Reinforcements arrive in Tennessee

Tennessee Campaign, 1863,
News from the Front, August 26th - August 30th

August 26th

The reinforcements Bragg has been promising to Generals Polk and Hardee finally arrives by rail to Chattanooga. Breckinridge’s and Walker’s divisions join Polk’s and Hardee’s Corps respectively. A huge fillip to the Confederate cause is the arrival of Longstreet’s Corps (of McLaw’s and Hood’s divisions). Much to the chagrin of General Buckner, whose forces are placed under Longstreet’s command.

This is counterbalanced by the long-feared arrival of General Burnside out of the Cumberland Gap, north of Knoxville.

August 27th

Sheridan builds a supply depot right outside Tullahoma. Is the Union preparing an assault on the Confederates advanced base of operations?

Cheatham moves back to Pelham, Buckner’s previous orders holding little weight with Polk.
Buckner himself loses his nerve in front of Burnside’s newly arrived divisions, abandoning Knoxville and retreating towards Loudon.

McLaw starts his division up the rail line towards Loudon; it seems like Longstreet’s intention is to defend against a crossing over the Tennessee River by Burnside.

Walker’s Division leaves Chattanooga and moves into Wauhatchie. Meanwhile Wood’s Division marches towards McMinnville.

Burnside whips his Corps into action; Ferrero moves towards Knoxville, eager to capture the town and the abundant supplies built up there by the Confederates. Hascall and Hartranft advance towards Loudon; will they be able to cut off Buckner?

August 28th

DeCourcy converges with Hartranft. Hascall continues his advance towards Loudon; will he be able to cut off Buckner from safety?

Somehow Forrest manages to supply his tired cavalry division, and skirts around Union defences to arrive at the outskirts of Murfressboro.

August 29th

Buckner’s Division reaches the Tennessee before the Union. Just in time, Hascall arrives only hours later, but Buckner will be able to cross the bridge there safely.

Despite Forrest’s interception of Union supply wagons, no real harm is done to the Union, with massive supplies having been built up close to Wartrace and Tullahoma.

Withers advances on the previously defeated Palmer, but Palmer was waiting for him and springs an attack on Withers before he can gather his strength properly.

Battle of Vernaw Woods (Susquehanna)

2nd Wave
Susquehanna (Free Rasalhague Republic)

Clan Ghost Bear Forces:
96th Battle Trinary (14th Battle Cluster, Beta Galaxy)

Defending Forces:
Regal Death (Mercenary Company)

Bravo Battle Star finds the Regal Death deep in the Vernaw Woods, but there the mercenaries had prepared a devious trap for the Clan warriors. Pit traps and minefields destroyed three of Bravo's 'mechs, and the mercenary 'mechs fired out of concealed positions to seriously damage the other two.

The Warhawk (Inner Sphere Codename: Masakari) and the Timberwolf (Inner Sphere Codename: MadCat) are separated in their attempt to get out of trouble, and mercenary lances harass them with the expectation that they will fall eventually.
The War Hawk has taken serious damage, with armour severely depleted on the right-hand side, and with the valuable Targeting Computer and a Large Pulse Laser out of action.



The remainder of the Trinary intervenes quickly, with Charlie Battle Star relieving the beleagured 'mechs and Alpha Star attacking the rest of the mercenary command.


Warhawk retreats out of heavy woods

Sigmund Jorgensson, the Warhawk's pilot quickly brings the other Clan warriors up to speed on the situation and urges them to ignore the Clan's traditional rules of engagement.

As the Warhawk (Config C) backs out of the heavy woods, Chen's Mad Dog (in primary configuration once more) and Petra's Viper (this time in the B configuration with single ER PPC) hurry to intervene before it's too late.
The mercenary Wolverine (WVR-6M) has hurried around the main ridgeline behind the War Hawk to cut off its retreat, but this move is countered by the Viper. The merc Guillotine (GLT-4D) and the Phoenix Hawk (PXH-1D) jump in beside the larger Clan 'mech to riddle it with laser fire.


Guillotine and Phoenix Hawk make point blank attack while Viper and Wolverine duel

The Warhawk pushes across the ridge hoping to find a good position rather than exposing his back by taking the direct route towards the supporting Mad Dog.
The concentrated fire destroyed the Warhawk's right arm taking with it it's second Large Pulse Laser. Now it is left with two fearsome ER PPCs.


As Warhawk crosses ridge right arm is destroyed

Petra's Viper continues to harass the attackers, taking up good overwatch position considering the Warhawk's likely route. Here the Mad Dog's fire should prove decisive with the Phoenix Hawk neglecting evasive movement in order to continue his attack on the Warhawk. However Chen's fire is inaccurate and most of the laser fire and all of the LRMs go astray, and with it the Mad Dog's heat problems become serious.


Viper struggles to keep harassing forces occupied

The lone Stinger (STG-3G), intimidated by the vast amounts of firepower exhibited by the Clan 'mechs braves fire from the Mad Dog to work around the flanks, and come up in front of the Warhawk's escape route.


Stinger braves open ground controlled by Mad Dog

The mercenary 'mechs push their heat sinks to the max, and continue their point blank assault on the severely damaged Warhawk. Their fire finally drills through the torso and the Warhawk's engine is forced to shut down. It crashes to ground, but the pilot is unharmed.


Warhawk goes down

The Guillotine and Wolverine, both with huge heat problems begin to withdraw, seeking to avoid any fire from the Mad Dog, and in a supporting position to dissuade the Viper from pursuit. The Phoenix Hawk has had to withdraw into the edge of the woods to avoid fire from the Mad Dog, and this allows the Viper to pick him out, with instant effect. Left without weapons and now shorn of its left leg the Phoenix Hawk is a mission kill.


Viper ignores retreating 'mechs to concentrate on Phoenix Hawk

The other mercenaries flee the field of battle


Mad Dog forces retreating Mercs to leave crippled Phoenix Hawk behind as day breaks

Battle of Silver Lake (Susquehanna)

Clan Ghost Bear's First Wave attacks went smoothly and well ahead of schedule. The Second Wave was to be more challenging. Because of the failure of the Clans to adequately garrison conquered planets, uprisings and guerilla attacks occured, and these were almost lethal to Ghost Bear's supply lines and timetable. The dishonourable actions of mercenary companies raised the ire of warriors throughout the Clan, nowhere more than in the 14th Battle Cluster.

2nd Wave
Susquehanna (Free Rasalhague Republic)

Clan Ghost Bear Forces:
96th Battle Trinary (14th Battle Cluster, Beta Galaxy)

Defending Forces:
21st KungsArme Armoured Regiment

The 21st KungsArme retreat from the 96th's landing zone and set up a defensive position near Silver Lake, but close enough that their counter-attack will threaten the retreat and survival of the attacking force.
The Regiment comprises almost thirty armoured fighting vehicles.
The 96th plan to frontally assault their position, and Charlie Battle Star will pin the strong supporting elements on the flank nearest Silver Lake and prevent them from flanking the attack.

Chen in his Mad Dog (Prime) (Innersphere Codename: Vulture) and Petra in her Viper (Config A) (Inner Sphere Codename: Dragonfly) will hit this unit's flank while the rest of the star cut off any cooperation between these and the main FRR force.


FRR unit hit in the Flank

Although both sides are somewhat aware of their enemy's abilities, this is mostly hearsay and conjecture (those are kinds of evidence, right?). As the battle develops early on, lack of experience shines through. As the Mad Dog races to the dominating hill on the battlefield to engage the Enforcer (ENF-4)facing, the pilot leaves his right flank completely open to the rest of the Rasalhague lance.


Mad Dog engages Enforcer on the hill

As initial fire is exchanged between the sides, the Viper surprises the Hatchetman (HCT-3F) by revealing its extreme jump capability. If previously the Rasalhague mechwarriors had been impressed with it manoeuvrability they were to be even more impressed with its firepower. Mounting 5 ER Medium Lasers (each almost the equivalent to a standard Inner Sphere Large Laser) it had the ability to cut one of the Rasalhague 'mechs to ribbons in seconds.


Viper outmaneuvers Hatchetman

The Hatcheman is aggressive in its defence and pushes the Viper backwards, taking a swipe with its hatchet. Meanwhile the rest of the lance closes in on the Mad Dog whose room for manoeuvre has been cut down immensely by its slipping in the shallow waters along the lakeshore.


While Viper is occupied, remainder of FRR unit closes in on Mad Dog

With a lance of vehicles approaching (a cursory examination identifies them as Patton Heavy Tanks) the two Clan 'mechs are in danger of being overwhelmed, and the Viper swoops into the mix to draw off some of the heat, giving the Mad Dog the opportunity to concentrate its firepower.
It has now become evident that these Inner Sphere forces have no respect for the hallowed traditions of the Clans, and their Rules of Engagement are purely pragmatic.


Viper draws off some of the heat

The Mad Dog cycles through its weapons, dealing with some heat problems, and is taking some damage to its internal systems already. However Chen decides to push his opponents to the limit by remaining where he is and applying as much firepower as possible to the Enforcer before switching to the Wolfhound (WLF-2) which has shown itself to be a dangerous opponent.


Mad Dog is confidant in his superior firepower

The Enforcer survives, but only just, and jumps away over the hill to break contact.
As the area opens up the Mad Dog attempts to shake off its opponent and open the range to something more advantageous, but it is too late.


Wolfhound pursues Mad Dog with instant effect

Brilliantly concentrated fire on its right flank drills through to the engine and knocks out the Mad Dog. Now, the Viper is alone on the battlefield. Although communications from the rest of the cluster indicate the they have hit the main Rasalhague lines and the heavy tanks have been withdrawn.


Mad Dog goes critical with multiple engine hits

The Viper extracts a heavy price against the limping Hatchetman, and brings that 'mech crashing to ground on top of the hill.
Using it's superior manoeuvrability, the Viper attemps to harass the Enforcer as it jumps from the field of battle, leaving the Blackjack out of the action.


Viper extracts revenge on Hatchetman

The Wolfhound covers this retreat, almost bringing the Viper to grief with a one-in-a-million shot. The Viper decides not to press too hard, as it too begins to feel the battle damage.


Wolfhound covers battered Enforcer's retreat

The Blackjack (BJ-1DB) follows across the river, and together the two 'mechs shepherd themselves off the field, mindful of the Viper's long-range abilities.


Blackjack makes it across river

Aftermath
The rest of the Cluster overwhelms the defending Rasalhague regiment, but no sign of the mercenary company is to be found in the vicinity.
Bravo Battle Star is sent out to investigate...

Battle of Angaur

Last March, while the Battle of Peleliu was on my mind for a convention big-battle of Memoir '44 I came across the 81st Infantry Division's (so that's the US Army not Marines) parallel landing on the island of Angaur. The battle got a page or so in the book I was reading as research for Peleliu. Peleliu 1944: The Forgotten Corner of Hell Surely they deserve more than this?

With Steve's and my birthdays swiftly approaching I put together a small wargames campaign to play over the weekend. Using Piquet's Theatre of War to generate the battles, which would be played out using single-board Memoir '44 we recruited Eamon and Loughlin to play the Americans while we undertook the arduous task of defending the island...

At the beginning of the campaign, the Americans are already deployed on their landing beaches, with the Japanese deployed near what they had thought the likeliest (and heavily fortified) landing spots and also near the major town of Saipan itself.

Campaign units represent battalions, and tactical units represent platoons. So with sixteen figures representing a platoon of 39, the game of Memoir '44 would almost be at skirmish level!



A gentle valley rose from the coastline up towards Saipan through the crossroad Middle Village.



Battle for Middle Village

The Americans have the advantage of numbers but must contend with the deadly killing ground in front of the well-chosen Japanese positions.



The Americans secure their right flank before committing to an advance.



Despite the Americans' caution a surprise Japanese attack by unsupported armour crushes their left flank.



The rattled American commander is left clinging to a defence line in the jungle against the rampant Japanese assault.



Japanese artillery sweeps the battlefield of remaining American resistance.



Battle West of Lake Aztec

Pushed back in the centre of the island, the American try an alternate line of advance, sweeping around Lake Aztec. Their they find a surprisingly strong Japanese defence.



The Japanese are aggressive with their strategic reserve of armour, and attack to cut off the American right flank.



Exploiting that success, the Japanese infantry charge through the American centre to crush the American battalion's resistance.



Battle near Beach Green 3

With a cunning flanking move American come up behind the Japanese still concentrating on Beach Green 3. With open and marshy terrain, the American strategic reserve's firepower should prove decisive.



Steeling themselves for the murderous crossfire, the Japanese left flank advances.



Although the Japanese advance is moderatetly successful on their left flank it is pushed back with horrendous casualties and elsewhere on the battlefield their advance is fatally slowed by the marshy area they expected to trap the American beachhead.



[A new American tactical commander was in charge, and Lt. Col. Lloyd's influence on the battle was nothing short of miraculous]

Battle for the Pacific Railroad

In a bid to turn the Battle for Angaur the Japanese advance towards the American base of operations at the end of the Pacific Railroad. They have been caught out of position by the American deployment for a flank attack, but the midnight timing should negate many of the Americans' advantages.



So close to their landing area, the American have brought up halftracks and combat engineers to aid what will be a fevered defence.



Yet again the Japanese make ready for an all-out bayonet charge across the paddy fields.



Japanese mobile guns await the lifting of dawn to bring their firepower to bear on enemy units weakened by the infantry assault.



Somehow the American have held the hill against the fearsome banzai charge. The Japanese are broken and flee back away from the American-held beach.



The Americans have held the beaches and swept away the rest of the Japanese defences. They advance on Saipan itself and the main outlying defences of the Phosphate Plant.



While they have superior numbers and a reinforced company of tanks, the Japanese were firmly ensconced in the urban areas on the eastern outskirtes of the Phosphate Plant.



On their right flank the American armour is in a good position to severly punish the japanese infantry.



In the centre the Japanese surge forward to take control of the ridge line overlooking the town, before the American artillery can dominate.



An entire infantry company supports the imminent American armour assault.



That assault is spectacularly successful, but somehow a squad of infantry hold out against massed firepower in a warehouse.



The last Japanese tank on the island inflicts heavy casualties on the American taking the ridge line in the centre but is finally left stranded and helpless.



A great campaign game, with some tense battles. Everything came down to the last battle (a case of "next score wins"). And it looks like the 81st will be able to reinforce the Marines on Peleliu after all...