Friday Night Games - Battles for the Berezena Crossings, Part 3

Russians advance on their right wing to engage the French

The final week of the epic 3 week game saw John & Dave continue on as the French whilst Mat, Mike W, Mike N, Steve & Mat commanded the huge Russian force.

French left wing is compromised as they retire towards the bridge

Mat's command on the Russian left continued to batter the French in that sector, who also dealt as good as they received. However on the French left the tide had truly turned and over the course of the night the whole French left wing gradually collapsed under the weight of Russian onslaught.

Russians attack and break the French squares

Ultimately all French units to the left of the bridge were destroyed or broken, leading to the preparations for a pre-emptive flight of the right wing. Whilst the French had fought valiantly, they were defeated with significant losses.

French right from their side of the table

Close-up of small actions on the French right

One of the Russian columns marching on the French left

What's left of the French left, from the Russian PoV.

The French right, from their side, central position

More Russians closing

The French left collapses towards the river bridge, the game nears its end

Final shot of the French right, Guards positioned to defend
against Russians crossing the bridge (bottom right)

Friday Night Games - Battles for the Berezena Crossings, Part 2

French left flank closed down and in Square to counter
threat of Russian sweeping advance

After a two week hiatus Rupert's game resumed, July 3rd, the missed weeks were due to lack of player availability and extremely hot weather here in the UK.

Close-up of the squares

Mat was away on holiday but Mike N. replaced him and performed admirably on the Russian left. For the French, Grahame was able to join us and was given their extreme left as his command, which turned out to be a bit of a poisoned challenge.

Steve's troops advance in the Russian Centre against French positions

On the French right, John continued to hold off increasingly intense Russian attacks whilst taking the number of exiting French units to an impressive 13.

Russian Cossack Cavalry redeploying through advancing Russian columns. 

However, Russian interdiction on the escape route and bridge enabled them to claim two turns of points.

The 'Big Bash' on the Russian left, with French positions being hard pressed

Meanwhile Steve, in the Russian centre continued to hard press Dave & Grahame's units, eliminating a number of these as the French lines contracted and retired.

More Russians arriving

Mike W, commanding Wittgenstein's Corps if 3 Divisions continued it's outflanking manoeuvres and also provided addition support to Steve in the centre as all the Corps' divisions finally entered the table by the end of week 2.

More play next week!

French positions on their left being whittled down,
whist Russian numbers continue to grow

Yet more Russians arriving

And more....

The Russian left

Friday Night Games - Battles for the Berezena Crossings

Friday 12th June saw us back at Rupert's gaff to play a game that he was to umpire set in the Napoleonic Wars, as usual this was part of the Russian Campaign, a rich source of scenarios that Rupert is working through!

Figures were from John's, Mike N, Dave and others and the game used Shako rules and was umpired by Rupert. John, & Dave took the side of the French (Mike N. being out on a pub crawl!)  whilst Mat, Mike W & Steve played the Russians.

French from Mike N's command (driven by Dave on the night) crossing one of the Berezena Bridges.

Steve's Cavalry engaging Dave's counter-parts on the Russian right flank, behind can be seen Infantry form Dave's command in square.

Mike N & Dave's French commands

More cavalry action on the Russian right, at the end of the first week the French cavalry had been driven off by Steve & Mike W's horse.

French cavalry from Dave's command

The tabletop from the perspective of the French right wing

A lot of fighting on the French right as Mat's Corps engaged with John's forces in that area

Close-up of some French Artillery

More action from the French right wing

A lot of hard fighting on week one, predominantly on the French right but with other engagements om the French left, where Mike W's cavalry have turned the French flank. All to play for in Week Two!