A Gallant and Efficient Fight: The Battle for hamel July 4, 1918

A Gallant and Efficient Fight: The Battle of Hamel is a wargame simulation of the first joint attack by US and Australian forces in World War I. While US forces had fought battles on their own or in conjunction with their French ally, questions still remained if any US forces would fight well in coordination with forces from the British Dominion. The US 33rd Infantry (Prairie) Division had been training with the Australian Corps. The Australian Corps was decimated earlier during the German Spring offensive, with many units at half strength. It was hoped that the Americans could fill out the ranks of the decimated Australian units, a process that could improve the novice Yanks’ performance by working closely with the Australian veterans, as well as securing a vital section of the Allied front line. By July the German Spring offensive on the Western Front had been stopped, but the Germans still held ground that needed to be taken if an Allied counter-offensive was to be launched in the coming weeks. One key location the Allies needed to take was at the heights near the town of Hamel, not far from where the Australians and US forces were located, and from which the Germans could direct artillery fire upon the key rail and road junction at Amiens. On July Fourth the Yanks and Aussies, supported by British tanks, launched an offensive to take the high ground and town. Can you do as well or better than your historical counterparts? Each turn of the game represents hour and a half of time. Each hex is approximately 250 yards across. Infantry units represent a company of men (about 250 men for the US, about 150 for the Australian and German). Each tank unit represents 3 (full strength) or 2 (reduced strength) vehicles. —description from the designer