Moment of Truth J210

[Larry]

Played this scenario this morning. ROAR had this at 3-2 pro German. New scenario, not a lot of playings, so the ROAR does not inform the game.

I had the Slovaks. VC is centered around two guns that must set up between G and K and within 6 hexes. I have the at start diversion whether the second gun is in K5 or K15. Not much of a ruse but diverts a couple of units to clear the Eastern (bottom) group.

The center gun is at K9 with no LOS to much ... on purpose. A point blank shot with a 100mm gun leaves many misty. My intent with the K5 gun is to push it back to P3. The two squads in J6 will help starting turn 2. The forward defense is a stall, to give that gun time to get back to safety.

 

[Larry]

The forward defense slows the German. At the start of Slovak 1, the Germans have a broken HS in C14 and a dangerous stack in D5. The Slovaks skulk everything and roll too high to move that beast of a gun, earning a labor counter.

 

[Larry]

In German 2, the Germans made some progress but were kept at bay by the HMG getting off four shot, on a 1,1 KIA. A bold move with a leader and 2 squads into E2 got return fire from the gun in K5, a swing and a miss but the long range from the two squads that moved in during Slovak 1 rolled a 1,2 to break the leader and one squad, pinning the other squad. A VB and all went away. During Slovak 2, the former axis minor pushed the gun into L3 and were joined by a leader to help push it in turn 3. The Germans broke the 9-1 leader and squad manning the HMG forcing them to rout back. Here is the situation at the start of Slovak 3. Slovak 3 is more skulking.

 

[Larry]

German 4 with 3 MPh left in the game. The lonely HS in F2 is a roadblock. The squads have the hilltop covered. The Slovaks found the HMG in J8. The second gun is across the bridge. In the next turn, they will need a 7 to get behind the hedge. The gun now covers the hilltop. The gun K10 has the OG and brush covered. The HMG has the woods in J9 covered. The squad and LMG in crest status have the pass covered. Prep fire from the MMG squad and squads in F7 and F6 are unable to dislodge the entrenched units. The Germans AM into J10 to face a CH (-3 shots on the ITT do that) and become pink mist. The rest of the MPh falters and the Germans resign, the gun now is O4 is too far away, will likely get behind the hedge. We called it a game.

 

[Larry]

The Slovaks need to make the Germans cover more ground. Leaving the gun is places with LOS means that they are in LOS. One the Germans can put together multi-hex FG, the Slovaks are in trouble.

The Slovaks must use the trenches to skulk. They don't have the firepower to trade shots and the Germans need to move, especially if the second gun is on the move. I suspect that moving the gun off the hill, or even starting in K3 makes this very tough on the Germans.