Hundred Days: Quatre Bras - Scenario

 

Date Weds 21st August 2024

Context: I think we all know this one, but......Napoleon, having escaped from Alba and needing to secure his return, advances to prevent the British and Prussian forces joining up, intending to defeat them in detail, first one, than the other. This with the intention of forcing a peace treaty from the wider alliance. 

Meanwhile, 99% of the Anglo-Dutch command is pissing it up at the Duchess of Richmonds ball. Consequently, word comes through of Napoleons faster than anticipated Northward advance, and the command promptly exits to meet the oncoming French force.

Ney is despatched to prevent Wellington from assisting Blucher, defeat him, then to turn and assault Bluchers flank. Ney arrives as Quatre Bras to find Dutch forces holding the crossroads, with Wellington arriving shortly thereafter and the main British forces advancing along the road.

Battlefield Map:

Objectives - Anglo Dutch: You must hold the main crossroads at all costs, allowing time to defeat the French and to move onwards to Bluchers assistance, if possible. The French must not be allowed to get between the two armies.

Order of Battle - Anglo Dutch:

Commander in Chief - Wellington 

1st Netherlands Division - 4 Line Infantry, 2 Militia, Jager Company, 3 Foot Artillery

2nd Netherlands Division - 2 Line Infantry, 1 Militia, 1 Foot Artillery

Arrive turn 2

British Guards Division - 2 Foot Guard

Arrive turn 3

British Highlanders Division - 4 Highland Line Infantry, 95th Rifles, 1 Foot Artillery

Light Cavalry Brigade - 1 Light Dragoon Regiment, 1 Hussar Regiment.

Arrive turn 4

Heavy Cavalry Brigade - 2 Scots Grey Regiments

Objectives - French: Concentrate the corps of Counts Reille and d’Erlon and that of Count Kellerman, who is just marching to join you. With these forces you must engage and destroy all enemy forces that present themselves

Order of Battle - French:

Commander in Chief - Ney

1st Line Division - 4 French Line Infantry, 1 Combined Voltiguer Battalion, 2 Foot Artillery

2nd Grenadier Division - 4 French Grenadier Battalions, 1 Foot Artillery

Brigade of Dragoons - 2 Dragoon Regiments

Arrive Turn 2

Light Cavalry Brigade - 2 Hussar Regiments

Heavy Cavalry Brigade - 1 Carabinier Regiment

Guard Cavalry - 1 Imperial Guard Chasseur a Cheval Regiment

Arrive Turn 3

2nd French Division - 4 French Line Infantry, 2 Foot Artillery

Xenos Rampant - Action on Sentaku XVI

 

Scenario 1 - Extraction

At one part of the front during the long Stenaku campaign, a signal has been received from a stranded high level engineer, who is currently hidden with in the Xenos trench system after complications during a night time reconnaissance. 

Accordingly, Imperial forces have put together a snatch squad to cross the lines, enter Xenos lines and extract the Engineer.

Force Sizes:

Imperial - 16 points

Xenos - 16 points

Setup:

The table will represent the trench lines, with the Engineer placed 6" of the table centre. The terrain should be arranged to accommodate this.

Xenos defenders choose a corner for deployment and may deploy within 18" of that point.

Imperial forces then deploy on the opposite area accordingly

Special Rules:

The Engineer will be subject to the rules on p115 of the XR rulebook, regarding movement and extraction.

Objectives:

+1 VP per 1-6 point enemy unit routed or destroyed

+2 VP per 7-12 point enemy unit routed or destroyed

+5 VP for successful extraction of the Engineer off the deployment zone table edges

Scenario 2 - Diversion

At the same time the attempted rescue takes place, a diversionary force launches an attack on the Xenos line, to provide cover and to draw forces away from the snatch squad, aiming to aid the chances of success.

Force Sizes:

Imperial - 24 points

Xenos - 24 points

Setup:

Xenos forces choose which side of the table they wish to deploy on.

Imperial player then places three objective markers anywhere within the Xenos half of the table, more than 6" from any other objective or table edge.

Xenos deploys within 12" of their table edge

Imperial forces will move onto the table from turn 1, using the reinforcements rules (page 97)

Objectives:

Imperial

+1 VP per 1-4 point enemy unit in the Xenos half of the table at end of game

+1 VP per 5-8 point enemy unit in the Xenos half of the table at end of game

+1 VP per 9-12 point enemy unit in the Xenos half of the table at end of game

+1 VP per enemy unit destroyed

Xenos

+3 VP for each objective marker with no Imperial forces within 6" at end of game

Scenario 3 - Fighting Retreat

With or without the Engineer, the raiding Imperial force will have alerted the Xenos to the attempt, so must successfully avoid being enveloped by enemy forces as they make their escape.

Linking up with a small reserve force, they must attempt to make a successful return to their lines

Force Sizes:

Imperial - 20 points

Xenos - 20 points

Setup:

Imperial forces deploy the full force within 6" of one table edge.

Xenos will then deploy within 6" of the centre of the table.

Objectives:

Imperial forces must attempt to move units off the table edge opposite to their deployment zone.

+2 VP for any unit that escapes the table

+2 VP per enemy unit routed or destroyed

Xenos forces must attempt to prevent this 

+1 VP per 1-4 point enemy unit routed or destroyed

+2 VP per 5-8 point enemy unit routed or destroyed

+3 VP per 9-12 point enemy unit routed or destroyed