Sunday game - Guns of August - The First Wolrd War has started ...

... and no we weren‘t home at Christmas either! 6mm, on four large 6x4 tables, the complete first World War on European ground, started last Sunday at 12 noon.

Bart stepped in for the Kaiser with a little help from "Campbell von Hötzendorfff" as Austria-Hungary, while I just tried to get the Allies through a very painful period. For some reason, Bart and Campbell weren‘t to keen on the Schlieffenplan and reversed to attack the Romanovs directly, while keeping it stumm at the western front, not even invading Belgium! Campbell stated he wanted "revenge" for Ferdinand and ordered an offensive vs the Serbs. Which was repulsed first, but then collapsed as resources and reinforcements were thinly spread. 

The Russians were, quite as expected, in a dilemma, with two central powers coming at them at the same time. Bart had in no time "liberated" Poland, and apart from his disastrous attempts at Riga, which resulted in the total annihilation of an entire army group, he soon proceeded to encircle Brest-Litovsk and began the battle. Of course I lost, anything the German player set his eyes on, he will gets it - it is just a matter when and under what price – turned out at no cost for the Germans this time - meh!

Pretty much else the Allies were on the run, the Serbs had to with draw into their cold mountains, The Russians back into their vast hinterland, praying that their reinforcements out strip their losses. The French made some attacks (as bound by plan 17) but of course Metz and Strassbourg were too strong a position to break through.

On top of that Westminster decided to wait, until the K.u.K. Marine (yes, the Austrian naval fleet!) sunk most of the French "Navy" before Marsailles, oh blamage! - and Britain joined the war as late as November!!!

But then the French promtly invaded Belgium and the British later the Netherlands, on the grounds of these little countries not joining the allied blockade (A friend of all, is a friend to none!).

We got until February 1915, and it looks still pretty grim for the allied case. Serbia is broken and Poland lost. Russian troops are on the retreat. The Advance through the Benelux countries is stalled by the usual fortresses (Antwerp and Liege), at least the Naval issue is solved for now.

The beginning of the war for the allies is always difficult, but 1914 especially. So with that in sight, I guess its still a bit of "consolidation" to do until we can hit back - wait for the big push! To be continued ...

P.S.

On December 1914 the Central Powers achieved momentarily Operational Victory (with the capture of Brest–Litovsk), i.e. if the game would have ended, they had a minor victory. As it progressed into 1915 (and the rating changed), it would be now rated as a draw, if hostilities would end.

After the initial deployment

The East front

The West front

August 14, The Germans invade Russia/Poland!

While keeping the French somewhat bottle necked

The OHL diverting troops even to the east

The Eastern theatre, even though Russians reinforcements arriving

Slowly but steadily the Germans continue

Trenches at the Western front

Trenches in the Balkans

The German military colossus advances on Brest-Litovsk

Britain joins the war!

The Germans souround the fortress city

Brest-Litovsk has fallen ...

The Russian front is split into separate parts ...

Battle at Shenanhanandan (or Freefurt) ACW 15mm!

This time it was Picketts Charge, ACW, 15mm and Peters marvelous collection, we had the pleasure to enjoy. As well as the setup and terrain, it was loosley based on Shenandoah or just a 3 bridgehead scenario for me. Bart and Peter were fighting for secession and slavery, while me, Mike and Alisdair were fighting for the nobler cause! 

And we had a plan! Each outer bridgehead was already in (fortified/farm) hands, so we just decided to defend and take the middle furt. Me in particular had the lazy position to bomb the Rebel bridgehead and go straight into a death ride in the middle with my cavalry just to keep the furt open for my combat fellows to close the gap and just keep hold onto it. Nothing much to ask, one would say...

My Infantry brigade with the guns assumed position on the hill and started firing. I took out the rebel guns - so safe flank over there. Then my riders crossed the furt and charged into the enemy horse! Huzzah, we again pushed them back, our cavalry looked a bit less deranged like the enemy one afterwards, but who cares ... even in front of 3 line battalions of rebels! (Barts dice were abysmal, so they were fire locked ...)

Now this would be the part where I would tell you the tale about the glorious pushback of the rebel attack on our heavily guarded bridge head, and the rushing in of the our veteran brigade through the waters ... 

but no. They just didn‘t. Too hesitant! One could get into a fight or get shot or so...

The veterans as well some other brigade were too hesitant to do whatever, apart from moving into position. Rolling with yellow dices that repeatedly produce low numbers (apart from the command phase) doesn‘t help either! If the main assault should be the middle ground you need at least to advance there...

Don‘t let me start on our bridgehead though! Alisdair totally out of sync with his dice! Peter attacked, barraged and then assaulted our position ... successfully, textbook. So we had two contested crossing and one firm in the hands of the Rebels. I even had to witness the CinC, telling me to charge and turnaround the table/tide/battle, as this would be our only chance ... while my men where out of charge distance (the point when just blocking the enemy)...

Congratulations Bart, for winning this battle for the Rebels single-handedly! - Peter must be thrilled.

Apart from that we had a lot of fun - maybe they let allow us tanks next time, that we might have a chance. Or aircraft? Balloons with bomber crews ...  ach!

Initial set up rebels to the right - Yanks to the left

My direct opponent

We assumed position on hill 3

the middle ground advanced

My guns aiming

and the ground trembled ...

My successful cavalry charge!

Peters Rebel are closing in

I‘ll send the opponent back

The furt is free!

Peter attacks!

And send Alisdair reeling

The Rebel bridge head was peppered, but just kept in check...

The centre just as it was before the last turn... and the turn before that ...

This was the last picture taken, after that we presume the photographer was shot by the union command...

1756 - the battle at Schnücken-Mücken

Again it was time for a fictional battle in the Seven Years War, 28mm with my "Seven Years" rule set, Bart and Alisdair took the side of the Austrians and Saxons while Peter and Campbell took over a small but very elite Prussian force to wipe the firstly very lonesome and outnumbered Saxons. The Austrian army would arrive each turn approximately a brigade and slowly but surely turn the tide of the battle.

The Prussians had to hit fast and hard. Unfortunately they offered me the cavalry brigade on the right flank, that hadn‘t any opponents on horses for the start and could make or break the whole battle. So I charged with my Hussars and Cuirassiers and well ... failed. Just a few hats and mitras were dented, apart from that, I had to withdraw in disorder - ouch! My highlight of complete and utter un-glory-ness (if thats a word) this year!!!

On the other flank, Peter seemingly was rebuffed by Alisdairs cavalry too and so the pincer movement that should have broken the Saxons, instead broke the pincers themselves. Then Campbell rushed forward and poured fire into the Saxon lines. They suffered a lot many Geschwindstücke (fast, light guns) were blown off the place, and further down the line the Saxon brigade began to falter, first shaken and then retreating the whole bulk dangerously near the table edge blocking the incoming Austrians a good entry into the battle... what a drama!

BUT then the closeness needed to shell the Saxons had their price! The Saxons were firing back and the 3 Prussian infantry brigades were shot into submission, first shaken, then one after another even retreating.

As the second Austrian cavalry brigade arrived the forces were even on the flanks, the next turn the German and Hungarian Grenadiers arrived - the tide was slowly turning. The cavalry had fought itself to a stand still and the Austro-Saxons just waited for the artillery brigade to arrive. As that happened, the Prussians were fighting a barrage of an artillery battle with the Austrians for a sort of gun supremacy of the field, some of the Saxon guns were put out of order, but then they were running out of ammunition... doom and gloom (in the background you can hear Siegfrieds funeral march) ...

The last turn (we could play, because we were running out of time) didn‘t bring the big push of for the Saxons to run off the board either, more Austrians arrived, hrmmm! If my cavalry would just be more effective ... 

BUT unit killing wise it was 2 Prussian units vs 4 Austro-Saxon units (2 vs 5 even, as I remembered Alisdair lost a skirmishing unit and told me later)! On the other hand it was clear a continuing of the battle would have brought the imminent defeat of the Prussians. And yes, it is undeniably that this was a very oblique and difficult scenario for the Prussians.

So Campbell and Peter did very well under the circumstances, congratulations! And Bart and Alisdair surley were on the winning lane, congratulations too! The only one who did perform abysmal was probably me with the worst cavalry charge sofar! 

Following that: point-wise a hard earned Prussian scenario - victory, while at the same time the clear tactical victory was at the end on the Austro-Saxon side - I would reckon it was a draw, but as you know history sometimes is never a clear cut, and I imagine there will be different reports on Barts blog and on the SESWC face book page depending on bias. ;)