Chapter 15: The Destruction of the Austrian Army
OK. Apologies in advance if I screw this update up - it will be split in half by a jaunt out over the glaciers to retrieve some milk, all because my wife won't give in and just buy a damn cow.
So, in the last update, I'm sure y'all noticed that I had abandoned Croatia and pulled back to southern Serbia before declaring war on Wurttemburg (drawing in Austria).
The reason for this is fourfold:
1.) Vision. Austria (post-mobilization) has 78 brigades. The AI is amazingly good at popping an army out of the fog of war at some inconvenient moment. By drawing back, I ensure that I'll have time to envelope and throttle any incoming armies.
2.) Space. I want the AI to split armies up so I can envelope them and kill them easily.
3.) Distraction. I've let Austria keep Dalmatia as a distraction - if I start an occupation there, I hope to draw an army in to die.
4.) Consonants. Serbia is my storehouse of extra consonants, and I can't let them fall into enemy hands.
Right on schedule, here come the Austrians. And true to form, they leave an army unprotected for me to beat down. That's 49 divisions there, assuming not too much attrition. The 8 divisions in Tuzla are vulnerable, but I can't risk an encirclement yet, as there are still 29 unaccounted for divisions that could sneak over and cause problems. I can't wipe it out, but I can beat it down enough to make it ineffectual. (Note: The second general is my +3 attack general, so he will arrive first. The first general always leads - if there are several arriving or defending at once, a random (read: crappiest) general is picked).
May 10, 1866: Ahhh. Prestige, some WE inflicted, war score, and pain. They retreat to Pozega (with no help), so we follow and add more woe and misery.
June 12: After getting thrashed twice, Wagner's army retreats northwest to the safety of Bjelovar (screened by the eastern flank of the main Austrian front). The Austrians send a fresh army to Tuzla under Christian Haus, however, to keep me from getting bored. That army also retreats to Pozega (joining with 2 (I believe conscripted) divisions, where it's thrashed again, and also forced to retreat to Bjelovar.
4 battles, 39023 Austrians dead to 10001 Turks (3450 Turks or so lost to attrition as well). However, no brigades are wiped out that I know of.
July 22: The Austrians attack me in Pozega, with a good attack general to my 0 defense general. I manage to retreat before he loses my entire army. I got some lucky dice rolls, thankfully.
With the armies pushed out of Tuzla, I realize that the Austrians never helped the 10 brigade army in Senj. I don't think Austria has another army coming, so I encircle it and wipe it out with an expectantly long battle in September. (I had 2 turns in a row where we both rolled 1)
While Austria doesn't do anything, Wurttemburg's army shows up to make things interesting (until 50000 Turks show up and crush them). Good news though: since the battle ended early in the month, I can split up and move armies without taking attrition!
October 14: Remember: it can always get worse. Thankfully this time, it's for them and not me. Their target: Emilia.
Here's the situation right after the Italian declaration. The army in Foca is doomed, and as you can see, the Austrian army moving southwest from Bihac to Zadar is being chanced and should be encircled easily - provided the 40,000 Austrians just north out of the shot don't meddle. The army I have sitting in Nis is reserves in case Russia gets frisky - there's no real reason to commit them yet.
At this point, I have 3 considerations:
1.) I want to take out Austria's armies quickly so I can head off the Italians. Anything they occupy I can't, preventing me from racking up maximum war score so I can snag 4 regions.
2.) I want to try and leave one of Austria's armies unscathed, so that rebellions don't happen. Not sure if I can do this though.
3.) I want to get this war done ASAP in case Russia decides to get involved. If Britain cancels the alliance, I'll have war within a week.