- Bazentin Ridge I (MJ version) is live now and will reiterate until September 4th.
- Bazentin Ridge II (CSS version) will go live tomorrow (August 27) at 15:00
- Seventh Isonzo (freemium-friendly) will go live August 31st at 15:00 and reiterate until September 10th. Remember, this is freemium-friendly (only one game per round) but it is NOT freemium-exemption (where it will cover for your lack of slots) so PLEASE get a slot open and remember to keep it reserved for the duration of the tournament.
List of Current and Upcoming Tournaments.
[spoiler=bazentin ridge i]
Battle of Bazentin Ridge July 14-17, 1916
The disastrous opening of the Battle of the Somme on is still remembered as the bloodiest day in British military history, but it was merely the beginning of five months of horror that resulted in 1.3 million casualties on both sides, including 310,486 killed and missing. The lion’s share of these were inflicted in a series of incremental Allied offensives throughout the summer and fall of 1916, as the British and French pushed forward again and again in search of an ever-elusive breakthrough.
The second big push fell just two weeks after the first assault, during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge from July 14-17, when the British scored a rare victory but then failed to exploit it, giving the Germans a chance to regroup and dig in again – by now a frustratingly familiar result on those rare occasions when either side scored a success.
In the early morning of July 14, the shelling culminated in a five-minute “hurricane” bombardment. By 10 a.m. on July 14, the British 3rd and 7th Divisions had torn a hole in the German defenses, clearing the way for an advance into the High Wood north of Bazentin le Petit, but the divisional commanders were under orders to hold their positions and couldn’t call on reinforcements, which were being held in reserve in case of potential German counterattacks elsewhere.
Meanwhile the British attack didn’t succeed everywhere: the 9th Division in particular, attacking the German lines near the village of Longueval, suffered very heavy casualties as it tried to push the Germans out of Delville Wood. South African troops continued to battle for Longueval and Delville Wood from July 14 to July 17, but the planned cavalry attack was called off after an abortive advance by the Indian cavalry division revealed the Germans were still well entrenched.
By July 17, the arrival of growing numbers of German reinforcements finally spelled the end of the fleeting British success at Bazentin Ridge.
Above text and image are excerpts from Mental Floss
http://mentalfloss.com/Read all the details at
http://mentalfloss.com/article/83219/ww ... ntin-ridgeRound 1. The British scored a rare victory but then failed to exploit it. 25 start, Random Draw, 6 games, 25 move on. Games: 1 point per game, 5 players, Standard, Flat rate, fog, random adjacent/chained/parachute forts. Maps - British Isles, Classic Cities: London, England
Round 2. Douglas Haig ordered the Fourth Army to push ahead on the southern front. 25 start, Random Draw, 6 games, 20 move on. Games: 2 points per game, 5 players, Standard, Esc, random fog, unlimited forts. Maps - WWII Western Front, WWII Eastern Front, Europe
Round 3. Indian cavalry hindered by shell holes and debris strewn across the battlefield. 20 start, Random Draw, 6 games, 15 move on. Games: 3 points per game, 5 players, Standard, Flat rate, no fog, adj forts. Maps - Indian Empire, South Africa 1885, Dark Continent
Round 4. The situation remained a stalemate – albeit an extremely violent one. 15 start, Random Draw, 6 games, 5 move on. Games: 4 points per game, 5 players, Terminator, random Esc/flat/no spoils, fog, chained forts. Maps - Halloween Hollows, Salem's Switch, Monsters
Round 5. German reinforcements finally spelled the end of the fleeting British success. 5 start, Random Draw, 9 games. Games: 5 points per game, 5 players, Standard, Esc, no fog, unlimited forts. Maps - Germany, Holy Roman Empire, France 1789
-- MJ[/spoiler]
[spoiler=bazentin ridge II]-------
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge...July 14th,1916/Story Line...----------Tis I Wayward day. I still find myself in the bend of the River Somme. I feel like I am in a Jimmy Stewart movie
. But instead of a cattle drive. This bend in the river is filled with mounds of dead bodies. It is a moonless night this evening. Our commanding officer General Henry Rawlinson has given us the go time. For our attack on the German lines. July 14th,1916 at 3:25 a.m.. 4 divisions of the B.E.F.'s 4th army is going to slam into General Fritz von Below's 2nd German Army. On a front that is 6,000 yds(5.5km) long.
------We find ourselves just down from the German lines, which run from just past Guillemont and Ginchy. Northwest along the crest of Bazentin Ridge to Pozieres. Down the Albert Bapaume road. The attack plan laid out to us. Is to take the villages of Bazentin le Petit, Bazentin le Grand and also Longueval. They all lay adjacent to Delvillewood,and the Highwood on the ridge beyond.
------I hear footsteps behind me. As I turn around, I hear "Major, chin up old boy!" Why it is General Henry Rawlinson himself. The General seems optimistic about his plan. I ask him, how he chose this plan. He says,"I'm choosing to attack at dawn, when there will be no natural light for the German machine gunners to see far ahead." "What about our artillery General?",I whispered. "Well,you see I have decided ,when the attack is to start. To maintain surprise, the infantry were to be preceded by a 5 minute hurricane bombardment. Rather than the 30 minute barrage the Germans are use to. After that, a creeping bombardment, as the infantry moves forward.",he stated. He then walked away towards the battle room. As I watch the General walk away. I can't help but think of the men. When the attack begins. They will be attacking up hill the whole way.
------I head in the opposite direction, and bump into SGT. Jones. He is one of the engineers. "What are you up to Sarge?",I ask. Jones says,"I have been crawling in the mud and over dead bodies all day. My unit has been cutting German barbwire for hours." "There is a massive brewing.",I say. Jones whispers,"I tell you something Major. As I was working out there. Cutting the barbwire. My unit discovered the Germans have been listening to the telephones of the 63rd Brigade. So word around our unit. Is H.Q. has tricked the Germans with a fake message. That operations have been postponed for the time being." As he smiled. I laughed,"Well maybe we can fool'em."
------Pvt. Mchugh came towards us. "I can hear you guys", he said. "As you been cutting Sarge, I have been laying down tape and markers. So the men can advance in the dark. I've been on my stomach all day and night.", he muttered.
------Just then the sky lit up. I looked at my pocket watch. It is 3:20 a.m.,the attack has begun. The hurricane bombardment has cracked open the night. I think of all the new German troops under that barrage of fire and steel. A RFC pilot told me yesterday. He has been watching many German troop trains coming this way. They have been traveling from Flanders. It is now 3:25 a.m. the bombardment has slowed down and there go the men. They will be attacking Trones wood sector first. Lucky for them ,last night the 4th army was able to assemble 22,000 men and supplies 500 yds closer to the Germans with out being noticed. As reports come in. The attack started out with a miss hap. The attack started out to the east of Trones wood. The men thought they were attacking north. As the troops advanced, they could not stop the Germans from fixing the cut barbwire. Because of the long high grass, made it had to see. The men of the 7th division are exhausted. They have had 5 days rest. Before they were brought back for this battle. There has been no time to replace it's lost men.
------The 4th army is making gains, but slowly. From this news the High Command tried an attack in the daylight, with the 10th Cheshire on the village of Ovillers. But were cut down by German machine guns. They tried again at night. Succeeded in taking Ovillers. But lost so many men, they had to withdraw. All along the German lines, the British infantry advanced forward through the mist. With just enough light to tell German troops from British ones. They pushed through 2 German trench lines, through the barbwire. German positions fell one after the other. A lot of Germans troops escaped. Because many of the British troops lacked the training to hit soldiers beyond 300 yds.
------As a few German prisoners are brought in. I talk to one. He tells me and shows me a piece of paper. It is an order from German General Fritz von Below. It reads,"Despite my ban on the voluntary relinquishment of Positions, apparently certain sectors have been evacuated without an enemy attack. Every commander is responsible for ensuring , that his troops fight to the last man, to defend the sector for which he is responsible. Failure to do so will lead to Court Martial proceedings. THIS ARMY ORDER is to be made known to all commanders."---Below,July 14th, 1916...
------As time passed ,a message runner from the Longueval alley trench came running up. "Hey,Stanley Spencer!",I shouted. Stanley ran over to me. I asked him,"How are things in the alley?" As he looked at me with a sad face,trying to catch his breathe. He answered,"Just awful,In the trenches of Longueval alley. Many bodies have been covered by loose earth. From the sides of the trenches caving in. The bodies under the dirt form a springy, cushiony floor. It gives an unpleasant feeling,when walking on them." He also says,"H.Q. has been getting false reports on the battle for Longueval. Reports of capture of Longueval is untrue. Which has been leading the High Command the wrong way. Making them make all kinds of blunders. The truth is the Germans are holding onto the north part of Longueval. It is stopping the troops from advancing west. The Germans are also counter attacking and fortifying their positions at Longueval." He then takes off towards H.Q.. More reports of the battle come in. As a lull fell over the battlefield. Except where South Africans continue to attack German machine gun fire at Longueval.
------As the 15th of July begins. The Germans are still holding on to Delvillewood and Longueval. Which is giving cover for attacking German troops brought up from Flers. The Highlander light infantry and the Scottish rifle corps, were sent to take Highwood. They were soon joined by the King's Royal rifle corps. But they all were driven back. The High Command has judged Highwood to be untenable, an should be bombarded back to the stone age.
------The 16th and 17th of July brought much of the same poor judgement of the High Command. The 4th army leaders demanded the Highwood be taken by dawn. The British brought their artillery closer. When they should have moved it back to a safer distance, along with the infantry. German artillery fire, cut all the telephone lines. The German infantry counter attacked. British troops are being slowed down by mud. When they try to bring shells and troops up to the fight. More important , the bombardment at Highwood. Is failing to destroy the German machine guns.
------Although this stage in the fight for the Somme is looking like a British victory. The rain is stopping French troops from coming to the aid of the British. The time wasted by Rawlinson has been horrible. At one point a handful of British soldiers walked into the Highwood unopposed. Rawlinson decided to wait for the cavalry. He could of sent the infantry into the Highwood. When he finally sent the cavalry in, hours later. The Germans had plugged up the holes in their lines. German machine gunners ,cut down Rawlinson's cavalry. Also with the wasted time. More ground all over the battlefield could have been taken. After the battle for Bazentin Ridge. Most attacks on both sides were defeated by defensive fire power and the inclement weather. Which frequently turned the battlefield into a slough of mud. As I look over the battlefield through my field glasses. All I can see aside from the human death. Is the ruins of walls were buildings once stood. The sticks of trees that found nesting places among the debris. The whole landscape has become what looks like a volcanic uproar.
------As I turn and head back to H.Q. my satchel still isn't glowing. It looks like I'm still stuck on the Somme. But that's o.k. ,because a special person is reported to be in the Delvillewood sector. We will find out more in the battle of Delvillewood.
-------
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge.../Tournament...-------
---
1/7.......................16 player tournament......---------
--------Wayward Day's Diary: July 14th,1916
----The Battle of Baznentin Ridge could be called a British Victory. Fought between the British 4th army under the command of General Henry Rawlinson. Up against the German 2nd army of General Fritz von Below. As the British slowly made small gains moving forward. In the closing of the battle. Attempts to use the opportunity of early success. To capture Highwood failed. Due to German success in holding onto the northend of Longueval and parts of Delvillewood. From which attacks on Highwood ,could be engaged from the flank. Along with poor weather , mud slowed the attack. To add to the bad waste of time by H.Q.. Not sending cavalry in sooner. When they decided to. The Germans had regrouped and repelled the cavalry. Also the cavalry was delayed by the destroyed ground , shell holes and trenches. But all and all a some what...British Victory...
Round 1:(France map)
16 players start and 16 move on.Map:France,1-vs-1,5 games :Standard,Auto,Sequential,(Flat Rate,Nuclear,Zombie),(Chained,Adjacent),Fog,Trench,30 rounds.
Round 2:(England,Germany,Duck and Cover:Bombardment Begins)
16 players start and 8 move on. Maps:England,Germany,Duck and Cover:4-4 player games, 2 on England,2 on Germany, 2 on Duck and Cover: Terminator,Auto,Sequential,(Flat Rate,Nuclear,Zombie),(Chained,Adjacent),Fog,Trench,30 rounds.
Round 3:(British Isles---B.E.F. pushing forward)
8 players start and 8 move on.Map: British Isles,1-vs-1,5 games :Standard,Auto,Sequential,(Escalating,Flat Rate),Chained,Fog,30 rounds.
Round 4:(Classic Cities:London,Indian Empire--Rawlinson birth and death places)
8 players start and 6 move on.Maps:C.C.:London,Indian Empire:2-4 player games,2 on C.C.:London,2 on Indian Empire: Assassin,Auto,Sequential, Flat Rate, Chained, Fog, Trench, 30 rounds.
Round 5:(Flanders 1302,Rail Europe--Germany moved troops from Flanders by Rail)
6 players start and 4 move on.Maps: Flanders 1302,Rail Europe:1-6 player games,2 on Flanders 1302, 2 on Rail Europe: Terminator, Auto, Sequential, Escalating, Chained, Fog ,30 rounds.
Round 6:(Scotland,South Africa 1885--Scotts and South Africans joined the battle)
4 players start and 2 move on. Maps:Scotland,South Africa 1885: 1-4 player games, 3 on Scotland, 3 on South Africa 1885: Assassin, Auto, Sequential,(Flat Rate,Nuclear,Zombie),(Chained,Adjacent),Fog,Trench,30 rounds.
Round 7:(Trench Warfare)
2 players start:Map: Trench Warfare: 1-vs-1, 9 games, Standard, Auto, Sequential,(Flat Rate,Nuclear,Zombie),(Chained,Adjacent),Fog,Trench,30 rounds.
-- CSS[/spoiler]
To launch on August 31st, a
FREEMIUM-FRIENDLY tournament:
[spoiler=seventh isonzo]
Freemium friendly Seventh Battle of the Isonzo, September 14-17, 1916Since it joined the war Italy has launched a series of offensives along the Isonzo. Most of these have been bloody failures.
But the last offensive, the sixth, saw the Austro-Hungarian pushed back as the Italians surged forward and captured Gorizia. That success was unexpected. The Italians were hoping only for minor gains and were unprepared to exploit their breakthrough, allowing the Austro-Hungarians to fall back and establish new defensive lines.
In preparation for another attack Italian artillery has been blasting the enemy for the last few days. However the bombardment’s effectiveness has been diminished by poor weather, which had made it difficult to observe the enemy lines. The Austro-Hungarians have also carefully camouflaged their positions, so the Italians are more or less firing their guns blind and hoping for the best.
Now Cadorna sends the infantry forward. The Austro-Hungarians are being pressed by the Russians in Galicia and the Romanians in Transylvania, so he hopes that this Italian assault will be the hammer blow that breaks their resistance.
Unfortunately the battle goes more like the first five Isonzo battles than the sixth. Italian troops emerge from their trenches and begin to move forward, adopting close-order formations like something from the Napoleonic Wars. Then the Austro-Hungarians open up with their hidden field artillery and machine-guns, cutting great holes in the Italian columns. To one Austro-Hungarian officer the Italian attack looks like “an attempt at mass suicide”.
Gains are minimal and often lost to Austro-Hungarian counter-attacks. The sixth battle is revealed as an aberration as the Isonzo returns to its normal pattern of bloody stalemate.Above text is from article:
https://ww1live.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/isonzo-24/
Image is from same article listed above
(This tournament is freemium-friendly but NOT "freemium exemption". You
must keep 1 slot available for the duration!)
Battles:
Round 1. Italy launched a series of offensives along the Isonzo. 32 start, Random Draw, 1 game, 32 move on. Games: 2 players, Auto deployment, Flat Rate, no fog, chained forts. Map - Italy
Round 2. The sixth battle saw the Austro-Hungarian pushed back. 32 start, Random Draw, 1 game, 32 move on. Games: 2 players, Auto deployment, Escalating, fog, unlimited forts. Map - Austro-Hungarian Empire
Round 3. The Italians were unprepared to exploit their breakthrough. 32 start, Random Draw, 1 game, 16 move on. Games: 2 players, Auto deployment, No spoils, fog, parachute forts. Map - Imperium Romanum
Round 4. Artillery blasting the enemy for the last few days. 16 start, Score Resets, Random Draw, 1 game, 16 move on. Games: 2 players, Manual deployment, Flat Rate, no fog, chained forts. Map - WWII Western Front
Round 5. Hopes that this Italian assault will be the hammer blow. 16 start, Random Draw, 1 game, 16 move on. Games: 2 players, Manual deployment, Escalating Spoils, fog, unlimited forts. Map - Unification Italy
Round 6. Italian troops emerge from their trenches. 16 start, Random Draw, 1 game, 8 move on. Games: 2 players, Manual deployment, No spoils, no fog, parachute forts. Map - Trench Warfare
Round 7. Italians adopted close-order formations like the Napoleonic Wars. 8 start, Score resets, Random Draw, 1 game, 4 move on. Games: 2 players, Polymorphic (2), Auto deployment, Flat rate, no fog, unlimited forts. Map - Napoleonic Europe
Round 8. Austro-Hungarians cut great holes in the Italian columns. 4 start, Random Draw, 1 game, 2 move on. Games: 2 players, Polymorphic (3), Auto deployment, Escalating Spoils, fog, parachute forts. Map - King Of The Mountains
Round 9. Isonzo returns to its normal pattern of bloody stalemate. 2 start, Random Draw, 1 game, Games: 2 players, Polymorphic (4), Auto deployment, No Spoils, fog, chained forts. Map - Poison Rome
-- MJ[/spoiler]
...When I write the Tourney of Pozieres...I think it suits the Somme... 
...I'd like to see more people have a chance to play in TGW...Maybe they will like it and become GOLD... 
ConfederateSS.out!(The Blue and Silver Rebellion)... 