Having started reading (both by printed book and audiobook) about the history of the AEF, I was struck by descriptions of the battle of Cantigny, 28 May 1918. Although American forces had been in action in the line before this point, this was the first coordinated offensive by American troops. Although the French provided considerable support to the attack (artillery, tanks, flamethrower teams, and air cover), the action served as the preview or dress rehearsal for AEF troops to justify Pershing's insistence that he be allowed to create American formations under American command, rather than "amalgamate" his troops into French and British formations as those armies wished him to. If Cantigny had gone badly, Pershing might not have been able to withstand that pressure.
Cantigny proved a remarkable success, however.The 28th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division stormed German defense and drove the enemy out of the town, seizing its objectives less than an hour after beginning their advance. More importantly, the doughboys held through two days of German counterattacks, retaining the ground they had captured, though at considerable cost.
Both its small size and its pivotal nature suggested to me that this might make a good subject for a game. So one of my Great War projects will be to develop a scenario for the battle, featuring the American assault and the German counterattacks, using Charles Eckhart's "Storm of Dice" adaptation of the Lardies' If the Lord Spares Us rules. With any luck, I'll be able to cozen Rich into including this in a special later in the year.
I'd also like to put together a couple of M&B scenarios featuring the early efforts of the AEF, both its very first action against the Germans at Bathlemont in November 1917 and a scenario featuring some of the fighting around Cantigny.
Not that I'm looking for an excuse to buy a Schneider tank in 28mm; no, not at all. :0)
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