Lion vs. Bear: The Battle of Narva (1700), Great Northern War
I staged the Battle of Narva, a classic from the Great Northern War (1700-1721) on Friday 23 January at the community centre. We used my 15mm figures and my ‘Warmonger’ rules.
Background
The Battle of Narva was an early battle in the Great Northern War (1700-1721). The war was fought between Sweden and Russia (and their allies) over dominance in the Baltic region. A Swedish garrison in Narva (part of Swedish Ingria) had been besieged by Tsar Peter the Great’s Russians, so the Swedish King Charles XII arrived with a relief army and defeated a Russian siege force three times its size. Tsar Peter left the scene before the battle, entrusting his army to Charles de Croy, a diplomat sent by Peter’s ally the King of Poland.
Armies and Objectives
Mal (left), Ian (centre) and Paul S. (right) were the Swedes, with 12 infantry units, four cavalry units, and four guns. They were tasked with breaking through the Russian fortifications, and being in possession of either Point A or Point B (behind the line) by end of play.
Patrick, Mark, Paul B. and Doug were the Russians, with 24 infantry units, 8 cavalry units, and seven guns. The bulk of the Russian infantry was ‘class 3’, and could only take 4 hits. The Russians had to defend the fortifications, and inflict as many casualties as possible. Phil S., our Club President, was also at the game.
Special Rules
Battle of Narva by Alexander von Kotzebue (1850)
1). Snow Storm: Swedes dice each turn (1d6) to see if a snow storm is blowing towards them (1-2) or towards the Russians (3-4), or neither (5-6). Snow storm blowing at army reduces its firing and movement range by half. 2). Movement: crossing the fortifications takes a full turn. 3). Cavalry may not attack units in fortifications. 4). Russians cannot leave fortifications for first three turns, and must pass an initial morale test for each unit (or brigade) to do so subsequently. Those units (or brigades) which fail the morale test do not leave the works that turn. 5). Interpenetration: units passing through friendly troops do so at half speed, but cannot fire or initiate melee the same turn after interpenetrating.
The Game
The Swedes deployed in two wings (left – Mal, right – Paul S., and Ian – centre), and began their advance.
On turn two, a snowstorm blew up and the Swedish movement and firing range was halved. Ian nevertheless managed to hit Paul B’s Russian artillery twice with the Swedish guns on the Hermannsberg hill in the centre.
By turn 3, Mal was veering left to attack the extreme right of the Russian line, and Mark began to fire on his units.
Despite one Swedish unit being pushed back from Rehnskjold’s elite brigade by Paul B’s artillery, Ian’s two infantry brigades advanced with gusto, and two units made it to the fortifications by turn 4. The ditch there afforded cover from Russian fire, but the embankment would take a full turn to cross.
So Russian fire at close range was countered by Swedish units being in proximity to the defences.
On the right, meanwhile, Paul S. had taken charge of two Swedish infantry brigades as well as the cavalry there, advancing.
Fire from Paul S.’s infantry forced one of Paul B’s units back from the fortified line.
Ian’s infantry close to the works began musketry fire on Paul B’s Russians. A general assault by the Swedes along the line ensued…
In the advance, Posse’s brigade partially blocked Vellingk’s brigade on Paul’s Swedish right, which had to reposition.
In the midst of Russian defensive fire along the line, Doug now began to activate his Russian cavalry behind the Russian left in an attempt to cross the fortifications after passing a morale test.
Russian artillery and musketry was steady but not wholly destructive, as the Swedish infantry had a higher resilience value than the Russians.
As Mal and Mark exchanged artillery fire on the Swedish left, one of Mal’s batteries was forced back having reached its resilience maximum. Nevertheless Mal was getting into position to attack the Russian defences.
Doug also attempted to activate his second cavalry brigade to sortie from the defences.
The snow storm cleared and both armies were able to proceed without impediment on turn 6. Despite losing one battery to Mark’s fire, Mal reached the defences opposite the Swedish left…
In the Swedish centre, Ian fought a melee, won, pursued and attacked again. But he lost the second melee and retreated. Ian’s infantry of Maydell’s brigade reached the fortifications too.
Meanwhile Doug crossed the lines with one Russian cavalry brigade…
Paul B’s Russian artillery and infantry fire struck one of Ian’s units in Maydell’s brigade 9 times, but he saved 7! We had reached the meat of the fight, and the final turn began with Russian initiative. Russian fire was relentless, but the Swedes found cover by the embankment as they girded their loins for the assault…
Still, as Mal attacked Patrick’s men, one of the Swedish unit was forced back. But Mal destroyed another Russian unit with close range fire.
Doug’s cavalry attacked Paul B’s cavalry outside the walls.
Ian’s infantry of Maydell’s brigade now assaulted the Russian centre, winning a melee… Another of his units also engaged in close combat, won, pushed on, and destroyed some artillery. Three units had made it across the Russian lines and the small fort was captured. Paul B’s artillery had been forced to retreat or been knocked out by Swedish assaults and artillery fire from the hill.
Paul S. now fired on Paul B’s infantry and inflicted several hits.
Furthermore, Paul S won two melees, pushing back two Russian regiments from Doug’s cavalry sortie, thus blunting it.
Conclusion
An action packed game with plenty of friendly banter. The Swedes broke through the centre, but did not capture either objective. They did inflict heavier losses on the Russians than they sustained themselves, however. So I would call this a draw. Thanks to all the players for an enjoyable night. I still plan to paint more figures for a Battle of Poltava game at the War Room sometime in the future. Contrary to amusing badinage on the night, I displayed no favouritism in my umpiring towards the Swedes. In fact, the Russians always seem to win any games I put on! Bottom line: the Great Northern War is a fantastic period all round, whichever side we play on 😉 Particularly the Swedish!
