A division level 'raid' in the Middle east 1915

 It's the Middle East theatre in 1915. British forces have been molested by the fire of a new Turkish armoured train providing support to a Turkish infantry division. The British division commander is authorised to carry out a raid with the objective of capturing or eliminating the armoured train and capturing the central town in the sector. The armoured train has been immobilised by an earlier small raid, but is still bringing down fire.

The game was the next outing for Murray who commanded the Turkish forces. His division was supported by three regiments of 77mm field guns, and a regiment of 120mm guns. He chose to allocate the 120mm to counter battery fire. There was also a flight of fighter aircraft in the area which were theoretically available to support the Turkish division. They failed to arrive despite repeated (frantic) requests. The Turkish troops had also had time to prepare some light entrenchments and to place some sections of wire, across their front.

Source: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C203845

The British division was supported by three regiments of 18pdr field guns, a regiment of 4.5" howitzers, and a regiment of 60pdr howitzers, two squadrons of Rolls Royce armoured cars, and a regiment of the Imperial Camel Corps. The 4.5" guns were allocated to preplanned fire, while the 60pdrs were tasked to counter battery fire.

A fierce counter battery dual ensued which at various times reduced the impact of both sides' artillery assets. Fire missions were also limited for both sides. The field regiments had ten fire missions available, the heavier guns four fire missions.

The British commander's plan was to concentrate the attack against the train and central town sector with attacks by 7 and 17 Brigade. This concentration of force and firepower was to be crucial to the outcome of the battle.

The flank attack by the camel corps, supported by the commitment f 16 Brigade from its reserve position on the left, was intended first and foremost to pin the Turkish defenders on the flank. The possibility of taking the rear village would be a bonus.

The battle was fought with my 6mm British and Turkish forces, using the Great War Spearhead rules. All figures are from the Irregular range.

The Turkish commander's defensive plan.

The British commander's attack plan

The battlefield sen from the British right/Turkish left flank. The armoured train is on its track in the centre of the view

The armoured train

The central town sector adjacent to the train

Initial deployment.

Turkish defenders on the right centre

Defence at the central station

19 Brigade advances against the armoured train with a regiment of 18pdr field guns in support

17 Brigade advances in the centre of the divisional formation, targeting the central town sector and rail station, with two sections of RR armoured cars out front 

The first turn of preplanned artillery fire from a regiment of 4.5" howitzers falls on the light defensive positions hurriedly dug by Turkish forces to protect the armoured train position

The 7 Brigade advance comes under fire from the right flank companies of the centre Turkish regiment

The first of two turns of preplanned fire falls on the centre town/rain station. The Turkish forces had chosen not to occupy the sector though

19 Brigade pushes forward and takes up fire positions from which to engage in the firefight with the central Turkish defenders

Overview of the battlefield from the British right

17 Brigade

The Turkish defenders in the centre

7 Brigade pushes forward, its armoured car sections out front

Heavy fire between 17 Brigade and the centre Turkish defenders in front of the armoured train which adds its own firepower to the defence

The intensity of the fire coming down on the central Turkish defenders evident here: direct fore form the 17 Brigade's on table regiment of 18pdrs, an off table regiment of 18pdrs, and their own infantry fire

The same fire fight from behind 17 Brigade's position

7 Brigade pushes the firefight. One armoured car section is suppressed (upper left of the photo)

The right flank of the centre Turkish defenders

The armoured car sections

The Turkish right pushes forward

17 Brigade persists with the firefight

The last Turkish resistance in front of the armoured train is eliminated

The right of the centre Turkish centre regiment

7 Brigade.. crikey it's hot work in there

7 Brigade (lower left) pushes the attack as the centre Turkish defenders survived their first morale throw, having sustained over 50% casualties

Overview of the battlefield at this stage

The camel corps flanking attack has arrived, and advanced into the Turkish rear, but the Turkish commander had a contingent of Arab cavalry in reserve behind that flank, and commits them to defend his rear

The British commander commits his 16 Brigade which had sat in reserve on his left, the commitment timed to take advantage of the arrival of the Camel Corp behind the Turkish lines

17 Brigade is taking artillery fire from the Turkish left flank regiment which has started to push foward

The armoured train is taking fire, and the main gun car is destroyed. The MMG car at the front is suppressed

17 Brigade begins its advance against the central town

7 Brigade is now advancing on the remnants of the centre Turkish regiment behind the central town

These are the leading elements of 7 Brigade, with the armoured car sections

The Camel Corp squadrons are dismounted and exchanging fire with the Arab reserve cavalry

The centre from behind 7 Brigade

The battlefield with the British division about to capture the central town and the immobilised armoured train

The wreck of the armoured train

We determined victory via victory points. The table included two village sectors worth two VP each, and two towns worth four VP each. The armoured train was worth four VP. If the British captured of destroyed it they gained the VP, if the Turkish forces retained control and the train was still operational they gained the four VP. At the end of the game the British gained twelve VP, having captured the central and left flank town sectors and destroyed the combat capability of the armoured train. The Turkish commander had four VPs having retained control of the two village sectors on the left and right flanks.

This was a fantastic game that ebbed and flowed over the course of its eight moves. The critical factor in the battle was probably the concentration of the British attack against the central Turkish regiment. The firepower was overwhelming in the end (although Murray's ability to roll 1's with his dice was an extraordinary thing to behold!!!). As they say, very few plans will succeed if you can't roll 6's. That said Murray handled his artillery deftly. The Turkish division just doesn't have enough.