Fm Tannenberg 1410.zip- (8.22 KiB) Downloaded 278 times
1. German left wing (major changes to positioning of scattered units)
2. Polish left (minor changes in positioning).
3. Some of the Lithuanian units will enter the field closer to the centre.
4. Cleaning up some unit numbers and images.
The changes, especially 3, will make it more difficult for the Germans to win outright. It is more likely the battle, or rather the scenario, will be decided around the German wagon laager in the closing stages of the battle.
Since this new file has the same name as the old, the old folder must be deleted first.
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OLD
- Fm Tannenberg 1410.zip
- (8.24 KiB) Downloaded 212 times
Designer's note:
On events:
1. The Lithuanians engaged the Order's left first and were driven off the field. There is controversy as to whether they were routed off in disarray, or feigned retreat. The German's left's cavalry scattered in pursuit and looting.
2. Fighting erupted on the Polish front. The Order's grand master took charge of the powerful reserve and led it through the vacated left wing and swung back toward the center, threatening the Polish king position. At the point the king's banner had to be furled so to hide his exact position and his personal secretary had to enter the fray.
3. Polish reserves rallied around the king and overwhelmed the Germans while the Lithuanians returned to the field, rolling up the scattered German left.
On the simulation:
1. The grand master's charge is the high water mark for the Order at Tannenberg. It either delivers the death blow quickly or it will be overwhelmed by the Polish reserves. The game starts here.
2. To properly simulate the ebb and flow of the battle with the Germans surging then retreating, the Polish reserves have to be set as reinforcements.
3. To simulate the scattered nature of the German's left, 'negative Lithuanian points' counters, similar to the ones in the Murten scenario, are used.
4. the cavalry counter is the 'banner', which comprises about 80-100 lances (a horseman and his supporting cast). the order had its banners but the majority of its cavalry came from vassal banners, either german, assimilated native, or native, tied to it by feudal duties. There were also 'guest' banners composed of Western mercenaries, adventurers, crusaders. Banner organization were also the norm in Poland.
5. Regarding counter images. Equipment was similar on both sides, except for the Lithuanians who were more eastern in outlook (mail and scales rather than plate armour)
6. the traditional image of the teutonic horseman clad in white is misleading. only the ordained priests among the knights of noble blood were dressed that way. There were only about 400 of them at the time of Tannenberg, with about 250 at the battle where 203 were recorded to have been killed. They were not grouped in one unit by scattered around the order's banners. i didn't pepper the field with knights in white crossed surcoats.
On tactics:
The opening set up favours the Germans. They have to win quickly. The longer the game lasts, the more the tide will turn. It's Germany in the East after all.... although there is a possibility for the Germans to win at the end if the Poles' losses are high enough, but only in game terms. It is harder to win as the Polish player, the key being to avoid excessive casualties to the left wing before the reserves arrive. With on average lesser quality troops the Polish player needs to be more skillful and play for time. People used to play the russians in Barbarossa scenarios will see familiar patterns!
18 turns, 165 moving BGs
Main sources: William Urban: 'Tannenberg and after' (Chicago: Center for Lithuanian Research and Studies, 1999)
Stephen Turnbull: 'Tannenberg 1410' (Oxford: Osprey, 2003)
