ACTION AT NÉRY

        Western Front 1 September, 1914

Setting up

Amidst the splendour of an average Adelaide winter the table is constructed, terrain modified, rules rewritten, 10mm WW1 figures touched up, and sides decided.

Nery in lower Flanders slumbers in the mist and fog of early September 1914. The British 1st Cavalry Brigade under Brigadier Briggs has spread out through the village and is preparing to move off in the ongoing retreat after Mons. A patrol from the 11th Hussars reports Uhlans in the forest as the German artillery opens up.

Briggs orders the 5th Dragoon Guards to throw out two squadrons to guard the. Left flank. The mist hides everything and the Guards peer into the ravine.

The 11th Hussars race forward to man the leading edge of the houses bordering the ravine. They have nowhere near enough troops to man the necessary frontage.

L battery Royal Horse Artillery should never have been here; they straggled behind the Corps assets and came into Nery late. The 6 guns of the battery were lined up between the Main Street and the ravine with the limbers in pole down condition awaiting the renewed retreat. Hurriedly the gun sergeants attempt to get the guns into action. The Battery Major is killed in the first barrage. Targets appear out of the mist and disappear just as quickly. It is impossible to range the guns accurately. 

On the far right near the sugar beet refinery the 2nd Dragoon Guards take cover behind a sunken road. Runner have been sent to Corps HQ urgently seeking reinforcements. However given the army is meant to continue the retreat, it is unknown whether any assistance can be provided. 

1st Brigade peers into the mist.

2nd DG catch a glimpse  of what appears to be a Brigade sized mounted force approaching on the Refinery road. These are full strength German cavalry units and the 2nd DG feel very outnumbered. 

On the left 5th DG see another cavalry Brigade emerge from the woods and form a firing line along the edge of the ravine.

Not to be outdone, the 11th think they can identify an entire machine gun company and a full regiment of 77mm artillery. 

Briggs receives the various reports stoically atop his lookout in the Main Street. If the reports are accurate he is up against a full cavalry division with an attached field artillery regiment and brigaded machine guns. He estimates that the Brigade is outnumbered and outgunned by about 3:1. He can only pray that the reinforcements arrive in time. The only advantages he has are good old British pluck and the SME Lee Enfield rifle in expert hands.

Next time : Tsog gets down to the desperate biffo.

 ACTION AT NÉRY

Western Front 1 September, 1914

BACKGROUND

Following the Battle of Mons, the BEF began their long retreat. The rearguard action at Le Cateau offered little respite and both Corps continued towards the River Marne. On 29th August, the German Second Army attacked Lanrezac's Fifth Army in the battle of Guise. As Lanrezac fell back, von Kluck grasped the opportunity to swing his First Army across north of Paris to trap and destroy the Fifth Army. The 30th August was the fateful day upon which von Kluck's army changed direction and began crossing in front of the newly-forming French Sixth Army and the BEF.

General von der Marwitz's Second Cavalry Corps was tasked with protecting von Kluck's left flank. Von der Marwitz began to pursue Lanrezac but then diverted his cavalry southwards on 31st September on hearing of strong forces massing near Soissons. Leading the Corps, the German 4th Cavalry Division began to cross the River Oise that same day. The wooden suspension bridge forced the commander of the 4th Cavalry Division, General von Garnier, to leave behind his regimental and first-line transport, including the light ammunition column. At 6pm, his cavalry turned south at Offremont and crossed the River Aisne. During the night, the division wound it's way through the dense Compiègne Forest. The cavalrymen and their mounts were just as weary as the BEF: "lances dropped from tired hands and fell clattering to the ground, the horses showed signs of exhaustion, but still the advance went on." The division had already covered 400 miles in 23 days.

Meanwhile, the British 1st Cavalry Brigade was billeted overnight in the small village of Néry, on the southern edge of Compiègne Forest. They did not realise that they were the only British troops in the 4.5 mile gap between 5th Division and 19th Brigade. Neither side realised the other was so close until very early on the morning of the 1st September. The British were scheduled to move out at about 5 am. However they were delayed and had unsaddled and were waiting when a small British patrol entered the forest in the thick morning mist and immediately contacted Uhlans. After a brief skirmish, the British patrol raced back to Néry to warn their colleagues who were just making preparations to leave. Initially, the Colonel of the 11th Hussars refused to believe that the Germans were so close. He accused the subaltern of 'seeing spooks'. Fortunately, the subaltern had had the presence of mind to bring back a trophy - a German cavalryman's heavy green-gray cloak. Immediately, the Brigade began defensive preparations at the same time as German artillery commenced firing.

Inside the forest, despite having exhausted troops and limited ammunition, von Garnier decided to attack the 'uncovered and unsuspected' British force at Néry. One of the few World War 1 battles between cavalry was about to begin. Reinforcements were on the way but would they arrive in time to save the British 1st  Cavalry Brigade. Due to very thick and persistent fog and mist the Action commenced and continued with severely limited visibility. As one can see from John Fawkes excellent map below, the initial contacts occurred at under 500 yards.

In the next installment, the TSOG team will find out how to fight a Brigade against a Division and still get something approaching historical (or hysterical) accuracy.

Ravenfeast AAR - Scenario Back to the Boats!

Monday night (May 22) we tried a new set of rules, Ravenfeast and played a Dark Ages skirmish.

We used the first scenario in the rules book called ‘Back to the Boats’. We played the game with two rival Anglo Saxons war bands. The smaller (blue) force had to exit a Lord/Hero from the opposite table edge to the one they started on with at least half their war band to gain a major victory, exiting just a Lord or a Hero would gain them a minor victory anything else was a victory to the other side (the red side), there was no turn limit.

Lord Neugegg commanded the smaller blue force of 301 points;

1 x Lord                                           

1 X Hero Hearthguard                     

2 x Hearthguard                              

2 x Veteran Fyrd                              

3 x Fryd                                           

2 x Bowman                                    

Lord Copley commanded the main red blocking force of 255pts

1 x Lord                                              

2 x Hearthguard                               

2 x Veteran Fyrd                               

3 x Fryd                              

2 x Bowman

And Sheriff Galloway commanded the flanking red forces trying to block Lord Neudegg;
2 groups of totalling 248 points each comprised…
1 X Hero Hearthguard                     
1 x Hearthguard                               

2 x Fyrd                                              
1 x Bowman

The tabletop layout, blue is where Lord Neudegg deployed...

The AAR, or should I say Saga...

It was a miserable wintery day as Lord Neudegg lead his hearty war band on a foraging foray to the north of their hillfort, all did not bode well though and evil portents gathered from the gloom. Sensing the direness of their situation the Lord and his men were struck by an uneasiness, fearing for their lives and hastily turned south to regain the safety of their encampment!

They felt danger with good reason, Lord Copley whose own 'Kingdom' was nearby had heard tales of Lord Neudegg's sortie and had struck out with all his available fighters to bring him to his knees and either gain his allegiance or dispatch him for the scoundrel he was.

The sun broke through the dreary clouds as Lord Neudegg sighted his foes, he roared to his breathren, "Ye foes are to our left, to our right and also before us, charge into yon valley of death my brave men and gain glory in defeating our wretched enemies!" (hmmm Shakespearean Tennyson type Dark Age speak interesting). Lord Neudegg's noble few charged forward while archers covered their flanks!

Lord Copley seeing his enemy told his men to prepare to receive a charge and signalled his lackey the Sheriff Galloway to take Lord Neudegg in the rear (ouch!)!

A fierce struggle ensued where every one of Lord Neudegg's retinue was slain, epic struggles took place here and there on the field of glory as several Heroic figures clashed with their lessers and took many a good man to their grave, after this slaughter Lord Copley and Lord Neudegg faced off man to man, well actually Lord Neudegg faced Lord Copley accompanied by several of his warriors and in a spectacle to end the ages they fought long and hard in the end Lord Copley prevailed!

Some Pictures

Lord Copley's war band in the foreground awaits the charge from their foes!

Sharp eyed may notice since I don't have any painted Anglo Saxon archers so some suspiciously ancient Germanic looking guys are standing in!

On rushed Lord Neudegg's men, uncharacteristically both the Lord and his 'Heroic' offsider Bob are in the last rank...WHAT!?!

Our field of glory! Lord Neudegg's Band can be seen in the central position...

Archers loose! In general the archers performed badly and we quickly realised they are best used to pick off lowly types as armoured warriors save/armour factors are too high!

Lord Neudegg's men avoid the four man 'shield wall' Lord Copley had created and picked off easier targets hoping to break through to the exit area! Not sure you can form a shield wall with four blokes but I suppose the term adds character and perhaps they are just huddling close for support?

The Sheriff's men quickly catch up with Lord Neudegg!

Lord Neudegg and a few of his war band break through the defensive line victory is in sight!

Lord Neudegg's men are cut down...

...he (on the left below) is engaged by Lord Copley (on the right with red and black shield with a white bit…)

Outnumbered...

…Lord Neudegg is felled...or is he?

Afterwards Stuff

Well the game played well, even though this was our first go at these rules everything ran smoothly and quickly, we only referred to the rules themselves a couple of times and the only thing we couldn't find in the rules we easily resolved! Did the rules play out historically we're not that sure but it felt like a brawl with is probably what you'd expect from a group of blokes some in mail with shields, swords, spears and bows! A Lord vs Lord fight could go on for quite a while both hitting on 5 or less on D6s and saving hits on 5 or less on D6s and needing three successful hits! In our game once Lord Neudegg was alone and surrounded by foes his demise was only a matter of time...well did he actually die or was he just left bruised in a pool of blood, I think we may see him again in future Ravenfeast games!

Blucher AAR Day One of the Battle of Kulm

Monday April 8 we played a Napoleonic game using Blucher rules, this is the first time we've used these rules in ages! There were three of us on the night so Dave took the Russian side, George took on the French and I would umpire!

The scenario is based on day one of the Battle of Kulm, day two becomes quite a one sided affair but day one poses an interesting situation. A quick summary of the situation; the Battle of Dresden had been won by Napoleon and the Allied Armies are retiring, a French Corps believing the main French Army was pursuing the Allies moved to cut off their retreat. So we have Marshall Vandamme's Corps deploying into battle against the Allied Army's Advanced Guard of Russians led by General Ostermann-Tolstoy.

In the game victory can be achieved by occupying Straden and Priesten after 20 Plyer Turns or breaking the enemy Army.

    How the game unfolded;

Both sides initial moves are arrows outlined in black and their later moves are the arrows outlined in yellow...red 'blasts' are where close combat or volley duels ensued...

The Battle

The French advanced rapidly and planned to weaken the Russians with artillery and skirmish fire before closing in to defeat them with cold steel, the Russians decided to used the stream as a defence line and hold the required towns at all costs!

Unfortunately for the French there plan was scotched by the Dice Gods, they successfully closed to skirmish range and then proceeded to roll a lot of shite dice, at one point they had got a single 6 after rolling 54 dice! Meanwhile the Russian artillery was hitting the advancing French regularly and their Units advanced to the stream as planned.

With turns running out the French advanced to get in close and things started to get better for them. They captured Straden and finally got some 6's while using volley fire. Several Russian units were hit hard and the Russian 14th Division was virtually obliterated! The Russians then used Guardsmen to recapture Straden at bayonet point, pinned the French horsemen and pulled their right flank back away from the now rampaging French! It was looking dodgy for them but the French were out of time. The Russians had held on as required!

At the end of the 20th Player Turn the Russians occupied both the objectives but had lost 4 Units and had several teetering on destruction, the French dropping just short of breaking them!

A Russian victory!

Some Pictures...

The battlefield at the games start the Russians in the foreground, the Units are all concealed.

The French advance on Straden, the pre attack fire had worn the defenders down to a single fatigue Point!

On the French left they advanced rapidly and despite the Russian artillery raining death on the columns started pushing the Russian flank back.

In the centre of the battlefield the French (in background of picture) engaged the Russian 14th Division with Volley fire, one Brigade is destroyed and the second retired with a single Fatigue Point left!

The overall battlefield situation after 10 of the 20 Player turns the French are to the left, for the attacking French half the game was gone neither objective had been captured and no Russian Units had been destroyed at this point, not looking good!

The French after taking Straden were ejected by the Russian Guard, below the French assault Straden a second time but on this occasion the Russians hold on!

The Russian left flank during the second half of the game was in disorder, Units were everywhere, the artillery was running low on ammo and the French were closing in!

On the Russians right flank they hold Straden but their Units are not well placed, many have taken losses and the French are across the stream! At this point the French ran out of time, a Russian victory.

The original Blucher Dice Shako got a good workout on the night!

So a good night, the French suffered from very poor dice rolling and there game was pretty much consigned to the dustbin because of it! This is not an easy scenario for the French to win but it is definitely possible, in this game they inflicted a lot of casualties on the Russians so a good tactic would be to try to win by destroying Units threatening the objectives the Russians must hold onto. 

We decided we would play Blucher again next fortnight!

Lastly we would like to thank Tim who runs a great blog called Tales from a Wargame Shed for sharing this scenario for everyone to use! He has a lot of scenarios for various rule sets on his site, here is a link...

Tales from a Wargame Shed Link

War of the Roses Battle - Impetus AAR

Still catching up on old AARs!

Monday March 25 Maurice hosted us for a War of the Roses Game, George and I played the House of York and David an Maurice were representing the House of Lancaster, we used Impetus rules.

The deployments saw the Yorkists place some horse in the centre and left with foot of varying quality in support, The Lancastrians set up all their horse on their right with their artillery and their best foot in support then varying quality of foot along the rest of the line.

The battle unfolded with the Yorkist centre and right advancing whilst the Lancastrian opposing centre and left did too, this lead to the lesser Lancastrian units up against a mixed lot of Yorkist ones, the better quality Yorkists units began to win. This then led to a rash charge by the Lancastrian horse on their right which failed and the redeployment of much the infantry on the right to the centre where it was ground down. The Lancastrian left at this point 'broke' and their army decided withdrawal was the best option, a victory to the House of York!

Some Pictures...

York placed its best horse unit in the centre, it literally rode down several Lancastrian foot units its placement was rucial as there were no horse to face them from the Lancastrian side...

Yorkists in the foreground advance!

The Yorkist's artillery proved useful, in the background you can just make out the foot from the Lancastrian left redeploying to boost their crumbling centre!

A close up of Maurice's fine figures!

The Commander of the Yorkists left is the foreground looking on as his troops hold off the late charge by the Lancastrian right...

Grinding melee went on all along the line...

The figures and terrain Maurice supplied were up to his usually high standard!