Slitherine

I have a unit of shock cav that is in charge range of some skirmishing cav. looming to create flank charge in the next turn is a unit of heavy foot.

I try to avoid the trap and test not to charge. I fail.

If i charge straight ahead I will be caught like a rat in atrap with with an enemy to my front and an enemy to my flank.

If I wheel I have enough movement to still contact the maximum number of enemy bases but the enemy will now not be able to create a flank charge.

Having failed the test not to charge can I wheel to the more advantageous position or do I have to move the charge move directly ahead?

Having failed you must make a legal charge, which can include a wheel

pg 53 says you can not wheel if you would contact less bases than if you charged straight forward. Of course my guess is the light horse will flee so you get aVMD roll which might result in your dropping to a slower move. Once can only hope.

On the other hand page 59 says that shock tropps who can not contact all potential targets withing charge range charge the nearest enemy to straight ahead.

Not sure you can pull any wheels versus the light horse but you might be able to make the heavy foot the charge target depending on how the set up was at the beginning.

The key here is to declare the charge (and incorporate the wheel to hit the foot) so that you dont get intercepted in the flank. If you attempt refrain from charging (as required due to the skirmishers in range to your front) and fail, you go in as stated above.

If the charge is without orders, it must target the specified BG, but it is still allowed to do a legal wheel to hit that target at any angle it likes.

Note that this may not help you as you will have to conform to the target BG in the manouevre phase.