John Lee's 'great war' Entente vs MP9090 as Central Powers

[gwgardner]

John Lee's 'great war' (named as found) was created in the early 2000s. It's 1 week turns, 15 or 20 km per hex (I've seen both mentioned), division level, 1914-18.

It's strictly a land war. The naval aspect is solely with transports. No air units. The OOBs seem to be historical. I haven't found anything obviously off with it, from the divisional standpoint.

[gwgardner]

The map:

[gwgardner]

Aug 1 1914

Austria's determination to crush Serbia is the immediate cause for the war, so here's the situation on that front. It looks hopeless for Serbia. About the only thing positive is the terrain.

If the Serbs can survive the loss of their capitol, Belgrade, it could be a struggle for the Austrians to destroy the Serbian army. The Danube and Sava Rivers are strong barriers, and elsewhere rugged terrain could be an advantage for Serbia's mountain-trained troops.

For now, the Serbian army is going to dig in deep and try to hold Belgrade.

I should have said that there are 2, possibly 3 Austro-Hungarian armies facing Serbia. It is unknown whether the Austrian 2nd Army is moving north. Those armies have 1 or 2 corps.

[gwgardner]

Against the Austrians in Galicia, the Russians have four armies situated to strike south and southwest, towards the important Lemberg and Przemsyl rail and road junctions. There are probably three Austrian armies mustering along that border, with rumors that the 2nd Army is headed to the region.

[gwgardner]

Versus the Germans, the Russians have two armies mobilizing. With most of the German army in the west, it should be an opportunity to move against Prussia.

[gwgardner]

In the West, the Germans have moved fast into Belgium, taking the fortresses of Liege and Namur. The BEF is still mobilizing, and will not land in France for another two weeks at the earliest. The French are poised for a major offensive along the borders of Alsace and Lorraine, with the hope of forcing the German army to weaken any move through Belgium.

Four French armies ranging in order from the Swiss border to the north are committed to the offensive. The 5th Army is still being held pending the initial results of that offensive, and with an eye on the German push in Belgium.

The Belgians face a critical decision: attempt to hold in Brussels and Antwerp, or make a fighting withdrawal to the southwest and west, to join up with hoped for British and French help.

[note: MP9090 is already way ahead of the historical advance in Belgium. The historical first meeting of the BEF with the Germans at Mons looks to be seriously in doubt.

I'm going to do a stab at the Plan 17 offensive along the French-German border, just for the sake of seeing how the scenario stacks up with history in that regard.]

[gwgardner]

August 9

On the Serbian Front the AH forces are definitely not pressing forward.

Does this mean they're simply repositioning? Drawing down their presence, to send reinforcements to the Galician Front?

Lacking cavalry forces as yet, it's going to be risky to probe across the border. The Serbs are reluctant to move out of their entrenched positions. A recently mobilized division in Belgrade will be broken down into regiments and pushed forward cautiously.

[gwgardner]

15 rifle squad casualties making the probe and then withdrawing back to the entrenchments.

[gwgardner]

In Galicia, the Russians have moved forward to Lemberg with 8th and 3rd Armies. 4th and 5th Armies have probed forward.

[gwgardner]

Farther north a brief cavalry incursion into Thorn was quickly repulsed by the Germans.

[gwgardner]

A cautious advance in Prussia has not revealed the German dispositions.

[gwgardner]

The Germans continue to advance into Belgium. GHQ is beginning to take notice but can't react until mobilization continues to bring up forces. The BEF is still embarking in the UK.

[Cfant]

May I ask for the shock-values of the first turns? and how many units you have in your OOB? Good luck!

[gwgardner]

ORIGINAL: Cfant

May I ask for the shock-values of the first turns? and how many units you have in your OOB? Good luck!

I'm not sure how to check either of those. Please advise. (I haven't had my coffee yet, if it's something obvious I'm missing.)

[Cfant]

Well, screen 1: shock-values



screen 2: button (right arrow) shows your OOB and counts your units (left arrow)

[gwgardner]

There's a utility to examine scenarios - I was thinking you wanted that info. I'll have to look for that utility.

No reference to shock level in the briefing.

[later]

Here's a dump of the scenario, which can be viewed in notepad. It has the complete OOB.

[gwgardner]

August 16, turn 3

The UK declared war to defend Belgium. It's already lost.

[funny: hurry's]

[gwgardner]

Plan 17 has resulted in advances measured in the 10s of kilometers. The enemy has carried out bombardments all along the line but otherwise has held steady.

[gwgardner]

The Russian advance through Prussia has been too easy. Is Koenigsburg a trap? Should it be simply bypassed, in favor of a stronger combined front against any German counter-attack?

[gwgardner]

Success in Galicia would go a long way towards securing Poland and Serbia. The feeling persists however that the early advances of the Russian army are ephemeral. It's been too easy.