Second Gaza (Part 1)

This was another outing to the Middle East, this time to Gaza in 1917. We've already played first Gaza, and this scenario covers the British/ANZAC attempt to try and take the town again. We used Richard Brooks OP14 for this, played on Kallistra desert hexes (2km per hex) and using my 6mm Irregular Middle Eastern WW1 figures and vehicles.

Briefings below.

Second Battle of Gaza, 17th-19th April 1917

General

Although First Gaza was reported by the British as a victory in terms of both losses inflicted and covering the coastal railway, all the participating formations knew it had been a staff bungle of monumental proportions. A few weeks later the British tried again, by which time the Ottomans had plenty of time to bring up reinforcements and dig in.

British briefing

The extension of the desert railway has allowed more guns and troops to be brought up, however there are still serious problems supplying troops with water in the deep desert flank. 52 and 54 Divs will break through the Turkish lines to the east of Gaza then envelop and capture the fortress while the garrison are pinned frontally by 53 Div. The mounted troops will guard the right flank and push through the Turkish lines on the right as the situation allows.

 

The attack will be conducted in two phases. Firstly advance from the wadi to our jumping off points. The troops will dig in while the artillery carries out a two day bombardment of the enemy defences, the main attack going in on the 19th.

Enemy forces are estimated to be two weak divisions (some 30,000 men), little match for our six divisions amply supported by 170 artillery pieces. The French navy have provided some warships for bombardment, and a company of the new 'tanks' have arrived from France along with supplies of chlorine gas shells.

Break through the Turkish lines on the 19th.

Envelop and/or capture Gaza.

Push mounted troops through the gaps to exploit.

Forces (all D8)

Desert Column (Lt Gen Chetwode)

52nd Lowland Div, 53rd Welsh Div and 54th East Anglian Div each:

HQ, 3 x Bde, 1 x Field arty (3)

Anzac Mtd Div, Imperial Mtd Div, Imperial Camel Brigade: 3 x Divs each of 4 x Cavalry + 2 armoured cars to attach.

Corps assets

Corps howitzers: 1 howitzer (3), 1 x detachment of Mark 1 tanks, French warship squadron (1)

Two x chlorine gas concentrations to deploy via artillery (non persistent).

Troops deploy in their 19th April jump off positions. Infantry 1 hex back from the Turk  line, cavalry two hexes back, all dug in.

Turkish briefing

Since the failed British attack the Gaza-Beersheba line has been heavily fortified and extra troops brought up so our forces comprise over 50,000 men and 100 guns. The line nearer to Gaza is more heavily defended than the deep desert as supply problems restrict the enemy forces which can be deployed there.

A ponderous enemy build up has been observed and it is likely they will attack again soon.

Retain control of Gaza.

Prevent the enemy breaking through.

Forces (D10)

Fourth Army (von Kressenstein)

Gaza Force:

3rd and 53rd Infantry Divisions

HQ, 5 x Infantry brigades, 2 x field artillery (2), 1 x howitzer (2) (one bde deployed in reserve)

Set up holding the sector Gaza-Beer trenches with one brigade in reserve.

Desert Force:

Group Tiller, 16th Infantry Div, 3rd Cavalry Div.

HQ, 3 x Infantry Brigades, 1 x Cavalry Div. 2 x Field artillery regt (2). (one bde in reserve)

Set up holding the Atawineh- Hareira sector with one brigade and the cavalry in reserve. The cavalry may enter anywhere from the east side of the table.

Terrain and weather

The terrain is rolling desert broken up by scrub, wadis and rocky ridges. Hills are passable obstacles for artillery and the wadis are passable obstacles for all arms. Trenches are permanent defences.

Umpires Notes

Dawn is at 0500 and nightfall at 1800. 1.5 hour turns, 8 turns per day.

British move up on the 17th and dig in to their jump off positions, at least one hex from the Turkish positions, cavalry two hexes and ANZACs in reserve.Turks deploy each force with one brigade in reserve and all artillery in the line.

17th - six turns bombardment, British FA and howitzers vs Gaza area, Turk FA and hows reply. Resolve at night - Turks in per trenches, Brits in hasty. Recover and reorg.
18th - eight turns of bombardment. Both sides in perm. Recover and reorg.

19th jump off time.

Quick bombardment resolution on the 19th.

British AvD +4 hits vs Turks (2/3rds vs Gaza)

Turk Avd+3 hits split across inf formations as the cavalry are out of range.

Half of hits can be recovered 'overnight' before the first game turn.

Gas: delivered by artillery as a bombardment, persists for two turns. Doesn't inflict significant losses but reduces combat dice one level (so D10 becomes D12) to units in the square.

French ships: range 5, (1) to hit, but do double damage vs permanent trenches (2 hits). Can only fire at coast, and visible hills unless naval spotter plane over target.

A vague attempt to model the real battlefield on my dining table. The top of the picture is the coast, the main Turkish line is along the road running top to bottom.

Map of the actual battle, Beer trenches etc referred to in the briefing marked. This is the situation later on the 19th.

Le Monchal, 1918

This was a game played at Sheffield Wargames Society in June 2011, covering the French counterattack at Le Monchal on 30th March 1918. Historically this was at the tail end of the Kaiserschlacht, but the road/rail lines running south from Montdider through the village also marked the boundary between two armies, and the French made every effort to push the Germans back again.

Tim Gow played the Germans and John Armatys the French. We used my 'Paths of Glory' WW1 rules and my assorted 20mm WW1 figures with contributions of aircraft and armoured cars from John and Tim. The figures are a mixture of Revell, Airfix, HaT and Emhar.

Le Monchal 30^th March 1918

General Briefing

On 30^th March with the main German offensive towards Amiens stalled, Hutier launched a series of attacks on a 25 mile front against Fayolles Army Group, trying to extend their bridgeheads over the River Avre. In the far southeast of the front, the 16^th Silesian Division succeeded in capturing the village of Le Monchal on the boundary between 1st and 3rd French Armies. The French 162^nd Division launched an immediate counterattack to retake it.

French Briefing

After a crushing bombardment this morning, our forward regiments were overrun after inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. The remains of the 488^th still hold a scratch front, but the 487^th was completely destroyed.. The enemy has succeeded in capturing the village of Le Monchal, it must be recovered at all costs.

The reserve regiment of the division, plus the Corps cavalry regiment operating dismounted, have been release for an immediate counterattack. The cavalry have so far proved to be highly effective and are supported by some armoured cars. Some artillery support is available, but many of our guns have been lost and there is little ammunition left.

Objectives

Prevent any further German advances.

Recapture Le Monchal.

Drive the Germans back over the Avre.

Forces

488^th Infantry Regiment (Regular), but gone to ground.

Regt HQ

1 x Regt mortar Co, 1 x MG Co

2 x Battalions with 2 x Infantry ea

Deploy along the ridge line south of the Avre.

16^th Dragoon Regiment (Vet)

3 x Inf, 1 x MG, 1 x Armoured car

486^th Infantry Regiment (Regular)

Regt HQ

1 x Regt Mortar Co

8 x Inf and 2 x MG Co divided between 3 Bns

Both regiments may enter from the south edge.

2 x 75mm Arty Regt, 5 shots ea, may in Div support or assigned to a regiment.

2 x 150mm arty missions as pre-planned fire.

German Briefing

The division suffered heavy losses attacking the enemy this morning, one regiment was rendered ineffective and another incapable of further advances. The reserve regiment finally succeeded in capturing Le Monchal, but the troops are still reorganising after taking the town. It is likely that the French will counter attack but the momentum of the advance must be maintained. Some artillery support is available but there is only limited ammunition left.

Retain control of the village.

Continue to advance southwards.

Retain control of the bridgehead over the river.

Forces

49^th Silesian IR (Regular) gone to ground

HQ

2 Bns each with 1 x mortar, 1 x MG, 2 x Infantry

50^th Silesian IR (Regular)

HQ

3 x Bn with 3 x Inf, 1 x mortar, 1 x MG ea.

1 x close support battery on the far side of the Avre.

2 x 77mm Artillery regiments, 4 shots ea. May be in general Div support or assigned to a regiment.

All start within 6” of the Avre as far as the crossing, then due east. 50^th IR may have one battalion (only) in Le Monchal.

Terrain

The river is fordable for infantry/cavalry but guns and vehicles must cross at the bridge. Slopes are not significant obstacles to movement.

Some not very wonderful photos (taken on my phone) of various events. The bases are very spread out as I was using an AK47 style collateral damage type rule to discourage bunching. At the standard ground scale (1" = 80 yards) jamming an entire battalion of four bases into an area 200x200 yards doesn't seem very wise, so encouraging them towards a more realistic dispersion of 500x500 yards seemed sensible. I could of course change the ground scale, but then the battlefields would become ridiculously small, and that would just be silly:)
 

French Regimental HQ and mortar company observe the Germans from the edge of a wood.

German infantry occupy Le Monchal, spread out to reduce the effect of artillery fire.

French 150mm artillery shells the bridge, inflicting losses and causing the remaining Germans to scatter.

French reserves march up in parallel columns.

Cavalry armoured car knocked ut by armour piercing bullets. Dismounted dragoons follow.

In the end the French counter attack ran out of steam but had blunted any further German advance.