Battle of the Somme 1916

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is a view of Mametz, with the German defending infantry companies waiting the British assault:

German field gun battery hidden in Bernafay Wood:

The figures are Baccus 6mm. The building, latex trenches and roads, and trees are from TimeCast. The rolling terrain is based on contemporaneous terrain maps, reproduced as 20m contour levels with a heavy felt terrain mat overlaid.

Robert

[Darkest Star Games]

Another really cool looking battle area.  For me, the way you do the rolling terrain really adds a lot visually, especially at the low eye-level you take your pictures.

"I saw this in a cartoon once, but I'm pretty sure I can do it..."

[Robert Dunlop]

Thank you very much. The other big benefit is that I can reproduce any historical battle without building specific terrain boards.

Here is British 89th Brigade forming up at the foot of Montauban ridge, operating on the right wing of the British attack on July 1st 1916:

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is the battlefield, covering the equivalent of an area 4 km x 6 km.

The British front line is nearest the bottom of the photo. The advance covered the battlefield and reached the furthest German trench line just beyond Montauban with about 5,000 casualties total (out of the two infantry divisions that attacked).

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is a British division- and a corps HQ near the ruins of Carnoy:

Robert

[Guy Farrish]

I have to say I’ve had mixed feelings over gaming WWI western front battles over the years – too influenced by the mud blood and interminable poetry school at first, but then quite drawn to it The practicalities of mid war battles turned me off after a while – but this is proving very engaging.

Thanks.

More please!

[Robert Dunlop]

Thanks.

WW1 Western Front battles are frequently associated with the perceptions you highlighted. Certainly the 1915 period is full of futile attacks with no gain, due in no small part to the lack of artillery ammunition supplies.

Later set-piece battles pose a range of tactical challenges that, once understood, offer up meaningful and interesting Wargames, which are not so one-sided. The operational effects of wide frontage attacks are poorly documented in the literature. A little-known effect of the build-up to July 1st 1916 was von Falkenhayn’s refusal to provide reserves to the threatened Somme sectors. The German Second Army was only able to transfer forces within its command. German infantry reserves and artillery were sent north to provide extra protection for Serre and Gommecourt sectors. This set the operational conditions for tactical success of southern British and French attacks, including the attack on Montauban.

The photo below shows the table set up for the Joy of Six show, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in 2016. The whole battlefield is 16 feet long:

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is the preparatory bombardment in the Montauban sector:

The explosion and gas markers are from Litko. The British did shell the German artillery with SK gas shells on 1st July 1916. The markers indicate Caterpillar Valley and Bernafay Wood.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is Montauban under fire from the French heavy 22cm mortars, part of Group de Menthon attached to British XIII Corps:

The photo was taken with my new telephoto lens.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Another photo taken with the new telephoto lens. This time it is the brick factory (a Leven Miniatures product) near Montauban, with a German regimental HQ in residence (6mm Baccus figures). A Litko marker denotes the use of non-persistent gas shelling on Bernafay Wood:

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

17th King’s Liverpool Battalion waits for the barrage to lift:

Robert

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