King's Army: Frederick: 20 Infantry regts., 12 Grenadier bns., 8 Kur., regts, 5 Dr. regts, 4 Hu. regts, & 30 12lb gun models. Totals = 3,870 infantry figures, 1,680 cavalry figures and 30 12lbers/ artillerymen=120,
Totals =5,670 figures ( 56,700 "real men"). Stationed southeast of Dresden near Bohemian border passes that lead to Prague.
The King's Army is depicted in the attached photos. It took the greater part of 8 hours to set up. But will only take about 3 hours to return it to storage.
The first picture of the 5,600+ figures is a overview of the 41 infantry battalions and 12 grenadier battalions .... about 3870+ figures/ 38700 men.
Next is the right wing cavalry ...4 Kur. regts,3 Dr. regts and 2 hussar regts. About 860 figures or 8,600 real men. This is von Seydlitz command
Next is a close-up of the 12 grenadier battalions. Please, notice that within each battalion are 2 sets of grenadier companies from different regts. They are all the historical groupings as listed in that excellent source...http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=Main_Page
Next we have another shot of the grenadier bns....this time from the rear so that you can see the 2 different sets of mitres in each battalion.
Last shot is a close up of Frederick's "Garde" including 6th & 15th Infantry regts....with Frederick beginning his review!
Please, also notice that there are 30 12lb cannons positioned in front of the infantry.
Next is a listing of the remaining Prussian units, their commanders, and "station". Then followed by discussion on the "Allies" troops and more on the 1757 campaign.
Dresden Corps: G.F.M. Keith: 8 Infantry regts., 8 Grenadier bns., 3 Kur., regts,2 Dr. regts, 1 Hu. regts, & 12 12lb gun models. Totals =1,680 infantry figures, 520 cavalry figures and 12 12lbers/ artillerymen= 48,
Totals=2,248 figures ( 22,480 "real men"). Stationed southwest of Dresden near Bohemian border, just north of the mountain passes that lead to Eger.
Silesian Corps: G.L. Bevern: 8 Infantry regts.,4 Grenadier bns., 2 Kur., regts, 1 Dr. regts, 1 Hu. regts, & 8 12lb gun models. Totals =1,240 infantry figures, 480 cavalry figures and 8 12lbers/ artillerymen=32, Totals= 1,792 figures ( 17,920 "real men"). Stationed in Silesia between Schweidnitz and Neisse.
Torgau Corps: Prinz Henri: 6 Infantry regts.,4 Grenadier bns., 2 Dr. regts, 1 Hu. regts, & 8 12lb gun models. Totals =1,140 infantry figures,480 cavalry figures and 8 12lbers/artillerymen= 32. Totals=1,652 figures ( 16,520 "real men"). Stationed in Torgau area as a strategic reserve that can move against French and/or Reichsarmee.
Note: 2 Dr. regts,1 Hu. regt. & 6 Fusilier regts. are stationed in Frankfurt/Oder as a reserve.
Total Prussian Forces: 48 infantry regts, 29 Gren. bns, 13 Kur. regts, 12 Dr, regts, 8 Hu. regts, 62 12lb guns, Totals = 9,000 inf, 3,160 cav., 58 12lb/ 232 artillerymen (116 real 12lbers) =
12,392 figures (123,920"real" men)
Note: Frederick has "only" 16 garrison bns stationed in East Prussian. When campaign season starts it is late April 1757. And the Russians will still be in Russia "proper". Not even close to their border with Poland. Therefore they probably can not start campaigning until early August or even September...if at all in 1757!. Supply and transport are "major" issues for the Russians and only the help of the Austrians can address this. But the Austrians must occupy territory in Silesia, East Prussia and/or Poland in order to help.
ALLIES:
AUSTRIAN OOB: 55 infantry regts, 55 Gren. cos, 10 Grenz regts., 18 Kur. regts, 12 Dr, regts, 12 Hu. regts, 75 12lb guns, Totals = 11,040 inf, 3,200 cav., 75 12lb/ 300 artillerymen (150 real 12lbers) = 14,540 figures (145,400 "real men") Austrian army is divided between Prague, Koniggratz, Eger, Olmutz, and Brunn.
FRENCH/REICHSARMEE OOB: 48 infantry regts, 12 Gren. bns, 12 Kur/Hvy. regts, 10 Dr/CVL regts, 2 Hu. regts, 40 12lb guns, Totals = 5,760 inf ,1,200 cav., 40 12lb/ 160 artillerymen (80 real 12lbers) = 7,120 figures (71,200 "real men") French and Saxon units "may" be added during campaign.....depending on "political factors"! (and how many more I can paint in the coming months!) French/Reichsarmee is divided between Mainz and Strasburg. And may not start campaigning until summer (they must roll each turn to determine if they can start campaigning...there are pluses ,minuses and the success/failure of Prussians and/or Austrians etc. that influence the likelihood of their involvement. ...!) For instance...if the Prussians have a string of victories the French/Reichsarmee will be more reluctant to advance into the theater....might move north into Hanover or not move at all.
SAXON AUXILLARIES OOB: Sometime in August 1758 (when will be decided by political factors and dice roll) the following units can join either the French and/or Austrian armies (also decided by dice rolls) 10 inf. regts., 20 bns,. 5 cav. regts. 20 sqns., 6 12lber guns.
Totals = 1200 inf., 240 cav. 6 12lber/48 artillerymen (12 real 12lbers) = 1,488 figures(14,880 real men)
RUSSIAN OOB: Unknown...until they arrive on Prussian frontier. But could be as high as 10,000+ figures. The most important factors deciding "when", "how many" and even "if" the Russians will participate in the 1757 Campaign will be determined by the following:
1). The health of Czarina Elizabeth -bad or failing health and Russians will fail to advance with any vigor!
2). The ability of Austrians to send supplies to Russians. No supplies, no or slow advance.
3. Success or lack of by the Austrians/and or French in campaigning against Prussians..... Russians would be wise to not "board" a sinking ship!
Start of Campaign Season: Prussians = 12,392 figures, Allies = 21,660 figures w/Russians =32,000 figures.
Command and Control Issues:
In our rules command and control are important issues and are decided by the historical ranking of particular leaders and their performances over the course of battles in which they participated...thus it may go "up" or "down" depending on the results. For instance: Prussian G.L. Bevern has 3 victories and 1 terrible defeat. His historical rating started as a "9"... went up to a "11" with the victories and has since gone down to an "8" with the big loss! So he is now rated average which means he can increase the rating of a unit he "leads" by +1, but can not increase other units within 12 inches....
a leader with "9" could. Leaders below an "8" have a -1 effect on all units within 12 inches.
Also, Prussians have had 6 generals, historically rated "9" and above, killed in combat during the first campaign season. They were: Schwerin, von Winterfeldt, Manstein, von Kleist, Manteuffel, and Hulsen. That leaves but 10 Prussian generals rated as "9" and above!
The Austrians currently have 9 generals rated "9" and above. These include FM Browne(11), FM Daun(11), FML Drazkovich (9), FML Esterhazy v. Galàntha (9), FML Hadik (10), FM Königsegg (9), FML Lacy (10), FML Laudon (9), and FML Piccolomini(9).
Remember "All Generals" are eligible to move "up or "down" depending on their performance.
At the start of the "1757 Campaign Season" the Russians, French, Reichsarmee, and Saxons have no generals rated "9" and above.
In the following pictures are maps of the initial campaign areas:
All maps are from "The Campaigns of Frederick the Great" boardgame ...Game Design: Robert Markham, Map Graphics: Mark Simonitch, 1993, 3W Inc. Cambria, CA.
1 Hex equals 18 miles!
The following maps depict the area before deployments at the start of campaigning:
First map is Prussian/Silesian/ Bohemia area:
Second map shows French and Reichsarmee initial deployment.
This is a close up of Silesian fortress and cities the Austrians need to capture in order to "reclaim" Silesia! The main Austrian efforts will come from Koniggratz, Olmutz, and Brunn
1 Hex equals 18 miles!
This map depicts where the Prussians will campaign in an effort to capture Prague!
Frederick, Keith and Prinz Henry will attempt to converge on Prague.
1 Hex equals 18 miles!.
In 1756 the King tried in every battle to destroy the Austrians and "knock them" out of the war, but failed. He even risked high casualties attacking Austrian redoubts being served with artillery and infantry. Even when he succeeded in taking these fortifications and capturing the guns....the remaining Austrians simply retired from the field. It was not surprising that the Austrians realized that "time" was their best ally and "wearing down" the Prussians while waiting for their allies to become engaged was a "winning strategy"!
But by being so aggressive the King was able to capture Dresden and all of its wealth which helped to finance the continuing war, and he thought it put him in a better strategic position for the next campaign.
For the 1757 campaign the King has determined to use a "central position" strategy. One in which he and his armies are positioned on a line just west of Dresden and east to the fortresses of Silesia. He planned that this would allow him to respond to any threat without being "to far removed" from coordinating the movements of the other Corps. He told his key Generals that there was just too few troops to cover the entire map area. And if he tried to invade Austria "prime"....the Austrians could withdraw into the interior and "starve his army"! Also of prime consideration was the security of Silesia....after all this "was" the main cause of the war.
His exact words to Keith, Bevern, and Prinz Henri were... "let the Allies destroy their armies with constant marching, meager supplies, depleted ranks...we will have the interior lines and can meet them when and where it is to our advantage"! This strategy also allowed Frederick to take advantage
of one of his key principles of war:
" Concentration of Force"
