Serbia/Galicia -- 1914

[John B.]

Not a lot of progress on my part. In many cases I pushed RB out of the hexes I attacked but did not advance. So, I'm still 4-5 hexes from the Lemberg hex. I might also have a shot at Satarya Ruska (20 VP middle of the map) but I burned out two fresh front line brigades in my initial attack.

Sorry, I thought I had taken a picture of the Serbian front but not much going on there. The Serbs are digging in at Belgrade and stockpiling supplies.

[Hellen_slith]

LemBERG!! LemBERG!!! LemBERG!!!!!
<chanting, from the Peanut Gallery>

Interesting scene!!!

[John B.]

Here is the situation at the start of my turn (turn 8). In Serbia, RB is still trying to take Belgrade and is adjacent to another VP hex. I'm digging in as fast as I can at Belgrade and hoping for the best. Also sending units to the last VP site (bottom right of the screen, to prevent any last minute dash for glory.

[John B.]

In Galicia, Lemberg is so close yet so far away. In my turn I pushed RB out of a number of his hexes and really huge cost to the Russian Empire. But, then my troops failed a proficiency check and there was general rending of garments and bewailing our fate. So, still a chance at Lemberg on RB's right and the 20 VP hex on his left flank. Not much in the middle other than an outside chance to surround some A/H forces.

[StuccoFresco]

That big pocket of Austrian troops in the center of the Russian lines looks promising... An attack eastward from Raya Ruska would make for a fine encirclement.

[John B.]

Hi Stucco, Sadly, its hard to pocket troops in WWI. First, even when he retreats from a hex most of the time I don't advance (with the notable exception of cavalry units). Second, there is usually only two rounds of combat before the turn ends. I've tried but did not succeed.

[John B.]

Well, the sad news of the day is that the evil empire recaptured Belgrade from the gallant Serbs. I think RB had the same idea as me when I retook it. That is, what the hell, it's worth 90 VP so it does not hurt to try and my boys ran away. Then, in my turn I counter attacked by RB seems to have set all of his other troops into reserve mode (very clever of him) and held onto the hex. Not sure Serbia can retake it, but, I'm not a pixel soldier on this front line so I'll give it a try.

[John B.]

Not much better news from the Galician front. I am next to two 20 VP cities but Lemberg, although close, it probably still too far away. Even attacking battalions I take massive casualties and his troops always seem to be fresh. Not sure if I'll be able to pull this one out, but, it's not over yet!

[John B.]

I think there may be just one more turn after this but here is the start in Galicia. I suspect that Lemberg will remain out of reach. I can basically take one hex per turn by sacrificing my army but there are more hexes than turns left. I did pick up a 20 VP city in the south and I'm close to a 20 VP city on RB's left flank so that may take some of the sting out of the looming defeat. Also this turn a stack of A/H units disintegrated which should help the loss ratio.

[John B.]

The main battle now is over Belgrade. RB took it and here is the situation at the start of the turn.

[John B.]

I retook it (circled) and so right now it's in the Entente camp and worth 90 VP. But, I told RB that, given the state of my troops it's likely that the only way he does not retake it is if he forgets to attack. My troops are battered and running low on supplies, but, I hold it for now. Perhaps his brigades will pick this moment to reorganize! One can only hope!

[StuccoFresco]

No retreat!

[John B.]

ORIGINAL: StuccoFresco

No retreat!

Game over man. Game over.

[John B.]

Well, RB managed to push my chaps out of Belgrade but his army appears to have been battered enough to not occupy the hex. In my turn the remnant of the Serb brigades moved back into Belgrade and dug in as well as they could.

[John B.]

On the Eastern front, the Russians managed to take one more 20 VP city from the A/H but Lemberg was just out of reach. I managed to get within two hexes of it but a miss is as good as a mile. There were a lot, and I mean a lot, of dead Russians between the border and the Lemberg city limits.

So, in the end result, RB's rugged defense and the Serbs never saying die led to a draw which the author calls the historical result.

This is a fun little scenario and quick at just 11 turns. My two quibbles would be (a) the 20 VP cities don't really seem to matter all that much and (b) in Serbia the fighting is basically all around Belgrade. Nothing much happened on the other parts of the Serbian sector.

Good game and thanks to an honorable opponent for a fun time.

[StuccoFresco]

Somewhat underwhelming.

[rhinobones]

Serbia-Galicia 1914 AAR from the Austrian side. This AAR was written in parallel to John B’s AAR. As the game was played, I documented the Austrian moves and battle plans prior to opening John’s next turn. After reading JB’s Russian/Serbian AAR you can enjoy the same battle from the opposing side’s perspective.

At the conclusion of the game I read JB’s take on the battle and found similarities and instances where we both miscalculated the opposition’s strength, deployment and strategy. Enjoy.

Player/Designer Notes:

This is an older scenario which has not been updated to TOAW IV standards, as such the MRB is set at 99. Even though I was penalized by turn burn I do not recommend changing (lowering) MRB to an artificial level. MRB at 99 adds an exciting level of uncertainty of how field commanders would execute orders which I believe typified WWI warfare.

The infantry and cavalry units are low in proficiency and tend to easily subdivide. A key to this scenario appears to be recombining units to maintain their maximum proficiency. This seems to be particularly important to keeping the cavalry as viable combat units.

Regards, RhinoBones



Turn 1 – Galicia

Initially the Russians are not visible, but their main objectives are obvious; the fortresses at Przemsyl and Lemberg. The Austrians throw out cavalry screens to locate enemy concentrations and blow bridges. It is expected that this will slow the enemy while the infantry dig entrenchments. There are only a few objectives in Russian territory and their value is small. The Austrians will play defense and see if the Russians exhaust themselves.

[rhinobones]

Turn 1 – Serbia

Unlike Galicia, the objective in Serbia is clear. Invest Belgrade and drive their armies to the East. Austrians advance into Serbia using three primary routes. Two advances are directed at Belgrade and the southernmost heads due East to threaten the Serbian supply point. The Austrians are surprised to find no defenders deployed in Belgrade. Wonder if this will turn out to be a trap, a killing zone.
On the North edge of the battlefield, an infantry corps in held reserve until their best deployment is determined. North or South, depends on enemy strength and actions.

[rhinobones]

Turn 2 – Galicia

The Russians have not appeared on the battlefield. Austria uses this quiet period to position Corps into their respective armies. All units entrench in the defense of Lemberg and Przemsyl.

[rhinobones]

Turn 2 – Serbia

Serbian assaults have pushed back the Austrian left flank which requires an emergency rush of units to rebuild the defense. Mostly HQ and cavalry units are available. Any serious advance by the Serbs will undoubtedly require a stronger defensive front. An added problem is that VII Corps has gone into reorganization compounding defense of both the flank and Belgrade.

In the center and right (Southern) flank Austrians assault and advance over the thin Serbian defense. The status and strength of Serbian reserves is unknown, however, maybe the Serbs will need to divert troops to the center at a cost of depleting their left flank.