Oriskany's Final Days of the Great War - Australians + British tanks vs. Germans at Hamel

Germans set up first, anywhere in the south six rows of the map.  The Irish set up second, allowed to set up anywhere in the top four rows of the map as long as they are not in direct LOS of any German unit.  Once they Irish set up, any Irish leader is allowed to call in a fire mission (special 1918 Edition “Preparatory Artillery Barrage” rules) with the four light mortar barrages included in their OOB.

*These OBA fire missions can only come in on Turn 1.  Since Irish units cannot set up with LOS on German units, none of  these will be “on target” per normal OBA rules.  Therefore, the must drift to have any chance at any effect.  On a d6:  1 = lands on designated hex.  On a 2-5 drift one hes.  On a 6 drift 2 hexes.

Also, they can set up a normal rules fire mission with their own integral 76mm Stokes section (1918 Edition “radio-less:” indirect fire rules – the spotter has to have LOS on the target, and the mortar battery has to have LOS on the spotter for visual signals for fire adjustment).

Irish use their Stokes mortar to set down smoke shells to cover the advance of McCabe’s & Flynn’s platoon.

Irish mortar fire is a complete wash.  Only one barrage hits anything, and rolls a 2d6 10 +3 for building = 13, a very bad roll (low rolls are better in this game), so no effect at all.  Smoke screen goes down and the assault goes in.

McCabe’s assault goe sin through the smoke screen.  Unfortunately, the line of sight was such that the smoke rounds couldn’t be put quite far enough down the street to cover his final deadly 30 yards, and he takes opportunity fire from three angles.  First, the MG 08 nest immediately in front (the one he’s assaulting) misses.  Chalk it up to to panic fire.

Next, the flanking MG 08 nest rolls box cars, the worst possible roll.  This results in a random Irish sniper appearing somewhere in the ruins, anywhere within line of sight of the unit that rolled the doubles sixes.  The sniper is placed in a spot where he can make the immediate allowed attack on the MG 08 next (but he misses), but also pin down Steiner’s platoon somewhat should he try to move in the wing of the building behind the MG 08 nests.

Haputmann Setesch’s fire, from the southwest, ironically, scores well enough to do some damage.  Lt. McCabe must take two casualty points, he can either pin down two units (both his sections) or take half a section of casualties and press home his assault.  Not wanting to be pinned down in front of a German MG pit in an open street and in a a three-way crossfire , he takes the casualties and carries the assault in.

McCabe’s platoon and Flynn’s platoons make the assault.  They can use up to three grenades counters (Irish have 12 in all), but the Germans (with only one unit in each target hex – the MG 08 crew / half squad) can only use one.  So both Irish assaults use two grenades (giving them a surplus of +1), in addition to the +1  from  each platoon’s leadership bonus (the -1 for the leaders).

Both assaults are successful but bloody, each Irish platoon must pay one casualty point for the one German unit in its target hex (half squad MG 08 crew) and three points for the building terrain bonus = four total.  Both sides decide to pay -3 casualty points by knocking down a full squad to half (6 casualty points for a full squad down to 3), then pinning that half squad for the fourth required casualty point.

It’s a risky move, with Steiner’s platoon in that same building ready to immediately counter-assault.  But these Irish have an “E” elite rating, plus both platoons have a -1 leader (Flynn and McCabe).  So their odds of rallying before the German counterassault hits them are good.  In this game, it’s all about the quality of your men and your leaders.

Johnston moves company command section up behind McCabe and Flynn.  On the other flank, Lyons and McAuley move up, using buildings for cover.  Mortar section edges out into street so Johnston can see them and pass signals, but noyt take took much fire now that McCabe and Flynn have taken out two forward MG positions.  German MGs can see Lyons and McAuley, will fire during their turn, McAuley and Lyons were careful to stey in and behind buildings.    Vickers sections  and reserve sections try to move up as well, but with out officers, and slowed by heavy weapons, they don’t get far.

Germans, meanwhile, move up reserve squad, and put McAuley;s platoon under fire from four directions.  Setesch’s platoon uses Assault Move to low-crawl back into the town hall building.  Not moving on the right wing for now, they can ignore the British sniper.  Werner puts mortar fire on McAuley’s platoon as well.  McAuley takes some casualty point, but with elite troops in a fortified position, and with no Germans immediately ready to assault, he takes the pins, and so takes no actual killed or wounded.

Hauptmann Bothi, however, with a half squad armed with MG 08 15s, however, scores more damage on  McCabe’s platoon.  But again, Irish are able to take the pin and not sustain any more killed or wounded.

ROUND ONE complete.