Action near Gheluvelt - October 1914

[Silent Invader]

Thanks that's very interesting

Matakishi is I think also a fan of Crossfire

[monk2002uk]

Yes, indeed. Matakishi has a section of the web site devoted to Crossfire.

The games always have a great intensity about them, which I really enjoy. I have tried to capture the ebb and flow in my AAR. There is a constant pressure around decisions to be made, revised, or abandoned. And it is so nice not to have to measure anything.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

The Germans in the courtyard attempted to close assault the farmstead. The unsuppressed British section opened fire and suppressed the first attempt. Once again, however, their colleagues failed to rally. The Germans took the opportunity to pour fire into the farmstead, suppressing and then destroying one of the British sections. The other British section remained suppressed. It was time for the German assault to go in. Three German sections raced forward with bayonets fixed, supported by the platoon commander. The Germans recaptured the farmstead; the combination of superior numbers against the suppressed British section saw the latter overwhelmed completely.

Two German sections occupied the farmstead and prepared themselves for the next British onslaught. Not surprisingly, the German 1st Platoon commander was able to rally the suppressed section in the courtyard. Things were looking up but there was still a tough job ahead. The success of German 1st Platoon had come at the expense of weakening the right flank. It was important to dissuade the British from exploiting this but the first priority was to clear the immediate vicinity of the farm if possible. In the farmhouse, both Gruppenführer organised their men to open combined fire on the British troops in the open. The results were disappointing to say the least. Perhaps it was due to the previous exertions but the German sections managed to only pin their counterparts.

The photos show the British defenders whittled down to one section and then the farm outbuilding recaptured.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

The British took the opportunity to push forward on their left flank. Cavalry scouts reported only light resistance ahead. 2nd Squadron crossed the stream and advanced over the marshy ground as far as the next copse of trees. The initiative then see-sawed backwards and forwards. British 1st Squadron slipped sideways and in behind their colleagues from 2nd Squadron. The Germans took the opportunity to reinforce the courtyard wall facing the British attack. The section became pinned as a result but the defence of the right side of the farm complex, facing the British moves, had been strengthened.

The British commander decided to up the ante further on the left flank. 2nd Squadron pushed forward as a group. The squadron leader and the three troops were brought to an immediate halt by German carbine fire. A firefight broke out but gradually the superior British numbers began to tell. The German cavalry troop became suppressed. The British troopers then launched their assault, carrying away the squadron leader and then the last remaining cavalry troop on the German right flank.

Robert

[Silent Invader]

I have tried to capture the ebb and flow in my AAR. There is a constant pressure around decisions to be made, revised, or abandoned.

I'd say you have!   

[monk2002uk]

And now for the finale. British 1st Platoon moved into the wheatfield, coming under sufficient weight of fire that one section became pinned. With the Germans in the outbuilding being distracted, 1st Squadron followed up into the ploughed field and then formed a base of fire facing the outbuilding. Ferme Blanche was now surrounded on two sides.

A prolonged fire fight developed, with the BEF slowly but steadily gaining control over the German defenders. Eventually the outbuilding defenders fell silent. The British cavalry stormed the building, capturing the NCO team and the remnants of the two sections that had held out so long. Rifle fire was then turned onto the farmhouse. Again it took time to eventually suppress the defenders. It helped having the superiority of numbers now. The British infantry were able to rush and re-capture the farmhouse. The whole of Ferme Blanche was now in the possession of the BEF advance guard.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

Here is the last sequence of the photos. With the outbuilding captured, the British infantry continued to flank around the farm complex. With that flank now occupied, the cavalry cleared the courtyard. The last photo shows the final German squad about to be cleared from the final defensive foothold.

There were three decisive moments in the game, looking back on it. The British cavalry achieved early dominance over their German counterparts. Without doubt, the British regimental commander was fortunate with the high dice rolls. As mentioned before, there were no specific rules that gave any advantage to the British. I don't believe that British musketry (defined as the application of massed rifle fire) was significantly superior to German rifle fire. Nor is there any evidence to support a downgrading of the German cavalry carbine, especially in close quarters fighting like this. Dismounted German cavalry, for example, ejected Scots Guards no less from their defensive position near Messines in October 1914. The British cavalry's success made it easier to exploit the British right flank.

The second moment was when the German artillery attempted a bold manoeuvre without covering fire. The German commander was looking to create an offensive opportunity on his left flank, paving the way with direct artillery fire. The artillery teams paid the price, coming under intense small arms and machine gun fire. The lesson here is that infantry should help pave the way for this sort of move. The indirect effect was that the German commander was reluctant to push forward again on the left flank. As the British attack unfolded on the opposite flank, this wasn't such a bad thing. The British right flank defensive positions had good line of sight. The machine gun section in particular would have made short order of any further attempt to move without suppressing fire.

The third moment was the intervention of the British artillery. The British artillery commander had spotted that the main road could be used to divide the battlefield in two. If the British artillery could isolate the German left flank then it would make any moves on Ferme Blanche more achievable. The first German squad that attempted to relocate across the road paid dearly. The shrapnel fired over open sights just cut them apart in short order. This had a very disconcerting effect on the German commander, who struggled to overcome his fear of attempting a similar move again. It was possible to relocate some infantry and to provide supportive fire for the farm defenders from the vicinity of Ferme Brune (thanks, Geudens). This helped but was never enough to counter fully the British moves on the right.

All in all though, it was a fabulous game and we really enjoyed it.

Robert