fuentes de onoro (May 5, 1811)
The scenario for napoleon's battles
INTRODUCTION
Following the winter of 1810 spent by the Marshal Massena’s Army of Portugal
before the lines of Torres
Vedras, the French retreated into Spain leaving a garrison in the Portuguese
border fortress of Almeida. Wellington followed up with his British Portuguese
army and laid siege to Almeida, which had to be taken before he continued his
advance into Spain, a task in he was joined there by Spanish guerrillas.
In April 1811
Massena advanced from Ciudad Rodrigo to relieve Almeida, the move Wellington
hoped Massena would make, although earlier than he had expected. Wellington took
position on the ridge above Fuentes de Oñoro, ready to fight the form of
defensive battle he fought so effectively on many occasions
(taken from
British Battles)
The Order Of Battle is based on:
- "A History of the Peninsular War", Volume IV, C. Oman, Green Hill Books, 2005
- OOB's provided by George
Nafziger
HOUSE RULES
The second edition of Napoleon's Battles edited by Five Forks has been used (including all the
optional rules) with some slight modifications fully explained in the
Fuentes pdf file and in the Home-Rules
section:
1) The cavalry scale
is also 1/120. To avoid distortions, 2 figures were removed for each 3
casualties.
2) Units of cavalry from 480 men upwards are
allowed and units of infantry with less than four elements are also
allowed to display under-strength infantry units.
3) Routed
units can try to rally without an attached general with an additional
'-3' modifier.
4) Divisional batteries are used (with a -1
modifier). The infantry fire is carried out as usual, but the resulting losses are not
marked on the target unit, but are only used to cause disorder.
5) C-i-C ratings. Do not use
“10” as Response number of the C-i-C’s but use the values assigned to them
as Corps Commanders.
TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION
Fuentes pdf file
Old map
Yahoo aerial view
Game map
The
battlefield
INITIAL DEPLOYMENT
The French facing Fuentes
The French facing Poço Velho
Guerrillas and Britsh cavalry
watching
Guerrilas of Don Julian
SPECIFIC RULES OF THE SCENARIO
Initial deployment
The map shows the situation at dawn of May 5. All the Allied
units, with exception of 5th and 6th Divisions are deployed in the table-game.
The French units present are the VI, VIII and IX Corps. For all reinforcements
apply the OR 13.8.2 rule for Varying Time Arrivals to each unit listed
separately (Roll 1D10 starting two turns before the normal arrival turn. Two
turns early a ‘1’ allows to enter; one turn early ‘1’ through ‘3’; the same turn
‘1’ through ‘6’ and in later turns ‘1’ through ‘8’).
a) Historical (until
the taking of Poço Velho)
The Massena’s plan for the battle consisted of an
outflanking attack of the Allied left using the Reserve Cavalry, the VI Corps
(less the Ferey Division) and the VIII Corps (Solignac Division). When this
attack was well under way, the IX Corps and the Ferey Division will take Fuentes
de Oñoro breaking the angle of the new Allied line.
MeanwhileMeanwhile, the II Corps was fixing the 5th and 6th Allied Divisions at
the north of the battlefield (the numbers in parenthesis are
percentages of occurrence).
-
07.00 h. 1B/C/IX A1/B1 (30/70); 1B/CN B1/C1 (30/70)
- 07.30 h. 1B/CR B1/C1 (30/70);
2B/CR
B1/C1 (30/70). Montbrun enters with the first unit
- 09.30 h. 1B/GC, GC and Bessieres at
D2/D3 (50/50). After the crossing at Poço Velho (Bessières must be present) these units will follow
the VIII or VI Corps (80/20).
The VIII Corps
(Solignac Division 1/VIII and VIII Artillery) is behind the
VI Corps. Massena is with Solignac.
All units arrive deployed or limbered (i.e. not in march column
formation)
b) Historical with something of Artificial Intelligence?
After the
taking of Poço Velho, the leading division of VI Corps must choose one of the
two roads leading north: western/east (90/10). The second division will follow
the first or will pass the same choosing process than this last (90/10).
The VIII Corps
(Solignac) will also choose one of the two roads western/east (10/90). Bessières
and his Guard units will follow the same procedure than in the a) Historical
option
c) The Wellington’s theory
Wellington believed that Massena would make a frontal
assault against Fuentes de Oñoro, so their main force was massed in and behind
the village. In this variant Massena can only use a maximum of two Divisions
(dice for between VI and IX Corps) and the Reserve Cavalry against Poço Velho.
The chosen Corps commander acts as a positional Wing Commander for these
detached units, that deploy at C2/D2 (60/40).The rest of French units deploy at
D3/D4/D5 (30/40/30).
Calling the
Reserves
The units located out
of the table - 5th and 6th British Divisions and the French II Corps were watching (and
cancelling) each other through the Dos Casas stream at north of the battlefield.
In this alternative Scenario, Massena could call one Division of the II Corps
(dice for which) that will enter at D4. For it, Massena must to pass a command
control test (or be in command if using 3.6.3) and send a messenger. Two turns
after this last leaves the table, the Optional rule for Varying Time Arrivals
can be start to be applied. A turn after the arrival of the French
reinforcements, Wellington could start the same procedure calling an only
Division (dice for). The Allied units enter at A5.
The behaviour of Bessières
This Maréchal was very
reluctant to aid Massena. To simulate this attitude during the battle, his
Command Radius has been lowered to 4” (i.e. like a Division General) and the
Command Radius of Massena has no any effect on him
The Duke of
Wellington
Use the optional rule that allows marking Wellington as
‘React’ if not moved during his side’s movement step
VICTORY POINTS
The village of Fuentes is worth 30% of total victory points, the village
of Poço Velho 15%, the bridge and crossroad at B4 25%, the A3 end road 10% and the bridge at
Vilar Formoso at B5 20%. The multiplier for
the weaker side (Allied) is 1.5. All Objectives are Allied controlled at
the start
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES