All,
Greetings, and welcome to another new wargaming blog, in which I'll play out various actions of the Arab-Israeli Wars, from the War for Independence to present. We start in 1948: It's 28 March 1948 in the Palestine Mandate. Times have been rough in recent years between the Jews and Arabs, but now, with the pending British departure from the territory, the violence has escalated. As the Brits prepare to leave, both the Jews and the Arabs jockey for position, with former neighbors picking up weapons against each other. To add to the volatility, Arab volunteers from the nearby Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon are arriving in the area, while the Jews are added to by refugees from war-ravaged Europe seeking asylum.
Introduction
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/introduction.html
War of Independence Campaign Plan
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/war-of-independence-campaign-plan.html
War of Independence Roster
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/war-of-independence-roster.html
First Battle Report
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/war-for-independence-fight-1.html
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mVUai_L2oH0/WT3-oIZ18GI/AAAAAAAAdaE/97xvt-RI-LM9CiKMzo5wjpbqq-k72pb7QCLcB/s1600/IMG_2326.JPG)
The firefight is intense, with both sides taking casualties. I've already played the second game and am working on the batrep, so stay tuned for more fun.
V/R,
Jack
Jack,
This is going to be another of your projects I'm going to enjoy watching. You pick great subject matter. :-bd
Thanks man, I appreciate it, and glad you're looking forward to my little wars.
V/R,
Jack
Nice stuff!
I really should give " five Men" a try. I gave five Men in normandy lying around, nut haven't played them yet.
I made soms Japanse dom warlord games on wednesday, so once those and My USMC are painted i'll give them a spin!
I'll gave To check for stats though, don't think they are included for usmc/japan. Shouldn't Be Too hard To figure out...
8)
Cheers - Phil.
Really nice stuff,
particularly like the simple but effective terrain - the 'tracer' markers are a nice touch too, particularly for storytelling on the blog
Quote from: petercooman on 16 June 2017, 06:13:03 AM
Nice stuff!
I really should give " five Men" a try. I have five Men in normandy lying around, but haven't played them yet.
I made some Japanse from warlord games on wednesday, so once those and My USMC are painted i'll give them a spin!
I'll have To check for stats though, don't think they are included for usmc/japan. Shouldn't Be Too hard To figure out...
Fixed all the stupid auto correct errors. That's what happens if you type English and have your autocorrect set to 'dutch' :d
Just printed 5 men in Normandy +the rifleman's guide and heavy metal expansions. Can start reading. Any major difference with 5 men in kursk?
Thanks guys, glad you like the concept and I appreciate the kind words.
Peter - Sounds great; as you've seen, I'm a huge fan of the 5Core system. Regarding 5MIN vs 5MAK, there is a lot of overlap, but the big differentiation is in troop activation.
In 5MIN you have your guys, between a fireteam and a squad, so let's say 5-10 guys typically. At the beginning of your turn you roll 1D6 for activation, and there are three options:
1. All of your troops can move, but not shoot, and the enemy troops that see one of your guys moving (and are in good morale state) can move.
2. All of your troops can shoot, but not move, and the enemy troops that see one of your guys shooting (and are in good morale state) can return fire.
3. A 'normal' activation, which is the most likely, which means 1 out of every 3 of your figures can move and shoot/shoot and move. The guys that didn't do anything during your activation are able to react fire to enemy troops performing a 'normal' activation during their turn.
5MAK is a bit different, where you still have the three types of activation, but you roll 1D6 per troop, and you (as the player) decide which activation dice gets assigned to which troop, and thus what each figure is allowed to do that turn. There is still reaction fire, but it may not be taken if you activated during your turn (or plan to, if you're the second player).
I have made it a bit more deadly, and thus faster, by allowing each troop to activate during his turn AND allowing each troop to react during the enemy's turn. It also makes tracking activations much easier. Morale, fire combat, close combat, movement, etc..., are pretty much all the same between the two different rule sets.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you've got any other questions.
V/R,
Jack
Ok, looks like a big difference. I saw an example of play from FMAK and noticed you rolled and a surge was 1 guy moving on 1, shooting on 6 and normal activation on anything else. That explains it. Guess I can make that was for FMIN. Just roll 3 dice for a team of 5 and resolve like FMAk. Looks more elegant.
Have played 2 games and am liking it so far.
Hated the bail result though. I played on a2x2 so any bail result usually sends someone straight off. So I switched that to:
Bailed when in cover, same as flinching but add d3 turns of not activating.
Bailed when in the open: As normal.
Ihad a guy in good cover (a tench) bail, and he went out of the trench and in plain sight to be shot down. Makes more sense to me if he cowers in the trench ;D
Peter,
Two games, eh? Well, don't just tell me about it, where's the pics!!?? ;)
Regarding the bail result, I agree. I'll say this again, and I know a lot of folks don't like to hear it: part of what makes 5Core so great (in my humble opinion) is that it's eminently modifiable. I know there are lots of folks that believe you play a set of rules as written, and if you don't like something about the rules, the author is all screwed up ;) But these rules, I'm constantly changing things around to meet my exact needs for a certain era or setting, and you just can't break them.
For me, the heart of the system that ports to everything is the command roll(s), the combat system of 1s and 6s, and the Kill/Shock results. The implementation of the finer details within each of those is simply flavor, to be tailored to what you're looking for.
So, good luck with the rules, I hope you enjoy them (I've played more than 200 fights using them, can't get enough of them), and please post your batreps.
V/R,
Jack
Yeah they seem pretty solid in the core, so i will have to do my best to break them ;D
No pictures because i tried them out with unpainted models, and i don't take pictures if it's not all painted. (well i normally don't game if they aren't painted, but i was just eager to try them out)
Peter,
Good luck breaking them! ;)
And I gotcha on the pics, just really enjoy reading your stuff. So hurry up and get your dudes painted! ;)
V/R,
Jack
All,
It is 0415 on 30 March 1948, and the Jordanians have returned to the northern edge village of Mar Gush. Two days ago they approached further east and were treated rather roughly by Baruch Eitan's 1st Platoon. The Company commander, Captain Avi Peled, had been switching out the platoons on watch at the roadblock east of the village, on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Road. As of 0415, 3rd Platoon was manning the roadblock, 1st Platoon was manning outposts in a 360 degree perimeter around the village, and 2nd Platoon was located in the center of the village, acting as a quick reaction force, able to move against threats at all points of the compass. At 0405, member of 1st Platoon manning the outpost to the northeast, across the shallow (fictional) Nelani River, came in to report movement to Avi, the Company commander, and he immediately summoned the 2nd Platoon commander, Lt Danny Tzur. Danny was a 29-year old, American born Jew was drafted into the US Army in May 1942. In boot camp he was recognized as having leadership potential and so upon the completion of boot camp he was sent to Officer Candidate School, minting a new 2nd Lieutenant in time to drop into France on 6 June 1944. Danny served as a platoon commander, company executive officer, company commander, and battalion operations officer throughout the campaigns in Normandy, Holland, and Belgium, returning to civilian life in mid-1946. Back home in Toledo, it was his parents that first pointed out the plight of the Jews in Palestine, and with a steadily deteriorating situation in 1947, Danny crossed the ocean and arrived in Tel Aviv just after the New Year, 1948.
Avi quickly explained the situation and what needed to happen; Danny immediately gathered his men and began moving towards the enemy. Avi stated: "Danny, I'm not sure what exactly is out there, so I'm coming with."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jn_4VArzd6o/WT70l2hxhnI/AAAAAAAAdbo/sXyDIB8KxoUXnSh9uhDfywhUkElB-10qwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2348.JPG)
Overview, north is up, looking at the north edge of the village of Mar Gush. At top right is a portion of the Nelani River, at center right is a citrus orchard, at center left is what is now known as Cemetery Hill (and it will be referred to as such here). Spread from left to right across the bottom of the photo are various homes and shops of the villagers of Mar Gush.
At top left (northwest) and top right (northeast) you can see Jordanian Army elements approaching Mar Gush from the north. At bottom left (southwest) you have Danny leading half of 2nd Platoon forward towards Cemetery Hill, and at bottom right (southeast) you have Avi leading the other half towards The Orchard.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2hw_sgfkgls/WT73nXvhJFI/AAAAAAAAdgY/qmxJL6_WOP8-LB6BHBpqlr_mtqu8AYCiQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2429.JPG)
Bodies are stacking up atop Cemetery Hill, as Ephraim (bottom left), a former Palmach commando returned home to defend his village, turns his Sten on several Jordanians (top right) moving across the fields into The Orchard. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/war-for-independence-fight-2-part-1.html
And this is such a long fight that I've decided to split the batrep into two parts. Sorry, but we'll pick up again soon, the situation very much in doubt, things not going overly well for either side, the Jews about to make another push on the far right, skirting The Orchard. Coming right up, so stay tuned!
V/R,
Jack
Nice report
Very nice indeed, Jack ! :)
Cheers - Phil.
Thanks Lemmey and Phil!
V/R,
Jack
All,
Here is the second part of fight number two in the Israeli War for Independence, where the men of 2nd Platoon are fighting off soldiers of the Jordanian Army on the northern edge of their home, the village of Mar Gush.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hQDfRP1-iy0/WT74rqXQjOI/AAAAAAAAdiE/e7WOHSY2mk8idknvRQwZkxIBTZQDY6GZQCLcB/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG)
Fighting at The Orchard is ferocious! Abel stands alone, charged by three Jordanians. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/war-for-independence-fight-2-part-2.html
So, a heck of a fight, lots of fun, despite being more of a stalemate than a real victory. I'm treating this as both sides falling back; the next fight will be 3rd Platoon fighting in the south, and then either 1st Platoon or 2nd Platoon will have to counterattack to re-take the northern edge of the village, which the Arabs have reoccupied during the night. More fights on the way.
V/R,
Jack
Awwwww! This is like watching a Flash Gordon Serial!
Will 2nd Platoon recover from its mauling? Will 1st Platoon have to take over the attach on the village? Can Dale escape the clutches of the Plant-Men of Chondor? Find out next time ...
I greatly admire your screnery - the little touches like the fruit stand - and I do tend to get a bit invested in the characters. I was a bit concerned for Gabriel, but he seems to be OK.
If I might comment on the activities of the Israelis: they do seem to lack any sort of co-ordination. Seems people just go running around without any thought of fire & movement or anything silly like that.
Great stuff. Bring on the next episode!
Nice report Jack old chap!
Lemmey - Thanks man!
FSN - Flash Gordon, eh? I hope that's a good thing. I've certainly been having a good time. Thanks for the compliments on the scenery, and glad to hear the characters are interesting; I fear I may have gone too far. That is, too much info on too many people. I'm starting to feel like I should have had less detail or less personalities. We'll see how it goes.
Regarding coordination, at least some of that is by design. While they have a few combat and/or military veterans thrown in, quite a few of the platoon members are simply village members with no training or experience (former high school or university students, the butcher, pharmacist, dentist, etc...), ditto for the significant number (~1/3) of the platoon members that are recently arrived European refugees. On top of that, the Europeans and the American don't speak Hebrew! So, as time goes on they will get better, and certainly in future wars they will be more professional.
In any case, thanks for reading and sharing some comments, I really appreciate it!
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, the third fight in the Battle of Mar Gush
It is 0505 on 30 March 1948, and while the 2nd Platoon is battling soldiers of the Jordanian Army on the northern edge of the Jewish village of Mar Gush, pickets have alerted Dor Peleg, former Sergeant in the Jewish Brigade, Palmach member returned home, and commander of the 3rd Platoon, of enemy soldiers approaching from the south, where the Nelani River, passing east of the village, cuts back to the west. The Company commander, Captain Avi Peleg, is in the north with 2nd Platoon, and 1st Platoon is manning the roadblock east of the village on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road, so the 38-year old platoon commander does what he must: he immediately deploys his unit to the southeastern corner of the village, where they occupy prepared positions and steady themselves for the coming onslaught.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kMiofaR4Cro/WUmSisq5LoI/AAAAAAAAd6U/R0Rq68H3GjkPrzKw4QmfNqZ2aJVk7b_yACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2705.JPG)
Overview, north is up, the village of Mar Gush at top left, a small citrus orchard at top center, a Jewish trench line at top right, Cedar Hill at bottom left, and the Nelani River at bottom center/bottom right. 3rd Platoon is deployed in the trench at top center/top right (north/northeast), and the Jordanians are deployed at bottom center/bottom right (south/southeast). But things are about to get a little tricky on ya! Old Dor's a cagey veteran, got a few tricks up his sleeve; let's see how it shakes out.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hs0V-7n2p_A/WUmVoMt8h-I/AAAAAAAAd_M/H_l9vAkwolwMxJzF5e6y-DQwcOU7mnzbQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2784.JPG)
The fighting is fierce as the Jordanian infantry pushes hard to take the Jewish trench-line. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/war-for-independence-fight-3.html
Well, that wraps this one up. Next up is 2nd Platoon moving east to eject the Jordanians from their foothold in the village, stay tuned.
V/R,
Jack
Cracking report again, Jack.
I think you should have given them reinforcements. ;D ;D ;D Have a new rule so that you have to keep feeding them in. ;)
Cheers - Phil.
PS....Is the river frozen ?....Everybody seems to be able to walk on it. :D
Phil,
Thanks buddy, but...
"...should have given them reinforcements..." and "...have to keep feeding them in."
Why is everyone always plotting against me??? ;)
And if you're able to sculpt us a scale river with some actual depth to it, please do, you can sign me up for two! :P
V/R,
Jack
Oh...No, no, no.
You should be cutting the figures off at the waist, so it looks like they're wading through the water. Fix tiny little plastic bases, painted the same as the excellent river...Job done. ;)
Cheers - Phil ;D ;D
Quote from: Techno on 26 June 2017, 06:27:42 PM
Oh...No, no, no.
You should be cutting the figures off at the waist, so it looks like they're wading through the water. Fix tiny little plastic bases, painted the same as the excellent river...Job done. ;)
Cheers - Phil ;D ;D
Like these:-
Good report. Pretty sure the British Jews would have used a more anglicised version of their names, also, how are this polyglot from race communicating? Most English could not speak a second language until the later C20th?
Quote from: Ithoriel on 26 June 2017, 06:38:49 PM
Like these:-
Nice - and the bottom half can be used to portage canoes, etc. two figures for the price of one.
That's a cool idea for the river crossers, but I can't afford to have two sets of troops, one for rivers, one for not :-[ :-[
Lemmey - "Pretty sure the British Jews would have used a more anglicised version of their names..."
I suppose they de-Anglicized them when they came/returned to Palestine.
"...how are this polyglot from race communicating?"
Hand signals, pidgin Hebrew, pidgin English, Yiddish, French. Just like they did in real life. They had a helluva Hebrew immersion program going on ;)
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, the fourth and final fight in the Battle of Mar Gush
It is 0630 on 31 March 1948, and Danny Tzur's 2nd Platoon is preparing to finish its fight on the northern edge of the village. Two days ago, 1st Platoon fought the company's first fight in the War for Independence; Jordanian Army troops advanced on Mar Gush and the Jews were able to deflect it. Rebuffed, the Arabs returned the next morning, and Danny's platoon fought them to a standstill, with both sides falling back. While that was happening, 1st Platoon was manning the roadblock on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Road, east of the village. They had not received any direct contact from Jordanian infantry, but as of 0630 on 31 March they'd been under intermittent shell fire for about 24 straight hours. Additionally, yesterday morning, while Danny's men were fighting on the north side of the village, 3rd Platoon was involved in a desperate fight on the southern side of Mar Gush, barely turning back the Jordanian advance.
Overnight, Jordanian infantry infiltrated back into the northern end of Mar Gush, and now that morning has arrived, Danny is leading the counterattack to eject the Arabs from the village.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v1T22NaUVxY/WUmW-SSztiI/AAAAAAAAeAM/Mr6A9Dm7-IcsbfN_3Zcp0YkDQhZr0PReACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2579.JPG)
Overview, north is up. At center left is Cemetery Hill, and at center right is The Orchard, both the scenes of much bloodletting during the fight yesterday morning. Strewn across the bottom of the map are various homes and shops on the north side of Mar Gush. Of particular prominence are: Dor's house at bottom center left (Dor is the platoon commander fro 3rd Platoon), Giora's house (far right, just above the road), the Mayor's office (bottom right), and the Post Office (bottom center right, just right of the fruit stand).
The Jewish platoon (squad, really) is split into two sections (left, coming up Cemetery Hill, and bottom center left, coming up on Dor's House). The Jordanians are spread across the right (east) side of the map: a Bren team on the north bank of the Nelani River (top right), a Bren team on the 2nd floor of the Mayor's Office (bottom right), two soldiers on the roof of Giora's House (far right), and three pickets. One is on the road at top center, one is in The Orchard at center right, and one is on the 2nd floor of the Post Office (bottom center right, right of the fruit stand).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AoGzq4xCsg/WUmZ7C4HByI/AAAAAAAAeD4/H0BljUjXPUUzfPOBP6HS4u-21xv3BVWtACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG)
Danny, Eli, and Davi assault the Post Office. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/06/war-for-independence-fight-4.html
Thus concludes the Battle of Mar Gush. Total casualties:
Jews:
3 men killed in action
3 men discharged due to permanent injury
7 men wounded but able to return to duty within 30 days
2 men wounded but able to return to duty immediately
Jordanians:
55 men killed in action
10 men captured
A tremendous amount of arms and munitions were also captured, and it was all passed along to other Palmach/Haganah units, not even a single Bren was kept in the company (that's for you, Kyote). Avi was quite proud of his lieutenants and his men, they had proven themselves in the crucible of combat. And while this entire ordeal had begun only as a means to defend their homes, to a man they now understood the task that lay before them, the mission to establish a state of Israel. So as Avi, Baruch, Danny, and Dor began reorganizing and preparing the company for action to open the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Road, no one complained, all moved with a sense of pride and purpose. The operation apparently already had a name: "Operation Nachshon," scheduled to begin on 5 April 1948, only days away.
V/R,
Jack
Wow!
8)
Cheers - Phil
Thanks guys, I appreciate it!
Wait; Lemmey, is that 'wow,' like 'wow, what a great fight,' or 'wow' like 'wow, I can't believe he keeps posting this @#$%'? ;)
V/R,
Jack
Wow, like, wow!
Dammit...
;)
V/R,
Jack
Very good
Take care
Andy
All,
AKA, the first fight in Operation Nachshon
It is 0630 on 6 April 1948, and the company is going into action as part of Operation Nachshon, the Jewish operation to open the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Road in order to bring relief to the Jewish community in Jerusalem. While the men of the company were fighting to defend their homes in the village of Mar Gush, west of Jerusalem, Arab Liberation Army forces under Abd Al-Qadr Al-Husayni completed their encirclement of Jerusalem. A convoy bound for the Jewish Quarter (in Jerusalem) was ambushed on 31 March 1948, forced back with the loss of five vehicles and seventeen dead. Plans were made to mount as much offensive power as possible in order to re-open the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Road; the company, now more or less formally recognized as part of the Haganah (Jewish military), was included in those plans.
It is now 6 April 1948; on 3 April Jewish forces attacked the Palestinian village of Al-Qastal. Fighting has raged there for several days. The company is now being thrown into the fight, and Captain Avi Peled, the company commander, is personally leading the first action. He has maneuvered the company southeast of Al-Qastal, sneaking up behind an enemy machine gun position that has pinned down members of the Jewish Etzioni Brigade, which is trying to reinforce members of its unit cut off in Al-Qastal. Avi has Lt Baruch Eitan and his 1st Platoon with him, and they're plan is not only to eliminate the pesky Palestinian machine gun position, but then to attack into Al-Qastal itself. Following the battle of Mar Gush, Avi reorganized the company (which is actually platoon-strength), so that now each platoon (squad) has eight men (if you're not aware, casualties were pretty heavy).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SG2pAsIWLkg/WVgpWsz5AHI/AAAAAAAAeIo/_IaiB8GgS58fD2jO9ov-0J8w5MeXlqrhQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2801.JPG)
Overview, north is up. At top left is Raftan Hill, where the Palestinians have a machine gun that is holding up the Etzioni Brigade from making contact with troops they have cut off in the village of Al-Qastal (off camera to top), while at bottom right is Balagan Hill. A dirt track runs between the two, and at bottom left you can see an Arab farmer's humble abode.
At top left you can see a number of Palestinians on Raftan Hill, which is the position that needs knocking out so the Etzioni Brigade can get moving. Down at bottom center you can see the Jewish 1st Platoon. But at bottom right you can see something the Jews are unaware of: the Palestinians have another, supporting position up on Balagan Hill!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_oq76eoNeQ/WVgplxePPuI/AAAAAAAAeJA/kV1EUTsTKQokTE-pr7uwJXNZJBO5R3W7gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2807.JPG)
"Quiet boys, and follow me." Avi and Baruch lead the men across the dirt track (right), closing in on the enemy position (top left), as the former Jewish Brigade Sergeant, Eli Rabat, and the old WWI veteran of the German Army, Abel Landau, set up the machine gun (center right bottom). They are quite unaware of the enemy machine gun position behind them... To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/07/war-for-independence-fight-5.html (http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/07/war-for-independence-fight-5.html)
In any case, the world keeps turning. Freed up by 1st Platoon knocking out the machine gun position, the Etzioni Brigade pushes into the village of Al-Qastal, taking it, but then being pushed back out. The next morning the company was holding security to the south of Al-Qastal when orders came down: Etzioni Brigde was again making a push from the east, but the Arab Liberation Army had strongpointed an old Roman fort on the outskirts of the town. High Command wanted the company to make a nighttime assault to eliminate the enemy position.
Avi turned to Danny Tzur, the leader of the 2nd Platoon: "my friend, prepare your men."
V/R,
Jack
Big big fight!
Excellent scrap !
Cheers - Phil
Thanks Lemmey and Phil!
I should be able to post the next batrep tomorrow.
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, the second fight in Operation Nachshon
It is 0330 on 7 April 1948, and Avi is leading Danny Tzur's 2nd Platoon into the attack on an old Roman fort on the outskirts of the village of Al-Qastal. The village lies along the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Road, which is the lifeline for the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem. But the Arabs cut the road in late March, and now the Haganah has launched an operation (Operation Nachshon) to re-open the road in order to bring supplies and reinforcements to the Jewish Quarter.
Yesterday the Etzioni Brigade made an attack on Al-Qastal that was stalled by an enemy machine gun position, so Avi led Baruch Eitan's 1st Platoon in to eliminate the enemy MG. This allowed the Etzioni Brigade to take the village, but the Arab Liberation Army subsequently counterattacked and kicked the Jews out of Al-Qastal. This morning the Etzioni Brigade is again scheduled to attack the village, and in order to help clear the way for the assault, the company has been ordered to assault an old Roman fort on the southern outskirts of the village. Which is where Avi, Danny, and the men of 2nd Platoon come in.
It's 0330 and the Jews are creeping east along a sunken riverbed. As they get near their objective they will split into two elements: Danny will lead a machine gun team over to serve as a base of fire as Avi leads the assault element.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4vI1ZBK7Ko/WVgsgPuirVI/AAAAAAAAeM0/K31f1DDddhsdvuFO1qDycda5pVUjQxhfQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2870.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The streambed is at bottom left, with fields across the center leading to the old Roman Fort at right. You'll also note the two strands of barbed wire, with channel at center. And where there is barbed wire there are usually... landmines. 2nd Platoon is at bottom left, and now there are Arabs not only in the old Roman Fort, but they also have a three-man outpost in a sandbagged position (bottom right).
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHFI7xitdFo/WVgtku4og9I/AAAAAAAAeOg/U3BOBLfs0ZIF5ajZj62XQimxHAqPGtPqACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG)
Avi and Hiram dash forward to assault the old Roman Fort. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/07/war-for-independence-fight-6.html
3rd Platoon was called up to help evacuate the casualties as 1st and 2nd Platoons combined to occupy defenses in and around the old Roman Fort. They weren't there long though before news arrived that the Etzioni Brigade was having a tough time in Al-Qastal. They had penetrated the western end of the village, but were held up. High Command was calling for the company to attack from the south, targeting the Arab Liberation Army's headquarters in the east end of Al-Qastal. Dor Peleg, the 3rd Platoon commander and senior ranking officer of the company at this point, began prepping 3rd Platoon for the attack.
V/R,
Jack
Ouch
Yeah man, I swear I've never had such terrible dice before in my life...
V/R,
Jack
Looks great, and love the board. Very nicely done.
Terry
Thanks Terry, I appreciate it, and I'm glad you liked it!
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, the third fight in Operation Nachshon
It is 1100 on 7 April 1948, and Dor Peleg's 3rd Platoon is attacking south to north on the eastern end of the Arab village of Al-Qastal, its objective: the Arab Liberation Army headquarters in the village. This attack is in support of the Etzioni Brigade's attack, which has bogged down in the west end of the village. 2nd Platoon had just taken the old Roman Fort south of the village, but casualties have been so bad that 1st and 2nd Platoons have been combined, and they are manning defensive positions there while 3rd Platoon assaults into Al-Qastal from the south.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h1T9g8uCnwQ/WVgxK03QDcI/AAAAAAAAeQI/IUOev0hPeJY9gB5Dxyo23Pn6qdaAWuGQgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2922.JPG)
Overview of the eastern end of the village of Al-Qastal, north is up. Lots of dwellings and shops made of stone, numerous stone walls, the Jews will attack from the south, and their objective is the Arab Liberation Army headquarters, which is the building at top center.
You can see Palestinian Arabs spread across the top of the map, occupying the HQ (top center) and the buildings to its left and right. 3rd Platoon is spread across the bottom: Dor has a certain tactical flair. If you recall, his platoon fought in the south of Mar Gush, where he split his forces in the face of an attack by superior numbers, leaving several men to occupy a trenchline while he led the remainder on a 'right hook' to flank the enemy attack. It worked then, and now he's trying an equally risky plan: he has placed his machine gun team in the center, but then he decided on having two small (three men each) enveloping elements (bottom left and bottom right), rather than a more traditional, and more tactically sound, single enveloping element of six men. Aside from the fact they are more of assault elements than enveloping elements as the enemy's front is too broad to be flanked (due to tactical considerations: friendly fire to the left as the Etzioni Brigade is there, and not wanting to have an exposed flank as the edge of the village is just off table to right). We'll see how this goes...
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The platoon commander, Dor Peleg, spots an enemy soldier dashing across the road to help a comrade. Dor sights in with his Lee-Enfield, and fires. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/07/war-for-independence-fight-7.html
The remaining Jews of the company quickly consolidated their positions in the village of Al-Qasat; lack of manpower dictated they abandon their positions at the old Roman Fort, though they sent messengers to inform the local Palmach commander, Yitzhak Rabin, of the situation, and he was able to spare some troops to cover the southern flank, though he was unable to spare any troops to reinforce the company, now whittled down to a nub and expecting an Arab counterattack to re-take their headquarters. Which arrived mere hours later.
V/R,
Jack
Thought they weren't going to make it, blimey, that was close!
Anther great report....I'll have to come back...as I've had to rush through it, so quickly
Time to go and feed the MIL. =)
Cheers - Phil :)
Thanks fellers, next fight coming right up!
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, the fourth fight in Operation Nachshon
It is 1430 on 7 April 1948, and the remains of the Company are preparing for the inevitable Arab Liberation Army counterattack. Operation Nachson has been a real bastard so far, really racking up the casualties: it began yesterday with an attack by 1st Platoon on an Arab machine gun position that was holding up the advance of the Etzioni Brigade's attack on the Arab village of Al-Qastal. Things got tough when it turned out the Palestinians had a second machine gun covering their flank, which caught 1st Platoon in a crossfire. Despite this, Avi Peled's combat leadership carried the day, though the 1st Platoon leader, Baruch Eitan, was wounded bad enough that he would spend the rest of the war recovering. Early this morning, Avi led a second attack, this time on an old Roman Fort; the attack got off to a rough start when three Jewish soldiers, including 2nd Platoon's leader, Danny Tzur, stepped on landmines. Avi pushed the remainder of the platoon forward, but then he was wounded, with Eli Yadin and Hiram Laskov stepping up to take the objective. And then a few hours ago Haganah High Command tasked the Company to assault into Al-Qastal and take the Arab Liberation Army's headquarters. Dor Peleg, the 3rd Platoon commander, led his troops into the assault, but his plan was probably contained a bit too much tactical finesse. The left-hand assault element, including Dor himself, was torn apart by enemy machine guns, as was the platoon's base of fire; the attack succeeded purely on the personal bravery of Boaz Efrat.
Once Boaz secured the enemy headquarters building, the remainder of the company, now only twelve men, consolidated in preparation for an enemy counterattack. With Avi wounded, his friend and former comrade in the Jewish Brigade, Eliyahu Rabat, has assumed command, promoting himself to Lieutenant. He then put it to the platoon to elect two Sergeants and, in the face of their demonstrated valor, the picks were unanimous: the youngsters, Eli Yadin and Boaz Efrat. Out of respect for his former Jewish Brigade comrade, the machine gunner, Alon Shahak, was recognized as a Corporal.
In any case, the Company reorganized and prepared its defenses, and it wasn't long before lookouts reported Arab troops approaching from the east and northeast.
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Overview of the Arab village of Al-Qastal, north is up. Not much to say: The Plaza is at center, the Arab Liberation Army headquarters is at top center, and the food storage facility is at far right. The Jews are defending from the western (left) side of the table, while the Arabs are attacking from the east (right). The map, now with troops: you can see the Company spread across the far left side of the board, with outposts in the center and bottom center left buildings, while the Palestinians are advancing all across the far right side of the map.
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The newly promoted Sergeant, the 18-year old Eli Yadin, goes on a rampage! To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/07/war-for-independence-fight-8.html
There are still Arabs in the northeast, busily fortifying and reinforcing a home between their former headquarters and the food storage facility. Eliyahu responds: "Men, prepare for a counterattack, we must eject the Arabs from Al-Qastal!" Which is the next fight, of course.
V/R,
Jack
Getting a busted link on this one Jack. :'(
Thanks Lemmey, it's fixed.
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, the fifth and final fight in Operation Nachshon
It is 1530 on 7 April 1948, and the Company is preparing a counterattack. It's been quite an eventful couple of days: Operation Nachshon began yesterday with an attack by 1st Platoon on an Arab machine gun position that was holding up the advance of the Etzioni Brigade's attack on the Arab village of Al-Qastal. Things got tough when it turned out the Palestinians had a second machine gun covering their flank, which caught 1st Platoon in a crossfire. Despite this, Avi Peled's combat leadership carried the day, though the 1st Platoon leader, Baruch Eitan, was wounded bad enough that he would spend the rest of the war recovering. Early this morning, Avi led a second attack, this time on an old Roman Fort; the attack got off to a rough start when three Jewish soldiers, including 2nd Platoon's leader, Danny Tzur, stepped on landmines. Avi pushed the remainder of the platoon forward, but then he was wounded, with Eli Yadin and Hiram Laskov stepping up to take the objective. And then a few hours ago Haganah High Command tasked the Company to assault into Al-Qastal and take the Arab Liberation Army's headquarters. Dor Peleg, the 3rd Platoon commander, led his troops into the assault, but his plan was probably contained a bit too much tactical finesse. The left-hand assault element, including Dor himself, was torn apart by enemy machine guns, as was the platoon's base of fire; the attack succeeded purely on the personal bravery of Boaz Efrat.
Eliyahu Rabat assumed command of the Company and organized a defense, west of the Arab Liberation Army's headquarters building. The enemy came in strength, but they were channelized by the narrow village streets and the Jews were able to bludgeon them with small arms fire. With practically the entire enemy force suppressed by Jewish fire, Sergeant Eli Yadin charged into close combat and practically single-handedly broke the back of the Arab counterattack, personally killing four enemy soldiers and capturing another four.
But the enemy is holding onto a position in the northeast, and Lt Rabat has determined it is up to his men to eject the Arabs from the east end of the village.
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Overview of the Arab village of Al-Qastal, north is up. Not much to say: The Plaza is at center, the Arab Liberation Army headquarters is at top center, and the food storage facility is at far right. The Jews are attacking in the center, west (left) and south (bottom) of The Plaza, against the Arab strongpoint in the northeast (top right), which is a home they are hurriedly fortifying and reinforcing. The Jews are again being a bit careless about concentration of force, yet there's not much tactical finesse as the plan essentially to have the machine gun team (bottom center right) engage the Arabs (top right) while one assault element charges up the street on the left (left center) and the other charges up the street on the right (center bottom).
I guess this is what happens when your Company Commander and all three Platoon Commanders are recuperating from their wounds...
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Dor's assault, some might say predictably, is not going well. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://swordofgideonwargaming.blogspot.com/2017/07/war-for-independence-fight-9.html
Operation Nachshon continued for another week, succeeding in temporarily opening the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road, allowing several convoys to reach the Jewish Quarter. But it wasn't enough, and Arab forces soon blocked the road again, this time further east on some dominating heights near the village of Bab El-Wad. In Al-Qastal, the village changed hands multiple times, and the Arab Liberation Army local commander, Abd Al-Qadr Al-Husayni, was killed. The Palestinians retook the village in order to recover Al-Husayni's body, but then withdrew for several days in order to grieve their fallen commander. Following this the Arabs returned to Al-Qastal in force; the Jews withdrew from the village without a fight, but leveled every structure before leaving.
The re-closing of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Road was a pressing issue, and once again Haganah leadership began drawing up plans for another offensive to re-open the road, christened Operation Harel. As part of this process, and in the process of better organizing the Jewish forces, on 16 April 1948 a new unit was created, the 10th Brigade, AKA, the "Harel Brigade." The Harel Brigade was comprised of four Palmach Battalions and commanded by Yitzhak Rabin. The Company made quite a name for itself in the Battle for Mar Gush and in Operation Nachshon, and so when the Harel Brigade was formed, Yitzhak Rabin himself asked Avi Peled if he would join them. Of course Avi agreed, and so that day Avi's men became part of Company A, 4th Battalion. And the men became a part of Company D because part of becoming a 'real' infantry unit was understanding their numbers placed them at the platoon level, not the company level; this also meant that some of the promotions were going to have to be walked back, in order to conform to the brigade's table of organization. That is, the men became 1st Platoon, Company A, 4th Battalion, 10th ("Harel") Brigade, and "Captain" Avi Peled would soon become Lieutenant Avi Peled.
As part of Operation Harel, the Harel Brigade, of course, would be leading the way. It was set to begin that same day, 16 April 1948, but of course 1st Plt, D Co, 1st Bn was not ready due to casualties. Their Company commander, Rafael Eitan, sat them out of the beginning of the operation to convalesce and absorb some replacements. But very soon Avi would be leading 1st Platoon into action as part of Operation Harel.
V/R,
Jack
Nice report to finish this series Jack.
Hear, hear.
Cheers - Phil
Thanks guys!
These troops get a little bit of a break to rest and re-fit, but don't worry, there's still a long way to go in the War for Independence.
But next we're heading back to Cuba Libre for a bit, where things are heating up in South Leon. We'll be following a Cuban paratrooper company through a series of fights in a city just east of the capital of Pendrakenville, where a homegrown insurgency is being bolstered by Commies from FSNL. I'm using the old Ambush Alley rules, so stay tuned, should have the first one posted on Thursday.
V/R,
Jack
Yeah good report
Take care
Andy
I appreciate it Andy, glad you liked it.
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 18 July 2017, 07:49:13 PM
But next we're heading back to Cuba Libre for a bit, where things are heating up in South Leon. We'll be following a Cuban paratrooper company through a series of fights in a city just east of the capital of Pendrakenville, where a homegrown insurgency is being bolstered by Commies from FSNL. I'm using the old Ambush Alley rules, so stay tuned, should have the first one posted on Thursday.
Sounds good!
8)