Tiger Miniatures - Wargaming the Balkans

The game focused on one part of the battle. An attack by the Greeks against the main Turkish line.

The Greeks were given One regerment of Cavalry. 4 Quick firing guns and Three Brigades od Infantry each consisting of One Evzove Battalion and Three Regiments of Infantry each of 2 or 3 Battalions and HQ were given a couple of Machine gun companys.

The Turks had a Brigade of cavalry with three Regiments of horse. 3 Medium Quick firing guns and 2 Brigadeds of Infantry each of 2 regiments with 3-4 battalions each plus a Machine Gun company.

each infantry battalion had three bases of five figures and cav three bases of two figures.

The actual Battle

The Greek Army of Thessaly, under Crown Prince consisted of 6 Divisions of Infantry [the 7th Division was still forming at Larissa], a Cavalry Brigade and 4 independent Evzones battalions. Against the Greek army, the Ottomans deployed their 8th Corps under General Hasan Tahsin Pasha, with 4 divisions: the Nizam [regular] 22nd Division, 23rd Nizam Division and two reserve divisions [ Anaselich and Yanina]. The total Turkish force equaled 14 infantry battalions with further 11 in reserve, supported by 24 artillery pieces and three machine-gun companies. However, as the Turks had demobilized large parts of their army in August some Turkish formations were about 25% under strength

The Turks hoped to hold the naturally strong position of the Sarantaporon straits, which had been extensively fortified under the supervision of a German military mission before the war. The Greek army crossed the border on October 5. The 1st and 2nd Greek divisions engaged the 1,500 Turks at the frontier after a short fight and outnumbered the Turks withdrew to Sarantaporo followed by the Greek army. The Greek offensive against the Ottoman position began on 9 October, with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions attacking the Turkish main line frontally, the 4th Division attempting a flanking move to the west, in order to bypass the fortifications and hoping to occupy the Porta straits, in the rear of the Turkish positions. The 5th Division was ordered to execute an even broader flanking sweep to the west. Greek troops advanced across on open terrain under Turkish artillery fire taking many casualties, but by nightfall the three Greek divisions had established contact with the main Turkish line. The 5th Division ran into stiff resistance, but the 4th Division managed to push back the Turkish flank and to occupy its designated objective. During the night the Turks, aware they were outflanked, retreated in good order under the cover of the darkness and the heavy rain to avoid being completely encircled. Greek Army Advance the battle, although not very successful, was nonetheless of major significance to the Greeks, the Greek soldiers performed well, and the victory forcast the course of the war. The Sarantaporo straits were the only position where the numerically inferior Ottoman Turkish forces had any hope of stopping the Greek Army. Indeed, Field Marshal von der Goltz had confidently proclaimed that the straits would prove to be "the graveyard of the Greek Army".

The Wargame.

The Greeks formed up and advanced on a broad front attracting heavy artillery fire, they suffered a number of casualties, two battalions fell back taking a third with them.

Greek gunners took on the Turkish Guns in a duel, this distracted the Turks allowing the Greeks to press home an attack on the right flank, clearing the earthworks. Out flanked the Turks decided to withdraw in good order. although the Turks withdrew the Greek casualties were high and pursuit was not pushed home.