Post by mikedski on Mar 12, 2018 10:08:21 GMT
Battle of Memphis - July 1912
Based on Scott Washburn's novel Counterattack.
The Martians successfully crossed the Mississippi River in force 15 miles north of Memphis and have entered the northern part of the city. Operational surprise was achieved by a diversionary attack on west Memphis that fooled VII Corps Commander, General McArthur, in stripping the defenses north and south of the river and the putting the bulk of his corps on the west (wrong) bank of the great river. The available troops have put up a tenacious defense and with the deliberate demolition of entire city blocks the Martian advance appeared to have been stymied. The Martians then discovered the extreme eastern flank of the north facing defenders and using superior mobility have looped behind the humans and are moving from east to west clearly focused on the single bridge across the river.
Human situation.
Captain's Dolfen's 1st Squadron/ 5th Cavalry has been fighting and moving for 24 hours. Initially on the west bank performing a screening mission he directed his men to the east bank with all due dispatch once the Martian plan became clear. His squadron along with city militia and VII Corps units have forced the Martians to pay for each city block. But with each fall back fewer troopers are in the head count. In one last remarkable display of unit cohesion Captain Dolfen was able to reorient the survivors to face the Martian flank attack. A unit that consisted of three cavalry troops can now only defend a single city street.
Human Forces - Deploys anywhere in the city "grey" portion of the table
1) Remnants 1/5 Cavalry deploy with 6 inches of the HQ
HQ (CPT Frank Dolfen)
Two dismounted Cavalry Squads
One mounted cavalry squad
One motorcycle squad
One armored car platoon.
Memphis Women's Volunteer Sharpshooters
2) Elements 66th Infantry Division -deploys within 12 inches of HQ
HQ
4 infantry squads
2 HMG squads
One field gun battery with trucks
One anti-tripod gun with Mark II tractor
One Mark II tank platoon
3) City Militia - deploys within 6 inches of another militia unit
Two infantry squads
one HMG squad
Mark II Tank platoon
4) Corps and army level support
One heavy howitzer battery (off board)
Two howitzer batteries (off board)
Air support consisting of D8 Burgess-Dunne aircraft.
Reinforcements - Arrive from the bridge. Due to the choke point nature of the single bridge only two vehicle/truck carried units and two infantry units can arrive each turn.
Elements/ Independent tank battalion 36th Infantry Division
Two Mark II tank platoons
One Mark III tank platoon
One Mark IV tank
One clamp tank/ammo tender/ HQ tank
Elements of 29th Infantry Division
two infantry squads
two HMG squads
one field gun battery
one anti tripod gun
two truck mounted armored infantry squads (experimental)
Human Special Rules.
Backs against the wall. The defenders are now pinned in against the city's defensive wall. It's either defeat the Martians or die. Human forces can re-roll failed morale checks.
Rebecca Harding, crack shot. The Memphis sharpshooters can reroll one failed to hit die roll.
Free Fire Zone. During the battle, Corps and Army level fire support was raining down on the Martian advance without regard to friendly forces. Artillery and aircraft arrive a reinforcements each turn per a reinforcement die roll.
1) If successful, artillery will attack the closest Martian tripod to the associated number on the terrain board.
2) Aircraft will arrive at the associated reinforcement roll number and will move to attack the closest tripod. Then will continue flying in a straight line and attack additional targets until leaving the opposite side of the table. There are unlimited flights of aircraft available but only two flights allowed at any one time on the table.
Martian Situation. The Bajantus Clan launched the assault with 400 machines. Though a measure surprise was achieved, losses have been subtantial. Nearly 50 tripods were lost crossing the great water way due to a brazen point blank night time attack from human prey water craft and the treachery of the river itself. Many more have been lost or diverted on the drive to the city from carefully concealed traps and in reducing three human prey concrete fortifications. Now inside the city the attack has begun to lose momentum. The eastern battle group now reports a new human prey force assembling out the city. The situation is precarious. Victory must be achieved quickly. The vital bridge must be seized and available forces redeployed to meet new threats.
Victory Conditions. The Martian must block the bridge and break the human force.
Game length. 8 Turns. Each turn beyond will require a die roll-off. If Martian player has high roll, game will continue one additional game turn. If human player has high roll , the land ironclads arrive and the game is over .
Martian Forces
Battle Group 32-8
Battle Group Leader Davnitargus Tripod (8 command tokens)
4 Assault Tripods (each can control up to three drones )
2 Assault Tripods with Black Dust launchers (each can control up to three drones)
4 Scout Tripods
2 Slaver Machines ( a minimum of 6 drones each and can control up to 9 drones)
24 Drones
Clan Leader Qetjnegartis Commands (Special Rules)
a. "Drive through the city to the bridge over the river." If the Martian player moves a tripod into the bridge opening and does not further fire or move this tripod no human ground reinforcements will arrive. This represents the tripod blocking the bridge and engaging targets at the western end of the bridge. If the tripod moves away or is destroyed then the human player can resume reinforcement die rolls.
b. "All units continue the advance. Victory is in our grasp."
c. 1 ) The Martian force will not break morale.
2) For the cost of one command token, any destroyed tripod (no drones) can be placed in reinforcement pool.
3) For the cost of one command token the Martian player can reroll failed attempts to extend the the game beyond turn 8.
d. "All other groups will disengage…..Speed is essential. Commence Immediately." Clan leader Qetjnegartis directed a portion of his forces in the city to break contact and conduct a wide flanking maneuver. While catching the humans flat footed this tactic did not allow for a unified attack.
1) 50%of the Martian tripod strength will enter along the east edge on turn 1.
2) 25% of the tripods will go into reserve.
3) 25% into a reinforcement pool. They will arrive at the table edge within 6 inches of the corresponding number on the table.
4) Drone arrival is based on their assigned tripod.
Based on Scott Washburn's novel Counterattack.
The Martians successfully crossed the Mississippi River in force 15 miles north of Memphis and have entered the northern part of the city. Operational surprise was achieved by a diversionary attack on west Memphis that fooled VII Corps Commander, General McArthur, in stripping the defenses north and south of the river and the putting the bulk of his corps on the west (wrong) bank of the great river. The available troops have put up a tenacious defense and with the deliberate demolition of entire city blocks the Martian advance appeared to have been stymied. The Martians then discovered the extreme eastern flank of the north facing defenders and using superior mobility have looped behind the humans and are moving from east to west clearly focused on the single bridge across the river.
Human situation.
Captain's Dolfen's 1st Squadron/ 5th Cavalry has been fighting and moving for 24 hours. Initially on the west bank performing a screening mission he directed his men to the east bank with all due dispatch once the Martian plan became clear. His squadron along with city militia and VII Corps units have forced the Martians to pay for each city block. But with each fall back fewer troopers are in the head count. In one last remarkable display of unit cohesion Captain Dolfen was able to reorient the survivors to face the Martian flank attack. A unit that consisted of three cavalry troops can now only defend a single city street.
Human Forces - Deploys anywhere in the city "grey" portion of the table
1) Remnants 1/5 Cavalry deploy with 6 inches of the HQ
HQ (CPT Frank Dolfen)
Two dismounted Cavalry Squads
One mounted cavalry squad
One motorcycle squad
One armored car platoon.
Memphis Women's Volunteer Sharpshooters
2) Elements 66th Infantry Division -deploys within 12 inches of HQ
HQ
4 infantry squads
2 HMG squads
One field gun battery with trucks
One anti-tripod gun with Mark II tractor
One Mark II tank platoon
3) City Militia - deploys within 6 inches of another militia unit
Two infantry squads
one HMG squad
Mark II Tank platoon
4) Corps and army level support
One heavy howitzer battery (off board)
Two howitzer batteries (off board)
Air support consisting of D8 Burgess-Dunne aircraft.
Reinforcements - Arrive from the bridge. Due to the choke point nature of the single bridge only two vehicle/truck carried units and two infantry units can arrive each turn.
Elements/ Independent tank battalion 36th Infantry Division
Two Mark II tank platoons
One Mark III tank platoon
One Mark IV tank
One clamp tank/ammo tender/ HQ tank
Elements of 29th Infantry Division
two infantry squads
two HMG squads
one field gun battery
one anti tripod gun
two truck mounted armored infantry squads (experimental)
Human Special Rules.
Backs against the wall. The defenders are now pinned in against the city's defensive wall. It's either defeat the Martians or die. Human forces can re-roll failed morale checks.
Rebecca Harding, crack shot. The Memphis sharpshooters can reroll one failed to hit die roll.
Free Fire Zone. During the battle, Corps and Army level fire support was raining down on the Martian advance without regard to friendly forces. Artillery and aircraft arrive a reinforcements each turn per a reinforcement die roll.
1) If successful, artillery will attack the closest Martian tripod to the associated number on the terrain board.
2) Aircraft will arrive at the associated reinforcement roll number and will move to attack the closest tripod. Then will continue flying in a straight line and attack additional targets until leaving the opposite side of the table. There are unlimited flights of aircraft available but only two flights allowed at any one time on the table.
Martian Situation. The Bajantus Clan launched the assault with 400 machines. Though a measure surprise was achieved, losses have been subtantial. Nearly 50 tripods were lost crossing the great water way due to a brazen point blank night time attack from human prey water craft and the treachery of the river itself. Many more have been lost or diverted on the drive to the city from carefully concealed traps and in reducing three human prey concrete fortifications. Now inside the city the attack has begun to lose momentum. The eastern battle group now reports a new human prey force assembling out the city. The situation is precarious. Victory must be achieved quickly. The vital bridge must be seized and available forces redeployed to meet new threats.
Victory Conditions. The Martian must block the bridge and break the human force.
Game length. 8 Turns. Each turn beyond will require a die roll-off. If Martian player has high roll, game will continue one additional game turn. If human player has high roll , the land ironclads arrive and the game is over .
Martian Forces
Battle Group 32-8
Battle Group Leader Davnitargus Tripod (8 command tokens)
4 Assault Tripods (each can control up to three drones )
2 Assault Tripods with Black Dust launchers (each can control up to three drones)
4 Scout Tripods
2 Slaver Machines ( a minimum of 6 drones each and can control up to 9 drones)
24 Drones
Clan Leader Qetjnegartis Commands (Special Rules)
a. "Drive through the city to the bridge over the river." If the Martian player moves a tripod into the bridge opening and does not further fire or move this tripod no human ground reinforcements will arrive. This represents the tripod blocking the bridge and engaging targets at the western end of the bridge. If the tripod moves away or is destroyed then the human player can resume reinforcement die rolls.
b. "All units continue the advance. Victory is in our grasp."
c. 1 ) The Martian force will not break morale.
2) For the cost of one command token, any destroyed tripod (no drones) can be placed in reinforcement pool.
3) For the cost of one command token the Martian player can reroll failed attempts to extend the the game beyond turn 8.
d. "All other groups will disengage…..Speed is essential. Commence Immediately." Clan leader Qetjnegartis directed a portion of his forces in the city to break contact and conduct a wide flanking maneuver. While catching the humans flat footed this tactic did not allow for a unified attack.
1) 50%of the Martian tripod strength will enter along the east edge on turn 1.
2) 25% of the tripods will go into reserve.
3) 25% into a reinforcement pool. They will arrive at the table edge within 6 inches of the corresponding number on the table.
4) Drone arrival is based on their assigned tripod.