ITLSU part of First Gaza, March 1917

[paulr]

The following is a report of our first Middle East game of If the Lord Spares Us by Too Fat Lardies. It is based on a historic action during the 1st Battle of Gaza, 26th March 1917.

"Column Commander considers it most desirable that mounted troops should press in on Gaza to assistance of infantry, which is on very extended front. General Chauvel is placed in command of both mounted divisions. The I.C. Bde. will be ordered to area Kh. er Reseim. General Chauvel should order Imperial Division move to the north about Kh. Kufiye [1 mile south of Beit Durdis] or Beit Durdis, to release the Anzac Division for attack on Gaza and sandhills from N.E. Aeroplanes report no enemy activity in Akra or Hureira areas. Report action taken.
Addressed Anzac Mounted Division, repeated Imperial Mounted Division, 53rd Division.
Desert Column, 1 p.m."

The Imperial Mounted Division has been ordered north to release the ANZAC Mounted Division to support the infantry attack on Gaza. 6^th Mounted Brigade moved to the Beit Durdis area to replace the Anzac screen.

The 1/1^st Berkshire Yeomanry has establish a strong outpost, 2 squadrons and HQ, on the top of Hill 405 to the east north east of Beit Durdis. The remaining squadron is in Beit Durdis.



The remainder of the Brigade is watering horses at a small water source discovered south of Beit Durdis.

One of the attacking Turkish battalions, supported by two guns, attack the Berkshire's outpost on Hill 405.



After a stout resistance the few survivors of the Berkshires were driven from the hill.



To the south two companies of Turkish MGs and another infantry battalion pushed on towards the Beit Durdis. The remainder of the Turkish force were still shrouded in dust clouds as they moved up.

Meanwhile the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry deployed in the rocky ground south east of Beit Durdis while the MG Squadron advanced on the southern flank.



The Turkish MGs near the central rocky area with an infantry battalion in support. Confusion appears to have overwhelmed the remainder of the Turkish force (their blinds card doesn't get drawn from the pack for the rest of the evening). Similar challenges afflict the British delaying the arrival of their reinforcements.



To the north the Turkish battalion that had cleared Hill 405 advanced towards the wadi and came across the remaining squadron of the Berkshires in a rocky area. Two companies charged the Berkshires but one was disordered by the rocky terrain and failed to close. The remaining company was repulsed with heavy loses.

The Turks were unwilling to charge again (their card wasn't drawn) but opened heavy rifle fire on the Berkshires. The fire was surprisingly accurate and combined with the casualties already suffered in the melee were enough to destroy the last of the Berkshires. (As shown the Turks rolled the five 5s or 6s which were required to kill all the remaining Berkshires, not bad with six dice ) The CO of the Berkshires rolled more than the 5 kills on his D10 so survived for the third time this game.



The Turkish battalion on the right, flushed with its successes, continues to advance down the wadi. The Turkish MGs occupy the central rough ground and the available artillery opens up on the advancing British MGs. The remaining Turkish troops linger in confusion. The British brigadier and his staff have arrived on table as have the 1/1^st Dorsetshire Yeomanry, who move towards Beit Durdis as the cards allow.



The arrival of the British Brigadier allows the off table British artillery, 1/1^st Berkshire Battery RHA, to open up on the Turkish MGs, and the Dorsetshire Yeomanry reaches Beit Durdis. The British MG Squadron opens up on the Turkish infantry and we gain an understanding of just how devastating massed MGs are. Over a few turns one company is wiped out and three more are withdrawing in battered states towards the rear.



British artillery fire has been hampering the Turkish MGs.



But the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry have been suffering mounting causalities from the Turkish MGs, despite the rocky cover they occupy.



So ended our first evening. The game was evenly poised and the scenario seemed to be playing reasonably well.

The British had lost the Berkshire Yeomanry and the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry were definitely suffering. The MGs were inflicting heavy casualties, the artillery was chipping away at the Turkish MGs and the Dorsetshire Yeomanry were well established in Beit Durdis.

From a Turkish perspective some early success was starting to be blunted against stiffening resistance. Getting the remainder of the forces involved would be the key to success.

[paulr]

After some questions of the Too Fat Lardies Yahoo group we confirmed that we were using the MG rules correctly, they really were that deadly!

We also decided to use two blinds cards for each side to increase the chance of a card turning up before the Tea Break card. This worked well allowing the Turks to get the rest of their forces into the action and the British to bring on bring on their last reinforcement while still allowing for significant friction of war and occasional very short turns.

The second evening of the game opened with the Turkish MGs redeploying then opening up on the British MGs, rolls like this did not help! (4 or better required to suppress).



The Turks deployed a further infantry battalion, Regimental HQ and 4 more guns from blinds and the victors of Hill 405 continued advancing down the wadi towards Beit Durdis. Both sides MGs were now attracting large amounts of artillery fire and suffering.



A British blind card allowed the British to deploy their last reinforcement, the 11th Light Armoured Motor Battery (LAMB). These attacked the victors of Hill 405 who had opened fire on Beit Durdis from the wadi.



To the south the fresh Turkish battalion advanced while the artillery pounded the British MGs forcing them to withdraw.



Some of the Turkish artillery had to be diverted to at least harass the British Armoured cars that were mercilessly machine gunning the Turks in the wadi. The LAMB had been led to the slaughter and were committing it.



In the south the fresh Turkish battalion charged the depleted Buckinghamshire Yeomanry in the rocky ground south east of Beit Durdis destroying this gallant regiment.



The Turkish artillery was ordered forward off the hill to take on the British armoured cars at closer range while the Turkish cavalry finally deployed and moved forward in an attempt to outflank Beit Durdis from the north. The Turkish battalion to the south east of Beit Durdis came under artillery fire as it prepared to attack the town and the battalion in the wadi continued to suffer from the MGs of the British armoured cars.



It was here that our second evening of gaming drew to a close. The remaining British forces decided to withdraw. The battered Turkish forces let them go and occupied Beit Durdis.

The Turks held both Beit Durdis and Hill 405 but thanks to the attention of the MG squadron and the LAMB they did not have two Tabur (battalions) at over 50% strength. So victory to the Turks but not a decisive one.

Over all I was very pleased with how my first ITLSU scenario turned out and the players all enjoyed the game. A few minor tweaks will make the scenario clearer.

[Steve J]

Great to see your troops in action .

[Leman]

What a great report. Very good to see that.

[Techno]

Great report and photo's !
Cheers - Phil

[jchaos79]

Your Gaza setting stuff is great and the battle is pleasure to read. I do not read the rules but seems interesting.

Thanks for sharing

[pierre the shy]

Great to see your troops in action .

This was a pretty bloody battle with lots of MG's so for some units it was a case of deploying quickly followed by handfuls of stands going back into their storage trays.    For the record I ran half the British force.

I really like the TFL rules we use. They produce a good game and the card system means no two turns are ever the same....its pretty hard to see the tea break card come up before you are able to carry out your masterplan (if you have one  )

Its ANZAC day #100 in three months so we are looking at putting on a suitable game, but not sure exactly what yet.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great looking game chaps.

[Hertsblue]

An attractive game, gentlemen. And I love the British and Turkish concealment markers. 

[paulr]

Thanks all

For the record I ran half the Ottomans 

[Leman]

Those Turks are a delight.

[cbr3d.com]

Real interesting read.  

The figures sure do look great on the battlefield.

[nikharwood]

Nicely done - inspiring me to get mine painted up...

[paulr]