Robert

Thanks, Greg.

The 18 pounder posed a major threat. It threatened the German-occupied building next to the crossroads. Two British infantry sections were approaching the building from the south. With direct fire support, the two sections stood a better chance of overwhelming the remnants of the German squad in the building. Smoke was called in,…[Read more]

Meanwhile on the German left flank, the sniper team and AT gun came under fire from a British sniper. The German commander had been worried about British tanks or armoured cars, hence deploying the AT gun as left flank protection. The Germans came out on top in this isolated exchange.

Robert

Here is the perspective of the 18 pounder gun crew. A Litko blast marker shows where the HE shell penetrated. The right flank infantry section has gone ‘Down’, no doubt hastened by the overpressure.

Robert

The British 18 pounder fired directly at the building next to the crossroads. The German squad took pins. Here are the markers, at the base of the building.

Robert

A British squad on the left flank, advancing behind the cover of a wall. The men with soft caps are 1914 dismounted British cavalry.

Robert

Here is the British Vickers MMG team setting up in the top storey of the Crescent Root building. These models are lighter than the resin Total Battle Miniatures but very robust nonetheless.

The 18 pounder has been set up, protected by the British right flank guard.

Robert

The middle German infantry squad is just about to enter the farm complex. The buildings are from Total Battle Miniatures. Very solid construction, though ventilated somewhat by various shell holes.

Robert

And another view of the British support weapons deploying. ‘Ubique’ is the motto of the Royal Artillery Regiment; here the field gun team is living up to that motto. A Stokes mortar team has deployed on table. The Vickers MG team are approaching the nearest house, hoping to cover the open road. The German field gun will pose a stiff challenge…[Read more]

Another view of the German support weapons deploying on or near the main road. The FO team has taken up position but lines of sight are severely constrained by the close terrain. The right flank German squad has entered the building on the right.

Robert

Thank you, invisible officer. I have been to Münster but sadly not to the museum. It doesn’t look I will have the chance any time soon…

Robert

My German A7V had broken down so didn’t even make it to the start line.

Robert

An overhead shot at the end of Turn 2. German forces on the right; British on the left. One German squad is in the building top right. The other two are in the farm buildings (Total Battle Miniatures).

Robert

The Germans continued their build-up from the ‘north’. The 77mm field gun set up an overwatch position commanding the open road and part of the crossroads. The 76mm leichten Minenwerfer and the Granatenwerfer set up in the field next to the road, with the T-Gewehr AT rifle team just ahead and off-road.

Robert

Another view of the build-up of British forces from the ‘southern’ long table edge. Three sections have advanced on the British left. The section nearest the crossroads is just about the enter the (Crescent Root) building. One section has reached a stone wall and the third (nearest camera) is pushing the open left flank. In the distance, the…[Read more]

Thank you, Michael. The attached photos show the initial German deployment, with its Schwerpunkt directed on the centre-left of the table. An infantry squad is pushing forwards to occupy the building next to the crossroads. A section squad is racing to occupy the farm complex, followed by the MG08 team. In the distance, the British horse-drawn…[Read more]

Thanks, invisible officer. Our posts crossed. I updated the OOBs because the Germans only had three squads and had the 77mm field gun as well.

Robert

Here is an overhead shot of the battlefield. It shows a small village, largely untouched by the war so far. There is a farm complex in the bottom left quadrant and two village buildings beside the crossroads. The British forces are due to enter from the top; the Germans from the bottom of the table.

Robert

German WW1 field artillery shell wicker carrier:

Robert

And a German heavy Minenwerfer from WW1:

Robert