Post by Marcus on Nov 7, 2011 13:17:33 GMT -8
CENTRAL POWERS AAR
Well...I'd say we had ourselves a great event. After rocky start to my weekend (truck issues at home on Friday..grrrr), I finally got up to the site on Saturday morning. The usual Saturday morning last minute preparations were going on. Our two pyrotechnicians were hard at work getting the barrage set-up and everyone was getting their gear, ammo and grenades prepped for the oncoming battle.
Line-up was relatively quick and painless. Was good to see a few new faces on both sides of the lines. Central Powers were outnumbered a bit, but it wasn't too lop-sided. Voting for the Member-At-Large board position took place and we'll wait and see what the outcome is. Everyone went back to their positions and prepped for the opening barrage.
BOOM!!! As I sat in one of the LP/Ops I could feel the earth shift as the artillery opened up. We were fortunate to have our barrage electrically initiated FINALLY!! After years of the old, light the fuze and duck for cover routine, we were able to have our simulators set-off in a much safer and controlled fashion. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!! I believe a total of 22 charges were set-off covering each Allied and CP trenches in clouds of dust and debris. A video from the CP perspective is here if you have a Facebook account:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=284270171604761
There was no immediate attack following the barrage due to some misfired charges on the Allied side. Once the misfires were cleared the Allies attacked! It was a see-saw action for the rest of the day. As always the old CP trenchline was fought over many times. During the day the Allies relentlessly attacked the Central Powers line. MANY gas attacks were initiated, but a surge of troops never seemed to follow the gas. I threw grenade after grenade from my LP/OP....my arm is sore as hell now!
After several attacks and counter attacks, the CP was back in the frontline of the old trenches. Then we were under Allied artillery again! BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!! More charges went off (we did know they were being planted for safety reasons). The Allies "fired" artillery at the old trench line! A GWHS first!! Artillery barrage DURING the event. The sun was completely blotted from the sky and we were "forced" to withdraw. More assaults waged back forth, the creek bed was its usual river of death and destruction. Russian axes and German clubs went head to head and the hand to hand melee that we all know and love did not disappoint! More Russian attacks on our right flank ensued and they even managed to clear the LP/OP for a time, but thick wire kept them occupied and grenades rained in and cleared them from our midst. Wiring party goes out repairs the damage done.
Then a lull in the action. Dusk approaches...instead of a British Mad Minute, a lone piper appears on the Allied parapet and wails out songs to honor the dead of the Great War...he disappears back down into the safety of his trench. The mortars fire back and forth and an eerie woo woo woo woo woo sound of the French mortar is heard as rounds hit in front of our lines and in back. POOOOF!!!!! A direct hit into our sector and helmets go airborne. Had this been the real thing...there would have been about 5 of us splattered in the trench. Food is brought up to us on the line and we eat, drink and prep for the coming night action.
The sun disappears and the night action begins. The CP re-occupies the old trenchline and begins to send out troops to probe the lines. Flares light up the night sky and rifle fire rings out into the night. The CP troops inch their way towards the Allied lines and grenades begin to fly in both directions. Most are killed and filter back towards CP lines. Later on the CP begin to attack down the creek and are shot down more than once. Eventually Allies begin probing the CP lines and Marines and Russians again attack down the creek bed. Sporadic Allied harassing actions occur along the lines until it falls quiet.
The CP re-enter the old trenchline and creek and push forward... many are killed and fall back. Again, a push on the right up the creek. Grenades fly back and forth and the occupiers of the Allied left fall back, CP troops manage toe hold in the trenches. Hand to hand combat ensues, but eventually we are surrounded and cut down.
I had a great time and I think the combat was really great. A lot of back and forth. Attack and counter attack. Everyone came out relatively unscathed...couple stitches at most, but all in all it was great event.
I'm sore, cut, burnt and exhausted...everything you should be after a Great War event!!
Until we meet again... Auf Wiedersehen!
Marcus
Well...I'd say we had ourselves a great event. After rocky start to my weekend (truck issues at home on Friday..grrrr), I finally got up to the site on Saturday morning. The usual Saturday morning last minute preparations were going on. Our two pyrotechnicians were hard at work getting the barrage set-up and everyone was getting their gear, ammo and grenades prepped for the oncoming battle.
Line-up was relatively quick and painless. Was good to see a few new faces on both sides of the lines. Central Powers were outnumbered a bit, but it wasn't too lop-sided. Voting for the Member-At-Large board position took place and we'll wait and see what the outcome is. Everyone went back to their positions and prepped for the opening barrage.
BOOM!!! As I sat in one of the LP/Ops I could feel the earth shift as the artillery opened up. We were fortunate to have our barrage electrically initiated FINALLY!! After years of the old, light the fuze and duck for cover routine, we were able to have our simulators set-off in a much safer and controlled fashion. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!! I believe a total of 22 charges were set-off covering each Allied and CP trenches in clouds of dust and debris. A video from the CP perspective is here if you have a Facebook account:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=284270171604761
There was no immediate attack following the barrage due to some misfired charges on the Allied side. Once the misfires were cleared the Allies attacked! It was a see-saw action for the rest of the day. As always the old CP trenchline was fought over many times. During the day the Allies relentlessly attacked the Central Powers line. MANY gas attacks were initiated, but a surge of troops never seemed to follow the gas. I threw grenade after grenade from my LP/OP....my arm is sore as hell now!
After several attacks and counter attacks, the CP was back in the frontline of the old trenches. Then we were under Allied artillery again! BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!! More charges went off (we did know they were being planted for safety reasons). The Allies "fired" artillery at the old trench line! A GWHS first!! Artillery barrage DURING the event. The sun was completely blotted from the sky and we were "forced" to withdraw. More assaults waged back forth, the creek bed was its usual river of death and destruction. Russian axes and German clubs went head to head and the hand to hand melee that we all know and love did not disappoint! More Russian attacks on our right flank ensued and they even managed to clear the LP/OP for a time, but thick wire kept them occupied and grenades rained in and cleared them from our midst. Wiring party goes out repairs the damage done.
Then a lull in the action. Dusk approaches...instead of a British Mad Minute, a lone piper appears on the Allied parapet and wails out songs to honor the dead of the Great War...he disappears back down into the safety of his trench. The mortars fire back and forth and an eerie woo woo woo woo woo sound of the French mortar is heard as rounds hit in front of our lines and in back. POOOOF!!!!! A direct hit into our sector and helmets go airborne. Had this been the real thing...there would have been about 5 of us splattered in the trench. Food is brought up to us on the line and we eat, drink and prep for the coming night action.
The sun disappears and the night action begins. The CP re-occupies the old trenchline and begins to send out troops to probe the lines. Flares light up the night sky and rifle fire rings out into the night. The CP troops inch their way towards the Allied lines and grenades begin to fly in both directions. Most are killed and filter back towards CP lines. Later on the CP begin to attack down the creek and are shot down more than once. Eventually Allies begin probing the CP lines and Marines and Russians again attack down the creek bed. Sporadic Allied harassing actions occur along the lines until it falls quiet.
The CP re-enter the old trenchline and creek and push forward... many are killed and fall back. Again, a push on the right up the creek. Grenades fly back and forth and the occupiers of the Allied left fall back, CP troops manage toe hold in the trenches. Hand to hand combat ensues, but eventually we are surrounded and cut down.
I had a great time and I think the combat was really great. A lot of back and forth. Attack and counter attack. Everyone came out relatively unscathed...couple stitches at most, but all in all it was great event.
I'm sore, cut, burnt and exhausted...everything you should be after a Great War event!!
Until we meet again... Auf Wiedersehen!
Marcus
