Stephen Frum
Member
AAR J161 Riding to the Rescue
Brian Scully and I had a good playing of this excellent offering by John Bays. John is a friend and frequent opponent of one of my favorite ASL players, JR Tracy.
The May 1940 action is set near Dunkirk and was, at least for me, inspired by the recent film. Brits vs Germans, an early war tin cans vs pop guns. The Brits set up first, with 447s in the woods, surrounded by marauding Germs. Fast British tanks (Mk VIC) are driving to the rescue to escort the imperiled Border Regiment troops either off the south board or over a bridge to safety.
John Bays has made excellent use of the newish board 59 and 3a and 6a. The configuration is a pleasing combination of the new Fort boards and an old style board that together form a square. The adversaries set up close and the action is hot from the start.
Brian set up his 447s as you would to give the option to both move off board and/or over the bridge. I noted he was strong in the G20 woods, so I placed my leader directed MMG in 59W8 to block possible runners with a fire lane out to 6aE20.
The Germans are given an ATR, a potent weapon against his 1 AF tanks. Knowing that they are small and fast, I paired it up with the 8-1 and a full squad and placed them in 59U7 (concealed) thinking that his tanks would naturally end their turn 1 MP in LOS of this location.
I placed squads in 59AA6, 59V7, etc., and about 4 squads with two LMGs and the 8-0 leader scattered around 6aM16.
Brian’s 3 Mk VIC British tanks were set up in motion on hill 59F5. My PSW 222 ACs were in 6aP15 and 6aQ15 to stop him from running his tanks into my rear area (pretty much always a bad thing….)
British Turn 1
Brian pushed his men forward, clearly running for the southern exit. My opening shot vs his squad moving in 6aF20 was a MMG fire lane placement 4 minus 3. I think I rolled a 3 and started the trend of good rolls I maintained throughout the game. His infantry settled into the woods around 59DD9 and were set up for a 9 hex run off board.
Brian’s tanks drove to 59R7, 59R4 and 59R2. Pleased that my ATR could see two of them I started plunking away with that “mobile anti-tank gun” and hoped for the best.
German Turn 1
Continuing to plunk away with my ATR I came up empty handed. I did maneuver a HS to 59CC5 (advanced to 59DD5) and a squad to 59DD4 (advanced to 59EE4) in order to block his sprinters from getting off board unmolested.
I drove one AC from 6aP15 to 59Y6 (using the forest road) in order to head off his tanks – which were clearly driving to help his 447s get off the south side of board 59. The other AC was driven to take on his tank in 59R9, expending its last 1.5 MP to stop in 3aI3 (hull down). Brian’s motion attempt was unsuccessful and now I had that tank fairly boxed in between the ATR in 59U7 and 20L AC in 3aI3.
I sent 2 squads straight down the 6aJ18 forest road and across the bridge to get into the backfield of Brian’s runners (hoping to make routing a bit more difficult). The pre-game placed wreck in 6aI19 made this a bit easier. Interestingly I advanced a 467 into 6aK18 (into which a flame had spread from the burning wreck). Of course you know that flame became a blaze in Brian’s turn 2 and forced the squad to break…..isn’t ASL fun?
British Turn 2
Brian’s Territorial troops prep fired in order to bust up my squad in 59EE4 and HS in 59DD5 and generally moved forward slowly. Defensive fire from my AC in 3aI3 destroyed Brian’s tank in 59R9. My leader directed ATR got his tank in 59R4. The remaining British tank drove up the hill at 59U3 – which combined with a 447 he had cleverly maneuvered into 59U9 was able to encircle my ATR dudes in 59U7. Alas for Brian these Germs had drunk the Kool-Aide and stood strong in the face of his fire.
Sadly though, they were not able to put an ATR round into the tank to kill it….guess they were keeping their heads down a bit.
German Turn 2
I drove one AC from 59 Y6 to 59EE1 – figuring that his runners would not want to face the CMG and IFE 20L as they ran down the EE hexrow. The other AC drove like hell to get up on the 59F5 hill to make things difficult for the two British tanks entering at 59A5 on turn 3. I figured they had to get to the action quick and slowing or killing them on the road made sense.
British Turn 3
Brian’s reinforcement tanks didn’t want to play on the hill and drove around it, stopping in 59I4 and 59I5.
Brian’s sprinters got their legs moving and ran into the woods around 59FF5 (both sides of the road). Leading this platoon was the 7-0 (?Harry Styles?). My HS in 59DD5 was able to get some shots off, but not able to stop Harry. My backfield folks were set up in 6aC19 and 6aE19 to make things challenging for Brian.
Unfortunately my AC in 59EE1 was fairly useless. I used the CMG, to no effect, but held out the MA (B11), recognizing that his tank in 59U3 was still a threat. He drove that tank into the area around 59Z2 to be ready to smash my AC in turn 4.
German Turn 3
My leader directed ATR relocated from 59U7 to 59X4 – eventually bagging that pesky British tank. I BU’d my AC in 59EE1 (figuring I had to stop Harry and his boys from running off board, not kill them in the 59FF3 woods). Of course I CE’d the AC in the advance phase to get ready for the sprint.
My ambush AC on the hill tried to maneuver to get a rear shot on Brian’s reinforcement tanks, but failed to get a kill. I drove the AC off, rather than face the formidable MGs of these tanks.
I pushed my MMG into 59X6 to get ready to stop the sprinters by firing down towards 59GG2. I also put several other squads in LOS of the exit hexes around 59FF1 in order to slow the runners.
The backfield folks relocated to 6aB19 and 6aE20 in order to put more pressure on Brian’s exit group.
British Turn 4
Brian’s king of the battlefield tank A10 Mk IA (AF 3!) drove to near 59U5, staying in motion (red MP!). His smoke tank drove to near 59Q6.
One 447 made it off board, blasting past my AC – which continued to have poor luck with its CMG. At this point I was also using a “human roadblock” of a broken 467 around 59FF1 to try to limit Brian’s exit options.
I believe Brian had just about 8 additional VP of infantry in and around the woods near 59FF5 – which would win him the game if they exited.
German Turn 4
The AC not involved in stopping the sprinters tried and failed to kill the smoke tank in 59Q6 – Brian made good use of both tanks’ sD to keep me from getting the kill.
Around this point I was able to break Brian’s 8-1 that had taken up a position in 59FF4 and was preparing to lead his troops to safety. This break pushed Brian below the 8 exit VP needed. Rallying this leader was going to be critical.
British Turn 5
Brian drove his A10 Mk IA “king of the battlefield” to 59DD1 and BFF to kill my AC in 59EE1. As his infantry moved forward from the woods to exit, I was able to pin or break them – and his leader had failed to rally.
We ended the game as the British did not have enough to exit.
A fun game and an excellent scenario which will benefit from a reply (maybe at ASLOK?!)
A few observations:
The British tanks can’t stand toe to toe with the German ATR – they should be united with the 447s ASAP and help them get off board.
Exit off the south board without SMOKE cover from the infinity smoke machine tank (Mk IA CS) is difficult. These reinforcement tanks need to get into the battle quickly. It might be worth leaving one of the “at start” British tanks on the hill to prevent the kind of foolishness I tried with my ambush AC. Just a thought….
The British only have 19 VP of infantry at start and they need to exit 8 VP. This doesn’t leave much room for error or losses.
The “at start” British tanks are actually tankettes. Their Rider (granted in 1940 by SSR) capability is limited – but it seems to me that a SMC would satisfy the VC exit of a Mk VIC.
The British set up is quite limited, maybe they need to hunker down and wait for the arrival of the AFVs. With AFV support, they could possibly get across the bridge (the CS tank could reach 6aM9 by the end of turn 4 to use its MGs and SMOKE to help the Territorials get to and over the bridge. AFV support, as previously mentioned, would seem needed to get off the south board edge.
I mentioned the power of the German ATR, the same applies to the British ATR of course. PSW 222 are quite vulnerable to shots from this portable ATG. Pair it with the 8-1 and knock out those pesky AC!
Give this one a try. Thank you John Bays!
Brian Scully and I had a good playing of this excellent offering by John Bays. John is a friend and frequent opponent of one of my favorite ASL players, JR Tracy.
The May 1940 action is set near Dunkirk and was, at least for me, inspired by the recent film. Brits vs Germans, an early war tin cans vs pop guns. The Brits set up first, with 447s in the woods, surrounded by marauding Germs. Fast British tanks (Mk VIC) are driving to the rescue to escort the imperiled Border Regiment troops either off the south board or over a bridge to safety.
John Bays has made excellent use of the newish board 59 and 3a and 6a. The configuration is a pleasing combination of the new Fort boards and an old style board that together form a square. The adversaries set up close and the action is hot from the start.
Brian set up his 447s as you would to give the option to both move off board and/or over the bridge. I noted he was strong in the G20 woods, so I placed my leader directed MMG in 59W8 to block possible runners with a fire lane out to 6aE20.
The Germans are given an ATR, a potent weapon against his 1 AF tanks. Knowing that they are small and fast, I paired it up with the 8-1 and a full squad and placed them in 59U7 (concealed) thinking that his tanks would naturally end their turn 1 MP in LOS of this location.
I placed squads in 59AA6, 59V7, etc., and about 4 squads with two LMGs and the 8-0 leader scattered around 6aM16.
Brian’s 3 Mk VIC British tanks were set up in motion on hill 59F5. My PSW 222 ACs were in 6aP15 and 6aQ15 to stop him from running his tanks into my rear area (pretty much always a bad thing….)
British Turn 1
Brian pushed his men forward, clearly running for the southern exit. My opening shot vs his squad moving in 6aF20 was a MMG fire lane placement 4 minus 3. I think I rolled a 3 and started the trend of good rolls I maintained throughout the game. His infantry settled into the woods around 59DD9 and were set up for a 9 hex run off board.
Brian’s tanks drove to 59R7, 59R4 and 59R2. Pleased that my ATR could see two of them I started plunking away with that “mobile anti-tank gun” and hoped for the best.
German Turn 1
Continuing to plunk away with my ATR I came up empty handed. I did maneuver a HS to 59CC5 (advanced to 59DD5) and a squad to 59DD4 (advanced to 59EE4) in order to block his sprinters from getting off board unmolested.
I drove one AC from 6aP15 to 59Y6 (using the forest road) in order to head off his tanks – which were clearly driving to help his 447s get off the south side of board 59. The other AC was driven to take on his tank in 59R9, expending its last 1.5 MP to stop in 3aI3 (hull down). Brian’s motion attempt was unsuccessful and now I had that tank fairly boxed in between the ATR in 59U7 and 20L AC in 3aI3.
I sent 2 squads straight down the 6aJ18 forest road and across the bridge to get into the backfield of Brian’s runners (hoping to make routing a bit more difficult). The pre-game placed wreck in 6aI19 made this a bit easier. Interestingly I advanced a 467 into 6aK18 (into which a flame had spread from the burning wreck). Of course you know that flame became a blaze in Brian’s turn 2 and forced the squad to break…..isn’t ASL fun?
British Turn 2
Brian’s Territorial troops prep fired in order to bust up my squad in 59EE4 and HS in 59DD5 and generally moved forward slowly. Defensive fire from my AC in 3aI3 destroyed Brian’s tank in 59R9. My leader directed ATR got his tank in 59R4. The remaining British tank drove up the hill at 59U3 – which combined with a 447 he had cleverly maneuvered into 59U9 was able to encircle my ATR dudes in 59U7. Alas for Brian these Germs had drunk the Kool-Aide and stood strong in the face of his fire.
Sadly though, they were not able to put an ATR round into the tank to kill it….guess they were keeping their heads down a bit.
German Turn 2
I drove one AC from 59 Y6 to 59EE1 – figuring that his runners would not want to face the CMG and IFE 20L as they ran down the EE hexrow. The other AC drove like hell to get up on the 59F5 hill to make things difficult for the two British tanks entering at 59A5 on turn 3. I figured they had to get to the action quick and slowing or killing them on the road made sense.
British Turn 3
Brian’s reinforcement tanks didn’t want to play on the hill and drove around it, stopping in 59I4 and 59I5.
Brian’s sprinters got their legs moving and ran into the woods around 59FF5 (both sides of the road). Leading this platoon was the 7-0 (?Harry Styles?). My HS in 59DD5 was able to get some shots off, but not able to stop Harry. My backfield folks were set up in 6aC19 and 6aE19 to make things challenging for Brian.
Unfortunately my AC in 59EE1 was fairly useless. I used the CMG, to no effect, but held out the MA (B11), recognizing that his tank in 59U3 was still a threat. He drove that tank into the area around 59Z2 to be ready to smash my AC in turn 4.
German Turn 3
My leader directed ATR relocated from 59U7 to 59X4 – eventually bagging that pesky British tank. I BU’d my AC in 59EE1 (figuring I had to stop Harry and his boys from running off board, not kill them in the 59FF3 woods). Of course I CE’d the AC in the advance phase to get ready for the sprint.
My ambush AC on the hill tried to maneuver to get a rear shot on Brian’s reinforcement tanks, but failed to get a kill. I drove the AC off, rather than face the formidable MGs of these tanks.
I pushed my MMG into 59X6 to get ready to stop the sprinters by firing down towards 59GG2. I also put several other squads in LOS of the exit hexes around 59FF1 in order to slow the runners.
The backfield folks relocated to 6aB19 and 6aE20 in order to put more pressure on Brian’s exit group.
British Turn 4
Brian’s king of the battlefield tank A10 Mk IA (AF 3!) drove to near 59U5, staying in motion (red MP!). His smoke tank drove to near 59Q6.
One 447 made it off board, blasting past my AC – which continued to have poor luck with its CMG. At this point I was also using a “human roadblock” of a broken 467 around 59FF1 to try to limit Brian’s exit options.
I believe Brian had just about 8 additional VP of infantry in and around the woods near 59FF5 – which would win him the game if they exited.
German Turn 4
The AC not involved in stopping the sprinters tried and failed to kill the smoke tank in 59Q6 – Brian made good use of both tanks’ sD to keep me from getting the kill.
Around this point I was able to break Brian’s 8-1 that had taken up a position in 59FF4 and was preparing to lead his troops to safety. This break pushed Brian below the 8 exit VP needed. Rallying this leader was going to be critical.
British Turn 5
Brian drove his A10 Mk IA “king of the battlefield” to 59DD1 and BFF to kill my AC in 59EE1. As his infantry moved forward from the woods to exit, I was able to pin or break them – and his leader had failed to rally.
We ended the game as the British did not have enough to exit.
A fun game and an excellent scenario which will benefit from a reply (maybe at ASLOK?!)
A few observations:
The British tanks can’t stand toe to toe with the German ATR – they should be united with the 447s ASAP and help them get off board.
Exit off the south board without SMOKE cover from the infinity smoke machine tank (Mk IA CS) is difficult. These reinforcement tanks need to get into the battle quickly. It might be worth leaving one of the “at start” British tanks on the hill to prevent the kind of foolishness I tried with my ambush AC. Just a thought….
The British only have 19 VP of infantry at start and they need to exit 8 VP. This doesn’t leave much room for error or losses.
The “at start” British tanks are actually tankettes. Their Rider (granted in 1940 by SSR) capability is limited – but it seems to me that a SMC would satisfy the VC exit of a Mk VIC.
The British set up is quite limited, maybe they need to hunker down and wait for the arrival of the AFVs. With AFV support, they could possibly get across the bridge (the CS tank could reach 6aM9 by the end of turn 4 to use its MGs and SMOKE to help the Territorials get to and over the bridge. AFV support, as previously mentioned, would seem needed to get off the south board edge.
I mentioned the power of the German ATR, the same applies to the British ATR of course. PSW 222 are quite vulnerable to shots from this portable ATG. Pair it with the 8-1 and knock out those pesky AC!
Give this one a try. Thank you John Bays!
