Polish vs Swedes in a DBA 24 Battle

 

Recently we did another DBA24 game in 28mm, this time a late Renaissance battle between armies we haven't used before, Poles & Swedes, in a Thirty Years War period contest. We came up with some house rules for the game to represent the Renaissance period, including allowing pistol armed cavalry to shoot 1 BW, etc. We borrowed a few of the rules, element types, and combat factors from DBR.

The Polish army deployed near a farm.

The Swedes deployed opposite.

The Swedes lose an element to Polish artillery fire.

The Swedish right (upper right in photo) advances towards the Polish left.  

Another view.

As both armies deploy on the far flank, the Swedish light horse advances on the near flank.

Another view. The Poles defend the garden wall of the farm, with a Polish element recoiling from Swedish shooting.

The far flank forces are fully deployed in line against one another.

The far flank forces fully engaged. The Poles have supporting shot & pikes nearby on the right, and a group of Winged Hussars in reserve.

After a couple turns, the Swedish horse begins to dominate the Poles, turning their left flank and inflicting casualties that have created gaps in the line.

The Poles try to establish a new line of resistance.

Polish casualties, 5 elements destroyed so far.

Outnumbered now on the far flank, the Poles try to defend their extended line.

The Swedes close for the kill.

The Poles lose another Winged Hussar element (which were treated as Knights in our game). The impetuosity (mandatory pursuit) of the Winged Hussars was not helpful in this game.

Another Polish horse element lost. The Poles are now 1 element away from breaking. They manage to kill a Swedish horse element with a flanking shot element supporting the Winged Hussars.

The Poles lose an infantry element in the field to shooting, which brings their losses to 8, and thus the end of the game for a Swedish victory. 

Another view of the end of battle positions.

An exiting game. The battle was decided by the large cavalry engagement on the far flank, which seems appropriate for this period. The Swedish loses were half what the Poles lost.