Daniel Brown - Dec 3, 2004 8:30 am (#39 Total: 52) Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln Quick Replay: (still in progress) GT 1: The German arty (Drumfire Barrage) hammer the brit line, but only sos so luck. 13 6-point attacks, needing a die roll of 1 or 2 to do any damage. Mostly the hits fall on the northern brit force (XVIIIcorps) between Fayet and Urvillers in the center. The German divisions (only 9 that can move-the ones starting in the trenches) attack the british battalions inthe trenches in front of them. Smashing them easily, the advance after combat rolls are uniformly good: nothing below a 4, doubled for the Stosstruppen gets the german in the North beyond the redoubt and next to the fieldworks. In the extreme south GruppeVonGayl attacks with its one division and 2 regiments. They actually get across the Oise canal and into the british line.In the center the IVR kills some british Bns. Total British lost on GT1 15 Bns &6 companies. GT 2: the german drumfire barrage now concentrates on any brit unit in wire or open or trees. Many dead brits. The Allied player is disconcerted. The German troops in the north fight and win right up to Vermand, the 4-hex ridge south of it, Roupy, Happencourt. The German IVR and XVII corps are cleaning up the remaining brit units in a series of battles Seracourt-Essigny-Urvillers. The main British line from Urivillers to Cerizy to Fort Vendeuil is intact. On the southern sector, Gruppe VonGayl, led by the 223rd Div ("Screaming Death") and 2 regiments of the 47th is through the trenchwork and captures Fargniers. The British on the first turn could only move 5 units, bringing up 20th division, this turn is slightly better, Moving up the 20th Inf, 3rd and 2nd Cav Divs to a line of Beauvois-Bois de Moulin -Tugny et Pont. Unfortunately the German has 2 stoss units in the wiresurrounding the XVIII corps HQ in 2708.Advance after combat is the most important feature for the StossTruppen Divisions. the Allied Player is amazed by the speed and ferocity of the German assault. This turns losses were another 12 Bns and 6 companies. Admittedly the germans targeted the rear areas for the drumfire barrage, leaving the british line Intact on the Oise canal. Holding onto that is victory points at the end of the game. The North is by far the worst sector. Only Battalions to face the soon-to-be release german second and third waves of divisions. And the North has the swamps and woods to slow the germans advance. The Inf Div and the Cav Corps in the center look nice. Are they? Daniel Brown - Dec 3, 2004 11:40 am (#40 Total: 52) BookmarkEmail to Friend Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln Game Turn 3: Weather: Mist Air Ops: 3 British all for Observation, German 2 Intercept, 2 Observation. 2 Brit Observers, 2 German Observers. Artillery. German 35 field, 30 heavy. 20 points for counter-battery, die roll of 2. Result: divide Allied artillery by 3. The Allies now have only 2 heavy and 2 field arty points left. No Chemical warfare. Germans move in the North are relatively minor, attack against vermand, killing the XVIII corps headquarters (the allied player KNOWS that this a BAD THING, but can't discover why it matters. XVIII corps units can no longer attack with any hope of success but that was the situation before the corps HQ destruction) . All the german 2nd and 3rd line divisions move strategically (triple their movement allowance) and reach the front (mostly). The GFermans hold the british wire from Etreillers in the north all the way down to St Simon in the center. In the center the Line goes due East from St Simon to Castries to the Cerizy/reboubt line. then south along the Oise to Fort Vendueil. Gruppe VonGayl is over the Somme in the south, with the 223rd (Screaming Death) division and elements of the 47th holding Tergnier and the wire north of it. The IV Reserve corps looks as though it may have to break off the advance and move EASTWARD to clear the remaining British Bns still holding the original line. The British are in a terrible position. FAR too many units have been lost in the first turns. Not enough companies were stacked to absorb losses. the German 2nd turn Drumfire Barrages caught too many units and pulverized them. Now they are badly needed. In the North 1 Bn (4th Berkshires) holds 1 hex of Vermand...and that's it. 89th/30th Div Bde is just outside Beauvois, then the 3rd Cav and 20th Inf Div hold from the heights outside Lanchy south to Aubigny, with only 4 companies to absorb losses AND since they are XVIII corps units, unable to attack (wellll, they CAN, but its not a good Idea). 2nd Cav defends between Augbigny and St. Simon, the French are moving up to the St Simon-Favy Le Martel line, and the line then runs through Montecourt to the original front line and Ft Vendeuil. Then back to Faillouel and entrance hex A. The Allies have too few units to hold a line. They germans have thier divisions past the lines and can run where ever they please. Its time to fall back into "fortified goose eggs" German counter battery is VERY annoying. But at least no Chemicals yet. Service companies would be really helpful NOW, not two turns from now. No german divisions reduced or broken down yet. Onto GT 4!! Iles ne Passeront.....oops, never mind. Don Johnson - Dec 3, 2004 3:10 pm (#41 Total: 52) Manassas, VA: The die has nothing to do with movement It sounds like you may need to defend better as Allies. The basic defensive stack is a reg with some lesser units to take losses. In a pinch stack a bunch of batts. Try to form a line so that the German can only get 2 hexes to attack an Allied stack. Retreat EVERY turn as needed. Goose egg defense is NO DEFENSE at all, you need a continuous line, at the worst toss some batts away but form that line, the key is to be able to take some losses but hopefully not open a hole for exploitation movement by Germans. Also, German air can be used for direct bombardment, this is a great use if it opens a hole, as the hole forms BEFORE movement. So if you see a key spot held by one step, sock it to them. This also forces the Allies to use their air to try to reduce the German air bombardment. Daniel Brown - Dec 4, 2004 12:19 pm (#42 Total: 52) Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln Game Turn 4 Weather: Clear Air Ops:6 Allied Points, 8 German Allied points: 4 interception, 2 Observation; German 6 Ground Attack, 2 Observation Results Brit-2 observers; German-4 Ground Attack, 2 Observers Ground attack on the 2nd Cav (all 3 BATTALLIONS - german player thought they were BDEs) in Tugny-et-Pont. 4 points rolled for on the Drumfire Barrage table, die roll 3=No Effect. 3 nice British divisions enter hex D. 1 cav, 2 inf, including the 8th-three 5 morale bdes. All XIX corps units. The Germans fire counter battery again 30 points, die roll 3, british arty divided by 3, leaving only 2 field, 2 heavy and gnashing of teeth. No gas used, german units are too close to the british and also german player doesnt yet know (!) where the main thrust will be aimed at yet. Germans move up tactically to assault Vermand, Tugny-et-Pont, some assorted British Bns and Co's in line from Clastres to Cerizy and the redoubts of the original front. The Strategic moves have Stosstruppen racing north through the Bois deL'Etang and take Tetry, Monchy Legache, and Guizancourt. In the center, an unfortunate hole in the line allows 2 stosstruppen to make it to hexes next to Ham. The German second-line regular inf make it past the wire, most facing off with the main british force holding the heights of Lanchy to the heights of Aubigny (but ending too soon-The Hole.) The Germans easily destroy the remnants of the XVIII bns in the north, Vermand falls, Bois de Bouquet is cleared, with tepid advance after combat, 2-3 movement points. The main show, the attack on Tugny-et-Pont has 3 stosstruppen divisions (90 pts) against 3 british cav bns (12 points) Germans use aerial observation, brits observe from Aubigny Hts. All available arty on both sides used. Germans 3 points of rolling barrage, the brits use their 4 points for SOS barrage. The German divisions are from XVII corps, 7 hexes away from the HQ-Out of Communication, British roll a 3 +1 for Out of Communication attackers, +2 for SOS barrage, +1 for town. 7x12= 84. Germans roll a 4 +3 for Rolling Barrage. 90x7=630. 630 divided by 84= 7 drop fractions. British morale of 4, compared with a 7 result, equals three steps lost and there are three steps in the hex. All Gone. The remaing attacks by the germans are all successful. St Simon falls, Clastres- Cerizy line evaporates. And, of course in the South, the 223rd (Screaming Death) with 47th Reserve kill another bn/co stack, advancing onto entrance hex A. The British now decide to run. The Germans have just reached the victory point line and if they can be held at the Somme and Canal Du Nord excavation line, the brits can pull off a marginal or substantive victory. In the North the Brits move the new division to and across the Somme, 243th up near the town of...Misery? (yes, Misery!). In the Center, 3rd Cav, 8th Inf Div, and the XVIII corps units that still exist form on the east side around Villecourt to the west side around Voyennes. A small group at Canizy, and a main force of the French 9th, british 20th and 3rd corps remnants in Ham on the west/south side of the Somme. 3rd corps Bns/Co's in Brouchy, Villeselve and on the Butte de Mirimes finish the line. Entrance hex B is where the rest of the reinforcements enter-3 French Infantry Divisions. The British regrettably leave 4 Bns in the original redoubts around and in Ft Vendeuil. Gruppe VonGayl will have to deal with them, Hopefully unsuccessfully. But if the German is determined to extinguish them, he'll have to leave IV reserve Corps behind to do it. Service Companies would be very helpful NOW...one more turn to go though. Good Dilemma for the germans. Wait for the HQs or try to smash through the brit line even though attacking out of supply?. Does the german want fog or clear? Does the German hang back and use Gas? How will gas affect the german advance? Exiting units is a big point-getter, but advancing and seizing the Nesle area can also work. Fun game. Not easy for either side. "Tout le monde a la bataille!!" Daniel Brown - Dec 7, 2004 3:44 pm (#43 Total: 52) Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln Game Turn 5: Weather: mist 4 german air points, 3 british German $ ground Attack on 2 french regiments and 1 brit Bn in Ham, No Effect, 3 British observation. No reinforcements, Counter Battery fire, 10 british points, 20 german, No effect for both. 30 points fired for chemicals. 2 persistent gas markers placed, one in hex 2026, hoping to force oncoming french units to have to divert east, one placed in hex 1010 seriuosly compromising the Somme river-Villecourt line german 3rd corps divisions move up to the line of the north map edge (1201)-Althies-Croix Molignaux, the 9th corps divs fromthe proud, old noble town of Y (!) to Matigny, Toulle. The 17th corps masses around Ham and Brouchy (17th has 5 stosstruppen Divisions and 3 regular Divisions-a powerful force), 3rd Reserve is split up, 1 stoss division and 1 regular behind to help clear the british out of their original lines and 2 moving in the direction of Flavy-et- Maldeux, an open area. Gruppe Von Gayl has its premier division 223rd (Screaming Death) and 2 regiments of the 47th in the area of Ugny Le Gay. All the corps HQs are far behind, 3rd and 9th jsu getting across the fieldworks at 3106, 17th at Seracourt, 3rd at Cugny,in 4226, gruppe Von Gayl moving towards the front. In combat the Germans kill all remaining british units still in the original trenches, except for a bn in Ft Vendeuil, the 13th Landwehr losing a step in the attack. elsewhere the german declines to attack out of supply. the British line is fairly thin everywhere, the south is abandoned and what few units there are south of Ham are in Guiscard and Flavy Le Maldeuxn not realy menaced at this point and awaiting the french divisions coming in the next 2 turns. A large group holds Ham and Brouchy, a Bde of 20th division with 2 bns of tthe 18th division in brouchy, Ham with french 9th division (3 regiments0 3 bns from the remains of 18th corps, Going North along the Somme the rest of the 20th and 2 Bns of the 14th division hold Canizy and hex 1414, Voyennes has the 3rd cav, part of the 8th Inf Div and 2 18th corps bns. 2 bdes of the 50th Division and a bn of 3rd cav hold Villecourt proper, on the west side of the Somme1st Cav is holding the hexes on the est side of the contaminated zone around 1010 going North to the map edge, the 24th Infantry ( not a good unit: the bdes are 6 strength, 3 morale, BUT 2 step units), the other 2 bns of 3rd cav, and a few bns and co's from the remnants of 18th corps. Not a solid line but a line with no holes, No attacks made, and it looks as though the germans will wait for the HQs to catch up. And the germans will have a ways to go to get a victory, they need 36 points for a marginal win, towns on the west side of the Somme and the Canal Du Nord only give them 28! Daniel Brown - Dec 7, 2004 4:22 pm (#44 Total: 52) Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln Game Turn 6 Weather : mist. Air points, 3 british All for Observation, 4 german all ground attack. Germans strafe and bomb 2 bdes 20th, bn 3rd cav in Voyennes, killing the 3rd cav bn.(4 points, roll of 1 +1 for town, result of 5 against 4 morale for the stack) Counter Battery, 40 German, No british. Germans roll...another 1!! ALL allied arty is supressed. German player is no longer allowed to roll the black die except when attacking. No division breakdowns, german 3rd corps divisions move up to the Somme-Omigod rivers 5th adn 6th stosstruppen divisions attack across the Somme at 0804 1 bn of 3rd cav, 17th Bde/24. 9th german corps moves up to Villecourt-Toulle line one hex away from the Somme, 17th corps HQ is within 10 hexes of Ham, and its divisions attack into Ham, and 4 attack Brouchy, 3rd reserve and Gruppe Von Gayl have a total of 4 division to hold a line from the Bois De Lamy to the Butte De Mirimes. In the North, the Somme river line is breached, 4 cav bn and 6 inf bde is 10, die roll of 2, +2 for Out of Supply attackers, +1 for the river=50. Germans have 60 x 5 +1 for rolling barrage (germans note that Observation would have added another +1 to the barrage)so 360 divided by 50=7, 4 morale, All destroyed. Fort Vendevil falls, all british trenches are now cleared. The Brouchy attack succeeds, 120 points versus 12, rolling the dice just a formality.The assaults in Ham itself result in the first german division loss with the 7th Reserve/17th corps taking one step loss. the British finally get sevice companies, a total of 5. 4 on the 19th corps HQ, 1 to 3rd corps in the south The british rush forces north to form a line from 0702-0705 1st Cav and 1 bde of 8th and a bn of 3rd cav each with a service co , 2 bdes of the 24th and 1 co of the old 18th corps in 0802the line of Canizy-Voyennes is held, then angles back to the Canal Du Nord, Ham is abandonded, Guiscard and Buchoire in the south is held, the germans of Gruppe Von Gayl and 3rd reserve too weak to do anything, especially with 2 more french divisions coming on next turn. A rather bad turn for the british, the line wasnt strong enough and the germans still strong even with the attack out of supply die roll additions. Plus haviong no artillery didnot help. The gremans WILL have to exit units to get the needed Victory Points, but now The corps are too spread out for a clear breakthrough. The British have the bulk of thier troops facing the 3rd corps in the north, even having lost the Somme river line.One or more turns for the HQs to move up closer, and move the corps closer together, but that will telegraph to the Allies where the 'schwerpunkt' will be aimed at. 17th and 9th are the center maybe to take Nesle. Maybe not. "Klotzen, Nicht Kleckern!" Daniel Brown - Dec 8, 2004 11:55 am (#45 Total: 52) Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln One little item forgotten changes everything. Roll for each gas marker on the map. the gas marker at hex 1010 is removed. There is now a hole in the british line. 1009, 1010, 1011 have no units in them, having been in the contaminated zone. British units in 1008 and 1112, but a 3 hex wide hole. And its the german turn. Don Johnson - Dec 8, 2004 3:19 pm (#46 Total: 52) Manassas, VA: The die has nothing to do with movement If there is gas on the map, the Allies still need to hold a cohesive line, this means they either retreat or take their gas lumps. Daniel Brown - Dec 9, 2004 2:42 pm (#47 Total: 52) Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln Game turn 7: Weather: mist Air Ops: 3 British points, 2 Interception, 1 Observation German 4 points, 2 Interception 2 observation, results 1 german observation. 2 french divisions (62nd and 22nd enter entrance hex b. 6 svc co's 3 with 19th corps HQ in 0708, 3 with 3rd corps HQ in hex 1118. Artillery: Chemicals placed on 1021 (bend of the Canal du Nord) German Counter Battery: 20 points, rolls a 1= British divides by 4. British arty down to 4 field, 3 heavy The Germans take advantage of the HOLE in the British line and stuff 10 divisions into the gap, 5 from 9th corps, 2 from 3rd corps and 3 from the 17th corps. The 5th Guard moves into one hex of Nesle, 1st Guard into 0813. the Headquarters move up, 3rd in 2006, 9th in 2009, 17th in 2315, 4th reserve in 2618, Gruppe Von Gayl in 3223. Also moving up, after having cleared the british original fortifications are 2 divisions of the 4th reserve corps and the 13th landwehr of Gruppe Von Gayl, which also has the 223rd Division (screaming Death) in Flavy Maldeux with 47th division's regiments in line back to the Butte de Mirimes. Just a few combats take place, notably in hex 1007 and 1111 to widen the hole. The British manage to form a line 0801-Somme River, Morchain, Pertain, Curchy, the woods outside Nesle, Billancourt, Languevoisin, the Canal duNord down to Erchue. A huge gap up to the Heights Northwest of Guiscard, through the town to Buchoire. Improbably, the Brits have managed to reform a line-the Germans HAD a clear road off map and Nesle. The Germans have thier Headquarters up, reducing the die roll additions for the British defence. the Germans at prresent have only 25 Victory Points, still a british substantial victory. The Germans need to get to 36 for a marginal. It depends if the british can hold the line. With 3 full strength French divisions 'other options' become available. The British had to commit the 1st Cav division into the line to even HAVE a line. Pity. they should have been sent south to join with the French force. Daniel Brown - Dec 9, 2004 3:24 pm (#48 Total: 52) Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln Game Turn 8: Weather: Clear. 8 air points German, 6 British. german have 6 Ground attack, 2 observation, British all 6 on Ground attack. The germans hit 2 Brigades in the clear with No Effect, the British try to hit 1st Guards in 0813, No Effect. 5 service companies enter, 3 in 3rd Corps HQ in Pertain, and 2 on 3rd corps HQ in Moyencourt (0918). The Germans fire 30 points of counter Battery with no effect. A persistent gas marker is placed in 0724 to delay the 2 french divisions moving up from hexes 0825 and 0925. ONLY 5 heavy arty points left for the germans. The Germans move to attack the Somme river line (regained by the British when the germans moved 3rd corps divisions south into the Mesnil St Nicaise salient) held by 1 bde of the 24th div &1 co. Inside the salient, the germans move 4 stosstruppen divisions against the 2 bdes of 50th Dvision at 0807.the 9th stoss hits 2Bns of 1st cav &1co in 0607, 0407 (1 bde of 24th &1 co) gets hit with 1 stoss and 1 regular div. The5th Guard attacks 1 Bn of 1st cav in the woods outside Nesle. The germans stretch back to 2 hexes south of Voyennes, then south past the allies holding in Hombleux south to Flavy le Martelto the Butte deMirimes. The HQ's are now 3rd-1606, 9th-1609, 17th-1914, 4thReserve-2218, Gruppe Von Gayl-2721. The main attack destroys the 2 brigades of 50th Div in 0807, a 5 movement point advance after combat. Stoss Divisions now in 0603,0604,0605, 0506. The Somme Line is lost again when the Bde of the 24th and 1 co are destroyed and a stoss division advances over the river. The attack outside Morchain is insuccessful, with 50th Stoss Division being reducedThe bn of 1st Cav is lost, In the attack outside Nesle, the last of 3rd Cav is destroyed, %th Guard Stootruppen Dvision taking the woods. The British still manage to form a line: 0402 with 1bde of 8th division 71co, Marchlepot-1bde 24th &2 co's, 19corps HQ,2 co's in Omiecourt, Pertain-1Bde 24th & 2 co's, Hill 0208 1 bn, 2 co's, Curchy-1 french regt, 1 bn, 1 co, Bois de Laincourt has 1bde of the 8th, 1 bde of the 20th, 1 bn and 1 co,Billancourt, Languevoisin, 1015, south along the Canal du Nord,to Erchue, The french attack one regiment of the 47th of gruppe Von Gayl, causing 1 step loss. The towns of Gusiecard and Buchoire being the end of the line as the french forlornly advance between Villeselve and the Heights of Flavy Le Meldeux. All Gas Markers get removed (The German player rolls 3 '1's in a row. Daniel Brown - Dec 9, 2004 3:51 pm (#49 Total: 52) Where many were, how few remain Of old Familiar things! But seeing to mind again, the lost and absent brings. - A Lincoln Game Turn 9 Weather: FOG. No Air Operations, No counter Battery, No rolling barrages for that matter.The German fires gas into 0322, 0524 and 0825 for no discernable reason other than HE CAN! The German breaksdown the 35th regular division of the 4th Reserve and the 51st reserve of the 17th corps. The german moves to destroy the remains of the british in the North. After combat the only british left are the 19th corps HQ in Omiecourt &1 co, and a step of the 8th division.Nesle is firmly in German possesion. 4th Reserve corps Stosstruppen Divisions moving strategically take Solente, Ognolles, Cressy-Omecourt behind the Canal Du Nord.A total of 8 regiments and 2 divisions hold the line between Flavy Le Meldeux to Ville selve and Butte Des Mirimes. The British player, holding towns between Curchy and Ercheu, Nothing in the North, and having no depth to his attack in the south, Resigns. The German player has 10 divisions poised to move off the board, holds 32 towns, and can stop any attempt to retake Ham of move back into any original Fortifications hexes. Despite the German Strategic Victory, the game is a lot closer then it appears. Several british mistakes and good german rolls produced this german victory. In the beginning the Drum-fire barrages were very effective. especially when the german went after all the rear area british units on game turn 2. The british player needs to RUN. FAST. Trying to hold the fortification hexes just wastes those units. ALL british units should run. In the middle to end game, the british can use the 3 frech divisions and at least 2 of the cav divisions to force the GERMAN player to worry about holding a solid, hole-less line, risking the allies to retake Ham or get back inot the wire-or further. The German player was conservative in his attacks, not risking too many attacks and avoiding the full dvisions being atritted. Also the effective counter battery was very helpful. For a World War One game, there are so many 'toys' to play with. The use of Gas is something that needs thought and planning. The air war is fun, the observation is definitely needed by the german player. It's a 'cakewalk' for the german, if he can catch the british while they dont have a line fully formed yet or if he can use ALL of his fun advantages in artillery and air. This one we'll play again, switching sides. The British being more careful.The "Foot Blitzkrieg" is quite fun.