Background
The Battle of Chotusitz, or Chotusice, sometimes called the Battle of Czaslau, was fought on May 17, 1742, in Bohemia between the Austrians under Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine and the Prussians under Frederick the Great. The battle was a part of the War of the Austrian Succession sometimes referred to as the First Silesian War. The armies were about equal at 28,000 to 30,000 each, with the Prussians having about 2,000 more infantry and the Austrians some 2,000 more cavalry. The Austrians were attempting to retake occupied Prague and the Prussians were trying to block them from accomplishing that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chotusitz
The Game
Scenario Special Rules:
- Austrian army deploys on the board (historical deployment locations).
- Prussian right wing cavalry and third line brigades deploy forward. The remainder of the army deploys in column, stretching off the board.
- Austrians have surprise, so Prussians cannot use Frederick II for command or initiative rolls, until the main army is in contact with the third line deployed in front of Chotusitz.
- Prussian left wing cavalry must roll a 6 on 1D6 at the beginning of the turn to arrive (from across the Bratenka Bach). Each turn, they add an additional D6.
- Austrians are on Attack orders.
- Prussian right wing cavalry is on Support, Infantry defending Chosusitz is on defend and all other units are on Maneuver.
- Terrain is generally open, with a few low rises, built up areas and swamps on each flank. All fields are placed for ascetic purposes only.
After Action:
Austrian and Prussian armies set up.
Turn 1: Austrian army advances across the line. Prussians race to consolidate their forces, while the front line awaits the Austrian onslaught.
Turn 2: Austrians advance on the left, while softening the Prussian forward units with artillery.
Turn 3: Prussian forces continue their force march, while Austrians fan out to engage the Prussians across the line.
Turn 4: Austrian cavalry engages Prussian cavalry on the left, pushing back Prussians. Right wing cavalry begins to redeploy to the left. Austrian infantry pin the rest of the Prussians in place, while the right wing engages the Prussians in front of Chotusitz.
Turn 5: Austrian cavalry continues to pummel their Prussian foe. Firefights break out across the battlefield, as the Austrians desperately try to overwhelm the Prussian left.
Turn 6: Austrian cavalry try to get back into position to renew their attacks. Firefights along the front are slowing turning in the Prussian favor, as the Austrians cannot stand up to the superior drilled Prussian musketry. Prussian left wing cavalry starts to arrive.
Turn 7: It is all over. The Austrian left flank cavalry continues to struggle in dealing with the terrain, while the right wing assault has to halt due to the arrival of the Prussian left wing cavalry. The Austrian infantry is ground down in the center in the face of the consolidated Prussian musketry. Austrian army has to quit the field, resulting in a historic Prussian victory.
– Manteuffel