Fao - 1914

A lot can change in a hundred years, but one thing is for certain, not much has been done to improve the land along the Shatt-al-Arab waterway. It is still extremely poor and the soil is soft. This was not always the case, this was considered a fertile area up until the 1700s.  (Sorry but I cannot find the source for the date. I know I read it recently but it is lost from me for now.) A simple look on Google Earth shows much of the land barely above sea level.  In places it is difficult to determine the coastline. What makes this battlefield incredibly difficult to travel over, besides the weather, insects and mirages, is that the melting of the snow cape up north easily floods the soft ground. The issues I find in 1914 are still relevant today. The infrastructure is not in place and there is no government directive to set it up.

The Iraqi city of Basra is cut off from any land approach during the flood season of March thru May. Unfortunately for any invading army this is also the coolest weather for campaigning.

Small dams of built up earth and clay hold back the waters. If broken the yellow soil becomes a quagmire halting all wheeled traffic and slows both the hoof and foot. Units can become cut off from each other if flooding occurs. These dams were little maintained in 1914 and in 2014 they still are a problem

While a rail line was discussed from Baghdad to Basra, the engineering issues halted the design. (This part of Iraq/Iran has continues to be under developed. ) This was to come back to haunt both the Turks and the British during this campaign.

The route of advance and logistics would be maintained by the waterways, and the Royal Navy and the IEF D did not bring along enough boats. The reports from the officers in charge do not think  the lack of boats or other logistic items are a concern. The IEF D also needed more than the two companies of engineers for this operation. Losses will be heavy because of these over sites.

Landing Craft WWI Style

I am pleased that my funk with painting is over, or so I hope. Was able today to go through the terrain and boats for the landing at Fao on the way to Baghdad.  On the bench are six whalers.

What I find interesting is that 70 years ago this week the Allies landed on the Normandy coast with very specialized craft. They brought LCT, LCT (R), LCVP, LCA, LCI (L), Sherman DD and many others. Yet thirty years earlier the British Empire had only barges and whaleboats.

Even as late as the late 1930s naval technology was closer to the technology of the First World War than the second. This might explain the difficulty with the planning of Operation Sealion. Today we look at the idea of using Rhine canal barges as laughable. Well that was the level of technology at the time. It took the Allies three plus years to get it right. The Germans never stood a chance.

So what does a gamer do? Well the whaleboat and its cousin are easy to find. Mine are closer to the ear of pirates than the Normandy beaches but I am fine with the look. You can also scratch build a steamer to take the place of the SS River Clyde for the Cape Helles. That is my plan at least.

YouTube

Another resource that I love to use in a research projects are the videos on YouTube. YouTube is great for newsreels and period videos. In this case it is for a less academic and more nuanced view of history.

Mesopotamian Campaign 1914

What is up next, as it is 2014 I think it is time to start the Mesopotamian Campaign. I have four plus years to get the British Empire forces in miniature from Shatt-al-Arab to, I don’t know, Anatolia, or the Russian forces. I will settle for Baghdad.

For 2014 the games will be:

• HM ships "Espiegle" and "Dalhousie" entered the Shatt-al-Arab and moved to Muhammerah (29 September 1914)
• British offensive began with the naval force bombarding the old fort at Fao (6 November 1914)
• The capture of Basra (21 November 1914)
• The capture of Qurna (3 - 19 December 1914)

I see three possible games and a handful of raids. Rules will be If the Lord Spares Us and Through the Mud and the Blood with the possible addition of some aerial combat using Algernon.

And all I need is a fort, or at least a picture of the Fao Fort.

Stay tuned.