BRITISH INFORMATION 1. Troop Quality And Morale: The British forces engaged here are not fresh amps, rather one has the troops which have been pushed back in a series of rearguard actions. Both divisions here have lost some 40% of their total strength, and while some replacements have come forward, gapping holes remain in these formations. As a result, the units listed under the British Order of Battle which do not have a make up listed will have to roll on one of the tables below to determine what their actual strength is, as well as their morale and rating: Infantry/Pioneer Battalions Die Roll 1 2,3 4,5 6 Troop Type TR RG EX VT Morale 7 8 8 9 Explanation of Terms TR: The battalion is considered as Trained. It has a battalion command stand, 1D6 divided by 3 (round up) command infantry stands, and 1d6+4 infantry stands. Organize the battalion into four companies as evenly as possible. RG: The battalion is considered as Regular. (For game purposes, consider it as Experienced). It has a battalion command stand, 1D6 divided by 2 (round up) command infantry stands, and 1D6+3 infantry stands. Organize the battalion into four companies as evenly as possible. EX: The battalion is considered as Experienced. (Allow it to take hits as if it is veteran, but it still fires as if it is experienced.). has a battalion command stand, 1D6+1 divided by 2 (round up) command infantry stands, and 1d6+2 infantry stands. Organize the Battalion into four companies as evenly as possible. VT: The battalion is considered as Veteran. It has a battalion command stand, 1d6+2 divided by 2 (round up) command infantry stands, and 1d6+1 infantry stands. Organize the battalion into four companies as evenly as possible. Machinegun Companies Die Roll 1 2,3 4,5 6 Troop Type TR RG EX VT Morale 8 8 9 9 Explanation of Terms TR: The company is considered as Trained. It has a command stand and 3 MMG stands, each of two dice. RG: The company is considered as Regular. (For game purposes, consider it as Experienced). It has a command stand and two MMG stands, each of two dice. EX: The company is considered as Experienced. (Allow it take hits as if it is Veteran, but it still fires as if it is experienced.). has a command stand and two MMG stands, each of two dice, as well as one infantry stand. VT: The company is considered as Veteran. It has a command stand and two MMG stands, each of two dice, as well as two infantry stands. Brigade Mortar Companies Die Roll 1 2,3 4,5 6 Troop Type TR RG EX VT Morale 8 8 9 9 TR: The company is considered as Trained. It has a command stand and two Stokes mortar stands. RG: The company is considered as Regular. (For game purposes, consider it as Experienced). It has a command stand and two Stokes mortar stands. EX: The company is considered as Experienced. (Allow it take hits as if it is Veteran, but it still fires as if it is Experienced.) has a command stand and two Stokes mortar stands as well as one support stand. VT: The company is considered as Veteran. It has a command stand and two Stokes mortar stands, as well as one infant stand. 2. Artillery Information: All off-board artillery has two tons of ammunition per gun. All on-board weapons have one ton per weapon. All artillery may be preregistered per the rules, with up six points per artillery brigade or mortar battery picked before the start of the game. Off board guns were about 20" north of the northern board edge. 3. Fortifications: There exist two trench lines on the board the forward British line, and the Cachy Switch. For game purposes count both as second line trenches, with modifiers of only -3 artillery, and -2 to small arms fire. The village of Viller Bretonne is stone, but any stands in the village which take shelter from artillery fire there must check for casualties from gas. (The Germans had saturated the town with mustard gas to prevent British troops from taking shelter in the cellars there.) Each front line brigade may roll 1d10x4 for the number of inches of barbed wire in place at the start of the game. This wire must be placed up to 8" in front of either British Trench Line. 4. British Setup: The British units setup subject to the following restrictions: 8th Division: In reserve behind the Cachy Switch line. 23rd Brigade: Two battalions in the forward line with supporting elements as wished, one battalion in the Cachy Switch Line. 24th Brigade: In reserve in and behind the village of Villers Bretonneux, to be used to counterattack as needed. 25th Brigade: Three battalions in the forward line with supporting elements as wished. 173rd Brigade: Two battalions in the forward fine with supporting elements as wished, one battalion in the Cachy Switch Line. Units in reserve may be released once the German advance is known, i.e., a British command or command infantry stand must have spotted a German stand forward of their trenchline. 5. British Victory Conditions: To hold the Cachy Switch Line and the village of Villers Bretonneux. 6. British Order Of Battle: 8th Infantry Division, with: Divisional Troops, each with: Divisional Headquarters (Veteran; Morale: 8) 1 command stand 1 staff stand 1st Tank Battalion (Veteran; Morale: 10) 1 command Mark V tank (Male) 1 Mark V tank (Female) 1 Whippet tank 22 Durham Light Infantry (Pioneers) Divisional Mortar Company (Veteran; Morale: 8) 1 command stand 3 support stands Divisional Machinegun Company 23rd Infantry Brigade (Veteran; Morale: 8) Brigade Headquarters, with 1 command stand 1 staff stand Attached: 1 gun crew stand (DS), 1 18lbs gun, 1 limber Brigade Machinegun Company Brigade Mortar Company 2nd Devonshire 2nd West Yorks 2nd Middlesex 24th Infantry Brigade (Veteran; Morale: 8) Brigade Headquarters 1 command stand 1 staff stand Attached: 1 gun crew stand (DS), 1 18lbs gun, 1 limber Brigade Machinegun Company Brigade Mortar Company 1st Worcester 1st Northants 1st Sherwood Foresters 25th Infantry Brigade (Veteran; Morale: 8) Brigade Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 staff stand Attached: 1 gun crew stand (DS), 1 18lbs gun, 1 limber Brigade Machinegun Company Brigade Mortar Company 2nd Royal Berwickshire 2nd East Lancaster 2nd Rifle Brigade 3 Artillery Brigades (Veteran; Morale: 8), each wi 1 FO stand (on-board) 2 18 lb guns (off-board) 2 4.5" howitzers (off-board) 58th Infantry Division 173rd Infantry Brigade (Veteran; Morale: 8 Brigade Headquarte 1 command stand 1 staff stand Attached: 1 gun crew stand (DS)18lbs gun, 1 limber Brigade Machinegun Company 2/4th Lond 2/10th London 1 Artillery Brigades, (Veteran; Morale: 8), each wit 1 FO stand (on-board) 2 18 lb guns (off-board) 2 4.5" howitzers (off-board) More Amiens: April 24, 1918: Villers Bretonneux Introduction British Set-Up German Set-up Referee's Notes and Historical Commentary Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly #1 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com