All Along the Watchtowers (with a nod to Jimmy)

The summer of 1916 saw numerous probes against New Orleans, many of which were quickly squashed by a combination of determined ground troops and well directed artillery. Here is one of those actions.

Table 4' x 6', running West to East; Terrain Two Woods each on North side and South side; Time 6 turns plus normal roll for more; Objective break opponent; Weather Clear.

Quali looked at his meager forces, deciding to leave the squads of Lobototons behind as too slow for his mission. Probe and get back. He chooses an Assault tripod for his machine, (2) Scouts and (2) squads of Drones that he'll control. Satisfied, he contacts two Martian subordinates for the Scouts and issues orders to his command.

Captain Will Smith (wink) ponders over his small force and wondered how he could stop another probe. He chuckled as he noticed the entry for the 37 mm infantry cannon, taken from various destroyed French Renault 17s. All had come from the tanks destroyed by engine hits, their crews bailing from a hopeless situation. He had added one apiece to each of his MG squads. Of late, the MG had seemed to become less effective against tripods, so these beefed up squads would serve as anti-drone & lobo units. Satisfied with his work, he went to his map to position his force for the next probe.

Special Rules: MGs have a -2 on the Tripod Damage Resolution Chart; the Assault Tripod has Controller capability; BP are based on my percentage system vs the rule books way. In this case both are at 50%. The rule book would have the Martians at BP 3 and the Humans at BP 10.

Martians: (1) Assault Tripod w/Controller@200 points; (2) Scout Tripods@300 points; (2) Squad of Drones (3 ec = 6 total) @120 points = Total 620 points @50% = 310 point BP.

Humans:  (2) MG squads @80 + (2) 37mm guns @40; (2) FA artillery batteries @160; (2) Listening Out Posts @20; (3) Platoons of Infantry, each of (3) Squads @90 plus (3) MG squads @120; (1) Company HQ @30 = Total 540 points @50% = 270 point BP

I wanted to work a few of the new Old Glory figures into a small scale battle to test various recent ideas presented on the forum. Hopefully the OPs will help the artillery take out at least one tripod and the up gunned MG squads can clear out the drones. Failing that, the Martian should have an easy time with this one as the lack of armor presents a tempting target. Enjoy! 
I just found my notes on this battle - sorry for the delay. Without further ado:


Turn 1 MARS: Quali started his probe, with his tripod flanked by the Scouts and the drone squads out in front (8" ahead). He quickly realized how difficult it as to manage the drones as well as his own machine. His superior Martian brain just had to strain to maintain the drones advance, much less target and fire on the prey! He quietly praised the wisdom of the makers with the use of the Slave Tripods - never again would he look down on their operators for the 'lower' posting of a Slave Tripod. (both phases spent advancing fully).

Turn 1 HUMAN: Capt. Smith had placed up gunned MG squads in each of the woods, with the two LPs in the same woods, but well away from the MG units. His artillery was likewise split to either side of the battlefield to achieve maximum overlap. (His artillery was split equal distance from the table edge and against the back edge of the table). He strung one platoon out between the woods and the other two on the backside of the woods away from view but on the edge so they could deploy quickly into the open. His HQ was located centrally between the two batteries, ready to move at anytime based on events. His two batteries opened up, firing at the advancing drones, one hit on the right flank was achieved (remember +1 To Hit due to LP).

Turn 2 MARS wins initiative: Quali was amazed at how quickly the preys guns found the range on his drones. He split the drones to either side, heading them to clear out the woods and perhaps to gain some cover from those guns. He pushed forward his Scouts and dashed forward to fire on some prey infantry to his front. One hit on the infantry and they were already falling back! This was getting better.

Turn 2 HUMAN: The 37mm gun to his right opened up with a boom, adding to the clatter of the machineguns. Two drones blew up from the combined onslaught. On the left the 37 managed to take out another drone, but the MGs failed to do further damage. His LPs quickly switched to the fast moving Scouts, taking out the leg of one on the left and ripping armor on the right one. His first platoon falls back as was prearranged and takes position in the center of his lines - both platoons in the woods see this as their signal to moved close to the edge of their respective woods, the better to assault out if the tripods move between the woods.

Turn 3 HUMAN wins initiative: His right flank 37 finishes the final drone and the MGs, with no other target, ping away at the closest Scout. Ping is the word, no damage is done. The left battery continues to pour onto the damaged Scout, with a weapons hit and further abuse to its armor. The right battery finds the range again on its Scout, reducing its armor to 1 and staggering it. His left flank MGs pepper the drone to their front, with the 37 taking out another damaged one. Only one drone left! His first platoon takes up position directly in front of his command post. Second and third platoons brace for the rush at any tripods that past by.

Turn 3 MARS: Quali was very alarmed now, as his force was being chewed to pieces. There was something different about the fire of the preys units in the woods - a large boom over the clatter of their weapons. He orders a withdraw, leaving the leg damaged tripod to its fate. He backs off slowly to offer fire against the woods to his left to cover the retreating Scout, as it moves full out to get out of the kill zones. Quali realizes that this is probably his last command - his next assignment will probably be as a Gatherer pilot !

Turn 4 MARS wins initiative: Full movement is spent running to their board edge. 

Turn 4 HUMAN: One final volley from both batteries at the parting Scout blows it sky high among the cheers of the human soldiers. 

Victory: HUMAN breaking the MARS force.


I must say I was impressed by the additional firepower the 37mms added to the MG squads. Reports were sent up the chain and the French & Foreign Legion units took note as well. As the Renault tanks only added speed to the 37s, there is considerable debate among the French as to their continued use for tank units. The armor commanders point out that a two MG and one 37 mix might be more favorable, especially if combined with a Radio tank for LP use. Time will tell. Until then, Captain Smith sips his coffee and checks to ammo use on his new friends, the 37s.