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 SYWBS: Minden 1759 (SYW Battle Series)
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 [F] CSW Forum  / Boardgaming  / *INDIVIDUAL GAMES AND GAME SERIES Discussion  / Era: Gunpowder  / Pre-Napoleonic  / SYWBS: Minden 1759 (SYW Battle Series)

[Aubert, Frédéric]Frédéric Aubert - 04:50am Jan 22, 2016 EST

BATTLE OF MINDEN - 1759, the first game in the SYW Battle Series, simulates the battle fought on the 1st of August 1759 in Westphalia during the Seven Years War. Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick commanded the Allied Army made up of troops from Britain, Hanover, Hesse, Brunswick and Prussia: 42,000 men (48 bns, 65 sqns) and 105 guns. Marquis Louis de Contades commanded the French Army: 57,000 men (84 bns, 85 sqns) with 90 guns.

Scale = 200-220 m/hex (219-240 yrd/hex) Time = 30 min/Turn (60 min/Hourly phase) Counter = 1 Brigade, 1 Battalion, 1 to 3 Squadrons, 1 Battery

Minden_Cover_small



Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 5:04 am (#1 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
Here following is a description of the events of the battle fought in 1759, the 1st of August, near Minden in Westphalia.

This description is made from the main following sources :

- Jomini : Traité des Opérations Militaires

- Pajol : Les Guerres sous Louis XV

- Savory : His Britannic Majesty's Army in Germany

- Grosser Generalstab : Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen

.

NB : To graphically show the events, all the actual pieces of the game will be used.

Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 5:32 am (#2 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
31st of July - 1759 / Area of Minden, Westphalia.

At the end of the day, Ferdinand of Brünswick, commander in chief of the Allied army, received a report written at 5 PM by Lt-general Wangenheim, commander of the Hanoverian corps detached in the left side of the army, near Todtenhausen : "Col. Lückner, on th left side of the Weser, reports that his advanced posts have heard the 'March' being sounded in Broglie's camp and seen much dust."

Ferdinand of Brunswick himself carried out a personal reconnaissance. Something was about to happen. Will the French attack or will they retreat ? Anyway, Ferdinand decided to be ready, should French army decide to attack. A warning order was issued for the army to be ready by 1 AM. The cavalry saddled, the infantry equipped, the gun-teams harnessed.

Wangenheim was warned to be ready to occupy his prepared position (with redoubts). The General officers who commanded columns of the main Allied army, were ordered to make certain as to the positions on which they would have to form up... and also as to the routes leading to them. All had been prepared : footbridges had been made over the Lander stream, gaps had been made in hedges ands walls, and the way had been marked. Nothing was left to chance.

The advance was to be in 8 columns. On the right was Lord Sackville's cavalry, then the infantry columns of Spörcken, Wutginau and Imhoff, and on the left Holstein-Gottorp's cavalry. The remaining three columns consisted of artillery.

The army would have to begin the advance at 1 AM, the 1st of August.

Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 6:19 am (#3 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
On the French side, some were beginning to be annoyed... or even irritated.

Marechal of Contades, commander in chief, was just being 'prodded' from Versailles : Belle-Isle, war minister, has been urging him on financial as well as military grounds. The army was inactive for 16 days and Contades wasn't taking advantage of the beautiful campaign successfully operated since May 20. This inaction was beginning to be very expensive for French finances. Moreover, some genarals begin also to be impatient. It was really time for Contades to give orders !

The 31st of July, at 6 PM, Contades begin to give orders, even if he knows the ground was a bottleneck between the marshes Grosses Tormoor and the city of Minden, with several villages and high briar. Contades was thinking this close country didn't allow to deploy in the usual way (infantry line between two cavalry wings). In addition, for the surprise effect , the advance of the army had to be carried out at night and quickly. Contades was thus faced with a night advance, on a narrow front, with a subsequent deployement into an unorthodox formation.

The orders were thus the following :

- The Reserve of the Duc de Broglie was to leave camp at dusk, cross the Weser by the stone-bridge of Minden, cross the city and go to the north, joining the supporting artillery and Grenadiers de France and Royaux. De Broglie had to advance straight on Todtenhausen and drive Wangenheim back, thus exposing Ferdinand's left flank. Great stress was laid on speed. The attack was imperatively to begin at dawn (before 5 AM) and to take the enemy by surprise.

-The main army was to file out of its camp and advance to the line Malbergen-Hahlen. This move was to be in seven columns, each of which was to cross the Bastau by its special bridges and to go to its forming-up area, there to await the dawn. At dawn, each columns will begin to deploy in line : the infantry on the flanks near Malbergen and Hahlen and the cavalery on the center, the artillery will be placed on the flanks as to cover the front of the cavalry by enfilade-fire.

- Between Broglie's left and the right infantry column of the main army was yet another column under command of Chevalier de Nicolaď and its task was, if necessary, to support the Broglie's attack.

Contades gave no orders for the operation of his main army after its deployment had been completed. That would depend of Broglie's attack and "following the circumstances"...

Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 6:30 am (#4 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
Thus, the two commanding generals gave their orders almost the same times . One for a march and an attack at dawn against an enemy in a well recognized position. The other for a march and an attack at dawn against a deploying enemy.

Each had his own questions : - Will De Broglie attack as planned ? Will the march of the 8 French columns be performed without confusion and on time ? - Will the orders given by Ferdinand arrive well at their destination and will they be adequately addressed ? Have they not given too late ?

The situation at dusk, the 31st of July, could be summerized like that (using the map of the game):


Attachments:

Situation 0100.jpg (1216 KB) (44 Downloads)


Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 6:50 am (#5 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
How, then, would be the progress of the different marches ?

Here , for a quick overview , a point of all different historical positions to 4 AM (using the map and counters from the game):


Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 9:40 am (#6 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
The corps of Broglie began its march unhindered, crossed Minden, joined the Grenadiers and artillery before arriving around 4 AM to a slight rise on the right bank of the Weser. The time and place were met. Everything was going well on this side ! The artillery would be able to begin to thunder and spread panic into the corps of Wangenheim.

Wangenheim, although warned of a possible attack and just coming in position behind the protection of its redoubts, was surprised in the first time. He did not expect an attack as early : dawn was not even up yet. However, numerous pieces of artillery began to fire back and soon a furious artillery duel ensued.

.

A more detailed excerpt on the respective positions North of the battlefield :

The Hanoverian of Wangenheim on an extended line, with the Grenadiers under Bevern holding the redoubts on the left, protected by artillery under Huth , infantry under Halberstadt in the center and three cavalry brigades under Grothausen on the right wing :



The French under De Broglie in three lines: the Grenadiers Royaux and De France under Mr de St Pern preceded by the artillery brigade La Dauphine followed by 3 infantry brigades in two lines under the Chevalier de Muy. The cavalry composed of three brigades commanded by Prince Camille is located on the left wing.

Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 9:52 am (#7 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
Regarding the advance of the main French army under the Maréchal de Contades , all things were also running roughly as planned and ordered.

.

A more detailed point of the approach march of the main French army:

The column of the Chevalier de Nicolaď (4 brigades of infantry and artillery brigade De Muy) was marching to help De Broglie if necessary. The second line of infantry of the French right was following, commanded by the Count of St Germain, and was composed of two brigades. The first line of cavalry, under the Duke of FitzJames, was already ready to deploy on line to take the center of the main French army. Two other cavalry columns, in the purpose to form two other lines, followed under the orders of Dusmenil (3 brigades) and the Marquis de Poyanne (Gendarmes and Carabiniers).



On the left, the first line of infantry under the Comte de Guerchy (4 brigades) was ready to deploy while investing the village of Hahlen; artillery accompanying him (Villepatour Brigade) began to deploy to protect the left flank of the French line.

Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 10:06 am (#8 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
Regarding the advance of the main allied army under Ferdinand of Brunswick, this happened a little worse for the southernmost columns, as shown in the most detailed points below:

.

.

In the north, the 1st column under Herzog von Holstein (2 brigades of cavalery), which was to hold the left of the line and bind to the corps of Wangeinheim, advanced at a good pace and as expected. The same for 2nd and 3rd columns respectively controlled by Imhoff and Wutginau and composed both of two brigades of infantry and light artillery.



The 4th column composed of Hanoverian artillery and under Braun was quite slow. The 5th column of Hanoverian infantry under von Scheele seemed to accompany the previous column. These two columns would probably not meet the expected timing. The 6th column composed largely of British infantry and under Spörcken, went rapidly. The English seemed eager to go to battle. The 7th column, consisting of artillery under Haase and accompanied by Sachsen- Gotha battalion was a bit slow but seemed pretty much follow the prescribed timing. By cons, for the 8th column, composed of British and Hanoverian cavalry, the situation was catastrophic ! Lord Sackville, who commanded it, could not be found late in the day and therefore warned in time, causing a very late departure time for this column. The main allied army would probably have to begin the battle with his right wing badly exposed...

Charles Vasey. - Jan 22, 2016 10:24 am (#9 Total: 236)  

 
[Vasey., Charles]
C'est magnifique et c'est la guerre!

Tim Chambers - Jan 22, 2016 12:17 pm (#10 Total: 236)  

 
[Chambers, Tim]
Lovely.

One question: Where artillery is unlimbered, is its front facing marked by the crew figure? If so, you may want to reverse the position of the artillery piece and crew figure, to place the crew figure at the carriage end of the piece rather than the muzzle.

And I see a 30 pd. Howitzer! My limber horses hurt.

Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 12:43 pm (#11 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
Hello Tim,

About Artillery counters, the crew figure is always on the right of the counter.

So, when unlimbered, the picture of the cannon is a top view with the muzzle of the piece directed to the top (the front) of the counter. When limbered, the picture is showing a side view of a cannon with the muzzle in direction of the crew figure.

Is it awkward ?

Tim Chambers - Jan 22, 2016 1:27 pm (#12 Total: 236)  

 
[Chambers, Tim]
I was idiotically misreading the counters, and with your explanation and a closer look to find an unlimbered battery, the depiction is not awkward at all but rather very nicely done.

Frédéric Aubert - Jan 22, 2016 1:51 pm (#13 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
Much appreciated. :wink:

Ed Sasko - Jan 26, 2016 9:42 am (#14 Total: 236)  

[Sasko, Ed]
Publisher??

Good Day Frederic, I must admit that I am watching your work with great interest. Some great insight on your part and I, must say, i like your graphic choices. I was wondering if you have any interested publishers and any idea when MINDEN might see the 'light of day'?? Thanks in advance. :smile:

Frédéric Aubert - Jan 26, 2016 9:57 am (#15 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
Hello Ed,

First of all, thanks a lot for your warm interest !

We're seriously beginning the tests and development period.

We think to be able to edit the game before th end of the year. But, perhaps later if we have to wait for the end of a P250 or a P500 process...

We'll see.:wink:

John Holme - Feb 5, 2016 4:55 pm (#16 Total: 236)  

 
[Holme, John]
boardgamegeek?

It would be great to see descriptions, questions, pictures and AARs on boardgamegeek, once Minden's development cycle is well underway.

Charles Vasey. - Feb 5, 2016 4:59 pm (#17 Total: 236)  

 
[Vasey., Charles]
We think to be able to edit the game before th end of the year


In English an Editeur is a publisher, so in the above do you mean publish the game within the year?

Frédéric Aubert - Feb 5, 2016 6:28 pm (#18 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
John, a full description with pictures already exists on Boardgamegeek.

Please look for a game called "Minden 1759". Please don't hesitate to ask questions...

Frédéric Aubert - Feb 5, 2016 6:37 pm (#19 Total: 236)  

[Aubert, Frédéric]
Charles, I mean I hope the game will be sold to players-customers before the end of this year.

Of course, it would not be realistic if a P250 or a P500 are done. :wink:

Charles Vasey. - Feb 5, 2016 6:42 pm (#20 Total: 236)  

 
[Vasey., Charles]
We'll need to send out the recruiting parties


Another copy sold


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