Action Near Le Cateau - Late 1918

[monk2002uk]

My sons and I played an exciting game based on the final phase of the war. The context is that the German forces retreated through an important cross-roads after an earlier British victory. The British pursuit had been slowed by the ever-lengthening supply lines. The Germans have therefore broken contact with the British and have been able to organise a counter-attack. The aim is to get back to the cross-roads and occupy the village and the nearby farm in order to set up a defensive position that will further delay the British. Meanwhile, however, the British advance guard has come within sight of the cross-roads and the village. The scene is set for an encounter battle between the two sets of advance guards.

Here is an overview of the battlefield, taken by an observation 'aircraft'. The top edge of the table is facing North. The German forces will approach from this side. The British advance guard will approach from the 'southern' edge at the bottom. The cross-roads can be clearly seen. The farm complex is located in the top right quadrant. The other two buildings in the village are arranged either side of the road running east-west. The rest of the terrain has been largely untouched by the fighting on the Western Front.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

The Germans chose to advance all of their squads and teams onto the table during the first turn. Two squads headed for the farm as quickly as possible. A sniper and anti-tank gun teams covered the left flank. The third squad, anti-tank rifle team, and the field gun moved along the road. They were flanked on the left by the command team, FOO, and MMG team. The right flank was covered by the light Minenwerfer (medium mortar) and the Granatenwerfer.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

In this photograph, the British artillery can be seen paralleling the road. There is a British infantry squad protecting the right flank. A British sniper team is away over on the far British R flank just out of shot. The British advance is slower, with some units still off table. The longer supply lines were causing real problems at this stage of the war.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

The farm is from Total Battle Miniatures. The other two buildings are from Crescent Root. The fields are a mix of Hotz Mats, Noch (wheat field) and Faller. The close terrain is typical of this region of northern France at that time, as can be seen in this original aerial photograph:



Here are some photos of the set up, which better illustrate the buildings.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

Some more British squads took up position near the village.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

Meanwhile a German squad gets ready to occupy the farm complex.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

At the end of turn 1, the reconnaissance pilot returned and took an aerial photograph with his iPad. The German forces are skewed more towards their left flank. The British have concentrated their advance in the other half of the battlefield. The German field gun is in a strong position to control the road and take the restaurant under fire. The British field gun has made quick progress towards a position from which it could bring the crossroads under direct fire, as well as the farm and hotel if necessary.

Turn 2 coming up next...

Robert

[von Lucky]

Nice set up and looking forward to the rest.

And the poor cow that gets knocked out by the iPad when it falls out of the plane...

[Anna Elizabeth]

What an awesome set-up.

I really need to get playing again.....

[Cessna]

Very nice!

I particularly like the table and scenario, very well done!

[monk2002uk]

Turn 2 saw first blood to the Germans. The British sniper team opened fire on their counterparts at long range but missed. The German sniper returned fire, killing his British equivalent.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

The British field gun unlimbered and took up position in the field. The associated infantry section pushed forward towards the road. The German squads took up positions in the farm, discovering that the fields of fire were extremely limited especially from the outbuildings. The German squad on the road immediately took up position in the ground floor of the hotel. The AT rifle team ducked into the light cover to the right of the road. The Granatenwerfer and Minenwerfer continued to push forward through the hedges to provide additional flank protection. The MG08 took up position to take the restaurant under fire. The FOO pushed forward into the next field.

The rest of the British forces made their forward across the various obstacles. An infantry section made it into the ground floor of the restaurant. The Vickers MG team made for the second floor. The FOO and Stokes mortar team set up near the small bridge over the culvert.

Here is the aerial view of the battlefield at the end of turn 2.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

In the centre, the German anti-tank rifle fired at the British field gun but the shot deflected off the shield at the longer range. The British flank attack arrived. An Austin armoured car, which had been attached from 17th Battalion, drove on from the British left flank. It immediately opening fire with both Hotchkiss MMGs on the German anti-tank rifle in light cover. The AT rifle team went down in hail of bullets, killed to a man. The Minenwerfer returned fire on the armoured car, inflicting two pins. Smoke started billowing from the engine compartment but the crew were able to douse the fire. The Granatenwerfer opened fire on the British section that was flanking to their left, beside the restaurant. One infantryman was killed and one pin was inflicted. The fourth British section appeared in the fields next to the armoured car, opening fire on the Granatenwerfer. Its crew was halved, as the accurate musketry took effect. Here is the armoured car.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

The British field gun took aim at the ground floor of the hotel. An HE round went straight through one of the windows, exploding inside. Three German infantry were killed immediately. The rest of the squad was severely shaken. The Stokes mortar tried to screen the British forces in the restaurant but the smoke landed away to the right. The German field gun tried to emulate their Royal Artillery Regiment counterparts, firing on the Vickers MG that had now taken up position in the top floor of the restaurant. No such luck. The German FOO called in a fire mission on the restaurant but nothing happened. Here is the British MMG safely ensconced in its new overwatch position. The Crescent Root buildings are idea for these types of actions.

Robert

[monk2002uk]

The German MGO8 opened up on the British infantry section to the left of the 18 pounder from the German perspective. The British section immediately hugged the ground, reducing the number of casualties but leaving the men very shaken nonetheless. Seeing that the British were committed to their left flank, the Germans decided to debouch from the farm complex. The fact that the British FOO team had ranged in on the farmhouse helped the decision. Both German squads made their way as quickly as possible across the road towards the now open British right flank. It was a daring move, perhaps foolhardy... The sniper team and light anti-tank gun team moved forwards on the German's far left flank but both teams were now isolated. Here is the aerial photograph showing the situation at the end of turn 3.

Robert