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Okay this is running. Rules: The rules are pretty lax. You must provide your own maps for this wargame. I suggest "Free Map of Balkan Peninsula 1900 from the internet Map Archive." http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/...ula%201900.htm
Right now choose your forces. The Ottoman Empire is non-playable and will be controlled by myself. (sorry) Aviable are Bulgaria
Bulgaria was militarily the most powerful of the four states, with a large, well-trained and well-equipped army.[2] Bulgaria mobilized a total of 599,878 men out of a population of 4.3 million.[3] The Bulgarian field army counted for nine infantry divisions, one cavalry division and 1,116 artillery units.[2] Commander in Chief was Tsar Ferdinand, while the actual command was in the hands of his deputy, General Michail Savov. The Bulgarians also possessed a small navy of six torpedo boats, which were restricted to operations along the country's Black Sea coast.[16]
Bulgaria's war aims were focused on Thrace and Macedonia. It deployed its main force in Thrace, forming three armies. The First Army (79,370 men), under general Vasil Kutinchev with three infantry divisions, was deployed to the south of Yambol, with direction of operations along the Tundzha river. The Second Army (122,748 men), under general Nikola Ivanov, with two infantry divisions and one infantry brigade, was deployed west of the First and was assigned to capture the strong fortress of Adrianople (Edirne). According to the plans, the Third Army (94,884 men), under general Radko Dimitriev, was deployed east of and behind the First, and was covered by the cavalry division hiding it from the Turkish view. The Third Army had three infantry divisions and was assigned to cross the Stranja mountain and to take the fortress of Kirk Kilisse. The 2nd (49,180) and 7th (48,523 men) divisions were assigned independent roles, operating in Western Thrace and eastern Macedonia respectively.
Serbia
Further information: Order of battle of the Serbian Army in the First Balkan War
Serbia called upon about 255,000 men (out of a population of 2,912,000 people) with about 228 guns, grouped in 10 infantry divisions, two independent brigades and a cavalry division, under the effective command of former War Minister Radomir Putnik.[3] The Serbian High Command, in its pre-war wargames, had concluded that the likeliest site of the decisive battle against the Ottoman Vardar Army would be on the Ovče Pole plateau, before Skopje. Hence, the main forces were formed in three armies for the advance towards Skopje, while a division and an independent brigade were to cooperate with the Montenegrins in the Sanjak of Novi Pazar.
The First Army (132,000 men) was commanded by General Petar Bojović, and was the strongest in number and force, forming the center of the drive towards Skopje. The Second Army (74,000 men) was commanded by General Stepa Stepanović, and consisted of one Serbian and one Bulgarian (7th Rila) division. It formed the left wing of the Army and advanced towards Stracin. The inclusion of a Bulgarian division was according to a pre-war arrangement between Serbian and Bulgarian armies, but that division ceased to obey orders of Gen. Stepanović as soon as the war began, followed only the orders of the Bulgarian High Command. The Third Army (76,000 men) was commanded by General Božidar Janković and, being the right-wing army, had the task to liberate Kosovo and then join the other armies in the expected battle at the Ovče Polje. There were also two other concentrations in northwestern Serbia across the Serbo-Austrohungarian borders, the Ibar Army (25,000 men) under General Mihail Zhivkovich and the Javor brigade (12,000 men) under Lt Colonel Milovoje Anđelković.
Greece
Further information: Order of battle of the Hellenic Army in the First Balkan War
Greece, a state of 2,666,000 people,[4] was considered the weakest of the three main allies, since it fielded the smallest army and had suffered an easy defeat against the Ottomans 16 years before in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897. In the words of a British consular dispatch from 1910, "if there is war we shall probably see that the only thing Greek officers can do besides talking is to run away".[17] However Greece had a strong navy, which was vital to the League, as it could prevent Ottoman reinforcements from being rapidly transferred by ship from Asia to Europe. This fact was readily appreciated by the Serbs and Bulgarians, and was the chief factor in initiating the process of Greece's inclusion in their alliance.[18] As the Greek ambassador to Sofia put it during the subsequent negotiations that led to Greece's entry in the League: "Greece can provide 600,000 men for the war effort. 200,000 men in the field, and the fleet will be able to stop 400,000 men being landed by Turkey between Salonica and Gallipoli."[16]
The army was still undergoing reorganization by a French military mission when the war began. Under its supervision, the Greeks had adopted the triangular infantry division as their main formation, but more importantly, the reorganization allowed the country to field and equip a far greater number of troops than it had in 1897: while foreign observers estimated a mobilized force of approximately 50,000 men, the Greek Army fielded 125,000, with another 140,000 in the National Guard and reserves.[4][17] Upon mobilization, this force was grouped in two field armies. The Army of Thessaly (Στρατιά Θεσσαλίας) was placed under Crown Prince Constantine, with Lt Gen Panagiotis Danglis as his chief of staff, but the real organizational and strategic mind behind the scene was Major (later General) Ioannis Metaxas. It fielded seven infantry divisions, a cavalry regiment and four independent Evzones battalions, roughly 100,000 men. It was expected to overcome the fortified Ottoman border positions and advance towards south and central Macedonia, aiming to take Thessaloniki and Bitola.
Further 10,000 to 13,000 men in eight battalions were assigned to the Army of Epirus (Στρατιά Ηπείρου) under Lt Gen Konstantinos Sapountzakis, which was intended to advance into Epirus. As it had no hope of capturing its heavily fortified capital, Ioannina, its initial mission was simply to pin down the Ottoman forces there until sufficient reinforcements could be sent from the Army of Thessaly after its successful conclusion of operations.
The Greeks had a relatively modern navy, strengthened by the purchase of numerous new units and undergoing reforms under the supervision of a British mission. The mission, invited by Prime Minister Venizelos in 1910, began its work upon its arrival in May 1911. Granted extraordinary powers and under the energetic leadership of Vice Admiral Lionel Grand Tufnell, it thoroughly reorganized the Navy Ministry and dramatically improved the number and quality of exercises in gunnery and fleet maneuvres.[19] In 1912, the core unit of the fleet was the fast armoured cruiser Averof, completed in 1910 and at that time the most modern and fast of any other battleship in the combatant navies.[20] It served along with the three rather antiquated battleships of the Hydra class. There were also eight destroyers built in 1906–1907, and six new destroyers that were hastily bought in summer 1912 as the imminence of war became apparent.[19]
However, at the outbreak of the war, the Greek fleet was still far from ready. In terms of number of ships, speed of the main surface units and, more importantly, in the number and caliber of the ship's guns, the Ottomans had a clear advantage.[21] In addition, the war caught the fleet in the middle of its expansion and reorganization. As a result, fully a third of the fleet (the six new destroyers and the submarine Delfin) only reached Greece after hostilities had started, necessitating a reshuffling of crews. Coal stockpiles and other war stores were in short supply, while the Averof herself had arrived with barely any ammunition, and would remain so until late November.[22]
Montenegro did not have a regular army. Their armed forces were a kind of militia organised on a tribal basis, with the chiefs of the tribes as their officers. The have about 40-45,000 rifle men. These guys are pretty much the Scotts of the Balkans and will almost never surrender. They lack just about everything to fight a modern war. They do not need supply lines as they can live off the country. However if their morale droppes they will desert in droves. Think of it like Geo. Washington commanding the infant American Army. When you win you get recruits, when you lose people desert. Who ever has these guys will really have to work to keep them under controll and fighting. (all of this except Montenegro was taken from wikipedia)
Right now choose your forces. The Ottoman Empire is non-playable and will be controlled by myself. (sorry) Aviable are Bulgaria
Bulgaria was militarily the most powerful of the four states, with a large, well-trained and well-equipped army.[2] Bulgaria mobilized a total of 599,878 men out of a population of 4.3 million.[3] The Bulgarian field army counted for nine infantry divisions, one cavalry division and 1,116 artillery units.[2] Commander in Chief was Tsar Ferdinand, while the actual command was in the hands of his deputy, General Michail Savov. The Bulgarians also possessed a small navy of six torpedo boats, which were restricted to operations along the country's Black Sea coast.[16]
Bulgaria's war aims were focused on Thrace and Macedonia. It deployed its main force in Thrace, forming three armies. The First Army (79,370 men), under general Vasil Kutinchev with three infantry divisions, was deployed to the south of Yambol, with direction of operations along the Tundzha river. The Second Army (122,748 men), under general Nikola Ivanov, with two infantry divisions and one infantry brigade, was deployed west of the First and was assigned to capture the strong fortress of Adrianople (Edirne). According to the plans, the Third Army (94,884 men), under general Radko Dimitriev, was deployed east of and behind the First, and was covered by the cavalry division hiding it from the Turkish view. The Third Army had three infantry divisions and was assigned to cross the Stranja mountain and to take the fortress of Kirk Kilisse. The 2nd (49,180) and 7th (48,523 men) divisions were assigned independent roles, operating in Western Thrace and eastern Macedonia respectively.
Serbia
Further information: Order of battle of the Serbian Army in the First Balkan War
Serbia called upon about 255,000 men (out of a population of 2,912,000 people) with about 228 guns, grouped in 10 infantry divisions, two independent brigades and a cavalry division, under the effective command of former War Minister Radomir Putnik.[3] The Serbian High Command, in its pre-war wargames, had concluded that the likeliest site of the decisive battle against the Ottoman Vardar Army would be on the Ovče Pole plateau, before Skopje. Hence, the main forces were formed in three armies for the advance towards Skopje, while a division and an independent brigade were to cooperate with the Montenegrins in the Sanjak of Novi Pazar.
The First Army (132,000 men) was commanded by General Petar Bojović, and was the strongest in number and force, forming the center of the drive towards Skopje. The Second Army (74,000 men) was commanded by General Stepa Stepanović, and consisted of one Serbian and one Bulgarian (7th Rila) division. It formed the left wing of the Army and advanced towards Stracin. The inclusion of a Bulgarian division was according to a pre-war arrangement between Serbian and Bulgarian armies, but that division ceased to obey orders of Gen. Stepanović as soon as the war began, followed only the orders of the Bulgarian High Command. The Third Army (76,000 men) was commanded by General Božidar Janković and, being the right-wing army, had the task to liberate Kosovo and then join the other armies in the expected battle at the Ovče Polje. There were also two other concentrations in northwestern Serbia across the Serbo-Austrohungarian borders, the Ibar Army (25,000 men) under General Mihail Zhivkovich and the Javor brigade (12,000 men) under Lt Colonel Milovoje Anđelković.
Greece
Further information: Order of battle of the Hellenic Army in the First Balkan War
Greece, a state of 2,666,000 people,[4] was considered the weakest of the three main allies, since it fielded the smallest army and had suffered an easy defeat against the Ottomans 16 years before in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897. In the words of a British consular dispatch from 1910, "if there is war we shall probably see that the only thing Greek officers can do besides talking is to run away".[17] However Greece had a strong navy, which was vital to the League, as it could prevent Ottoman reinforcements from being rapidly transferred by ship from Asia to Europe. This fact was readily appreciated by the Serbs and Bulgarians, and was the chief factor in initiating the process of Greece's inclusion in their alliance.[18] As the Greek ambassador to Sofia put it during the subsequent negotiations that led to Greece's entry in the League: "Greece can provide 600,000 men for the war effort. 200,000 men in the field, and the fleet will be able to stop 400,000 men being landed by Turkey between Salonica and Gallipoli."[16]
The army was still undergoing reorganization by a French military mission when the war began. Under its supervision, the Greeks had adopted the triangular infantry division as their main formation, but more importantly, the reorganization allowed the country to field and equip a far greater number of troops than it had in 1897: while foreign observers estimated a mobilized force of approximately 50,000 men, the Greek Army fielded 125,000, with another 140,000 in the National Guard and reserves.[4][17] Upon mobilization, this force was grouped in two field armies. The Army of Thessaly (Στρατιά Θεσσαλίας) was placed under Crown Prince Constantine, with Lt Gen Panagiotis Danglis as his chief of staff, but the real organizational and strategic mind behind the scene was Major (later General) Ioannis Metaxas. It fielded seven infantry divisions, a cavalry regiment and four independent Evzones battalions, roughly 100,000 men. It was expected to overcome the fortified Ottoman border positions and advance towards south and central Macedonia, aiming to take Thessaloniki and Bitola.
Further 10,000 to 13,000 men in eight battalions were assigned to the Army of Epirus (Στρατιά Ηπείρου) under Lt Gen Konstantinos Sapountzakis, which was intended to advance into Epirus. As it had no hope of capturing its heavily fortified capital, Ioannina, its initial mission was simply to pin down the Ottoman forces there until sufficient reinforcements could be sent from the Army of Thessaly after its successful conclusion of operations.
The Greeks had a relatively modern navy, strengthened by the purchase of numerous new units and undergoing reforms under the supervision of a British mission. The mission, invited by Prime Minister Venizelos in 1910, began its work upon its arrival in May 1911. Granted extraordinary powers and under the energetic leadership of Vice Admiral Lionel Grand Tufnell, it thoroughly reorganized the Navy Ministry and dramatically improved the number and quality of exercises in gunnery and fleet maneuvres.[19] In 1912, the core unit of the fleet was the fast armoured cruiser Averof, completed in 1910 and at that time the most modern and fast of any other battleship in the combatant navies.[20] It served along with the three rather antiquated battleships of the Hydra class. There were also eight destroyers built in 1906–1907, and six new destroyers that were hastily bought in summer 1912 as the imminence of war became apparent.[19]
However, at the outbreak of the war, the Greek fleet was still far from ready. In terms of number of ships, speed of the main surface units and, more importantly, in the number and caliber of the ship's guns, the Ottomans had a clear advantage.[21] In addition, the war caught the fleet in the middle of its expansion and reorganization. As a result, fully a third of the fleet (the six new destroyers and the submarine Delfin) only reached Greece after hostilities had started, necessitating a reshuffling of crews. Coal stockpiles and other war stores were in short supply, while the Averof herself had arrived with barely any ammunition, and would remain so until late November.[22]
Montenegro did not have a regular army. Their armed forces were a kind of militia organised on a tribal basis, with the chiefs of the tribes as their officers. The have about 40-45,000 rifle men. These guys are pretty much the Scotts of the Balkans and will almost never surrender. They lack just about everything to fight a modern war. They do not need supply lines as they can live off the country. However if their morale droppes they will desert in droves. Think of it like Geo. Washington commanding the infant American Army. When you win you get recruits, when you lose people desert. Who ever has these guys will really have to work to keep them under controll and fighting. (all of this except Montenegro was taken from wikipedia)
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