Overview

Bloodbath at the Sakarya simulates the horrific, turning-point battle in the Greek attack toward Ankara in August 1921, during the Greco-Turkish War. The Greek Army had been unstoppable up to this point, and the Turks were falling back to their last-stand defenses in the hills just across the Sakarya River. The game is a two-player operational wargame covering this critical engagement that determined the fate of the Turkish Republic.

Components

• Hex-grid game map of the Sakarya River area
• Die-cut counter sheets with Greek and Turkish military units
• Rules booklet
• Combat Results Table
• Terrain Effects Chart
• Turn Record Track
• Dice

Setup

Players set up units according to the scenario deployment chart. Greek forces are placed in their attacking positions east of the Sakarya River. Turkish defensive forces are deployed along the hills and river line west of the advance. The Turn Record marker is placed at the start.

Turn Structure

Each Game-Turn represents a period of the battle:

1. First Player Movement Phase: Move units per movement allowances.
2. First Player Combat Phase: Resolve attacks using the CRT.
3. Second Player Movement Phase: Move units.
4. Second Player Combat Phase: Resolve attacks.
5. End Phase: Advance turn marker, check victory conditions.

Actions

• Movement: Units move across the hex grid with terrain-modified costs. The Sakarya River and surrounding hills create significant terrain challenges.
• Combat: Odds-based combat resolution using the CRT. Attackers total strength versus defender strength, modified by terrain and other factors.
• River Crossing: Crossing the Sakarya River is a major obstacle, with significant combat penalties for attacking across it.
• Reinforcements: Both sides may receive reinforcements on scheduled turns.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

The Greek player wins by capturing key Turkish positions and breaking through the defensive line toward Ankara. The Turkish player wins by holding the defensive positions and repelling the Greek advance, historically leading to the collapse of the Greek campaign.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• River Defense: The Sakarya River provides the Turkish player with a major defensive advantage. Greek forces attempting to cross suffer significant penalties.
• Supply Lines: Extended Greek supply lines may become vulnerable, reflecting the historical logistics problems that plagued the Greek advance.
• Turkish Last Stand: The Turkish defensive position represents their final line before Ankara. Loss of key positions has cascading effects on morale and combat effectiveness.
• Historical Outcome: The battle was one of the longest pitched battles in history (lasting 21 days) and resulted in a decisive Turkish victory that turned the tide of the war.

Player Reference

Side	Objective	Starting Position
Greek	Break through to Ankara	East of Sakarya River
Turkish	Defend river line	West bank hills

Key Terrain	Effect
Sakarya River	Major defensive barrier
Hills	Defender advantage
Roads	Improved movement