Blast from the Past! On the Moro

Hi folks, I'm glad to report that I have scrounged up another Blast from the Past! this month. This time, I've managed to pull from the archives the only ASL scenario that I designed back in the day from Between Two Trenches.

It's been a busy fall here in Germany and a few personal hiccups and priorities have forced me to focus on things beyond the scope of AAR Central, but fear not, in time, I will return. (Sensing hints of MacArthur in how I phrased that).

I had desperately wanted to publish something here on the 11th of the month to commemorate the 106th anniversary of the end of the First World War, but it just wasn't possible. Still, may the armistice hold and our memories of them remain, lest we forget.

******

First Published: March 27, 2017

On the Moro - A Reconnaissance Probe in Italy, Late 1943

Inspired by my fascination in the Battle of Ortona, I've designed my own ASL Scenario taking place in Italy during 1943.

The battle of Ortona itself was considered the "Little Stalingrad" of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, especially for the units that fought there.  For the 1-2 weeks that the battle raged, the 1st Fallschirmjäger Division desperately tried to hold onto the town of Ortona as the Canadian 1st Infantry Division was in the process of taking it from them.  Out of supply, with no reinforcements to help them, and with the threat of being encircled by the 3rd Infantry Brigade attacking north of the city, the Germans were eventually forced to abandon the town, costing both sides a total of 3000+ casualties.

Now, about the actual scenario. I've created a system for designing ASL scenarios that produces a, roughly, randomized engagement while allowing for playing preferences.  After going through that process, I devised a sort of pre-Battle of Ortona reconnaissance scenario.  Supposed to be a few days before the Battle of Ortona, both sides send recce patrols to find out just where the enemy is and what the other side is fielding.

It should be noted that this scenario is playable with the first three ASLSKs.  Ownership of full ASL is not required. 

That said, here's ASL Scenario DCS 1 "On the Moro".  (The name is explained in a youtube video on my channel found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbo3xLevDag)

*****

On the Moro

South of Ortona, Italy, Mid December 1943: 

As a part of the offensive to take the Moro River, the Canadian 1st Infantry Division has to secure the town of Ortona.  With German grenadiers and paratroopers within the vicinity, however, the 2nd and 3rd Brigades won't be able to launch their assaults until intelligence has been gathered.  With that in mind, reconnaissance probes from both sides meet in a small town south of Ortona, vying to outdo the other, and gain the upper hand for the coming engagement.

Board Configuration: Board W is set up so that the "w" is in the north-west corner.  Row "A" should be to the north and row "GG" should be to the south. 

Victory Conditions: The first player to either: A) effectively prevent any enemy unit from routing during the RtPh and thus suffering from "failure to route" or B) to eliminate the other player's only lieutenant, immediately wins upon doing so.  If neither condition is met at the end of the game, then the side with the most victory points at the end wins.  Each -2 SMC,-1 SMC, or squad is valued at 2VPs. Each -0 SMC, +1 SMC, or HS is valued at 1VP. (If both sides have the same number of VPs at the end of the scenario, then the game is a draw).

Turn Length: 

6 full turns 

Canadian Player Enters First 

German Player Enters Second 

Order of Battle: 

Elements of the 1st Fallschirmjäger Division and the 362nd Infantry Division [ELR: 3] enter on the north edge of board W 9-1 Lt (1), 8-1 Sgt (1), 8-0 Sgt (2), 5-4-8 (6), 4-6-7 (2), 3-8 LMG (2), 12-4 PSK (1) 

Elements of the 1st Brigade, Canadian 1st Infantry Division [ELR: 3] enter on the south edge of board W 9-2 Lt (1), 8-1 Sgt (1), 8-0 Sgt (1), 7-0 Cpl (1), 4-5-8 (2), 4-5-7 (6), 2-4-7 (3), 2-7 LMG (3), 8-3 PIAT (2) 

Special Rules: None

*****

I didn't include an aftermath of the scenario because while this theoretically could have happened, this particular scenario is not based on an actual engagement so I haven't included an aftermath.  To balance the game out, or make it a bit longer in terms of play, the scenario could be easily increased to a turn length of 7 rather than 6.  Also, feel free to change the German ELR to 4 rather than 3.  If anyone reading this has any suggestions or changes you think I should make then let me know.

The Fields of Battle - As Reported from Far Afield

More than two months ago now, I spent one final day by myself to play a game of Elan using my 6mm Miniatures (favorites purchased from Irregular Miniatures back in 2016). That frightens me a bit to think that I first painted this miniatures 8 years ago.

I wanted one final day to lay out my felt, set up a game, and play a battle using the minis that I had a chance to paint before I hung up my brushes in 2017. This is a record of only the third true game I've ever managed to log with my 6mm minis. It was a good one. 

Truth be told, as noted in the title, I'm writing this AAR from far afield. As the crow flies, I'm somewhere near six and a half thousand kilometers from home. I miss it, and everyone there. So, it's a little tough to write this one. To keep it short, this is a battle set during the Brusilov Offensive on the eastern front in 1916. As the Russian's have broken through the central powers's lines, the remnants of a battalion are guarding their Brigade HQ as engineer teams work to retool the newly ceased rail line.

The Austrian objective, assigned to a fresh battalion coming to plug one of the many gaps in the line is to hold the sector high ground and evict the Russian brigade HQ. The Russian reinforcements, once the game is underway, is a fresh brigade of their own.

Using the Elan rule set was interesting. Some units ground to a halt during miscommunication just from moving onto the field. Lots of chaos, that's for sure.

A bird's eye view of the battlefield. The high ground lies near center of the scenario map. The rail line, occupied by the Russian's, is just out of view in the top-right hand corner. It is the Austro-Hungarian objective. That, and preventing the Russians from seizing the high ground (a terrain piece I call 'The Crag').

The Austrians (strictly an Austrian unit in this game, no Hungarians in the ranks) arrive on the field. Their scouting cavalry & supporting artillery are lent by Brigade HQ. In the background are several Russian silver-surfer infantry of the battalion remnants that never managed to get painted.

A bird's eye view (with the rail line finally in view): initiative favors the Austrians. Three companies charge ahead, secure the high ground, and occupy the cross-roads. The Russians are slow to react. Annoyingly, one Austrian company flounders in the rear, stuck in the "mud".

The Russians finally spring to action. Two companies try to cut beneath the Austrian flank through the fields. The lead Austrian company at the crossroads is forced to change position, and just as the first volleys of fire stop the Russians in their tracks, reinforcements for the Russians arrive.

The Austrian cavalry keeps the harassing companies of Russians at bay as the Austrian heavy weapons (MGs & Artillery) move to meet the new threat of Russian numerical superiority to their front.

The Austrian cavalry withdraw back across the crossroads to cover the Austrian flank.

As the Russian columns come onto the field, it takes time to coordinate an attack on the high ground. To give the fresh forces time, the other battalion remnants operating on the Austrian right again move through the field to pin the defenders' positions. 

The desired effect does not materialize. The defending Austrian company tears one Russian company to ribbons and sensing opportunity, the Austrian cavalry move in for the kill.

Very quickly, with morale falling as well as men, cohesion in the reduced Russian battalion begins to fall apart. 

A view of the whole sector: the fresh battalion launches its attack just as their comrades in the fields begin to waver.

The Austrian artillery just get into position by the time the first Russian company advances into the plain, caught in open sights. It's a blood bath. The first company doesn't even get close to reaching the Crag. 

Results are not looking good for the Russians elsewhere on the field. Two companies of Austrian infantry and the cavalry effect good, bloody progress grinding the Russian battalion remnants back toward their HQ. It costs the Austrian cavalry dear confidence in particular (as evidenced by their thinning number and troop quality ['5']). 

High tide for the Russians: not to be outdone without testing the Austrian defenses along the Crag, Russian cavalry and infantry reach it's base, exchanging close-quarters gunfire with Austrian riflemen and machine guns.

It's a near run thing, but in the end, nothing can dislodge the defenders. Even the Battalion HQ is thick in the fighting. The jig is up for Brusilov's attackers. 

The final parting shot of the game. The Russian Brigade HQ is forced to pack its bags and head back east. Hot on their heels are the remaining Austrian cavalrymen, seen not too far off in the distance.

An excellent game -- a fitting way to conclude my time in Maryland. Hopefully I'll be back one day.

Fear not, of course, even far afield, there will be more to come in due time. Bis dann.

Working on Infiltration Tactics

The days here are numbered (it's down to just 7). I only have one game left that I plan to get in (and hopefully log) over the span of a single day before I head overseas, so I'm really coming down to the wire here. I pulled out my copy of OCS Burma I last week, however, and I have to say, as far as adopting new doctrines, this one sure gave me a heck of a challenge. 

I set up short scenario #4 (which I will revisit in time) and it was readily apparent that my typical skillset for war games would not be compatible with the Japanese position in this scenario, let alone theater. After a careful read of the rules more than once, it's obvious how the Japanese players have to lean into the belligerent's infiltration doctrine if they have any hopes of pulling off a victory. As several "balls-to-the-wall" turns can attest to, my preference for amassing fire doesn't sit well with the options available to the Japanese.

In scenario #4, the Japanese have to stave off efforts by the Commonwealth forces to reopen the road to Imphal, which is cut off from the Allied supply source. Assuming a defensive posture for the Japanese is, I assume after one failed attempt, the stance to take, especially while trying to grasp the challenge of supply. I suppose exceptions, again only as they pertain to this particular scenario, are to be made where the Japanese grasp on the all-weather road to Imphal is at risk of being loosened and a diversionary effort elsewhere in the mountains north of the city needs to be made to retain control of the road. 

The risk of forage is also tricky to navigate and I'll probably try to follow other notes that I can find on how OCS players grapple with the Japanese forces in OCS Burma. 

Early action in the scenario in the Imphal sector -- the only successful banzai cut off elements of the 17th. Efforts to take Imphal by storm, though, were rebuffed.

One of the other issues that I found is that it doesn't seem like the Japanese forces converging on Imphal, at least in this scenario, are best deployed, except for maybe infiltration -- I suppose emphasis on infiltration and skirting around otherwise impassible avenues of attack is great for cutting off supply and forcing defenders to give up ground, but at the cost of otherwise preferable avenues of attack for more direct, obstacle-busting offensive doctrines. If I play this scenario again, for instance, I'll pay the high supply costs of moving the armor early to move them off of the south edge and bring them back on at Hengtam to take the advance along the west side of Logtak Lake instead of east towards Palel where the 20th and 23rd Indian Divisions are better entrenched. If the Japanese 33rd Division can keep the 17th Indians at bay for 3 turns, a combined infiltration-armor assault on Imphal from the SW might apply better pressure on the Indians. 

The attack west of Lake Togtak abandoned.

Of course, I didn't do any of this in my first few turns of this scenario. Instead, I slammed Sato's 31st Division into the relieve force occupying Kohima to Imphal's north which provided little in the way of keeping Imphal cut off. Within 3-4 turns, the road to Imphal was open and I'd lost half of the 31st and 33rd Divisions, primarily to the dogged efforts of the mixed British forces available in the scenario under the British IV Corps HQ, the air force out of Ledo, Cowan's 17th Indian Division, and a blind desire to test out the banzai mechanics. What I will say, though, is that commanding lots of 5 AR battalions is a lot of fun.

Needless to say, I played this a little too quickly, a little too recklessly, and with little concept of how OCS Burma should be played. I don't know when I'll find the time, but I'll be damned if Burma doesn't make it with me over to Heidelberg for the next several years. So, we'll be seeing more of this OCS title in time.

Turmoil, Turmoil Everywhere

I recently played two back-to-back games of Europe in Turmoil I to get a feel for the game's mechanics. I made some mistakes, so after getting through the trial run, I had the brilliant idea to play Europe in Turmoil I, followed by Europe in Turmoil II and then stitch together the narrative. I still made one or two minor mistakes in Prelude to the Great War, but none were uncorrectable. The final verdict: an enjoyable experience. Very refreshing from the usual war games on which I tend to spend the bulk of my time.

Prelude to the Great War

The Authoritarians had the upper hand early on in Prelude to the Great War, with a firm hold on Austria-Hungary and Germany. In fact, most of the European Monarchies were firmly within the Authoritarian's control. This was particularly the case in Russia, where Czar Nicholas II remained a firm supporter of the right-wing faction while Liberal hotbeds in St. Petersburg and Siberia were never snuffed out. Moscow routinely oscillated back and forth between Liberal and Authoritarian control. The rest of Nicholas's empire slowly turned Liberal. France went through a few successive waves of Authoritarian control, but too many liberal ideas flourished out of Paris to let the right-wing faction stay in power for long. By game end, the French Catholics were completely discredited and a majority of the conservative French officer corps liberalized too. 

Importantly, too, the Balkans were firmly within the Liberals' grasp the entire game as well. Significant efforts were made to flip control of Serbia and Bosnia, but both were failed attempts on the part of the Authoritarians.

Near game end, Franz Ferdinand's efforts to keep tension at bay -- while the Habsburgs had a strong hold on Vienna and Budapest -- were still largely successful. Authoritarian control of the North African colonies and alliances with the Swiss industrialists had them poised to come out on top during any soon-to-be conflicts. Their loss of wholesale Swiss support, however, proved disastrous at the outbreak of war, caused by the overthrow of the government in Moscow. Franz Ferdinand and Sophie were not, ultimately, assassinated, but they did live to witness the end of the Habsburg monarchy. With Russia out of the game, the conflict came down to France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Great Britain. With Italy firmly on the side of the Liberals, it was a blowout once the die were cast. Liberals rolled a 6, Authoritarians a 1. 

Europe at the end of the Great War.

Without a Schlieffen plan to follow (not that one was actually needed with Russia out of the picture), the Authoritarians were decidedly defeated in detail, but entrenched so effectively as they were in Central Europe, it was a tie at game end. Having won the Great War, the Liberals barely managed to effect a pyrrhic victory. This set the stage for the Interbellum period.

The Interbellum

The seeds of dissatisfaction and dissent were strong and the roaring twenties were punctuated by the popular rise of fascist movements in Great Britain, Italy, and Spain. With these early successes, the right-wing parties of Europe waged an effective campaign of international fascist socialization. Working to secure strong party support in Rome, London, and the political-social circles in Spain and also France, the right-wing factions were incredibly successful operating under the radar early on.

Left-wing support was overwhelming to start in a defeated, Weimar Germany, the USSR, and eastern Europe. As the game progressed, their support spread to Scandinavia and fought to regain strongholds in France -- something about those French Catholics seem strangely uber-conservative. At any rate, the left-wing factions and communists were on the retreat for some time in Germany and France. Early scoring in the Little Entente and France (once the left-wing was assured domination) did help score important early points. 

Their inability to regain control of Italy and the UK was a persistent problem. Luckily, due to a more reticent fascist foreign policy, the left-wing factions did manage to force Germany to abandon plans to rebuild their army to WW1 strengths (those efforts with the Germany Navy and Air Force were not so successful) and just as similarly, before the evacuation of the Rhineland, the liberals across Europe -- much a result of FDR's urging -- enacted a policy of active interventionism. This led to guarantees to protect Poland once the fascist Lebensraum doctrine was published. (Stalin's betrayal of Poland later rendered Poland's guarantee of security and utility to the left-wing factions of Europe null and void).

Following the collapse of Weimar and the '33 election, Hitler took the reins of government from the Reichstag but importantly operated with more reticence than the fascists expected. He forced a more moderate form of government. There was no military adventurism, no Anschluss, no annexation, no "incidents", nothing. The effect was superb. With no Fascist Duce in Rome, the Germans in Berlin represented a more measured and calculated (and thereby terrifying) form of fascist government. The result? More stable government than what the communists offered. 

In the USSR, Joseph Stalin's direction of all left-wing strategy proved (eventually) disastrous. Spain was gradually transformed into a communist bastion that never returned to the fascists and their control of the Little Entente was also assured, but the number of extremists in government was eventually nothing more than a double-edged sword. To make matters worse, the USSR's rearmament program was squandered once the officer corps was purged and the only other country with enough military build-up to counter to fascists in Germany was the UK, who were so swept up by the promises of Oswald Mosely that the northern left-wing factions never stood a chance of uniting the commonwealth. 

The Rearmament and Events Tracks at the onset of WW2.

It was the liberal boycott of the Berlin games, led by Stalin from Moscow, that touched off the second world war. When all was said and done, and the sanctions calculated, the VP score total was 0. With a more moderate government in power than their left-wing counterparts, the right-wing fascists managed to sneak in a victory. 

Game End -- Victory to the Right-Wing factions (not what we're looking for at all these days).

All-in-all, this was a great experience. It was clear in the first game that the Liberals were going to win, but the Interbellum game had a lot more to it that was up in the air. 

Reluctant Enemies: July 1 - July 5 (The Dash for Beirut)

July 1, outskirts of Damour. As previously plans had come together, I expected to launch another coordinated offensive against the Vichy defenders along the coast following a coordinated strike by the supporting air, naval, and artillery assets assigned to the 6th Division (and attached 23rd Infantry Brigade). As far as I was concerned, the valley advance (with its poor supply location) and the fight towards Rayak by the French and Indians were a side show. 

The Australian and British artillery take the next river line under fire.

Opening bombardments on the legionnaires and defending colonial battalions in Damour were unsuccessful, despite the supply involved. The arrival of the 23rd Infantry Brigade and fresh supplies, however, allowed for a parallel line of advance along the coast. This was to offset bloody progress against the Vichy defenders at Hasbaya and a stalemate against the Vichy defenders along the Hejaz Railway and at the foot of the Jebel Druze. Despite their irreplaceable losses, the Vichy forces under Verdilhac, Arlabosse, and Delhomme made effective use of the mountain and river lines in the path of the Laverack's three-pronged advance. 

Interestingly, it was against the last formidable force on the field (Arlabosse's -- who still commanded the core of the 6th Chasseurs and 6th Legionnaires) who served as the crack in the Vichy line. 

In Beit ed Dine, the 23rd Infantry Brigade and the armored forces of the 6th and 9th cavalry broke through the 3rd line of defense. 

Situation along the front -- July 3

With the bulk of Arlabosse's crack troops occupied at Damour, Laverack sensed opportunity and threw all caution to the wind. With enough supply to last through July 7, Laverack sent the British armor on a dash for Beirut, around the Damour defenses, supported by the 23rd Infantry Brigade on the morning of July 5.

The dash for Beirut, skirting the Damour defenses.

Without further defenders to throw into their path, the British armor rolled on Arlabosse's HQ in Beirut. Advance roadblocks were thrown up at Aley. Preceded by the entire concentration of the British air force assigned to Laverack's sector, the few defenders in Beirut were bombed out before the tanks arrived. 

Forward! Beirut lies ahead! -- Laverack sends in the armor, one last time.

With barely enough fuel in their tanks, they launched an immediate attack, managing to surprise Arlabosse, still certain the main threat had yet to make it past Damour. In the ensuing fight, Arlabosse was initially listed missing from the few stragglers fleeing north. A Bren carrier, running on mere fumes, later identified his body and those of his entourage in a side street felled by a stray shell. With a little dash and elan, Laverack had made short work of Arlabosse's HQ. 

The final Vichy counterattack.

In the ensuing assault into Damour by the remainder of the 6th Infantry, successful bombardment of the defender's positions, as well as their loss of supply led to an outright rout along the coast. The legionnaires and remainder Vichy tankers were neutralized.

When the few remaining battalions still loyal to Verdilhac and Delhomme failed to take back Beirut, the hard-fought, sudden-death victory had been finally achieved. On the verge of giving up, I had finally found a way to break through the mountain and river lines in time to achieve victory. With that, the game was won -- and swiftly packed up.

In all, an excellent game. Next OCS title on my list will be Burma. It's late here, so I won't be able to offer any further words on my first campaign game this time around, but suffice it to say this was an excellent experience. Especially since after this game, I have a much better appreciation for the OCS system.  I guess that just means I'll need to get more games on the books soon.

Reluctant Enemies: June 21 - July 1 (Sidon Breakout and Delhomme's Counterattack)

June 21, Merdjayoun. The Australians of the 21st and 25th Brigades finally reached the town of Merdjayoun at the end of the 21st, marking the high-point of their advance. For the next week to come, the Australians only launched one, unsuccessful attack at the next Vichy objective in their sights at Hasbaya. The terrain between Safad and Merdjayoun was so insufficient for conducting an offensive that Laverack abandoned pressing the Australian brigades any further, content to have them hold the line.

The RAF rules the skies (eventually).

At Sidon, Laverack ordered another breakout attempt. Heavy bombardment of the Vichy reserves along the coast disrupted elements of the 6th Legionnaires and 6th Chasseurs, but a counter-raid out of Rayak effectively delayed another attempted crossing of the Aouale, again.

Laverack responded with a further delay of forward progress all along the line to deal once and for all with Rayak. On the 24th, dozens of RAF fighters led a fighter sweep against the Vichy base. Even with their surprise attack on the airbase, many an RAF plane was sent down in flames. Only one squadron returned unscathed, but the attack had made a success. 

A pyrrhic victory, but the Vichy interceptors are neutralized one-by-one.

With all of the Vichy interceptors aborted, all British bombers were directed to strike the Vichy base, rows of French bombers parked below. The result? A natural dr 6 on the barrage table at 22 Strength -- In a single strike, the base was reduced down to 1 level and all but 1 bomber step and 1 fighter step were left on the ground. 

On the 26th, Laverack was again ready to attempt a breakout from Sidon. With the Vichy airforce out of the picture, the British bombers again hit the Vichy reserves and managed to disorganize them. The British and Australian artillery then in turn disorganized the river defenders under concentrated fire. This achieved, Laverack sent the 6th Infantry over the Aouale. Even without any surprise achieved, a battalion of the King's Own Royal Regiment led the way and this time stayed north of the 2nd river line. In quick succession, the disorganized and displaced Vichy defenders raced helter-skelter for the rear, only reorganizing back in Damour. 

Laverack finally achieves the breakout from Sidon.

While Arlabosse was finally whipped, Delhomme, however, had one final counter-strike ready for the Indians and Free French outside Damascus. While the battalions of the 6th Infantry were busy breaking out of Sidon, the tanks of the 7th Chasseurs were busy blasting a hole in the Free French line. Accompanied by mixed colonial infantry and crack motorized troops, the Vichy counterattack along the Hejaz railway was sudden and swift. Collet's armor raced up from their reserve status in Damascus and were thrown into the path of the 7th Chasseur's advance. In a surprising armor clash between Frenchmen, Collet sacrificed his armor to allow the battalion of Free French Senegalese to fall back. The reprieve was short-lived, though. Armor and infantry reserves exploited the break in the Commonwealth line NW of Damascus and the Senegalese were shortly overrun. In a sudden turn of fortunate, the Commonwealth and Free French artillery, HQs, and line of supply were suddenly in danger of being cut off. 

Delhomme's Counterattack.

In response, Lloyd and Lengtil ordered an immediate parry and counterattack by all available forces in a pincer to reform their frontline. The gamble worked and just as the armor of the 7th Chasseurs rolled up to the reserve positions held by artillerymen and supporting recce units, the Royal Fusiliers and Free French Marines reformed the broken line, trapping 3 battalions behind enemy lines. 

By the 28th, bombers from Egypt crippled the advance of the mixed armor and infantry and the 17th Australians had taken Dimas, further extending the distance between the cutoff attackers and Delhomme's remaining battalions. On the 29th, suffering attrition, the Vichy attackers surrendered en masse. 

The 7th Chasseurs are eliminated for good.

By the 30th, with both sides beset by a lack of adequate supply, Delhomme made one final attempt at disrupting the advance out of Damascus. With a local attack by the French Marines repulsed by a battalion of levy militia, the militia launched a surprise attack on Lloyd's HQ astride the Hejaz railway. Lucky as they were, the surprise attack was repulsed and to capitalize on the overextension of Delhomme's line, elements of both the 5th Indian brigade and Lengtil's Free French division surrounded two colonial battalions positioned along the railway by taking Zebedani on the 1st of July. 

With less than two weeks to complete the offensive and break Verdilhac's defenders for good, Laverack prepares to make one final effort all along the line. 

Reluctant Enemies: June 12 - 21 (A War of Attrition and the Sassaa Expedition)

June 12, Merdjayoun. Verdilhac's bastion against the advance of Wilson's Commonwealth Forces only strengthened the farther the Allies advanced. To kick off a new week of fighting once the front line had advanced to the main Vichy line of defense, Verdilhac had a series of successes reinforcing his positions. The 1st battalion, 22nd Algerians (the star unit for the Vichy defenders in this game) reorganized with the arrival of the last stragglers from combat losses at Verdilhac's HQ. They raced south to hold the Litani crossing and the key valley defenses leading to the north edge of Sidon, guarded by the flow of the 2nd river line (the Aouale). At great expense, Verdilhac, freed from immediate assault by the poor line of supply running north from Lake Hula, ordered construction of heavy fortifications to defend the lower crossing of the Litani and the southern anchor of the Merdjayoun defensive line. Manned by 2 battalions of Algerians, it was going to be one tough nut to crack.

Verdilhac digs in to defend Merdjayoun.

To make it even harder, the recently arrived air reinforcements out of Rayak pummeled the positions of the 25th Australians. 

Along the Hejaz railway, events were less favorable. The Tunisians, cut off and unsupported, evacuated Ezraa and headed north. Out of supply and strung out along the railway, most of the battalions quickly succumbed to attrition. 

The Commonwealth response was mediocre at best. With the Vichy defenders pushed back to the Aouale-Merdjayoun-el Awaj axis of defense, the best the Allies could do was stockpile supplies and force the defenders to keep their defense spread thin. Supplies trickled in at Haifa and combat losses to the 2/3rd MG and 2/6 artillery battalion were quickly replenished and sent back to the front. No rest for the weary.

The various units under Wilson's commands moved forward to establish a new base of operations and stockpile supplies for further attacks.

The 2/6th artillery was reassigned to Lloyd's 5th Indian Brigade and set to rendezvous with the brigade up at Sanamein, along with the Free French battalions.

Wilson takes a stab at crossing the Aouale, and it doesn't go well.

The 25th Australians, still facing the staunch defenders at Merdjayoun, was incapable of advancing, leaving Wilson's only avenue of advance along the coast road. He sent the 21st passing through Sidon, aiming to cross the 2nd river line, held by the 6th regiment of legionnaires and the 6th chasseurs, the best units on the field. To precede the attack, Wilson ordered an airstrike on the reserve units of legionnaires positioned behind the Aouale. The strike was intercepted by Vichy fighters out of Merdjayoun. In a quick exchange of gunfire, every unit sent out of Egypt was defeated in detail and forced to abort their attack. Undeterred, Wilson spent precious resources ordering a bombardment of the river defenses, supported by the destroyers of the Mediterranean fleet. Poor coordination also led to no effect. Official reports of the 12th of June ended "no success anywhere. 21st Aus. holding position on the south bank of the Aouale, incapable of attempting a cross this evening."

The Saga of the Sassaa Expedition

Wilson sends the 17th Australians on to Sassaa.

By the morning of the 14th, a substantial shipment of munitions had trickled towards the front. With only a few, reserve options left to choose from -- his requests for a second amphibious landing having been completely rebuffed, Wilson ordered a limited advance by the 17th Australians and his front's supporting cavalry (the Staffordshire and Cheshire Yeomanry toward the el Awaj River (the main line of defense south of Damascus) by way of Sassaa. 

The infantry were sent through the lava flats held by a strong battalion of colonial infantry. The Yeomanry, mobile and without supplies for more than a day's worth of combat, were sent north, around the lava flats and parallel to the river line to secure Sassaa and the route of reinforcement. The Vichy defenders in the lava flats were cut off. Windy, arid, and dry. An inhospitable place to be sent, especially without sufficient support. 

The Yeomanry take Sassaa.

While events along the el Awaj began to come into motion, the Australians of the 25th set out on another attempt to eject the Algerian defenders at Merdjayoun and secure a second crossing of the Litani. The 21st Australians, supporting from the other side, began launching a pincer attack to apply pressure on Verdilhac's position from two sides, to threaten the poor placement of the forward airbase, and pin down key defenders that the Vichy could desperately use elsewhere. The supporting artillery disrupted the Algerian defenders and their positions, but it still wasn't enough. 

The 21st and 25th Australians take another stab at the Merdjayoun defenders.

Both sides suffering losses, the 25th Australians were sent reeling back to their jump off positions, again. The 21st was more fortunate. Surprising the legionnaires and colonial cavalry defending the road to the airbase, the Australians pushed farther into the rough ground from the coast road, widening the avenue of advance up to Damour (the next objective in Wilson's sights), and putting considerably more pressure on Verdilhac's right flank. 

The real drama occurred in the Sassaa sector, though. When the supply segment came up, the Yeomanry couldn't make trace supply, as intended. It was OOS for them. Then came the real danger, attrition. By the skin of their teeth, on a DR of 7, they avoided attritional losses. There on the banks of the el Awaj, holding the crossing at Sassaa, they were positioned to cut off the Vichy rearguard, which was busy laying a trap for the Australians. But the trap would have to wait. From Damascus, Delhomme released the 7th Chasseurs. 

Delhomme releases the 7th Chasseurs.

Charging out of the city, the 7th Chasseurs attempted to force a crossing against the defending Yeomanry and relieve the isolated rearguard. The Vichy had the luxury of everything but position as they raced for Sassaa. Well equipped and fresh from the reserve, the Yeomanry had little else but a few strung out companies and the bullets in their belts to repel the French attack. It was the natural attack DR of 2 that spelled disaster for the Chasseurs, A2L: the regiment was lost to a man in an instant. Just like that, all that remained were the 40 some burning hulks of the regiment's R35s. The Yeomanry had survived and prevented relief from reaching the Vichy rearguard.

The battle for Sassaa.

But the Australian luck didn't last long. The 17th was ambushed pushing through the lava flats and sent reeling for the rear. With little alternative, the Yeomanry vacated their positions at Sassaa and fled north, making for friendly lines once word reached them that the 17th wouldn't be making it through this time. 

The Yeomanry begin their long retreat.

Delhomme's response was immediate damage control. The initial shock of losing the 7th shocked the HQ back in Damascus. The Senegalese and supporting infantry in the lava flats abandoned Sassaa to hold the western edge of the el Awaj. Wagons and trucks continued to trickle supplies to the front as an assessment of available SPs was made. 

End of the day June 14: Vichy: 9SP 2T. Commonwealth: 6SP 2T. 

Situation end of June 14.

The position at Merdjayoun, even with the advance out of Sidon temporarily stalled, is still near compromised. The 22nd Algerians spread themselves thin to cover the front. Arlabosse sends the rest of the 6th legion of foreign infantry to support the 6th Chasseurs on the Aouale.

After shifting the front, Verdilhac ordered an end to offensive operations while supply was in Vicht favor. It'd take more than a few days for supplies to trickle forward.

With more supplies available than the Commonwealth -- which I hadn't realized until I took a count of the field -- the Vichy forces under Delhomme launched a spoiling attack on the 15th. Recrossing the el Awaj, the Senegalese and Lebanese levy passed through Sassaa, through the burnt hulks of the decimated 7th, to attack the out of supply Yeomanry, still licking their wounds from the previous day. Even at 8:1 odds in the open terrain, Delhomme's forces were too battered to make a successful attack, even with the better supply situation. Both sides made a fighting withdrawal as a further testament to the current limits of the fighting potential. Except for one final counterattack on Sassaa, that marked the end of the 17th's Expedition.

A Time for a Change

Along the entrance to the valley at Merdjayoun and along the Hejaz railway up to the el Awaj, Wilson's commanders took stock of Operation Exporter's next line of obstacles. The stragglers of the 2/3 battalion of the 17th Australians reorganized around lake Hula and in advance of the fresh reinforcements on their way to Haifa, Wavell from Egypt ordered more supplies to divert to Wilson. 3 SP and 2 T arrived for the Commonwealth at just the right time. Wilson's forward HQ, while in trace supply, was nearly out of combat supply to throw to the 25th Australians. 

The Free French and Indians under General Lloyd continued a slow advance to the front, wary of expending too many precious supply tokens. At the heights just south of the el Awaj line opposite Kiswe, they halted. 

Operations along the coast faired no better. Hampered by mass air attacks out of Rayak, the Commonwealth forces contented to chip away at Verdilhac's right flank, all while under heavy fire. Progress was slow and failure to advance through the end of June 17 was the final straw for Wavell. The 7th Australian's brigades were battered, both the 25th and 21st fighting handicapped and strung out, the Yeomanry were finally pulled back so far for supplies that they were just a few hours ride outside Haifa, and only a handful of trucks were allocated to the Hejaz line of advance to ferry supplies north.

Laverack Takes Charge

Once the 6th British Infantry division arrived in Haifa with a large compliment of fighters and heavy bombers, Wilson was relieved of command in exchange for General Laverack. The offensive resumes at once. Under Laverack, a new plan of attack came together. The French and Indians along the Hejaz move into action at once, supplies or no supplies. The 7th Australians concentrate on strangling Verdilhac's bastion at Merdjayoun and the 6th Infantry take up the charge along the coast. 

The Free French strike Kiswe.

Reinforcements rushed north to Sidon and the Merdjayoun outskirts. Along the el Awaj, the entire Free French Division sallied forth against Kiswe. Massed aerial bombardment of Damascus preceded the assault, preventing the intervention of any reserves. To boot, the defending Vichy fighters were decimated by the supporting Hurricanes as they tried to ward off the Wellingtons. Against a defending force of Moroccan and colonial levy, the Frenchmen made a valiant crossing onto the edge of the Vichy positions, but were turned away. Losses to both sides, but replaceable. The Free French marines retired to prepare another assault.

On the morning of the 19th, Laverack ordered a general attack all across the front. Lloyd's brigade took the next crack at the el Awaj. Crossing further down stream from Kiswe, they attacked one of the supporting battalions of levy infantry and Vichy artillery. Here too, the Commonwealth attack was stopped, but at great cost to the Vichy defenders. It had finally reached a war of attrition. 

At Merdjayoun, with the 21st closing in on Verdilhac's forward airfield, the 25th, finally back up to strength with enough support, turned Verdilhac's left flank and moved to cut off his route to the rear. The 25th's attack reached the road leading into Merdjayoun, displaced the defending battery of artillery caught in the open there, but without an opportunity to press the advantage. Merdjayoun was finally lost, but not with Verdilhac's entire command within it as Laverack hoped. While the Aussies of the 25th fought their way to the valley road, the 21st suffered another set back while trying to keep Verdilhac's right flank pinned. Gambling on the expenditure of no defensive supply as the Australian pincer reached it's zenith, the Tunisian cavalry defending against the 21st executed a masterful ambush as their final act defending the forward Vichy airbase. As my hand-written notes attest to at the time, that was the last result I had suspected: "Surprise DR of 3. 21st loses a battalion! Fuck. They're down to 33% strength." Thus, a pyrrhic victory in the fight for position around Merdjayoun. 

High tide at Merdjayoun (with the 6th stalled in Sidon).

Only the 6th's attack to cross the Aouale failed to move forward. Mass air attack from Egypt against the 6th legionnaires in reserve failed on a DR of 2, as did bombardments from the massing of British artillery on the ground. With neither the 6th Chasseurs or the legionnaires disorganized in either bombardment, Laverack held on forcing a crossing of the 2nd river line.

Despite the Commonwealth's inability to advance past Sidon, they finally met with success elsewhere all along the line. Verdilhac, in Merdjayoun, and Delhomme, in Damascus, facing untenable positions as their front was spread too thin, ordered an immediate and swift evacuation north. At Hasbaya, Verdilhac formed his new line of defense. Much more compact, much more defendable. 

Delhomme's retreat is going to take a little more time. His rearguard pickets have been recalled to the Damascus outskirts and his motorized infantry sent north to rally a line of defense along the foot of the Jebel Hejaz. To the relief of the fleeing defenders, armor reserves from the rear arrived just in time to reconstitute the bulk of the 7th Chasseur's tank force and shore up Delhomme's defensive power. 

Delhomme abandons Damascus.

And as a final parting insult to the Commonwealth forces, the Vichy made one of their last sorties south and disorganized the entirety of the 6th infantry in Sidon.

Damascus and Merdjayoun may have fallen as a result of the war of attrition, but the fighting is far from over. 

Campaign Game! Reluctant Enemies: June 8 - 12 (Breaking the First River Line)

I'm happy to report after all these years that I am finally working my way through my first Campaign Game. I'm starting off small since I still, sadly, do not have the luxury of space to lay out most of my monster wargames, so I've settled on a recent OCS purchase: Reluctant Enemies (which only requires one card table to lay out). 

Since campaign games understandably last longer than seven or eight turns, I've decided to post incremental progress of the games as they move forward. That'll permit me to go into more detail since I have less time these days to take painstaking notes. Notwithstanding the fact that after this summer it will likely be a few years before I complete another campaign game, I figure this is the best approach to kick things off on yet another, you guessed it, new series/project!

Hereon after, the start of any campaign game will be labeled as such in the initial post and all subsequent posts will be listed on a separate page on the website -- still to do as of June 2024 -- so as not to crowd the labels. 

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*A disclaimer about historical names: The designers of OCS Reluctant Enemies acknowledge in their design notes the challenge of identifying and spelling proper names using Latin characters for cities, locations, and towns in Syria, Lebanon, and the British Mandate of Palestine. In keeping with consistency, all places and names in this campaign game will appear in consistency with those presented in OCS Reluctant Enemies, which are themselves taken from the official Australian history of Operation Exporter chronicled by Gavin Long. 

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Merdjayoun, Syria.

Syria, Lebanon, and the British Mandate of Palestine, June 1941. Winston Churchill orders General Wavell to strike the Vichy Army of the Levant in Syria and Lebanon, consisting of various territorial and colonial forces of the French Empire loyal to the Vichy Regime, local levies, the 6th Chasseurs, the 7th Chasseurs, and the 6th Regiment of the French Foreign Legion. With little more than a ragtag band of brigades from all across the Commonwealth (anchored around the forces of the Australian 21st and 25th Brigades of the 7th Division and the Indian 5th Brigade at the outset), Wavell is ordered to take the offensive. Under direct command of Henry Maitland Wilson, the Commonwealth Forces launch Operation Exporter (the subject of OCS Reluctant Enemies) to cease control of Beirut, Lebanon, and to neutralize the Vichy airbase at Rayak.

The opening positions (with reinforcements at the ready).

Here's the view of the opening campaign on June 8. The 21st Australian Brigade is positioned near the coast road, the 25th lies on the road to the Vichy forward base at Merdjayoun, and the 5th Indian Brigade is positioned farther south near the Hejaz Railway. Together, these three locations mark the launch points for the three avenues of advance: the coast (Haifa to Beirut), the valley (Merdjayoun to Rayak), and the Hejaz Railway (Amman to Damascus). 

Together, the two Australian brigades of the 7th Australian Division have been assigned to break the Litani-Merdjayoun line of defense and the 5th Indian Brigade of the 4th Indian Division (along with whatever Free French complement could be assembled) was assigned the task of seizing the Vichy bases along the Hejaz Railway, the first major hurdle being the town of Ezraa.

The (Vichy) French defenders, for their part, similarly plan a defense in depth along three axes: Delhomme's command has been tasked with defending Damascus from the heights around Kiswe, Verdilhac charged with defense of the valley at Merdjayoun, and Arlabosse defense of the coast from his base in Beirut. 

Collet's Circassians open the campaign (pictured here outside Damascus).

It was the independent, Free French (FF) forces under Collet that opened the campaign. His Circassian cavalry and armor charged across the Syrian border and overran the Vichy garrison at Fiq. With this lighting strike complete and the neighboring enemies sent to the rear, Wilson moved his HQ forward to Lake Hula to support all three avenues of advance.

The advance along the railway opens with a bombardment of Deraa.

To open up their avenue of advance along the railway further east, the Indian battalions struck the forward pickets of the 1st Moroccan Cavalry at Deraa. Supported by aircover, the Moroccans were similarly routed, and the Punjabi battalion, held in reserve, was released with supporting artillery and AA. The lead column halted just outside Ezraa, cutting off supply to a regiment of Tunisian infantry holding positions south of the Jebel Druze. 

In a sudden dash across the Syrian border, the British timetable for the 5th Indian Brigade was easily reached. The advance up the valley took a slower pace on the outset. The 25th Australians (unaccustomed to the desert heat like their comrades in the 21st brigade) settled for a gradual advance supported by artillery and pioneers. The Vichy positions at Merdjayoun, held by battalions of the 22nd and 29th Algerians (which were interspersed along the Litani-Merdjayoun line of defense), were covered by well sighted artillery positions. The 25th Australians contended themselves with a slow advance into the hills in preparation for a probing attack on the advance positions of the Algerians. (I should have been more aggressive, though). 

The coastal sector at game start (the reserve marker was removed after this photo was taken).

In advance of Verdilhac's arrival, the Algerian reserves in the city and the supporting artillery were released to the front. Defensive barrages from the colonial artillery served to disorganize the Australians and prevent an attack.

Attacks along the coast proved more variable -- higher losses all around. It started with a pincer on Tyre through the valley and along the coast. One battalion of the 21st, supported by the Scots Greys, eliminated cavalry of the 8th Algerians breaking through to the coast via Bent Jbail and succeeded in capturing Tyre. Attacks along the coast road that were meant to meet the valley column stalled against the Goumiers cavalry. While suffering losses to their MG support in the lead column, the remainder of the 21st failed to destroy the Goumiers. Pushing them back on Tyre, however, they were cut off. 

The 21st takes Tyre.

Importantly, as seen here, the mobile forces assigned to support the 21st Australians were held back following the opening attacks.

The worst opening strikes befell the commandos released from Alexandria. Ordered to land at Sidon, rough currents forced one company to the north of the town, where their transports were lashed against the low hills near their assigned beaches. Faced with poor landing conditions, only one or two of the transports found their way onto the shore, where the men that were landed joined More's company. More's company drifted north of the town as well, but luckily made it to shore. The third and final company fared no better than the first. In choppier waters, their transports began to take on water where most eventually ended up capsizing. Supporting gunfire from the destroyers of the Mediterranean fleet were not consolation. The landing was a complete fiasco and More's few platoons were grossly outnumbered behind enemy lines.

A lone company of commandos makes it ashore, on the wrong side of the river.

The Vichy response was swift. The first order of business was withdrawal and consolidation. The Tunisians and supporting levies south of Jebel Druze were first priority, primarily due to the sizeable depot supporting them. Around the clock, Renault trucks and teams of wagons piled on the supplies and took north what they could. (By morning on June 12, only 2T remained unaccounted for, but not without mishap as seen below.) The mobile battalions packed up their supplies and rolled north too. It was the infantry and cavalry that were primarily stranded and they made for the station at Ezraa to rally a rearguard defense. 

The Ezraa counterattack.

Seeing an opportunity to delay the Indian advance to allow the Tunisians time to avoid being cut off, Delhomme ordered the Senegalese and Druze cavalry to counterattack the Punjabis south of Ezraa. Expecting an easy opportunity to give the Indians a bloody nose, the Punjabis proved masterful and parried the hasty counterattack. Ambushing the advancing Senegalese by using the artillery column as bait, the attackers were wiped out to a man (defenders surprise results in AL2)! Quite the counterpunch!

Elsewhere, Arlabosse and Verdilhac execute similar maneuvers to Delhomme with better results. The elusive Vichy destroyers that were still seaworthy bombarded Tyre, permitting the Goumiers cavalry to escape and join the defense at Merdjayoun. 

Verdilhac arrived in Merdjayoun where his artillery continued to pound the Australians and Arlabosse's infantry and armor began to set up the first line of defense with roadblocks along the Litani river. Only More's commandos posed a threat to their supply line. Combined forces of the French Foreign Legion, released from Beirut, along with elements of the 22nd Algerians, routed More's position from the coast (saved only by a well-timed ambush), forcing them inland and restoring the trace supply along the coast back to Beirut. 

The Litani-Merdjayoun River Line begins to take shape.

All of this would be fine and well, but Wilson's decision to relocate his HQ cost the Commonwealth their initiative and the Vichy forces under Verdhilac managed to make superb use of their initial successes.

In the 25th Australian brigade's sector on the morning of the 10th, everything went from bad to worse in the manner of only a few hours. With their advance halted by fire from the colonial artillery, supporting cavalry and levy forces wound their way around the Australian column and struck the 2/6 artillery, unsupported, and strung out along the road to Merdjayoun. In a matter of minutes, the artillery units were overrun and the 25th cut off. And to make matters worse, Wilson's unprotected HQ was only a few more miles down the road. Someone was going to have hell to pay for that bungle.

The 25th in dire straights, disorganized and cut off from its supply base.

Along the Hejaz Railway, it was more damage control than anything else. The Tunisians raced into Ezraa and prepared to hold it -- this time without any counterattacks -- while all available transport emptied the compromised depot. 

To support the hasty defense along the Hejaz, the rickety Vichy airforce attempted a fighter sweep of the British airbase north of Amman. For the few reservists watching from below, it was more an airshow than a dogfight, but the fact that the French pilots returned to their bases with nothing to show for their efforts but empty fuel tanks was enough of a victory for the commonwealth.

And to top it all off, the Algerians and Legionnaires again attempted to eliminate More's command by brute force, but even at 15:1 odds, a well-timed ambush again saved the last of the commandos. 

Undeterred, Wilson ordered an immediate response all along the front as fresh replacements arrived from Alexandria (1 Pax and 1 Eq, not to mention the usual 2SP 2T complement). The first order of business was rescuing the Aussies in the 25th. The Chas and Staff Yeomany were quickly reassigned to Wilson's overall command and detached from the 7th Australian. Both units were sent hurling against the Circassians and Lebanese infantry outside Mettula. By the skin of their teeth, the British cavalry avoided catastrophic losses in their head-charge up the road to Merdjayoun. The levy infantry were easily overrun, but the Circassian's kept rank and retired in good order to Mettula, still cutting off the Australians who had now moved off the road. It wasn't enough. The only unit left was the AT company with tanks of the 6th armored division, attached to the 21st Brigade. Wilson detached it from the 21st and sent it east. They took up a precarious position outside Mettula with the Yeomanry to their south and that did the trick. For the moment, the 25th was relieved. 

The Free French Arrive

Along the Hejaz, the 5th Indian Brigade consolidated it gains and advanced north as the 1st Free French Division arrived at the Syrian border. 5th Indian Brigade HQ moved to Sheikh Meskine and the battalion of Royal Fusiliers supporting them managed to capture 1T worth of French trucks loaded with supply as they trundled north. The only setback remained at Ezraa, where the Tunisian infantry repulsed an attack led by the Punjabis and supported by Collet's armor and cavalry.

The real breakthrough, however, came along the coast. Thanks to the delay caused by More's commandos, the legionnaires of the 6th Foreign regiment had not yet made it to the Litani line. Held by the tanks of the 6th Chasseurs and a battalion of Algerians (fast proving to be the fiercest fighters of the campaign), there was an opportunity to force a crossing. With armor support from the 6th and 9th armored divisions, the 21st Australian Brigade set out from Tyre hell bent on crossing the Litani. And they took all the support they could get. First, fighter bombers from bases in Egypt pummeled the Vichy positions, which did little but upend a few tables and chairs used by the officers of the 6th Chasseurs. The real damage came from the destroyers and heavy cruisers of the Mediterranean fleet. With a 1/2 result, a dr of 4 eliminated Algerian infantry and DGed the Vichy tanks. All of a sudden the defense strength of 22 (8 x 2 for open ground plus 6) fell to 8. For a river crossing, that was the change of fortune the Australians needed. Charging head on against the French R35s of the 6th Chasseurs, the 21st Brigade successfully broke through the Litani River line before the legionnaires could arrive.

The Litani River Line is breached.

Unfortunately though, the breakthrough was bitter sweet. Out of supply and surrounded in the hills outside Sidon, More and the last of his commandos surrendered to their pursuers just as the first British tanks crossed the Litani.