Engineers at Jametz

 Tim put on another scenario from the Rommel 1914 Skirmish Campaigns book. This time 'Engineers at Jametz', which takes place outside Verdun. Young Lt Rommel was otherwise engaged for this one, instead we had a platoon of German engineers boldly marching along the road towards Verdun. Unbeknownst st to them, the French lay in wait. 

The game was played with Tims excellent 54mm figures, many of which were metal.

The assembled multitudes. As I'd been cast as the German CO, I got my Pickelhaube out for this one, while John had his very fine  St Cyr Kepi (in light blue rather than dark blue).

Myself, Pete and Russell were the Germans with me being Platoon CO and 3 section, Pete 1 section and Russell 2 section. Simon would take over 3 section on Wednesday night. Our job was to march towards Verdun, but in the event of meeting any baddies to ensure our loss ratio was less than 3:2. Until we were shot at, we had to stay in march column on the road.

Lukring French, commanded by John and Diego. Diego was the CO and had his section lurking in the woods to the north of the unsuspecting Germans. The French could fire whenever they wanted, but the sections couldn't move until engaged by the Germans.

The table from the west. The Germans march along the road, while the French get to skulk in the woods and shell holes (Johns section was concealed in the shell holes in the foreground). I have to say this doesn't look good for the Kaisers forces, lets hope the French don't have a machinegun.

Prior to the game I briefed the section leaders on the platoon battle formation for threats from various directions and contact drills (down, crawl, observe, sights fire etc). That was about all we could do up front, apart from determine where the HQ was in the column. I elected to follow the first section as per the manual.

Petes first section came marching boldly on. We were using Fistful of Lead, so each figure activated on its own allocated card, so to maintain a column, there wasn't much option about the play order.

The French in the woods promptly opened fire at extreme range on the 1st section, much to everyones surprise. Having laid the perfect ambush, the French had sprung it far too early as Johns section was out of range and not allowed to move until engaged by the Germans.

The opening shots were fairly ineffective (one German shaken) as not even all of Diegos section were in range. Petes guys hit the deck and worked forwards to take the French under fire as per the drill. Well done Corporal.

Now we knew where the French were and Pete had them under fire, we could deploy straight into battle formation from the entry point. Russell went right flanking with 2 section, and 3 section (the reserve) deployed in line in the centre behind the other two so the platoon was in a reverse wedge formation.

Petes section on the road is the base of fire, Russell on the (German) right advancing, and 3 section forming up. Fairly soon our advancing infantry were within rifle range and could make half moves and fire.

Outnumbering the French at the point of contact over 3:1 and despite the benefit of cover, the German fire soon began to tell. The first casualty was the Sergeant, killed outright.

It is almost like a pre war drill as the Germans get lined up. 3 section are Jagers, hence the different hats. The Platoon CO and Sergeant lined up behind the rifle sections pour encourager any slackers.

Half of Diegos section had made a run for the shell craters directly in front of us. It didn't make much difference as they were still in range and two of them remained standing, so quite exposed. This view from behind the German line. You can just see the French in the distance.

Our guys took a few hits (the German with the red marker is wounded), but 2 and 3 section were within close range now and the remaining French in the woods went down like ninepins, all dead or wounded.

Upon testing for wound severity, the remaining wounded were all KIA. marked with these very tasteful skull markers from Warbases!

One of the French in the shellholes was killed and the other two thoroughly suppressed by the hail of fire (all the yellow markers). Johns section was still well out of range.

On the final turn we managed kill another of the French and the other routed. I'm not surprised really. 

We'd done OK with rallying, so at game end we just had one man shaken, one wounded and two killed. We'd easily met the victory conditions and given the French a very bloody nose indeed. The platoon was in good shape to press on the Verdun!

Despite my foreboding of doom, that went very well for the Kaiser. The Germans had a plan, but the main thing was the French opened fire far too early and allowed us to engage less than half their force with all of ours.  

The remote play also encouraged us to manouvre in groups rather than micro manage every figure, which felt more realistic and worked tactically, although we did have the benefit of superior numbers. I was pleased that standard contact drill worked in these rules as they are very much a 'one figure shoots at another' type set, and in the latter stages we benefitted from that very much. Lanchesters Square Law and all that.