28MM BOLT ACTION: ALSACE 1914

This Sunday I went to Falkirk Wargames Club for their 20^th Century Warfare event.  I put on an early World War 1 Bolt Action game.  It was a small scale action set during the first week of the Battle of the Frontiers in Alsace with a French force attacking a German blocking force at Altkirch on the road to Mulhouse.

Altkirch and its defenders - note the MGs in the buildings

The French had 2 more infantry squads than the Germans who had an extra MMG.  It was their first game for both the French players (Dave and Peter) and the German Player  (Marco) had only played once before.

French prepare for the attack - En avant mes enfants!

Here is the OB.  The extras for each side proved to a cavalry troop – Cuirassiers and Uhlans - which came on from reserve once a unit had been lost.
 

GERMAN FORCE

1 HQ  +1 TO UNITS WITHIN 6”
3 INFANTRY SQUADS EA OFFICER WITH PISTOL AND 9 RIFLEMEN
1 DISMOUNTED UHLAN TROOP – OFFICER WITH PISTOL AND 9 CARBINES
2 MMG EA 3 CREW
1 77MM FG WITH 5 CREW

PLUS EXTRAS

German artillery about to fire

 

FRENCH FORCE

2 HQ  +1 TO UNITS WITHIN 6”
6 INFANTRY SQUADS EA OFFICER WITH PISTOL AND 9 RIFLEMEN
1 MMG WITH 3 CREW
1 75MM FG WITH 4 CREW

PLUS EXTRAS

How the game played

The French suffered quite heavy losses from the German fire as they closed with the Germans defending the edge of the town losing 2 of their infantry squads.  The French 75 proved to be fairly ineffective with lots of rolls of 1 and 2!  The Highlight was when both sides cavalry appeared.  The French cuirassiers won the cavalry melee on the main road and then charged and broke a German infantry unit before sweeping into town to get out of the arc of fire of the deadly German MMGs.  By that time the French had worn down and broken the other 2 German infantry units.   The cuirassiers then circled behind the dismounted Uhlans who turned and missed with all 6 shots!  We ended the game at that point as it was a clear French victory.  Who says that cavalry has no role in 1914!

French cuirassiers advance to support the infantry

The cavalry melee- cuirassiers emerge triumphant

Everyone agreed that it was an enjoyable game.  Most of the figures are by Renegade but the Cuirassiers, French command, French 75 and dismounted Uhlans are by Great War Miniatures.  I allowed cavalry units which had not acted to countercharge as a reaction.  The other changes to the rules are below with the weapon chart.

Mein Gott!  French cavalry where are our horses Fritz?

 

WEAPON	RANGE	SHOTS	PEN	HE HITS	HE PINS	HE PEN	SPECIAL
Rifle	24	1	n/a
Carbine	20	1	n/a
Pistol	6	1	n/a				Assault
German MMG	36	4	n/a				Team, Fixed
French MMG	36	3	n/a				Team, Fixed
French 75mm	0-60	1		D6/D3	D2	2	Team, Fixed, Howitzer
German 77mm	0-60	1		D6/D3	D2	1	Team, Fixed, Howitzer
ALL TROOPS ARE REGULAR
CAVALRY IN HAND TO HAND GET 2 ATTACKS VS INFANTRY AND 1 AGAINST CAVALRY
ARTILLERY - D6/D3 - D6 HITS VS TARGETS IN THE OPEN, D3 HITS VS TARGETS IN COVER  (SHRAPNEL EFFECT)
FRENCH SPECIAL RULES
ELAN - INFANTRY AND CAVALRY GET +1 TO COMMAND/MORALE WITH A SQUAD LEADER IF ADVANCING/RUNNING TOWARDS THE ENEMY
FRENCH INFANTRY ARE POOR SHOTS SO GET A -1 WHEN SHOOTING A few more photos with descriptions at https://www.flickr.com/photos/bill26048/sets/72157648126188221/ I am putting a version of this game on as the SESWC display at SKELP in Forfar on 18 October.