WW1 Palestine Campaign - Turn 4 Game 1 setup

The last game of the campaign saw the EEF finally break through the Gaza defensive line on their fourth attempt. The offensive now moves on to the hills around Jerusalem as the EEF try and regain the campaign momentum. The area now being fought over is rugged terrain with hills and wadis which will likely slow the advance.

Campaign map showing the EEF advance to the next campaign step.

The EEF Headquarters has chosen to spend an additional month preparing on top of the 3 months they automatically spend preparing to move into the next campaign stage (4). The campaign turn clock moves forward to October 1917.

The EEF order of battle has 7 units:

• 2 x Mounted Infantry
• 3 x Infantry
• 2 x Artillery

The additional Mounted Infantry, which arrives from reserves on turn 8, came from the turn of an event card which the EEF get for spending an additional month preparing. This is on top of the 3 months the EEF automatically spend when advancing a campaign step. The campaign rules can be found here and are the featured post.

The Turkish defenders have 6 units which are well equiped with machine guns:

• 2 x Infantry with supporting Machine Guns
• 3 x Infantry
• 1 x Artillery

One unit will begin on the tabletop and will due to their event card be entrenched.

One Turkish unit defending a bridge begin on the tabletop with the advantage or being entrenched.

The remaining Turkish forces in reserve.

The scenario selected from the One-Hour Wargames book is #18 - Counter-attack. The river in the scenario become a wadi which can only be crossed at the bridge and two other crossing points only known to the Turks. The EEF are advancing with the aim of occupying the town and capturing the bridge. While the Turks are planning a surprise counter attack with the hope of capturing the town while denying the EEF from taking the bridge.

A view of the tabletop showing the bridge and two concealed crossings only known by the Turks

The EEF plan is to occupy the town and swiftly advance to take the bridge. They are unaware of the other crossings. The Turkish counter-attack using the crossings plan to take the town and swing around on the flank to disrupt any attack on the bridge.

EEF plans in red and Turkish in blue. The two objective which must be controlled are the bridge and town.