Scenario Introduction:
This battle took place largely in the forest to the north of Villers-Cotterets as the 4th (Guards) Brigade fought a confused delaying action. The battle was characterised by movement and firing along and across the “rides” or access paths/roads than ran through the forest, and the clearings that appear amongst the tree blocks. The brown lines through the forest simulate these “rides”.
German units lost their way, and at times fired on friendly units, while there was one instance (at least) of a German unit appearing on the flank of a Guards Battalion taking that unit by complete surprise.
The aim of the mechanisms used in this scenario is to confront both players with the problems and surprises represented by some of these situations.
Objectives:
The British 4th Brigade must hold the German advance inside the forest for no less than 10 moves, and only then withdraw through Villers-Cotterets with no more than 50% casualties.
The German forces must inflict at least 50% casualties on the 4th Brigade, and exit the Board along its south edge (through Villers-Cotterets which is just off the south edge of the map) with at least 1 battalion, within 10 moves.
Try playing with the timings and percentages: this will change the nature of the battle considerably!!!
Forces
British:
4th (Guards) Brigade
Brigade HQ 1 stand
4x Infantry battalions 4 stands and MMG in each battalion with
Supporting Artillery Batteries 2 stands 18pdrs
German:
5th Division per GWSH rules TOE
There is some question about when the German artillery joined the attack, and which regiments exactly were available, and so:
1. From move 1, two regiments of 77’s
2. From move 5 the remaining two regiments of 77’s, and one regiment of 150’s from the Corps artillery.
Deployment:
The map, and deployment notes, can be found here
Special Scenario Rules:
You may like to try the following suggestions for scenario specific rules, or you may prefer to simply play it for yourselves and see how it goes. These suggestions have been written to try to create some of the particular events that occurred during the battle.
1. Once only in the game, the player commanding the German forces may reposition any of one his own infantry battalions of choice currently within any forest area, to any alternative position within that same forest block, and with any facing chosen, provided there are also British forces (regardless of strength) within that same forest block. E.g. the German unit may be repositioned onto the flank of the British forces inside that specific forest block. This move is not subject to scenario rule 2.
2. All German units that move within any forest block must throw one D6 every time they move, to test for deviation: 1,2 the unit deviates 45 degrees left of the player’s intended direction, 3,4 the unit goes in the desired direction, 5,6 the unit deviates 45 degrees right of the player’s intended direction.
3. Every time a German Battalion comes within 8” of another German battalion, test to see if one of the two battalions suffers from friendly fire. Roll 1D6, and if a score of 6 is rolled, carry out a normal fire attack on the nearest friendly German unit.