Aisne, France - 1914

Introduction:

This is a fictional scenario, based around situations that existed in September 1914. This scenario recreates the river crossing battles that were a part of the allied counterattacks during the First Battle of the Marne and the battles along the Aisne. The situation placed before the players in this scenario may well have faced commanders on both sides at the Petit and Grand Morin and the Marne itself, and the battles on the Aisne in September 1914.

A number of varied and interesting events occurred in these battles. This scenario has been constructed on terrain that typifies the area around the Aisne as described by General French in his book “1914”, with few scenario specific rules. That is, the Great War Spearhead rules as written should be used. Reminders have been provided for particular rules that are important in the context of the scenario.

The aim is to place players in the type of situation that divisional commanders faced, without putting too many specific historical scenario limitations on their command decisions. In other words, you will be able to fight your division as you think best fits the tactical demands of the situation.

Designer's Notes:

• The river can only be crossed by bridge. The bridges marked on the map have all been destroyed.
• The bridging rules were those proposed on the Yahoo Groups list by Shawn Taylor

"An engineer stand could erect an infantry pontoon bridge in 4 turns, two turns if using two engineer stands, more than two would not make any difference.

Two regular infantry stands can erect a bridge in 4 turns"

• Battalion strengths are reduced, based on the observation recorded by Frederic Coleman in 'From Mons to Ypres with French' that many BEF units were reduced to as little of 50% of their strength. For the sake of a playable scenario, battalions have only been reduced by 25% to represent the battle casualties that units had accumulated at this time for both forces.
• All forces outside forested areas start the game entrenched in light entrenchments (not if inside forested areas however).
• Artillery is limited to a maximum one-third off board (Corps guns are excluded from this rule for this scenario as stated in the OOBs).
• All troops are regular.
• GWSH Rule 15.2.6 Wave Attacks is not in force for this scenario. It is unreasonable to insist upon wave attacks when the attackers are being funneled into one or two narrow pontoon bridges.
• BEF infantry stands have the benefit of the ‘mad minute’.

BEF Order-of-Battle and Scenario Notes

German Order-of-Battle and Scenario Notes

Battle Map

Suggested scenario variation:

Allow a benefit for BEF forces if they use the destroyed bridges as the base for constructing their pontoon bridges. Halve the time required to bridge the river, if the BEF attempts to bridge at any of these three points.

Scenario Created by: Robin Sutton (2004)