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Thread: [LME AAR] God Save the Emperor Francis

  1. #1
    MastahCheef117's Avatar Civis
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    Default [LME AAR] God Save the Emperor Francis

    It is January, 1805. Napoleon Bonaparte - esteemed General and First Consul of the French Republic - has crowned himself Emperor of the French. Moving to counter the imperialist Bonaparte are the reactionary monarchies of central and eastern Europe. Leading this grand Third Coalition is the Habsburg monarchy of Austria, led by Francis II. Facing the largest and most well-trained army in the world, it is now Austria's chance to show the world of what it is capable. The men of Austria will put their lives on the line to protect their Empire and their Emperor.



    Rules
    - Campaign Difficulty: Medium
    - Battle Difficulty: Hard
    - No reloads

    Settings
    Utilizing the La Montee de l'Empire mod for Napoleon: Total War (thanks Iutland & co. for the fantastic mod!), I will use the following settings:
    - 1805 Campaign as the Austrian Empire
    - Universal AI Submod
    - Pdguru's Units Submod
    - Whiff of Sulfur Submod
    - Ultimate Sound Submod
    - Wolves Armies Submod

    Objectives
    - Maintain hegemony in eastern Europe
    - Defeat Napoleon's French Empire
    - Dominate southern Germany
    - Dominate northern Italy

    Characters
    Recurring characters, as members of the Austrian leadership.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen

    Charles is arguably Austria's most skilled field commander. He begans his service as commander of the Army of Italy. He saw early successes against Marshal Massena and, after the latter's death, successfully brought the Italians to battle and defeated them multiple times.
    Notable Battles: Trient 1805 (Victory), Cerea 1805 (Victory)

    General Karl Mack von Leiberich

    Mack is a seasoned member of the Austrian military, having seen extensive service against the Ottomans, and also saw service against the French Republic in the 1790s. He started the journey as commander of the Army of Germany. He saw extensive service in southern Germany, and his first victory was a crushing victory over the poorly-equipped Bavarian Army at Otterfing.
    Notable Battles: Otterfing 1805 (Victory/Inconclusive)

    Archduke John


    John, although relatively inexperienced as a commander, is extremely charismatic and courageous. The story begins with him in command of the Army of Bohemia.

    Archduke Ferdinand

    Though relatively untested as a field commander, there are high hopes for Ferdinand, who begins as commander of the Army of the Alps, a reserve army.


    Esteemed Regiments
    Veteran experienced regiments of the Austrian Army that have contributed greatly to the success and survival of the Austrian Empire.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    2nd German Grenadier Battalion
    The 2nd German Grenadiers, elites of Charles' Army of Italy, held the left flank at Trient in 1805 and, despite suffering horrendous casualties in a cavalry charge, held the line and routed the French right flank. At Cerea a month later the 2nd Grenadiers secured the Austrian right and routed the last of the Italian infantry.
    Notable Battles: Trient 1805 (Victory), Cerea 1805 (Victory)


    4th German Infantry Battalion
    The 4th German Infantry were a key unit at Cerea and, despite suffering casualties of almost 30%, held the Austrian center and pushed back the Italian infantry.
    Notable Battles: Cerea 1805 (Victory)

    18th Hungarian Infantry Battalion
    The 18th Hungarians received their first taste of victory at Otterfing, at that time the largest battle of the war. When they were faced with a cavalry charge and with the Austrian Jagers on the left flank retreating, they formed a square and beat back the cavalry in a heated melee, and went to pour fire into the Bavarian right until it collapsed, despite suffering heavy casualties.
    Notable Battles: Otterfing 1805 (Victory/Inconclusive)


    Timeline

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    War is Begun (Jan-Feb 1805)
    >War of the Third Coalition begins
    >Strategy for the war adopted
    >Battle of Trient (Victory)


    The Death of a Marshal (Mar-Apr 1805)
    >Battle of Cerea (Victory)
    >Marshal Massena is killed in battle against Archduke Charles
    >Battle of Otterfing (Victory/Inconclusive)


    Battles
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    >Battle of Trient - February 8, 1805 (Victory): Archduke Charles encounters and defeats Marshal Massena in northern Italy before he could lay siege to Innsbruck. Outnumbered two-to-one, Massena's army is almost completely destroyed. Control is retained of Tyrol and French resistance in northern Italy is weakened.
    >Battle of Cerea - March 25, 1805 (Victory): Following up with his victory at Trient, Charles engages an Italian force under Jacques MacDonald, swiftly defeating him despite heavy casualties. French reinforcements are routed and Marshal Massena is killed in a cavalry melee. French Coalition power in northern Italy is severely weakened.
    >Battle of Otterfing -April 29, 1805 (Victory/Inconclusive): In the first battle of the German Campaign, Mack engages an equal force under Bavarian Field Marshal von Wrede just south of Munich. In a close-fought battle Mack routs the Bavarian army but is too weakened to follow his victory up and besiege Munich; he withdraws east, having destroyed the Bavarian army and leaving Munich wide-open.

    Last edited by MastahCheef117; August 10, 2012 at 04:37 PM.
    Losing battles in Total War since Rome.

    "Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily."
    Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French

    Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom - The story of Lt. Col. William J. Barker and the 71st Ohio Infantry

  2. #2
    MastahCheef117's Avatar Civis
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    Default Re: [LME AAR] God Save the Emperor Francis

    Chapter I
    War is Begun
    "War!- that mad game the world so loves to play."
    ~Jonathan Swift

    Barely several days into 1805, war had begun in Europe. The Austrian Empire - leading a coalition including the United Kingdom and Russia - was now at war with the French Empire and her protectorates and allies, of which she had many. In southern Germany, the Kingdom of Wurttemburg and the Kingdom of Bavaria threatened Austria's dominance in the region. In northern Italy, the Kingdom of Italy - really just a puppet installed by Napoleon to legitimize his control over the area - threatened Austrian Venice and the balance of power in Italy and, by extension, the Balkans. These governments, capable of raising and sustaining their own armies, when coupled with the expeditionary forces of the French, would be very troublesome, and very difficult to dislodge.

    However, before war could even begin, a strategy had to be drafted by the Austrian Army. The Austrian High Command - particularly Archdukes Charles, John, Ferdinand, and General Mack - were placed at the head of the Strategic Commission, to develop and adopt a general strategy for the first year of the war. Talks played out for several days, with the four commanders arguing and debating the outcomes of each plan. Finally, on January 13, a strategy was submitted to Emperor Francis II, who immediately approved it.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



    This strategy called for the presence of four separate armies, all under the command of the four generals in the Strategic Commission:

    Archduke Charles - Charles was appointed as Commander of the Army of Italy. His objective was to defeat Marshal Massena, capture Milan, and secure Austrian interests in northern Italy.

    General Mack - Mack was appointed as Commander of the Army of Germany. His duty was to defeat France's main forces, and capture Munich and Stuttgart, capitals of Bavaria and Wurttemburg (respectively).

    Archduke John - John was given command of the Army of Bohemia, based in Prague. He was given the task of holding the region against French advances, utilizing the terrain to his advantage.

    Archduke Ferdinand - Ferdinand was appointed Commander of the Army of the Alps, a reserve army. This army was placed so as to move to reinforce any of the other three armies in the shortest time possible.

    These four armies, if led correctly, would see to the success of the Austrian strategy.

    However, on January 19, news reached Archduke Charles that General Massena had marched north through the alps and was approaching Innsbruck. Innsbruck was lightly defended, only garrisoned with several regiments of militia, which would not be enough to successfully defend the city from French attack. Charles knew that his objective lay in securing northern Italy, but he would not allow Innsbruck to fall. The city was of vital importance from keeping the French in Italy and the Bavarians in southern Germany from uniting forces. Leaving a small garrison behind in Venice - as there were reports that there were only small French forces patrolling northern Italy - Archduke Charles force-marched north with his army to meet Massena and force him back into Italy before Innsbruck could be besieged. However, his scouts briefly lost contact with the Marshal, and he was forced to camp south of Innsbruck - presumably having arrived before the French - before picking up the General's trail. Departing on February 4, Charles now marched south, where he met Massena on the fields outside Trient, on February 8.

    Battle of Trient, February 8 1805

    Deploying to the north of the French, Charles deployed his artillery - his 6 and 12 pounders - in his center. Guarding the artillery's left were the 2nd German Grenadiers. To the right was the Friedrich Carl Battalion, and to their right were the German Fusiliers. Screening on the right flank were the Jagers of the Army of Italy. In reserve on the extreme right were Charles' Hussars, swift light cavalry.

    The battle began when the Austrian artillery sounded off, aiming towards their French counterparts.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    In response, Massena ordered forward his main line of two battalions, while also ordering his cavalry on his left flank forward. As they entered the range of Charles' Jagers, they opened fire.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    Despite the inaccuracy of these opening shots, the French cavalry, suddenly under fire from hidden skirmishers, swung right, directly in the line-of-sight of the Austrian infantry, which immediately opened fire, hoping to cut the cavalry squadron down before it could do any damage.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    However, this fire did not have the effect that the Austrians wanted. The cavalry, relatively unbloodied and undeterred, continued their run across the Austrian front, approaching the German Grenadiers on the left. Hoping to finally stop the rampant French cavalry, the Grenadiers opened fire.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    This, coupled with the redirection of the Austrian artillery, which was now firing canister shot directly into the cavalry, began causing serious losses.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


    To prevent the continued barrage of canister into their ranks, the cavalry charged directly for the Grenadiers, who were still reloading from their previous volleys. Having been caught in the open, the regiment was too slow to form a square, and were hit directly by the charge.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    Suffering massive casualties, the battalion fought back fiercely, forming a square in the middle of the melee and pouring fire into the cavalry at point-blank range. Within moments, the cavalry had been broken, but at the cost of nearly a fourth of the grenadier battalion.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    With the majority of Massena's cavalry - excepting his own bodyguard - now driven from the field, Charles ordered his left and right flanks - the infantry - to create a funnel around the center of his army, the artillery. With the French infantry now unable to maneuver effectively, they received terrible casualties from the disciplined Austrian volleys.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    With the French infantry now pinned down and barely able to return fire, Charles moved his hussars into action. They moved towards the undefended rear of Massena's army, and charged his single battery of artillery.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    Within just moments of coming into contact with the artillery, the crew realized they were doomed, and routed, leaving their cannons behind.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    Now without artillery support, the French center began to break under the immense weight of volleys the Austrians continued to deliver. Leaving behind a massive pile of bodies of their former comrades, the remains of the French line broke and ran.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    However, as the French army seemed to fall apart, a single battalion of French fusiliers rallied and began moving back towards the Austrian left. The German Grenadiers moved to counter this "last stand", and began trading volleys with the heavily bruised French battalion.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    However, after the French showed no signs of breaking after several volleys, Charles gave the final order of the battle: the hussars, which had just recently destroyed the French artillery, came charging towards the flank of the French infantry.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    The infantry attempted to turn to face the cavalry threat bearing down on their left, but they were too slow. Disoriented, exhausted, and low on morale, they broke almost as soon as they met the tip of the cavalry's sabers.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

    With Massena now retreating with what remained of his army, Charles surveyed the battlefield, meeting with the wounded, the battalions, and officers of his armies, to congratulate them on the victory. Though they had a clear numerical superiority, Massena still put up quite a fight, and paid a heavy price.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


    Shortly after Massena was driven from the field, defeated and badly bloodied, Charles returned east, marching back into Austrian territory. Here, he received reinforcements, four new infantry battalions, and began recuperating his losses with the older battalions. As the month wore on, reports told Charles that Massena had retreated farther south, now with a complete lack of organized infantry under his command. Charles refused to chase after him, however, seeing as he had achieved two objectives: he had nearly destroyed the French Army of Italy, and he had protected Innsbruck. He retired back towards the outskirts of Venice, where he began planning his next moves.
    Losing battles in Total War since Rome.

    "Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily."
    Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French

    Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom - The story of Lt. Col. William J. Barker and the 71st Ohio Infantry

  3. #3

    Default Re: [LME AAR] God Save the Emperor Francis

    Hi!

    Just stopping in to wish you luck, it's kinda a desert in here, but don't give up!

  4. #4

    Default Re: [LME AAR] God Save the Emperor Francis

    Liking this, especially the map thing. Great idea to simply draw manoeuvres onto it.

  5. #5

  6. #6

    Default Re: [LME AAR] God Save the Emperor Francis

    This is beautiful. Really masterfully written. I have read it with constant smile on my face since it resembles real books about military operations. Great effort. I was sad it had no continuation. I have read it with huge joy.

  7. #7

    Default Re: [LME AAR] God Save the Emperor Francis

    Yesss, a new NTW AAR! Got kinda silent... Wonderfully written. I like the map and many information you give us. And the combination of text and screenshots, as well as how you structure everything neat is perfectly done!

  8. #8

    Default Re: [LME AAR] God Save the Emperor Francis

    I can only agree - truly masterful and very well done!
    Too bad this is probably just a relic from ancient times four years ago :/
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