avatar

Rudorff

Brigadier

Posts: 1,141

Lead

Apr 1 03 1:49 PM

Tags : :

Chaps, if a line of skirmishers is well and truly enfiladed by an enemy unit, does the enemy unit suffer the -4 for firing at skirmishers, or would it be able to claim the +2 for enfilade giving it a net -2 ?

Yet another query arising from our Essling re-fight, in which Archduke Karl tried his best but failed. By the way, EC, don't like the "throw a 6" to bring on your Cuirassiers rule, by the 10th time of failing it was wearing a little thin !

Cheers, Gary
Quote    Reply   

#1 [url]

Apr 2 03 4:36 AM

Re: Skirmishers Query

GRL3175 wrote:
Chaps, if a line of skirmishers is well and truly enfiladed by an enemy unit, does the enemy unit suffer the -4 for firing at skirmishers, or would it be able to claim the +2 for enfilade giving it a net -2 ?


Gary, I'd think target density should be considered and I don't see it applying to a skirmish target. We throw ours about and, while frustrating to counter without sending your own out, we are in fact talking about shooting at a company strength target occupying close to a battalion wide frontage in most cases. They're deployed around obstacles, in an arc or not - in whatever fashion will offer the most coverage. There shouldn't ever be anything to enfilade. What we have instead are dispersed troops possibly working in pairs maximizing the defensive benefit of the terrain at hand.

Disclaimer: The above is limited to the 'stock' 2nd edition rules as I understand that there may be other types of skirmishers introduced in supplements to reflect 'en grande bandes' (to name one) which I trust another poster will address. YMMV.

My .02,

Marc

Quote    Reply   
avatar

Eclaireur

Brigadier

Posts: 1,193

#2 [url]

Apr 2 03 8:00 AM

Gary,
I think your 'net -2' for enfiladed skirmishers is not a bad idea. You may be interested to know that Jonthan Leach related in 'Rough Sketches' that once la Haye Sainte was taken by the French, the position of the 95th's companies in the sandpit became untenable due to a withering 'flanking fire' and they were forced to withdraw back up to the main ridge position. So I think it definitely the case that skirmishers could be taken by enfilade fire in this way.
As for the 6 needed to bring on French cuirassiers at Essling, I recall the score was even tougher when we originally fought the scenario !
regards
EC

Quote    Reply   
avatar

DCRBrown

General de Division

Posts: 1,732

#3 [url]

Apr 2 03 11:10 AM

Ec,

But not as tough as the double 6 needed to bring on Bessieres Guard cavalry during the AB refight of Fuentes!

Frustrating or what having these glorious regiments sitting at the back calming observing events! (Personnal I blame the sadistic scenario designer who seemed to take great pleasure in my futile attempts to roll a double 6!)

DB

As for enfilading skirmishers, although I perfectly understand Marcs observations, personnaly I would go with allowing skirmishers to be enfildaed. After all most skirmishers were fighting in a standard "formed" deployment, as command and control still needed to be maintained even amoungst skirmishers. (This still gives an overall -2 modifier to standard skirmiahers even if enfiladed.)

Quote    Reply   
avatar

Eclaireur

Brigadier

Posts: 1,193

#4 [url]

Apr 2 03 2:17 PM

Ah well, there's nothing quite so galling as seeing picked troops warming up on the touch line with all attempts at substitution failing to catch the ref's eye !

Quote    Reply   
avatar

Rudorff

Brigadier

Posts: 1,141

#5 [url]

Apr 2 03 3:10 PM

Gentlemen,
Once again thanks for the prompt replies. We did allow the skirmishers to suffer the effect for enfilade fire, teach me to think about it next time. With regard to the 6 for the cuirassiers, what made it worse was that the Old Guard came on and sat for 4 moves without orders as we were using Napoleon to rally the Essling garrison and my playing partner declined, nay (no pun intended) refused to try brigade initiative. To add insult to injury the Austrian Grenadiers were released 1st attempt. Good game...
Cheers, Gary

Quote    Reply   

#6 [url]

Apr 2 03 3:55 PM

Who? Me?

Dr Brown, how dare you! I resemble that remark!

I must admit, that yes, it did give me great pleasure watching you squirm (my revenge for having to read wargames rules), but if you remember, I got bored and let you bring them on anyway!

Mark (The Holy Roman Umpire)

Quote    Reply   
avatar

Eclaireur

Brigadier

Posts: 1,193

#8 [url]

Apr 4 03 7:39 AM

Tim,
it means firing down the skirmish line from one end to the other. Usually one would say that the gun or infantry line doing it would have to be at a 90 degree angle to the line of the target.
regards
EC

Quote    Reply   

#9 [url]

Apr 4 03 3:07 PM

So the +2 modifier for enfilade is applied because of the relative depth of the target, i.e. a line enfiladed presents a many ranks deep formation. I assume that the +2 modifier also also represents the effects on morale of the target unit, i.e. enfilading fire implies that the target unit has potentially an insecure flank? Surely a similar modifier should be applied to troops who are fired on to their rear. I know it would only be a line target, but the effect on morale would be quite devastating.

Quote    Reply   

#10 [url]

Apr 4 03 4:41 PM

Being fired on in the rear (at effective range or less by close order or artillery) is a cause for a morale check in itself.

On the subject of enfilades, we have had discussion about whether the enfilade bonus applies to column. I'd say yes, but others said it would be like firing at the face of a line (even though it'd be only perhaps 18 ranks deep and still 30 or so men deep). I guess the depiction of the troops explains the discrepency in view.
Swampster

Quote    Reply   

#11 [url]

Apr 4 03 9:57 PM

Swampster
Your last point is the question I was really trying to get to, is the +2 modifier for enfilade fire due to the target units percieved depth or is it due to its detrimental effect on the target unit? Units enfilading columns should recieve the +2 modifier, No?

Quote    Reply   
Add Reply

Quick Reply

bbcode help