Briefing
ST MIHIEL 1918 The First American Offensive 1. UNIT COLORS 1.1. TRIPLE ENTENTE (Allies) US Army - White on Light Green US Marines - Light Green France - White on Light Blue 1.2. CENTRAL POWERS (Germans) Germany - Light Blue on Grey 2. BACKGROUND The Kaiser's Army had held a salient around St. Mihiel since the latter part of 1914. Jutting into the Allied lines southeast of Verdun, it was a constant menace and a complication for any planned Allied offensive into Lorraine. Once the danger caused by the 1918 German Spring Offensives was past, St Mihiel presented itself to General John "Blackjack" Pershing as the ideal opportunity for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) to come into its own. Supported by 1,500 aircraft, the US First Army, comprising the IV, V and I Corps with help from the French II Colonial Corps, jumped off from the trenchlines on September 12th. The American Divisions attacked the flanks of the salient while the French forces pushed inwards from the west. The German command had decided to withdraw from the salient earlier in the month. The local commander, Fuchs, began to withdraw troops to the fortified Michel Line starting on September 4th. As a result, when the offensive began, the Germans found themselves in an awkward position and forced to fight a rearguard battle to extricate their remaining forces from the forming pocket. With their artillery and reserves mobile and out of place, the Germans were unable to effectively counterattack the initial Allied assault. By the morning of the 13th, the 1st and 26th US Divisions had met at Vigneulles, cutting the salient in half. The victory here had to be swift, as the American forces were stuck with a very tight schedule for shifting over to the Meuse-Argonne offensive once St. Mihiel was secured. By September 16th, the salient was in Allied hands and the push towards the Michel Line began. 15,000 German prisoners and 250 German guns were captured at a cost of 7,000 Allied soldiers killed and wounded. St. Mihiel was the largest American operation since the Civil War and the excellent performance of the inexperienced American First Army surprised allies and enemies alike. No sooner had the gains at St. Mihiel been consolidated than the divisions marched to participate in the costly but successful attack on Meuse-Argonne, the final offensive of World War I in France. As a side note, St. Mihiel also saw the debut of the US Tank Corps, in this case equipped with French light tanks (half of which also had French crews) and led by George S. Patton, Jr. Only four tanks were knocked out during St. Mihiel and eight tanks reached as far as the Michel line without infantry support. 3. SPECIAL EVENTS The German player will receive reinforcements on the second and third days of the battle. The German player will receive the option to use gas (look at the Theater Options) if the victory point margin goes to zero or positive in favor of the Allies. A note in the news will alert the player that the option is available. The scenario will end automatically at the end of the turn during which the Allied player takes and maintains control of all seven objective hexes outside of the Michel Line. The seven objectives are located in the following hexes: (1,13) (6,4) (5,9) (3,12) (10,9) (14,9) (11,8) If the Allied player secures the automatic scenario end before Turn 4, he receives a 5 VP bonus for early success which will make the movement of forces to the upcoming major offensive at Meuse-Argonne much easier and increase the time to prepare that attack. If the Allied player has not secured an automatic scenario end by Turn 5, the German player is awarded 5VPs. If the Allied player has not secured an automatic scenario end by Turn 6, the German player is awarded an additional 5VPs. 4. VICTORY As the German player, you will almost certainly have your flanks shattered and at least two divisions pocketed. Your goal is to avoid the annihilation of your forces and to indirectly disrupt the timetable for the later Meuse-Argonne offensive. Hold on to the victory points near St. Mihiel and Vigneulles as long as possible. Also try to hold on to the two victory locations in front of the Michel line. Strive to cause enough casualties to the Allied forces to make them ineffective for the planned Meuse-Argonne attack on the 25th. Finally, concentrate on getting your reinforcements into the fortified Michel Line and repelling any Allied attempts to break through the base of the salient. You can't afford to lose that line. As the Allied player, your goal is to strike as quickly as possible. Your efforts on the first two turns should be directed solely towards driving your flanking forces inwards until they meet and cut off as many German troops as possible. Once you have them pocketed, eliminate them quickly and push up to the Michel line. It is probably not worth your while to attack the Michel line unless you arrive before the bulk of the German reinforcements. Erik Rutins

Briefing

ST MIHIEL 1918

The First American Offensive

1. UNIT COLORS

1.1. TRIPLE ENTENTE (Allies)

US Army - White on Light Green
US Marines - Light Green
France - White on Light Blue

1.2. CENTRAL POWERS (Germans)

Germany - Light Blue on Grey

2. BACKGROUND

The Kaiser's Army had held a salient around St. Mihiel since the latter part of 1914. Jutting into the Allied lines southeast of Verdun, it was a constant menace and a complication for any planned Allied offensive into Lorraine.

Once the danger caused by the 1918 German Spring Offensives was past, St Mihiel presented itself to General John "Blackjack" Pershing as the ideal opportunity for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) to come into its own.

Supported by 1,500 aircraft, the US First Army, comprising the IV, V and I Corps with help from the French II Colonial Corps, jumped off from the trenchlines on September 12th. The American Divisions attacked the flanks of the salient while the French forces pushed inwards from the west.

The German command had decided to withdraw from the salient earlier in the month. The local commander, Fuchs, began to withdraw troops to the fortified Michel Line starting on September 4th. As a result, when the offensive began, the Germans found themselves in an awkward position and forced to fight a rearguard battle to extricate their remaining forces from the forming pocket.

With their artillery and reserves mobile and out of place, the Germans were unable to effectively counterattack the initial Allied assault. By the morning of the 13th, the 1st and 26th US Divisions had met at Vigneulles, cutting the salient in half. The victory here had to be swift, as the American forces were stuck with a very tight schedule for shifting over to the Meuse-Argonne offensive once St. Mihiel was secured.

By September 16th, the salient was in Allied hands and the push towards the Michel Line began. 15,000 German prisoners and 250 German guns were captured at a cost of 7,000 Allied soldiers killed and wounded. St. Mihiel was the largest American operation since the Civil War and the excellent performance of the inexperienced American First Army surprised allies and enemies alike.

No sooner had the gains at St. Mihiel been consolidated than the divisions marched to participate in the costly but successful attack on Meuse-Argonne, the final offensive of World War I in France.

As a side note, St. Mihiel also saw the debut of the US Tank Corps, in this case equipped with French light tanks (half of which also had French crews) and led by George S. Patton, Jr. Only four tanks were knocked out during St. Mihiel and eight tanks reached as far as the Michel line without infantry support.

3. SPECIAL EVENTS

The German player will receive reinforcements on the second and third days of the battle.
The German player will receive the option to use gas (look at the Theater Options) if the victory point margin goes to zero or positive in favor of the Allies. A note in the news will alert the player that the option is available.
The scenario will end automatically at the end of the turn during which the Allied player takes and maintains control of all seven objective hexes outside of the Michel Line. The seven objectives are located in the following hexes: (1,13) (6,4) (5,9) (3,12) (10,9) (14,9) (11,8)
If the Allied player secures the automatic scenario end before Turn 4, he receives a 5 VP bonus for early success which will make the movement of forces to the upcoming major offensive at Meuse-Argonne much easier and increase the time to prepare that attack.
If the Allied player has not secured an automatic scenario end by Turn 5, the German player is awarded 5VPs.
If the Allied player has not secured an automatic scenario end by Turn 6, the German player is awarded an additional 5VPs.

4. VICTORY

As the German player, you will almost certainly have your flanks shattered and at least two divisions pocketed. Your goal is to avoid the annihilation of your forces and to indirectly disrupt the timetable for the later Meuse-Argonne offensive.

Hold on to the victory points near St. Mihiel and Vigneulles as long as possible. Also try to hold on to the two victory locations in front of the Michel line. Strive to cause enough casualties to the Allied forces to make them ineffective for the planned Meuse-Argonne attack on the 25th. Finally, concentrate on getting your reinforcements into the fortified Michel Line and repelling any Allied attempts to break through the base of the salient. You can't afford to lose that line.

As the Allied player, your goal is to strike as quickly as possible. Your efforts on the first two turns should be directed solely towards driving your flanking forces inwards until they meet and cut off as many German troops as possible. Once you have them pocketed, eliminate them quickly and push up to the Michel line. It is probably not worth your while to attack the Michel line unless you arrive before the bulk of the German reinforcements.

Erik Rutins