We fought this battle twice, with a early war German Division assaulting a Brigade(+) of Belgians holding their supply line. August 1914 timeframe.
The goal was for the Germans to take both villages in 4 turns (2 hours of battle time), thus cutting the Belgian supply line to Liege. We used my Barrage WWI rules, but altered to Battalion Scale (each unit is a battalion).
First Playtest
Here are some shots from the game. Since this was the first playtest in a while we didn't quite finish this game in the evening. Germans were making very good progress, but were taking some punishment. Germans started with two Brigades on the board and a third arriving later (randomly on an Assets Arrive card)
- Eric and Mike (Germans)
- Jan and Charles (Belgians)
General situation: Germans have to take the two towns located on the main supply road (far side of the table)
Belgians ready for the attack. Although the Belgians looked entrenched the earthworks only represented hasty works: logs, dirt, furniture from town, etc. We rated at as CLASS II terrain for game purposes.
Photo from the Belgian perspective:
German 18th regiments advances in extended order towards their objective.
German machine gun company lurking in the fields.
German Jaegers advance in depth along a tree-lined road.
Belgian 75mm Krupp guns shatter a German column!!!
German artillery shatters the Belgian troops hold up in the town, while smoke is laid down to screen the assault. German MG company (left) opens up on the Belgian troops manning the hasty works.
Silly Belgian Commander (Charles)
Link to 90 more photos!
Second Playtest
The second playtest, the Germans were able to take the smaller town from the 2nd Carabinier regiment that was defending it, while the 8th German regiment breached the middle of the Belgian line overrunning 2 batteries and a Belgian infantry battalion, then rolling up the flanks of the other Belgian units holding the line. Suddenly another German brigade arrived on the battlefield to confirm the victory. We really had a great time. Game lasted 3 turns.
- Eric and Mike (Germans)
- Jan and Charles (Belgians)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezZHHqE8nes
1st Battalion, 2nd Carabinier (Belgians) await behind hasty works for the German assault!
LINK to more photos and another time-lapse movie from the other side of the table.
Cool photo of one of the battalions from the German 8th regiment storming the Belgian hasty works
Here you can see the German 8th regiment breaching all along the Belgian defensive line:
Just a spectacular game!
On the Board Gaming Side
We have been continuing to playtest When Whales Fight (1950s Korea) the block game to be Kickstartered as part of the Fog of War series from Academy Games. Top notch fun!
Also playing Crusader Rex (Columbia Games) and Command & Colors Napoleonics.
Cheers
Eric
