=FC=Gorgon
Minister of Propaganda
Hi Folks,
Finished the Ozerekya Breakout CG the other day and here is my AAR. Unlike previous CG AARs I've submitted, I waited until completing the CG before submitting anything. I thought by doing this I could speak freely about my thoughts and tactics. Also, we are not the fastest players in the world and this method allows the whole AAR to come out at roughly the same time.
To keep things somewhat accurate, I would take notes during each session and then add the write up either that night or the next day, so things would be fresh in my mind. Hopefully you can see my thought process along the way. I plan to post 1 CG day every other day or so. I hope y'all like it and that people thinking on playing this great CG get some use of the AAR.
2015-11-06:
Since I'm sort of stuck at home with a baby, Guy Miller and I have been getting in some ASL action here and there on VASL. We were looking for a new game and we both love CGs so we decided that was the next thing to do. I own all of Lone Canuck CGs but have only played Purple Heart Draw so Ozerekya Breakout was next on the list. We randomly determine sides and I got the attacking Soviets while Guy gets the defending Romanians/Germans.
This looks like a fun CG with 8 CG dates (1943-02-04 to 1943-02-08 with AM and PM dates for each day. No night scenarios). For those not familiar with OzB, the Soviets are attacking with naval infantry (aka 527 marines 458-426 marines). A few Guns are available but the only armor are Lend-lease Stuarts (and not that many of them). The Soviets also gets some NOBA and air power. The Axis are mostly Romanian infantry with a smattering of Germans infantry after the 1st 2 CG dates. All armor is also German (PzII, PzIII and Marder). They also get OBA and air power (dogfights!).
I know I'm being biased here, but this looks tough on the Soviets (ROAR has it 1-1). True there are 8 dates, but the Soviets don't have a whole lot of AT weapons and the Axis can have a total of 24 AFVs. And the last 4 dates the Soviets are under Ammo shortage. But most of the map needs to be captured by the 8th CG day for the Soviets to win; unless there are horrendous casualties for the Axis. But in the Soviets favor, the Axis infantry are fairly week as they are mostly Romanians. I am thinking I need to move pretty fast and move up the map as quickly as possible. I will use reinforcements to mop up areas I had to bypass. I will try to conserve my armor to help fight off German armor but I do plan to use a lot in the first CG day. The Axis can buy a lot of fortifications and get 45 FP of AP minefields (at minimum) on the first day, so I expect a lot of searching. Yes, that slows things down but I will need to find a happy medium in there somewhere.
Initial Plan:
The middle of the map looks like suicide with a ton of open ground. The right (east) flank is also tough as you need to go around the turn marker to get up there and are exposed. The conservative plan of attack is on the left (west) flank, west of the stream which runs north-south up the I-K hex rows.
My starting OB includes a Naval SMG Coy (527s), a 180mm NOBA mission and a platoon of Stuarts. I buy a Naval infantry coy (447s), another platoon of Stuarts, another 180mm NOBA mission and a HW platoon which nets a 82mm MTR, 2 MOL-Ps (w/ 228s) and 2xMMGs (with half squads).
I line up the 527s to approach the woods on the west flank. I don't need range to fight in the woods. The 447s will also be on the west flank, but closer to the road and stream. Two Stuarts, with 527 riders, will move up the stream as far as they can. Hopefully they can cause some mischief and break route paths at least and take territory in the Axis backfield at best. The 82mm and 50mm MTRs will go in the middle to provide SMOKE and covering fire. The MMGs will also go in the middle to provide covering fire. The 2 MOL-Ps and their crews will slowly move up the east flank, taking whatever territory they can and maybe starting some fires if they have to shoot back. The remaining 3 Stuarts (1 Stuart platoon was depleted) will also be in the middle initially to provide some armored assault cover to get my support units into position.
1943-02-04 AM:
The NOBA missions come down slightly off target to the north. One was on the west flank and the other in the middle. I roll high but do manage to break 2 squads and pin a leader. Some shellholes are created and I do 'clear' 2 hexes so I know there are no mines there. The Soviets get on board safely with just about everyone staying concealed and safe. Already I can see that Guy has pillboxes covering the middle and they are surrounded by 'known' minefields. Glad I didn't decide on the suicidal frontal attack. Guy bought at least 1 OBA module as an offboard directed spotting round comes down on a Stuart but is way inaccurate. Bad news happens as a Stuart boxcars an AP shot at pillbox effectively causing a mission kill there. The way we read the rules, if an AFV is recalled it is not leaving the map voluntarily and thus would be eliminated. In most cases, it would make more sense to not repair or leave voluntarily and try to repair in the Consolidation phase.
In Axis 1, the OBA corrects and converts right on top of the 82mm MTR but luckily the 228 survives the 1MC. A 47mm AT gun is revealed on the east flank and it shoots at a Stuart to miss, but that Stuart is in a bad position. The last gasp of the NOBA again rolls high and only causes a flame while battle hardening a Romanian 347 to a 447. My poorly positioned Stuart fires back for a miss.
Soviet 2:
Guy rallies 2 squads in the west flank backfield. My plan is to fire some SMOKE from the 82mm and do a Human Wave from the 447s to move up quickly. The 82mm had really good odds but rolls a '9' to realize he left the SMOKE rounds back in the ships. The poorly positioned Stuart decides it's fight or die, but he too left the ammo in the ships (boxcars). So 2 of my 5 Stuarts have broken MA and it's only turn 2 (and not low ammo yet). The MMG stack does manage to break a 347 which was the target of my SMOKE shot so I think I can do the Human Wave anyway.
For movement, the 527s move cautiously into the western woods as I want to keep concealment and start searching for the many minefields I expect next turn. I go ahead with the human wave and it turns out my target was dummies! So all 6 units move up quite a bit safely and the H32 bridge is captured. The Stuarts with riders in the stream also move up and unload. I hope to use those 2 527s to take out a pillbox next turn. The MOL-P boys get onto the eastern hill but not far as I'm trying to keep them concealed and they are way outnumbered so I don't want to appear 'threatening'. Just crawl forward quietly. DF is quiet except in the middle where the Axis OBA (75mm BTW) breaks the 82mm crew and the 47mm AT burns the poorly positioned Stuart. I sort of make up for it by capturing a 347 in the Route phase and get into position to attack a pillbox and keep moving north in the western woods.
For movement, the 527s move cautiously into the western woods as I want to keep concealment and start searching for the many minefields I expect next turn. I go ahead with the human wave and it turns out my target was dummies! So all 6 units move up quite a bit safely and the H32 bridge is captured. The Stuarts with riders in the stream also move up and unload. I hope to use those 2 527s to take out a pillbox next turn. The MOL-P boys get onto the eastern hill but not far as I'm trying to keep them concealed and they are way outnumbered so I don't want to appear 'threatening'. Just crawl forward quietly. DF is quiet except in the middle where the Axis OBA (75mm BTW) breaks the 82mm crew and the 47mm AT burns the poorly positioned Stuart. I sort of make up for it by capturing a 347 in the Route phase and get into position to attack a pillbox and keep moving north in the western woods.
The initial moves went better than I expected. I am worried that my plan was obvious and would get really shot up early on. But then again I am just now reaching the row where the Axis can setup so now I really have to worry about mines and HIP units so the slog really begins here. But Guy seems to have been worried about a middle or eastern attack based on where the pillboxes and known mines are (though they could be dummy minefields). But, his visible forces seem light so I bet there are some HIP units in the western woods. The good news is that I got the majority of my infantry there so I should be able to roll over them eventually. I need to dig some foxholes too to help with a perimeter.
Note, I HIP white blank counters to remind me of TACs I want to take and HIP green blank counters as areas that have been 'searched'.
(image http://www.komerex.com/asl/images/OzB/TM1-1-EndofR2.jpg)
2015-11-13:
The pesky 47mm AT Gun in T28 is at it again as he rolls snakes in Prep (after drawing a red card for the OBA) to burn the other Stuart with a broken MA (and he was Hull Down too!). At least I don't have to worry about fixing the MA. The 2nd 47mm AT Gun is revealed in L29 but he's bugging out and gets pushed northward. The Romanian infantry starts to consolidate in the west and middle in blocking formations. I make careful note of where he moves to keep track of where minefields are not.
My DF is ineffective and just manages to kill a Dummy stack in the western woods. Nothing special in AF or Route so Axis 2 is over.
Soviet 3 I manage to rally the 82mm MTR crew now that he's no longer under OBA fire but Guy battle hardens another 1st line squad to elite. Sure, I break him, but they come back better! I dig some foxholes in Prep and continue to hit the pesky 47mm AT gun for NE (2FP+2). My MMG nest does manage to pin a 347/LMG in the K30 PB which is great because I am in prime position to jump it in CC with 2 concealed marines (527s).
I search like crazy in the western woods since I am now getting into the Axis setup area and low and behold, I find a minefield 'wall' blocking off the west board edge. I really shouldn't be surprised by that move. I start to work around and find a HIP 347/LMG in a foxhole in E27 which KIAs a 447 who was searching in the area. Luckily I am able to break him in AF with a decent firegroup. I capture more TLs in the south and the MOL units out east creep north and eastward. So far not much movement from the Axis over there so I am expecting another minefield wall. If I can, I will search for that, after digging a foxhole or two, just so I know where it is.
I am able to creep most of the 447s around the E29/F29 clearing along a scouted safe area. It's slow going but I don't want to lose units needlessly to mines and if I can capture the woods this CG day I'll be happy. I jump the K30 PB and ambush him killing a 347/LMG and taking the PB.
Guy does end OBA back in DF and puts a SR near my MMG nest so I need to watch out for that.
Finished the Ozerekya Breakout CG the other day and here is my AAR. Unlike previous CG AARs I've submitted, I waited until completing the CG before submitting anything. I thought by doing this I could speak freely about my thoughts and tactics. Also, we are not the fastest players in the world and this method allows the whole AAR to come out at roughly the same time.
To keep things somewhat accurate, I would take notes during each session and then add the write up either that night or the next day, so things would be fresh in my mind. Hopefully you can see my thought process along the way. I plan to post 1 CG day every other day or so. I hope y'all like it and that people thinking on playing this great CG get some use of the AAR.
2015-11-06:
Since I'm sort of stuck at home with a baby, Guy Miller and I have been getting in some ASL action here and there on VASL. We were looking for a new game and we both love CGs so we decided that was the next thing to do. I own all of Lone Canuck CGs but have only played Purple Heart Draw so Ozerekya Breakout was next on the list. We randomly determine sides and I got the attacking Soviets while Guy gets the defending Romanians/Germans.
This looks like a fun CG with 8 CG dates (1943-02-04 to 1943-02-08 with AM and PM dates for each day. No night scenarios). For those not familiar with OzB, the Soviets are attacking with naval infantry (aka 527 marines 458-426 marines). A few Guns are available but the only armor are Lend-lease Stuarts (and not that many of them). The Soviets also gets some NOBA and air power. The Axis are mostly Romanian infantry with a smattering of Germans infantry after the 1st 2 CG dates. All armor is also German (PzII, PzIII and Marder). They also get OBA and air power (dogfights!).
I know I'm being biased here, but this looks tough on the Soviets (ROAR has it 1-1). True there are 8 dates, but the Soviets don't have a whole lot of AT weapons and the Axis can have a total of 24 AFVs. And the last 4 dates the Soviets are under Ammo shortage. But most of the map needs to be captured by the 8th CG day for the Soviets to win; unless there are horrendous casualties for the Axis. But in the Soviets favor, the Axis infantry are fairly week as they are mostly Romanians. I am thinking I need to move pretty fast and move up the map as quickly as possible. I will use reinforcements to mop up areas I had to bypass. I will try to conserve my armor to help fight off German armor but I do plan to use a lot in the first CG day. The Axis can buy a lot of fortifications and get 45 FP of AP minefields (at minimum) on the first day, so I expect a lot of searching. Yes, that slows things down but I will need to find a happy medium in there somewhere.
Initial Plan:
The middle of the map looks like suicide with a ton of open ground. The right (east) flank is also tough as you need to go around the turn marker to get up there and are exposed. The conservative plan of attack is on the left (west) flank, west of the stream which runs north-south up the I-K hex rows.
My starting OB includes a Naval SMG Coy (527s), a 180mm NOBA mission and a platoon of Stuarts. I buy a Naval infantry coy (447s), another platoon of Stuarts, another 180mm NOBA mission and a HW platoon which nets a 82mm MTR, 2 MOL-Ps (w/ 228s) and 2xMMGs (with half squads).
I line up the 527s to approach the woods on the west flank. I don't need range to fight in the woods. The 447s will also be on the west flank, but closer to the road and stream. Two Stuarts, with 527 riders, will move up the stream as far as they can. Hopefully they can cause some mischief and break route paths at least and take territory in the Axis backfield at best. The 82mm and 50mm MTRs will go in the middle to provide SMOKE and covering fire. The MMGs will also go in the middle to provide covering fire. The 2 MOL-Ps and their crews will slowly move up the east flank, taking whatever territory they can and maybe starting some fires if they have to shoot back. The remaining 3 Stuarts (1 Stuart platoon was depleted) will also be in the middle initially to provide some armored assault cover to get my support units into position.
1943-02-04 AM:
The NOBA missions come down slightly off target to the north. One was on the west flank and the other in the middle. I roll high but do manage to break 2 squads and pin a leader. Some shellholes are created and I do 'clear' 2 hexes so I know there are no mines there. The Soviets get on board safely with just about everyone staying concealed and safe. Already I can see that Guy has pillboxes covering the middle and they are surrounded by 'known' minefields. Glad I didn't decide on the suicidal frontal attack. Guy bought at least 1 OBA module as an offboard directed spotting round comes down on a Stuart but is way inaccurate. Bad news happens as a Stuart boxcars an AP shot at pillbox effectively causing a mission kill there. The way we read the rules, if an AFV is recalled it is not leaving the map voluntarily and thus would be eliminated. In most cases, it would make more sense to not repair or leave voluntarily and try to repair in the Consolidation phase.
In Axis 1, the OBA corrects and converts right on top of the 82mm MTR but luckily the 228 survives the 1MC. A 47mm AT gun is revealed on the east flank and it shoots at a Stuart to miss, but that Stuart is in a bad position. The last gasp of the NOBA again rolls high and only causes a flame while battle hardening a Romanian 347 to a 447. My poorly positioned Stuart fires back for a miss.
Soviet 2:
Guy rallies 2 squads in the west flank backfield. My plan is to fire some SMOKE from the 82mm and do a Human Wave from the 447s to move up quickly. The 82mm had really good odds but rolls a '9' to realize he left the SMOKE rounds back in the ships. The poorly positioned Stuart decides it's fight or die, but he too left the ammo in the ships (boxcars). So 2 of my 5 Stuarts have broken MA and it's only turn 2 (and not low ammo yet). The MMG stack does manage to break a 347 which was the target of my SMOKE shot so I think I can do the Human Wave anyway.
For movement, the 527s move cautiously into the western woods as I want to keep concealment and start searching for the many minefields I expect next turn. I go ahead with the human wave and it turns out my target was dummies! So all 6 units move up quite a bit safely and the H32 bridge is captured. The Stuarts with riders in the stream also move up and unload. I hope to use those 2 527s to take out a pillbox next turn. The MOL-P boys get onto the eastern hill but not far as I'm trying to keep them concealed and they are way outnumbered so I don't want to appear 'threatening'. Just crawl forward quietly. DF is quiet except in the middle where the Axis OBA (75mm BTW) breaks the 82mm crew and the 47mm AT burns the poorly positioned Stuart. I sort of make up for it by capturing a 347 in the Route phase and get into position to attack a pillbox and keep moving north in the western woods.
For movement, the 527s move cautiously into the western woods as I want to keep concealment and start searching for the many minefields I expect next turn. I go ahead with the human wave and it turns out my target was dummies! So all 6 units move up quite a bit safely and the H32 bridge is captured. The Stuarts with riders in the stream also move up and unload. I hope to use those 2 527s to take out a pillbox next turn. The MOL-P boys get onto the eastern hill but not far as I'm trying to keep them concealed and they are way outnumbered so I don't want to appear 'threatening'. Just crawl forward quietly. DF is quiet except in the middle where the Axis OBA (75mm BTW) breaks the 82mm crew and the 47mm AT burns the poorly positioned Stuart. I sort of make up for it by capturing a 347 in the Route phase and get into position to attack a pillbox and keep moving north in the western woods.
The initial moves went better than I expected. I am worried that my plan was obvious and would get really shot up early on. But then again I am just now reaching the row where the Axis can setup so now I really have to worry about mines and HIP units so the slog really begins here. But Guy seems to have been worried about a middle or eastern attack based on where the pillboxes and known mines are (though they could be dummy minefields). But, his visible forces seem light so I bet there are some HIP units in the western woods. The good news is that I got the majority of my infantry there so I should be able to roll over them eventually. I need to dig some foxholes too to help with a perimeter.
Note, I HIP white blank counters to remind me of TACs I want to take and HIP green blank counters as areas that have been 'searched'.
(image http://www.komerex.com/asl/images/OzB/TM1-1-EndofR2.jpg)
2015-11-13:
The pesky 47mm AT Gun in T28 is at it again as he rolls snakes in Prep (after drawing a red card for the OBA) to burn the other Stuart with a broken MA (and he was Hull Down too!). At least I don't have to worry about fixing the MA. The 2nd 47mm AT Gun is revealed in L29 but he's bugging out and gets pushed northward. The Romanian infantry starts to consolidate in the west and middle in blocking formations. I make careful note of where he moves to keep track of where minefields are not.
My DF is ineffective and just manages to kill a Dummy stack in the western woods. Nothing special in AF or Route so Axis 2 is over.
Soviet 3 I manage to rally the 82mm MTR crew now that he's no longer under OBA fire but Guy battle hardens another 1st line squad to elite. Sure, I break him, but they come back better! I dig some foxholes in Prep and continue to hit the pesky 47mm AT gun for NE (2FP+2). My MMG nest does manage to pin a 347/LMG in the K30 PB which is great because I am in prime position to jump it in CC with 2 concealed marines (527s).
I search like crazy in the western woods since I am now getting into the Axis setup area and low and behold, I find a minefield 'wall' blocking off the west board edge. I really shouldn't be surprised by that move. I start to work around and find a HIP 347/LMG in a foxhole in E27 which KIAs a 447 who was searching in the area. Luckily I am able to break him in AF with a decent firegroup. I capture more TLs in the south and the MOL units out east creep north and eastward. So far not much movement from the Axis over there so I am expecting another minefield wall. If I can, I will search for that, after digging a foxhole or two, just so I know where it is.
I am able to creep most of the 447s around the E29/F29 clearing along a scouted safe area. It's slow going but I don't want to lose units needlessly to mines and if I can capture the woods this CG day I'll be happy. I jump the K30 PB and ambush him killing a 347/LMG and taking the PB.
Guy does end OBA back in DF and puts a SR near my MMG nest so I need to watch out for that.