WW1 Palestine Campaign turn 4 game 4

The WW1 Sinai-Palestine campaign continues. The Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) has the campaign objective of reaching Damascus by October 1918, but this is now in the balance after three failed attempts to breakthrough the Turkish defences positioned around the Judean Hills.

Campaign turn 4 showing EEF progress.

In the latest attempt to break the deadlock the EEF have moved up a tank unit. Their attack is planned to take place, March 1918, the objective to secure a ridge overlooking a nearby rail line.

Each stage on the campaign has 3 associated scenarios selected from the book One-Hour Wargames (OHW). No scenario can be selected twice unless 3 battles have been lost by the EEF player. As this is the fourth battle one of the scenarios is going to be replayed.

Scenarios selected from OHW for stage 4 on the campaign map

The randomly selected scenario was #8 Melee. As this is a replay, I took the opportunity to switch the road to a railway line and introduce a train of Turkish reinforcements into the Scenario.

A Turkish train with machine gun up front. The train is scratch built from bit or wood and card. 

The EEF will arrive from the south along the rail line on turns 1 and 4. The Turks have two units positioned on the ridge and their remaining mobile reserves will arrive from the north along the rail line on turns 3 and 6.

Layout on a 5x4 foot tabletop

Order of Battle

Turkish Forces:

• 5 Infantry (1 with supporting machine gun)
• 1 Artillery
• 1 Armoured train with machine gun

2 units are to be placed on the ridge. On turn 3 two reserve units arrive, and on turn 6 the 2 units and train arrive.

EEF Forces:

• 5 Infantry (2 with supporting machine gun)
• 1 Artillery
• 1 Tank

The EEF will arrive in 2 waves, 3 units on turn 1 and the remaining 4 units on turn 3.

The EEF have 15 turns to capture the hill.

Battle Report

The game was a remote game with Jon of Palouse Wargaming Journal who commanded the defending Turks. While I am getting better at remembering to take photographs during the remote games, I did forget towards the end of the game when things were getting interesting.

Opening moves

The EEF began their advance along the rail line and occupied the woods. This kept them out of sight from the Turkish infantry and artillery positioned on the ridge. The EEF artillery were positioned to target any Turkish reserves that arrive.

Units engage in and around the woods and EEF units prepare to assault the ridge.

The Turks on the ridge retired to be out of sight from the advancing EEF units. They also pushed their reserves along the rail line under the shelling from the EEF artillery.

Action around the woods and along the rail line as Turkish reserves advance.

While units were engaged in and around the wood. The second wave of EEF units, including a tank unit, were finally positioned to launch their attack, knowing the Turks were ready to open fire as soon as they moved on to the ridge.

The EEF launch their attack on the ridge.

The EEF launched their attack and looked well positioned to take the ridge when disaster struck. The tank after the first round of shelling was destroyed. This allowed the Turkish defenders to focus their shooting on the EEF troops who were eventually beaten off. The EEF rallied there remaining troops and made a second assault on the ridge be the Turks remained steadfast and held the ridge. A victory the the Turns.

An after battle photograph of the Turkish commander reviewing the destroyed tank.

A game well played by Jon. From a campaign perspective the EEF are at risk of failing to achieve taking Damascus by October 1918. With only seven months remaining the EEF will only be able to fight one more game at this stage and win the first scenarios at stages 5 and 6.

The EEF advance is stalling.