Cambrai 1917 - a German infantry regiment acting as trench garrison

This is a follow up to my previous post about infantry organization in the great War. Now I am going to look specifically at a German infantry regiment that is acting as a Trench garrison in the later part of the war. This order of battle is based upon Martin Samuel's book Doctrine and Dogma, indeed the book acted as a catalyst for this whole idea of creating more specialized structures for the armies in the trenches. Since I am also interested in the battle of Cambrai, I will be focusing on late 1917.
The regiment holds an average front of 1500 meters, with each battalion being deployed one behind the other. The first battalion occupies the area between the front line and the main line of resistance. Behind it in the battle zone is the second battalion which is tasked with supporting the first battalion with small counterattacks. It also has most of the regimental and divisional assets in this area. Furthest back is the third battalion having a nice rest.
Lets start with the third battalion as it is organized as a normal battalion. It has a battalion headquarters with 4 rifle companies each of three platoons and a machine gun company of between 1-3 stands. Now each company nominally has 4 LMG's which is not enough to allow for a breakdown into platoons to occur especially for poorer units. So they can still be company sized stands perhaps with a ROF of three to represent the extra LMG's. Better units could have an infantry platoon and two grenadier platoons.
The second battalion has the same structure but has a different mission as well as more resources. Three of its companies are supposed have a counter attack mission so they can be organized as third battalion above. In poor quality units the counter attack mission will dropped an extra static companies deployed. The fourth company will be divided into three strong point stands to be organized into a single fortified area. Apart from the battalions machine gun company, an extra machine gun company from divisional assets may be attached along with the regimental minenwerfer company and guns from the artillery regiment acting as battalion guns. This gives the second battalion a number of options in its structure, extra strong points may be created to cover gaps in the front line or increase the firepower in existing strong points.
Finally there is the first battalion which is deployed in the front line. Here the first troops encountered are sentry stands whose main task is to observe the front line and to call fire onto any concentration of enemy troops in the area. Supporting them will be a strong point and a recce grenadier stand. Behind them on the main line of resistance is the rest of the battalion can be found. Here can be found 4 companies each with a Command Infantry and a Strong Point. The battalion headquarters acts as a Staff stand as its commander acts as the sector commander.
So in summary this is how the regiment should look like.
First Battalion

• 1x Staff stand
• 2x Sentry stands
• 1x Recce grenadier stand
• 4x Command Infantry stands
• 5x Strong points

Second Battalion

• 1x Command stand
• 3x Infantry company stands
• 3x Strong Points

Attached Assets

• 2x HMG stands
• 1x Minenwerfer
• 3x Granatenwefer

Third battalion

• 1x Command stand
• 4x Infantry company stands
• 1x HMG Stand

Some comments
Since none of this has been tested yet. I'll provide some comments and variations that can be explored later, if it does not work according to plan.
Granatenwerfers
The role of the Granatenwerfers is a still a bit nebulous in my head at the moment. Their primary function is to provide indirect fire capability down to the local unit and by the end of the war they are directly attached to companies. In CD4 they are usually a battalion weapon pushed down to companies to convert MMG stands to weapons stands. But here they are concentrated both as a regimental asset and in being in being attached to the second battalion.
This does raise a number of possibilities. The first is to send some to the strong points giving them some indirect capability. But this will cover a few of the 18 nominally assigned to the second battalion.
You can assume that only the Minenwerfer is meant to be concentrated with the second battalion thereby allowing all strong points to gain some indirect fire. I like this idea as to the best of my current knowledge nobody makes 15mm Granatenwerfers so I can avoid modeling them for the moment. To reject this means that they are all with the second battalion, which probably means that instead of three company stands I'll have nine platoon stands.
Sentry stands
These and the staff stand should be the only troops within the regiment who can call artillery fire. Unfortunately without access to telephones they can only call fire onto pre-registered points though the use coloured flare rockets.
Otherwise treat them as patrol stands.
Divisional HMGs
These divisional assets are allocated to the second battalion at the main line of resistance. They can be used to provide more strong points or to reinforce existing stands. This is based in Over the Top model of variable strength HMG stands.
Strong Points
These function as the garrison for the various bunkers and pillboxes on the battlefield. At their core is a stand of HMGs and a platoon of infantry. There are a number of possible variations listed here the first doubles the Rate of Fire as a stand of HMGs is added to the Strong Point, the second adds a battalion gun of 77mm guns to provide a direct fire option. In theory the number of options are limitless, well a slight exaggeration, but you are restricted only by your imagination and ability to manage a lot of different stands.
Staff Stands
You may notice that their is no regimental headquarters. The book provides no clear insight but I would assume regimental assets are moved forward to the 1st battalion to create the staff stand. Leaving the actual regimental headquarters with more of an admin role.
Recce Grenadier Stands
Basically a specialist close assault stand with a ROF of 2, though it could shoot as other with a ROF 1 if you are insistent that it has some range capability. It could also be a better class and morale grade than the rest of the battalion.
Now if I get organized there will be a nice HTML table placed here to show all ratings.
Right that's enough for the moment. Time to do the British and build some trenches.

The last best hope for the U.S Navy - The voyage of the USS Essex

After the failure of Rodgers expedition to achieve much of anything for great cost it now falls to the USS Essex to do something to redeem the honour of the US navy.
Now we can just replace Essex for Constitution to get an idea for what could be about to happen. The USS Essex though is a completely different ship which will impact upon the mission. The first is that she is almost completely armed with carronades giving her a powerful but short ranged broadside. Second is that her Captain, David Porter does not like her armament thinking it merely an experiment so he is unlikely to be an aggressive commander. But of course the most important issue is can she find the Royal Navy.
Now on a D6 a 1-2 will be no contact a 3-4 will be one ship and 5-6 will be a larger force. Fortunately a three is thrown so a single sail is spotted upon the horizon. Now there will be a bit of irony if it is HMS Guerriere and I am a sucker for irony.
So stay tuned for the battle between the USS Essex and HMS Guerriere.

The adventures of Commordore John Rodgers Pt 6 - The journey home

After the battle our little squadron is stuck in the North Atlantic licking its wounds, what could possibly go wrong. Well to my mind there are three possibilities, bad weather, a Royal Navy patrol or with the assistance of the Gulf Stream they drift into European waters. Now all of these things could happen or none of them. So I will test for each individually by rolling a D6, so there is a 16% of each one happening and about 40% chance of something happening.
If bad weather occurs each damaged ship should test to see if it survives.
A Royal navy patrol will most likely mean another battle.
Arriving in European waters will cause problems but also provide opportunities if they survive.
Fortunately none of these things occur and the squadron returns home to the randomly allocated port of New York.
So what happens now?
At the very least the squadron will not sail again in 1812 except possibly for the the two brigs. With four frigates requiring extensive repairs and reconstruction the Navy Yard will be busy for a while. Certainly while it may also lack the resources on hand to effect these repairs now the Navy Yard will be able to get them as New York is a hard port to blockade. Long Island Sound and a shortage of ships in the area will mean that the Royal Navy can delay but not block the repairs.
That was the good news, now for the rest. The first order of business is the fate of Rodgers himself. With half his crew as casualties his chances of remaining unscathed are low. Using a D6,

• 1-2 unwounded, fit and ready for sea,
• 3-4 lightly wounded will be able to return sea when the squadron is ready.
• 5 Seriously wounded, will have to leave his command may even have to retire.
• 6 Dead

A two means that he is fit for further duty.
Next is the fallout over the actions on the Constitution and its captain, Isaac Hull. At the battle he ignored/missed his chance to join the battle and save Rodger. Now for his fate as she also suffered heavy losses I'll use the above table to see what happens. A six seals his fate. Now that is a pity as I did fancy the chances of duel between Rodgers and Hull.
Oh well at least there is the still the board of inquiry. With the death of Hull there is a fair chance that he will blame will placed firmly his cold shoulders. Considering the fractious nature of the officer corp I am certain Hulls partisans will raise a storm in the papers and history books but there is a good chance( 5 out of 6 ) that is after the war. Of course a six is rolled and the feuding starts at the Board of Inquiry. A further complication Hull's uncle William Hull who is going to have starring roll as the war move onto land actions. Fortunately another 6 is not rolled and all this will have no effect upon the land campaign, though I may reconsider this in 1813.
Now historically, Rodgers sailed before he could receive an order that would have prevented him sailing and restricting him to the defense of the port of New York. This order was rendered moot by the frigate battles that historically occurred but these have not happened, though the Essex may yet change that. But now the squadron has returned to New York and is turmoil as a result of the Board of Inquiry I cannot see any mechanism that exists to fight this order and push for the navy to go to sea. Indeed I would venture that there may be increased support for the gunboat flotillas at this point in the campaign. Another winner could be the lake service as it will be easier to transfer sailors up to the lakes. Well all will be revealed later as first I must venture away from the sea into the wilderness and see how the American invasion of Canada goes.
Oh one final point to think about. The Americans had a strong qualitative edge in terms of their ships crews at the start of war. With access to a large pool of sailors and voluntary enlistment they do deserve the elite ratings most rules give them. But in the battle against the Thalia they took heavy losses and replacing them will be almost impossible. While at New York recruitment is possible but they will have to contend with competition from privateers, lake service and even the gunboats for manpower. Further they will have limited opportunities to train and increase their quality.

The adventures of Commordore John Rodgers Pt 5 - A stern chase is a long chase

Goodness this is turning into a long saga.
When we left our intrepid hero he had finally caught upto to the Jamaica convoy. After a long stern chase they are just about to enter cannon range.
The game is fought using the Trafalgar set of rules. There will be six merchant ships traveling at half speed representing the convoy, chasing them will the six American ships in between will the two British ships. If the Americans reach a merchant then a new one is placed upon the table though must pass a Die Roll in order to start moving again.
Tactics for the game are that the British will shoot high in order to damage masts and rigging so as to slow down the Americans, while the Americans are under no such restrictions. Any tactical decisions will be made with the help of a D6 with 50% chance of occurring.
Turn 1.
Requiring a one on a d6 for each ship to enter the table the six ships of the U.S squadron all fail to show up. The British take advantage and get an extra turn of sailing done..
Turn 2.
This time requiring a one or two, three ships the United States, Hornet and President arrive and begin the chase.
Turn 3.
Now its the turn of the Constitution and Congress to arrive on a 1-3. First shots are fired with no effect.
Turn 4.
Wind drops slowing everybody down. This will have a greater impact upon the British as drop from 7 to 5. Oh and the Argus finally gets on to the table.
The President is hit with a long range shot from Thalia
Turn 5.
The wind shift a point clockwise.
With the Americans bearing down the captain of Thalia turns to bring his broadside to bear on the President and inflicts another hit. Reindeer fires and hits Congress but it is saved.
The Americans return fire with devastating effect. Hornet got three hits on Thalia and Congress gets one on Reindeer but all hits are saved.
Turn 6.
Thalia and President exchange broadsides. President gets four hits of damage on Thalia, but Thalia's return includes two critical hits amounts to 14 points of damage. This leaves no mast standing and most of crew as casualties.
The Americans get their revenge as Argus fires on Reindeer causing a fire and driving her out of the battle for a while.
Turn 7.
After the dismasting of the President, the Constitution is presented with the option to either battle Thalia or chases after the merchants. Perhaps driven by the thought of the prize-money or just missing the opportunity the Constitution ignores the battle to starboard and presses on towards the prize.
Though the Congress does arrive to continue the battle against the Thalia. Both sides exchange hits, Thalia saves two while Congress does not including a critical fortunately only three points of damage are recorded bringing down a mast. The President still in range of Thalia also fires but misses.
Turn 8.
Wind shift back counter clockwise.
The Argus moves to the assistance of the President.
Meanwhile Thalia and Congress fire at each other again exchanging damage.
Turn 9.
Hornet and the United States finally catch their first merchantmen.
Congress and Thalia continue to blast each other
Turn 10.
Hornet and the United States miss a turn as they process their prizes. They have to roll a 1 on a D6 in order to disengage.
Congress and Thalia continue to exchange damage. Though a critical causes on Thalia causes her to miss the next turn while Congress is down to a single mast.
Turn 11.
Hornet and the United States is still locked together with their prizes. They now require a 1 or 2. Constitution reaches her first prize.
Thalia turns away from Congress to chase down the Constitution. Meanwhile Reindeer which had been quiet for a while re-enters the battle with a broadside upon the hapless Congress reducing her to a single point of mast.
Turn 12.
With the Constitution distracted by her prize, Thalia closes up and opens fires, several critical hits destroy a mast and half crew.
Turn 13.
Not stopping at the Constitution the Thalia moves on to engage the United States who has finally won free of her prize to rejoin the battle. Hornet is also free so she begins moving towards the battle.
Turns 14-16.
The Constitution also joins the battle against the Thalia, so she is now engaged by three ships and over the next few turns is slowly pounded into pieces. Finally striking her colours.
Conclusion
Finally the guns fall silent, while the Americans have won it is no triumph. While they have captured four ships the rest of the convoy has escaped, both Thalia and Reindeer are barely afloat. The President is completely dismasted and half its crew are casualties, Congress has barely any masts left at all, both Constitution and the United States have lost masts and the Constitution has lost half its crew.