We had a cavalry unit, behind friendly artillery, wanting to counter charge. The battery was being charged by enemy cavalry. Is it possible to counter charge and interpenetrate the artillery?
Counter charging & interpenetration
(13 posts) (7 voices)-
Posted 11 months ago #
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I am at work, but if I remember correctly the answer is yes if;
1. The charging unit can see the unit to be charged.
2. There is room for your unit to fit.
3. You comply with the two base width maneuver rules prior to charge.
I am sure there are things I am forgetting.
Posted 11 months ago # -
Thanks for that, I think that clears it up. The artillery was also the only target, so you must let them make contact before counter charging anyway? Is that correct? Stopping the charge home with a counter charge is not possible.
Posted 11 months ago # -
I believe that is correct. In their turn they move into contact. During your turn, during the reaction phase is when you would conduct the countercharge.
Posted 11 months ago # -
if the initial charge contacts the guns, then presumably the second cavalry is physically prevented from countercharging, since it is behind the guns and has no place to make contact on the first cavalry.
so in fact the defending cavalry reaqlly need to initiate the charge first, and interpenetrate in front of the guns,in order to protect them
Posted 11 months ago # -
Yes I think your right, that would be the way to protect your guns from being charged down-charge first! The artillery very nearly managed to evade out of the way, but failed the test. This would have solved the problem right there, but alas....wasn't to be. I think positioning the cav next to the battery (so it had the room to wheel & counter charge) would have been a better option. Players using "other" rules have said-"but counter charging through deployed artillery is historical". I guess this is one of those occasions Sam has made a little (and I do think it is little) compromise for the sake of playability. He realy has got the balance just right with these rules, very clever, enjoying playing them more and more each time.
Posted 11 months ago # -
To me it would be quite difficult to charge through a gun line due to the several hundred yards of limbers, horses, handlers, ammunition wagons etc behind the gun line.
cheers
Posted 11 months ago # -
FWIW, I use cav behind guns as a cav charge threat not a cav counter charge threat - but it means picking the timing of the charge well to ensure you get in while there is still room for the bases.
an interesting wrinkle I hadn't considered is whether the guns can evade through the cavalry though.
(with Russians you do need to keep something behind the guns simply because when they go they leave a huge gap)
Posted 11 months ago # -
What was very funny (and have'nt mentioned before) was that the charging cav GOT BOUNCED by the artillery in the following melee. Didn't want to confuse the issue in the first post..........
Posted 11 months ago # -
surely not so funny for the cavalry ..."All in the valley of Death rode the six hundred..." ;)
Posted 11 months ago # -
Too add to this can the guns fall back as a reaction and the Cavalry still charge what is then an unengaged unit?
Posted 11 months ago # -
Too add to this can the guns fall back as a reaction and the Cavalry still charge what is then an unengaged unit?
Nope sorry,
Page 36 "A unit may not countercharge an enemy unit that is not in contact with friendlies at the moment the countercharging unit begins to move."
What was very funny (and have'nt mentioned before) was that the charging cav GOT BOUNCED by the artillery in the following melee. Didn't want to confuse the issue in the first post..........
Its odd how often this has happened in our games, in one game both side's artillery batteries fought off a charge from Cav. :)
Posted 11 months ago # -
That's great.....twice! Never underestimate the resilience or the average battery commander eh? "Ram rods and cannon balls at 20 paces boys...wait till you see the whites of their eyes.."
Posted 11 months ago #
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