315 Aspern-Essling - Day 1 Aspern (21 May 1809)

Details
Written by: GMT Games
Category: Fifth Coalition (1809)
Hits: 13179
Victory Results:
 35 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY  65 %
Total plays 51 - Last reported by GG on 2025-02-06 00:54:11

Aspern-Essling - 21 May 1809 (Day 1 Aspern)

Historical Background
Slowed by having only one bridge to cross, Napoleon had less than a third of his army across the Danube, when Charles attacked.
The Austrians were formed into five attack columns with the Grenadiers and the majority of the cavalry in reserve. The battle started with the attack by the first and second Austrian columns against Aspern. The French, under the command of Molitor, were already deployed in the village and repulsed the first attack, but the second attack briefly entered the town. French reinforcements were brought forward and a third attack was repulsed. By this time, some of the Austrian cavalry had moved forward and came under French artillery fire. The Austrian cavalry launched an attack to silence the French guns and was counter attacked, but the French cavalry was forced to retire when attacked by the Austrian lancers. By this time, the artillery of the third column was in position and was able to support another attack on the village. Napoleon, concerned the village might fall, ordered Marulaz to charge the Austrian guns. The guns, however, were supported by the Austrian infantry, which drew up in battalion masses and forced the French cavalry to retire. The battle for control of Aspern swung back and forth and at the end of the day, both Austrian and French infantry occupied the town.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

 

Set-Up Order

Forest 4
Hill 8
Town 4
Church 1
Marsh 3

 

Battle Notes

Austrian Army
• Commander: Charles
• 5 Command Cards
• Optional 3 Tactician Cards
• Move First

Line Infantry Light Infantry Grenzer Light Infantry Militia Infantry Light Cavalry Heavy Cavalry Cuirassier Heavy Cavalry Light Lancer Cavalry Foot Artillery Leader
10 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 3 4

French Army
• Commander: Napoleon
• 6 Command Cards
• Optional 6 Tactician Cards

Line Infantry Light Infantry Light Cavalry Cuirassier Cavalry Guard Heavy Cavalry Foot Artillery Leader
7 3 2 2 1 3 6

 

Victory
12 Banners

Special Rules
• The five town hexes (four town hexes plus the church hex) of Aspern form a temporary Group Majority Group Victory Banner Objective worth 3 banners to the side that occupies an absolute majority of the town hexes at the start of its turn (Temporary Majority Victory Banner Turn Start)

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Posts in discussion: 315 Aspern-Essling - Day 1 Aspern (21 May 1809)
ozzie replied the topic:
#11419
9 months 1 week ago
12-10 the French, who held on to win by controlling the majority town hexes objective for an extra 3 victory banners.

The Austrians launched an attack on the Aspern and the church and were repulsed with heavy casualties. The centre tried again and were also repulsed with heavy casualties. Soon it was 9 (6+3) to zero in the French favour, with several other Austrian infantry units hanging on by their fingernails. The French moved up their cavalry wing to launch the killing-blow only to receive and Austrian Cavalry Charge on the Austrian left which destroyed 3 French cavalry units, an artillery unit and killed two generals. Suddenly it was 9-6 and game-on!

Another French heavy cavalry fell to the Austrian central cavalry unit and more units fell on each side, until it was 10 (7+3) to 10. Some Austrian shooting could have won the day but failed to finish off damaged units. The last French two-block light cavalry unit rode over the hills and destroyed two one-block Austrian squares to win the game, 12-10.

I have always felt that to hit or destroy a square (or Austrian infantry mass) is a little unfair on the infantry, as a square is not expected to retreat and technically has no flanks. That a dice roll already has a 50:50 chance of a hit (2-infantry and 1-sabre facing) should be enough of an advantage.
LARS replied the topic:
#6930
4 years 3 months ago
Massena and Lannes save the French left at Aspern. It became impossible for the Austrians to capture the town with the forces on their right after a cavalry attack disrupted their artillery positions. Then a desperate cavalry attack ensued which ended in disaster for Bellegarde.
castanos replied the topic:
#6862
4 years 4 months ago
Overwelming Austrian victory +12/6. Good cards on the Austrian right for a fast approach to the mill that wipped out French forces on that flank. French cavlry on the right never came on play effectively. An assault and a take command in the center allowed Austrians to take positions on the hills with a grand battery. An awfull French die roll for an Elan counterattack did the job!
kostas63 replied the topic:
#5923
5 years 8 months ago
Nei primi turni i Francesi giocano la carta "Force March" e conquistano Aspern. Gli Austriaci contrattaccano ferocemenete sulla loro destra e nel centro e dopo una carta "Bayonet Attack" riescono a conquistare uno degli hex di Aspern. Il costo in perdite per gli Austriaci e' troppo alto. La battaglia finisce 12 a 8 per i Francesi che alla fine sono ancora in possesso di Aspern.
proyce replied the topic:
#4905
7 years 7 months ago
The 1 hex movement of the Austrians is what didn't allow them to get into range soon enough. I was trying to get 4 Austrian LN in position, but French cavalry wave made it impossible, as I was scrambling trying to save my left flank. Yeah, the 3 Cavalry Charge cards in quick succession was very unusual.
Battalion mass is limited to the total command cards the Austrians start the battle with, which means I had 5 units in square.
Mark-McG replied the topic:
#4904
7 years 7 months ago
Austrian Bayonet Charge in the centre? Remember Austrian Line only charge 1 hex. Also, there is no limit to the Austrian Battalion Mass. It is not like squares.
3 sequential Cavalry charges is pretty unusual too! That is itself would make the match an exceptional result.
proyce replied the topic:
#4902
7 years 7 months ago
Played this a couple of days ago. I had the Austrians. It was a rout, with the French winning 12-2. The French had a Cavalry Charge card in their original hand, so moved cavalry up on their right flank to be ready to charge. The Austrians moved on the center preparing to Bayonet Charge when ready. The French played their Cavalry Charge card and eliminated an Austrian CU. Other Austrian cavalry moved up to help. French played a second Cavalry Charge and wiped out the Austrian LC and Lancers. Next run the French played a third Cavalry Charge, eliminating one Foot Artillery and knocking the other one back to the baseline. After another turn the Austrians couldn't put any more Battalion Mass counters down and the French cavalry finished the game.
Bayernkini replied the topic:
#2629
9 years 11 months ago
Reduce the town Objecive Banners from 3 to 2 and you have
a excellent and very interested scenario :)
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