Spodilicious
  • News
    • Home
    • Contents
  • Rage Virus
    • Part 1 - A police story
    • Part 2 - Attrition
    • Part 3 - Going nowhere
    • Part 4 - Special Weapons and Tactics
    • Part 5 - Tactical retrograde
    • Part 6 - Mission accomplished
    • Part 7 - It's pretty much all downhill from here
    • Part 8 - Hollerton Field
    • Part 9 - Out of the frying-pan
    • Part 10 - How few remain
  • Five Men in Ukraine
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 30 October 1943
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 05 November 1943
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 14 November 1943
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 29 November 1943
    • Five Men in Ukraine: 13 December 1943
  • First Bishops' War
  • DBA
    • Mongols v Georgians
    • Timurids v Georgians
    • Mongols v Il-khanids
    • Mongols v Il-khanids II
    • Pre-feudal Scots v Anglo-Danish
    • Caledonians v Scots-Irish
    • Vikings v Saxons
    • Mongol campaign
    • Ming v Mongols campaign
    • Picts v Strathclyde Britons
    • Mongols v Russians
    • Russians v Swedes
    • Danes v Prussians
    • Kaykhusraw & the Mongols
    • Köse Dağ
    • Mongols in Korea
    • Mongols in Korea II
    • Yuan v Koreans
    • The Danes in Estonia
    • Danes v Estonians
    • Norwegians v Scots 1263
  • SF
    • Sladden >
      • Sladden - chapter 0
      • Sladden - chapter 1
      • Sladden - chapter 2
      • Sladden - interlude I
      • Sladden - chapter 3
      • Sladden - chapter 4
      • Sladden - chapter 5
      • Sladden - interlude II
      • Sladden - chapter 6
    • Dunhold >
      • Dunhold I - the raid
      • Dunhold II - the Guffinsson device
      • Dunhold III - a walk in the country
      • Dunhold IV - assassin's greed
      • Dunhold V - assault on precinct XIII
      • Dunhold VI - hostage & rescue
      • Dunhold VII - the gun
      • Dunhold VIII - tank shock
      • Dunhold IX - raid on Beteneb
      • Dunhold X - firebase Ragnhild
      • Dunhold XI - hit and run
      • Dunhold XII - just-in-time logistics
      • Dunhold XIII - infiltration
      • Dunhold XIV - Applewhite & Nettles
      • Dunhold XV - 'They've got a cave troll!'
      • Dunhold XVI - The bridges at Itrook
    • Dalek Invasion >
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 1
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 2
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 3
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 4
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 5: Bob's story
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 6: Bob's story (2)
      • Dalek invasion - chapter 7: Dalek hunters
      • Dalek invasion - cast
    • Voyage of the USS Minotaur
    • Mutants & Death Ray Guns >
      • From Dust: Introduction >
        • From Dust: Prologue
        • From Dust: Chapter 1 - the Trademaster
        • From Dust: Chapter 2 - the Wretched
        • From Dust: Chapter 3 - the Device
        • From Dust: Chapter 4 - Tucamari
      • Big Dode in the wastelands >
        • 1 - The ordeal
        • 2 - The rats
        • 3 - An ally
        • 4 - Scorpion!
        • 5 - Water! Water!
        • 6 - Cornered rats
        • 7 - The river
        • 8 - R-10-T
        • 9 - The pilgrims
        • 10 Hostile contacts
        • Appendix 1 - Bestiary
      • Don Chimpanzino
      • Therianthropes are go!
      • Against the Wretched >
        • Against the Wretched - 1
        • Against the Wretched - 2
        • Against the Wretched - 3
      • Rangers of the wasteland >
        • RotW scene I
        • RotW scene II
    • Five Parsecs from Home: The Independent Scout part 1
    • Five Parsecs from Home: The Independent Scout part 2
    • Five Parsecs from Home: Jot the Jawa
    • Five Parsecs from Home - Arcadian Phoenix
    • Schar's World
    • Battle for the Planet of the Apes, Goats, Rats and Pigs >
      • Chapter 1
    • Marines v Aliens
    • Fallout >
      • Fallout - part 1
      • Fallout - part 2
      • Fallout - Resistance part 1
      • Fallout - Resistance part 2
    • England Invaded! >
      • Ottoman airship raiders
      • A sharp action at Fawkham
      • On the road to Canterbury
    • Gangs of New Neasden >
      • Gangs of New Neasden part 2
    • Post-Brexit Gangs of Middlesborough
    • Operation Last Train
    • Silver Thorn
    • Goblin Civil War
  • Dark Ages skirmish
    • Dark Ages skirmish: Chapter 1
    • Dark Ages skirmish: Chapter 2
    • Dark Ages skirmish: Chapter 3
  • Douglas of the 92nd.
    • Douglas of the 92nd. - the supply column
    • Douglas of the 92nd. - the heliograph station
  • The First World War
    • Mesopotamia
    • Trench raiding
    • Panzer Angst September 15th 1916
    • Freikorps
    • Biplane Barmy
    • 1914
    • 1914 - Opening Moves
    • Night falls over Jutland
    • 1919
    • Zeppelin L33 over England
    • Journey's End
  • Horse & Musket
    • Meyvaci Ali and the British invasion
    • Meyvaci Ali and the troublesome dervish
    • Meyvaci Ali and the Albanian raiders
    • Meyvaci Ali and the caravan
    • Meyvaci Ali and the tax collector
    • Meyvaci Ali and the customs-house
    • Meyvaci Ali and the revolting Martolos
    • Meyvaci Ali and the Albanian menace
    • Napoleonic Ottomans
    • Late 17th century >
      • Kirk o Shotts
      • Covenanters at Pitlochry
      • Auchtermuchty
    • Jacobites
    • O Brien's Farm
    • Turks v Russians
    • Turks v Russians 2
    • The Peninsula
    • Altdorf April 23rd 1813
    • Alcuesta
    • The Old West
  • Samurai
    • Lord Sugiyama and the ten ronin
    • Neshikocho 1618
    • Ikko-ikki
  • One Hour Wargames
    • China 1937
    • 16th century Japan
  • Arty farty
    • Aberlemno
    • Acharn
    • Aikey Brae
    • Aquhorthies
    • Auld Bourtreebush
    • Balgorkar (Castle Fraser)
    • Barpa Langais
    • Barra Hill
    • Binghill
    • Brandsbutt stone
    • Broomend of Crichie
    • Clune
    • Croft Moraig
    • Cullerlie
    • Cuween Hill
    • Dunnideer
    • Clach an Tiompain / Eagle Stone
    • Cnoc Freiceadain
    • Eassie
    • Easter Aquhorthies
    • Glassel
    • Inveravon
    • Kilmartin Glen
    • Kintore stone
    • Kirkton of Bourtie
    • Lenabo
    • Leuchar Moss
    • Loanhead of Daviot
    • Loch Kinord
    • Machrie Moor
    • Maiden Stone
    • Meigle
    • Midmar Kirk
    • Migvie
    • Mulloch
    • Piobull Fhinn
    • Sunhoney
    • Tollohill
    • Tomnaverie
    • Auchindoun
    • Fedderate castle
    • Fowlsheugh
    • Slains castle
    • Bullers o Buchan
    • Camster
    • Coire Fraoichidh / Corrichie
    • Cruden Bay
    • Gourdon
    • Kinclaven
    • Loch Eich
    • Nairn beach
    • Newburgh
    • Perwinnes Moss (Scotstown Moor)
    • St. Fillans
    • Cairn o Mounth
    • Animals
    • Interesting rocks
    • And quiet flows the Dee
    • Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry
    • Strange skies
    • Covid-19 lockdown
    • One tree, one year
    • The trees
  • Fantasy
    • Song of Blades & Heroes >
      • A cautionary tale
      • Song of Arthur & Merlin
      • Succession
      • The short-lived adventures of Yark the kobold
      • Gondor v Orcs
      • Cormyr - introduction >
        • Cormyr - the watchtower
        • Cormyr - the ambush
        • Cormyr - the outpost
      • The adventures of Zou Kov >
        • The palace of Covidius I
        • The palace of Covidius II
        • The palace of Covidius III
        • The palace of Covidius IV
        • The howling
        • The beacon
        • The castle
        • Assassination
        • Run out of town
        • A new start
        • Kobold caves
      • The Dark Company
      • Alquin of Barrowdale
      • The Young Kingdoms
      • Zothique
      • Hyperborea
      • Vadagh
    • The Sword Coast
    • The Sword Coast - Zook Turen's story I
    • The Sword Coast - Theophylact the Tendentious I
    • Lord of the Rings >
      • Mahud & Haradrim v Gondor
      • Hobbits v goblins
      • Rohan v Dunlendings
      • Gondor v Haradrim & Mahud
      • Gondor v Dunlendings
      • Faramir at Osgiliath
    • Five Leagues from the Borderlands
  • Second World War
    • Atlantic Convoy SC41
    • Burma 1943
    • Martelange
    • Dzyatlava
    • Monopoly Blitz
    • Ten minutes on a Burmese afternoon
    • Neil Thomas
    • Manchuria
    • D-Day
    • Bolt Action >
      • Encounter at Villages Pas Vrai
      • Manhunt
      • The secret agent
      • Envelopment
  • Irish independence
  • Who thought this was a good idea?
  • Modern
    • Afghanistan 2009
    • AK47 Republic
  • Terrain
    • Terrain showcase
  • Back catalogue
    • Aberdeen Beyond 2000
    • MDRG four-way scrap
    • Published articles
  • Le salon des spods
    • Semi-random scenario generation
  • Extended universe
    • Spodlight
    • Spodcast
    • There Will Be Spods
    • Spodify
  • All Under One Banner
    • All Under One Banner 03 June 2017
    • All Under One Banner 05 May 2018
    • All Under One Banner 04 May 2019
    • All Under One Banner 17 August 2019
    • All Under One Banner 07 October 2019
    • All Under One Banner 11 January 2020
    • All Under One Banner 02 April 2022
  • Scrapbook
  • Fear & Faith
  • Gaslands
Picture
The tanks approach the German second line.

Tank Angst 1916!
Or how A Section won the war!
Report by Lieutenant Oswald-Bowstrey, Machine Gun Corps, Heavy Section,
of the actions of his section of “tanks” on the Somme.
​

Following a night march from our positions in the rear, our way marked very well by the white tapes laid by the Royal Engineers and each tank lead by its commander, my section of tanks awaited the jump off signal as dawn broke. Fortunately all three arrived at the front line without serious mechanical mishap, a feat I attribute to the emphasis I placed upon regular maintenance of these complicated machines. I was in command of “A” section consisting of three Mk I Male tanks:

Apple: Named after my 5 year old son, the apple of my eye.
Agetha: Named after Sgt Hughes intended.
Artist: Named for the abilities of private Jones who had painted the all-seeing eyes on each tank.


The jump off was signalled by crimson flares and we immediately moved forward into no-mans land, our accompanying infantry following some 50 yards behind. Our view of the outside world from within the tanks was very limited and nothing could be heard over the din of the massive Ricardo engine that provided the tanks' motive force. As we were to find, nothing short of direct hits by machine guns or shells bursting nearby was audible with the tanks under way.

As we ground forward we kept as good a lookout as possible, and within the first few minutes we observed the stumps of New Forest copse ahead of us and a ruined house to our right. No sign of the enemy was apparent more or less as expected due to the proximity to our front line. Our infantry secured both of the above as we moved further forward.

Progress was slow due to the broken ground, we were making barely 1mph at the most and were in danger of falling behind schedule.
Apple bore left around the broken tree stumps. From our experience in training it was all too easy to get a tank wedged on one so they were best avoided. Agetha bore right around the other side whilst Artist advanced ahead.
More tree stumps were observed, not marked on our map! Again we manoeuvred carefully around them towards some ruined stonework, probably the remains of a wall around a field long since churned up by shellfire. Still no sign of the Boche, and we pressed on.

At more or less this point, Agetha’s crew spotted some barbed wire entanglements and these were covered by a section or two of enemy infantry! They opened fire as Agetha clanked towards them, brave fellows! Agetha’s driver, Pte Watson, was injured by spalling from the rifle bullets and had to be replaced by Sgt Hughes. This left Agetha stationary and under fire, the enemy not being put off by her return fire and the situation becoming more than a little hot.

Meanwhile, Artist had flushed an MG nest and both sides exchanged fire to little effect.
Agetha, with her new driver at the helm, managed to see off the infantry opposing her and crushed a path through the entanglement to the delight of our supporting infantry for whom this had been an almost insurmountable obstacle. Up until now! Artist and the MG continued a hot fire against each other but still with no harm to Artist and no slackening of the reply from the MG. Having afterwards received the report of this action within a battle from Artist’s commander, Corporal Simmonds, I berated him for sitting still and giving the Germans an easy target especially as prior to the battle I had emphasised that the tanks' very size, weight and appearance were as powerful weapons as their guns and enemy positions could be taken as easily as by running them over as by fire. Furthermore, our magnificent machines were very likely to terrify the enemy into fleeing if they were kept moving forward!
​

While all this was going on, myself in Apple advanced on the left heading towards the ruins of a church which marked the first main German trench system. Luckily I was in a high state of alert and spotted a dug-in field gun, probably one of the ubiquitous 77mm pieces emplaced to sweep away our brave lads as they closed with the German lines. A brace of 6lb shells and a torrent of MG fire from the well-practiced crew of the left hand sponson settled their account with interest! Artist by this time had finally driven the MG crew off but with a bit more “Vim” from Simmonds they could and should have been taken prisoner. I will recommend the loss of his stripe for lack of offensive spirit.




 Flers - Courcelette.
September 15th 1916
​
'B' troop:
Barchester (Lt. Bromley)
Blenheim (2nd. Lt. Harcourt)
Bessie (2nd. Lt. Fairhead)

'B' troop reached the starting position between 'A' and 'C' troops without mishap and was able to set off on time.  A short distance from our front line all three tanks entered a slight declivity in the ground which was not marked on our maps and was not apparent from the start-line. On entering the dip Barchester came under fire from rifles and machine-guns, and several rounds hit the vehicle without effect. The fire appeared to come from a line of ruined walls to our left front,  which presumably once marked a field boundary, and Barchester without halting fired at the enclosure. I also observed shell bursts, which I took to be from Bessie, on the target and the enemy 
fire ceased. A few minutes later Bessie, on the left of B troop, came under heavy fire from a wood further on. Barchester & Blenheim, unaware of the fire, continued to advance, veering slightly to skirt the wood on either side - the dangers of stranding presented by fallen trees having been emphasised in training. 

Bessie meanwhile halted to fire into the wood, and 2nd. Lt. Fairhead was observed standing on the roof of his tank observing fall of shot with no apparent concern for his own safety. After several rounds from the six pounders the fire ceased and Bessie joined Blenheim and Barchester in bypassing the wood. On passing the further edge of the wood Barchester was exposed to fire from enemy infantry in shellholes behind a band of uncut wire. I continued to advance directly towards the wire, under intermittent rifle fire, and Barchester was able effortlessly to crush the wire. There was no more fire from ahead and the infantry sheltering behind the tank were able to pass through the gap in the wire and occupy the position. Barchester was now ahead of the other two vehicles and through my periscope I could see the village and cluster of pillboxes which formed the German second line and which had been designated as our objective. On approaching them they appeared to have been abandoned.  Cautiously opening the hatch I could see tanks, presumably of 'C' troop, to our north-west. Within a short time Blenheim and Bessie, with their accompanying infantry, joined Barchester astride the enemy positions. The infantry were able to occupy the pillboxes unopposed, taking only a few wounded men as prisoners, the rest having apparently fled on our approach.
​


After action report ‘C’ Troop, Flers - Courcelette, Northern France. September 15th 1916


​C’ Troop
‘Centaur’ Lt. J. D. Worthington
‘Cardiff’ 2nd Lt. P.B.R. Evans
‘Chesterfield’ 2nd Lt. A.N. Wedgwood-Benn
Supporting infantry ; 2nd Pln. 'A' Coy. Lancashire Fusiliers (Lt. G.R. Edwards)

0635hrs - 0715hrs
Our troop advanced to the right of 'A' and 'B' troops - moving east-north-east towards the German front lines ranging from the village of Courcelette in the north via Martinpuich in the centre and Flers in the south. Our initial advance brought ourselves and Chesterfield up to a ruined farm building and some long abandoned trenches without incident. 2nd Lt. Evans' 'Cardiff' however, came under fire from a German scouting patrol dug in behind a ruined wall. Cardiff returned a brisk fire with her 6-pounder and MGs and the Fritzes took to their heels.

Our advance continued and we passed another ruined farm building and had just come in sight of a wooded area ahead when Centaur's Daimler-Knight engine began to misfire and to lose power alarmingly. We first slowed to around 1 mph and then ground to a halt with tendrils of smoke coming from the engine mounting. The gearsmen, Cpl. MacDougall and Pte. Wilcox immediately set to work using rags and pliers to manhandle the still smoking engine parts. Aware of our vulnerable predicament, I ordered the four gunners to keep a sharp lookout for any enemy troops who might be sneaking up on us with grenades or whatever as our accompanying infantry appeared to have vanished.

Meanwhile 'Cardiff' and 'Chesterfield', unaware of our engine failure, continued to advance beyond the wooded area and encountered another trench line which proved to be occupied by a German MG. In a fierce exchange of fire 'Cardiff's forward Lewis Gun was hit and put out of action but the concentrated fire of the two 'tanks' was able to destroy the MG and the remaining crew fled. After this brief exchange of fire both 'tanks' advanced, passing another ruined farm and towards an extended trench line from which enemy troops were engaging another advancing 'tank' - from (presumably) 'B' troop.

In the meantime, our 'Centaur' was still inert despite the furious efforts of (and some dreadful language from) the two gearsmen. I had previously ordered the rear escape hatches opened when we came to a halt both to clear any smoke in the vehicle and to cool down both the engine and the interior. Despite having travelled only a mile or so from our 'jumping off point' the temperature in 'Centaur' had risen to nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Our respite from the appalling heat was not to last as, within a few minutes of us breaking down, an artillery burst landed about fifty yards to our front followed by two more to our right flank. We slammed the escape hatches closed and waited in apprehension as our two gearsmen worked on. There was a brief pause outside followed by another series of artillery bursts, one of which landed uncomfortably close and we heard the clatter of scattered shrapnel striking our left hand hull plates. Realising that our stalled vehicle was almost certainly under observation and that a direct hit was only a matter of time I resolved to order the crew to 'abandon ship' in between the next two salvoes. However, just as I was articulating the words our two stalwart gearsmen re-started our engine and with a communal sigh of relief from our eight man crew we set off at 3mph just as another salvo landed behind us. The advance continued and we were able to join 'Cardiff' and 'Chesterfield' on the German second line of trenches.


Picture


Below is a test game, laying the groundwork for the real thing above.
Picture
An RFC reconnaissance photo of the area after the action reveals 'C' Troop's 'Juno' and 'Vera' on their objective while on the right 'D' Troop's 'Dennis' has cleared the final trench of the Germans' third  line of defence. 'Dinnaken' & 'Dunstable' are bogged down as is 'C' Troop's 'Indomitable'.
1: 'C' Troop 2nd Squadron, led by Lt Farnsworth's 'Juno' encounter a machine gun in the woods next to the village of St. Marie.
2: 'D' Troop 2nd Squadron, led by Lt. Muir's 'Dinnaken' advance towards the village of Moncontour and the supporting trench system.
3: 'Juno' and 'Vera' clear St.Marie with their supporting infantry while 2nd Lt. Worley-Heathcote's 'Indomitable' engages a squad of entrenched German infantry.
4: 'Vera' destroys an enemy field gun while 'Juno' engages another at close range. In the background, Worley-Heachcote, having 'lost control of his nerves' turns 'Indomitable' away from the entrenched Germans after several grenades explode around his tank.
5: In the foreground the retreating 'Indomitable' has bogged down while to the right 'D' Troop's 'Dinnaken', 'Dunstable' and' Dennis' with their supporting infantry sweep through Moncontour.
6: 'Indomitable' is under an uncomfortable hail of small arms fire while Lt. Muir's 'Dinnaken'  leads the infantry platoon HQ over the abandoned trenches of the Stolzberg Stellung.
7: To the left 'Juno' destroys an enemy field gun while 'Vera' advances. Lt Muir's 'Dinnaken' launches a flank attack on the entrenched infantry firing at the bogged down 'Indomitable'.
8: A long range shot from 'Vera' destroys yet another German field gun while 'Dinnaken' attacks the entrenched infantry from the rear while the infantry Platoon HQ sweeps up the trench line on their flank.
9: The entrenched German infantry surrender and the trench line is occupied by the Inf. Platoon HQ. However, 'Dinnaken' encounters two MGs in pillboxes and engages them as does 'Dunstable' to their rear. In the background 'Juno and 'Vera' are assaulting the German third line of defence.
10: 'Dinnaken' and 'Dunstable' destroy the two pillboxes but 'Dinnaken' is stopped by engine failure. In the foreground 'Dunstable' continues to advance while the Inf. Platoon HQ supporting 'C' Troop reaches their objective.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.