Another Attempt at Kherson:

 Following two days of ineffective artillery bombardment, the Reds moved into the eastern suburbs and began pushing towards the Station. Meanwhile they launched another wave of men from the north as well.

While the Red Artillery failed to inflict casualties, the French Armored Train (offboard) and MMG to the right of Station, succeeded in dropping a total of four from one unit although it passed its morale check... 

At the end of the first turn, a Bolshevik unit appeared on the Greek's flank, from the eastern suburbs. Being a low-trained unit, they can't move and fire, so they had to wait for the Greek response. It was quick and deadly, as half of the unit was mowed down by the Greeks in the house on left along with the Evzoni in the cemetery. They also failed their morale, so they could not advance until they recovered (if they got the chance). The only possible good news was the Evzoni rolled for low ammo! Another such roll (x2 1s vs x1 6) and they would be out of ammunition!

Turn Two on the Red's right flank saw the unit take more losses from French Artillery and MMG fire, and losing their morale, are suppressed now as well. Two additional Red units passed them by to their left...

At the Station, enthusiastic Red Guards pushed quickly forward, but like their compatriots further to the left, they can't move and shoot. The Greeks along the RR tracks punished them as well, with half the unit going down. They too, came up short on their morale roll and they are suppressed! At least the Red Artillery finally found the range and destroyed a French MMG (upper left) and two Greeks dug in along tracks. (to the right of MMG)

The remaining half of the Red troops in the eastern suburb chose to fire at the Greeks inside the building to the left, but they missed everything! The Greek return fire was nearly as deadly as the first, as only the unit officer survived. Miraculously he passed his morale and didn't have to retreat. Unfortunately for the Greeks in the house, they too rolled for low ammo!

At the start of the next turn, French Artillery downed another Red, while their MMG took two more! Surprisingly, the 'Bolshies' passed their morale check...for now.

The Greeks started taking casualties in the house facing the eastern suburbs...

Bolshevik Artillery finally scored as they destroyed a French MMG along with two Greeks at the Station House. The Greeks failed their morale and so are suppressed (yellow cap)...

In turn Four, the Bolshevik unit that passed their morale on the right, failed this time. Losing more men plus both their commander AND the Commissar, virtually guaranteed that result...

Luck finally caught up with the Red Guard unit as well when suffering more casualties they became suppressed...

Back at the House, the Greeks moved more men to be able to bring fire on the Reds in the eastern suburb. Fortunately for them, no attacks took place this turn (Reds were pulling back and rearming)...

Turn Five saw the routing of the Red unit on the far right. An exchange of fire at the Station saw a Frenchman go down, but more numerous were the Red's losses. This unit went low on ammo (red cap) and failed morale check forcing it to retreat next activation (two yellow caps)...

The Greeks succeeded in breaking the Red Guard (literally one man, the NCO!), but they suffered two casualties as well...

The Greeks holding the House dropped two Reds, but seeing that they will be outflanked may cause them to retire or counterattack next turn...

On the next Turn, the Bolshevik attack on their right is in complete retreat, one unit with one man left...

The attack in the center is not much better (one lone Red Guard fleeing, while the men facing the Station House are suppressed. Support is moving up (lower left) but better yet for the Reds, The Greek Unit in front of the cemetery has run out of ammo! (two rep caps)...

In the eastern suburbs, while one Red unit is suppressed, another is coming up in support. The Greeks who retired out of the house, have sent word to the French commander in the Station House; help is needed!

Turn 9 saw the Whites miss with their artillery, but the Reds brought down one Frenchman (center of Station House). The Greek unit which had run out of ammo, decided to fall back (top left center)...

Over at the eastern suburbs, the Greeks charged into melee, and proceeded to lose in a 2-1 advantage fight! Fortunately for them they passed their morale check. Meanwhile a 'Bolshie' unit (bottom right) which had lost men to the Evzoni, gambled that they would get the initiative before the Greeks next turn, by charging into the open towards those Evzoni...

Turn 10 saw the Reds shoot down one of the retreating Greeks, while the Greeks in the Station House brought down one of theirs. And both passed their morale...

Evzoni on left after shooting down some Reds, go out of ammo!

The gamble payed off as the Boshevik got the initiative and blasted down three Evzoni who finally failed a morale check! Before they ran out of ammunition, the Greeks did get two Reds in revenge. Not good for the Allies however...

The lone White unit with the Allies, failed its morale (very shaky at best) and so failed to move forward ( seen at top). The last French MMG redeployed next to the Russians while the melee between the Greeks and Russians (at bottom) continued...

This time, the Greeks did very well. After defending themselves with no losses (and getting two Reds!) against the counterattacking Reds this turn, they succeeded as all four Greeks defeated their enemies, which broke the Reds morale to boot! Great time for that to happen as it appears the Allies will continue to fall back in this sector...

Turn 11 saw the Reds inflict two more casualties of the retiring Greeks, including the units officer, which helped caused them to fail their morale...

The unit of Whites recovered their morale, while the French MMG got one casualty near the Church (before a Greek unit retired into their line of site), but it was the unit's officer! May help the Evzoni withdraw from the cemetery (lower right)...

Turn 12. This could be it. Can the Allies make their move successfully to Kherson's riverfront and possible evacuation? A Bolshevik unit charged into the cemetery, only to be greeted by fire from the Greeks still holding part of the Station House. Three Reds go down, and they become suppressed. Most of the Reds cannot pursue the Allies so hope grows...

While the White unit continues to advance (a great surprise), The Greek Howitzer places a well-aimed shot that takes out two Reds...and they become suppressed! The French MMG downs two Reds including the unit's LMG! No Bolshevik unit can advance. All three Greek units retire, although the poor Evzoni only roll a move of 3"! Guess they don't like retreating...

With the closest Bolshevik units all suppressed, the Allies successfully retired towards Kherson's waterfront and evacuation. It was quite the fight.

The Reds are Holding the Village

As we continue to try out the Rule Set "Set the East Ablaze", the scale gets a little larger. The 'Bolshies' (which I've learned was a British term used for their opponents) are housed in the town, trying to stay warm indoors on a typically chilly Russian winter day. There are troops in the Manor House (mid-right); an Austin-Putilov AC you can just make out parked in front (seen above the Church onion-dome); more troops in  the smaller Dacha across the road to the left; with a Cavalry unit (horses tied up outside) in the house between that Dacha, and the second across the street (with more troops) towards the bottom of photo. Finally there is a detachment of Kronstadt sailors housed in the Station House at the bottom along with an Armored Train (with two gun cars, a MG car, and an external MG at end of train). This photo actually shows the end of the first turn and the sentries are alerting the garrison. You can make out two dead horses at the crossroads, and that will be explained in the next photo...

Looking over the attacking White forces. Left to right we have a detachment from the Kornilov Division (Crack troops they); two Cavalry units (at the head of the column, Don Cossacks); below the cavalry and to the right of the Kornilov men, two infantry units supported by a Maxim MG; a truck-towed Howitzer; dismounted Kuban Cossacks and a dismounted Don Cossack unit bottom right. An Austin-Putilov AC is advancing down the road and has opened fire at the string of horses it can see at the crossroads (the result you saw in previous photo)... 

Now the Whites are advancing all along the battle field. To the left, Kornilov along the flank, and Infantry to the perimeter fence of the Manor House. In the center, the mounted Don Cossacks made the mistake of plunging straight down the main road when unexpectedly, the Bolshevik AC came roaring down through the gate of the Manor House ploughing into them and spraying them with MG fire! All very costly to the Cossacks. The 2nd White Cavalry is peeling off the road to the right side of town while the Kuban unit is pushing forward as well. The Howitzer fires at but misses striking the Manor House...

Next you can see the Reds reaction. At the bottom the Kronstadt sailors are manning the various positions on the Armored Train. In the center, the slaughter of the Don Cossacks, while to the left Red Infantry is moving to the left while their cavalrymen have mounted up.

Turn three, the Red's AC finishes off the unfortunate Don Cossacks, while the second White Cavalry and the Kuban continue to advance...

The Whites are bringing pressure up on the Manor House, while the two ACs pelt each other with MG fire. The Whites actually get a suppressed marker on the 'Bolshie' which means that they cannot advance...

On the other side of town, there is a large melee involving White Cavalry against Red Cavalry and Infantry. The Whites get the worse of the fight especially against the Reds behind the fencing and are nearly wiped out (the remains are seen retreating in the upper left).  White infantry however gain the upper hand with the Red Infantry inside the Dacha (top center) and succeed in suppressing them. They also shoot down a number of the Red Cavalry (lower right). What the Reds wouldn't know right away is that the White unit with two red caps has just run out of ammo!..

Unfortunately for the Bolsheviks back at the Manor House, accurate MG fire has broken the Reds stationed inside the Manor House, and they have been completely routed. Even threatened by their Commissar (you can just see him on the porch of the Manor House) has failed to stop their flight, and they are out the battle. The Kornilov detachment is just reaching the other side of the House (upper right)...

...yes he has a megaphone, don't all Commissars!

I wish I could take credit for setting this picture up but I simply used the opportunity when someone opened the blinds on the west facing shop windows creating this effect! (literally the setting sun) It looks so Dr Zhivago. Anyway, the routing Red unit from the Manor House are running so fast they are leaving their Commissar far behind. Above the very angry Commissar you can make out the remnants of the Reds who were stationed inside the Dacha routing as well (3-yellow caps) while their AC has pulled back to the crossroads (mostly obscured by the Church Dome again...

A better view of the deteriorating situation for the Reds on the other side of town. Their lone surviving Cavalryman (upper left in road) and the AC at the crossroads with the routing infantry to its right. The final Bolshevik unit is seen along the fences (upper center) facing the White infantry closing in from the right...

With the Whites pouring in, the Bolshevik command decided it was time to retire. BTW, the Armored Train had virtually no affect on the fight. In fact, the die rolls for the Red Players were almost completely bad with the exception of the Infantry unit that smashed the White Cavalry at the fence. We are finding the Rule Set gives a fairly quick and fun game and we're planning on more. Dasvidaniya til later...
 

A Meeting Engagement

 One of the first games using the new rules "Setting the East Ablaze" follows.

At the bottom are the Whites. From l to r we see a Truck and Howitzer; unit of infantry behind a Maxim MG; another infantry unit; then finally a Kuban Cossack infantry unit...

The Bolshevik view, with (from l to r) an Austin-Putilov AC; three Infantry units; and finally some Cavalry...

Initial turns saw the Whites deploying their Howitzer and MMG white other troops move into the village. The Cossacks on the right, move towards the farm house. The Reds are moving their Cavalry (l) and Putilov (r) quickly before the Whites consolidate their positions. Some Infantry are moving on the farm house as well...

The Bolshevik view...

The Cavalry smash into the Artillery crew but shockingly lost more in the melee than the gunners! Then supporting White Infantry fire and MMG fire devastated their ranks. The Putilov opens fire and brings down a couple of enemy troops to slow to reach cover. But there is bad news even here, as they roll for low ammo (occurs when you roll 2x1 for each 6 rolled. It then means -1 on future rolls and will go out of ammo if repeated)...

At the two farm house, both sides are approaching the fight...

With the Red Cavalry dispatched, artillery, MG, and rifle fire rip into the closest enemy Infantry. The Putilov scores more hits BUT... get another low ammo roll and so they are out of ammo!

The final episode (as it turns out) occurs at the farm house. While the Whites take some losses, their fire, devastates the Red Infantry and their morale breaks! Fight over.

A nice quick little game and we'll continue to try out these rules.

 

The Battle of Kherson: 2 March 1919

The French and their forces landed at Odessa on the Black Sea, 18 December, 1918. They scattered their small force to the north, northeast and east including the town of Kherson. This town is located on the Dnieper River, a few miles inland from the Black Sea, some 150 miles (+/-) east  of Odessa. The French commander assigned the responsibility of defending Kherson to the 1st Btn, 34th Ing Regiment of the Greek Army. This was supported (?) by one company of the French 176th Regi supported by two 65mm  mountain guns. It was reinforced by a second company from the French 176th and two companies of the Greek 7th Inf Regi. Even though the Greeks made up the vast majority of the men, command was in the hands of the French Major Lanchon. There was a two tiered defense line consisting of an advance line based on the Kherson Railroad Station and a local church/cemetary, a few miles north of the town center (the main line) and its small fortress. On 1 Mar, Ataman Grigoriev's pro-Bolshevik forces arrived some 31 miles to the north and had delivered an ultimatum to Lt Mathios in command of the advanced position. The Allies were to lay down their weapons and evacuate by 1500hrs on 2 Mar, or face the consequences. This was rejected and the battle was on.

This view is northward looking over Kherson itself, toward the Kherson RR Station, seen top center. Kherson's riverside dock area is just off to the bottom of the photo...

The view is still northward, now a closeup on the station (l) and church (r). The defenders are seen at bottom. Two French Hotchkiss MMG, two French cos, three Greek cos and a Greek Evzoni co, and one White Russian co (not in photo, and supported by a French Armored Train and artillery)...

Viewing southward to Kherson with the initial Bolshevik force drawn up for the assault just out of the photo to bottom. (The allies were heavily outnumbered 10-12,000 to 1000+). Late snow is lingering underneath the few trees...

The fighting began with the Bolshevik artillery aiming at the grand RR Station House, but only one round was on target and it had no affect on the large structure. The Bolshevik cavalry and infantry began to make their charge across open ground...

...while the French artillery placed one of their first rounds directly on a charging horsemen. First blow to the Allies...

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The Greeks on the Allied right flank let the charging horsemen get closer before their rifles and a French Hotchkiss tore into the Bolshevik ranks, downing seven of the ten man co! With such a devastating volley, its no wonder that the Bolshevik failed their morale and came to a thunderous halt...

On the other Bolshevik flank, the French artillery barrage all came up short. Only the Hotchkiss MMG had the range to reached the Reds, but it only dropped one cavalryman...

To be continued...