Teaser – April ’80 – Military Modelling

312 MILITARY MODELLING

Teaser – April ’80 – Military Modelling
 C. S. Grant returns with
the first part of another
Teaser'.
Introduction
This month our teaser concerns a key point or
critical feature; that is a place or geographical area
which has strategic importance in a particular
action or campaign. Such features may derive
their importance from permanent or semi-
permanent factors. With a glance at the map of
Europe, or in more detail at any particular
country, the discerning eye will quickly see such
areas. These may owe their importance to their
social, political, economic or military significance.
They may be centres of recruiting, political
feeling, supply or communication. Such key
points may be specific installations like oil
producing plants, arms' factories or centres of food
processing, ft may be that the key point owes its
importance to its geography, for example it may
be a defile, a bridge crossing or road junction.
Examples of the latter types will be much the
same in Europe today as they were two hundred
years ago. Indeed, it is not for nothing that the
Low Countries have been known for centuries as
the cockpit of Europe. The major rivers, their
crossing points and their influence on
manoeuvre remain largely predictable but make
the areas no less important as key points. To sum
up on on this point, (think we can see that the
Alpine Passes, the big rivers like the Rhine, the
industrial centres of the Rhur or the Continental
ports are examples of key points which have a
long term or semi-permanent place in European
strategy whatever the period.
In addition to these long term key points,
there are other places which may assume
momentary but enormous strategic importance
by virtue of the circumstances immediately
preceding. History books abound with the
names of obscure places which have
experienced such occurrences. Names like the
Alamo, Waterloo and Marengo owe their
memory to the strategic manoeuvres which
temporarily rendered these relatively
unimportant places vital.
This escalation of strategic importance which
can occur is not confined to named places.
Similar circumstances can project a relatively
small force or garrison, carrying put duties which
are at best only secondary to the main strategic
aims and on minor fronts/into positions where
their conduct and its result is critical to the
strategic picture. It was circumstance which
suddenly made the garrison of Rorke's Drift so
important and earned it undying fame. The
much weakened and divided army of Massena
found itself bottled up in Genoa but with a role
which was vital to the success of Napoleon's
reserve army. The defence of Bastogne in 1945
against the German Ardennes offensive
contributed greatly to the slowing and ultimate
failure of Hitler's last desperate offensive. In
these examples, a force in a normally less than
vital
position found its importance greatly enhanced
by the strategic situation.
This preamble serves to introduce this
month's Teaser which is predictably about just
such a situation. The terrain, for no other reason
than that it is interesting and that it adds a few
other minor problems to the game, is based
loosely on a diorama in the Musee de I'Armee
(Paris) of the Battle of Lodi. The small garrison
for our battle is some day's journey away from
the main theatre of action and though tasked
with the defence of a crossing is unlikely, or so it
thinks, to see any action. Of course this is not to
be and as messenger and enemy scouts appear
on the table it is clear that our garrison occupies
a 'Key Point'.
Period
Like many other scenarios of war this
Teaser poses problems and set questions
which could arise in almost any period. The
choice of the 'Horse and Musket' setting for
these instructions is a purely arbitrary one and
a simple process of converting the respective
forces can produce the teaser in any period
from Biblical to modern warfare.
Terrain
Much of the terrain is obvious (see map 1).
The river, which flows from the east to west, is
spanned by low stone bridges which can take
five foot or two cavalry figures abreast. These
bridges have low walls but do not provide cover
from fire. The buildings, both on and near the
island, are stone structures roofed with thatch.
Apart from the bridges, there are four fords and
a boat of which more anon. The ground rises to
the south and northwest and this is sufficient to
cause an obstacle to both movement and sight.
Forces
Red Force (defenders) - the force is
dispositioned as shown in map 1.
Key to Unit
Map
1 1 unit of militia or local
reserve (i
strength of normal infantry
regiment).
2 1 regiment of infantry.
3 1 regiment of infantry.
4 1 battery of artillery (2 guns).
5 1 regiment of heavy
cavalry,
divided into 2 sub-units.
Blue Force (attackers) - still to arrive on the
table.
Advance Guard of 1 regiment of light cavalry,
three periods ahead of the main force.
Main Force
1 regiment of light cavalry.
4 regiments of infantry.
2 batteries of artillery (2 guns each).
1 battalion of light infantry.
Opening scenario
The Red force guards one of the important entry
points onto his territory, the river being
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the border. The The following the messenger described, are in a number approach the
garrison morning a arrives. The the obvious of places but vital crossing,
consists of the messenger message will crossing that these the Red
force given was read as places and sites must be forces will be
including the belatedly follows - "Our are located by busying
militia which despatched main forces indestructible cavalry themselves,
should have an and as dawn have with- for the pur- reconnaissan belatedly
appropriately breaks two drawn behind poses of the ce. The strengthening
reduced days after the the river game. If Red cavalry their
morale status. fi rst battle, boundary asks, it seems moving down defences. A
The garrison's both destroying the fair that he the river bank long day of
orders, now messenger bridge behind should be told will be told of action
three weeks and flying them. The that there are the location stretches out
old, are to hold column enemy is enough of a ford ahead -who
the crossing approach the likely to make wagons, carts, when it is six will win the
point until table from all haste to barrels and inches from it. vital
further orders opposite seize the boxes in the Fords A, C crossing?
are received. directions. crossing at .town to and O are six Victory will
They have no Blue's your location. provide inches in be decided at
instructions to aims It is vital that barricades for breadth last light,
destroy the Blue force's you hold the both cover whereas that probably
bridge nor do aim is to crossing until and to provide at B is the between
they have the seize the dawn obstacles width of the periods 20
means to do island cros- tomorrow. which, though island. The and 30
so if they sing during This will temporary, latter depending on
wished to. the enable us to may be however has the rules and
Red has remainder of reorganise the useful. no crossing scale used. If
naturally the day so army and If Red asks to the north Blue has com-
assumed that that by last reserves and about fords, it side (an evil mand and
the main light the main arrive at your also seems deception). access by
conflict due to army can position reasonable to All fords may bridge from
take place two commence its tomorrow to suppose that be crossed one side of
days' march to crossing. deliver a local at half speed the river to
the northwest Red's aim crushing blow knowledge will with some the other,
will decide the The Red to the Blue supply their degree of such that
confrontation force will act force as they locations at A, disorganisati reinforce-
in their favour. on its old are in the act B, C and D. on. ments may
Probably for orders until of forcing a Should Blue Finally, on cross to the
this reason crossing. I ask the same the subject of north bank by
they have repeat - you question, he the river, the night,
made no must hold the will be told that Red force has regardless of
attempt to bridge head he may forgotten the the state of
prepare the for 24 hours." assume the existence of a the other
area against Game river is boat at E bridges, then
attack or preliminar fordable capable of he has won
indeed to take ies ferrying 10 the game,
up a more With the men (2 of achieving his
warlike Red force in which would objective. If
posture. position at row) moored these
Unknown to dawn the on the south conditions are
the garrison, commander bank. This not met, then
Red's main throws one die could be Red has
force has been which, destroyed by succeeded.
defeated 36 unknown to hand in one With such
hours him, will period should aims and
previously but determine the Red attempt determining
has been able period at it. It would factors there
to destroy the which the take one can be no
bridge in the messenger period to draw.
wake of its arrives at X. embark or
retreat and Blue does the disembark
thus cut off the same, but his troops. The
Blue forces' throw is to boat may
advance. Blue determine the travel at a
reacted period at rate of six
quickly and which his inches per
despatched a advance period.
flying column guard Conclusio
of troops not regiment of n
involved in the cavalry will We are
main action to arrive. They now ready to
seize the appear to the begin
bridge crossing south east as hostilities. As
the southeast indicated by dawn breaks
now defended the arrow and and the
by the Red proceed the morning
garrison. main force by begins, mes-
Because of three periods. senger and
the confusion The river advance
after the battle, It seems guard will
Red failed to appropriate at appear within
inform the this stage to a few
garrison of its cover a few periods of
impending points on the each other.
peril and river crossing. By the time
strategic The bridges, the Blue
importance. already forces