Marshal Lannes
Member
I have tried and tested the "phased withdrawal" system and barring a complete idiot doing it, it works surprisingly well. Obviously, Louis Ferdinand's force is weaker than Lannes', but has cavalry superiority until mid- afternoon, when the reserve French cavalry arrive and good flanking terrain cover on both sides. The saale river protects the left and heavily wooded contour terrain protects the right, I cannot understand anybody trying to defend Saalfeld, especially when facing a greater numerical superiority in French infantry. Truschler's cavalry are more than capable of neutralising La Salle's cavalry and their presence on the French left flank is very disinhibiting to French infantry movement. The French player may be tempted to make some swift localised cavalry charges but is always thinking ahead , as these cavalry units still have another 5 days of scouting and covering to do, so cannot be made inneffective so soon. The French have no choice but to keep to the main road and advance up it or close to. All the Prussian player has to do is deploy a couple of gun batteries directly on the road with say one regiment of infantry on either side and as soon as the French begin to mass and deploy close enough, suddenly withdraw the cannon amd 1 battallioin of each regiment leaving behind 2 battalions and say 2 skirmisher units to screen; the streams work nicely to stop any rapid movement of the French and of course if they have a few cavalry here on the flank next to the Saale river , serves to disorder them, thus limiting their charge ability against your half withdrawal. :horse:
This phased withdrawal can be repeated all the way back to the village of Schwarza which is as fine a defensive and blocking position as you can find on the map. If done correctly, you will find, give or take some variables, that the French player will take anything from 15 to 25 % greater loss than you. Historically, Louis Ferdinand was without substantive orders, so it is not a fanciful idea that he would abondon the bridge at Saalfeld. If I was playing as the French player, I would be over the moon to have the Prussians engage and protecting Saalfeld as then it is a forgone conclusion that they would lose and take a 40% greater loss ratio. I think that in the Weimar version of the Campaign, it is imperative to keep the French as far south on the east bank of the Saale river as possible and that can be done effectively by Louis Ferdinand, who will receive a divisional re-inforcement by mid- afternoon and possibly two more by evening. In effect, Lannes is blocked . It also gives a morale boost to the Prussian player as circumstance on the west bank is generally very poor; all you can really do here is harry and withdraw from the French. Still have not worked out what the next best move is for the Prussians, perhaps a major battle halfway between Jena and Schwarza. :crosseye:
Please note that positioning of units is approximate- do not want to giveaway exact ones.
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