Battle of Beersheba 1917 game report

This post is a game report on the Battle of Beersheba. Details of the scenario setup can be found here on the previous post.

Troops deployed and objectives shown

The plan and orders for the Commonwealth forces were:

1. Use two infantry units to take Tel El Saba which would be supported by artillery.
2. Advance the mounted infantry and cavalry quickly across the plain and capture the guns. They would be followed by infantry supported by machine guns.

How did it all turn out...

The attack on Tel El Saba begins

Mounted infantry and cavalry move forward towards the Turkish lines around the town of Beersheba

First attacking casualties in the assault on Tel El Saba where the defending infantry units has supporting machine guns

The remaining mounted infantry close with Turkish artillery. One unit was lost closing with the Turkish trenches.

The attack on the Turkish trenches is aided by air support (event card)

The Turks counter attack

Tel El Saba is occupied. The first objective is taken and needs to be occupied, so the remaining unit cannot join the attack on the town.

The trenches are hotly contested and the cavalry having eliminated the artillery come under fire from the town.

Turkish aircraft make an appearance (event card again)

Both sides are taking casualties

With the trenches cleared. Commonwealth artillery support the attack on the town

The attack on the town is called off as the supporting infantry unit is eliminated

This is a hard game to win for the attacking Commonwealth forces. Of the four games I played using the scenario, the Turks successfully defended the town on three occasions and lost one time. Most of the games were close, coming down to the last few turns. 

The challenge for the attacking forces are:

• They lose two units to take and also occupy Tel El Saba to meet victory conditions.
• They will most of the time lose one cavalry unit to artillery fire as they advance across the plain towards the town. Then they are down to two attacking units to assault the trenches hopefully supported by their artillery.

On the one occasion the attacker won was when the artillery immediately focus on shelling Turkish trenches and Tel El Saba is assaulted by two infantry units, one of which has supporting machine guns.

A most enjoyable scenario to play.