OTTBE Mission 15 - Belleau Woods - Semper Fi - 6 June 1918
The Battle of Belleau Wood (1–26 June 1918) occurred during the German Spring Offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. 2nd (under the command of Major General Omar Bundy) and 3rd Divisions along with French and British forces against an assortment of German units including elements from the 237th, 10th, 197th, 87th, and 28th Divisions.[2] The battle has become a key component of the lore of the United States Marine Corps.
On the evening of 1 June, German forces punched a hole in the French lines to the left of the Marines' position. In response, the U.S. reserve—consisting of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and an element of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion—conducted a forced march over 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to plug the gap in the line, which they achieved by dawn. By the night of 2 June, the U.S. forces held a 20 kilometres (12 mi) front line north of the Paris-Metz Highway running through grain fields and scattered woods, from Triangle Farm west to Lucy and then north to Hill 142. The German line opposite ran from Vaux to Bouresches to Belleau.[3](pp107–108)
Attachment 231502
Map showing location of the battle of Belleau Wood (U.S. Military Academy)
German advance halted at Belleau Wood.
German commanders ordered an advance on Marigny and Lucy through Belleau Wood as part of a major offensive, in which other German troops would cross the Marne River. The commander of the Marine Brigade, Army General James Harbord, countermanding a French order to dig trenches further to the rear, ordered the Marines to "hold where they stand". With bayonets, the Marines dug shallow fighting positions from which they could fight from the prone position. In the afternoon of 3 June, German infantry attacked the Marine positions through the grain fields with bayonets fixed. The Marines waited until the Germans were within 100 yd (91 m) before opening deadly rifle fire which mowed down waves of German infantry and forced the survivors to retreat into the woods.[3](p108)
Having suffered heavy casualties, the Germans dug in along a defensive line from Hill 204, just east of Vaux, to Le Thiolet on the Paris-Metz Highway and northward through Belleau Wood to Torcy.[3](p109) After Marines were repeatedly urged to turn back by retreating French forces, Marine Captain Lloyd W. Williams of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines uttered the now-famous retort "Retreat? Hell, we just got here".[4][5] Williams' battalion commander, Major Frederic Wise, later claimed to have said the famous words.[3](p109)
On 4 June, Major General Bundy—commanding the 2nd Division—took command of the American sector of the front. Over the next two days, the Marines repelled the continuous German assaults. The 167th French Division arrived, giving Bundy a chance to consolidate his 2,000 yards (1,800 m) of front. Bundy's 3rd Brigade held the southern sector of the line, while the Marine brigade held the north of the line from Triangle
Attack on Hill 142
At 03:45 on 6 June, the Allies launched an attack on the German forces, who were preparing their own strike. The French 167th Division attacked to the left of the American line, while the Marines attacked Hill 142 to prevent flanking fire against the French. As part of the second phase, the 2nd Division were to capture the ridge overlooking Torcy and Belleau Wood, as well as occupying Belleau Wood. However, the Marines failed to scout the woods. As a consequence, they missed a regiment of German infantry dug in, with a network of machine gun nests and artillery.
At dawn, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines—commanded by Major Julius Turrill—was to attack Hill 142, but only two companies were in position. The Marines advanced in waves with bayonets fixed across an open wheat field that was swept with German machine gun and artillery fire, and many Marines were cut down.[3](p110)[6] Captain Crowther commanding the 67th Company was killed almost immediately. Captain Hamilton and the 49th Company fought from wood to wood, fighting the entrenched Germans and overrunning their objective by 6 yards (5.5 m). At this point, Hamilton had lost all five junior officers, while the 67th had only one commissioned officer alive. Hamilton reorganized the two companies, establishing strong points and a defensive line.[3]
Set Up:
Bulldogs and Eagles
Bulldogs set up at near end of gaming area, Eagles set up at far end of gaming area.
You are to use 6 planes appropriate to June 1918.
You will need 4 scouts and 2 two seaters
You may only fly 3 planes, for each side, in any combination you choose, at the start.
Example:
3 scouts
2 scouts 1 two seater
1 scout 2 two seaters
Your other 3 planes will wait off board until one of the following conditions occur, when all three will then enter play:
A) one of your planes gets shot down
B) one of your two seaters drops his full bomb load
C) one of your planes is forced to exit due to ENG, PILOT WOUND, FIRE DMG
You can use 3 maps if you have room for them or a 4ft x 6ft playing area.
Belleau Woods needs to be close to center of the map turned so that a corner is 2 ruler lengths from each side. The Woods should be approximately 1 ruler wide by 2 rulers long.
Position 3 "A" firing mg positions in the woods. These will take 8 points to destroy or a direct hit from a bomb.
Opposite the woods 1 ruler width place 3 infantry positions.
Your airplanes will come on the board from 1 of 3 positions at opposite ends of the board.
Position 1--1 ruler from the right side, roll a 1 or 2
Position 2--Center of your end of board, roll 3 or 4
Position 3--1 ruler from the left side, roll 5 or 6
Face any direction you choose.
Two seaters get 2 bombs per plane, they can be dropped full load or 2 half loads
Mission Objectives:
Bulldogs and Eagles you are to provide close ground support to your side.
Bulldogs you are to bomb and neutralize 2 of the 3 mg nests in the woods, failure to do so will mean a larger loss of life for your side. Mg positions need 8 pts of dmg or a direct hit to destroy.
Eagles you are to bomb and neutralize 2 of the 3 infantry positions, failure to do so will result in the eventual taking of the woods by the Entente. Infantry positions will take 5 pts dmg or direct hit to destroy.
Bombs falling long are considered misses if they do not cover the dot on the card.
Bombs falling short have a good chance of hitting your own troops, even if they cover the enemy red dot.
Bombs covering the dot on the card will be considered as destroying the target.
Ground units can only shoot while you overlap that particular card.
The opposition force should be composed of purely scouts.
They must meet the same starting conditions and reinforcement conditions as you do.
If you choose to you can run both sides and see which one comes out ahead in VP.
Victory Points:
This ground is to be considered NO MANS LAND for purposes of C&W and E&E.
Destroying enemy target: 5pts
Shooting down Scout: 2pts per plane
Shooting down 2 seater (Before dropping bomb): 4pts per plane
Shooting down 2 seater (After dropping bomb): 2pts per plane
Forcing plane to exit board early: 1pt per plane
Bombing Friendly units: -5pts per unit
For future reference, and this is only for after everyone posts their AARs:
The bomb load of each two seater will be only one bomb each.
SEMPER FI
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Stumptonian
I'm flying all six eagles as scouts.
That's a real mammoth. Well done for finishing it already. Must have been a hard day's night that one.
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