ITLSU AAR - Clash at Colmins - 3 Sept 1914

[paulr]

How big was the table?

6' x 4' but with the slag heaps to the east and the canal to the west the available frontage was about 4.5'

The German artillery plan worked very well and fortunately their cards came up early on a couple of key turns. This allowed them to very effectively shoot the Hussars and Infantry into Colmins Ouest 

Apologies for the figures by the flags  

[paulr]

we decided that as we were marking the 100th anniversary of beginning of WW1 that wearing poppies was appropriate. 

Roy is also wearing the ribbons of one of his great uncles, including the 1914 Star and Rosette.

[Leman]

Excellent AAR and well supplied with photos. this is a great little campaign to follow.

[paulr]

Excellent AAR and well supplied with photos. this is a great little campaign to follow.

Thanks DP, we have certainly enjoyed it 

I haven't really thought of it as a campaign, more a series of battles linked by Peter's excellent narrative 

Now the idea of running it as a campaign with limited casualty recovery between battles is VERY interesting 

[paulr]

Over 300 views 

[pierre the shy]

Now the idea of running it as a campaign with limited casualty recovery between battles is VERY interesting 

Oh ok Paul I'm onto it... just reading this at lunch and had an inspirational idea..we could do
something like those Spearhead "road to xxxx" campaigns we did years ago 

p.s. congratulations on your rapid promotion to lt col....your shout in the mess.....

[paulr]

p.s. congratulations on your rapid promotion to lt col....your shout in the mess.....

Thanks, I hadn't noticed 

[paulr]

Oh ok Paul I'm onto it... just reading this at lunch and had an inspirational idea..we could do
something like those Spearhead "road to xxxx" campaigns we did years ago 

That is definitely a possibility 

I was thinking of something simpler, just play them as a series. All supressions and half to two thirds of casualties recovered between battles. Add reinforcements as we did for each scenario

Thanks again DP, a couple if good possibilities forming...

[Leman]

Congratulations on promotion. 

[paulr]

A carrier pigeon, apparently named Gesprenkelt Jacob, was recently blown south. It carried a German cover letter, briefing note and an after action report from 13th Cavalry Division. A translation follows:
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In his covering letter General of Cavalry von Smallhausen reveals his frustration, General von und tu Kinkerhoffen's brigade had been pressing a British brigade for nearly a week. However each time the British had managed to slip away having inflicted significant casualties on both the 32nd Kuirassiers and 49th Uhlans.

He also reveals that intelligence indicated that at last the little British army were going to make a stand. At last he would have a chance to deal with these elusive British. To ensure that the British did not evade him again he would reinforce the artillery attached to General von und tu Kinkerhoffen's brigade and support them with General Pilsner's Hussar brigade.
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The British had occupied the twin villages of Colmins Ouest and Est. With impassable slag heaps to the east and the canal to the west the attack would have to be on only a 3,000m frontage with little scope for manoeuvre. A straightforward plan would be required.



With the morning mist still swirling General von Smallhausen addressed his senior officers.

General von und tu Kinkerhoffen, you are to deploy the Kuirassiers and Uhlans of your brigade in the fields north of Colmins Ouest and Est. From there they will harry the British in the villages and cover Colonel von Strohm's guns.

Colonel von Strohm, you will deploy two of your three batteries just north of the fields held by General von und tu Kinkerhoffen. From there you will fire on Colmins Ouest to inflict as many casualties as possible on the defenders and cover the advance of General Pilsner's Hussars. Sections of guns should fire on any British guns they locate and attempt to drive them off.

General Pilsner, one of your Hussar regiments is to dismount and attack the left half of Colmins Ouest. The 80th Westphalian Landwehr battalion, attached to your brigade, is to attack the right half of Colmins Ouest and attempt to move some troops forward between the village and the canal to envelop Colmins Ouest. Your other Hussar regiment will move into the field between the villages and support the attack and provide protection from counter attacks from the south and east.
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As the leading troops deployed the mist rapidly cleared revealing British infantry in strength in Colmins Ouest and what appeared to be British cavalry in Colmins Est. General von und tu Kinkerhoffen's 32nd Kuirassiers opened fire on Colmins Ouest supported by all 8 of Colonel von Strohm's guns. The return fire from the British infantry rapidly diminished under the heavy fire. A section of British guns opened fire on the Kuirassiers and was promptly brought under counter battery fire and eventually forced to withdraw.



General von und tu Kinkerhoffen's 49th Uhlans fared less well. The rifle fire from the British cavalry was more accurate than the carbine fire from the Uhlans and the British were supported by machine guns and a section of artillery. Counter battery fire from one of Colonel von Strohm's sections provided some relief but casualties steadily mounted and the regiment had to be withdrawn.
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General Pilsner's 22nd Hussar Regiment rode in and dismounted west of Colonel von Strohm's guns to prepare for their attack. Meanwhile the 80th Landwehr battalion advanced across the railway bridge over the canal towards Colmins Ouest. As both units advanced on the village the heavy fire of Colonel von Strohm's guns and the 80th Landwehr's machine guns suppressed most of the British fire despite reinforcements being moved into the northern part of the village. Fortunately the village itself screened the advancing troops from the British artillery behind Colmins Ouest.



The two leading squadrons of the 22nd Hussars charged into the left of Colmins Ouest and literally put the British to the sword. The 80th Landwehr were equally successful in hand to hand fighting in the right of the village. The Hussars managed to repulse a desperate counter attack by the remaining company of defenders before completely clearing the village.



As the reserve Landwehr companies moved to envelope Colmins Ouest they ran into heavy close range fire from a section of British guns and ineffective fire from the surviving defenders. Close range rifle and carbine fire caused further casualties among the surviving defenders and the gunners who rapidly withdrew to the south, along with what appeared to be a major Headquarters.



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While the attack on the right was unfolding according to plan it was not going well on the left and a potential crisis was looming in the centre. Casualties were rapidly mounting on the 49th Uhlans and they would have to be withdrawn or risk being spent as a fighting force. The 23rd Hussars had initially been ordered to occupy the centre field between the two Colmins to protect Colmins Ouest from counter attack.  Given the British forces already located this field would now be a killing field but there was still a risk of counter attack.



Fortunately General von Smallhausen had established his headquarters between the Kuirassiers and Uhlans and was well placed to issue his orders. (All regiments were within 18" of the Headquarters so each order change would only cost one pip, this was good as he only rolled a three for pips. Also the German CO card came up before any of the affected units meaning they were able to act on the orders immediately.) The 49th Uhlans were ordered to withdraw behind Colonel von Strohm's guns and 23rd Hussars were diverted to replace them and continue pining down the British cavalry in Colmins Est. The 32nd Kuirassiers were ordered to the northern edge of the central field where they could cover the approaches to Colmins Ouest with fire while not being exposed to enfilading fire from Colmins Est.



The Kuirassiers arrived just in time and their fire supported by a battery of Colonel von Strohm's guns broke up a counter attack on Colmins Ouest by a regiment of dismounted British cavalry. This regiment fell back on the hamlet between Colmins Ouest and Est and took up defensive positions.



The 23rd Hussars suffered as badly as the 49th Uhlans had before them. While they inflicted some casualties on the British cavalry in Colmins Est and stopped them intervening in the centre they also had to be withdrawn as casualties mounted alarmingly.
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Back on the right 22nd Hussars and 80th Landwehr prepared to advance to the south east to cut off the British in Colmins Est and the hamlet. The British commander, acutely aware of this danger only a few hundred meters from his relocated headquarters, ordered the withdrawal of his force.



It was a hard won victory and both the 49th Uhlans and 22nd Hussars would need significant reinforcements before they would be able to fight a major action. One company of 80th Landwehr had also suffered badly from close range artillery fire.

[Leman]

Took me a while to find the report as it was sort of obscured by the blue line extension thingy at the bottom of the post featuring ships, which I tend to skip over being mainly a landlubber. Tend to be more interested in my paternal grandfather's involvement in Afghanistan rather than my maternal grandfather at Jutland or my father in the Indian Ocean. Anyway I've read it now and very interesting to get the view from the other side of the hedge.

[Leman]

I replied but it didn't seem to make it. It's still on the boat page.

[Leman]

Oh, it's here and not on the boat page at all; somewhat puzzled 

[paulr]

Over 500 views

Have drafted naval AAR, getting Peter to check my recollections 

[paulr]

Have drafted naval AAR, getting Peter to check my recollections 

Peter has approved my recollections for release, they can be found here, http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,10520.0.html