WW1 Palestine campaign turn 4 game 3 battle report

The tabletop was prepared for the next game of the WW1 Palestine campaign which was a remote game with Jon of Palouse Wargaming Journal commanding the Turks. This is the third remote game I have hosted and the set up of using a mobile phone on a smallish tripod seems to be working well. I do have to reduce the tabletop size to 5x4 foot to allow space to position the tripod alone the edge to allow a good view of the table. 

Background details of the game annd campaign situation can be found in the previous post. The game is based on the One Hour Wargaming scenario 12 - an unfortunate oversight.

Preparing the tabletop for a remote game.

The objective of the scenario is to hold Hill 12. The Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) begin the game with a bombardment of Turkish units positioned in and around the buildings before arriving and using the undefended wadi crossing to make their way to Hill 12.

Opening moves

Opening moves of the game

The opening EEF bombardment was very effective surprising the Turkish forces. EEF mounted infantry pushed across the wadi their artillery took up position to continue the bombardment. Turkish units quickly started to reposition themselves towards the hill and pushed forward their armoured car along the wadi to harass the EEF units.

EEF arrive hoping to surprise the Turks.

Surprised Turkish units react quickly to occupy the hill.

Mid-point of the battle

Middle stage of the game

The Turkish armoured car was proving to be quite a handful and was able to put the EEF artillery under fire, which forced the artillery to retire to another position out of range. EEF infantry, both foot and mounted, move on Hill 12 and are engaged by defending.

The EEF artillery can be seen repositioning out of range. While Turkish unit defend Hill 12 against the advancing EEF.

Turkish forces are putting up a good defence of the hill and EEF losses are mounting. Bothe sides pause their attacks to regroup.

The last assault on the hill failed to dislodge the defenders.

Ending moves

After repositioning their artillery and regrouping the EEF resume their attack on the hill. Although time is running out for them. The EEF artillery was proving very effective, and the Turks were reduced to one unit by the end of the battle, but sufficient in numbers to hold the hill.

Having regrouped the EEF make another push for the hill.

The battle ends with a lone Turkish forces just holding on to the hill.

Wrap up

A victory to the Turks. In terms of the campaign situation, the EEF now only have 8 months to reach Damascus and after 3 losses are now struggling to gain a victory to regain momentum.

Turkish armoured car - while eventually destroyed the unit proved to be a thorn in the EEF’s side.

The Turkish armoured car proved to be very effective. It caused the EEF artillery to reposition losing them two turns of shooting at a time in the battle when artillery support would have certainly helped the EEF.