Great War Spearhead - Battle of Cer 1914

[Shawnt63]

Played a quick game last night. Two Serbian divisions Mounting an attack up Mount Cer in a counter attack action against the Austrians.

Austrian 21st Division held the heights with the remainder of the Austrian force (9th Infantry and 42nd Mountain division) coming on turn 6 as re-enforcements. The Serbs had 1st Combined Division and 1st Sumaijda Divisions.

Table was 5 x 4 and only the 21st and 1st Combined started on table. On turn 3 the 1st Sumaijda entered from the Serbian table edge. The Austrian 9th came on table on turn 6 with 42nd mountain. 42nd was on the right hand side of the Austrian start line heading up the back side of Mount Cer, the 9th on the left.

Mount Cer is wooded and therefore slow going for artillery. Artillery is not able to brigade in this scenario nor is there any indirect fire. The Austrian 6th Division and 42nd Mountain each have only 3 batteries of 8cm guns and no other artillery support.

First 3 turns are considered night moves.

21st Austrian division was deployed across the entire table width (5 feet) with two regiments forward and 2 18inches to the rear of the forward two regiments.

1st Combined starts 12 inches away from the Austrian lines headed towards the crest of Mount Cer.

The Serbs crashed into the Austrian line with full effect. The Austrians were scattered in their deployment and were doing their best to just hold on. Casualties in the forward two regiments of 21st Div were severe enough to cause morale checks for both regiments. The first broke while the second held on. 1st Combined Serbian division had taken casualties but no where near the amount suffered by the Austrians, Half of Mount Cer was already in Serb hands.





Turn two saw the Austrian reserve Regiments from 21st start to move forward and engage the Serbs. In the close quarter fighting that erupted the Austrians suffered badly and a second regiment was forced to check and then fail morale. The entire division was now forced to check, but they passed and so were still fighting. Casualties were starting to mount for the Serb 1st Combined div though and two of its regiments were very close to morale checks.


Turn three 1st Sumaijda moved into position behind 1st Combined and quickly moved towards the Serbian left hand crest of Mount Cer. The fighting on the crest resulted in 21st Division breaking, but 1st Combined also lost 2 Regiments but were not forced to take a divisional check yet.



Turn 4 thru 6 saw the Serbs move into advantageous permission to Hold Mount Cer and were well placed when 42nd Mountain and 6th Infantry entered the fray.

Turn 7 and 8 - The Austrian commander thru the full weight of both divisions into action and while the 42nd Mountain faired well for the most part the 6th was struggling badly and in the ensuing shooting and close combat they lost 3 of 4 regiments and broke. The 42nd had little option but to withdraw even though they had 1st Sumaijda in a bad position. With 1st Combined open and on their flank the 42nd could only hope to withdraw without it becoming a route.

Turn 9 - 42nd broke off and made it off the field of battle although they were forced to lose all 3 batteries of guns.