PUZZLE #4

[mglouie]

Here is one that Rob submitted back in the day:

Puzzle SSR:

1. June, 1944. EC are moderate with no wind.
2. The 76L U.S. AT Gun is HIP.
3. It is the German movement phase. The four German Panther tanks must use Convoy Movement toward hex I1 and cannot disband until they have an LOS to an enemy unit.

Puzzle: It is possible to eliminate all four Panther tanks in one player turn without rolling snake eyes. How?

Puzzle by Robert Banozic.

 

[apbills]

Yes.

The HIP AT gun is not revealed when the tanks pass through on the woods-road hex. It lets them pass by, lining up nicely on the road in front of it. All it needs is a string of ROF that will let it hit and kill all 4 tanks.

The first shot would be against the lead tank, the second at the next tank. That will use up the 2 MPs used to move to that position, at that point, the convoy could disband due to E11.241(1). However, they have used 14 MPs so only have 1 left. The AT gun simply continues this luck of ROF and takes down the next 2, either in movement or in DFPh.

The key to this is A12.41, which allows the AT gun to stay HIP/unrevealed even though the tanks move through the hex.

 

[da priest]

key to this is A12.41, which allows the AT gun to stay HIP/unrevealed even though the tanks move through the hex.

Boy did you blow this. First all the tankers dismount, then they advance concealed to capture the gun. Then they trundle it off the board for victory points. Just ask JR.

 

[Jean52]

Ok, the gun keeps its ROF twice and then hits on an Intensive.
But that's not enough :
The Panthers can turn the turret towards the gun as soon as they have passed it. Since barring a Critical Hit, keeping the ROF demands a turret HIT, the US palyer must Roll 4 Snakes on To Kills.
In addition, Convoy movement do not prevent the Panthers to try their Smoke dischargers when they are in the Gun Hex. Two 6 out of 4 tries and the gun do not see them anymore!
Jean "5+2"

 

[apbills]

You forgot about his APCR ammo, and not sure why only 2 ROF, he is always going to roll a 1, so he gets 4 ROF, with no Intensive fires.

AF for the turret front is a 14. Assume he gets all 3's on the TH, firing APCR. His APCR number is a 4, so with 3's he gets as many of those shells as he wants.

That is a 22 TK with range mods as well, versus a 14 AF = minimum 7 TK. Even if he spins the tank around, giving an 18 AF, the APCR shot still kills with a 3.

Assume he drops smoke in the hex, for a maximum +3 DRM (A24.2). The TH on the furthest tank will be a base 10, with +2 motion, +4 smoke, -1 large target, and +3 hindrances (E11.4) which makes it a 2 to hit. The German needs to get 2 smokes anywhere in order to prevent the lead tank from getting it.

Regardless, the question was not what can the German do to prevent the kills, just what possible way can the American kill all 4 tanks, without rolling snakes.

 

[Jean52]

not sure why only 2 ROF
1rst shot ROF
2nd shot ROF
3rd shot No ROF
4th shot Intensive
That's keeping ROF twice in my book.

OK I forgot to take APCR into account.

Assume he drops smoke in the hex, for a maximum +3 DRM (A24.2).
Your calculation is indeed correct but 1 or 2 Panthers (I am too lazy to calculate) will lack the MPs to pass the gun (which will have to change CA).

which makes it a 2 to hit.
I thought tha was the definition of a snake.

Regardless, the question was not what can the German do to prevent the kills, just what possible way can the American kill all 4 tanks, without rolling snakes.Back to top
It did not say either the Germans had to cooperate

 

[Jean52]

As an afterthought I would say that +4 smoke +2 hindrances (E11.4) make the first Panther out of LOS.
2 smokes are indeed needed, The reason i gave was wrong.

 

[apbills]

Puzzle: It is possible to eliminate all four Panther tanks in one player turn without rolling snake eyes. How?

Puzzle by Robert Banozic.

So in answer to the quoted question, are you saying Yes or No?

I say yes, and gave the method. It is possible, no matter how improbable.

I believe your statements answer a different question, i.e., What can the German do to prevent it?

I am still confused about your ROF scenario. If the AT gun only rolls a 1 on the colored die, he gets infinite ROF.