[Pre-Cabinette Archives c.2022]
Probably the biggest inspiration in my wargaming was Charles Grant and as a schoolboy I had his book 'The War Game' on semi-permanent loan from the library. Of course it helped that my mum was a librarian.
Now my SSM collection, put together to use with Brigadier Peter Young's 'Charge' rules, was big enough I decided it was time to try and play out this action myself.
Grant's table was 9'x7', so as mine was only 5'x8' I reduced the units down from his 48 infantry and 24 cavalry to 40 infantry and 20 cavalry. I also, to avoid confusion, kept the names of my units rather than use his (the colours refer to uniform / facing colours for ease of unit identification).
Next the battlefield was distorted (squashed) to fit an 8'x5' table as shown below. The bars next to battle-map show the move distances and firing ranges that I use with my Charge rules (also reduced for use on smaller tables).
My table was then set out to try and match the map as closely as possible.
Then it was time to populate the table; all looking rather cramped on my table even though I was fielding slightly smaller units than in the original game.
After which a few close ups of the armies: first the (stand-in) 'Austrians' ...
... then the (stand-in) 'Prussians' ...
And finally, the opposing commanders: Khevenhuller acting for the Austrian General Neipperg ...
... and Seckendorff taking the place of the Prussian King Frederick (the not yet Great).
At this point the wheels came off as my opponent phoned to let me know he had come down with a serious eye complaint and was unable to come over for the game.
What now?
All will be revealed in the next instalment.