von Marwitz
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J152 Messenger Boys - AAR
Set in August 1944, this scenario has some 'Bocage' feeling to it, but it is nevertheless not one of the 'full-scale' Bocage scenarios. Basically, an Elite British force supported by tanks and halftracks has to push back and root out a smaller German SS force to and out of some buildings. Not all the Germans are SS, but those who are not are Fanatic and have a commissar-type Leader by SSR. The Germans receive reinforcements which are small but powerful in the form of a pair of Pz IVs and two SS-laden halftracks, that should arrive in the nick of time just when the Germans need them most.
Situation at Game Start:
[I say! I feel indisposed as I had worked on this After Action Report for almost an hour and was to save it, as the connection failed and the effort has been lost. I could have hunted a fox or two within this time. Well, all over again...]
The objective is to Control one of the 'big' buildings and three of the 'small' ones, which means that one of the 'small' ones will be on the 'other side' of the road. For that reason, I thought it prudent to divide my force as the attacking Britons. The Huns around the 54U5 area are 2nd Line but Fanatic troops led by a Leader which has 'Commissar-like' qualities only wor this group. That means, they will rally on a 9 or less which is bad if you want to clear someone out quickly. The rest of the German force is 548s which have more punch, but they are few and only have a single other Leader, which means that they can hardly cover all approaches. The Bocage terrain will slow down the British movement significantly, so it is important to find a quick way forward.
The basic plan of Infantry movement was as follows:
Red: In the north (top) approach and overwhelm the speed-bumps. In the middle bring forward a recce force. to seek out the enemies Dummies and impede his movement options later. In the south move forward as quickly as possible across an area seemingly not covered by the enemy.
Blue: In the north push head on through 54O1 towards 54R1 supported by armor. In the middle seek out the enemy's Dummies and impede his movement options later. In the south take the 'castle' of 54P6/Q7 and a firing position for PIAT/MTR in 54P8 and then proceed to jumping-off points in 54R4, R5, and R6.
Green: In the north depending on the situation either hold on to 54R1, grab the 'big' building 54T1 or fork off across the road to 54T3. In the middle just be a PITA and run to places to restrict enemy fire options. In the south, supported by a SMOKE screen created by tanks and MTRs, cross the road in 54S4, S5, S6 and grab all buildings in the area with some units hooking around to get at the 'big' building from the rear and to take up position in 54V3 to check possible German counterattacks.
This is what Lt. Whitaker, a red haired, buck toothed officer with a limey complexion outlined with the obligatory upper class accent to his troopers: "Gentlemen, it will be quite a cake-walk, will it not?" His kerchief in regimental colours neatly set in his breast pocket, he waved them with his umbrella to follow his lead.
Situation at the End of British Turn 1:
In the first British Turn, everything went according to plan.
In the north, the British rushed forward through the woods, no one got hurt, the jump-off position was fine for next turn, merely the CC could not be won. However, this was not to be expected as it was a 1:1 @+1, which was indecisive and turned into a Melee. Fair enough - that German HS would be firing PFs at no one and even if eventually victorious in Melee, it would find itself in a precarious position.
In the middle, it was acertained that the 54J2 position had been Dummies and would be no delay for vehicle or man alike. From 54H3, a MTR set up shop with a splendid view down the road out of range by the German position in 54Q8 but in turn very well in range with the MTR themselves.
In the south, the British were poised to take on 54M5 and P6 and with another MTR on Q8. Lt. Whitaker had nicely advanced across the Bocage and would be able to reach the 54P6/P7 'castle' or P8 position. Dabbing his brow with his kerchief, he inquired of his batman Bowden-Heseltine: "Please, do say: Will we have reached our objective by tea-time?" Mortimer Bowden-Heseltine whipped out his heavy sterling silver pocket watch which had been handed down the ancestry line since mid pleistocene: "Sir, I believe we will not by the frog's reckoning which have their habitat in this country and are one hour off. But if we go by Greenwich Mean Time, we will be just fine." "Excellent!" exclaimed Lt. Whitaker, "Excellent!"
Situation at the End of German Turn 1:
Not much transpired during German Turn 1.
In the north, not a thing moved. It was unfortunate, that the Melee was still inconclusive, but maybe the Huns were just kind enough to wait until the British CX halfsquad had caught its breath before trading blows in earnest.
In the middle, the unit in 54M5 suspiciously withdrew to O5, fortifying my impression of dealing with a phantom there.
In the south while our MTR team assembled its tube, the enemy relinquished its Foxhole in 54Q8 to occupy the 'castle' position just to the north of it.
From a westerly direction, the noises of heavy engines could be discerned, which Bowden-Heseltine acknowledged with a pleased glance at his pocket watch. Lt. Whitaker had come up with a shrewd ruse of war having most of his armoured reinforcements enter on the right side of the British front whilst it was known to the Germans that on the isle they would usually conduct their vehicles on the left. That would show them!
To be continued at a future date...
von Marwitz
Set in August 1944, this scenario has some 'Bocage' feeling to it, but it is nevertheless not one of the 'full-scale' Bocage scenarios. Basically, an Elite British force supported by tanks and halftracks has to push back and root out a smaller German SS force to and out of some buildings. Not all the Germans are SS, but those who are not are Fanatic and have a commissar-type Leader by SSR. The Germans receive reinforcements which are small but powerful in the form of a pair of Pz IVs and two SS-laden halftracks, that should arrive in the nick of time just when the Germans need them most.
Situation at Game Start:
[I say! I feel indisposed as I had worked on this After Action Report for almost an hour and was to save it, as the connection failed and the effort has been lost. I could have hunted a fox or two within this time. Well, all over again...]
The objective is to Control one of the 'big' buildings and three of the 'small' ones, which means that one of the 'small' ones will be on the 'other side' of the road. For that reason, I thought it prudent to divide my force as the attacking Britons. The Huns around the 54U5 area are 2nd Line but Fanatic troops led by a Leader which has 'Commissar-like' qualities only wor this group. That means, they will rally on a 9 or less which is bad if you want to clear someone out quickly. The rest of the German force is 548s which have more punch, but they are few and only have a single other Leader, which means that they can hardly cover all approaches. The Bocage terrain will slow down the British movement significantly, so it is important to find a quick way forward.
The basic plan of Infantry movement was as follows:
Red: In the north (top) approach and overwhelm the speed-bumps. In the middle bring forward a recce force. to seek out the enemies Dummies and impede his movement options later. In the south move forward as quickly as possible across an area seemingly not covered by the enemy.
Blue: In the north push head on through 54O1 towards 54R1 supported by armor. In the middle seek out the enemy's Dummies and impede his movement options later. In the south take the 'castle' of 54P6/Q7 and a firing position for PIAT/MTR in 54P8 and then proceed to jumping-off points in 54R4, R5, and R6.
Green: In the north depending on the situation either hold on to 54R1, grab the 'big' building 54T1 or fork off across the road to 54T3. In the middle just be a PITA and run to places to restrict enemy fire options. In the south, supported by a SMOKE screen created by tanks and MTRs, cross the road in 54S4, S5, S6 and grab all buildings in the area with some units hooking around to get at the 'big' building from the rear and to take up position in 54V3 to check possible German counterattacks.
This is what Lt. Whitaker, a red haired, buck toothed officer with a limey complexion outlined with the obligatory upper class accent to his troopers: "Gentlemen, it will be quite a cake-walk, will it not?" His kerchief in regimental colours neatly set in his breast pocket, he waved them with his umbrella to follow his lead.
Situation at the End of British Turn 1:
In the first British Turn, everything went according to plan.
In the north, the British rushed forward through the woods, no one got hurt, the jump-off position was fine for next turn, merely the CC could not be won. However, this was not to be expected as it was a 1:1 @+1, which was indecisive and turned into a Melee. Fair enough - that German HS would be firing PFs at no one and even if eventually victorious in Melee, it would find itself in a precarious position.
In the middle, it was acertained that the 54J2 position had been Dummies and would be no delay for vehicle or man alike. From 54H3, a MTR set up shop with a splendid view down the road out of range by the German position in 54Q8 but in turn very well in range with the MTR themselves.
In the south, the British were poised to take on 54M5 and P6 and with another MTR on Q8. Lt. Whitaker had nicely advanced across the Bocage and would be able to reach the 54P6/P7 'castle' or P8 position. Dabbing his brow with his kerchief, he inquired of his batman Bowden-Heseltine: "Please, do say: Will we have reached our objective by tea-time?" Mortimer Bowden-Heseltine whipped out his heavy sterling silver pocket watch which had been handed down the ancestry line since mid pleistocene: "Sir, I believe we will not by the frog's reckoning which have their habitat in this country and are one hour off. But if we go by Greenwich Mean Time, we will be just fine." "Excellent!" exclaimed Lt. Whitaker, "Excellent!"
Situation at the End of German Turn 1:
Not much transpired during German Turn 1.
In the north, not a thing moved. It was unfortunate, that the Melee was still inconclusive, but maybe the Huns were just kind enough to wait until the British CX halfsquad had caught its breath before trading blows in earnest.
In the middle, the unit in 54M5 suspiciously withdrew to O5, fortifying my impression of dealing with a phantom there.
In the south while our MTR team assembled its tube, the enemy relinquished its Foxhole in 54Q8 to occupy the 'castle' position just to the north of it.
From a westerly direction, the noises of heavy engines could be discerned, which Bowden-Heseltine acknowledged with a pleased glance at his pocket watch. Lt. Whitaker had come up with a shrewd ruse of war having most of his armoured reinforcements enter on the right side of the British front whilst it was known to the Germans that on the isle they would usually conduct their vehicles on the left. That would show them!
To be continued at a future date...
von Marwitz
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