Custom Scenario Name:                 SARIKAMIS
Scenario Starting Date:               December 29 ,1914
Maximum Scenario Duration:            11 turns (4days/turn)

Scenario Author:                      RhinoBones
Author's E-mail Address:              RhinoBones@aol.com
Last Scenario Revision Date:          February 4, 1999
Version 1.0



"PLAY FROM AGHEILA...2 SLOT"


Background:

Even though Russia was already embroiled in a major war with the Central Powers in Europe, on November 2nd, 1914 she found time to also declared war on Turkey.  Turkey was now firmly entrenched in the Central Powers camp.  On the surface, war with Turkey would seem imprudent at this time, however, Britain and France backed the move and to make the war more attractive, the possibility of gaining control of the Dardanelles was offered as a potential victory prize.  Russias allies, France and Britain, declared war on Turkey on November 5th, 1914.  

   The war was actually initiated by Turkey.  Earlier in August the German cruisers SMS Goeben and Breslau had bombarded French holdings in the Mediterranean evaded the pursuing British navy and were permitted to enter the Dardanelles under the protective custody of Turkish government.  Once there, the ships were conveniently sold to the Turkish government.  A show of devoted friendship by the Kaiser to his old friends in Constantinople and also as replacements for two ships which, while under construction in Britain, had been impounded by the English Ministry of War.  On October 29th the Turkish navy elected to display their maritime strength by bombarding Odessa, Sevastopol and other Russian Black Sea ports.  Declaration of war by Russia soon followed.  In retaliation of the Russian retaliation, the Sultan, as Khalif, proclaimed a Jihad against all nations waging war upon Turkey.  

   The ground war was fought primarily in the landmass separating the Black and the Caspian Seas.  Looking East from the Black Sea this area is comprised of the rugged terrains of Eastern Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Northwestern tip of Iran.  This is mountain country, no place for waging war, but fight they did.   Elevation and exposure would kill more men than the conventional weapons.

  On December 17th the Turks began an offensive directed toward Kars in Armenia.  The attack would climax in a horrific battle near the town on Sarikamis.  Temperatures in the mountains were reported to have dropped to minus 58 degrees.  Equipment froze, animals froze, the wounded froze where they fell and the survivors froze in their sleep.  The Turkish army supreme commander was one Enver Pasha, a general of the armies who excelled at moving unit markers over paper maps while neglecting to consider the actual conditions of the terrain.  Many young Turks, who would otherwise be fine soldiers, would fail and die in their mission due to the impossibility of the tasks assigned and the exhaustion imposed on them by their commander.  On the opposing side, the Russian army was commanded by the excellent general Nikolai Yudenich who was cognizant of both his armies welfare and the business of conducting war.  The battles which followed were classic Turk against Cossack affairs unhindered with the masses of machine guns and modern artillery as on other fronts; these battles were a continuation of the brutal wars of ages gone by, similar in armaments, ferocity and mentality of the fighting already taking place in the Balkans.

  The Turkish offensive advanced to Sarikamis where the Russians managed to block further advances, although the Turks were able to swing to the East and briefly capture Tabriz.  By the conclusion of the offensive, the original Turkish field army of 95,000 strong had been reduced to 18,000 souls.  77,000 casualties in less than a month of fighting, and all this happening on an isolated frontier far from the main killing fields.

  This scenario picks up the action on December 29th as the Turkish army assaults Sarikamis.

Authors Notes: This scenario is designed to be played in the solitaire mode from the Turkish side.  The scenario can be played from the Russian side, however, the AI will not provide a competitive game when playing as the Turks.  Recommend setting the Russian side AI on the Aggressive Defense setting (red computer icon) for best AI response.

  For PBM games it is recommended that the Turkish player receive a +2 in prestige.  Adjustments made to the Russian side for solitaire game balance gives the PBM Russian player a distinct defensive advantage over the Turkish player.

  There are a number of infantry units, both Turkish and Russian, assigned horse transportation.  These units represent mounted infantry, i.e. what the British would call Light Horse.  In combat these troops are best used in the dismounted mode.

Victory Conditions:

The Turkish army must hold all objectives prior to the end of the scenario.
Additional scenarios are available at:http://members.aol.com/RhinoBones/Tourney.htm




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 http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/oxford/285/tortoise.html   

