4 - Audacious Attack

[George Kelln]

4 – Audacious Attack playtest v. Ernie Cameron; Germans rearward defence tie up American advance.

The Germans have decided to play the waiting game, setting up their defences well back from the frontline. The Americans had moved for two turns before encountering their first German defender. Once the Americans have crossed the 17R4-Y10-54Y1-GG5 road then the shooting starts resulting in 2.5 squads eliminated.

On the right flank (top) 10-2 “Dutch” Cota was leading a platoon (2x 7-4-7, 3x 6-6-6, MMG, Baz) towards the gully when they stumbled upon a German 9-1, 4-4-7, LMG that caught the 7-4-7 moving in the open with a 5FP -3, DR 3 = KIA. Dutch pushed around the woods, on to the hill, and down to the crossroads, all the while duelling it out the German 9-1, 4-4-7, and LMG.

On the left flank, 9-1 was leading a platoon (2x 7-4-7, 3x 6-6-6, MMG, Baz, 60mm Mtr) pushing southwest towards large woods, where it encountered light resistance in the form of a German 4-3-6 squad. The Americans closed with the German squad using fire and movement, as the Americans flanked around the woods a 3-4-6 HS was caught and eliminated in (17Z10) woods by mortar fire from a hidden 81mm Mortar located in the (17BB6) woods. Not deterred, the Americans continued to press forward, flanking around the woods to the east, forcing the German to withdraw his 81mm mortar under the cover of the 4-3-6 squad.

In the Centre, 8-0 leading the reserve platoon (3x 6-6-6, 2x Baz, 2x 60mm Mtr) advanced across the bocage lined road, quickly pushed across the orchards, grainfields, & open ground between the two roads, and up to the (54Y1-FF5) road. During its advance it picked up a couple of squads from the two flanking platoons. There was little of no German resistance until the Americans cross the road, when it came under light fire from the hill and 81mm mortar from the ((86B9) woods. Manoeuvring about grainfield the Americans closed with the 4-3-6 on the hill pummelling the squad and the mortar crew with withering fire in the AFPh, the Americans managed to break both. Pushing up the hill the leading squads ran into a minefield, pinning it down.

On Turn 3 (the soonest they could enter) the German reinforcement had entered along the south edge of Board 86, with one platoon moving into the village and the other platoon moving to the woods located at the east end of the village.

With 3 movement phases remaining, the Americans will be hard pressed for time to capture the village.

 

[George Kelln]

4 – Audacious Attack playtest v. Ernie Cameron; Americans’ attack fell just short.

The last three turns of the game saw the Americans force the attack, pressing on the right, the left, and in the centre.

On the right, in the area of the gully, 10-2 “Dutch” Cota, 2x 3-4-6, and a 6-6-6 with MMG for the most part had been tied down by a 9-1 & a 4-4-7 with LMG and were only able by the last turn to provide any fire support into the village.

On the left, the battle of the crossroad, saw the German 81mm mortar and a 4-3-6 squad pin down and then break the 9-1, 6-6-6 +MMG, 3-4-6 +(dm) 60mm mortar forcing them to rout back into the woods next to the pond – a sniper would later wound the 9-1. Failing to rally back immediately, they would be unable to get up to the village to help. On the far left, a 6-6-6 and 3-4-6 attempted to get around the Germans’ flank, but were pinned down by fire from the 4-3-6 supporting the mortar and a 4-4-7 +LMG in the woods east of the village. While the German 81mm mortar was causing mayhem on the 9-1 and his troops, a 3-3-7 paratrooper HS raced up through the orchard and up to the stone wall, advancing into CC with the mortar crew. This Melee went on for 3 player turns, with an American 3-4-6 reinforcing the Melee just as the 3-3-7 was broken by that pesky German sniper. The German crew was finally eliminated and the mortar silenced, but the delay taking it out prevented the Americans from reaching the village in time.

In the centre, 2.5 broken American squads bounced back and suddenly there were 5.5 Good Ordered squads back in the fight. Led by three 7-4-7 paratrooper squads, the 8-0, 2x 6-6-6, & 3-4-6 pushed their way into the line of buildings on the northside of the road. The firepower in AFPh the Americans can bring to bear is powerful, especially if adjacent. A strong push westward along the road and southward to the stone building had the Americans quickly go from controlling no buildings to controlling 5 + ½ the rowhouse and by the last MPh – 9 buildings and in CC for control of the rowhouse. That would be as close as they would get, the 7-4-7 in CC with a German 4-4-7, was Ambushed and eliminated and the German withdrawing back into the other half of the rowhouse regaining total control of it.

The casualties were high for the Americans, 4 of 6 7-4-7 squads and 2 of 9 6-6-6 squads eliminated, racking up 12 of the 15 CVP limit. The German had lost both of his 81mm mortars and crews, and 6 of the 12 total squads. In the end, the Americans fell one turn short of achieving victory.