Just what the Germans needed, the Initiative! Their 77s miss the French Artillery, but score a hit on the Hotchkiss MMG, one of the crew is KIA while a Shaken is placed on the other. Fire brought to bear on the few remaining Poilu in the field, results in x2 KIA and x2 additional Shaken (top center). The Germans have withstood the French assault! Only to emphasize this, x1 of the two remaining Frenchmen at the farmhouse goes down as well!
French return fire completely misses everything as the surivors are ordered to withdraw:
The British are marginally more fortunate, as the Germans gain a total of x1 KIA, x2 Shaken, and x2 Pinned.
The Brits have x13 shots in the woods alone but continue their dreadful rolling and score x1 Shaken. x2 Tommies do engage x1 German in melee, and both lose one (center):
Germans win initiative again! This time (finally one might say) they smash a French 75mm (just off picture lower right). The real damage is in the field and farmhouse. x2 remaining Poilu go down leaving one shaken Frenchman left in the field (right of center). The reserve company does strike back (bottom of photo), and gets x2 KIAs. The French order a retreat!
The Germans reinforce Gamappe (buidling right of center) but their fire is ineffective.
The German MMG at the edge of Gemappe (top left) is much more effective. Along with some supporting rifle fire, they inflict x6 KIAs (all at the left flank of the British line, left of center photo). British return fire and get x3 KIAs (also at the left of woods), x1 Shaken and x1 Pinned. Perhaps it is enough to keep the Hun at bay, as the British High Command has ordered a withdrawal as well.
Now of course the Allies win the initiative! The Brits leave the Germans a parting shot which gets one more Shaken in the woods.
At least they can retire relatively unharmed.
The only casaulty this final round is the lone Shaken Poilu in the middle of a field. The Germans don't let him escape, and yet another casualty soaks that bloody field!
The carnage comes to an end. Total casualties:
"left battlefield" Lightly wounded Moderate Wound Serious wound Dead Total
French: 15 4 11 9 23 62
British: 5 11 8 4 17 45
German: 10 8 14 14 27 73
Little explanantion about casualties/morale. I simplified my rules years ago to include morale within the combat rolls. I always believed morale in games was vital, but I hated the time figuring different positive/negative modifiers. Hence the catagory above 'left battlefield". We don't roll morale in game. If we were playing a campaign, all casualties would have arrived at their command center/aid station, where they would be "recycled". It has worked remarkably well. So there you have it. Hope you enjoyed it. Leave and questions and/or comments and I will respond as quickly as I can.
Next up: Admiral Seymore's Relief column on the train route from Tientsin to Peking, 1900! Boxers galore!
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