The Trench Assault-1916

"This time it will work. We will smash our way through the thin German line, pass through the village, and get our cavalry in to the green fields beyond...." At least, that was the British plan.

This week's battle report features a British force of  8 Units of infantry, 2 Machine gun Units,  4 field artillery Units, and 2 units of cavalry.

On the German side were 6 infantry units, 2 machine guns, 2 field guns, 2 heavy guns, and a command unit in a concrete bunker.

The opening artillery barrage brought a quick response, including an unwelcome one-GAS! The right flank British artillery was disrupted from the start.

The British infantry "jumped off' heroically, moving up to begin the work of removing wire. Their machine gun companies moved up with them to lend support.

The German front line troops used the wire-imposed delay to cut a swath through the assault troops.

Still, the British troops pushed into the first line of trenches, trading lives for real estate. The Germans began to rush reserves in to counter-attack.

A brave Subaltern and his lads hold their just-won trench.

Casualties begin to mount. A contest of flanking attacks begins in the center. Who will be left holding the line?

Sensing a breakthrough, the British commander begins to deploy his cavalry.

Still, the German jagers hold their ground.

British troops begin to waver under the counter-attack. As they break off from assaults, German fire begins to inflict heavy loses.

The Germans hold the line....for now.

"Next time we will get them".  Maybe those landships will help....

TOMORROW NIGHT; Be here as we move the calender ahead one year to see the British attack the same section of line with the support of tanks and armored cars.

SOME GAME NOTES:
 All of the figures are Peter Pig, except the German Heavy Guns, which are hand carved.
The building ruins are from Old Glory.
The "trench blocks" are 3x3 squares of cardboard, wrapped in paper tape, painted and flocked with
"earth" and cat litter .
Barbed wire is made from thin picture hanging wire, braided and coiled around a dowel.
The game took less than an hour. The outcome was in the balance until the minute the British broke.
Spike took all of the pictures.