ITLSU - A Hill in Palestine 1918

[Martin1914]

Easter has been an opportunity to get together and have another WW1 game of 'If the Lord Spares Us' (Too Fat Lardies) using 10mm figures.
It's September 1918 and Allenby's Megiddo Offensive is in full swing and XX Corps, after the initial assault, is now pushing north through the Judean Hills towards Nablus. A British Empire Brigade with two of its battalions is confronted with a hilltop defensive position manned by an understrength Turkish regiment. It must capture the position at daybreak.
The British brigade has an Indian battalion (Havildar Heroes - SR2), a Cape Corps battalion (African 'ave a Goes – SR2), an Indian MG company (Kukri Killers – SR1) and is supported off-table by two British 4-gun 18pdr batteries (Jolly Good Fellows – SR0). The Turks have two weak battalions, each with a MG company (Pasha Basher – SR3), and a regimental MG company (Johnny Turk – SR2). Off-table artillery support is provided by a 2-gun 77mm battery (Pasha Basher – SR3).
(Pic1) Major Morkum Bey (Young Turk) has deployed his force under Blinds. His 1st and 2nd Battalions man the trench system in the west and east halves respectively. A small redoubt is situated a little lower down the western spur into which he placed the two MGs of the regimental MG company. Here it could protect the western approaches and also cover the valley road below the hill. Morkum Bey could use 12" of (Strength 4) wire and opted for a continuous belt protecting the main position at the top of the eastern spur. He deployed a small patrol (Dummy Blind) in the village at foot of the eastern spur. All units were on Hold orders.
(Pic2) The British were to enter the table at the southern edge. However, the Brigade Machine Gun Officer had been ordered to go forward during the night and be in position to support the attack at dawn. He deployed his MGs under a Blind on a small hillock opposite the village.
To be continued....

[Martin1914]

(Pic3) Brigadier Pilkington-Smythe, an experienced Old Etonian, was eager to launch his brigade but not until he knew what he was up against. He went forward onto the western spur to conduct his own reconnaissance and spotted the Turkish MGs in the small redoubt. He also knew that the RAF were due to send a reconnaissance plane over the area shortly to be of assistance.
The Turkish patrol in the village spotted the MGs on the hillock across the valley. Morkum Bey now faced his first command decision. With only two on-call artillery fire missions available should he go for the enemy MGs? Rationalising that MGs dominate ground but can't take it, he would wait for the enemy infantry.
(Pic4) Almost on cue Biggles arrives! After two passes the BE2c dropped messages to Pilkington-Smythe's HQ confirming that the village was empty (it spotted the Dummy Blind) and it had detected the Turkish battalion in the eastern half of the trench system.
To be continued....

[Martin1914]

(Pic5) The Indian MGs were not to open fire until the any supporting artillery fire arrived. But they remained vigilant and spotted the remaining Turkish battalion on the hilltop. Pilkington-Smythe now believed he had identified all of the enemy before him and immediately had the brigade staff prepare and send a 'timed barrage' fire plan to support his attack. With enough ammunition for seven fire missions, he wanted both batteries to hit the redoubt simultaneously and then switch onto the enemy wire. Destroying the wire was a gamble, but he considered the western spur to be a long climb and didn't want to expose his men that long over open ground. Although the Turkish MGs in the redoubt were still a threat, the eastern spur, in crossing the valley road and moving up through the village would provide more cover from fire.
(Pic6) The Royal Field Artillery could always be relied upon. In no time at all the 1st Battery hit the redoubt dead on and started to suppress both MGs. However, the 2nd Battery dropped short and its fire was ineffective.
To be continued....

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great looking game chaps!

[Martin1914]

(Pic7) The Machine Gun Officer could see the supporting artillery serials begin but hadn't received orders from brigade to engage.
(Pic8) The 1st Battery was the first to switch onto the wire damaging its eastern end by one strength point. 2nd Battery remained on the redoubt, giving more effective fire and suppressing the MGs further.
To be continued....

[pierre the shy]

Nice looking table Martin.

I can understand Brigadier Pilkington-Smythe's reluctance for a long march up the western spur having played in a broadly similar game recently where some of the the assaulting infantry were roughed up a fair bit before their Civil Service comrades carried the Ottoman positions: http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,16966.msg253012.html#msg253012

Love the BE2C - is that a 1/144 Red Eagle (ex Skytrex) model?

Look forward to seeing what happens next.

Must be time to get my 1914 BEF out for another game soon too.

[paulr]

 

I'm interested to know how you get such good looking contours

I'm looking forward to hearing how  Major Morkum Bey's defense goes.

We are planning on doing something from Allenby's Megiddo Offensive in September to mark the centenary, haven't come up with a scenario yet, might involve the Germans of Pasha II

[Steve J]

Great looking game

[sunjester]

That's a very effective looking set up. I'd also be like to know how you are doing it. 

[Martin1914]

Morning everyone.

Thanks for your comments.

Pierre - I bought a BE2c, a Rumpler and a Taube from Shapeways. Postage makes them more expensive than others, and they need a lot of paint. But I'm pleased with them.

The terrain is contoured from various sized and shaped 1" polystyrene sheet, over which I laid a felt cloth, then the coloured game cloth you can see. Terrain items are then placed on top.

Regards to all
Mart

[paulr]

Thanks Mart, I suspected felt cloth, it works really well

[Martin1914]

(Pic9) Signals flashed in a hive of activity at the British HQ. Pilkington-Smythe ended his Machine Gun Officer's frustration and got his MGs to engage the Turks in the redoubt to continue suppressing the enemy MGs there. He knew the artillery barrage was about to lift from that target. Now was the time to order his infantry forward. Both battalions were ordered to advance to the village. The cover from view provided from the valley and the buildings meant they were able to remain unspotted.
(Pic10) The full weight of the barrage had now lifted onto the wire. But it was a hit and miss affair. The gun layers needed to keep focussed on those dials and aiming posts! One serial overshot, hitting the trench behind, suppressing a Turkish company but causing no casualties. The other battery dropped short. As the dust settled, Pilkington-Smythe looked through his binoculars. He could see the wire had been damaged along virtually its entire length, but it still remained uncrossable. Disappointingly, his gamble had failed. He would not be able to attack with both battalions side by side. His men would have to go around the wire.
To be continued....

[Martin1914]

(Pic11) The Empire infantry broke into the open ground above the village in column of companies and were automatically spotted by the Turkish defenders. The Cape Corps led on orders to attack the trench system. The Indians were to advance behind the leading battalion.
Morkum Bey in his HQ, in the centre of the trench system, smiled and rubbed his hands together. Allah be praised! He immediately called for artillery fire on the target he'd been waiting for, onto the centre mass of enemy infantry. Knowing the state of those gunners he was astonished at the prompt arrival of shells arcing overhead. However, his head fell into his hands when he saw the fire fall harmlessly 15" off-table to the east. Those 'Pasha Basher' gunners couldn't have missed by more even if they tried! What a waste of ammunition, what a missed opportunity!
(Pic12) Whilst the enemy were still trudging uphill, Morkum Bey had time to respond. He ordered the redoubt MGs to enfilade the enemy attack. But due to their continuing suppression from the enemy MGs and the effect of dead ground, their fire against the rearmost Indian companies was poor. To provide some defence in depth against the anticipated enemy attack, he ordered the 1st Battalion to move a company from the west end of the main trench to man the rear communication trench. These orders kept his small staff busy and he was unable to call for more artillery fire. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion was still on hold orders and opened rifle and MG fire, cutting the two leading Cape companies to pieces. Was this going to stop the enemy attack?
To be continued....

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Ohhh - cliffhanger! 

[Martin1914]

(Pic13) No. The South African officers kept the battalion moving. The two rear companies pushed through the carnage of the leading companies, moved round the wire and assaulted the eastern end of the Turkish trench line. Beaten in close combat the remains of the defending Turkish company escaped out the back of the trench and retreated beyond the communication trench.
Initial success for the Cape Boys brought them into another immediate round of close combat with the Turkish 2nd Battalion's remaining company further up the trench line.
(Pic14) In vicious butt and bayonet fighting within the confines of the trench the Cape Boys nearly wiped this second company out. The surviving Turks ran to the far end of the trench system. Not even the pistol waving Morkum Bey could stop their flight. The Cape Boys has successfully broken into the Turkish position, destroying an enemy battalion in the process and leaving the remaining Turkish officer commanding that battalion's MG.
In the small redoubt, the weight of Indian suppressing MG fire had forced the Turkish machine gunners to quit their position. They would take no further effective part in the action and had been prevented from firing on the enemy infantry.
Pilkington-Smythe could see that the South Africans were on their own, and the Indians were being slow in moving to their support. They were not responding to his orders through his signal base, so he took the decision to move down towards the valley road closer to the action. Brigade HQ went 'silent' during this move. L/Cpl Jones of the Signal Section swore to himself. He'd spent all morning laying line and now he had to reel all the bloody stuff back in again!
To be continued....