Counter attack May 1918

 May 1918. The Spring Offensive has started to over reach German capability, and the New Zealand Division has been tasked with a local counterattack to open a way though the German positions. In front of them is a German regiment occupying some hastily prepared defences based around some old pillboxes dating from 1916. Can the kiwis make the break though?

The NZ Division:

• 1st, 2nd, and Rifle Brigades
• The divisional MG Battalion
• 2 regiments of 18pdr field artillery on table tasked with close support
• 4 squadrons (stands) of MkIV tanks
• Off table, the divisional 4.5" howitzer regiment, and a regiment of 4.5", and 8", from Corps assets
• 2 sorties of fighter aircraft 

The German defenders

• 170th Infantry Regiment at full strength
• a battalion of Stosstruppen
• a regiment of Uhlan in support
• a stand of tanks (A7V)
• 1 regiment of 77mm field artillery on table in close support
• Off table, a regiment of 105mm, and a regiment of 150mm from Corps assets
• 1 sortie of fighter aircraft

The New Zealanders attacked with 2 brigades forward, and one in reserve. The Tank Regiment tanks attacked through the centre. The attack was organised with a series of timed orders to allow assets to advance in support.

The German regiment with Stosstruppen and artillery was deployed on table, the cavalry regiment off table in reserve.

Pre-planned artillery fire first hit the ridge, and the village immediately in front of the attack. The ridge was unoccupied, but the village was ..

The defenders of the village - a company of infantry and a company of stosstruppen

The main weight of the German defence was further back

The A7V unit is deployed centrally behind the main defence zone

The Rifle Brigade on the left of the attack

The tanks .. one unit has already broken down

Pre planned fire falls on the village

Fire form a 4.5" regiment, and a regiment of 8" howitzers

The defenders are eliminated from the village under the weight of fire

2 Brigade on the NZ right of their attack comes under its first fire, from German 105mm guns

Pre planned fire now falls on the wood in the centre of the attack

The defenders suffer casualties

2 Brigade pushes through the village

Rifle Brigade advances, but units are held up by wire

British artillery sets up on the ridge ready to support the Rifle Brigade attack.. but all defenders in their area have been eliminated. They have to limber up and race to catch u.p with the advance

Heavy artillery fire (105mm and 150mm) now falls across 2 Brigade and casualties begin to mount

The only remaining mobile tank unit comes under fire from a battery of German field artillery and is destroyed

A German airforce strike of fighter aircraft catches 2 Brigade in the open

Casualties mount on 2 Brigade

The Rifle Brigade pushes on, clearing the way ahead with minimal casualties

The German reserve is committed, and advances to support their right (opposing the Rifle Brigade) whete the german commander determines that the greatest risk now lies

But so too is the NZ reserve, 3 Brigade, committed on their right flank to support 2 Brigade which is in danger as casualties mount

The first serious resistance on the German left, a company of Stoss, an infantry company,  occupying some hasty trenches, and an MG company in an old pillbox

2 Brigade successfully calls in the divisional 4.5" regiment

and destroys the pillbox with the weight of fire, and the MMG company occupying the position

The Rifle Brigade confronts the defended village to its front, A fierce fire fight develops which sees the German defenders eliminated

Overview at this stage

2 Brigade bounds forwards with its infantry company to add their weight of fire to the MMG companies firing form the ridge at the left

Meanwhile the Rifle Brigade now swarms forwards through the liberated village

3 brigade continues its advance from its reserve position

The German cavalry regiment arrives behind the ridge on the German right (facing the Rifle Brigade) ready to take up a position that strengthens the defence

2 Brigade has now suffered serious casualties (10 stands)

The battle was still in the balance as the night progressed and we had to call time. With the NZ Reserve Brigade advancing, and the Rifle Brigade still in good condition, the German defence would eventiuaklky be overcome.

Jon and I were keen to try a later war game that allowed more movement, and included tanks, and aircraft. The NZers had to sorties from the RAF available but were unsuccessful in calling either of them in. The German air sortie was successful, and eliminated two stands of infantry from 2 Brigade.. it contributed to the growing casualty list of the day.

The game played well.. we could have done more with pre-planned fire, but it turned out it was not necessary. The game was played using my 6mm armies, figures from Irregular Miniatures.