I setup a big game for the Easter
holiday. Colin Jack and I decided to get
out our joint early WWI collection. I wrote
up a fictional game set in September 1914 in France. Given that we have far more allied troops
than Germans it had to be a scenario with the allies as the attackers. So I came up with a scenario following the
Battle of the Marne.
The table is 12ft by 6ft. The rules we used are Setting the East Ablaze which is based on Chris Peers Contemptible Little Armies. The infantry units and most of the cavalry are 10 figures strong. We started the game on Monday with 4 players but were well short of a conclusion by the End of the day so we are continuing the game on Thursday now with 6 players. In this first post I have set out the scenario and provided some photos of the game terrain setup.
The table is 12ft by 6ft. The rules we used are Setting the East Ablaze which is based on Chris Peers Contemptible Little Armies. The infantry units and most of the cavalry are 10 figures strong. We started the game on Monday with 4 players but were well short of a conclusion by the End of the day so we are continuing the game on Thursday now with 6 players. In this first post I have set out the scenario and provided some photos of the game terrain setup.
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| View from the Col St Bart minehead |
Player Briefings
Background
Following the battle of the Marne the
Germans retired northwards towards the River Aisne. The combined allied armies followed hoping to
catch and defeat the retiring Germans in an open engagement. On the 14 September they attacked the Germans
along the River Aisne – this is part of that large action.
The German troops arrived at the
strategically important crossing at Bart-Sur-Aisnes on the 12th and secured
their positions along the river. As well
as the main bridge across the river at the town they have installed temporary
bridges over the fords to the east and west of the town.
The town and its small foundries are
north of the river. The main domestic
buildings in the town have been burnt by German Uhlans angry at the quality of
the local saucisson. The country south
of the river is largely agricultural.
The bend of the river and its crossings to the south east of the town
are dominated by the high ground around the Col St Bart coal mine.
The Germans are in a defensive line
along the north of the river with bridge guards on the south bank and a strong
force and artillery around the Col St Bart.
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| Uhlans burn the town - another outrage! |
The objective of the game is for the
Germans to prevent the allies crossing the river, taking the town and its road
network. If this cannot be achieved then
the allied advance must be delayed long enough for stronger defences to be
prepared along the high ground to the north.
German OB12 x Infantry 3/3 Stubborn
2 x Jaeger 2/3 Stubborn
1 x Cavalry 3/3
7 x MMGs 3/3
3 x Field guns 3/3
German deployment
3 infantry units are encamped south of
the river acting as bridge guards. These
can be supplement by MGs if required.At least 3 infantry units with MGs and artillery must be deployed on the Col St Bart.
The rest of the force is deployed north
of the river. Units can be in reserve to
the north of the table.
The town streets have been
barricaded. Engineer officers are
positioned at each of the bridges supervising the demolition charges.
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| German bridge guard at Bart-Sur-Aisnes - rest are sleeping |
Allied Objective
The objective of the
game is for the allies to cross the river, take the town and its road network
and drive of the covering German forces.
Allied OB
French Forces12 x Infantry 3/3 Ferocious
5 x Fusilier Marins 4/3 Ferocious
5 x Chasseurs 2/3
1 x Cavalry 3/3
7 x MMGs 3/3
British
9 x Infantry 2/31 x Cavalry 3/3
3 x MMGs 3/3
3 x Field guns 3/3
Belgians
4 x Infantry 3/41 x Cavalry 3/3
1x MMG 3/3
Minerva AC 3/3
Allied deployment
Due to political issues the British and
French forces cannot be intermingled.
There has to be a clear demarcation line between them. The plucky little Belgians will support either
of their allies. Allies can deploy up to
8” onto the south edge of the table.
Units can be kept of table in reserve to the south. Allied troops can flank march on the east
side of the table arriving late.
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| View showing importance of position of the Col St Bart mine |
Bill, I think you need more Belgians to stop them always being 'plucky' and 'little'. They may be brave but most of the Belgians I know are 'normal' sized.
ReplyDeleteLooks interesting. I've been on a WWI kick recently.
ReplyDeleteWhy so many machine guns? What's the scale of the action.
Rob
DeleteI have not really thought of the scale To be honest we are making use of almost all the figures that we have. For the units I would say that every unit equals a company or sqaudron.
Well, I asked because my reaction was "that's a lot of machine guns!" for 1914. I was worried that they'd overpower things, but with a unit as a company, that looks about right.
DeleteI await the follow-up.