This game is the second run through of the fictional Argonne scenario that Murray and I played last week. The plan was to have 2 more players, each of whom would do all the planning so that we could see how different minds saw and solved the tactical challenges. Murray and I also swapped sides to see the game from the other perspective. Jon took command of the Americans, with me as his 2IC. Andy was to take command of the German defenders, but was unwell, so Murray did a solo effort commanding them.
The battle was fought with my 20mm German troops and Murray's Americans, using the Great War Spearhead rules (25 years old this year).
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| Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/battles-of-the-Meuse-Argonne |
This isn't the usual full report.. we were too focussed on trying to play through the turns and I didn't want to inhibit the game flow any more than necessary.
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| The battlefield with the American advance to come from the left |
The orders of battle, along with scenario notes, follow. Note that I made some specific 'preliminary bombardment' rules for the scenario. The outcome was that four German companies were eliminated in the preliminary hurricane bombardment, one of which was a Regimental HQ. Murray opted for a counter bombardment, the effect of which was minimal (hidden from Murray at the time), one American Regiment losing just one fighting stand. Jon employed CB as a result, and reduced the fire effect of the German heavies for 2 turns.
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| Jon's plan, focussing on the right flank, with a coordinated flank march planned for turn 4. It did indeed turn up on time. |
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| The German right flank defenders, required to cover the centre and left, were supported by a section of A7Vs |
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| This was the American attack through the centre more of a holding/pinning attack |
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| The German right, left pretty much alone |
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| The American right flan k attack |
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| The American right, with the FT17 regiment 'sweeping' around the extreme right (in so far as FT17s could ever 'sweep') |
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| A regiment of guns deployed in support of the American right (Russian 76.2's proxying for the 18 prs) |
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| The American flank march, including a MkV tank section, arrives as planned |
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| The American right flank attack breaks through, as the German defending regiment attempts a 'break off' move to try and avoid being overwhelmed |
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| The remnants of the German right withdrawing |
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| This the first of the American flight of Spad XIIIs attacks the on board brigaded regiment of 77 field guns, eliminating two of the three batteries |
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| The American left/centre regiment pushes two companies into the town sector in the centre which the Germans had left unoccupied |
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| The A7V section realigns in response to the American success on their right, while their right flank regiment receives an order change and begins its attempt to move towards the flank danger |
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| Meanwhile companies form the American left have moved to begin to flank' their opponents |
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| The second American air attack catches the German left flank as they are in the midst of their 'break off'. The resulting casualties force a morale check they were veteran, so just the one at 2/3 casualties). They fail and begin to withdraw |
The German artillery had remained remarkably active, with an early CB strike eliminating the American heavy regiment which itself was allocated to CB fire. However the nature and concentration of the American attack meant that the German position had quickly become untenable.
The difference in approach in the attack, and the greater use of CB fire, had made a significant difference to the attack. This was a fascinating exercise. It's not that often that we 'replay' scenarios in order to make comparisons.
