European Guardian: Early Summer 1742

European Guardian: Early Summer Edition 1741

Stalemate in North Central Russia

Sultan Ali I contemplates long retreat

Following Spring's fruitless  trek through the Steppes of Central Russia, Sultan Ali I's Turkish expeditionary force of Sipahis and Janissaries poured into North Central Russia and arrived at the gates of Moscow.

Although retreating most of her forces behind the city defences immediately, Tsarina Elizabeth posted her cavalry in a position to try to weaken the advancing hordes

The Russian forces in "Moscow" with a Russian cavalry brigade stationed outside the walls to exploit weaknesses in the Turkish deployment

The Turks deployed in three divisions, the left flank facing Moscow but hidden from the city by a low ridge

The Turkish left flank, a mix of sipahis and janissaries. 

The ridge hiding them from Moscow top left

The Turkish Centre, comprising janissaries and artillery showed an initial reluctance to advance while the left wing swept forth to the ridge overlooking Moscow.

The Turkish centre with the artillery remaining cautious on the start line

After a cavalry battle on the ridge above Moscow, which initially cost the sultan a sipahi unit, a second round of fighting saw the Turks sweep round the back of Moscow and see off the Russian Cavalry and one hapless militia unit that had ventured beyond the walls.

Turkish Cavalry behind "Moscow" seemingly pursued by Cossacks but the shaking of the cuirassier will force them to leave the table as well

Now effectively trapped behind the walls, the Russians await attempts to assault the walls or to pound them with artillery, however night began to draw closer 

The sipahis on the Turkish right move forward

and janissaries close up

The Sultan went forward to closely observe a hasty but unsuccessful attempt to storm the walls. He then realised his artillery was too far away to make any impact to soften the defences before nightfall

Ali I (Steve Gudmansen)exhorts his forces to storm the walls

while the Empress Elizabeth (Allan Lumley) looks in quiet confidence.

Staalemate

Night falls and "Moscow" is surrounded 

but the Turkish artillery is still too far away.

The conflict has been a tactical victory for the Russians. By delaying accepting the sieige they have cost the Turks an irreplaceable cavalry unit, while behind their back in Central Russia a lightning Russian strike force has regained the province cutting the Turks off from resupply.

Like so many before and possibly after Sultan Ali i is forced into retreat towards the Turkish homeland as winter 1742 apperoaches.

Seasonal

Buld Deadline Summer 1742:

24:00 Sunday December 23rd

Maps: End of Spring 1742

Maps end of Spring 1742

European Guardian Spring 1742

First Edition

Turkish Cartographer Executed

Sultan Ali 1 has ruthlessly executed his cartographer following his failure to guide the Turkish horde to the gates of Moscow. Instead his vast force is languishing in the vastnesses of Central Russia with only the steppe ponies for company.

Russian Domination of Scandinavia Complete

The last stand of the Swedish Nationalists

Russian forces now stand overlooking the North Atlantic from the Norwegian fjords. At the same time insurrection in Stockholm has been put down and its hold on Sweden in consolidated

Jacobite rebellion finally crushed

The last remnants of the Jacobite Rabble

The hopes of the Stuart Pretender to regain the English Crown have come to naught. There has been a ruthless purging of the Jacobites and the Pretender himself was forced to flee disguised as a woman.

Caught on i-phone

The pretender slips past British grenadiers

Franco-Austro-Prussian Confused Merry-Go-Round

Armies on the move in Central Europe and Northern Italy

European Guardian correspondents report German principalities changing hands almost daily as French, Austrian and Prussian armies march into and out of places like Baden, Berg and Franconia.  Elise von Pullapint who keeps the Soldier's Rest in Frankfurt said There has to be a battle soon"

And from further south there are rumours of an impending Austro-French battle over Milan.

New Rule: The Waterloo Situation

The Waterloo Situation

When a province is attacked from two directions by the same or allied forces and the defender chooses to fight the incoming forces may not be a unified force as battle commences.

We have such a situation in Spring 1742. It has not occurred before

If I give the defender the opportunity to attack one force first and then the other its unfair on the invader whose forces might have had time to unite.

Rule to be applied in all such situations.

To establish whether the attacker has unified his forces or whether the second army is arriving late

Campaign Master's Score of D6 -2.

Adjusted scores of 0 and -1 =. armies united. Defender faces both from the start of the batttle

Adjusted scores 1 to 4 = Moves into the game before the second force arrives at the table edge. Full move on next move.  

Depending on the Campaign Master's interpretation of the map this edge may be a flank in the attacker's half but the defender will be have been advised which flank by his scouts/local population.

Spring 1742

Move Deadline: End of Sunday, November 24th.