Battle of Mora – Move 11

1800-1900 13 August 1813

Table at the start of move 10

All of the Italian infantry are in rout, leaving the guns without protection

The Italian cavalry are on the far right, pinning the Spanish infantry and artillery

The Spanish guerrillas are well positioned to attack the French artillery

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)

5 Command Points

Leave routed infantry and moves to join Severoli

Change corps orders to Retreat

  Guerrillas charge guns

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Retreat

Artillery fire on Spanish gunners (total 6 – no casualties)

Severoli moves to command range of cavalry brigade

Cavalry turn left and form line to threaten guerrilla’s

Artillery limber and move 4” towards cavalry

5^th brigade test morale for being in rout (total -3, fail and continue to rout)

6^th brigade test morale for being in rout (total -4. fail and continue to rout)

8^th brigade test morale for being in rout (total -4, fail and continue to rout)

General O’Donnell (Poor)

9 Command Points

Orders – Attack

Artillery fire on cavalry (total 6 – no casualties)

Gunners manhandle guns 2” towards cavalry

O’Donnell moves to command range of 13^th brigade

13^th brigade advance 2” in square towards cavalry

O’Donnell moves to command range of guerrilla’s

Guerrilla’s charge limbered artillery

Gunners test morale to evade (total 1 – fail)

Gunners surrender to guerrilla’s

Game Notes

The game ends with all of the Italian corps, except for their cavalry brigade, in rout

The cavalry are too weak to attempt to save the guns, but do cover the retreat

There are no rules for infantry capturing limbered artillery, so we adopted Rule 8 which covers limbered artillery contacted by cavalry.  

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Table at end of game

The Italian gunners have surrendered and are being escorted away by the guerrillas

The Italian cavalry have too many casualties to be able to opportunity charge the guerrillas and save the gunners. 

They are also within range of the Spanish guns and retreat to cover the rout

Game Result

16^th Italian corps started the battle with 8 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties

The now have 32 infantry and gunner plus 2 cavalry casualties, plus the loss of their guns

4^th Spanish corps have lost 9 infantry and 1 artillery casualties

A very hard fought battle, and another convincing victory for the Spanish.

Battle of Mora – Move 10

1700-1800 13 August 18

 Table at the start of move 10

Top – Spanish guerrilla’s win infantry melee

Bottom – All Italian infantry brigades have heavy casualties and two are shaken

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Hold

Severoli changes orders to Halt

Artillery fire on Spanish gunners (total 7 – no casualties)

Gunners manhandle guns 2” back towards Mora

Test morale for shaken 6^th brigade (total 2 – fail remain shaken)

Test morale for shaken 8^th brigade (total 1 – fail remain shaken_

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)

3 Command Points

Too few CP left to change orders

Move to join shaken 6^th brigade

4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor0

6 Command Points

Orders – Attack

Artillery fire on 6^th Italian (total 5 – no casualties)

O’Donnell moves to command range of guerrilla brigade

Guerrilla brigade charges shaken 8^th Italian brigade (total 12 – Spanish win)

Italian’s suffer another two casualties and rout

Spanish suffer no casualties but are disordered

French gunners test morale for rout within 4” (total 3 – pass remain formed)

Garrison test morale for rout within 4” (total 0 – fail and join rout)

6^th Italian test morale for rout within 4” (total 0 – fail and join rout)

Game Notes

Once one Italian brigade broke and ran the rout soon spread

All of their infantry brigades are running away

The gunners have no protection

The cavalry have two casualties, but must now try to save the guns

The battle would normally finish at this point

However we have to decide whether the guns can be saved

So there will be one more move to decide their fate

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Move 9

1600-1700 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 9

Top – Two Spanish brigades in rout, a third pinned in square, only guerrilla brigade left

Bottom – Italians continue to hold with heavy casualties and one brigade shaken

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Engage

Artillery fire on 6^th Italian brigade (total 7 – no casualties)

O’Donnell changes orders to Attack

16^th (guerrilla) brigade charge 8^th Italian brigade (total 7 – draw)

Both sides lose one casualty and both are disordered

15^th brigade test morale for being in rout (total minus 1 – fail continue to rout)

14^th brigade test morale for being in rout (total minus 3 – fail continue to rout)

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)

4 Command Points

Moves to join Severoli

Too few CP left to change orders

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Hold

Artillery fire on Spanish gunners (total 11 – one casualty)

Spanish gunners test morale for first casualty (total 4 – pass remain formed)

8^th Italian brigade continue melee with 16^th Spanish (Guerrilla)

Spanish have more combat factors and dice (total 9 - limited win)

8^th Italian lose two more casualties, retires 4” and are shaken

16^th Spanish lose one more casualty, halt and are disordered

6^th brigade test morale for four casualties and shaken (total 1 – fail, remain shaken)

  Spanish guerrillas charge Italian infantry

Game Notes

The French CinC arrives on the battlefield

O’Donnell has only one brigade to continue his attack, the guerrilla’s.   They are useless at skirmish and firefight, so he has to order them to charge.  

The Italian brigade already has two casualties, but with superior skirmish and volley fire they are equal to the guerrilla’s.

The first round of melee is a draw. 

The second goes to the Spanish
The Italians now have five casualties and retreat shaken, but still hold
Rule 13 covers infantry hand to hand combat

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Move 8

1500-1600 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 8

Top – Spanish have one brigade in rout and a second shaken

Bottom – Italians continue to hold on, despite their heavy casualties

 4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders– Engage

Artillery fire on 6^th Italian (total 8 – one casualty)

6^th Italian test morale for fourth casualty (total 1 – fail become shaken)

15^th brigade retreat 6”

16^th brigade advance 6”

15^th brigade test morale for rout (total 1 - fail continue to rout)

14^th brigade test morale for shaken (total 0 – fail and rout)

16^th brigade test morale for rout within 4”(total 3 – pass remain formed)

16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage

Severoli changed orders to Hold Mora

Artillery fire on 13^th Spanish (total 7 – no casualties)

6^th brigade test morale for shaken (total 1 – fail remain shaken)

Game Notes

Despite heavy casualties all of the Italian brigades are still holding on

Its starting to look like a victory for Severoli

O’Donnell has lost two brigades in rout, including his best one

His artillery continue to cause casualties, but somehow the Italians fail to break

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Move 7

1400-1500 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 7

Top – Spanish advance towards Mora

Bottom – Italian wait for the Spanish attack

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Move to Mora

O’Donnell changed corps orders to Engage

Artillery fire on 6^th Italian (total 9 – one casualty)

6^th Italian test morale for third casualty (total 4 – pass remain formed)

15^th brigade advance 6”

O’Donnell moves within command range of 15^th brigade

15^th brigade skirmish 8^th Italian (total 3 – no casualties”

16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Hold Mora

Severoli changes corps orders to Engage

Artillery fire at close range on 14^th Spanish (total 12 – two casualties)

14^th Spanish test morale for third casualty (total 1 – fail become shaken)

Severoli moves to command range of 8^th brigade

8^th brigade advance to musket range of 15^th Spanish

8^th Italian and 15^th Spanish exchange volley fire, Italians win (total 10)

15^th Spanish lose three casualties and rout

8^th Italian lose one casualty and stand firm

Game Notes

The dice gods seem to be smiling on both the Italians

6^th brigade received third casualty, but passed morale by rolling a 6

The gunners rolled 2xD6 when firing at close range and inflicted two casualties

Despite the loss of one brigade in rout, the Spanish could still easily win this battle if they can do some more damage with their artillery

The Italians were fortunate that the brigade with the least casualties was in the right place to volley fire on the leading Spanish brigade.

Severoli had to change his orders from Hold to Engage in order to move forward and volley with the Spanish.   On Hold he would have had to wait until the enemy advanced close enough for him to fire.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Move 6

1300-1400 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 6

Top – Spanish guerrilla brigade arrive

Bottom – Italian cavalry have retired nearer to Mora

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Move to Mora

Artillery fire on cavalry, who are out of the angle of fire

13^th brigade advance 2” in square

Artillery manhandle 2” forward

14^th and 15^th brigade advance 6”

16^th brigade advance 8”

O’Donnell moves to centre of corps

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Hold Mora

Artillery fire close range on 14^th Spanish (total 6 – one casualty)

14^th Spanish test morale for first casualty (total 6 – pass remain formed)

Game Notes

The only way the Italians can hope to win this battle is to inflict casualties at long range with their artillery, and hope that the poor quality Spanish infantry will fail their morale.

The French gunners achieved a hit, but unfortunately on the best of the four Spanish brigades – when then rolled a good dice for their morale test.

If the Spanish can cause even slight casualties it is likely that the French, who have previous battle casualties, will also fail their morale.   If one brigade breaks it is very likely that the rout will spread.

The Spanish infantry are almost within musket range, and if they can survive one more round of artillery fire should be able to close with the French infantry

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Move 5

1200-1300 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 5

Top – Spanish deployment is now complete

Bottom – Italian infantry have retired closer to Mora

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Move to Mora

Artillery fire on French gunners (total 7 – no casualties)

Artillery manhandle forwards 2”

13^th brigade advance 2” in square

16^th brigade arrive and advance 24”

16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Hold Mora

Artillery fire on 13^th Spanish square (total 10 – one casualty)

13^th Spanish test morale for first casualty (total 4 – pass morale remain formed)

Cavalry retire 7” facing enemy

Severoli moves to centre of corps

Game Notes

Spanish reserve brigade arrive on table on Lerida

Although out of command range they can move direct to corps along road

The corps commander has to use CP for this movement

Because there are no enemy nearer than 16” this brigade can treble movement rate

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Move 4

1100-1200 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 4

Top - 4th Spanish corps complete their deployment out of artillery range

Bottom – Italian hold their ground in front of Mora

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Hold Mora

Artillery fire on Spanish gunners (total 5 – no casualties)

6^th and 8^th brigade retreat 2” facing enemy

4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Move to Mora

16^th brigade advance 2” in square

Artillery manhandle 2” forward

14^th and 15^th brigade advance 6”

O’Donnell moves to centre of corps

Game Notes

It costs two CP per brigade to retire facing the enemy

Rule 3 covers Command Points
 

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Move 3

1000-1100 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 2

Top - 4th Spanish corps deploy out of artillery range

Bottom – Italian hold their ground in front of Mora

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Move to Mora

13^th brigade form square

Artillery manhandle forward 2”

14^th brigade advance 6”

15^th brigade advance 8” and form column of attack

16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Hold Mora

Artillery fire on 14^th Spanish (out of range – no casualties)

Game Notes

Italian artillery fired but Spanish out of range

We do not allow measuring range except when firing

Rule 7 covers artillery fire

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Move 2

0900-1000 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 1

Top - 4th Spanish corps have started to deploy either side of the Torrente-Mora road

Bottom – Italian cavalry move forward on flank, infantry form line

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Hold Mora

Severoli changes orders to Hold Mora

4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Move to Mora

13^th brigade advance 6”

Artillery advance 4” and unlimber

14^th brigade advance 8” and form column of attack

15^th brigade advance 8”

O’Donnell moves to centre of corps

Game Notes

Severoli has completed his change of deployment and changed his orders back to Hold Mora.  

The Spanish are out of artillery range, so he does not issue any further order

14^th Spanish brigade can make multiple moves because they are more than 16” from the nearest enemy

Rule 5 covers multiple moves

Rule 7 covers artillery fire

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com

Battle of Mora – Move 1

0800-0900 13 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 1

Top - 4th Spanish corps approach on Torrente-Mora road

Bottom – 16^th Italian corps deployed in front of Mora

 4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Move to Mora

13^th brigade advance 8” and form column of attack

Artillery advance 8”

14^th brigade advance 8”

O’Donnell moves to centre of corps

15^th brigade advance 8”

16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Hold Mora

Severoli changes orders to Move

Cavalry advance 12” towards woods

1^st and 2^nd brigades form line from column of attack

Severoli moves within command range (8”) of cavalry

Game Notes

Severoli had to change his orders to Move his cavalry forward to threaten the left flank of the approaching Spanish infantry.

On Hold orders they may not advance beyond the corps main battle line

Rule 4 explains corps orders

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Mora – Set Up

  strategic map  at 0800 13 August 1813

Campaign Background

16^th Italian corps has been retreating for three days since the battle of Torrente.   For all of that period 4^th Spanish corps have been in pursuit, so the Italians have not had any opportunity to rest and recover their battle casualties.

They also lost their supply depot at Torrente, and have been on half rations since Torrente.   As a result have started to lose more casualties due to lack of supplies.

General Severoli has ordered a halt at Mora in order to establish a supply depot, and to give his corps a chance to rest.  

4^th Spanish corps are at full strength, though one of their brigades are one march behind having established their supply depot at Lerida.  

  tactical map at 0800 13 August 1813

The battle will take place in the nine squares outlined in white.  

General Severoli has deployed his corps just north of Mora

General O’Donnell is marching towards Mora from Lerida, where his 16^th brigade has established the new supply depot.

  Wargames Table at start of battle

Mora is bottom centre on the cross roads

4^th Spanish corps is approaching top centre

  16^th Italian corps

All brigades are formed, but all have casualties as follows:

6^th infantry brigade  - 2 casualties

7^th infantry brigade  - 5 casualties

8^th infantry brigade  -1 casualty

16^th cavalry brigade  - 2 casualties

Corps artillery -  full strength

4th Spanish corps

Marching south on Torrente-Mora road in column of march

Special Rules

5^th Italian infantry brigade is detached and not taking part in this battle

16^th Spanish infantry brigade will arrive on the Torrente-Mora road at the start of move 5

We are play testing new rules for command and control.

Each commander rolls an average dice and adds the number of formed brigades under command

The wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleoniccampaignrules.blogspot.com/

The latest entry is a draft of the new rules