ITLSU - V Beach 1915

[Martin1914]

Firstly, best wishes to all for 2022.

It's been two years in the waiting, but after three jabs and an LFT each, we finally met in the New Year for this 'If the Lord Spares Us' (Too Fat Lardies) scenario.

On 25th April 1915 the Allies launched their amphibious assault on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The British 29th Division, the last uncommitted Regular Army division was to seize a beachhead at Cape Helles. Half of 86th Brigade, reinforced by two companies of 2nd Hampshires (all Jolly Good fellows – SR0) under Lt Col. Carrington-Smith (SBO, CO 2nd Hants (Harrow)), were to land and capture the village of Sedd-el-Bahr and its surrounding defences to enable a further move inland. Ertugrul Bay was defended by 10th Company (Mehmetciks – SR1) of the Turkish 26th Regiment under Major Sabri Bey. (Photo1)

V Beach sits within a natural amphitheatre of rising ground, sealed off with extensive wiring. The British (Irish regiments) would be trying to get ashore using open rowing boats and the 'River Clyde', an improvised assault ship. (Jase's face dropped, "This is absolute madness!"). But how could any Turk survive the pre-landing bombardment from HMS Albion? (Photo2)

Report to follow.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Looking good

[Martin1914]

After what seemed like hours the bombardment stopped. As the dust began to clear the Turkish Major stared out to sea at a horizon filled with enemy ships. His men were shaken but had suffered few casualties. Urging them to their firing positions, he could now see lines of rowing boats full of enemy soldiers heading towards shore and a huge merchant ship bearing down on the beach. The invasion had come! He would have the honour of fighting and dying with the men of 10th Company. He was with an MG and two platoons in the trenches below Ertugrul Fort. Another MG and four platoons were concealed in the Old Fort and Sedd-el-Bahr village.
The British commander on the bridge of the River Clyde wasn't happy. Through his binoculars the wire defences seemed to remain intact from the bombardment. He daren't attack the beach frontally. The 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers in their rowing boats sent two companies towards the harbour. One ordered to take the Old Fort from the rear, and the other the village. A third company was ordered to skirt the cliffs at the western end of the beach, land and capture Fort No.1. (Photo3)

The Dublins managed to land in the small harbour and by the light tower without drawing any enemy fire. Perhaps they had caught the Turks by surprise? (Photo4)

[Martin1914]

The Turkish Major ordered all his men to deploy to open fire whilst the enemy were still a dense mass of men trying to get out of their boats. (Photo5)

The River Clyde was still 'inching' its way towards the shore. Frustrated, the British commander argued with the skipper to go faster, but he stated he knew how to ground his own ship! (Photo6)

[Martin1914]

Back at the harbour the Dublins crashed out of their boats under the suppressive rifle fire of the Turks in the village. (Photo7)

The Dublin company at the far end of the beach landed en masse. Little did they know they were under the waiting muzzle of a Turk MG below Fort No.1. (Photo8)

[Martin1914]

In an attempt to support the infantry, the Royal Naval Division crewed MG mounted on the bow of the River Clyde opened fire in the seaward side of the Old Fort. The right-hand Dublin company being nearest to the village, attracted most of the Turkish fire and lost two platoons. Their rearmost comrades clambered across the already landed boats in a desperate effort to reach dry ground. The left-hand Dublin company benefiting from the sacrifice of their sister company raced for their fort objective. However, the platoon of Turkish infantry inside beat them to the gate. (Photo9)

It took two rounds of close combat but the brave single Turkish platoon was overwhelmed by Irishmen. The Dublins broke into the fort and cleared their objective. The Turkish MG crew located in the Old Fort's southwest tower was forced to jump out over the fort's embrasure to perish beneath the fire of the River Clyde's MG. (Photo10)

To be continued

[fred.]

A super impressive looking game - was worth the 2 years in the making! I can't tell if is custom made terrain, or very artfully arranged scatter terrain?

I'm not surprised the British commander was shocked at the ask!

Did you play ITLSU as written? It looks a fairly small game, and there are obviously lots of special terrain involved?

[paulr]

         

An absolutely brilliant looking game

Things seem to be going better than historically for the Irish, so far

...
I'm not surprised the British commander was shocked at the ask!
...

The British were expecting 60-70% casualties at V Beach

[Martin1914]

Fred
Hello. Yes we played the rules as written, but we were a bit rusty. The game was based on the scenario in the TFL Summer 2011 Special. Specific for the scenario I bought the 'Clyde' and some cork bark and scratch-built the two forts. The rest are items from my terrain stores. As the collection increases I'm hoping each game I put on isn't a project in it's own right.
Regards Mart

[fred.]

I've got the 'Playing the Game' collection from TFL which brings together lots of their WWI content from specials, but not this scenario, unfortunately.

The first few games for a particular campaign or theatre can be rather an enterprise to setup! But hopefully the rest become simpler. 

We've played lots of ITLSU and find it plays well - but all rules seem to take a while to get your head back into. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Okay, that is seriously impressive! 

[Martin1914]

The remainder of the Dublins in the harbour didn't have the same luck and were cut down before they'd hardly stepped ashore. A battalion officer survived the Turkish fire with no option but to sprint for the safety of the Old Fort. (Photo11)

At the far end of the beach three densely packed boat loads of Dublins were helplessly caught by bursts of MG fire from the trench above before they could disembark. The bullets turned the boats to matchwood and the men were lost. The surviving boat remained unseen, with no wish to share their comrades' fate. The River Clyde's MG was able to switch targets but its fire was too late to intervene. (Photo12)

[Martin1914]

Nor could the River Clyde's MG fire suppress the Turkish MG to prevent further Dublin loss. In anticipation of troops landing from the Clyde and to provide a route into the Old Fort, the Dublins sent out a platoon to cut the wire on its seaward side. They too fell to MG fire at effective range. (Photo13)

The Dublins in the Old Fort continued to suffer in a prolonged firefight with the Turks in the village. The Turks were getting the upper-hand and Irish losses and suppression mounted. The Dublins' battalion officers were worried that they would now be unable to withstand a Turkish counter-attack with just one remaining platoon unless they were reinforced quickly. All the Irish blood spilt taking their objective would be for nothing. They watched anxiously as the Clyde finally ground to a halt and the towed lighter was moved into position to form a bridge onto land. (Photo14)

[Martin1914]

The British commander gave the order for the first of his troops to disembark from the River Clyde. Immediately, a company and Battalion HQ of the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers rushed out of the sally ports and across the lighter. Fate had dictated that the Turkish MG in the tower was no longer there. (Photo15)

Yet supporting MG fire from the bow of the ship was unable to stop enemy MG fire, now personally directed by the Turkish Major, and rifle fire from the Turkish trenches, tearing into the densely packed ranks. Half the company fell. (Photo16)

[Martin1914]

Retribution followed for the River Clyde's MG wiped out the Turkish MG in a single burst of fire! The surviving boat of Dublins now took their chance to land, for The Turkish Major had no one left to command below Fort No.1. The first Munsters jumped ashore, and the next company had to run the gauntlet. (Photo17)

The Turkish Major stood alone beneath Fort No.1. He was desperate to move his men down the trench line to protect the western end of the beach. But they didn't hear him for they were too intent on firing on the Munsters crossing the lighter. (Photo18)