The Battle of Krasnik, August 1914

One of the early engagements in the east, we'd had a go at a cut down version of Krasnik during lockdown.  That game hadn't been a great success, so I was very keen to run the 'full-fat' version of the battle.  We used Richard Brooks's OP14 rules with my (mostly Irregular) 6mm toys and Hexon terrain. Six players were assembled - Martin, Tom and Russell as the Emperor's representatives, while John, Pete and Lloyd upheld the Tsar's interests.  Photos by me, Russell, Pete, Martin & Russell.

The field of battle.  Each hex is c2km across.

Early positions.  The A-H forces are on the right, while the Russians are coming from the left.  But you knew that from the flags, right?

One of the A-H corps still in it's boxes.  Four stands represent a brigade, two brigades a division.

Austrian and.....

...Russian air recce flights.  They successfully managed to not find anything.

Most of the players.  Scary, eh?

The Russian 'steamroller' trundles forward

The Austrian left flank

Russian cavalry skulking in a wood.  Quite a lot of that went on.

The Austrians in control of the ridge line.

Views from the Russian side.

No game is complete without some pointing.

More Russian views...

On overview of the battle late in the game.

An Austrian combat roll.  Low scores are good.....

The crumbling Austrian left - even a cavalry division has been thrown into the line.

Over the course of a couple of days' fighting, both sides essentially wore themselves out, with the Austrians under pressure to withdraw and the Russians in no shape to pursue them.  A most enjoyable game to run which has inspired me to look at other battles suitable for the OP14 treatment.