The Battle of 73 Easting revisited

 

I was greatly relieved and thanked God when the platoon leaders and the first sergeant reported that they had taken no casualties. The Troop had assaulted through four kilometers of heavily defended ground. In twenty-three minutes, Eagle Troop had reduced the enemy position to a spectacular array of burning vehicles.

Captain H.R McMaster OC Eagle Troop 2nd Armored Cavalry

The Battle of 73 Easting scenario is a refight of the battle that occurred when Captain H. R. McMaster and Eagle Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment encountered and destroyed a dug in force of more than 50 tanks and armored personal carriers. This force had been positioned by competent officers, behind reverse slopes, in revetments and behind mine fields. Can the Americans emulate H. R. McMaster’s stunning victory? Can the Iraqi commander improve on the disastrous showing of the historical Tawakalna Division?

The Battle of 73 Easting is a perennial favourite with the Wollongong Wargamers ever since Ed debuted it as our show spectacular at the local Illawarra Plastic Modellers show where we showcase our best games.

For last night's game Daniel (above left) was commanding the Iraqi Republican Guard Tawakalna Division, whilst Ed, (above right) was leading Eagle troop and had to seize the objective in the bottom left of the photo above within 8 moves. Given the respective AFV values, this might seem like an asymmetrical task but the outcome has varied every time we play it!

On this occasion Daniel chose to seal off the northern line of approach by concentrating his minefields there. Below, the initial set up, with the bulk of Iraqi T-72s facing south and presenting their side armour to the US Cavalry:

The objective was a long eight feet away from the US start line!

The opening US volley was not as devastating as Ed had hoped:

And it soon became apparent that Daniel's BMP-1s were not going to sit this one out - they were Bradley hunting!

Ed closed in to continue getting side shots as the Iraqis reorientated:

But Daniel was getting frustrated as half his formation still had no idea a battle was raging the other side of the berm - or didn't want to know!

Those pesky BMP-1s were getting really annoying as they took out all the Bradleys!

With no time to lose, Ed pressed on towards the objective, where by now the penny had finally dropped!

Daniel's T-72s were scoring hit after hit on the Abrams, and Ed's saving armour rolls were consistently showing ones! The surviving pair closed onto the objective... 

But it wasn't just the cavalry that could maneuver! Side shots wiped out the last of the M1A1s for an Iraqi victory - this time!

Oudenarde 1708

This week the Wollongong Wargamers refought the Battle of Oudenarde from the War of Spanish Succession. Yours truly on the left as the French Marshal Duc de Vendome - yes he of the famous 'place' in Paris - and David on the right as the Duke of Marlborough:

Actually, as with most of 'Corporal John's battles, the amazing feat was in his administration, concentration and force marshalling prior to the battle!

Nevertheless, the battle itself, fought over difficult, cut up terrain, is fascinating, if challenging, to replay. 

The battle, fought with 10mm figures largely from Pendraken, and our tried and tested Valour & Fortitude rules, was organised by Caesar who did all the planning and scenario work. There was much bath-tubbing: each of the four commanders: Marlborough and Eugene, Vendome and Burgundy; had just a very large Infantry brigade and Cavalry brigade, for a total of four brigades per side.

Above: initial deployment from the French perspective. Deployment space was limited!

Below: the Allied deployment from the British perspective. Note the massed batteries covering the centre of the table which is the only open approach!

My initial plan was to hold my left with the minimum of troops and smash most of the infantry into the right flank between Shaerken and the woods. Both cavalry brigades would hook around to the extreme right flank. 

Unfortunately this meant stripping away half of Burgundy's infantry and force marching them across the table. Well its not like he was going to do much anyway, if history was anything to go by!

The gallant French Regiments funnel into the meat grinder...

And their replacements, sorry, reinforcements, march across to join them - La Morte ou la Gloire!

Unfortunately, this narrow gap I chose for my main effort was precisely where David had stationed the British Foot Guards! Probably Morte then...

My French cavalry were facing less redoubtable opponents and gave a good account of themselves:

However, having managed to occupy Shaerken and pour musketry into the flanks of the Guards, even they began to give way slightly, and slowly, painfully, the Lily Banners were carried forward towards Oudenarde...

But it was too little, too late...as night fell the battle was but a bloody stalemate. Thanks to Caesar for organising such an enjoyable game and for David for being such a courteous yet challenging opponent!