The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm: Figures and Terrain

During the course of reporting on Waterloo I received a number of queries on facebook and TMP about figure painting and my terrain. It seemed sensible therefore, to provide details on the blog addressing these issues.

I would firstly point out that I am not a natural artist and will never be able to paint figures that win competitions. Neither am I a talented model maker, so what follows should be achievable by all including novices.

The figures and terrain are specific to this game. I will in due course add my techniques to other scales and periods. 

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm: Conclusion

For some obscure reason I waited 48 years to play Waterloo! So now I have played it how did it go?

Rules:

I have a high opinion of General de Brigade and it achieved precisely what I hoped it would, a very enjoyable game with, for the most part, realistic results. It was not designed for this level of game unless multi-player but it does provide for drama at battalion level.

When playing a game of this or similar size, organisation is important when using GdB. It would be easy to lose track of the sequence of phases or forgetting which units have fired, moved, charged etc. I used the same procedures as my campaign with casualties recorded on a roster. Different coloured micro dice were used as markers to indicate which units had to take a morale tests, units that had to move in the compulsory move phase, which units could not fire etc. The 'smoke' indicated who had fired.

I did overrule the dice results on a couple of occasions where the outcome would have been bizarre. e.g. a cavalry unit had charged another unit who had retreated prior to contact. The charging unit now had the opportunity to continue it's charge into the flank of a faltering cavalry unit. It failed to charge home (I recall it was a double '1' thrown). There were no external events to stop it from charging and it made no sense.

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 10

8.00pm - 9.00pm

The call by Blucher for all commanders to attack and stressing the urgency in which his orders should be carried out received a boost early in the turn. The Prussians won the initiative and nearly all commanders passed their command and control tests. With much of the French now pulled back to their new defensive line, opportunities arose for Tactical Marches by several formations.

At Plancenoit, Pewels ordered his 3 battalions of 2nd Pomerania Landwehr to attack the village (middle of photo). The 3rd battalion on the left had just recovered from falter when it came under fire from the 1/1st Volitgeurs and a half battery of Guard artillery. It suffered a further 4 casualties generating a morale test which it passed.

The 2nd battalion lead by Pewels himself attacked the half Guard battery at the main entrance to the village. The French guns fired a salvo of canister at the Prussian battalion inflicting 3 casualties. They charged home and bayoneted the crews wiping them out completely for no loss. 

The 1st battalion on the right charged group of Young Guard defending the perimeter of Plancenoit but halted when it came under fire from them and also from an adjacent building.

Continued

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 9

7.00pm - 8.00pm

The 7.00pm turn began with a significant number of command failures across all 3 armies and one in particular would have serious ramifications.

The Prussians again won the initiative followed by the Allies and then the French.

The Guard artillery battery within Plancenoit had been seperated to two half batteries. Each fired canister into the advancing columns with 4 casualties inflicted on the 1/15th Infantry and 3 on the 1/11th Infantry with the latter faltering as a result.

Continued

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 8

With the break over and several real life issues sorted on my return, it is now back to Waterloo:-

6.00pm - 7.00pm

A significant feature at this stage of the game was the arrival of more Prussians. Here the entire 4th Corps has now arrived. The French have begun falling back to prevent themselves being outflanked.

Continued ...

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 7

Please Note: This will be the last update before I go on holiday. I will be back on 2nd April raring to go! As it stands, I plan for this AAR to be in 10 parts plus a conclusion. The only proviso being that if one side or the other does not collapse before then!

On with Part 7:

5.00pm - 6.00pm

The next turn generated a considerable amount of drama around the allied ridge to the west of the crossroads. I will therefore start with the Prussians and then work our way around the battlefield from the allied left.

Watzdorf's cavalry arrives at the rear of the 15th Brigade. Landwehr from the 15th Brigade advance towards woods west of Frischermont.

Continued ...

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 6

4.00pm - 5.00pm

There was a lull in the action at 4.00pm as both sides sought to recover and reposition. There was activity on the Allied left flank where the French were continuing to attempt to exploit the weakness in the allied line. The 19th Division of 6th Corps also sought to consolidate it's position around Smohain and Papelotte in preparation of the arrival of the Prussians.

Vandeleur with the last of his brigade, the 12th Light Dragoons, sought to clear some of the French cavalry away from the Hanoverians. He charged the 9th Cuirassiers but at the last moment the confidence of the Light Dragoons evaporated as the 9th Cuirassiers counter-charged. They were caught at the halt by the Cuirassiers but nevertheless put up a good fight before being overcome. They were pushed back and the Cuirassiers had become unformed.

Continued ...

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 5

3.00pm - 4.00pm

Napoleon is now having to re-evaluate how to break the allied line following the severe mauling of the 1st Corps at the hands of the Union Brigade. For the 1st Corps itself, the 1st, 3rd and 4th Divisions are still in reasonable condition. It is Donzelot's 2nd Division that has suffered the most being reduced to just 2 battalions. With the 1st and 4th Divisions heavily committed on both wings of the 1st Corps there is not a great deal that can be achieved with just Marcognet's 3rd Division. 

He decides to focus his main effort on the allied right. Foy and Bachelu's Divisions supported by the Middle Guard will make a full frontal assault. They will be further supported by the 3rd Cavalry Corps, the Guard Heavy Cavalry and Pire's Light Cavalry Division. Jerome Napoleon's Division will continue to assault Hougoumont. There is a risk with only the Old Guard and the Light Cavalry of the Guard providing the reserve. With the imminent arrival of the Prussians though he needed to break the allies as quickly as possible.

On the French right, Bruno with the 3rd Chasseurs (middle of photo) were able to conduct half a charge move with their 'Superb Discipline' result in the previous turn's Pursuit Test. They used this to close the gap on the Scots Greys bringing them into charge range.

Continued ...

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 4

2.00pm - 3.00pm

The Allies won the initiative test but elected to pass control over to the French. They hoped that the 1st Corps columns would fail any charges giving the Union Brigade their chance for glory.

Following the compulsory move phase, the Order phase involved dicing for, and calculating the command dice for the next 4 turn period (see under 'Rules' label for command & control system). All command dice were allocated to Corps and Divisional Commanders, who in this turn allocated dice to individual Brigade commanders to assist them in their 'Orders' die roll. Several Brigade commanders failed to activate but the one most likely to cause difficulties was that of Somerset. His die roll resulted in a 'Hold' meaning his Household Brigade was prevented from moving any further forward. Clearly the heavy cavalry squadrons were struggling to negotiate the various squares in their path:

Household Brigade struggling to pass the squares in centre of photo.

Starting the charge phase, Pegot's column (on the right flank of the 1st Corps) charged a Hanoverian Battery of artillery who had left it too late to retire. A poor dice throw in response to the charge resulted in them dispersing from the field. The triumphant column continued towards the ridge summit but did not have enough movement left to make contact.

Donzelot's Divisional column that represented the best hope for the 1st Corp now made it's charge. Volleys from the 7th Belgian Line and the 1/28th Line caused 3 casualties. Not great considering what had happened in the battle so far but it was enough to force the 1/17th Line to retreat. It's immediate impact was to disorder the 2/17th Line directly behind them before they streamed down either side of the column.

Continued ...

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 3

1.00pm - 2.00pm 

A note about how I dealt with the Grand Battery barrage. Wellington instructed all his units apart from Artillery and Skirmishers to ensure they were behind the ridge and they were to lie down (cavalry dismounted). I had Bylandt withdraw from the front of the ridge at 12.30pm and he formed up between Pack and Kempt's brigades as done historically. 

The Grand Battery was ordered to fire on the ridge and in a 30 minute period they expended 3,600 rounds of ammunition inflicting approximately 500 casualties. Not many for such a heavy barrage. A combination of cannon balls burying themselves in boggy ground rather than bouncing, and most of the allies were out of view lying prone no doubt limiting the damage caused. 

I therefore allocated a stretch of ground in front of each battery which was to become their target area. If an allied artillery battery was in view and in that area then they would be the target. For all others behind the ridge a die roll would be made for firing with a -4 applied (equivalent for against skirmishers) to allow for the hard cover occupied by the allies and the fact they could not be seen.   

The Grand Battery opens fire:

Continued ...

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 2

11.30am. - 1.00pm.

11.30am:

Napoleon issues his orders having surveyed his troops.

At 11.20a.m. 5 batteries of artillery bombard Hougoumont. Principally the woods and orchard. I represented this by one turn of artillery fire prior to the main attack at 11.30a.m.  All 5 batteries were firing on light infantry dispersed in a wooded area affording them some cover.

The Battle of Waterloo in 6mm Part 1

Background

 How the game will be played
Terrain & Figure details

Orbats

Situation at 11.30am. (photo tour of battlefield)

Background:

I can recall walking home from school one day in 1970 and seeing incredible posters up on billboards advertising the new 'Waterloo' film. I saw the film with friends and that, combined with Airfix releasing their Napoleonic sets and my new found hobby of wargaming, started a desire to play this battle. I had no idea at the time how I was going to play it. My collection of Airfix French infantry, Highlanders and Cuirassiers somehow fell short!

In the early 80's I turned to Heroics & Ros and began collecting and painting figures with the intention of playing it at a ratio of 1:25. A career change, house move and various other real life factors conspired against me and I momentarily too a break from wargaming in the late 80's - early 90's.

Waterloo Update

With new year out of the way and some painful dieting started it is time to think about my Waterloo project. By the time I get to play this it will be almost 3 years overdue so must crack on! 

As you may have seen from previous posts, all figures and buildings are now complete. Add to this trees, streams and roads which just leaves hedgerows and hill sections. As soon as I complete the painting of 6mm Wars of the Roses figures for the first battle in the 'Kingmaker' campaign I intend to do a stock check of all hills and hedgerows that I possess. I am cautiously optimistic that I have all that I need or at least close to it. Once that is done it is good to go.

Plans for 2018

With 2017 coming to a close, it is now time to look at what I intend to do in 2018. 'Intention' of course is not necessarily what I achieve and it will be interesting to see at the end of next year precisely what I have completed! I will break it down into 'Battles', 'Campaigns' and 'Painting'.

Current and Future Projects

A brief look at planned battles I intend to post on the blog together with current projects. Within a couple of days I will have completed a rather less than enjoyable period of decorating the house! On a positive note though I am reorganising my wargames room which should enable me to extend the maximum wargames surface to 7'6" x 4'6" from the old 6'9" x 4'6" (my terrain boards are 9" squares). And then on to the following: