Month: November 2014

Note: I am writing this with the limited facilities allowed on the iPad version of WordPress
The post will be allocated to the correct page on the site when I return to the full version.

This is an update to the campaign game played using the RISK game with added concepts from AXIS & ALLIES, to my own rules.

FRANCE began the summer of 1792 with a severe strategic imbalance. Normandy/Brittany was not garrisoned, although a fortress had been built. The majority of the armies were with General Murat in Languedoc/Provence.
Britain was threatening the Nord/Picardy area from Belgium where General Uxbridge had landed a mixed force.
With ¢210,000 in the coffers a new artillery brigade and four infantry brigades were raised.
General Murat hurried north to Picardy with one cavalry brigades to bolster the two infantry brigades there.
An infantry brigade from Paris was moved to the Normandy coast and an artillery brigade marched north to Lorraine/Burgundy.
To maximise income for more forces it was necessary to capture territory. The most likely prospect was Castile/Aragon, held by three British infantry brigades. Two cavalry and one infantry brigades crossed the pyrenees. It was a long shot as the odds were only 7:6 in favour of the French.
The first battle saw honours even with each side losing an infantry brigade, but when the French lost a cavalry brigade for no British loss in the second battle the remaining brigade withdrew to Languedoc/Provence.
The new recruits were posted to join Murat in Picardy. and ¢120,000 income was drawn from the 8 provinces and totality of France.

AUSTRIA had lost Galicia to the Russians in the spring and this was seriously affecting the economy. The neighbouring provinces of Hungary and Transylvania were weakly defended. Only one of these provinces could be reinforced in the summer campaign, so Transylvania was sacrificed in favour of a strong force in Hungary. Although the immediate thought was to create a large force of infantry for defence, it was considered that a mixed force for a counterattack on Galicia in 1793 should be raised. ¢240,000 was spent on three infantry, one artillery and one cavalry brigades.
General Bellegarde rode from Bavaria to Hungary to take charge, and one infantry brigade were sent from each of Bohemia and Austria.
At the same time Saxony was attacked from Bavaria by two cavalry and one infantry brigades. After two inconclusive battles the French were defeated and Austria claimed Saxony (drawing an Artillery card for the victory).
The new recruits were deployed in Hungary with General Bellegarde.
(A three card set of infantry/artillery/cavalry was exchanged for ¢100,000 and ¢80,000 income was gained for the 8 provinces occupied.

PRUSSIA was stretched thinly but not seriously threatened.
A risky but successful raid was mounted on the lone infantry brigade in Holland by one cavalry brigade from Hanover.
The main thrust was made from Wurtemberg/Westfalia against the French in Lorraine/Burgundy. General Pirch led a force of one brigade each of cavalry, infantry and artillery against the French Infantry and artillery force.
With the bonus for a mixed force and another bonus for the presence of Pirch it was a walkover.
Five new infantry brigades joined General Pirch in the newly captured province and Prussia drew a massive ¢250,000 in income from 11 Provinces, Prussian totality and a set of 3 mixed cards.

RUSSIA was now faced with a large force in Hungary but an easy victory in Transylvania. In the north their forces in Lithuania were balanced by the Prussians. A new fleet was commissioned at the cost of ¢120,000 with the plan of sailing troops to the weaker held coastal provinces of Prussia, or possibly the Scandinavian countries.
Three of the infantry brigades in Galicia moved into the fortress captured from the Austrians and two cavalry brigades attacked Transylvania. It was a hard fight with the Russians losing one cavalry brigade before the Austrian infantry brigade was defeated and the province taken.
Russia gained ¢140,000 in income.

GREAT BRITAIN was faced with a problem. There were strong forces in Belgium and in Southern England poised to strike at France but the fleets were abroad and no transport was available for General Hill’s force waiting on the south coast of the homeland.
The fleet off Andalusia sailed to Santander and that in Ostend was brought home.
General Uxbridge in Belgium had to content himself with sending a force to strike at Wurtemberg/Westfalia, now weakly held by the Prussians after their attack on Lorraine/Burgundy. The province was taken for the loss of one infantry brigade.
Britain’s taxes amounted to ¢160,000 for 9 provinces and the control of the United Kingdom and Iberia.

ITALY only had ¢80,000 available and so recruited two infantry brigades.
Unable to attack anywhere in strength, the fleet sailed from Piedmont/Tuscany to the east side of the Two Sicilies.
¢50,000 was received for the 5 provinces occupied and ¢20,000 for control of Italy.

By the end of the Summer France was in a poor position with the homeland invaded from the east and threatened from the north. Austria was losing ground to the east for which the German provinces captured were little compensation. Prussia was in the ascendant with the borders safe and France invaded but stretched thinly elsewhere. Russia was making excellent progress in the south and looking for opportunities in the north. Great Britain was consolidating and preparing for a strike from the sea in 1793 while Italy was holding her own but with little prospect for expansion.

Now winter approached and an end to the fighting for another year.