Oswiecim Station - 27th June 1866

This scenario was orginally developed by Martin Soilleux-Cardwell.

Background

This action took place on the same day as the battle of Nachod. The Prussians were attempting to secure a rail head to deny it as a supply line for the enemy on the northern Austrian Galician-Moravian borders on the shores of Lake Sola in what is now modern Poland. The Prussians are the attackers and enter the table from the north over the bridge across the river Wisla. 

To win they must hold, or have been the last to pass a non-retreating or routing stand through Oswiecim railway station (which is represented by a town block) and at least two of the four town blocks of Oswiecim town. The game begins on the 04:00 turn and can continue until dark at the end of the 20:00 turn (34 x 30 minute turns). Historically the Prussians abandoned their effort to take the station by 09:00.

The Prussians may come across the bridge either deployed or in march column. Their artillery stand must enter LAST (historical doctrine). Note that both sides have a fictional subordinate infantry commander. This commander may be used to split the command into two parts prior to the game so that the force has a greater degree of tactical flexibility, each part with it's own exhaustion level. If this option is not exercised the subordinate DC is deleted and may not be used.

Order of Battle

Prussians

'Division' Genl von Stolberg, (AC)

Landwehr Col Munster DC, Ex=14

Subordinate infantry Lt-Col DC

  • Engineer Company                            M6 [s]

  • 1st Landwehr Battalion                      M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • 2nd Landwehr Battalion                      M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • 3rd Landwehr Battalion                      M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • 4th Landwehr Battalion                      M4 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

  • Landwehr Jager Battalion                    M5 [ss][ss][ss][ss][ss]

  • 4 Sqns Landwehr Uhlans                      M5 [s][s] lt-lncr

  • 2 12pdr                                     M5 [ ] sb-hvy

 

Austrians

Oswiecim Garrison, GM Trentinaglia, (AC)

Infantry Regiment Col Taldi (DC), Ex=11.

Subordinate infantry Lt-Col (DC)

  • 37th Reserve Jagers                         M5 [ss][ss][ss][ss]

  • 1st Line Battalion                          M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ]*

  • 2nd Line Battalion                          M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ]*

  • 3rd Line Battalion                          M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ]*

  • 4th Line Battalion                          M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ]*

  • 5 Sqns Uhlans                               M6 [s][s] lt-lncr

  • 2 6pdr sb-fld                               M6 [ ] sb-fld

 

Notes:

This battle is fought at the Battalion Scale (1 Strength Point = 200 men, 1 SP of artillery = 3 guns, 1" = 50 yards, 1 turn = 30 minutes). For practical purposes double all weapon ranges and advance the turn track in 30 minute increments instead of 1 hour increments. Move distances and command radii remain unchanged. Thus:

  • Dreyse rifle 6"/12"

  • Lorenz rifle musket 0"/8"

  • Smooth-Bore Field Gun 10"/20"

  • Smooth-Bore Heavy Gun 12"/24"

All Prussian infantry is armed with the Dreyse. The Austrians are armed with rifle muskets.

Engineers: If the engineer stand is placed in contact with one other infantry stand while assaulting buildings, the parent stand gets the benefit of shock for that combat only. The engineers may be a target of the enemy attack dice, even if attached to the rear of the base of the assault stand.

At all other times the engineers act as a normal skirmisher.

The Battlefield

The terrain is a square map, about 6 feet on a side. The northern edge is the unfordable river Wisla which empties into Lake Sola in the north east corner. The west shore of Lake Sola then forms the east edge of the map. The bulk of the map is raised one contour. This large plateau rises about 12" south of the river Wisla and 18" west of the Lake Sola shore. In the north east corner the plateau contour is cut across at about 45degrees on a line about 30" from the north east map corner. A road comes south across the Wisla about 24" from the east edge and runs south, curving around the edge of the plateau while remaining on the low ground. It then runs south off the map, still hugging the lower slopes of the contour. The village of Brzczinka is on the edge of the high ground, on the 45 degree angle of the contour overlooking the road. A small open woods about 8" diameter is immediately south of Brzczinka. The town of Oswiecim is 12" up from the south map edge, on the road and consists of a square of 4 town blocks, the road running through the middle. Oswiecim railway station is 6" north of Oswiecim town and 18" west of it. A railway line runs south west from the terminus station. The station is a single town block. On the part of the plateau to the north of the railway, centred east-west and north-south is a large dense wood, a rough circle about 18" diameter.

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