The lumbering behemoths proved their worth immediately, crushing wire so that the infantry could move on.
German 77mm guns did some damage to the tanks, but they had allowed the infantry to pass through. Their 6-pounders kept the German machine gunners off balance as well.
The left-hand tank assaults an entrenched artillery position. The British losses are far less than anticipated.
The right hand tank is hit again, but overruns a German Maxim Gun, then turns left, and advances along the trench line...
...destroying a 77mm gun. The German front is in peril.
However, a bold unit of Jagers assaults the flank of the Mk IV with stick grenades, finally stopping its foray. on the left flank, the other tank falls to the machine, gunners.
While the Germans have been moving to stop the Mk IV's, the British infantry has turned the German right flank. The Whippets and armored cars are on the move.
Crossing the first trench, the lead Whippet pours machine-gun fire into German positions. Cavalry begins to follow the light tanks.
Relentless pressure is applied to the German right flank. Slowly, the Austin Armored Car crosses the first trench line.
The "arme blanche" await their mechanized partners.
Finally! The lead Whippet breaks through the German second line. Cavalry helps to scatter the survivors. The Austin and remaining Whippet move forward.
As the German line crumbles, the light forces move up the road toward the German rear areas. There would be no talk of "dig in and hold" today!
Watching for a counter-attack that did not come.....
A salute to the brave men who pioneered the use of tanks and armored vehicles!
A FEW MORE GAME NOTES:
The Armored car is a Peter Pig model.
The Whippets and Mk IV's were hand-carved and cast in resin several years ago.
I found the rules for Close Combat worked very well for the chaos of a trench assault. The side that
has the last fresh reserves available will probably win the day.
I hope you enjoyed this one Arthur!
NEXT WEEK: A Night Raider Variant for WW1.
Steven
ReplyDeleteI splendid looking game with a most believable result.
Could you elaborate a little more on how the terrain squares were made?
many thanks
Alan
Hi Alan,
DeleteBecause you asked, (and I appreciate NOT having to come up with another idea!), I will produce a "how-to" on terrain squares during the next two weeks. This will also FORCE me to make a set of terrain blocks for Tunisia that I have kept putting off.
-Steve
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteGreat report and pushing on to the 'green fields beyond' would certainly be the next step. I liked the smoke and blast markers - very effective.
All the best,
DC
Hi David,
DeleteThe inspiration for the "effects" is Spike, who used to write and produce a miniature-based fantasy comic strip, and Bill Protz, whose wonderful blog, "the Campaigns of General William Pettygee" is a toy soldier photo novel. i hope to one day have at least half the artistic vision that they do.
-Steve
Steven,
ReplyDeleteI thought that this was not only an outstanding battle report but also an excellent follow-on to your previous one!
I love your model tanks. Like everything else you seem to produce, it has the right 'look' without being over-detailed (and therefore rather delicate). I certainly agree with Tradgardmastare that a 'How to ...' article about your trench terrain would be very welcome, and I would certainly mention it on my bog if and when you write it.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
DeleteThose tanks date back ten years, when spike and I were part of a Command Decision club. We needed more trucks than we could ever afford, so spike said "carve them". I carved an opel Blitz, and while "cartoony" it looked OK painted. We made silicon latex molds, cast it with Allumilite" and produced a few hundred for the group.
Next was every Russian tanks that was available for 1941, then we started on CD:Over the Top.
Thank Goodness Portable Wargaming does not require the modelling of entire army supply trains....
As I told Alan, How-to: Trenches is on the agenda.
-Steve
Steven
ReplyDeleteI just want to second (or third or fourth...) the comments above. Wonderfully visual appeal to your board.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Cheers
PD
Thanks, Peter,
DeleteIt took about a week of evenings to build the trench squares, but it was well worth the time. I plan to use them when I take on the American Civil War later battles between Grant and Lee, and as the "sunken Road" at Antietam.
-Steve
Great stuff! I now need to dig out my Hex trenches and set to............BC.
ReplyDeleteBC, Please post some pictures and a battle report. I hope your game goes well!
Delete-Steve
Steven,
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed your report - good to see the Whippets in action - and was impressed by your scenic effects: trench lines, smoke and explosions.
It occurs to me that your construction methods might also suit black powder era siege lines and fortifications, whose geometric design might well suit the square gridded board.
Just one question: could armoured cars cross No Man's Land off-road, let alone a trench?
A great example of making the Great War 'gameable'.
Arthur
Hi Arthur,
DeleteBuilding a section of a Vauban fortress, and its opposing siege line could be very interesting....
Regarding the armored car: I DID dock it a movement point on each turn off-road, but probably should have taken off TWO. And I was going to place a fascine bundle on a couple of the tanks, but could not find where I left them after their last use....
-Steve
I never thought WW1 could make a fun game - wrong again! Excellent report and spectacle. Looking forward to the terrain block lesson.
ReplyDeleteThanks PR,
DeleteI think you will also enjoy the "Night Raid" that Spike and i are working on. Basic Portable Wargame, with a few rules to reflect "semi-hidden" Units. That one goes up next week!
-Steve