Tarawera Wargaming trip - Game Three - Late WW1

Game Three – Late WW1 – Scenario by Rick

This, the third AAR from our week long wargaming pilgrimage to Lake Tarawera in the Central North Island, was entirely the work of our friend Rick, who provided the scenario as well as every figure and piece of equipment on the table, although Mark contributed one or two terrain items. The figures and vehicles come from a range of different manufacturers and have all been lovingly assembled and painted to Ricks impressively high standards.

The scenario envisaged the retreating Germans, pursued by the combined British, French and American allies, turning on their enemies to fight a rear-guard action in July or August 1918. Each side had access to air support – the allies twice as much as the Germans, as well as armoured vehicles – again, with a three to one advantage in the Allied favour – much good it did them!

John commanded a British cavalry unit supported by a Mk IV tank and a Whippet, I commanded the French, including an FT 7 tank, two 75mm field guns and a Btn of French Foreign Legion, Chris had the British in the guise of the Worcestershire Btn plus artillery support whilst Julian was the fresh faced Doughboys from “over there”.

Opposite us, Julian faced Barry, Chris and I faced Mark and John faced Paul. Paul had the lone German A7 tank under his command.

Once again, the game will be presented by way of images with accompanying descriptive text – enjoy!

 

                                      The barren wasteland that is the front line in late 1918

 

                                 A badly damaged village in the German sector of the front

Blue clad French infantry in their distinctive “Adrian” helmets prepare to advance from their Lying Up Position – the khaki clad Legion Etrangere already to the fore on the right

French LMG’s deploy in the upper floors of the ruined building to cover the advance

On the German left flank, infantry supported by the A7 advance towards Johns cavalry

The Royal Artillery commence firing as the Worcs move forward in the centre

                          On the Allied left flank, the recently arrived Yanks advance confidently

                      Barry’s Germans opposite the American advance watch and wait

In the German centre, Marks forces come under French and British artillery fire

                      The French position from the German side of the table

In move one, a British bomber appeared, intent on attacking the A7 – however, the German air force turned up to and sprung to the defence of their earthbound colleagues

                                   In the aerial combat, both planes drove each other off!

Next move, British ground attack fighters put in an unopposed appearance and strafed the German PBI…

                              A British messenger arrives at French HQ with new orders

                                      Marks Germans move forward to occupy the ridge line

                            The French Seventy Fives continue to bombard Les Boches

As the US Ace Eddie Rickenbacker makes an appearance above the advancing Doughboys

                            The US Infantry advancing “in bounds” to minimise casualties

                                 Dug in Germans await the advancing Worcs

                              German artillery engages in counter battery fire

                           Pauls left flank continues to push forwards against the British cavalry

The Foreign Legion creeps forward as the main British tank blazes after suffering a direct hit from the precursor of the panzer!

Bloody Hell! The Whippet is hit too, as the Germans move closer and closer to the cavalrymen in their fox holes

                                           Another view of Pauls advance

The main French infantry assault gets going, supporting the Worcs to their left

The American infantry making steady progress, supported by the aerial power of Eddie the Eagle!

                               Barry’s Germans reposition to support the front line

                                             Les Bleus close in on Les Boches!

                     British and French LMG teams combine in an AA role – with a great result!

Pauls Germans move into the assault – but he had miscalculated (again!). The rules state the attacker can only engage stand to stand in combat, so he had no numerical advantage…thanks Mark, great rule that!

The French broke one of Marks defending units and swing left to apply pressure on the remainder of the German centre

Poor quality image (must have been from a passing Allied aircraft!) of the German left pulling back after being given a bloody nose by the pugnacious British cavalrymen

                  The Yanks take the heights – where have all the Krauts gone buddy?

                                 The French in the centre. Ou sont tous les Allemandes?

This is final image of the game – a total Allied victory – it was definitely the most comprehensive win/defeat of all the games we played during the week. The Americans under Julian drove off most of Barry’s right wing, the Brits under Chris and my French broke the German centre under Mark, and Paul was driven off by Johns dismounted cavalry. Allied air power played a part but their superiority in tanks was irrelevant as the A7 knocked out all three, including the FT7 near the end of the game.  Paul had a lot of luck with the German tank – at one point, I hit it with my FT7 whilst Chris hit it with a bomb from his aircraft in the same move, and virtually nothing happened to it!

A great game played with beautiful figures and terrain – thanks Rick for a wonderful day’s toy soldiering!