Battle – June ’78

Teaser No. 3 – Advance Guard

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Battle – June ’78
Introduction
This particular scenario is not designed for
the faint of heart. The commander of an
advance guard may from time to time be
presented with an opportunity too good to
overlook. The option then arises to risk all and
take advantage of the situation, or to ignore
the chance and let it pass by. In the balance is
overwhelming success or perhaps abject
failure. Such occasions are rare and the time
for decision all too short. The door to strategic
success opens all too infrequently, allows but
a glance at the goodies beyond, and if not
entered swiftly it slams in one's face unlikely
to re-open. On the other hand, many com-
manders glimpsing possible success, glory
and rewards behind the door, have rushed
forward too late or ill judged and had their
fingers or worse badly crushed in the
metaphoric door.
C. S. Grant with the fifth in his
new series of wargames scenarios
and their solutions.
one). The river may only be crossed using the
bridge.
Forces
Red army — Initial Advance Guard
1 regiment of light cavalry.
1 regiment of heavy cavalry.
3 regiments of line infantry.
1 company of light infantry.
1 battery of artillery.
Blue army — Initial Advance Guard
Blue's initial force is the same in every
respect as Red's. Red and Blue Re-
enforcements
Both sides are expecting re-enforcements
at mid-day. However, the nature of these re-
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Teaser No. 3 – Advance Guard
force on the town. Each advance guard is to
attain its objective by nightfall for the arrival of
its main force.
Opening Narrative
At first light the advance guards of both
armies arrive in the area. Surprise is mutual
when it is discovered that in Red's case Blue
does not already hold the bridge, and in Blue's
case that Red does not hold the town. Each
commande r, not slow to grasp the
significance of the situation, realises that
within his grasp is the opportunity not only to
achieve his initial aim, but also to deal the
enemy a major reverse. This can be done by
taking the other feature (whether bridge or
town) which was to be the main force's
objective once the advance guard has secured
its own objective. However, while the initial
aim may be achieved with relative ease, the
 enforce-
ments is
uncertain.
Eight
envelopes
are prepared
with the
following
instructions.
Envelopes
1. Two
infantry
regiments
now.
2. Two
cavalry
regiments
now (one
heavy, one
light).
3. One light
cavalry
regiment
now.
4. One
heavy
cavalry
regiment
enforcement task of now.
This teaser map s and their bridge at X taking the Aim
5. One
presents one (diagram reliability as prior to an other To secure
assault by infantry
such chance number regards their objective the town Y as
the main regiment in
to enter this arrival time is will require planned, but
also to make three
door. Both unknown. hard
every effort periods
sides have fighting and
may to take the time.
within easy General
endanger bridge at X or 6. One
grasp their
immediate
Situation the success at least cavalry
The Red of the first prevent Blue regiment in
objective.
force task. On the from securing three periods
Un-
advance other hand, it. Blue time.
expectedly,
guard, to secure Force's Aim 7. Re-
the
believing the the main To secure enforcement
opportunity is bridge at X to force's the bridge at s delayed six
presented for be held by objective X as periods then
tremendous Blue, has and hold planned, but draw again.
gain. orders to the pre- also to make 8. Re-
However, the move at best liminary every effort enforcement
price for such speed to take objective to take the s pinned
a chance the town at Y. would be a town at Y or down by
may be total The taking major at least the
failure. Are of the town triumph for prevent Red enemy. They
you solid, is only a the army, from securing will not arrive
dependable preliminary, and it. until last light
and though a undoubtedly (too
unimaginativ necessary,
e, or are you
would Special late to
operation ensure influence the
bold enough prior to an Factors
rapid outcome).
to recognise assault on Both sides
promotion These are
such an the bridge engage in
and praise only
opportunity which is the battle firmly
for the suggestions,
and to exploit prime ob- believing that
advance and the
it? Period jective. they will
guard number of
Once Blue's force receive
commander envelopes
again, the labours substantial
. Because and their
under a re-enforce-
forces of the un-
similar ment, contents can
illustrated expected
misapprehen sufficient to be altered to
are designed developmen
sion in that consolidate suit
for the ts both
he believes any conditions.
"Horse and commander
that Red is temporary Envelopes
Musket" s reconsider
already in advantage are not
period, but their initial
possession already drawn until
may easily be aims and
of the town Y gained, by the
converted to decide to try
and therefore about mid- appropriate
any period. to exploit
has advance day. move period
Terrain the
guard orders Regrettably, for mid-day.
As shown situation.
to secure the the nature of
on the Red Force's
these re-
 prepared. forces. ess, to take clearly ts and game may
Firstly, the This must the town gives Red information be
table is laid be will benefit his aim "to about the considered
out as accomplis our secure the enemy. to be a
shown in the hed by preparation town". Such an draw.
diagram, last light s for the However, it adjudicator If one
with the on 15th attack. also makes will lay side
leading Septembe I will it clear that down other secures its
elements of r, year of send you the taking of requiremen initial aim
both armies Our Lord what re- the bridge ts including while the
already on 1810. enforceme would be a the number other's
the table as This nts I can great coup. of move objective is
shown. A town will spare The orders periods still in doubt
brief is form the which also constitutin at last light,
prepared for concentrat should indicate the g the day's the former
each player ion area arrive in uncertain fighting, is the
giving him prior to an the area of nature of umpire the winner.
the assault on the town at the re- move by If one
information the bridge mid-day on enforcemen move side takes
he requires of Ex on 15th ts. These action and, the enemy
to carry out 16th September. instructions of course, objective
his task. Septembe I leave are, of determine but fails to
This may r We the course, the final secure its
take the believe advance unknown by outcome of own which
following the enemy guard in the other the game. is taken by
form in the already your care, side. The Winning the enemy,
case of hold the confident procedure Requireme the game is
Red's bridge in that you for re- nts a draw (Red
commander strength. will enforcemen Some takes the
: The bridge command it ts may be arbitrary bridge and
will be a with good explained to method is Blue the
Camp at costly sense and both required in town).
Zannerhei objective, imagination commander order to If one
m but one . s by the judge who side takes
14th we must Signed umpire, the winner the enemy
September, take in General although he is or objective
1810 order to of Division will not whether and its own
Orders press into indicate the the remains in
for General the heart Instructio contents of outcome is doubt at
Clery, of enemy ns of a the an last light,
Commande country. It similar envelopes. honourable then he has
r of the is nature are The umpire draw. The won.
A Hungarian
the unfolds. To advance regrettabl prepared for will prepare following It is
of
instructions give some guard of e that the Blue. These the may help always best
the assistance to the army of enemy instructions envelopes in this to be quite
Aus greatly already himself, and
this worthy the North. must, of teaser. clear what
tria improves has the may inject
person, the You are course, If Red will
n the game. bridge for other secures
remainder to clear the make quite constitute a
arm
Umpire of this article route to the surely we clear what factors into the town Y victory or a
y, is devoted to town of will lose the receiver the game (his initial draw before
1807- 1815. Control giving some Loban and many should do. such as task) and the game
Undoubt guidelines on secure the good men For situation Blue begins,
Each player edly, all how this town for in taking example, reports on secures rather than
draws one these scenario may our main it. the above the re- the bridge attempt to
envelope scenario be Neverthel illustration enforcemen X, the make some
from the games
selection benefit from
letting the a third party
umpire see to umpire
the result, and co-
but not ordinate
imparting activity. The
the above
instructions teaser can,
to the op- like others,
ponent. The be played
less the without this
players know assistance,
about the but may be
considerabl
instructions
y enhanced
which have by such a
been person. The
concealed in small
the amount of
envelopes work done
the more in pre-
interesting liminaries
the game. In will be
this respect more than
the services worthwhile
of an umpire as the
to compose game
ruling at the
end which
may cause
unseemly
haggling.