WW1 Palestine Campaign - Turn 3 setup

So far the Egyptian Expedition Force (EEF) over 6 months have advanced across the Sinai (steps 1 and 2 on the campaign map) and are now ready for the next stage of the campaign - the move into Palestine. The Turks have defensive lines prepared (shown by the red squiggly line on the campaign map) between Gaza and Beersheba. This will means they will benefit by having one of their units dug in with trenches for all their games.

Full details of the campaign rules can be found here.

Campaign map and time line.

The EEF need to win a battle in each step of the campaign to allow them to progress to the next step. Three scenarios from One-Hour Wargames (OHW) have been selected for each campaign step which try and reflect the stage of the campaign. 

For the first game of this step the dice decided scenario #14 - Fortified Defence. An interesting scenario, and one that I have not yet played. The EEF will be attacking the Turks in fortified positions and will be able to refresh all their units once during the game. Essentially they get two attacking waves and have to capture both fortified positions for victory. I am looking forward to this game as it should be quite challenging, especially as the Turks will also get additional trenches for one of their units.

Campaign steps and their associated OHW scenarios

Both forces determine their campaign chance event. The EEF will benefit from an initial bombardment and the Turks will have the support of an armoured car.

Campaign chance events

The 5x4 foot tabletop is prepared and the Turks deployed. The Turkish order of battle diced from the OHW army composition table:

• 4 x Infantry units (one of which can benefit from being dug in)
• 1 x Cavalry unit
• 1 x Artillery unit
• 1 x Armoured Car (added with campaign chance event)

The fortified positions will get an additional attack until they are lost. To remind myself of this I have added a machine gun base to each position.

The tabletop is prepared and Turkish units depolyed.

A view from the redoubt which I places on a hill.

The fortified town with additional trenches to defend against attack from the broken ground.

The EEF order of battle for the attacking waves:

• 5 x Infantry units (2 with supporting machine guns)
• 1 x Artillery unit

At the start of the game the EEF can bombard Turkish positions with 3 artillery attacks because of the bombard campaign chance event. At any point in the game the scenario allows them to withdraw (remove) all their units from the tabletop and start again with their order or battle refreshed for the second wave of the attack.

Egyptian Expeditionary Force units

So everything is ready for the game to begin! I am continuing to use a a variation of One-Hour Wargames Machine Age rules by Neil Thomas modified in include a unit activation rule and to have cavalry charges (details of rules).