Tuesday 20 May 2014

German Counter Attack 1918

A Through the Mud and the Blood game.



Advanced sentries with a Lewis gun see some movement


Oh my God !  Its a German attack !

More troops are spotted

The Lewis gunners pick off a couple

But they in turn are hit

Other British troops in a wood are still concealed

As, further back, is another section plus a field gun

The section in the woods opens fire revealing their position

As the Germans storm across the open fields

Those in front of the woods see their NCO go down

and two men, finding he is still alive, carry him from the field

The German CO orders forward a heavy MG to bring down some supporting fire

Just as the British field gun gets its firing orders

The foremost German unit attacks the woods

but the British repulse them - 4 Germans killed to 3 British.

As the Germans are thrown back

the German HMG opens fire on the woods

as a German light MG team skirt around the woods

and attack the remaining Tommy at that end

Over on the other side, a British unit is rushed forwards to try and stop the Germans getting to the cottage


and their heroic leader picks up the abandoned Lewis gun and hits the leading Germans

despite the carnage in the woods

the Germans try again

the field gun hits some of them

the attack goes in

and the British forced from the woods

the British sergeant being the only man left, is captured

Away right, the British have driven off the Germans with their heroic officer taking on four enemy at once !

However, with the key woods position in enemy hands, the British troops are ordered back to regroup.

Round one to the Germans !

Sunday 18 May 2014

Back to Portugal !

The first outing for the newly acquired Napoleonics ...

Here, the Anglo-Portuguese Army approach the battlefield


Two batteries of British guns unlimber watched by Cazadores in support

Massed French columns advance on their left flank screened by clouds of skirmishers



A Polish foot battery sets up in the centre of their lines


With drums beating they come on relentlessly

British hussars move up on the right of a British brigade


The French skirmishers open fire


British & Portuguese skirmishers do the same


RHA gunners fire on the columns


The Cazadores close up on the gun line as columns clash on the left



Polish infantry lead the attack

The foot battery gunners have gone !



Mounted officers try to get them back


The columns crash into the gun line

Over on the Allied left, French dragoons hit a Portuguese battalion in line


and they are ridden down



British hussars attack a French column on the flank
but make no impact






The RHA gunners are now also in trouble




The French have totally over run the British batteries


Having seen off the Polish & French artillery, Portuguese and British columns turn to attack French battalions that have just formed line


Their fire plus supporting units joining in defeat this desperate British attack and the day is lost


Time to retreat back to Portugal and lick their wounds.

We used In The Grand Manner rules which really do still float our boat !