers look pretty.

For the scenario I just went for Scenario 1; An Encounter. I deployed the two opposing deployment points (one each) in diagonally opposite quarters at what looked the most propitious spots for each side and, chips in the bag, began...

French deployment point...in the wrong spot.
I shamelessly put it here for photographic
purposes

Austrian deployment point. That lady needs some
rouge on, methinks, to soften her features

      Pursing his lips, Ensign Papageno whistled a jaunty Mozartian air as he approached his men. The small group of soldiers grinned; though veteran soldiers, battle scarred from fighting the Turks on the borders of the Empire, these Grenzers never the less liked their young commander. To them he was a lucky charm as well as being willing to listen and learn rather than dictate like the other officers. Their conviction of his being a lucky charm had come about as a result of him throwing himself in front of a cannon ball that was heading their way but which had fallen short, struck the ground in front of Enzo and bounced over all their heads. Enzo hadn't had the heart to tell them he had dived the wrong way to avoid the cannon shot as it had gone off in front of them. Afterwards, once they had captured the town they were assaulting from the French, soused in wine they had toasted their young office, pledging their allegiance to the young noble. Enzo, both embarrassed and gratified by their simple trust began to feel more responsible for them and made every effort to keep that trust.

     Papageno stopped his whistling and spoke to the Grenzers  "Lads!" (the Grenzers thought this habit of addressing them as lads very funny given the fact that Enzo was young enough to be a son of several of them) "Lads, the Hauptman has given us an important task; that of acting as flank guard as we move through the town up ahead. We have heard the Frenchies are in the neighbourhood" Here the men growled and a few of them gripped their muskets a little tighter whilst one or two spat venomously. "The Hauptmann's plan is to send the jaeger under Leutnant Krappe in to scout the town first". Again the men stirred, this time grumbling and muttering under their breathe about "Fancy boys in their pretty uniforms..." and "couldn't track a cow in a barn..". Papageno spoke louder over the grumbling "Which we know is easy to do; guarding the flank being much more dangerous given how sneaky the French dogs are" and here he gave a large, knowing wink at which the men brightened. They would show them damned, jumped up Jaegers with their fancy uniforms and rifles; pah!

Ensign Ezno Papageno (right) and his Grenzers head
off to guard the flank

     Sgt Sournois burped gently, the smell of the wine he had just been drinking lingering in front of his nose. The day, though it was early, was promising to be a warm one and he and his men had been grateful for the three bottles of wine they had found in the windmill. They had been polishing them off before they had set out to scout out this forsaken Bavarian town. Like many of the other small towns and hamlets Sournois and his men had seen in their travels it wasn't much to look at and they didn't expect to find much to plunder here except, perhaps in that church. The Voltiguers, sent forward by Lt Le Pew, their hard driving commander, were still angered by the thoughts of the lieutenant who had caught them enjoying their wine and promptly kicked them out of the windmill, no doubt keeping the rest of the haul for himself, and sent them on their way. Didn't they know the enemy were nearby? Did they think just because the Austrians were in retreat that the war was over? No, by God, and they better get a move on as Capitain Coq-Sportif and the rest of the column were nearly here!

    Sgt Sournois caught a movement up ahead. Just behind that church he saw a couple of figures moving cautiously in it's grounds. "Lads, stop a minute" he said "Look, behind the church; a couple of Austrians I think..." His men stopped and crouched down behind some nearby bushes. Sure enough there were two...three...no four Austrians in the churchyard. "What do you think, sergeant?" Asked one of the men "Shall we report it to Lieutenant Le Pew. Sournois pondered, recalling the angry countenance of the lieutenant, the confiscated wine and the idea that the church was bound to have more wine as well as booty. If they could chase away these four Austrians they could secure the church, search it for more enemy and who knows what they might find. "No lad; no need to inform the lieutenant just yet. We can deal with this. Spread out, lads, and take a bead on each of those damned Austrians...and wait for my signal to shoot" In a much practiced move the men moved noiselessly either side of the sergeant and, raising their muskets, took aim. As the last musket came level, Sournois shouted "Fire!" Six shots rang out and smoke obscured the enemy. Hearing cries from the church, one of the men shouted "At them, lads" and before Sournois could stop them his Voltiguers were leaping the low wall and charging at the Austrians... 

The Voltiguers let fly at the Austrians..

     In the porch of the Chapel of Sankt Norburga, Lt Stepan Krappe stopped by the font, dipped his fingers in the holy water then crossed himself. He had taken a step towards the aisle when the sound of shooting broke out outside the chapel. Krappe spun on his heel and dashed out of the door. From beyond the corner of the chapel he could hear the cries of men charging at the handful of jaeger who stood by the corner. Looking around the corner he saw several ragged looking Frenchmen charging towards his men. Seizing the moment, he drew his sword and shouted "At them men!" His jaeger responded by launching themselves at the charging Voltiguers..

Drawing three flags after the Voltiguers had fired, I rolled a
random Firing event for them which saw them "Charge Them
Too Hell!" but the two dice rolled only came to 10" leaving
them somewhat short of the Jaeger. I then pondered; charge
or fire the Jaeger then thought "Sod it; charge!" After totaling
things up it came to 11 dice for the Austrians v 12 for the
French...ooh, could go either way.. 

Oh dear, the wine fumes and charging into their own
smoke must have impaired the Voltiguers combat
ability. 3 Austrian dead to 5 French. 

With both leaders unharmed the Voltiguers withdraw
and the French force morale drops a point

    At the head of the column, Capitain Coq-Sportif's ears pricked up at the sound of the shooting from the town. Knowing that Le Pew had taken his men around the far side of the windmill he sensed that any enemy facing Le Pew would be focusing on him and his men. As the road he, Coq-Sportif, was travelling on led around the further side of the windmill and the chapel then perhaps he could take whoever Le Pew was fighting with in the flank. He decided to hedge his bets, ordering Lt Bidet to take half the column around the rear of the chapel as an insurance he carried on down the road at a brisk march with the remainder. As they neared the bend in the road, the wall surrounding the chapel disappeared in a belch of smoke. Bullets sang around his ears and he heard a cry and a gurgling choke behind him as one of his men was hit.

Enzo and his Grenzers keep the Voltiguers
entertained

     Lt Le Pew watched the half drunk sergeant and his comrade fall back from the chapel. "Sgt Sournois! Here! Quickly!" The sergeant, a sheepish look on his face, and his comrade rushed over to where Le Pew and his men were gathered. Pulling the sergeant to one side, Le Pew swore at him "Look where your stupidity has gotten us, Sgt Sournois. Where are the rest of your men?" Sournois made to answer but Le Pew cut him short "Take 6 men with you and see if you can chase down those fellows over there" Here he pointed towards a small group of brown coated Austrians who were firing ineffectually at the Voltiguers. "I will be with Capitain Coq-Sportif and Lt Bidet attempting to clean up your mess; now go!" He shoved the sergeant towards a group of men nearby. Sournois trudged sullenly forward then squaring his shoulders shouted "You men, with me. Let's go!" just as a musket ball plucked the shako from his head..

Lt Le Pew and his men advance and pick up Sgt Sournois
and his remaining Voltiguer. At this point I combined the
force and when Le Pew's chip came up again I used one
command to send Sournois and his new command off to
shoot it out with the Grenzers. 

The Jaeger, having made a less than exemplary attempt
to pick of lots of advancing French men (one dead, two
shock on the open column) busy themselves with
reloading their rifles while Coq-Sportif's column
advances to the bend in the road.....

Where he is greeted with this sight! As a new turn begins,
two French flags come up then Coq-Sportif's chip: a golden
opportunity for a decisive Pas De Charge at the head of the
Austrian column!!

...but no, it was not to be. Instead Coq-Sportif and his
men are now out of the frying pan and well and truly
in the fire...what next?....

Hearing the drums playing the Pas De Charge, Lt
Bidet hurries his men toward the battle, dogged
by fire from the Grenzers

"What did I tell you, boys; more glory to be won
over here!" shouts Ensign Papageno

     Leutnant Krappe stared in wonder at the sheer stupidity and incredible courage of the French column as it tried to dash past his men into the oncoming column of Austrian troops. As he stared his men continued to fire into the tightly packed column of men.... 

Similar to what I had done with the Voltiguers, I
combined the two groups of Jaeger into one larger one

The Austrian column of march appears to be stunned
by the sight of the French infantry. As they move
slowly forward, shots from the French Voltiguers
under Lt Le Pew pour into their exposed flank

Making the use of what little cover there is
available, the Grenzers edge closer to the bushes...

..then change their aim to the flank of  French line
that is now swinging around in their turn to engage
the Austrian flanks!! 

    Capitain Coq-Sportif quickly weighed up his options; retreat in the face of two enemy forces at once was madness. On the other hand he could attempt to rally his men enough to charge the oncoming Austrian column...or he could charge the Jaeger behind the wall...It was no contest really "Frenchmen! Right turn! Charge!!" 

With the formation on the horns of dilemma, with
shock mounting and very little choice the French
column throws itself on the Jaeger 

Le biff...

Der bash!

Le boff!! 

The French attack dice after they have been
rolled...I think that they might want to stick
to shooting

The Austrians; only marginally better
...but better. In fact I have just realised
that I must have nudged a dice as they
scored a 6 too which added to the French
shock

..and as they have more shock than men, the
French fall back

     Hauptman Traedor raised his voice and shouted at the front two ranks to turn left. The men swung around as the French musket balls sang around their ears. No time for the niceties of drill he thought "Halt! Aim!" the Austrian muskets swung up "FIRE!!" The shot and smoke billowed out from the Austrian ranks as the infantry men went into action. Now it was a race to see who could load, aim, and fire the fastest. Traedor stepped back and screamed for Lt Schiner. The young officer, his face beaming with pleasure and excitement ran to the hauptman. "Schiner, take the remainder of the men and clear those damned Frenchmen along the road; see they waiver" he said, pointing at Coq-Sportif's shattered column "Finish them off; take Feldwebel D'Lippe with you; off you go". The young ensign doubled off, calling to his men....

As one half of the Austrian column trades blows with the
French, the second half moves to deal the coup d' grace
to the remainder of the French column..

The Austrian column having smashed into an ill prepared and
much battered French line, has forced it further back and
inflicted more casualties causing the French force morale
to tumble to 4 to the Austrian 8

     Clutching at his profusely bleeding right arm, Coq-Sportif  ordered his men to reload; a quick volley into the Austrians in front of them and then they would break for the woods behind them. Once there, if the Austrians didn't pursue them, he would lead his men around to join up with Bidet and Le Pew who, by the sounds of it, were giving a good account of themselves. If the Austrians did pursue well at least it gave Bidet and Le Pew a fighting chance.....

Fin

...for the moment...

     And there it ended. With a hungry wife on the way home from work I had to pack away the toys before we could sit down to dinner. But, by jingo, that was rollicking good fun. I had forgotten how much fun Sharp Practice can be. The system itself, as I am sure many of you know, allows for a lot of chance things happening. Whilst you can make decisions and plan for X, Y or Z it's not guaranteed that your plan will come to fruition. Take Coq-Sportif's Pas De Charge, he only got into the position to deliver that charge by pure chance. The fact that two French flags and his card turned up made it an obvious choice. If it had come off he might have sent the Austrian column flying back on itself. But it was not to be and the French ended up receiving a very bloody nose. That being said, there was still a chance that the French could have retrieved the situation. If Sgt Sournois had managed to contain the Grenzers (an after dinner trick he learned in the sergeants mess and which he has since shown me; you need to be really drunk to appreciate it so when the pubs open again I will have to show it to you....and the trick, of course..) and if both Bidet and Le Pew had been able to concentrate their fire on the Austrian line....well, who knows...so many damned ifs.

    I will be playing more solo Sharp Practice with my Austrians and French. I have started painting up more Grenzers (another after party trick; this involves a feather duster, some Vallejo pink, three bottles of beer and a...we'll wait till the pubs are open; it makes more sense when you see it...but I digress) as I feel the need, the desire to develop young Enzo's career by expannding his command and, maybe next time, not having Jaeger in my force. Not that they were game changers in any way.

    Besides the Grenzers, I have a whole heap of other Foundry Miniatures Austrians so there's room to build up my forces for Black Powder too as well as build up a narrative following the exploits of various commanders in battle, be they Austrian, French, Russian or, dare I say it, British...

....because, yep, I have sufficient British just about painted to bring Richard bloody Sharp and his men to the table....

But till then, thanks for dropping by, hope you enjoyed the battle report,

pip pip,

GJ