Red Poppies Campaigns Volume 3: Assault Artillery - La Malmaison

1-COM1082

Recounts the Battle of La Malmaison, 23-27 October 1917, in which the French employed their Artillerie Speciale (tank force) and creeping barrage to capture Pinon, Vaudesson, and the coveted Chemin des Dames ridge. The French victory confirmed their recovery from the mutinies spawned by the disastrous Nivelle Offensive fought over some of the same ground six months earlier.

In a six-day preliminary bombardment, French guns, with a three to one advantage, silenced most of their German counterparts and smothered German rear areas with dense gas to impeded German reinforcements. At 0515 on October 23, (zero hour) six divisions of the French XI, XIV, and XXI corps attacked on a 7.5-mile wide front. French infantry advanced in the predawn twilight behind an elaborate creeping barrage with 63 Schneider and Saint-Chamond tanks in support. Twenty-seven of the 63 tanks bogged before reaching the front line. A combination of German fire and mud stopped 15 more in no man's land while 21 French tanks (1/3rd of the starting total) actually made it to the German second position. The French 38th Division captured Fort de Malmaison and XXI Corps took Allemant and Vaudesson. From 24 to 25 October, XXI and XIV corps advanced while I Cavalry Corps came forward to exploit a hoped-for German collapse.

Features Complexity: 6 out of 10; Solitaire suitability: 8 out of 10; Time Scale: 10 minutes per turn; Map Scale: 200 yards per hex; Unit Scale: Companies, squadrons, sections; Players: 1 or 2; Playing Time: 2 to 24 hours depending on the scenario/campaign

Components: Two maps at 22x34 inches; 3 sheets of 5/8 inch counters; One rule and scenario book; Three player reference cards; Two dice.