Warsaw 1656: The retreat of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth troops. 30.07.1656.

This is the final scenario from the Warsaw 1656 supplement for By Fire and Sword rules. I have adapted it to fit the second version of the rules and my current collection. I opted for a format that balances elements of both the simplified and standard gameplay options.

SCENARIO: Scenario VI: Retreat of the Polish troops.
UMPIRING: Bartek Żynda

SCENERY: Bartek Żynda, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Bartek Żynda

1. Forces.

POLISH-LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH

(Alasdair,  Gordon, Michael)

Great Crown Hetman Stanisław Rawera Potocki (###)

1st Crown Cavalry Regiment

Pulkownik (##)

1 x Pancerni (S)

1 x Cossack Style Cavalry (M)

2nd Crown Cavalry Regiment

Pulkownik (##)

1 x Cossack Style Cavalry with Spears (M)

1 x Cossack Style Cavalry (M)

3rd Crown Cavalry Regiment

Pulkownik (##)

1 x Cossack Style Cavalry (Veteran Presented, M)

1 x Cossack Style Cavalry (M)

Volunteers Regiment

Pulkownik (##)

1 x Volunteers (S)

1 x Volunteers (M)

Infantry

Pulkownik Grotthaus (##)

1 x Musketeer Squadron (M)

1 x Light Gun Battery (S)

ALLIED

(Bartek)

Right Wing

Georg Friedrich Waldeck (##)

1 x Armoured Reiters (M)

1 x Mercenary Reiters (Veterans, M)

1 x Mercenary Dragoons (M)

Center

Otto von Sparr (###)

2 x Brandenburgian Infantry (Regimental Gun, L)

Left Wing

Prince Adolf Hans (##)

1 x Armoured Mercenary Reiters (M)

2 x Mercenary Reiters (Veteran, M)

2. The Game.

For better game umpiring, Alasdair, Gordon, and Michael commanded the forces of the Commonwealth, while I led the Swedish-Brandenburg alliance. Michael took command of two cavalry regiments, Alasdair led one regiment along with the Grand Crown Hetman and infantry with cannons, while Gordon commanded the Volunteers. My strategy was to attack the Volunteers with the left wing, which I perceived as the weakest link. I planned to push forward with the infantry and block any potential attack from the Polish cavalry using the right wing.

I attacked with the left flank and soon encountered serious difficulties. Alasdair, who had been promoted to artillery master, managed to eliminate one of my Reiter units within a few turns. Only two Reiters reached the flank, where they were supposed to engage with the Volunteers. Meanwhile, as I had anticipated, the Polish cavalry was reluctant to attack. According to the scenario, issuing an Advance order requires passing a morale test; if the test fails, the unit is given a manoeuvre order instead.

To my surprise, the Polish cavalry began to attack during the following turns. A brutal fight erupted on my right flank, where the Polish cavalry clashed not only with the Swedish cavalry but also with the Brandenburg infantry, which did not bode well for the Poles. Eventually, the Poles started to gain the upper hand and nearly overran my right flank. I found myself temporarily stalled, but I managed to create a sizable gap in the Polish lines that allowed my infantry to advance effectively. However, the Polish artillery was positioned in my way...

On my left flank, my attack was underway. My veteran cavalry charged the Volunteers, but to my surprise, they lost the melee! Unfortunately, they were also attacked from the flank by a smaller Volunteer unit and were routed. This marked the end of the Polish successes. The Armoured Reiters then charged the weakened Volunteers and, as expected, pushed the Poles from the field. They were able to manoeuvre to the rear of the Polish lines, allowing them to harass the retreating Polish main forces.

However, the scenario dictated that for the Allies to win, they needed to have three units positioned at the rear. As a result, the game ended in a draw. Both sides suffered significant losses, with each losing four units. I have now completed all the scenarios from this expansion and am looking forward to the next ones.

3. Links.

SESWC:

To be updated soon...

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720323664882

Warsaw 1656. Lithuanian-Tatar attack on the Brandenburgian positions. 29.07.1656.

The best way to showcase a newly painted army is to display it on the table, and that's exactly what I did. I utilized one of the scenarios from the By Fire and Sword supplement, specifically Warsaw 1656. Although this supplement was originally designed for the game's first edition, I made some modifications to adapt it for the second edition. This allowed us to play using the new rules. The scenario we played was number four, which details the Lithuanian-Tatar attack on the Brandenburg positions on July 29, 1656.

SCENARIO: Warsaw 1656 supplement. Scenario 4.
UMPIRING: Bartek Żynda

SCENERY: Bartek Żynda, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Bartek Żynda

1. Forces.

When preparing the army lists, I began by taking the number of bases from the original scenario and then converted them to match the new unit sizes. For the Tartars, I borrowed units from the Lithuanian Tartars and used them to create an Elite Tartar cavalry.

LITHUANIANS

(Michael)

COLONEL (3 orders)

ROTEMAISTER (2 orders)

1 x ELITE COSSACK STYLE CAVALRY (M) (Veterans Presented)

1 x COSSACK STYLE CAVALRY WITH SPEARS (M)

1 x COSSACK STYLE CAVALRY (M)

3 x DRAGOONS (S)

TATARS

(Tim)

BEY (4 orders)

1 x ELITE TATAR CAVALRY (M)

1 x TATAR CAVALRY WITH SPEARS (M) (Kalkan Shields)

1 x TATAR CAVALRY (S)

Tatars

Lithuanians

BRANDENBURGIANS

(Alasdair, Bartek)

FRIEDRICH WILHELM (2 orders)

INFANTRY

COLONEL (2 orders)

MAJOR (1 order)

2 x MERCENARY INFANTRY (M)

1 x MUSKEETER SQUADRON (S)

2 x DRAGOONS (S)

1 x LIGHT CANON BATTERY (S)

CAVALRY

COLONEL (2 orders)

MAJOR (1 order)

1 x VETERAN REITERS (M)  (Veterans)

1 x REITERS (M)

1 x ARMOURED REITERS (S)

 

2. The Game.

The Brandenburgers were the first to deploy their units, followed by the Tatars. After that, I gave the Lithuanians an opportunity to deploy. They could do this by sacrificing their colonel's orders. They would roll a die and if they sacrificed one order, they would enter on a roll of 1, if two, then on the roll of 2, and so on. However, these sacrificed orders could not be used during their first turn on the board. This meant that even if they faced failure, the Colonel would have fewer actions available. Ultimately, Michael chose not to sacrifice any orders and decided to enter the game on the second turn. He had his chance...

The first round began with the Tatars launching a massive barrage of arrows at the Brandenburg positions, which proved to be highly effective. In response, two units of Brandenburg cavalry—comprising veterans and armoured troops—charged at the Tatars. They successfully pushed back the Tatars with Spears and one unit of the regular Tatars. However, the veterans sustained heavy casualties and were forced to retreat to the dunes to regroup. Shortly thereafter, the Lithuanians arrived on the scene.

The Lithuanians, accompanied by their dragoons, approached the Brandenburg positions but were met with a volley of muskets, resulting in the loss of one Dragoon unit. Subsequently, the Lithuanian cavalry took the lead, charging at the Germans. They successfully destroyed a Musketeer Squadron and the  Dragoons; however, their charge against the pikemen failed, forcing the Cossack Style Cavalry to retreat.

The situation was different for the Brandenburg cavalrymen, who faced attack from two units of Cossack cavalry. They managed to repel both charges, suffering only minor losses in the process. On the other flank, the Tatars continued to use their bows effectively, striking their opponents from a distance, even managing to shoot a cannon crew. However, they were eventually forced to retreat when met with another volley of muskets.

Ultimately, the Brandenburgers held the crucial hill and emerged victorious in this scenario.

Lithuanian-Tartar loses.

Bandenburgian loses.

3. Links.

SESWC:

to be updated soon...

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720322138516/

Warsaw 1656 (pt.3). The Glorious Charge! Warszawa 1656 (cz. 3) Wspaniała szarża!

Another part of our Warsaw 1656 game with By Fire and Sword rules. We had to omit the fourth scenario as I am not ready for that yet (I got figures, but they have not been painted yet...), so we moved directly to the fifth scenario, 'The Glorious Charge!'. Once again I've changed the OdBs, to fit my collection.

Kolejna część naszej gry Warszawa 1656 z zasadami Ogniem i Mieczem. Musieliśmy pominąć czwarty scenariusz, ponieważ nie jestem jeszcze na niego gotowy (mam figurki, ale nie pomalowane...), więc przeszliśmy do scenariusza piątego, "Wspaniała szarża!". Ponownie zmieniłem OdB, by wpasować się w moją kolekcję.

SCENARIO / SCENARIUSZ: Warsaw 1656 supplement, Bartek Żynda
UMPIRING / PROWADZENIE GRY: Bartek Żynda

SCENERY / SCENERIA: SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS / FIGURKI I MODELE: Bartek Żynda

1. Forces. Siły.

 

SWEDEN / SZWECJA

(Alasdair, Michael)

1st wave

Philip von Sulzbach (3 orders)

Colonel (2 orders)

Major (1 order)

Dragoons (4 bases)

Armoured Mercenary Reiters (4 bases)

Mercenary Veteran Reiters with Arquebuses (3 bases)

National Veteran Reiters (4 bases)

Mercenary Reiters (4 bases)

2nd wave

Margrave Charles Magnus of Baden-Durlach (2 orders)

2 x Major (1 order)

Dragoons (4 bases)

Armoured  Mercenary Reiters (4 bases)

National Veteran Reiters (4 bases)

Mercenary Reiters (4 bases)

3rd wave (turn 3)

King Charles X Gustav of Sweden (4 orders)

Colonel (2 orders)

Major (1 order)

Dragoons (6 bases)

Armoured Mercenary Reiters (4 bases)

Mercenary Veteran Reiters with Arquebuses (4 bases)

Black Coats (4 bases)

POLISH-LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH /  RZECZPOSPOLITA OBOJGA NARODÓW

(Bartek)

King John II Casimir Vasa (2 orders)

Hussars

Aleksander Hilary Połubiński (4 orders)

Rotemaister (1 order)

Lithuanian and Royal Hussars (6 bases)

Polish Hussars (4 bases)

1st Cavalry Regiment

Colonel (2 orders)

Pancerni (3 bases)

Cossack Style (6 bases)

2nd Cavalry Regiment

Colonel (2 orders)

Cossack Style with Spears (3 bases)

Cossack Style (6 bases)

3rd Cavalry Regiment

Colonel (2 orders)

Pancerni with Spears

Cossack Style (6 bases)

Levy of Nobility

Castellan (2 orders)

2 x Levy of Nobility (6 bases)

2. The game. Gra.

It took some time when Swedish players finally set up their forces. I believe that they had some kind of plans. However, I had hussars and I was going to use them with full power! I moved forward with them, but without support. My cavalry regiments did not want to be ordered... My left flank, where the king was present got their orders, but the nobles and the right flank were not eager to fight... Anyway hussars charged and soon they showed their strength. Swedish regiments broke, one after another. Michael, who lead the 1st wave of Swedes was in big trouble. Alasdair in the meantime kept his units in reserve, ready to attack in the next turn. So far, so good for Poles and Lithuanians.

Szwedzkiej stronie zajęło trochę czasu ustawienie swoich jednostek. Wierzę, że mieli jakiś plan, ja jednak miałem husarię i miałem zamiar użyć jej z całą jej mocą! Ruszyłem do przodu, jednak bez wsparcia. Moje pułki kawalerii nie chciały otrzymać rozkazów... Na mojej lewej flance jeszcze to jakoś wyglądało, ponieważ tam znajdował się król, jednak pospolite ruszenie i prawa flanka nie przejawiały ochoty do walki... Pomimo tego ruszyłem husarią i szybko pokazała swoją siłę. Szwedzkie regimenty były łamane jeden po drugim. Michael, który dowodził pierwszą falą miał tu spore problemy. Alasdair, w międzyczasie trzymał swoje jednostki w rezerwie, gotowy uderzyć w kolejnej turze. Jak na razie idzie po myśli Polaków i Litwinów.

During the second turn, Alasdair moved his forces to attack. He managed to reduce two of my regiments to half of their strength. However, I managed to stop his advance, regroup my units and prepare for a counterattack. At the same time, my hussars continued the slaughter of Michael's troops. Some Pancerni from the right flank joined the fun. At the end of that turn, all units of the first wave were flown from the battlefield. But the third wave was going to join the fight.

Podczas drugiej tury Alasdair ruszył do ataku. Udało mu się zredukować dwa moje pułki do połowy ich sił, jednak w końcu udało mi się powstrzymać jego natarcie, przegrupować się i kontratakować. W tym samym czasie husaria kontynuowała rzeź oddziałów Michaela. Do zabawy dołączyli pancerni z prawej flanki i wkrótce wszystkie oddziały pierwszej fali uciekały z pola walki. Jednak trzecia fala właśnie miał dołączyć do walki. 

During the third turn, the Swedish third wave arrived, together with their king. During the real battle he moved ahead of his units, and puts himself in serious danger, the scenario has that element. That is the chance for Commonwealth to win the whole battle. Unlucky for me he find himself at the back of my hussars, so they were unable to charge him (Charles cannot avoid charging that turn). I managed to finally move one of the noble's units, but they did not reach him. Finally, I decided to do something desperate. Hussars officers were in range to charge the Swedish king, so I did. Rotemaister gets killed, but Połubiński managed to kill the king! The battle was over! It is worth mentioning that during this turn hussars managed to destroy Black Coats. that wasn't over yet as my Pancerni killed Philip von Sulzbach.

Podczas trzeciej tury, szwedzka trzecia fala przybyła wraz z ich królem. Podczas prawdziwej bitwy, król wysforował się przed czoło swoich sił, narażając się na poważne niebezpieczeństwo, scenariusz przewiduje taką sytuację. To jest jednocześnie duża szansa dla Rzeczpospolitej na wygranie całej bitwy. Na moją niekorzyść znalazł się za moją husarią, która nie była w stanie go zaszarżować (Karol nie może odskoczyć od szarży w tej turze). Udało mi się w końcu ruszyć jeden z oddziałów pospolitego ruszenia, ale nie był on w stanie dotrzeć do króla. Wtedy postanowiłem zrobić coś desperackiego. Król był w zasięgu szarży oficerów husarii, więc natarłem nimi. Rotmistrz poległ, ale Połubińskiemu udało się zabić króla! Bitwa była zakończona! Warto nadmienić, że husaria rozbiła oddział czarnych płaszczy a pancerni ubili Filipa Sulzbacha. 

It was a lovely game. I am very happy with Warsaw 1656 supplement. It is shame, that there are no more publications like that. I believe that with the rules version 2 it will change. It is not over with this supplement, as I am going to play the rest of the scenarios from the book as soon as my figures will be ready for it.

To była dobra gra. Jestem bardzo zadowolony z dodatku Warszawa 1656. Szkoda, że nie ma więcej tego typu publikacji. Mam nadzieję, że wraz z drugą wersją zasad to się zmieni. To oczywiście nie koniec z tym dodatkiem, ponieważ mam zamiar rozegrać pozostałe scenariusze, jak tylko moje figurki będą ku temu gotowe.

Swedish casualties are on the left and Polish-Lithuanian on the right.

3. Links. Linki.

Michael:

Will be updated someday, maybe...

SESWC:

Will be updated soon.

Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720302716028